US4674625A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transport mechanism for an automated integrated circuit handler
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
•
Filing: 1986-01-03
•
Granted: 1987-06-23
•
Expires: 2006-01-03
Abstract
Abstract A transport mechanism for an automated integrated circuit handler comprises a belt having a plurality of pockets thereon. Each pocket is adapted to carry a single integrated circuit therein and is also adapted for the automatic injection or integrated circuits thereinto and ejection of integrated circuits therefrom. None of the transport functions is gravity-driven. In addition, each pocket has slots therein which allow a test apparatus access to the leads of each part for electrical testing. The belt carries the pockets sequentially past a loading station at which parts are injected, a test station at which testing takes place and at least one output location at which parts are ejected. A high throughput integrated circuit handler capable of handling 60,000 parts per hour or more can be achieved with the disclosed transport mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 Mavin C. Swapp
- 👤 Milo W. Frisbie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:38
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P72/00; H10P72/30; H10P72/32; H10P72/3202; H10P72/3212
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A transport mechanism for an automated semiconductor device handler comprising: a belt having regularly spaced teeth on one side and being smooth on the other side thereof; and a plurality of pockets removably attached to said smooth side of each belt, each of said pockets being adapted to carry a single semiconductor device and having at least one slot in a face thereof opposite to said smooth side of said belt, said slot being adapted to allow contact between a lead of said semiconductor device and a test contact at a test location, said pockets covering the entirety of said smooth side of said belt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A transport mechanism for an automated semiconductor device handler comprising: a belt having regularly spaced teeth on one side and being smooth on the other side thereof; and a plurality of pockets removably attached to said smooth side of each belt, each of said pockets being adapted to carry a single semiconductor device and having at least one slot in a face thereof opposite to said smooth side of said belt, said slot being adapted to allow contact between a lead of said semiconductor device and a test contact at a test location, said pockets covering the entirety of said smooth side of said belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A transport mechanism according to claim 1 wherein: said pockets each have a first end and a second end, each of said pockets also having an opening in said first end adapted to allow passage of a semiconductor device therethrough.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A transport mechanism according to claim 2 wherein: each of said pockets has a second opening in a second end thereof adapted to allow passage of a semiconductor device ejector therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
A transport mechanism according to claim 1 further comprising: at least two pulleys carrying said belt and engaging said side of said belt having regularly spaced teeth; and means for driving at least one of said at least two pulleys so as to transport each of said pockets past at least one input location at which said semiconductor devices are injected into said pockets and at least one output location at which said semiconductor devices are ejected from said pockets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
135 words
A transport mechanism for an automated semiconductor device handler comprising: a belt; pulley means for carrying said belt such that said belt defines a loop; a plurality of pockets carried on said belt, each of said pockets having at least one slot therein to allow contact between a lead of a semiconductor device and a test contact, and being adapted to hold a single semiconductor device; an input station at a first location on said loop defined by said belt at which said semiconductor devices are injected into said pockets; a test station at a second location on said loop at which an electrical test is performed on said semiconductor device in said pockets; and an output station at a third location on said loop at which said semiconductor devices are ejected from said pockets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
135 words
A transport mechanism for an automated semiconductor device handler comprising: a belt; pulley means for carrying said belt such that said belt defines a loop; a plurality of pockets carried on said belt, each of said pockets having at least one slot therein to allow contact between a lead of a semiconductor device and a test contact, and being adapted to hold a single semiconductor device; an input station at a first location on said loop defined by said belt at which said semiconductor devices are injected into said pockets; a test station at a second location on said loop at which an electrical test is performed on said semiconductor device in said pockets; and an output station at a third location on said loop at which said semiconductor devices are ejected from said pockets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A transport mechanism according to claim 5 wherein: said pockets are removably attached to said belt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A transport mechanism according to claim 6 further comprising: means for determining a position of each of said pockets on said belt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A transport mechanism according to claim 5 wherein: each of said pockets has a first opening in said first end thereof to allow passage of said semiconductor device therethrough and a second opening in a second end opposite to said first end.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS4521536Y1
Cited
US3552590A
Cited
US3527015A
Cited
US3899085A
Cited
US3701021A
Cited
US3675759A
Cited
US3860107A
Cited
US3896935A
Cited
US4128174A
Cited
US4170290A
Cited
US4222166A
Cited
US4423815A
Cited
US4494456A
Cited
SU1025605A1
Cited
US4478352A
Cited
US4533043A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-06-22 | 1990-12-22 | 1991-06-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-22 | 1994-12-22 | 1995-06-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-22 | 1998-12-22 | 1999-06-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |