Patent ID: 8002511

Claim:
A batch forming apparatus for forming a batch of substrates by combining a plurality of substrates that have been taken out from a plurality of carriers each containing therein the plurality of substrates in a stacked manner, comprising: a substrate transfer mechanism that takes out the substrates from each carrier and transfers the substrates; a substrate relative positional relationship changing mechanism that has a wafer support member, the wafer support member being capable of receiving substrates transferred by the substrate transfer mechanism, the substrate relative positional relationship changing mechanism being capable of rearranging one or more substrates on the wafer support member one by one relative to other substrates on the wafer support member such that positional relationships of the substrates are changed thereon; and a batch forming mechanism that forms a batch of substrates out of the substrates that have been transferred thereto by the substrate transfer mechanism, wherein the substrate relative positional relationship changing mechanism has a horizontally extending base, on which the substrates may be respectively placed in the vertical direction, and a wafer holding member capable of holding a substrate, the wafer holding member being capable of moving vertically and horizontally, and the wafer holding member being capable of rearranging one or more substrates on the horizontally extending base one by one relative to other substrates on the horizontally extending base such that positional relationships of the substrates are changed thereon; wherein the wafer holding member moves vertically when the wafer holding member picks up the substrate placed on the horizontally extending base or places the substrate on the horizontally extending base; and wherein the wafer holding member moves over the substrates placed on the horizontally extending base when the wafer holding member moves horizontally while holding the substrate.