JPH046615B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an IC magazine supply mechanism, and in particular, to a large IC handler, the present invention continuously supplies built-in ICs arranged inside an IC magazine (hereinafter simply referred to as a magazine). This invention relates to an improvement in an IC magazine supply mechanism suitable for supplying IC magazines.

[Conventional technology] Generally, in the factory of an IC manufacturer, after an IC chip is sealed in a package and its external shape is adjusted,
ICs are stored and handled in magazines. The IC is then delivered to an IC handler, IC inspection device, etc. via the magazine.

In addition, in the case of a DIP type with connection pins lined up on both sides,
In such handling, if the ICs are arranged and stored across the straddle-shaped runway in the magazine, it becomes very easy to supply the ICs to an IC handler that performs automatic inspection of the ICs, and to take them out from the IC handler.

In order to supply magazines for such handling, conventionally, magazines are taken out one by one from the bottom of a stacker in which a large number of magazines are vertically stacked, and the magazines are supplied to an IC handler or the like. In this case, the stacker is provided with means at its lower part for taking out and lowering the magazines one by one.

By the way, with the improvement in the degree of integration of ICs themselves and their multi-functionality, IC packages themselves have become larger, and along with the increase in usage, the number of product inspections has also increased, making it difficult to efficiently test a wide variety of products. It has become necessary to do so. As a result, IC handlers themselves tend to become larger.

Large IC handlers are generally tall, and their IC feeding section (IC receiving port) must be located at a high position.

[Problem to be solved] When the IC feed section is located at a high position, the position of the stacker etc. must be raised accordingly, and it is necessary to limit the height of the stacker, or increase the height of the stacker at a high position. In this case, the workability of setting the magazine in the stacker becomes poor, and a situation arises that conflicts with efficient inspection processing.

It is also conceivable to supply by lever method, but this has the drawback of complicating the mechanism.

[Purpose of the Invention] This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it solves the above-mentioned problems and also provides a method for efficiently handling magazines with good workability.
An object of the present invention is to provide an IC magazine feeding mechanism that can feed an IC magazine to an IC feeding section.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The means of the present invention for achieving such an object is to raise the IC magazine to the IC feeding section of the IC handler so that the longitudinal direction of the IC magazine is in the IC feeding section. Positioned in a plane that is almost perpendicular to the
By further raising the end of the IC magazine located on the opposite side of the IC feeding section and tilting the IC magazine, the IC inserted into the IC feeding section is sent out.

[Function] With this configuration, the IC feed section of the IC handler and the stacker position can be separated at the height position, and the stacker height can be freely set. As a result, large
In the case of an IC handler, even if the IC feeding section is located at a high position, the stacker does not need to be placed high, and the height of the stacker is not limited, allowing it to be placed in a position that facilitates workability. can. Therefore, efficient magazine supply is possible.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail using the drawings.

Figure 1 shows an IC of an embodiment to which this invention is applied.
The front view of the magazine supply device, Figure 2, shows its IC.
FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 3c, which are side views of the handler as seen from the IC feeding section side, are explanatory diagrams of the operation of feeding magazines from the stacker, respectively.

1 is a base (fixed part) of the IC magazine supply mechanism 10, and 2 is a gripping arm. This gripping arm 2 is attached to a support column 3 installed on the base 1.
It moves up and down using as a guide, and rotates upward from the horizontal position at the position of the IC feeding section 4 of the IC handler. The vertical movement mechanism is not shown in FIG. 1, but as shown in FIG. 3b, it is here performed by a belt movement mechanism.

Reference numeral 6 denotes an IC protrusion prevention plate fixed to the base 1, which faces the open end of the magazine 5 and prevents the IC built therein from ejecting while the magazine 5 is being gripped or moved upward.
The tip side thereof is located below the feeding side tip of the preheat chute 4a provided in the IC feeding section 4 on the IC handler side.

In addition, this IC protrusion prevention plate 6 has
A sensor bracket 7 (see FIG. 2) is fixed by a screw 8 (see FIG. 2), and the sensor bracket 7 is provided with an opening 7a at its upper portion for receiving the tip end of the magazine 5. This opening 7a is positioned in the IC feeding section 4.
Note that the sensor bracket 7 is
Optical sensor for detecting IC (its light emitting part 7
b) and a light receiving section 7c) are provided.

