Wafer boat support and method for twin tower wafer boat loader

摘要

An apparatus for automatically and simultaneously loading/unloading a plurality of wafer boats (24) onto/from a cantilever paddle includes a cantilever paddle (47-1) and a carriage (42-1) supporting the cantilever paddle First and second vertical translation mechanisms (34A,B) each include a stationary part (62,63) and a vertically moveable support (61). First and second horizontal translation mechanisms (50A,B) each have a base (86) supported by one of the vertically moveable supports and a horizontally moveable arm (51) supported by the base (86). A horizontal boat support assembly (102) supports the loaded wafer boats and has an end supported by a first horizontally moveable arm (51A) and another end supported by a second horizontally moveable arm (51B). A stationary rail (97) has its ends supported by the first and second horizontally moveable arms, and a moveable rail (96) is supported by outer ends of first and second rotary arms to bring the moveable rail into a lower first position to engage an edge of each of the wafer boats (24) and to an upper second position above wafers in the wafer boats to clear the wafers as the first and second horizontal translation mechanisms are withdrawn from the wafer boats (24).