Classifying – separating – and assorting solids – Plural items tested as group
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-23
2001-03-20
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
Plural items tested as group
C209S925000, C209S643000, C198S370010, C414S416060
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202858
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a method for the sorting of IC-components which during manufacture in the back-end stage are sorted corresponding to pre-definable classes of criteria and particularly are sorted into different classes corresponding to their test results.
BACKGROUND
In the production of IC-components, the components are subjected to various tests in the back-end stage. Subsequently, the IC-components are sorted into different classes corresponding to their test results. The sorting process is performed with the aid of a plurality of gripping means which access the individual receiving portions of the trays on which the IC-components are transported in the back-end stage. Each gripping means can access each IC-component to pick it up, classify it corresponding to its test results and to deposit it. This process is relatively time-consuming.
Further, testing and sorting devices are known from DE 35 39 968 A1 and DE 36 38 430 A1 wherein the components are sequentially tested and corresponding to their test results are supplied successively to one of a plurality of magazines.
SUMMARY
It is the object of the invention to provide a sorting method for the sorting of IC-components in the back-end stage which is highly effective and by which all of the IC-components of a tray are sorted into different classes in the shortest time possible.
For solving the above object, there is proposed in accordance with the invention a method for the sorting of IC-components in the back-end stage corresponding to pre-definable classes of criteria, wherein
the IC-components are simultaneously removed from receiving portions of a tray by a plurality of gripping means,
each gripping means has a pre-definable access area for the removal of IC-components from receiving portions of the tray, with the access areas of all gripping means being free of mutual overlapping,
the tray is moved in steps past the gripping means, and
each gripping means removes only the IC-components belonging to one class of criteria from the receiving portions of the tray belonging to the access area of the respective gripping means.
In the method according to the invention, use is made of a plurality of gripping means whose number is at least equal to the number of classes into which the IC-components are to be sorted. Each gripping means has a specific access area assigned thereto within which the gripping means can travel to remove IC-components from the receiving portions of the trays. All of the access areas are free of any overlapping with each other. The tray is moved past the gripping means so that each receiving portion of the tray will be moved through the access areas of all of the gripping means. Each gripping means will remove, from those receiving portions of the tray which during the stepwise advance of the tray are presently located in the access area assigned to the gripping means, only those IC-components which on the basis of the respective pre-defined criteria, e.g. on the basis of the test results, are to be assigned to a specific class.
Thus, in the method of the invention, a sequential stepwise transport of the trays past the gripping means is performed, with the gripping means accessing the IC-components in parallel. In this manner, the effectiveness of the sorting mechanism and of the sorting method, respectively, is decisively increased to the effect that the sorting method is performed continuously, as it were, instead of the previously known batch-like operation.
For a case when a gripping means has to access a larger-than-average number of IC-components presently located in its access area because all of these
IC-components belong to the self-same class, it is of advantage to provide a plurality of gripping means per class. Due to the stepwise transport of the tray, this plurality of gripping means per class is serviced sequentially. That gripping means which is first serviced will remove a maximum number of IC-components. The time period required therefore is adapted to the dwell time in the rest condition and thus to the cycle rate of the stepwise transport of the tray. Should not all of the IC-components of the class assigned to the first gripping means have been removed within this time period, the next IC-components will be removed by the second gripping means assigned to this class. Also this gripping means will remove a maximum number of IC-components. In as far as the case is imaginable that both gripping means together cannot remove all of the IC-components respectively arranged in their access areas, further gripping means are provided which then can remove the rest of the IC-components of this class from the receiving portions as soon as these are within the access areas of the further gripping means.
Normally, for the transport of IC-components in the back-end production region, use is made of trays comprising a plurality of the deepened receiving portions which are again arranged in a regular manner and particularly in a matrix form, e.g. in mutually orthogonal columns and rows. In such trays, it is suitable to assign to each gripping means one access area which comprises a column (or alternatively a row) of receiving portions of the tray. In this case, all of the gripping means are arranged successively next to each other in the moving direction of the tray. The advance movement of the trays themselves is performed suitably at right angles to the extension of the columns (or alternatively rows) of receiving portions.
An embodiment of the invention will be explained in greater detail hereunder with reference to the Figures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3664499 (1972-05-01), Sahakian
patent: 4908126 (1990-03-01), Willberg et al.
patent: 5307011 (1994-04-01), Tani
patent: 5484062 (1996-01-01), Rich
patent: 5680936 (1997-10-01), Beers
patent: 35 39 968 A1 (1985-11-01), None
patent: 36 38 430 A1 (1986-11-01), None
Fish & Richardson P.C. P.A.
MCI Computer GmbH
Miller Jonathan R
Walsh Donald P.
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