Tape attaching apparatus and tape attaching method

Abstract

A tape attaching apparatus includes: a chamber having an airtight space formed therein; a rubber sheet that partitions the airtight space into first and second airtight spaces and has an upper sheet on which a wafer is placed; a tape frame that holds a tape above the rubber sheet; and first and second supply/exhaust tubes that switch pressurization and depressurization of the first and second airtight spaces. In pressurizing the second airtight space and expanding the rubber sheet to lift the wafer to be attached to the tape, after bringing the first and second airtight spaces into a vacuum state, the wafer is attached to the tape while an amount of pressurization of the second airtight space is controlled to change an expansion rate of the rubber sheet from a low speed to a high speed stepwisely.

1 . A tape attaching apparatus comprising;
 a container having an airtight space formed therein;   an elastic sheet that partitions the airtight space into a first airtight space positioned above and a second airtight space positioned below, a tape attachment target object being placed in the first airtight space;   a tape holding member that holds a tape in the first airtight space and positions the tape at a predetermined distance from the tape attachment target object placed on the elastic sheet; and   an atmospheric pressure switching unit that switches pressurization and depressurization of the first and second airtight spaces,   wherein when the tape attaching apparatus pressurizes the second airtight space and expands the elastic sheet to lift the tape attachment target object to be attached to the tape, after bringing the first and second airtight spaces into a vacuum state, the tape attaching apparatus causes the tape attachment target object to be attached to the tape while controlling an amount of pressurization of the second airtight space to change an expansion rate of the elastic sheet from a low speed to a high speed in a stepwise fashion.   
     
     
         2 . The tape attaching apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic sheet is expanded at a first speed that allows the tape attachment target object to be pressed against the tape by a pressing force at which no breakage occurs, until a contact area between the tape attachment target object and the tape reaches a predetermined amount, and the expansion rate of the elastic sheet is then switched to a second speed to allow an entire attaching surface of the tape attachment target object to contact the tape, the second speed being higher than the first speed. 
     
     
         3 . The tape attaching apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein prior to the expansion of the elastic sheet at the first speed, the elastic sheet is expanded at a third speed to allow a center portion of the tape attachment target object to contact the tape, the third speed being lower than the first speed. 
     
     
         4 . The tape attaching apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein after the first and second airtight spaces are brought into a vacuum state, the second airtight space is closed with the vacuum state of the first airtight space maintained, to thereby expand the elastic sheet at the third speed. 
     
     
         5 . The tape attaching apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein upon expansion of the elastic sheet at the second speed, the tape attachment target object and the tape are lifted and pressed against a ceiling surface of the airtight space in a state where the tape attachment target object and the tape contact each other. 
     
     
         6 . The tape attaching apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising spacers provided between a lower surface of the elastic sheet and a bottom surface of the airtight space, the spacers being arranged near an intake port for sucking gas from the second airtight space. 
     
     
         7 . The tape attaching apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein a plurality of the spacers is provided and arranged in one of a cross shape and a radial shape with the intake port as a center. 
     
     
         8 . The tape attaching apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a mesh cover is attached to an intake port for sucking gas from the second airtight space. 
     
     
         9 . The tape attaching apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 an adhesive comprising a UV curable resin is coated on an adhesive surface of the tape, and   nitrogen is intermittently supplied to the first airtight space when the first and second airtight spaces are brought into a vacuum state.   
     
     
         10 . A tape attaching method using a tape attaching apparatus, the tape attaching apparatus comprising:
 a container having an airtight space formed therein;   an elastic sheet that partitions the airtight space into a first airtight space positioned above and a second airtight space positioned below, a tape attachment target object being placed in the first airtight space;   a tape holding member that holds a tape in the first airtight space and positions the tape at a predetermined distance from the tape attachment target object placed on the elastic sheet; and   an atmospheric pressure switching unit that switches pressurization and depressurization of the first and second airtight spaces,   the method comprising:   causing the tape attachment target object to be attached to the tape while controlling an amount of pressurization of the second airtight space to change an expansion rate of the elastic sheet from a low speed to a high speed in a stepwise fashion, upon pressurizing the second airtight space and expanding the elastic sheet to lift the tape attachment target object to be attached to the tape, after bringing the first and second airtight spaces into a vacuum state.   
     
     
         11 . The tape attaching method according to  claim 10 , wherein the elastic sheet is expanded at a first speed that allows the tape attachment target object to be pressed against the tape by a pressing force at which no breakage occurs, until a contact area between the tape attachment target object and the tape reaches a predetermined amount, and the expansion rate of the elastic sheet is then switched to a second speed to allow an entire attaching surface of the tape attachment target object to contact the tape, the second speed being higher than the first speed. 
     
     
         12 . The tape attaching method according to  claim 11 , wherein prior to the expansion of the elastic sheet at the first speed, the elastic sheet is expanded at a third speed to allow a center portion of the tape attachment target object to contact the tape, the third speed being lower than the first speed. 
     
     
         13 . The tape attaching method according to  claim 12 , wherein after the first and second airtight spaces are brought into a vacuum state, the second airtight space is closed with the vacuum state of the first airtight space maintained, to thereby expand the elastic sheet at the third speed. 
     
     
         14 . The tape attaching method according to  claim 11 , wherein upon expansion of the elastic sheet at the second speed, the tape attachment target object and the tape are lifted and pressed against a ceiling surface of the airtight space in a state where the tape attachment target object and the tape contact each other. 
     
     
         15 . The tape attaching method according to  claim 10 , wherein an adhesive comprising a UV curable resin is coated on an adhesive surface of the tape, and nitrogen is intermittently supplied to the first airtight space when the first and second airtight spaces are brought into a vacuum state. 
     
     
         16 . The tape attaching apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein upon expansion of the elastic sheet at the second speed, the tape attachment target object and the tape are lifted and pressed against a ceiling surface of the airtight space in a state where the tape attachment target object and the tape contact each other. 
     
     
         17 . The tape attaching apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein upon expansion of the elastic sheet at the second speed, the tape attachment target object and the tape are lifted and pressed against a ceiling surface of the airtight space in a state where the tape attachment target object and the tape contact each other.