Patent ID: 6984839

Claim:
A wafer processing apparatus on which a pod is detachably mounted, having an access port through which a wafer is put in and out, the pod having a box having an opening, shelves for taking custody of wafers, and a lid for separably covering the opening, the wafer processing apparatus detecting whether the wafer is present on each of the shelves, the wafer processing apparatus comprising: a door unit, comprising: a door configured to hold the lid and to cover the access port; a door arm configured to pivotally support the door near one end thereof, the door arm being supported for pivotal movement about a first fulcrum by a door arm supporting member, the first fulcrum being disposed on the door arm supporting member near the other end of the door arm; and a door opening and closing driver for rotating the door arm about the first fulcrum; a mapping unit, comprising: a first transmitting sensor having a first emitter and a first detector; a mapping frame configured to hold the emitter and the first detector so as to protrude toward the access port, the first emitter and the first detector being disposed in face-to-face relationship with each other forming a slot; a mapping frame arm for supporting the mapping frame near one end thereof, the mapping frame arm being supported for pivotal movement about a second fulcrum by a mapping frame arm supporting member, the second fulcrum being disposed on the mapping frame arm supporting member near the other end of the mapping frame arm; and a mapping frame driver for rotating the mapping frame arm about the second fulcrum; and a movable portion configured to support the door arm supporting member and the mapping frame arm supporting member and to move the door unit and the mapping frame, wherein the first emitter and the first detector are moved toward the access port and the opening and are plunged into the pod after the door is opened with the lid by the door unit, and, by a movement of the movable portion, the slot between the first emitter and the first detector crosses an edge portion of the wafer to be located when the wafer is present on each of the shelves.