Patent ID: 8286482
Filing Date: 2012-10-16
Classification: B01J,G01F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A process-liquid supply mechanism configured to supply a process liquid used for processing an object to be processed, the process-liquid supply mechanism comprising: a container tank configured to contain the process liquid; a level gauge pipe connected to the container tank, the level gauge pipe being provided with a level sensor for detecting a remaining amount of the process liquid contained in the container tank; a measuring part configured to measure a remaining amount of the process liquid in the container tank, based on a signal from the level sensor of the level gauge pipe; a drain pipe connected to the container tank, the drain pipe being configured to drain the process liquid contained in the container tank: an inflow pipe connected to the container tank, the inflow pipe being configured to introduce the process liquid to the container tank; and a connection pipe disposed between the drain pipe or the inflow pipe and the level gauge pipe, in the connection pipe an openable and closable opening/closing member is provided, wherein the drain pipe constitutes a process-liquid supply pipe configured to supply a part of the process liquid drained from the container tank to a processing part, the inflow pipe constitutes a process-liquid return pipe configured to introduce the process liquid, which has not been supplied to the processing part, and/or the process liquid, which has been used by the processing part, to the container tank, and the connection pipe is disposed between the process-liquid return pipe and the level gauge pipe.