U.S. patent application number 15/067150 was filed with the patent office on 2017-09-14 for semiconductor device reel deformation prevention apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is NXP B.V. Invention is credited to PARADEE JITRUNGRUANG, NATHAPOP LAPPANICHPULPHOL.
Application Number | 20170260019 15/067150 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59787753 |
Filed Date | 2017-09-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170260019 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JITRUNGRUANG; PARADEE ; et
al. |
September 14, 2017 |
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE REEL DEFORMATION PREVENTION APPARATUS
Abstract
An apparatus for storing semiconductor devices includes a reel
having a hub and at least two flanges along an axis of the reel.
The flanges are spaced and face each other. The semiconductor
devices, which typically are attached to a tape, are wound around
the hub and between the flanges. At least one holding member is
disposed between the flanges at the rim of the apparatus, which is
the perimeter of the flanges, and abuts the inner surfaces of the
flanges. The holding member prevents the flanges from being
deformed during vacuum packing.
Inventors: |
JITRUNGRUANG; PARADEE;
(Bangkok, TH) ; LAPPANICHPULPHOL; NATHAPOP;
(Bangkok, TH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NXP B.V |
Eindhoven |
|
NL |
|
|
Family ID: |
59787753 |
Appl. No.: |
15/067150 |
Filed: |
March 10, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 13/0084 20130101;
B65H 2701/37 20130101; B65H 75/141 20130101; B65H 2701/1942
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65H 75/14 20060101
B65H075/14 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for storing semiconductor devices, comprising: a
reel having a hub and a pair of spaced, parallel flanges attached
to the hub opposing sides of the hub, wherein the semiconductor
devices are received between the flanges and wound around the hub,
wherein the flanges have proximal ends adjacent the hub and distal
ends spaced from the hub; and at least one holding member disposed
between the flanges, the at least one holding member being arranged
between at least part of an edge of the flanges at the distal ends
of the flanges, wherein the holding member prevents the flanges
from being deformed.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one holding
member has a central bridge that connects opposing distal ends of
the at least one holding member, wherein the distal ends of the at
least one holding member abut inner surfaces of the distal ends of
the flanges to prevent deformation thereof.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the central bridge includes
one or more through holes.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one holding
member is T-shaped.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein outer ends of the at least one
holding member are flush with outer surfaces at the distal ends of
the flanges and a vertical portion of the T-shape abuts the inner
faces of the flanges.
6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one holding
member is U-shaped.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising projections
extending from the distal ends, wherein the projections extend over
the distal ends of the flanges and are flush with outer surfaces of
the flanges.
8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one holding
member is M-shaped.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the distal ends of the at
least one holding member form clips that receive the distal ends of
the flanges.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the clips have outer arms of
length L.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the lengths of the arms is
less than a thickness of the central bridge.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the lengths of the arms is
greater than a thickness of the central bridge.
13. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one holding
member comprises at least one clip that clamps to the distal end of
one of the flanges.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holding member is
rigid.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one holding
member comprises a continuous band that covers the distal end of
the flanges and the space therebetween.
16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one holding
member comprises a plurality of holding members spaced from each
other around the distal ends of the flanges.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present application is generally directed to an
apparatus for storing semiconductor devices, and more particularly
to an apparatus for preventing reels for packing semiconductor
devices from being deformed.
[0002] After semiconductor devices are assembled, they often are
attached to a tape that is then wound around a reel for shipping
and delivery. The reel typically is sealed in a vacuumed bag to
protect the semiconductor devices from unwanted environmental
influences, e.g., moisture or dust particles. This vacuum packing
can be problematic especially when the reel is not fully
loaded.
[0003] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional reel 100
comprising a hub 102 and a pair of spaced flanges 104. There is a
space 106 between the flanges 104 for receiving a tape of
semiconductor devices 108. In this example, the reel 100, which has
a radius R.sub.1, is only rolled up with packed tape 108 to the
extent of about half that radius, while the remaining space 106
between the flanges 104 is empty. The flanges 104 may be solid or
spoked and typically include a space for receiving a label. When
the tape 108 and reel 100 are sealed in a vacuum bag, the vacuum
process can cause the flanges 104 to deform since there is no
support at the edges of the flanges 104, as shown in FIG. 1, where
the distal ends of the flanges 104 have been pulled towards each
other.
[0004] The deformation of the flanges 104 can cause problems, for
example, when the tape 108 is unloaded from the reel 100, the now
narrowed space between the flanges 104 can block the tape 108 from
being unloaded smoothly. The deformation of the flanges 104 can
also damage the tape 108 and sometimes even the semiconductor
devices attached to the tape 108. Therefore, it would be
advantageous to have a reel loaded with a tape of semiconductor
devices that is not apt to deformation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] So that the manner in which the above recited features of
the present invention can be understood in detail, a more
particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above,
may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are
illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however,
that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of
this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of
its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective
embodiments. The drawings are for facilitating an understanding of
the invention and thus are not necessarily drawn to scale.
Advantages of the subject matter claimed will become apparent to
those skilled in the art upon reading this description in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference
numerals have been used to designate like elements, and in
which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional reel
half-loaded with a tape of semiconductor devices;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an
apparatus for storing semiconductor devices in accordance with a
first embodiment of a holding member of the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a planar side view of an apparatus for storing
semiconductor devices in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a planar side view of an apparatus for storing
semiconductor devices in accordance with another exemplary
embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an
apparatus for storing semiconductor devices in accordance with a
second embodiment of a holding member;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an
apparatus for storing semiconductor devices in accordance with a
third embodiment of a holding member;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an
apparatus for storing semiconductor devices in accordance with a
fourth embodiment of a holding member;
[0013] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an
apparatus for storing semiconductor devices in accordance with a
fifth embodiment of a holding member; and
[0014] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a holding member with openings
on its bridge in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The present invention provides an apparatus for storing
semiconductor devices including a reel having a hub and at least
two parallel flanges along an axis of the reel. The flanges are
spaced and face each other, and receive the semiconductor devices
therebetween. There is at least one holding member disposed between
the flanges that prevents the flanges from being deformed, such as
during vacuum packing.
[0016] The holding member(s) can be configured to include at least
one clip that clamps a part of an edge of a corresponding flange.
The holding member may be T-shaped, M-shaped, or U-shaped, and can
have surfaces at respective distal ends that support the inner
surface of the flanges. The holding member(s) also may include one
or more openings in an outer surface thereof. In a presently
preferred embodiment, a plurality of holding members are spaced
around the rim or perimeter of the reel.
[0017] Referring now to FIG. 2, a partial cross-sectional side view
of an apparatus 200 for storing semiconductor devices according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.
Generally, the apparatus 200 includes a reel 202 having a hub 102
and spaced, parallel flanges 104, and a holding member 204. The
flanges 104 are connected to opposing sides of the hub 102 along an
axis x-x of the hub 102. The flanges 104 extend perpendicularly to
the axis x-x and are parallel with each other. The flanges 104 can
be disc-shaped, with one side thereof facing another flange. The
space between the flanges 104 is used for receiving a tape of
loaded semiconductor devices, where the loaded tape is wound around
the hub 102 and between the flanges 104, as is known in the art. It
will be understood that the reel 202 may include more disc-shaped
flanges 104 supported by the hub 102, configuring the multiple
flanges 104 to be parallel with each other. In such a way, the reel
202 may have more spaces between pairs of neighboring flanges 104
for receiving additional tapes. The reel 202 is rotatable about the
axis x-x for loading and unloading tapes of semiconductor devices.
The reel 202 can be constructed of various types of material such
as a high temperature thermoplastic material, paper, composite
material, etc. The dimensions of the reel 202 may vary but
typically conform with known industry standards such that they are
compatible with various machines used in the semiconductor device
assembly process.
[0018] The holding member 204 is sized to be fit between the distal
or outer ends of the flanges 104 and abut an inner surface of the
outer ends of the flanges in order to hold the flanges 104 in
place--that is, the holding member 204 prevents the ends of the
flanges 104 from being deformed when sealed in a bag and vacuumed.
The holding member 204 can be adapted to match the peripheral edge
of the flanges 104. For example, if the flanges 104 are circular,
the holding member 204 can be arc shaped.
[0019] Along the axis x-x, the holding member 204 has respective
distal ends 206. At each end 206, the holding member 204 has a
surface 208 that faces and abuts an inner surface of the flange
104. The surfaces 208 facing the flange 104 are in contact with the
flange 104 so that the ends of the flanges 104 are supported and
resist deformation, keeping the flanges 104 in position such that
any tape therebetween is not pinched. Between the distal ends 206
of the holding member 204, there is a bridge 210 that extends
parallel to the axis x-x and connects the distal ends 206.
[0020] The apparatus 200 can include at least one holding member
204 for holding the ends of the flanges 104. In one embodiment,
with reference to FIG. 3, a holding member 302 extends along the
entire perimeter of the reel as defined at the outer edges of the
distal ends of the flanges 104. In other embodiments, with
reference to FIG. 4, multiple holding members 402 may be
discontinuously distributed along the perimeter defined by the
outer edges of the distal ends of the flanges 104. It will be
understood that there may be multiple holding members evenly or
unevenly distributed along the outer edges of the flanges. In a
presently preferred embodiment, the apparatus 200 includes at least
four of the holding members 204 spaced along the perimeter of the
reel 202.
[0021] Referring again to FIG. 2, on at least one of the flanges
104, the surface 208 of the holding member 204 covers an outer
surface 112 of one of the flanges 104 such that the holding member
204 fits around an inner surface of the flange 104, a peripheral
surface 114 of the flange 204, and the outer surface 112 of the
flange 104 such that the holding member 204 acts as a clip (portion
of the holding member 204 within the dotted circle) that attaches
to the edge of the flange 104. In such configuration, the holding
member 204 is M-shaped.
[0022] The holding member 204 has an arm that extends along the
outer surface 112 of the flange 104. The arm has a length that may
vary, as will be discussed in greater detail with reference to FIG.
7.
[0023] With reference to FIG. 5, another embodiment of a holding
member 502 is shown. The holding member 502 in this embodiment is
generally U-shaped and has distal ends with surfaces 504 that are
perpendicular to the x-x axis and that abut the inner distal ends
of the flanges 104. The distal ends of the holding member 502 also
have surfaces that abut the peripheral surfaces 114 of the flanges
104. However, in this embodiment, the distal ends of the holding
member 502 do not face or abut the outer surface 112 of the flange
104. That is, the ends of the holding member 502 are flush with the
outer surfaces 112 of the flanges 104.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 6, a still further embodiment of a holding
member 602 is shown. The holding member 602 has a central bridge
604 that is thicker than that of the holding member 502 shown in
FIG. 5. The holding member 602 is thus configured to be T-shaped,
with the surfaces 606 at distal ends of the bridge 604 that abut
the inner surfaces of the distal ends of the flanges 104. Similar
to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the distal ends of the
holding member 602 extend to cover the peripheral surfaces 114 of
the flanges 104, but in this case not the outer surfaces 112. That
is, the outer ends of the distal ends of the holding member 602 are
flush with the outer surfaces 112 of the flanges 104.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 7, yet another embodiment of a holding
member 702 is shown. The holding member 702 is similar to the
holding member 204 (FIG. 2) in that the holding member 702 has
distal ends 704 that clip over the ends of the flanges 104 and
cover the inner walls of the flanges 104, the outer walls 112, and
the peripheral ends 114 of the flanges 104. The holding member 702
differs from the holding member 204 in that outer arms 706 that
abut the outer surface 112 of the flanges 104 are longer than inner
arms 708. In alternative embodiments, the outer arms 706 may be
equal to (as in FIG. 2), slightly shorter (as illustrated with
dashed line 710) or much shorter (as illustrated with dashed line
712) than the inner arm 708.
