Abstract: A holding and drive device including a frame; a rotation structure which is attached to the frame in such a manner that it can rotate around a rotation axis; a rotation drive for rotating the rotation structure around the rotation axis; and a rotation structure interface attached to or formed on the rotation structure, to which a tool device including a plurality of sleeves can be detachably attached, which are configured for the detachable attachment of a respective component holding device protruding from the rotation axis with a radial direction component or of another tool element. A corresponding tool device, a corresponding supplementary tool device, and a component handling device constructed from these components.

Abstract: A test handler comprising a primary rotary turret comprising pick heads for transporting electronic components, and a secondary rotary turret arranged and configured to receive electronic components directly or indirectly from the primary rotary turret, the secondary rotary turret including multiple separate test sectors having component carriers for carrying the electronic components received from the primary rotary turret, wherein the multiple test sectors are rotatably movable relative to one another. The test handler also comprises at least one testing device positioned along a periphery of the secondary rotary turret, wherein the component carriers of the respective test sectors are operative to convey the electronic components to a position of the at least one testing device for testing.

Abstract: An example test head manipulator includes a tower having a base and a track, where the track is vertical relative to the base, and arms to enable support for the test head. The arms are connected to the track to move the test head vertically relative to the tower, and the arms are configured to control rotation of the test head. Each of the arms includes a cam that is rotatable, and at least one plunger in contact with the cam and that is configured to contact the test head. Rotation of the cam is controllable to move the at least one plunger to offset an uncontrolled rotation the test head.

Abstract: A method is provided for self-aligned multi-patterning on a semiconductor workpiece using an integrated sequence of processing steps executed on a common manufacturing platform hosting one or more film-forming modules, one or more etching modules, and one or more transfer modules. A workpiece having a mandrel pattern formed thereon is received into the common manufacturing platform. A sidewall spacer pattern is formed based, at least in part, on the mandrel pattern, the sidewall spacer pattern having a plurality of second features separated by a second pitch distance with the first pitch distance being greater than the second pitch distance. The integrated sequence of processing steps is executed within the common manufacturing platform without leaving the controlled environment and the transfer modules are used to transfer the workpiece between the processing modules while maintaining the workpiece within the controlled environment. Broadly, forming a sidewall spacer pattern based on the mandrel pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring electronic components, comprising a main rotary turret comprising a plurality of turret pick heads for conveying electronic components to multiple positions adjacent to the main rotary turret; a first rotary mechanism configured for picking up electronic components from a supply of electronic components, the first rotary mechanism being in operative communication with the main rotary turret at a first transfer position; and a second rotary mechanism that is in operative communication with the main rotary turret at a second transfer position, and which is further in operative communication with the first rotary mechanism at a third transfer position.

Abstract: A substrate processing chamber, having a processing surface, includes a guide fixed in place relative to the substrate processing chamber and a movable pyrometer connected to the guide. The movable pyrometer is movable along a radial axis that extends approximately between a center of the processing surface and an outer surface of the processing surface. The movable pyrometer is operable to monitor temperatures inside the substrate processing chamber along the radial axis.

Abstract: Diodes for use in FinFET technologies having increased junction electric fields without the need for increased dopant concentrations, as well as methods, apparatus, and systems for fabricating such diodes. The diodes may comprise a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of fins formed on the semiconductor substrate; wherein each of the plurality of fins comprises an N channel doped region comprising an N channel dopant, and the semiconductor substrate further comprises a plurality of P channel doped regions comprising a P channel dopant, wherein each of the P channel doped regions is disposed under one of the plurality of fins and is adjacent to the N channel doped region of the fin.

Abstract: A rotation processing machine includes a rotating device supporting a cylindrical workpiece via a rotation support jig; a processing device on which a cutting tool is mounted; and a turning loader that has grippers arranged about a turning central axis and that turns so that the grippers sequentially face the rotating device. The grippers are configured to individually move up and down, and a height position of each gripper is settable to a first height position where the gripper delivers and receives the cylindrical workpiece to and from the rotating device, and a second height position where the gripper delivers and receives the rotation support jig to and from the rotating device.

Abstract: A method for inspecting drink containers, wherein the container is transported along a predefined transport path by means of a transport facility, and an outside wall of the container is tempered at least in sections, and wherein an area of the inside wall of the container is inspected through an orifice of the container during or after tempering of the outside wall by means of an inspection means is provided. The inspection means includes at least heat radiation emanating from the observed area of the inside wall, and conclusions are drawn from the recorded heat radiation as to the presence of foreign bodies between the observed area of the inside wall and the inspection means.

