International Business Machines Corporation

David Scott Graboski

Anton Nenadic

William A Cavaliere

James Edward Tersigni

John R Lankard, Jr

Robert L Baan

Kurt R Muller

Raymond H Turcotte

Mirvan Wondracek

Glenn L Cellier

James O Goring

Keith A Markland

Alan Zollner

A green sheet holding apparatus includes a first member secured to a first edge of the green sheet and a second member moveable relative to the first member, the second member being secured to a second edge of the green sheet. A forcing mechanism, connected to the second member and to the first member, forces the second member away from the first member such that the first edge and the second edge of the green sheet are forced away from each other and the green sheet is flattened. The holding apparatus may be included in a green sheet inspection system, wherein the inspection system further includes a light source directing a light onto the green sheet and a camera detecting light from the green sheet. The invention also includes a method of holding a green sheet, which includes securing the first edge of the green sheet to a first member, securing the second edge of the green sheet to a second member, and forcing the second member away from the first member. This method pulls the first edge and the second edge of the green sheet outwardly, thereby flattening the green sheet. The method may be part of a method of inspecting a screened pattern on a green sheet, which further includes directing a light onto a the green sheet and detecting the light as it emerges from the green sheet.

Apparatus and method for holding a green sheet and system and method for inspecting a green sheet

An apparatus for processing a ceramic laminate comprising an array of unfired ceramic substrates having intersecting slots in at least two directions formed on a side thereof. The apparatus includes a frame and a vacuum chuck fixture movable with respect to the frame for securing the laminate. A plurality of the blade assemblies are independently movable and adapted for passage through different slots in the laminate to loosen debris therefrom. Each blade assembly comprises a pair of blade portions having opposed and spaced tapered cutting edges biased against the wall of the slot by a spring. The pair of blade portions is adapted for lateral movement during passage along the slot toward and away from the slot wall, wherein one of the blade portion pairs guides the other of the blade portion pairs for contact with the slot wall. A flexible cleaner includes fabric pads, an oscillating brush and a vacuum cleaner and passes along the slot after passage of the blade assembly to remove loosened debris from the slot.

Detailing and cleaning apparatus for green ceramic dry dicing process

A cutting assembly and an apparatus for self-aligned chamfering of a workpiece are disclosed. The chamfering apparatus includes a mechanism for releasably securing the workpiece in preparation for a chamfering thereof, a cutting assembly, and a mechanism for moving the cutting assembly proximate the securing mechanism between a first position and a second position, wherein the cutting assembly traverses along an edge portion of the workpiece to be chamfered. The cutting assembly includes (i) a guide member having a guide surface; (ii) a blade member mechanically coupled with respect to the guide surface for establishing a desired cutting depth; (iii) a mechanism for applying a resilient tensioning force to the guide member, the resilient tensioning means applying a first tensioning force when the guide member is in a non-chamfer engaging position and applying a second tensioning force when the guide member is in a chamfer engaging position, the chamfer engaging position corresponding to a position of the guide member when the guide surface engages the portion of the workpiece to be chamfered; and (iv) a mechanism for locking the guide member to maintain the chamfer engaging position and the desired cutting depth subsequent to the guide surface no longer being in contact with the workpiece. A method of chamfering is also disclosed.

Precise self-aligning chamfer method and apparatus

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Wappingers Falls, NY, United States of America

David Scott Graboski