Clamp tray, alignment tray, and workpiece holding method using the tray

Abstract

To provide a clamp tray capable of removably holding a workpiece while masking its prescribed part.SOLUTION: A clamp tray CT1 for removably holding a plurality of workpieces 9 comprises: a first plate 1; and a pair of elastic holding members 2 spaced apart to face each other in one direction parallel with a plane of one side of the first plate 1. A gap between the holding members 2 is narrower than a thickness between held parts of the workpieces 9. By pressure-inserting the held parts of the workpieces 9 into the gap between the holding parts 2, the workpieces 9 are held between the holding members 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a clamp tray, an alignment tray, and a method for clamping a workpiece using these trays. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, when multiple very small electronic chip components are simultaneously coated with metal to become external electrodes, the multiple electronic chip components must be positioned and fixed with high precision.

[0003] Patent documents 1 and 2 disclose a holding plate for holding electronic chip components during such a coating operation, in which the electronic chip components are held by being pressed into through holes formed in an elastic sheet-like member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 61-264787 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1-143209 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In some cases, the electronic chip component on which the external electrodes are formed may be further coated with a non-conductive material such as glass, except for the portions on which the external electrodes are formed.

[0006] Such coating operations require that at least a portion of the external electrodes be masked to avoid being coated.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An object of the present invention is to provide a clamp tray that can removably clamp a workpiece such as an electronic chip component while masking a predetermined portion of the workpiece.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide an alignment tray for aligning and positioning the workpieces so that the workpieces can be clamped by the clamp tray.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for clamping a workpiece, which can reliably and stably clamp a workpiece using the clamp tray and the alignment tray. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] A clamp tray according to one embodiment of the present invention that achieves the above-mentioned object is a clamp tray that removably clamps multiple workpieces, and has a first plate and a pair of elastic clamping members that are spaced apart and opposed in one direction parallel to a plane on one side of the first plate, and is characterized in that the gap between the pair of clamping members is narrower than the width between the clamped portions of the multiple workpieces, and the clamped portions of the multiple workpieces are pressed into the gap between the pair of clamping members, thereby clamping the multiple workpieces between the pair of clamping members.

[0011] According to the above configuration, the workpiece is pressed between the pair of clamping members, and is thereby clamped between the pair of clamping members. At the same time, when the outer periphery of the workpiece is coated in a subsequent process, the contact portion between the pair of clamping members and the workpiece becomes the masking portion in the coating process.

[0012] In the clamp tray having the above-described configuration, the pair of clamping members may be wheels having elasticity at least on their outer periphery.

[0013] In the clamp tray having the above configuration, it is preferable that the pair of clamping members is rotatable about an axial direction that is the thickness direction of the first plate.

[0014] In the clamp tray having the above-described configuration, the pair of clamping members may be arc-shaped leaf springs that are convex in opposing directions.

[0015] Furthermore, in a clamp tray of the above configuration, it is preferable that the first plate has an opening penetrating in the thickness direction through which the multiple workpieces can pass, and that the pair of clamping members are provided in opposing portions sandwiching the opening.

[0016] Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is provided an alignment tray for aligning and disposing a plurality of workpieces at a predetermined interval so that the plurality of workpieces can be clamped by any of the clamp trays described above, the alignment tray having a second plate and a plurality of protrusions protruding in the Z direction in a matrix pattern at a predetermined interval in the X and Y directions which are perpendicular to each other, on one side of the thickness direction (Z direction) of the second plate, the plurality of protrusions protruding in the Z direction, the plurality of protrusions having an X-direction length longer than the X-direction length of the workpieces, and a Y-direction length between the plurality of protrusions being equal to or longer than the Y-direction length of each of the pair of clamping members, and the alignment tray for aligning and disposing each of the plurality of workpieces between the plurality of protrusions adjacent in the X direction.

[0017] In the sorting tray having the above-described configuration, it is preferable that the length of the plurality of protrusions in the Y direction is shorter than the length of the work in the Y direction.

[0018] In the sorting tray having the above-described configuration, it is preferable that the length of the plurality of protrusions in the Z direction is longer than the length of the work in the Z direction.

[0019] According to the present invention, there is also provided a method for removably clamping a plurality of workpieces on a clamp tray described above, the method comprising: a work alignment process for aligning a plurality of workpieces on the alignment tray described above; an overlapping process for overlapping the alignment tray and the clamp tray in the Z direction so that the pair of clamping members of the clamp tray are positioned between the plurality of convex portions of the alignment tray in the Y direction; a clamping process for moving at least one of the alignment tray and the clamp tray in the X direction while the alignment tray and the clamp tray are overlapped, thereby clamping both Y-direction end portions of the workpiece with the pair of clamping members; and a separating process for moving at least one of the alignment tray and the clamp tray in the Z direction while the Y-direction end portions of the workpiece are clamped with the pair of clamping members, thereby separating the clamp tray from the alignment tray.

[0020] In the work clamping method configured as described above, the pair of clamping members may be wheels having elasticity at least on their outer periphery, and may be rotatable with the thickness direction of the first plate as the axial direction, and the method may further include a work release step in which, from a state in which the pair of clamping members clamp both ends of the work in the Y direction, an external force is applied in the circumferential direction to the pair of clamping members to rotate the pair of clamping members and remove the multiple workpieces from the first plate. Effect of the Invention

[0021] The clamp tray according to the present invention can removably clamp a workpiece while masking a predetermined portion of the workpiece.

[0022] Furthermore, according to the alignment tray of the present invention, the workpieces can be aligned and disposed so that they can be clamped by the clamp tray.

[0023] Furthermore, according to the workpiece clamping method of the present invention, the workpiece can be reliably and stably clamped using the clamp tray and the alignment tray. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the clamp tray according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the clamp tray according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a workpiece. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of an arrangement tray. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a process diagram showing how a workpiece is clamped to a clamp tray using an alignment tray. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the clamp tray holding a workpiece. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a modified example of the clamp tray holding a workpiece. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an example of a release tray. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a process diagram showing how to remove a workpiece from a clamp tray using a release tray. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a plan view of a clamp tray according to a second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a clamp tray according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The clamp tray, alignment tray, and work clamping method according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the technical idea of ​​the invention. In addition, the "X direction", "Y direction", and "Z direction" in this specification refer to the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, in this specification, "~" includes the numerical values ​​before and after it as the lower and upper limits, unless otherwise specified.

[0026] (First embodiment) The clamp tray CT1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 has a first plate 1 that is approximately rectangular in plan view, and multiple pairs of clamping members 2 that are arranged at predetermined intervals in the X and Y directions on the Z-direction underside of the first plate 1 and face each other at a predetermined interval in the Y direction, and clamps a cubic workpiece 9 with electrodes 91, 92 formed on both ends in the Y direction as shown in Figure 3.

[0027] (First plate) The first plate 1 is substantially rectangular, and has five rectangular openings 11 extending in the X direction, with edges remaining at both ends in the X direction, formed at predetermined intervals in the Y direction. The Y direction length of the openings 11 is set to be longer than the Y direction length b (shown in FIG. 3) of the workpiece 9. Five first through holes (not shown) penetrating in the Z direction for attaching the clamping members 2 are provided at predetermined intervals in the X direction at positions facing each opening 11 in the Y direction.

[0028] The first plate 1 has second through holes (not shown) at the four corners. Bolts 12 are inserted into the second through holes. Depending on the length of protrusion of the bolts 12 from the lower surface of the first plate 1, the gap in the Z direction between the clamp tray CT1 and the alignment tray AT when the clamp tray CT1 and the alignment tray AT are overlapped, which will be described later, in other words, the Z direction position at which the pair of clamping members 2 clamp the workpiece 9, is adjusted.

[0029] The material of the first plate 1 is preferably one having rigidity from the viewpoint of accurately and reliably clamping the multiple workpieces 9. Furthermore, if a coating process is performed in the subsequent process, a material that is resistant to the coating liquid is selected and used. For example, if the clamp tray CT1 is used for glass coating the workpieces 9, stainless steel or the like is preferably used as the material for the clamp tray CT1.

[0030] (Holding member) The clamping members 2 are arranged in pairs facing each other in the Y direction with the opening 11 in between, and clamp the workpiece 9 between the pair of clamping members. In this embodiment, five pairs of clamping members 2 are provided at a predetermined interval in the X direction in each opening 11. The minimum gap between the pair of clamping members is set narrower than the Y-direction length b of the workpiece 9 (shown in FIG. 3), i.e., the thickness of the clamped portion of the workpiece 9. In addition, the formation interval (axis-to-axis distance) of the pair of clamping members 2 in the X direction is set longer than the X-direction length a of the workpiece 9 (shown in FIG. 3).

[0031] The clamping member 2 is a wheel and has a disk-shaped main body 21, a shaft portion 23 that protrudes in the axial direction from the axial center of the main body 21, and an annular elastic portion 22 attached to the outer periphery of the main body 21. The main body 21 is rotatably attached to the shaft portion 23 via a bearing. A male screw portion is screwed onto the outer periphery of the tip portion of the shaft portion 23.

[0032] The clamping member 2 is attached to the first plate 1 by inserting the shaft 23 of the clamping member 2 into a first through hole (not shown) of the first plate 1 from the bottom side of the first plate 1 and screwing a nut N onto the male thread of the shaft 23 protruding from the top side of the first plate 1, so that the clamping member 2 is attached rotatable around the shaft 23. If the clamping member 2 is rotatable, the operation of clamping the workpiece 9 between the pair of clamping members and removing the workpiece 9 from between the pair of clamping members becomes smooth. The shaft 23 of the clamping member 2 may be fixed to the first through hole of the first plate 1 in an unremovable manner, for example by welding. The outer diameter of the clamping member 2 may be appropriately determined depending on the size of the workpiece 9 to be clamped. For example, when clamping a workpiece 9 of 5 mm×4 mm×4 mm, the outer diameter of the clamping member 2 is preferably in the range of 5 mm to 7 mm.

[0033] It is preferable that the main body 21 and the shaft 23 are made of a material having rigidity. If a coating process is performed later, a material that is resistant to the coating liquid is selected and used. For example, if the clamp tray CT1 is used for glass coating the workpiece 9, stainless steel or the like is preferably used as the material for the main body 21.

[0034] The material of the elastic portion 22 is not particularly limited as long as it has a predetermined elasticity and can hold the workpiece 9, and examples of the material include fluororubber, silicone rubber, etc. When a drying process is performed in the subsequent process, fluororubber having heat resistance is preferably used.

[0035] (Alignment Tray AT) The alignment tray AT shown in Fig. 4 is for aligning a plurality of workpieces 9 at a predetermined interval in the X and Y directions so that the clamp tray CT1 can clamp the workpieces 9. The alignment tray AT has a second plate 3 having a substantially rectangular shape substantially identical to the first plate 1 in a plan view, and a plurality of protruding portions 4a protruding in the Z direction, which are formed in a matrix shape at a predetermined interval in the X and Y directions on the Z-direction upper surface side of the second plate 3. The second plate 3 and the protruding portions 4a are integrally formed. Of course, the second plate 3 and the protruding portions 4a may be formed separately and then joined together.

[0036] The length D1 in the X direction between the multiple convex parts 4a is set to be slightly longer than the length a in the X direction of the workpiece 9. The length D2 in the Y direction between the multiple convex parts 4a is set to be slightly longer than the outer diameter L (shown in FIG. 4) of the wheel that is the clamping member 2. The protruding height of the convex parts 4a in the Z direction is not particularly limited as long as the workpiece 9 can be positioned. For example, when the clamp tray CT1 is overlapped on the alignment tray AT and the workpiece 9 is dropped between the convex parts 4a of the alignment tray AT from the opening 11 of the clamp tray CT1 to align and arrange the workpiece 9, it is preferable that the protruding height of the convex parts 4a is higher than the length c in the Z direction of the workpiece 9. In addition, it is preferable that the upper part of the convex parts 4a does not protrude from the upper surface of the clamp tray CT1.

[0037] There is no particular limitation on the material of the alignment tray AT, and any conventionally known material such as a plastic material or a metal material can be used.

[0038] (Work clamping method) A method of clamping the workpiece 9 in the clamp tray CT1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 using the alignment tray AT shown in FIG. 4 will be described.

[0039] (Layering process) 5(a), the clamp tray CT1 is placed on the top surface of the alignment tray AT. Specifically, the clamp tray CT1 is placed on the top surface of the alignment tray AT so that the convex portion 4a of the alignment tray AT is located within the opening 11 of the clamp tray CT1 and between the pair of clamping members 2. The distance in the Z direction between the alignment tray AT and the clamp tray CT1 can be adjusted by bolts 12 attached to the four corners of the clamp tray CT1.

[0040] (Workpiece alignment process) 5(b), multiple workpieces 9 are supplied to the upper surface of the clamp tray CT1, and the workpieces 9 are dropped and arranged between the convex portions 4a of the alignment tray AT through the opening 11 of the clamp tray CT1. At this time, the clamp tray CT1 and the alignment tray AT may be vibrated or tilted to promote the dropping of the workpieces 9 between the convex portions 4a of the alignment tray AT.

[0041] It should be noted that when the workpieces 9 are aligned on the alignment tray AT using a dedicated jig or the like without using the clamp tray CT1, the "overlapping process" is carried out after the "workpiece alignment process".

[0042] The alignment of the workpieces 9 between the protrusions 4a of the alignment tray AT is preferably such that the X, Y, and Z directions of the workpieces 9 shown in Fig. 3 coincide with the X, Y, and Z directions of the alignment tray AT. As long as the electrodes 91, 92 of the workpieces 9 are clamped by a pair of clamping members 2, it is also permissible to align and arrange the workpieces 9 on the alignment tray AT in such a manner that the Z direction of the workpieces 9 coincides with the X direction of the alignment tray AT, that is, in such a manner that the workpieces 9 shown in Fig. 3 are rotated 90° with the Y direction as the axial direction.

[0043] (Pinching process) After the workpiece 9 is placed between the protrusions 4a of the alignment tray AT, the clamp tray CT1 is moved leftward in Fig. 5(b). Then, the pair of clamping members 2 rotate with the movement of the clamp tray CT1, and as shown in Fig. 5(c), the elastic parts 22 of the clamping members 2 press against the electrodes 91, 92 at both ends of the workpiece 9 in the Y direction to clamp the workpiece 9. The strength with which the workpiece 9 is clamped can be adjusted by the material (elastic force) of the elastic parts 22 of the clamping members 2, the distance between the pair of clamping members, etc. If a coating process is performed later, the part where the elastic parts 22 of the clamping members 2 press against the workpiece 9 becomes the masking part.

[0044] (Separation process) Next, the clamp tray CT1 is moved away from the alignment tray AT in the Z direction, so that the clamp tray CT1 holds a plurality of workpieces 9 as shown in FIG.

[0045] In this state, the workpiece 9 is subjected to a desired treatment. For example, if the workpiece 9 is immersed in a coating liquid together with the clamp tray CT1 in this state, the portion of the workpiece 9 that is pressed against the elastic portion 22 of the clamping member 2 does not come into contact with the coating liquid and is not coated, whereas the portion that is not pressed against the elastic portion 22 of the clamping member 2 is coated. After that, if necessary, the workpiece 9 is dried while being clamped by the clamp tray CT1.

[0046] (Work release process) When the desired processing is completed, the workpiece 9 is removed from the clamp tray CT1 by performing the reverse process of the process of clamping the workpiece 9 in the clamp tray CT1 shown in FIG.

[0047] When removing the workpiece 9 by the reverse process of clamping the workpiece 9 in the clamp tray CT1, the workpiece 9 will come into contact with the convex portion 4a of the sorting tray AT, but it is also possible to remove the workpiece 9 without contacting the convex portion 4a of the sorting tray AT. For example, as shown in Fig. 7, the workpiece 9 is clamped between a pair of clamping members at every other opening (first, third, and fifth rows) out of five openings 11 formed at a predetermined interval in the Y direction of the clamp tray CT1. The workpiece 9 is not clamped at the openings in the second and fourth rows.

[0048] Meanwhile, a release tray RT shown in Fig. 8 is prepared. The release tray RT has a third plate 5 having a rectangular shape in a plan view, and a plurality of protruding portions 4b protruding in the Z direction, which are formed in a matrix shape at predetermined intervals in the X direction and the Y direction on the Z direction upper surface side of the third plate 5. The protruding portions 4b are provided at positions corresponding to the openings (second row, fourth row) of the clamp tray CT1 that do not hold the workpiece 9, the vicinity thereof slightly separated in the Y direction from the upper side of the clamp tray CT1, and the vicinity thereof slightly separated in the Y direction from the lower side.

[0049] The length D1 in the X direction of the multiple protrusions 4b is set to be longer than the length a (shown in FIG. 3) in the X direction of the workpiece 9. The length D3 in the Y direction of the multiple protrusions 4b is set to be shorter than the maximum length in the Y direction of the pair of wheels (clamping members) clamping the workpiece 9 so that each of the pair of wheels (clamping members) 2 rotates in contact with the protrusions 4b.

[0050] 9(a), the clamp tray CT1 is overlapped on the release tray RT. Specifically, the clamp tray CT1, release tray RT, and clamp tray CT1 are overlapped so that the convex portion 4b of the release tray RT is located in the opening (second and fourth rows) of the clamp tray CT1 that is not clamping the workpiece 9, in a nearby portion slightly away from the upper side of the clamp tray CT1 in the Y direction and in a nearby portion slightly away from the lower side in the Y direction, and in the middle of the clamping members 2 adjacent in the X direction.

[0051] Next, as shown in Fig. 9(b), the clamp tray CT1 is moved to the right in the X direction. Then, each of the pair of clamping members 2 comes into contact with the convex portion 4b of the release tray RT and rotates in the same direction (right in the X direction) at the contact portion with the workpiece 9. As a result, the workpiece 9 is released from the clamped state by the pair of clamping members 2 without coming into contact with the convex portion 4b, and can be removed from the clamp tray CT1.

[0052] Second embodiment A clamp tray CT2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0053] 10 and 11 are a plan view and a perspective view of a clamp tray CT2 according to the second embodiment. The clamp tray CT2 according to the second embodiment has a fourth plate 6 having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and a plurality of pairs of clamping members 7 provided on the fourth plate 6.

[0054] (4th plate) The fourth plate 6 is substantially rectangular, and five rectangular openings 61 extending in the X direction are formed at predetermined intervals in the Y direction, leaving edges at both ends in the X direction, as in the first plate 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The Y direction length of the openings 61 is set to be longer than the Y direction length b (shown in FIG. 3) of the work 9. The Z direction length (thickness) of the fourth plate 6 is not particularly limited as long as a leaf spring as the clamping member 7 described later can be installed on the inner surface of the openings 61. The Z direction length (thickness) of the fourth plate 6 may be longer or shorter than the Z direction length of the work 9. The same materials as those of the first plate 1 described above are exemplified here as the material of the fourth plate 6.

[0055] (Holding member) On the side surfaces of each opening 61 of the fourth plate 6 facing in the Y direction, five pairs of arc-shaped leaf springs (clamping members) 7 that are convex on opposite sides are provided at a predetermined interval in the X direction. The leaf springs 7 are attached to the fourth plate 6 by inserting both longitudinal ends of the arc-shaped leaf springs 7 into a pair of grooves (not shown) that are formed in the side surfaces of the opening 61 of the fourth plate 6 at a predetermined distance in the X direction and extend in the Z direction. Of course, the method of attaching the leaf springs 7 to the fourth plate 6 is not limited to this, and any conventionally known attachment method can be used.

[0056] The minimum distance n (shown in FIG. 10) between the pair of leaf springs 7 in the Y direction is set to be shorter than the length b of the workpiece 9 in the Y direction. Conventionally known materials such as stainless steel, iron, and copper can be used as the material for the leaf springs 7. However, if the subsequent process includes a process using a solvent such as coating, a material that is resistant to the solvent is selected and used. Furthermore, if the subsequent process includes a heating process such as drying, a heat-resistant material is selected and used. (Workpiece 9 clamping process) The process of clamping the workpiece 9 using the clamp tray CT2 of the second embodiment shown in Figures 10 and 11 is basically the same as that of the clamp tray CT1 of the first embodiment. Since the clamp tray CT2 uses leaf springs as the clamping members 7, when the clamp tray CT2 and the alignment tray AT are stacked on top of each other and at least one of them is moved in the X direction, the workpiece 9 enters between the pair of leaf springs and is clamped by the elastic force of the pair of leaf springs 7.

[0057] If a coating process is performed in the subsequent process, the portion where the leaf spring 7 is in pressure contact with the workpiece 9 becomes the masking portion.

