Patent US3776394A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3776394A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Methods and apparatus for imparting a desired orientation to an article
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1972-08-23
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1992-08-23
Abstract
Abstract A small, randomly oriented article, e.g., a beam lead device, is supported on an upper surface of a ram. The ram is relatively movable vertically within an aperture in a horizontal plate. The aperture has a lower portion of dimensions very slightly larger than those of an article, and is shaped such that the article will necessarily assume a desired orientation within the lower portion of the aperture. The aperture has an upper portion with walls tapered downwardly and inwardly in order to guide the article into an aligned position in the lower portion of the aperture as the article moves downwardly within the aperture. A fluid is introduced into the vicinity of the upper surface of the ram at approximately the same time as the ram begins a relative downward movement within the aperture. The fluid causes the article to float and/or interferes with any tendency of the article to adhere to the tapered walls of the aperture due to friction, static electricity and/or the presence of any adhesive material on the article. The fluid also tends to form a meniscus sloping downwardly away from the tapered walls toward the desired orientation of the article, thereby further urging the article into the desired orientation. Once the article is aligned correctly on the upper surface of the ram, a partial vacuum may be introduced beneath the article so as to withdraw the fluid and to retain the article on the ram, after which the ram may be raised for removal of the article.
Inventors
- 👤 D Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:26
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P72/00; H10P72/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of imparting a desired orientatIon to an article, comprising the steps of: placing the article upon an upper surface of a ram which extends upwardly within structure defining a vertically extending aperture bounded by walls tapered downwardly and inwardly substantially in accordance with the desired orientation of the article, then lowering the ram relative to the tapered aperture walls, and introducing a fluid into the vicinity of the upper surface of the ram so as to facilitate guidance of the article into the desired orientation in accordance with the taper of the aperture walls.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of imparting a desired orientatIon to an article, comprising the steps of: placing the article upon an upper surface of a ram which extends upwardly within structure defining a vertically extending aperture bounded by walls tapered downwardly and inwardly substantially in accordance with the desired orientation of the article, then lowering the ram relative to the tapered aperture walls, and introducing a fluid into the vicinity of the upper surface of the ram so as to facilitate guidance of the article into the desired orientation in accordance with the taper of the aperture walls.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
In the method of claim 1, said fluid introducing step comprising: introducing into the vicinity of the upper surface of the ram a droplet of a liquid capable of floating the article on a top surface of the liquid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
In the method of claim 1, said fluid introducing step comprising: introducing into the vicinity of the upper surface of the ram at least one droplet of a liquid having such surface tension characteristics as to form within the aperture a meniscus sloping downwardly away from the tapered walls of the aperture in accordance with the desired orientation of the article.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
In the method of claim 1, said article placing step comprising: introducing a partial vacuum into the vicinity of the upper surface of the ram, while positioning the article and the upper surface of the ram in proximity to one another such that a pressure differential across the article causes the article to adhere to the upper surface of the ram, and thereafter releasing the partial vacuum with the ram so disposed that the article is supported by the upper surface of the ram.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
In the method of claim 1, said article placing step comprising: introducing a partial vacuum into the vicinity of the upper surface of the ram; while positioning a carrier, to which the article is releasably attached, and the upper surface of the ram in proximity to one another such that a pressure differential across the article causes the article to detach from the carrier and to adhere to the upper surface of the ram; and thereafter releasing the partial vacuum with the ram so disposed that the article is supported by the upper surface of the ram.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
In the method of claim 5, the article being initially releasably attached to the carrier by an adhesive, said fluid introducing step comprising: introducing into the vicinity of the upper surface of the ram a cleansing agent for the adhesive.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
In the method of claim 1, the subsequent step of: introducing a partial vacuum into the vicinity of the upper surface of the ram beneath the article so as both to withdraw the fluid from the vicinity of the upper surface of the ram and to adhere the article to the upper surface of the ram in the desired orientation of the article.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
