Abstract:
When an edge processing head is scanned in one direction, the discharge of a rinse solution from a rinse solution discharge nozzle at the front in a carrying direction is stopped, a developing solution is discharged from a developing solution discharge nozzle, and a rinse solution is discharged from a rinse solution discharge nozzle at the rear in the carrying direction. Specifically, with a developing solution being discharged to a glass substrate, the discharge of a rinse solution immediately follows the discharge of the developing solution. Thus, the edge processing of the substrate can be performed with minimal increases in the number of processes and in installation.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a substrate processing apparatus and a substrate processing method for processing the edge portion of a substrate for a color filter in a liquid crystal color display, for example, after a resist is applied thereto. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A color filter in a liquid crystal color display requires the formation of a colored pattern of R, G, and B on a glass substrate. Such a colored pattern is formed, for example, by a photolithography method. As an example thereof, a precolored resin made from a photosensitive resin is used for each of R, G, and B, and the process of coating-exposure-developing is repeated three times for R, G, and B to form a pattern. 
     Incidentally, in the above developing process, negative type development processing in which an unexposed portion of the photosensitive resin is removed with a developing solution to thereby form a pattern is performed. Generally in a process after resist-coating, edge processing for removing a resist remaining at the edge portion of the glass substrate is needed. Hence, in the negative type processing, the aforesaid edge processing is performed with a developing solution. 
     Meanwhile, in positive type edge processing, edge processing in which a resist remaining at the edge portion of the glass substrate is removed with an organic solvent such as a thinner is performed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     However, in the case where a developing solution is used in edge processing as described above, there is a disadvantage that rinse processing with a rinse solution such as demineralized water or the like is needed after the developing solution is used, which causes an increase in the number of processes and an increase in installation. 
     The present invention is made to eliminate the above disadvantage and the object thereof is to provide a substrate processing apparatus and a substrate processing method in which the edge processing of a substrate can be performed with minimal increases in the number of processes and in installation. 
     In order to eliminate the above disadvantage, as one of the main aspects of the present invention, a substrate processing apparatus includes a holding member for holding a substrate, a first nozzle having a plurality of discharge ports each for discharging a developing solution to an edge portion of the substrate held by the holding member, a second nozzle disposed adjacent to the first nozzle and having a discharge port for discharging a rinse solution to the edge portion of the substrate held by the holding member, and carrying means for carrying the second nozzle and the first nozzle in the direction of one side of the substrate held by the holding member. 
     Accordingly, such a structure that a developing solution is discharged from the first nozzle and a rinse solution is discharged from the second nozzle disposed at the rear in a carrying direction is provided, whereby the removal of the remnants at the edge portion of the substrate with a developing solution and the removal of the developing solution with a rinse solution can be performed at the same time. Moreover, the first and the second nozzles are provided in one head, thereby simplifying the configuration and facilitating the control thereof. As a result, the edge processing of a substrate can be performed with minimal increases in the number of processes and in installation. 
     These objects and still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coating and developing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a plane view of a coating apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of an edge processing head shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a plane view of the edge processing head shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5A is a side elevational view of the edge processing head shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5B is an explanatory view of a control element of the edge processing head shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is a view showing the operation of edge processing in the embodiment; 
     FIG. 7 is a view showing the operation of the edge processing in the embodiment; 
     FIG. 8 is a front view showing another embodiment of an edge processing head; 
     FIG. 9 is a view showing another embodiment of the operation of edge processing; and 
     FIG. 10 is view showing another embodiment of the operation of the edge processing. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coating and developing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, provided in the front portion of the coating and developing system  1  is a loader and unloader section  2  for carrying a substrate, for example, a rectangular glass substrate G for a color filter into or out of the coating and developing system  1 . In the loader and unloader section  2 , a cassette mounting table  3  where cassettes C each housing, for example,  25  glass substrates G are mounted at predetermined positions in line and a loader and unloader  4  for taking the glass substrate G to be processed out of each of the cassettes C and returning the glass substrate G which has completed processing in the coating and developing system  1  to each of the cassettes C are provided. The loader and unloader  4  shown moves in a direction of arrangement of the cassettes C by traveling a main body  5 , takes the glass substrate G out of each cassette C with tweezers  6  in the form of sheets provided on the main body  5 , and returns it to each cassette C. On both sides of the tweezers  6  is provided a substrate aligning member  7  for aligning the glass substrate G while holding the four corners thereof. 
     In the central portion of the coating and developing system  1 , corridor-shaped transfer paths  10  and  11  disposed in a longitudinal direction are provided in a straight line via a first delivery section  12 . On both sides of the transfer paths  10  and  11 , various processing apparatus for performing processing of various kinds for the glass substrate G are provided. 
     In the coating and developing system  1  shown, cleaning apparatus  16  for cleaning the glass substrate G with a brush and cleaning it by high pressure jet water are arranged side by side on one side of the transfer path  10 . On the opposite side across the transfer path  10 , a developing apparatus  17  is provided, next to which two heating apparatus  18  are piled one upon the other. 
     On one side of the transfer path  11 , cooling apparatus  20  for cooling are two-tiered. Adjacent to the cooling apparatus  20 , two sets of two-tiered heating apparatus  22  are arranged next to each other. On the opposite side across the transfer path  11  is arranged a coating apparatus  23  for forming a precolored resin film made from a photosensitive resin on a front surface of the glass substrate G by applying a precolored resin made from the photosensitive resin to the glass substrate G. Although not shown, an aligner for exposing a predetermined fine pattern for the precolored resin film, which is made from the photosensitive resin, formed on the glass substrate G, and the like are provided on a side portion of the coating apparatus  23  across a second delivery section  28 . The second delivery section  28  includes transfer tweezers  29  for carrying the glass substrate G in and out and a delivery table  30 . 
     The aforesaid processing apparatus  16  to  18 , and  20 ,  22 , and  23  are provided on both sides of the transfer paths  10  and  11  with respective transfer ports for the glass substrate G facing inward. A first transfer device  25  moves on the transfer path  10  in order to transfer the glass substrate G between the loader and unloader section  2 , the processing apparatus  16  to  18 , and the first delivery section  12 . A second transfer device  26  moves on the transfer path  11  in order to transfer the glass substrate G between the first delivery section  12 , the second delivery section  28 , and the processing apparatus  20 ,  22 , and  23 . Each of the transfer devices  25  and  26  has a pair of upper and lower arms  27  and  27 . When the transfer devices make access to the processing apparatus  16  to  18 , and  20 ,  22 , and  23 , the processed glass substrate G is carried out of a chamber of each processing apparatus with one arm  27  and the substrate G to be processed is carried into the chamber with the other arm  27 . 
     FIG. 2 is a plane view of the above coating apparatus  23 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, in the coating apparatus  23 , a coating section  31  for coating the glass substrate G with a resist, a reduced pressure drying section  32  for drying the resist-coated glass substrate G under reduced pressure, and an edge processing section  33  as an edge processing apparatus of the present invention for processing the edge portion of the glass substrate G are arranged adjacent to one another. 
     Transfer rails  34  are provided in front of and behind the coating apparatus  23 , and transfer arms  35  move along the transfer rails  34  respectively. 
     The glass substrate G brought into the coating section  31  by the transfer device  25  is transferred in sequence to the coating section  31 , the reduced pressure drying section  32 , and the edge processing section  33  by means of the transfer arms  35 , and taken out of the edge processing section  33  by the transfer device  25 . 
     In the edge processing section  33 , scanning means, for example, transfer rails  37  each for carrying an edge processing head  38  along each of four sides, for example, the outer perimeter of each of four sides of the substrate G held by a holding member  36  in the direction of one side of the substrate G held by the holding member are provided, and each of the edge processing heads  38  is held to be able to scan along each of the transfer rails  37 . Each edge processing head  38  is carried along the transfer rail  37  by drive of a drive motor not shown. 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of the above edge processing head  38 , FIG. 4 is a plane view thereof, and FIG. 5A is a side elevational view thereof. 
     As shown in the above views, in the nearly central portion of the edge processing head  38 , ten of first nozzles, for example, developing solution discharge nozzles  39  each including a plurality of discharge ports each for discharging a developing solution onto the edge portion of the front surface of the glass substrate G held by the holding member  36  are provided, extending over, for instance, 50 mm, in the direction of one side of the glass substrate G. 
     Further, on both sides of the edge processing head  38 , a pair of second nozzles, for example, rinse solution discharge nozzles  40  and  41  with the developing solution discharge nozzles  39  between are arranged adjacent to the developing solution discharge nozzles  39 , each including a discharge port for discharging a rinse solution onto the edge portion of the front surface of the glass substrate G held by the holding member  36 . For example, five pairs of rinse solution discharge nozzles are provided, respectively extending, for instance, 25 mm, in the direction of a side of the glass substrate G. 
     Furthermore, on both sides of the edge processing head  38 , third nozzles, for example, gas discharge nozzles  52  and  53  with the rinse solution discharge nozzles  40  and  41  between are arranged adjacent to the rinse solution discharge nozzles  40  and  41 , each including a plurality of discharge ports each for discharging predetermined inert gas, for example, N2 gas onto the edge portion of the front surface of the glass substrate G held by the holding member  36 . For example, a plurality of, for instance, three pairs of gas discharge nozzles  52  and  53  are provided, respectively extending over, for instance, 15 mm, in the direction of a side of the glass substrate G. 
     Similarly, in the nearly middle portion of the edge processing head  38 , a plurality of, for example, ten developing solution discharge nozzles  42  for discharging a developing solution onto the edge portion of the rear surface of the glass substrate G held by the holding member  36  are provided, extending over, for instance, 50 mm, in the direction of a side of the glass substrate G. 
     Further, on both sides of the edge processing head  38 , a plurality of, for example, five pairs of rinse solution discharge nozzles  43  and  44  each for discharging a rinse solution onto the edge portion of the rear surface of the glass substrate G held by the holding member  36  are arranged with the developing solution discharge nozzles  42  between, respectively extending, for instance, 25 mm, in the direction of a side of the glass substrate G. 
     Furthermore, on both sides of the edge processing head  38 , a plurality of, for instance, three pairs of gas discharge nozzles  54  and  55  as third nozzles with the rinse solution discharge nozzles  43  and  44  between arranged adjacent to the rinse solution discharge nozzles  43  and  44 , each including a plurality of discharge ports for discharging predetermined gas, for example, N2 gas of inert gas onto the edge portion of the rear surface of the glass substrate G held by the holding member  36 , are provided, respectively extending over, for instance, 15 mm, in the direction of a side of the glass substrate G. The developing solution discharged nozzles  39  and  42 , the rinse solution discharge nozzles  40 ,  41 ,  43 , and  44 , and the gas discharge nozzles  52  to  55  are provided for both the front and rear surfaces of the substrate G, whereby a developing solution, a rinse solution, and N2 gas can be discharged onto both the front and rear surfaces of the substrate G independently of one another. 
     Developing solutions are supplied from developing solution feeders  45  and  46  to the developing solution discharge nozzles  39  and  42  respectively, rinse solutions are supplied from rinse solution feeders  47  to  50  to the rinse solution discharge nozzles  40 ,  41 ,  43 , and  44  respectively, and N2 gas is supplied from gas feeders  56  to  59  to the gas discharge nozzles  52  to  55  respectively. As shown in FIG. 5B, the supply from the developing solution feeders  45  and  46 , the rinse solution feeders  47  to  50 , and the gas feeders  56  to  59  is controlled by a control element  60 . 
     Accordingly, it is possible to provide such control that N2 gas is discharged from each of the gas discharge nozzles  52  to  55  while a rinse solution is discharged from each of the rinse solution discharge nozzles  40 ,  41 ,  43 , and  44 . 
     Further, it is possible to provide such control that a rinse solution is discharged from each of the rinse solution discharge nozzles  40 ,  41 ,  43 , and  44  while a developing solution is discharged from each of the developing solution discharge nozzles  39  and  42 . Furthermore, it is possible to provide control so that at least one period of time out of the times for: discharging a developing solution from each of the developing solution discharge nozzles  39  and  42 ; discharging a rinse solution from each of the rinse solution discharge nozzles  40 ,  41 ,  43 , and  44 ; and discharging N2 gas from each of the gas discharge nozzles  52  to  55 , is different from the other two. 
     In this embodiment, as a developing solution, a developing solution with a high concentration, for example, of approximately 10% is used. Thus, the remnant at the edge portion of the substrate in negative type resist processing can be removed with a clean cut end. As a rinse solution, for example, demineralized water (D. I. W.) is used. 
