Slicing machine

Abstract: The present invention provides a slicing machine for cutting semiconductor material into wafers which includes a rotary blade (1), detecting means (2), force generating means (3), and control means (4,5,6). The detecting means (2) detects a deviation of the cutting edge from a correct cutting path to provide the uniform thickness of the wafer. This means is placed so as to be opposite the blade and having a partially-cut slice of the material therebetween. The force generating means (3) generates a magnetic force towards the cutting edge so as to position and guide the cutting edge on the correct path through the partially cut slices. The control means measures and controls the intensity of the magnetic force applied to the cutting edge so as to position the cutting edge on the correct cutting path.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slicing machine, especially an internal diameter slicing machine which successively slices a material such as a single-crystal semiconductor ingot into wafers of a predetermined thickness by moving a cutting edge of the blade perpendicular to a central axis of the material. 2. Description of the Prior Art Slicing machines used for cutting a block into slices, especially cutting a single-crystal semiconductor ingot in the form of a bar into wafers, generally comprise a feed-table to carry the bar to be sliced by the blade. The feed-table carrying the bar moves in the horizontal direction for cutting and then moves upward against the blade during cutting. This blade is usually an inner diameter disk cutter which cuts the bar by a tip formed along the inner-edge of the ring type disk. For producing a wafer having a uniform thickness, it is important to arrange a side surface of the blade to meet at right angles with a central axis of the bar during the cutting process. Therefore, a deviation detecting and correcting means can be required for slicing the bar with high accuracy. In Japanese Patent Application KOKAI number HEI3-121769, for example, there is disclosed a slicing machine having: a detecting means for detecting a deviation of the blade in the width direction of the blade i.e., in the horizontal direction of the material to be sliced; at least of one pair of magnetic force generating means distributed each side of the blade and generating magnetic forces extending toward the blade; and control means operably connected to the detecting means and magnetic force generating means for measuring the intensity of a magnetic force applied on the blade for controlling the intensity of the magnetic force such that the cutting edge of the blade is positioned in the correct cutting position. However, the detecting means of the above described conventional slicing machine is fixed at a point of the beginning of the cutting process and/or at a point of the ending of the cutting process, and consequently, it is difficult to direct the detecting means against at a contact point of the cutting edge in a cutting portion of the blade. Thus the cutting-accuracy of the conventional slicing machine is still not satisfactory because the deviation detecting and correcting means may put the cutting edge in the wrong manner by detecting vibrations or curvature of the blade's surface. Other prior arts that are of interest are:- EP-A-0 513 437 that discloses a machine for slicing silicon wafers from a silicon workpiece by means of a circular-shaped internal rotary cutting blade made of ferromagnetic material, there being a blade position detecting sensor positioned such that the sliced wafer does not intervene between the sensor and said blade; and (a) electromagnets positioned opposite to each other and with the cutting blade therebetween, or (b) one electromagnet only positioned adjacent to said cutting blade such that the sliced wafer does not intervene between said eletromagnet and said cutting blade; said sensor being used to control the force of said electromagnets or electromagnet to maintain a correct blade position during the cutting operation. EP-A-0 353 745 that discloses a machine for slicing non-magnetic materials by means of a ferromagnetic circular-shaped internal rotary cutting blade, there being adacent the end face of the slice being cut a blade position detecting sensor and an electromagnet controlled by said sensor. In the particular embodiment the electromagnet is co-axial with said sensor and the two are housed in a common aluminium capsule. The sensor controls the force generated by the electromagnet such that a correct blade position is maintained during the cutting operation. Patent Abstracts of Japan, JP-A-61 047 644, that is concerned with the control of an internal circumference blade for slicing a silicon crystal. Any warpage of the blade is detected by a sensor provided adjacent to that side of the blade that faces the bulk of the silicon crystal that is being cut. The sensor serves to actuate forced control of displacement or warpage of the blade by means of magnetic fields acting on both surfaces of the blade at one or more points with respect to the circumference of the blade. EP-A-0 432 637 that is concerned with apparatus for the re-sharpening of parting tools by means of sharpening stones. The particular embodiemnt is disclosed with respect to the sharpening of an annular saw blade by moving the sharpening stones axially of the annular saw blade as well as in a direction parallel to the saw blade. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a slicing machine for cutting a cylindrical shaped workpiece having a cylindrical axis into slices of a uniform thickness, said slicing machine being as defined in the accompanying claims, Claim 1 of which has been divided into a two part form based on the assumption that the aforesaid EP-A-0 513 437 is the nearest state of the art. It is preferable that the force generating means as defined in Claim 1 has a plurality of magnetic force generating sections arranged on a plane parallel to the cutting path. In addition, it is also preferable that the blade may be bowed away from the force generating means when the magnetic force is removed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a slicing machine according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a view of the blade as seen in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the slicing machine of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a part of a slicing machine according to another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 is a view of the blade to explain a dressing direction of the blade by a series of dressing means to cause the bowing of the blade. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a slicing machine in accordance with the present invention which comprises a circular-shaped internal rotary blade 1, a detecting means 2, a force generating means 3, and a control means 4, 5 and 6. The circular-shaped internal rotary blade 1 includes an annular thin body having a central opening and abrasive layer 7 deposited on an inner periphery of the body for serving as an inner peripheral cutting edge. This blade 1 is made of a strong magnetic material selected from a group of austenite type stainless steel (AISI301, 304), precipitation hardening type stainless steel (17-7PH) and the like, in which a martensite phase can be generated by cold-working, but not limited to these materials. The abrasive layer 7 mainly consists of a diamond sintering material or the like. The circular-shaped internal rotary blade 1 described above is fixedly secured to a conventional spindle or rotary chuck so that it can be rotated at a high speed about the axis thereof. For example, the blade 1 is rotated by the conventional driving means (not shown) including an annular spindle and a motor, so that the outer periphery of the blade is coaxially fixed on the spindle rotated by the motor. The blade 1 may be bowed away from the force generating means 3 when the force is removed. In this case, the bowing of the blade 1 may be caused by a tension generating means (not shown) or a dressing means (not shown). The generating means draws an outer periphery portion of the blade 1 in the radius direction thereof. The dressing means may be arranged in a plane at the periphery of the blade 1. Referring to FIG. 5, the bowing of the blade 1 may be caused by the angle of inclination "X", with respect to the blade axis, of a series of dressing means for sharpening the blade 1. Consequently, the blade is bowed away from the force generating means 3 as indicated by a dashed line in the figure. The detecting means 2 is movably located in a position opposed to the rear face 1a of the blade 1 for detecting a deviation of the cutting edge 7 from a correct cutting path. This detecting means 2 is comprised of a conventional blade-position detecting sensor i.e., an eddy-current instrument which has been used for measuring distance from a detecting head of the sensor to a magnetic material by detecting eddy-current loss caused by immersing the material in the magnetic field of the detecting head. The force generating means 3, which is, for example, comprised of at least one electro-magnet, is located in a position opposed to the rear face 1a of the blade 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the cutting edge is located at a cutting position "C" and the detecting means 2 and the force generating means 3 are located in opposed relation to the blade 1 in parallel. These means 2 and 3 are arranged so as to be adjacent each other in a direction parallel to the inner peripheral cutting edge 7 of the blade 1 and also they are separated from each other to keep a space therebetween enough to avoid reciprocal affections. Further, a distance from the blade 1 to the detecting means 2 and the force generating means 3 is larger than a thickness of a wafer to be sliced. These means have magnetic effects on the blade 1 through a partially-cut slice 8a of a material 8. It is preferable that the detecting means 2 and force generating means 3 are provided in the plural form for improving the accuracy of the cutting. The control means comprises a sense amplifier 4 connected to the detecting means 2, a current amplifier 5 connected to the force generating means 3, and a computing unit 6 connected to both amplifiers 4 and 5. The computing unit 6 is provided for receiving a first signal from the sense amplifier 4 and judging whether the position of the cutting edge 7 is on a prescribed correcting path or not, and also sending a second signal to the force generating means 3 to correct the position of the blade 1. The material 8 to be sliced, such as a semiconductor crystal ingot but not limited thereto, is made of a non-magnetic material or a insulating material. This material 8 is introduced into the opening of the blade 1 in a direction perpendicular to the blade 1, and then moved transversely upwardly by a feed machine (not shown), so that the material 8 can be brought into cutting engagement with the inner peripheral cutting edge 7 and can be cut transversely into thin slices. Consequently, the cutting edge 7 of the blade 1 travels reciprocatory in a direction "A" perpendicular to the axis of the blade 1. When the cutting process is started, the grindstone layer 7 deposited on the inner periphery of the blade 1 touches on a peripheral surface of the material 8 and then moves down to cut the material into a slice having a predetermined thickness. Referring to FIG. 2, the detecting means 2 and the force generating means 3 produces effects on the blade 1 en route through the partially-cut slice 8a. When the blade 1 deviates from the correct path, the detecting means 2 outputs a first signal to the computing unit 6 through the sense amplifier 4. In this unit 6, as shown in FIG. 3, the judgment described above is performed by means of a deviation detecting point D and a compensator 9 having a phase-lag filtering mechanism. The introduced signal S2 from the detecting means 2 is compared with a prescribed value S1 at the point D and a result of the comparison is converted as a second signal to be introduced into the compensator 9. An output signal from the compensator 9 is introduced in the force generating means 3 via the current amplifier 5. In the case that the blade 1 moves toward the detecting means 2, the detecting means 2 detects this deviation and outputs a signal to the computing unit 6 to decrease the strength of the magnetic force applied on the blade 1 so that the blade 1 is bowed away from the force generating means 3 by an extent so as to be retained at the correct cutting position. While in the case of that the blade 1 moves away from the detecting means 2, the detecting means 2 detects this deviation and outputs a signal to the computing unit 6 to increase the strength of the magnetic force applied on the blade 1 so that the blade 1 is pulled by the magnetic force so as to be retained at the correct cutting position. During the cutting process, the detecting means 2 detects not only the mechanical deviation of the blade 1 but also detects the reciprocal movement thereof. That is, the distance between the cutting edge 7 and the detecting means 2 is periodically changed during the cutting process. Therefore the strength of the magnetic force generated by the force generating means 3 requires some modification dependent upon the vertical movement of the blade. In this case, the modification can be preformed by the conventional method using the computing unit 6 for avoiding a confusion of the reciprocal movement of the blade 1 and the mechanical deviation thereof. The slicing machine according to the present invention has been specifically shown and described herein. However, the invention itself is not to be restricted by the exact showing of drawings or the description thereof. For example, a permanent magnet 21 can be used instead of the electronic magnet. In this case, the permanent magnet 21 may be arranged on a support 23 so as to move in the direction parallel to the axis of the blade 1 (see FIG. 4).

Claims: A slicing machine for cutting a cylindrical shaped workpiece (8) having a central axis into slices (8a) of a selected uniform thickness, comprising: a) a circular-shaped internal rotary blade (1) made of a ferromagnetic material, having an opening in the center thereof, and having a cutting edge (7) at an inner peripheral margin (1a) thereof; b) blade rotating means for rotating said blade around a central axis thereof; and means for maintaining tension in said blade; c) work supporting means for supporting said workpiece (8) and for positioning said workpiece inside said opening of said blade (1); and d) moving means for moving at least one of said work supporting means and said blade rotating means such that a cutting edge of said blade experiences relative movement perpendicular to the central axis of said workpiece to slice said workpiece by said blade; e) blade-position detecting means (2); and f) magnetic force generating means (3); characterized in that said blade-position detecting means (2) is capable of generating a signal in response to an amount of displacement, from an initial position (C), of a cutting area of said blade to be inserted in said workpiece, wherein said detecting means is arranged opposite said cutting area of said blade so that a partially cut slice (8a) is disposed between said detecting means and said cutting area of said blade during a cutting operation; said magnetic force generating means (3) is capable of generating a magnetic force to effectuate displacement of said cutting area of said blade (1), said magnetic force generating means being controllable to vary the magnitude of said magnetic force applied to said blade and thus the amount of deformation of said cutting area from said initial position; said magnetic force generating means generating an initial magnetic force so as to effectuate an initial deformation of said cutting area of said blade and to position said cutting area in said initial position prior to a cutting operation, wherein said magnetic generating means (3) is arranged opposite said cutting area of said blade so that said partially cut slice (8a) is disposed between said magnetic force generating means and said cutting area of said blade during said cutting operation; and g) controlling means (2 to 6) for controlling said magnetic force generated by said magnetic force generating means (3) in order to control the amount of displacement of said cutting area from said initial position, said controlling means being responsive to said signal generated by said blade-position detecting means (2) to increase said magnetic force generated by said magnetic force generating means to increase the deformation of the cutting area of said blade relative to said initial deformation and thereby magnetically bias said cutting area in a first direction with respect to said initial position of said cutting area when said cutting area is displaced in a second direction opposite to said first direction as a result of the cutting operation, said controlling means (2 to 6) decreasing said magnetic force generated by said magnetic force generating means to reduce the deformation of said cutting area of said blade relative to said initial deformation and thereby permit said cutting area of said blade to move in said second direction opposite to said first direction when said cutting area is displaced in said first direction as a result of the cutting operation. A slicing machine according to Claim 1, wherein said magnetic force generating means comprises at least one electromagnet (3) which is arranged opposite said cutting area of said blade (1) with said partially cut slice (8a) disposed between said at least one electromagnet and said cutting area of said blade during said cutting operation. A slicing machine according to Claim 2, wherein said controlling means (2 to 6) shifts said cutting area of said blade from a free position thereof, towards said magnetic force generating means (3) to a predetermined initial position, by supplying an initial current to said at least one electromagnet (3) before beginning said cutting operation, and adjusts said initial current in accordance with said signals generated by said blade-position detecting means (2) during said cutting operation. A slicing machine according to Claim 1, wherein said magnetic force generating means (3) comprises a plurality of force generating sections arranged on a plane parallel to said blade (1). A slicing machine according to Claim 1, wherein said magnetic force generating means comprises at least one permanent magnet (2) and support means (23) which reciprocally moves said at least one permanent magnet in the direction parallel to the center axis of said blade (1) in response to the signal from said blade-position detecting means (2). A slicing machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein said blade is bowed away from the force generating means when the magnetic force is removed. A slicing machine according to Claim 6, wherein the bowing of said blade is caused by a tension generating means. A slicing machine according to Claim 7, wherein said tension generating means draws an outer periphery portion of said blade in the radius direction thereof. A slicing machine according to Claim 6, wherein the bowing of said blade is caused by an angle of inclination, with respect to the blade axis, of a series of dressing means for sharpening said blade, said dressing means being arranged in a plane at the periphery of said blade.

Inventors: KIMURA YOSHIHIKO, KIMURA, YOSHIHIKO, Kimura, Yoshihiko, c/o Tsukuba-Seisakusho
Applicants: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORP, MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B28D5
IPC codes: B23D59, B28D5, B23Q15, B24B27, H01L21