US 4,907,612 A · Universal material handling apparatus

Abstract

A material handling apparatus, including a pair of drive chains (each configured as a continuous loop oriented in a substantially vertical plane), and one or more rigid members are attached between the chains. A product carrier is supported by each rigid member, and a product (which may include one or more integrated circuit leadframes) rests in each carrier. As the chains simultaneously rotate at the same rotational speed, they translate each member, carrier, and product along a carrier path in a substantially vertical plane. One or more nozzle arrays (each comprising one or more nozzles) are positioned along the carrier path, preferably above the drive chains. Barriers are preferably positioned between the drive chains and selected ones of the nozzles to prevent exposure of the drive chains to some or all of the jets from the nozzles (and especially to abrasive, corrosive, or otherwise harsh jets such as deflashing slurry jets). The carriers are preferably shaped and dimensioned so that products of various types, shapes, and sizes may be placed therein. The carriers are preferably perforated to allow drainage of the jet material. In one preferred embodiment, means are provided for flipping each product at one or more desired locations along the carrier path. For example, the flipping means may serve to expose a second face of the product to a second nozzle array at a second treatment station along the carrier path, after a first face of the product has been exposed to a first nozzle array at a first treatment station along the carrier path.

Claims36

Dependent claims

An apparatus for handling a substantially planar first part, the first part having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface, including:

(a) a first drive chain oriented in a first plane;
(b) a second drive chain oriented in a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane;
(c) a first rigid member, having a first end attached to the first drive chain and a second end attached to the second drive chain;
(d) a first carrier attached to the first rigid member and dimensioned to receive the first part, the first carrier being V-shaped and having a leading side and a trailing side attached to a leading side so that when the first surface of the first part is contiguous with the leading side the trailing side acts as a stop against which the first part may be flipped thereby upwardly exposing the first surface of said first part, wherein the first drive chain and the second drive chain may be rotated simultaneously so as to translate the first rigid member, the first carrier, and the first part along a carrier path in a substantially vertical plane;
and
(e) a first nozzle array disposed at a first station along the carrier path, for directing at least one jet at the first carrier and the first part when the first part and the first carrier translate past the first station.

3 more elements

A material handling apparatus including:

(a) a pair of substantially vertically oriented drive chains;
(b) a first bar attached between the drive chains in a manner so that the chains translate the first bar along a path in a substantially vertical plane as the chains rotate;
(c) a V-shaped first carrier having a leading side attached to a trailing side, said carrier being attached to the first bar and dimensioned to support a substantially planar product load having a first face and a second face, wherein the leading side and the trailing side are oriented so that when the first face of said product load is contiguous with the leading side, the trailing side is available as a stop against which said product load may be flipped and, wherein the product load is translated by the first bar and the first carrier along a carrier path in a substantially vertical plane as the chains rotate;
and
(d) a first array of at least two nozzles disposed at a first station along the carrier path, wherein the nozzles in the first array are spaced from each other perpendicularly to the carrier path, and wherein each nozzle in the first array directs a jet at the first carrier and the product load when the product load and the first carrier translate past the first station.

2 more elements

A material handling apparatus, including:

(a) a pair of substantially vertically oriented drive chains;
(b) a bar attached substantially horizontally between the drive chains in a manner so that the chains translate the bar along a path as the chains simultaneously rotate;
(c) a V-shaped carrier attached to the bar and dimensioned to support an electronic component within the carrier, wherein the component is translated by the carrier and the bar along a carrier path in a substantially vertical plane as each chain rotates in a substantially vertical plane;
(d) a first array including one or more nozzles, disposed at a first station along the carrier path, wherein each nozzle in the first array directs a jet at the carrier and the component when the component and the carrier translate past the first station;
(e) a second array including one or more nozzles, disposed at a second station along the carrier path, wherein each nozzle in the second array directs a jet at the carrier and the component when the component and the carrier translate past the second station;
(f) wherein the component has a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface, the carrier has a leading side and a trailing side, wherein the leading side is oriented so that when the component rests on the carrier's leading side the component's first surface faces upward, and wherein each nozzle in the first array is mounted above the carrier path and directs a jet downward toward the carrier path, and also including:
(g) a flipping member suspended along the carrier path in a position so that as the carrier translates past the flipping member, the flipping member engages the component and causes the component to rotate into a backward rotational position in which the component rests on the carrier's trailing side, and the component's second surface faces upward.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Universal material handling apparatus

Life of this patent

Universal material handling apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36