Abstract: The present invention is directed to a feeder cassette for feeding electronic components into a component processing unit. The cassette includes an assembly body having a plurality of slots formed on opposing interior sides thereof to form channels within the assembly body. The channels are designed to receive a plurality of components therein, preferably in pre-packed flat tubes. A leaf spring having a button projecting from the distal end of each of the fingers of the leaf spring permits only the components from a desired "activated" channel to be released. The cassette is indexed forwardly until all of the components have been released from each of the channels sequentially. The buttons of the spring fingers also serve to hold the components within the cassette if the cassette is withdrawn from the feeder unit at any time prior to fully emptying the tubes.