     On the rear sides (the sides facing the edge portion of the substrate) of the aforesaid nozzles  39  to  44 , suction means, for instance, a suction port  51  for sucking a developing solution and a rinse solution discharged from each of the nozzles  39  to  44  in the outer peripheral direction of the substrate is provided. The suction port  51  is structured to narrow toward the rear side. An exhauster not shown is connected to the suction port  51 . For example, a suction mechanism is composed of the suction port  51  and the exhauster. The suction mechanism eliminates the splash of a developing solution and a rinse solution to the substrate side. 
     Next, operation will be explained. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, when the edge processing head  38  is carried (scanned) in the right direction in FIG. 6, the discharge of a rinse solution from each of the rinse solution supply nozzles  41  and  44  at the front in a carrying (scanning) direction on the right side of FIG. 6 is stopped. A developing solution is discharged from each of the developing solution discharge nozzles  39  and  42  (a step of discharging a developing solution from each of a plurality of discharge ports to the edge portion of the held substrate), and a rinse solution is discharged from each of the rinse solution discharge nozzles  40  and  43  (a step of discharging a rinse solution from each of a plurality of discharge ports to the edge portion of the held substrate), and N2 gas is discharged from each of the gas discharge nozzles  52  and  54  (a step of discharging predetermined gas from each of a plurality of discharge ports to the edge portion of the held substrate), the rinse solution discharge nozzles  40  and  43 , and the gas discharge nozzles  52  and  54  being at the rear in the scanning direction on the left side of FIG.  6 . 
     Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 7, when the edge processing head  38  is carried in the left direction in FIG. 7, the discharge of a rinse solution from each of the rinse solution discharge nozzles  40  and  43  at the front in a carrying direction on the left side of FIG. 7 is stopped. A developing solution is discharged from each of the developing solution discharge nozzles  39  and  42 , and a rinse solution is discharged from each of the rinse solution discharge nozzles  41  and  44 , and N2 gas is discharged from each of the gas discharge nozzles  53  and  55 , the rinse solution discharge nozzles  41  and  44 , and the gas discharge nozzles  53  and  55  being at the rear in the scanning direction on the right side of FIG.  7 . 
     Thereafter, it is possible to repeat the operation shown in FIG.  6  and the operation shown in FIG. 7 as required. 
     Specifically, as soon as discharging a developing solution onto the glass substrate G, the edge processing head  38  according to the present invention discharges a rinse solution and N2 gas, following the discharge of the developing solution. Operating times for a step of discharging a developing solution and a step of discharging a rinse solution are at least partially simultaneous, whereby the removal of the remnant at the edge portion of the glass substrate G with a developing solution and the removal of the developing solution with a rinse solution can be performed at the same time, and moreover the edge portion of the substrate G can be dried by N2 gas. In addition, the nozzles  39  and  42  each for discharging a developing solution and the nozzles  40 ,  41 ,  43 , and  44  each for discharging a rinse solution, and the nozzles  52  to  55  each for discharging N2 gas are integrally provided in the edge processing head  38 , thus simplifying the configuration thereof and facilitating scanning control. 
     Incidentally, the present invention is not limited to the aforesaid embodiment. 
     With an edge processing head  69  shown in FIG. 8, an inert gas, for example, N2 gas in addition to a rinse solution may be selectively discharged from the nozzles  40 ,  41 ,  43 , and  44  each for discharging a rinse solution, instead of providing gas discharge nozzles. Namely, it is possible to blow N2 gas to the edge portion of the glass substrate G via the nozzles  40 ,  41 ,  43 , and  44 . 
     Portions different from the aforesaid embodiment will be explained. As means for blowing an inert gas to the edge portion of the substrate G via each of the rinse solution discharge nozzles  40 ,  41 ,  43 , and  44 , air-operated three-way valves  65  to  68  are provided, for example, in pipelines  61  to  64  between the rinse solution feeders  47  to  50  and the rinse solution discharge nozzles  40 ,  41 ,  43 , and  44 , and the gas feeders  56  to  59  are connected to the air-operated three-way valves  65  to  68  respectively. 
