JP3739844B2 - Stocker section of handler device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a structure of a stocker unit of a handler device that classifies ICs tested by an IC tester according to test results (categories).
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the handler device, the number of classifications according to test results has been increasing in recent years. If the same number of IC storage trays as the number of classifications are arranged in a plane, a large floor space is required and the outer shape of the handler device becomes large. . Therefore, a stocker unit shown in FIG. 4 for storing trays in multiple stages has been used.
[0003]
In the example of FIG. 4, five trays 2 can be stored, and the trays 2 are stored one by one in the positioning change kit 3 and stored in the rack 4. Linear guides (linear bearings) 5a and 5b are attached to each rack 4 in order to draw the rack 4 sideways (leftward in the figure) along the rail 5c. An air cylinder 6 is fixed in the vicinity of the height position of the uppermost rack in order to slide the rack 4 at each stage horizontally. The rack 4 and the rail 5 c at each stage are stored and held in the frame 7.
[0004]
In order to slide the rack 4 at any stage along the rail 5c in order to transport the tray 2 to the IC receiving position, all the racks 4 of the five stages are arranged so that the rack at that stage matches the driving position of the air cylinder 6. The stocker 14 composed of the rail 5c and the frame 7 is lifted up by the lifting platform 8. The elevator 8 is fixed to a gear 9, and the gear 9 is driven by a motor 10. These lifts 8, gears 9, motors 10 and the like constitute a lifter 13.
[0005]
In addition, the tray 2 can be taken out from the side by pulling the stocker 14 forward by the knob 11.
Now, one tray 2 pulled out horizontally by the air cylinder 6 is lifted by a lifter 19 (configured by a lift 15, a gear 16, a motor 17, etc.), held by a tray catch 21 </ b> R, and placed at an IC receiving position. It is conveyed to the set plate 22R arranged on the lower side and placed on the set plate. Next, the tray catch 21 </ b> R is released to another place, and the set plate 22 </ b> R presses the tray from below to position the tray 2 with the tray 2 placed thereon. An air cylinder 27R is used to move the set plate 22R up and down. An IC is arranged by an arm at a predetermined position in the positioned tray.
[0006]
There are two left and right IC receiving positions on the positioning plate 24. When the left side is used, the tray catch 21L, the set plate 22L, and the air cylinder 27L are used. An air cylinder (or a ball screw and a motor) 26 is used to convey the tray raised by the lifter 19 to the position of the tray catch 21L.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
(1) When the tray 2 is transported from the stocker 14 to the IC receiving position, the following operation is required.
(1) The tray is raised together with the stocker 14 by the lifter 13, and the rack 4 on which the target tray is placed is raised to the height of the air cylinder 6.
(2) Pull out the tray sideways with the air cylinder 6 together with the rack.
(3) The lifter 19 raises the tray to the position of the tray catch 21.
(4) When using the IC receiving position on the left side, the air cylinder 26 transports the tray to the left side.
(5) The tray is held by the tray catch 21 and placed on the set plate 22.
(6) Release the tray catch 21.
(7) The set plate 22 is lifted by the air cylinder 27 and the tray is pressed against the positioning plate 24 to be engaged.
[0008]
Since many operations are required in this way, it takes time. The same applies when the positioned tray is returned to the stocker 14. For this reason, it has been a cause of reducing the throughput (processing capacity) of the handler device.
(2) (1) In order to transport the tray 2 to the IC receiving position, it is necessary to provide linear guides 5a and 5b and rails 5 for each rack 4 in each stage. (2) When the operator sets / removes the tray to / from the stocker 14, the operator needs to pull the entire stocker forward with the knob 11 and set / remov it from the side.
[0009]
For this reason, there has been a drawback that the structure becomes complicated and the cost is increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve these conventional problems, to shorten the transport time between a tray stocker and an IC receiving position, and to provide an inexpensive stocker unit with a simple structure.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
(1) The stocker unit of the handler apparatus according to claim 1 holds a stocker that stacks and stores a plurality of trays in multiple stages, a lifter that raises and lowers the stocker, and a tray that is adjusted to a predetermined height by the lifter. The first and second slide arms, the linear guides arranged substantially horizontally to guide the first and second slide arms, and the direction in which the first and second slide arms are separated from or approach each other along the linear guides And a cylinder that transports the first and second slide arms that sandwich the tray between the stocker and the IC receiving position along the linear guide. The IC receiving position is located above the IC receiving position where the second tray that is not stored in the stocker is positioned by the positioning plate. And location, linear guide Ru is positioned higher than the positioning plate position.
[0011]
(2) In the invention of claim 2, in (1), below the position-decided Me plate, raises and lowers the second tray, the set plate or the second riff motor engaged is provided on the positioning plate .
[0012]
(3) In the invention of claim 3, in (1), the drive mechanism is a central block conveyed along a linear guide by a cylinder, and a first rack gear fixed to the first slide arm along the linear guide. And a pinion gear that meshes with the first rack gear and is pivotally attached to the central block, meshes with the pinion gear, and is arranged in parallel to face the first rack gear with the pinion gear interposed therebetween, and the second slide A second rack gear fixed to the arm, a second cylinder mounted in the vicinity of the stocker and driving one rack gear so that the first and second rack gears are separated from each other along the linear guide, and a first slide arm When the second Rakkugi mountain other is mounted between the second slide arm, a coil spring biased to both close to each other Ri made.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the example of FIG. In FIG. 1, parts corresponding to those in FIG. Hereinafter, the points different from the conventional one will be described.
(1) In FIG. 4, the linear guides 5a and 5b and the rail 5c are provided at each stage. However, in the present invention, this is abolished and one linear guide 31 is provided at a position higher than the positioning plate 24.
[0014]
(2) The tray of the stocker 14 is transported to a position overlapping the tray positioned on the positioning plate 24, and the IC is received at that position.
(3) The tray 2 pulled out from the stocker 14 is returned to the original position so that the IC can be stored in the tray 2 ′ set on the positioning plate 24.
(4) Instead of the conventional tray catch 21, a pair of slide arms 33 and 33 'are provided.
[0015]
(5) The air cylinder 6 and the air cylinder (or ball screw and motor) 26 are conventionally used to convey the tray horizontally, and only the air cylinder 6 is used.
(6) The height range in which the tray can be taken out / set by the operator after stopping the conventional structure in which the five-stage stocker 14 is pulled forward by the knob 11 and any tray is taken out (or set) from the side. The stocker 14 is lowered by the lifter 13 so as to be H. In the lowered position, the operator can take out / set the tray from the right side or the front side in FIG.
[0016]
(7) The tray 2 ′ set on the positioning plate 24 is supported by the set plate 22 and raised / lowered by the air cylinder 27, but the lifter 19 can be used in place of the set plate 22 and the air cylinder 27. The tray 2 ′ can be taken out / set separately from the tray 2 stored in the stocker 14.
[0017]
The rack 4 at each stage on which the tray 2 and the change kit 3 are placed is guided by a guide shaft 7b extending in the vertical direction, and the entire stocker 14 is moved up and down by the lifter 13, which is almost the same as the conventional one.
Next, a pair of slide arms 33 and 33 'and a linear guide 31 used for transferring the change kit 3 and the tray 2 of the stocker 14 to the IC receiving position will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0018]
The change kit 3 is provided with five pins 3 a for positioning the tray 2. Further, two holes 3b for hooking the hook pins 33a of the slide arms 33 and 33 'are provided on the left periphery and one on the right periphery in FIG.
The base portions of the slide arms 33 and 33 ′ are arranged along the linear guide 31, and one end portion of the rack gear 40 or 40 ′ is fixed along the linear guide 31 to the base portion. The rack gears 40, 40 ′ mesh with a pinion gear 44 that is rotatably attached to the central block 42. The extended end (right end) of the rack gear 40 is pushed by the air cylinder 46 so that it can move leftward. A coil spring 48 is attached by pins 49 and 50 between the base of the slide arm 33 and the extended end (left end) of the rack gear 40 ′, and the slide arms 33 and 33 ′ approach each other due to the stress that the coil tries to contract. Be drawn to. After the operator fits the hole 3b of the change kit 3 into the hook pin 33a, the change kit 3 is held between the slide arms 33 and 33 '.
[0019]
When the rack gear 40 is moved to the left at the tip of the movable rod 46a of the air cylinder 46, the slide arm 33 to which the rack gear 40 is fixed also moves to the left. As a result, the pinion gear 44 is rotated clockwise, the rack gear 40 'is moved to the right side, and the slide arm 33' to which the rack gear 40 'is fixed is also moved to the right side. The above-described operation of moving the rack gear 40 to the left by the air cylinder 46 is performed against the biasing force of the coil spring 48. By a series of these operations, the slide arms 33 and 33 'are moved so as to open, that is, away from each other. On the other hand, the operation of closing both is performed by the biasing force of the coil spring 48 as described above.
