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:
Jun. 12, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 02, 1999
Applicant:
Inventor:
William Hernandez, Tucson, AZ (US);
Assignee:
Other;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B65G 5/350 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B65G 5/350 ;
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for supplying solder balls to a receptacle. The apparatus includes a reservoir for storing the solder balls and a flow path. The flow path includes a first end connected to and in fluid communication with the reservoir and a second end for supplying the solder balls to the receptacle. The apparatus includes a flow actuator in fluid communication with the flow path to actuate the flow of the solder balls from the reservoir through the flow path to the receptacle. A trap is disposed in the flow path for trapping the solder balls and stopping the flow of the solder balls to the receptacle when the flow actuator is not actuated. Related methods are also disclosed.