Patent ID: 7603767
Filing Date: 2009-10-20
Classification: B25B,B25J,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of picking and placing a workpiece, the method comprising: providing a chuck having a block member defining a chuck face, a nozzle, an introduction passage in communication with said nozzle, a suction passage and a communication passage in communication with said suction passage and said nozzle; chucking a workpiece with said chuck; performing an operation on the workpiece after the chucking step; and unchucking said workpiece after said performing step, said chucking step includes simultaneously arranging the chuck face to contact said workpiece such that said suction chamber communicates with said workpiece and circulating positively pressurized gas from said introduction passage through said nozzle to suck out gas from inside said suction chamber through said communication passage and making said suction chamber a negative pressure to apply suction to said workpiece to thereby chuck said workpiece, said unchucking step lifting said negative pressure state of said suction chamber and unchucking said workpiece, said circulating of positively pressurized gas from said introduction passage through said nozzle being started before said arranging of the chuck face to contact said workpiece; wherein said positively pressurized gas is cleaned gas, and said chucking step ejects said positively pressurized gas after passing through said nozzle to surround a circumference of said workpiece.