Component tray stacker for automated chip handling system

A component tray handling device for use in placing component parts in the component tray and transporting the tray to a desired location wherein the tray has a vertical controlled ridge substantially perpendicular to a horizontal tray lip, comprising:

• a first tray transport having a tray drive;
• a plurality of tines connected to the tray drive, wherein the plurality of tines each comprise a substantially L-shaped member having a main body and an integral perpendicular extension terminating in a leading edge;
• a tray supply located adjacent the first tray transport for supplying a plurality of trays to the tray transport, wherein when trays are moved along the tray transport by the integral perpendicular extension substantially overlapping without contacting the tray lip so that the leading edge of the extension contacts solely the controlled ridge;
• sensing means for determining a position of the tray on the first tray transport;
• controlling means interconnected with the sensing means for controlling a position of the tray;
• component handling means located adjacent the first tray transport for moving components between a storage location and placement on the tray;
• a second tray transport located adjacent to the first tray transport, for receiving the tray from the first tray transport after the tray has passed the component handling means and moving the tray to a predetermined location, wherein the intermittent speed of movement of the second tray transport is greater than the intermittent speed of movement of the first tray transport.

A system for handling component parts comprising:

• a tray stacker;
• a plurality of trays storable in the tray stacker, each of the plurality of trays including a planar surface having at least one component cavity, and a vertical controlled ridge extending substantially perpendicular from the planar surface, wherein a positional relationship between the controlled ridge and the component cavity is precisely defined, each of the plurality of trays further having a horizontal tray lip extending from and generally perpendicular to the controlled ridge, opposite the planar surface;
• a first tray transport including a tray drive and a tray guide, the first tray transport located adjacent to the tray stacker, wherein the tray stacker moves the trays from a storage position to an engagement position with the first tray transport;
• a plurality of tines coupled to the tray drive, wherein each of the tines comprises an elongated main body portion coupled to the tray drive and extending from the tray drive past the tray guide when the tine is in a tray moving position, and an integral elongated extension, extending from and substantially perpendicular to the main body portion, wherein a length of the extension is greater than a length of the tray lip wherein when one of the plurality of tines moves one of the trays, the extension of the tine only contacts the controlled ridge and the extension overlaps without contacting the tray lip;
• a plurality of sensors positioned adjacent the first tray transport;
• a controller interconnected with the plurality of sensors for controlling a position of the tray;
• a component handler located adjacent the first tray transport for moving components between a storage location and placement into the component cavity;
• a second tray transport located adjacent to the first tray transport, for receiving the trays from the first tray transport after the tray has passed the component handler and moving the tray to a predetermined location, wherein the intermittent speed of movement of the second tray transport is greater than the intermittent speed of movement of the first tray transport.