In the method of claim 7, the further step of thereafter: raising the ram relative to the tapered aperture walls so as to position the article at a height at least substantially level with the top of the aperture, and then releasing the partial vacuum to facilitate removal of the article from the upper surface of the ram.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
84 words
In the method of claim 7, said article placing step comprising: introducing a partial vacuum into the vicinity of the upper surface of the ram, while positioning the article and the upper surface of the ram in proximity to one another such that a pressure differential across the article causes the article to adhere to the upper surface of the ram, and thereafter releasing the partial vacuum with the ram so disposed that the article is supported by the upper surface of the ram.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
97 words
In the method of claim 7, said article placing step comprising: introducing a partial vacuum into the vicinity of the upper surface of the ram; while positioning a carrier, to which the article is releasably attached, and the upper surface of the ram in proximity to one another such that a pressure differential across the article causes the article to detach from the carrier and to adhere to the upper surface of the ram; and thereafter releasing the partial vacuum with the ram so disposed that the article is supported by the upper surface of the ram.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
In the method of claim 10, the article being initially releasably attached to the carrier by an adhesive, said fluid introducing step comprising: introducing into the vicinity of the upper surface of the ram a cleansing agent for the adhesive.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
In the methof of claim 7, said fluid introducing step comprising: introducing into the vicinity of the upper surface of the ram a droplet of a liquid capable of floating the article on a top surface of the liquid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
In the method of claim 7, said fluid introducing step comprising: introducing into the vicinity of the upper surface of the ram at least one droplet of a liquid having such surface tension characteristics as to form within the aperture a meniscus sloping downwardly away from the tapered walls of the aperture in accordance with the desired orientation of the article.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus for imparting a desired orientation to an article, comprising: means, including structure defining a vertically extending aperture bounded by article-guiding walls, for guiding the article in accordance with said desired orientation as the article moves downwardly relative to the article-guiding walls; means, vertically movable relative to the article-guiding walls and including a supporting surface, for supporting the article within the aperture on said supporting surface; means for moving the article-supporting means downwardly relative to the article-guiding walls; and means for introducing a fluid into the vicinity of the supporting surface of the article-supporting means during movement of the article-supporting means downward relative to the article-guiding walls so as to facilitate guidance of the article into the desired orientation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus for imparting a desired orientation to an article, comprising: means, including structure defining a vertically extending aperture bounded by article-guiding walls, for guiding the article in accordance with said desired orientation as the article moves downwardly relative to the article-guiding walls; means, vertically movable relative to the article-guiding walls and including a supporting surface, for supporting the article within the aperture on said supporting surface; means for moving the article-supporting means downwardly relative to the article-guiding walls; and means for introducing a fluid into the vicinity of the supporting surface of the article-supporting means during movement of the article-supporting means downward relative to the article-guiding walls so as to facilitate guidance of the article into the desired orientation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
In the apparatus of claim 14, said fluid introducing means comprising: means for introducing into the vicinity of the supporting surface of the article-supporting means at least one droplet of a liquid capable of floating the article on a top surface of the liquid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
In the apparatus of claim 14, said fluid introducing means, comprising: means for introducing into the vicinity of the supporting surface of the article-supporting means at least one droplet of a liquid having such surface tension characteristics as to form within the aperture a meniscus sloping downwardly away from the article-guiding walls in accordance with the desired orientation of the article.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
In the apparatus of claim 14: the article-guiding walls bounding the vertically extending aperture of said article-guiding means being tapered downwardly and inwardly substantially in accordance with the desired orientation of the article.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
66 words
In the apparatus of claim 14: said article-supporting means including a passageway communicating with the supporting surface of the article supporting means; and means, selectively communicable with said passageway, for applying a partial vacuum to the passageway so as both to withdraw said fluid from the vicinity of the supporting surface subsequent to orientation of the article and to adhere the article to the supporting surface.
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) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |