METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING A SCRUBBER BRUSH ON A MANDREL

• US 20090025197A1
• Filed: 10/05/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Materials Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Applied Materials Incorporated
• Inventors: MP Coulin, Anne-Douce, Volfovski, Leon, Yudovsky, Joseph, Ngo, Tai T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,779,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/428
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67046 using mainly scrubbing means, e.g. brushes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49895 Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"]

Abstract

In a first aspect, an apparatus is provided for forming a scrubber brush assembly. The apparatus includes a mandrel adapted to be inserted into a scrubber brush so as to form a scrubber brush assembly, the mandrel having: a first end; a second end; and one or more position guides adjacent at least one of the first and second ends and adapted to position a scrubber brush on the mandrel. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Claims

1. A method for assembling a scrubber brush assembly, comprising:

inserting one or more inserts into an opening of a scrubber brush, wherein the opening of the scrubber brush is defined by an interior surface of the scrubber brush;

inserting a mandrel into the opening of the scrubber brush such that the one or more inserts are between an exterior surface of the mandrel and the interior surface of the scrubber brush; and

removing the one or more inserts to allow the exterior surface of the mandrel to contact the interior surface of the scrubber brush, thereby installing the scrubber brush onto the mandrel.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

inserting the one or more inserts into an opening of a scrubber brush includes;

inserting the one or more inserts into a housing.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

extending the one or more inserts through the housing and into the interior surface of the scrubber brush.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein inserting the one or more inserts into the housing further comprises:

inserting a first end of the insert into a slot included in the housing.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

resting a second end of the insert in the housing without the second end of the insert being inserted into the slot.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

inserting the one or more inserts into the opening of the scrubber brush while in the housing.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein removing the one or more inserts to allow the exterior surface of the mandrel to contact the interior surface of the scrubber brush further comprises:

removing the one or more inserts from the housing.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein removing the one or more inserts further comprises:

employing the second end of the insert to pull the insert from the housing.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein removing the one or more inserts further comprises:

employing the first end of the insert to push the insert from the housing.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein inserting the mandrel into the opening of the scrubber brush such that the one or more inserts are between the exterior surface of the mandrel and the interior surface of the scrubber brush includes:

reducing friction between the exterior surface of the mandrel and the interior surface of the scrubber brush.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

inserting the mandrel into the opening of the scrubber brush until an end of the mandrel exits a second opening of the scrubber brush.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more inserts comprise low friction inserts.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

aligning the inserts with the mandrel via one or more position guides included on the mandrel.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the position guides include one or more grooves along a perimeter of the mandrel.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

creating a high friction interaction between the interior surface of the scrubber brush and the exterior surface of the mandrel via at least one of at least one of knurls, grooves, and a rough finish, included on each of the interior surface of the scrubber brush and the exterior surface of the mandrel.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

coupling the mandrel onto a base before inserting the mandrel into the opening of the scrubber brush such that the one or more inserts are between an exterior surface of the mandrel and the interior surface of the scrubber brush.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

placing a plate of the base on a flat surface, and extending a pusher from the plate, wherein an end of the mandrel is coupled to the pusher.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

removing the mandrel from the base after inserting the mandrel into the opening of the scrubber brush such that the one or more inserts are between an exterior surface of the mandrel and the interior surface of the scrubber brush.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein a diameter of the mandrel is approximately equal to a diameter of an interior of the scrubber brush.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the mandrel is a single-piece mandrel.