Electricity: measuring and testing – Measuring – testing – or sensing electricity – per se – With rotor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-16
2002-06-11
Sherry, Michael J. (Department: 2829)
Electricity: measuring and testing
Measuring, testing, or sensing electricity, per se
With rotor
C206S713000, C206S714000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06404181
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a component storage unit for storing electronic components, mechanical components, optical components, etc. and a method and an apparatus for inspecting the components stored in the component storage unit.
BACKGROUND ART
Conventionally, an embossed carrier tape has been widely used as a component storage unit for storing electronic components or mechanical components.
FIG. 10A
is a perspective view of the embossed carrier tape. A carrier tape
91
has component storage recesses
93
for storing components
92
therein. After the components
92
are stored in the recesses, a top cover tape
94
is thermally fused or bonded securely to a surface of the carrier tape
91
, so that the components
92
are held in the carrier tape. In order to take the components
92
outside, the top cover tape
94
is pulled in a direction of an arrow F, whereby the thermally fused part or bonded part is broken to release the holding to the components. In other words, actually, the components cannot be held again in the embossed carrier tape
91
once the top cover tape
94
is detached to free the engagement of the components
92
.
In a modification of the embossed carrier tape, a hole
97
is provided at the center of the storage recess
93
, which is used when the component
92
is pressed up by a push pin
96
from below the embossed carrier tape
91
to improve efficiency, that is, a chance of successful sucking and removal of the component
92
by a suction nozzle
95
as a suction device after the top cover tape
94
is separated.
FIG. 10B
is a sectional view of the embossed carrier tape
91
in a state where the component
92
is pushed upward by the push pin
96
and sucked by the suction nozzle
95
. The hole
97
is sometimes utilized so as to confirm absence of the component
92
after the component
92
should have been stored in the embossed carrier tape
91
and secured by the top cover tape
94
.
FIG. 11
is a diagrammatical sectional view of how to confirm a state of a missing component
92
.
98
is an emission part of a transmission type sensor, and
99
is a detection part of a transmission type sensor. When the component
92
is present in the carrier tape, a light B from the emission part
98
of the transmission type sensor penetrates the hole
97
, but is interrupted by the component
92
and does not reach the detection part
99
of the transmission type sensor. On the other hand, if the component
92
is missing a light B′ enters the detection part
99
of the transmission type sensor, whereby the absence of the component is detected. The top cover tape
94
generally comprises a transparent tape in many cases, therefore allowing the light B′ to penetrate the top cover tape
94
to reach the detection part
99
of the transmission type sensor.
However, even when the absence of the component
92
is discovered, it is impossible to detach the top cover tape
94
solely at the point of the missing component, accommodate the component, and, fix the top cover tape
94
again. For solving this inconvenience, a component storage unit requiring no top cover tape is proposed and disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-156562.
FIG. 12A
is a plan view of a component cluster formed by connecting the proposed component storage units to one another, and
FIG. 12B
is a front view thereof. Shutters
102
as a component pop-out prevention device are set at an opening part
107
of a component storage unit
108
having a component storage recess
106
for accommodating the component. The openable shutters
102
cover at least an upper face of the stored component. Connecting parts
109
are provided at an end part of the storage unit so that the storage unit can be coupled to the other storage unit.
103
is a projecting part for opening and closing the shutter
102
, and
104
is a feed hole formed for driving the component cluster of a plurality of component storage units
108
in a connection direction.
105
is a component stored in the component storage unit
108
.
Conventionally, the electronic components and mechanical components are generally inspected in units of components or subjected to sampling inspection before being stored in the component storage units and shipped as products. In the case of the electronic components, e.g., as shown in
FIG. 13
, the electronic components temporarily stored in an intermediate storage container such as a tray or the like immediately after being produced as products are taken outside one by one, transferred to above an inspection probe, inspected through touch with inspection pins, and finally stored in the component storage container proposed in the prior art No. 6-156562. In
FIG. 13
,
81
is the electronic component having connecting terminals at a lower face and arranged and stored in matrix in the tray, serving as intermediate storage container, designated by
82
.
83
is an inspection station provided with inspection pins
84
of the inspection probe.
85
is a component transfer arm with a suction nozzle
86
which sucks and moves the component
81
up and down. The electronic component
81
stored in the tray
82
is sucked, transferred above the inspection probe, and moved down by the component transfer arm
85
, whereby the connecting terminals are brought in touch with the inspection pins for the inspection. In the prior art) additional time for transferring the component is required in addition to inspection time, whereby inspection efficiency is deteriorated greatly. Also teaching etc. to the component transfer arm is required to transfer the component from the intermediate storage container such as the tray, etc. into contact with the inspection pin, which leads to the need for a considerable amount of time in the case where kinds of components are to be switched, etc., thus hindering a start-up of production.
The present invention has for its object to provide a component storage unit and a method and an apparatus for inspecting components using the component storage unit. The invention can eliminate transfer time for components during inspection. The invention can also teach to a component transfer device for a component transfer operation, and can improve inspection efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to accomplish the above-described object, the present invention is constituted as described hereinbelow.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a component storage unit which comprises a component engagement member which is set at an opening part of a container having a storage recess for storing a component and which is releasably engaged with at least a part of an upper face of the component stored in the storage unit thereby holding the component at a predetermined position. The component storage unit has an inspection hole formed at a part of the storage recess for inspecting a state of the component stored in the storage recess from outside. The inspection hole allows an inspection member for inspecting the state of the stored component to penetrate and contact the stored component.
In another aspect of the present invention, the engagement member is an engagement element having a leading end plate-like part engaged with the component when the inspection member penetrating the inspection hole comes in contact with the stored component. As a result, the component is prevented from popping outside of the storage space.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a component storage unit according to the first aspect, wherein the inspection member is constituted by conductive inspection pins which come in contact with connecting terminals of the stored component thereby inspecting an electric characteristic of the stored component.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a component storage unit according to the first or third aspects, wherein the engagement member integrally molded of a resin material is adapted to hold an engagement re
Nguyen Jimmy
Sherry Michael J.
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
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