Patents by Inventor Kenichi AKAZAWA

Kenichi AKAZAWA has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230026543
    Abstract: A break-in processing apparatus is disclosed, which can reliably perform a break-in process for an elastic membrane without reducing a utilization rate of a polishing apparatus. The break-in processing apparatus includes a stage to which an elastic membrane assembly including a carrier and an elastic membrane attached to the carrier is placed; a break-in determination module facing the elastic membrane placed to the stage; a fluid supply unit configured to supply a pressurized fluid into a pressure chamber formed between the outermost periphery portion of the elastic membrane and the carrier; and a controller configured to control operations of the break-in determination module and the fluid supply unit. The controller determines a completion of a break-in process of the elastic membrane based on a load applied to the break-in determination module by the elastic membrane which is expanded by the pressurized fluid supplied into the pressure chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Osamu NABEYA, Kenichi AKAZAWA
  • Patent number: 11511389
    Abstract: Disclosed is a polishing head for a polishing apparatus for polishing a quadrangular substrate using a polishing pad attached to a polishing table, comprising a head body portion, a plurality of elastic bags disposed in a surface of the head body portion, which is to face the polishing table, and a substrate holding plate for holding the substrate, the substrate holding plate being pressed by the elastic bags in a direction away from the head body portion, the head body portion being provided with channels for bags, which are in communication with the respective elastic bags, the polishing head further including at least two support plates disposed between the elastic bags on one hand and the substrate holding plate on the other, the elastic bags being configured to press the substrate holding plate through the support plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Akazawa, Makoto Kashiwagi, Yu Ishii, Atsushi Yoshida, Kenichi Kobayashi, Tetsuji Togawa, Hozumi Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20220005716
    Abstract: To provide an automated apparatus for conveying a rectangular substrate. According to one embodiment, there is provided a substrate conveying apparatus for conveying the rectangular substrate. The substrate conveying apparatus includes a plurality of conveyance rollers, a plurality of roller shafts, a motor, and a pusher. The plurality of conveyance rollers are configured to support a lower surface of the substrate. To the plurality of roller shafts, the plurality of conveyance rollers are mounted. The motor is configured to rotate the plurality of roller shafts. The pusher is for lifting the substrate on the plurality of conveyance rollers such that the substrate is separated away from the plurality of conveyance rollers. The pusher includes a stage configured to pass through a clearance between the plurality of roller shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Akihiro Yazawa, Takashi Koba, Kenichi Kobayashi, Kenichi Akazawa, Fong-Jie Du, Makoto Kashiwagi, Asagi Matsugu, Takahiro Nanjo, Hideharu Aoyama, Takashi Mitsuya, Tetsuji Togawa
  • Publication number: 20200094371
    Abstract: Disclosed is a polishing head for a polishing apparatus for polishing a quadrangular substrate using a polishing pad attached to a polishing table, comprising a head body portion, a plurality of elastic bags disposed in a surface of the head body portion, which is to face the polishing table, and a substrate holding plate for holding the substrate, the substrate holding plate being pressed by the elastic bags in a direction away from the head body portion, the head body portion being provided with channels for bags, which are in communication with the respective elastic bags, the polishing head further including at least two support plates disposed between the elastic bags on one hand and the substrate holding plate on the other, the elastic bags being configured to press the substrate holding plate through the support plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Kenichi Akazawa, Makoto Kashiwagi, Yu Ishii, Atsushi Yoshida, Kenichi Kobayashi, Tetsuji Togawa, Hozumi Yasuda
  • Patent number: 10593570
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, there is provided a substrate holding module that is capable of accommodating a substrate transferred by a transfer robot. The substrate holding module includes a pedestal including a holding mechanism configured to hold the substrate, a cover configured to cover the pedestal, and a moving mechanism configured to move the cover away from the pedestal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Yazawa, Kenichi Kobayashi, Kenichi Akazawa
  • Patent number: 10525564
    Abstract: Disclosed is a reversing machine that reverses a substrate upside down. The reversing machine includes: a first arm pair configured to mount a substrate thereon; a second arm pair facing the first arm pair; an opening/closing mechanism configured to open/close the second arm pair so as to grip the substrate mounted on the first arm pair; and a rotating mechanism configured to rotate the first arm pair and the second arm pair around a predetermined axis that is set inside the first arm pair and the second arm pair and extends along an extension direction of the first arm pair and the second arm pair such that the substrate is reversed upside down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Akazawa, Kenichi Kobayashi, Akihiro Yazawa, Manao Hoshina
  • Patent number: 10160013
    Abstract: A rinsing bath which can simplify a discharging structure of a rinsing liquid is disclosed. The rinsing bath includes an inner bath for storing the rinsing liquid, an overflow bath configured to receive the rinsing liquid overflowing the inner bath, a stopper for closing a drain hole provided on a bottom of the inner bath, an actuator configured to move the stopper between a closing position in which the stopper closes the drain hole and a opening position in which the stopper is away from the drain hole, a rinsing liquid supply pipe configured to supply the rinsing liquid into the inner bath, and a drain pipe coupled to a bottom of the overflow bath. The drain hole communicates between an inside of the inner bath and an inside of the overflow bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiko Sekimoto, Toshio Yokoyama, Kenichi Kobayashi, Kenichi Akazawa
  • Patent number: 10141211
