Abstract:
A substrate processing apparatus comprises a cassette section for loading/unloading plural cassettes, a first sub-arm mechanism provided in the cassette section, a first block having plural coating units, an interface section provided adjacent to a second block for exposing, a third block having plural developing units, a first main arm mechanism provided in the first block to allow the substrate to be passed to and from the first sub-arm mechanism and to be inserted into and taken out from the coating unit, a third main arm mechanism provided in the third block to allow the substrate to be passed to and from the first main arm mechanism and to be inserted into and taken out from the developing unit, a second sub-arm mechanism provided in the interface section to allow the substrate to be passed to and from the third main arm mechanism and to be passed to and from the second block, a forward bypath having one end extending toward the neighborhood of the cassette section and the other end extending toward the neighborhood of the interface section, and a forward direct feeding mechanism receiving the substrate from the first main arm mechanism and directly feeding the substrate from the first block to the interface section.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 11-143424, filed May 24, 1999, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a substrate processing apparatus for coating a resist solution onto a substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer and liquid crystal display substrate, and developing a resist coated film. 
     In the case where a semiconductor device is manufactured by utilizing a photolithography, use is made of a system with a substrate processing apparatus (coating/developing apparatus) and light exposure apparatus combined. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional substrate processing apparatus includes a cassette section  10 , a coating block S 1 , developing block S 2  and interface section  51  and is connected to a light exposure apparatus S 3  through the interface section  51 . Such substrate processing apparatus is operated as will be set out below. 
     A sub-arm conveying mechanism not shown takes out a wafer W from a cassette C and conveys it to a first passing base  11 . A first main arm conveying mechanism MA 1  takes out the wafer W from a first passing base  11  and conveys it to the coating unit  12 , heat treating section  15  and second passing base  13 . Then a second main arm conveying mechanism MA 2  takes out the wafer W from the second passing base  13  and conveys it to a third passing base  14 . Then, the sub-arm conveying mechanism, not shown, takes out the wafer W from a third passing base  14 , conveys it to an interface section  51  and passes it to a transfer arm mechanism, not shown, of the light exposure apparatus S 3 . And the wafer W is transferred to a light exposure stage and a resist coated film is patterned with a light exposure. 
     The wafer W is conveyed, in a backward path reverse to that set out above, from the light exposure apparatus S 3  to the third passing base  14 . The second main arm conveying mechanism MA 2  takes out the wafer W from the third passing base  14  and conveys it to a heat treating section  17 , developing unit  16  and second passing base  13 . Then the first main arm conveying mechanism MA 1  takes out the wafer W from the second passing base  13  and conveys it to the first passing base  11 . The sub-arm conveying mechanism takes out the wafer W from the first passing base  11  and stores it in the cassette C. 
     In recent times, an anti-reflective film has been used to coat it on the upper or lower side of the resist film and its dedicated-use coating unit has been adopted within the coating block S 1 . For this reason, more number of steps are required in the coating block S 1  and an increasing burden is borne on the first main arm conveying mechanism MA 1 . In the conventional system, however, the first main arm conveying mechanism MA 1  not only conveys the wafer W in the coating block S 1  but also bears a burden to allow the wafer W to be passed between the cassette section  10  and the developing block S 2 , so that an excess burden is borne on the mechanism. For this reason, the wafer W stays longer in the developing block S 2  side in a stand-by state and the throughput is lowered. 
     In the developing block S 2 , each processing has to be done in a predetermined shorter time and each unit in the developing block S 2  contends with other units for the second main arm conveying mechanism MA 2 . In addition thereto, the second main conveying mechanism MA 2  has also a burden to allow the wafer W to be passed between the interface section  51  and the coating block S 1 , so that it bears an excessive burden. For this reason, the wafer W stays longer in the interface section  51  in a stand-by state and the throughput is lowered. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is accordingly the object of the present invention to provide a substrate processing apparatus which can alleviate a burden on a main arm conveying mechanism and ensures a higher throughput. 
