Patent ID: 7632378

Claim:
A semiconductor fabrication apparatus comprising: a process unit for performing a semiconductor fabrication process on a semiconductor wafer, said process unit having a top ring for holding the semiconductor wafer; a transfer mechanism for transferring the semiconductor wafer in said semiconductor fabrication apparatus between a first transfer position and a second transfer position; and a pusher provided below said transfer mechanism at said second transfer position; wherein said transfer mechanism comprises (i) a load stage for transferring the semiconductor wafer to be processed, (ii) an unload stage for receiving the semiconductor wafer which has been processed, and (iii) at least two rails extending from said first transfer position to said second transfer position parallel to each other, and said load stage and said unload stage being slidable at different heights over the same area as viewed in plan along respective said at least two rails so as to be individually movable in respective horizontal planes, but capable of replacing each other in position as viewed in plan, and so as not to interfere with each other in a vertical direction; wherein the semiconductor wafer, to be processed, is transferred from said first transfer position to said second transfer position by said load stage and is pushed upwardly by said pusher to said top ring; and the semiconductor wafer, which has been processed, is transferred from said top ring to said pusher and is moved downwardly by said pusher onto said unload stage.