Different Vacuum Pad Design Effects with Z-Picker Assembly

After singulation process where the strips are being cut into single units, unit tray loading comes next. Unit tray loading is the process where the singulated units will be picked up from the table and then place it in a tray pocket. Z-picker assembly executes the pick and placing activity through vacuum suction. Vacuum pads were installed on the Z-picker’s vacuum pad holder area, and it contacts with the unit. Vacuum pads come with different design depending on dimension and configuration of the device in process. Pick and place process is prone for unit dislodge as it transfers the unit from one place to another. These unit dislodges will result to missing units and will be accounted for yield loss. In this study, the authors were driven to understand the Z-picker mechanism together with the effect of vacuum pad designs, aiming to find the best match that would lessen the occurrence of unit dislodges.