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US 5,690,467 AGranted
IC tray handling apparatus
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.
Claims8
An apparatus for handling trays accommodating microchips comprising:
- a table for supporting trays for holding microchips, rib means secured to the table for locating the trays on the table and guiding trays along the table, first means operable to move one tray from a first position on the table to a second position on the table, second means for placing microchips on said one tray located in the second position, said first means operable to move the one tray located in the second position after the second means has placed microchips on said one tray to a third position on the table, and tray holding means for lifting a stack of trays located in the third position on the table whereby said one tray is moved by the first means under said stack of trays, said tray holding means being operable to lower the stack of trays on said one tray and subsequently raise the stack of trays including the one tray whereby another tray can be moved under the stack of trays by the operation of the first means.
An apparatus for handling trays accommodating microchips comprising:
- first means operable to move one tray from a first position to a second position, second means for placing microchips on said one tray located in the second position, said first means operable to move the one tray located in the second position after the second means has placed microchips on said one tray to a third position, tray holding means for lifting a stack of trays located in the third position whereby said one tray is moved by the first means under said stack of trays, said tray holding means being operable to lower the stack of trays on said one tray and subsequently raise the stack of trays including the one tray whereby another tray can be moved under the stack of trays by the operation of the first means, said tray holding means including upright members adjacent opposite sides of the one tray located in the third position, said upright members having means engageable with the trays operable to lift the stack of trays except to one tray when the upright members are moved in an upright direction, and means connected to the upright members operable to selectively move the upright members in up and down directions, said means connected to the upright members comprise a plate, and power means operatively connected to the plate for moving the plate in up and down directions, said power means includes lead screws, sleeves mounted on the plate accommodating the lead screws and drive means for rotating the lead screws thereby moving the plate selectively in up and down directions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.