SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS HAVING A SUBSTRATE TRANSPORT WITH A FRONT END EXTENSION AND AN INTERNAL SUBSTRATE BUFFER

摘要

A substrate processing apparatus (10) having a plurality of substrate processing modules (14) connected to a substrate transport chamber (31). The substrate transport chamber (31) has a housing (13) and a substrate transport mechanism (22). The housing (13) forms a substantially closed main transport chamber (31) with doorways into the main transport chamber for the substrate processing modules (14). The transport mechanism (22) has a substrate holder (29) movably located in the transport chamber (31). The housing (13) includes a front end (28) extension (30) that is connected to load locks (16). The front end (28) extension (30) has an aligner (32), a cooler (36), and a buffer (34) directly connected to the housing (13) and located in the front end (28) extension (30) in part of the main transport chamber (31).