Modular belt carrier for electronic components

A carrier for holding and transporting electronic components in a belt having a belt height dimension, which extends between top and bottom belt surfaces, and belt apertures therethrough to form internal edges for receiving such carriers, the electronic components having component dimensions, and the belt being adapted to be moved by one or more belt translation mechanisms to pass through one or more component processing stations, comprising:

• a substructure including a body and multiple support holes therein, each support hole having at least one support hole dimension that is greater than one of the component dimensions, the body having body perimeter dimensions that are smaller than or equal to corresponding dimensions of the belt aperture, the body having a body height dimension that extends between top and bottom body surfaces and that is greater than the belt height dimension;
• a flange connected to or integrated with the substructure, the flange extending outwardly from the body and having a flange dimension adapted to overhang an internal edge of the belt;
• a resilient coating that is less rigid than, and supported by, the substructure and has receiving holes that are coaxial with the support holes, each receiving hole having a receiving dimension that is smaller than the support hole dimension and that is adapted to elastically hold one of the electronic components;
• and
• a projection that is adapted in cooperation with the flange to engage the internal edge of the belt to brace the carrier within the belt and is adapted to permit carrier disengagement from the belt, the projection having a different characteristic than the flange.

A carrier for holding and transporting electronic components in a belt having belt surfaces and belt apertures therein to form internal edges for receiving such carriers, the belt being adapted to be moved by one or more belt translation mechanisms to pass through one or more component processing stations, comprising:

• a body and multiple receiving holes therein, each receiving hole having resilient edges that are adapted to elastically hold one of the electronic components;
• a flange connected to or integrated with the body, the flange extending outward from the body and having a flange dimension adapted to overhang an internal edge of the belt;
• a projection that is adapted in cooperation with the flange to engage the internal edge of the belt to brace the carrier within the belt, the projection having a characteristic adapted to overhang an internal edge of the belt and prevent inadvertent disengagement from the belt and adapted to permit intentional disengagement from the belt, the body having perimeter dimensions that are smaller than corresponding dimensions of a belt aperture such that the body can move within a plane of the belt;
• and
• one or more first alignment features on the carrier that are adapted to engage respective mated second alignment features on one or more of the component processing stations to facilitate precise alignment between the carrier and a processing station.

A carrier for holding and transporting electronic components in a belt having belt surfaces and belt apertures therein to form internal edges for receiving such carriers, the belt being adapted to be moved by one or more belt translation mechanisms to pass through one or more component processing stations, the belt including drive holes for moving the belt, and the drive holes providing insufficient alignment between the carrier and the processing station to permit processing the electronic components within acceptable tolerances, comprising:

• a body and multiple receiving holes therein, each receiving hole having resilient edges that are adapted to elastically hold one of the electronic components;
• a flange connected to or integrated with the body, the flange extending outward from the body and having a flange dimension adapted to overhang an internal edge of the belt;
• a projection that is adapted in cooperation with the flange to engage the internal edge of the belt to brace the carrier within the belt, the projection having a characteristic adapted to overhang an internal edge of the belt and prevent inadvertent disengagement from the belt and adapted to permit intentional disengagement from the belt, the body having perimeter dimensions that are smaller than corresponding dimensions of a belt aperture such that the body can move within a plane of the belt;
• and
• one or more first alignment features on the carrier that are adapted to engage respective mated second alignment features on one or more of the component processing stations to facilitate precise alignment between the carrier and a processing station.

A carrier for holding and transporting electronic components in a belt having belt surfaces and belt apertures therein to form internal edges for receiving such carriers, the belt being adapted to be moved by one or more belt translation mechanisms to pass through one or more component processing stations, comprising:

• a body having top and bottom surfaces and multiple receiving holes therein, each receiving hole having resilient edges that are adapted to elastically hold one of the electronic components;
• a belt-engagement feature connected to or integrated with the body, the belt-engagement feature adapted to secure the carrier to the belt and to permit carrier disengagement from the belt, the belt engagement feature having one or more upper and lower projections extending outwardly from the body, the upper projections being closer to the top surfaces and the lower projections being closer to the bottom surfaces, each upper and lower projection having a characteristic adapted to overhang an internal edge of the belt and prevent inadvertent disengagement from the belt and adapted to permit intentional disengagement from the belt;
• and
• a carrier identification device connected to or integrated with the body, the carrier identification device adapted for conveying information about the carrier to a carrier processing station positioned in proximity to the belt.

A carrier for holding and transporting electronic components in a belt having a belt surface and belt apertures therein to form internal edges for receiving such carriers, the electronic components having component dimensions, and the belt being adapted to be moved by one or more belt translation mechanisms to pass through one or more component processing stations, comprising:

• a substructure including a body and multiple support holes therein, each support hole having at least one support hole dimension that is greater than one of the component dimensions, the body having body perimeter dimensions that are smaller than or equal to corresponding dimensions of a belt aperture, and the body having top and bottom surfaces;
• a resilient coating that is less rigid than, and supported by, the substructure and has receiving holes that are coaxial with the support holes, each receiving hole having a receiving dimension that is smaller than the support hole dimension and that is adapted to elastically hold one of the electronic components;
• and
• a belt-engagement feature connected to or integrated with the body, the belt-engagement feature adapted to secure the carrier to the belt and to permit carrier disengagement from the belt, the belt engagement feature having one or more upper and lower projections extending outwardly from the body, the upper projections being closer to the top surfaces and the lower projections being closer to the bottom surfaces, each upper and lower projection having a characteristic adapted to overhang an internal edge of the belt and prevent inadvertent disengagement from the belt and adapted to permit intentional disengagement from the belt.