# US 11,412,646 B2 · Spindle bank, pick-and-place machine and method of assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,412,646 B2 - Document ID: US11412646B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/992,620 - Filed: 2020-08-13 - Published: 2021-02-25 - Granted: 2022-08-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-08-13 - Assignees: Universal Instruments Corporation - Applicants: Universal Instruments Corporation - Inventors: John Danek; Peter Joseph Dionne - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11412646B2 ## CPC - H05K 13/0406: {Drive mechanisms for pick-and-place heads, e.g. details relating to power transmission, motors or vibration damping} - B65G 47/90: Devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials - B65G 47/91: incorporating pneumatic, e.g. suction, grippers - H05K 13/02: Feeding of components - H05K 13/0409: {Sucking devices} - H05K 13/0411: {having multiple mounting heads} - H05K 13/0413: {with orientation of the component while holding it; Drive mechanisms for gripping tools, e.g. lifting, lowering or turning of gripping tools} - H05K 13/0885: {Power supply} - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract A method of assembly comprising a spindle bank for a pick-and-pace machine, a base including a plurality of mount locations, each of the plurality of mount locations configured to receive a mountable spindle module including at least one pick-and-place spindle and nozzle, a bearing system attachable to a movement axis of a pick-and-place machine such that the spindle bank is movable along the movement axis, and a power delivery system configured to deliver electrical power to each of the plurality of mount locations, wherein each of the plurality of mount locations is configured to deliver the electrical power to each of the mountable spindle modules when mounted. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of assembly comprising: providing a pick-and-place machine having a movement axis, wherein the pick-and-place machine includes a first electrical distribution system; providing a spindle bank for the pick-and-place machine, wherein the spindle bank includes a second electrical distribution system: a base including a plurality of mount locations; and a bearing system attachable to the movement axis of the pick-and-place machine such that the spindle bank is movable along the movement axis; and mounting, on each of the plurality of mount locations, one or more mountable spindle modules each including at least one pick-and-place spindle and nozzle; distributing electrical power, by the first electrical distribution system of the pick-and-place machine, to the spindle bank using one or more electrical ports connecting the first electrical system of the pick-and-place machine to the spindle bank to provide electrical power to the spindle bank; after mounting the one or more mountable spindle modules, distributing the electrical power, by the second electrical distribution system to each of the one or more mountable spindle modules, wherein the second electrical distribution system includes a set of electrical connectors, each connector configured to connect to electrical distribution ports of one of the one or more mountable spindle modules after mounting; and after mounting the one or more mountable spindle modules, assembling, by the one or more mountable spindle modules, at least one product. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the pick-and-place machine includes a first air distribution system and wherein the spindle bank includes a second air distribution system, the method further comprising: distributing air, by the first air distribution system, to the spindle bank; and distributing the air, by the second air distribution system, to each of the one or more mountable spindle modules after mounting. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of mount locations includes at least one threaded attachment location, and wherein at least one of the one or more mountable spindle modules includes at least one threaded attachment component, the method further comprising: receiving, by the at least one threaded attachment location, the at least one threaded attachment component of the at least one of the one or more mountable spindle modules. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising: using, by an installer, only a hand tool and attaching the at least one of the one or more mountable spindle modules to a selected one of the plurality of mount locations. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: attaching the bearing system to the movement axis; and moving the spindle bank along the movement axis by the pick-and-place machine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the pick-and-place machine further includes an additional movement axis perpendicular to the movement axis, the method further comprising: attaching the movement axis to the additional movement axis; and moving the spindle bank along the additional movement axis by the pick-and-place machine. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method claim 1, wherein the plurality of mount locations includes a first mount location configured to receive a first mountable spindle module, wherein the plurality of mount locations includes a second mount location configured to receive a second mountable spindle module, wherein the first mountable spindle module is different than the second mountable spindle module such that the first mount location includes at least one different physical property than the second mount location, the method further comprising: mounting the first mountable spindle module to the first mount location; and mounting the second mountable spindle module to the second mount location. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of assembly of claim 1, further comprising: providing at least one electrical distribution port on each of the one or more mountable spindle modules, wherein the at least one electrical distribution port is configured to deliver electricity from the at least one electrical distribution port to at least one built-in circuit board assembly of the one or more mountable spindle modules. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of assembly of claim 1, further comprising: providing at least one electrical distribution port on each of the one or more mountable spindle modules, wherein the at least one electrical distribution port is configured to deliver electricity from the at least one electrical distribution port to a plurality of built-in circuit board assemblies of the one or more mountable spindle modules.