US4135630A — Centering device for automatic placement of chip …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 256 words

A centering device for centering an attached component chip on the spindle of a substrate assembly apparatus, comprising: a spindle having a tip at one extremity suited for attachment and holding thereto of said component chip; a spindle housing enclosing and aligned with said spindle, said spindle tip extended beyond said spindle housing; means for centering said component chip on said spindle tip, said means for centering being withdrawn from said spindle tip during the process of attachment of said component chip, said means for centering acting on said component chip after attachment, said means for centering including: a pair of opposed first axis locators pivotably and concentrically suspended at one end from said spindle housing, the other end of said first axis locators being adjacent to said spindle tip; a pair of opposed second axis locators pivotably and concentrically suspended at said one end from said spindle housing, the other end of said second axis locators being adjacent to said spindle tip, the axes for pivoting of said first axis locators being perpendicular to the axes for pivoting of said second axis locators; means to pivot said first and second axis locators, whereby when pivoted inwardly toward said spindle, said other ends of said axis locators adjacent to said spindle tip contact said attached component chip, pushing said chip into concentricity with said spindle and said spindle housing; whereby said component chip need not be centered relative to said spindle tip at the moment of attachment and imprecise storage of said component chip is permitted.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 256 words

A centering device for centering an attached component chip on the spindle of a substrate assembly apparatus, comprising: a spindle having a tip at one extremity suited for attachment and holding thereto of said component chip; a spindle housing enclosing and aligned with said spindle, said spindle tip extended beyond said spindle housing; means for centering said component chip on said spindle tip, said means for centering being withdrawn from said spindle tip during the process of attachment of said component chip, said means for centering acting on said component chip after attachment, said means for centering including: a pair of opposed first axis locators pivotably and concentrically suspended at one end from said spindle housing, the other end of said first axis locators being adjacent to said spindle tip; a pair of opposed second axis locators pivotably and concentrically suspended at said one end from said spindle housing, the other end of said second axis locators being adjacent to said spindle tip, the axes for pivoting of said first axis locators being perpendicular to the axes for pivoting of said second axis locators; means to pivot said first and second axis locators, whereby when pivoted inwardly toward said spindle, said other ends of said axis locators adjacent to said spindle tip contact said attached component chip, pushing said chip into concentricity with said spindle and said spindle housing; whereby said component chip need not be centered relative to said spindle tip at the moment of attachment and imprecise storage of said component chip is permitted.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 150 words

The centering device of claim 1 wherein said means to pivot include: a central cam enclosing said spindle housing and concentric therewith, said central cam slidable along said spindle housing, toward and away from said spindle tip; a pair of opposed first cams, each first cam attached to one first axis locator, and a pair of opposed second cams, each second cam attached to one second axis locator, said first and second cams being engaged by said central cam when said central cam slides between said first and second cams toward said spindle tip, whereby said axis locators are driven apart, said first and second cams being disengaged from said central cam when said central cam slides away from said spindle tip, and biasing means urging said axis locators toward said spindle tip, whereby said axis locators pivot inward to contact said attached chip; means for sliding said central cam.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 61 words

The centering device of claim 2 wherein said central cam when sliding away from said spindle tip first disengages from said first cams attached to said first axis locators, whereby said first axis locators are first to pivot inwardly and said attached chip is first aligned on said spindle tip along the first axis before said secnd axis locators pivot inwardly.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

The centering device of claim 1 wherein said axis locators pivot on knife edges engaging grooves in said spindle housing.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 52 words

The centering device of claim 2 wherein said biasing means includes a first spring acting on said first axis locators adjacent to the pivotal suspensions, whereby said first axis locators are retained in pivotal contact with said spindle housing and said first axis locators are evenly biased to pivot toward said spindle.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 53 words

The centering device of claim 5 wherein said biasing means further includes a second spring acting on said second axis locators adjacent to the pivotal suspensions, whereby said second axis locators are retained in pivotal contact with said spindle housing and said second axis locators are evenly biased to pivot toward said spindle.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 57 words

The centering device of claim 1 wherein said component chips are square or rectangular and the other ends of said first axis locators adjacent to said spindle tip include feet having opposed planar surfaces perpendicular to the first axis, said opposed surfaces pushing for centering on opposed edges of said component chip attached to said spindle tip.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 99 words

The centering device of claim 7 wherein the other ends of said second axis locators adjacent to said spindle tip include spaced-apart opposed fingers, the ends of said spaced-apart fingers on one locator being aligned in a first plane, the ends of said spaced-apart fingers on the other locator being aligned in a second plane, said first and second planes being opposed and parallel to the first axis, said fingers pushing for centering on opposed edges of said component chip attached to said spindle tip, said spaced-apart fingers entering between said feet when said axis locators are pivoted inward.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

The centering device of claim 6 wherein said spindle tip, said spindle, said spindle housing and said central cam are round and concentric.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 37 words

The centering device of claim 6 wherein said spindle tip is hollow and a vacuum within said hollow tip causes said component chip to attach to said spindle tip when said spindle tip contacts said component chip.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

The centering device of claim 1 wherein said second axis locators enter between said first axis locators adjacent to said spindle tip.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1982-01-22	1982-07-24	1983-01-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1986-01-22	1986-07-24	1987-01-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1990-01-22	1990-07-24	1991-01-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Centering device for automatic placement of chip components in hybrid circuits

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