US4603243A — Component fixing machine for hybrid circuits

Claim 1

Independent Claim 118 words

A component fixing machine for fixing components to a hybrid circuit substrate by remelting solder, said machine comprising first means defining a heating station, second means defining a cooling station, and drive means for relatively displacing a substrate carrying the components and the stations, the improvement comprising a fixed station for holding the substrate, a guide track extending beneath said fixed station, a common carriage mounted for movement on said guide track, and wherein said first means defining heating station and said second means defining said cooling station are both mounted on said common carriage, and said machine further comprises means for driving said carriage in translation back and forth along said guide track beneath said fixed station.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 118 words

A component fixing machine for fixing components to a hybrid circuit substrate by remelting solder, said machine comprising first means defining a heating station, second means defining a cooling station, and drive means for relatively displacing a substrate carrying the components and the stations, the improvement comprising a fixed station for holding the substrate, a guide track extending beneath said fixed station, a common carriage mounted for movement on said guide track, and wherein said first means defining heating station and said second means defining said cooling station are both mounted on said common carriage, and said machine further comprises means for driving said carriage in translation back and forth along said guide track beneath said fixed station.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 70 words

A component fixing machine according to claim 1, wherein said cooling station includes a radiator, and wherein said carriage is equipped with means for holding said radiator in two different positions which are vertically offset from each other, one of the positions being a low position and the other being a high position for the radiator on the carriage with said radiator operatively contacting the substrate to remove heat therefrom.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 58 words

A component fixing machine according to claim 2, including control means for passing the said radiator from its low position on the carriage to its high position, said control means being fixed to the fixed station to co-operate with the said means for holding the radiator when the cooling station is in position under the said fixed station.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 87 words

a component fixing meachine according to claim 3, wherein the said means for holding the radiator are constituted by a pair of support plates carried on the sides of the carriage and each having a ramp on which the radiator rests, and the said control means are constituted by a stop plate against which the radiator comes to bear as the carriage is displaced to bring the cooling station into position under the fixed station, substantially as the cooling station comes into position under the fixed station.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 46 words

A component fixing machine according to claim 1, wherein the said fixed station is defined by a support block made of a material which is a good conductor of heat, and having a lower face facing the carriage which is covered in an infrared absorbent deposit.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 29 words

A component fixing machine according to claim 5, wherein a temperature probe is mounted sideways and releasably in a housing formed in the thickness of the said support block.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 54 words

A component fixing machine according to claim 5, wherein the said fixed station further includes two plates mounted transversely to the carriage to define firstly two guide paths for the said support block which is thereby rendered removable, and secondly two protective members on either side of the support block above the said carriage.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 81 words

A component fixing machine according to claim 1, further including at least first and second detection means associated respectively with the means defining said heating station and to the means defining said cooling station for detecting their positioning beneath the fixed station as the carriage moves one way or the other along its guide track, and means responsive to said first and second detection means for controlling the stopping of the carriage and the starting of the corresponding station defining means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 117 words

A component fixing machine according to clam 2, further including at least first and second detection means associated respectively with the heating station defining means and the cooling station defining means for positioning said heating station and cooling station defining means beneath the fixed station as the carriage moves one way or the other along its guide track, said first and second detection means further including means for stopping the carriage and the starting of the corresponding station defining means, together with third detection means associated with the cooling station defining means for detecting when the station defining means is positioned under the fixed station with the radiator being held in its lower position on the carriage.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 117 words

A component fixing machine according to clam 2, further including at least first and second detection means associated respectively with the heating station defining means and the cooling station defining means for positioning said heating station and cooling station defining means beneath the fixed station as the carriage moves one way or the other along its guide track, said first and second detection means further including means for stopping the carriage and the starting of the corresponding station defining means, together with third detection means associated with the cooling station defining means for detecting when the station defining means is positioned under the fixed station with the radiator being held in its lower position on the carriage.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 69 words

A component fixing machine according to claim 8, wherein said detection means are each constituted by a pair of members, one of which is fixed to said carriage and the other of which is fixed to a fixed portion of said machine, said members being so positioned as to be coupled to each other when the station defining means with which they are associated is under the fixed station.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 69 words

A component fixing machine according to claim 9, wherein said detection means are each constituted by a pair of members, one of which is fixed to said carriage and the other of which is fixed to a fixed portion of said machine, said members being so positioned as to be coupled to each other when the station defining means with which they are associated is under the fixed station.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1989-07-28	1990-01-27	1990-07-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1993-07-28	1994-01-27	1994-07-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1997-07-28	1998-01-27	1998-07-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Component fixing machine for hybrid circuits

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