Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a pusher which is operable to apply a force to a component to ensure the component establishes electrical contact with an apparatus. In particular, but not exclusively present invention relates to a pusher which is configured to define a processing stations in a component handling assembly, and which is independent of a rotating turret which transports components between processing stations of the component handling assembly.

Description of related art [0002] Component manufacturing lines and component handling assemblies, usually include testing stations wherein manufactured/handled electrical components are electrically tested. The components are usually transported between these testing stations by means of a rotating turret which comprises component handling members which pick and place components at testing stations. To electrically test a component, the component must be arranged such that it establishes electrical connection with the electrical contacts which are available at a test station. Even when the component is placed directly on these electrical contacts, very often components are so small and light that the gravitational force alone acting on the component is not sufficient to cause the component to establish electrical contact with the electrical contacts at the test station. Thus, a force needs to be applied to the component so that the contacts on the component establish electrical connection with the electrical contacts which are available at a test station. The amount of force required to establish an electrical connection will increase according to the number of electrical contacts which the component has; therefore components which have a large number of electrical contacts will require even greater force to establish electrical connection with the electrical contacts available at a test station. [0003] It should also be noted that component handling members on a turret which pick and place components at testing stations, are only capable of applying a force of between 8-1 ON to the components and therefore are not suitable for applying the larger forces which are required to push a component so that the component forms electrical contact with the electrical contacts at a test station. If the component handling members were configured to apply a greater force to the components then they would cause the turret to become off-set form its orientation.

[0004] Pushers can be used to apply forces to components. However, locating a pusher on a turret has the disadvantage that when the pusher is operated to push a component, the reactive force applied by the

component to the pusher, will cause the turret to become offset from its correct orientation e.g. the turret will become offset from a level

orientation. This problem is particularly prevalent in the cases where there is more than one pusher provided on a turret, and pushers are operated simultaneously.

[0005] Offsetting of the turret means that other components, which are carried by other component handling members on the same turret, will not be placed accurately at their correct positions at other test stations or processing stations around the turret. The precise positioning of

components at each test station or processing station is critical; if a component is not correctly positioned at a test station or processing station, then the component may not be tested or processed at that station, or the component may become damaged during testing or processing.

[0006] It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or mitigate one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages.

Brief summary of the invention

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a pusher suitable for applying a force to a component to ensure the component establishes electrical contact with an apparatus, wherein the pusher is arrangable to be part of a component handling assembly which comprises two or more processing stations and a turret which is rotated to transport the components between the two or more processing stations in the component handling assembly, and wherein the pusher is configured such that it is independent of the turret.

[0008] As the pusher is independent of the turret, when the pusher is operated to apply a force to the component so that the component establishes electrical connection with an apparatus, the counter force applied by the component to the pusher will not affect the turret.

Accordingly, the turret will not become off-set from its original orientation when the pusher is operated. As the turret is not offset components held by other handling heads on the same turret can be precisely positioned at other test stations or other processing stations which around the turret. [0009] The turret may comprise two or more component handling members. The component handling members may comprise a component handling head and a shaft member. The turret may comprise apertures defined therein which are configured to allow the component handling members to move independent of the turret; for example, the component handling members may slide within the apertures defined in the turret. The component handling members may be movable between an extended position and a contracted position. The turret may further comprise a biasing means which biases the component handling members towards their contracted position. [0010] The component may be an electrical component. Preferably the component is a semiconductor component. The component may comprise one or more electrical contacts. The component may comprise greater than 20 electrical contacts. At least one of pads, leads, bumps, balls, probes, pins, blades, may define the electrical contacts on the component. [0011] The pusher may comprise a base plate which can support an apparatus comprising electrical contacts which a component can electrically contact. At least one of pads, leads, bumps, balls, blades, pins, probes may define the electrical contacts on the apparatus. The apparatus may be removably connected to the pusher. The apparatus may be removably connected to the base plate of the pusher. The apparatus may be fixed to the pusher. The apparatus may be fixed to the base plate of the pusher. The apparatus may be integral to the pusher. The apparatus may be integral to the base plate of the pusher. The apparatus may be an apparatus for testing components. The apparatus may be operable to electrically test a component when the component has established electrical contact with contacts available in the apparatus. The apparatus may define a test station in a component handling assembly. A component handling assembly includes an assembly or processing line in which components are processed or manufactured.

[0012] The pusher may comprise a compression member. [0013] The compression member may be configured to directly engage a component so that the compression member applies a force to a

component.

[0014] The compression member may be configured to co-operate with a component handling member on the turret. The component handling member may be configured such that it can move independently of the turret. The compression member may be configured to abut a surface of component handling member on the turret. The co-operation between the compression member and component handling member may ensure that movement of the compression member will effect movement of the component handling member. The compression member may thus be moved so that the component handling member applies a force to a component. The compression member may be configured to co-operate with a component handling member on the turret to move the component handling member so that the component handling member applies a force to a component. [0015] The pusher may be configured such that it can receive at least a portion of a turret and a component handling member, between a base plate and a compression member. The pusher may be configured such that it can receive at least a portion of a turret and a component handling member, between an apparatus which is located on a base plate of the force pusher and a compression member.

[0016] The pusher may be configurable to apply a predetermined force of between 10-50N to a component. The pusher may be configurable to apply a predetermined force to a component. Preferably, the

predetermined force is between 20-40N depending on the tested device layout.

[0017] The pusher according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a controller which is configured to control the force applied to the component by the pusher. The controller can ensure that the force applied to the component is limited; this will ensure that force pusher will not apply a force which will be large enough to damage the component.

[0018] The pusher may further comprise a pneumatic operating means. The pneumatic operating means may be a pneumatic cylinder. The pneumatic device may be configurable to cause the pusher to apply a predefined force to a component. The pneumatic cylinder may be integral to the compression member.

[0019] The pusher may further comprise a cam motor.

[0020] The pusher may further comprise an encoder. The encoder may be integral to the cam motor. The encoder may enable the speed and position of the compression member to be controlled.

[0021] The pusher may further comprise a detecting means which is operable to detect if a component has established electrical contact with the apparatus. The apparatus may be an apparatus which is positioned at the base plate of the pusher. For example, if the apparatus is an apparatus for testing components, then the detecting means can detect when the component has established electrical connection with the apparatus; once the component has established electrical connection with the apparatus, the detecting means can inform the apparatus to begin testing of the component.

[0022] The pusher may further comprise an anchoring means which can anchor the pusher. Preferably the anchoring means is independent of the turret. Thus, operation of pusher will not cause off-setting of the turret.

[0023] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a component handling assembly, comprising, two or more processing stations which are suitable for processing components; a turret which is rotatable to transport components between the two or more processing stations; wherein at least one of the processing stations comprises a pushers according to any one of the afore-mentioned pushers. [0024] The term "processing" includes, but is not limited to, testing of components. Accordingly, the term "processing stations" included both stations at which components are processed and also testing stations in which components are tested.

[0025] The component handling assembly may comprise a plurality of processing stations each processing station comprising any one of the afore-mentioned pushers.

[0026] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of arranging a component so that said component establishes electrical contact with an apparatus, the method comprising the steps of, using a turret to transport a component to a pusher according to any one of the afore-mentioned pushers, operating the pusher so that a force is applied to the component which causes the component to establish electrical contact with an apparatus. [0027] The apparatus may be located on a base plate of the pusher. The apparatus may be an apparatus suitable for testing a component. For example, the apparatus may be suitable for electrically testing a

component. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 provides a perspective view of a pusher according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 2 provides a perspective view of the pusher in figure 1 when operated to apply a force to a component to ensure the component establishes electrical contact with an apparatus which is operable to test the component.

Detailed Description of Drawings [0029] Figure 1 provides a perspective view of a pusher 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The pusher 1 forms part of a component handling assembly 3 in which components 9 are handled and processed.

[0030] The component handling assembly 3 comprises a plurality of processing stations 5 (represented schematically as boxes). Each of these processing stations 5 are suitable for processing (including testing) components 9. The component handling assembly 3 further comprises a turret 7 which is rotatable to transport components 9 between the processing stations 5. The turret 7 intermittently rotates to transport components 9 between the processing stations 5.

[0031] The turret 7 has a level orientation and each of the processing stations 5 are arranged at a fixed position relative to the turret 7.

Maintaining the turret's level orientation is essential to maintaining relative positioning between the processing stations 5 and the turret 7. Maintaining relative positioning between the processing stations 5 and the turret 7 is necessary so that components 9 can be delivered to a precise position on each processing station 5 where processing or testing of a component 9 is to take place. [0032] The turret 7 comprises a plurality of component handling members 1 1 . The component handling members 1 1 each comprise a component handling head 13 and a support shaft 15. The component handling head 13 is configured to contact and handle a component 9. A plurality of apertures 27 are defined in the turret 7, through which the support shafts 1 5 of the component handling members 1 1 extend; the apertures 27 enable the component handling members 1 1 to be move relative to the turret 7. The component handling members 1 1 are configured such that that they are movable between an extended position and a contracted position; figure 1 shows all the component handling members 1 1 in their contracted position; in their contracted position the component handling members 1 1 are in a position removed from the processing stations 5, in their extended position the component handling members 1 1 are in a position proximate to the processing stations 5. A component handling member 1 1 is usually moved to an extended position to deliver a component 9 to a processing station 5, and is moved to its contracted position both before the turret 7 is rotated and during rotation of the turret 7. A component handling member 1 1 will also be moved to an extended position when picking a component 9 from a processing station 5. Biasing means, in the form of springs 17, bias the component handling members 1 1 towards their contracted position.

[0033] The pusher 1 according to the present invention is provided at one processing stations 5. The pusher 1 is configured such that it is independent of the turret 1 . Anchoring means 25 anchor the pusher 1 so that it cannot become displaced during operation. The Anchoring means may be a male member which is fixed to a structure, and configured to be co-operable with a female member provided on the pusher. [0034] The pusher 1 comprises a base plate 19 which supports an apparatus in the form of a testing apparatus 31 . The pusher 1 and testing apparatus 31 together define a processing station 5 in the component handling assembly 3. [0035] The testing apparatus 31 comprises electrical contacts, in the form of electrical contact pads (not shown). To test a component 9, electrical contacts, such as electrical pins 33 which are provided on the component 9 must contact the electrical contact pads on the testing apparatus 31 to establish an electrical connection between the component 9 and the testing apparatus 31 . Once an electrical connection has been established the testing apparatus 31 may operate to test the component 9. The component 9 is small and light, such that gravitations force alone acting on the component 9 would not be sufficient to cause the component 9 to establish an electrical connection with the testing apparatus 31; thus a force must be applied to the component 9 so that component 9 establishes electrical connection with the testing apparatus 31 .

[0036] The pusher 1 comprises a compression member 21 . The

compression member 21 comprises a pneumatic operating means, in the form of a pneumatic cylinder 23. The pneumatic cylinder 23 is operable to move the compression member 21 . In this particular example, the

pneumatic cylinder 23 operates to move the compression member 21 along a horizontal reference Ύ'.

[0037] The pusher 1 is configured such that it can receive at least a portion of a turret 7 and a component handling member 1 1 , between the testing apparatus 31 on the base plate 19 and the compression member 21 . The compression member 21 is configured to co-operate with a component handling member 1 1 on the turret 7 when said component handling member 1 1 has been received between the testing apparatus 31 on the base plate 19 and the compression member 21 . Figure 1 shows that an end 22 of the compression member 21 abuts a top surface 24 of the component handling member 1 1 . Therefore, movement of the compression member 21 by the pneumatic cylinder 23 will effect movement of the component handling member 1 1 . As the turret 7 rotates the compression member 21 will co-operate in a similar manner with the consecutive component handling members 1 1 on the turret 7 as they are received between the testing apparatus 31 on the base plate 19 and the compression member 21 . [0038] It should be noted that, instead of co-operating with a

component handling member 1 1 , the compression member 21 could be configured to directly engage the component 9. For example the end 22 of the compression member 21 may abuts an upper surface UU of the component 9. [0039] The component handling members 1 1 are arranged to hold components 9 in a predetermined orientation and the turret 7 is

configured to turn a predetermined amount at each intermittent rotation; thus the testing apparatus 31 can be pre-positioned on the base plate 19 of the force pusher 1 to ensure that electrical pins 33 of the components 9 will directly align over the electrical contacts of the testing apparatus 31 each time the turret rotates.

[0040] A cam motor 37 comprising an encoder 39 are integral to the pusher 1 ; the encoder and the associated electronic control the pusher so that the pusher always applies a pre-defined and configurable pressure. A mechanical cam is mounted on a motor shaft fully servo controlled by an electronic encoder. It operates to control the speed of the pneumatic move of the pusher and to control its position with the servo loop on the encoder increments. These enable the speed and position of the compression member 21 to be accurately controlled as it is moved by the pneumatic cylinder. Through the regulation of the cam motor, the entire control sequence is achieved.

[0041] There is further provided a controller 35 which controls the force applied to component. The controller 35 achieves this by controlling the pneumatic cylinder 23 which moves the compression member 21 . The controller 35 can be configured to control the pneumatic cylinder to ensure that a predefined force is applied to the component 9 and/or can be configured to ensure that the force applied to the component does not exceed a threshold force.

[0042] The force pusher 1 further comprises a detecting means in the form of a detector 41 which is operable to detect if the component 9 has established electrical contact with the testing apparatus 31 .

[0043] During operation the turret 7 rotates to transport components 9 between the processing stations 5 in the component handling assembly 3. As the turret 7 rotates, the pusher 1 which is configured to be independent of the turret 7, receives at least a portion of the turret 7 and a component handling member 1 1 which holds a component 9 to be tested, between the testing apparatus 31 located on the base plate 19 and the compression member 21 . The turret 7 will then stop rotating momentarily to enable processing at each processing station 5 and the testing at the pusher 1 to take place. [0044] Once the turret 7 stops rotating the compression member 21 of the pusher 1 is moved by the pneumatic cylinder 23 so that the end 22 of the compression member 21 abuts a top surface 24 of the component handling member 1 1 . The cam motor 37 comprising an encoder 39, which are integral to the pusher 1 , control the pneumatic cylinder 23 so that the speed and position of the compression member 21 is accurately controlled as it is moved to engage the top surface 24 of the component handling member 1 1 .

[0045] Once the compression member 21 has engaged the top surface 24 of the component handling member 1 1 , the pneumatic cylinder 23 continues operate so that the compression member 21 pushes the component handling member 1 1 to move to its extended position. By pushing on the top surface 24 of the component handling member 1 1 , the compression member 21 causes the component handling member 1 1 to be moved through the aperture 17 in the turret 7, against the biasing force of the spring 17, to its extended position; as is illustrated in Figure 2. [0046] As the compression member 21 moves the handling member 1 1 towards its extended position, a component 9 on component handling head 15 will arrive at the testing apparatus 31 . Since the component handling member 1 1 holds the component 9 so that the electrical pins 33 of the component 9 directly align over the electrical contacts of the testing apparatus 31 , as the component handling member 1 1 continues to move towards its extended position, the electrical pins 33 of the component 9 will be brought into contact with the electrical contacts of the testing apparatus 31 . The pneumatic cylinder 23 will continue to operate to move the compression member 21 along the horizontal reference Ύ' until the component handling member 1 1 applies a predetermined force to the component 9. The predetermined force is at least equal to the force necessary to cause the electrical pins 33 of the component 9 to electrically contact the electrical contacts on the testing apparatus 31 (so that the component 9 establishes electrical contact with the testing apparatus 31 ). Once the component 9 establishes an electrical connection with the testing apparatus 31 , the component 9 can be tested.

[0047] The controller 35 will operate to control the force applied to component 9. The controller 35 will control the pneumatic cylinder 23 to ensure that the predefined force, necessary to establish electrical

connection between the component 9 and the testing apparatus 31 , is applied to the component 9.

[0048] In particular, the pneumatic force applied on the device is controlled and set up by controlling the pneumatic cylinder over a remote connection, such as a RS232 connection. The cam motor will manage the landing approach and the contacting height of the device on contacting elements.

[0049] The provision of apertures 17 within the turret 7 ensures that the component handling member 1 1 can move independently of the turret 7, this will in turn ensure that that force applied to the top 20 of the component handling member 1 1 will not be transmitted to the turret 17. [0050] As the pusher 1 is independent of the turret 7, when the pusher 1 is operated to apply a force to a component via the component handling member 1 1 , a counter force applied by the component 9 to the force pusher 1 will not cause off-setting of the turret 7. Accordingly the turret 7 will not become off-set from its level orientation. Thus, precise positioning of components 9 at each processing station 5 can be achieved.

[0051] The invention is also related to a component handling assembly which comprises two or more processing stations and a turret which is rotatable to transport the components between the two or more

processing stations in the component handling assembly, the assembly further comprising a pusher suitable for applying a force to a component under test to ensure the component establishes electrical contact with an apparatus, wherein the pusher is configured such that it can be actuated without imparting any force on the turret. The pusher may comprise any or all of the features of the above mentioned and claimed pusher.

[0052] Various modifications and variations to the described

embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in

connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiment.