Method for parting a slider from a slider row

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and article of manufacture to separate a slider from a slider row in which it was manufactured. The apparatus comprises an articulating robot including a stage which may be moved in X-Y coordinate directions and an articulating arm that may be used to place rows of sliders on the stage. The articulating arm incorporates a rotating effectuator unit mounted at the end of the arm, the effectuator being used to pick up individual slider rows, the tray in which they sit when first introduced to the robot, or any other item that needs to be positioned during the alignment of the rows. The apparatus includes sensors and a processing unit that may be used to detect and determine dimensional characteristics of an ABS surface of a slider integral to the row. The apparatus may also include a parting device for separating the slider from the row. In performing the method, a slider row is positioned on the stage in a manner that allows the ABS surface of a slider to be sensed by the sensors. Using the sensed data, the processing unit determines the location of the centroid of the ABS surface for the slider. The processing unit uses the centroid location of the ABS surface in establishing a parting position for parting the slider from the row.