IP Library Granted Patent US 9,824,903
Granted Patent B2
US 9,824,903 · App. 14/260,220 · Granted Nov 21, 2017

Substrate cleaning apparatus

Inventor: Tomoatsu Ishibashi (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
H01L21/67046B08B11/02H01L21/67051
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,824,903
App. No.
14/260,220
Granted
Nov 21, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A substrate cleaning apparatus including a self-cleaning device is disclosed. The substrate cleaning apparatus includes a self-cleaning device configured to clean a cylindrical scrub-cleaning tool that is rubbed against a substrate surface. The self-cleaning device includes a cleaning body having an inner circumferential surface that is shaped along an circumferential surface of the scrub-cleaning tool, and at least one cleaning nozzle configured to eject a cleaning fluid toward the circumferential surface of the scrub-cleaning tool through a gap between the circumferential surface of the scrub-cleaning tool and the inner circumferential surface of the cleaning body.

Claims (38)

1. A substrate cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a substrate holder configured to hold and rotate a substrate;

a cylindrical scrub-cleaning tool configured to come into sliding contact with a surface of the substrate;

a rotating device configured to rotate the scrub-cleaning tool about its own axis; and

a self-cleaning device configured to clean the scrub-cleaning tool,

the self-cleaning device including

a cleaning body having an inner circumferential surface that is shaped along a circumferential surface of the scrub-cleaning tool,

at least one cleaning nozzle configured to eject a cleaning fluid toward the circumferential surface of the scrub-cleaning tool through a gap between the circumferential surface of the scrub-cleaning tool and the inner circumferential surface of the cleaning body, and

a blow nozzle configured to eject a gas toward the circumferential surface of the scrub-cleaning tool through the gap, the blow nozzle being disposed downstream of the cleaning nozzle with respect to a rotational direction of the scrub-cleaning tool.

2. The substrate cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one cleaning nozzle comprises a first cleaning nozzle and a second cleaning nozzle disposed at both sides of the scrub-cleaning tool.

3. The substrate cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning nozzle comprises a plurality of slit nozzles arranged along a central axis of the scrub-cleaning tool.

4. The substrate cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning nozzle is inclined downwardly.

5. The substrate cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning fluid comprises a mixture of a cleaning liquid and a high-pressure gas.

6. The substrate cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning fluid comprises a high-pressure cleaning liquid.

7. The substrate cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the self-cleaning device further includes a drain having a fluid inlet lying in the inner circumferential surface of the cleaning body.

8. The substrate cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the scrub-cleaning tool is disposed so as to come into sliding contact with a lower surface of the substrate, and the self-cleaning device is disposed below the scrub-cleaning tool.

9. The substrate cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a transporting mechanism configured to transport the scrub-cleaning tool to the self-cleaning device,

the scrub-cleaning tool being disposed so as to come into sliding contact with an upper surface of the substrate, and

the self-cleaning device being disposed adjacent to the substrate holder.

10. A substrate cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a substrate holder configured to hold and rotate a substrate;

a cylindrical scrub-cleaning tool configured to come into sliding contact with a surface of the substrate;

a rotating device configured to rotate the scrub-cleaning tool about its own axis; and

a self-cleaning device configured to clean the scrub-cleaning tool,

the self-cleaning device including

a cleaning body having an inner circumferential surface that is shaped along a circumferential surface of the scrub-cleaning tool,

a first cleaning nozzle and a second cleaning nozzle each configured to eject a cleaning fluid toward the circumferential surface of the scrub-cleaning tool through a gap between the circumferential surface of the scrub-cleaning tool and the inner circumferential surface of the cleaning body, and

a suction passage for sucking a gas from the gap, the suction passage being located between the first cleaning nozzle and the second cleaning nozzle.

11. A substrate cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a substrate holder configured to hold and rotate a substrate;

a cylindrical scrub-cleaning tool configured to come into sliding contact with a surface of the substrate;

a rotating device configured to rotate the scrub-cleaning tool about its own axis; and

a self-cleaning device configured to clean the scrub-cleaning tool,

the self-cleaning device including

a cleaning body having an inner circumferential surface that is shaped along a circumferential surface of the scrub-cleaning tool, and

at least one cleaning nozzle configured to eject a cleaning fluid toward the circumferential surface of the scrub-cleaning tool through a gap between the circumferential surface of the scrub-cleaning tool and the inner circumferential surface of the cleaning body,

wherein the at least one cleaning nozzle comprises a first cleaning nozzle and a second cleaning nozzle disposed at both sides of the scrub-cleaning tool, a third cleaning nozzle disposed below the first cleaning nozzle, and a fourth cleaning nozzle disposed below the second cleaning nozzle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2014
From: ISHIBASHI, TOMOATSU
To: EBARA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032809/0166 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2013-092182 · Apr 25, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140331440A1 · Nov 13, 2014