A compact transport apparatus that does not cause pollution to its environment is provided. In a transport apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention, an installation area of the apparatus is small because first and second rotary shafts are arranged concentrically, and a dead center escaping mechanism has a simple structure with a small thickness. Since a connecting portion of a hand portion can be made thin, an opening of a gate valve through which the hand portion is inserted can be reduced. As a result, it becomes difficult for dust inside a transport chamber to enter a processing chamber. A second aspect of the present invention is directed to a spaced dual shaft-type transport apparatus. Although the lengths of first arms provided at rotating shafts may differ from the lengths of second arms provided between the first arms and a substrate supporting portion, the apparatus is free from malfunction even when the lengths thereof differ because the transmission of a rotative force of a dead center escaping mechanism is released at a position except at a dead center in the present invention.