Abstract:
A chip testing machine includes a testing mechanism for acquiring data of chips and sorting same into several different groups according to outcome of testing operation, a feeding mechanism for helping convey chips to the testing mechanism, and a second rotary conveying disk in addition to a first rotary conveying disk for helping increase efficiency of testing; the first and the second disks are juxtaposed, actuated to rotate synchronously in opposite directions by means of single common transmission device to receive chips conveyed from the feeding mechanism as well as to convey the chips to the testing mechanism for testing, and cooperate with respective delivering mechanisms for conveying chips to collecting sinks designated for respective ones of the different groups of chips after the chips have been tested.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a chip testing machine, more particularly one, which is comprised of two rotary conveying disks capable of being actuated by single common motor and cooperating with single feeding mechanism and single testing mechanism thereof to work more efficiently.  
           [0003]    2. Brief Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    With the progress of technology, highly efficient testing machines are available for various electronic parts of chips, e.g. inducers, capacitors, and resistors. Such testing machines can perform feeding, testing, sorting, and collecting of chips automatically, and in such a way as to ensure quality of the products delivered to the buyers.  
           [0005]    Referring to FIG. 10, a conventional chip testing machine consists of a main shell  10 , a control mechanism  101 , a feeding mechanism  102 , a rotary conveying disk  103 , a testing mechanism  104 , a delivering mechanism  105 , and several collecting sinks  106  all fitted to the main shell  10 . Chips to be tested are spread out on the rotary conveying disk  103  via the feeding mechanism  102 , and conveyed to the testing mechanism  104  by means of the conveying disk  103  such that upper and lower probes (not shown) of the testing mechanism  104  can come into contact with the chips in sequence to get various data related to the chips and sort the chips into different groups according to the acquired data. At last, the chips are conveyed to the delivering mechanism  105  from the disk  103 , and guided to appropriate one of the collecting sinks  106  by means of the delivering mechanism  105 .  
           [0006]    Rotary conveying disks for chip testing machines are usually formed with several trenches for holding more chips in position for heightening efficiency of the machines. And, the upper and the lower probes are adjustable in distance in between according to the sizes of chips to be tested so that they can contact chips of different sizes all in a proper way.  
           [0007]    However, as chips are made smaller and smaller in size, chip testing machines of such kind are faced with problems as followings:  
           [0008]    1. Chips are made further and further minimized, and rotary conveying disks of test machines have to be made thinner and thinner accordingly. Because FRP (glass fiber) is prone to curve, especially when it is thin, rotary conveying disks of chip testing machines that are made of FRP can&#39;t be formed with too big size and too small thickness otherwise they would curve to badly affect stability and efficiency of testing. But on the other hand, trenches formed on rotary conveying disks of chip testing machines shouldn&#39;t be fewer than certain number so that the machines can work with acceptable efficiency. Consequently, the problem arises that rotary conveying disks of chip testing machines have to be provided with reduced dimension due to minimization of chips while enough area of the disks have to be maintained for allowing testing operation to be highly efficient or at least with acceptable efficiency.  
           [0009]    2. Therefore, chips with relatively small size can&#39;t be tested with the above machine if certain level of output efficiency is required; it will be difficult to maintain satisfactory efficiency when using the above conventional chip testing machine to test chips with relatively small size because a rotary conveying disk of smaller thickness and area has to be used instead.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    It is a main object of the present invention to provide an additional rotary conveying disk to a chip testing machine for increasing efficiency of testing.  
           [0011]    The chip testing machine includes a testing mechanism for acquiring data of chips and sorting same into several different groups according to outcome of the testing operation, a feeding mechanism for helping convey chips to the testing mechanism, and a first rotary conveying disk besides the additional rotary conveying disk; the conveying disks are juxtaposed, actuated to rotate synchronously in opposite directions by means of single common transmission device to receive chips conveyed from the feeding mechanism as well as to convey the chips to the testing mechanism for testing; the rotary disks cooperate with respective delivering mechanisms for conveying chips to collecting sinks designated for respective ones of the different groups of chips after the chips have been tested.  
