Tape packaging system with removeable covers

A tape feeder system comprising:

• a) a take up cartridge and a supply cartridge and means for restraining said take-up and said supply cartridge to a housing, wherein the supply cartridge contains at least one reel containing a spooled tape carrier including a plurality of drive apertures that extend along the edges of the tape carrier and a plurality of component storage compartments, wherein each storage compartment includes a component support pallet and a cover;
• b) tape drive means including means for engaging said at least one reel containing said tape carrier, a drive tape having a plurality of projections and means for engaging the drive apertures to the drive tape projections for conveying the tape carrier between said supply and take-up cartridges;
• c) restraint means for selectively restraining one of said pallets at a predetermined reference location;
• d) cover engaging means for selectively removing and withdrawing one of said covers to a location displaced from said restraint means as a component of the storage compartment is accessed and for resecuring the cover to the storage compartment;
• and
• e) a tool head including a plurality of facets, a plurality of gripper means for supporting at least one tool compatible with a component stored at the pallets to each facet and means for rotating the tools into alignment with the restrained pallets, and wherein each gripper means comprises;
• 1) a piston having a projection;
• and
• 2) first and second finger bases, each finger base including a slot which mates with said projection for translating vertical piston movement to lateral movement of said first and second finger bases.