Abstract: A multi-head type polishing apparatus has a plurality of top rings for holding workpieces with respect to a single polishing table. A polishing apparatus includes a polishing table having a polishing surface, a plurality of top rings for holding workpieces and pressing the workpieces against the polishing surface, and a carousel for supporting the top rings and indexing the top rings. The polishing apparatus further includes a rotary transporter disposed in a position which can be accessed by the top rings and having a plurality of portions positioned on a predetermined circumference from a center of rotation of the rotary transporter for holding the workpieces, and a pusher for transferring the workpieces between the rotary transporter and the top rings.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is used for polishing a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. The polishing apparatus includes a turntable having a polishing surface, a top ring for supporting the workpiece to be polished and pressing the workpiece against the polishing surface, and a transferring device for transferring the workpiece between the top ring and the transferring device. The transferring device includes a stage having a support surface for supporting the workpiece, an actuating unit for moving the stage in a vertical direction, and a guide member disposed radially outwardly of the stage and having a guide surface of an inverted conical shape. The centering of the workpiece is conducted by bringing a periphery of the workpiece into contact with the guide surface, and then the workpiece is transferred from the transferring device to the top ring by raising the stage.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus for polishing a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish includes a turntable with a polishing cloth mounted on an upper surface thereof and a top ring for polishing a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish by placing the semiconductor wafer between the turntable and the top ring and pressing the semiconductor wafer under a certain pressing force. A presser ring is vertically movably provided around the top ring. A pressing device presses the presser ring against the polishing cloth under a variable pressing force, and the presser ring is supported by the top ring through a bearing.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus 70 is used for polishing a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish by a combination of chemical polishing and mechanical polishing. The polishing apparatus includes a turntable 73 with a polishing 74 cloth mounted on an upper surface thereof, a top ring 75 for supporting the workpiece to be polished and pressing the workpiece against the polishing cloth, and a dressing tool 79 for dressing the polishing cloth on the turntable. The polishing apparatus further includes a cover 10 which covers an upper surface of the turntable for preventing liquid on the turntable from being scattered, and inserting holes 17 and 21 formed in an upper wall of the cover for inserting the top ring and the dressing tool therethrough.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is used for polishing a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. The polishing apparatus has an exhaust device for exhausting air in the polishing apparatus. The polishing apparatus includes a housing, a polishing section housed in the housing for polishing a workpiece, a cleaning section housed in the housing for cleaning the workpiece which has been polished, and a base comprising a plurality of structural members for supporting at least one device in at least one of the cleaning section and the polishing section. At least one of the structural members has a fluid passage therein and intake openings to serve as an exhaust duct. The polishing apparatus further comprises a main exhaust duct communicating with the exhaust duct and extending to an exterior of the housing for exhausting air introduced in the exhaust duct.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus has a turntable with an abrasive cloth mounted on an upper surface thereof and a top ring disposed above the turntable for supporting a workpiece to be polished against the abrasive cloth under predetermined pressure. The turntable is rotatable by a first motor through a timing pulley connected to the first motor, and the top ring is rotatable by a second motor through a timing pulley connected to the second motor. A torque detector incorporated in the timing pulley connected to at least one of the first motor and the second motor detects an output torque produced by the at least one of the first motor and the second motor.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is used for polishing a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish. The polishing apparatus includes a turntable having a polishing surface thereon, a top ring, for holding a workpiece to be polished and pressing the workpiece against the polishing surface, which is movable between a polishing position inside of the turntable and a standby position outside of the turntable, and a first device for keeping at least a lower surface of the top ring wet while the top ring is in the standby position. The polishing apparatus further includes a dressing tool for dressing the polishing surface on the turntable, and a second device for keeping at least a lower surface of the dressing tool wet while the dressing tool is in a standby position.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus has a cloth cartridge detachably mounted on a turntable, an abrasive liquid nozzle for supplying an abrasive liquid onto an abrasive cloth of the cloth cartridge, and a top ring for holding a workpiece against the abrasive cloth. The turntable and the top ring are rotatable relatively to each other while the abrasive liquid is being supplied onto the abrasive cloth from the abrasive liquid nozzle and the workpiece is being held against the abrasive cloth. A cartridge tightener which is angularly movably mounted on the turntable has a tapered surface for engaging an engageable surface of the cloth cartridge in response to angular movement of the cartridge tightener. The tapered surface is included to a plane substantially perpendicular to an axis about which the turntable is rotatable.

Abstract: A dressing apparatus is used to resurface a polishing surface of a polish cloth used to polish semiconductor wafers. A dressing brush which spins on its own axis is also coupled to a drive shaft of a main drive of the dressing apparatus through a planetary gear mechanism so that the brush will rotate or orbit about the drive shaft. Therefore, the dressing brush traces a complex path and its dressing action is spread over a wide surface area of the polishing cloth to produce thorough resurfacing of the polishing surface. The service life of the cloth is significantly increased and contributes to improving the overall efficiency of preparing high quality polished semiconductor wafers. For economy, the dressing apparatus can be mounted easily on a conventional polishing apparatus having a dressing facility.