Abstract:
In handling electronic components during manufacturing or other processing, circuit devices are retained within a dual in-line processing (DIP) tube by inserting and securing DIP pins at each end of the DIP tube. The DIP pin apparatus inserts DIP pins into holes of DIP tubes by pressing a DIP pin positioned within a lower slot of a lower plate of the apparatus into a hole of a DIP tube. The DIP pin apparatus removes DIP pins from the holes of DIP tubes by lifting a DIP pin from under its head and removing the DIP pin from the DIP tube. By using the DIP pin apparatus in the handling of electronic components, the adverse effects of operator fatigue, component damage, and production inefficiencies are reduced.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus used in the handling of electronic components during manufacturing or other processing. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Integrated circuit devices are often transported from one location to another in a plastic tube referred to as a dual in-line package (DIP) tube. 
     FIG. 1 shows a DIP tube  100  carrying integrated circuit devices  110  and two DIP pins  120 . The DIP tube  100  has two holes  130 ,  140 . One DIP pin is shown fully inserted within one hole  130  of the tube, and the other DIP pin is positioned for insertion into the other hole  140  of the tube. 
     FIG. 2 shows a plastic DIP pin  120  having a head  200 , a stem  210 , and a semi-rigid loop base  220 . The loop base  220  is flexible enough such that the loop base may be positioned into a DIP tube hole whose diameter is smaller than the loop base width  230  of the DIP pin  120  without breaking, cracking, or permanently deforming the loop base  220  of the DIP pin  120 . Once inserted, the loop base reforms to its original shape and the DIP pin remains inserted until it is forcibly removed from the hole of the DIP tube by pulling upwards on the head  200  of the DIP pin. 
     Typically, a removable DIP pin is first inserted into a DIP tube hole on one end of the DIP tube. Then, an operator inserts one or more integrated circuit devices into the open end of the DIP tube which is devoid of a DIP pin. Next, once the operator has completed inserting the circuit devices into the DIP tube, a second removable DIP pin is inserted into the hole at the open end of the DIP tube. The DIP pins at both ends of the DIP tube retain the circuit devices within the DIP tube. The circuit devices in the DIP tube may then be transported by moving the DIP tube from one location to another. The circuit devices may then be removed from the DIP tube by removing at least one of the DIP pins and sliding the circuit devices out of the DIP tube. The process of inserting and removing DIP pins into and from DIP tubes is typically performed manually many hundreds of times a day by any single operator. 
     To insert a DIP pin into a hole, a DIP pin is positioned over the hole and downward pressure is then applied to the head of the DIP pin to force the loop base to temporarily deform such that the DIP pin may be inserted into the hole. Due to the small size of the DIP pin and the DIP tube hole, it is often difficult for operators to adequately align the DIP pin with the DIP tube hole and concurrently apply pressure to securely insert the DIP pin. Typically, an operator first aligns the DIP pin with the DIP tube hole by manually aligning the DIP pin over the DIP tube hole. The operator uses one hand to hold the DIP pin at the DIP tube hole by “pinching” the DIP pin with his fingers or by using tweezers. Then the operator grasps a block or other tool in his other hand and hammers the DIP pin into the DIP tube hole. Such a maneuver may cause damage to the DIP pin, the DIP tube, and/or circuit devices within the DIP tube, any one of which will cause delays in the processing cycle. 
     An operator may remove a DIP pin from a DIP tube hole by manually pulling on the DIP pin head. Typically, an operator removes a DIP pin from a DIP tube hole by holding the DIP tube in place with one hand and placing his fingernails of the other hand under the DIP pin head and pulling upward. In other situations, an operator may use pliers, or a similar grasping tool, to grasp the DIP pin head before pulling upward and away from the DIP tube. In each situation, the operator needs to exert enough force on the DIP pin to enable the semi-rigid loop base to deform and pass through the DIP tube hole. In exerting such force, the operator may be caught “off-guard” when the DIP pin is completely removed from the DIP tube hole such that circuit devices are accidentally spilled from the tube and damaged. Additionally, operators often break their fingernails, the DIP tube, or may damage or lose the DIP pin during such a maneuver. The results of these removal actions, likewise, cause delays in the processing cycle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an apparatus which resolves the problems of delays in the processing cycle that are caused by an operator forcibly inserting or removing DIP pins into or from DIP tubes. The invention provides an operator a tool with which the operator can apply an downward or an upward force on a DIP pin to insert or remove the DIP pin into or from a DIP tube hole without damaging the DIP pin, DIP tube, or circuit devices inside the DIP tube. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention comprises an apparatus for inserting a DIP pin into a hole in a DIP tube and for removing the DIP pin from the hole in the DIP tube, wherein the DIP pin has a head and a loop interconnected by a stem. The apparatus comprises a frame, a rod slidably connected to the frame, and a lever pivotally connected to the frame such that pivoting the lever with respect to the frame causes the rod to slide with respect to the frame. A lower end of the rod of the apparatus has an extension having a lower plate with a slot extending to an edge of the plate, the lower plate defines a clearance with respect to the lower end of the rod, the height of the clearance is greater than the thickness of the head of the DIP pin, and the slot is wider than the stem of DIP pin and narrower than the head of the DIP pin, such that the DIP pin can be configured onto the extension, whether or not the DIP pin is already inserted into the DIP tube, by sliding the stem of the DIP pin into the slot in the lower plate of the extension with (1) the head of the DIP pin positioned above the lower plate and within the clearance between the lower plate and the lower end of the rod and (2) the loop of the DIP pin below the lower plate. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention comprises an attachment to configure a device to function as an apparatus for inserting a DIP pin into a hole in a DIP tube and for removing the DIP pin from the hole in the DIP tube, wherein: the DIP pin has a head and a loop interconnected by a stem; the device has a frame, a rod slidably connected to the frame, and a lever pivotally connected to the frame such that pivoting the lever with respect to the frame causes the rod to slide with respect to the frame; and the attachment comprises a lower plate with a slot extending to an edge of the plate, such that, when the attachment is configured onto a lower end of the rod, the attachment forms an extension at the lower end of the rod, wherein: the lower plate defines a clearance with respect to the lower end of the rod, wherein the height of the clearance is greater than the thickness of the head of the DIP pin; and the slot is wider than the stem of DIP pin and narrower than the head of the DIP pin, such that: the DIP pin can be configured onto the extension, whether or not the DIP pin is already inserted into the DIP tube, by sliding the stem of the DIP pin into the slot in the lower plate of the extension with (1) the head of the DIP pin positioned above the lower plate and within the clearance between the lower plate and the lower end of the rod and (2) the loop of the DIP pin below the lower plate. 
     As used herein, the term “punch-tool” includes devices such as minitools, ink and dye press tools, pressure printing devices, leather hole-punching tools, and the like. A punch-tool, as defined herein, is a device having a movable rod configured by levers or gears to enable an operator to manually pull or push a levered arm of the punch-tool such that the rod of the punch-tool exerts a greater force than that applied to the levered arm by the operator. The lower end of the movable rod of the punch-tool is configured or adapted to be configured to accept a mateable connector or bracket of the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a DIP tube carrying integrated circuit devices and two DIP pins. 
     FIG. 2 shows a plastic DIP pin having a head, a stem, and a semi-rigid loop base. 
     FIG. 3 shows a conventional punch-tool. 
     FIG. 4 shows a bracket mated with a connector creating an assembly and the assembly secured with a punch-tool, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 shows the bracket of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 shows the connector of FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 3 shows a conventional punch-tool  300 . The punch-tool  300  has a lever arm  310 , a body  320 , a rod  330  having a lower end  340  with a hole and a set screw  370 , and a mounting base  360 , wherein the arm  310  is connected with the rod  330  by a linkage  350 . The rod  330  is configured with the arm  310  such that the rod  330  moves downward or upward within the sleeve  390  in relation to the distance the arm  310  is rotated about a pivot point  380 . The lower end  340  of the rod  330  has an inner opening  395  which is configured to receive the other devices (not shown). 
     FIG. 4 shows a bracket  400  mated with a connector  405  creating an assembly  415  that is secured with a punch-tool  300 , according to one embodiment of the present invention. The bracket  400  is preferably secured to the connector  405  by two screws  450 , although other securing devices such as bolts, clamps, and the like are possible. The bracket  400  is mounted such that the lower plate  440  is positioned directly under the base  425  of the connector  405 . The bracket  400  may be adjusted upward or downward to ensure that the clearance  435  between the base  425  of the connector  405  and the lower plate  440  of the bracket  400  is slightly greater than the thickness of a DIP pin head  200 . Additionally, for a left-handed operator, the connector  405  may be rotated  180  degrees such that the operator is able to position the assembly accurately. Further, a DIP tube  100  is shown positioned into place on the mounting base  360  of the punch-tool  300 , and a DIP pin  120  is shown positioned in the lower plate  440  of the bracket  400 . 
     The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 shows a configuration of the present invention in which an existing punch-tool is modified for the present application. Other devices, such as a unique punch-tool or a tool device designed specifically for the present invention may also be used to achieve the same function of the application. 
