Patent ID: 7215407

Claim:
A semiconductor wafer transport method of transporting a semiconductor wafer to various kinds of processing steps, the method comprising the step of: suctioning dust attached to a holding surface of an alignment stage while removing the dust using a dust removing means, before placement-holding the semiconductor wafer on the alignment stage; suctioning dust attached to a first surface acting as a non-holding surface of the semiconductor wafer while removing the dust using the dust removing means, with the semiconductor wafer placement-held at the alignment stage after the dust removing process is completed in the previous process; suctioning dust attached to a holding surface of a chuck table suction-holding to receive the first surface of the semiconductor wafer held at the alignment stage while removing the dust using the dust removing means; and suctioning dust attached to a second surface of the semiconductor wafer acting as a non-holding surface of the suction-held semiconductor wafer while removing the dust using the dust removing means, the first surface of the semiconductor wafer performed with the dust removing process being suctioned and received at the holding surface of the chuck table performed with the dust removing process.