# US 11,443,962 B2 · Integrated handling system for semiconductor articles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,443,962 B2 - Document ID: US11443962B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/817,310 - Filed: 2010-06-17 - Published: 2010-12-23 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2009-06-17 - Assignees: Brooks Automation US, LLC - Applicants: Lutz Rebstock - Inventors: Lutz Rebstock - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11443962B2 ## CPC - H10P 72/0408: {for drying} - B08B 3/02: Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays - B08B 9/0826: {the containers being brought to the cleaning device} - B08B 9/093: by the force of jets or sprays ({B08B9/0813} , B08B9/20 take precedence) - H10P 72/0406: {for cleaning followed by drying, rinsing, stripping, blasting or the like} - H10P 72/0414: {using mainly spraying means, e.g. nozzles} - H10P 72/0436: {mainly by radiation} - H10P: GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL ## Abstract Methods and apparatuses for integrated cleaning of objects comprising a sequence of wet cleaning and vacuum drying in a same process chamber. The present integrated cleaning process can eliminate moving parts, improving the system reliability. Vacuum decontamination can be included for degassing and decontaminating the cleaned objects. In an embodiment, a cleaner system combines various movements into an integrated movement to be handled by a robot, for example, to improve the throughput. For example, an integrated robot movement comprising picking up a closed container from the input load port, moving both the lid and body together, and then depositing the body and lid separately into the appropriate positions in the cleaner to be cleaned. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for transferring an article having multiple portions, the method comprising: moving the article, by a transfer mechanism, directly between a first station and a second station, wherein the multiple portions of the article are in an assembled configuration at the first station; and passing the article, supported on the transfer mechanism, past a member during the movement of the transfer mechanism, with the article supported thereon, from the first station to the second station through the member, wherein the member disassembles the multiple portions of the article supported on the transfer mechanism coincident with the passing of the transfer mechanism through the member, such that the member disassembles the multiple portions of the article on-the-fly during the article passing past the member; wherein the multiple portions are disposed in separate locations in the second station. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the article is a container comprising a body portion and a lid portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein moving the article with the multiple portions in assembled configuration between the first station and the second station comprises accepting the article having multiple portions locked together from the first station by the transfer mechanism. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein moving the article with the multiple portions in assembled configuration between the first station and the second station comprises delivering the article having multiple portions locked together by the transfer mechanism to the first station. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the member unlocks the multiple portions during moving the article from the first station to the second station. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising cleaning the multiple portions in the second station. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising sequentially cleaning and vacuum drying the multiple portions in the second station. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first station comprises a load lock. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second station comprises a cleaning station. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein passing action of the article past the member unlocks the article. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the member unlocks the article when the article passes past the member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising unlocking the article during the passing of the article past the member. ### Claim 13 A method for transferring an article having multiple portions, the method comprising: accepting the article at a first station by a transfer mechanism; wherein the multiple portions of the article are locked together at the first station; moving the article, supported by the transfer mechanism, from the first station to a second station; unlocking, with the transfer mechanism, the multiple portions of the article supported by the transfer mechanism coincident with the movement of the transfer mechanism, with the article supported thereon, from the first station to the second station, such that the transfer mechanism disassembles the multiple portions of the article on-the-fly during the article moving from the first station to a second station; wherein the multiple portions are disposed in separate locations in the second station. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the first station comprises a load lock. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising cleaning the multiple portions in the second station. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the transfer mechanism passes the article past a member during the movement of the transfer mechanism, with the article supported thereon, from the first station to the second station through the member, wherein the member is configured to unlock the article when the article passes past the member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising passing the article past a member during the movement of the transfer mechanism, with the article supported thereon, from the first station to the second station through the member, wherein the member is configured to unlock the article when the article passes past the member. ### Claim 18 A method for transferring an article having multiple portions, the method comprising: accepting the article at a first station by a transfer mechanism; wherein the multiple portions of the article are locked together at the first station; moving the article, supported by the transfer mechanism, from the first station to a second station; wherein moving the article from the first station to a second station comprises stopping movement of the article, supported on the transfer mechanism, with the transfer mechanism during the movement from the first station to the second station; wherein the article is stopped at a member for the member to unlock a lock that locks the multiple portions of the article supported by the transfer mechanism coincident with the article moving from the first station to the second station; wherein the multiple portions are disposed in separate locations in the second station. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the first station comprises a load lock. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising cleaning the multiple portions in the second station.