[0026] It shall be understood that, the holding member 704 can be
made through bending a piece of rigid material, such as aluminum,
steel, etc., or can be formed as bended through molding.
Optionally, a bending angle a from a bridge 714 at the inner arm
708 can be from around 90.degree. to around 180.degree.. A distance
d.sub.1 between the inner arms 708 of the distal ends 704 at each
end of the bridge 714 can be greater than twice a thickness t of
the bridge 714. The length of either the inner arm 708 or the outer
arm 706 of the distal ends 704 may be configured to be in the range
of 0 to half of the diameter of the reel 202.
[0027] FIG. 8 illustrates yet another embodiment of a holding
member 802 of the present invention. The holding member 802 is
similar to the holding member 202 depicted in FIG. 2, except that a
central bridge 804 of the holding member 802 is thicker than the
bridge 210 of the holding member 202. In this embodiment, a
thickness of the bridge 804 is greater than a length of the outer
arms at the distal ends of the holding member 802.
[0028] FIG. 9 shows yet another embodiment of a holding member 902
having distal ends (e.g., clips) 904 connected by a central bridge
906. The holding member 902 may be U-shaped, T-shaped, or M-shaped,
as previously discussed. In this embodiment, the holding member 902
includes multiple openings 908 formed in the bridge 906. The
openings 908 function for stress relief. The openings 908 also can
reduce the weight of the holding member 902. The openings 908 may
be formed by punching or etching the bridge 906. Preferably the
openings extend through the entire thickness of the bridge 908 -
that is, the openings form through holes. Besides the circular
shape illustrated in FIG. 9, the openings 908 may have other
possible shapes, such as triangular, square, etc. The openings 908
are not necessarily queued up linearly, and any other distribution
on the bridge 906 is possible.
[0029] With the holding members being included in the apparatus,
the flanges of the reel are supported by the holding members even
when the reel is not filled with tape. In situations where the
loaded reel is sealed in a bag and vacuumed, the edges of the
flanges are prevented from deforming, either inwards or outwards
such that a tape of semiconductor devices wound around the reel is
protected from being pinched. During unloading, the tape can be
smoothly released, eliminating potential damage to the devices
stored on the tape. Furthermore, as the reel is often stacked with
other reels during storage and transportation, the holding member
provides necessary support for the edges of the flanges,
substantially enhancing the stiffness of the apparatus.
[0030] The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar
referents in the context of describing the subject matter
(particularly in the context of the following claims) are to be
construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless
otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context.
Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve
as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate
value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein,
and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as
if it were individually recited herein. Furthermore, the foregoing
description is for the purpose of illustration only, and not for
the purpose of limitation, as the scope of protection sought is
defined by the claims as set forth hereinafter together with any
equivalents thereof entitled to. The use of any and all examples,
or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is
intended merely to better illustrate the subject matter and does
not pose a limitation on the scope of the subject matter unless
otherwise claimed. The use of the term "based on" and other like
phrases indicating a condition for bringing about a result, both in
the claims and in the written description, is not intended to
foreclose any other conditions that bring about that result. No
language in the specification should be construed as indicating any
non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention
as claimed.
[0031] Preferred embodiments are described herein, including the
best mode known to the inventor for carrying out the claimed
subject matter. Of course, variations of those preferred
embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects
skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the
inventor intends for the claimed subject matter to be practiced
otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this
claimed subject matter includes all modifications and equivalents
of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as
permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the
above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is
encompassed unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly
contradicted by context.
* * * * *