     The air-operated three-way valves  65  to  68  are selectively switchable by the control element  60 , and can select a rinse solution or N2 gas and discharge the rinse solution or N2 gas to the edge portion of the substrate G via each of the rinse solution discharge nozzles  40 ,  41 ,  43 , and  44 . Next, operation will be explained. As shown in FIG. 9, when the edge processing head  69  is carried in the right direction in FIG. 9, the discharge of a rinse solutions from each of the rinse solution discharge nozzles  41  and  44  at the front in a carrying direction on the right side of FIG. 9 is stopped. A developing solution is discharged from each of the developing solution discharge nozzles  39  and  42 , and a rinse solution is discharged from each of the rinse solution discharge nozzles  40  and  43  at the rear in the carrying direction on the left side of FIG.  9 . 
     When the edge processing head  69  reaches the edge portion of the substrate G, the discharge of a developing solution and a rinse solution is stopped, and the air-operated three-way valves  65  to  68  are switched so that N2 gas can be discharged from each of the rinse solution discharge nozzles  40 ,  41 ,  43 , and  44 . Then, while the edge processing head  69  is carried in the left-hand direction in FIG. 10 as shown in FIG. 10, N2 gas is discharged from each of the rinse solution discharge nozzles  40 ,  41 ,  43 , and  44 . 
     By blowing N2 gas after a rinsing step as described above, drying processing can be performed, immediately following the edge processing. In addition, the gas discharge nozzles  52  to  55  can be omitted, thus enabling the edge processing head  69  to decrease in size and further enabling the apparatus to decrease in size. 
     Although a developing solution is discharged from each of the developing solution discharge nozzles  39  and  42  and a rinse solution is discharged from each of the rinse solution discharge nozzles at the rear in a scanning direction, it goes without saying that the step of discharging a developing solution may be performed at the same time as scanning in one direction of one side of the substrate G and that the step of discharging a rinse solution may be performed at the same time as scanning in the reverse direction to the one direction of the one side of the substrate G. 
     Specifically, when the edge processing head  38  is carried in one direction of one side of the substrate G, only a developing solution is discharged, and when the edge processing head  38  reaches the edge portion of the substrate G, the discharge of a developing solution is stopped. Thereafter, while a rinse solution is discharged from each of the rinse solution discharge nozzles  40 ,  41 ,  43 , and  44  and N2 gas is discharged from each of the gas discharge nozzles  52  to  55 , edge processing is performed with the edge processing head being carried in the reverse direction to the one direction of the one side of the substrate G. In this case, the state in which a developing solution is heaped at the edge portion of the substrate is maintained for a predetermined period of time, which enables a period of time in which a developing solution reacts with a resist solution to lengthen. As a result, a resist solution becomes easy to dissolve, and edge processing capacity is improved. 
     In the above case, even if a rinse solution is discharged from each of the rinse solution discharge nozzles  40  and  43  and N2 gas is discharged from each of the gas discharge nozzles  52  and  54  instead of using the rinse solution discharge nozzles  41  and  44  and the gas discharge nozzles  53  and  55 , the edge processing is possible, thus permitting the rinse solution discharge nozzles  41  and  44  and the gas discharge nozzles  53  and  55  to be omitted, and enabling the edge processing head  38  to decrease in size and further enabling the apparatus to decrease in size. 
     Although the step of discharging a developing solution, the step of discharging a rinse solution, and the step of discharging predetermined gas are performed at the same time, it is possible that at least two steps are performed at the same time instead of performing the above three steps simultaneously, and moreover it is needless to say that the above three steps may be performed at different times. 
     When the step of discharging a developing solution and the step of discharging a rinse solution are performed simultaneously, a developing solution and a rinse solution are no longer splashed to the inside of the edge portion to be processed of the substrate G by N2 gas, thereby making accurate edge processing with desired width possible. 
     When the step of discharging a developing solution and the step of discharging predetermined gas are performed concurrently, a coated developing solution can be stirred by controlling the flow rate of N2 gas to be discharged, thus enabling the dissolving speed of the resist to increase and improving edge processing capacity. 
     When the step of discharging a rinse solution and the step of discharging predetermined gas are performed concurrently, as described above, the developing solution is supplied and the state in which the developing solution is heaped at the edge portion of the substrate is maintained for a predetermined period of time, thus allowing a period of time during which a developing solution reacts with a resist solution to lengthen, and further improving edge processing capacity. 
