Parts feeding system

A method for moving parts (10) from first and second part support trays (42,44) having front edges (34) using a robot (16) disposed on a support plane (12) and operable within an envelope (22), the envelope (22) having a limit (24) extending at an acute angle (B) relative to the support plane (12), said method comprising the steps of:

• loading the first part support tray (42) with the parts (10);
• moving a second part support tray (44) from a stored position (50) to a stacked position (48), the second part support tray (44) being supported by the parts (10) on the first part support tray (42) when in the stacked position (48);
• loading the second part support tray (44) with the parts (10) in response to the second part support tray (44) being moved from the stored position (50) to the stacked position (48);
• unloading the parts (10) from the second part support tray (44) after the parts (10) have been loaded on the second part support tray (44);
• moving the second part support tray (44) from the stacked position (48) to the stored position (50) after the parts (10) have been unloaded thereby uncovering the parts (10) on the first part support tray (42) therebelow;
• said method characterized by positioning the front edge (34) of each of the first and second part support trays (42,44) along a line (38) disposed at the acute angle (B) relative to the support plane (12) when moving the second part support tray (44) to the stacked position (48) to define a recessed stack relationship between the first and second part support trays (42,44) when in the stacked position (48) to maximize the number of the parts (10) that can be reached by the robot (16).