Tray-fed scanning microscope system and method primarily for immobilizing parts during inspection

A tray-fed scanning acoustic microscope for use with a perforate tray of loosely held parts that is disposed in an insonifying position, the tray-fed scanning acoustic microscope comprising:

• a movable dispenser that is adapted to dispense a flow of coupling fluid through ambient atmosphere and onto a tray of loosely held parts for a period of time when the tray is disposed in the insonifying position;
• wherein the coupling fluid flows though ambient atmosphere in a direction that is generally perpendicular to a plane of the tray, the dispensation of the coupling fluid onto the loosely held parts undesirably tending to agitate them;
• an ultrasonic transducer that is mounted for cooperating movement with the movable dispenser, the ultrasonic transducer also being adapted to direct, when the dispenser is dispensing a flow of coupling fluid onto a tray of loosely held parts, one or more ultrasonic beams through the flow of coupling fluid and onto at least one part that is loosely held in the tray;
• wherein the dispenser and the ultrasonic transducer are movable with respect to and on one side of a tray of loosely held parts that is disposed in an insonifying position;
• and
• a vacuum system that is adapted to draw a vacuum that is applied for a period of time to a tray of loosely held parts that is disposed in the insonifying position, the vacuum causing air to be draw into the tray to entrain at least some of the flow of coupling fluid that is dispensed onto the parts held in the tray and to thereby create a pressure that at least partially immobilizes the parts on the tray.