Patent ID: 10562150

Abstract:
A polishing apparatus includes a slurry circulating unit for storing a slurry below a chuck table having a holding surface for holding a wafer, and circulating the slurry to a polishing surface of a polishing pad for polishing the wafer. The slurry circulating unit includes an annular cup-shaped receptacle that surrounds the chuck table and the polishing pad overhanging from the holding surface of the chuck table in a polishing position where the polishing surface is in contact with the wafer, an air blow opening formed through a bottom plate of the receptacle for blowing air to thereby spray the slurry stored in the receptacle toward the polishing pad, a pipe for connecting the air blow opening to an air source, an opening formed through a side wall of the pipe, and a valve for controlling the supply and stop of air from the air source to the pipe.