Abstract: The component at the pick-up station of a vibratory feeder is isolated from the remaining components on the feeder by backing the remaining components away from the component to be picked up in preparation for removal of the component from the feeder at the pick-up station. A shutter can be positioned over the component at the pick-up station prior to lowering the vacuum spindle into contact with the component so as to prevent loss of the component from the pick-up station of the feeder. The shutter may also have a slot therein to allow a spindle to pass through the shutter and contact a component in the pick-up station prior to withdrawal of the shutter, thus eliminating "teepeeing" of two components which can cause sufficient inaccuracies in pick-up and subsequent placement of the component. Additionally, the vibrator may be halted for the brief period necessary to remove the component from the pick-up station.