Indexed feed of electronic component supply tubes

Claim 1

An automated apparatus for supplying electronic components to a processing station, said apparatus comprising: cartridge means for supporting plural, generally inline and generally vertical columns of said components and comprising a cartridge having plural removable tubes, said tubes each having at least one end open and defining said columns, said cartridge having an unload opening such that components of an unload column are dischargeable through said unload opening to a column unload station; indexing and locating means for indexing said columns generally horizontally and locating each of said columns sequentially at a column unload station, said column located at said unload station being an unload column; blade means for guiding and supporting said cartridge relative to said unload station such that said cartridge is slidable on said blade means for said column indexing, said blade means comprising a slip-hinge and snap-fit pin connection to a frame such that said cartridge, when slideably attached to said blade means, is positionable relative to said frame by said slip hinge by a sliding, pivoting motion and removably attached to said frame by said snap-fit pin upon seating of said hinge with said frame. blocking means for selectively enabling and disabling discharge of said components from said columns, said blocking means telescopically receivable in said cartridge; reservoir means for receiving components from said unload column and providing a reservoir of a sufficient number of said components for said processing station such that a continuous processing of said components at said processing station is attainable during a replacement of said columns; and controller means for controlling said indexing.