[0020]
Since the operation of opening the slide arms 33 and 33 ′ is performed when the tray 2 is attached / detached in the stocker 14, the air cylinder 46 is fixed to the stocker 14 side. A drive mechanism 56 is configured by the rack gears 40, 40 ', the pinion gear 44, the air cylinder 46, the coil spring 48, and the like.
The tray held between the slide arms 33 and 33 ′ via the change kit 3 is moved to the left IC receiving position by the air cylinder 6. That is, the air cylinder 6 moves the central block 42 to the left along the linear guide 31 and returns it to the right. As a result, the slide arms 33 and 33 ′ are also moved to the left and right along with the central block 42 along the linear guide 31 while holding the tray.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
(1) In the apparatus of the present invention, when the tray 2 is transported from the stocker 14 to the IC receiving position,
(1) The rack 4 on which the corresponding tray is placed is moved up and down to the height position of the linear guide 31 by the lifter 13.
(2) The tray 2 (change kit 3) is held between the slide arms 33 and 33 '.
(3) The tray 2 (change kit 3) is moved by the air cylinder 6 along the linear guide 31 to the left IC receiving position.
It becomes three. The same applies when returning the tray to the stocker. Therefore, the structure of the stocker unit according to the present invention can be performed with fewer kinds of operations and requires less time than the conventional structure. Therefore, the throughput of the handler device can be improved.
[0022]
(2) {circle over (1)} In the present invention, a common linear guide 31 is provided to transport the tray 2 accommodated in the stocker 14 to the IC receiving position (conventionally, the linear guide is provided for each stage. 5a, 5b and rail 5c were provided).
(2) When the operator sets / removes the tray to / from the stocker 14, the operator moves the entire stocker 14 by a button operation as necessary so that the height of the corresponding tray is located within the height range H to be taken in / out. Move up and down along 7b. Thus, the tray can be taken in and out from the front or right side of the stocker. Accordingly, a conventional mechanism for pulling out the entire stocker 14 forward is not required, and the linear guide mechanism is simplified, so that the cost can be reduced and the operator's work such as pulling out the entire stocker is unnecessary. There are also advantages.
[0023]
(3) In the present invention, since another tray 2 'not stored in the stocker 14 is arranged below the tray 2 conveyed from the stocker 14 to the IC receiving position, the tray 2 is moved from the IC receiving position to the stocker. Since the IC can be stored in the lower tray 2 ′ in a state in which it is allowed to escape or stored in the direction of 14, the throughput of the handler device can be further improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a principle front view showing an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a principle plan view of the stocker unit of FIG. 1;
3 is an enlarged plan view showing a base portion and its periphery of slide arms 33 and 33 ′ shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a principle front view of a conventional stocker unit.

Claims (3)

A stocker that stores multiple trays stacked in multiple stages,
A lifter that raises and lowers the stocker,
First and second slide arms that sandwich a tray adjusted to a predetermined height by the lifter;
A linear guide arranged substantially horizontally to guide the first and second slide arms;
A drive mechanism for driving the first and second slide arms in a direction away from or approaching each other along the linear guide to sandwich or release the tray;
First and sandwich the tray, the second slide arm along said linear guide, comprising a cylinder for transporting between said stocker and the IC receiving position,
The IC receiving position is located above the IC receiving position where the second tray that is not stored in the stocker is positioned by the positioning plate,
The linear guide stocker of the handler and wherein that you have been positioned at a higher position than the positioning plate. In claim 1, the lower side of the front Symbol position-decided Me plate, said second tray raising and lowering the, wherein the set plate or the second riff motor to engage the positioning plate is provided Stocker part of the handler device. The drive mechanism according to claim 1,
A central block conveyed along the linear guide by the cylinder;
A first rack gear fixed to the first slide arm along the linear guide;
A pinion gear meshing with the first rack gear and rotatably attached to the central block;
A second rack gear that meshes with the pinion gear, is arranged in parallel to face the first rack gear across the pinion gear, and is fixed to the second slide arm;
A second cylinder mounted in the vicinity of the stocker and driving one rack gear such that the first and second rack gears are separated from each other along the linear guide;
Said first slide arm, said second Rakkugi mountain other is mounted between the second slide arm, and a coil spring biased to both close to each other,
A stocker unit of a handler device comprising:

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