Patent ID: 7900640

Claim:
A cleaning apparatus comprising: a cleaning tank configured to store a process liquid used for cleaning a plurality of target objects; a target object holding mechanism configured to hold the target objects in the cleaning tank; and a process liquid supply mechanism configured to supply the process liquid to the cleaning tank, wherein the process liquid is supplied to the processing tank while the target objects are arranged in the cleaning tank, so the target objects are immersed in the process liquid, and the target objects are cleaned while letting the process liquid overflow from the cleaning tank, the apparatus further comprising a cover configured to cover, in contact therewith, a liquid surface in the cleaning tank, the cover being formed of first and second cover portions, separately from each other, and first and second support structures disposed outside the cleaning tank and configured to support the first and second cover portions, respectively, such that the cover is opened by swinging the first and second cover portions outward into a state where the first and second cover portions are away from each other to allow the target objects to be loaded and unloaded relative to the cleaning tank, and the cover is close by swinging the first and second cover portions inward into a state where the first and second cover portions engage with each other at a central portion of the cleaning tank, wherein each portion of the first and second support structures includes a follow-up mechanism configured for a corresponding cover portion of the first and second cover portions to move in a vertical direction while the corresponding cover portion follows the liquid surface in the cleaning tank and keeps in contact therewith, and a rotary mechanism connected to the corresponding cover portion through the follow-up mechanism and configured to swing the corresponding cover portion along with the follow-up mechanism.