     (1) There is provided a substrate processing apparatus according to the present invention which processes substrates one by one in accordance with a photolithography, comprising a cassette section for loading/unloading a plurality of cassettes; a first sub-arm conveying mechanism provided in the cassette section to insert and take out the substrate into and from the cassette; a first processing block provided adjacent to the cassette section and having a plurality of coating units for coating a resist solution onto the substrate; and interface section provided adjacent to a second processing block for exposing, with light, a resist-coated film formed on the substrate by the coating unit; a third processing block provided between the interface section and the first processing block and, having a plurality of developing units for developing the resist coated film exposed by the second processing block with light; a first main arm conveying mechanism provided in the first processing block to allow the substrate to be passed to and from the first sub-arm conveying mechanism and to allow the substrate to be inserted into and taken out from the coating unit; a third main arm conveying mechanism provided in the third processing block to allow the substrate to be passed to and from the first main arm conveying mechanism and to allow the substrate to be inserted into and taken out from the developing unit; a second sub-arm conveying mechanism provided in the interface section to allow the substrate to be passed to and from the third main arm conveying mechanism and to allow the substrate to be passed to and from the second processing block; a forward bypath so provided as to extend from the first processing block to the third processing block and having one end extending toward the neighborhood of the cassette section and the other end extending toward the neighborhood of the interface section; and a forward direct feeding mechanism movable along the forward bypath and so provided as to prevent an interference with the third main arm conveying mechanism, the forward direct feeding mechanism receiving the substrate coated with the resist by the coating unit from the first main arm conveying mechanism and directly feeding the substrate from the first processing block to the interface section. 
     According to the above-mentioned invention, the resist-coated substrate is fed by the forward direct feeding mechanism from the first processing block straight toward the interface section, thus alleviating a burden on the third main arm conveying mechanism in the third processing block (developing block). 
     (2) There is provided a substrate processing apparatus according to the present invention which processes substrates one by one in accordance with a photolithography, comprising a cassette section for loading and unloading a plurality of cassettes; a first sub-arm conveying mechanism provided in the cassette section to insert and take out the substrate into and from the cassette; a first processing block provided adjacent to the cassette section and having a plurality of coating units for coating a resist solution onto the substrate; an interface section provided adjacent to a second processing block for exposing, with light, the resist coated film formed on the substrate by the coating unit; a third processing block provided between the interface section and the first processing block, and having a plurality of developing units for developing the resist coated film exposed with light by the second processing block; a first main arm conveying mechanism provided in the first processing block to allow the substrate to be passed to and from the first sub-arm conveying mechanism and to allow the substrate to be inserted into and taken out from the coating unit; a third main arm conveying mechanism provided in the third processing block to allow the substrate to be passed to and from the first main arm conveying mechanism and to allow the substrate to be inserted into and taken out from the developing unit; a second sub-arm conveying mechanism provided in the interface section to allow the substrate to be passed to and from the third main arm conveying mechanism and to allow the substrate to be passed to and from the second processing block; a backward bypath so provided as to extend from the first processing block to the third processing block and having one end extending toward the neighborhood of the cassette section and the other end extending toward the neighborhood of the interface section; and a backward direct feeding mechanism movable along the backward bypath and so provided as to prevent an interference with the first main arm conveying mechanism, the backward direct feeding mechanism receiving the substrate developed by the developing unit from the third main arm conveying mechanism and directly feeding the substrate from the third processing block to the cassette section. 
     According to the above-mentioned invention, the developed substrate is fed by the backward direct feeding mechanism from the third processing block straight to the cassette section and, therefore, this alleviates a burden on the first main arm conveying mechanism in the first processing block (resist coating block). 
