Patent ID: 8623765

Claim:
A processed object processing method applied to a processed object processing apparatus, the processed object processing apparatus comprising first and second treatment chambers that are communicably and adjacently connected to each other and in which objects to be processed are processed, one load lock chamber that is communicably and adjacently connected to the second treatment chamber, has a transfer arm located therein which transfers the objects to be processed into and out of each of the first and second treatment chambers, and has a processed object holding part holding the objects to be processed, a first gate valve that isolates interiors of the first and second treatment chambers from each other, and a second gate valve that isolates interiors of the second treatment chamber and the one load lock chamber from each other, the second treatment chamber comprised of a vacuum treatment chamber which drives products off from the objects to be processed, the one load lock chamber and the first and second treatment chambers aligned in the same straight line, the transfer arm capable of entering into both the first and second treatment chambers such that the transfer arm can transfer directly the object to be processed to the first and second treatment chambers, the processed object processing method comprising: a first communication step of opening the first gate valve so as to communicate the first and second treatment chambers with each other once a pressure inside the first treatment chamber has become more than a pressure inside the second treatment chamber while evacuating the second treatment chamber; and a second communication step of opening the second gate valve so as to communicate the one load lock chamber and the second treatment chamber with each other once a pressure inside the one load lock chamber has become more than the pressure inside the second treatment chamber while evacuating the second treatment chamber, wherein a gas is deliberately made to flow in the second treatment chamber from the first treatment chamber during said first communication step, and wherein following process condition is satisfied, a first treatment duration in the first treatment chamber is equal to or greater than a summation of a second treatment duration in the second treatment chamber and a first switching duration and a second switching duration and a duration of gas charging/exhausting for the one load lock chamber, where the first treatment duration is a duration of treatment of the processed object in the first treatment chamber, the second treatment duration is a duration of treatment of the processed object in the second treatment chamber, the first switching duration is a first time period taken to replace the processed object between the one load lock chamber and the second treatment chamber, and the second switching duration is a second time period taken to switch the processed object between the one load lock chamber and an atmospheric transferring chamber connected to the one load lock chamber.