Ford Motor Company Limited

Michael Bednarz

Lakhi Nandlal Goenka

Jay DeAvis Baker

Delin Li

Lawrence LeRoy Kneisel

Brenda Joyce Nation

Daniel Phillip Dailey

Charles Frederick Schweitzer

Hsin-Hong Huang

There is disclosed herein an apparatus for bulk-feeding electronic components which utilizes magnetic force and a rotating feeder tube to properly orient the components for presentment to an automated pick-and-place machine. The apparatus comprises: (1) a generally straight tube 10 having a raised end 12, a lowered end 14, a longitudinal axis L--L, and a generally cylindrical interior passage 16 therethrough; (2) a generally straight bar magnet 20 arranged beneath and proximate the tube 10, wherein the bar magnet has a North pole-South pole axis N-S oriented generally parallel with the tube longitudinal axis L--L; (3) a receptacle 30 having first and second ends 32/34 and a tapered throat 36 running therethrough, wherein the throat extends from an enlarged inlet 38 defined in the first end to a constricted outlet 39 defined in the second end, the receptacle being disposed such that the inlet is elevated above the outlet, the second end 34 of the receptacle being disposed in rotatably slidable contact with the raised end 12 of the tube such that the constricted outlet 39 is placed in communication with the tube interior passage 16 thereat; and (4) a mechanism 40 for rotating the tube 10 about its longitudinal axis L--L.

Magnetic bulk feeder for electronic components

An an electronic circuit having improved protection against harsh environments, a preferred embodiment thereof including: a substrate 10 having a top surface 12; an electronic component 14 attached to the top surface of the substrate; a plastic and metal foil laminated barrier 16 having an outer periphery 18 thereabout, the outer periphery being sealably attached to the top surface 12 of the substrate so as to define a closed pocket 20 between the top surface 12 and the barrier 16 within which the electronic component 14 is enclosed; and a desiccant element 50. The desiccant element 50 includes: a case 51 having an internal chamber, an inlet orifice 58, and an outlet orifice 59, wherein the inlet and outlet orifices are each in communication with the internal chamber; a predetermined amount of desiccant material 53 contained within the internal chamber; a normally-open interior valve 54 situated between the inlet orifice 58 and the internal chamber; a normally-closed exterior valve 56 situated between the outlet orifice 59 and the internal chamber; and heating means 52 for selectably heating the desiccant material 53 preferably above a regeneration temperature thereof. The desiccant element 50 is situated such that at least the interior orifice 54 thereof is sealably enclosed within the closed pocket 20.

Method for protecting electronic components

Growing community of inventors

Canton, MI, United States of America

Michael Bednarz