Resist developing apparatus

Claim 1

A resist developing apparatus comprising: a developing tank including a top portion, a body portion, and a bottom portion, wherein said top portion and said body portion have an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein a heat exchange chamber is defined between said inner and outer walls for being supplied with a heating medium, and wherein said bottom portion is operatively connected to said body portion with an actuator means so that said bottom portion may be separated from said body portion with said actuator means which moves said bottom portion towards and away from said body portion, said actuator means comprising pneumatic cylinders; a holding means disposed inside said tank for holding a work piece in position; a spray means disposed in said tank for spraying chemical liquids toward said work piece held by said holding means; a heating medium supply means operatively connected to said tank for supplying heating medium at a specified temperature to said heat exchange chamber, said supply means including a heating medium tank for storing said heating medium, a heating medium temperature control means for regulating the temperature of said heating medium, and a heating medium pump for supplying said heating medium, wherein said heating medium temperature control means comprises a compressor, an evaporator and a condenser which are operatively connected for conducting a refrigeration cycle, and an electric heater; heating medium piping connecting said heating medium supply means and said heat exchange chamber; a heat insulation member covering said top portion of said tank, wherein a heat insulation chamber is defined between said outer wall of said top portion and said heat insulation member; and control means disposed in said heat insulation chamber for controlling the supply of chemical liquids to said spray means.