Spindle module, bank, and method
AssigneeUniversal Instruments Corporation
InventorsJohn Danek, Peter Joseph Dionne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pick-and-place spindle module comprises: a modular body structure including a first receiving location configured to receive a spindle; a first z-axis motor configured to move a spindle received in the first receiving location in a z-axis; a first theta motor configured to rotate a spindle received in the receiving location; a first motion control chip each attached to the body structure, the first motion control chip configured to control the first z-axis motor and the first theta motor; and a mechanical attachment mechanism, the mechanical attachment mechanism configured to facilitate attachment of the modular body structure to a spindle bank.
Claims4
A method of assembly comprising:
- providing a pick-and-place head that includes:
- a body structure having first and second receiving locations to receive first and second spindles;
- a first z-axis motor attached to the body structure, and configured to move the first spindle in a z-axis;
- a second z-axis motor attached to the body structure and configured to move the second spindle in the z-axis;
- a first theta motor attached to the body structure and configured to rotate the first spindle in a theta rotational axis;
- a second theta motor attached to the body structure and configured to rotate the second spindle in the theta rotational axis;
- a first motion control chip attached to the body structure dedicated to controlling the first z-axis motor and the first theta motor;
- and
- a second motion control chip attached to the body structure dedicated to controlling the second z-axis motor and the second theta motor;
- creating, with each of the first and second motion control chips, a separate independent motion control profile for each of the first and second spindles;
- controlling, with the first motion control chip, the first z-axis motor and the first theta motor based on the separate independent motion control profile for the first spindle;
- controlling, with the second motion control chip, the second z-axis motor and the second theta motor based on the separate independent motion control profile for the second spindle;
- and
- at least partially assembling, by the pick-and-place head, a product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.