Abstract:
A module integrated circuit (IC) carrier is used to move module ICs through a testing machine. The module IC carrier has a housing with a pair of installation elements installed parallel to one another in a receiving space of the housing. A plurality of holding members are installed on each of the installation elements. Each holding member on one of the installation elements faces a corresponding holding member on the other of the installation elements. Module ICs are held between corresponding pairs of the holding members. The holding elements can be biased towards each other to help hold the module ICs. Each holding element may include a rotator with a grooved edge which helps to hold a module IC, and which allows the module ICs to be easily inserted into and removed from the carrier.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a carrier for a module IC handler, and more particularly to a carrier for a module IC handler used to transfer the carrier holding a plurality of module ICs between the processes. 
     2. Description of the Conventional Art 
     Typically, a module IC  1  refers to, as shown in FIG. 1, a standalone structure provided with a substrate  2  whose one side or both sides thereof is used for fixedly mounting a plurality of ICs  1  and electric components  2 , for example, by soldering, and has a function for extending a capacity when it is coupled to a mother substrate. In FIG. 1, reference numeral  1   a  denotes a pattern. 
     For the prior process for manufacturing a module IC, since there has been no an apparatus for automatically loading the module IC into a test socket, testing the same, automatically classifying into respective categories depending upon the test results and then unloading the classified modules into the customer trays (not shown), the operator manually has to pick up one piece of the module IC from the test tray in which the module ICs are contained therein, load it into a test socket, conducts the tests for a time period preset, and finally classify the module IC depending upon the test results in order to put it into the customer tray. This results in lower productivity due to manual work. 
     In the meantime, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating a handler developed by the inventors, the constitution thereof will be described below. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, fingers  4  remain fully opened which will hold both ends of the module IC, when well-known picking-up means  3  is transferred toward a tray so as to hold one module IC contained in the tray. 
     When the transferring of picking-up means  3  to a tray side is completed under the state that the fingers  3  are opened, the fingers  4  are moved to a position over the module IC and then moved downward. At this time, a finger cylinder is driven to inwardly move the fingers, which in turn hold the module IC  1  in the tray. 
     After holding the module IC  1  contained in the tray, the picking-up means  3  is moved to a test site in which a test socket  6  is located, places the held module IC  1  on a position over the test socket  6  and then is again moved to the tray side in order to hold another new module IC. 
     With repetitions of the above-mentioned operations, if all the module ICs to be tested are loaded into a plurality of test sockets  6  disposed at the test site, a main cylinder  7  and a poking cylinder  8  are in turn sequentially driven to lower a pusher  9 , during which the pusher  9  presses a top surface of the module IC  1  placed on the test tray  6 . Thus, patterns  1   a  of the module IC  1  can be electrically coupled to terminals of the test socket  6 . Therefore, it becomes possible to conduct the performance tests for the module IC. 
     In the meantime, when the tests for the module ICs are finished, a discharging cylinder  10  is driven to rotate a discharging lever  11  to pull out the module IC  1  inserted into the test socket  6 , and then another picking-up means disposed at an unloading side holds the test-finished module IC  1  to unload it into a customer tray depending upon the test results. 
     However, because the module IC  1  is transferred to the test socket  6  by the conventional picking-up means, the following problems occur. 
     Firstly, since the picking-up means designed to hold the module IC and load/unload it into/from the test socket cannot be used to handle the module IC in a sealed chamber, there is a problem that the module IC is tested at a normal temperature. However, because the module IC is actually driven at a higher temperature, there occurs a difference between conditions at the test and at an actual use of the IC, thus resulting in lower reliability of the product discharged. 
     Secondly, since the module ICs in the tray and in the test socket are held and transferred by the picking-up means, the transfer of the module IC cannot be made during the tests. An elongated cycle time is introduced, by which lots of module ICs cannot be tested during a time interval given. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a carrier for a module IC handler being capable improving reliability of the discharged product by conducting performance tests at a constant temperature for the module IC manufactured. 
     It is another object of the present invention to a carrier for a module IC handler being capable maximizing availability of a high-cost apparatus by using picking-up means which performs only the loading/unloading of module ICs contained in a tray into/from a carrier, and by transferring the carrier holding a plurality of module ICs therein between the processes. 
     To accomplish the above objects, a carrier for a module IC handler according to the present invention is provided, the carrier comprising: a housing; a pair of installation elements installed parallel to each other in a receiving space of the housing, and having a guide groove; a plurality of rotators elastically installed in the installation elements, and for supporting the module IC by retractable actions thereof; and an elastic member giving a restoring force to the rotator. 
     To accomplish another object of the present invention, a carrier for a module IC handler according to the present invention is provided, the carrier comprising: a housing; a pair of guides disposed at both sides of the housing; a plurality of supporting members installed between the guides, and to which the module IC is seated by inserting both ends of the module IC thereto; a pressing member installed at a predetermined place of the supporting member, for pressing a top of the module IC loaded into the supporting member; and opening/closing means for opening/closing a seating groove formed in the supporting member, when the module IC is loaded or unloaded. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional module IC. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the state that, for the conventional module IC handler, a module IC picking-up means holds the module IC to load it in a test socket of a test site. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the state that, the conventional module IC handler, the insertion of the module IC into the test socket is completed. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a carrier for a module IC handler according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line A—A in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the portion “B” in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing the combining state of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a carrier for a module IC handler according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the state that the module IC is inserted into a supporting member. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a guider. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a supporting member 
     FIG. 12 is a view showing the state that a pressing member closely comes into contact with a locking member to thereby close a seating groove of the supporting member. 
     FIG. 13 a  is a view showing the state that a locking pin of the locking member is inserted into an insertion hole of the supporting member. 
     FIG. 13 b  is a view showing the state that the locking member is elevated to adjust a spacing between the supporting members. 
     FIG. 14 illustrates a carrier for a module IC handler according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 15 is an enlarged bottom perspective view showing the portion “A” in FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 16 a  is a view showing the state before the module IC held by the picking-up means is inserted. 
     FIG. 16 b  is a view showing the state that by inserting the module IC, the supporting member is opened wide to hold both side surfaces of the module IC therebetween. 
     FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the supporting member to which the present invention is applied. 
     FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing main parts when the FIG. 17 supporting member is applied. 
     FIGS. 19 a  and  19   b  show the supporting member structured by a plate-spring. 
     FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the supporting member as a main part of the present invention. 
     FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing main portions when the FIG. 20 supporting member is applied. 
     FIG. 22 illustrates a carrier for a module IC handler according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of the portion “A” in FIG. 22 as a main part of the present invention. 
     FIG. 24 a  is a view showing the state that the supporting member is opened wide according to the elevation of the ascending/descending member by a pusher. 
     FIG. 24 b  is a view showing the state that both sides of the module IC are held by the supporting member by the restoring of the supporting member. 
     FIG. 25 is a vertical sectional view showing another embodiment in which the supporting member is installed in an installation element. 
     FIG. 26 illustrates a carrier for a module IC handler according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of a holding member as a main part of the present invention. 
     FIG. 28 is an exploded, vertical sectional view of the holding member shown in FIG.  27 . 
     FIG. 29 is a view of spacing adjustment means as a main part of the present invention. 
     FIG. 30 a  is a view showing the state that a pressing piece is rotated by the elevation of the pusher. 
     FIG. 30 b  is a view showing the state that by the descending operation of the pusher, the pressing piece holds the module IC inserted into an insertion groove of a housing. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the accompanying drawings, a carrier for a module IC handler according to various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. 
     At first, a carrier for a module IC handler according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be explained below, with reference to FIG.  7 . 
     The carrier for the module IC handler, as shown in FIGS. 4 to  6 , is provided with a pair of installation elements  14  each element being spaced apart at an equidistance therebetween, wherein the parallel elements  14  are disposed in a receiving space  13  of a housing  12  configured like a rectangular frame. Further, the housing  12  has a plurality of fastening holes  12   a  formed at both right and left sides thereof, and to which fixing screws  15  are selectively screwed through the through-holes  14   a  formed in the installation elements  14 , so that a spacing between the installation elements  14  may be adjusted depending on a longitudinal width L of the module IC  1 . Thus, a single one carrier can cover the handling of various kinds of module ICs each having different size. 
     A plurality of rotators  16  elastically provided, respectively, in the installation elements  14  are used to support both ends of the module ICs  1 , which each rotator is retractable by the aid of an elastic member  17 . 
     To endow the rotator  16  with a retractable function in the installation element  14 , as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the rotator  16  is axially coupled to a bracket  18  having a protrusion rod  18   a  into which the elastic member  17  is inserted and which is coupled to an insertion hole  14   b  of the installation element  14 . The rod  18   a  also has an end portion to which an E-ring  20  is coupled to support the rod. 
     Each rotator  16  is provided with a V-groove  16   a  formed along a circumferential surface thereof, like a configuration of V-belt pulley. The installation element  14  also has a guide groove  21  immediately below which the rotator is disposed. 
     The V-shaped circumferential surface of the rotator  16  is provided for safely maintaining the module ICs inserted between the rotators, without the module IC being floated left and right, during the transferring of the carrier. Moreover, The provision of the guide groove  21  in the installation element  14  accurately places the module IC  1  into the V-groove  16   a  of the rotator. 
     The operation of a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, the bracket  18  is fully, forwardly projected from the installation element  14  by the elastic member  17 , when the module IC is not yet loaded between the rotators  16  provided in the respective installation elements  14 . Therefore, under such a condition, a distance S between the rotators is narrower than the longitudinal width L of the module IC. After the conventional picking-up means hold the plural module ICs  1  from the tray and then transfer them to position over the carrier, the module ICs  1  are moved downward from the position determined by the guide groove  21  formed at the installation element  14 . 
     With the positioning of the module IC held by the picking-up means determined, when the module IC is moved downward toward the rotator  16 , the bottom surface of the module IC  1  meets an inner surface of the V groove  16   a , due to wider width L of the module IC  1  than the distance S between the opposing rotators  16 . As the descending operation of the module IC  1  held by the picking-up means continues, the rotators  16 , which is coupled to the bracket  18  to be rotated, then respectively rotate and are retracted backward to thereby compress the elastic member  17 . 
     As described above, the rotators  16  retracted backward by both ends of the module IC  1  firmly support both ends of the module ICs by a restoring force of the elastic member  17  which tends to return to its initial state. 
     When the picking-up means holding the module IC  1  reaches its associated bottom dead point, the holding state for the module IC  1  is released, and then the picking-up means is again elevated. At this time, the module ICs  1  both ends of which are supported by the respective rotators  16  maintains their loaded state between the rotators  16  by the aid of the restoring force of the elastic member  17 . 
     After the module IC meets the V grooves of the rotators and is loaded therein by the picking-up means, separate transferring means moves the carrier to the inside of the sealed chamber (not shown) in which the module ICs are heated at a temperature suitably selected for the tests and the tests for the module ICs are conduced. 
     In the meantime, after the tests are finished and then the carrier arrives at an unloading side for the module ICs, another picking-up means disposed at the unloading side lowers to hold the module IC  1  supported between the rotators  16 . 
     When said another picking-up means holding the module IC lifts, the rotator  16  rotates by a frictional force between the rotator and the module IC, thereby minimizing the frictional resistance at their contact surface. With the continued ascending operation of the picking-up means, the module IC  1  exits from the rotators, at this time, the bracket coupled to the rotators in turn returns to its initial state by the restoring force of the elastic member  17 , as shown in FIG.  5 . Therefore, at the loading side, it is possible to load a new module IC into the carrier. 
     Although the module ICs to be tested have different longitudinal widths L, respectively, the carrier for the module IC handler according to the present invention makes it possible the adjustment of the corresponding width suitable for loading the module IC in the housing. Accordingly, the handling of various kinds of the module ICs is made possible only by one carrier. In other words, depending upon the longitudinal widths L of the module IC to be tested, the distance between the pair of installation elements  14  is defined by appropriately selecting suitable pair among the fastening holes pairs  12   a , aligning the selected pair with the through-holes  14   a , and fastening the fixing screw  15  thereto. 
     Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be explained below. 
     According to the second embodiment of the present invention, a carrier for a module IC handler, as shown in FIGS. 8 to  11 , comprises a housing  32  configured like a rectangular frame, having two sides to which a pair of opposing guiders  33 ,  34  are disposed. Between the guiders  33 ( 34 ), there is provided a pressing member  36  for opening/closing a module seating groove  35   a  which is formed on a plurality of supporting members  35  and which both ends of the module IC are inserted into and seated therein, the pressing member  36  opening or closing the module seating groove  35   a  by changing the position thereof by opening/closing means. 
     The opening/closing means for changing the position of the pressing member  36  when the module is loaded or unloaded may consist of: 
     the pair of guiders  33 ,  34  provided, respectively, in both right and left sides of the housing  32 , each guider being disposed oppositely to each other and having an inner surface looking at each other on which a cam surface  33   a ( 34   a ) is formed, and an outer surface on which a hitching jaw  33   b ( 34   b ) is formed; 
     guide bar  37 ( 38 ) outwardly projected from both ends of the pressing member  36  and having one side thereof positioned at the cam surface  33   a ( 34   a ) of the guider and the other side thereof positioned at the hitching jaw  33   b ( 34   b ); 
     a pair of connection bars  39  crossing both the guide bars  37 ,  38 , consisting of the guide bar  37  fixed at an inner side and positioned therebetween and another guide bar  38  fixed at an outer side and positioned below the bars, the connection bars  39  functioning to rotate the pressing member  36  during elevation thereof; 
     an opener  41  fixed at both ends of the connection bar  39 , and which ascends or descends by a pusher  40 ; 
     a guide rod  42  for guiding the ascending or descending motion of the opener  41 ; and 
     an elastic member  43  for restoring the opener  41  when external force is not applied thereto. 
     When the pressing members  36  rotate in opposing directions to each other by the pressing operation of the opener  41 , the module seating groove  35   a  of the supporting member  35  is opened and the known picking-up means can thus load the module IC to be tested into the module seating groove  35   a  of the supporting member  35 , or unload the test-finished module IC  1 . 
     FIG. 10 illustrates the details of the guiders  33 ,  34  of the opening/closing means. The above structure of the opening/closing means is not limited thereto, but modifications thereof will be possible which fall within a scope of the present invention. Namely, alternatively, the module seating groove  35   a  of the supporting member  35  can be also opened, by installing the pressing member  36  in the guiders  33 ,  34  such that the member  36  is horizontally moved so that the pressing member  36  can be slid right or left by the pusher (not shown) having a slant surface, at the loading or unloading of the module ICs. However, in this case, inconvenience may occur that the pressing member  36  should be exchanged whenever the module IC having different size in height is to be tested. 
     The housing  32  has further a plurality of guider fixing holes  32   a  used for fixing the guiders which have fastening holes  33   c ,  34   c . The guiders  33 ,  34  are fixed by the fixing screw  34  through the guider fixing holes  32   a , after the arrangement position of the guiders  33 ,  34  is determined depending on the longitudinal width L of the module IC to be tested. In other words, in the case where the short width L of the module IC to be tested is given, the narrowed spacing between two guides  33 ,  34  is used, whereas in case of longer width L of the IC, the wider spacing is used. Therefore, any lengths of the module IC can be adopted in the use of a single one carrier, thus it is possible to handle various lengths of the module ICs. 
     Although the supporting members  35  for holding the module ICs may be installed such that the spacing between the guiders  33  and  34  is not adjusted, it is desirable to employ spacing adjustment means for the supporting member  35  so that the spacing of the supporting member  35  can be adjusted in accordance with the spacing of the test socket. To this end, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the receiving spaces  33   d ,  34   d  formed by a bottom surface in which a plurality of locking pins  45   a  are formed at an equidistance therebetween, and by a side surface in which a locking member  45  having a vertical long hole  45   b  formed therein is installed to be elevated or lowered by the elastic member  46 . To a pair of horizontal guide rod  47 , ends of which is fixed at the guides  33 ,  34  through the vertical long hold  45   b  of the locking member  45 , is coupled a plurality of supporting members  35  for maintaining a constant interval, by inserting the locking pins  45   a  formed at a bottom surface of the locking member  45  into an insertion hole  35   c.    
     At the state in which external force is not applied to the opener  41 , since the top surface of the locking member  45  is configured such that the pressing member  36  is connected thereto by the restoring force supplied from the elastic member  43 , one side of the pressing member closes the module seating groove  35   a.    
     As shown in FIGS. 7 and 13 b , the supporting member  35  has a positioning hole  35   a  formed at the bottom surface thereof and the insertion hole formed at the top surface thereof. Further, an extension portion  36   a  of the pressing member  36 , which is an upper part of the module seating groove  35   a  formed in the supporting member  35 , has a floating preventing groove  36   b  for preventing the held module IC  1  from being floated during the transferring thereof between the processes. Immediately before the module IC held in the carrier is inserted into the test socket, to the positioning hole  36   b  is inserted extra positioning pin  48  to re-position the test socket with respect to the position of the supporting member  35 , which thereby allows the module IC held in the supporting member  35  to be accurately inserted into the test socket. 
     The operation of the carrier for the module IC handler according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be explained below. 
     Under the state that the housing  32  is horizontally maintained, the extension portion  36  closes the module seating groove  35   a  of the supporting member  35 , when the carrier is transferred by separate transferring means (not shown) to the loading side for loading the module IC  1  to be tested, the pusher  40  elevates upward from the bottom surface of the housing  32  and pushes the opener  41 . Then, the opener  41  inserted into the guide rod  42  starts to compress the elastic member  43  during the elevation. 
     The elevation of the opener  41  introduces an elevation of the pressing member  36  due to the construction that the opener  41  is connected to the connection bar  39  into which in turn the guide bars  37 ,  38  fixed to the pressing member  36  is inserted. 
     However, since among the guide bars  37 ,  38  fixed to the pressing member  36 , the guide bar  37  fixed in an inner side is inserted between the connection bars  39 , and the guide bar  37  fixed an outer side abuts against the bottom surface of the connection bar  39  positioned at a lower side, the guide bars  37 ,  38  at the condition that the guide bars  37 ,  38  are connected to both sides of the guides  33 ,  34  ascend, as the opener  41  elevates. 
     During the elevation of the guide bars  37 ,  38 , when the connection bar  39  continues to ascend under the condition that one guide bar  38  stops to elevate by the hitching jaw  33   b ,  34   b  formed at the guiders  33 ,  34 , the guide bar  37  fixed at the extension portion  36   a  moves along the cam surface of the guiders  33 ,  35 . Therefore, the pressing members  36  rotate in opposing directions to each other, which opens the module seating groove  35   a  of the supporting member  35 . 
     By the operation described above, if the module seating groove  35   a  is opened, the prior pricking-up means holds the plurality of the module ICs contained in the tray to load them into the module seating groove  35   a  of the supporting member  35 . 
     After the module ICs held by the picking-up means are loaded into the module seating groove  35   a  of the supporting member  35 , the pressing member  36  returns to its initial state, as shown in FIG. 12, which operation is needed for the module IC seated in the module seating groove  35   a  not to be dropped from the supporting member  35  during the transferring of the carrier between the processes. 
     The pusher  40  having been used to elevate the opener  41  lowers by a restoring force of the elastic member  43 , and the connection bar  39  fixed to the opener  41  also descends, accordingly. 
     With the descending operation of the connection bar  39 , the pressing member  36 , which was elevated and rotated by the connection bar  39 , is also lowered and returns to a horizontal state thereof, which the returning to an initial state of the pressing member  36  is possible by the connection bar  39  pressing the guide bar  37 . 
     If the pressing member  36  returns to its initial state, the top surface of the module IC inserted into the supporting member  35  is pressed by the extension portion  36   a  formed in the pressing member  36  and having the floating preventing groove  36   b  into which each the module IC seated in the module seating groove  15   a  is in turn inserted and thereby the module ICs are not floated during the transferring between the processes. 
     FIGS. 13 a  and  13   b  are sectional views taken along line B—B in FIG.  8 . Referring to these drawings, the operation for adjusting the spacing of the supporting member  35  supported to the locking member  45 , the adjustment being based on the spacing of the test socket installed at the test site, will be explained below. 
     At the state that external force is not applied to the locking member  45  as shown in FIG. 13 a , a force applied from the elastic member  46  to the locking member will move downward the locking member, and therefore the condition is maintained that the locking pin  45   a  formed in the locking member is inserted to the insertion hole formed in the supporting member  35 . Thus, the position of the supporting member  35  remains unchanged. 
     In order to adjust the spacing of the supporting member  35  as required, the locking pin  45   a  formed at the bottom surface of the locking member  45  exits from the insertion hole  35   c  of the supporting member  35 , which enables the adjustment of the spacing by horizontally moving the supporting member  35  inserted to the horizontal guide rod  47 . 
     While the locking member  45  elevates up to a constant vertical position during which the locking member  45  compresses the elastic member  26 , the position of the supporting member  35  inserted to the guide rod  47  remains unchanged and the locking pin  45   a  can completely exit from the insertion hole  35   c  of the supporting member  35 , whereby such an adjustment is possible. The portions of the supporting member  35  is changed by the equidistance to adjust the spacing such that the insertion hole  35   c  is aligned with the locking pin  25   a . At this time, by the removal of the external force applied to the locking member  45 , the locking member  45  returns to an initial state thereof by the restoring force of the elastic member  46 , and, as shown in FIG. 13 a , each of the locking pins  45   a  formed in the bottom surface is inserted into the insertion hole  35   c . In consequence, the position of the supporting member  35  is unchanged. Thus, although the installation spacings for the test socket are varied, the module IC  1  can be handled without exchanging the carrier. 
     Moreover, in case the module IC having a different size in length is to be tested instead of testing the module IC of a constant length, the tests can be conducted by changing the position of the guides  33 ,  34  having been fixed to the housing  32  through the fixing screw  44 , based upon the length of the module IC. In case of the module IC having a different size in height T, the position of the pressing member  36  pressing the top surface of the module IC is automatically varied to compensate with respect to the height, thus allowing the handling of the various sized module ICs. 
     Next, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described below, with reference to FIGS. 14 to  21 . 
     The carrier for the module IC handler according to the third embodiment of the present invention is provided with a pair of installation elements  53  in a housing  52 , each element being spaced apart at an equidistance therebetween, and having insertion grooves  54  formed at an equidistance therebetween, for supporting both ends of the module IC. The insertion groove  54  also has the receiving spaces  55  at both sides thereof. 
     The housing  52  has a plurality of fastening holes  52   a  formed at both right and left sides thereof, and to which fixing screws  56  are selectively screwed through the through-holes  53   a  formed in the installation elements  53 , so that a distance between the parallel installation elements  53  may be adjusted depending on a longitudinal width L of the module IC  1 . Each receiving space  55  is adapted to receive a supporting member  57  therein some portion of which is normally narrower than other portions thereof, and become elastically wider when used to hold both sides of the module IC. 
     The supporting member  57 , as shown in FIGS. 14 to  16   b , consists of: a supporting portion  58  having a neck portion  57   a  which is used to hold both sides of the module IC  1 , the portion  57   a  having a spacing S narrower than the thickness T of the module IC; and a bended portion  59  horizontally bended, for being horizontally slid in the receiving space when the module IC is inserted/pulled out to/from the inside thereof. The insertion groove  54  communicating with the receiving space  55  is provided with the drop preventing groove  53   b  for supporting the neck portion  57   a  so that the supporting member  57  is not dropped from the installation element  53  when the supporting member  57  was equipped. 
     In installing the supporting member  57  into the installation element  53 , the installation can be completed without dropping from the installation element  53 , by maximally compressing the neck portion  57   a  of the supporting member  57 , positioning the horizontally bended portion  59  in the receiving space  55  and then removing an external force from the supporting member  57 , in consequence, the neck portion  57   a  returning to its initial state by the restoring force itself to be hitched in the drop preventing groove  53   b . Namely, when the module IC  1  is loaded between the supporting portions  58  of the supporting member  57 , tensile force is exhibited only at the neck portion  57   a  due to a narrower width of the neck than the thickness of the module IC  1 , whereas when loading the module IC, only force for restoring the neck portion  57   a  to its initial state is effective. Thus, the supporting member  57  does not drop from the receiving space  55 . 
