Ball transferring method and apparatus

Abstract

Balls are sucked onto a carrier board so as to be temporarily arranged in a ball arrangement region of the board, and then the balls are transferred and bonded onto an objective substance with their positions being adjusted. Gas blow is applied to the temporarily arranged balls or alternatively the temporarily arranged balls are sucked, so as to remove excess balls other than balls that have been exactly sucked onto the ball arrangement region. Cooperation with application of fine vibration to the carrier board makes the removal of the excess balls more efficient.

1 - 5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . A ball transferring apparatus comprising: 
 a carrier board onto which balls are sucked, said carrier board including a ball arrangement region in which said balls sucked are temporarily arranged;    a gas nozzle disposed near said carrier board for applying gas blow to said ball arrangement region so as to remove excess balls other than balls that have been exactly sucked onto said ball arrangement region; and    means for transferring and bonding the remaining balls onto an objective substance with positional adjustment being made.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said gas nozzle can be moved relatively to said carrier board and applies said gas blow with being moved relatively to said ball arrangement region.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said gas nozzle is inclined in relation to the ball arrangement plane on said carrier board.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said gas nozzle has its gas outlet whose width is broader than a ball arrangement width in said ball arrangement region.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising vibrating means for applying fine vibration to said carrier board.  
   
   
       11 - 14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . A ball transferring apparatus comprising: 
 a carrier board onto which balls are sucked, said carrier board including a ball arrangement region in which said balls sucked are temporarily arranged;    a suction nozzle disposed near said carrier board for sucking said ball arrangement plane, so as to remove excess balls other than balls that have been exactly sucked onto said ball arrangement region; and    means for transferring and bonding the remaining balls onto an objective substance with positional adjustment being made.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said suction nozzle can be moved relatively to said carrier board and sucks said plane with being moved relatively to said ball arrangement region.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said suction nozzle is inclined in relation to the ball arrangement plane on said carrier board.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising vibrating means for applying fine vibration to said carrier board.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising collecting means for collecting said excess balls that have been removed from said carrier board.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said collecting means comprises a vessel for collecting said excess balls.  
   
   
       21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the angle of said gas nozzle to said ball arrangement plane is within the range of 5° to 175°.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the angle of said suction nozzle to said ball arrangement plane is within the range of 5° to 175°.  
   
   
       24 - 26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprises a ball arranging unit including a ball stocking tray; a carrier board conveying mechanism; and ball inspection means.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprises a ball arranging unit including a ball stocking tray; a carrier board conveying mechanism; and ball inspection means.