Patent US3572736A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3572736A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum chuck
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1969-06-19
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Granted: 1971-03-30
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Expires: 1989-06-19
Abstract
Abstract This patent discloses a vacuum operated chuck for clamping small workpieces such as integrated circuit chips. The chuck includes a housing having hingeably connected jaws, the jaws being biased apart or in the open position as by a biasing hinge. A chamber is located in the jaws and at the lower portion thereof is a workpiece receiver dimensioned for registration with a workpiece. At the upper portion of the housing is window means which is positioned to permit viewing of the receiver and thus the inwardly facing portion of any workpiece held thereby. The chamber is connected through a conduit to a vacuum supply which causes pivotal action of the jaws permitting the receiver to grasp the workpiece when it overlies the workpiece and is in registry therewith.
Inventors
- 👤 John R Lynch
- 👤 Leonard E Otten
- 👤 Herbert Wenskus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:31
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P72/00; H10P72/70; H10P72/78; B; B25; B25B; B25B11/00; B25B11/005; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T279/00; Y10T279/11; Y10T279/17; Y10T279/17231; Y10T279/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A vacuum operated chuck for clamping workpieces, said chuck comprising: first and second hingeably connected jaws, and workpiece receiving means in said jaws; biasing means normally separating at least said receiving means; window means carried by said jaws; and means to permit viewing of said receiving means through said window means; and means for applying a vacuum to said jaws to cause said jaws to close when said receiving means overlies and registers with a workpiece.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A vacuum operated chuck for clamping workpieces, said chuck comprising: first and second hingeably connected jaws, and workpiece receiving means in said jaws; biasing means normally separating at least said receiving means; window means carried by said jaws; and means to permit viewing of said receiving means through said window means; and means for applying a vacuum to said jaws to cause said jaws to close when said receiving means overlies and registers with a workpiece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A vacuum operated chuck in accordance with claim 1 wherein said jaws comprise an axially separable tube, said biasing means including resilient and flexible material connected to said jaws, said biasing means acting as a hinge for said jaws.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vacuum operated chuck in accordance with claim 1 wherein said receiving means includes a first part on said first jaw member and a second part on said second jaw member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A vacuum operated chuck in accordance with claim 3 wherein said workpiece receiving means is dimensioned to grip along the circumference of said workpiece.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A vacuum operated chuck in accordance with claim 1 including a changer interiorly of said jaws, a recess in said jaws, overlying said changer, said recess adapted to receive said window means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A vacuum operated chuck in accordance with claim 5 wherein said biasing means includes a flexible resilient sheet-like material overlying said recess and said material having an aperture therein to permit communication with said window means, and hold down means connecting said biasing means to said jaws.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
A vacuum operated chuck in accordance with claim 6 including a handle connected to at least one of said jaws; and conduit means extending into said handle and in communication with said changer, said receiving means including a first part depending from said first jaw member and a second part depending from said second jaw member, said parts being in fluid communication with said chamber and said conduit means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
129 words
A vacuum operated chuck for clamping workpieces, said chuck comprising: a housing including a first and a second jaw member, hinge means connecting said jaw members to permit relative movement therebetween and to hold said jaws in a normally open position until actuated; means defining a chamber in said jaw members, and a workpiece receiver in said jaws adapted for registration with a workpiece, said receiver being in communication with said chamber; window means in communication with said chamber and positioned to permit viewing of said receiver and thus a workpiece held thereby; and means to apply a vacuum to said chamber to cause said first jaw to pivot about said hinge means causing said receiver to grasp said workpiece when said receiver overlies the workpiece and registers therewith.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
129 words
A vacuum operated chuck for clamping workpieces, said chuck comprising: a housing including a first and a second jaw member, hinge means connecting said jaw members to permit relative movement therebetween and to hold said jaws in a normally open position until actuated; means defining a chamber in said jaw members, and a workpiece receiver in said jaws adapted for registration with a workpiece, said receiver being in communication with said chamber; window means in communication with said chamber and positioned to permit viewing of said receiver and thus a workpiece held thereby; and means to apply a vacuum to said chamber to cause said first jaw to pivot about said hinge means causing said receiver to grasp said workpiece when said receiver overlies the workpiece and registers therewith.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vacuum operated chuck in accordance with claim 8 including a handle connected to said housing, and a conduit connected to said chamber through said handle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
128 words
A vacuum operated chuck for clamping workpieces, said chuck comprising: an axially separated tube forming first and second jaw members; means defining a workpiece receiver having a first part on said first jaw member and a second part on said second jaw member; said parts being dimensioned for holding a workpiece therebetween; biasing hinge means connecting said first jaw member to said second jaw member, said hinge means biasing said first and second members apart; window means in at least one of said jaw members positioned to permit viewing of said workpiece receiver means and thus a workpiece held thereby; and means to apply a vacuum to said tube to permit said first jaw to pivot about said biasing hinge means causing said receiver to grasp said workpiece.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
128 words
A vacuum operated chuck for clamping workpieces, said chuck comprising: an axially separated tube forming first and second jaw members; means defining a workpiece receiver having a first part on said first jaw member and a second part on said second jaw member; said parts being dimensioned for holding a workpiece therebetween; biasing hinge means connecting said first jaw member to said second jaw member, said hinge means biasing said first and second members apart; window means in at least one of said jaw members positioned to permit viewing of said workpiece receiver means and thus a workpiece held thereby; and means to apply a vacuum to said tube to permit said first jaw to pivot about said biasing hinge means causing said receiver to grasp said workpiece.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-29 | 1974-09-28 | 1975-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-29 | 1978-09-28 | 1979-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-29 | 1982-09-28 | 1983-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |