Abstract: At least one article such as a device (10) is reoriented to achieve uniform orientation of a plurality thereof. The devices (10) typically have a head (12) and a body portion (18) depending therefrom along a plane (26) dividing the head asymmetrically. A portion of head (12) has a fully developed shape typically seen along one side of a disc while another portion of head (12) has at least one segment omitted. A preferably air powered track (30) is utilized to guidably advance the devices (10) in a single file. The body portions (18) are disposed in track (30) with their respective dividing planes (26) lying substantially along a common plane passing through a longitudinal slot (50) in a feed section of track (30). A device (10) is assumed to have a desirable orientation when its flat (24) faces such as to the back of track (30) and an undesirable orientation when flat (24) faces oppositely such as to the front of track (30).

Abstract: A workpiece such as a miniature stud (10) supports a chip (20) having a heat and light sensitive device therein. Such stud (10) is thermally bonded to an insulative body (12) to form a guide (14) for converting light to electrical pulses. A positive and a negative electrode (44 and 45), respectively, are each connected to a respective pole of a power supply for providing electrical current adequate for the bonding. A resistance heating element (42) conducts the current from electrode (44) at least partially along a path through the stud (10) to electrode (45). For stud (10), the path is selected preferably by providing a thru hole (90) in element (42) under the position occupied by the heat sensitive device when stud (10) is placed upon the element (42). The current concentrates in stud (10) along an annular ring (29) where heating is required sufficiently to thermally bond at least the ring (29) of the stud (10) to the body (12).

Abstract: Articles such as miniature laser chips (15) are individually removed from an array on an adhesive web (20). A subjacent forming die has a planar, central surface (160) containing a vacuum cavity (120) and peripheral sloping surfaces (162). The web (20) has an adhesive side for holding the chips (15) and a smooth side for conforming to surfaces (160) and (162) of die (116). A leading target chip (15) is located centrally of cavity (120) on a planar portion of web (20) which portion is substantially restrained from movement away from die (116) by vacuum drawn in cavity (120). At the smooth side of web (20), within cavity (120), there is a needle (135) which is movable perpendicularly of and through web (20) along a path containing the target chip (15). At the adhesive side of web (20), opposite needle (135), there is a pickup probe (147) having a vacuum port (166 ) to retain a chip (15). Also, probe (147) is movable relative to and with a target chip (15) and the needle (135).

Abstract: An off-line system for handling elongated magnetic articles such as axially leaded diodes 12 includes a magnetic receiving chute 20, a blocking mechanism 45, a magnetic loading station 75 for supporting at least one tray 55 and for loading diodes 12 therein, and a drive train 115. The chute 20 receives the diodes 12 and guides such diodes downwardly to an outlet 24 and the tray 55. Over a major accessible face of the tray 55 a cover 63 is slidably removable from a second end 60. At the loading station 75, the tray 55 is disposed in an upright manner resting on the second end 60 at a first elevation with a first end 59 extending at least to the outlet 24 of chute 20. An elevating mechanism 80 applied to the end 60 elevates tray 55 to a second elevation, while the cover 63 remains at about the first elevation. A portion of tray 55 is thereby opened adjacent the first end 59 which opening abuts to and registers with the outlet 24 of chute 20.

Abstract: Elongated magnetic articles 12 are introduced into vacant positions 31 on a carrier wheel 18 for a given operation. A magnetic bin 40 has a feed end in communication with wheel 18 and includes spaced sidewalls 41-44, with arm sections 43-44 thereof extending substantially beyond the periphery of wheel 18 and along the sides thereof. There is established between said sidewalls 41-44 a first, magnetic field and a second, stronger field to orient and suspend the articles 12 in bin 40. However, the field between arm sections 43-44 is established substantially within the periphery of wheel 18 and such field includes the stronger second field located in a specific region of arm sections 43-44.For loading articles 12 into continuously occurring vacant positions 31 which are advanced in an ascendent path, the stronger second field is located in a lower region of arm sections 43-44.