Apparatus for the transfer of substrates

Abstract

In an apparatus for the transfer of substrates (9) from an initial station (3) through several process stations (4 to 8) and back to this initial station (3), manipulators (10 to 14) having pivoting gripper arms (15 to 19) and carousel transfer systems (20,21) for the transfer of the substrates (9) are provided. One of the carousels (20) provided with substrate holders (22) cooperates both with a two-armed first manipulator (11) and with a two-armed second manipulator (10). The second manipulator (10) lifts several substrates (9) simultaneously from the first carousel (20) in one period of time and feeds them to the corresponding second process station (5) which is configured for the simultaneous processing of several substrates. The second manipulator (11), in the same period of time, lifts one substrate (9) at a time from the first carousel (20) in several swings of its two gripper arms (16,16') and feeds them to the first process station (4) for the processing of one substrate at a time and carries them back from this process station (4) onto the first carousel (20). Two injection molding machines can be associated with the first carousel (20) and can feed the substrates directly through an additional manipulator.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.