Texas Instruments Corporation

Robin D Worley

Richard L Guldi

Keith W Melcher

A method of detecting object scratching during robotic arm movement of the object. The method includes providing a robotic arm for grasping and placing of an object into a cassette and providing a cassette having an entrance for receiving an object therein. A vibration sensor is placed on at least one of the robotic arm or under the cassette control of the robotic arm is provided in response to a malfunction indication at least one of the vibration sensors. There can further be provided an air flow across the entrance of the cassette with placement of a particle counter at the downstream end of the air flow across cassette entrance, wherein the control of said robotic arm is provided in response to a malfunction indication at least one of the vibration sensors and the particle counter. The control can also be provided in response to both of the vibration sensors or one or both of the vibration sensors and the particle counter. The control can be one or more of making a record of the malfunction, providing an alarm signal or terminating operation of the arm. The object is preferably some form of disc or disc-shaped object.

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Coppell, TX, United States of America

Robin D Worley