Patent ID: 7115023

Claim:
An edge processing apparatus comprising: a plurality of support rollers positioned for rotatably supporting a substrate such that the substrate is rotatable on an axis perpendicular to a flat surface of the substrate; a first process roller and a second process roller, the first process roller and second process roller each having an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation being substantially parallel with the axis of the substrate; a process tape extending between the first process roller and the second process roller, the first and second rollers being positioned to cause the process tape to contact an edge of the substrate when the substrate is loaded into the processing apparatus, the process tape being configured to frictionally prepare the edge where contact occurs with the process tape; and wherein the first process roller and second process roller each have a circumferential groove formed in an outer circumference, the circumferential groove causing the process tape to substantially form around the edge and at least partially contact an edge region of the substrate when processing a substrate, the edge region comprising peripheral areas of front and back surfaces of the substrate.