Turret Component Handler for High-Speed Low-Wear Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing component handlers experience premature wear of cam and follower mechanisms due to high rotational speeds, leading to reduced lifespan and increased risk of component damage during high-speed processing.

Innovation Solution

A turret assembly with radially aligned end effectors that rotate about a horizontal axis, allowing continuous picking and placing of components between a support substrate and a transfer medium, minimizing friction and vibrations, and incorporating a motor-driven actuation mechanism for controlled rotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high rotational speeds are used in the flipper mechanism, then productivity is improved, but the cam and follower mechanism experiences premature wear and reduced lifespan

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovethroughputVSAvoidmechanical component lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional cam and follower mechanism with a direct-drive motor system. The motor is directly coupled to the flipper head, eliminating the need for cam profiles and follower contacts. This substitution removes the friction and wear problems inherent in cam-follower interfaces while maintaining the ability to achieve high rotational speeds for improved productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and removes the cam and follower mechanism from the system entirely. By eliminating these mechanical components, the patent eliminates the source of frictional forces and premature wear, allowing the system to operate at high speeds without compromising component lifespan.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If high rotational speeds are used in the flipper mechanism, then productivity is improved, but frictional forces increase causing mechanical stress

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovethroughputVSAvoidfrictional forces

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the cam-follower mechanical transmission system with a direct motor-driven system. This eliminates the frictional contact between cam surfaces and follower components, reducing mechanical stress while enabling high rotational speeds necessary for improved productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The motor is pre-positioned and directly coupled to the flipper head, eliminating the need for intermediate mechanical transmission elements. This preliminary configuration of the drive system prevents frictional forces from developing during operation, allowing high-speed operation without excessive mechanical stress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If traditional horizontal transfer is used, then device complexity is reduced, but component damage risk increases during high-speed processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransfer mechanism simplicityVSAvoidcomponent damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from horizontal component transfer to vertical transfer. The flipper head rotates within a vertical plane, picking components from a source substrate above and placing them on a target substrate below. This dimensional change reduces the transfer distance and minimizes centrifugal forces during high-speed operation, thereby reducing component damage risk while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention inverts the traditional horizontal transfer approach by implementing vertical transfer. Instead of moving components laterally between stations, the system moves them vertically through rotation in a vertical plane. This inversion reduces the harmful effects of high-speed rotation on component integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS12476130B2Component handler

Publication Date: 2025.11.18 SEMICON TECH & INSTR PTE LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a system (100) for handling components (102). The system (100) comprises a turret assembly (200) comprising a turret (202) rotatable about a horizontal axis (204); and a plurality of end effectors (206) around the turret (202) and aligned radially from the horizontal axis (204). The system (100) further comprises a support assembly (300) arranged to support a source substrate (302) comprising singulated components (102); and a component transfer assembly (400) arranged to support a component transfer medium (402) for receiving the singulated components (102) from the end effectors (206). The turret assembly (200), support assembly (300), and component transfer assembly (400) are arranged vertically to each other. During rotation of the turret (202), the end effectors (206) continually pick the singulated components (102) from the source substrate (302) and place the picked singulated components (102) on the component transfer medium (402).