Patent ID: 8513578

Claim:
A processing apparatus for performing a heat treatment on a plurality of processing target objects by using an electromagnetic wave, the processing apparatus comprising: a metallic outer processing chamber; a loading/unloading opening provided in one end of the outer processing chamber; an outer closing body for closing and opening the loading/unloading opening; a holding unit, loaded and unloaded into and from the outer processing chamber through the loading/unloading opening, for holding the processing target objects at a predetermined interval, the holding unit being made of a material allowing the electromagnetic wave to transmit therethrough; an electromagnetic wave supply unit for introducing the electromagnetic wave into the outer processing chamber; a gas introducing unit for introducing a gas into the outer processing chamber; and a gas exhaust unit for exhausting an atmosphere in the outer processing chamber, wherein the processing apparatus further comprises an inner processing chamber, made of a material allowing the electromagnetic wave to transmit therethrough, for accommodating therein the holding unit, and an inner closing body for closing and opening an opening formed at the inner processing chamber to load and unload the holding unit into and from the inner processing chamber, wherein the inner processing chamber is disposed inside the outer processing chamber, and wherein the gas introducing unit includes one or more gas inlet ports provided at a wall of the outer processing chamber.