Patent Publication Number: US-7722267-B2

Title: Substrate processing apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a substrate processing apparatus for subjecting substrates to processing. 
   2. Description of the Background Art 
   Substrate processing apparatuses are used to subject various types of substrates such as semiconductor substrates, substrates for liquid crystal displays, plasma displays, optical disks, magnetic disks, magneto-optical disks, and photomasks, and other substrates to various types of processing. 
   Such a substrate processing apparatus generally subjects a single substrate to a plurality of different types of processing successively. The substrate processing apparatus as described in JP 2003-324139 A comprises an indexer block, an anti-reflection film processing block, a resist film processing block, a development processing block, and an interface block. An exposure device is arranged adjacent to the interface block as an external device separate from the substrate processing apparatus. 
   In the above-mentioned substrate processing apparatus, a substrate carried out of the indexer block is transported to the exposure device through the interface block after being subjected to anti-reflection film formation and resist film coating processing in the anti-reflection film processing block and the resist film processing block. After the resist film on the substrate is subjected to exposure processing in the exposure device, the substrate is transported to the development processing block through the interface block. After the resist film on the substrate is subjected to development processing to form a resist pattern thereon in the development processing block, the substrate is transported to the indexer block. 
   With recent increases in density and integration of devices, making finer resist patterns has become an important problem. Conventional exposure devices have generally performed exposure processing by reduction-projecting a reticle pattern on a substrate through a projection lens. With such conventional exposure devices, however, the line width of an exposure pattern is determined by the wavelength of a light source of the exposure device. Therefore, making finer resist patterns has had a limitation. 
   Therefore, a liquid immersion method is suggested as a projection exposure method allowing for finer exposure patterns (see, e.g., WO99/49504 pamphlet). In the projection exposure device according to the WO99/49504 pamphlet, an area between a projection optical system and a substrate is filled with a liquid, resulting in a shorter wavelength of exposure light on a main surface of the substrate. This allows for finer exposure patterns. 
   However, in the projection exposure device according to the above-mentioned WO99/49504 pamphlet, exposure processing is performed with the substrate and the liquid being in contact with each other. Accordingly, the substrate to which the liquid adheres is carried out of the exposure device. When the exposure device using the liquid immersion method as described in the above-mentioned WO99/49504 pamphlet is provided as an external device in the substrate processing apparatus according to the above-mentioned JP 2003-324139 A, therefore, the liquid adhering to the substrate that has been carried out of the exposure device may drop in the substrate processing apparatus, causing operational troubles such as abnormalities in an electric system of the substrate processing apparatus. 
   When the liquid adheres to the substrate that has been subjected to the exposure processing, particles and the like may adhere to the substrate. When the particles and the like adhere to the substrate, processing defects may occur in the substrate. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the invention is to provide a substrate processing apparatus in which operational troubles and processing defects due to a liquid that has adhered to a substrate in an exposure device are prevented. 
   (1) A substrate processing apparatus according to one aspect of the invention is a substrate processing apparatus that is arranged adjacent to an exposure device, including a processing section for subjecting a substrate to processing, and an interface that transfers and receives the substrate between the processing section and the exposure device, the interface including first and second transport units that transport the substrate, a cleaning processing unit that subjects the substrate to cleaning processing before exposure processing by the exposure device, a drying processing unit that subjects the substrate to drying processing after the exposure processing by the exposure device, and a platform on which the substrate is temporarily placed, the first transport unit transporting the substrate among the processing section, the cleaning processing unit, and the platform, the second transport unit transporting the substrate among the platform, the exposure device, and the drying processing unit. 
   In the substrate processing apparatus, the substrate is subjected to predetermined processing in the processing section, and the substrate is then transported to the cleaning processing unit by the first transport unit in the interface. In the cleaning processing unit, the substrate is subjected to the cleaning processing, and is then transported to the platform by the first transport unit. The substrate is then transported from the platform to the exposure device by the second transport unit. The substrate is subjected to the exposure processing in the exposure device, and is then transported to the drying processing unit by the second transport unit. In the drying processing unit, the substrate is subjected to the drying processing, and is then transported to the platform by the second transport unit. Thereafter, the substrate is transported from the platform to the processing section by the first transport unit. 
   In such a way, the substrate after the exposure processing is transported to the processing section after being dried in the drying processing unit. In this case, even if a liquid adheres to the substrate in the exposure device, the liquid can be prevented from dropping in the substrate processing apparatus. As a result, operational troubles in the substrate processing apparatus can be prevented. 
   The substrate is subjected to the drying processing, thereby preventing particles and the like in an atmosphere from adhering to the liquid adhering to the substrate during the exposure processing. This can prevent processing defects in the substrate. 
   In the cleaning processing unit, the substrate before the exposure processing is subjected to the cleaning processing. This allows the particles and the like adhering to the substrate in a processing process before the exposure processing to be removed immediately before the exposure processing. As a result, contamination in the exposure device can be prevented, which can reliably prevent the processing defects in the substrate. 
   (2) The cleaning processing unit may subject the substrate to the drying processing after subjecting the substrate to the cleaning processing. In this case, the particles and the like in the atmosphere can be prevented from adhering to the substrate after the cleaning processing. This can reliably prevent the contamination in the exposure device. As a result, the processing defects in the substrate can be reliably prevented. 
   (3) The drying processing unit may subject the substrate to the cleaning processing before subjecting the substrate to the drying processing. In this case, even if the particles and the like in the atmosphere adhere to the substrate while the substrate to which the liquid has adhered during the exposure processing is transported from the exposure device to the drying processing unit, the attachment can be reliably removed. This can reliably prevent the processing defects in the substrate. 
   (4) The platform may include a temperature control waiting unit that makes the substrate wait until the substrate before the exposure processing by the exposure device can be carried into the exposure device while keeping the substrate at a predetermined temperature. 
   In this case, the temperature control waiting unit has the function of keeping the substrate at the predetermined temperature and the function of making the substrate wait until the substrate can be carried into the exposure device, thereby eliminating the necessity of providing a general substrate platform in which the substrate waits until it can be carried into the exposure device. This allows a transporting process by the second transport unit to be reduced. As a result, throughput can be improved, and reliability can be improved because the number of access points for transportation by the second transport unit can be reduced. 
   (5) The processing section, the interface, and the exposure device are arranged side by side in a first direction, the interface has at least one side surface in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction within a horizontal plane, and the drying processing unit is arranged on the side of the one side surface within the interface. 
   In this case, the drying processing unit is arranged on the side of the one side surface, which is not in contact with the processing section and the exposure device, of the interface, so that the drying processing unit can be easily maintained from the one side surface. 
   (6) The interface may have another side surface opposite to the one side surface in the second direction, and the cleaning processing unit may be arranged on the side of the opposite side surface within the interface. 
   In this case, the cleaning processing unit is arranged on the side of the opposite side surface, which is not in contact with the processing section and the exposure device, of the interface, so that the cleaning processing unit can be easily maintained from the other side surface. 
   (7) The platform may be arranged in a substantially central portion in the second direction within the interface, the first transport unit may be arranged between the cleaning processing unit and the platform, and the second transport unit may be arranged between the platform and the drying processing unit. 
   In this case, transferring and receiving the substrate to and from the cleaning processing unit and the platform by the first transport unit as well as transferring and receiving the substrate to and from the platform and the drying processing unit by the second transport unit are performed in a short time. This allows throughput to be improved. 
   (8) The interface may have another side surface opposite to the one side surface in the second direction, the first transport unit may be arranged on the side of the opposite side surface within the interface, the cleaning processing unit and the platform may be stacked in a substantially central portion in the second direction within the interface, and the second transport unit may be arranged in an area from the cleaning processing unit and the platform to the drying processing unit. 
   In this case, transferring and receiving the substrate to and from the cleaning processing unit and the platform by the first transport unit as well as transferring and receiving the substrate to and from the platform and the drying processing unit by the second transport unit are performed in a short time. This allows throughput to be improved. 
   Since the cleaning processing unit and the platform are stacked, the footprint of the substrate processing apparatus can be reduced. 
   (9) The second transport unit may include first and second holders that each hold the substrate, the first holder may hold the substrate when the substrate is transported before the exposure processing by the exposure device and after the drying processing by the drying processing unit, and the second holder may hold the substrate when the substrate is transported from the exposure device to the drying processing unit after the exposure processing. 
   In this case, the first holder is used in transporting the substrate before the exposure processing and after the drying processing, and the second holder is used in transporting the substrate immediately after the exposure processing. This prevents the liquid from adhering to the first holder even if the liquid adheres to the substrate in the exposure device. Further, the substrate after the drying processing is transported by the first holder. Therefore, the liquid can be prevented from adhering to the substrate after the drying processing. 
   (10) The second holder may be provided below the first holder. In this case, even if the liquid drops from the second holder and the substrate held thereby, the liquid does not adhere to the first holder and the substrate held thereby. This can reliably prevent the liquid from adhering to the substrate after the drying processing. 
   (11) The interface may further include an edge exposure unit that exposes a peripheral portion of the substrate, and the first transport unit may transport the substrate among the processing section, the edge exposure unit, the cleaning processing unit, and the platform. In this case, the peripheral portion of the substrate is subjected to the exposure processing in the edge exposure unit. 
