Patent ID: 8021509

Claim:
A method for separating a separator from an adhesive tape and affixing the adhesive tape to a surface of a semiconductor wafer, the method comprising the steps of: supplying the adhesive tape intermittently while separating the adhesive tape from the separator; controlling a separator separating/collecting operation in synchronization with the supplying of the adhesive tape to form a separation stop mark on the adhesive tape and locate the separation stop mark at a predetermined position to prevent the separation stop mark from overlapping with a surface of a semiconductor wafer during the affixation of the adhesive tape on the semiconductor wafer; and affixing the adhesive tape to the surface of the semiconductor wafer such that the separation stop mark is deviated from being affixed on the surface of the semiconductor wafer; wherein the separation stop mark is formed on the adhesive tape due to stopping of supply of the adhesive tape and the stopping of separation of the separator, and wherein the separator separating/collecting operation is controlled in synchronization with the supplying of the adhesive tape by controlling via a control device the forward/backward rotation of a collection bobbin for collecting the separator and controlling the supplying of the adhesive tape from a supply bobbin.