Back to results
US 11,464,146 B2Granted
Dispensing head, nozzle and method
AssigneeUniversal Instruments Corporation
InventorsJohn Danek, Peter Joseph Dionne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spindle for a pick-and-place machine includes a shaft including a length extending between a first end and a second end, the shaft including an outer body and a hollow interior, a nozzle tip disposed at the first end of the shaft, the nozzle tip configured to contact an electronic component for manipulation of the electronic component, and a theta gear disposed on the shaft, the theta gear configured to engage with a motor of a pick-and-place head. The spindle is configured to be removably attachable from the pick-and-place head. A dispensing head spindle module, spindle bank and assembly machine incorporating the spindle are disclosed.
Claims18
A spindle for a pick-and-place machine comprising:
- a shaft including a length extending between a first lower end and a second upper end, the shaft including an outer body and a hollow interior;
- a nozzle tip disposed at the first lower end of the shaft, the nozzle tip configured to contact an electronic component for manipulation of the electronic component;
- and
- a theta gear disposed on the shaft, the theta gear configured to engage with a motor of a pick-and-place head, wherein the theta gear is made of a magnetic material that is configured to interact with the motor and become rotated by a magnetic force,
- wherein the theta gear further includes an upper surface facing the second upper end, a lower surface facing the first lower end, and an outer circumference, the theta gear further including a circumferential ridge extending from the upper surface toward the second upper end, the circumferential ridge located between the outer circumference of the theta gear and the shaft;
- wherein the circumferential ridge is adapted to, breaking a beam of an optical sensor disposed on the pick-and-place head and sensing, by the optical sensor, movement of the nozzle tip relative to at least a portion of the pick-and-place head;
- wherein the spindle is configured to be removably attachable from the pick-and-place head.
4 more elements
A method of assembly comprising:
- providing a pick-and-place machine having a pick-and-place head;
- providing a first spindle for the pick-and-place machine, the first spindle including:
- a first spindle shaft including a length extending between a first end and a second end, the first spindle shaft including an outer body and a hollow interior;
- a first spindle nozzle tip disposed at the first end of the first spindle shaft;
- a first spindle theta gear disposed on the first spindle shaft, wherein the first spindle theta gear is made of a magnetic material that is configured to interact with a first theta motor and become rotated by a first magnetic force of the first theta motor;
- providing a second spindle for the pick-and-place machine, the second spindle including:
- a second spindle shaft including a length extending between a first end and a second end, the second spindle shaft including an outer body and a hollow interior;
- a second spindle nozzle tip disposed at the first end of the second spindle shaft;
- a second spindle theta gear disposed on the second spindle shaft, wherein the second spindle theta gear is made of a magnetic material that is configured to interact with a second theta motor and become rotated by a second magnetic force of the second theta motor;
- attaching the first spindle and the second spindle to the pick-and-place head of the pick-and-place machine;
- engaging, by the first spindle theta gear, with the first theta motor of the pick-and-place head;
- engaging, by the second spindle theta gear, with the second theta motor of the pick-and-place head;
- contacting, by the first spindle, an electronic component;
- contacting, by the second spindle, the electronic component or a second electronic component;
- manipulating, by the first spindle, the electronic component;
- and
- manipulating, by the second spindle, the electronic component or the second electronic component.
14 more elements
A dispensing head comprising:
- a body structure including a first receiving location and a second receiving location;
- a first theta motor;
- a first spindle received in the first receiving location, the first spindle comprising:
- a first spindle shaft including a length extending between a first end and a second end, the first spindle shaft including an outer body and a hollow interior;
- a first spindle nozzle tip disposed at the first end of the first spindle shaft;
- and
- a first spindle theta gear disposed on the first spindle shaft, the first spindle theta gear configured to engage with the first theta motor such that the first theta motor is configured to rotate the first spindle theta gear, wherein the first spindle theta gear is made of a magnetic material that is configured to interact with the first theta motor and become rotated by a first magnetic force of the first theta motor;
- a second theta motor;
- and
- a second spindle received in the second spindle receiving location, the second spindle comprising:
- a second spindle shaft including a length extending between a first end and a second end, the second spindle shaft including an outer body and a hollow interior;
- a second spindle nozzle tip disposed at the first end of the second spindle shaft;
- and
- a second spindle theta gear disposed on the second spindle shaft, the second spindle theta gear configured to engage with the second theta motor such that the second theta motor is configured to rotate the second spindle theta gear, wherein the second spindle theta gear is made of a magnetic material that is configured to interact with the second theta motor and become rotated by a second magnetic force of the second theta motor.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.