Patent ID: 11884497
Assignee: ACCU-ASSEMBLY INCORPORATED
Field: Audio-visual technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  H | IPC B  H

Claim 19:
20. A method of picking a top component reel from a stack of component reels, the method comprising:
lowering a picking arm over a rod defining longitudinal grooves and extending through the stack of component reels to above a top component reel of the stack, the arm comprising a gripper positioned such that, with the picking arm lowered the rod extends through the gripper of the picking arm;
positioning a portion of the gripper substantially within the grooves;
inserting the portion of the gripper into a hole of the top component reel by moving the portion of the gripper along the grooves;
actuating the gripper to engage opposing inner surfaces of the top component reel at the hole of the top component reel; and
with the gripper engaging the opposing inner surfaces, raising the picking arm to lift the top component reel from the stack of component reels.