Patent ID: 7293354
Filing Date: 2007-11-13
Classification: H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A fixture for holding a plurality of columns responsive to an applied vacuum and for subsequently positioning the columns on predetermined sites on a substrate, said fixture comprising: a body having an exterior surface comprising a principal face; an internal chamber in said body beneath said principal face, said internal chamber having a space bounded by first and second surfaces extending substantially parallel to said principal face; a plurality of receiving holes extending through said body from said principal face to said first surface of said internal chamber, and said plurality of receiving holes being configured for receiving and seating said columns on underlying portions of said second surface of said internal chamber; a plurality of vacuum ducts extending respectively from each of a plurality of ports located in said second surface of said internal chamber to said exterior surface of said fixture and to a vacuum source for extracting air from said internal chamber; wherein each of said receiving holes is positioned over a respective uninterrupted, substantially flat portion of said second surface of said chamber to provide seating for an interior end of the column received therein, and wherein each of said ports in said second surface is laterally displaced with respect to any of said receiving holes in said first surface, and wherein said second surface and said first surface of said internal chamber are spaced apart a relatively small distance as compared to the length of said receiving holes to provide an internal chamber having a height substantially less than the length of said receiving holes to thereby minimize tilting of said columns in their receiving holes.