On the other hand, the tip of the preheat chute 4a on the feeding side is located in the IC feeding section 4 of the IC handler. Then, the gripping arm 2 of the IC magazine supply mechanism 10 rises and is positioned at a predetermined distance away from the tip of the feeding portion of the preheat chute 4a.

This preheating chute 4a is fixed inside the IC handler at a predetermined angle by a support member (not shown), and the pop-out prevention plate 6 is located at the tip of the feeding side of the preheating chute 4a, thereby preventing the IC magazine from being removed. The supply mechanism 10 is an IC
It is positioned so as to face the feeding section 4.

In such a configuration, the magazine 5 is moved to the IC feeding section of the IC handler and positioned in a plane in which the longitudinal direction of the IC magazine is substantially perpendicular to the IC feeding section.

Now, the magazine 5 is sent out from the stacker 11 (see Fig. 3), and held by the gripping arm 2.
One end located on the side of the IC feeding section 4 is clamped and held, and it rises using the support column 3 as a guide, and one end on the feeding end side of the gripping arm 2 is locked or the feeding end of the preheat chute 4a is held. At this position, one end of the magazine 5 on the side of the feeding section 4 is directly locked and its upward movement is stopped. Then, the gripping arm 2 further rises by a certain amount. As a result, the gripping arm 2 rises and rotates to rotate and tilt the end of the magazine 5 far from the feeding section 4 to an angle corresponding to the preheat chute 4a.

Here, the lock at one end of the gripping arm 2 on the feeding end side or the end of the magazine 5 on the feeding section 4 side is, for example, a stopper (not shown) provided at the top of the feeding section 4.
Alternatively, a guide rod with a roll is inserted into the tip of the gripping arm 2 on the feeding section 4 side, and the roll of this guide rod is used as a cam, and a groove provided parallel to the support column 3 is used as a cam groove, and the roll is fitted into this. This can be achieved by positioning and locking the closed end of this groove at a position corresponding to the feeding section 4, thereby preventing it from rising. Note that various methods of prevention can be considered, and the method is not limited to these.

As a result of the above, the magazine 5 is coupled to the preheat chute 4a, and the IC to be inserted is naturally dropped from the magazine 5 to the preheat chute 4a and supplied. The magazine 5 and the preheat chute 4a are connected to each other by directly arranging the straddle-shaped runway in the magazine 5 and the surface of the preheat chute 4a.

Now, the magazine 5 is composed of one stacker 11 arranged in parallel as shown in FIG. 3a.
These stackers 11a, 11b, 11c are sent out sequentially from stackers 11a, 11b, and 11c.
A plurality of magazines 5 are stacked on top of each other.
Then, by the action of a claw (not shown) provided at the bottom, the inner stacker 11a is opened as shown in FIG. 3a.
The magazines 5 are moved one by one to the lateral movement mechanism 12.
falls into the ditch.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3b, the magazine 5 that has fallen into the groove is moved laterally by the lateral movement mechanism 12, and the magazine 5 held in the notch groove 12a on the distal end side is moved by the gripping arm. It is grasped by 2. Next, when the lateral movement mechanism 12 descends downward, the two rear magazines 5 are moved to the stacker 11a,
Guide plate 13 arranged below 11b, 11c
This is what is left in the groove.

On the other hand, the gripping arm 2 receives the magazine 5 on the distal end side from the lateral movement mechanism 12 and holds it. Then, by driving the vertical movement mechanism 9, it rises,
It rises toward the position of the IC feeding section 4. Here, the gripping arm 2 has a sleeve 2a that fits into the support column 3.
It is rotatably supported from a horizontal position to an upper side. Moreover, 9a is a drive side pulley coupled to the drive motor of the vertical movement mechanism 9, and 9b
is the driven pulley located on the opposite side.

