Plastic and metal tube holder for SOIC package

Details Plastic and metal tube holder for SOIC package Plastic and metal tube holder for SOIC package

1999-04-23

2001-04-03

Rosenbaum, I Cuda (Department: 3726)

Package making

With means responsive to a sensed condition

Of individual contents or group feed or delivery

C053S255000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06209295

ABSTRACT:

These test handlers are presently being used to handle SOIC packages for IC testing. In typical operating conditions of these prior art test handlers, the SOIC packages after being tested are automatically sorted and loaded into the desired output track of the test handler dependent upon the outcome of the test performed. When an output track has reached its loading capacity, the SOIC packages in the particular one of the output tracks are required to be manually loaded by an operator into empty plastic tubes. This loading procedure is then repeated for all of the other remaining output tracks until all of the SOIC packages have been loaded for further transportation and/or testing.
In certain circumstances, the tested SOIC packages that have been loaded into the plastic tubes are ready to be transferred to another location for further manufacturing operations or for shipment directly to a customer's site. In other circumstances, these tested SOIC packages that have been tested as “good” and already loaded into the plastic tubes are required to undergo a “burn-in” procedure. This “burn-in” procedure subjects the SOIC packages to relatively high temperatures in an oven for a long duration. In view of this, the plastic tubes that were already loaded with the tested SOIC packages are unsuitable for use during the “burn-in” process. This is due to the fact that the plastic tubes in the “burn-in” environment would be deformed when they are subjected to the high temperatures.
Therefore, there has arisen a need for utilizing metal tubes instead of the plastic tubes. However, this somewhat time-consuming and difficult additional process of transferring manually the tested SOIC packages from the plastic tubes to the metal tubes prior to performing the “burn-in” process suffers from several disadvantages. Due to the large volume of tubes that are assembled during shipping (i.e., more than 100 tubes), this extra step of transferring the SOIC packages creates the problem of requiring more assembly time. Further, there is the drawback of added labor costs for the production operation since there is needed additional manpower for performing the manual transfer process.
Thus, there has arisen a need of providing a means for use with the output track assembly of an IC test handler so as to eliminate the step of transferring tested SOIC packages loaded in the plastic tubes to metal tubes for a “burn-in” process. This is achieved in the present invention by the provision of a tube holder assembly which is operatively connected to an output track assembly of an IC test handler so as to directly transfer SOIC packages therefrom into either plastic tubes or metal tubes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a tube holder assembly for use with an output track assembly of an IC test handler which is relatively simple and economical to manufacture and assemble, but yet overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art test handlers.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tube handler assembly which eliminates the process of manually transferring of SOIC packages from plastic tubes to metal tubes.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a tube holder assembly which accommodates both plastic tubes and metal tubes so as to reduce the time-consuming process of loading the same and thus saving labor costs.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a tube holder assembly for directly transferring SOIC packages into either plastic tubes or metal tubes which is comprised of an output tube guide member, a tube holder member, a tube holder guide member, and a holder screw.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a tube holder assembly for use with an output track assembly of an IC test handler so as to eliminate the process of manually transferring of SOIC packages from plastic tubes to metal tubes. The tube holder assembly includes an output tube guide member operatively connected to the output track assembly of the IC test handler. The output tube guide member has a plurality of output tracks and is adapted to receive ones of plastic tubes and metal tubes. A tube holder guide member is operatively connected to the output tube guide member to support the tube holder member. The tube holder member is vertically slidable relative to the tube holder guide member between a lower position and an upper position.
The tube holder member is pushed downwardly into the lower position so as to load directly the SOIC packages into the plastic tubes and is raised to the upper position so as to load directly the SOIC packages into the metal tubes. There is provided screw means for releasably securing the tube holder member in the lower position so as to hold the tube holder member in a position with the plurality of output tracks of the output tube guide member when the SOIC packages are being loaded into the plastic tubes.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1709189 (1929-04-01), Radtke
patent: 4686816 (1987-08-01), Keller
patent: 5209047 (1993-05-01), Olson
patent: 5381641 (1995-01-01), Boja et al.

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