Hover-davis, Inc.

Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.

Universal Instruments Corporation

Auto Splice Systems Inc.

Scott C Proctor

David W Lyndaker

Richard Howe

Peter Gregory Davis

Robert Martin Bogursky

Giuseppe Bianca

John N Piccone

Douglas P Green

Michael Murray Yingling

Patrick Leigh Simpson

John Hover

William Scott Ware

Matthew A Thomas

Sean Michael Adams

Keith Jokinen

Die handling systems and methods of use for preparing or processing dies from multiple types of pre-expanded wafer materials. The die handling systems are configured in a modular fashion, allowing for concurrent processes to expand the wafers, process the wafers, extract the dies, and inspect the extracted dies without forcing one of the processes of the system to remain idle. Embodiments of the wafer handler module include a mechanism, such as an expander capable of stretching or expanding wafers having one or more different sizes to a pre-expanded state without interrupting the die handler. The pre-expanded wafers are stored as a proprietary cartridge and delivered to the die handler, where a pick head of the die handler removes each die of the pre-expanded wafer and delivers the extracted dies to subsequent machinery, such as a pick and place machine, for further processing.

Modular die handling system

The present invention is a method and apparatus conveying a roll of liner stock bearing removably adhered components such as labels. The liner is pulled through the feeder by a capstan drive having opposed fluted nip rollers driven by a stepper motor. Advance of the stepper motor is controlled by a programmable electronic controller. The linered labels are led through a tensioner and around an acute-angle peeler edge which separates the labels from the liner. The peeling action advances a label onto a platform comprising a bed of rollers having an inherently low-adherence surface. Preferably the rollers are undercut to form circumferential ridges and reduce the surface area in contact with the label adhesive and to minimize adherence thereto. When peeling of a label is completed, the label has been advanced onto the roller bed to precisely the proper location for acquisition by a pick-and-place machine. The presence of a label on the platform is confirmed by a sensor that signals the controller to stop further liner advance. The signal also serves to reset the feeder for advance of the next label after the first label is picked from the roller bed.

Surface mount assembly system with integral label feeder

Carrier tape pitch gauge

In a variable-pitch tape feeder for feeding parts to a pick and place machine used to produce electronic circuit boards, a switch assembly is provided which controls the limits of a shutter movement and the tape advance distance dependent upon the desired pitch. The tape feeder uses a carrier tape to deliver parts to the pick and place machine. The parts are inserted into depressions at regular intervals along the length of the tape. To accommodate tapes of varying pitches, i.e., distances between parts, the feeder uses an electronic control unit to drive the tape feed mechanism and actuate a shutter. The shutter prevents small parts from escaping their respective depressions prematurely. The switch provides a stop surface which limits the rearward travel of the shutter and a flag which is detected by optical sensors to determine the position of the switch and thus the pitch desired by the operator. By limiting the rearward travel of the shutter, especially when using small-pitch parts, parts subsequent to the one positioned at the pick-up point will be prevented from escaping their respective recesses in the carrier tape. A control unit electronically advances the carrier tape the desired distance according to the position of the switch.

Variable pitch tape feeder and pitch selection switch therefor

A feeder for a pick and place machine used in connection with the mounting of small discrete parts such as electrical and mechanical components comprises a frame and mechanisms connected to the frame for advancing a carrier tape product from a supply reel. The carrier tape product preferably includes a pair of spaced apart continuous parallel carrier tapes having a series of longitudinally spaced parts with opposite sides molded over adjacent inner side edges of corresponding ones of the carrier tapes so that each part bridges the two carrier tapes. The feeder further comprises a separation station mounted to the frame for receiving the carrier tape from the supply reel. Mechanisms in the separation station are provided for exerting a sufficient force between a part in the separation station and the carrier tape to physically separate the part from the carrier tape without substantially displacing the part from a predetermined location on the separation station so as to impair the ability of the head of a pick and place machine to pick up the part. Preferably the force is exerted by preventing the inner side edges of the tapes from moving upwardly, by restraining the outer side edges of the tapes from inward movement toward the part, and by deflecting the intermediate portions of the tapes upwardly, causing the inner side edges of the tapes to break away from the part.

Feeder for separating parts molded to a continuous carrier tape

Growing community of inventors

Brockport, NY, United States of America

Scott C Proctor