Patent ID: 7180283

Claim:
A wafer lifting device comprising: a wafer support member: a lifting platform arranged under said a wafer support member; and at least three pins; and at least a pin guide body, wherein the top side of said wafer support member includes a wafer bearing area, wherein said lifting platform is arranged to move vertically toward and away from the underside of the wafer support member, and wherein said at least three pins are arranged to be moved through vertical-through holes, which extend from the underside of the wafer support member to the wafer bearing area, by said lifting platform, said pins being moveable between a first upper position wherein said pins project from the wafer bearing area by a selected amount and a second lower position wherein said pins are retracted into said vertical-through holes, wherein a separate pin guide body is provided for each pin, in which pin guide body the pin is guided and held for longitudinal movement, and wherein the pin guides body is detachably mounted on the wafer support member.