JPH046616B2 - - 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 placed at a high position, the position of the stacker etc. must be raised accordingly, and the height of the stacker must be restricted or the height of the stacker placed at a high position must be increased. In this case, the workability of setting the magazine in the stacker becomes poor, creating a situation that is inconsistent 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 the above object includes a movement preventing means provided corresponding to the IC feeding section of the IC handler, and a movement preventing means for moving the IC magazine from a horizontal position. It is equipped with a magazine gripping mechanism that grips the magazine so that it can rotate upward, and a movement mechanism that moves this gripping mechanism up and down.The movement mechanism raises the gripping mechanism and moves the IC magazine to the IC feeding section of the IC handler. position the IC magazine in a plane where the longitudinal direction is substantially perpendicular to the IC feeding section, and engage the end of the IC magazine or the gripping mechanism with the movement prevention means.
Preventing upward movement of the end of the IC magazine located on the IC feeding section side, and raising the IC magazine a predetermined distance upward to tilt the IC magazine;
The interpolated IC is sent to the IC sending section.

[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. Furthermore, since a movement blocking means is provided, the magazine can be supplied to the IC handler side with a single upward movement, allowing for efficient inspection processing. 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

[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.
Figure 3 is a side view of the handler as seen from the IC feeding section side; Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the movement mechanism that moves the gripping arm up and down; Figures 4a, b, and c are illustrations of the operation of feeding the magazine from the stacker. Explanatory diagram, and the fifth
The figure is an explanatory diagram of another vertical movement mechanism corresponding to FIG. 3.

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
The sensor bracket 7 (see Figure 2) is attached to the screw 7a.
(See FIG. 2), and the sensor bracket 7 is provided with an opening 7b in its upper portion for receiving the leading end of the magazine 5. The IC feeding section 4 is positioned in this opening 7b. The sensor bracket 7 is provided with an optical sensor (its light emitting section 7c and light receiving section 7d) for detecting the IC being sent out.

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. 4), and held by the gripping arm 2.
One end of the gripping arm 2 located on the side of the IC feeding section 4 is held in a pinched manner and ascends using the pillar 3 as a guide, and one end of the gripping arm 2 on the feeding end side is provided near the IC feeding section 4. It is locked by the stopper 8 (or one end of the magazine 5 on the IC feeding section 4 side is directly locked by the stopper 8 at the feeding end position of the guide rail 4a), 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, allowing the magazine 5 to reach an angle corresponding to the guide rail 4a.
The end farthest from the IC feeding section 4 is rotated and tilted.

As a result of the above, the magazine 5 is coupled to the guide rail 4a, and the inserted IC is naturally dropped from the magazine 5 to the guide rail 4a and supplied. In addition, the magazine 5 and the guide rail 4a are connected so that the straddle-shaped runway in the magazine 5 and the surface of the guide rail 4a are linearly arranged.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 3, the gripping arm 2 is moved up and down by the drive of the vertical movement mechanism 9 toward the position of the IC feeding section 4, and when descending, it moves as shown in FIG. 4b. It stops at the position where it receives the magazine 5 to be viewed. Here, the gripping arm 2 is supported so as to be rotatable upward from a horizontal position relative to a sleeve 2a that fits into the support column 3.

Note that 9a is a drive pulley connected to the drive motor of the vertical movement mechanism 9, and 9b is a driven pulley located on the opposite side. A stopper 8 positioned at a position corresponding to the IC feeding section 4 is fixed to the upper part of the frame 90 of the vertical movement mechanism 9 with a screw.

This stopper 8 is in this position when the gripping arm 2
Lock one end of the feeding end of the magazine 5 (or the end of the magazine 5 on the IC feeding section 4 side), and then lock the gripping arm 2 (or the IC feeding section of the magazine 5) that has been raised to the IC feeding section 4 of the IC handler. The upward movement of one end (4 side end) is prevented, and the gripping arm 2 is further raised, thereby rotating the gripping arm 2.

As a result, the magazine 5 becomes 5 as shown in FIG.
A, 5b, 5c, and 5d, it rotates in a trajectory and joins the guide rail 4a at its straddle-shaped runway.

Now, the magazine 5 is composed of one stacker 11 arranged in parallel as shown in FIG. 4a.
These stackers 11a, 11b, 11c are sent out sequentially from stackers 11a, 11b, 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 lower part, the inner stacker 11a is opened as shown in FIG. 4a.
The magazines 5 are moved one by one to the lateral movement mechanism 12.
falls into the ditch.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4b, 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.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4d, the lateral movement mechanism 12
moves back from the position shown in FIG. 4c and then rises to the initial state shown in FIG. 4a. On the other hand, I.C.
When the gripping arm 2 has risen to the IC feeding section 4 of the handler, one end is locked by the stopper 8 (or the end of the magazine 5 on the side of the IC feeding section 4 is locked), and the gripping arm 2 is prevented from rising further. The magazine 5 is rotated and joined to the guide rail 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.