     (3) There is provided a substrate processing apparatus according to the present invention which processes substrates one by one in accordance with a photolithography, comprising a cassette section for loading/unloading a plurality of cassettes; a first sub-arm conveying mechanism provided in the cassette section and having a plurality of coating units for coating a resist solution onto the substrate; an interface section provided adjacent to a second processing block for exposing, with light, a resist coated film formed on the substrate by the coating unit; a third processing block provided between the interface section and the first processing block, and having a plurality of developing units for developing the resist coated film exposed with light by the second processing block; a first main arm conveying mechanism provided in the first processing block to allow the substrate to be passed to and from the first sub-arm conveying mechanism and to insert and take out the substrate into and from the coating unit; a third main arm conveying mechanism provided in the third processing block to allow the substrate to be passed to and from the first main arm conveying mechanism and to allow the substrate to be inserted into and taken out from the developing unit; a second sub-arm conveying mechanism provided in the interface section to allow the substrate to be passed to and from the third main arm conveying mechanism and to allow the substrate to be also passed to and from the second processing block; a forward bypath so provided as to extend from the first processing block to the third processing block and having one end extending toward the neighborhood of the cassette section and the other end extending toward the neighborhood of the interface section; a forward direct feeding mechanism movable along the forward bypath and so provided as to prevent an interference with the third main arm conveying mechanism, the forward direct feeding mechanism receiving the substrate coated with the resist by the coating unit from the first main arm conveying mechanism and directly feeding the substrate from the first processing block to the interface section; a backward bypath so provided as to extend from the first processing block to the third processing block and having one end extending toward the neighborhood of the cassette section and the other end extending toward the neighborhood of the interface section, and a backward direct feeding mechanism movable along the backward bypath and so provided as to prevent an interference with the first main arm conveying mechanism, the backward direct feeding mechanism receiving the substrate developed by the developing unit from the third main arm conveying mechanism and directly feeding the substrate from the third processing block to the cassette section. 
     The above-mentioned apparatus has both the forward direct feeding mechanism and the backward direct feeding mechanism and, therefore, alleviates a burden on the first and third main arm conveying mechanisms and improves the throughput. 
     Further, the feeding of the substrate to the interface section may be effected by selectively using the forward direct feeding mechanism or the third main arm conveying mechanism. Further, the feeding of the substrate to the cassette section may be effected by selectively using the backward direct feeding mechanism or the first main arm conveying mechanism. These increase the degree of freedom with which the processing is done. 
     The present apparatus may further includes a first heating section provided in the first processing block and heat-baking the resist coating film formed on the substrate and a first sub-conveying mechanism provided in the first processing block to allow the substrate which is heat-baked by the first heating section to be passed to the forward direct feeding mechanism. 
     Still further, the present apparatus may include a third heating section provided in the third processing block and heat-baking the substrate having a resist coated film exposed with light and a third sub-conveying mechanism provided in the third processing block and passing the substrate which is heat-baked by the third heating section to the backward direct feeding mechanism. 
     Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view diagrammatically showing a conventional apparatus; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view diagrammatically showing a substrate processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective see-through view diagrammatically showing the substrate processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from a front surface side; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective see-through view diagrammatically showing the substrate processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from a back surface side; 
     FIG. 5 is an inner see-through plan view diagrammatically showing a substrate processing apparatus of the embodiment; 
     FIG. 6 is an inner see-through side view diagrammatically showing the substrate processing apparatus of the embodiment; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a major section of a main arm conveying mechanism in a partly cut state; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view diagrammatically showing a coating unit; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a forward path transfer mechanism and backward path transfer mechanism of the embodiment; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing a heating/cooling mechanism of a CHP unit; 
     FIG. 11 is an inner see-through plan view showing a substrate processing apparatus according to another embodiment; 
     FIG. 12 is a side view showing a portion of the apparatus of the embodiment above; 
     FIG. 13 is a plan view showing an arm holder of a first sub-arm transfer mechanism; 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a forward direct feeding mechanism and backward direct feeding mechanism of the embodiment above; 
     FIG. 15 is an inner perspective see-through view diagrammatically showing a substrate processing apparatus according to another embodiment; 
     FIG. 16 is an inner perspective see-through view diagrammatically showing a substrate processing apparatus according to another embodiment; and 
     FIG. 17 is an inner perspective see-through view diagrammatically showing a substrate processing apparatus of another embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Various preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawing. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 to  5 , a substrate processing apparatus (coating/developing apparatus) includes a cassette section  10 , coating block (first processing block)  100 , developing block (third processing block)  300 , interface block  51 , and controller  90 . A light exposure apparatus  52  corresponding to a second processing block  200  is connected to a substrate processing apparatus through the interface section  51 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the cassette section  10 , first processing block  100 , third processing block  300 , interface section  51  and second processing block  200  are arranged in that order along a Y axis direction. These sections and blocks are detachably connected. 
