Method and apparatus for maintaining a machine part
First Claim
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1. A method of maintaining a machine part arranged in an interior space of a machine, where the interior space is kept at a first pressure and is separated from an environment having a second pressure by a load lock, the method comprising:
- engaging the machine part with a first handler, wherein the first handler has either a plurality of tapered protrusions or a plurality of tapered grooves that substantially correspond to, respectively, a plurality of tapered grooves or a plurality of tapered protrusions located on the machine part;
transporting the machine part from the interior space to the load lock using the first handler;
disengaging the machine part from the first handler;
engaging the machine part with a second handler, wherein the second handler has either a plurality of tapered protrusions or a plurality of tapered grooves that substantially correspond to, respectively, a plurality of tapered grooves or a plurality of tapered protrusions located on the machine part;
transporting the machine part from the load lock to the environment using the second handler;
disengaging the machine part from the second handler;
performing maintenance on or replacement of the machine part;
engaging the machine part with the second handler;
transporting the maintained or replaced machine part from the environment to the load lock;
disengaging the machine part from the second handler;
engaging the machine part with the first handler; and
transporting the maintained or replaced machine part from the load lock to the interior space;
wherein the machine part is a substrate table configured to support a substrate or a gripper configured to grip and release the substrate and/or the substrate table.
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Abstract
A method of and apparatus for maintaining a machine part arranged in an interior space of a machine, where the interior space is kept at a first pressure and is separated from an environment having a second pressure via a load lock. The method includes transporting a machine part via the load lock out of the interior space and transporting via the load lock into the interior space one of the maintained machine part and a separate replacement machine part.
71 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of maintaining a machine part arranged in an interior space of a machine, where the interior space is kept at a first pressure and is separated from an environment having a second pressure by a load lock, the method comprising:
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engaging the machine part with a first handler, wherein the first handler has either a plurality of tapered protrusions or a plurality of tapered grooves that substantially correspond to, respectively, a plurality of tapered grooves or a plurality of tapered protrusions located on the machine part; transporting the machine part from the interior space to the load lock using the first handler; disengaging the machine part from the first handler; engaging the machine part with a second handler, wherein the second handler has either a plurality of tapered protrusions or a plurality of tapered grooves that substantially correspond to, respectively, a plurality of tapered grooves or a plurality of tapered protrusions located on the machine part; transporting the machine part from the load lock to the environment using the second handler; disengaging the machine part from the second handler; performing maintenance on or replacement of the machine part; engaging the machine part with the second handler; transporting the maintained or replaced machine part from the environment to the load lock; disengaging the machine part from the second handler; engaging the machine part with the first handler; and transporting the maintained or replaced machine part from the load lock to the interior space; wherein the machine part is a substrate table configured to support a substrate or a gripper configured to grip and release the substrate and/or the substrate table. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An assembly having an interior space maintained at a first pressure and an environment having a second pressure, comprising:
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a load lock separating the interior space from the environment; a first handler, located at a first side of said load lock, having a first plurality of tapered protrusions or tapered grooves that substantially correspond to and engage a second plurality of tapered grooves or tapered protrusions located on a machine part; a second handler, located at a second side of said load lock, having a third plurality of tapered protrusions or tapered grooves that substantially correspond to and engage the second plurality of tapered grooves or tapered protrusions of the machine part; and means for maintaining the first pressure when said load lock is open to the interior space, wherein said first handler is configured to transfer the machine part between the interior space to the load lock, and said second handler is configured to transfer the machine part between the load lock to the environment, and wherein the machine part comprises one of a substrate table configured to support a substrate and a gripper configured to manipulate at least one of the substrate and the substrate table. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification