Cleaning apparatus, substrate processing system, cleaning method, program and storage medium

Disclosed is a cleaning apparatus capable of cleaning a holding unit of a holding member that holds a substrate. The cleaning apparatus is configured to prevent a cleaning liquid from adhering to a rear-end unit of the holding member where a drying is difficult to be done, while a cleaning process is performed by spraying the cleaning liquid to the holding unit. Also disclosed are a substrate processing system that incorporates the cleaning apparatus, a cleaning method based on the cleaning apparatus, a program to perform the cleaning method, and a storage medium to store the program. The cleaning apparatus is equipped with a cleaning unit that cleans the holding unit by spraying the cleaning liquid to the holding unit, and a cover unit that covers the rear-end unit by making a back-and-forth operation with respect to the holding member.

This application is based on and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-115490, filed on May 12, 2009, with the Japanese Patent Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a cleaning apparatus that cleans a holding member including a holding unit having a plurality of holding grooves to hold a substrate, and a rear-end unit extended from the holding unit with no holding grooves thereon. The present disclosure also relates to a substrate processing system equipped with the cleaning apparatus, a cleaning method based on the cleaning apparatus, a program to perform the cleaning method and a storage medium to store the program. Particularly, the cleaning apparatus of the present disclosure is configured to prevent a cleaning liquid from adhering to the rear-end unit of the holding member where a drying is difficult to be done, while a cleaning process is performed by spraying a cleaning liquid to the holding unit.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, various types of cleaning apparatuses and cleaning methods have been known that clean a chuck such as the holding member where a plurality of substrates such as semiconductor wafers are held and transferred. See, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-101524.

The cleaning apparatus as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-101524 is equipped with a two-fluid supply nozzle that sprays a gas such as N2 gas along with a cleaning liquid such as a deionized water toward the holding grooves of the holding member such as a chuck, and a cleaning liquid supply nozzle that sprays the cleaning liquid toward a side surface of the holding member. An air cylinder is installed in the cleaning apparatus that moves the two-fluid supply nozzle and cleaning liquid supply nozzle along with the longitudinal direction of the holding member. In particular, in the cleaning apparatus of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-101524, the two-fluid supply nozzle sprays deionized water and N2 gas toward the holding grooves earlier than the cleaning liquid supply nozzle sprays the cleaning liquid, by the operation of the air cylinder. Moreover, the cleaning apparatus of Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2005-101524 is equipped with a gas supply nozzle that sprays the gas toward the holding member. The gas supply nozzle is also configured to be moved along the longitudinal direction of the holding member. Also, after a cleaning process is performed for the holding member by spraying the cleaning liquid from the two-fluid supply nozzle or from the cleaning liquid supply nozzle, a dry out process for the holding member is performed by spraying the gas from the gas supply nozzle toward the holding member.

However, in the conventional cleaning apparatus as illustrated in Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2005-101524, droplets of the cleaning liquid may be adhered to the rear-end unit (a source portion) of the holding member, when the two fluid supply nozzle or the cleaning liquid supply nozzle sprays the cleaning liquid to the holding member. The attached droplets of the cleaning liquid at the rear-end unit of the holding member may not be eliminated completely by a gas spray from the gas supply nozzle. As a result, because of the remaining droplets of the cleaning liquid, the rear-end unit of the holding member may not be dried out sufficiently.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment, there is provided a cleaning apparatus configured to clean a holding member having a holding unit where a plurality of holding grooves are formed to hold a substrate, and a rear-end unit extended from the holding unit without the holding grooves thereon. The cleaning apparatus is equipped with a cleaning unit that cleans the holding unit of the holding member by spraying a cleaning liquid toward the holding unit, and a cover unit that covers the rear-end unit of the holding member by performing a back-and-forth operation with respect to the holding member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One of the goals of the present disclosure is to provide a cleaning apparatus that cleans a holding member including a holding unit having a plurality of holding grooves to hold a substrate, and a rear-end unit extended from the holding unit with no holding grooves thereon, a substrate processing system equipped with the cleaning apparatus, a cleaning method based on the cleaning apparatus, a program to perform the cleaning method and a storage medium to store the program. With the cleaning apparatus of the present disclosure, the adhesion of the cleaning liquid to the rear-end unit, one of portions where a drying process is difficult in the holding member, can be prevented, while the holding unit is cleaned by spraying the cleaning liquid to the holding unit of the holding member that holds the substrate.

According to an embodiment, the cleaning apparatus of the present disclosure cleans a holding member having a holding unit, and a rear-end unit. In particular, the cleaning apparatus comprises a cleaning unit that cleans the holding unit by spraying a cleaning liquid to the holding unit of the holding member, and a cover unit that covers the rear-end unit by performing a back-and-forth movement with respect to the holding member. It is noted that the holding unit is formed with a plurality of holding grooves to hold a substrate and the rear-end unit is extended from the holding unit with no holding grooves thereon.

Specifically, the cover unit is configured to make a back-and-forth movement from a lower side toward the holding member, and cover the rear-end unit of the holding member when the cover unit approaches the holding member.

The holding member is formed with a stick-shaped object, and the cover unit has a concave section suitable for the stick-shaped holding member.

A seal member may be attached in between the holding unit and the rear-end unit to perform a sealing operation between the seal member and the cover unit when the cover unit approaches the holding member to cover the rear-end unit.

Each of the seal member and the cover unit may be configured in such a way that the seal member and the cover unit are contacted by moving the holding member toward the rear-end unit, after the cover unit approaches the holding member to cover the rear-end unit, so that a sealing operation is performed when the seal member and the cover unit are contacted.

The cover unit of the cleaning apparatus of the present disclosure includes an elevated member and a cover member attached to the elevated member. The elevated member may be configured to make a back-and-forth movement between a first position where the cover unit covers the rear-end-unit and a second position where the cover unit retreats from the rear-end unit.

An operation mechanism may be installed to the rear-end unit side of the holding member to operate the holding member.

The substrate processing system of the present disclosure processes the substrate and equipped with the cleaning apparatus as described above.

A cleaning method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to clean a holding member including a holding unit, and a rear-end unit. The cleaning method comprises covering the rear-end unit by introducing a cover unit to the holding member, and cleaning the holding unit by spraying a cleaning liquid to the holding unit while the rear-end unit is covered by the cover unit. It is noted that the the holding unit is formed with a plurality of holding grooves to hold a substrate, the rear-end unit is extended from the holding unit with no holding grooves thereon, and the cover unit is configured to make a back-and-forth operation with respect to the holding member.

According to the cleaning method of the present disclosure, the cover unit may be retreated from the holding member after the cleaning process that cleans the holding unit by spraying the cleaning liquid to the holding unit of the holding member.

According to the cleaning method of the present disclosure, the cover unit may perform a back-and-forth operation from a lower side toward the holding member, and cover the rear-end unit of the holding member when the cover unit approaches the holding member.

According to the cleaning method of the present disclosure, a seal member may be installed between the holding unit and the rear-end unit of the holding member, and configured to achieve a sealing between the seal member and the cover unit when the cover unit approaches the holding member to cover the rear-end unit of the holding member.

At this time, each of the seal member and the cover unit may be configured in such a way that the seal member and the cover unit are contacted by moving the holding member toward the rear-end unit, after the cover unit approaches the holding member to cover the rear-end unit so that a sealing operation is performed when the seal member and the cover unit are contacted.

According to the cleaning method of the present disclosure, an operation mechanism may be installed to the rear-end unit side of the holding member to operate the holding member.

A program of the present disclosure may be executed by a control computer of a cleaning apparatus to execute a cleaning method that cleans a holding member having a holding unit and a rear-end unit. The method comprises covering the rear-end unit by introducing a cover unit to the holding member, and cleaning the holding unit by spraying a cleaning liquid to the holding unit while the rear-end unit is covered by the cover unit. It is noted that the holding unit is formed with a plurality of holding grooves to hold a substrate, the rear-end unit is extended from the holding unit with no holding grooves thereon, and the cover unit is configured to make a back-and-forth operation with respect to the holding member.

A storage medium of the present disclosure stores a program executable by a control computer of a cleaning apparatus to execute a cleaning method that cleans a holding member having a holding unit and a rear-end unit. The method comprises covering the rear-end unit by introducing a cover unit to the holding member, and cleaning the holding unit by spraying a cleaning liquid to the holding unit while the rear-end unit is covered by the cover unit. It is noted that the holding unit is formed with a plurality of holding grooves to hold a substrate, the rear-end unit is extended from the holding unit with no holding grooves thereon, and the cover unit is configured to make a back-and-forth operation with respect to the holding member.

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment as a non-limiting example of the present disclosure will be described with reference to appended drawings. In all of the appended drawings, the same or corresponding members (or components) are designated with the same or corresponding reference numerals to omit repeated descriptions. Each ofFIG. 1or2illustrates the cleaning apparatus and the substrate processing system equipped with the cleaning apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular,FIG. 1is a schematic plan view of the substrate processing system equipped with the cleaning apparatus of the present disclosure, andFIGS. 2 and 3each illustrates a schematic diagram of the cleaning apparatus.FIGS. 4 and 5each illustrates the constitution of the cleaning unit of the cleaning apparatus as shown inFIG. 2, and each ofFIG. 6or10illustrates the constitution of the cover unit of the cleaning apparatus as shown inFIG. 2.

Referring toFIG. 1, a substrate processing system100equipped with the cleaning apparatus of the present disclosure will be described. Substrate processing system100performs a batch-type cleaning process for a plurality of substrates such as semiconductor wafers (hereinafter wafers W). For example, twenty-five wafers may be cleaned simultaneously in a batch.

Substrate processing system100includes a delivery unit2to deliver a carrier1that receives a wafer W on a horizontal direction, a processing unit3that performs a drying process of the substrate after processing the substrate with a chemical liquid or a cleaning liquid, and a transfer unit4, disposed between delivery unit2and processing unit3, to transfer the wafer W as well as adjust the position, posture and gaps of the wafer W. Substrate processing system100may be installed at a clean room environment where a purified air supplied from the ceiling of the clean room flows downwardly.

Regarding delivery unit2, a carrier carry-in unit5aand a carrier carry-out unit5bare installed in parallel at an end portion of substrate processing system100, along with a wafer transfer unit6. A transfer mechanism (not shown) may be installed between carrier carry-in unit5aand wafer transfer unit6. Carrier1may be transferred from carrier carry-in unit5ato wafer transfer unit6using wafer transfer unit6.

Moreover, processing unit3includes a first processing unit21, a second processing unit22and a third processing unit23sequentially disposed from the most remote side of transfer unit4. First processing unit21includes a first chemical liquid processing part21athat removes particles or organic contaminants adhered on the wafer W, and a first water processing part21bthat overflows the cleaning water such as deionized water. Second processing unit22includes a second chemical liquid processing part22athat removes metallic contaminants adhered on the wafer W, and a second water processing part22bthat overflows the cleaning water such as deionized water. Also, third processing unit23includes cleaning/drying processing unit23athat removes an oxidized film adhered on the wafer W.

Processing unit3is provided with a cleaning apparatus40that cleans or dries a chuck30at the most remote side from transfer unit4, such as an outer side of first processing unit21. A detailed description will follow for chuck30and cleaning apparatus40. The position of cleaning apparatus40may not be limited to the most remote side from transfer unit4in processing unit3, and may be provided at other places such as in between second processing unit22and third processing unit23, or in between third processing unit23and transfer unit4.

Carrier1has a cover unit that opens/closes the main body of the barrel and an opening of the main body of the barrel. The main body of the barrel has an opening (not shown) at a side, and holding grooves (not shown) in its internal wall that holds a plurality of wafers W such as 25 wafers with a horizontal direction along a vertical direction with a predetermined gap. Also, a cover open/close mechanism7, which will be described later, may be provided to open/close the cover of carrier1.

Wafer transfer unit6is open to transfer unit4, and the opening is provided with cover open/close mechanism7. The cover of carrier1is configured to be opened or closed by cover open/close mechanism7. Accordingly, the cover of carrier1that receives the pre-processed wafers W transferred to wafer transfer unit6may be removed by cover open/close mechanism7thereby allowing the wafers W within carrier1to be carried out, and the cover may be closed again by cover open/close mechanism7after all of the wafers W are carried out. Moreover, the cover of an empty carrier1transferred to wafer transfer unit6may be removed by open/close mechanism7thereby allowing the wafers W to be carried into carrier1, and the cover may be closed again by cover open/close mechanism7after all of the wafers W are carried in. Also, a mapping sensor8may be installed near the opening of wafer transfer unit6to count the number of stored wafers W inside carrier1.

A wafer transfer arm9is installed in transfer unit4configured to maintain a plurality of wafers (25 wafers for example) on a horizontal direction, and transfer the wafers W on a horizontal direction between carrier1of wafer transfer unit6. Also, transfer unit4may include a gap adjusting mechanism (not shown) such as a pitch-changer that maintains a plurality of wafers (25 wafers for example) in a vertical direction with a predetermined gap. Furthermore, a posture change mechanism10may be installed in between wafer transfer arm9and the gap adjusting mechanism to convert a plurality of wafers W (25 wafers for example) from a horizontal direction to a vertical direction, or vice versa. Additionally, a position detecting mechanism (not shown) such as a notch-aligner may be installed near posture change mechanism10to detect the notch (not shown) installed on the wafers W converted into a vertical direction by posture change mechanism10.

Also, a transfer path11is installed in transfer unit4that connects transfer unit4to processing unit3, and a chuck30is installed on transfer path11to maintain and move the wafers W along transfer path11. Chuck30is configured to transfer the wafer W to either one of first chemical liquid processing part21aand first water processing part21bof first processing unit21, second chemical liquid processing part22aand second water processing part22bof second processing unit22, and cleaning/drying processing unit23aof third processing unit.

Referring toFIG. 4, chuck30includes a stick-shaped holding member31that supports the lower part of wafer W, and a pair of stick-shaped holding member32,33that holds the edge of the wafer W on both side of holding member31. Each of holding members31,32,33includes respective holding units31p,32p,33peach formed with a plurality of holding grooves31a,32a,33ato hold a plurality of wafers W (50 wafers, for example), and rear-end units31q,32q,33qextended from the respective holding units31p,32p,33pwith no holding grooves thereon. An operation mechanism37may be installed at a side of each rear-end units31q,32q,33qof respective holding members31,32,33to operate each of holding members31,32,33. Operation mechanism37may be configured to operate each of holding members31,32,33independently.

A disk-shaped anti-scattering plate34may be installed in between each of holding units31p,32p,33pand each of corresponding rear-end units31q,32q,33qcrossing each of holding members31,32,33orthogonally. As a result, the scattering and attaching of the cleaning liquid (such as deionized water used for cleaning holding members31,32,33) to rear-end units31q,32q,33qmay be prohibited by the anti-scattering plate. Holding members32,33on each side of holding member31are positioned along with the same horizontal direction as holding member31when there is no wafer W to be held. However, when there is wafer W to be held, holding members32,33on each side of holding member31may be configured to be displaced while drawing a circular arc on a top side, thereby holding the lower portions of the wafer W on both sides. Moreover, each of holding members31,32,33is made of a corrosion/chemical-resistant resin material such as polyetereterketon (PEEK) or polychlrorotrifluorethylene (PCCTFE). Also, anti-scattering plate34is made of a highly corrosion/chemical-resistance resin material such as the same material used for holding members31,32,33.

As illustrated inFIG. 2or4, a connection member36is installed in each of rear-end units31q,32q,33qof corresponding holding members31,32,33, each configured to connect operation mechanism37to holding members31,32,33.

As described above, chuck30receives a predetermined number of wafers W (50 wafers, for example) corresponding to a single lot from the gap adjusting mechanism of transfer unit4, and transfers the wafers W to processing unit3. Subsequently, chuck30transfers the predetermined number of wafers W corresponding to the single lot to the gap adjusting mechanism, after the wafers W go through an appropriate process at processing unit3.

A detailed description of cleaning apparatus40follows hereinafter. As described above, cleaning apparatus40is configured to clean or dry each holding members31,32,33of chuck30.

Referring back toFIG. 1, each of transfer path11and cleaning apparatus40is partitioned by a wall unit provided with an opening that introduces each holding members31,32,33of chuck30into the inner side of cleaning apparatus40. Also, the opening is provided with a shutter mechanism49configured to make a back-and-forth operation between a close position that closes/closes the opening of the wall unit positioned between transfer path11and cleaning apparatus40, and an open position that opens the opening of the wall unit. Specifically, shutter mechanism49is configured to move and retreat from the close position that closes the opening of the wall unit to an upper side thereby opening the opening of the wall unit. Each of holding members31,32,33of chuck30is introduced into cleaning apparatus40while shutter mechanism49opens the opening of the wall unit. Subsequently, the cleaning apparatus40performs a cleaning process for holding members31,32,33while shutter mechanism49closes the opening of the wall unit.

Cleaning apparatus40includes a cleaning unit50that cleans holding members31,32,33by spraying a cleaning liquid to holding units31p,32p,33pof corresponding holding members31,32,33of chuck30, and a cover unit60that covers a portion of each of rear-end units31q,32q,33qof corresponding holding members31,32,33while each of holding units31p,32p,33pis cleaned by cleaning unit50.

The constitution of cleaning unit50is described hereinafter by referring toFIG. 2or5. Cleaning unit50includes a two-fluid supply nozzle51, a cleaning liquid supply nozzle52, a first dry gas supply nozzle53, and a second dry gas supply nozzle54. Two-fluid supply nozzle51is configured to spray the cleaning liquid such as deionized water and N2 gas (nitrogen gas) toward holding grooves31a,32a,33aof corresponding holding units31p,32p,33pof corresponding holding members31,32,33(holding member31hereinafter). Also, cleaning liquid supply nozzle52sprays the cleaning liquid such as denionized water to the side portion of holding unit31pof holding member31. Furthermore, first dry gas supply nozzle53sprays a gas such as N2 gas toward the side of holding unit31aof holding member31. In particular, second dry gas supply nozzle54is configured to spray a gas such as N2 gas toward holding grooves31aof holding unit31pof holding member31, the lower portion of the side face and anti-scattering plate34. Instead of N2 gas, a purified air may be used by nozzles51,53,54.

With these features, two-fluid supply nozzle51may be connected to a cleaning liquid supply70and a gas supply71via a first open/close valve (V1) and a second open/close valve (V2), respectively. Moreover, regarding two-fluid supply nozzle51, the cleaning liquid such as deionized water is provided from cleaning liquid supply70and a gas such as N2 gas is provided from gas supply71. The provided cleaning liquid and N2 gas are combined within two-fluid supply nozzle51generating droplets (mist) of the cleaning liquid. Two-fluid supply nozzle51then sprays the generated droplets of the cleaning liquid toward holding grooves31aof holding unit31pof holding member31.

Cleaning liquid supply nozzle52is connected to cleaning liquid supply70via the third open/close valve (V3), and the cleaning liquid such as deionized water is provided from cleaning liquid supply70to cleaning liquid supply nozzle52which sprays the cleaning liquid to both sides of holding member31.

First dry gas supply nozzle53is connected to gas supply71via fourth open/close valve (V4), and the gas such as N2 gas is provided from gas supply71to first dry gas supply nozzle53which sprays the gas to both sides of holding grooves31aof holding unit31pof holding member31.

Second dry gas supply nozzle54is connected to gas supply71via fifth open/close valve (V5), and the gas such as N2 gas is provided from gas supply71to second dry gas supply nozzle54which sprays the gas to holding grooves31aof holding unit31pof holding member31, both sides of the lower portion of the holding member, and anti-scattering plate34. Second dry gas supply nozzle54is configured to spray with a lower pressure than the spray pressure from first dray gas supply nozzle53, and perform a finishing dry process by not re-adhering the cleaning liquid to holding grooves31aof holding unit31pand both sides of the holding grooves that were dried primarily by first dry gas supply nozzle53.

Two-fluid supply nozzle51, cleaning liquid supply nozzle52, first dry gas supply nozzle53and second dry gas supply nozzle54are installed inside a nozzle box55. A cover unit configured to be open at the lower portion is extended from the lower portion of nozzle box55, and by this cover unit, the scattering of the cleaning liquid toward the neighborhood is suppressed.

Nozzle box55is connected to an operating unit56aof an air cylinder56, and operating unit56ais configured to make a back-and-forth movement on a horizontal direction along with the longitudinal direction of holding member31. Moreover, cleaning liquid supply nozzle52, two-fluid supply nozzle51, first dry gas supply nozzle53, and second dry gas supply nozzle54are sequentially aligned from the front-end to the rear-end of holding member (from the left side to the right side inFIG. 2). At this instance, while nozzle box55is being moved from the front-end to the rear-end of holding member31(to the right side inFIG. 2orFIG. 3), a gas and cleaning liquid are sprayed from two-liquid supply nozzle51toward holding grooves31aof holding unit31pto clean holding grooves31afirst. Subsequently, the cleaning liquid is sprayed from cleaning liquid supply nozzle52to both sides of holding unit31pof holding member31to thereby clean holding member31. Moreover, when nozzle box55is moved from the front-end to the rear-end of holding member31(to the left side inFIG. 2orFIG. 3), a cleaning process is performed for holding member31by spraying the gas from two-liquid supply nozzle51toward holding grooves31aof holding unit31pof holding member31, from first gas supply nozzle53toward holding grooves31aof holding unit31pof holding member31and both sides of the holding grooves, and from second dry gas supply nozzle54toward holding grooves31aof holding unit31pof holding member31, the lower portions of the both sides of the holding grooves, and anti-scattering plate34.

The constitution of cover unit60will be described hereinafter by referring toFIGS. 2,3,6and10. Cover unit60covers a portion of chuck30while chuck30is being cleaned by cleaning unit50. Specifically, cover unit60covers rear-end units31q,32q,33qof corresponding holding members31,32,33of chuck30.

The following will describe each components of cover unit60in more detail. Cover unit60includes a cover member62that selectively covers rear-ends31q,32q,33qof each of holding members31,32,33, and a cylinder61that makes cover member62to have a back-and-forth movement on a vertical direction. A first connection member63extendable along the horizontal direction is installed on the front-end of cylinder61, a second connection member64extendable along the vertical direction is installed on the lower-end portion of cover member62, and second connection member64is attached to first connection member63. Specifically, cylinder61includes an extendable shaft61aextendable from the main body of cylinder61to the lower part, and first connection member63is attached to the front-end (a lower end) of extendable shaft61a. Moreover, second connection member64is attached to first connection member63so that second connection member64can be extendable from first connection member63.

When cylinder61extends extendable shaft61ato the lower side, cover member62is separated from each of holding members31,32,33to the lower side, and cover member62may not cover rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each of holding members31,32,33, as illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 9. In the mean time, when cylinder61retreats extendable shaft61ato the upper side, cover member62approaches each of holding members31,32,33, to cover rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each of holding members31,32,33as well as connection member36, as illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 10. In particular, cylinder61may be installed inside a cover having a double-structure.

A concave unit62ais formed on the top portion of cover member62suitable for rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each holding members31,32,33, as illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 10. The cross-section of concave unit62ais substantially a half-circle shape, and the radius of concave unit62aat the cross-section is slightly larger than rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each holding members31,32,33. When cylinder61retreats extendable shaft61ato the upper side, each of rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each of corresponding holding members31,32,33is inserted into respective concave unit62aas illustrated inFIG. 10, and the lower half of rear-end units31q,32q,33qis covered by cover member62.

Cover member62is made of a highly corrosion/chemical-resistive resin material, such as, for example, the same resin material as used in holding members31,32,33of chuck30.

As illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 10, when rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each holding members31,32,33are covered by cover member62while two-fluid supply nozzle51or cleaning liquid supply nozzle52of cleaning unit50sprays the cleaning liquid to each of holding grooves31a,32a,33aof corresponding holding members31,32,33, the adhesion of droplets of the cleaning liquid to the lower portion of rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each holding members31,32,33is prohibited. There are chances that the droplets of the cleaning liquid may be adhered to the upper portion of rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each corresponding holding members31,32,33. However, the cleaning liquid droplets adhered to the upper portion of rear-end units31q,32q,33qmay be eliminated by the gas sprayed from first dry gas supply nozzle53or second dry gas supply nozzle54to each holding members31,32,33.

As illustrated inFIG. 7, when cylinder61retreats extendable shaft61ato the upper side, and each of rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each corresponding holding members31,32,33is covered by cover member62, there could be a gap between circular-shaped anti-scattering plate34attached to each of holding members31,32,33and cover member62. At this instance, operation mechanism37may move each of holding members31,32,33toward the rear-end side on a horizontal direction (to the right side inFIG. 7) making anti-scattering plate34and cover member62be contacted. See, for example,FIG. 8. At this time, a sealing is achieved between anti-scattering plate34and cover member62. When a sealing is achieved between anti-scattering plate34and cover member62by contacting anti-scattering plate34to cover member62, the introduction of the cleaning liquid droplets from the half-circular shaped opening of the side portion of cover member62into concave unit62aof cover member62may be prohibited, when the cleaning liquid is sprayed from two-liquid supply nozzle51or cleaning liquid supply nozzle52of cleaning unit50to holding grooves31a,32a,33aof each of holding members31,32,33.

Referring toFIG. 2, cleaning apparatus40may be provided with a control unit80built with a control computer that controls each components of cleaning apparatus40. Control unit80is connected to each of the components of cleaning apparatus40to control the cleaning processes of wafers W at cleaning apparatus40. The control substance of each component of cleaning apparatus40by control unit80will be described later. Control unit80of the present disclosure is accessed by a storage medium82that stores a control program configured to realize the cleaning process at cleaning apparatus40with a control by control unit80. Storage medium82includes a disk-type storage medium such as ROM, RAM, hard disk, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, and other types of publicly known storage medium. Also, the desired cleaning process is performed by calling for the control program from storage medium82and executing the control program at control unit80.

The operation of cleaning apparatus40having components as described above will be described hereinafter. Specifically, an operation where cleaning apparatus40performs a cleaning process for each of holding members31,32,33of chuck30will be described. Also, the operations as appeared below will be conducted by the control operation of control unit80over each of the components of cleaning apparatus40.

In performing a cleaning operation of each of holding members31,32,33, chuck30, first of all, moves to a position closest to cleaning apparatus40on transfer path11, which corresponds to the right-end position of transfer path11inFIG. 1. At this time, shutter mechanism49opens the opening of the wall unit positioned between transfer path11and cleaning apparatus40. Also, cylinder61of cover unit60is in a state where extendable shaft61ais extended, as illustrated inFIG. 6. Subsequently, after each of holding members31,32,33of chuck30is introduced into cleaning apparatus40, shutter mechanism49is moved from an opening position to a close position. Specifically, shutter mechanism49is lowered to close the opening of the wall unit by shutter mechanism49. Moreover, after each of holding members31,32,33of chuck30is introduced into cleaning apparatus40, cylinder61of cover unit60, as illustrated inFIG. 7, retreats extendable shaft61ato an upper side moving cover member62of cover unit60to an upper side. As a result, cover member62covers the lower half of each of rear-end units31q,32q,33qof corresponding holding members31,32,33. At this time, as illustrated inFIG. 7, a gap may be formed between anti-scattering plate34of each of holding members31,32,33and cover member62.

Subsequently, operation mechanism37of chuck30moves each of holding members31,32,33toward the rear-end side along a longitudinal direction. Namely, operation mechanism37moves each of holding members31,32,33to the right direction ofFIG. 7. With these operations, anti-scattering plate34of each of holding members31,32,33and cover member62are contacted, achieving a sealing between anti-scattering plate34and cover member62.

Next, operating unit56aof air cylinder56is moved from the front-end portion of each of holding members31,32,33to the rear-end portion, which is the right-end position inFIG. 3. With these features, nozzle box55moves from the front-end to the rear-end of each of holding members31,32,33(to the right side inFIG. 3). While nozzle box55is moving, two-fluid supply nozzle51sprays the gas along with the cleaning liquid to each of holding grooves31a,32a,33aof each of corresponding holding members31,32,33to clean holding grooves31a,32a,33a, and cleaning liquid supply nozzle52sprays the cleaning liquid to both sides of holding units31p,32p,33pof each of holding members31,32,33. By doing these, each of holding units31p,32p,33pof corresponding holding members31,32,33is cleaned.

When nozzle box55moves to the rear-end side of holding members31,32,33, operation unit56aof air cylinder56is moved from the rear-end side to the front-end (from the right side to the left side inFIG. 3) of each of holding members31,32,33, as shown inFIG. 3. As a result, nozzle box55moves from the rear-end side to the front-end of holding members31,32,33(to the left side inFIG. 3). While nozzle box55is moved as described above, the gas is sprayed from two-fluid supply nozzle51to each holding grooves31a,32a,33aof each of corresponding holding members31,32,33. Also, the gas is sprayed from first dry gas supply nozzle53to each of holding grooves31a,32a,33aas well as both sides of holding grooves31a,32a,33a. Also, an additional gas is sprayed from second dry gas supply nozzle54to each of holding grooves31a,32a,33a, the lower portion of both sides of holding grooves31a,32a,33a, and anti-scattering plate34. Each of holding members31,32,33is dried by following these operations.

Subsequently, operation mechanism37of chuck30moves each of holding members31,32,33to the front-end side along the longitudinal direction. Namely, operation mechanism37moves each of holding members31,32,33to the left side ofFIG. 8to the point as indicated inFIG. 7. As a result, anti-scattering plate34of holding members31,32,33is separated from cover member62making a gap between anti-scattering plate34and cover member62.

Moreover, cylinder61of cover unit60extends extendable shaft61ato the lower side as illustrated inFIG. 6, and, as a result, cover member62of cover unit60is moved to the lower side, thereby separating cover member62from each of holding members31,32,33downwardly. Additionally, shutter mechanism49moves from a close position that closes the opening of the wall unit to the opening position, and as a result, the opening, positioned at the wall unit between transfer path11and cleaning apparatus40, is opened. Subsequently, each of holding members31,32,33of chuck30is retreated from cleaning apparatus40, completing the cleaning of each of holding members31,32,33of chuck30.

As described above, cleaning apparatus40according to the present disclosure includes cleaning unit50that performs a cleaning operation to holding units31p,32p,33pby spraying the cleaning liquid to each of holding units31p,32p,33pof each of corresponding holding members31,32,33of chuck30, and cover unit60that covers rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each of corresponding holding members31,32,33by making a back-and-forth movement for holding members31,32,33. Moreover, according to the cleaning method based on cleaning apparatus40as described above, cover member60, configured to make a back-and-forth movement with respect to each of holding members31,32,33, is introduced to each of holding members31,32,33, to cover each of rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each of corresponding holding members31,32,33. The cleaning liquid is sprayed to each of holding units31p,32p,33pof each of corresponding holding members31,32,33while each of rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each of corresponding holding members31,32,33is covered by cover unit60, thereby performing the cleaning of these holding units31p,32p,33p. With these features, the adhesion of cleaning liquid droplets may be prohibited in specific areas where a dry process is difficult such as rear-end units31q,32q,33qof holding members31,32,33, while holding units31p,32p,33pof holding members31,32,33are cleaned by cleaning unit50.

Furthermore, cover member62of cover unit60of cleaning apparatus40of the present disclosure is configured to move along with a back-and-forth direction from the lower side to each of holding members31,32,33of chuck30, and cover each of rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each of corresponding holding members31,32,33, when cover member62approaches to each of holding members31,32,33. With these features, the lower portion of each of rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each of corresponding holding members31,32,33is covered by cover member62so that the cleaning liquid droplets are not adhered to the lower portion of each of rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each of corresponding holding members31,32,33. It is noted that a drying process is difficult with first dry gas supply nozzle53or second dry gas supply nozzle54for the rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each of corresponding holding members31,32,33, and the cleaning liquid droplets may be easily adhered in the lower portion of each of rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each of corresponding holding members31,32,33, if there is no cover member60to cover the rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each of corresponding holding members31,32,33. As a result, since the cleaning liquid droplets are not adhered to the lower portion of the rear-end units31q,32q,33q, the dropping of the cleaning liquid droplets from the lower portion of each of rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each of corresponding holding members31,32,33is prevented, after completing the cleaning process by cleaning apparatus40.

In particular, according to cleaning apparatus40of the present disclosure, each of holding members31,32,33is formed with a stick-shaped object, and cover member62of cover unit60includes a concave section62asuitable for the stick-shaped holding members31,32,33.

Also, according to cleaning apparatus40of the present disclosure, anti-scattering plate34(seal member) is attached in between holding units31p,32p,33pand rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each of holding members31,32,33, and a sealing is achieved between anti-scattering plate34and cover unit60when cover unit60approaches each of holding members31,32,33and covers rear-end units31q,32q,33q. With these features, the cleaning liquid droplets can be prevented from entering into concave section62aof cover member62from the side of the cover member62.

At this instance, when cover member62approaches each of holding members31,32,33and covers rear-end units31q,32q,33q, operation mechanism37moves each of holding members31,32,33toward rear-end units31q,32q,33qand makes anti-scattering plate34and cover member62to be contacted, thereby achieving a sealing between anti-scattering plate34and cover member62. Also, when cover member62of cover unit60approaches each of holding member31,32,33to cover rear-end units31q,32q,33q, instead of moving each of holding members31,32,33, cover member62of cover unit60may be moved toward anti-scattering plate34of each holding member31,32,33, thereby making a contact between anti-scattering plate34and cover member62.

The cover unit60of cleaning apparatus40of the present disclosure includes a cylinder (an elevation member61) and cover member62attached to cylinder61via first connection member62and second connection member64. Cylinder61makes cover member62to have a back-and-forth operation between a cover position (as shown inFIGS. 8 and 10) where cover member62covers each of rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each of corresponding holding members31,32,33and a retreat position (as shown inFIGS. 6 and 9) where cover member62retreats from each of rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each of corresponding holding members31,32,33.

Cleaning apparatus40of the present disclosure is not limited to embodiments as described above, but may have various alternative embodiments. For example, cleaning unit50of cleaning apparatus40is not limited to the constitution as shown inFIG. 4or5. Cleaning unit50may be allowable as long as cleaning unit50is equipped with at least a nozzle that can spray the cleaning liquid to each of holding units31p,32p,33pof each of corresponding holding members31,32,33.

Moreover, each of holding members31,32,33is not limited to a stick-shaped object. Even if each of holding members31,32,33is other than the stick-shaped object, cover member62of cover unit60may have an appropriate shape for the stick-shaped holding members31,32,33.

Also, cover unit60of cleaning apparatus40is not limited to the embodiment as shown inFIG. 6or10. For example, the object that performs a back-and-forth operation for cover member62between the cover position (as shown inFIGS. 8 and 10) that covers each of rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each of corresponding holding member31,32,33and the retreat position (as shown inFIGS. 6 and 9) that retreats from each of rear-end units31q,32q,33qof each of corresponding holding member31,32,33, is not limited to cylinder61, but may be a different operating mechanism.

According to the cleaning apparatus, substrate processing system, cleaning method, program and storage medium of the present disclosure, the adhesion of the cleaning liquid to the rear-end unit is prevented, while the holding unit of the holding member that holds a substrate is cleaned by spraying the cleaning liquid to the rear-end unit, one of portions where a drying process is difficult.