Forming metal preforms and metal balls
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsPETER A. GRUBER, PAUL A. LAURO, JAE-WOONG NAH
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Abstract
An apparatus for transferring metal solidified in blind cavities is described incorporating a first flexible tape having blind cavities, a second flexible tape having adhesive regions, rollers for guiding respective tapes and means for moving respective tapes. Also a conveyor belt having blind or through cavities, rollers and a vibration transducer or pressurized gas is described to release solidified metal in the cavities.
Claims8
1-18. (canceled)
Apparatus for transferring metal solidified in blind cavities in an upper surface of a first flexible tape comprising:
- first and second spaced apart rollers for directing a lower surface of said first flexible tape there over;
- a third roller positioned between said first and second rollers for supporting said lower surface of said first flexible tape,
- fourth and fifth spaced apart rollers for directing a lower surface of a second flexible tape there over, said second flexible tape having an upper surface having adhesive regions thereon;
- said fourth and fifth rollers positioned to position said second flexible tape adjacent said first flexible tape;
- a sixth roller positioned between said fourth and fifth rollers to press against said lower surface of said second flexible tape to press the upper surface of said second flexible tape against said upper surface of said first flexible tape;
- means for moving said first flexible tape over said first through third rollers in a first direction and at a first speed, and
- means for moving said second flexible tape over said fourth through sixth rollers in said first direction at said first speed whereby adhesive regions on said second flexible tape adhere to said metal solidified in said blind cavities in said first flexible tape and wherein said second flexible tape with said metal passes over said fifth roller and separates from said first flexible tape which passes over said second roller.
Apparatus for transferring metal solidified in cavities in an upper surface of a flexible tape comprising:
- first and second spaced apart rollers for directing a lower surface of said flexible tape thereover;
- said second roller positioned to guide said upper surface of said flexible tape to face towards ground,
- a transducer coupled to said first flexible tape for vibrating said flexible tape whereby said metal in said cavities are vibrated loose and moves away from said flexible tape with the aid of said vibration and gravity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.