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:
May. 12, 1998
Filed:
Dec. 04, 1995
Ellen Margaret Reid, Boca Raton, FL (US);
Douglas Bruce Feicht, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Dennis Brian Miller, Barrington, IL (US);
Daniel Joseph Viza, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Mark William McGarry, Tempe, AZ (US);
Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US);
Abstract
A vacuum pickup tool (10) is effective to carry balls (18) arranged in a desired pattern. The vacuum pickup tool (10) includes a manifold (12) that includes a carrier plate (22) that has a plurality of manifold bores (28) arranged in a pattern. The manifold (12) defines a vacuum chamber (20) that reduces gas pressure in the manifold (12) to allow the manifold bores (28) to retain a ball (18). The manifold (12) further includes a retaining plate (14) that overlies the carrier plate (22) and includes a plurality of retaining plate bores (30) arranged in a pattern such that each retaining plate bore (30) registers with a corresponding manifold bore (28). The retaining plate (14) is effective to secure a stencil (16) formed of a gas-impermeable sheet against the carrier plate (22) to prevent gas flow between a manifold bore (28) and a corresponding retaining plate bore (30).