US Patent 7279403 Plate-like workpiece dividing apparatus

Disclosed herein is a dividing apparatus for dividing a plate-like workpiece, which is put on the top surface of a protective tape affixed to an annular frame and which has reduced strength along dividing lines. The apparatus includes a frame holder for holding the annular frame, a tape expander for expanding the protective tape, a detector for detecting the plate-like workpiece, a divider for pressing dividing lines to divide the workpiece into chips along the lines detected by the detector, a device for pushing up divided chips through the protective tape, and a device for picking up pushed up chips.