Abstract: A rotation processing machine, including a rotating device that holds and rotates a workpiece; a processing device on which a cutting tool is mounted to process the workpiece; and a turning loader that has grippers arranged about a turning central axis, and that turns so that the grippers sequentially face the rotating device. The turning loader is configured to deliver and receive the workpiece to and from the rotating device by turning with the workpiece being directly or indirectly held by the gripper, and to deliver and receive the cutting tool to and from the processing device by turning with the cutting tool being directly or indirectly held by the gripper.

Abstract: A carrier device according to embodiments includes: a swivel arm that is provided on a base installed on an installation surface to be able to swivel around a central axis and whose leading ends can pass on a circular orbit; and turn tables that are attached to the leading ends of the swivel arm and can carry a predetermined workpiece while placing thereon the workpiece between a working position and a carrying in/out position provided on the circular orbit. The turn table is rotated by an integral multiple of 360 degrees with respect to the installation surface while the turn table is moving from the working position to the carrying in/out position by swiveling the swivel arm.

Abstract: An analytical system for examining a body fluid and a method of operation of an analytical system, typically for blood sugar tests, including an exchangeable magazine (18) as a consumable, which includes a plurality of magazine units (24) that are each provided with at least one analytical aid (32, 34) and with a transport element (28), a hand-held device (12) having a magazine guide (16) for receiving the magazine (18), a transport mechanism (48) that engages on the transport elements so as to transport the magazine in steps in the magazine guide, including a positioning mechanism (50) for positioning an active magazine unit in a predefined functional position, wherein retaining means (52, 54) of the positioning mechanism can be brought into engagement with transport elements of the magazine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transfer apparatus for transferring electronic devices from a wafer to a test handler. The transfer apparatus comprises: i) a rotary device rotatable about an axis; and ii) a plurality of holders configured to hold the electronic devices for transfer from the wafer to the test handler. The plurality of holders are coupled to, and extendable from, the rotary device to pick the electronic devices from the wafer. Specifically, the plurality of holders are arranged circumferentially around, and inclined with respect to, the axis of the rotary device, so as to change an orientation of the electronic devices on the wafer to a desired orientation of the electronic devices on the test handler.

Abstract: A component sorting and wasting device is provided with a plurality of waste boxes having respective IDs and arranged at predetermined locations for receiving components to be wasted therein and a component mounting mechanism being capable of picking up components from a component supply device in mounting the picked-up components on circuit boards and of sorting and wasting each of components which are recognized as being unable to be mounted on the circuit boards, in one of the waste boxes selected for the component to be wasted.

Abstract: In a processing block, a plurality of back surface cleaning units and a main robot are provided. The main robot is provided between the back surface cleaning units provided on one side of the processing block and the back surface cleaning units provided on the other side of the processing block. A reversing unit used to reverse a substrate and a substrate platform used to transfer and receive substrates between an indexer robot and the main robot are provided adjacent to each other in the vertical direction between the indexer robot and the processing block. The main robot transports substrates among the plurality of back surface cleaning units, the substrate platform, and the reversing unit.

Abstract: A handler for electronic components, in particular IC's, comprising a feed unit for plungers with a pneumatic cylinder unit that can be displaced and that is coupled to a pneumatic cylinder displacement unit, which moves said cylinder unit back and forth in the axial direction of the plungers.

Abstract: A carrier device according to embodiments includes: a swivel arm that is provided on a base installed on an installation surface to be able to swivel around a central axis and whose leading ends can pass on a circular orbit; and turn tables that are attached to the leading ends of the swivel arm and can carry a predetermined workpiece while placing thereon the workpiece between a working position and a carrying in/out position provided on the circular orbit. The turn table is rotated by an integral multiple of 360 degrees with respect to the installation surface while the turn table is moving from the working position to the carrying in/out position by swiveling the swivel arm.

Abstract: A carrier device according to an embodiment includes a base that is disposed on an installation surface and a swivel arm that is provided on the base to swivel freely and of which turn tables attached to its both ends pass between a carrying in and out position and a working position that are previously set on a circular orbit. The base has a hollow structure and includes a hollow part that has at least therein the center of rotation of the swivel arm and into and through which a predetermined linear object can be inserted.

