Cleaning nozzle and substrate cleaning apparatus

• US 6,729,561 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2001
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Company Limited (SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sato, Masanobu, Yasuda, Shuichi, Hirae, Sadao
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANS, ROBIN OCTAVIA
• Application Number:
  US09/976,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20020020763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 239/589, 239/590, 239/591, 239/592, 239/594, 239/DIG.2, 239/DIG.8, 239/DIG.13, 239/DIG.19, 239/418, 239/423, 239/433, 239/434.5
• US Class Current: 239/418
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0433 with one inner conduit of gas surrounded by an external conduit of liquid upstream the mixing chamber
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67051 using mainly spraying means, e.g. nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 239/08 Cutter sprayer

Abstract

A cleaning nozzle includes a mixing portion with inner walls thereof formed of quartz given smoothing treatment. As a result, the inner walls of the mixing portion have smooth surfaces. This construction effectively suppresses abrasion of the inner walls of the mixing portion, and particle generation from the cleaning nozzle. Further, the cleaning nozzle has a supply pipe surrounding a gas introduction pipe. This reduces areas of contact in the mixing portion between a gas and inner walls of the cleaning nozzle, to suppress particle generation with increased effect.

Claims

1. A cleaning nozzle having a mixing portion for mixing a cleaning liquid and a pressurized gas to form mist, and discharging said mist formed in said mixing portion;

wherein said cleaning nozzle has at least inner walls of said mixing portion presenting smooth surfaces;

said smooth surfaces being provided by an etching treatment.

2. A cleaning nozzle as defined in claim 1, wherein at least said inner walls of said mixing portion have smooth surfaces with surface irregularities in a range of 0.3 μ

m and less.

3. A cleaning nozzle as defined in claim 1, wherein at least said inner walls of said mixing portion have smooth surfaces with surface irregularities in a range of 0.1 μ

m and less.

4. A cleaning nozzle as defined in claim 1, comprising:

a tip portion disposed downstream of said mixing portion in a direction of discharge of said mist;

at least inner walls of said mixing portion and said tip portion having smooth surfaces.

5. A cleaning nozzle as defined in claim 1, wherein said cleaning nozzle has a main body that is cylindrical in shape.

6. A cleaning nozzle as defined in claim 1, wherein said mixing portion includes a gas introduction pipe for introducing the gas, and a supply pipe for supplying the cleaning liquid, said gas introduction pipe being cylindrically shaped.

7. A cleaning nozzle as defined in claim 1, wherein said mixing portion includes a gas introduction pipe for introducing the gas, and a supply pipe for supplying the cleaning liquid, said gas introduction pipe extending linearly to said mixing portion.

8. A substrate cleaning apparatus for cleaning a substrate by supplying a cleaning liquid turned into mist to the substrate, said apparatus comprising:

a cleaning nozzle having a mixing portion for mixing the cleaning liquid and a pressurized gas to form mist, and discharging said mist formed in said mixing portion;

wherein said cleaning nozzle has at least inner walls of said mixing portion presenting smooth surfaces;

said smooth surfaces being provided by an etching treatment.

9. A cleaning nozzle having a mixing portion for mixing a cleaning liquid and a pressurized gas to form mist, and discharging said mist formed in said mixing portion;

wherein said cleaning nozzle has at least inner walls of said mixing portion formed of quartz; and

wherein said mixing portion is constructed with a supply pipe for supplying the cleaning liquid surrounding a gas introduction pipe for introducing the gas.

10. A cleaning nozzle as defined in claim 9, comprising:

a tip portion disposed downstream of said mixing portion in a direction of discharge of said mist;

an accelerator pipe;

wherein at least said mixing portion and said tip portion and said accelerator pipe are formed of quartz to be integral with one another.

11. A cleaning nozzle as defined in claim 9, wherein at least said inner walls of said mixing portion have smooth surfaces with surface irregularities in a range of 0.3 μ

m and less.

12. A cleaning nozzle as defined in claim 9, wherein at least said inner walls of said mixing portion have smooth surfaces with surface irregularities in a range of 0.1 μ

m and less.

13. A cleaning nozzle as defined in claim 9, wherein said quartz has surfaces thereof smoothed by surface treatment.

14. A cleaning nozzle as defined in claim 9, wherein said cleaning nozzle has a main body that is cylindrical in shape.

15. A cleaning nozzle as defined in claim 9, wherein said mixing portion includes a gas introduction pipe for introducing the gas, and a supply pipe for supplying the cleaning liquid, said gas introduction pipe being cylindrically shaped.

16. A cleaning nozzle as defined in claim 9, wherein said mixing portion includes a gas introduction pipe for introducing the gas, and a supply pipe for supplying the cleaning liquid, said gas introduction pipe extending linearly to said mixing portion.

17. A substrate cleaning apparatus for cleaning a substrate by supplying a cleaning liquid turned into mist to the substrate, said apparatus comprising:

a cleaning nozzle having a mixing portion for mixing the cleaning liquid and a pressurized gas to form mist, and discharging said mist formed in said mixing portion; and

a tip portion disposed downstream of said mixing portion in a direction of discharge of said mist;

wherein said mixing portion and said tip portion have at least inner walls formed of quartz to be integral with each other.

18. A substrate cleaning apparatus for cleaning a substrate by supplying a cleaning liquid turned into mist to the substrate, said apparatus comprising:

a cleaning nozzle having a mixing portion for mixing the cleaning liquid and a pressurized gas to form mist, and discharging said mist formed in said mixing portion;

wherein said cleaning nozzle has at least inner walls of said mixing portion formed of quartz; and

wherein said mixing portion is constructed with a supply pipe for supplying the cleaning liquid surrounding a gas introduction pipe for introducing the gas.

19. A cleaning nozzle having a mixing portion for mixing a cleaning liquid and a pressurized gas to form mist, and discharging said mist formed in said mixing portion;

wherein said cleaning nozzle has at least inner walls of said mixing portion presenting smooth surfaces; and

wherein said mixing portion is constructed with a supply pipe for supplying the cleaning liquid surrounding a gas introduction pipe for introducing the gas.

20. A cleaning nozzle as defined in claim 19, comprising:

a tip portion disposed downstream of said mixing portion in a direction of discharge of said mist;

at least inner walls of said mixing portion and said tip portion having smooth surfaces.

21. A substrate cleaning apparatus for cleaning a substrate by supplying a cleaning liquid turned into mist to the substrate, said apparatus comprising:

a cleaning nozzle having a mixing portion for mixing the cleaning liquid and a pressurized gas to form mist, and discharging said mist formed in said mixing portion;

wherein said cleaning nozzle has at least inner walls of said mixing portion presenting smooth surfaces; and

wherein said mixing portion is constructed with a supply pipe for supplying the cleaning liquid surrounding a gas introduction pipe for introducing the gas.

22. A cleaning nozzle having a mixing portion for mixing a cleaning liquid and a pressurized gas to form mist, and discharging said mist formed in said mixing portion, said cleaning nozzle comprising:

a tip portion disposed downstream of said mixing portion in a direction of discharge of said mist;

wherein said mixing portion and said tip portion have at least inner walls formed of quartz to be integral with each other.

23. A cleaning nozzle as defined in claim 22, wherein said quartz has surfaces thereof smoothed by surface treatment.