Vacuum collet with release weights

Details Vacuum collet with release weights Vacuum collet with release weights

1999-09-13

2001-08-07

Kramer, Dean J. (Department: 2167)

Handling: hand and hoist-line implements

Utilizing fluid pressure

Venturi effect

Reexamination Certificate

active

06270135

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vacuum collet for handling small components.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
During the production of certain semiconductor devices, it is often necessary to handle very small components. These components must be picked up and placed on the semiconductor devices accurately to ensure proper performance of the semiconductor devices. Currently, small components which are placed on semiconductor devices are picked and placed using an automated vacuum collet device. The collet device picks up the components from a production area, moves them to an area where the semiconductor devices are located, and places the components on the semiconductor devices. Examples of components transferred using a vacuum collet are laser bars and laser chips. Laser bars are elongate portions of laser material typically formed by cleaving a laser wafer. Laser chips are smaller portions of the laser bars, formed by cleaving the laser bar into small sections. Laser chips are used in semiconductor devices such as, for example, optical subassemblies (OSAs). An OSA uses the laser chip to project a laser beam towards a spherical lens which focuses the beam. When producing OSAs, both laser bars and laser chips must be accurately handled. The laser bars must be moved from an area where they are produced to an area where they are cleaved into a plurality of laser chips. The laser chips must then be moved from the area where they are produced to the surface of a substrate which forms the OSA. Currently, the picking and placing of the laser bars and laser chips is accomplished using a vacuum collet device. FIGS.
1
(
a
) and
1
(
b
) show a conventional vacuum collet device
10
including a vacuum collet
20
and an associated component
40
(e.g. laser bar, laser chip). The collet device
10
also includes a vacuum source
30
through which a vacuum is applied to the collet
20
. FIG.
1
(
a
) shows the collet
20
with no vacuum applied, and FIG.
1
(
b
) shows the vacuum collet
20
with vacuum applied. The vacuum created within the collet
20
draws the component
40
toward a bottom surface
21
of the collet and holds the component there as long as the vacuum remains applied. When the vacuum is deactivated, the component
40
sometimes falls away from the bottom face
21
of the collet
20
on its own. Often, however, the component
40
remains stuck to the bottom face
21
of the collet
20
. When this occurs, an operator must either remove the component
40
manually or activate a gas puff through the collet
20
, in the direction opposite of the vacuum, which forces the component
20
away from the collet. The mechanism for producing the gas puff is not shown in FIGS.
1
(
a
) and (
b
), however, it would typically be connected to the collet
20
through the same line as the vacuum. Removal of the components
20
manually can be very time-consuming. Further, removal by a gas puff has not always proven effective. The force of the gas puff often upsets other components in the area where the component being transferred is being placed.
Thus, there exists a need for a vacuum collet which allows easy and efficient removal of components from the collet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus for handling components which includes a vacuum tool and at least one weight disposed within the vacuum tool. The weight is movable within the vacuum tool to remove components from a face of the vacuum tool.
The above and other advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention which is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4650233 (1987-03-01), Mang et al.
patent: 4994240 (1991-02-01), Hayashi
patent: 5183670 (1993-02-01), Trudeau
patent: 5297830 (1994-03-01), Hoke
patent: 5385441 (1995-01-01), Swapp et al.
patent: 5456510 (1995-10-01), Coots et al.
patent: 5938211 (1999-08-01), Freund et al.
patent: 6065789 (2000-05-01), Nagai et al.
patent: 1-203193 (1989-08-01), None
Western Electric Technical Digest, No. 22, Apr. 1971.

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