Patent · US Expired

Vertical processing apparatus

US5928390A · kind A · utility

33Cited by
14References
49Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 23, 1997
Grant dateJul 27, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 23, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/67742
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A processing apparatus comprises a plurality of process unit groups each including a plurality of process units for subjecting an object to a series of processes, the process units being arranged vertically in multiple stages, an object transfer space being defined among the process unit groups, and a transfer mechanism for transferring the object, the transfer mechanism having a transfer member vertically movable in the object transfer space, the transfer member being capable of transferring the object to each of the process units. The processing apparatus further comprises a mechanism for forming a downward air flow in the object transfer space, a mechanism for controlling the quantity of the downward air flow, and a mechanism for controlling the pressure in the object transfer space. Thus, a variation in condition of the object transfer space is reduced.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.