Standard tray carrier for aligning trays
A carrier tray has a channel for holding a plurality of component trays in a single row, with no spacing between the component trays. The component trays ride on a bottom tray support of the channel. The channel has first and second side rails or tabs extending over opposing first and second edges of the component trays for the purpose of captivating the component trays in an upward vertical direction. The channel also includes first and second side containment walls for securing the component trays laterally in the channel. The carrier tray has an end stop at a distal end of the channel for restricting movement of the row of component trays. The component trays are inserted in the channel by sliding each component tray in a proximal end of the channel. A resilient retainer apparatus at the proximal end urges the trays together.
This application is related to U.S. application entitled “Self Aligning Tray and Carrier Apparatus” filed on the same date as this application, bearing attorney reference 067810/0303262, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to trays for use in carrying semiconductor devices, and more particularly to a tray carrier configured to align and carry a plurality of identical trays so as to maintain the distance between component pocket locations at integer multiples of the pocket center to center spacing within the trays.
2. Description of the Related Art
Components, such as semiconductor devices, integrated circuits (ICs) or other devices are typically conveyed in component pockets in component trays prior to being installed in a final product. ICs may be placed in and removed from a component tray by means of automated IC handling equipment. Calibration of such equipment requires knowledge of the dimensions of the component tray and relative positions of the component pockets in the component tray. In order to aid in the design and use of this automated equipment, standard component tray sizes have been established for some applications. One such set of standards is the Joint Electron Device Engineering Council (JEDEC) standards, which set component tray outline dimensions.
A commonly used JEDEC standard component tray for example, has overall dimensions of 322.6 mm by 135.9 mm by 7.62 mm. This large size component tray could contain a large quantity of component pockets. It is common for semiconductor device manufacturers to use smaller component trays, which may then be in conflict with a JEDEC standard component tray to which an automated handling machine is calibrated. For example,
It is an advantage of this invention to provide a carrier tray with facility for holding a plurality of component trays having an improved component pocket alignment.
It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a carrier tray that securely retains a plurality of component trays in three dimensions.
The above advantages, among others, can be achieved singly or in combination. In one embodiment of the present invention a carrier tray is configured with a channel structure, providing a channel for holding a plurality of component trays in a single row, with substantially no spacing between the component trays. The component trays ride on a bottom support of the channel, which can, for example, be a flat plane, or two or more bottom rails. A first side rail on one side of the channel and a second side rail on an opposite side, or tabs on opposite sides of the channel extend over corresponding first and second opposing edges of the component trays, and are provided for the purpose of preventing movement of the component trays in an upward vertical direction. The channel structure also includes first and second side containment walls on first and second opposing sides of the channel for securing the component trays laterally in the channel. The carrier tray has an end stop at a distal end of the channel for restricting movement of the row of component trays. The component trays are inserted in the channel by sliding each component tray in at a proximal end of the channel. A resilient retainer apparatus installed at the proximal end urges the component trays together.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe above and other features and advantages of the present invention are further described in the detailed description which follows, with reference to the drawings by way of non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention, wherein like reference numerals represent similar parts of the present invention throughout several views and wherein:
While the present invention will be described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modifications, various changes and substitutions are intended, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described with respect to the preferred embodiments set forth herein.
Referring now to
The bottoms of the component trays are supported by component tray support apparatus 18, which as shown in
The clip 32, being resilient, also provides a compressive force for holding the proximal end of the tray 42 in contact with the bottom support apparatus 18. This is accomplished by contract of the tabs 30 with the top edge 62 of component tray 42. The resilient compression force is achieved by gripping resilient legs 70 and 71 with tensioned restraining clips 80 and 81 as shown in
Referring again to
Using the long rails 66 and 68 as shown in
As mentioned above, the present invention includes the various methods of applying a downward pressure for captivation of the edge 62 of the last component tray 42, as well as various methods of urging the component trays together.
While the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modifications, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A carrier tray apparatus for holding a plurality of component trays, each of the plurality of component trays having a plurality of component pockets for holding a component, the carrier tray apparatus comprising:
- a carrier tray for carrying the plurality of component trays on a single plane, the carrier tray including a component tray captivating structure that secures each of the plurality of component trays in three dimensions, the component tray captivating structure including: a channel structure providing a channel, the channel structure adapted to provide for insertion of each of the plurality of component trays therein and providing for positioning the component trays with substantially no spacing between component trays; and a top opening adapted to provide access to semiconductor devices disposed within the plurality of component pockets when the component trays are inserted in the channel.
2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the channel includes an opening for insertion of the component trays, and the channel structure having a plurality of sides that restrict lateral tray movement of the component tray, and wherein the captivating structure further includes:
- a bottom tray support that supports a bottom of the component trays to prevent downward movement of the component trays relative to the carrier tray; and
- upward tray restraining structure that restricts upward movement of the component trays relative to the carrier.
