Patent ID: 7704031

Claim:
A substrate processing apparatus comprising: a substrate processing unit for performing a predetermined process on a substrate; and a substrate transfer unit for holding a container for storing substrates therein and transferring said substrates stored in said container to said substrate processing unit, wherein said substrate transfer unit includes: a mounting part for mounting said container on a fixed shelf to transfer said substrates stored in said container to said substrate processing unit; a first shelf line containing a plurality of first shelves arranged in a vertical direction at a first predetermined interval, each being capable of mounting said container thereon; a second shelf line provided between said mounting part and said first shelf line and containing a plurality of second shelves arranged in the vertical direction at a second predetermined interval, each being capable of mounting said container thereon; a displacing element having a plurality of displacing mechanisms, each of said plurality of displacing mechanisms being connected to a corresponding single second shelf on said second shelf line, and being configured to displace the corresponding single second shelf in the vertical direction; a transport element for transporting said container; and a control unit configured to form a container transport path greater than said second predetermined interval in said second shelf line by displacing at least one of said plurality of second shelves in the vertical direction by said displacing element, said one of said plurality of second shelves corresponding to one of said plurality of first shelves which contains a container in said first shelf line, and configured to transport said container from said one of said plurality of first shelves to said fixed shelf in said mounting part by transporting said container through said container transport path in a horizontal direction by said transport element.