The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 10, 1989
Filed:
Feb. 16, 1988
Ted M Smith, Austin, TX (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A placement head assembly for use in an electrical component placement machine. A hollow main shaft has a carriage assembly disposed thereabouts with rollers providing axial movement along the shaft. A vacuum support shaft within the main shaft telescopes downwards to pickup and retain a component. The carriage assembly carries actuator means urging it into axial movement in response to fluid pressure differentials. Tweezer means are pendantly disposed in quadrature from pivot points about the shaft. Pivoting action of the tweezer means forces jaws radially inwards into contact with the component, thereby aligning it for subsequent board placement. In one embodiment, the actuator means includes a piston-cylinder assembly. Pressure differential across the piston causes downward movement of the carriage assembly. Reverse pressure differential urges the carriage assembly upward.