Patent ID: 7694649

Claim:
A substrate processing system comprising: a plurality of vertically arranged processing modules each processing a substrate with a process liquid; and a dispensing mechanism that dispenses the process liquid to the processing modules; wherein the dispensing mechanism includes: a process liquid supply source that contains the process liquid; a pressing apparatus that pressurizes the process liquid supply source to pressure-feed the process liquid; a plurality of pumps corresponding to the respective processing modules, each temporarily storing the process liquid pressure-fed from the process liquid supply source by the pressing apparatus and delivering the process liquid from an outlet; a riser piping through which the process liquid pressure-fed from the process liquid supply source is fed to the respective pumps; a plurality of nozzles each having a discharge port discharging the process liquid into the corresponding processing module; and a plurality of delivery pipings each connecting the outlet of the pump with the discharge port of the corresponding nozzle, the delivery pipings having identical lengths to each other, wherein the dispensing mechanism further includes: an upstream-side valve disposed between the process liquid supply source and the riser piping; a plurality of inlet-side valves disposed on inlet-sides of the respective pumps in the riser piping; a plurality of outlet-side valves disposed on the respective delivery pipings; and a controller that controls opening and closing operations of the upstream-side valve, the respective inlet-side valves, and the respective outlet-side valves.