Tray cable tie removal mechanism

Abstract

A tray cable tie removal mechanism is provided. [Solution] A tray cable tie removal mechanism for removing two cable ties 8 that bundle a tray set 81, comprising two pressing modules 3 and two release modules 4 spaced apart along a first direction X, each pressing module 3 comprising a pressing plate 31 that can align and contact the tray set 81 in a second direction Y, each release module 4 comprising a drive unit 41 spaced apart from each pressing module 3 and two release units 42 connected to the drive unit 41 so as to be spaced apart from each other along a second direction Y, the release units 42 being movable between a standby position and a release position along a second direction Y, and when the release unit 42 is in the release position, the two release units 42 of each release module 4 are driven by the drive unit 41 to press the cable ties 8 so as to be separated from each other along a second direction Y.

Description

Technical Field

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[0003] [[ID=X]] [[ID=X]]

[0001] [[ID=X]] The present invention relates to equipment applicable to semiconductor manufacturing, and specifically to a tray binding band removal mechanism. [[ID=X]]

Background Art

[0002] [[ID=X]] With the rapid progress of science and technology, the semiconductor industry in Taiwan plays an important role in the global related industries. In particular, for advanced packaging technologies, it occupies a certain proportion among the top ten packaging companies in the world. [[ID=X]] [[ID=X]]

[0003] [[ID=X]] In the conventional semiconductor packaging process, a plurality of chips cut out from a wafer are generally placed in a tray made of polypropylene to facilitate the transfer of the chips on the production line. To transfer more chips simultaneously on the production line, such trays are stacked and transported as a tray set. [[ID=X]] [[ID=X]]

[0004] [[ID=X]] In order to prevent the trays from falling off or separating from each other during the transportation of the tray set, a binding band is generally used to bundle the tray set to fix a plurality of trays. And before proceeding to the next process, it is necessary to remove the binding band in order to take out the chips from the tray. [[ID=X]] [[ID=X]]

[0005] [[ID=X]] The conventional method of manually removing the binding band has human errors and may also have drawbacks such as complex operations and manpower consumption in the operation. [[ID=X]] [[ID=X]]

[0006] [[ID=X]] and in view of this, Patent Document 1 discloses binding band removal equipment applicable to semiconductor manufacturing. [[ID=X]] [[ID=X]]

[0007] [[ID=X]] As shown in Figure 1, the cable tie removal equipment includes a removal device 9 for removing two cable ties 8, the removal device 9 being spaced apart from each other and including a plurality of operating parts 91 for pushing the two cable ties 8, a plurality of stoppers 92 installed corresponding to the plurality of operating parts 91, and two housing parts 93 defining two storage spaces 94 and in contact with the plurality of stoppers 92.

[0008] During use, the removal device 9 is operated using an automated mechanical arm, and the two binding bands 8 that bundle the tray set are pushed to the left and right (the right binding band 8 to the right and the left binding band 8 to the left) by multiple moving parts 91.

[0009] When the two cable ties 8 are pushed up to the upper area of ​​the housing section 93, the operation of the multiple operating parts 91 is stopped by the multiple stoppers 92, which means that the operation of pushing the two cable ties 8 stops.

[0010] In this process, the two cable ties 8 are removed from the tray set and each falls into its respective storage space 94 in the storage section 93, completing the process of removing the cable ties 8. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] Taiwan Patent No. I637893 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0012] However, in the process of removing cable ties using the cable tie removal equipment, there is a possibility that the position of the trays in the tray set may shift or the stacking may become disordered due to reasons such as uneven force being applied or inaccurate position detection, which could negatively affect subsequent production processes. Therefore, there is room to improve the conventional equipment.

