US5620132A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for removing meltable material from a substrate
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1995-06-05
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Granted: 1997-04-15
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Expires: 2015-06-05
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates generally to a new apparatus and method for removing solid material and liquid material that may contain solid material from a substrate. More particularly, the invention encompasses an apparatus and method for removing molten solder which may contain solid particles and solder balls or columns from a substrate using a unique squeegee. Also, disclosed is a method for removing solder balls or columns from a substrate using a backer having an adhesive thereon.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew J. Downing
- 👤 Donald C. Foster
- 👤 Karl J. Puttlitz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:21
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K1/00; B23K1/018; B23K2101/00; B23K2101/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for removing at least one molten or solid structure from a surface comprising the steps of: (a) placing said surface with said at least one molten or solid structure in at least one fluid bath, (b) raising the temperature of said fluid bath to the melting point level of said at least one molten or solid structure, and (c) squeegeeing off said at least one molten or solid structure from said surface by using at least one blade.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for removing at least one molten or solid structure from a surface comprising the steps of: (a) placing said surface with said at least one molten or solid structure in at least one fluid bath, (b) raising the temperature of said fluid bath to the melting point level of said at least one molten or solid structure, and (c) squeegeeing off said at least one molten or solid structure from said surface by using at least one blade.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one blade has at least one bumper to bump against said at least one solid structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one blade has at least one trailing edge to sweep said at least molten structure from said surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said trailing edge is wedge shaped and said wedge has an angle alpha.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the material for said at least one blade is selected from a group consisting of materials that are thermally stable up to 250° C., and whose Shore durometer hardness ranges between about 50 to about 80.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one molten or solid structure is selected from a group consisting of low melting point solder, high melting point solder, molten solder which contains disbursed solid particles, eutectic solder, liquid metal, solder balls, solder columns and dual alloy solder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the material for said fluid bath is selected from a group consisting of fluids having a viscosity of between about 60 and about 100 centistokes at 100° C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one solid structure is at least one solder ball or solder column.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one molten structure is at least one molten pad which may contain variable amounts of solid particles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said structure comprises of at least two materials, wherein at least one first material is a low melting point solder and at least one second material is a high melting point solder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein at least one stirrer stirs said at least one fluid bath.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein at least one heater heats said at least one fluid bath.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for removing at least one molten or solid structure from the surface of a substrate comprising: (a) a container having at least one fluid bath, (b) at least one means to immerse at least a portion of said substrate into at least a portion of said at least one fluid bath, (c) said container having at least one means to secure and relatively move at least one blade, (d) at least one means in said container to raise the temperature of said fluid bath to the melting point level of said at least one molten or solid structure, and (e) wherein at least a portion of said at least one blade has means to slide against a portion of the surface of said substrate to remove said at least one molten or solid structure from said surface.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
139 words
An apparatus for removing at least one molten or solid structure from the surface of a substrate comprising: (a) a container having at least one fluid bath, (b) at least one means to immerse at least a portion of said substrate into at least a portion of said at least one fluid bath, (c) said container having at least one means to secure and relatively move at least one blade, (d) at least one means in said container to raise the temperature of said fluid bath to the melting point level of said at least one molten or solid structure, and (e) wherein at least a portion of said at least one blade has means to slide against a portion of the surface of said substrate to remove said at least one molten or solid structure from said surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one blade has at least one bumper to bump against said at least one solid structure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one blade has at least one trailing edge to sweep said at least one molten or solid structure from said surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said trailing edge is wedge shaped and said wedge has an angle alpha.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the material for said at least one blade is selected from a group consisting of materials that are thermally stable up to 250° C., and whose Shore durometer hardness ranges between about 50 to about 80.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one molten or solid structure is selected from a group consisting of low melting point solder, high melting point solder, molten solder which contains disbursed solid particles, eutectic solder, liquid metal, solder balls, solder columns and dual alloy solder.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the material for said fluid bath is selected from a group consisting of fluids having a viscosity of between about 60 and about 100 centistokes at 100° C.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one solid structure is at least one solder ball or column.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one molten or solid structure is at least one molten pad which may contain variable amounts of solid particles.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said structure comprises of at least two materials, wherein at least one first material is a low melting point solder and at least one second material is a high melting point solder.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one stirrer stirs said at least one fluid bath.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one heater heats said at least one fluid bath.
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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) | 2000-04-14 | 2000-10-14 | 2001-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-04-14 | 2004-10-14 | 2005-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-04-14 | 2008-10-14 | 2009-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |