Integrated circuit handling system

Claim 2

A component handling system comprising: a. means for receiving and for orienting a plurality of components; and b. a handling mechanism disposed within a housing and including means for receiving said component and for positioning said component at a first level and means for removing said component from said receiving and positioning means, for cooperating to cause said component to move from said first level to a second level, for moving said component into contact with a test contactor and for moving said component away from said test contactor, a sorting apparatus for receiving tested components from said handling mechanism comprising a sorting structure; a plurality of containers removably supported by said sorting structure, said containers being adapted to receive sorted components; an enclosure in communication with said sorting structure having one end for receiving serially a plurality of said components to be sorted and having another end in communication with said containers for depositing said components into sorted groups; a partition operative with said enclosure for providing paths within said enclosure, at least a portion of said partition being movable in response to a signal for directing said components to one of said containers; and means for receiving a signal and for moving said partition in response thereto.

Claim 3

A component handling system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said receiving and orienting means comprises: a vibratory container for receiving in batch a plurality of components, for orienting said components in a predetermined attitude and for feeding said components serially to said handling mechanism.

Claim 4

An environmental component handling system comprising; a. means for receiving and for orienting a plurality of components; and b. a housing having an outer shell of metal, a first layer of foil adjoining said outer shell of metal, a first layer of polyurethane foam adjoining said first layer of foil, a second layer of foil adjoining said first layer of polyurethane Foam, a second layer of polyurethane foam adjoining said second layer of foil, a third layer of foil adjoining said second layer of polyurethane foam, and an inner shell of metal adjoining said third layer of foil; c. means disposed within said housing for receiving and for temporarily storing components; transfer means disposed within said housing for receiving serially said components from said receiving and storing means, for moving said components into contact with a test contactor and for moving said components away from said test contactor; d. index means connected to said housing for moving said receiving and storing means; e. means connected to said housing for cycling said transfer means and for actuating said index means; f. a door positioned in an opening in said housing, said opening providing access to said receiving and storing means, said transfer means and said index means; g. a fan enclosure comprising a channel-shaped mounting bracket having an aperture in its base portion for positioning a fan so as to have said fan, when operating, direct a stream of air through said aperture across the opening of said housing; h. a fan connected to said mounting bracket; and i. a support frame for connecting said mounting bracket to said housing, a sorting apparatus for receiving tested components from said handling mechanism comprising a sorting structure; a plurality of containers removably supported by said sorting structure, said containers being adapted to receive sorted components; an enclosure in communication with said sorting structure having one end for receiving serially a plurality of said components to be sorted and having another end in communication with said containers for depositing said components into sorted groups; a partition operative with said enclosure for providing paths within said enclosure, at least a portion of said partition being movable in response to a signal for directing said components to one of said containers; and means for receiving a signal and for moving said partition in response thereto.

Claim 5

An environmental component handling system comprising; a. means for receiving and for orienting a plurality of components; and b. a housing having an outer shell of metal, a first layer of foil adjoining said outer shell of metal, a first layer of polyurethane foam adjoining said first layer of foil, a second layer of foil adjoining said first layer of polyurethane Foam, a second layer of polyurethane foam adjoining said second layer of foil, a third layer of foil adjoining said second layer of polyurethane foam, and an inner shell of metal adjoining said third layer of foil; c. means disposed within said housing for receiving and for temporarily storing components; transfer means disposed within said housing for receiving serially said components from said receiving and storing means, for moving said components into contact with a test contactor and for moving said components away from said test contactor; d. index means connected to said housing for moving said receiving and storing means; e. means connected to said housing for cycling said transfer means and for actuating said index means; f. a door positioned in an opening in said housing, said opening providing access to said receiving and storing means, said transfer means and said index means; g. a fan enclosure comprising a channel-shaped mounting bracket having an aperture in its base portion for positioning a fan so as to have said fan, when operating, direct a stream of air through said aperture across the opening of said housing; h. a fan connected to said mounting bracket; and i. a support frame for connecting said mounting bracket to said housing, a sorting apparatus for receiving tested components from said handling mechanism comprising a sorting structure; a plurality of containers removably supported by said sorting structure, said containers being adapted to receive sorted components; an enclosure in communication with said sorting structure having one end for receiving serially a plurality of said components to be sorted and having another end in communication with said containers for depositing said components into sorted groups; a partition operative with said enclosure for providing paths within said enclosure, at least a portion of said partition being movable in response to a signal for directing said components to one of said containers; and means for receiving a signal and for moving said partition in response thereto.

Claim 6

An environmental component handling system comprising: a feeding means for receiving in batch a plurality of components, for orienting said components in a predetermined attitude; a handling mechanism, b. conduit means for moving said components from said feeding means to said handling mechanism; c. an insulated housing for enclosing said handling mechanism; d. said handling mechanism including a rotatable drum means disposed within said housing for receiving and for temporarily storing components; e. a transfer means disposed within said housing for receiving serially said components from said receiving and storing means, for moving said components into contact with a test contactor and for moving said components away from said test contactor; f. an index means connected to said housing for rotating said receiving and storing means; g. linkage means connected to said housing for cycling said transfer means and for actuating said index means; and h. electrical and mechanical means for actuating said linkage means, a sorting apparatus for receiving tested components from said handling mechanism comprising a sorting structure; a plurality of containers removably supported by said sorting structure, said containers being adapted to receive sorted components; an enclosure in communication with said sorting structure having one end for receiving serially a plurality of said components to be sorted and having another end in communication with said containers for depositing said components into sorted groups; a partition operative with said enclosure for providing paths within said enclosure, at least a portion of said partition being movable in response to a signal for directing said components to one of said containers; and means for receiving a signal and for moving said partition in response thereto.

Claim 7

An environmental component handling system comprising: a feeding means for receiving in batch a plurality of components, for orienting said components in a predetermined attitude; a handling mechanism, b. conduit means for moving said components from said feeding means to said handling mechanism; c. an insulated housing for enclosing said handling mechanism; d. said handling mechanism including a rotatable drum means disposed within said housing for receiving and for temporarily storing components; e. a transfer means disposed within said housing for receiving serially said components from said receiving and storing means, for moving said components into contact with a test contactor and for moving said components away from said test contactor; f. an index means connected to said housing for rotating said receiving and storing means; g. linkage means connected to said housing for cycling said transfer means and for actuating said index means; and h. electrical and mechanical means for actuating said linkage means, a sorting apparatus for receiving tested components from said handling mechanism comprising a sorting structure; a plurality of containers removably supported by said sorting structure, said containers being adapted to receive sorted components; an enclosure in communication with said sorting structure having one end for receiving serially a plurality of said components to be sorted and having another end in communication with said containers for depositing said components into sorted groups; a partition operative with said enclosure for providing paths within said enclosure, at least a portion of said partition being movable in response to a signal for directing said components to one of said containers; and means for receiving a signal and for moving said partition in response thereto.

Claim 8

A pivotal partition structure comprising: a. a partitioN plate of synthetic resin material having two end portions and two lateral edge portions; b. an opening in said plate for receiving a shaft positioned adjacent one end portion; and c. a sleeve in said plate spaced from said opening and said one end portion for receiving a means for pivoting said plate about an axis coincident with the center line of said opening.

Claim 9

A pivotal partition structure comprising: a. a partitioN plate of synthetic resin material having two end portions and two lateral edge portions; b. an opening in said plate for receiving a shaft positioned adjacent one end portion; and c. a sleeve in said plate spaced from said opening and said one end portion for receiving a means for pivoting said plate about an axis coincident with the center line of said opening.

Claim 10

A pivotal partition structure as claimed in claim 5 including a reinforcing strip of synthetic resin material attached to said plate along one of said lateral edge portions.

Claim 11

A sorting apparatus adapted to receive a plurality of components from sorting into predetermined groups comprising: a. a support structure; b. a housing mounted to said support structure, said housing having an upper opening to receive serially a plurality of components to be sorted and five lower openings at a lower vertical height than said upper opening for emitting serially the sorted plurality of products; c. four pivotal partitions and a plurality of fixed partitions each connected to said housing, said pivotal partitions being responsive to a signal for directing said components along one of five different paths; d. four signal receiving means connected to said housing for moving said pivotal partitions; and e. a plurality of containers removably supported by said support structure at a lower vertical height than said housing for receiving sorted components.

Claim 12

A sorting apparatus adapted to receive a plurality of components from sorting into predetermined groups comprising: a. a support structure; b. a housing mounted to said support structure, said housing having an upper opening to receive serially a plurality of components to be sorted and five lower openings at a lower vertical height than said upper opening for emitting serially the sorted plurality of products; c. four pivotal partitions and a plurality of fixed partitions each connected to said housing, said pivotal partitions being responsive to a signal for directing said components along one of five different paths; d. four signal receiving means connected to said housing for moving said pivotal partitions; and e. a plurality of containers removably supported by said support structure at a lower vertical height than said housing for receiving sorted components.

Claim 13

A sorting apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said four pivotal partitions are each movable between two positions with no more than two partitions pivotal during any one sorting operation.

Claim 14

A sorting apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of said pivotal partitions comprises a partition plate of synthetic resin material having two end portions and two lateral edge portions; an opening in said plate for receiving a shaft positioned adjacent one end portion; and a sleeve in said plate spaced from said opening and said one end portion for receiving a means for pivoting said plate about an axis coincident with the center line of said opening; and wherein said four signal receiving means comprise four rotary solenoids; and said four pivotal partitions are each movable between two positions with no more than two partitions pivotal during any one sorting operation.