Component and solder preform placement device and method of placement

Apparatus for patterned placement of items on a substrate comprising:

• an item holder having a predetermined pattern of item locations configured and arranged to receive, seat and detachably secure an item,
• means for detachably securing a plurality of items to said item holder with one item being positioned at each of a group of said item locations, said means for securing comprising a vibratory membrane positioned adjacent to but spaced from said item holder and means for vibrating the membrane to project items placed on said membrane toward said item holder,
• means for moving said item holder with items attached thereto into an item positioning location wherein the pattern of item locations on said item holder is in registration with a predetermined pattern of item locations on a substrate, and
• means for releasing the securement of said items to said item holder to thereby position each of said items at an individual one of the item locations of said substrate.

Apparatus for placing spherical solder preforms onto a substrate pre-printed with a predetermined flux pattern, said pattern comprising:

• a thin foil having a plurality of circular holes
• formed therethrough, said holes forming a pattern that is the same as said flux pattern of said substrate, each of said holes having a diameter less than the diameter of each of said solder preforms,
• a housing defining a vacuum chamber having said foil sheet forming one side thereof,
• a vacuum port for decreasing pressure within said vacuum chamber,
• a stiff porous backing secured to said foil within said chamber, said porous backing having a planar surface that controls planarity of said foil,
• a frame positioned adjacent said foil and lying in a plane parallel to and spaced from sail foil,
• a vibratory membrane bridging said frame to form a part projection space between said foil member and said membrane,
• an air permeable skirt carried by said frame and enclosing said projection space, and
• means for vibrating said membrane to thereby randomly project discrete spherical preforms within said projection space from said membrane to said metal foil, thereby causing some of said preforms to be attached to said metal foil at said metal foil apertures when vacuum is applied to said vacuum chamber.