Apparatus for transferring a plurality of integrated circuit devices into and/or out of a plurality of sockets

Apparatus for transferring of integrated circuit devices into and/or out of a plurality of underlying sockets having contacts and mounted to a board, comprising:

• at least one guide rod;
• a presser housing slidingly coupled to the at least one guide rod;
• a socket presser block movably coupled to the presser housing, the presser block defining a matrix of cutouts and ribs, the presser block being configured to assume a first position in which the presser housing is slideable on the guide rod and a second position in which the matrix of cutouts is aligned with the underlying sockets and in which at least some of the ribs push on the underlying sockets to retract the contacts thereof to allow the devices to be transferred into and/or out of the underlying sockets through the cutouts;
• a handle assembly mechanically coupled to the presser block, the handle assembly being configured to selectively assume an unlocked position that places the presser block in the first position and a locked position that places the presser block in the second position;
• and
• a guide rod supporting structure, the structure defining an indentation therein and wherein the presser housing includes a bearing, the bearing being configured to roll on the base as the presser housing is slid on the guide rod, the bearing perceptively dropping into the indentation when the matrix of cutouts defined in the presser block is aligned with the underlying sockets.