Patent ID: 6572438
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
A structure of a polishing head of a polishing apparatus for pushing a work to a polishing pad on a polishing table and causing relative movement of said work, said polishing head including:head main body allowed to rotate, and so disposed as to oppose said polishing table; a carrier idly supported by said head main body in such a manner as to be capable of moving in a vertical direction; a retainer ring idly supported by said head main body in such a manner as to be capable of moving in a vertical direction, encompassing said work and coming into contact with said polishing pad during polishing; and a flexible sheet supported at peripheral edge thereof by said retainer ring in such a manner as to cover the inside of said retainer ring to form a chamber between a first surface of said carrier and a first surface of said flexible sheet, and wherein a plurality of holes are formed in said flexible sheet; wherein an outer peripheral edge portion of said carrier protruding in a diametric direction is placed on said retainer ring to form an air seal portion to maintain pressure in said chamber at or below a predetermined pressure level, and wherein, during polishing, air from an air blast port formed on said first surface of said carrier flows through said plurality of holes formed in said flexible sheet, inflates said flexible sheet and pushes said work to said polishing pad.