[0013] The objective of the present invention is to provide a tray cable tie removal mechanism that allows for the removal of cable ties while simultaneously ensuring the integrity of the stacked trays. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] The present invention relates to a tray cable tie removal mechanism for removing two cable ties that bundle together a tray set in which multiple trays are stacked, A bottom plate on which the tray set is installed, Two pressing modules are installed on the bottom plate so as to be spaced apart from each other along the first direction, Includes two release modules installed on the bottom plate so as to be spaced apart from each other along the first direction, Each of the pressing modules includes pressing plates configured to be able to contact the tray set together in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, Each of the aforementioned release modules includes a drive unit spaced apart from each of the aforementioned press modules, and two release units connected to the drive unit so as to be spaced apart from each other along the second direction. The removal part can move between the standby position and the removal position along the second direction. The present invention provides a tray cable tie removal mechanism, characterized in that, during the process of the removal portion moving to the removal position, the two removal portions of each removal module are driven by the drive unit to press the cable tie while moving away from each other along the second direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the tray bundling band removal mechanism of the present invention, when the pressing plates of each pressing module abut against the tray set and the removal part of the removal module moves between the standby position and the removal position, while pushing the bundling band, each tray in the tray set can be fixed at a predetermined position by the pressing plate. Therefore, during the process until the bundling band is surely detached from the tray set, it is possible to prevent the situation where the arrangement of each tray in the tray set is disordered or the position is shifted.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] [Figure 1] It is a top view showing a conventional tray bundling band removal mechanism. [Figure 2] It is a top view showing an embodiment of the tray bundling band removal mechanism of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a top view showing two pressing modules and two removal modules of the above embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a top view showing that the removal part of the above embodiment is located at the standby position. [Figure 5] It is a top view showing the recovery unit of the above embodiment. [Figure 6] It is a side view showing that the removal part of the above embodiment is located at the removal position.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] In order to more clearly explain the object, technical means, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention, hereinafter, in combination with the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention, the technical means in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly explained. It will be apparent that the embodiments to be described are some embodiments of the present invention and not all embodiments. Usually, the components of the embodiments of the present invention depicted and shown in the accompanying drawings can be arranged and designed in various different arrangements. Therefore, hereinafter, the detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings does not constitute any limitation to the protection scope of the present invention, but only shows the selected embodiments of the present invention.

[0018] Before explaining the present invention in more detail, it should be noted that, if considered appropriate, reference numerals or the end portions of reference numerals are repeated between figures to indicate corresponding or similar elements, and these may optionally have similar characteristics.

[0019] In the description of the present invention, terms indicating orientation and positional relationships such as "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "left", "right", "front", and "rear" are based on the orientation and positional relationships shown in the drawings or the orientation and positional relationships customarily assumed when using the product of the present invention for the purpose of simpler and clearer explanation. They do not teach or imply that the corresponding devices or apparatuses have a specific orientation, structure, or operation in a specific orientation, and are not limitations on the present invention.

[0020] Also, in the description of the present invention, terms such as "first" and "second" are used only for the purpose of distinction and do not teach or imply relative importance.

[0021] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, one embodiment of the tray binding band removal mechanism of the present invention is for removing two binding bands 8 that bundle a tray set 81 in which a plurality of trays 80 are stacked. That is, one embodiment of the tray binding band removal mechanism of the present invention is applied to two spaced-apart binding bands 8 that bundle a tray set 81 in which a plurality of trays 80 are stacked, and performs the removal and recovery operations of the binding band 8.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the left-right direction of the drawing is defined as the first direction X, and the direction orthogonal to the left-right direction is defined as the second direction Y (that is, the second direction Y is orthogonal to the first direction X). The operation of this embodiment will be described in terms of movement along the first direction X or the second direction Y.

[0024] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, one embodiment of the tray cable tie removal mechanism of the present invention includes a bottom plate 1 on which a tray set 81 is installed; two fixing jigs 2 installed on the bottom plate 1 and configured to contact the tray set 81 so as to be spaced apart from each other along a first direction X; two sensors A installed on the bottom plate 1 so as to be spaced apart from each other along the first direction X; two pressing modules 3 installed on the bottom plate 1 so as to be spaced apart from each other along the first direction X; two release modules 4 extending in a direction parallel to a second direction Y and installed on the bottom plate 1 so as to be spaced apart from each other along the first direction X; two retrieval units 5 installed near opposite sides of the tray set 81 so as to be spaced apart from each other along the second direction Y; two position determination units 6 installed above the bottom plate 1 so as to be spaced apart from each other along the second direction Y; and a visual inspection module 7 installed above the bottom plate 1 for taking pictures of the tray set 81 from a height higher than the tray set 81.

[0025] In this embodiment, the two sensors A employ an optical sensing mechanism and together define a sensing line A0 that passes through the tray set 81 along the first direction X, thereby determining whether or not the tray set 81 is fixed to the fixing jig 2.

[0026] Note that in Figure 3, the visual inspection module 7 is not depicted in order to explain the operation of the pressing module 3 and the release module 4.

[0027] Each pressing module 3 includes a pressing plate 31 that is configured to be able to contact the tray set 81 in a harmonious manner in a second direction Y.

[0028] Each pressing plate 31 has a plate body 311 configured to be able to contact the tray set 81 together in a second direction Y, and two connecting parts 312 that extend along a first direction X and are connected to the plate body 311 so as to be spaced apart in the second direction Y, and which make the force received by the plate body 311 when it is pressed uniform.

[0029] Specifically, in this embodiment, the trays 80 can be stacked in 3 to 13 layers, so the vertical height of the plate body 311 of each pressing plate 31 must be greater than the vertical height of at least 13 layers of trays. Furthermore, the surface of the plate body 311 that contacts the tray set 81 is a plane that is aligned with the second direction Y and perpendicular to the first direction X. As a result, when the plate body 311 contacts the tray set 81 as shown in Figure 5, the trays 80 of each layer in the tray set 81 are aligned and do not shift in position, with each of the peripheral edges on both sides in the first direction X (i.e., both left and right sides in Figure 5) lying on a single plane in the second direction Y.