Abstract: A device for transferring fitting parts for container labelling includes a hub coupled centrally and directly to a direct drive so as to be rotationally driven by the direct drive around a rotational axis in a stationary hub bearing arrangement disposed in an outer circumferential region of the hub. A plurality of drive shafts are rotatably mounted near an outside circumference of the hub. Each drive shaft is parallel to the rotational axis and coupled to a respective transfer shaft carrying a transfer element. A lantern wheel is disposed underneath the hub. The lantern wheel includes drive pinions and toothed wheel segments disposed on the drive shafts and a stationary control cam plate for pivotally rotating the drive shafts with rotation of the hub. The direct drive is disposed underneath the control cam plate.

Abstract: A wafer transfer device and method capable of preventing a wafer from falling off of a carrier. A first carrier receiver holding a first carrier has a box-like shape having an opening through which the first carrier is attached/removed to/from the first carrier receiving member. A second carrier receiver holding a second carrier has a box-like shape having an opening through which the second carrier is attached/removed to/from the first carrier receiving member. The first carrier and the second carrier can be attached/removed to/from the first carrier receiver and the second carrier receiver, respectively. Owing to such a configuration, it is possible to prevent a wafer received in the first carrier and the second carrier from falling off from the first carrier and the second carrier, respectively.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a production system having at least one machine tool and at least one pallet handling system for the automatic loading of at least one machine tool. The at least one pallet handling system has a storage unit associated with at least one machine tool and having one or more shelf modules. The storage unit additionally includes at least one rotatable storage tower.

Abstract: A device handler for testing and sorting electronic devices has a testing station operative to test the electronic devices and to classify them according to different binning characteristics. A buffer assembly receives electronic devices which have been classified at the testing station, and the buffer assembly further comprises a first loading region having a plurality of receptacles and a second loading region having a plurality of receptacles. An output station is operative to unload electronic devices according to their different binning characteristics from either one of the first or second loading region of the buffer assembly for storage while electronic devices are being loaded onto the other loading region.

Abstract: A cutting machine having a workpiece changer possessing a receiving element for the workpieces and/or workpiece palettes, said receiving element pivots about a vertical axis and is linearly shiftable in a plane normal to such axis. A tool spindle moves on two parallel side walls which are divided by a transverse wall or by door which can opened or shut between a front machining area and a rear supply area. The radius of the receiving element extends at least partly into a supply area and the tool spindle is movable over the front machining area. Accordingly a person minding or controlling the functioning cutting machine is not hampered by workpiece changing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for handling disks as part of a magnetic disk manufacturing process is provided. In one embodiment, during a drying process the disks are engaged at the inner diameter rather than the outer diameter to eliminate the formation of residue on the surface of the disks at or proximate data zones. The disks may be engaged individually or in pairs.

Abstract: A transfer turret assembly is provided for transferring can bodies between process stations in a can necking machine. The transfer turret assembly includes a rotatable transfer starwheel. A plurality of pockets is formed in the starwheel that can each receive a can body. The turret assembly includes a vacuum assembly having a first zone that is under vacuum and a second zone separated from the first region by a boundary. The first zone vacuum retention force to vacuum ports formed in the pockets to retain the can bodies within the pockets. The boundary between the first zone and the second zone is adjustable to correspondingly adjust the vacuum retention force according to desired starwheel rotation speed.

Abstract: A machine tool including a spindle oriented along a first direction with an adjustable chuck to receive a piece to be worked on. The machine tool further includes a transport device positioned essentially perpendicular to the first direction with deposit areas for the deposit of a number of the pieces to be worked on. The transport device is positioned such that each of the deposit areas may be moved into a transfer position in order to receive a piece to be worked on from the pertinent deposit area by the adjustable chuck or to release it from the adjustable chuck and to deposit it in the pertinent deposit area. An orientation device is provided that is configured to orient the piece to be worked on in a deposit area such that it may be received by the adjustable chuck in the transfer position.

Abstract: A wafer transfer device and method capable of preventing a wafer from falling off of a carrier. A first carrier receiver holding a first carrier has a box-like shape having an opening through which the first carrier is attached/removed to/from the first carrier receiving member. A second carrier receiver holding a second carrier has a box-like shape having an opening through which the second carrier is attached/removed to/from the first carrier receiving member. The first carrier and the second carrier can be attached/removed to/from the first carrier receiver and the second carrier receiver, respectively. Owing to such a configuration, it is possible to prevent a wafer received in the first carrier and the second carrier from falling off from the first carrier and the second carrier, respectively.

