US3894633A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for sorting articles
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1974-10-24
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Granted: 1975-07-15
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Expires: 1994-10-24
Abstract
Abstract A sorting apparatus transfers selected semiconductor devices from a first carrier, to which they have been cemented with an adhesive, to a second carrier to form a new array composed entirely of selected devices by: heating the first carrier just enough to soften the adhesive, heating the selected devices and small adjacent area with a hot air gun to a high enough temperature to melt the adhesive and release the device, and transferring the device to a second carrier. This avoids deleterious changes in the adhesive which arise from prolonged heating at the elevated melting temperature and which make it difficult to remove any remanent adhesive which clings to the devices. When the second carrier is dark, such as a barium ferrite magnet is, an array of light colored squares, one for each device, is formed on the carrier. Since each square is obscured when a device is transferred to it, or is distinctly visible when transfer does not occur, an immediate indication of the completeness of the array is provided with only cursory inspection.
Inventors
- 👤 James J Egan
- 👤 Joseph S Kerecz
- 👤 Samuel Kuba
- 👤 William R Wanesky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:50
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P72/00; H10P72/06; H10P72/0611; B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/34; B07C5/344; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/19
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
An improved method of sorting articles, wherein a certain article is selected from an array of assorted articles mounted on a first carrier with an adhesive and then transferred to a second carrier to form an array of such articles, wherein the improvement comprises the sequential steps of: heating the first carrier to a first temperature to soften the adhesive; heating the selected article and a small adjacent area of the first carrier further to a second temperature for sufficient time to melt the adhesive, without significantly altering the adhesive composition, to release the selected article from the adhesive; and transferring the selected article to the second carrier to form an array of the selected articles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
An improved method of sorting articles, wherein a certain article is selected from an array of assorted articles mounted on a first carrier with an adhesive and then transferred to a second carrier to form an array of such articles, wherein the improvement comprises the sequential steps of: heating the first carrier to a first temperature to soften the adhesive; heating the selected article and a small adjacent area of the first carrier further to a second temperature for sufficient time to melt the adhesive, without significantly altering the adhesive composition, to release the selected article from the adhesive; and transferring the selected article to the second carrier to form an array of the selected articles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method of sorting articles as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of transferring further comprises the steps of: removing the selected article from the first carrier with a vacuum pickup; and placing the article on the second carrier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as recited in claim 2, which comprises the further step of: heating the selected article as it is placed on the second carrier to melt any adhesive clinging thereto to prevent the adhesive from interferring with the positioning of the article on the carrier and assure release of the article from the pickup.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the second carrier is magnetic and marked with a pattern of discrete zones and the article is placed on one of the discrete zones of the surface of the carrier, the zones being tinted to contrast with the articles to be placed thereon to make a zone distinctly visible when an article is missing from that zone of the array.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of heating the selected article and small adjacent area comprises the step of: directing a stream of hot fluid on the article and area to be heated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the fluid is air.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the adhesive is polypropylene and the step of heating the selected article and small adjacent area further, avoids any significant polymerization and/or oxidation of the adhesive.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of sorting semiconductor devices, wherein like-characteristic devices are selected from an array of assorted devices mounted on a first carrier with a mounting material which softens at about 100* to 120*C and transferred to a second carrier to form an array of devices which are all alike, which comprises the steps of: selecting a device having a desired characteristic; heating the first carrier to a temperature of about 120*C to soften the mounting material; heating the selected device and adjacent area of the first carrier to a temperature of about 180*C with a stream of hot air; removing the selected device from the first carrier; positioning the selected device over the second carrier, coated with silicone resin, on which an array of like devices having the desired characteristic is to be formed; heating the selected device to approximately 180*C to melt any mounting material clinging thereto to prevent the material from interferring with the placement of the device on the second carrier; and placing the selected device on the second carrier to form an array of like-characteristic devices.