Plasma processing apparatus and plasma processing method

A plasma processing method, comprising:

• conveying a target object of plasma processing stored in a stock unit by a conveying apparatus stored in a conveying unit to a preparatory stage stored in the conveying unit;
• performing preliminary processing for the plasma processing to the target object placed on the preparatory stage;
• conveying the target object having undergone the preliminary processing by the conveying apparatus to the plasma processing unit and performing the plasma processing;
• and
• conveying the target object having undergone the plasma processing from the plasma processing unit to the stock unit,
• wherein the preparatory stage is arranged on the stock unit side of the conveying unit,
• wherein the conveying apparatus includes a holding unit that holds the target object and a pivotal shaft that rotates the holding unit in a horizontal plane, and the preparatory stage is arranged between the pivotal shaft and the stock unit,
• and wherein an inside of the conveying unit and an inside of the stock unit communicate with each other through a communication opening, and the preparatory stage is arranged on a virtual line connecting between the pivotal shaft and a center of the stock unit, the preparatory stage being arranged between the pivotal shaft and the communication opening, and when the preliminary processing is performed, the target object arranged on the preparatory stage partially enters the communication opening.