           [0012]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a chip testing machine, which can be used to test still smaller chips with still thinner rotary conveying disks thereof while arrangement of chip holding trenches on the rotary disks remains optimal, of which the area has to be reduced to the same degree, to which they are made thinner, and the efficiency of testing is maintained at satisfactory level. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    The present invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a side view of the chip testing machine according to the present invention,  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a front view of the chip testing machine according to the present invention,  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a top view of the chip testing machine according to the present invention,  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a top view of the feeding mechanism of the testing machine according to the present invention,  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a simplified front view of the rotary conveying disk set of the testing machine according to the present invention,  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a view of the transmission mechanism of the rotary conveying disk set,  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a side view of the testing mechanism and the associated parts of the testing machine according to the present invention,  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is front view of the rotary conveying disk set is a simplified front view of the rotary conveying disk set of the testing machine according to the present invention,  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a plan of the conveying mechanism of the testing machine according to the present invention, and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the conventional testing machine as described in the Background. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and  3 , a preferred embodiment of a chip testing machine in the present invention includes a main shell  1 , a feeding mechanism  2 , a rotary conveying disk set  3 , a testing mechanism  4 , and a pair of delivering mechanisms  5  all fitted to the main shell  1 .  
         [0025]    Referring specifically to FIGS. 1, and  4 , the feeding mechanism  2  is secured in front of the rotary conveying disk set  3  on the machine shell  1  by means of a supporting element  21 , and consists of a base  22 , a feeding funnel  23 , a vibrating conveyer  24 , a distributing funnel  25 , and a step-by-step motor  26 ; the base  22  has a sliding portion  221  on the bottom thereof, and is forwards and rearwards movable on the supporting element  21  with the sliding portion  221  being fitted to rails  211  of the supporting element  21 ; the feeding funnel  23  is disposed on the base  22  with an outlet thereof being arranged just above an inlet of the vibrating conveyer  24  so that chips to be tested can be conveyed to the vibrating conveyer  24  via the feeding funnel  23 ; a vibrating device  231  is provided, which can work to make the vibrating conveyer  24  vibrate so as to make chips move forwards along the vibrating conveyer  24 . The distributing funnel  25  is disposed under an outlet of the vibrating conveyer  24 , and has a sliding portion  251  on a rear end portion of the bottom thereof; the distributing funnel  25  is left and right movable on the base  22  with the sliding portion  251  being fitted to rails  252 , which are secured to a front side of the base  22 ; the step-by-step motor  26  works together with a timing belt  261  to make the distributing funnel  25  move left and right between tops of inlets of a pair of juxtaposed rotary conveying disks  31 , and  32  of the rotary conveying disk set  3 .  
         [0026]    Referring specifically to FIGS.  5  to  7 , the rotary conveying disk set  3  is disposed on a front tilted board  11  secured to the machine shell  1 , and consists of a protective guiding cover  33 , and a transmission device  34  besides the juxtaposed rotary conveying disks  31 , and  32 . The rotary conveying disks  31 , and  32  are the same in structure, and are respectively arranged in right and left portions of the front tilted board  11 . The rotary conveying disks  31  have trenches  311 ,  321  thereon, and through holes  3111 ,  3211 , which are spaced out along each of the trenches  311 ,  321 , and form radial patterns, for allowing chips to be held therein. A protective guiding cover  33  is arranged above the rotary conveying disks  31 , and  32  to cover the same, as shown in FIGS. 7, and  8 ; the protective guiding cover  33  is formed with several transparent observation windows  331  so that people can check whether there are chips in improper position to hinder movement of the disks  31 ,  32 . The conveying disks  31 , and  32  are formed with inlets  332 ,  334  opposing each other. The step-by-step motor  26  makes the distributing funnel  25  move left and right between tops of the inlets  332 ,  334  of the conveying disks  31 , and  32  so that chips can be supplied to the trenches  311 ,  321 , and then moved forwards with rotation of the disks  31 ,  32 .  
         [0027]    The transmission device  34  has a step-by-step motor  341 , which can work to make the rotary conveying disks  31 , and  32  rotate at the same pace. Referring specifically to FIGS.  5  to  7 , the rotary conveying disk  31  has a pulley  313  securely joined to a shaft  312  thereof while the step-by-step motor  341  has a small pulley  3411 ; a timing belt  314  is passed over the pulley  313  and the pulley  3411 . A timing gear  342  is securely joined to tail end of the shaft  312 , and engages a spur gear  343 , which is joined to a subsidiary shaft  344 , so that rotation of the step-by-step motor  341  is transmitted to the subsidiary shaft  344  to make the same rotate in opposite direction. A pulley  345  is secured to other end of the shaft  344  while a pulley  323  is securely joined to a shaft  322  of the rotary conveying disk  32 . And, a timing belt  324  is passed over the pulleys  345 , and  323 ; thus, the step-by-step motor  341  can make the rotary conveying disks  31 , and  32  rotate synchronously at the same pace and in opposite directions when activated to function.  