   Other features, elements, characteristics, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of a substrate processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic side view of the substrate processing apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  as viewed from the +X direction; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of the substrate processing apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  as viewed from the −X direction; 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic side view of an interface block as viewed from the +Y side; 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a cleaning/drying processing unit; 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram for explaining the operation of the cleaning/drying processing unit; 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic view showing a nozzle for cleaning processing and a nozzle for drying processing that are integrally formed; 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic view showing another example of a nozzle for drying processing; 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram for explaining a method of subjecting a substrate to drying processing using the nozzle for drying processing shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic view showing still another example of a nozzle for drying processing; 
       FIG. 11  is a schematic view showing another example of a cleaning/drying processing unit; 
       FIG. 12  is a diagram for explaining a method of subjecting a substrate to drying processing using the cleaning/drying processing unit shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a vertical sectional view showing an example of the internal configuration of a two-fluid nozzle used for cleaning and drying processing; 
       FIG. 14  is a diagram for explaining a method of subjecting a substrate to cleaning and drying processing using the two-fluid nozzle shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
       FIG. 15  is a plan view of a substrate processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 16  is a schematic side view of an interface block shown in  FIG. 15  as viewed from the +Y side. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   A substrate processing apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a substrate refers to a semiconductor substrate, a substrate for a liquid crystal display, a substrate for a plasma display, a glass substrate for a photomask, a substrate for an optical disk, a substrate for a magnetic disk, a substrate for a magneto-optical disk, a substrate for a photomask, or the like. 
   (A) First Embodiment 
   (1) Configuration of Substrate Processing Apparatus 
     FIG. 1  is a plan view of a substrate processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 2 to 4 ,  15 , and  16  described later are accompanied by arrows that respectively indicate X, Y, and Z directions perpendicular to one another for clarity of a positional relationship. The X and Y directions are perpendicular to each other within a horizontal plane, and the Z direction corresponds to a vertical direction. In each of the directions, the direction of an arrow is defined as a +direction, and the opposite direction is defined as a −direction. A rotation direction centered around the Z direction is defined as a θ direction. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , a substrate processing apparatus  500  comprises an indexer block  9 , an anti-reflection film processing block  10 , a resist film processing block  11 , a development processing block  12 , a resist cover film processing block  13 , a resist cover film removal block  14 , and an interface block  15 . An exposure device  16  is arranged adjacent to the interface block  15 . The exposure device  16  subjects a substrate W to exposure processing by means of a liquid immersion method. 
   Each of the indexer block  9 , the anti-reflection film processing block  10 , the resist film processing block  11 , the development processing block  12 , the resist cover film processing block  13 , the resist cover film removal block  14 , and the interface block  15  will be hereafter referred to as a processing block. 
   The indexer block  9  comprises a main controller (controller)  30  for controlling the operation of each of the processing blocks, a plurality of carrier platforms  40 , and an indexer robot IR. The indexer robot IR has a hand IRH provided for receiving and transferring the substrates W. 
   The anti-reflection film processing block  10  comprises thermal processing groups  100  and  101  for anti-reflection film, a coating processing group  50  for anti-reflection film, and a first central robot CR 1 . The coating processing group  50  is arranged opposite to the thermal processing groups  100  and  101  with the first central robot CR 1  sandwiched therebetween. The first central robot CR 1  has hands CRH 1  and CRH 2  provided one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W. 
   A partition wall  17  is provided between the indexer block  9  and the anti-reflection film processing block  10  for shielding an atmosphere. The partition wall  17  has substrate platforms PASS 1  and PASS 2  provided in close proximity one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W between the indexer block  9  and the anti-reflection film processing block  10 . The upper substrate platform PASS 1  is used in transporting the substrates W from the indexer block  9  to the anti-reflection film processing block  10 , and the lower substrate platform PASS 2  is used in transporting the substrates W from the anti-reflection film processing block  10  to the indexer block  9 . 
   Each of the substrate platforms PASS 1  and PASS 2  is provided with an optical sensor (not shown) for detecting the presence or absence of the substrate W. This allows determination to be made whether or not the substrate W is placed on the substrate platform PASS 1  or PASS 2 . In addition, each of the substrate platforms PASS 1  and PASS 2  has a plurality of support pins secured thereto. Note that each of substrate platforms PASS 3  to PASS 13  described later is similarly provided with an optical sensor and support pins. 
   The resist film processing block  11  comprises thermal processing groups  110  and  111  for resist film, a coating processing group  60  for resist film, and a second central robot CR 2 . The coating processing group  60  is provided opposite to the thermal processing groups  110  and  111  with the second central robot CR 2  sandwiched therebetween. The second central robot CR 2  has hands CRH 3  and CRH 4  provided one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W. 
   A partition wall  18  is provided between the anti-reflection film processing block  10  and the resist film processing block  11  for shielding an atmosphere. The partition wall  18  has substrate platforms PASS 3  and PASS 4  provided in close proximity one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W between the anti-reflection film processing block  10  and the resist film processing block  11 . The upper substrate platform PASS 3  is used in transporting the substrates W from the anti-reflection film processing block  10  to the resist film processing block  11 , and the lower substrate platform PASS 4  is used in transporting the substrates W from the resist film processing block  11  to the anti-reflection film processing block  10 . 
   The development processing block  12  comprises thermal processing groups  120  and  121  for development, a development processing group  70 , and a third central robot CR 3 . The development processing group  70  is provided opposite to the thermal processing groups  120  and  121  with the third central robot CR 3  sandwiched therebetween. The third central robot CR 3  has hands CRH 5  and CRH 6  provided one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W. 
   A partition wall  19  is provided between the resist film processing block  11  and the development processing block  12  for shielding an atmosphere. The partition wall  19  has substrate platforms PASS 5  and PASS 6  provided in close proximity one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W between the resist film processing block  11  and the development processing block  12 . The upper substrate platform PASS 5  is used in transporting the substrates W from the resist film processing block  11  to the development processing block  12 , and the lower substrate platform PASS 6  is used in transporting the substrates W from the development processing block  12  to the resist film processing block  11 . 
   The resist cover film processing block  13  comprises thermal processing groups  130  and  131  for resist cover film, a coating processing group  80  for resist cover film, and a fourth central robot CR 4 . The coating processing group  80  is provided opposite to the thermal processing groups  130  and  131  with the fourth central robot CR 4  sandwiched therebetween. The fourth central robot CR 4  has hands CRH 7  and CRH 8  provided one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W. 
   A partition wall  20  is provided between the development processing block  12  and the resist cover film processing block  13  for shielding an atmosphere. The partition wall  20  has substrate platforms PASS 7  and PASS 8  provided in close proximity one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W between the development processing block  12  and the resist cover film processing block  13 . The upper substrate platform PASS 7  is used in transporting the substrates W from the development processing block  12  to the resist cover film processing block  13 , and the lower substrate platform PASS 8  is used in transporting the substrates W from the resist cover film processing block  13  to the development processing block  12 . 
   The resist cover film removal block  14  comprises thermal processing groups  140  and  141  for post-exposure bake, a removal processing group  90  for resist cover film, and a fifth central robot CR 5 . The thermal processing group  141  is adjacent to the interface block  15 , and comprises substrate platforms PASS 11  and PASS 12 , as described later. The removal processing group  90  is provided opposite to the thermal processing groups  140  and  141  with the fifth central robot CR 5  sandwiched therebetween. The fifth central robot CR 5  has hands CRH 9  and CRH 10  provided one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates w. 
   A partition wall  21  is arranged between the resist cover film processing block  13  and the resist cover film removal block  14  for shielding an atmosphere. The partition wall  21  has substrate platforms PASS 9  and PASS 10  provided in close proximity one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W between the resist cover film processing block  13  and the resist cover film removal block  14 . The upper substrate platform PASS 9  is used in transporting the substrates W from the resist cover film processing block  13  to the resist cover film removal block  14 , and the lower substrate platform PASS 10  is used in transporting the substrates W from the resist cover film removal block  14  to the resist cover film processing block  13 . 
   The interface block  15  comprises a sending buffer unit SBF, first cleaning/drying processing units SD 1 , a sixth central robot CR 6 , an edge exposure unit EEW, a return buffer unit RBF, placement/cooling units PASS-CP (hereinafter abbreviated as P-CP), a substrate platform PASS 13 , an interface transport mechanism IFR, and second cleaning/drying processing units SD 2 . The first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1  subjects the substrate W before exposure processing to cleaning and drying processing, and the second cleaning/drying processing SD 2  subjects the substrate W after exposure processing to cleaning and drying processing. Details of the first and second cleaning/drying processing units SD 1  and SD 2  will be described later. 
   The sixth central robot CR 6  has hands CRH 11  and CRH 12  (see  FIG. 4 ) provided one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W, and the interface transport mechanism IFR has hands H 1  and H 2  (see  FIG. 4 ) provided one above the other for receiving and transferring the substrates W. The details of the interface block  15  will be described later. 
   In the substrate processing apparatus  500  according to the present embodiment, the indexer block  9 , the anti-reflection film processing block  10 , the resist film processing block  11 , the development processing block  12 , the resist cover film processing block  13 , the resist cover film removal block  14 , and the interface block  15  are provided side by side in this order in the Y direction. 
     FIG. 2  is a schematic side view of the substrate processing apparatus  500  shown in  FIG. 1  as viewed from the +X direction, and  FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of the substrate processing apparatus  500  shown in  FIG. 1  as viewed from the −X direction.  FIG. 2  mainly shows the configuration on the +X side of the substrate processing apparatus  500 , and  FIG. 3  mainly shows the configuration on the −X side of the substrate processing apparatus  500 . 
