Patent ID: 6755603
Filing Date: 2004-06-29
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A substrate transporting apparatus comprising:a substrate loading and unloading section for loading and unloading a plurality of substrates; a substrate processing section for applying a designated treatment on said substrates; a substrate delivery section for delivering said substrates from said substrate loading and unloading section to said substrate processing section and vice versa, said substrate delivery section having substrate holding means for holding said substrates delivered in a row; substrate transporting means for transporting said substrates between said substrate processing section and said substrate delivery section; and substrate spacing means for vertically holding said substrates at predetermined intervals, said substrate spacing means being positioned between said substrate holding means and said substrate transporting means, wherein said substrate spacing means includes a first holding part for holding said substrates and a second holding part for holding said substrates; said first holding part has a lower-part supporting member formed with a plurality of holding grooves, said holding grooves respectively engaging with bottom portions of said substrates when holding said substrates vertically, and a side-part supporting member formed with a plurality of holding grooves, said holding grooves respectively engaging with upper side edges on both sides of each of said bottom portions of said substrates when holding said substrates vertically; said second holding part has a lower-part supporting member formed with a plurality of holding grooves, said holding grooves respectively engaging with bottom portions of said substrates when holding said substrates vertically, and a side-part supporting member formed with a plurality of holding grooves, said holding grooves respectively engaging with upper side edges on both sides of each of said bottom portions of said substrates when holding said substrates vertically; and said first and second holding parts are adapted so as to rise and fall relative to each other, whereby said substrates are held by either one of said first holding part or said second holding part, at predetermined intervals, wherein said holding grooves of said first holding parts and said holding grooves of said second holding parts are formed so as to engage with said substrates at symmetrical positions thereof, wherein said holding grooves of said side-part supporting member in said first and second holding parts are formed so as to have substantial V-shaped cross sections in order to support said substrates, said holding grooves of said lower-part supporting member in said first and second holding parts being formed so as to have substantial Y-shaped cross sections in order to prevent said substrates from inclining.