Patent EP0337149A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0337149A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Solder deposition tool
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1989-03-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-03-16
Abstract
Abstract A tool employing a solder foot (20) to deposit solder on a series of conductive surfaces (21, 22) as the tool moves. In one embodiment, non-wettable blade (18) attached to the tool breaks the film. A pair of sensors (15) coupled to a control circuit monitor the position of the solder foot and the position may be changed as a function of the operation to be performed, i.e. deposit, reflow, standby while tool is moved. In a second embodiment a discrete solder mass is extruded and deposited on a preheated pad. In a third embodiment, solder wire is delivered to an omnidirectional tool for deposition.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Gerard Ledermann
- 👤 Luu Thanh Nguyen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 04:00
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/34; H05K3/3465; B; B23; B23K; B23K3/00; B23K3/06; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/10; H05K2201/10007; H05K2201/10151; H05K2203/00; H05K2203/01; H05K2203/0104; H05K2203/0126
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A tool of applying solder to a series of conductive surfaces comprising: a movable housing having a reservoir (12) for liquid solder and means defining an outlet for liquid solder whereby solder flows from said reservoir and forms a discrete mass that contacts a conductive surface as a solder film, and a heating element (10, 102) in said reservoir to maintain said solder in a liquid form for release by said symmetrical dispensing outlet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
74 words
A tool of applying solder to a series of conductive surfaces comprising: a movable housing having a reservoir (12) for liquid solder and means defining an outlet for liquid solder whereby solder flows from said reservoir and forms a discrete mass that contacts a conductive surface as a solder film, and a heating element (10, 102) in said reservoir to maintain said solder in a liquid form for release by said symmetrical dispensing outlet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A tool of claim 1 comprising: means defining an outlet for liquid solder in the form of a foot (20) from said reservoir (13, 32), means (15, 16) for sensing the position of the liquid solder foot emerging from said outlet, and means (18) for breaking a solder film existing between said liquid solder foot and one of said conductive surfaces (21, 22).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tool of claim 2 further comprising means (36, 38, 40, 41) to vary the size of said liquid solder foot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
The tool of claim 3 wherein said means to vary the size of said liquid solder foot comprises means (38, 41) to apply pressure to said liquid solder in said reservoir, and means (40) re sponsive to said means (15, 16) for sensing the position of said liquid solder foot to vary the pressure applied so that said solder foot is maintained at a predetermined position with respect to said outlet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The tool of claim 4 wherein said means to apply pressure comprises a gas volume disposed in fluid communication with said reservoir, a source of gas under pressure (42), and regulator means (38) to selectively increase the pressure of said gas volume using said gas under pressure or to reduce the gas volume pressure by venting.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The tool of one of the preceding claims 2 to 5 wherein said means to sense comprises a first sensor (16) located in said outlet to sense the flow of liquid solder from said reservoir and a second sensor (15) positioned outside said outlet to sense the position of said liquid solder foot emerging from said outlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The tool of claim 6 further comprising a sensing circuit (40) responsive to said sensors to maintain the position of said liquid solder at predetermined positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The tool of one of the preceding claims 2 to 7 wherein said means to break the film comprises an adjustable non-wettable blade mounted to said housing at a position opposite from said outlet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The tool of one of the preceding claims 2 to 8 further comprising means to move said housing over said conductive surfaces in a predetermined pattern of movement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A tool of claim 1 further comprising means (70) to preheat said conductive surface (21, 22) prior to contact by said discrete mass, and means (68) to maintain said liquid solder in said reservoir under pressure, and wherein said outlet is a dispensing outlet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The tool of claim 10 wherein said housing is movable omnidirectional, or movable along a line, and said dispensing outlet comprises a symmetrical array of ports or a symmetrical port, respectively a series of ports positioned perpendicular to the line of travel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
The tool of claim 10 or 11 wherein said means to maintain said liquid solder under pressure comprises an annular chamber disposed in said housing (68) around said reservoir, a source of gas under pressure and nozzle means to dispense said gas to surround said discrete mass of solder as it is emitted from said dispensing outlet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The tool of one of the preceding claims 10 to 12 wherein said means (70) to preheat said conductive surface comprises a flux preheater attached to said housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The tool of claim 13 wherein said flux preheater surrounds said housing or is attached at a position ahead of said dispensing outlet in a direction of movement.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The tool of claim 1 wherein means to deliver solder to said reservoir comprises supply means to feed a predetermined amount of solder wire into said reservoir and wherein said heater melts said solder wire to a liquid volume for release.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The tool of claim 15 wherein said supply means to feed comprises a pair of rollers to feed solder wire, and a supply orifice (100) for guiding said wire into said reservoir.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The tool of one of the claims 1, 15 or 16 wherein said outlet is a symmetrical dispensing outlet comprising an opening at the bottom of said reservoir having a tapered wall terminating in an edge defining an omnidirectional non-wettable blade.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
The tool of one of the claims 1, 15, 16 or 17 further comprising a solder removal conduit (104) connected to said reservoir and in fluid contact with liquid solder and, heater means (106) to heat said conduit to prevent solder entrained therein from hardening.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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