         [0028]    The testing mechanism  4  is disposed above the space between the rotary conveying disks  31 , and  32 . Referring to FIGS.  5  to  9 , the testing mechanism  4  is fitted to the machine shell  1  at a base  41  thereof, a curved plate  42  is pivoted to a bottom of the base  41 , capable of being positioned right above the rotary conveying disks  31 , and  32 ; the curved plate  42  can be moved to an opened position from a secured closed position and vice versa. A sliding member  43 , rails  44 , and a micro-adjuster  45  are used for precisely adjusting the curved plate  42  in respect of the distance from the same to the rotary conveying disks  31 , and  32 . Upper probes  421  are fitted on the curved plate  42  to face corresponding ones of the trenches  311 ,  321  of the rotary conveying disks  31 ,  32  while lower probes  422  are fitted on the machine shell  1  under the rotary conveying disks  31 ,  32  to face corresponding upper probes  421 ; thus, chips held in the trenches  311 ,  321  of the disks  31 ,  32  can be tested when the disks  31 ,  32  rotate to cause the chips to pass between the probes  421 ,  422 .  
         [0029]    The delivering mechanisms  5 ,  5  are arranged so as to face outward sides of corresponding disks  31 ,  32 . Referring to FIGS.  6  to  9 , the delivering mechanisms  5 ,  5  have covers  51 ,  52  respectively, which are pivoted to the machine shell  1  at the bottoms to be capable of being outwardly opened, and which are formed with through holes  511 ,  521  thereon; guiding pipes (not shown) are inserted through respective ones of the through holes  511 ,  521 , and connected to respective collecting sinks  53  fitted to the machine shell  1 . Movable plates  54 ,  54  are movably fitted on rails  541  while the covers  51 ,  52  of the delivering mechanisms  5 ,  5  are respectively securely fitted to the bottoms of the movable plates  54 ,  54 ; thus, the covers  51 ,  52  can be adjusted in respect of distance from them to the conveying disks  31 ,  32 , and in turns, chips after testing can be conveyed to appropriate ones of the collecting sinks  53  according to various data related to the chips, which are acquired by means of the testing mechanism  4 .  
         [0030]    In operation of the present testing machine, chips fall into the vibrating conveyer  24  from the feeding funnel  23  of the feeding mechanism  2 , and then fall onto the distributing funnel  25 . Next, the step-by-step motor  26  and the timing belt  261  work together to make the distributing funnel  25  move left and right to evenly spread chips out along each trench  311 ,  321  of the conveying disks  31 ,  32  while at the same time, the step-by-step motor  341  and the associated gears of the transmission device  34  make the rotary conveying disks  31 ,  32  rotate synchronously and intermittently in opposite directions so that chips are moved towards the testing mechanism  4 .  
         [0031]    The chips held in the trenches  311 ,  321  are tested by means of the testing mechanism  4 , and various data in relation to the chips are acquired, and recorded when pass between the upper and the lower probes  421 ,  422 ; the chips are also sorted into groups according to the outcome of the testing. The chips are conveyed on into appropriate collecting sinks  53  based on outcome of sorting by the testing mechanism  4  after testing. At the same time, new chips are fed to the conveying disks  31 ,  32 , to be held in the through holes  3111 ,  3211  of the trenches  311 ,  321  by means of the distributing funnel  25  so that testing can continue.  
         [0032]    From the above description, it can be easily understood that the chip testing machine of the present invention has advantages as followings:  
         [0033]    1. The testing machine can perform chip testing and sorting operation with two rotary conveying disks being actuated by single step-by-step motor, with chips being supplied by means of single feeding mechanism, and with chips being tested by means of single testing mechanism. Therefore, the testing machine is virtually twice as efficient as one equipped with single conveying disk. And, additional cost for doubling the efficiency is relatively low because each of the main mechanisms of the present machine remains single except for the rotary conveying disks, i.e. the present machine is more economical to use.  
         [0034]    2. The problem of conveying disks being prone to change shape, especially when formed with too big area and tool small thickness, and the problem in chip testing resulting from tendency of minimizing size of chips as described in the Background can be handled with the present testing machine because it is equipped with two rotary conveying disks instead of one, i.e. the fact that one more conveying disk is provided to the testing machine makes it possible to maintain proper ratio of the thickness of each disk to the area of the disk, preventing the disks from changing shape, while the efficiency of testing is not reduced but increased.  
         [0035]    3. For the same reason as the above, the present testing machine can be used to test still smaller chips with still thinner rotary conveying disks thereof while arrangement of chip holding trenches on the rotary disks remains optimal, of which the area has to be reduced to the same degree, to which they are made thinner, and the efficiency of testing is maintained at high level.