Patent ID: 7740728

Claim:
A film separation apparatus, for separating a film attached to a film application surface of a wafer, comprising: a wafer adsorption means for adsorbing the wafer in such a manner that the film application surface of the wafer constitutes an upper surface; a release tape supply means for supplying a release tape onto the film on the film application surface; a heating means for pressing and heating a portion of the release tape at an edge portion of the wafer against the film to improve adhesion between the release tape and the film at the portion of the release tape, wherein the heating means includes a heat press unit for pressing the release tape against the film and having an arcuate cross section in a plane parallel to the wafer and the arcuate cross section includes an arc with a radius equal to a radius of the wafer; and a separation means for separating the film from the film application surface of the wafer by the release tape with said portion of the release tape improved in adhesion as a separation starting point.