Abstract:
A method for disassembling a low-pressure process apparatus. The method provide a transmission device and a low-pressure process apparatus; and moves the housing to a transmission device in a first horizontal direction via the first roller set.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This present application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/085,209, filed Apr. 12, 2011, which is a divisional application of and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/421,501, filed Jun. 1, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,958,612, issued on Jun. 14, 2011, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a low-pressure process apparatus, and in particular to a low-pressure process apparatus for drying photoresist. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
       FIG. 1   a  shows a conventional low-pressure process apparatus  10  comprising a base  1 , a housing  2 , a stage  3 , supporting elements  5 , actuating devices  6  and an exhaust pipe  7 . The stage  3  is disposed on the base  1 , supporting a substrate  4 . The housing  2  and the base  1  form a chamber  8  receiving the stage  3  and the substrate  4 . The exhaust pipe  7  and the supporting elements  5  are disposed on the base  2 . The actuating devices  6  are disposed on the base  1 . With reference to  FIG. 1   b , the actuating devices  6  push the supporting elements  5  and the housing  2 , and separate the housing  2  from the base  1  allowing a robot (not shown) to access the substrate  4 . 
     When the low-pressure process apparatus  10  dries a photoresist material (for example, resin), volatile chemical or particles are deposited on an inner wall of the housing of the exhaust pipe  7 . Thus, the housing  2  and the exhaust pipe  7  require regular cleaning. 
     Conventionally, the housing  2  and the exhaust pipe  7  are manually cleaned after the housing is elevated. The cleaning process is difficult and time consuming Additionally, when the housing  2  and the exhaust pipe  7  are cleaned, the low-pressure process apparatus  10  is shut down affecting process yield. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     The invention provides low-pressure process apparatus for processing a substrate, comprising a base, a stage, a housing and at least one first roller set. The stage is disposed on the base, supporting the substrate. The housing is detachably disposed on the base and moves between a first position and a second position, wherein, when in a first position, the housing and the base form a chamber to receive the stage. When the housing is detached, the first roller set contacts and supports the housing to allow movement in a first horizontal direction. 
     The housing of the invention is detached and removed from the base to be cleaned. Thus, when the original housing (first housing) is cleaned, another housing (second housing) can be disposed on the base to continue the low-pressure process. Shutdown time of the low-pressure process apparatus is thus shortened, and yield and cost are conserved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1   a  shows a conventional low-pressure process apparatus; 
         FIG. 1   b  shows the conventional low-pressure process apparatus raising a housing thereof; 
         FIG. 2   a  is a front view of a low-pressure process apparatus of a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2   b  is a front view of a low-pressure process apparatus of the invention when a housing thereof is in a second position; 
         FIG. 2   c  is a side view of a low-pressure process apparatus of the invention when the housing is in the second position; 
         FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  show first roller sets contacting lead grooves; 
         FIG. 3   c  shows the housing sliding by the first roller sets and the lead grooves; 
         FIG. 4   a  shows substrate processing equipment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4   b  shows the housing detached from the substrate processing equipment; 
         FIG. 5  shows raising devices of the invention; 
         FIG. 6   a  shows a low-pressure process apparatus of a second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6   b  shows a housing detached from the low-pressure process apparatus of the second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims. 
       FIG. 2   a  is a front view of a low-pressure process apparatus  100  of a first embodiment of the invention, comprising a base  111 , a housing  120 , lead grooves  140 , first roller sets  150  and air cylinders (actuating devices)  160 . A stage  112  is disposed on the base  111  supporting a substrate  113 . The housing  120  is disposed on the base  111 , and forms a chamber  114  with the base  111 . The stage  112  and the substrate  113  are received in the chamber  114 . An exhaust pipe  130  is disposed on the housing  120  extending into the chamber  114  for exhausting air therefrom. The actuating devices  160  are disposed on the base  111 . The first roller sets  150  are disposed on the actuating devices  160 . The lead grooves  140  are disposed on two sides of the housing  120  corresponding to the first roller sets  150 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2   b , the housing  120  is moveable between a first position (as shown in  FIG. 2   a ) and a second position (as shown in  FIG. 2   b ), wherein raising devices moving the housing  120  between the first and second positions are not shown to simplify the description. When the housing  120  is in the first position, the housing  120  and the base  111  form the chamber  114  for low-pressure processing of the substrate  113 . When the process is finished, the housing  120  is moved to the second position allowing a robot (not shown) to access the substrate  113 . 
       FIG. 2   c  is a side view of the low-pressure process apparatus  100  when the housing  120  is in the second position. Each first roller set  150  comprises a supporting element  151  and a plurality of rollers  152 . The rollers  152  are disposed on the supporting element  151 . The supporting element  151  contacts the actuating device  160 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b , the housing  120  is detachably disposed on the base  110 . The user can remove the housing  120  from the base  110  to clean the housing  120  individually. When the housing  120  is detached from the base  110 , the actuating devices  160  raise the first roller sets  150  to a first plane to contact the lead grooves  140 , wherein the first roller sets  150  support and move the housing  120 . In a modified embodiment, the actuating devices  160  further raise the housing  120  and the first roller sets  150  after the first roller sets  150  contact the lead grooves  140 . With reference to  FIG. 3   c , after the first roller sets  150  are raised to the first plane and contact the lead grooves  140 , the housing  120  is moved to a transmission device  200  in a first horizontal direction y. The transmission device  200  comprises second roller sets  210  located on the first plane. The housing  120  is moved on the first roller sets  150  and the second roller sets  210  by the lead grooves  140 . 
       FIG. 4   a  shows the low-pressure process apparatus  100  of the invention disposed in substrate process equipment  300 . The substrate process equipment  300  comprises a plurality of stockers  310 , a cleaning unit (first process apparatus)  320 , a photoresist coating apparatus (second process apparatus)  330 , low-pressure process apparatus  100 , an exposure unit  340  and robots  350 , wherein the cleaning unit (first process apparatus)  320 , the photoresist coating apparatus (second process apparatus)  330 , and the low-pressure process apparatus  100  are arranged along a second horizontal direction x. With reference to  FIG. 4   b , when the housing  120  is detached, the housing  120  is moved to the transmission device  200  in the first horizontal direction y perpendicular to the second horizontal direction x. 
     The housing  120  of the invention is detached and removed from the base  111  to be cleaned. Thus, when the original housing (first housing) is cleaned, another housing (second housing) can be disposed on the base  111  to continue the low-pressure process. Shutdown time of the low-pressure process apparatus is thus shortened, and yield and cost are conserved. 
     The low-pressure process apparatus  100  of the invention can be utilized drying organic solvents, such as photoresist (for example, resin). 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , the housing  120  is moved between the first position and the second position by the raising devices  170  and the supporting structures  122 . Each raising device  170  comprises a supporting rod  171 . The supporting structures  122  are disposed on the housing  120 . The supporting rods  171  are connected to the supporting structures  122 . The raising devices  170  raise the housing  120  by the supporting rods  171 . The supporting rods  171  abut the supporting structures  122  for easy detachment. 
       FIG. 6   a  shows a low-pressure process apparatus  100 ′ of a second embodiment of the invention, wherein the housing  120 ′ comprises a gate  121  disposed on a back side thereof. Thus, in the second embodiment, when the robot accesses the substrate  113 , the housing  120 ′ is not raised. With reference to  FIG. 6   b , when the housing  120 ′ is detached to be cleaned, the actuating devices  160  directly push the first roller sets  150  and the housing  120 ′. In the second embodiment of the invention, there is no additional device to raise the housing  120 ′. 
     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.