     When the three steps are performed at different times, first a developing solution is heaped and left as it is for a predetermined period of time during which the resist is dissolved, and thereafter a rinse solution is discharged to rinse out the developing solution while scanning in the reverse direction is performed, thereby improving edge processing capacity. 
     Subsequently, N2 gas is discharged with the rinse solution being dried to a certain extent while the edge processing head is scanned toward a position where the developing solution is heaped, whereby the rinse solution is no longer splashed to the inside of the edge portion to be processed of the substrate G. 
     Further, the step of discharging a developing solution and the step of discharging gas may be simultaneously performed at the same time as scanning in one direction of one side of the substrate G, and thereafter the step of discharging a rinse solution and the step of discharging gas may be concurrently performed at the same time as scanning in the reverse direction to the one direction of the one side of the substrate G, and moreover it goes without saying that the step of discharging gas may be performed with scanning in the one direction of the one side of the substrate G and scanning in the reverse direction to the one direction of the one side of the substrate G being repeated. 
     Furthermore, needless to say, the step of discharging a developing solution and the step of discharging gas may be simultaneously performed at the same time as scanning in one direction of one side of the substrate G, the step of discharging a rinse solution may be then performed at the same time as scanning in the reverse direction to the one direction of the one side of the substrate G, thereafter the step of discharging gas may be performed at the same time as scanning in the one direction of the one side of the substrate G, and then the step of discharging gas may be performed with scanning in the reverse direction to the one direction of the one side of the substrate G and scanning in the one direction of the one side of the substrate G being repeated. 
     In addition, it is possible that the step of discharging a developing solution is performed at the same time as scanning in one direction of one side of the substrate G, then the step of discharging a rinse solution is performed at the same time as scanning in the reverse direction to the one direction of the one side of the substrate G, and that thereafter the step of discharging gas is performed with scanning in the one direction of the one side of the substrate G and scanning in the reverse direction to the one direction of the one side of the substrate G being repeated, in which case it is needless to say that in the step of discharging a rinse solution, the step of discharging gas may be performed simultaneously. 
     Moreover, it is possible that the step of discharging a developing solution is performed at the same time as scanning in one direction of one side of the substrate G, then the step of discharging gas is performed at the same time as scanning in the reverse direction to the one direction of the one side of the substrate G and in the one direction of the one side of the substrate G, thereafter the step of discharging a rinse solution is performed at the same time as scanning in the reverse direction to the one direction of the one side of the substrate G, and that subsequently the step of discharging gas is performed with scanning in the direction of the one side of the substrate G and scanning in the reverse direction to the one direction of the one side of the substrate G being repeated, in which case it is needless to say that in the step of discharging a rinse solution, the step of discharging gas may be performed simultaneously. 
     As for the combination of steps and scanning directions, naturally combinations which are not described are also possible. 
     It goes without saying that temperature and humidity controlled N2 gas can be discharged when N2 gas is discharged. A temperature/humidity controller not shown is provided in each of the gas feeders  56  to  59  to control the temperature and humidity of N2 gas to be discharged. With scanning in one direction of one side of the substrate G, temperature and humidity controlled N2 gas is discharged to control the temperature of processing atmosphere, and at the same time the step of discharging a developing solution is performed. Since the temperature of processing atmosphere can be controlled, the dissolving speed of the resist is controllable. Beside, the humidity of processing atmosphere can be controlled by discharging humidity controlled N2 gas, thereby preventing the concentration of the developing solution from changing. After scanning is performed to the edge portion of the substrate G, the step of discharging a rinse solution and the step of discharging N2 gas are performed at the same time as scanning in the reverse direction to the one direction of the one side of the substrate G, whereby edge processing capacity and drying ability are further improved. 
     Although N2 gas is used as an inert gas in the embodiments, Ar gas, helium gas, and the like are also available. Moreover, it is needless to say that instead of an inert gas, gases which do not react with a resist solution and a developing solution, for example, clean air and the like can be used. 
     The aforesaid embodiments have the intention of clarifying technical meaning of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the above concrete embodiments and to be interpreted in a narrow sense, and various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the present invention and within the meaning of the claims.