Patent ID: 7276123

Claim:
A semiconductor-processing apparatus comprising: a chamber prescribing a reaction area and a transfer area; a susceptor provided inside the chamber and having a substrate-supporting surface for placing a semiconductor substrate thereon, said susceptor being movable between the reaction area and the transfer area; an annular separation plate disposed at a boundary between the reaction area and the transfer area and having a central opening which is closed by upward movement of the susceptor; removable placing blocks detachably placed at a periphery of the substrate-supporting surface of the susceptor, for placing the substrate thereon; retractable supporting members each for supporting/releasing the placing blocks at a position where the substrate is in the transfer area to detach/attach the placing blocks from/to the susceptor, said supporting members being provided in the chamber outside a periphery of the susceptor where the supporting members do not interfere with movement of the susceptor when the supporting members are retracted; and a seal member for sealing a gap between the susceptor and the separation plate when the central opening of the separation plate is closed by the susceptor.