Abstract: A vacuum suction device includes an inner cylindrical body, an outer enclosure, a vacuum pump, an ion generator, and a vacuum picking member. The inner cylindrical body has a through hole defined therein. The inner cylindrical body is received in a through hole of the outer enclosure and is rotatable relative to the outer enclosure such that the through hole alternatively couples the vacuum picking member to one of the vacuum pump and the ion generator. The vacuum pump is coupled to the third through opening of the outer enclosure. The ion generator is coupled to the second through opening of the outer enclosure. The vacuum picking member is configured for picking a workpiece, the vacuum picking member being coupled to the first through opening of the outer enclosure.

Abstract: A wafer carrier for a rotating disc CVD reactor includes a unitary plate of a ceramic such as silicon carbide defining wafer-holding features such as pockets on its upstream surface and also includes a hub removably mounted to the plate in a central region of the plate. The hub provides a secure connection to the spindle of the reactor without imposing concentrated stresses on the ceramic plate. The hub can be removed during cleaning of the plate.

Abstract: The invention includes multi-station workpiece processors, methods of processing semiconductor workpieces within multi-station workpiece processors, and methods of moving semiconductor workpieces within multi-station workpiece processors. In one implementation, a multi-station workpiece processor includes a processing chamber comprising multiple stations for processing individual workpieces. A pedestal is associated with individual of the stations. The pedestals are mounted for selective vertical up movement within the chamber to contact a workpiece and for selective vertical down movement within the chamber to be displaced from a workpiece. The pedestals respectively comprise an upper surface upon which an individual workpiece is received during processing within the chamber. At least one workpiece engagement arm is associated with individual of the pedestals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a structure for storing a substrate that can be downsized compared to conventional techniques and is capable of suppressing an increase in footprint. The structure for storing a substrate pertaining to the present invention includes a holding section for holding a substrate horizontally, an inner component positioned around the holding section, which has a loading and unloading section for loading and unloading the substrate from the holding section in a horizontal direction, and an outer component positioned around the inner component, which has an opening corresponding to the loading and unloading section, wherein the inner component and the outer component are able to rotate independently of each other and a rotation axis of the inner component and a rotation axis of the outer component are orthogonal to a face of the substrate.

Abstract: A bead feeder for serially delivering beads to a downstream location comprises a bead supply wheel which rotates about a vertical axis. The bead supply wheel includes a bead supply bowl and a plurality of radially arranged channels below the bowl connected to rotate with the bowl. Discharge openings in the bowl are in alignment with the radially arranged channels to delivery beads to those channels, and a bead receiving pocket is positioned at the outer end of each channel. A transfer wheel picks up beads from the bead receiving pockets and transfers those beads to a delivery wheel by vacuum transfer and release. The delivery wheel serially delivers the beads to the downstream location.

Abstract: A workpiece changer for transfer of workpiece palettes between a storage arrangement arranged in front of a machining machine for such workpiece palettes and a workpiece table, possesses a gripper device for receiving and putting down workpiece palettes and a rotary drive for swiveling the gripper device about a vertical axis. A linear drive serves to shift the gripper means between a first position on the storage arrangement and a second position on the workpiece table. The storage arrangement possesses at least one change station for the transfer and acceptance of workpiece palettes by the gripper device, a conveyor apparatus being provided for the supply and removal of workpiece receiving station to and from the change station. Accordingly, satisfactory access is provided to the workpiece table during machining and workpiece changing operations may be performed at a high speed on any desired machining machines.

Abstract: A dynamic workcell includes a three dimensional positioning robot positioned adjacent a plurality of operation stations. A plurality of movable part fixtures located adjacent to the robot is also provided. A fixture location controller directing positioning of the part fixtures relative to the plurality of operation stations to minimize travel between an operation station and a part fixture is provided. A method for operating a workcell may include the steps of: mapping ones of a plurality of testers to the plurality of movable part fixtures; maintaining the position of each movable part fixture; determining a current location of an active part fixture relative to a mapped tester; and minimizing the distance between the mapped tester and the active part fixture.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming and unloading a completed stack of articles. An assembly station includes a rotatable turret from which at least one stacker arm projects. The turret rotates to each of a number of article loading positions to sequentially load articles onto the arm in a desired order. The turret is then advanced to allow the articles to be concurrently unloaded from the stacker arm at an unloading position. In an automated disc drive manufacturing environment, the articles comprise respective numbers of magnetic recording discs and intervening disc spacers which are arranged into a disc/spacer stack as the stacker arm is advanced to a number of disc feeder and spacer feeder stations. The completed disc/spacer stack is then unloaded onto a spindle motor hub. Additional arms preferably project from the turret so that, as the turret rotates, multiple stacks are simultaneously formed and sequentially unloaded.

Abstract: A singulation handler system is provided for a strip of electronic packages, which comprises an onloader located adjacent to an onloading location for providing an unsingulated strip of packages for singulation and a cutting jig for mounting the strip of unsingulated packages. The cutting jig is movable between the onloading location and a singulation location at which the strip is singulated by a singulation engine. The system further includes a buffer boat for holding singulated packages that have been removed from the cutting jig and which is operative to convey the singulated packages in a fixed relative orientation. A gang pick head is operative to transfer multiple singulated packages simultaneously from the buffer boat to a rotary turret device and an offloader is provided for transferring singulated packages from the rotary turret device to containers in which the singulated packages are storable.

Abstract: A method and system for transporting a plurality of substrates between a transfer chamber and at least one processing chamber. The system includes a chuck assembly with a plurality of chucks configured to receive wafer substrates, where the chuck assembly is movably configured to provide for transfer of the plurality of substrates between a transfer chamber and a processing chamber. The system provides a structure that allows for the processing of one substrate on a first chuck, while a second substrate is loaded onto a second chuck and prepared for processing.

Abstract: A storage and retrieval apparatus including a robotic device capable of gripping items stored in the apparatus and delivering the item to a separate, proximate instrument. The items to be stored are loaded from the outside of the apparatus at each face of the hexagonal or octagonal shaped storage carousel. The storage carousel, which can be manually rotated, is mounted on a stationary base, both structures including a hollow core. The robotic device includes slider bars within the core of the apparatus and is rotatable about the central axis of the apparatus. The robotic device is capable of translating vertically, telescoping horizontally, rotating and gripping an item stored at a desired location within the storage carousel. Upon retrieval of a desired item, the robotic device will proceed to retract and translate downward to an aperture within the base. The item is transferred to an adjacent instrument through the aperture using the telescopic arm of the robotic device.

Abstract: The invention provides a mechanism for a test handler using for electrical testing of electronic devices. The devices are placed on a platform configured to move semiconductor devices from an onloading position to an offloading position along a predetermined path. A transfer arm with a plurality of transfer heads connected to it is located adjacent the path. The transfer heads are configured to pick up and transfer semiconductor devices from the platform to a testing position for testing, and thereafter to transfer the semiconductor devices from the testing position to the platform for offloading.

Abstract: A vacuum chamber for transporting at least one workpiece has two or more openings defining respective opening areas for treating or handling the at least one workpiece. A transport device is arranged relative to the openings and includes a drive shaft rotatable around a drive shaft rotational axis. Two or more conveyors transport at least one workpiece. A linear driver is operationally independent to linearly move respective ones of the two or more conveyors relative to the drive shaft, with a drive component in a radial direction relative to the axis. An obstructing member is provided for closing the openings when one of the conveyors is positioned adjacent to the openings by rotating the transport device and is moved by the linear drive towards the opening.

Abstract: An apparatus having several stations that receive, apply adhesive to, crowd, press and cure the wood pieces into a continuous wood panel. A singulation station engages an individual one of the wood pieces oriented in a cross-machine direction from an infeed station, presents the wood piece to an adhesive station for adhesive application and releases the wood piece for crowding at a crowding station into a batch of the wood pieces. A press station downwardly presses the batch with an upper platen and presses the batch in a downstream direction onto the continuous wood panel with a clamping device. A radio frequency device applies radio waves to cure the adhesive between the wood pieces of the batch so as to adhere the wood pieces together and so as to adhere the batch to the continuous wood panel. A cutting station cuts individual wood panels from the continuous wood panel.

Abstract: A disk (6) is horizontally rotated a half-turn by a motor (7) in a rotational direction and, then, is rotated a half-turn in an opposite rotational direction. Two servomotors (8, 9) are symmetrically disposed, on an upper surface of the disk (6), with respect to a rotating shaft of the disk (6). Driving shafts (22, 23), driven by the two servomotors (8, 9), downwardly extend through the disk (6), and move hanging members (K, M), respectively, in upward-and-downward directions. Two hanging members (K, M) are provided, at their lower ends, with clampers (32), respectively. The clampers (32) are each provided, at their bottom surfaces, with a suction pad (35), and are provided, at their upper surfaces, with pneumatic cylinders (28, 29). The pressure of the compressed air supplied to the pneumatic cylinder is adjusted by a pressure regulating device (38).

