Suction head and transporting machine applying the same

A suction head including a first transmission part, a second transmission part and a suction nozzle is provided. The second transmission part is magnetically attracted by the first transmission part to permit a displacement of the second transmission part relative to the first transmission part. The suction nozzle is disposed on the second transmission part and transmitted by the first transmission part via the second transmission part. Additionally, a transporting machine including a shuttle, a transporting mechanism and the aforementioned suction nozzle is provided. The shuttle is capable of carrying an object being transported, and the suction head is driven by the transporting mechanism to take the object being transported. The suction head and the transporting machine applying the same provide high transporting efficiency and ensuring a normal operation in transporting process.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 99101112, filed on Jan. 15, 2010. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a suction head and a transporting machine applying the same. More particularly, the present applicant relates to a suction head and a transporting machine of a package process.

2. Description of Related Art

In a conventional semiconductor package process, wafers, finished products or semi-finished products are transported among different process stops by an automatic transporting machine. In which, a manual adjustment to a suction head of the transporting machine is required in the transporting process of a conventional transporting machine.

However, the manual adjustment accompanies with inaccuracy and errors due to human effects, such that the transporting machine may fail to retrieve objects or the suction head and the mechanical arms of the transporting machine may strike external objects and get damaged. On the other hand, the manual adjustment wastes working-hours, requires high productive cost, and thus reduces the product efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application provides a suction head capable of buffering position deviation and a transporting machine applying the suction head, so as to improve high transporting efficiency and ensuring a normal operation in transporting process.

As embodied and broadly described herein, a suction head including a first transmission part, a second transmission part and a suction nozzle is provided. The second transmission part is magnetically attracted by the first transmission part to permit a displacement of the second transmission part relative to the first transmission part. The suction nozzle is disposed on the second transmission part and transmitted by the first transmission part via the second transmission part.

Additionally, a transporting machine including a shuttle, a transporting mechanism and the aforementioned suction nozzle is provided. The shuttle is capable of carrying an object being transported, and the suction head is driven by the transporting mechanism to take the object being transported.

In an embodiment of the present application, the suction head further comprises a partition plate disposed at an attraction interface between the first transmission part and the second transmission part.

In an embodiment of the present application, the first transmission part includes a first transmission shaft and a first magnet disposed at an end of the first transmission shaft and attracting the second transmission part.

In an embodiment of the present application, the second transmission part includes a second transmission shaft and a second magnet disposed at an end of the second transmission shaft and attracting the first transmission part.

In an embodiment of the present application, the second transmission part further comprises a joint communicating with the suction nozzle, and the joint is connected to a vacuum pump to generate a vacuum attraction force.

In an embodiment of the present application, the suction head further comprises a guider having an outline complying with the shuttle.

In an embodiment of the present application, the guider is provided with an outer inclined plane. In addition, the outer inclined plane of the guider complies with a cavity of the shuttle, the cavity accommodating the transported object.

In an embodiment of the present application, the guider is provided with an inner inclined plane surrounding the suction nozzle and leaning against the object attracted by the suction nozzle.

In an embodiment of the present application, the guider is provided with at least a through hole having a profile complying with a guide pin on the shuttle.

In an embodiment of the present application, the suction nozzle is retractable.

The present application further comprises a suction head including a first transmission shaft, a first magnet, a second transmission shaft, a second magnet, a horizontal partition plate, a retractable suction nozzle, a joint and a guider. The first transmission shaft is provided with a first vertical longitudinal axis, and the first magnet is disposed at an end of the first transmission shaft. The second transmission shaft is provided with a second vertical longitudinal axis, and the second magnet is disposed at an end of the second transmission shaft. The horizontal partition plate is disposed between the first magnet and the second magnet, wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are attracted to each other with the horizontal partition plate therebetween, to permit a displacement of the second magnet relative to the first magnet. The retractable suction nozzle is disposed at another end of the second transmission shaft and transmitted by the first transmission shaft via the second transmission shaft. The joint is disposed on the second transmission shaft and communicating with the suction nozzle. The guider has an outline complying with a shuttle carrying an object being transported.