   Description is first made of the configuration on the +X side of the substrate processing apparatus  500  using  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the coating processing group  50  (see  FIG. 1 ) in the anti-reflection film processing block  10  has a vertical stack of three coating units BARC. Each of the coating units BARC comprises a spin chuck  51  for rotating the substrate W with the substrate W held in a horizontal attitude by suction, and a supply nozzle  52  for supplying a coating liquid for an anti-reflection film to the substrate W held on the spin chuck  51 . 
   The coating processing group  60  in the resist film processing block  11  (see  FIG. 1 ) has a vertical stack of three coating units RES. Each of the coating units RES comprises a spin chuck  61  for rotating the substrate W with the substrate W held in a horizontal attitude by suction, and a supply nozzle  62  for supplying a coating liquid for a resist film to the substrate W held on the spin chuck  61 . 
   The development processing group  70  in the development processing block  12  has a vertical stack of five development processing units DEV. Each of the development processing units DEV comprises a spin chuck  71  for rotating the substrate W with the substrate W held in a horizontal attitude by suction, and a supply nozzle  72  for supplying a development liquid to the substrate W held on the spin chuck  71 . 
   The coating processing group  80  in the resist cover film processing block  13  has a vertical stack of three coating units COV. Each of the coating units COV comprises a spin chuck  81  for rotating the substrate W with the substrate W held in a horizontal attitude by suction, and a supply nozzle  82  for supplying a coating liquid for a resist cover film to the substrate W held on the spin chuck  81 . Materials having a low affinity for resists and water (materials having low reactivity to resists and water) can be used as the coating liquid for the resist cover film. An example of the coating liquid is fluororesin. Each of the coating units COV forms the resist cover film on the resist film formed on the substrate W by applying the coating liquid onto the substrate W while rotating the substrate W. 
   The removal processing group  90  in the resist cover film removal block  14  has a vertical stack of three removal units REM. Each of the removal units REM comprises a spin chuck  91  for rotating the substrate W with the substrate W held in a horizontal attitude by suction, and a supply nozzle  92  for supplying a stripping liquid (e.g. fluororesin) to the substrate W held on the spin chuck  91 . Each of the removal units REM removes the resist cover film formed on the substrate W by applying the stripping liquid onto the substrate W while rotating the substrate W. 
   Note that a method of removing the resist cover films in the removal units REM is not limited to the above-mentioned examples. For example, the resist cover film may be removed by supplying the stripping liquid onto the substrate W while moving a slit nozzle above the substrate W. 
   The interface block  15  has a vertical stack of an edge exposure unit EEW and three second cleaning/drying processing units SD 2  on the +X side. The edge exposure unit EEW comprises a spin chuck  98  for rotating the substrate W with the substrate held in a horizontal attitude by suction, and a light irradiator  99  for exposing a peripheral portion of the substrate W held on the spin chuck  98 . 
   Description is now made of the configuration on the −X side of the substrate processing apparatus  500  using  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , each of the thermal processing groups  100  and  101  in the anti-reflection film processing block  10  has a stack of two heating units (hot plates) HP and two cooling units (cooling plates) CP. Each of the thermal processing groups  100  and  101  also has a local controller LC for controlling the temperatures of the heating units HP and the cooling units CP arranged in its uppermost part. 
   Each of the thermal processing groups  110  and  111  in the resist film processing block  11  has a stack of two heating units HP and two cooling units CP. Each of the thermal processing groups  110  and  111  also has a local controller LC for controlling the temperatures of the heating units HP and the cooling units CP arranged in its uppermost part. 
   Each of the thermal processing groups  120  and  121  in the development processing block  12  has a stack of two heating units HP and two cooling units CP. Each of the thermal processing groups  120  and  121  also has a local controller LC for controlling the temperatures of the heating units HP and the cooling units CP arranged in its uppermost part. 
   Each of the thermal processing groups  130  and  131  in the resist cover film processing block  13  has a stack of two heating units HP and two cooling units CP. Each of the thermal processing groups  130  and  131  also has a local controller LC for controlling the temperatures of the heating units HP and the cooling units CP arranged in its uppermost part. 
   In the resist cover film removal block  14 , the thermal processing group  140  has a vertical stack of two heating units HP and two cooling units CP, and the thermal processing group  141  has a vertical stack of two heating units HP, two cooling units CP, and substrate platforms PASS 11  and PASS 12 . Each of the thermal processing groups  140  and  141  has a local controller LC for controlling the temperatures of the heating units HP and the cooling units CP arranged in its uppermost part. 
   The interface block  15  will be then described in detail using  FIG. 4 . 
     FIG. 4  is a schematic side view of the interface block  15  as viewed from the +Y side. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the interface block  15  has a stack of a sending buffer unit SBF and three first cleaning/drying processing units SD 1  on the −X side. The interface block  15  has an edge exposure unit EEW arranged on the +X side in its upper part. 
   The interface block  15  has a vertical stack of a return buffer unit RBF, two placement/cooling units P-CP, and a substrate platform PASS 13  at its substantially central portion. The interface block  15  has a vertical stack of three second cleaning/drying processing units SD 2  on the +X side below the edge exposure unit EEW. 
   A sixth central robot CR 6  and an interface transport mechanism IFR are provided in a lower part of the interface block  15 . The sixth central robot CR 6  is provided so as to be vertically movable and rotatable in an area from the sending buffer unit SBF and the first cleaning/drying processing units SD 1  to the edge exposure unit EEW, the return buffer unit RBF, the placement/cooling units P-CP, and the substrate platform PASS 13 . The interface transport mechanism IFR is provided so as to be vertically movable and rotatable in an area from the return buffer unit RBF, the placement/cooling units P-CP, and the substrate platform PASS 13  to the second cleaning/drying processing units SD 2 . 
   (2) Operation of Substrate Processing Apparatus 
   The operation of the substrate processing apparatus  500  according to the present embodiment will be then described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
   (2-1) Operation of Indexer Block to Resist Cover Film Removal Block 
   First, the operation of the indexer block  9  to the resist cover film removal block  14  will be briefly described. 
   Carriers C that store a plurality of substrates W in multiple stages are respectively carried onto the carrier platforms  40  in the indexer block  9 . The indexer robot IR takes out the unprocessed substrate W that is stored in the carrier C using the hand IRH. Thereafter, the indexer robot IR rotates in the ±θ direction while moving in the ±X direction, to place the unprocessed substrate W on the substrate platform PASS 1 . 
   Although FOUPs (Front Opening Unified Pods) are adopted as the carriers C in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the same. For example, SMIF (Standard Mechanical Inter Face) pods, or OCs (Open Cassettes) that expose the stored substrates W to outside air may be used. 
   Furthermore, although linear-type transport robots that move their hands forward or backward by linearly sliding them to the substrate W are respectively used as the indexer robot IR, the first to sixth central robots CR 1  to CR 6 , and the interface transport mechanism IFR, the present invention is not limited to the same. For example, multi-joint type transport robots that linearly move their hands forward and backward by moving their joints may be used. 
   The unprocessed substrate W placed on the substrate platform PASS 1  is received by the first central robot CR 1  in the anti-reflection film processing block  10 . The first central robot CR 1  carries the substrate W into the thermal processing group  100  or  101 . 
   Thereafter, the first central robot CR 1  takes out the thermally processed substrate W from the thermal processing group  100  or  101  and carries the substrate W into the coating processing group  50 . The coating processing group  50  forms a coating of an anti-reflection film on the substrate W using the coating unit BARC in order to reduce standing waves and halation generated during the exposure processing. 
   The first central robot CR 1  then takes out the substrate W after the coating processing from the coating processing group  50  and carries the substrate W into the thermal processing group  100  or  101 . Thereafter, the first central robot CR 1  takes out the thermally processed substrate W from the thermal processing group  100  or  101  and places the substrate W on the substrate platform PASS 3 . 
   The substrate W placed on the substrate platform PASS 3  is received by the second central robot CR 2  in the resist film processing block  11 . The second central robot CR 2  carries the substrate W into the thermal processing group  110  or  110 . 
   Thereafter, the second central robot CR 2  takes out the thermally processed substrate W from the thermal processing group  110  or  111  and carries the substrate W into the coating processing group  60 . In the coating processing group  60 , the coating unit RES forms a coating of a resist film on the substrate W that has been coated with the anti-reflection film. 
   The second central robot CR 2  then takes out the substrate W after the coating processing from the coating processing group  60  and carries the substrate W into the thermal processing group  110  or  111 . Thereafter, the second central robot CR 2  takes out the thermally processed substrate W from the thermal processing group  110  or  111  and places the substrate W on the substrate platform PASS 5 . 
   The substrate W placed on the substrate platform PASS 5  is received by the third central robot CR 3  in the development processing block  12 . The third central robot CR 3  places the substrate W on the substrate platform PASS 7 . 
   The substrate W placed on the substrate platform PASS 7  is received by the fourth central robot CR 4  in the resist cover film processing block  13 . The fourth central robot CR 4  carries the substrate W into the coating processing group  80 . In the coating processing group  80 , the coating unit COV forms a coating of a resist cover film on the substrate W that has been coated with the resist film. 
   The fourth central robot CR 4  then takes out the substrate W after the coating processing from the coating processing group  80  and carries the substrate W into the thermal processing group  130  or  131 . Thereafter, the fourth central robot CR 4  takes out the thermally processed substrate W from the thermal processing group  130  or  131  and places the substrate W on the substrate platform PASS 9 . 
   The substrate W placed on the substrate platform PASS 9  is received by the fifth central robot CR 5  in the resist cover film removal block  14 . The fifth central robot CR 5  places the substrate W on the substrate platform PASS 11 . 
   The substrate W placed on the substrate platform PASS 11  is received by the sixth central robot CR 6  in the interface block  15 , and is subjected to predetermined processing in the interface block  15  and the exposure device  16 , as described later. After the substrate W is subjected to the predetermined processing in the interface block  15  and the exposure device  16 , the sixth central robot CR 6  carries the substrate W into the thermal processing group  141  in the resist cover film removal block  14 . 
   In the thermal processing group  141 , the substrate W is subjected to post-exposure bake (PEB). Thereafter, the sixth central robot CR 6  takes out the substrate W from the thermal processing group  141  and places the substrate W on the substrate platform PASS 12 . 
   Although the substrate W is subjected to the post-exposure bake by the thermal processing group  141  in the present embodiment, the substrate W may be subjected to post-exposure bake by the thermal processing group  140 . 
   The substrate W placed on the substrate platform PASS 12  is received by the fifth central robot CR 5  in the resist cover film removal block  14 . The fifth central robot CR 5  carries the substrate W into the removal processing group  90 . In the removal processing group  90 , the resist cover film is removed. 
   The fifth central robot CR 5  then takes out the processed substrate W from the removal processing group  90  and places the substrate W on the substrate platform PASS 10 . 
   The substrate W placed on the substrate platform PASS 10  is placed on the substrate platform PASS 8  by the fourth central robot CR 4  in the resist cover film processing block  13 . 
   The substrate W placed on the substrate platform PASS 8  is received by the third central robot CR 3  in the development processing block  12 . The third central robot CR 3  carries the substrate W into the development processing group  70 . In the development processing group  70 , the exposed substrate W is subjected to development processing. 
   The third central robot CR 3  then takes out the substrate W after the development processing from the development processing group  70  and carries the substrate W into the thermal processing group  120  or  121 . Thereafter, the third central robot CR 3  takes out the thermally processed substrate W from the thermal processing group  120  or  121  and places the substrate W on the substrate platform PASS 6 . 
   The substrate W placed on the substrate platform PASS 6  is placed on the substrate platform PASS 4  by the second central robot CR 2  in the resist film processing block  11 . The substrate W placed on the substrate platform PASS 4  is placed on the substrate platform PASS 2  by the first central robot CR 1  in the anti-reflection film processing block  10 . 
   The substrate W placed on the substrate platform PASS 2  is stored in the carrier C by the indexer robot IR in the indexer block  9 . Each processing for the substrate W in the substrate processing apparatus  500  is thus terminated. 
   (2-2) Operation of Interface Block 
   The operation of the interface block  15  will be then described. 
   As described in the foregoing, the substrate W carried into the indexer block  9  is subjected to predetermined processing, and is then placed on the substrate platform PASS 11  in the resist cover film removal block  14  ( FIG. 1 ). 
   The substrate W placed on the substrate platform PASS 11  is received by the sixth central robot CR 6  in the interface block  15 . The sixth central robot CR 6  carries the substrate W into the edge exposure unit EEW ( FIG. 4 ). In the edge exposure unit EEW, a peripheral portion of the substrate W is subjected to exposure processing. 
   The sixth central robot CR 6  then takes out the substrate W after the exposure processing from the edge exposure unit EEW and carries the substrate W into any one of the first cleaning/drying processing units SD 1 . In the first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1 , the substrate W before the exposure processing is subjected to cleaning and drying processing, as described above. 
   Here, a time period for the exposure processing by the exposure device  16  is ordinarily longer than those for other processing and transporting processes. As a result, the exposure device  16  cannot accept the subsequent substrates W in many cases. In this case, the substrate W is temporarily stored in the sending buffer unit SBF ( FIG. 4 ). In the present embodiment, the sixth central robot CR 6  takes out the substrate W after the cleaning and drying processing from the first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1  and transports the substrate W to the sending buffer unit SBF. 
   The sixth central robot CR 6  then takes out the substrate W stored in the sending buffer unit SBF and carries the substrate W into the placement/cooling unit P-CP. The substrate W carried into the placement/cooling unit P-CP is kept at the same temperature as that in the exposure device  16  (for example, 23° C.) 
   In a case where the exposure device  16  has a sufficient processing speed, the substrate W may not be stored in the sending buffer unit SBF but transported to the placement/cooling unit P-CP from the first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1 . 
   The substrate W kept at the above-mentioned predetermined temperature in the placement/cooling unit P-CP is then received with the upper hand H 1  of the interface transport unit IFR ( FIG. 4 ) and carried into a substrate inlet  16   a  in the exposure device  16  ( FIG. 1 ) 
   The substrate W that has been subjected to the exposure processing in the exposure device  16  is carried out of a substrate outlet  16   b  ( FIG. 1 ) with the lower hand H 2  of the interface transport mechanism IFR ( FIG. 4 ). The interface transport mechanism IFR carries the substrate W into any one of the second cleaning/drying processing units SD 2  with the hand H 2 . In the second cleaning/drying processing unit SD 2 , the substrate W after the exposure processing is subjected to cleaning and drying processing, as described above. 
   The substrate W that has been subjected to the cleaning and drying processing in the second cleaning/drying processing unit SD 2  is taken out with the hand H 1  of the interface transport mechanism IFR ( FIG. 4 ). The substrate W is placed on the substrate platform PASS 13  with the hand H 1  of the interface transport mechanism IFR. 
   The substrate W placed on the substrate platform PASS 13  is received by the sixth central robot CR 6 . The sixth central robot CR 6  transports the substrate W to the thermal processing group  141  in the resist cover film removal block  14  ( FIG. 1 ). 
   When the resist cover film removal block  14  cannot temporarily receive the substrate W due to a failure or the like in the removal unit REM ( FIG. 2 ), the substrate W after the exposure processing can be temporarily stored in the return buffer unit RBF. 
   Here, although in the present embodiment, the sixth central robot CR 6  transports the substrate W among the substrate platform PASS 11  ( FIG. 1 ), the edge exposure unit EEW, the first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1 , the sending buffer unit SBF, the placement/cooling unit P-CP, the substrate platform PASS 13 , and the thermal processing group  141 , a series of such operations can be performed in a short time (e.g., 24 seconds). 
   Although the interface transport mechanism IFR transports the substrate W among the placement/cooling unit P-CP, the exposure device  16 , the second cleaning/drying processing unit SD 2 , and the substrate platform PASS 13 , a series of such operations can be performed in a short time (e.g., 24 seconds). 
   As a result, this allows throughput to be reliably improved. 
   (3) Cleaning/Drying Processing Unit 
   The first and second cleaning/drying processing units SD 1  and SD 2  will be then described in detail using the drawings. Usable as the first and second cleaning/drying processing units SD 1  and SD 2  are ones having the same configuration. 
   (3-1) Configuration 
     FIG. 5  is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the first and second cleaning/drying processing units SD 1  and SD 2 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , each of the first and second cleaning/drying processing units SD 1  and SD 2  comprises a spin chuck  621  for horizontally holding the substrate W as well as rotating the substrate W around a vertical rotation shaft passing through the center of the substrate W. 
   The spin chuck  621  is secured to an upper end of a rotation shaft  625 , which is rotated by a chuck rotation-driving mechanism  636 . An air suction passage (not shown) is formed in the spin chuck  621 . Air inside the air suction passage is exhausted with the substrate W placed on the spin chuck  621 , so that a lower surface of the substrate W is adsorbed on the spin chuck  621  under vacuum, and the substrate W can be held in a horizontal attitude. 
   A first rotation motor  660  is provided outside the spin chuck  621 . A first rotation shaft  661  is connected to the first rotation motor  660 . A first arm  662  is connected to the first rotation shaft  661  so as to extend in the horizontal direction, and its end is provided with a nozzle  650  for cleaning processing. 
   The first rotation motor  660  causes the first rotation shaft  661  to rotate and the first arm  662  to swing, which causes the nozzle  650  to move to above the substrate W held on the spin chuck  621 . 
   A supply pipe  663  for cleaning processing is provided so as to pass through the first rotation motor  660 , the first rotation shaft  661 , and the first arm  662 . The supply pipe  663  is connected to a cleaning liquid supply source R 1  and a rinse liquid supply source R 2  through a valve Va and a valve Vb, respectively. 
   By controlling the opening and closing of the valves Va and Vb, it is possible to select a processing liquid supplied to the supply pipe  663  and adjust the amount of the processing liquid to be supplied. In the configuration shown in  FIG. 5 , a cleaning liquid can be supplied to the supply pipe  663  by opening the valve Va, and a rinse liquid can be supplied to the supply pipe  663  by opening the valve Vb. 
   The cleaning liquid and the rinse liquid are supplied to the nozzle  650  through the supply pipe  663  from the cleaning liquid supply source R 1  and the rinse liquid supply source R 2 , respectively. The cleaning liquid or the rinse liquid can be thus supplied to a main surface of the substrate W. Examples of the cleaning liquid include pure water, a pure water solution containing a complex (ionized), or a fluorine-based chemical solution. Examples of the rinse liquid may include pure water, carbonated water, hydrogen water, electrolytic ionic water, and HFE (hydrofluoroether). 
   A second rotation motor  671  is provided outside the spin chuck  621 . A second rotation shaft  672  is connected to the second rotation motor  671 . A second arm  673  is connected to the second rotation shaft  672  so as to extend in the horizontal direction, and its end is provided with a nozzle  670  for drying processing. 
   The second rotation motor  671  causes the second rotation shaft  672  to rotate and the second arm  673  to swing, which causes the nozzle  670  to move to above the substrate W held on the spin chuck  621 . 
   A supply pipe  674  for drying processing is provided so as to pass through the second rotation motor  671 , the second rotation shaft  672 , and the second arm  673 . The supply pipe  674  is connected to an inert gas supply source R 3  through a valve Vc. By controlling the opening and closing of the valve Vc, it is possible to adjust the amount of the inert gas supplied to the supply pipe  674 . 
   The inert gas is supplied to the nozzle  670  through the supply pipe  674  from the inert gas supply source R 3 . The inert gas can be thus supplied to the main surface of the substrate W. An example of the inert gas is nitrogen gas. 
   When supplying the cleaning liquid or the rinse liquid to the main surface of the substrate W, the nozzle  650  is positioned above the substrate W. When supplying the inert gas to the main surface of the substrate W, the nozzle  650  is retracted to a predetermined position. 
   When supplying the cleaning liquid or the rinse liquid to the main surface of the substrate W, the nozzle  670  is retracted to a predetermined position. When supplying the inert gas to the main surface of the substrate W, the nozzle  670  is positioned above the substrate W. 
   The substrate W held on the spin chuck  621  is stored in a processing cup  623 . A cylindrical partition wall  633  is provided inside the processing cup  623 . A discharge space  631  for discharging the processing liquid (i.e., cleaning liquid or rinse liquid) used for processing the substrate W is formed so as to surround the spin chuck  621 . Further, a liquid recovery space  632  for recovering the processing liquid used for processing the substrate W is formed between the processing cup  623  and the partition wall  633  so as to surround the discharge space  631 . 
   A discharge pipe  634  for directing the processing liquid to a liquid discharge processing device (not shown) is connected to the discharge space  631 . A recovery pipe  635  for directing the processing liquid to a recovery processing device (not shown) is connected to the liquid recovery space  632 . 
   A guard  624  is provided above the processing cup  623  for preventing the processing liquid on the substrate W from being splashed outward. The guard  624  is shaped to be rotationally-symmetric with respect to the rotation shaft  625 . An annular-shaped liquid discharge guide groove  641  with a V-shaped cross section is formed inwardly at an upper end of the guard  624 . 
   Furthermore, a liquid recovery guide  642  having an inclined surface that is inclined outwardly downward is formed inwardly at a lower end of the guard  624 . A partition wall housing groove  643  for receiving the partition wall  633  in the processing cup  623  is formed in the vicinity of an upper end of the liquid recovery guide  642 . 
   This guard  624  is provided with a guard lifting mechanism (not shown) composed of a ball-screw mechanism or the like. The guard lifting mechanism moves the guard  624  upward and downward between a recovery position in which the liquid recovery guide  642  is opposed to outer edges of the substrate W held on the spin chuck  621  and a discharge position in which the liquid discharge guide groove  641  is opposed to the outer edges of the substrate W held on the spin chuck  621 . When the guard  624  is in the recovery position (i.e., the position of the guard  624  shown in  FIG. 5 ), the processing liquid splashed outward from the substrate W is directed to the liquid recovery space  632  by the liquid recovery guide  642 , and then recovered through the recovery pipe  635 . On the other hand, when the guard  624  is in the discharge position, the processing liquid splashed outward from the substrate W is directed to the discharge space  631  by the liquid discharge guide groove  641 , and then discharged through the discharge pipe  634 . The foregoing configuration causes the processing liquid to be discharged and recovered. 
   (3-2) Operation 
   The processing operation of the first and second cleaning/drying processing units SD 1  and SD 2  having the above-mentioned configuration will be then described. Note that the operation of each component in each of the cleaning/drying processing units SD 1  and SD 2  described below is controlled by the main controller (controller)  30  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   When the substrate W is first carried into the cleaning/drying processing unit, the guard  624  is lowered, and the sixth central robot CR 6  or the interface transport mechanism IFR shown in  FIG. 1  places the substrate W on the spin chuck  621 . The substrate W placed on the spin chuck  621  is held by suction. 
   Then, the guard  624  moves to the above-mentioned discharge position, and the nozzle  650  moves to above the center of the substrate W. Then, the rotation shaft  625  rotates, which causes the substrate W held on the spin chuck  621  to rotate. Thereafter, the cleaning liquid is discharged onto an upper surface of the substrate W from the nozzle  650 . The substrate W is thus cleaned. 
   In the first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1 , a component of the resist cover film on the substrate W is eluted in the cleaning liquid during the cleaning. In the cleaning of the substrate W, the cleaning liquid is supplied onto the substrate W while the substrate W is being rotated. In this case, the cleaning liquid on the substrate W is always moved toward a peripheral portion of the substrate W by a centrifugal force and splashed. It is thus possible to prevent the component of the resist cover film eluted in the cleaning liquid from remaining on the substrate W. 
   Note that the component of the resist cover film may be eluted with pure water poured onto the substrate W and kept thereon for a certain time period. The cleaning liquid may be supplied onto the substrate W by a soft spray method using a two-fluid nozzle. 
   After an elapse of a predetermined time period, the supply of the cleaning liquid is stopped, and the rinse liquid is discharged from the nozzle  650 . This causes the cleaning liquid on the substrate W to be cleaned away. 
   After an elapse of another predetermined time period, the rotation speed of the rotation shaft  625  decreases. This causes the amount of the rinse liquid that is shaken off by the rotation of the substrate W to be reduced, so that a liquid layer L of the rinse liquid is formed over the entire main surface of the substrate W, as shown in  FIG. 6(   a ). Alternatively, the liquid layer L maybe formed over the entire main surface of the substrate W by stopping the rotation of the rotation shaft  625 . 
   Then, the supply of the rinse liquid is stopped, and the nozzle  650  retracts to the predetermined position while the nozzle  670  moves to above the center of the substrate W. Thereafter, the inert gas is discharged from the nozzle  670 . This causes the rinse liquid at the center of the substrate W to move to the peripheral portion of the substrate W, leaving the liquid layer L only on the peripheral portion of the substrate W, as shown in  FIG. 6(   b ). 
   Then, as the number of revolutions of the rotation shaft  625  (see  FIG. 5 ) increases, the nozzle  670  gradually moves from above the center of the substrate W to above the peripheral portion thereof, as shown in  FIG. 6(   c ). This causes a great centrifugal force to act on the liquid layer L on the substrate W while allowing the inert gas to be sprayed on the entire main surface of the substrate W, thereby allowing the liquid layer L on the substrate W to be reliably removed. As a result, the substrate W can be reliably dried. 
   Then, the supply of the inert gas is stopped, and the nozzle  670  retracts to the predetermined position while the rotation of the rotation shaft  625  is stopped. Thereafter, the guard  624  is lowered, and the sixth central robot CR 6  or the interface transport mechanism IFR shown in  FIG. 1  carries the substrate W out of the cleaning/drying processing unit. The processing operation in the first and second cleaning/drying processing units SD 1  and SD 2  is thus terminated. It is preferred that the position of the guard  624  during the cleaning and drying processing is suitably changed according to the necessity of recovering or discharging the processing liquid. 
   Although in the above-mentioned embodiment, a configuration in which the nozzle  650  is shared between the supply of the cleaning liquid and the supply of the rinse liquid is adopted to allow either one of the cleaning liquid and the rinse liquid to be supplied from the nozzle  650 , a configuration in which different nozzles are respectively used for the supply of the cleaning liquid and the supply of the rinse liquid may be also adopted. 
   In a case where the rinse liquid is supplied, pure water may be supplied from a nozzle for a back rinse (not shown) to the back of the substrate W so as to prevent the rinse liquid from flowing around to the back of the substrate W. 
   In a case where pure water is used as the cleaning liquid for cleaning the substrate W, it is not necessary to supply the rinse liquid. 
   Although in the above-mentioned embodiment, the substrate W is subjected to the drying processing by a spin drying method, the substrate W may be also subjected to drying processing by other methods such as a reduced pressure drying method and an air knife drying method. 
   Although in the above-mentioned embodiment, the inert gas is supplied from the nozzle  670  with the liquid layer L of the rinse liquid formed, the inert gas may be supplied from the nozzle  670  to thoroughly dry the substrate W immediately after the liquid layer of the cleaning liquid is shaken off once by rotating the substrate W when the liquid layer L of the rinse liquid is not formed or the rinse liquid is not used. 
   (4) Effects of First Embodiment 
   (4-1) Effects of Drying Processing of Substrate After Exposure Processing 
   As described in the foregoing, in the substrate processing apparatus  500  according to the present embodiment, the substrate W after the exposure processing is subjected to the drying processing in the second cleaning/drying processing unit SD 2  in the interface block  15 . This prevents the liquid adhering to the substrate W during the exposure processing from dropping in the substrate processing apparatus  500 . 
