Random-period chip transfer apparatus

• US 20040154161A1
• Filed: 10/02/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hallys Corporation
• Original Assignee: Hallys Corporation
• Inventors: Nishigawa, Ryoichi, Aoyama, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,278,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/739
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 29/00 Rotary conveyors, e.g. rotating discs, arms, star-wheels or cones mechanical projectors B65G31/00; screw or rotary spiral conveyors B65G33/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/848 the article-engaging elements being suction or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1914 Cards, e.g. telephone, credit and identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07718 the record carrier being manufactured in a continuous process, e.g. using endless rolls
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0775 arrangements for connecting the integrated circuit to the antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67132 Apparatus for placing on an insulating substrate, e.g. tape
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67144 Apparatus for mounting on conductive members, e.g. leadframes or conductors on insulating substrates
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/02 Feeding of components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53039 with control means energized in response to activator stimulated by condition sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5313 Means to assemble electrical device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53174 Means to fasten electrical component to wiring board, base, or substrate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53178 Chip component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53191 Means to apply vacuum directly to position or hold work part

Abstract

A chip transfer apparatus includes a first carrier for feeding chips and a second carrier for carrying works on it. The transfer apparatus also includes a transfer engine including two or more coaxial revolvers, which can revolve coaxially with each other. Each of the coaxial revolvers includes an end-effector for receiving a chip from the first carrier and transferring the received chip onto a work on the second carrier. The end-effectors of the coaxial revolvers are arranged in a circle coaxial with the revolvers. The end-effectors sequentially receive chips from the first carrier at substantially zero speed relative to the first carrier and transfer the received chips onto works on the second carrier at substantially zero speed relative to the second carrier. While the end-effectors are revolving, they undergo periodic speed change control for timing adjustment and speed adjustment for the chip reception and transfer.

Claims

1. A chip transfer apparatus for transferring chips onto works, the apparatus comprising:

a first carrier for carrying chips thereon;

a second carrier for carrying works thereon;

a plurality of end-effectors receiving chips from said first carrier and transferring the chips onto the works carried by the second carrier;

a plurality of coaxial revolvers, each of which has said one end-effector, and can revolve around one common axis independently; and

servo drives, each of which drives each of said coaxial revolvers to independently and randomly change periodic revolving speed of each coaxial revolver;

wherein each of said end-effectors is inseparably mounted on each of said coaxial revolvers and distributed in one common circle around said axis,

wherein each of said end-effectors moves sequentially keeping their order by the action of said servo drives,

and is synchronized with said first carrier movement to receive a chip from said first carrier at substantially zero speed relative to said first carrier,

and is synchronized with said second carrier movement to transfer said received chip onto the work on said second carrier at substantially zero speed relative to the second carrier,

and is independently changed its revolving speed during the periodic motion including said receiving and transferring motion.

2. The transfer apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said coaxial revolvers includes a coaxial bearing arranged in order in the axial direction having an inner race fixed to an outer race of the coaxially adjacent bearing, and having an outer race fixed to an inner race of the coaxially adjacent another bearing;

the inner race of the bearing on one end side being fixed to an outer race of an additional bearing which inner race is fixed to one fixed side and the outer race of the bearing on the other end side being fixed to the other fixed side;

each of said end-effectors being inseparably fixed to the inner race of the associated bearing, and the outer race of the associated bearing being activated by a rotational driving force of each of said servo drives.

3. The transfer apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the coaxial revolvers is individually and independently made its periodic speed change and phase control by the operation of the associated servo drive.

4. The transfer apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising:

a measuring unit for measuring the speed of the chip carried on the first carrier and/or the speed of the work carried on the second carrier;

the servo drives being operated on the basis of the measurement result of the measuring unit.

5. The transfer apparatus according to claim 3 wherein, even if the first and second carriers move at different speeds, each of the end-effectors receives a chip from the first carrier at substantially zero speed relative to the first carrier synchronized with the first carrier movement, and transfers the received chip onto a predetermined position of the work on the second carrier at substantially zero speed relative to the second carrier synchronized with the second carrier movement.

6. The transfer apparatus according to claim 5 wherein each of the first and second carriers is a rotating cylinder or a conveyor belt.

7. The transfer apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the chips are electronic parts, and wherein the works are IC card parts or RF tag parts in the form of sheets.