Patent ID: 8485579

Claim:
A vacuum pick up assembly for picking up an article and minimizing contamination thereof, the assembly comprising: an end effector configured to contact the article, the end effector coupled to a vacuum section and a purge section; the vacuum section comprising: a vacuum filter pneumatically coupled to the end effector; and a vacuum source pneumatically coupled to the vacuum filter and, in a pick up mode, configured to generate vacuum pressure at the end effector at a preselected vacuum pressure to pick up and retain the article; the purge section comprising: a purge filter pneumatically coupled to the end effector; and a purge source pneumatically coupled to the purge filter; wherein the purge source and the purge filter, in a release mode, are configured to expel a purge gas substantially free of contaminants at the end effector at a preselected purge pressure to release the article.