Disposable inker cartridge and holder therefor
OwnerRichard L. Sachsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A disposable inker cartridge (10), (210), (310) mountable in a holder (110) attachable to a marking head of a semiconductor wafer testing machine, and the like, provides a large reservoir of ink or other marking fluid a predetermined amount of which can be deposited on an article to be marked by actuation of a solenoid coil (128), (228) associated with the holder. The reservoir of ink can be sealed against leakage during shipment, storage, and handling, but can be easily installed on its associated holder when ready for use. Cartridges according to the invention permit much larger reservoirs of ink to be placed on a testing machine, thus reducing downtime for refilling conventional non-disposable arrangements and eliminating routine maintenance and necessary cleanup encountered with refillable devices.
Claims11
An inker device for mounting a disposable inker cartridge on a machine for testing each individual integrated circuit of a semiconductor wafer, the inker cartridge arrangeable for marking selected circuits of the wafer, the device comprising, in combination:
- (a) an elongated element having a projection extending perpendicular therefrom, the projection defining an opening arranged for receiving a needle of an inker cartridge;
- (b) an annular electrical solenoid coil defining a through bore mounted on said element in spaced relation to said projection bore oriented on line with the opening;
- and
- (c) core means slideably insertable in the bore of said annular coil and engageable with a cartridge mounted on said bracket for being moved when said coil is energized and causing ink to be dispensed from said cartridge.
A disposable inker cartridge, comprising, in combination:
- (a) reservoir means for holding a supply of a marking liquid;
- (b) an actuator device including an annular electrical solenoid coil;
- and
- (c) applicator means associated with said reservoir means for selectively drawing marking liquid from said reservoir means, said applicator means including a hollow needle, a porous wick disposed in said hollow needle and in communication with the marking liquid in said reservoir, and connector means for attachment to said actuator device, said connector means including a piece of magnetizable material affixed to the reservoir means and insertable in said annular electrical solenoid coil, movement of the connector means by said actuator device causing liquid to flow from said reservoir and pass through said needle.
A disposable inker cartridge, comprising, in combination:
- (a) reservoir means for holding a supply of a marking liquid;
- (b) an actuator device;
- and
- (c) applicator means associated with said reservoir means for selectively drawing marking liquid from said reservoir means, said applicator means including a hollow needle communicating with said reservoir for providing a flow passage from said reservoir to a surface to be marked, and connector means for attachment to said actuator device, said applicator means further including a piston affixed to said connector means for movement therewith, said piston arranged within said reservoir means adjacent said hollow needle for selectively pumping marking fluid through said needle from said reservoir means.
A disposable inker cartridge, comprising, in combination:
- (a) reservoir means for holding a supply of a marking liquid;
- (b) an actuator device;
- and
- (c) applicator means, associated with said reservoir means, for selectively drawing marking liquid from said reservoir means, said applicator means including a hollow needle communicating with said reservoir for providing a flow passage from said reservoir to a surface to be marked, said applicator means also including connector means for attachment to said actuator device, said applicator means further including a filament connected to said connector means and arranged extending through at least a portion of said reservoir means and into the passage of said needle, movement of said connector means causing said filament to project from said needle and deposit marking fluid on said surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.