Patent ID: 6544590
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: B05C,B05D,G03F,H01L

Abstract:
A coating method for forming a film of a coating material on a substrate held by a stage by supplying the coating material from a coating unit onto the substrate while the coating unit is moved relative to the stage, the stage comprising a substrate-holding section in the form of a recess of a size corresponding to the size of the substrate, and a peripheral section surrounding said substrate-holding section and having a surface higher than that of the substrate-holding section, the coating method comprising the steps of:mounting the substrate on the substrate-holding section of the stage; forming the film of the coating material so that the coating covers the substrate and extends to said peripheral section over the entire circumference of the substrate; demounting the coated substrate from the stage; and removing the coating material remaining in the peripheral section by contacting the stage with and moving a coating material removing unit, wherein said coating material removing unit comprises either one of a liquid absorbing roller or a liquid absorbing block for absorbing the coating material adhering to the surface of the peripheral section, said liquid absorbing roller and said liquid absorbing block comprising a porous structure and an absorbent fabric for accelerating the absorption of said coating material provided on the surface of said porous structure, and the coating material adhering to the peripheral section is removed by moving either one of the liquid absorbing roller or the liquid absorbing block relative to the stage while bringing one of the liquid absorbing roller and the liquid absorbing block into contact with the peripheral section of the stage and wherein the coating material is removed by suction through either one of the liquid absorbing roller or the liquid absorbing block using a vacuum suction means connected to the porous structure.