     FIG. 5 shows the bracket  400  of FIG.  4 . The bracket  400  has an upper plate  520  with an upper slot  510 , and a lower plate  440  with a lower slot  530 . The upper slot  510  is for adjustably positioning the bracket  400  onto the connector  405 , punch-tool  300  or similar device. The upper slot  510  is configured to receive the screws  450 . The lower plate  440  is of a thickness which is thin enough to enable the lower plate  440  to be slidably positioned between an inserted DIP pin head  200  and a DIP tube  100 . Preferably, the lower plate  440  has a beveled end  540  which enables the lower plate  440  to be slidably positioned into place between a DIP pin head  200  which has been inserted into a hole  130  of a DIP tube  100 , although other configurations are possible. The lower plate  440  of the bracket  400  is preferably perpendicular to the upper plate  520  of the bracket  400  although other configurations are possible. The width of the lower slot  530  is wider than the width of the stem  210  of a DIP pin  120  and narrower than the diameter of the head  200  of a DIP pin  120 . Preferably, the bracket  400  is comprised of a metal, such as stainless steel, although any suitable rigid material may be used. 
     FIG. 6 shows the connector  405  of FIG.  4 . The connector  405  has an upper end  610  configured for inserting and mating into the lower end  340  of a punch-tool  300 , wherein the connector is secured to the punch-tool by tightening the set screw  370  of the punch-tool. The connector  405  further comprises a plurality of holes  620  for receiving screws  450  that secure the bracket  400  to the connector  405 . Preferably, the connector is comprised of a metal, such as stainless steel, but may be comprised of any suitable rigid or semi-rigid material. 
     In one particular implementation, for inserting a DIP pin  120  into a DIP tube hole  130 , an operator positions the upper end  610  of the connector  405  into the lower end  340  of the punch-tool  300  and secures the connector  405  to the punch-tool  300  by tightening the set screw  370 . The operator then positions the screws  450  into the holes  620  of the connector  405  and partially tightens the screws  450 . Alternatively, the operator may position the screws  450  into the holes  620  of the connector  405  prior to inserting the connector  405  into the lower end  340  of the punch-tool  300 . The operator then slides the upper plate  520  of the bracket  400  onto the connector  405  such that the upper slot  510  of the bracket  400  receives the screws  450 . The operator then adjusts the clearance  435  such that the clearance is slightly greater than the thickness of a DIP pin head  200 . The operator then tightens the screws  450  and secures the bracket  400  into position on the connector  405 , creating the assembly  415 . 
     A DIP pin  120  is then inserted into the lower slot  530  of the assembly  415  such that the DIP pin head  200  is positioned under the base  425  of the assembly  415 . The operator then positions a DIP tube  100  onto the mounting base  360  of the punch-tool  300 , and aligns a hole  130  of the DIP tube with the loop base  220  of the positioned DIP pin  120 . The operator then pulls the punch-tool arm  310  to cause the assembly  415  to move downward and press the loop base  220  into the DIP tube hole  130 . The compression force exerted by the assembly  415  causes the DIP pin  120  to be inserted into the DIP tube hole  130 . 
     To remove a DIP pin  120  which is inserted into a DIP tube hole  130 , an operator first aligns and mounts the bracket  400  and connector  405  with the punch-tool  300  in a manner similar to that stated previously to create an assembly  415  having a clearance  435  slightly greater than the thickness of a DIP pin head  200 . 
     The operator then positions a DIP tube  100  having a DIP pin  120  inserted therein onto the mounting base  360  of the punch-tool  300 . The operator then pulls the punch-tool arm  310  to cause the assembly  415  to move downward towards the DIP tube  100 . The operator then maneuvers the DIP tube  100  in relation to the assembly  415  to cause the lower slot  530  of the lower plate  440  of the assembly  415  to receive the DIP pin  120  and therefore be positioned between the DIP pin head  200  and the DIP tube  100 . The operator then positions the DIP tube  100  to be positioned onto the mounting base  360  and concurrently adjusts the punch-tool arm  310  to maintain the position of the lower plate  440  between the DIP pin head  200  and the DIP tube  100 . The operator then secures the DIP tube  100  into place on the mounting plate  360  by holding, strapping, clamping, or using another suitable securing method, and adjusts the punch-tool arm  310  such that the assembly  415  moves upwards and away from the secured DIP tube  100 . The tension force exerted by the assembly  415  causes the DIP pin  120  to be removed from the DIP tube hole  130 . 
     By way of example and not of limitation, for a DIP pin  120  having a total length of about 0.625 inches, a stem  210  diameter of about 0.095 inches, a DIP pin head  200  thickness of about 0.0625 inches, and a DIP pin head  200  diameter of about 0.25 inches, preferably the thickness of the lower plate  440  is about 0.03 inches, the width of the lower slot  530  is about 0.10 inches and the clearance  435  between the lower plate  440  and the connector base  425  is at least about 0.065 inches. 
     It will be further understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.