     The cassette section  10  includes a stage  21  and first sub-arm conveying mechanism  22 . The stage  21  extends in the X-axis direction. Cassettes C can be placed by a four-arm unit on the stage  22  and are loaded and unloaded onto and from the stage  21  by a conveying robot or operator, not shown. The cassette C stores, for example,  25  semiconductor wafer W per lot. 
     The first sub-arm conveying mechanism  22  includes an arm holder for holding the wafer W, advance/withdraw drive mechanism for advancing or withdrawing the arm holder, Y axis drive mechanism for moving the arm holder in the X-direction, a liftable drive mechanism for moving the arm holder in a z-axis direction, and θ rotation drive mechanism for rotating the arm holder around the Z-axis. The first sub-arm conveying mechanism  22  is adapted to load and unload the wafer W onto and from the cassette C and pass the wafer W to and from a first main arm conveying mechanism  30  as will be set out below. 
     The first processing block  100  includes four coating units  3 , two shelf units R 1 , R 2  and first main arm conveying mechanism  30 . The four coating units  3  are arranged on a front surface side of the apparatus and are laid out in two-stage/two-array way and, out of these, the upper stage side units  3  are used for resist coating and lower stage units  3  are used for an anti-reflective coating film. The first shelf unit R 1  is arranged on the side of the cassette section  10  and the second shelf unit R 2  is on the side of the third processing block  300 . The first main arm conveying mechanism  30  is arranged at the center of the first processing block  100 . 
     As shown in FIG. 6, two cooling units  24 , positioning unit  26 , passing unit  25  and four heating units  23  are stacked up on the first shelf unit R 1  in a bottom-up direction. The wafer W is passed, by the passing unit  25  of the shelf unit R 1 , between the sub-arm conveying mechanism  22  and the main arm conveying mechanism  30 . Three cooling units  24 , passing unit  25  and four heating units  23  are stacked up on the second shelf unit R 2  in a bottom-up direction. The wafer W is passed, by the passing unit  25  of the shelf unit R 2 , between the first main arm conveying mechanism  30  and a second main arm conveying mechanism  40 . A power supply circuit for these cooling units  24  and heating units  23  is connected to an output section of a controller  90  and amounts of power supply to the cooling plates and heating plates are controlled by the controller. 
     The third processing block  300  includes four developing unit  5 , third shelf unit R 3 , and third main arm conveying mechanism  40 . The four developing unit  5  is arranged on the front surface side of the apparatus. The developing unit  5  is laid out in a two-stage/two-array way. The third shelf unit R 3  is arranged on the side of the interface section  51  and the third main arm conveying mechanism  40  is arranged at the center of the third processing unit  300 . 
     As shown in FIG. 7, the main arm conveying mechanisms  30  and  40  include an arm holder  41 , base  42 , pair of guide rails  43 ,  44 , coupling members  45 ,  46 , motor  47  and rotation shaft  48 . The arm holder  41  is so supported by the base  42  as to be movable back and forth. The base  42  is liftable up and down along the pair of guide rails  43 ,  44 . The upper and lower end sections of the guide rails  43 ,  44  are coupled by the coupling members  45 ,  46  to provide a frame body. The frame body is so supported by the rotation shaft  48  as to be rotatable around the z-axis direction. When the frame body is rotated by the motor  47  around the rotation shaft  48 , then the direction of the arm holder  41  is varied thereby. 
     The arm holder  41  is of such a three-stage type as to hold the wafer W in place and is adapted to support the wafer W by three claws  49  provided at the respective stages. The arm holder  41  is so supported as to be slidably movable along the length of the base  42 . The back/forth action of the arm holder  41  is controlled by a drive means not shown. The up/down lifting operation of the base  42  is controlled by another drive means not shown. A light sensor is supported on the base  42  through a member  49   a.  The light sensor detects the presence or absence of the wafer W on the arm holder  41 . 
     As shown in FIG. 8, the coating unit  3  includes a cup  31 , spin chuck  32  and nozzle  34 . The spin chuck  32  is so supported by a rotation drive mechanism  33   a  and  33   b  as to be rotatable and liftable up and down. The spin chuck  32  has a vacuum suction function to suck and hold the wafer W in place on its upper surface. The nozzle  34  is connected to a resist solution supply source or anti-reflective coating solution supply source, not shown, and movably supported on a horizontal arm. 
     The developing unit  5  is so configured as to have substantially the same structure as that of the above-mentioned coating unit  3 . However, a developing solution supply nozzle, not shown, is different from the resist solution supply nozzle  34  and has a solution discharge section equal in length to substantially a diameter of the wafer W. 
     The interface section  51  is arranged adjacent to the developing block  300 . Further, a light exposure apparatus  52  is arranged, as a second processing block  200 , adjacent to the interface section  51 . The light exposure apparatus  52  includes a convey-in stage  54 , convey-out stage  55 , light exposure section  56  and conveying arm mechanism  57 . The conveying arm mechanism  57  has its operation controlled by the controller  90  and conveys the wafer W between both the stages  54 ,  55  and a light exposure section  56 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a forward direct feeding mechanism  6  extends from the first processing block  100  to a second processing block  300  and has a rail (forward bypath)  61  extending in the Y-axis direction and a direct feeding unit  62 . One end of the forward bypath  61  reaches a boundary between the interface section  51  and the third processing block  300  to allow the wafer W which is straight fed by the direct feeding unit  62  to be passed to the second sub-arm conveying mechanism  53 . 
     A backward direct mechanism  7  is so provided as to extend from the first processing block  100  to the second processing block  300  and has a rail (backward bypath)  71  extending in the Y-axis direction and a direct feeding unit  72 . One end of the backward bypath  71  reaches a boundary between the cassette section  10  and the first processing block  100  to allow the wafer W which is straight fed by the direct feeding unit  72  to be passed to the first sub-arm conveying mechanism  22 . 
     Both the mechanisms  6  and  7  are so arranged as to prevent an interference with the substrate conveying areas of the fist and third man arm feeding mechanisms  30  and  40 . That is, the bypaths  61 ,  71  of the mechanisms  6 ,  7  pass on the back surface side of the first and third main arm feeding mechanisms  30  and  40 . That is, the bypaths  61 ,  71  of the mechanisms  6 ,  7  pass on the back surface of the first and third processing blocks  100 ,  300  and, as shown in FIG. 9, the forward direct feeding unit  62  is movable from a position A 1  to a position A 2  and a backward direct feeding unit  72  is movable from a position B 1  to a position B 2 . The forward direct feeding unit  62  allows the wafer W to be passed to the second sub-arm conveying mechanism  53  at the position A 2 . On the other hand, the backward direct feeding unit  72  allows the wafer W to be passed to the first sub-arm conveying mechanism  22  at the position B 2 . 
     In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the mechanisms  6 ,  7  are arranged on the back surface side of the substrate processing apparatus. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 4, the forward direct feeding mechanism  6  is arranged beneath the backward direct feeding mechanism  7 . It is to be noted that the forward direct feeding mechanism  6  and backward direct feeding mechanism  7  may be arranged in such a position as set out above and, as shown in FIG. 15, arranged above the first and third processing blocks  100 ,  300 . Further, as shown in FIG. 16, these mechanisms  6 ,  7  may be arranged below the first and third processing blocks  100 ,  300 . Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the forward direct feeding mechanism  6  may be provided on the upper side and the backward direct feeding mechanism  7  on the lower side. Further, according to the present embodiment, although the coating unit  3  and developing unit  5  are stacked in a two-stage way, the coating unit  3  and developing unit  5  may be stacked in a three-stage way as shown in FIG.  17 . 
     The operation of the apparatus of the present embodiment will be explained below. 
     First, the automatic conveying robot (or operator) sets a cassette C on the stage  21 . Then the first sub-arm conveying mechanism  22  takes out a wafer W from the cassette C and places it on the passing section  26 . The first main arm conveying mechanism  30  takes out the wafer W from the passing section  26  and conveys it to the coating unit  3  where a solution for an anti-reflective film is coated on the wafer W. Then, the first main arm conveying mechanism  30  conveys the wafer W to another coating unit  3  and coats a resist solution on the wafer. Then the first main arm conveying mechanism  30  conveys the wafer W to the heating section  23  where the resist film is baked in a predetermined temperature range. Then, the first main arm conveying mechanism  30  conveys the wafer W to a cooling section  24  where it is cooled to about room temperature. 
     Then, the first main arm conveying mechanism  30  passes the wafer W to the direct feeding unit  62  of the forward direct feeding mechanism  6  at the position A 1 . The unit  62  is moved along the forward bypath  61  from the position A 1  to the position A 2  and passes the wafer W to the second sub-arm conveying mechanism  53  of the interface section  51 . The second sub-arm conveying mechanism  53  conveys the wafer W to the stage  54  of the light exposure block  200  and places it there. The conveying arm mechanism  57  conveys the wafer W to the light exposure section  56  where the resist film is patterned with a light exposure. After the light exposure, the conveying arm mechanism  57  conveys the wafer W to the stage  55  and places it there. 
     The second sub-arm conveying mechanism  53  takes out the wafer W from the stage  55  and places it in the passing section  25  of the third processing block  300 . The third main arm conveying mechanism  40  takes out the wafer W from the passing section  25  and conveys it to a heating unit  23  where the resist film is baked (PEB) to a predetermined temperature. Then the third main arm conveying mechanism  40  conveys the wafer W from the heating unit  23  to the cooling unit  24  where it is cooled to room temperature. 
     Then the third main arm conveying mechanism  40  takes out the wafer W from the cooling unit  24  and conveys it to a developing unit  5 . After a developing process, the third main arm conveying mechanism  40  takes out the wafer W from the developing unit  5  and conveys it to the position B 1  and passes it to the direct feeding unit  72 . The unit  72  is moved along the backward bypath  71  from the position B 1  to the position B 2  where the wafer W is passed to the first sub-arm feeding mechanism  22  of the cassette section  10 . The first sub-arm conveying mechanism stores the wafer W in the cassette C. 
     According to the above-mentioned embodiment, the wafer W can be conveyed by the forward direct feeding mechanism  6  to the light exposure block  200  without using the third main arm conveying mechanism  40 . 
     It is to be noted that, by selecting any of the feeding mechanism  6  and third main arm conveying mechanism  40 , the resist-coated wafer may be passed to the sub-arm conveying mechanism  53  of the interface section  51 . Further, the developed wafer W may be passed to the sub-arm conveying mechanism  22  of the cassette section  10  by selecting any of the feeding mechanism  7  and first main arm conveying mechanism  30 . 
     Now, another embodiment will be explained below with reference to FIG.  10 . 
     In this embodiment, a heating/cooling section  8  is provided at shelf units R 1 , R 2  in a coating block  100  and a dedicated-use sub-conveying mechanism  83  is attached to the heating/cooling section  8 . The mechanism  83  has a pair of chucks for grasping a wafer W, drive means for opening and closing the pair of chucks and drive means for moving the chucks in the horizontal direction. 
     In this apparatus, a resist-coated wafer W is passed from the first main arm conveying mechanism  30  to a heating plate  81  and then the wafer W is grasped by the sub-conveying mechanism  83  and transferred onto a cooling plate  82 . And using the sub-conveying mechanism  83  a conveyance is made from the cooling plate  82  to a forward direct feeding mechanism  6 . It is to be noted that the sub-conveying mechanism  83  corresponds to the first sub-conveying mechanism. 
     Incidentally, a heating/cooling section may also be provided at a shelf unit R 3  of a developing block  300  and a second sub-conveying mechanism  83  is attached to the heating/cooling section and, using the second sub-conveying mechanism  83 , the wafer W may be passed to a backward direct feeding mechanism  7 . 
     A still another embodiment will be explained below by referring to FIGS. 11 to  13 . 
     In a coating block  100 , use is made of, in place of the shelf units R 1 , R 2 , shelf units R 4 , R 5  having a plurality of heating sections  85  as shown in FIG.  12 . Further, as shown in FIG. 11, a dedicated-use sub-conveying mechanism  86  is arranged near the shelf unit R 4  to allow a wafer W to be passed between a forward direct feeding mechanism  6  and the shelf unit R 4  and another dedicated-use sub-conveying mechanism  86  is arranged near the shelf unit R 5  to allow the wafer W to be passed between a backward direct feeding mechanism R 5 . 
     As shown in FIG. 13, the sub-conveying mechanism  86  has an arm holder  87  having slits  87   a ,  87   b  and  87   c  cut from a forward edge toward a rear side. The arm holder  87  is supported on a base  88  and moved/guided along a guide (not shown) of the base  88 . That is, the arm holder  87  is moved back and forth in an XY plane by a back/forth moving drive mechanism, not shown, is up/down lifted by a Z-axis drive mechanism, not shown, and is rotated around a Z-axis by a θ rotation mechanism, not shown. 
     The slits  87   a ,  87   b  and  87   c , upon receiving the wafer W from a heating plate  84 , are projected from the surface of the heating plate  84  and prevent an interference with a lifting pin, not shown, for lifting the wafer W. 
     In the present embodiment, a heated wafer W is cooled on the arm holder  87 , cooled by the direct feeding unit  61  of the forward direct feeding mechanism  6  and further cooled to room temperature by a cooling plate provided at an interface section  200 . It is to be noted that the structure of FIG. 12 may be adopted by a developing block  300 . 
     Still further, shelf units, not shown, for performing pre-processing and post-processing may be provided on a left side (the forward direct feeding mechanism  6  side) in the coating block  100  as seen from the cassette section  10  to allow the direct feeding unit  72  mechanism  7  to pass through the interior of the shelf unit. Even in the developing block  300 , similar shelf units, not shown, may be provided to allow the direct feeding unit  62  of the mechanism  6  to be passed through the interior of the shelf unit. Incidentally, the forward direct feeding mechanism  6  and backward direct feeding mechanism  7  may be shared. 
     As shown in FIG. 14, the backward direct feeding mechanism  7  may further have a plurality of heating units  23  and of cooling units  24 . By doing so, the conveying time of the wafer W is shortened, thus improving the throughput. 
     As shown in FIG. 15, it may be possible that the forward direct feeding mechanism  6  is arranged above the coating unit  3  and developing unit  5 , opening/closing chucks  64  are placed on an interface section  51  and lifting base  65  is placed beneath opening/closing chucks  64 . Further, it may be possible that the backward direct feeding mechanism  7  is arranged above shelf units R 2 , R 3  and an opening/closing chuck  74  is arranged above the cassette section  51  and the lifting base  75  is arranged beneath the opening/closing chuck  74 . 
     In such apparatus, a resist-coated wafer W is passed from the first main arm conveying mechanism  30  to the straight feeding unit  63 , conveyed, transferred from the straight feeding unit  63  onto the opening/closing chuck  64 , transferred from the opening/closing chuck  64  onto the lifting base  65 , lowered and transferred from the lifting base  65  onto the second sub-arm conveying mechanism  53  of the interface section  51 . On the other hand, a developed wafer W is passed from the third main arm conveying mechanism  40  to the straight feeding unit  73 , conveyed, transferred from the straight feeding unit  73  onto the opening/closing chucks  74 , transferred from the opening/closing chucks  74  onto the lifting base  75 , lowered and transferred from the lifting base  75  onto the first sub-arm conveying mechanism  22  of the cassette section  51 . 
     As shown in FIG. 16, the forward direct feeding mechanism  6  and backward direct feeding mechanism  7  may be arranged below the first and third processing blocks  100  and  300 . 
     As shown in FIG. 17, the forward direct feeding mechanism  6  may be provided on an upper side and the backward direct feeding mechanism  7  may be provided on the lower side. 
     Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the coating unit  3  and developing unit  5  may be stacked, respectively, in a three-stage way. 
     Although, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the semiconductor wafer has been explained as being processed, the present invention is not restricted thereto and it is also applied to a substrate for a liquid crystal display. 
     Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.