IP Library Granted Patent US 8,476,916
Granted Patent B2
US 8,476,916 · App. 12/743,792 · Granted Jul 2, 2013

Plunger with a quick locking system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,476,916
App. No.
12/743,792
Granted
Jul 2, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a plunger that is used to feed and withdraw an electronic component, in particular integrated circuits, to and/or from a contact device that is connected to a test device. The plunger head can be secured to a base body by a quick locking system. The quick locking system can be placed in a rear-engagement position when the plunger head is rotated in relation to the base body, a position in which the plunger head is axially coupled to the base body.

Claims (18)

1. A plunger for feeding and withdrawing an electronic component, in particular integrated circuits, to or from a contact device that is connected to a test device, comprising:

a plunger retaining part; and

a plunger sliding part that is displaceably guided on the plunger retaining part, and comprises a base body and a plunger head is securable to said base body for retaining a component by negative pressure,

wherein the plunger head is securable on the base body by a quick locking system which comprises a first locking means disposed on said base body and a second locking means disposed on the plunger head, wherein the first locking means and the second locking means are configured to be brought into a rear-engagement position by rotating the plunger head relative to the base body, in which the plunger head is axially coupled to the base body; and

wherein the first locking means disposed on the base body comprises a ball part protruding in a direction of the plunger head and has at least two axial grooves distributed over a circumference and interposed spherical surface sections and the second locking means disposed on the plunger head has clip elements which are moveable along the axial grooves and which are brought into a position where they engage the spherical surface sections from the rear by rotating the plunger head.

2. The plunger according to claim 1 , wherein the plunger head has a head central part having a spherical cap adapted to the ball part of the base body, which spherical cap is placeable on the ball part.

3. The plunger according to claim 1 , wherein the ball part contains a negative pressure line which is connected on the one hand to a negative pressure supply line of the base body to at least one negative pressure channel of the plunger head.

4. The plunger according to claim 3 , wherein the plunger head comprises a socket having an anterior socket section and a highly heat-conductive temperature-control body which is insertable in the anterior socket section or placeable thereon, having a contact surface for the component, wherein at least one negative pressure channel runs through the temperature-control body and opens into the contact surface.

5. A plunger for feeding and withdrawing an electronic component, in particular integrated circuits, to or from a contact device that is connected to a test device, comprising:

a plunger retaining part; and

a plunger sliding part that is displaceably guided on the plunger retaining part, and comprises a base body and a plunger head is securable to said base body for retaining a component by negative pressure,

wherein the plunger head is securable on the base body by a quick locking system which comprises a first locking means disposed on said base body and a second locking means disposed on the plunger head, wherein the first locking means and the second locking means are configured to be brought into a rear-engagement position by rotating the plunger head relative to the base body, in which the plunger head is axially coupled to the base body; and

wherein the first locking means disposed on the base body comprises a ball part protruding in a direction of the plunger head and has at least two axial grooves distributed over a circumference and interposed spherical surface sections and the second locking means disposed on the plunger head has clip elements which are moveable along the axial grooves and which are brought into a position where they engage the spherical surface sections from the rear by rotating the plunger head;

wherein the base body comprises a base part and a coupling plate which is held floatingly on the base part transversely to an axial direction of the plunger, wherein the first locking means is secured on the coupling plate and the plunger head is connected to the coupling plate by the quick locking system; and

wherein the plunger head comprises at least one centering hole and at least one centering pin protruding in a direction of the plunger head and is secured to the plunger retaining part, wherein centering pin engages in an associated centering hole of the plunger head in a withdrawn position of the plunger sliding part and is out of centering engagement with the plunger head in an advanced position of the plunger sliding part.

6. The plunger according to claim 5 , wherein the plunger head comprises a socket having an anterior socket section and a highly heat-conductive temperature-control body which is insertable in the anterior socket section or placeable thereon, having a contact surface for the component, wherein at least one negative pressure channel runs through the temperature-control body and opens into the contact surface.

7. The plunger according to claim 6 , wherein a plurality of fluid channels are disposed around a spherical cap of a head central part, which fluid channels lead to the anterior socket section and feed temperature-controlled fluid to the temperature-control body.

8. The plunger according to claim 7 , wherein the plunger head comprises a peripheral seal on a side facing the coupling plate, which seal extends around the fluid channels and abuts in a fluid-tight manner against the coupling plate.

Assignments (6)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NUMBER 7261561 AND REPLACE WITH PATENT NUMBER 7231561 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034660 FRAME 0188. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: XCERRA CORPORATION; EVERETT CHARLES TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 037824/0372 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 18, 2014
From: XCERRA CORPORATION; EVERETT CHARLES TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 034660/0188 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Dec 18, 2014
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: XCERRA CORPORATION; EVERETT CHARLES TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 034660/0394 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 27, 2014
From: LTX-CREDENCE CORPORATION
To: XCERRA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033032/0768 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 17, 2014
From: LTX-CREDENCE CORPORATION; EVERETT CHARLES TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 032086/0476 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2010
From: MURNAUER, SIMON
To: MULTITEST ELEKTRONISCHE SYSTEME GMBH
Reel/Frame 024410/0988 →