Centering and orientation apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for centering and orienting article comprising a centering body having a bore extending therethrough, a plurality of support members extending from the upper end of the centering body, an arm pivotally attached between two adjacent support members, a rod received in the bore having slidable and rotatable movement; a centering base attached on top of the rod which include the article holding space at the center and a plurality of slots extending from the periphery towards the center of the centering base. A centering finger is slidably attached to each slots of the base. When the rod is extended upwards it engages with the arm which in effect moves the centering finger away from the center of article placement area; and when rod is lowered and disengages with the arm to revert back to the original position and orientation means provided to rotate the article.

1 . An apparatus for centering and orienting articles such as integrated circuits or the like comprising; 
 a centering body having a plurality of support members at the upper end of said centering body with a bore extending therethrough and a hollowed shaft coaxial with said bore where said hollowed shaft is telescopically connected to a rod providing slidable and rotatable movement to said rod;    a finger pedestal attached to an upper end of said rod and placed within said centering body;    an arm pivotally attached between each two adjacent support members;    a centering base mounted at the top of said support members, said centering base includes an article holding space at the center and a plurality of slots extending from the periphery towards the center of said centering base;    an orientation means attached to said rod to rotate said article holding space; and    a centering finger slidably attached to said each slots of the centering base, wherein when said rod is extended upwards it engages and pivots said arm which in effect moves said centering finger away from the center of said article holding space and when said rod is lowered downwards it disengages and pivots said arm revert back to the original position moving said article into place accordingly.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus for centering and orienting articles as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said finger pedestal includes an upper flange and a lower flange, with a cavity formed therebetween.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus for centering and orienting articles as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said centering finger is slidably attached to said each slots of the centering base by a finger holder.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus for centering and orienting articles as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said finger holder includes a longitudinal aperture on the top surface for receiving said centering finger and a U-shaped section formed by an outer wall vertically fixed at the edge and an inner wall vertically fixed at substantially middle of the bottom surface of said finger holder.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus for centering and orienting articles as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said arm includes a first end which is inserted within said cavity of the finger pedestal and a second end which is mated with said U-shaped section of said finger holder.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus for centering and orienting articles as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus has four arms pivotally attached between each two adjacent support members.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus for centering and orienting articles as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said orientation means includes a pulley coupled to said centering body, said pulley connected with a belt to another pulley that is driven by a motor to translate the rotational movement of said motor to rotate said centering body.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus for centering and orienting articles as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said centering body is mounted with a compression spring within said hollowed shaft of the centering body.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus for centering and orienting articles as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said centering body is further attached with a cylinder for extending and actuating said rod.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for centering and orienting articles such as integrated circuits or the like comprising; 
 a centering body having a plurality of support members at the upper end of said centering body with a bore extending therethrough and a hollowed shaft coaxial with said bore where said hollowed shaft is telescopically connected to a rod providing slidable and rotatable movement to said rod;    a finger pedestal having a pedestal attachment attached to an upper end of said rod and placed within said centering body;    an arm pivotally attached between each two adjacent support members;    a centering base mounted at the top of said support members, said centering base includes an article holding space at the center and a plurality of slots extending from the periphery towards the center of said centering base;    an orientation means attached to said rod to rotate said article holding space; and    a centering finger slidably attached to said each slots of the centering base, wherein when said rod is extended upwards it engages and pivots a first pair of arms which is mounted in between said pedestal attachment and said finger pedestal which in effect moves a first pair of centering fingers away from the center of said article holding space and when said rod is lowered downwards it disengages and pivots a second pair of arms to revert back to the original position moving said article into place accordingly.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus for centering and orienting articles as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said finger pedestal is formed with an upper flange having a transverse slot for receiving said pedestal attachment.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus for centering and orienting articles as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said pedestal attachment has a top plate and a shaft to be fitted into said finger pedestal, whereby said pedestal attachment can be lifted up from said finger pedestal to a predetermined level.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus for centering and orienting articles as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said apparatus includes a second pair of arms with each arm having a first end inserted within a cavity of said finger pedestal and a second end mated with a U-shaped section of a finger holder.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus for centering and orienting articles as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said second pair of arms is arranged to move in upward movements when said rod is moved further upwards and thus moves a second pair of centering fingers away from the center of said article holding space and to move in downward movements when said rod is moved further downwards and thus said second pair of centering fingers to revert back to the center of said article holding space.