Method and apparatus for affixing components to a substrate when a manufacturing line ceases operation
First Claim
1. In an apparatus enclosing a portion of a substrate having a plurality of circuits, a method for affixing at least one component to a corresponding one of the plurality of circuits, comprising the steps of:
- indexing the substrate periodically through the apparatus a distance equal to at least one of the plurality of circuits;
dividing the portion of the substrate enclosed by the apparatus into a plurality of controllable temperature zones,wherein each controllable temperature zone encloses at least one of the plurality of circuits, andwherein the plurality of controllable temperature zones, under normal operating conditions, maintain different selectable temperature profiles, which together correspond to a predetermined temperature profile adequate for affixing the at least one component to the corresponding one of the plurality of circuits as it is indexed through the plurality of controllable temperature zones; and
dynamically adjusting the temperature of each of the plurality of controllable temperature zones upon the indexing step ceasing to operate, until the at least one component of each circuit enclosed by the apparatus has been adequately affixed to its corresponding circuit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (400) enclosing a portion of a substrate (401) is used for affixing at least one component to a corresponding circuit of the substrate when a manufacturing line (800) ceases to operate. The apparatus includes a conveyor (400), heating elements (102), and a controller (816) for controlling operation of the apparatus (400). The conveyor is used for indexing the substrate periodically through the apparatus. The heating elements are used for dividing the portion of the substrate enclosed by the apparatus into controllable temperature zones (902). The controller is adapted to cause each of the plurality of heating elements to dynamically adjust the temperature of each of the controllable temperature zones upon the indexing process of the manufacturing line (800) ceasing to operate, until at least one component of each circuit enclosed by the apparatus has been adequately affixed to its corresponding circuit.
11 Citations
23 Claims
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1. In an apparatus enclosing a portion of a substrate having a plurality of circuits, a method for affixing at least one component to a corresponding one of the plurality of circuits, comprising the steps of:
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indexing the substrate periodically through the apparatus a distance equal to at least one of the plurality of circuits; dividing the portion of the substrate enclosed by the apparatus into a plurality of controllable temperature zones, wherein each controllable temperature zone encloses at least one of the plurality of circuits, and wherein the plurality of controllable temperature zones, under normal operating conditions, maintain different selectable temperature profiles, which together correspond to a predetermined temperature profile adequate for affixing the at least one component to the corresponding one of the plurality of circuits as it is indexed through the plurality of controllable temperature zones; and dynamically adjusting the temperature of each of the plurality of controllable temperature zones upon the indexing step ceasing to operate, until the at least one component of each circuit enclosed by the apparatus has been adequately affixed to its corresponding circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus enclosing a portion of a substrate having a plurality of circuits for affixing at least one component to a corresponding one of the plurality of circuits, comprising:
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a conveyor for indexing the substrate periodically through the apparatus a distance equal to at least one of the plurality of circuits; a plurality of heating elements for dividing the portion of the substrate enclosed by the apparatus into a plurality of controllable temperature zones, wherein each controllable temperature zone encloses at least one of the plurality of circuits; and a controller for controlling operation of the apparatus, the controller adapted to; cause the conveyor to index the substrate through the apparatus; cause each of the plurality of heating elements, under normal operating conditions, to maintain different selectable temperature profiles, which together correspond to a predetermined temperature profile adequate for affixing the at least one component to the corresponding one of the plurality of circuits as it is indexed through the plurality of controllable temperature zones; and cause each of the plurality of heating elements to dynamically adjust the temperature of each of the plurality of controllable temperature zones upon the indexing step ceasing to operate, until the at least one component of each circuit enclosed by the apparatus has been adequately affixed to its corresponding circuit. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. In an apparatus enclosing a portion of a plurality of substrates, each substrate having at least one circuit, a method for affixing at least one component to a corresponding circuit of a substrate, comprising the steps of:
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indexing the plurality of substrates periodically through the apparatus a distance equal to at least one of the plurality of substrates; dividing the portion of the plurality of substrates enclosed by the apparatus into a plurality of controllable temperature zones, wherein each controllable temperature zone encloses at least one of the plurality of substrates, and wherein the plurality of controllable temperature zones, under normal operating conditions, maintain different selectable temperature profiles, which together correspond to a predetermined temperature profile adequate for affixing the at least one component to the corresponding circuit of the substrate as it is indexed through the plurality of controllable temperature zones; and dynamically adjusting the temperature of each of the plurality of controllable temperature zones upon the indexing step ceasing to operate, until the at least one component of each substrate enclosed by the apparatus has been adequately affixed to its corresponding circuit.
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Specification