   Moreover, the particles and the like in the atmosphere are prevented from adhering to the substrate W after the exposure processing by subjecting the substrate W after the exposure processing to the drying processing, thereby preventing the substrate W from being contaminated. 
   Since the substrate W to which the liquid adheres is prevented from being transported in the substrate processing apparatus  500 , it is possible to prevent the liquid adhering to the substrate W during the exposure processing from influencing the atmosphere in the substrate processing apparatus  500 . This facilitates the adjustment of temperature and humidity in the substrate processing apparatus  500 . 
   Since the liquid adhering to the substrate W during the exposure processing is prevented from adhering to the indexer robot IR and the first to sixth central robots CR 1  to CR 6 , the liquid is prevented from adhering to the substrate W before the exposure processing. This prevents the particles and the like in the atmosphere from adhering to the substrate W before the exposure processing, thereby preventing the substrate W from being contaminated. As a result, this can prevent degradation in resolution performance during the exposure processing and prevent contamination in the exposure device  16 . 
   It is possible to reliably prevent the components of the resist film and the resist cover film from being eluted in the cleaning liquid and the rinse liquid remaining on the substrate W while the substrate W is transported from the second cleaning/drying processing unit SD 2  to the development processing group  70 . This can prevent exposure patterns formed on the resist film from being deformed. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent line-width precision during the development processing from being degraded. 
   As a result, this prevents operational troubles such as abnormalities in an electric system of the substrate processing apparatus  500  and reliably prevents processing defects in the substrate W. 
   The second cleaning/drying processing unit SD 2  subjects the substrate W to the drying processing by spraying the inert gas on the substrate W from the center to the peripheral portion thereof while rotating the substrate W. In this case, the cleaning liquid and the rinse liquid on the substrate W can be reliably removed, which can reliably prevent the particles and the like in the atmosphere from adhering to the cleaned substrate W. It is thus possible to reliably prevent the contamination of the substrate W and the generation of dry marks on the main surface of the substrate W. 
   (4-2) Effects of Cleaning Processing of Substrate After Exposure Processing 
   In the second cleaning/drying processing unit SD 2 , the substrate W is subjected to the cleaning processing before the drying processing. In this case, even if the particles and the like in the atmosphere adhere to the substrate W to which the liquid adheres during the exposure processing, the attachment can be removed. This prevents the substrate W from being contaminated. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent processing defects in the substrate. 
   (4-3) Effects of Coating Processing of Resist Cover Film 
   Before the substrate W is subjected to the exposure processing in the exposure device  16 , the resist cover film is formed on the resist film in the resist cover film processing block  13 . In this case, even if the substrate W is brought into contact with the liquid in the exposure device  16 , the resist cover film prevents the resist film from coming into contact with the liquid, which prevents the component of the resist from being eluted in the liquid. 
   (4-4) Effects of Removal Processing of Resist Cover Film 
   Before the substrate W is subjected to the development processing in the development processing block  12 , removal processing of the resist cover film is performed in the resist cover film removal block  14 . In this case, the resist cover film is reliably removed before the development processing, which allows the development processing to be reliably performed. 
   (4-5) Effects of Cleaning and Drying Processing of Substrate Before Exposure Processing 
   Before the substrate W is subjected to the exposure processing in the exposure device  16 , the substrate W is subjected to the cleaning processing in the first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1 . During the cleaning processing, a part of the component of the resist cover film on the substrate W is eluted in the cleaning liquid or the rinse liquid and cleaned away. Even if the substrate W is brought into contact with the liquid in the exposure device  16 , therefore, the component of the resist cover film on the substrate W is hardly eluted in the liquid. Further, it is possible to remove the particles and the like in the atmosphere adhering to the substrate W before the exposure processing. As a result, this can prevent contamination in the exposure device  16 . 
   The substrate W is subjected to the drying processing after being subjected to the cleaning processing in the first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1 . This causes the cleaning liquid or the rinse liquid adhering to the substrate W during the cleaning processing to be removed, which prevents the particles and the like in the atmosphere from adhering to the substrate W after the cleaning processing again. As a result, the contamination in the exposure device  16  can be reliably prevented. 
   In the first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1 , the substrate W is subjected to the drying processing by spraying the inert gas on the substrate W from the center to the peripheral portion thereof while the substrate W is being rotated. In this case, the cleaning liquid and the rinse liquid on the substrate W can be reliably removed, which can reliably prevent the particles and the like in the atmosphere from adhering to the cleaned substrate W. This can reliably prevent the contamination of the substrate W and the generation of dry marks on the main surface of the substrate W. 
   (4-6) Effects of Interface Block 
   In the interface block  15 , the sixth central robot CR 6  carries the substrate W into and out of the edge exposure unit EEW, carries the substrate W into and out of the first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1 , carries the substrate W into and out of the sending buffer unit SBF, carries the substrate W into the placement/cooling unit P-CP, and carries the substrate W out of the substrate platform PASS 13 , and the interface transport mechanism IFR carries the substrate W out of the placement/cooling unit P-CP, carries the substrate W into and out of the exposure device  16 , carries the substrate W into and out of the second cleaning/drying processing unit SD 2 , and carries the substrate W into the substrate platform PASS 13 . In this manner, since the substrate W can be efficiently transported by the sixth central robot CR 6  and the interface transport mechanism IFR, throughput can be improved. 
   The interface block  15  has the first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1  and the second cleaning/drying processing unit SD 2  respectively provided in the vicinities of its side surfaces in the X direction. In this case, the first and second cleaning/drying processing units SD 1  and SD 2  can be easily maintained from a side surface of the substrate processing apparatus  500  without removing the interface block  15 . 
   The first and second cleaning/drying processing units SD 1  and SD 2  allow the substrate W before and after the exposure processing to be cleaned and dried within one processing block. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the footprint of the substrate processing apparatus  500  from being increased. 
   (4-7) Effects of Interface Transport Mechanism 
   In the interface block  15 , the hand H 1  of the interface transport mechanism IFR is used in transporting the substrate W from the placement/cooling unit P-CP to the exposure device  16  and in transporting the substrate W from the second cleaning/drying processing unit SD 2  to the substrate platform PASS 13 , and the hand H 2  of the interface transport mechanism IFR is used in transporting the substrate W from the exposure device  16  to the second cleaning/drying processing unit SD 2 . 
   That is to say, the hand H 1  is used for transporting the substrate W having no liquid adhering thereto, and the hand H 2  is used for transporting the substrate W having a liquid adhering thereto. 
   In this case, since the liquid adhering to the substrate W during the exposure processing is prevented from adhering to the hand H 1 , the liquid is prevented from adhering to the substrate W before the exposure processing. In addition, since the hand H 2  is provided below the hand H 1 , the liquid can be prevented from adhering to the hand H 1  and the substrate W held there by even if the liquid drops from the hand H 2  and the substrate W held thereby. This can reliably prevent the liquid from adhering to the substrate W before the exposure processing. As a result, the substrate W can be reliably prevented from being contaminated before the exposure processing. 
   (4-8) Effects of Provision of Placement/Cooling Unit P-CP 
   The interface block  15  is provided with the placement/cooling unit P-CP having both the function of placing the substrate W before the exposure processing by the exposure device  16  and the function of cooling the substrate W for adjusting the temperature of the substrate W to the temperature in the exposure device  16 , thereby making it possible to reduce the number of transporting processes. When the exposure processing is performed by the liquid immersion method in which strict temperature control of the substrate is required, it is important to reduce the number of transporting processes. 
   As a result of the foregoing, throughput can be improved, and reliability can be also improved because the number of access points for transportation can be reduced. 
   In particular, the two placement/cooling units P-CP are provided, thereby making it possible to further improve the throughput. 
   (5) Other Examples of Cleaning/Drying Processing Unit 
   Although the nozzle  650  for cleaning processing and the nozzle  670  for drying processing are separately provided in the cleaning/drying processing unit shown in  FIG. 5 , the nozzle  650  and the nozzle  670  may be integrally formed, as shown in  FIG. 7 . In this case, the nozzle  650  and the nozzle  670  need not be separately moved when the substrate W is subjected to the cleaning processing or the drying processing, thereby making it possible to simplify the driving mechanism. 
   The nozzle  670  shown in  FIG. 5  may be replaced with a nozzle  770  for drying processing as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
   The nozzle  770  shown in  FIG. 8  extends vertically downward and has branch pipes  771  and  772  that extend obliquely downward from the sides thereof. Gas discharge ports  770   a ,  770   b , and  770   c  for discharging an inert gas are respectively formed at a lower end of the branch pipe  771 , a lower end of the nozzle  770 , and a lower end of the branch pipe  772 . 
   The discharge port  770   b  discharges the inert gas vertically downward, and the discharge ports  770   a  and  770   c  each discharge the inert gas obliquely downward, as indicated by arrows in  FIG. 8 . That is to say, the inert gas is discharged from the nozzle  770  such that a spraying range is enlarged downward. 
   Here, the first and second cleaning/drying processing units SD 1  and SD 2  subject the substrate W to drying processing by the operation described below when the nozzle  770  is used. 
     FIG. 9  is a diagram for explaining a method of subjecting the substrate W to drying processing using the nozzle  770 . 
   First, a liquid layer L is formed on the main surface of the substrate W by the method described in  FIG. 6(   a ), and the nozzle  770  then moves to above the center of the substrate W, as shown in  FIG. 9(   a ). 
   Thereafter, the inert gas is discharged from the nozzle  770 . This causes the rinse liquid at the center of the substrate W to move to the peripheral portion of the substrate W, leaving the liquid layer L only on the peripheral portion of the substrate W, as shown in  FIG. 9(   b ). At the time, the nozzle  770  is brought close to the surface of the main substrate W such that the rinse liquid existing at the center of the substrate W can be reliably moved. 
   Then, as the number of revolutions of the rotation shaft  625  (see  FIG. 5 ) increases, the nozzle  770  moves upward, as shown in  FIG. 9(   c ). This causes a great centrifugal force to act on the liquid layer L on the substrate W while enlarging a range in which the inert gas is sprayed on the substrate W. As a result, the liquid layer L on the substrate W can be reliably removed. Note that the nozzle  770  can be moved up and down by raising and lowering the second rotation shaft  672  using a rotation shaft lifting mechanism (not shown) provided in the second rotation shaft  672  shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   Alternatively, the nozzle  770  maybe replaced with a nozzle  870  for drying processing as shown in  FIG. 10 . The nozzle  870  shown in  FIG. 10  has a discharge port  870   a  whose diameter gradually increases downward. 
   The discharge port  870  discharges an inert gas vertically downward and obliquely downward as indicated by arrows in  FIG. 10 . That is, similarly to the nozzle  770  shown in  FIG. 9 , the nozzle  870  discharges the inert gas such that a spraying range is enlarged downward. Consequently, the substrate W can be subjected to drying processing using the nozzle  870  by a method similar to that using the nozzle  770 . 
   The cleaning/drying processing unit shown in  FIG. 5  may be replaced with a cleaning/drying processing unit as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
   The cleaning/drying processing unit shown in  FIG. 11  differs from the cleaning/drying processing unit shown in  FIG. 5  in the following. 
   In the cleaning/drying processing unit shown in  FIG. 11 , a disk-shaped shield plate  682  having an opening at the center thereof is provided above a spin chuck  621 . A support shaft  689  extends vertically downward from the vicinity of an end of an arm  688 , and the shield plate  682  is mounted at a lower end of the support shaft  689  so as to be opposed to an upper surface of a substrate W held on the spin chuck  621 . 
   A gas supply passage  690  that communicates with the opening of the shield plate  682  is inserted into the support shaft  689 . A nitrogen gas, for example, is supplied to the gas supply passage  690 . 
   A shield plate lifting mechanism  697  and a shield plate rotation-driving mechanism  698  are connected to the arm  688 . The shield plate lifting mechanism  697  moves the shield plate  682  upward and downward between a position close to the upper surface of the substrate W held on the spin chuck  621  and a position spaced upwardly apart from the spin chuck  621 . 
   When the substrate W is subjected to the drying processing in the cleaning/drying processing unit shown in  FIG. 11 , an inert gas is supplied to a clearance between the substrate W and the shield plate  682  from the gas supply passage  690  with the shield plate  682  brought close to the substrate W as shown in  FIG. 12 . In this case, the inert gas can be efficiently supplied from the center of the substrate W to the peripheral portion thereof, thereby allowing a liquid layer L on the substrate W to be reliably removed. 
   (6) Examples of Cleaning/Drying Processing Unit Using Two-Fluid Nozzle 
   (6-1) Configuration and Operation in a Case Where Two-Fluid Nozzle is Used 
   Although description was made of a case where the nozzle  650  for cleaning processing and the nozzle  670  for drying processing as shown in  FIG. 5  are used in the first and second cleaning/drying processing units SD 1  and SD 2  in the above-mentioned embodiment, one or both of the nozzle  650  and the nozzle  670  may be replaced with a two-fluid nozzle as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     FIG. 13  is a vertical sectional view showing an example of the internal configuration of a two-fluid nozzle  950  used for cleaning and drying processing. From the two-fluid nozzle  950 , a gas, a liquid, and a fluid mixture of a gas and a liquid can be selectively discharged. 
   The two-fluid nozzle  950  in the present embodiment is referred to as an external-mix type two-fluid nozzle. The external-mix type two-fluid nozzle  950  shown in  FIG. 13  comprises an internal main body  311  and an external main body  312 . The internal main body  311  is composed of quartz, for example, and the external main body  312  is composed of fluororesin such as PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), for example. 
   A cylindrical liquid passage  311   b  is formed along a central axis of the internal main body  311 . A supply pipe  663  for cleaning processing shown in  FIG. 5  is attached to the liquid passage  311   b . This causes a cleaning liquid or a rinse liquid that is supplied from the supply pipe  663  to be introduced into the liquid passage  311   b.    
   A liquid discharge port  311   a  communicating with the liquid passage  311   b  is formed at a lower end of the internal main body  311 . The internal main body  311  is inserted into the external main body  312 . Note that respective upper ends of the internal main body  311  and the external main body  312  are joined to each other, and their respective lower ends are not joined to each other. 
   A cylindrical gas passage  312   b  is formed between the internal main body  311  and the external main body  312 . A gas discharge port  312   a  communicating with the gas passage  312   b  is formed at the lower end of the external main body  312 . A supply pipe  674  for drying processing shown in  FIG. 5  is attached to a peripheral wall of the external main body  312  so as to communicate with the gas passage  312   b . This causes an inert gas supplied from the supply pipe  674  to be introduced into the gas passage  312   b.    
   The gas passage  312   b  decreases in diameter downward in the vicinity of the gas discharge port  312   a . As a result, the flow rate of the inert gas is accelerated, and is discharged from the gas discharge port  312   a.    
   The cleaning liquid discharged from the liquid discharge port  311   a  and the inert gas discharged from the gas discharge port  312   a  are mixed outside the vicinity of a lower end of the two-fluid nozzle  950 , and an atomized fluid mixture including a fine droplet of the cleaning liquid is produced. 
     FIG. 14  is a diagram for explaining a method of subjecting a substrate W to cleaning and drying processing using the two-fluid nozzle  950  shown in  FIG. 13 . 
   First, the substrate W is held by suction on the spin chuck  621  and rotates as the rotation shaft  625  rotates, as shown in  FIG. 5 . In this case, the rotation speed of the rotation shaft  625  is approximately 500 rpm, for example. 
   In this case, an atomized fluid mixture of a cleaning liquid and an inert gas is discharged onto an upper surface of the substrate W from the two-fluid nozzle  950 , and the two-fluid nozzle  950  gradually moves from above the center of the substrate W to above a peripheral portion thereof, as shown in  FIG. 14(   a ). This causes the fluid mixture to be sprayed on the entire surface of the substrate W from the two-fluid nozzle  950 , so that the substrate W is cleaned. 
   The supply of the fluid mixture is then stopped, so that the rotation speed of the rotation shaft  625  decreases while a rinse liquid is discharged onto the substrate W from the two-fluid nozzle  950 , as shown in  FIG. 14(   b ). In this case, the rotation speed of the rotation shaft  625  is approximately 10 rpm, for example. Consequently, a liquid layer L of the rinse liquid is formed over the entire surface of the substrate W. Alternatively, the rotation of the rotation shaft  625  may be stopped to form the liquid layer L over the entire main surface of the substrate W. In a case where pure water is used as the cleaning liquid in the fluid mixture for cleaning the substrate W, the rinse liquid may not be supplied. 
   After the liquid layer L is formed, the supply of the rinse liquid is stopped. Then, an inert gas is discharged onto the substrate W from the two-fluid nozzle  950 , as shown in  FIG. 14(   c ). This causes the cleaning liquid at the center of the substrate W to move toward the peripheral portion of the substrate W, leaving the liquid layer L only on the peripheral portion of the substrate W. 
   Thereafter, the rotation speed of the rotation shaft  625  increases. In this case, the rotation speed of the rotation shaft  625  is approximately 100 rpm, for example. This causes a great centrifugal force to act on the liquid layer L on the substrate W, thereby allowing the liquid layer L on the substrate W to be removed. As a result, the substrate W is dried. 
   When the liquid layer L on the substrate W is removed, the two-fluid nozzle  950  may gradually move from above the center of the substrate W to above the peripheral portion thereof. This allows the inert gas to be sprayed on the entire main surface of the substrate W, thereby allowing the liquid layer L on the substrate W to be reliably removed. As a result, the substrate W can be reliably dried. 
   (6-2) Effect of Use of Two-Fluid Nozzle 
   The fluid mixture discharged from the two-fluid nozzle  950  shown in  FIG. 13  includes the fine droplet of the cleaning liquid. Even when the main surface of the substrate W is irregular, therefore, dirt that has adhered to the substrate W is stripped by the fine droplet of the cleaning liquid. This allows the dirt on the main surface of the substrate W to be reliably removed. Even when the wettability of a film on the substrate W is low, the dirt on the main surface of the substrate W is stripped by the fine droplet of the cleaning liquid, so that the dirt on the main surface of the substrate W can be reliably removed. 
   Particularly in a case where the two-fluid nozzle is used for the first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1 , therefore, even if a solvent or the like in a resist film or a resist cover film sublimes in the heating unit HP and the sublimate adheres to the substrate W again at the time of thermal processing on the substrate W by the heating unit HP before exposure processing, the attachment can be reliably removed in the first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1 . This can reliably prevent contamination in the exposure device  16 . 
