Patent ID: 8083115
Filing Date: 2011-12-27
Classification: B28D,H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An automatic cutting device for cutting an assembly that includes a material having a weakened zone therein that defines a useful layer that is attached to a source substrate, comprising: a cutting mechanism; a holding and positioning mechanism operatively associated with the cutting mechanism to hold the assembly and position the material for detaching the layer from the source substrate along the weakened zone, wherein the holding and positioning mechanism comprises at least two grippers, each having a suction cup located on opposite sides of a cutting plane aligned with the weakened zone, and wherein the cutting mechanism includes at least one blade for engaging a peripheral portion of the weakened zone and being operatively associated with the grippers of the holding and positioning mechanism; and a control mechanism for controlling both the cutting and holding and positioning mechanisms to control movement of the blade of the cutting mechanism to contact the peripheral portion of the weakened zone while controlling the holding and positioning mechanism to rigidly hold and immobilize the assembly so that the blade creates an initial but incomplete separation, and then to initialize movement of at least one gripper while the assembly is held by the holding and positioning mechanism, wherein the holding and positioning mechanism is movable both in a direction parallel to the cutting plane of the assembly and in a direction perpendicular to the cutting plane to facilitate a more precise detachment of the useful layer.