Transfer machine, transfer method, cleaning machine, and cleaning method

A transfer method comprising the steps of:

• (a) holding a plurality of objects by a pair of holding members each having a first holding element and a second holding element, said first holding element having a plurality of holding notches for supporting said plurality of objects and said second holding element having a plurality of holding notches each having a first taper part and a second taper part extending from said first taper part, wherein said first taper part is positioned adjacent to an opening of the holding notch to maintain an arrangement of said objects and said second taper part is positioned adjacent to a notch bottom, and wherein with respect to a line bisecting the holding notch a first angle extends between said line and a side wall of said holding notch in said first taper part and a second angle extends between said line and the side wall of said holding notch in said second taper part, and further wherein said first angle is larger than said second angle such that said second taper part has an opening angle smaller than said first taper part for holding the peripheral edges of said objects;
• (b) moving said objects held by said holding members down to a first position with respect to bath from an initial position at a first speed so that said objects can be processed in said bath;
• and
• (c) moving said objects down to a second position from said first position at a second speed slower than said first speed.

A cleaning machine comprising:

• a pair of holding members which oppose each other to hold a plurality of objects at their peripheral edges;
• a drive mechanism for selectively driving said holding members toward and away from each other in order to selectively execute holding and releasing of said objects;
• a bath filled with a cleaning solution;
• a transfer mechanism for transferring said objects and said holding members to said bath in order to clean said objects in said bath;
• and
• cleaning execution means for executing a cleaning process of said objects transferred to said bath,
• wherein each of said holding members has upper and lower holders and wherein each of the upper and lower holders has a plurality of holding notches for holding the peripheral edges of said objects, and wherein each holding notch of each upper holder has a first taper part positioned adjacent to an opening of the holding notch and a second taper part positioned adjacent to a bottom of the holding notch and extending from said first taper part, and
• wherein with respect to a line bisecting the holding notch a first angle extends between said line and a side wall of said holding notch in said first taper part and a second angle extends between said line and the side wall of said holding notch in said second taper part, and further wherein said first angle is larger than said second angle such that said first taper part has an opening angle larger than an opening angle of said second taper part.

A cleaning method comprising:

• (a) holding a plurality of objects by a pair of holding members each having a first holding element and a second holding element, said first holding element having a plurality of holding notches for supporting said plurality of objects and said second holding element having a plurality of holding notches each having a first taper part and a second taper part extending from said first taper part, wherein said first taper part is positioned adjacent to an opening of the holding notch to maintain an arrangement of said objects and said second taper part is positioned adjacent a bottom of the holding notch, and wherein with respect to a line bisecting the holding notch a first angle extends between said line and a side wall of said holding notch in said first taper part and a second angle extend between said line and the side wall of said holding notch in said second taper part, and further wherein said first angle is larger than said second angle such that said second taper part has an opening angle smaller than said first taper part for holding the peripheral edges of said objects;
• (b) moving said objects held by said holding members down from an initial position to a first position corresponding to a liquid surface of a cleaning solution of a bath at a first speed;
• (c) moving said objects into the cleaning solution from said first position to a second position of said bath at a second speed slower than said first speed;
• (d) unloading said objects from said holding members by moving said holding members at a third speed slower than said second speed to a position for unloading the objects onto a boat disposed in said processing bath;
• and
• (e) cleaning said to-be-processed objects held by said boat.

A cleaning machine comprising:

• a pair of holding members which oppose each other to hold a plurality of objects at their peripheral edges;
• a bath filled with a cleaning solution;
• a boat disposed in said bath for holding said plurality of objects in said bath;
• a drive mechanism for selectively moving said pair of holding members toward and away from each other to selectively hold and release said plurality of objects;
• and
• a transfer mechanism for moving said pair of holding members toward and away from said boat to deposit said plurality of objects in said boat and to remove said plurality of objects from said boat;
• wherein at least one of said boat and said pair of holding members includes a plurality of notches for holding objects with each notch having a first taper part adjacent a notch opening and a second taper part adjacent a notch bottom, and wherein with respect to a line bisecting each notch, a first angle extends between said line and a notch side wall in said first taper part and a second angle extends between said line and the notch side wall in said second taper part, and further wherein said first angle is larger than said second angle such that said first taper part has an opening angle larger than an opening angle of said second taper part.