By the way, the IC magazine is tilted by preventing the upward movement of the gripping arm 2 or the end of the magazine 5 located on the side of the IC feeding section 4 and moving the magazine upward by a predetermined distance. The grip arm 2 itself may be rotated by a predetermined angle, and the mechanism for rotating the grip arm 2 can be rotated by a predetermined angle using a stepping motor or the like. Further, the rotation of the gripping arm 2 can be configured by various rotation mechanisms using a combination of a cam mechanism, an actuator, and the like.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3d, the lateral movement mechanism 12
is retracted from the position shown in FIG. 3c and then raised to the initial state shown in FIG. 3a. On the other hand, I.C.
The gripping arm 2 that has been raised to the IC feeding section 4 of the handler is locked at one end (or directly connected to the magazine 5).
As the gripping arm 2 rises further, it rotates in a trajectory of 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d as shown in FIG. It is joined to the chute 4a.

Now, with this configuration, the lateral movement mechanism 12
The position can be lower than the position of the IC feeding section 4 of the IC handler. Therefore, Stadka 11
The heights of a, 11b, and 11c can be set to the same position as before or even lower, regardless of the position of the feeding part, even if the feeding part is at a high position, and can be set to a position with good workability. can.

By the way, if the magazine is rotated upward from the horizontal position by gripping one end on the IC feeding section side as in this embodiment, the rotation stroke can be shortened, and the entire mechanism can be simplified and miniaturized. Furthermore, by gripping the magazine at one end on the IC feeding section side, even magazines of different lengths can be used in common, eliminating the need for adjustment of the device.

Further, as in the embodiment, by locking one end of the gripping arm or the magazine, it is possible to move upward and tilt in one stroke, which has the advantage of shortening the time required to supply ICs.

As described above, in the embodiment, the gripping arm grips and rotatably holds the end of the magazine 5 on the side of the IC feeding section, and is tilted to correspond to the preheat shoot of the IC handler. However, this may be done by grasping the rear end of the magazine, raising it higher than the feeding section of the IC handler, rotating it, and tilting it. Alternatively, the magazine may be tilted by gripping and rotating both ends of the magazine.

[Effects of the Invention] As can be understood from the above explanation, in this invention, the IC magazine is raised to the IC feeding section of the IC handler, and the longitudinal direction of the IC magazine is almost perpendicular to the IC feeding section. IC
By further raising the end side of the IC magazine located on the opposite side of the feeding section and tilting the IC magazine, the ICs inserted into the IC feeding section are fed out, making it easier for the IC handler to The IC feeding part and the stacker position can be separated, and the stacker height can be set freely.

As a result, in the case of large IC handlers, even if the IC feed section is located at a high position, the stacker does not need to be placed high, and the height of the stacker is not restricted, allowing for easy workability. can be placed in Therefore, efficient magazine supply is possible.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 shows an IC of an embodiment to which this invention is applied.
The front view of the magazine supply device, Figure 2, shows its IC.
A side view of the handler as seen from the IC feeding section side, and FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D are explanatory views of the operation of feeding magazines from the stacker, respectively. 1...Base, 2...Gripping arm, 3...Strut, 4...IC handler feeding section, 5...Magazine,
6...IC protrusion prevention plate, 7...sensor bracket, 8...screw, 9...vertical movement mechanism,
10...IC magazine supply mechanism, 11a, 11b,
11c...Statuka, 12...Lateral movement mechanism, 13
...Guide board.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Raise the IC magazine to the IC feeding section of the IC handler, position the IC magazine in a plane in which the longitudinal direction of the IC magazine is substantially perpendicular to the IC feeding section, and place the IC magazine in the IC feeding section. The end of the IC magazine located on the opposite side is further raised and the IC magazine is tilted to be inserted into the IC feeding section.
An IC magazine supply mechanism characterized by feeding out ICs. 2. The tilt of the IC magazine supports the IC magazine so as to be rotatable upward from a horizontal position, and prevents the end of the IC magazine located on the IC feeding section side of the IC handler from moving upward. 2. The IC magazine feeding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the IC magazine feeding mechanism is made by raising the magazine a predetermined distance above the IC magazine. 3. According to claim 1, the IC magazine is tilted by gripping its end located on the IC feeding section side and rotating the IC magazine around the gripped end. IC magazine supply mechanism.