Barrier device used in the manufacture of a lapping plate, and related apparatuses and methods of making

Abstract

The present disclosure includes barrier devices for use in an apparatus used to form lapping plates. The barrier devices can contain liquid on the surface of the lapping plate platen. The present disclosure also involves related methods.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method of processing a major surface of a lapping plate platen, wherein the method comprises:
 a) positioning a lapping plate platen with respect to a barrier device on a rotatable platter, wherein the rotatable platter is configured to secure and physically support the lapping plate platen during processing of the major surface of the lapping plate platen, and wherein the barrier device is configured to substantially contain one or more liquid treatment compositions on the major surface of the lapping plate platen during processing of the major surface of the lapping plate platen; and   b) dispensing at least one liquid treatment composition onto the major surface of the lapping plate platen to process the major surface of the lapping plate platen while the barrier device substantially contain the at least one liquid treatment compositions on the major surface of the lapping plate platen.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the barrier device comprises a barrier ring assembly configured to be removably retained against a lapping plate platen during processing of a major surface of the lapping plate platen, wherein the barrier ring assembly comprises:
 a) a clamp ring having an adjustable inside perimeter that can be retained against an outside perimeter of the lapping plate platen, wherein the clamp ring has an inside perimeter wall, an outside perimeter wall, and a slot between at least a portion of the inside perimeter wall and the outside perimeter wall;   b) a barrier ring that can be slidably positioned within the slot so that the slot supports the barrier ring, wherein the barrier ring can be retained against the outside perimeter of the lapping plate platen, wherein when the clamp ring is in a closed position the barrier ring extends above the major surface of the lapping plate platen and forms a barrier to substantially contain the one or more liquid treatment compositions on the major surface of the lapping plate platen during processing of the major surface of the lapping plate platen; and   c) a latch that physically engages the clamp ring and is configured to securely adjust the inside perimeter of the clamp ring from an open and removable position to the closed position that retains the clamp ring and barrier ring to the lapping plate platen to form the barrier to substantially contain the one or more liquid treatment compositions on the major surface of the lapping plate platen during processing of the major surface of the lapping plate platen, wherein the barrier ring assembly is retained against an outside perimeter of the lapping plate platen during processing of a major surface of the lapping plate platen so that the barrier ring forms a barrier that extends above the major surface of the lapping plate platen to substantially contain the one or more liquid treatment compositions on the major surface of the lapping plate platen during one or more processing steps of the major surface of the lapping plate platen.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising a spacer element positioned between the outside perimeter of the lapping plate platen and the barrier ring assembly. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising an actuatable arm coupled to an apparatus for processing a major surface of a lapping plate platen, wherein the actuatable arm is rotatably coupled to a processing head, wherein the processing head is adapted to force abrasive particles into the major surface of the lapping plate platen, and wherein the actuatable arm is adapted to selectively position the processing head relative to the major surface of the lapping plate platen. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the apparatus further comprises one or more liquid dispensers configured to dispense one or more liquid treatment compositions onto the major surface of the lapping plate platen, wherein at least one of the one or more liquid dispensers is in fluid communication with an abrasive slurry. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:
 a rotatable platter configured to secure and physically support the lapping plate platen during processing of the major surface of the lapping plate platen; and   a motor coupled to the rotatable platter to drive the rotatable platter during the one or more processing steps of the major surface of the lapping plate platen.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the barrier ring comprises an elastic ring. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the elastic ring has a height of at least 1 inch and extends above the major surface of the lapping plate platen at least 0.25 inches. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the elastic ring comprises rubber. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the elastic ring has a diameter of 10 inches or more. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising an apparatus for processing the major surface of a lapping plate platen, wherein the apparatus comprises:
 a rotatable platter configured to secure and physically support the lapping plate platen during processing of the major surface of the lapping plate platen; and   one or more liquid dispensers configured to dispense one or more liquid treatment compositions onto the major surface of the lapping plate platen, wherein the barrier device comprises a movable barrier mechanism, wherein the movable barrier mechanism comprises one or more ring segments, wherein the barrier mechanism is positioned relative to the rotatable platter such that when a lapping plate platen is positioned on the rotatable platter the one or more ring segments can be securely adjusted from an open position to allow one or more liquid treatment compositions to pass through between the barrier mechanism and the outside top perimeter of the lapping plate platen to a closed position so that the one or more ring segments form a barrier that extends above the major surface of the lapping plate platen to substantially contain one or more liquid treatment compositions on the major surface of the lapping plate platen during one or more processing steps of the major surface of the lapping plate platen, wherein barrier mechanism is configured to automatically open to the open position and close to the closed position during the one or more processing steps, wherein the one or more ring segments comprise a plurality of ring segments, wherein each of the plurality of ring segments comprises two ends, wherein the closed position is defined by one end of a first ring segment of the plurality of ring segments abutting one end of a second ring segment of the plurality of ring segments.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more ring segments comprise one or more elastic ring segments. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the movable barrier mechanism further comprises three or more rigid segments that that support and move the one or more ring segments from an open position to allow one or more liquid treatment compositions to pass through between the barrier mechanism and the outside top perimeter of the lapping plate platen to a closed position so that the one or more ring segments form a barrier that extends above the major surface of the lapping plate platen to substantially contain one or more liquid treatment compositions on the major surface of the lapping plate platen during one or more processing steps of the major surface of the lapping plate platen. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein each of the three or more rigid segments comprise a u-shaped channel to receive and support the one or more ring segments in a secure manner, wherein the one or more ring segments are elastic ring segments. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the three or more rigid segments comprise metal. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the movable barrier mechanism further comprises three or more cam levers, wherein each cam lever is coupled to a corresponding rigid segment, and wherein each cam lever is coupled to a spring so that the cam lever is spring loaded to cause the corresponding rigid segment to move a corresponding ring segment to the open position. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the movable barrier mechanism further comprises a wire mechanism coupled to each of the cam levers, wherein the wire mechanism comprises a wire and is configured to move each of the cam levers against the spring load and to the closed position. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more ring segments are retained against the outside perimeter of the lapping plate platen when in the closed position. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising a spacer element positioned between the outside perimeter of the lapping plate platen and the one or more ring segments when in the closed position so that the one or more ring segments form a barrier that extends above the major surface of the lapping plate platen to substantially contain one or more liquid treatment compositions on the spacer element and the major surface of the lapping plate platen during one or more processing steps of the major surface of the lapping plate platen.