Replaceable shielding apparatus
AssigneeSimplus Systems Corporation
InventorTue Nguyen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A replaceable shielding apparatus provides a cost effective way of shielding a portion of a workpiece during processing. The apparatus includes a replaceable shield, made of comparable weight as the workpiece for allowing replacement of the shield in the same way as the replacement of the workpiece. With this feature, the replacement of the shield is a routine process and would not interfere much with the workpiece operation. The invention further includes a shield clamp for clamping the shield onto the workpiece. In a preferred embodiment, the invention further includes a non-reactive gas inlet for creating a pressurized cavity in the vicinity of the shielded portion of the workpiece.
Claims17
A replaceable workpiece shielding apparatus for replaceably preventing processing on an engaged portion of the workpiece comprising:
- a) a workpiece support for supporting the workpiece;
- b) a replaceable shield of comparable weight as the workpiece for allowing replacement of the shield in the same way as the replacement of the workpiece, the shield engaging a portion of the workpiece on the opposite side of the workpiece support and shielding the engaged portion of the workpiece during processing thereof to prevent processing on the engaged portion of the workpiece,
- c) a shield restraint clamp for holding the shield against the portion of the workpiece;
- and
- d) a shield restraint support for supporting the shield restraint clamp so that the shield and the shield restraint clamp are spaced when the workpiece is disengaged from the shield.
A replaceable workpiece shielding apparatus for replaceably preventing processing on an engaged portion of the workpiece comprising:
- a) a workpiece support for supporting the workpiece;
- b) a replaceable shield of comparable weight as the workpiece for allowing replacement of the shield in the same way as the replacement of the workpiece, the shield engaging a portion of the workpiece on the opposite side of the workpiece support and shielding the engaged portion of the workpiece during processing thereof to prevent processing on the engaged portion of the workpiece;
- c) an actuator to move and engage and disengage the shield with the portion of the workpiece;
- d) a shield restraint clamp for holding the shield against the portion of the workpiece;
- and
- e) a cavity defined by the workpiece support, the workpiece, the shield and the shield restraint clamp, the cavity adapted to retain a non-reactive gas in the vicinity of the shielded portion of the workpiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.