     FIGS. 17 and 18 show another configurations of the supporting member. The supporting member  57  consists of: a supporting portion  58  for holding both sides of the module IC  1 ; a wound portion  60  having an insertion hole  60   a  therein used to install the supporting member  57  in the installation element  53 ; and a connecting portion  61  for connecting the wound portion  60  and the supporting portion  58 . The coupling of the supporting member  57  into the installation element  53  can be accomplished by positioning the wound portions  60  in the receiving space  55  and inserting supporting pins  62  into the insertion holes  60   a  of the wound portion  50  through a is fixing hole  53   c . The supporting member  57  may be implemented by a spring whose section is circular. This allows the drop preventing groove to be dispensable, because the supporting member  57  is fixed into the installation element  53  by means of the supporting pin  62 . Since the connecting portion  61 , as shown in FIG. 17, is tilted downward, this configuration also acts to guide the module IC to a passage between the supporting portions  58  when the module IC is loaded. 
     As shown in FIGS. 19 a  and  19   b , a structure whose section is a plate, as a spring, may be applied to the supporting member  57 . In case the plate configuration is applied for the supporting member  57 , such a configuration, although it is relatively hard to produce it, increases in a contact area with both sides of the module IC  1 , which guarantees, between the processes, the safe transferring of the loaded module IC in a carrier. 
     Further, the supporting member  57  may be configured as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. There are provided the cut surfaces  53   e  in the installation element  53 , the cut surfaces  53   e  being spaced apart at an equidistance therebetween and provided with long holes  53   f . Further, since the supporting member  57  is inserted to the long hole  53   f  and then fixed by means of the bolt  65 , the right and left floating of the supporting member  57  can be prevented. A supporting block  64  is used to fix the supporting member  57  to the installation element  53 , the supporting member  57  being provided with a downward bended portion  57   b  for being inserted to the long hole  53   f . Also, the supporting member  57  has a neck portion  57   a  provided with a protrusion inwardly projected, by which the spacing S of the neck portion is narrower than the thickness of the module IC  1 . 
     The operation of the carrier for the module IC handler according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described below. 
     As shown in FIG. 14, under the condition that the horizontal bended portion  59  of the supporting member  57  is positioned in the receiving space  55  of the installation element  53 , the dropping of supporting member  57  from the installation element  53  is prevented because the neck portion  57   a  of the supporting member  57  is hitched in the drop preventing groove  53   b . At this time, when the carrier arrives at the loading position of the module IC  1 , separate picking-up means holds the module ICs contained in the tray and transfers them to a position over the carrier. After the plural module ICs  1  held by the picking-up means are transferred to a position over the insertion groove  54  formed in the installation element  53 , as shown in FIG. 16 a , and the transferring operation of the picking-up means stops. 
     If the picking-up means lowers by separate driving means, the positioning of the module IC  1  held by the picking-up means is re-determined by the slant surface  53   d  formed in the installation element  53 , and then both ends of the module IC are inserted in the insertion grooves  54 , respectively. As the insertion of both ends of the module IC  1  into a region between the supporting portions  58  by way of the insertion hole  54  starts, the neck portion  57   a  becomes wider, as shown in FIG. 16 b , due to narrower spacing S of the neck portion  57   a  relative to the thickness T of the module IC. Thus, the neck portion closely supports both sides of the module IC  1 . As the neck portion  57   a  becomes wider, the horizontal bended portions  49  are opened along the receiving space  55 . It is noted that while the configuration of supporting member  57  is such that a uniform opening of both ends thereof is obtained, in some cases, there may be the case where one end of the horizontal bended portion  59  is fixed not to be floated, whereas only the other end thereof is opened. 
     The module IC  1  is inserted between the supporting portions  59  of the supporting member  57  before the holding state of the picking-up means is released. After released, the picking-up means is elevated and moved toward the tray to hold new module IC. However, although released, since both sides of the module IC  1  are closely supported to the neck portion  57   a  of the supporting member  57 , and further both ends of the module IC are positioned inside the insertion groove  54  of the installation element  53 , the module IC is not dropped from the supporting member  17 , when the carrier is transferred, or during the tests. 
     With the repetition of such operations, if all module ICs  1  are loaded into the supporting portion  58  of the supporting member  57 , the carrier is transferred to the inside of the sealed chamber (not shown) by the transferring means, where the module ICs are heated at a temperature selected for the tests (e.g., about 70 to 90-degrees) and then transferred to the test site for the thermal resistance tests. At the time of the tests for the loaded module IC  1  in the carrier at the test site, the contacts can be made, with the horizontal or vertical positioning of the carrier being determined, based upon the installation direction of the test socket. In this case, since separate pusher presses the module IC  1  contained in the housing  52  toward the test socket, the module IC  1  is not dropped from the supporting member  57 , and after finishing the tests, separate discharging lever, which is equipped in the test socket, pulls out the module IC inserted in the test socket, so that it becomes possible to transfer the module IC to the subsequent process (unloading process). 
     If, at the test site, the tests are finished and the carrier is transferred to the unloading position, separate picking-up means disposed at the unloading unit is moved to this place, to hold the module IC held between the supporting members  57  and sorts by the test results and store them in the unloading tray. Thus, the thermal resistance tests for the module ICs are completed. 
     At the operation described above, the picking-up means elevates, together with the module IC  1  whose both ends are held by the ascending picking-up means, by which the module IC  1  can exit from the supporting member  57 . As the module IC leaves the supporting member  57 , the spacing S of the neck portion  57   a  becomes narrower, as shown in FIG. 16 a , by the elasticity of the supporting member  57 , thus allowing a new module IC  1  to be loaded into the supporting member  57 . 
     While the forgoing illustrates and describes the operation of the carrier for module IC handler according to the third embodiment of the preset invention, it will be understood that another embodiments to the supporting member  57  are similarly operated as in the third embodiment, i.e., when loading the module IC  1 , the neck portion  57   a  of the supporting member  57  opens wider to support both sides of the module IC, thereby enables, between the processes, the handling of the loaded module IC in the carrier. 
     By the operations described above, only one carrier of the present invention, which loads the plural module ICs and transfers between the processes, can be used for providing the handling of various kinds of module ICs through a spacing adjustment of the installation elements  53  in the housing  52 , in consideration of the longitudinal width L of the module ICs to be tested. That is, according to the width L of the module IC to be tested, the selection of any suitable fastening hole  52   a  among the plurality of the fastening holes  52   a  is made such that the appropriate spacing between a pair of installation elements  53  is maintained, and the fixing screw  56  screws into the insertion hole  53   a  aligned with the selected fastening hole  52   a.    
     Next, a fourth embodiment according to the present invention will be explained below. 
     As shown in FIGS. 22 to  25 , the carrier for the module IC handler according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is provided with a pair of supporting blocks  73  installed oppositely to each other at both sides of a housing  72 , and having one side to which an installation element  75  is fixed, the installation element  75  having positioning grooves  74  disposed at an equidistance. 
     The housing  72 , in which the pair of supporting block are installed, has left and right sides in which long holes  72   a  are formed, respectively, that are used to adjust the spacing between the parallel supporting blocks in consideration of the longitudinal width L of the module IC  1  to be handled. The adjustment is made by determining the position of the supporting blocks  73  through the long holes  72   a , and selectively fastening a fixing screw  76  into a fastening hole  73   a.    
     In the receiving space  73   b  of the supporting block  73  (see FIG. 23) is coupled an ascending/descending member  77  having a slant long hole  77   a  therein to which one end portion of a connection member  78  is inserted to be retractable in response to the ascending/descending motion of the member  77 . Another end portion of the connection member  78  is positioned in the positioning groove  74  of the installation element  75  and another end portion of the connection member  78  is also provided to which the supporting member  79  is inserted, wherein the supporting member  79  has a seating groove  79   a  and a seating surface  79   b  for receiving the module IC. 
     In order to install an elastic member  80  between the installation element  75  and the connection member  78 , a plurality of pins  81  are inserted into the installation element  75  and each one end thereof is supported by an E-ring  82  to be exposed external to each connection member  78 . The elastic member  80  is inserted in an outer peripheral surface of the pin disposed between the installation element  75  and the connection member  78 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 23 and 25, the coupling of the pin  81  into the installation element  75  is made by the screwing which allows the clamping force of the pin to be adjusted to vary an elastic force of the elastic member  80 . To guarantee a safe inward or outward movement of the supporting member  79  inserted to the connection member  78 , at least one or more guide pins  83  are fixed at one side of the supporting member  79 , opposing to the side on which the seating groove  79   a  is formed. The guide pin  83  is fixed to the installation element  75  in which an insertion hole  85   a  receiving the guide pin  83  is formed. 
     The operation of the fourth embodiment according to the present invention will be explained below. 
     As shown in FIGS. 22 and 24 b , when an external force is not applied to the ascending/descending member  7  installed in the supporting member  73 , the member  77  is positioned at the bottom dead point by a restoring force of the elastic member  80  pushing the ascending/descending member  77 . At this time, in case the carrier arrives at the loading position of the module IC  1 , the elevating operation of the pusher  84  disposed at a lower portion of the carrier introduces an upward elevation of the member  77  installed at each supporting block  73 . 
     Accordingly, due to the construction that the slant long hole  77   a  to which one end of the connection member  78  is inserted is formed in the ascending/descending member  77 , as shown in FIG. 24 a , a vertical motion of the ascending/descending member  77  is converted to a horizontal motion and transmitted to the connection member  78 , so that the connection members  78  inserted to the plural supporting member  78  compresses the elastic member  80 , causing the widening of spacing between the connection members  78 . 
     After the spacing between the supporting members  79  installed oppositely to each other in the installation elements  75  becomes wider, then separate picking-up means hold the plurality of module ICs contained in the tray (not shown) to transfer them into the position over the carrier, and the transferring operation of the picking-up means is stopped when the plural module IC  1  held by the picking-up means is moved to a position over the seating groove  79   a  formed in the supporting member  79 . 
     Thereafter, if the picking-up means lowers by separate driving means, the positioning of the module IC  1  held by the picking-up means is re-determined by a slant surface  79   c  formed in the supporting member  79 , and then both ends of the module IC are inserted in each seating grooves  79   a  to abut against the bottom surface thereof. 
     After re-positioning the module IC  1  held by the picking-up means within the seating groove  79   a  of the supporting member  79 , the holding state for the module IC is released, and for the purpose of holding new module ICs contained in the tray, following the movement of picking-up means toward the tray to hold the module ICs, the loading of the module IC  1  into a position between the supporting members  79  which the module IC is not present is conducted. Such operations are repeated. With the repetition of such operations, if all module ICs  1  are loaded to the supporting member  77  of the carrier, the pusher  84  having elevated the ascending/descending member  77  descends. 
     If the ascending/descending member  77  descends as the pusher  84  descends, the connection members  78  are inwardly moved to each other due to the construction that the slant long hole  77   a  to which one end of the connection member  78  is inserted is formed in the ascending/descending member  77 . At this time, the inward movements of the connection members  78  are promptly made by aid of the restoring force of the elastic member  80  having been compressed between the installation elements  75 , thereby the supporting members  79  holding both ends of the module IC  1 . 
     With such operations, if all module ICs  1  to be tested are loaded and held by the supporting member  79 , the carrier is transferred to the inside of the sealed chamber (not shown) by the transferring means, where the module ICs are heated at a temperature selected for the tests (e.g., about 70 to 90-degrees) and then transferred to the test site for the thermal resistance tests. It will be understood that the contacts can be made, with the horizontal or vertical positioning of the carrier being determined based upon the installation direction of the test socket. In this case, since separate pusher (not shown) presses the module IC  1  contained in the housing  72  toward the test socket, the carrier is moved to a test socket by the pressing force of the pusher, and after finishing the tests, separate discharging lever, which is equipped in the test socket, pulls out the module IC inserted in the test socket, so that it becomes possible to transfer the module IC to the subsequent process. 
     If, at the test site, the tests are finished and the carrier is transferred to the unloading position, separate picking-up means disposed at the unloading unit is moved to this place, to hold the module IC held between the supporting members  79  and sorts by the tests results and store them in the unloading tray. Thus, the thermal resistance tests for the module ICs are completed. 
     At the operation described above, the module IC  1  whose both ends are held by the supporting member  79  is released from the holding state thereof by the widening of the connection members  78  in which the supporting member  79  is inserted, during the elevation of the ascending/descending member  77  when the pusher installed at the unloading unit ascends. Thus, the unloading of the module IC becomes made possible. 
     Next, a fifth embodiment according to the present invention will be described below, with reference to FIGS. 26 and 29. 
     As shown in FIGS. 26 to  29 , the carrier for the module IC handler is provided with a housing  112  configured like a rectangular frame, having right and left sides in which supporting blocks  113  are disposed, respectively. Between the supporting blocks  113 , there are fixed at least one or more guide bars  114  to which a plurality of opposing holding member  115  are inserted which holds both ends of the module IC  1  being loaded. 
     In case of the guide bar  114  having polygonal configuration in section thereof and into which the plurality of the guide bar  114  having holding member  115  are inserted, only one guide bar  114  between the supporting blocks  113  is sufficient, while in case of the guide bar  114  of a rod having a circular section, preferably, two guide bars  114  for each of upper and lower portion are installed so that the holding member  114  is not rotated with respect to the guide bars  114 . Further, there are provided with spacing adjustment means for adjusting the spacing of the holding member in consideration of associated position of the module IC, i.e., the loading or the unloading position. 
     This needs because an insertion groove of the tray containing the module IC  1  to be tested and a test socket at test site are commonly sized to have a pitch of 15 mm and an insertion groove of the unloading tray containing the test-finished module IC  1  is sized to have a pitch of 11 mm. Namely, in consideration of different pitch dimensions for each picking-up means installed at the loading and unloading positions, respectively, the provision of such an spacing adjustment means is such that the loading or unloading operation of the module IC  1  ensures to be conducted depending on the site which the carrier is placed. 
     As shown in FIG. 29 illustrating a rear side of the spacing adjustment means, the spacing adjustment means comprises: a plurality of holding members  115  having a pair of upper and lower protrusions  116 ; 
     a plurality of links  117 , ends of which have long holes  117   a , for causing simultaneous moving of the holding members, wherein the link connects in a diagonal direction any one holding member  115  and another holding member adjacent to said one holding member by inserting the protrusion of each of holding members into the long holes of said link into; and 
     elastic member  119  connected between a hinge axis of the link  117  and the protrusion  116  of the holding member  115 , and used to maximize the spacing between the holding means  115  and the means  115  adjacent thereto by pushing outward each holding means, when an external force is applied. It is noted that while the elastic member  119  is embodied by a torsion spring according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, any kinds of elastic member similar to it may be also used. 
     The housing is provided with a plurality of fastening holes  112   a , and the supporting block  113  has an insertion hole  113   a . Depending upon the longitudinal width L of the module IC  1  to be tested, the positioning of the supporting block  113  is determined and then the supporting block  113  is fixedly coupled by screwing a fixing screw  120  through the fastening hole  112   a . Namely, in the case where the short width L of the module IC to be tested is given, the spacing of the supporting block is made narrower, thus allowing various lengths of the module ICs to be handled by only one carrier, irrelevantly of any lengths of the module IC. 
     Further, as shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, the holding member  115 , which is inserted to the guide bar  114  to hold both ends of the module IC  1 , consists of: 
     a body  121  having an insertion groove  121   a , one side of which has a seating surface  121   b  and a seating surface  121   b  which are used to insert end portion of the module IC  1 ; 
     an ascending/descending member  122  installed to the body to be moved upward/downward; 
     a pressing piece  123  installed on an upper portion of the body to be rotated, and for pressing a top of the module IC  1 ; 
     an elastic member  124  installed on an outer peripheral surface of the ascending/descending member  122 , and for restoring the ascending/descending member  122  to which the pressing piece is installed, when an external force is not applied to the ascending/descending member  122 ; and 
     a stopper  125  installed on the upper portion of the body  121 , for rotating the pressing piece by suppressing the raising of the pressing piece. 
     Accordingly, since the pressing piece elastically installed by the elastic member  124  makes a horizontal motion within a horizontal motion range S, even when the module IC of different height T is to be tested, the module IC  1  higher than a minimal height of the module IC  1  can be handled without exchanging the parts. 
     The body  121  is further provided with a guide groove  121   c  into which a protrusion piece  123   b  formed at both sides of the pressing piece is inserted. When the ascending/descending member  122  is moved upward/downward, the pressing piece  123  makes a horizontal movement within the horizontal movement range S, at a condition that the pressing piece  123  is inserted into the guide groove  121   c . At the horizontal movement beyond the range S, the pressing piece instead rotates by the operation that the rear end portion thereof is pressed by the stopper  125 . By such rotation, a supporting groove  123   c  formed in a bottom surface of the pressing piece  123  encompasses the module IC  1  inserted into the insertion groove  121   a . This ensures to safely maintain the holding state of the module IC  1  held by the holding member  115  during the transfer between the processes. 
     The operation of the carrier for the module IC handler according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
     Referring to FIG. 29, when an external force is not applied to the plurality of holding members  115  inserted into the guide bar  114 , the maximum spaced distance, e.g., 15 mm, between the holding members  115  is maintained by the torsion spring. Further, as shown in FIG. 26, when an external force is not applied to the ascending/descending member  122  installed in the body  121 , the ascending/descending member  122  is positioned at the bottom dead point by the restoring force of the elastic member  124 , and the rotatable pressing piece  123  installed in the ascending/descending member  122  is positioned within the horizontal movement range. 
     Under such a condition, if the carrier arrives at the loading position for the module IC  1 , the pushers  126 , which are installed at a lower portion of the carrier (the numbers and installation positions of the pushers correspond to those of the holding members), elevate during which the ascending/descending member  122  installed in the body  121  is pushed upward. 
     Since the ascending/descending member  122  ascends and also compresses the elastic member  122 , the rotatable pressing piece  123  installed in the ascending/descending member  122  is vertically moved up within the horizontal movement range, which stable vertical up movement of the pressing piece is guaranteed by the configuration that the protrusion  123   b  formed in the pressing piece  123  is inserted into the guide groove  121   c  formed in the housing  121 . 
     With the continued up movement of the ascending/descending member  122 , when the ascending/descending member  122  is further moved upward even at the condition that the rear end portion of the pressing piece  123  comes into contact with the stopper  125  beyond the horizontal movement range of the pressing piece  123 , the pressing piece  123  no longer moves upward, instead, rotates with respect to an axis  127 , as shown in FIG. 30 a , so that the insertion groove  121   a  formed in the body  121  is opened. 
     The opposing pressing pieces  123  installed in the housing  112  are rotated in the opposing directions to each other to thereby open the insertion groove  121   a , and thereafter, the loading side picking-up means holds the plurality of module ICs  1  contained with a spacing of 15 mm therebetween in the tray and transfers them to a position over the insertion groove  121   a  before the transferring operation of the picking-up means stops. 
     Then, if the picking-up means lowers by separate driving means, the positioning of the module IC  1  held by the picking-up means is re-determined by the slant surface  121   d  formed in the body  121 , and then both ends of the module IC are inserted into each insertion groove  121   a  and the bottom surface of the module IC comes into contact with the seating surface  121   b.    
     After the module IC  1  held by the picking-up means is positioned in the insertion groove  121   a  of the body  121 , the holding state of the module IC  1  is released. The picking-up means then moved to the loading side tray holds new module IC  1  contained in the tray and loads the module IC into the body  121  in which no module IC is inserted. Such operations are repeated. 
     With such operations, if all module ICs  1  to be tested are loaded into the holding member  115 , the pusher  124  having moved upward the ascending/descending member  122  descends. As the ascending/descending member  122  descends, the restoring force form the elastic member  119  compressed lowers the ascending/descending member  122 , by which the pressing piece coupled to the ascending/descending member  122  by the axis  127  is pulled downward. Thus, the pressing piece  123 , which was rotated by the rear end portion being hitched by the stopper, is rotated to be in a horizontal state at which the pressing piece  123  descends along the horizontal movement range S. During such horizontal movement, the pressing piece presses the top surface of the module IC  1 , as shown in FIG. 30 b.    
     With such operations, if all module ICs  1  to be tested are loaded and held by the holding member  115 , the carrier is transferred to the inside of the sealed chamber (not shown) by the transferring means, where the module ICs are heated at a temperature selected for the tests (e.g., about 70 to 90-degrees) and then transferred to the test site for the thermal resistance tests. It will be understood that the contacts can be made, with the vertical or horizontal positioning of the carrier being determined based upon the installation direction of the test socket. 
     In this case, since separate pusher (not shown) presses the module IC  1  contained in the main body  112  toward the test socket, the carrier is moved to a test socket by the pressing force of the pusher, and after finishing the tests, separate discharging lever, which is equipped in the test socket, pulls out the module IC inserted in the test socket, so that it becomes possible to transfer the module IC to the subsequent process. 
     If, at the test site, the tests are finished and the carrier is transferred to the unloading position, the spacing of the holding member  115  inserted into the guide bar  114  should be adjusted to correspond to the insertion groove spacing, 11 mm of the unloading tray positioned at the unloading side. 
     After the carrier in which the test-finished module ICs  1  are contained is moved to the unloading position, the spacing of the holding member  115  which has been maintained with the spacing of 15 mm should be adjusted to the same spacing, 11 mm as the insertion groove of the unloading side unloading tray. Then, the plurality of picking-up means installed spaced apart at a spacing 11 mm therebetween can simultaneously hold and unload the plurality of module ICs from the holding member. 
     For this, separate pitch adjustment means holds respective body  121  at an upper or lower side to inwardly move it. At this time, the links  117  are folded which the long hole  117   a  is inserted into the protrusion  114  of the holding member  115 , accompanying the compression of the elastic member  119  hitched between the protrusion  114  and a hinge axis  118 . Thus, the spacing between the bodies  121  becomes narrower to a spacing of 11 mm which allows the picking-up means installed at the unloading side to hold the module IC  1 . 
     After the spacing between the module ICs held by the holding member  115  is adjusted, separate pusher ascends, as in the loading operation of the module IC, to push the ascending/descending member  122 . Then, the pressing piece connected to the ascending/descending member  122  is rotated by the rear end portion hitched by the stopper  125  to open the insertion groove  121   a , but since further details thereof are the same as described above, further explanation therefor will be omitted. 
     Thus, the thermal resistance tests can be completed by holding the module IC inserted into the insertion groove  121   a  of the body  121  by using the picking-up means positioned at the unloading side, and sorting and putting the module ICs into the unloading tray depending upon the test results. The carrier according to the present invention which performs such operations described above and also loads the plurality of module ICs and transfers them between the processes, can handle various types of the module IC  1  by using one carrier through the spacing adjustment of the supporting block  113  based on the longitudinal width L of the module IC  1  to be tested. Namely, depending upon the longitudinal width L of the module IC  1  to be tested, the positioning of the supporting block  113  is determined and then the supporting block  113  is fixedly coupled by screwing a fixing screw  120  through the fastening hole  112   a  so as to maintain an appropriate spacing between a pair of supporting blocks  113 . 
     As described above, the present invention improves reliability of the product by the tests which are performed after, at a temperature preset, heating the module IC transferred to the inside of the chamber, wherein the transferring of the module IC loaded in the carrier is easily achieved because the module IC is loaded into the carrier by the picking-up means, in an outside of the chamber. 
     Further, during the loading and unloading of the module IC into the carrier, the tests for the module ICs loaded in the carrier can be performed at the test site. Therefore, an advantage is provided that an extreme availability of a high-cost apparatus can be obtained.