The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 03, 1987
Filed:
Jul. 01, 1985
John A Wedel, Mendota Heights, MN (US);
Michael J Carroll, Columbia Heights, MN (US);
Michael P Kassner, New Brighton, MN (US);
Nathan R Smith, Stillwater, MN (US);
Micro Component Technology, Inc., St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
The invention of the present document comprises apparatus for receiving and automatically feeding dual-in-line package (DIP) transportation and storage tubes (24) to the singulator (76) of an integrated circuit device handler (20) so that devices (22) in the tubes (24) can be introduced at the singulator (76). The tubes (24) are randomly placed in a hopper (66), and conveyed through an aperture (170) formed in a side wall (172) of the hopper (66). An elevator (74) is provided to raise the tubes (24) to a height at which open ends thereof are disposed above the height of the singulator (76). With a tube (24) so raised, a tube inserter (96) pushes the tube (24) into the tube holder (98) of a manipulator (100). The tube holder (98) is, in turn, pivoted to tilt the tube (24) so that devices (22) within the tube (24) are deposited for introduction into the singulator (76 ).