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to make it as easy as possible to change a spindle in a lifting device (2) for substrates, which device comprises a support (10). To this end the support is configured such that it can be made to engage the substrate holder (25) by rotation or by pivoting.

Abstract: A vacuum chamber for transporting at least one workpiece has two or more openings defining respective opening areas for treating or handling the at least one workpiece. A transport device is arranged relative to the openings and includes a drive shaft rotatable around a drive shaft rotational axis. Two or more conveyors transport at least one workpiece. A linear driver is operationally independent to linearly move respective ones of the two or more conveyors relative to the drive shaft, with a drive component in a radial direction relative to the axis. An obstructing member is provided for closing the openings when one of the conveyors is positioned adjacent to the openings by rotating the transport device and is moved by the linear drive towards the opening.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus provided with a turn driving device rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the plane of a pallet and also movable in the direction of the axis, a sliding device disposed on only the lower side of the pallet, and a push-up device having a first guide portion for causing the pallet normally separate from the sliding device to abut against the sliding device and further, guiding the direction of movement of the pallet, wherein during pallet exchange, the turn driving device turns the pallet on the sliding device and exchanges the pallet.

Abstract: A rotary-type circuit-component supplying apparatus including a plurality of feeders each of which stores a plurality of circuit components of a same sort and which supplies the components one by one from a component-supply portion thereof, at least one rotary table which is rotatable about a first axis line which is substantially vertical and which holds the feeders such that the respective component-supply portions of the feeders are arranged along a circle having a center on the first axis line, and a table-driving device which rotates and stops the rotary table to position the component-supply portion of each of the feeders at a predetermined component-supplying position, the feeders including at least one pendent feeder which includes a main portion which is held by the rotary table such that the main portion extends in a substantially horizontal direction, and which supports a tape-feeding mechanism which feeds a tape carrying the circuit components to the component-supply portion of the pendent feeder,

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for substrate handling. In a first aspect, a temperature adjustment plate is located below a substrate carriage and is configured such that a substrate may be transferred between the temperature adjustment plate and the substrate carriage by lifting and lowering the substrate carriage above and below the top surface of the temperature adjustment plate. The temperature adjustment plate may be configured to heat and/or cool a substrate positioned thereon. In a second aspect, the substrate carriage is magnetically coupled so as to rotate and/or lift and lower magnetically, thereby reducing particle generation via contact between moving parts (and potential chamber contamination therefrom). In a third aspect, a substrate handler positioned below the substrate carriage is both magnetically coupled and magnetically levitated, providing further particle reduction.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus comprises a processing section for performing processing for a substrate, a substrate carrier transfer section into/out of which a substrate carrier holding a plurality of substrates is carried, and a substrate transfer mechanism for taking an unprocessed substrate out of the substrate carrier carried into the substrate carrier transfer section to deliver it to the processing section and for receiving a processed substrate from the processing section to deliver it into the substrate carrier placed on the substrate carrier transfer section. The substrate carrier transfer section shifts the position of the substrate carrier between a first position at which the substrate carrier is carried to/from the outside and a second position at which the substrate in the substrate carrier is delivered to/from the substrate transfer mechanism.

Abstract: A device and a method for separately transporting substances are provided. The device and method according to the invention can especially be used in connection with an unit for producing DVDs. Preferably, the device according to the invention has for each substrate an input station, a processing station and an output station, which stations are arranged on the circular arc at given distances &agr;. Furthermore, grippers are provided, which are arranged on said circular arc at given distances &agr; and can be simultaneously rotated around an axis through the center of said circle through an angle &bgr;. Each gripper transports one substrate to the processing and output stations in a rotational movement. It is the advantage of the invention that the mixing-up of substrates is avoided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a crimping machine having a hopper assembly for receiving loose bulk quantities of elongated components and supplying them aligned end-to-end and in random orientation to a feeder device. The feeder device receives the components in an inlet chute and feeds each of the components one-at-time having a desired orientation to an outlet chute. The feeder device includes a rotatable disk having a central chamber therein adapted to receive each of the components, and includes a releasable gate. The disk and gate function independently, as required, between the inlet chute and the outlet chute, to sequentially release (or invert and release) each of the components one-at-a-time and having a desired orientation for utilization, to a crimping assembly.