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US 5,588,797 AGranted
IC tray handling apparatus and method
AssigneeAdvantek, Inc.
InventorNathan R. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A microchip tray handling apparatus has microchip loading and receiving units for supplying microchips to a microchip tester and receiving tested microchips. The units have tables to support stacks of trays containing microchips. Each unit has a tray holding assembly for raising a stack of trays to allow a bottom tray to allow a bottom tray to be moved along the table. Pick, invert and place probes remove microchips from the trays and place tested microchips back into the trays.
Claims18
An apparatus for handling trays accommodating microchips comprising:
- a generally horizontal table for supporting a plurality of trays holding microchips, rib means secured to the table for locating the trays on the table and guiding one tray along the table, upright post means mounted on the table engageable with the trays to locate a stack of trays on the table in a first position, tray handling means for lifting the stack of trays, except the bottom one tray, supported on the table, first means operable to move the one tray on the table from the first position to a second position, second means for removing microchips from the one tray and placing the microchips in a selected location, said first means being operable to move the one tray from the second position to a third position on the table when all of the microchips have been removed from the one tray, said tray handling means being operable to lower the stack of trays on the table and subsequently raise the stacks of trays leaving a second bottom tray on the table, said first means being operable to move the second bottom tray from the first position to the second position so that microchips can be removed from the second bottom tray.
An apparatus for handling trays accommodating microchips comprising:
- a table having an end and a top surface for supporting trays for storing microchips, rib means connected to the table for positioning a stack of trays on said table top surface, said rib means comprising a pair of longitudinal ribs secured to the top surface of the table, said ribs being laterally spaced from each other to accommodate a bottom tray to allow longitudinal movement of the bottom tray and guide the bottom tray relative to the top surface of the table, upright stop means mounted on the table adjacent the rib means inwardly from said end of the table whereby a stack of trays can be horizontally loaded onto said table from the end of the table in a first position, tray holding means for lifting the stack of trays, except a bottom tray, tray moving means for moving the bottom tray from the first position along said surface of the table past the stop means to a second position allowing microchips to be removed from the tray, said tray holding means being operable to lower the stack of trays on the table and subsequently raise the stack of trays leaving a second bottom tray on the table, said moving means being operable to move the second bottom tray from the first position to the second position so that microchips can be removed from the second bottom tray.
An apparatus for handling trays accommodating microchips comprising:
- a table having an end and a top surface for supporting trays for storing microchips, rib means connected to the table for positioning a stack of trays on said table top surface, upright stop means mounted on the table adjacent the rib means inwardly from said end of the table whereby a stack of trays can be horizontally loaded onto said table from the end of the table in a first position, tray holding means for lifting the stack of trays, except a bottom tray, tray moving means for moving the bottom tray along said surface of the table past the stop means to a second position allowing microchips to be removed from the tray, said tray holding means being operable to lower the stack of trays on the table and subsequently raise the stack of trays leaving a second bottom tray on the table, said tray moving means being operable to move the second bottom tray from the first position to the second position so that microchips can be removed from the second bottom tray, longitudinal track means located below said table, said table having a longitudinal slot, said tray moving means includes carriage means movably mounted on the track means, finger means pivotally mounted on the carriage means, said finger means having an end movable through said slot into engagement with a bottom tray, means mounted on the carriage means operable to pivot the finger means to move the end relative to said slot whereby said end selectively is located above the table and below the table, and means for moving the bottom tray from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the third position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.