As to the above, the suction head of the present application includes a first transmission part and a second transmission part magnetically attracted together to permit a displacement of the second transmission part relative to the first transmission part, by which position deviation of the suction head during process can be eliminated and the damage caused by impact between the suction head and the external object can be prevented. In addition, the guider disposed on the second transmission part accomplishes self-adjustment to the position deviation of the suction head in process, so as to precisely retrieve or place the transported object and the position of the suction head can be automatically adjusted without spending additional working-hour. Besides, a partition plate is disposed at an attraction interface between the first transmission part and the second transmission part to permit a displacement of the second transmission part relative to the first transmission part. The suction head and the transporting machine applying the same provide high transporting efficiency and ensuring a normal operation in transporting process.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is a schematic view of a transporting machine according to an embodiment of the present application. Referring toFIG. 1, a transporting machine100includes a shuttle110, a transporting mechanism120and an aforementioned suction head130, wherein the shuttle110is used to carry a transported object140, such as wafers, finished products or semi-finished products. The shuttle110has a cavity112accommodating the transported object140. In the present embodiment, the transported object140is, for example, a material to be transported or a material transported to a specific position. In other words, the shuttle110can be used for retrieving material or placing material. The transporting mechanism120is, for example, a robot or other driving mechanisms capable of providing two-dimensional or three-dimensional movement. The transporting mechanism120is connected between a power source (e.g. a servomotor) and the suction head130of the transporting machine100to drive the suction head130performing the two-dimensional or three-dimensional movement. The suction head130includes a first transmission part132, a second transmission part134and a suction nozzle136. The first transmission part132is connected to the transporting mechanism120, while the second transmission part134is magnetically attracted by the first transmission part132to permit a displacement of the second transmission part134relative to the first transmission part132. In addition, the suction nozzle136is disposed on an end of the second transmission part134. Accordingly, the transporting mechanism120can drive the suction nozzle136moving via the first transmission part132and the second transmission part134. Herein, the suction nozzle136is, for example, a retractable suction nozzle136, to provide a buffer in height such that the suction nozzle136retrieves the transported object140reliably.

In the embodiment, since the first transmission part132and the second transmission part134are coupled with each other via magnetic force, the second transmission part134together with the suction nozzle136can depart from the first transmission part132as the suction head130strikes external object due to deviation of position or other reasons, so as to prevent damage of components caused by impact between the suction head130and the external object. Besides, since there permits a relative displacement between the first transmission part132and the second transmission part134, the deviation of position can be immediately adjusted in process by a manual manner or a guider to correct the positions of the second transmission part134and the suction nozzle136.

Referring toFIG. 1, to facilitate the relative displacement between the first transmission part132and the second transmission part134, a partition plate150can further be disposed at an attraction interface between the first transmission part132and the second transmission part134. The partition plate150is, for example, a smooth flat plate, wherein the first transmission part132and the second transmission part134are disposed at two opposite sides of the partition plate150and move with respect to each other by the magnetic force therebetween.

In this embodiment, the first transmission part132is embodied as a first transmission shaft132aand a first magnet132bdisposed at an end of the first transmission shaft132aand attracting the second transmission part134. The first magnet132bis, for example, a permanent magnet or a soft magnet.

Similarly, the second transmission part134is embodied as a second transmission shaft134aand a second magnet134bdisposed at an end of the second transmission shaft134aadjacent to the first transmission part132and the second magnet134battracting the first transmission part132. In other words, the first magnet132band the second magnet134bare attracted with each other, to locate the position of the first transmission shaft132arelative to the second transmission shaft134a. Like the first magnet132b, the second magnet132bis, for example, a permanent magnet or a soft magnet.

Besides, other embodiments of the present application may adopt different designs to achieve equivalent or like magnetic attracting effect. The first transmission shaft132aor the second transmission shaft134acan be made of permanent magnetic material or soft magnetic material. For example, both the first transmission shaft132aand the second transmission shaft134aare permanent magnets; or, the first transmission shaft132ais a permanent magnet and the second transmission shaft134ais a soft magnet; or instead, the first transmission shaft132ais a soft magnet and the second transmission shaft134ais a permanent magnet. Therefore, at least one of the first magnet132bor the second magnet134bcan be omitted to reduce manufacturing cost and simplify the structure of the suction head130.

Further referring toFIG. 1, a joint138communicates with the suction nozzle136is disposed on the second transmission shaft134ato drive the suction nozzle136. The joint138can be connected to a vacuum source such as a vacuum pump, so as to drive the suction nozzle136generating a suction force and retrieving the transported object140.

In addition, a guider can be disposed on the suction head130of the transporting machine100to accomplish a self-adjustment to the position deviation of the suction head130, and thus the transported object140can be precisely retrieved and the position of the suction head130can be automatically adjusted without spending additional working-hour.

In the present embodiment, the guider for the suction head130is, for example, a guide block139disposed on the second transmission shaft134a, the guide block139having an outline complying with the cavity112of the shuttle110. More specifically, the guide block139has an outer inclined plane139aadapted to lean against a inner wall112aof the cavity112of the shuttle110. Accordingly, when the second transmission shaft134adrives the suction nozzle136entering the cavity112and retrieving or placing the transported object140, the outer inclined plane139aleans against the inner wall112aof the cavity112and thereby guides the second transmission shaft134aand the suction nozzle136to enter the cavity112and retrieve or place the transported object140.

Hence, correlation between the guide block139and the cavity112helps to drive the second transmission shaft134aand the suction nozzle136moving relative to the first transmission shaft132aand adjust the position of the second transmission shaft134aand the suction nozzle136even if a position deviation of the suction head130occurs, and the second transmission shaft134aand the suction nozzle136are not located immediately over the transported object140. At this time, although a first vertical longitudinal axis A1of the first transmission shaft132aand a second vertical longitudinal axis A2of the second transmission shaft134aare not in coincidence, the first transmission shaft132aand the second transmission shaft134aare kept attracting with each other by the first magnet132band the second magnet134b. Furthermore, whether the first transmission part132moves relative to the second transmission part134or not, the suction nozzle136is always kept on the same horizontal plane.

In addition, the guide block139may further be provided with an inner inclined plane139bsurrounding the suction nozzle136and leaning against the transported object140attracted by the suction nozzle136. More specifically, the guide block139has, for example, a cavity192corresponding to the suction nozzle136, and the inner wall of the cavity192serves as the inner inclined plane139b. Even if the suction nozzle136and the transported object140are not aligned, the transported object140moves along the inner inclined plane139bin the process of retrieving the transported object140and finally reaches a determined position.

Surely, the above guide block139is merely an embodiment of the guider, which provides no limitation to the types of guider of the present application. Guiders or structural designs capable of achieving equivalent or similar effect as that of the guide block139of the above embodiment can also be applied to the suction head and the transporting machine of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present application, the guider is provided with an outer inclined plane.

FIG. 2is a schematic view of a transporting machine according to another embodiment of the present application. The transporting machine200of the present embodiment is similar to the transporting machine100of the above embodiment except that their guiders are different. Referring toFIG. 2, the guider of this embodiment is, for example, a guide block270disposed on the second transmission part234, and the guide block270has at least one through hole272(FIG. 2shows two through holes272). In addition, at least one guide pin282is disposed on the shuttle210(FIG. 2shows two guide pins282), wherein the through holes272have a profile complying with the corresponding guide pins282.

Accordingly, when the second transmission shaft134adrives the suction nozzle236entering the cavity210and retrieving or placing the transported object240, the guide pins282on the shuttle210enters the corresponding through holes272of the guide block270, thereby guides the second transmission shaft134aand the suction nozzle236to enter the cavity212and retrieve or place the transported object210. Additionally, an end of each of the through holes272adjacent to the corresponding guide pin282is enlarged to form an inclined plane272ato facilitate the guide pin282entering the through hole272.

FIGS. 3A through 3Dsequentially illustrate placing a transported object to a shuttle by the transporting machine ofFIG. 1.

Firstly, referring toFIG. 3A, the transporting machine100retrieves the transported object140from a tray300, wherein the transported object140is, for example, finished package products, semi-finished package products or other objects. The suction nozzle136is, for example, a retractable suction nozzle136, to provide a buffer in height such that the suction nozzle136retrieves the transported object140reliably.

Then, referring toFIG. 3B, the suction nozzle136generates a suction force by connecting the joint138to a vacuum source so as to retrieving the transported object140. Herein, the transported object140enters the cavity192of the guide block139and is driven by the transporting mechanism120and the suction head130. Since the cavity192of the guide block139has the inner inclined plane139b, even if the suction nozzle136and the transported object140are not aligned, the transported object140can move along the inner inclined plane139bin the process of retrieving the transported object140and finally reaches a determined position.

After that, as shown inFIG. 3C, the transporting mechanism120and the suction head130move the transported object140to the location immediately over the shuttle110. Herein, the transporting mechanism120and the suction head130may have derivation in position, and thus the transported object140is not located immediately over the cavity112of the shuttle110. At this time, the first vertical longitudinal axis A1of the first transmission shaft132aand the second vertical longitudinal axis A2of the second transmission shaft134aare in coincidence but not aligned with a center of the cavity112.

Then, referring toFIG. 3D, the transporting mechanism120drives the suction head130moving downward, such that the guide block139of the suction head130enters the cavity112of the shuttle110having the profile complying with the guide block139. Herein, the outer inclined plane139aof the guide block139leans against the inner wall112aof the cavity, so as to guide the second transmission shaft134aand the second magnet14bmoving relative to the first transmission shaft132aand the first magnet132bwith the horizontal partition plate150therebetween, and then the second vertical longitudinal axis A2of the second transmission shaft134aand the suction nozzle136can be aligned with the center of the cavity112. In addition, the vacuum source connected to the joint138is not work to release the transported object140and placing the transported object140into the cavity112. At this time, although a first vertical longitudinal axis A1of the first transmission shaft132aand a second vertical longitudinal axis A2of the second transmission shaft134aare not in coincidence, the first transmission shaft132aand the second transmission shaft134aare kept attracting with each other by the first magnet132band the second magnet134b.

Besides, after retrieving or placing the transported object140and driving the suction head130departing from the cavity112, the second transmission shaft134aand the second magnet134bare drawn back to the original position as shown inFIG. 3Cby the magnetic attraction force between the first magnet132band the second magnet134b, and then the first vertical longitudinal axis A1of the first transmission shaft132aand the second vertical longitudinal axis A2of the second transmission shaft134aare in coincidence. Furthermore, whether the first transmission part132moves relative to the second transmission part134or not, the suction nozzle136is always kept on the same horizontal plane.

The process of placing the transported object140to the shuttle110by the transporting machine100ofFIG. 1is substantially completed. On the other hand, steps shown inFIGS. 3A through 3Dcan further be reversely performed to retrieve the transported object140from the shuttle110by the transporting machine100ofFIG. 1. Steps of the reversed process are not repeated herein. Furthermore, the suctions as illustrated inFIG. 2or other embodiments of the present application can also applied to the transporting process ofFIGS. 3A through 3D, to achieve equivalent or like effects.

Different from the conventional design fixing the suction nozzle on the transporting machine, the suction head of the present application is separated into a first transmission part and a second transmission part magnetically attracted together to permit a displacement of the second transmission part relative to the first transmission part, by which position deviation of the suction head during process can be eliminated and the damage caused by impact between the suction head and the external object can be prevented. Besides, a partition plate is disposed at an attraction interface between the first transmission part and the second transmission part to facilitate the second transmission part moving relative to the first transmission part. Since the first transmission part and the second transmission part are coupled with each other via magnetic force, the second transmission part together with the suction nozzle can depart from the first transmission part as the suction head strikes an external object due to deviation of position or other reasons, so as to prevent damage of components caused by impact between the suction head and the external object. Besides, since there permits a relative displacement between the first transmission part and the second transmission part, the deviation of position can be immediately adjusted in process by a manual manner or a guider to correct the positions of the second transmission part and the suction nozzle. More particularly, the guider disposed on the second transmission part accomplishes self-adjustment to the position deviation of the suction head in process, so as to precisely retrieve or place the transported object and the position of the suction head can be automatically adjusted without spending additional working-hour. Therefore, the suction head and the transporting machine applying the same provide high transporting efficiency and ensuring a normal operation in transporting process.