Laser bar transport method

Details Laser bar transport method Laser bar transport method

1999-10-13

2001-06-26

Hughes, S. Thomas (Department: 3726)

Metal working

Method of mechanical manufacture

Work holding

C029S281400, C029S281500, C118S729000, C118S500000, C414S937000, C211S041180, C269S296000, C269S224000, C269S310000, C193S0250AC

Reexamination Certificate

active

06249955

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally related to the coating of semiconductor laser bars. More particularly, the present invention is related to a laser bar coating fixture which is designed to prevent jamming of a portion thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Apparatus for holding semiconductor laser bars for transport to and from and during a coating process are known. A known apparatus
10
, as shown in
FIG. 1
, includes a pair of vertical supports
12
, a connector web
20
, and a plurality of webs
30
. Each support has a track
14
in which the connector web
20
moves.
The connector web
20
includes a main portion
22
, an intermediate portion
24
, and an interlocking portion
26
. The webs
30
each have interlocking clips
32
, a main portion
36
, and interlocked flanges
34
. The clips
32
of the uppermost web
30
attach to the interlocking portion
26
of the connector web
20
. The clips
32
of each subsequent web
30
attach to the flanges
34
of the next above web
30
. In this way, a train of interlocking webs
30
can be attached to the connector web
20
.
A laser bar
50
is positionable on a top surface
37
of the main portion
36
between the pair of interlocking portions
26
(FIG.
2
).
One problem encountered in the operation of the above-described apparatus
10
is that sometimes the connector web
20
becomes stuck at jam points
40
in the track
14
. This is sometimes due to improper alignment caused by the connector web
20
being imbalanced at its center of gravity and tipping in one direction. This imbalance may be caused by laser bars
50
not being uniformly loaded on the webs
30
. Such nonuniform loading may lead to laser bars falling out of the webs
30
during the coating process. When properly aligned, the connector web
20
fits snugly within the tracks
14
, since a width d
1
of the connector web
20
is slightly less than a distance d
3
between the tracks
14
. Length d
2
, which corresponds to the distance between the points on the connector web
20
which become jammed at the jam points
40
, is greater than the width d
1
and equal to or greater than the distance d
3
.
When the connector web
20
becomes jammed in the tracks
14
, time must be taken to unjam the connector web
20
. Care must also be taken to prevent disturbance of the laser bars
50
being carried on the top surfaces
37
of the webs
30
. There thus exists a need for a coating fixture that does not become jammed by the connector web
20
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a coating fixture having a pair of vertical supports. The supports each have a first portion parallel to and spaced apart from a second portion by a plurality of springs. The first portions are movable relative to the second portions.
The present invention also provides an uncomplicated system for unjamming a connector web jammed in a coating fixture. The system includes a coating fixture having a pair of supports, each having a track. The supports are movable relative to each other. A connector web is positionable in the tracks, and the supports move from a first position to a second position in response to the connector web becoming jammed in the tracks.
The present invention also provides a method for unjamming a connector web from tracks of a coating fixture by moving at least one of the tracks from a first position to a second position when the connector web becomes jammed and realigning the connector web within the tracks.
An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which easily extricates a train of webs jammed in tracks within the apparatus.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for preventing a train of webs from becoming jammed within a semiconductor bar transport apparatus.
According to one aspect of the invention, supports are provided, at least one of which has a spring- based portion which is movable to allow for extrication of the jammed train of webs.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention which is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4979464 (1990-12-01), Kunze-Concewitz et al.
patent: 6146463 (2000-11-01), Yudovsky et al.
patent: 0806494A1 (1997-11-01), None

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