Patent ID: 6975917
Filing Date: 2005-12-13
Classification: F27D,H01L

Abstract:
1. A thermal processing method of processing workpieces by a thermal process in a reaction vessel by placing the workpieces in workpiece holding spaces in a workpiece holder by a loading means, and carrying the workpiece holder loaded with the workpieces into the reaction vessel, said thermal processing method comprising: a distribution pattern determining step of determining a workpiece distribution pattern in which the workpieces are distributed in the workpiece holder on a basis of the number of workpieces to be processed; and a loading step of loading the workpieces into the workpiece holder in the thus determined workpiece distribution pattern by the loading means wherein a batch size range including a number of workpieces to be processed is specified from a plurality of batch size ranges with reference numbers equal to or smaller than a holding capacity of the workpiece holder, the workpiece distribution pattern being determined on a basis of the specified batch size range, the batch size ranges include a small batch size range with its reference number equal to or smaller than half the holding capacity of the workpiece holder, and in the workpiece distribution pattern determined in accordance with the small batch size range, at least one vacant workpiece holding space is left between each workpiece and the adjacent workpiece held in the workpiece holder when the workpieces are distributed in the workpiece distribution pattern.