[0030] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, each release module 4 includes a drive unit 41 spaced apart from each pressing module 3, and two release units 42 connected to the drive unit 41 so as to be spaced apart from each other along a second direction Y.

[0031] The detachment part 42 can move between a standby position and a detachment position along the second direction Y.

[0032] Figure 4 shows the release portion 42 in the standby position. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, when the release portion 42 is in the standby position, each release portion 42 is configured to be located inside the cable tie 8. That is, the upper release portion 42 in the drawing is located below the upper cable tie 8, and the lower release portion 42 in the drawing is located above the lower cable tie 8.

[0033] Figures 5 and 6 show the detachment section 42 in the detachment position. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, as the detachment section 42 moves to the detachment position, the drive unit 41 drives the plate body 311 to contact the tray set 81, while the two detachment sections 42 of each detachment module 4 are driven by the drive unit 41 to push the cable ties 8 while moving away from each other along the second direction Y until the cable ties 8 are completely detached from the tray set 81 and fall into the recovery unit 5. That is, when the detachment section 42 is in the detachment position, the upper detachment section 42 in Figure 5 is positioned to push the upper cable tie 8 upward until it falls into the upper recovery unit 5, and the lower detachment section 42 in Figure 5 is positioned to push the lower cable tie 8 downward until it falls into the lower recovery unit 5.

[0034] In this embodiment, the drive unit 41 of the removal module 4 drives the movement of the removal unit 42 by a cylinder drive method, but the removal unit 42 can also be driven by motor operation, and the drive method is not limited to the above example.

[0035] Furthermore, the drive unit 41 is connected to the pressing module 3, in addition to being able to drive the removal unit 42, and uses gas pressure to adjust and drive the plate body 311 of the pressing plate 31 to press against the tray set 81.

[0036] In other words, the drive unit 41 can change the pressing force by adjusting the gas pressure in order to obtain the optimal fixing effect, depending on the configuration of the tray set 81 or the number of trays 80.

[0037] The retrieval unit 5 is for retrieving the removed cable ties 8, and as shown in Figure 6, each retrieval unit 5 includes a retrieval member 51 that defines a retrieval space 50 and at least one set of fullness sensors 52 installed in the retrieval space 50.

[0038] The collection member 51 is specifically a cable tie storage box, and the full sensor 52 is for sensing whether the collected cable ties 8 are overflowing from the collection space 50. In this embodiment, the full sensor 52 employs an optical sensing mechanism to sense whether the collected cable ties 8 exceed the capacity of the collection space 50.

[0039] Depending on the site requirements, the fullness sensors 52 of each collection unit 5 may be multiple in some embodiments, and the multiple fullness sensors 52 may be arranged horizontally at equal distances from each other along a first direction X to form a light curtain, to detect when the cable ties 8 fall into the collection space 50 and pile up irregularly.

[0040] The position determination unit 6 is for determining whether or not the cable tie 8 has come off the tray set 81, and as shown in Figure 3, each position determination unit 6 includes two position determination sections 61 that are spaced apart from each other along the first direction X.

[0041] Each position determination unit 61 is a photoelectric sensor that emits light along a first direction X from one another, such that a virtual sensing line 60 is formed in the opening that receives the cable tie 8 of the retrieval unit 5 located on the same side.

[0042] In this embodiment, the virtual sensing line 60 is formed by emitting infrared light and can sense whether or not the cable tie 8 has fallen.

[0043] In this embodiment, the position determination unit 61 of each position determination unit 6 is a photoelectric sensor, and a virtual sensing line 60 is formed by the emitted infrared rays. When the removal module 4 is activated and the cable tie 8 is pushed to the position of the virtual sensing line 60, the infrared rays on the virtual sensing line 60 are shielded. Then, when the cable tie 8 falls into the retrieval space 50 of the retrieval member 51 due to gravity, the state returns to one where the infrared rays on the virtual sensing line 60 are not shielded.

[0044] Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the cable tie 8 has definitely fallen off based on the condition of whether or not there is an infrared shielding signal on the virtual sensing line 60.

[0045] Also, referring to Figure 2, in this embodiment, the visual inspection module 7 primarily uses a CCD visual inspection system to support the inspection.

[0046] When the tray set 81 is placed on the bottom plate 1 and fixed in contact with the two fixing jigs 2, the visual inspection module 7 can read the barcode or two-dimensional code on the top of the tray set 81 and perform necessary processing and adjustments according to the important data written on the barcode or two-dimensional code.

[0047] Furthermore, when the tray set 81 is brought into contact with the two fixing jigs 2 and fixed in place, the visual inspection module 7 can be used to confirm whether the tray set 81 is securely placed on the bottom plate 1, and at the same time, it can also be confirmed whether the cable ties 8 are attached to the tray set 81.

[0048] Furthermore, the visual inspection module 7, in conjunction with the position determination unit 61, can confirm whether the cable tie 8 has been securely removed, thus providing a mechanism to confirm whether the tray cable tie removal mechanism of this embodiment is functioning correctly.

[0049] According to the above configuration, in one embodiment of the tray cable tie removal mechanism of the present invention, when the tray set 81 is securely fixed to the fixing jig 2, the removal part 42 of the removal module 4 pushes the cable tie 8 and at the same time the pressing plate 31 fixes each tray 80 of the tray set 81 in a predetermined position. This prevents the arrangement of each tray 80 in the tray set 81 from becoming disordered or shifting position during the process from when the cable tie 8 is securely removed from the tray set 81 until it falls into the collection unit 5.

[0050] Furthermore, the position determination unit 6 and the visual inspection module 7 allow for better confirmation of the removal status of the cable ties 8, and the fullness sensor 52 detects whether the recovery space 50 is full, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the production line.

[0051] Therefore, the objectives of the present invention can be reliably achieved.

[0052] The above embodiments are illustrative in illustrating the principles and effects of the present invention and do not limit it. A person skilled in the art can make some modifications and alterations to the above embodiments, provided that they do not deviate from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, all modifications and alterations made by a person skilled in the art, provided that they do not deviate from the spirit of the invention, should also be considered to fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0053] The tray cable tie removal mechanism of the present invention is suitable for removing cable ties while simultaneously ensuring the integrity of the stacked trays. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1 Bottom plate 2 Fixing fixture 3. Pressing Module 31 Pressing plate 311 Board body 312 Connection part 4. Removal module 41 Drive unit 42 Removal part 5 Recovery Unit 50 Recovery Space 51 Recovery component 52 Fullness detector 6. Position determination unit 60 virtual sensing lines 61 Position judgment part 7. Visual Detection Module 8 Cable ties 80 trays 81 Tray Set A Sensor A0 sensing line X First direction Y Second direction

Claims

1. A tray cable tie removal mechanism for removing two cable ties that bundle together a tray set in which multiple trays are stacked, A bottom plate on which the tray set is installed, Two pressing modules are installed on the bottom plate so as to be spaced apart from each other along the first direction, Includes two release modules installed on the bottom plate so as to be spaced apart from each other along the first direction, Each of the pressing modules includes a pressing plate configured to be able to contact the tray set together in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, Each of the aforementioned release modules includes a drive unit spaced apart from each of the aforementioned pressing modules, and two release units connected to the drive unit so as to be spaced apart from each other along the second direction. The removal part can move between the standby position and the removal position along the second direction. A tray cable tie removal mechanism, characterized in that, during the process of the removal part moving to the removal position, the two removal parts of each removal module are driven by the drive unit to press the cable tie while moving away from each other along the second direction.

2. The tray cable tie removal mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising two collection units for collecting the removed cable ties, which are located near opposite sides of the tray set so as to be spaced apart from each other along the second direction.

3. The tray cable tie removal mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising two fixing jigs installed on the bottom plate and configured to contact the tray set so as to be spaced apart from each other along the first direction.

4. The tray cable tie removal mechanism according to claim 3, further comprising two sensors spaced apart from each other along the first direction so as to jointly define a sensing line for determining whether or not the tray set is fixed to the fixing jig.

5. The tray cable tie removal mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising two position determination units positioned above the bottom plate so as to be spaced apart from each other along the second direction, for detecting whether or not the cable tie has come off the tray set.

6. The tray set is positioned near opposite sides of the tray set so as to be spaced apart from each other along the second direction, and further includes two collection units for collecting the removed cable ties, Each position determination unit includes two position determination sections arranged at intervals from each other along the first direction, The tray cable tie removal mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the two position determination units of each position determination unit are photoelectric sensors that emit toward each other in the first direction such that a virtual sensing line is formed in the opening of the retrieval unit that receives the cable tie, which is on the same side.

7. The tray cable tie removal mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that the collection unit includes a collection member that defines a collection space, and at least one full sensor installed in the collection space for sensing whether or not the collected cable ties have overflowed.

8. The tray binding band removal mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a visual inspection module installed above the bottom plate and for photographing the tray set from a higher altitude than the tray set.

9. Each of the pressing plates comprises a plate body configured to be able to contact the tray set in the second direction, The tray binding band removal mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that it has two connecting parts that extend along the first direction and are connected to the plate body such that they are spaced apart from each other in the second direction, and that make the force received by the plate body when pressed uniform.

10. The tray cable tie removal mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the drive units of the removal module is connected to the pressing module and drives each of the pressing plates of the pressing module to press against the tray set.

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