Patent ID: 7607967

Claim:
A substrate processing apparatus which performs predetermined processing on a substrate while rotating the substrate approximately horizontally, the apparatus comprising: a rotating part which is structured to rotate freely; a rotator which rotates the rotating part; a first supporter including at least three or more first support members each of which is disposed upward on the rotating part, the first supporter being structured to ascend and descend freely, and having a support portion which is structured to abut on a bottom surface of the substrate so as to support the substrate approximately horizontally; a second supporter including at least three or more second support members each of which is disposed upward on the rotating part, the second supporter being structured to ascend and descend freely, and having a support portion and a restricting portion which are formed in a leading end thereof, the support portion being structured to abut on the bottom surface of the substrate so as to support the substrate approximately horizontally, the restricting portion being located closer to a rim of the substrate than the support portion so as to abut on the edge surface of the substrate and accordingly restrict horizontal movement of the substrate; an ascend/descend section which makes the first support members and the second support members ascend and descend; a pressing section which is structured to supply gas to a top surface of the substrate from above so as to press the substrate toward the first support members and/or the second support members; and a controller which controls the ascend/descend section and the pressing section, thereby selectively switching between a first holding mode and a second holding mode in accordance with a content of processing of the substrate, the first holding mode being a mode in which the first support members support the substrate and the pressing section presses the substrate toward the first support members to make the rotating part hold the substrate, the second holding mode being a mode in which the second support members support the substrate and the pressing section presses the substrate toward the second support members to make the rotating part hold the substrate.