Conveyors – chutes – skids – guides – and ways – Chutes – Flexible wall
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-14
2001-02-13
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 3652)
Conveyors, chutes, skids, guides, and ways
Chutes
Flexible wall
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186305
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a device and a method for conveying electronic components including a feed rail in which a plurality of components arranged juxtaposed in a row are located in a guideway.
In conjunction with the present invention electronic components of various kinds, more particularly integrated circuits, may find application.
One such device is known from DE 35 39 973 A1. This known device comprises a pivotable feed rail with a guideway in which a row of components to be conveyed is accommodated. In such devices it is known to prevent tilting and back-ups in the feed rail by spring-loading the components in the feed rail and urging them against one side of the guideway. This spring covers the feed rail, thus preventing visual inspection of the components accommodated in the feed rail. In addition, despite the components being spring-loading tilting or back-ups may still occur, requiring a manual remedy. In addition, the spring-loading decelerates the components which may detriment smooth conveyance.
The object of the present invention is thus to provide a device and a method permitting improved guidance and reliably preventing and eliminating tilting or back-ups.
In accordance with the invention to achieve this object in a device of the aforementioned kind it is provided for that the device comprises a signal-controllable positioner for changing the cross-section of the guideway to prevent or eliminate tilting or back-ups of the components accommodated in the guideway.
The signal-controllable positioner permits a defined change in the cross-section of the guideway whilst eliminating a permanent spring-loading which hitherto detrimented smooth conveyance of the components. Furthermore, tilting or back-ups are prevented by changing the cross-section of the guideway since the components are repeatedly aligned relative to each other. Likewise, any tilting or back-ups having already occurred may be remedied by changing the size of the guideway, i.e. there now being no need for manual intervention to remedy tilting or back-ups.
Advantageous aspects and further embodiments of the invention read from the sub-claims.
Advantageously, the feed rail comprises an upper part and lower part defining between them the guideway, the positioner being suitable to change the spacing between upper part and lower part, thus resulting in the design of the feed rail being simplified since the upper part and the lower part can now be fabricated separately from each other and subsequently connected together.
In an advantageous further embodiment the positioner is suitable for urging the upper part of the feed rail against the lower part, thus resulting in the cross-section of the guideway being changed so that the components accommodated in the guideway are aligned on the lower part of the feed rail. The lower part itself may be configured fixed and applied to a host system.
In another advantageous aspect the device comprises a return element suitable for removing the upper part of the feed rail from the lower part. The signal-controllable positioner thus reduces the cross-section of the guideway whilst the return element increases it. The signal-controllable positioner thus merely needs to permit a controlled movement in one direction whilst for the return a separate return element is used, as a result of which the design and control of the device in accordance with the invention is simplified.
Advantageously the return element is arranged between the upper part and the lower part of the feed rail and configured as a spring element. In reducing the cross-section of the guideway this spring element is compressed, automatically increasing the size of the guideway as soon as the force applied by the positioner is removed. No separate control for increasing the size of the guideway is needed.
In accordance with another advantageous aspect the upper part is pivotally connected to the lower part via at least one joint. Complicated guides as would be necessary in shifting the upper part parallel to the lower part are now no longer needed.
To advantage, the upper part comprises windows permitting a visual inspection of the electronic components accommodated in the guideway.
In an advantageous first embodiment the upper part clasps the guideway completely, thus eliminating the need for any additional retaining and guiding element.
In accordance with a second advantageous embodiment the upper part clasps the guideway partially, a guide strip fixedly connected to the lower part being provided spaced away from the upper part to close off the guideway. In this aspect the mass moved is reduced. Furthermore, the clearance needed for movement of the upper part is reduced so that several devices in accordance with the invention may be arranged directly juxtaposed.
To advantage, the positioner is configured as a pneumatic positioner. Making use of a pneumatic positioner eliminates any formation of magnetic fields or interference electrical fields which could otherwise detriment testing of the electronic components when using electrically actuated positioners.
In another advantageous aspect the device comprises a stop, more particularly an adjustable stop for defining the maximum cross-section of the guideway, as a result of which the maximum size of the guideway can be adapted to the electronic components to be conveyed in each case.
Advantageously this stop is configured as a setscrew. Such setscrews are simple to fit at low cost and easy to set precisely.
In accordance with yet another aspect the invention relates to a method for conveying electronic components, wherein a plurality of components arranged juxtaposed in a row is accommodated, this relating more particularly to a method for operating a device as described at the outset.
In accordance with the invention it is provided for in this method that the cross-section of the guideway is changed by a signal-controllable positioner to prevent or eliminate tilting or back-ups of the components accommodated in the guideway.
In a first embodiment of the method it is provided for that the cross-section of the guideway is changed continually between a minimum value and a maximum value. The size of the guideway changes continually so that tilting or back-ups in the guideway are eliminated.
In accordance with a second embodiment the cross-section of the guideway is changed discontinually between a minimum value and a maximum value, the cross-section of the guideway thus remaining unchanged over a predetermined period of time before then being changed and reassumming the original value. This abrupt change in the guideway prevents tilting or back-ups of the components. In addition, any tilting or back-ups already having occurred are remedied.
To advantage, changing the cross-section of the guideway is done in predetermined time intervals. These time intervals are established empirically and may amount to five seconds, for example. The time intervals are selected so small that tilting or back-ups cannot occur, thus preventing any standstill of the conveyance of the electronic components. As a precautionary measure the change in the cross-section of the guideway is made in the predetermined time intervals so that there is no tendency for tilting or back-ups to occur.
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Olszewski Robert P.
Stevens Davis Miller & Mosher LLP
Tran Thuy V.
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