Automatic positioning of electronic components on a walking beam

In the automatic handling of electronic components having a pair of axial leads wherein the electronic components are displaced by a walking beam, apparatus for simultaneously positioning a plurality of electronic components upon the walking beam comprising:

• first and second component positioning trays each including a slot extending from an end and substanially the length thereof and further including first and second pluralities of the linearly aligned notches on respective lateral edges thereof and extending substanially the length thereof, said component positioning trays having positioned in a linear array within the respective first and second pluralities of linearly aligned notches first and second respective pluralities of the electronic components;
• tray positioning means for maintaining said first and second component positioning trays in a generally vertical stacked array, wherein said first component positioning tray is positioned beneath and supports said second component positioning tray, and for displacing said first component positioning tray immediately adjacent to the walking beam whereupon said first plurality of electronic components is engaged by and transferred to the walking beam while maintaing said second component positioning tray in position relative to the walking beam;
• and
• tray removal means positioned adjacent to said tray positioning means for engaging and displacing said first component positioning tray from said tray positioning means following the removal of said first plurality of electronic components from said first component positioning tray whereupon said second component positioning tray is displaced by said tray positioning means immediately adjacent to the walking beam, wherein an end of said walking beam is positioned within the slot of said first component positioning tray and intermediate the first and second pluralities of linearly aligned notches on the respective lateral edges of said first component positioning tray as said first component positioning tray is displaced immediately adjacent to the walking beam, and wherein said second plurality of electronic components is engaged by and transferred to the walking beam, said tray removal means including roller means for supporting and displacing said first component positioning tray from said rails are lowered below said walking beam.