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of sorting semiconductor devices, wherein like-characteristic devices are selected from an array of assorted devices mounted on a first carrier with a mounting material which softens at about 100* to 120*C and transferred to a second carrier to form an array of devices which are all alike, which comprises the steps of: selecting a device having a desired characteristic; heating the first carrier to a temperature of about 120*C to soften the mounting material; heating the selected device and adjacent area of the first carrier to a temperature of about 180*C with a stream of hot air; removing the selected device from the first carrier; positioning the selected device over the second carrier, coated with silicone resin, on which an array of like devices having the desired characteristic is to be formed; heating the selected device to approximately 180*C to melt any mounting material clinging thereto to prevent the material from interferring with the placement of the device on the second carrier; and placing the selected device on the second carrier to form an array of like-characteristic devices.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the step of positioning comprises positioning the selected device over a discrete zone marked on the surface of the second carrier with a substance whose color contrasts with the device so that the zone is clearly visible when no device is placed in the zone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
112 words
An improved apparatus for sorting articles, wherein certain articles are selected from an array of assorted articles mounted on a first carrier with an adhesiVe and then transferred to a second carrier to form an array of selected articles, wherein the improvement comprises: means for heating the first carrier to a first temperature to soften the adhesive; means for further heating the selected article and a small adjacent area of the first carrier to a second temperature to melt the adhesive without chemically altering it to permit the removal of the selected article; and means for transferring the selected article to the second carrier to form an array of the selected articles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
112 words
An improved apparatus for sorting articles, wherein certain articles are selected from an array of assorted articles mounted on a first carrier with an adhesiVe and then transferred to a second carrier to form an array of selected articles, wherein the improvement comprises: means for heating the first carrier to a first temperature to soften the adhesive; means for further heating the selected article and a small adjacent area of the first carrier to a second temperature to melt the adhesive without chemically altering it to permit the removal of the selected article; and means for transferring the selected article to the second carrier to form an array of the selected articles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
113 words
An improved apparatus for sorting articles, of the type having means for positioning an array of assorted articles with respect to a means for transferring articles selected from the array to a second carrier, said assorted articles being mounted on a first carrier with an adhesive and said positioning means being capable of heating the first carrier to soften the adhesive, and means for positioning the second carrier to receive the selected article to be placed thereon, wherein the improvement comprises: a nozzle capable of directing a hot fluid onto the selected article and first carrier to further heat and melt the adhesive to free the article for transfer to the second carrier.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
113 words
An improved apparatus for sorting articles, of the type having means for positioning an array of assorted articles with respect to a means for transferring articles selected from the array to a second carrier, said assorted articles being mounted on a first carrier with an adhesive and said positioning means being capable of heating the first carrier to soften the adhesive, and means for positioning the second carrier to receive the selected article to be placed thereon, wherein the improvement comprises: a nozzle capable of directing a hot fluid onto the selected article and first carrier to further heat and melt the adhesive to free the article for transfer to the second carrier.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein the nozzle directs hot air on the selected article.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 12 which further comprises: a second nozzle for directing hot air on the selected article being placed on the second carrier to melt any remanent adhesive clinging to the article and thereby preclude interference with the positioning of the article on the carrier.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for sorting semiconductor devices mounted on a first carrier with a mounting material, which comprises: means for transferring selected devices from the first carrier to a second carrier; means for positioning the first carrier with respect to the transferring means so that the selected devices may be picked up; means for heating the positioning means to heat the first carrier and soften the adhesive; a gun for directing hot air on the selelcted device to further heat and melt the adhesive to free the device; and means for positioning the second carrier with respect to the transferring means so that selected devices may be placed on the second carrier to form an array of selected devices thereon.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
119 words
An apparatus for sorting semiconductor devices mounted on a first carrier with a mounting material, which comprises: means for transferring selected devices from the first carrier to a second carrier; means for positioning the first carrier with respect to the transferring means so that the selected devices may be picked up; means for heating the positioning means to heat the first carrier and soften the adhesive; a gun for directing hot air on the selelcted device to further heat and melt the adhesive to free the device; and means for positioning the second carrier with respect to the transferring means so that selected devices may be placed on the second carrier to form an array of selected devices thereon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 14 further comprising: a second gun to direct hot air at the selected device as it is placed on the second carrier to melt any remanent mounting material and prevent interference with the placement of the device.
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US3623603A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-14 | 1979-01-13 | 1979-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-14 | 1983-01-13 | 1983-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-14 | 1987-01-13 | 1987-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |