Self aligning tray and carrier apparatus

Abstract

A carrier tray has a plurality of rectangular shaped carrier tray pockets, each pocket for holding a corresponding component tray. Two adjacent first sides of each carrier tray pocket include reference surfaces for accurately positioning two sides of a component tray that is positioned in the carrier tray pocket. Two adjacent second sides of each carrier pocket each include at least one protrusion from each side, the protrusions for compressing resilient members on sides of a component tray that is inserted in the carrier tray pocket, wherein the resilient members are for the purpose of urging the component tray against the reference surfaces of the carrier tray pocket.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is related to U.S. application entitled “Standard Tray Carrier For Aligning Trays” filed on the same date as this application, bearing attorney reference 067810 / 0300803, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention relates to trays for use in carrying components such as semiconductor devices, and more particularly to a carrier tray and component tray combination configured to self-align component trays in a carrier tray so as to assure accurate component pocket locations. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Semiconductor devices such as integrated circuits (ICs) are typically conveyed in component pockets in trays prior to being installed in a final product. ICs may be placed in and removed from a tray by means of automated IC handling equipment. Calibration of such equipment requires knowledge of the dimensions of the tray and relative p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] It is an advantage of this invention to provide a component tray and carrier tray apparatus with facility for a plurality of component trays, that provides precision location of component tray pockets.

[0009] It is another advantage of this invention to provide a component tray and carrier tray apparatus that positions a plurality of component trays so as to make the center-to-center distance between all component tray pockets an integer multiple of a given center-to-center component tray pocket spacing.

[0010] It is another advantage of this invention to provide a combination component tray and carrier tray apparatus that positions a plurality of component trays so as to facilitate precision calibration of tray handling equipment.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, a carrier tray has a plurality of rectangular shaped carrier tray pockets, each pocket for holding a corresponding component tray. Two adjacent first sides of each carrier tray pocket include reference surfaces for accurately positioning two sides of a component tray that is positioned in the carrier tray pocket. Two adjacent second sides of each carrier pocket each include at least one protrusion from each side, the protrusions for compressing resilient members on sides of a component tray that is inserted in the carrier tray pocket, wherein the resilient members are for the purpose of urging the component tray against the reference surfaces of the carrier tray pocket.

Problems solved by technology

This design has the disadvantage of not providing for secure vertical (Z-direction) captivation, and does not address inter-tray dimensioning.

The result is that the position of a component tray and resulting position of a component tray pocket when the component tray is in a carrier tray pocket, is not known accurately enough to allow calibration of handling equipment for precision locating of a component tray pocket.

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