A storage unit for smt supplies

Abstract

The present invention provides a storage unit for Surface Mount Technology (SMT) supplies, comprising a plurality of stacks having vertically stacked storage locations for SMT supplies, a terminal for inserting and receiving SMT supplies to and from said storage unit, a first collector arm for transporting SMT supplies between storage locations and said terminal, said collector arm being moveably arranged along said stacks so as to enable engagement with the vertically stacked storage locations of a stack. Further, the plurality of stacks are arranged in at least one cluster of two or more stacks in each cluster, wherein each stack of said at least one cluster is moveably arranged in relation to said collector arm so as to allow engagement of said collector arm with different stacks of the cluster upon movement of said two or more stacks in the cluster, thereby allowing said collector arm to engage storage locations of different stacks in said at least one cluster. The present invention further provides a method for operating a storage unit for SMT supplies.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.