Patents Assigned to Towa Corporation
  • Patent number: 6165232
    Abstract: A nest mechanism which is arranged to support a substrate during a dicing process, and methods for using such a nest mechanism, are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a nest apparatus supports a substrate, which includes a chip, a first side, and a second side, during a dicing process, includes an alignment mechanism that positions the substrate with respect to the nest apparatus. The nest apparatus also includes a grid arrangement that defines an opening which receives a contact which is included on the second side of the substrate. In one embodiment, the alignment mechanism is an alignment pin that engages the substrate, as for example through an opening in the substrate, to hold the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignees: Towa Corporation, Intercon Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Alois Tieber, Kiyoteru Saiki
  • Patent number: 6007316
    Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for molding resin to seal electronic parts are adapted to use molding units to seal with molded resin materials electronic parts that are mounted on lead frames. Additional molding units are detachably mounted with respect to an already provided first molding unit in the molding apparatus, so that the number of the molding units can be arbitrarily adjusted. In this manner, the method and apparatus can be easily reconfigured or rearranged to be adapted to mass production or small production runs of the same or different types of molded parts. By simultaneously carrying out various process steps, the overall process time is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Towa Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Bandoh
  • Patent number: 5874324
    Abstract: A method of sealing an electronic component with molded resin comprises an electronic component setting step of engaging an electronic component mounted on a lead frame in mold cavities which are provided on mold surfaces of a fixed mold section and a movable mold section respectively to be opposed to each other, and a resin sealing step of charging a heated/melted resin material in the mold cavities engaged with the electronic component and sealing the electronic component received in the mold cavities and the lead frame around the same in a resin mold package corresponding to the shapes of the mold cavities. The resin sealing step is carried out by applying a prescribed resin pressure to the resin charged in the mold cavities and thereafter pressing the resin received in the mold cavities against the lead frame from the exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Towa Corporation
    Inventor: Michio Osada
  • Patent number: 5834035
    Abstract: In an apparatus for molding resin to seal electronic parts, an internal die space defined at least by pots, cull portions, resin passages and cavities when an upper mold section and a lower mold section are closed, is cut off or sealed from the exterior atmosphere. Thereupon the die space is evacuated using a first evacuation by a vacuum source and a second or instantaneous evacuation by an instantaneous evacuation mechanism. The vacuum source for the first evacuation may be an active vacuum pump, while the instantaneous evacuation mechanism may be a vacuum tank that has been previously pumped down, for example. Using this apparatus, it is possible to quickly improve the degree of vacuum in the internal die space by efficiently and reliably discharging air, moisture and gas from the internal die space to the exterior due to a synergistic action of the evacuation and the instantaneous evacuation. Consequently, the formation of voids in resin molded members is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Towa Corporation
    Inventors: Michio Osada, Yoshihisa Kawamoto, Makoto Matsuo, Koichi Araki
  • Patent number: 5783220
    Abstract: A resin sealing and molding apparatus for electronic parts includes, a cleaning UV application mechanism for removing mold surface contaminants adhering to or accumulating on the mold surfaces. The UV application mechanism is mounted to be freely reciprocative to a retracted position not inhibiting an operation for supplying unsealed lead frames and resin tablets to each resin molding unit part and an operation for taking out sealed lead frames, and to a deployed or operating position close to the mold surfaces in each resin molding unit. Using this UV application mechanism especially in conjunction with a suction device, the mold surface contaminants, such as a; mold release agent contained in a resin material or volatile gas generated by heating, that adhere to or accumulate on the mold surfaces of each resin molding unit are efficiently and reliably removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Towa Corporation
    Inventors: Michio Osada, Keiji Maeda
  • Patent number: 5753538
    Abstract: In a method of sealing electronic parts with molded resin, a hollow sealing member is arranged on a mold surface of an upper mold section of a mold comprising the upper mold section and a lower mold section, so that the hollow sealing member is pressurized and expanded to convexly project from the mold surface of the upper mold section. In this state, the lower mold section is upwardly moved to be brought into contact with the expanded hollow sealing member. Further, an internal space portion, including pots, cull portions, resin passages and cavities, which is enclosed with the expanded hollow sealing member is set in a state isolated from the exterior when the upper mold section and the lower mold section are closed, so that the internal space portion is forcibly evacuated in this state. Thus, air, moisture and gases are efficiently and reliably suction-discharged from the internal space portion, whereby the internal space portion is set at a prescribed degree of vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Towa Corporation
    Inventors: Takaki Kuno, Yoshihisa Kawamoto, Makoto Matsuo, Koichi Araki, Satoshi Nihei
  • Patent number: 5750154
    Abstract: A fixture for fixing an annular upper air isolation member which is provided around an outer side of an upper mold section to an upper mounting plate is released, thereby rotating the air isolation member by a rotational member and fixing the same by a rotational position regulating member. An upper chase unit is exchanged through an upper opening which is defined by the upper mounting plate and the rotated air isolation member. A lower chase unit is also exchanged in a similar manner. Due to this structure, a sealing mechanism for a resin sealing/molding apparatus for electronic parts which can readily and quickly exchange a mold in response to small lot production of various types of products is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Towa Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Maeda, Yoshihisa Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 5750059
    Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for molding resin to seal electronic parts are adapted to use molding units to seal with molded resin materials electronic parts that are mounted on lead frames. Additional molding units are detachably mounted with respect to an already provided first molding unit in the molding apparatus, so that the number of the molding units can be arbitrarily adjusted. In this manner, the method and apparatus can be easily reconfigured or rearranged to be adapted to mass production or small production runs of the same or different types of molded parts. By simultaneously carrying out various process steps, the overall process time is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Towa Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Bandoh
  • Patent number: 5603879
    Abstract: In a method of molding resin to seal electronic parts, an internal die space defined at least by pots, cull portions, resin passages and cavities when an upper mold section and a lower mold section are closed, is cut off or sealed from the exterior atmosphere. Thereupon the die space is evacuated using a first evacuation by a vacuum source and a second or instantaneous evacuation by an instantaneous evacuation mechanism. The vacuum source for the first evacuation may be an active vacuum pump, while the instantaneous evacuation mechanism may be a vacuum tank that has been previously pumped down, for example. According to this method, it is possible to quickly improve the degree of vacuum in the internal die space by efficiently and reliably discharging air, moisture and gas from the internal die space to the exterior due to a synergistic action of the evacuation and the instantaneous evacuation. Consequently, the formation of voids in resin molded members is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Towa Corporation
    Inventors: Michio Osada, Yoshihisa Kawamoto, Makoto Matsuo, Koichi Araki
  • Patent number: 5507633
    Abstract: In an apparatus for molding resin to seal an electronic part, a sealed space portion is formed between molding surfaces of an upper mold section and a lower mold section by covering an outer side periphery of a pot, a resin path and a cavity. A resin tablet is heated at its bottom portion and peripheral portion in the pot of the lower mold section to expand upwardly from its top portion. Air and moisture included inside the resin tablet is expelled into the sealed space portion which is evacuated including any air and moisture inside the sealed space portion, whereby the formation of voids in the molded resin body is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Towa Corporation
    Inventors: Michio Osada, Yoshihisa Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 5435953
    Abstract: In a method for molding resin to seal an electronic part, a sealed space portion is formed between molding surfaces of an upper mold section and a lower mold section by covering an outer side periphery of a pot, a resin path and a cavity. A resin tablet is heated at its bottom portion and peripheral portion in the pot of the lower mold section to expand upwardly from its top portion. Air and moisture included inside the resin tablet is expelled into the sealed space portion which is evacuated including any air and moisture inside the sealed space portion, whereby the formation of voids in the molded resin body is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Towa Corporation
    Inventors: Michio Osada, Yoshihisa Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 5363777
    Abstract: A waste heat treatment apparatus includes a waste accommodating chamber for holding and burning waste placed in the chamber which is positioned in an outer housing that also holds a recombustion section for after burning the burning gas. An ash pan collects waste after the burning and/or after a sterilization for removal from the outer housing. An exhaust fan exhausts the burning gas out of the outer housing. A catalyzer is positioned in a gas passage between the recombustion section and the exhaust fan. The waste accommodating chamber includes a heater for burning the waste, and the recombustion section includes a further heater for after burning the gas generated by the burning. This structure provides a relatively simple device which is compact and portable, whereby installation near the spot where the waste is produced, is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignees: Towa Corporation, Shashin Kagaku Co., Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisha I.K.S
    Inventors: Katsunobu Yoshimoto, Masayoshi Hatta, Toshio Kumondai
  • Patent number: 5153708
    Abstract: A tape carrier used for assemblage of integrated circuit chips based on a TAB system, comprises a plurality of square frames, each including a substantially square opening for defining a position of an integrated circuit chip to be bonded to the frame, the square opening being formed within a mold area of the frame on which, when the integrated circuit chip mounted at the square opening and bonded to the frame is resin-molded, the resin-molded integrated circuit chip extends. At least two substantially rectangular first openings are formed within the mold area at a space between the square opening and an outer periphery of the mold area. A plurality of lead groups, extend from an inside of the square opening to positions adjacent to a periphery of the frame by crossing one of the first openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation, Towa Corporation
    Inventors: Naoharu Ohikata, Tadashi Kamiyama, Michio Osada
  • Patent number: 5031022
    Abstract: An IC chip is packaged on a film carrier. The film carrier comprises an insulation film and many conductive leads formed on the insulation film in predetermined patterns. Each of the leads has an inner lead portion to be connected to a terminal of the IC chip, and an outer lead portion to be connected to a conductive pattern of a mounting board. The film carrier further comprises an embankment, which is made of insulation material and formed on and/or in the vicinity of the outer lead portions of the leads to prevent an ooze of resin when the IC chip is sealed with the resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation, Towa Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Yamamoto, Tamio Saito, Naoharu Ohikata, Jiro Ohno, Michio Osada