Patent ID: 9553004
Date: 2017-01-24
CPC Classifications: B08B,H01L

Claim:
1. A method of cleaning a plurality of workpieces using a cleaning apparatus having a plurality of cleaning tanks including an ozone cleaning tank filled with an ozone cleaning solution and an alkaline cleaning tank filled with a solution containing an alkaline component, and a transfer means having transfer arms and chuck members provided on the transfer arms, which is movable between the plurality of cleaning tanks, comprising: with one workpiece of a plurality of workpieces being detachably retained by the chuck members, dipping the workpiece into a cleaning solution in one of the plurality of cleaning tanks at least together with the chuck members and part of the transfer arms; then detaching the chuck members from the workpiece to move the transfer means during treatment of the workpiece in the cleaning tank; detachably retaining another workpiece having been dipped in a cleaning solution of another cleaning tank using the chuck members; and treating the plurality of workpieces sequentially in each of the ozone cleaning tank and alkaline cleaning tank by transferring the workpieces with the transfer means from the ozone cleaning tank to the alkaline cleaning tank, wherein directly before the chuck members retain each of the plurality of workpieces from the ozone cleaning tank for transferring the retained workpiece to an alkaline tank, alkaline component attached to part of the transfer arms and the chuck members is removed by cleaning, thereby preventing the alkaline component from mixing into the ozone cleaning solution, and wherein during the cleaning of the plurality of workpieces there is at least one step of transferring a workpiece from the alkaline tank that is not directly preceded by a cleaning step of the transfer arms and the chuck members, wherein the cleaning apparatus further includes a pure water cleaning tank for workpieces, filled with purified water for cleaning the workpiece, the transfer arms and the chuck members are cleaned by being dipped in and then being pulled out of the purified water in the pure water cleaning tank for workpieces, and the transfer arms and the chuck members are pulled out at a rate of 300 mm/sec or less after being dipped in the pure water cleaning tank.