FIG. 5 shows another vertical movement mechanism 91, in which a gripping arm 20 is cam-engaged with a groove in place of the stopper 8 to transport the ICs of the magazine 5. This prevents one end of the entrance portion 4 from rising.

In the figure, the gripping arm 20 is driven by a belt-type vertical movement mechanism shown in FIG. It has a protruding end portion 21 that protrudes from. A roller 22 (indicated by a broken line) is pivotally attached to the tip of the protruding end 21 .

On the other hand, a frame 31 is further provided on the base 1 in parallel with the support column 30.
1 is attached to a grooved guide plate 32, and the groove 33 is parallel to the support 30 and has a horizontal elongated groove 33a at a position corresponding to the upper part of the IC feeding section 4 of the IC handler. It's getting clogged.

The roller 22 is fitted into this groove 33, and when the gripping arm 20 rises, the end of the gripping arm 20 on the side of the IC feeding section 4 is IC is locked
At the position of the feeding section 4, the gripping arm 20 is positioned so as to be inclined at a predetermined corresponding angle and join the guide rail 4a, as shown by the broken line.

In this way, the IC magazine is tilted by preventing the upward movement of the gripping arms 2, 20 or the end of the magazine 5 located on the side of the IC feeding section 4 and moving the magazine 5 upward by a predetermined distance. However, the mechanism for rotating the gripping arms 2, 20 can be configured with various rotation mechanisms using a combination of a cam mechanism, an actuator, and the like. Various methods can be considered for blocking one end of the gripping arm or the magazine, and are not limited to the stopper or groove described above.

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, by locking one end of the gripping arm or the magazine, it is possible to move upward in one stroke and even tilt it, 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 IC feeding section side, and is tilted to correspond to the guide rail of the IC handler. However, this may be done by gripping the rear end of the magazine, raising it higher than the IC feeding section of the IC handler, rotating it, and tilting it. Alternatively, the magazine may be held and rotated at two or more points so that the magazine is tilted.

[Effects of the Invention] As can be understood from the above description, in the present invention, the movement prevention means provided corresponding to the IC feeding section of the IC handler and the movement prevention means that rotate the IC magazine upward from the horizontal position It is equipped with a magazine gripping mechanism that can grip the magazine, and a movement mechanism that moves this gripping mechanism up and down.The movement mechanism raises the gripping mechanism and moves the IC magazine to the IC feeding section of the IC handler. Positioned in a plane where the longitudinal direction is almost perpendicular to the IC feeding part, and used as a movement prevention means.
IC by engaging the end of the IC magazine or gripping mechanism
preventing upward movement of an end side of the magazine located on the IC feeding section side, and raising the IC magazine a predetermined distance upward to tilt the IC magazine;
Since the interpolated IC is sent to the IC sending section, the IC sending section of the IC handler and the position of the stacker can be separated, and the height of the stacker can be set freely. Furthermore, since a movement prevention means is provided, the magazine can be supplied to the IC handler side with one stroke, allowing for efficient inspection.

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

[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; Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the movement mechanism that moves the gripping arm up and down; Figures 4a, b, c, and d respectively supply magazines from the stacker. An explanatory diagram of the operation, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of another vertical movement mechanism corresponding to FIG. 3. 1... Base, 2, 20... Gripping arm, 3,
30... Support column, 4... IC handler, 4a... Guide rail, 5... Magazine, 7... IC pop-out prevention plate, 7... Sensor bracket, 7a
... Screw, 8 ... Stopper, 9, 90 ... Vertical movement mechanism, 9a ... Drive side pulley, 9b ... Driven side pulley, 9c ... Belt, 10 ... IC magazine supply mechanism, 11a, 11b, 11c ...Statska, 12... Lateral movement mechanism, 13... Guide plate.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Movement prevention means provided corresponding to the IC feeding section of the IC handler, a magazine gripping mechanism that grips the IC magazine so as to be able to rotate upward from a horizontal position;
Equipped with a moving mechanism that moves this gripping mechanism up and down,
The moving mechanism raises the gripping mechanism to move the IC magazine to an IC feeding section of an IC handler and positioning the IC magazine in a plane in which the longitudinal direction of the IC magazine is substantially perpendicular to the IC feeding section; The end of the IC magazine or the gripping mechanism is engaged with the movement preventing means to prevent the end of the IC magazine located on the IC feeding section side from moving upward, and the IC is moved upward by a predetermined distance. An IC magazine supply mechanism characterized in that the IC magazine is tilted by raising the magazine, and the inserted ICs are sent out to the IC feeding section. 2. The movement blocking means is a groove with one end closed, and the gripping mechanism has a member that engages with the groove and rises in response to the groove, and the closed end of the groove allows the gripping mechanism to 2. The IC magazine supply mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the IC magazine feeding mechanism is prevented from moving upward on the end of the feeding section.