Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-01
2001-10-09
Mayes, Curtis (Department: 1734)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C156S349000, C156S598000, C156SDIG001, C156SDIG002, C156SDIG002
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299712
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the inventory control and identification of semiconductor chips during manufacturing and testing. Specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for the consistent and accurate placement of adhesive bar code labels on semiconductor chip processing trays.
2. State of the Art
During manufacturing and testing of semiconductor chips, processing trays are routinely used for handling large numbers of chips. Processing trays designed and built in compliance with standards propagated by the Joint Electronic Device Engineering Council (JEDEC)—commonly referred to as JEDEC trays—are widely used within the semiconductor industry. Generally, JEDEC trays consist of a grid-like, open lattice structure defining a plurality of cavities in rows and columns capable of holding a plurality of semiconductor chips in a two-dimensional array. The trays, which are usually injection molded from plastic, vary in overall dimensions and grid size, depending on the type of chip the tray is designed to hold. JEDEC trays also have surface features, such as locating and hold-down tabs, that allow the trays to be manipulated by automated handling equipment. Additionally, JEDEC trays are stackable, allowing for the simultaneous handling or storage of large numbers of semiconductor chips.
To facilitate inventory tracking and control, test lot identification, sorting and binning, and subsequent storage and shipping of semiconductor chips, manufacturers typically place some type of identification tag on each JEDEC tray. A commonly used identification tag used with JEDEC trays is an adhesive bar code label. The bar code label is typically applied to a lateral edge of the JEDEC tray, and the label allows the manufacturer or customer to identify the contents of each tray in an automated processing system by scanning the label with a bar code reader.
Numerous devices for applying adhesive labels, and similar devices for applying ink stamps, exist in the prior art. Sato et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,436,573; Pfeffer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,582; and Kerr, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,332, all disclose devices directed to the manual application of adhesive labels. Dour et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,916, discloses a self-inking stamp for manually applying an ink stamp. Also, Matsuguchi, U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,505, and Franklin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,795, disclose label applying systems adaptable to automation.
Application of a bar code label to a JEDEC tray is usually accomplished by manual, hand-placement of the label to the JEDEC tray edge. However, hand-placement of a bar code label to a JEDEC tray has proven to be insufficiently accurate for use with automated manufacturing equipment. To identify the contents of a JEDEC tray, automated processing systems generally rely on the bar code reader to scan the bar code associated with each tray. The task of scanning a bar code label within an automated production line requires that the bar code be accurately and repeatably located relative to the reader. This task is frustrated by the manual application of adhesively backed bar code labels, which may result in the inconsistent and inaccurate placement of some labels upon a corresponding application surface. Thus, a need exists in the semiconductor industry for an apparatus and method directed to the application of an adhesive bar code label to a JEDEC tray that is accurate and, at the same time, repeatable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for the consistent and accurate placement of a bar code label upon the application, or target, surface of a tray for semiconductor chips, such as a JEDEC tray. It is a further object of the present invention that the apparatus for applying the bar code label be simple to use and easily adaptable to various sizes of trays. It should be noted that, although the present invention is particularly suitable for the application of bar code labels to JEDEC trays, the apparatus and method of the present invention are applicable to the placement of any type of adhesive identification tag to all kinds of structures, such as trays or boxes used for handling consumer goods, during production.
The bar code applicator of the present invention is generally comprised of a carriage, which holds a JEDEC tray for application of a bar code label, and a base to support both the carriage and a label seat. Resting upon the top surface of the label seat, adhesive side up, is a bar code label that is to be applied to the JEDEC tray. To support the carriage, the base may include a carriage way in which the carriage is slidably disposed. The label seat extends upwards from the base within the carriage way. To provide for the accurate and repeatable placement of a JEDEC tray within the carriage, the carriage is fitted with a series of edge guides as well as an edge plane and a register surface. The edge plane and register surface are perpendicular to one another and each engages an edge of the JEDEC tray in an abutting relationship to effect longitudinal and lateral alignment thereof and to vertically align the JEDEC tray so that a lateral edge thereof is substantially parallel to a top surface of the label seat. Also, the carriage has a window therein of a size and shape through which the label seat may pass, allowing the label to bypass the carriage and adhere to a target surface on the edge of the JEDEC tray disposed on the carriage.
Biasing elements are disposed between the base and the carriage. In the uncompressed, or fully extended, position, the biasing elements bias the carriage away from the base such that the edge plane of the carriage is initially above the top surface of the label seat, thus obscuring the edge of a JEDEC tray resting upon the edge plane from a bar code label resting upon the top surface of the label seat. By applying a downward force to the carriage, the biasing elements are compressed and, when fully compressed, the carriage is bottomed-out within the carriage way, abutting the base. In the fully compressed condition of the biasing elements, the top surface of the label seat protrudes above the edge plane of the carriage, pressing the adhesive backing of the bar code label into contact with, so as to adhere to, the target surface on the JEDEC tray edge in a precise, repeatable manner.
Retaining elements may also be disposed between the base and carriage. The retaining elements, which may be rigidly affixed to the base and slidably interconnected with the carriage, limit the maximum vertical displacement of the carriage in the fully extended condition and also retard horizontal motion of the carriage relative to the base.
To operate the bar code applicator of the present invention, the user places an adhesive-backed bar code label upon the top surface of the label seat with the adhesive side facing upwards. The user then places a JEDEC tray upon the edge plane of the carriage, using the edge guides and register surface to consistently and accurately locate the tray laterally and longitudinally on the carriage. Application of the bar code label to the edge of the JEDEC tray is then accomplished by pushing downward on the JEDEC tray, and hence the carriage, until the biasing elements are fully compressed and the carriage is bottomed-out within the carriage way. In the fully compressed condition, the label seat extends above the edge plane of the carriage and so that the adhesive backing of the bar code label is adhered to the target surface of the JEDEC tray. The user then releases the JEDEC tray and associated carriage, allowing the biasing elements to fully vertically extend, and removes the tray, with affixed label, from the carriage.
The above-described method is then repeated with another JEDEC tray. By using the edge guides, edge plane, and register surface of the carriage, the user can repeatedly and accurately apply a bar code label to the target surface of subsequent JEDEC trays. The bar code applicator is easily adapted to di
Mayes Curtis
Micro)n Technology, Inc.
TraskBritt
LandOfFree
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