Cross flow centrifugal processor
DCFirst Claim
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1. A centrifugal processor, comprising:
- a rotor housing;
a rotor rotatably mounted within the rotor housing;
a flat media holder; and
a plurality of fan blades positioned on the rotor to blow ambient gas within the rotor housing, over the flat media.
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Abstract
A centrifugal processor for processing flat media, such as silicon wafers, has a rotor rotatably mounted within a rotor housing. Fan blades on the rotor blow air over the wafers, to move any remaining fluid droplets away from the wafer centers, to allow centrifugal force to fling the fluid droplets off of the wafers. The centrifugal processor uses clean room air, rather than nitrogen, for drying. Operating costs are reduced while manufacturing yields are increased, as spotting at the wafer centers is avoided.
79 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A centrifugal processor, comprising:
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a rotor housing; a rotor rotatably mounted within the rotor housing; a flat media holder; and a plurality of fan blades positioned on the rotor to blow ambient gas within the rotor housing, over the flat media. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for processing flat media, comprising the steps of:
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loading the flat media into a centrifugal processor in a clean room; drawing clean room air into the centrifugal processor; blowing the clean room air over the flat media; and blowing the clean room air back into the clean room. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A centrifugal processor, comprising:
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a processor housing; a rotor housing within the processor housing; a rotor within the rotor housing and rotatable mounted therein about a rotational axis; holding means, within the rotor, for holding a plurality of flat media; air moving means on the rotor for blowing air over the flat media with rotation of the rotor; and means for rotating the rotor about the rotational axis. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A centrifugal processor, comprising:
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a rotor housing; a rotor rotatably mounted within the rotor housing; a flat media holder within the rotor for holding an array of flat media in a fixed upright position; and a plurality of fan blades positioned on the rotor to blow ambient gas within the rotor housing over flat media held in the flat media holder. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A centrifugal processor, comprising:
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a rotor housing; a rotor rotatably mounted within the rotor housing; a flat media holder within the rotor; a plurality of fan blades on the rotor; and a filter in a rotor housing inlet on the rotor housing.
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22. A centrifugal processor, comprising:
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a rotor housing; a rotor rotatably mounted within the rotor housing; a flat media holder within the rotor; an inlet attached near an upper end of the rotor housing and an outlet attached near a lower end of the rotor housing; a source of clean room air leading into the inlet; and a plurality of fan blades on the rotor.
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23. A centrifugal processor, comprising:
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a rotor housing; a rotor rotatably mounted within the rotor housing; a flat media holder within the rotor; and a plurality of fan blades on the rotor positioned to blow air over both sides of the flat media.
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Specification