System for automatically debonding, processing, and handling fragile slider rows

A system for automatic thermal debonding of workpieces, comprising:

• a heating element for heating and reactivating a thermally activated adhesive, the heating element being movable along an x-axis and a y-axis;
• a carrier for supporting and carrying a plurality of the workpieces thereon in the thermally activated adhesive, the carrier being mountable to the heating element;
• a bimodal pitch adjustment device for aligning with individual ones of the workpieces and displacing said individual ones of the workpieces along a z-axis, the bimodal pitch adjustment device also being movable along the y-axis and allowing continual, high-speed removal of the workpieces from the carrier after an automated heating cycle is complete;
• a detainment mechanism for receiving the workpieces when they are displaced from the carrier by the bimodal pitch adjustment device, the detainment mechanism comprising a block and a retention feature removably mounted to the block;
• a row realignment mechanism for realigning the workpieces in the detainment mechanism along the z-axis;
• and
• a control processor for controlling operations of the system along the x, y, and z axes, the control processor allowing full control of all critical process parameters, including accurate and repeatable workpiece placement;
• controlled temperature and heat flow, and controlled mechanical removal pressure, temporal control, and variability.

A system for automatic thermal debonding of workpieces, comprising:

• a heating element for heating and reactivating a thermally activated adhesive, the heating element being movable along an x-axis and a y-axis;
• a carrier for supporting and carrying a plurality of the workpieces thereon in the thermally activated adhesive, the carrier being mountable to the heating element;
• a bimodal pitch adjustment device for aligning with individual ones of the workpieces and displacing said individual ones of the workpieces along a z-axis, the bimodal pitch adjustment device also being movable along the y-axis and allowing continual, high-speed removal of the workpieces from the carrier after an automated heating cycle is complete;
• a detainment mechanism for receiving the workpieces when they are displaced from the carrier by the bimodal pitch adjustment device, the detainment mechanism comprising a block and a retention feature removably mounted to the block;
• a row realignment mechanism for realigning the workpieces in the detainment mechanism along the z-axis;
• a control processor for controlling operations of the system along the x, y, and z axes, the control processor allowing full control of all critical process parameters, including accurate and repeatable workpiece placement;
• controlled temperature and heat flow, and controlled mechanical removal pressure, temporal control, and variability;
• and wherein
• the workpieces are spaced apart from each other at a first y-axis pitch when they are located in the carrier, and the workpieces are spaced apart from each other at a second y-axis pitch, that differs from the first y-axis pitch, when they are located in the detainment mechanism, and the system moves at least one of the heating element, the bimodal pitch adjustment device, and the detainment mechanism incrementally along the y-axis with respect to each other to facilitate alignment therebetween.