MANUFACTURING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR BALANCED PRODUCT FLOW WITH APPLICATION TO LOW-STRESS UNDERFILLING OF FLIP-CHIP ELECTRONIC DEVICES

A system (100) for manufacturing product, in which a first work station (101) is operable to perform a first manufacturing action on the product parts; this first station has a first entrance (l0la) and a first exit (101b). A second work station (102) is operable to perform a second manufacturing action on the product parts; this second station has a second entrance (102 a) and a second exit (102b). A transport line (103) between the first exit and the second entrance is operable to move the product parts under computer control. A chamber (104) encloses a portion of the line and is constructed so that the transport achieves a balanced throughput from the first station to the second station, while the product parts are exposed to computer- controlled environmental conditions (110) during transport through the chamber. The balanced throughput in the chamber is achieved by waiting lines for the product with computer-controlled monitors (105a) for product parts' positions and times in the chamber. ® KIPO & WIPO 2007