Patent ID: 9620398
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: H01L

Claim:
1. An apparatus for handling components, comprising: a first structure having a hollow therein; a second structure coupled to the first structure thereby defining a chamber between the first structure and the second structure and within which a vacuum pressure is applied, the chamber extending into the hollow of the first structure, the chamber being connected to a source of vacuum which can be regulated and controlled; a plurality of pick-up heads carried by the second structure, each of the pick-up heads having an airway therein, through which fluid is communicable from the pick-up head into the chamber and by which vacuum pressure is applied to attach and hold a component to the pick-up head; and a set of plungers, each plunger having a channel therethrough, each plunger disposed at a predetermined plunger position on the first structure, each plunger being displaceable within the chamber between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein when a first plunger within the set of plungers is at the retracted position fluid communication between the chamber and a selected pick-up head of said plurality of pick-up heads aligned with the plunger position of the first plunger is not impeded, and wherein when the first plunger within the set of plungers is at the extended position, (a) fluid communication between the vacuum chamber and the selected pick-up head of said plurality of pick-up heads aligned with the plunger position of the first plunger is impeded, (b) a fluid purge is applied through the channel of the first plunger into the airway of the selected pick-up head of said plurality of pick-up heads to detach the component held by the selected pickup-head of said plurality of pick-up heads from the selected pick-up head of said plurality of pick-up heads, and (c) vacuum pressure within the chamber and within the airways of pick-up heads of said plurality of pick-up heads other than the selected pick-up head of said plurality of pick-up heads remains substantially unchanged.