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus comprises a transferring device including a grasping section configured to grasp a substrate holder, and a transferring section configured to transfer the substrate holder grasped by the grasping section, and a processing bath for storing a substrate held by the substrate holder so that a surface of the substrate is vertically oriented, and processing the substrate. The grasping section is configured to grasp the substrate holder with a surface of the substrate oriented horizontally. The transferring section is configured to transfer the substrate holder above the processing bath, with the surface of the substrate oriented horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshio Yokoyama, Masahiko Sekimoto, Kenichi Kobayashi, Kenichi Akazawa, Takashi Mitsuya, Keiichi Kurashina
  • Publication number: 20170358472
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a transferring device including a grasping section configured to grasp a substrate holder, and a transferring section configured to transfer the substrate holder grasped by the grasping section, and a processing bath for storing a substrate held by the substrate holder so that a surface of the substrate is vertically oriented, and processing the substrate. The grasping section is configured to grasp the substrate holder with a surface of the substrate oriented horizontally. The transferring section is configured to transfer the substrate holder above the processing bath, with the surface of the substrate oriented horizontally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Toshio YOKOYAMA, Masahiko SEKIMOTO, Kenichi KOBAYASHI, Kenichi AKAZAWA, Takashi MITSUYA, Keiichi KURASHINA
  • Patent number: 9786532
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus is described herein. The substrate processing apparatus comprises a transferring device including: a grasping section configured to grasp a substrate holder, a transferring section configured to transfer the substrate holder grasped by the grasping section, and a processing bath for storing a substrate held by the substrate holder so that a surface of the substrate is vertically oriented. The grasping section is configured to grasp the substrate holder with a surface of the substrate oriented horizontally. The transferring section is configured to transfer the substrate holder above the processing bath, with the surface of the substrate oriented horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshio Yokoyama, Masahiko Sekimoto, Kenichi Kobayashi, Kenichi Akazawa, Takashi Mitsuya, Keiichi Kurashina
  • Publication number: 20170236727
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, there is provided a substrate holding module that is capable of accommodating a substrate transferred by a transfer robot. The substrate holding module includes a pedestal including a holding mechanism configured to hold the substrate, a cover configured to cover the pedestal, and a moving mechanism configured to move the cover away from the pedestal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Akihiro Yazawa, Kenichi Kobayashi, Kenichi Akazawa
  • Publication number: 20170072531
    Abstract: Disclosed is a reversing machine that reverses a substrate upside down. The reversing machine includes: a first arm pair configured to mount a substrate thereon; a second arm pair facing the first arm pair; an opening/closing mechanism configured to open/close the second arm pair so as to grip the substrate mounted on the first arm pair; and a rotating mechanism configured to rotate the first arm pair and the second arm pair around a predetermined axis that is set inside the first arm pair and the second arm pair and extends along an extension direction of the first arm pair and the second arm pair such that the substrate is reversed upside down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Kenichi Akazawa, Kenichi Kobayashi, Akihiro Yazawa, Manao Hoshina
  • Publication number: 20160059271
    Abstract: A rinsing bath which can simplify a discharging structure of a rinsing liquid is disclosed. The rinsing bath includes an inner bath for storing the rinsing liquid, an overflow bath configured to receive the rinsing liquid overflowing the inner bath, a stopper for closing a drain hole provided on a bottom of the inner bath, an actuator configured to move the stopper between a closing position in which the stopper closes the drain hole and a opening position in which the stopper is away from the drain hole, a rinsing liquid supply pipe configured to supply the rinsing liquid into the inner bath, and a drain pipe coupled to a bottom of the overflow bath. The drain hole communicates between an inside of the inner bath and an inside of the overflow bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Masahiko SEKIMOTO, Toshio YOKOYAMA, Kenichi KOBAYASHI, Kenichi AKAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20150270147
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus capable of inhibiting diffusion of a chemical solution atmosphere around a processing bath. The substrate processing apparatus has a processing bath for storing a substrate holder holding a substrate and for processing the substrate, a lifter configured to support the substrate holder, store the substrate holder in the processing bath, and take out the substrate holder from the processing bath, and a cover configured to cover the periphery of the substrate holder taken out from the processing bath by the lifter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Kenichi KOBAYASHI, Masahiko SEKIMOTO, Toshio YOKOYAMA, Kenichi AKAZAWA, Keiichi KURASHINA, Takashi MITSUYA
  • Publication number: 20150270151
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a transferring device including a grasping section configured to grasp a substrate holder, and a transferring section configured to transfer the substrate holder grasped by the grasping section, and a processing bath for storing a substrate held by the substrate holder so that a surface of the substrate is vertically oriented, and processing the substrate. The grasping section is configured to grasp the substrate holder with a surface of the substrate oriented horizontally. The transferring section is configured to transfer the substrate holder above the processing bath, with the surface of the substrate oriented horizontally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Toshio YOKOYAMA, Masahiko SEKIMOTO, Kenichi KOBAYASHI, Kenichi AKAZAWA, Takashi MITSUYA, Keiichi KURASHINA
  • Patent number: D981459
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Akazawa, Osamu Nabeya
  • Patent number: D981969
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Akazawa, Tomoko Owada, Osamu Nabeya, Makoto Fukushima, Yuichi Kato
  • Patent number: D989012
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Akazawa, Osamu Nabeya, Shingo Togashi, Satoru Yamaki, Tomoko Owada, Cheng Cheng, Yuichi Kato
  • Patent number: D1021832
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Akazawa, Osamu Nabeya, Shingo Togashi, Satoru Yamaki, Tomoko Owada, Cheng Cheng, Yuichi Kato