3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the captivating structure further includes longitudinal tray restraining structure that prevents the plurality of component trays from horizontal movement out of the channel.
4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the longitudinal restraining structure forces each the component tray into contact with an adjacent component tray.
5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein the component trays are serially positioned relative to one another, and the longitudinal restraining structure includes:
- an end stop at a distal end of the channel; and
- a horizontal urging structure at a proximal end of the channel.
6. An apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the upward tray restraining structure includes:
- a first side rail on a first side of the channel extending over the channel so as to be over a first side of the component trays in the channel; and
- a second side rail on an opposite side of the channel from the first side, and extending over the channel so as to be over a second side of the component trays.
7. An apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the upward tray restraining structure includes:
- a first plurality of protrusions extending over the channel from a first side of the channel; and
- a second plurality of protrusions extending over the channel from a second side of the channel.
8. An apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the bottom tray support includes a single flat surface.
9. An apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the bottom tray support includes a plurality of rails.
10. A carrier tray and component tray combination apparatus for holding components, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of component trays, each of the plurality of component trays having a plurality of component pockets, each for holding one of the components; and
- a carrier tray for holding the plurality of component trays, the carrier tray including a component tray captivating structure that secures the plurality of component trays in three dimensions, the captivating structure including: a channel structure providing a channel and adapted to provide for insertion of each of the plurality of trays in the channel, and the channel structure having a top opening adapted to provide access to semiconductor devices disposed within the plurality of component pockets when the component trays are inserted in the channel.
11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein each of the plurality of component trays includes:
- a two-dimensional linear array of component pockets, including a first row of pockets and a last row of pockets;
- a distal end portion of the component tray extending a first distance from a center of the first row of pockets to a distal edge of the component tray;
- a proximal end portion of the component tray extending a second distance from a center of the last row of pockets to a proximal edge of the component tray; and
- wherein the first and second distances are each an integer multiple of half of a distance between centers of adjacent rows of the pockets.
12. An apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein the channel structure includes an opening to the channel for component tray insertion and a plurality of sides that restrict component tray movement in a lateral direction in the channel, and wherein the captivating structure further includes:
- a bottom support that supports the component trays to prevent downward movement of the component trays relative to the carrier tray;
- lateral support structure for restraining lateral movement of component trays in the channel; and
- upward restraining structure that restricts upward movement of the component trays in the channel relative to the carrier tray.
13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the captivating structure further includes longitudinal retaining structure that prevents the component trays from movement out of the channel.
14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein the longitudinal retaining structure includes a clip for forcing each of the component trays into contact with another component tray.
15. An apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein the longitudinal retaining structure further includes:
- an end stop at a distal end of the channel.
16. An apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the tray upward restraining structure includes:
- a first side rail on a first side of the channel extending over the channel so as to be over a first side of the component trays in the channel; and
- a second side rail on an opposite side of the channel from the first side, and extending over the channel so as to be over a second side of the component trays.
17. An apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the upward restraining structure includes:
- a first plurality of protrusions extending over the channel from a first side of the channel; and
- a second plurality of protrusions extending over the channel from a second side of the channel.
18. An apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the bottom tray support structure includes a single flat surface.
19. An apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the bottom tray support structure includes a plurality of rails.
20. An apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the components are one of semiconductor devices and semiconductor integrated circuits.
21. A component tray and carrier tray combination for holding components, comprising:
- a plurality of component trays, each the plurality of component trays having a plurality of component pockets for holding devices, and wherein each of the plurality of component trays includes: a two-dimensional linear array of component pockets, including a first row of pockets and a last row of pockets; a distal end of the component tray extending a first distance from a center of the first row of pockets to a distal edge of the component tray; and a proximal end portion of the component tray extending a second distance from a center of the last row of pockets to a proximal edge of the component tray;
- wherein the first and second distances are each an integer multiple of half of a distance between centers of adjacent rows of the pockets;
- a carrier tray for holding the plurality of component trays, the carrier tray including: a channel structure providing a channel and adapted to provide for insertion of each of the plurality of trays in the channel, the channel structure including a bottom surface for supporting the component trays in a downward direction, and two opposing side walls for restraining the component trays in a direction transverse to a length of the channel, and an end wall at a distal end of the channel for restraining the component trays; side tabs extending from the side walls over the channel for restraining movement of the component trays in an upward direction; an end tab extending from the end wall over the channel for restraining movement of a first inserted one of the component trays in an upward direction; and a resilient retainer for restraining upward movement of a last inserted one of the component trays, and for applying a force on a first the inserted component tray in a direction longitudinal to a length of the channel and thereby urging the component trays towards the distal end.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 6, 2003
Publication Date: Apr 7, 2005
Inventor: Martin Eleveld (Bangkok)
Application Number: 10/680,704