[0058] When the desired processing is completed, the workpiece 9 is removed from the clamp tray CT2. The workpiece 9 can be removed from the clamp tray CT2 by using the alignment tray AT in the reverse order of the process of clamping the workpiece 9 in the clamp tray CT2.

[0059] (others) The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, five openings 11 are provided in the clamp tray CT1, but the number of openings is not limited and may be four or less, or six or more. Also, the number of pairs of clamping members provided in one opening is not limited and may be one, or two or more. Furthermore, there is no particular limitation on the shape of the workpiece 9 to be clamped by the clamp tray CT1, and the cross-sectional shape may be polygonal or circular. [Industrial Applicability]

[0060] The clamp tray according to the present invention is useful because it can removably clamp a workpiece while masking a predetermined portion of the workpiece. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1 First Plate 2 Holding member 3. Second Plate 4a Convex part 4b Convex part 5. Third Plate 6 Fourth Plate 9 Work 21 Main body 22 Elastic part 23 Shaft 91,92 electrode AT Alignment Tray CT1 Clamp Tray CT2 Clamp Tray RT Release Tray

Claims

1. A clamp tray that removably holds a plurality of workpieces, A first plate; a pair of resilient clamping members provided opposite to each other and spaced apart in one direction parallel to a plane on one side of the first plate, The gap between the pair of clamping members is narrower than the width between the clamped portions of the plurality of workpieces, The clamped portions of the plurality of workpieces are pressed into the gap between the pair of clamping members, so that the plurality of workpieces are clamped between the pair of clamping members. A clamp tray characterized by:

2. 2. The clamp tray according to claim 1, wherein the pair of clamping members are wheels having elasticity at least on their outer periphery.

3. 3. The clamp tray according to claim 2, wherein the pair of clamping members are rotatable about an axial direction that corresponds to the thickness direction of the first plate.

4. 2. The clamp tray according to claim 1, wherein the pair of clamping members are arcuate leaf springs that are convex in opposing directions.

5. A clamp tray as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first plate has an opening penetrating in the thickness direction through which the multiple workpieces can pass, and the pair of clamping members are provided in opposing portions across the opening.

6. An alignment tray for aligning a plurality of workpieces at a predetermined interval in order to clamp the plurality of workpieces in the clamp tray according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A second plate; a plurality of protrusions protruding in the Z direction in a matrix shape at predetermined intervals in the X direction and the Y direction perpendicular to each other, on one surface side in the thickness direction (Z direction) of the second plate; having A length in the X direction between the plurality of convex portions is longer than a length in the X direction of the workpiece, a length in the Y direction between the plurality of protrusions is equal to or greater than a length in the Y direction of each of the pair of clamping members; An alignment tray that aligns and places each of a plurality of workpieces between the plurality of adjacent protrusions in the X direction.

7. The sorting tray according to claim 6 , wherein the length of the plurality of protrusions in the Y direction is shorter than the length of the works in the Y direction.

8. 8. The sorting tray according to claim 6, wherein the length of the plurality of protrusions in the Z direction is longer than the length of the work in the Z direction.

9. A method for removably clamping a plurality of workpieces on the clamp tray according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising the steps of: a work aligning step of aligning a plurality of works on the alignment tray according to claim 6 or 7; a stacking step of stacking the alignment tray and the clamp tray in the Z direction so that the pair of clamping members of the clamp tray are positioned between the plurality of convex portions of the alignment tray in the Y direction; a clamping step of moving at least one of the alignment tray and the clamp tray in an X direction while the alignment tray and the clamp tray are overlapped with each other, and clamping both ends of the work in the Y direction with the pair of clamping members; a separating process of moving at least one of the alignment tray and the clamp tray in the Z direction while the pair of clamping members are holding both ends of the work in the Y direction to separate the clamp tray from the alignment tray; A method for clamping a workpiece having the above structure.

10. The pair of clamping members are wheels having at least an elastic outer periphery and are rotatable about an axial direction that is the thickness direction of the first plate, From a state in which both ends of the workpiece in the Y direction are clamped by the pair of clamping members, 10. The method for clamping a workpiece according to claim 9, further comprising a workpiece releasing step of applying an external force in a circumferential direction to said pair of clamping members to rotate said pair of clamping members, thereby removing the plurality of workpieces from the first plate.

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