US3730410A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wafer breaker
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-06-16
•
Granted: 1973-05-01
•
Expires: 1991-06-16
Abstract
Abstract A wafer breaker has a housing with upper and lower sections hinged together so that the upper section can swing down on top of the lower section. The lower section carries a removable platen having a rounded top surface on which a flat scribed wafer is placed. The top housing section contains a pressure chamber having a flexible and resilient wall which is positioned directly above the platen when the top section is in its closed position. Adjustment of a valve in the top section to a first operative position causes air under pressure to enter the pressure chamber and push the flexible wall against the flat wafer on the rounded platen thereby fracturing the wafer along the scribed lines. Following this, the valve is turned to a second position which slowly exhausts the air from the pressure chamber so that the wall resumes its unstressed state relatively slowly, thereby minimizing turbulence in the chamber containing the fractured wafer so that the resulting chips are not scattered.
Inventors
- 👤 T Altshuler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:19
CPC Classifications
B; B28; B28D; B28D5/00; B28D5/0005; B28D5/0041; B28D5/0047; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T225/00; Y10T225/10; Y10T225/12; Y10T225/30; Y10T225/307; Y10T225/321; Y10T225/325; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49789; Y10T29/4979
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A wafer breaker comprising A. a pair of hinged together housing sections arranged to swing between a closed position wherein the two sections are adjacent one another to an open position wherein the two sections are oriented at an angle relative to one another, B. means for locking the sections in the closed position, C. a platen positioned on one of the sections, said platen having a curved surface which faces the other section when the two sections are in the closed position, D. a pressure chamber in the other housing section, said chamber having a flexible, resilient wall which is disposed opposite the platen surface when the two sections are in the closed position, E. means for introducing air under pressure into the pressure chamber when the two sections are locked in the closed position, thereby pushing the flexible wall toward the platen, and F. a valve having 1. a first operative position which controls the flow of air into the pressure chamber, and 2. a second operative position which controls the flow of air out of the pressure chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A wafer breaker comprising A. a pair of hinged together housing sections arranged to swing between a closed position wherein the two sections are adjacent one another to an open position wherein the two sections are oriented at an angle relative to one another, B. means for locking the sections in the closed position, C. a platen positioned on one of the sections, said platen having a curved surface which faces the other section when the two sections are in the closed position, D. a pressure chamber in the other housing section, said chamber having a flexible, resilient wall which is disposed opposite the platen surface when the two sections are in the closed position, E. means for introducing air under pressure into the pressure chamber when the two sections are locked in the closed position, thereby pushing the flexible wall toward the platen, and F. a valve having 1. a first operative position which controls the flow of air into the pressure chamber, and 2. a second operative position which controls the flow of air out of the pressure chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
a second operative position which controls the flow of air out of the pressure chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
a second operative position which controls the flow of air out of the pressure chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
The wafer breaker defined in claim 1 wherein the locking means comprise A. retaining means formed in the one housing section, B. a slidable member mounted in the other housing section so that when the two sections are in the closed position, the member engages the retaining means, the member being prevented from disengaging from the retaining means when the pressure chamber is pressurized by the force of the flexible wall against the platen which tends to move the housing sections to the open position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The wafer breaker defined in claim 2 and further including means for biasing the member into engagement with the retaining means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The wafer breaker defined in claim 1 and further including means restricting the flow of air out of the pressure chamber so that the flexible, resilient chamber wall returns to its unstressed condition at a controlled rate so as to minimize air turbulence in the vicinity of platen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The wafer breaker defined in claim 1 wherein the flexible resilient chamber wall comprises a generally circular diaphragm having an integral bead around its edge which seats in a circular groove in the other housing section so as to firmly hold the diaphragm in a taut condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The wafer breaker defined in claim 5 wherein the diaphragm and bead are molded of rubber material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The wafer breaker defined in claim 1 wherein the one housing section has an opening and the platen has a depending stem which fits in said opening so as to hold the platen in place in the one section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The wafer breaker defined in claim 7 wherein the platen has a conically tapered side wall and further including means in the upper housing section for engaging the tapered platen side wall so as to prevent the platen from dropping toward and striking the flexible wall, said taper also minimizing the flexible wall deformation, thereby increasing its life.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The wafer breaker defined in claim 1 and further including means for relieving the pressure in the pressure chamber when it exceeds a predetermined safe value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-30 | 1976-10-30 | 1977-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-30 | 1980-10-30 | 1981-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-30 | 1984-10-30 | 1985-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |