Automatic tube orientation apparatus

An orientation apparatus (10) includes a pair of conveyor chains (21a,21b) with pins (22) on alternate links for moving a component tube (40) to a lift station (26,27) where the component tube (40) is rotated until it is in a desired orientation. The component tube (40) is rotated by rollers (30,33) until an index tab (28a) falls into an opening (40a)in the component tube (40), stopping its rotation. The component tube (40) is then lowered onto the conveyor chains (21a,21b) and moved to the end of the apparatus where is it removed from the orientation apparatus. A component tube chamber (50) located above the conveyor chains drops one component tube (40) at a time, utilizing two singulators (58,59), onto the conveyor chains (21a,21b).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 The invention an apparatus for handling component tubes, and more
 particularly to an apparatus for receiving component tubes and outputting
 them in a uniform orientation.
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 Semiconductor devices, including integrated circuits are stored in plastic
 component tubes to protect the devices, and particularly the leads to
 prevent damage such as bending and breaking. The tubes have been simple
 tubes in which the devices are inserted, and then a plug inserted into the
 end of the tube. More recent storage tubes have a platform extending
 through the center of the tube on which the body of the device is
 supported with the conductor leads on each side of the device separated by
 the platform. Each end of the tube has a resilient plug that is inserted
 into the tube to prevent the devices from falling out of the tube. In
 another embodiment, a pin is inserted in an opening in the end of the
 tube. The pin extends through the tube and prevents the devices from
 falling out of the tube. Examples of component tubes are shown in U.S.
 Pat. Nos. 5,417,842 and 5,569,149. An example of a pin extractor for
 component tubes is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,985.
 In the manufacturing of circuit board assemblies, the placement of the
 circuit components is automated in that a component is fed from a tube
 feeder holding the components. A component feeder removes the components
 from a tube, one at a time, and moves them to a pick station where the
 component is moved by a picker device to the circuit board on which the
 component is to be mounted. Only one type of component can be handled by
 the component feeder at a time. To feed a different type of component,
 another type or size of tube feeder must be used.
 In the loading component tubes, it is necessary that the tubes be in the
 correct orientation for the components to be loaded in to the component
 tube. After the tubes are loaded, the tubes must be properly oriented to
 unload the components from the tubes, and in the case where the component
 tubes are used in pick-feeders where the components are moved out of the
 tubes to a pick point the components must be in the proper orientation so
 that the components can be placed on a printed wiring board. Where the
 components tubes are automatically placed in the pick-feeder, the tubes
 have to be properly oriented so that the components tubes can dispense the
 components in a correct orientation.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The orientation apparatus includes a pair of conveyor chains with pins on
 alternate links for moving a component tube to a lift station where the
 component tube is rotated until it is in a desired orientation. The
 component tube is rotated by rollers until an index tab falls into an
 opening in the component tube, stopping its rotation. The component tube
 is then lowered onto the conveyor chains and moved to the end of the
 apparatus where is it removed from the orientation apparatus. A component
 tube chamber located above the conveyor chains drops one component tube at
 a time, utilizing two singulators, onto the conveyor chains.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 FIG. 1 shows a component tube or magazine 10 that utilizes a pin-lock to
 hold semiconductor devices in the magazine. Magazine 10 has a platform 11
 on which devices 12 are placed through opening 14 in the end of the
 magazine, with the device pins 13 on each side of platform 11. A pin 15 in
 each end of the magazine (only one end of magazine 10 is shown) prevents
 the semiconductor devices from sliding out of the magazine. Pin 15 is
 inserted into hole 16 and is secured in hole 16 by enlarged pin end 17,
 which is slightly larger than hole 16. Because the plastic from which the
 magazine 10 is made is resilient, the enlarged end 17 may be forced
 through hole 16, and then pulled out when the devices are to be removed
 from the magazine. Slot 40a extends the length of component tube 10.
 Component tube 10 holds various types of semiconductor devices, but tube 10
 has to be in a proper position for semiconductor devices to be loaded into
 or removed.
 FIG. 2 shows an apparatus used in receiving and orientating component tubes
 to place them in position for loading and loading of components. Apparatus
 20 includes a pair of conveyor chains 21a and 21b (FIG. 5) that move a
 component tube 40 to a lift station where the component tube 40 is rotated
 until it is in a desired position. Conveyor chain 21a is moved around
 wheels 23 and 24 by motor 24a (shown by dashed line 24a). Conveyor 21b
 chain is moved around a similar pair of wheels which are not illustrated.
 Each chain has a plurality of vertical pins 22 on every other chain link.
 The spacing between pins 22 is sufficient to allow a component tube 40 to
 be placed between a pair of the pins.
 Positioned above conveyor chains 21a and 21b is tube dispensing apparatus
 50 that has a chamber 51 for holding a plurality of component tubes 40.
