Patent ID: 8708587

Claim:
A substrate treating apparatus for treating a plurality of substrates comprising: an indexer section; a treating section; one or more receivers; and one or more buffers; wherein the treating section has a plurality of stories arranged vertically, each story including: one or more coating units providing a coating treatment to the plurality of substrates with one or more treating solutions; one or more heat-treating units providing a heat treatment to the plurality of substrates; and a first main transport mechanism for transporting the plurality of substrates to and from the one or more coating units and the one or more heat-treating units; wherein the one or more coating units, the one or more heat-treating units and the first main transport mechanism being in the same arrangement on each respective story in the plurality of stories in plain view; wherein the one or more receivers are installed on each respective story; wherein the one or more buffers are installed on each respective story; wherein the indexer section is arranged to transport the plurality of substrates alternately to each respective story; and wherein on each story: the first main transport mechanism is arranged to transport the plurality of substrates received from the indexer section to the one or more coating units and the one or more heat-treating units, and place on the one or more receivers the plurality of substrates having a film formed thereon, and during a period of an abnormality when the first main transport mechanism cannot place the plurality of substrates on the one or more receivers, the first main transport mechanism temporarily places on the one or more buffers the plurality of substrates having the film formed thereon while a series of treatments including the coating treatment in the one or more coating units and the heat treatment in the one or more heat-treating units is continued according to a predetermined schedule for the plurality of substrates being treated at a time when the abnormality arose.