Sawing and sorting system

Abstract

A sawing and sorting system combines a sawing apparatus and a sorting apparatus. The sawing and sorting system comprises a loader. The loader comprises a magazine receiving a plurality of strips. A mounting unit mounts the strip thereon. A plurality of transfer and sawing robots each comprises a picker unit. The picker unit comprises a rotatable chuck table. The transfer and sawing robot transfers the picker unit horizontally and vertically. The rotatable chuck table holds the strip. The picker unit rotates the rotatable chuck table. A plurality of sawing spindle units each comprises a rotary blade. The sawing spindle unit moves the blade horizontally to divide the strip into unit packages. A cleaning unit cleans the unit package. A test means inspects the unit package according to a test criteria. A sorting table mounts the unit package for sorting. An unloader provides trays. A sorting transfer robot sorts the unit packages into the trays.

1 . A sawing and sorting system comprising: 
 a plurality of transfer and sawing robots to position a substrate strip in the system, each transfer and sawing robot comprising: 
 a chuck table to hold the substrate strip; and  
 a picker unit movable in vertical and horizontal directions to rotate the chuck table;  
   a plurality of sawing spindle units, each sawing spindle having a rotary blade to divide the substrate strip into unit packages;    a cleaning unit to clean the unit package; and    a testing and sorting unit to sort the cleaned unit packages.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a loader having a magazine to receive a plurality of substrate strips; and    a mounting unit to mount the substrate strips individually from the loader to the plurality of transfer and sawing robots.    
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an alignment unit to align the substrate strip in the picker unit.    
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the alignment unit comprises: 
 a camera to check the alignment of the substrate strip; and    an alignment table to adjust the alignment of the substrate strip, wherein the camera and the alignment table are installed between the mounting unit and the sawing spindle units.    
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the testing and sorting unit to sort the cleaned unit packages comprises: 
 a sorting area to receive the cleaned unit packages from the cleaning unit;    a test unit to inspect the cleaned unit packages in the sorting area according to a test criteria; and    a sorting transfer robot to sort the inspected unit packages according to the test results.    
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the sorting area comprises a plurality of sorting tables.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the test unit comprises a plurality of cameras.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the sawing spindle unit, the cleaning unit and the sorting table are arranged in order, spaced from the mounting unit.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising two transfer and sawing robots arranged in parallel to each other.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the picker units of the transfer and sawing robots face in opposite directions.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising two sawing spindle units, wherein the sawing spindle units move perpendicularly to the movement direction of the picker unit.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each sawing spindle unit moves vertically and horizontally.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein one of the transfer and sawing robots and the sawing spindle units performs a sawing process and the other of the transfer and sawing robots performs any process other than the sawing process.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate strip is held underneath the chuck table.  
   
   
       15 . A method of sawing substrate strips into unit packages and sorting the unit packages, comprising: 
 mounting substrate strips individually on a plurality of transfer and sawing robots;    transferring the substrate strips to a plurality of sawing spindle units;    dividing the substrate strips into a plurality of unit packages;    cleaning the unit packages;    inspecting the unit packages; and    sorting the unit packages.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein dividing the substrate strips comprises: 
 sawing the substrate strips in a first direction;    rotating the substrate strips in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and    sawing the substrate strips in the second direction.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein cleaning the unit packages comprises: 
 cleaning top and bottom surfaces of the substrate strips at the same time; and    drying the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate strips at the same time.    
   
   
       18 . A sawing and sorting system, comprising: 
 a means for positioning a substrate strip in the system;    a means for dividing the substrate strip into unit packages;    a means for cleaning the unit packages; and    a means for sorting the cleaned unit packages.    
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a means for receiving a plurality of substrate strips;    a means for mounting the substrate strips individually to the means for positioning the substrate strip in the system.    
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 a means for aligning the substrate strip before dividing the substrate into unit packages.