Dip handling apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for sorting packaged electronic components having a generally rectangular shaped body with a plurality of electrical conductors extending downwardly from two opposite sides thereof, comprising: a first input magazine for containing a plurality of said components; an elongated track forming a passageway for serially receiving said components at one end, transporting said components in astraddle fashion, and discharging said components at the opposite end; a test mechanism disposed along said track for engaging the electrical conductors of a component located along said track at a test position and applying test signals thereto; an indexing mechanism disposed along said track for sequentially locating said components at said test position; a plurality of output magazines for receiving tested components discharged from the opposite end of said track; a sorting mechanism disposed between said opposite end of said track and said magazines for selectively transporting each of said components to a particular output magazine; and logic means for applying test signals through said contactors to the components engaged thereby and operative to determine certain characteristics thereof, and for developing signals for controlling said indexing mechanism, said test mechanism and said sorting mechanism.

Claim 3

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said test mechanism includes a first testhead disposed on one side of said track.

Claim 4

Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said first and second testheads are disposed in aligned facing relationship to each other and each testhead includes a plurality of electrical contactors, said test mechanism further including first means for moving said first and second testheads toward said track so that said electrical contactors engage the electrical conductors of a component located at said test position, and second means for moving said testheads away from said track.

Claim 5

Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said first means includes a pair of spring members positioned to bias said testheads toward each other.

Claim 6

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said second means includes electro-mechanical means for moving said testheads away from each other against the biasing forces applied by said spring members.

Claim 7

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said indexing mechanism includes at least two electro-mechanically actuated stop means for alternately blocking said passageway and locating said components one at a time in said test position.

Claim 8

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said indexing mechanism includes first, second and third electro-mechanically actuated stop means disposed in series along said truck, said first and third stop means being simultaneously actuated and said second stop means being actuated alternatively with said first and third stop means whereby said components are caused to sequentially move into said test position.

Claim 9

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of output magaZines includes at least four separate output magazines, said sorting mechanism includes a pivotable track section and four electrical actuators disposed to selectively move said track section into alignment between said opposite end of said track and one of said output magazines.

Claim 10

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 and further comprising a second input magazine, and an input selector mechanism for enabling one of said first and second input magazines to discharge the components contained therein onto said track.

Claim 11

Apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said input selector mechanism includes a pivotable track section for selectively connecting one of said input magazines and said one end of said track.

Claim 12

Apparatus for sorting packaged electronic components having a generally rectangular shaped body with a plurality of electrical conductors extending downwardly from two opposite sides thereof, comprising: first and second input magazines for containing a plurality of said components; a plurality of output magazines for variously receiving said components; track means for transporting said components in astraddle fashion from said input magazines to said output magazines, said track means including; a main track; a selector mechanism responsive to first signals and operative to couple one of said first and second magazines to one end of said main track so that the components contained therein are serially discharged onto said main track; and a sorting mechanism responsive to a second signals and operative to couple the other end of said track to one of said output magazines; an indexing mechanism responsive to third signals and operative to locate one of the components transported by said track at a test position along said track; a testhead mechanism disposed adjacent to said test position, said testhead mechanism being responsive to fourth signals and operative to engage said one component to electrically energize said one component and receive electrical response signals therefrom; detector means disposed at various positions along said track for detecting the passage of components thereby and operative to develop component signals; and logic means responsive to said component signals and said response signals and operative to develop said first, second and third and fourth signals, whereby said components are caused to be sorted and collected in said output magazines according to certain operative characteristics thereof.

Claim 13

Apparatus for sorting packaged electronic components having a generally rectangular shaped body with a plurality of electrical conductors extending downwardly from two opposite sides thereof, comprising: first and second input magazines for containing a plurality of said components; a plurality of output magazines for variously receiving said components; track means for transporting said components in astraddle fashion from said input magazines to said output magazines, said track means including; a main track; a selector mechanism responsive to first signals and operative to couple one of said first and second magazines to one end of said main track so that the components contained therein are serially discharged onto said main track; and a sorting mechanism responsive to a second signals and operative to couple the other end of said track to one of said output magazines; an indexing mechanism responsive to third signals and operative to locate one of the components transported by said track at a test position along said track; a testhead mechanism disposed adjacent to said test position, said testhead mechanism being responsive to fourth signals and operative to engage said one component to electrically energize said one component and receive electrical response signals therefrom; detector means disposed at various positions along said track for detecting the passage of components thereby and operative to develop component signals; and logic means responsive to said component signals and said response signals and operative to develop said first, second and third and fourth signals, whereby said components are caused to be sorted and collected in said output magazines according to certain operative characteristics thereof.

Claim 14

Apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said plurality of output magazines includes at least four separate output magazines, said sorting mechanism includes a pivotable track section and four electrical actuators disposed to selectively move said track section into alignment between said opposite end of said track and one of said output magazines.

Claim 15

Apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said indexing mechanism includes first, second and third electro-mechanically actuated stop means disposed in series along said track, said first and third stop means being simultaneously actuated and said second stop means being actuated alternatively with said first and third stop means whereby said components are caused to sequentially move into said test position.

Claim 16

Apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said test mechanism includes a first testhead disposed on one side of said track.

Claim 17

Apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said first and second testheads are disposed in aligned facing relationship to each other and each testhead includes a plurality of electrical contactors, said test mechanism further including first means for moving said first and second testheads toward said track so that said electrical contactors engage the electrical conductors of a component located at said test position, and second means for moving said testheads away from said track.

Claim 18

Apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said first means includes a pair of spring members positioned to bias said testheads toward each other.

Claim 19

Apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said second means includes electro-mechanical means for moving said testheads away from each other against the biasing forces applied by said spring members.

Claim 20

Apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said indexing mechanism includes at least two electro-mechanically actuated stop means for alternately blocking said passageway and locating said components one at a time in said test position.

Claim 21

Apparatus as recited in claim 11 and further comprising a chassis for supporting the previously recited elements, a cover plate hingedly affixed to said chassis and moveable between an open position and a closed position, when in said closed position said cover plate being separated from said track by a selected distance to provide a passageway for said components, and adjustable stop means for determining said distance.