Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the automated loading of integrated circuit carrier tubes into a tube dispensing device in a predetermined, preferred orientation without the attention of a human operator are described. The method utilizes a roller equipped with tube cavities in its peripheral surface and rotates the roller in a clockwise direction for receiving tube carriers from a top hopper-shaped opening and discharging the tube carriers from a bottom opening by gravity.

Abstract: An automatic plug pulling machine for integrated circuit (IC) tubes is disclosed. Conventionally on a semiconductor manufacturing line, IC tubes are used to transport IC packages such as DIPs, SOPs and SOJs from one processing station to another. Commonly, IC packages inside the tubes are removed by pulling out the plug manually. This can be very time consuming resulting in reduced throughput. With the automatic pulling machine disclosed in the present invention, the tubes are loaded on to a pair of robotic arms with slots and grooves to receive a tube. The arm transports the tube to a platform where the tube is clamped down and positioned relative to two plug pullers. The top plug puller with a finger-like notch, which when lowered to one end of the tube, snugly fits over the head of the plug, and the lower plug puller also fits the bottom profile of the head of the plug. Then the plug pullers are moved horizontally, that is, sideways to move the plug out from the tube automatically.