Spooling process films

Abstract

Spooling apparatus. The apparatus includes an interposer film having a spacer surface and a back surface; a first spacer carried by the interposer film on the spacer surface adjacent a first edge of the interposer film; a second spacer carried by the interposer film on the spacer surface adjacent a second edge of the interposer film, the spacers defining a process-film protective space; and a rotatable core oriented to receive an initial end of the interposer film and to roll up the interposer film with a process film in the process-film protective space with a passive surface of the process film adjacent a surface of the interposer film.

We claim: 
     
         1 . Spooling apparatus comprising:
 an interposer film having a spacer surface and a back surface;   a first spacer carried by the interposer film on the spacer surface adjacent a first edge of the interposer film;   a second spacer carried by the interposer film on the spacer surface adjacent a second edge of the interposer film, the spacers defining a process-film protective space; and   a rotatable core oriented to receive an initial end of the interposer film and to roll up the interposer film with a process film in the process-film protective space with a passive surface of the process film adjacent a surface of the interposer film.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the spacers are selected from among a segmented strip, a compliant strip, and a plurality of spacer elements. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the interposer film comprises at least one of a surface-textured material, a mesh, an anisotropically-compliant material, and one or more transverse stiffening elements. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  Wherein one or more of the interposer film, the first spacer, and the second spacer comprise gas-permeable material. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  and further comprising a plurality of supports carried by the interposer film and disposed to support an active surface of the process film at points remote from any active portions of the active surface of the process film. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  and further comprising one or more additional spacers carried by the interposer film between the first and second spacers, the additional spacers dividing the protective space into protective regions each sized to accommodate a process film. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 an interposer film core on which the interposer film is rolled up and from which the interposer film may be unrolled; and 
 a tensioner coupled to the interposer film core. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  and further comprising an interposer film tension roller disposed to feed the interposer film to the rotatable core. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  and further comprising a motor coupled to the rotatable core. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 a cassette enclosing the rotatable core, the cassette sized to accommodate a spool of interposer film and process film rolled up on the rotatable core, a wall of the cassette defining an opening sized to accommodate the interposer and process films; and 
 a removable cover on the opening. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method of processing process films, the method comprising:
 providing an interposer film having a spacer surface and a back surface, the spacer surface having a first spacer adjacent a first edge of the interposer film and a second spacer adjacent a second edge of the interposer film, and at least one protective space defined between the first and second spacers; and   winding a process film and the interposer film onto a core with the process film disposed in the protective space between the first and second spacers and a passive surface of the process film adjacent a surface of the interposer film.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein winding the process and interposer films onto the core comprises:
 tensioning the interposer film; and 
 tensioning the process film at a lesser tension than the interposer film. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  and further comprising carrying out a process on the process film after the film has been wound onto the core. 
     
     
         14 . A method of processing process films, the method comprising:
 providing unprocessed process film spooled with a first interposer film, a passive surface of the process film adjacent a surface of the first interposer film;   unwinding the films;   feeding the process film through a process station; and   spooling the interposer film.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  and further comprising:
 providing a second interposer film; and 
 spooling the process film with the second interposer film, a passive surface of the process film adjacent a surface of the second interposer film. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  and further comprising tensioning the process film at a lesser tension than at least one of the first and second interposer films.