U.S. patent application number 15/447825 was filed with the patent office on 2017-09-07 for polishing machine work piece holder.
The applicant listed for this patent is P.R. HOFFMAN MACHINE PRODUCTS INC.. Invention is credited to David Melville HUTTON, Mara Lindsay PAGANO, Gary William WIMMERSBERGER.
Application Number | 20170252893 15/447825 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59723171 |
Filed Date | 2017-09-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170252893 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HUTTON; David Melville ; et
al. |
September 7, 2017 |
POLISHING MACHINE WORK PIECE HOLDER
Abstract
A work piece holder is provided for use in a polishing machine.
The work piece holder has a frame composed of a thermoset material
and/or a thermoplastic material. The frame has at least one cavity
for receiving and supporting a work piece to be polished in the
polishing machine. A polymer film is permanently affixed in the at
least one cavity.
Inventors: |
HUTTON; David Melville;
(Carlisle, PA) ; WIMMERSBERGER; Gary William;
(Middletown, PA) ; PAGANO; Mara Lindsay;
(Carlisle, PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
P.R. HOFFMAN MACHINE PRODUCTS INC. |
Carlisle |
PA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
59723171 |
Appl. No.: |
15/447825 |
Filed: |
March 2, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62303215 |
Mar 3, 2016 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B24B 37/30 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B24B 37/30 20060101
B24B037/30 |
Claims
1. A work piece holder for use in a polishing machine, the work
piece holder having a frame composed of a thermoset material and/or
a thermoplastic material, the frame having at least one cavity for
receiving and supporting a work piece to be polished in the
polishing machine, a polymer film being permanently affixed in the
at least one cavity.
2. The work piece holder of claim 1, wherein the polymer film is
produced by skiving, extruding or casting.
3. The work piece holder of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a
first frame portion and a second frame portion, the first frame
portion having at least one through opening formed therein.
4. The work piece holder of claim 1, wherein the polymer film and
frame are adapted to withstand an operating environment having a
pH<5 and a pH>9.
5. The work piece holder of claim 1, wherein the polymer film
results in elimination of back staining during operation of the
polishing machine.
6. The work piece holder of claim 1, wherein the frame is visually
transparent. The work piece holder of claim 1, wherein the at least
one cavity having an open end and a closed end, the polymer film
permanently affixed to the closed end.
8. The work piece holder of claim 7, wherein the at least one
cavity defining a counterbore.
9. A work piece holder for use in a polishing machine, the work
piece holder having a frame composed of a thermoset material and/or
a thermoplastic material, the frame having at least one cavity for
receiving and supporting a work piece to be polished in the
polishing machine, a polymer film being permanently affixed in the
at least one cavity, wherein the frame comprises a first frame
portion and a second frame portion, the first frame portion having
at least one through opening formed therein.
10. The work piece holder of claim 9, wherein the polymer film and
frame are adapted to withstand an operating environment having a
pH<5 and a pH>9.
11. The work piece holder of claim 9, wherein the polymer film
results in elimination of back staining during operation of the
polishing machine.
12. The work piece holder of claim 9, wherein the frame is visually
transparent.
13. The work piece holder of claim 9, wherein the at least one
cavity having an open end and a closed end, the polymer film
permanently affixed to the closed end.
14. The work piece holder of claim 13, wherein the at least one
cavity defining a counterbore.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed to the field of polishing
machines, including but not limited to a polishing machine work
piece holder.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Polishing machines utilize work piece holders to hold and
support flat work pieces, sometimes referred to as wafers, such as
silicon wafers that are used in the electronics industry.
[0003] There is a need for work piece holders that permit
production of work pieces having improved precision, as well as
having improved service lives.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In one embodiment, a work piece holder is provided for use
in a polishing machine. The work piece holder has a frame composed
of a thermoset material and/or a thermoplastic material. The frame
has at least one cavity for receiving and supporting a work piece
to be polished in the polishing machine. A polymer film is
permanently affixed in the at least one cavity.
[0005] In another embodiment, a work piece holder is provided for
use in a polishing machine. The work piece holder having a frame
composed of a thermoset material and/or a thermoplastic material.
The frame has at least one cavity for receiving and supporting a
work piece to be polished in the polishing machine. A polymer film
is permanently affixed in the at least one cavity. The frame
includes a first frame portion and a second frame portion, the
first frame portion having at least one through opening formed
therein.
[0006] An advantage of exemplary embodiments is that the work piece
holders permit preparation of work pieces having improved
precision, as well as having improved service lives.
[0007] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way
of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a work piece holder according to an embodiment of
the disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a section view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the work piece holder of FIG.
1.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the work piece holder of FIG.
4.
[0013] Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used
throughout the drawings to represent the same parts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a flat template or work piece holder
10 includes a frame 11 that is releasably secured to a carrier 12
by an adhesive layer 14. Work piece holder 10 can be composed of a
thermoset material and/or a thermoplastic material. In one
embodiment, a thermoset material can be bonded to and/or surrounded
by a thermoplastic material or vice versa to maximize the
performance of work piece holder 10. Frame 11 of work piece holder
10 has a plurality of openings 16, such as counterbored openings
extending partially through work piece holder 10 to a surface 19.
Surfaces 19 of counterbored openings 16 have a depth 17. Each
opening 16 and corresponding surface 19 defines a cavity 23.
[0015] As further shown in FIG. 2, work piece holder 10 includes a
shim or a pad or film layer or film, such as a polymer film 18
having an adhesive layer 21 for permanently affixing polymer film
18 to a corresponding surface 19 of counterbored opening 16. A work
piece 20 (FIG. 1) is releasably adhered to polymer film 18, such
that work piece 20 is releasably secured to and supported by cavity
23 (FIG. 3). The combined thickness of adhesive layer 21, polymer
film 18, and work piece 20 exceeds the thickness of depth 17 of
cavity 23 of work piece holder 10. As a result, work piece 20
protrudes beyond the adjacent exposed major face of work piece
holder 10. Carrier 12 is adapted to rotate around bearing 22 on
spindle 24 for purposes of polishing the exposed surface protruding
beyond the adjacent exposed major face of work piece holder 10.
[0016] As a result of this work piece holder arrangement, in which
polymer film is permanently affixed to the work piece holder, the
holding and support of the work piece is improved.
[0017] In one embodiment, frame 11 is composed of a thermoset epoxy
and/or thermoplastic material(s). In one embodiment, frame 11 is
visually transparent, permitting an operator to confirm work pieces
20 are mounted properly in their respective cavities 23 prior to
operating the polishing machine. This ability to visually confirm
proper work piece mounting is not possible with conventional work
piece holders.
[0018] As utilized herein, "visually transparent" is intended to
indicate a material property of a component sufficiently permitting
light to pass through, such that in response to the component being
interposed in-line between a vantage point of an observer and an
object, the component is viewable by an observer through the
component. The term "visually transparent" is intended to include
components that are fully visually transparent, partially
transparent or translucent or combination thereof
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a flat template or work piece
holder 100 is similar to work piece holder 10, except as discussed.
Work piece holder 100 includes a frame portion 110 that is
releasably secured to a carrier 12 by an adhesive layer 14. Work
piece holder 100 can be composed of a thermoset material and/or a
thermoplastic material. In one embodiment, a thermoset material can
be bonded to and/or surrounded by a thermoplastic material or vice
versa to maximize the performance of work piece holder 100. Frame
portion 110 of work piece holder 100 is permanently secured to
frame portion 112 by an adhesive layer 114. Frame portion 112 has a
plurality of openings 16 extending therethrough. Upon assembly of
frame portions 110, 112 with adhesive layer 114, openings 16 have a
closed end corresponding to the facing surface of frame portion
110. Each opening 16 and corresponding facing surface of frame
portion 110, i.e., the closed end of opening 16, defines a cavity
23, such as a counterbored cavity having a depth 17.
[0020] As further shown in FIG. 5, work piece holder 100 includes a
shim or a pad or film layer or film, such as polymer film 18 having
an adhesive layer 21 for permanently affixing polymer film 18 to a
corresponding facing surface of frame portion 110 of counterbored
opening 16. A work piece 20 (FIG. 4) is releasably adhered to
polymer film 18, such that work piece 20 is releasably secured to
and supported by cavity 23 of frame portions 110, 112. As shown in
FIG. 4, the combined thickness of adhesive layer 21, polymer film
18, and work piece 20 exceeds the thickness of depth 17 of cavity
23 of work piece holder 100. As a result, work piece 20 protrudes
beyond the adjacent exposed major face of work piece holder 100.
Carrier 12 is adapted to rotate around bearing 22 on spindle 24 for
purposes of polishing the exposed surface protruding beyond the
adjacent exposed major face of work piece holder 100.
[0021] An advantage of this construction is to provide a very
tightly controlled cavity depth which provides improved polishing
consistency between all work pieces being processed in the work
piece holder at one time and in each polishing machine cycle.
[0022] Examples of polymer films include thermoplastic polymers
polyaryletherketone (PAEK), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and
polyvinylchloride (PVC), as well as an exemplary thermoset polymer
G10.
[0023] An additional advantage of using polymer film, is that
different polymer films can be provided with corresponding work
piece holders, resulting in the ability to tailor the work piece
holder to provide compatibility with different work piece materials
and their corresponding chemical agents which are typically part of
the polishing process, including both acidic working or operating
environments (e.g., pH<5) as well as basic working or operating
environments (e.g., pH>9), including, for example, potassium
permanganate (KMnO.sub.4).
[0024] Use of polymer film permanently affixed in the cavity of a
work piece holder provides improved work piece quality and extended
service life generally between a factor of approximately two and
approximately five times, due to chemical resistance of the
chemical agents used. In other words, not only can more tightly
controlled flatness tolerances be achieved, but these more tightly
controlled flatness tolerances can be achieved for increased
durations before corrective measures (i.e., maintenance) are
required.
[0025] In exemplary embodiments, the polymer layer can have
specific or predetermined thermal, chemical resistance, and
physical compliance properties required for a tightly controlled,
high quality end-user specific polishing process. Additionally, use
of polymer film results in elimination of back staining that can
occur during use of Polyurethane.RTM. or Felt-based materials
during the polishing process.
[0026] In exemplary embodiments, the polymer layer can be produced
by skiving, extruding or casting.
[0027] It has been found that providing work piece holders having
permanently affixed polymer layers or films provided to users
having polishing machinery results in tighter pocket depth
tolerances, as compared to depth tolerances that are achieved from
work piece holders having field installed and inserted pads, which
can introduce operator-induced dimensional variations.
[0028] Additional benefits associated with the use of polymer film
materials is that the population of materials, sometimes referred
to as pad materials or pads, can be incorporated into a "fixed"
template or work piece holder without having to be concerned with
pad porosity versus adhesive volume, which can impact variation
between work piece holder cavities and overall work piece quality
achieved in the polishing process. Pad porosity is primarily
concerned with the open volume of the pad which must be filled to
create a seal sufficient to control slurry intrusion. Slurry
intrusion eventually creates back staining, which can be difficult
to remove, and is undesirable for workpieces being processed.
[0029] While the invention has been described with reference to a
preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be
substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope
of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to
adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the
invention without departing from the essential scope thereof.
Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for
carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include
all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended
claims.
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