System for cleaning residual paste from a mask
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for cleaning residual paste from a mask, the apparatus comprising:
- A) a source of an alkali detergent;
B) a wash chamber and within said chamber;
1) at least one pair of primary opposing liquid spray nozzles movably mounted within the wash chamber;
2) a drive for moving said spray nozzles in tandem in a vertical path within said chamber;
C) said opposing spray nozzles oriented to direct balanced front and back liquid streams of said alkali detergent toward each other at an angle of between about 40 and about 50 degrees to the vertical;
D) a pump connected to said source of alkali detergent and said at least one pair of opposing spray nozzles, said pump generating a pressure in the liquid streams of between 150 and 500 psi;
E) a drying chamber adjacent said wash chamber, comprising;
1) an air knife supplying two symmetrically opposing gaseous streams directed toward each other; and
F) a vertical mask support attached to a transport in said wash and drying chambers located so as to support and transport a mask along a path substantially centered between said opposing liquid spray nozzles and said opposing gaseous streams.
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Abstract
A cleaning method and related apparatus for cleaning semiconductor screening masks using an aqueous alkali detergent solution applied under high pressure simultaneously from both sides of the mask, followed by a drying step that uses air knives to blow off the mask surface any residual cleaner solution.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. Apparatus for cleaning residual paste from a mask, the apparatus comprising:
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A) a source of an alkali detergent; B) a wash chamber and within said chamber; 1) at least one pair of primary opposing liquid spray nozzles movably mounted within the wash chamber; 2) a drive for moving said spray nozzles in tandem in a vertical path within said chamber; C) said opposing spray nozzles oriented to direct balanced front and back liquid streams of said alkali detergent toward each other at an angle of between about 40 and about 50 degrees to the vertical; D) a pump connected to said source of alkali detergent and said at least one pair of opposing spray nozzles, said pump generating a pressure in the liquid streams of between 150 and 500 psi; E) a drying chamber adjacent said wash chamber, comprising; 1) an air knife supplying two symmetrically opposing gaseous streams directed toward each other; and F) a vertical mask support attached to a transport in said wash and drying chambers located so as to support and transport a mask along a path substantially centered between said opposing liquid spray nozzles and said opposing gaseous streams. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification