Transfer apparatus for transferring electronic devices

A transfer apparatus for transferring electronic devices, the transfer apparatus comprising:

• a conveying track for conveying electronic devices in a row having a leading electronic device located at a front of the row;
• first and second vacuum passages connected to the conveying track, the first and second vacuum passages being operative to create vacuum forces to hold electronic devices against the conveying track at a first device position and a second device position respectively such that there is no overlapping between the electronic devices;
• and
• first and second sensors arranged with respect to the conveying track, the first sensor being operative to detect a presence or absence of the leading electronic device at the first device position for removal of the leading electronic device from the conveying track, and the second sensor being operative to detect a presence or absence of the leading electronic device at a sensor position between the first and second device positions as the leading electronic device is conveyed along the conveying track from the second vacuum passage to the first vacuum passage;
• and
• first and second air nozzles for directing air toward the electronic devices to push the electronic devices toward the first vacuum passage, the first and second air nozzles being arranged with respect to the first and second sensors, respectively,
• wherein the second air nozzle is deactivated while the first air nozzle remains activated upon the second sensor detecting the leading electronic device at the sensor position between the first and second device positions, so as to ensure separation between the leading electronic device and the next leading electronic device along the conveying track.