   By adjusting the flow rate of the inert gas, detergency in cleaning the substrate W can be easily adjusted. In a case where an organic film (resist film or resist cover film) on the substrate W has the property of being easily damaged, therefore, the organic film on the substrate W can be prevented from being damaged by weakening the detergency. In a case where the dirt on the main surface of the substrate W is tough, the dirt on the main surface of the substrate W can be reliably removed by strengthening the detergency. The detergency is thus adjusted in conformity with the property of the organic film on the substrate W and the degree of the dirt, thereby allowing the substrate W to be reliably cleaned while preventing the organic film on the substrate W from being damaged. 
   In the external-mix type two-fluid nozzle  950 , the fluid mixture is produced by mixing the cleaning liquid and the inert gas outside the two-fluid nozzle  950 . The inert gas and the cleaning liquid are separated to respectively flow in different flow paths inside the two-fluid nozzle  950 . This allows the inert gas to be individually discharged from the two-fluid nozzle  950  without causing the cleaning liquid to remain within the gas passage  312   b . Further, the rinse liquid is supplied from the supply pipe  663 , so that the rinse liquid can be individually discharged from the two-fluid nozzle  950 . Consequently, the fluid mixture, the inert gas, and the rinse liquid can be selectively discharged from the two-fluid nozzle  950 . 
   In a case where the two-fluid nozzle  950  is used, a nozzle for supplying the cleaning liquid or the rinse liquid to the substrate W and a nozzle for supplying the inert gas to the substrate W need not be separately provided, respectively. This allows the substrate W to be reliably cleaned and dried in a simple configuration. 
   Although in the foregoing description, the rinse liquid is supplied to the substrate W by the two-fluid nozzle  950 , the rinse liquid may be supplied to the substrate W using separate nozzles. 
   Although in the foregoing description, the inert gas is supplied to the substrate W by the two-fluid nozzle  950 , the inert gas may be supplied to the substrate W using separate nozzles. 
   (B) Second Embodiment 
   A substrate processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described using the drawings. 
     FIG. 15  is a plan view of a substrate processing apparatus  501  according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The substrate processing apparatus  501  shown in  FIG. 15  differs from the substrate processing apparatus  500  shown in  FIG. 1  in that an interface block  15   a  is provided in place of the interface block  15 . The interface block  15   a  will be described in detail using the drawings. 
   (1) Configuration of Interface Block 
     FIG. 16  is a schematic side view of the interface block  15   a  as viewed from the +Y side. As shown in  FIG. 16 , the interface block  15   a  has a vertical stack of a sending buffer unit SBF and a return buffer unit RBF on its side surface on the −X side. An edge exposure unit EEW is arranged in an upper part on the +X side of the interface block  15   a.    
   The interface block  15   a  has a vertical stack of two first cleaning/drying processing units SD 1 , two placement/cooling units P-CP, and a substrate platform PASS 13  at its substantially central portion below the edge exposure unit EEW. The interface block  15   a  has a vertical stack of three second cleaning/drying processing units SD 2  on the +X side below the edge exposure unit EEW. 
   A sixth central robot CR 6  and an interface transport mechanism IFR are provided in a lower part of the interface block  15   a . The sixth central robot CR 6  is provided so as to be vertically movable and rotatable in an area from the sending buffer unit SBF and there turn buffer unit RBF to the edge exposure unit EEW, the first cleaning/drying processing units SD 1 , the placement/cooling units P-CP, and the substrate platform PASS 13 . The interface transport mechanism IFR is provided so as to be vertically movable and rotatable in an area from the first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1 , the placement/cooling units P-CP, and the substrate platform PASS 13  to the second cleaning/drying processing units SD 2 . 
   (2) Operation of Interface Block 
   The operation of the interface block  15   a  will be then described. 
   A substrate W placed on a substrate processing device PASS 11  ( FIG. 15 ) is received by the sixth central robot CR 6  in the interface block  15   a , as in the first embodiment. The sixth central robot CR 6  carries the substrate W into the edge exposure unit EEW ( FIG. 16 ). 
   The sixth central robot CR 6  then takes out the substrate W after edge exposure processing from the edge exposure unit EEW and carries the substrate W into either one of the first cleaning/drying processing units SD 1 . In the first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1 , the substrate W before the exposure processing is subjected to cleaning and drying processing, as described above. 
   The sixth central robot CR 6  then takes out the substrate W after the cleaning and drying processing from the first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1  and transports the substrate W to the sending buffer unit SBF. 
   The sixth central robot CR 6  then takes out the substrate W stored in the sending buffer unit SBF and carries the substrate W into the placement/cooling unit P-CP. 
   In a case where an exposure device  16  has a sufficient processing speed, as described above, the substrate W may not be stored in the sending buffer unit SBF but transported to the placement/cooling unit P-CP from the first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1 . 
   The substrate W kept at a predetermined temperature in the placement/cooling unit P-CP is then received with an upper hand H 1  of the interface transport mechanism IFR ( FIG. 16 ) and carried into a substrate inlet  16   a  in the exposure device  16  (see  FIG. 15 ). 
   The substrate W that has been subjected to exposure processing in the exposure device  16  is carried out of a substrate outlet  16   b  ( FIG. 15 ) with a lower hand H 2  of the interface transport mechanism IFR ( FIG. 16 ). The interface transport mechanism IFR carries the substrate W into any one of the second cleaning/drying processing units SD 2  with the hand H 2 . In the second cleaning/drying processing unit SD 2 , the substrate W after the exposure processing is subjected to cleaning and drying processing, as described above. 
   The substrate W that has been subjected to the cleaning and drying processing in the second cleaning/drying processing unit SD 2  is taken out with the hand H 1  of the interface transport mechanism IFR ( FIG. 16 ). The interface transport mechanism IFR places the substrate W on the substrate platform PASS 13  with the hand H 1 . 
   The substrate W placed on the substrate platform PASS 13  is received by the sixth central robot CR 6 . The sixth central robot CR 6  transports the substrate W to a thermal processing group  141  for post-exposure bake in a resist cover film removal block  14  ( FIG. 15 ). 
   When the resist cover film removal block  14  cannot temporarily receive the substrate W due to a failure or the like in the removal unit REM ( FIG. 2 ), as described above, the substrate W after the exposure processing can be temporarily stored in the return buffer unit RBF. 
   Here, although in the present embodiment, the sixth central robot CR 6  transports the substrate W among the substrate platform PASS 11  ( FIG. 15 ), the edge exposure unit EEW, the first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1 , the sending buffer unit SBF, the placement/cooling unit P-CP, the substrate platform PASS 13 , and the thermal processing group  141 , a series of such operations can be performed in a short time (e.g., 24 seconds). 
   Although the interface transport mechanism IFR transports the substrate W among the placement/cooling unit P-CP, the exposure device  16 , the second cleaning/drying processing unit SD 2 , and the substrate platform PASS 13 , a series of such operations can be performed in a short time (e.g., 24 seconds) 
   As a result, this allows throughput to be reliably improved. 
   (3) Effects of Second Embodiment 
   As described in the foregoing, in the substrate processing apparatus  501  according to the present embodiment, the first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1  is arranged around the center of the interface block  15   a , thereby allowing the interface block  15   a  to be miniaturized. This allows the footprint of the substrate processing apparatus  501  to be reduced. 
   (C) Another Embodiment 
   The resist cover film processing block  13  may not be provided. In this case, a part of a component of a resist film is eluted in a cleaning liquid during cleaning processing in a first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1 . Even if the resist film is brought into contact with the liquid in an exposure device  16 , the component of the resist film is prevented from being eluted in the liquid. As a result, contamination in the exposure device  16  can be prevented. 
   In a case where the resist cover film processing block  13  is not provided, the resist cover film removal block  14  need not be provided. This allows the footprint of a substrate processing apparatus  500  to be reduced. In a case where the resist cover film processing block  13  and the resist cover film removal block  14  are not provided, a substrate W is subjected to post-exposure bake in a thermal processing group  121  for development in a development processing block  12 . 
   The respective numbers of first cleaning/drying processing units SD 1 , second cleaning/drying processing units SD 2 , coating units BARC, RES, and COV, development processing units DEV, removal units REM, heating units HP, cooling units CP, and placement/cooling units P-CP may be appropriately changed depending on the processing speed of each of the processing blocks. In a case where two edge exposure units EEW are provided, for example, the number of second cleaning/drying processing units SD 2  may be set to two. 
   (D) Correspondence Between Each Constituent Element in the Claims and Each Part in the Embodiments 
   In the following paragraphs, non-limiting examples of correspondences between various elements recited in the claims below and those described above with respect to various preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained. 
   In the embodiments described above, the anti-reflection film processing block  10 , the resist film processing block  11 , the development processing block  12 , the resist cover film processing block  13 , and the resist cover film removal block  14  are examples of a processing section, the interface block  15  is an example of an interface, the sixth central robot CR 6  is an example of a first transport unit, the interface transport mechanism IFR is an example of a second transport unit, the first cleaning/drying processing unit SD 1  is an example of a cleaning processing unit, the second cleaning/drying processing circuit SD 2  is an example of a drying processing unit, the placement/cooling unit P-CP and the substrate platform PASS 13  are examples of a platform, the placement/cooling unit P-CP is an example of a temperature control waiting unit, the Y direction is an example of a first direction, the X direction is an example of a second direction, the hand H 1  is an example of a first holder, and the hand H 2  is an example of the second holder. 
   As each of various elements recited in the claims, various other elements having configurations or functions described in the claims can be also used. 
   While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.