Material or article handling – Device for emptying portable receptacle – For emptying contents thereof into portable receiving means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-30
2001-07-24
Werner, Frank E. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Device for emptying portable receptacle
For emptying contents thereof into portable receiving means
C414S798900, C414S403000, C414S810000, C029S740000, C198S459200, C193S040000, C324S1540PB, C221S208000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264415
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to IC (Integrated Circuit) package handling systems, and more particularly, to a mechanism for accurately transferring a predetermined number of IC packages from a first IC package storage tube to a second IC package storage tube with minimized bent leads on the IC packages and with proper orientation of the IC packages.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a plurality of IC (Integrated Circuit) packages
12
,
14
,
16
,
18
,
20
, and
22
are stored within a first IC (Integrated Circuit) package storage tube
50
. During manufacture and shipping of IC packages, a predetermined number of IC packages may need to be transferred from the first IC package storage tube
50
to a second IC (Integrated Circuit) package storage tube
52
. Referring to
FIG. 1
, in the prior art, an operator aligns the open end of the first IC package storage tube
50
to the open end of the second IC package storage tube
52
. The first IC package storage tube
50
and the second IC package storage tube
52
are disposed at an inclination such that the plurality of IC packages from the first IC package storage tube
50
slides into the second IC package storage tube
52
.
However, such manual transfer of IC packages from the first IC package storage tube
50
into the second IC package storage tube
52
may result in bent leads on the IC packages when the first IC package storage tube
50
is not aligned properly with the second IC package storage tube
52
. In addition, with such manual transfer of IC packages, the IC packages may not be transferred from the first IC package storage tube
50
into the second IC package storage tube
52
with proper orientation as desired by the customers of the IC packages. Furthermore, during such manual transfer of IC packages, the operator keeps count of the number of IC packages transferred from the first IC package storage tube
50
into the second IC package storage tube
52
. Such counting by the operator may be inaccurate resulting in either an insufficient or an excess number of IC packages being shipped to the customer.
Thus, a mechanism is desired for accurately transferring a predetermined number of IC packages from the first IC package storage tube
50
into the second IC package storage tube
52
with minimized bent leads on the IC packages and with proper orientation of the IC packages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a general aspect of the present invention includes an apparatus and method for accurately transferring a predetermined number of IC (Integrated Circuit) packages from a first IC (Integrated Circuit) storage tube to a second IC (Integrated Circuit) storage tube.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a first tube platform holds the first IC package storage tube at an inclination, and a second tube platform holds the second IC package storage tube at an inclination. Additionally, an IC (Integrated Circuit) package transfer wheel is disposed between the first tube platform and the second tube platform. The IC package transfer wheel has a plurality of spokes radiating outward from a center of the IC package transfer wheel. An IC package from the first IC package storage tube encounters a stopping spoke of the plurality of spokes of the IC package transfer wheel when the first IC package storage tube is placed on the first tube platform, and the stopping spoke prevents the IC package from entering the second IC package storage tube. A turning of the IC package transfer wheel causes the stopping spoke to be lowered such that the IC package enters into the second IC package storage tube. The turning of the IC package transfer wheel may also cause a pushing spoke of the plurality of spokes of the IC package transfer wheel to push the IC package into the second IC package storage tube.
In another aspect of the present invention, a dial is coupled to the IC package transfer wheel, and an operator turns the dial to turn the IC package transfer wheel to cause the stopping spoke to be lowered such that the IC package enters into the second IC package storage tube. A count index, coupled to the dial of the IC package transfer wheel, counts a number of IC packages transferred from the first IC package storage tube to the second IC package storage tube with turning of the dial.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the IC package includes an orientation surface, and the present invention includes a chamber disposed on the first tube platform and the second tube platform. The IC package travels through the chamber when being transferred from the first IC package storage tube to the second IC package storage tube, and the chamber includes an orientation wall that the orientation surface of the IC package is aligned with when the IC package is transferred from the first IC package storage tube to the second IC package storage tube with proper orientation.
In this manner, the IC package transfer wheel ensures accurate transfer of each of the IC packages from the first IC package storage tube into the second IC package storage tube with proper alignment of the first IC package storage tube and the second IC package storage tube such that bent leads on the IC packages are minimized. In addition, a count index may be used with the dial for turning the IC package transfer wheel to accurately keep track of the number of IC packages transferred from the first IC package storage tube into the second IC package storage tube. Furthermore, the present invention monitors that the IC package is transferred from the first IC package storage tube into the second IC package storage tube with proper orientation.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by considering the following detailed description of the invention which is presented with the attached drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2570265 (1951-10-01), Nordquist et al.
patent: 3399793 (1968-09-01), Walker
patent: 4222166 (1980-09-01), Kurek et al.
patent: 4724965 (1988-02-01), Willberg
patent: 5116185 (1992-05-01), Lofstedt
patent: 5236076 (1993-08-01), Sung
patent: 5772387 (1998-06-01), Nakumura et al.
patent: 6132167 (2000-10-01), Ikeya et al.
patent: 6135699 (2000-10-01), Yutaka et al.
Advanced Micro Devices , Inc.
Choi Monica H.
Werner Frank E.
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