Patent ID: 7516768
Filing Date: 2009-04-14
Classification: B26D,B29C,H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for joining a protective tape, comprising: protective tape supplying means for supplying a protective tape onto a surface of a semiconductor wafer mounted on and held by a chuck table; a joining unit for rolling a joining roller on the protective tape, thereby joining the protective tape to the surface of the semiconductor wafer while pressing the protective tape against the semiconductor wafer; a protective tape cutting mechanism for cutting the joined protective tape in conformity with an outer shape of the semiconductor wafer while allowing the cutter blade to travel along the outer periphery of the semiconductor wafer in a state where a cutter blade sticks out of the protective tape joined onto the semiconductor wafer; cutter ascending/descending means, provided in the protective tape cutting mechanism, for ascending/descending the cutter blade between an upper standby position and a lower cutting acting position; cutter turning means for turning the cutter blade located at the cutting acting position on a vertical axis passing substantially through the center of the chuck table; and plural adjusting means such configured as to be independently controlled by an actuator in such a manner as to vary a posture or position of the cutter blade, wherein one of the plural adjusting means is adjusting means for forcibly tilting the cutter blade on a tape cutting point of the cutter blade by means of the actuator, so as to vary a crossing angle of the cutter blade with respect to the surface of the semiconductor wafer, wherein the cutter blade is attached through a cutter supporting member, said cutter supporting member being attached to a front face of a movable member and a slide block being attached to a back face of the movable member, said slide block slidably fitted around a partly arcuate guide rail attached to a front face of a vertical side, and wherein a curvature center of the guide rail is set to be positioned at the cutting point of the cutter blade with the guide rail serving as a fulcrum.