Electrical component sequential testing apparatus

Claim 1

In sorting apparatus for electrical components, the combination comprising: (a) an electrical test station, (b) transport means forming pockets for receiving electrical components and for sequentially lifting said received components to the test station, (c) test means including relatively movable contacts at the test station for electrically testing the components, sequentially, (d) and the tested components then being discharged from the pockets, (e) a receptacle in which multiple of said electrical components are received for exposure to said pockets so as to loosely fit therein, the transport means extending into the receptacle at an angle such as that electrical components lifted by the transport means, but not received in the pockets, fall back into the receptacle, the transport means comprising a rotor having said pockets with tapered entrances and in an annular sequence, (f) the electrical contacts being engageable with opposite ends of an electrical component in the pocket lifted to the test station, one contact comprising a conductive ring extending beneath said pockets, the other of the contacts comprising a runner at the test station sidewardly movable into position over the upper end of the component in the pocket lifted to the test station, (g) the rotor including a slot, extending about an axis about which the rotor is rotatable, and in which said runner is sidewardly movable, and (h) including a pivot supporting the runner for pivoting in said slot.