 Agitator rollers 54 and 55 help to move the component tubes into channel
 56 where there are two singulators 58 and 59 which prevent more than one
 component tube 40 from being released onto the conveyor chains at a time.
 Singulator 59 releases a component tube when there is no component tube on
 the conveyor chains 21a and 21b as sensed by sensor 60. The component
 tubes fall through opening 57 onto the conveyor chains between pins 22.
 Since the component tubes do not always fall in the same position, it is
 necessary to rotate the tubes to a common position. After a component tube
 is deposited onto the conveyor chains 21a and 21b, and sensed by sensor
 60, it is moved in sequence with previously dropped tubes to a lift
 station made up of lifters 26 and 27 (FIG. 4) and lift elevator 25.
 Elevator 25 may be either electrically or hydraulically actuated to move
 lifters 26 and 27 upward, moving component tube 40 upward. Component tube
 40 is engaged by rollers 30 and 33 (FIG. 4) and index arm 28. A sensor 29a
 senses when a component tube is in lifters 26 and 27 and starts a motor 52
 turning rollers 30 and 33, rotating the component tube until index tab 28a
 on indexer 28 falls into a slot 40a in component tube (see FIG. 1) and
 prevents it from being further rotated. The component tube is lowered back
 onto the conveyor chains and removed from apparatus 20, as indicated by
 arrow A, to another conveyor or pick up device (not illustrated).
 FIG. 3 is another embodiment of apparatus 10 in which a component tube is
 not removed from conveyor chains 21a and 21b as indicated by arrow A, but
 is moved around through guide 70 and along support 71 by pins 22 until the
 component tube is moved from apparatus 10 at arrow B. This will place the
 component tube in an upside down position as compared to the position of
 component tube when it is removed at arrow A.
 FIG. 4 is a partial view of the orientation mechanism. Component tube 40 is
 shown in a raised position by lifters 26 and 27 so that component tube 40
 is in contact with rollers 30 and 33. Index tab 28a of index arm 28 is
 shown in contact with component tube 40, but has not moved into slot 40a.
 Rollers 30 and 33 are rotated by belt 34, on rollers 35 and 36. Roller 36
 is mounted on shaft 29 which is turned by motor 52 FIG. 2). There are two
 slide rails 43 and 44 along which component tube slides as it is moved by
 conveyor chains 21a and 21b (FIG. 5). As illustrated in FIG. 4, component
 tube is raised above slides 43 and 44, but component tube 40 rests on
 slides 43 and 44 when lifters lowers component tube 40. When component
 tube 40 is rotated so that index tab 28a falls into slot 40a, then motor
 52 stops the rotation of rollers 30 and 33, and component tube 40 is
 lowered onto rails 43 and 44 and conveyor chains 21a and 21b.
 FIG. 5 is a top view of the partial view of FIG. 4. Component tube 40 is
 shown raised on lifters 26 and 27 into contact with rollers 30 and 33
 which are turned by belt 34 and shaft 29. Conveyor chains 21a and 21b are
 shown below component tube 40, and component tube is shown positioned,
 when in the lowered position, between two pins 22. Slide rails 43 and 44
 are shown outside of conveyor chains 21a and 21b, but may be placed inside
 the conveyor chain positions.
 FIGS. 5 and 6 show the operation of index arm 29 and index tab 28a to
 position component tube in a predetermined position. When component tube
 is raised by lifters 26 and 27 (only lifter 26 is shown) component tube 40
 will come into contact with index tab 28a (FIG. 6). Component tube 40 is
 then rotated until slot 40a is open upward, and index tab 28a will fall
 into slot 40a (FIG. 7) preventing component tube 40 from rotating.
 With reference to the FIGS. 2-7, the operation of the tube orientation
 apparatus is as follows. A plurality of component tubes are placed into
 chamber 51 of dispensing apparatus 50. Singulators 58 and 59 ensure that
 only one component tube is dispensed at a time. A component tube is
 released by singulator 59 when sensor 60 determines that there is no
 component tube on conveyor chains 21a and 21b. Singulator 58 then release
 a tube to singulator 59. After a component tube has been dispensed onto
 conveyor chains 21a and 21b, the chains are indexed one position, moving
 the component tube along slides 43 and 44 one position. Lifters 26 and 27
 lift component tube 40 upward and into contact with rollers 30 and 33, and
 index tab 28a. If a component tube has been lifted as determined by sensor
 29a, then motor 52 turns rollers 30 and 33, rotating component tube 40 at
 least one complete revolution before stopping allowing index tab 28a to
 stop the rotation of component tube 40. When rotation is stopped then
 lifters 26 and 27 are lowered placing component tube onto slides 43 and
 44, and conveyor chains 21a and 21b between to pins 22. Component tube 40
 is then moved to the end of conveyor chains 21a and 21b to be removed for
 the filling or removing of components.