Patent ID: 9230842
Filing Date: 2016-01-05
CPC Classification: H01L

Claim Text:
1. A substrate processing apparatus comprising: a housing section configured to house a substrate; a plurality of transfer chambers including at least a first transfer chamber and a second transfer chamber connected in a series connection along a nearly horizontal direction to transfer the substrate therebetween, each of the plurality of transfer chambers including a plurality of airtight chambers connected to the periphery thereof, and a transfer mechanism provided therewithin, each of the plurality of airtight chambers being configured to process the substrate under an airtight state, and the transfer mechanism being configured to transfer the substrate to and from the airtight chambers; a carry-in section configured to carry the substrate from the housing section either into the first transfer chamber via a first opening provided in the first transfer chamber or into the second transfer chamber via the first opening and a relay section provided in the first transfer chamber to be connected to the second transfer chamber; and a carry-out section configured to carry out the substrate discharged from the second transfer chamber via a second opening provided in the second transfer chamber and connected to the carry-out section, such that the substrate is transferred from the second transfer chamber directly to the housing section, without returning the substrate to the first transfer chamber, wherein the carry-out section includes a first moving section configured to move, via the second opening, the substrate discharged from the second transfer chamber in a vertical direction with a vertical transfer arm and a second moving section configured to move the substrate in a horizontal direction such that the substrate is transferred to the housing section substantially in a direction of the series connection of the first transfer chamber and the second transfer chamber.