Patents by Inventor Erik De Block

Erik De Block has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9783372
    Abstract: A flipping apparatus, a system for processing articles comprising a said flipping apparatus, and a method for processing articles are provided. An article is picked by a first flipping arm. The first flipping arm rotates from a pick position into a pass position, at which the article is passed to a second flipping arm, which is in a receive position. The second flipping arm rotates from the receive position to a place position and places the article. By the passing of the article from the first to the second flipping arm and the rotations a flipping of the article is achieved. The first flipping arm and the second flipping arm each rotate at a higher speed when not carrying an article than when carrying an article. In addition, first and/or second flipping arm may perform a translation movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Erik De Block, Carl Truyens
  • Patent number: 9776334
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatic pitch conversion for pick and place heads, comprising at least one auto pitch station for adjusting a pitch in a X-coordinate direction and/or adjusting a pitch in a Y-coordinate direction of pickers/grippers of a pick and place heads; a first actuator, operated by a motor gear assembly of the at least one auto pitch station, wherein the first actuator changes the pitch in the X-coordinate direction distance between rows of pickers/grippers of the respective pick and place head; and a second actuator operated by the same motor gear assembly, wherein the second actuator changes the pitch in the Y-coordinate direction between the pickers/grippers within a row of the respective pick and place head. A method for automatic pitch conversion of pick and place heads and a pick and place head and a pick and place device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Bert Vangilbergen, Erik De Block, Jimmy Vermeulen, KW Cheung, KC Leung, Bruno Accou, Carl Truyens, Karel Van Gils
  • Patent number: 9669550
    Abstract: A pick and place device, a method and a computer program product for automatic pick-up-height adjustment. A first pneumatic system has a first and second controllable valves. The second controllable valve is connected with its input port to a vacuum source. An output port of the first controllable valve and an output port of the second controllable valve are connected to a common tube in fluid communication with at least one vacuum nozzle of the pick and place device. A second pneumatic system, with an inlet valve and an outlet valve are in fluid communication via a connecting tube. An open air exhaust and a flow controller are arranged in the connecting tube between the inlet valve and the outlet valve. A flow sensor detects the changes of the small air flow. The flow sensor is via a tube in fluid communication with the at least one vacuum nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Bruno Accou, Erik De Block
  • Publication number: 20160214802
    Abstract: A flipping apparatus, a system for processing articles comprising a said flipping apparatus, and a method for processing articles are provided. An article is picked by a first flipping arm. The first flipping arm rotates from a pick position into a pass position, at which the article is passed to a second flipping arm, which is in a receive position. The second flipping arm rotates from the receive position to a place position and places the article. By the passing of the article from the first to the second flipping arm and the rotations a flipping of the article is achieved. The first flipping arm and the second flipping arm each rotate at a higher speed when not carrying an article than when carrying an article. In addition, first and/or second flipping arm may perform a translation movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Erik De Block, Carl Truyens
  • Publication number: 20150298316
    Abstract: A pick and place device, a method and a computer program product for automatic pick- up-height adjustment. A first pneumatic system has a first and second controllable valves. The second controllable valve is connected with its input port to a vacuum source. An output port of the first controllable valve and an output port of the second controllable valve are connected to a common tube in fluid communication with at least one vacuum nozzle of the pick and place device. A second pneumatic system, with an inlet valve and an outlet valve are in fluid communication via a connecting tube. An open air exhaust and a flow controller are arranged in the connecting tube between the inlet valve and the outlet valve. A flow sensor detects the changes of the small air flow. The flow sensor is via a tube in fluid communication with the at least one vacuum nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Bruno Accou, Erik De Block
  • Patent number: 8903541
    Abstract: A method for positioning electronic devices into compartments of an input medium is disclosed. At least one electronic device is packable in a single compartment of the input medium. Known positions on an upper side of the input medium are imaged by an inspection device. Actual position data of the compartments of the input medium are calculated on the basis of images of the known positions, given target position data of the known positions, and given target position data of the compartments of the input medium. A pick and place device for the electronic devices is controlled on the basis of the calculated actual position data of the compartments of the input medium. A method for determining the actual positions of compartments of an output medium is disclosed with analogous steps, whereby the electronic devices are picked-up from compartments of the input medium, transferred to compartments of the output medium, and placed into the compartments of the output medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: KLA—Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Bert Vangilbergen, Jimmy Vermeulen, Carl Truyens, Erik De Block, Bruno Accou
  • Publication number: 20140271084
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatic pitch conversion for pick and place heads, comprising at least one auto pitch station for adjusting a pitch in a X-coordinate direction and/or adjusting a pitch in a Y-coordinate direction of pickers/grippers of a pick and place heads; a first actuator, operated by a motor gear assembly of the at least one auto pitch station, wherein the first actuator changes the pitch in the X-coordinate direction distance between rows of pickers/grippers of the respective pick and place head; and a second actuator operated by the same motor gear assembly, wherein the second actuator changes the pitch in the Y-coordinate direction between the pickers/grippers within a row of the respective pick and place head. A method for automatic pitch conversion of pick and place heads and a pick and place head and a pick and place device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Bert Vangilbergen, Erik De Block, Jimmy Vermeulen, KW Cheung, KC Leung, Bruno Accou, Carl Truyens, Karel Van Gils
  • Publication number: 20120197432
    Abstract: A method for positioning electronic devices into compartments of an input medium is disclosed. At least one electronic device is packable in a single compartment of the input medium. Known positions on an upper side of the input medium are imaged by an inspection device. Actual position data of the compartments of the input medium are calculated on the basis of images of the known positions, given target position data of the known positions, and given target position data of the compartments of the input medium. A pick and place device for the electronic devices is controlled on the basis of the calculated actual position data of the compartments of the input medium. A method for determining the actual positions of compartments of an output medium is disclosed with analogous steps, whereby the electronic devices are picked-up from compartments of the input medium, transferred to compartments of the output medium, and placed into the compartments of the output medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Bert Vangilbergen, Jimmy Vermeulen, Carl Truyens, Erik De Block, Bruno Accou