Abstract:
A conveying apparatus for sequentially feeding a plurality of stacked carrier members to an assembly area. The conveying apparatus comprises a first bin for storing a desired quantity of stackable carrier members and the first bin has an outlet for sequentially discharging a carrier member therefrom. A feed mechanism communicating with the outlet of the first bin, and the feed mechanism facilitating individual feeding of the carrier members, in a sequential manner, from said first bin toward the assembly area. A conveyor mechanism, communicating with the outlet of the first bin, for receiving one carrier member, fed by the feed mechanism, and for conveying the carrier member to the assembly area where a plurality of components can be either retrieved from the carrier member to manufacture a desired product or loaded on the carrier member for later manufacture of a desired product. A second bin for collecting each of the carrier members, returned by the conveyor mechanism from the assembly area, is provided and a transfer assembly for transferring each of the carrier members returned by the conveyor mechanism from the assembly area to the second bin is also provided.

Description:
The present invention relates to a conveying apparatus for sequentially conveying a plurality of nestable or stackable JEDEC trays and, in particular, for sequentially conveying a plurality of nested JEDEC trays each containing a plurality of integrated circuit devices or some other electronic components, to an automated assembly system where the supplied components can be retrieved and used for production of various electronic end products or for conveying an empty carrier member to an assembly area where components can be loaded on said carrier member for use in later production of a desired component. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A variety of automated assembly systems currently exist for assembling various electronic and computer components. However, all of the known prior art automated assembly systems typically work as batch cycles when retrieving components from JEDEC trays. One such automated assembly system  2  is diagrammatically shown in FIG.  1 . Once all of the supplied components are assembled on the end product(s), the automated assembly system  2  must be temporarily shut down to replenish the supply of components. This is typically done by opening a side panel or door  4 , of the automated assembly system  2 , and replacing the emptied JEDEC tray(s)  8  with one or more fresh JEDEC trays  8 , which each support additional components to be assembled into end product(s). Once a new supply of components is provided, the automated assembly system  2  then recommences operation to place the additional components, as required, and assemble the desired end product(s). 
     As the known prior art automated assembly systems  2  work very rapidly, the replenished supply of provided components is utilized fairly quickly, e.g. usually within a few seconds to a few minutes or so. Each time the quantity of supplied components is completely retrieved from the carrier members, the automated assembly system  2  must be temporarily interrupted or shutdown so that a new reserve of components can be supplied to the automated assembly system  2 . Once the supply of components is replenished, a further batch cycle can occur. This procedure is continuously repeated throughout a work shift of each work day. 
     As is apparent from the above brief discussion, the known prior art automated assembly systems have a couple of associated drawbacks. In particular, such automated assembly systems are batch cycle systems rather than continuous or substantially continuous feed systems thus requiring numerous interruptions in the manufacturing process during the work shift of each work day. In addition, as a relatively bulky carrier tray  6  is sometimes utilized to support a plurality of JEDEC trays  8  carrying the supply of components to be assembled, a significant amount of important working space or area, within the interior of the automated assembly system, is utilized to accommodate the carrier members supporting the components to be assembled. Further, the automated assembly system must to be programmed to pick up components to be assembled from a plurality of different locations on the tray, rather than a single location or a relatively small number of locations, and assemble them properly on the product being manufactured by the automated assembly system. 
     Another problem associated with prior art automated assembly systems is that the working space or area for accessing the interior of the automated assembly systems is fairly limited. Accordingly, all of the available prior art systems are fairly cumbersome and occupy a substantial amount of working space or area adjacent the access door to the automated assembly system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Wherefore it is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a conveying apparatus, for a plurality of nested carrier members such as JEDEC trays, which sequentially supplies one of the nested carrier members, either empty or carrying a plurality of components to be assembled, to an automated assembly system as required. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a conveying apparatus which facilitates automatic collection of each one of the supplied carrier members, from the automated assembly system, once filled with components to be assembled or once all the supplied components carried thereby are utilized by the automated assembly system. 
     A still further object of the invention is to provide a conveying apparatus which occupies a minimal amount of working area within or adjacent the automated assembly system. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a conveying apparatus in which at least the first (supply) bin and the second (collection) bin, of the feed apparatus, are readily accessible from an exterior of the automated assembly system so that a substantially continuous supply of components can be provided to the automated assembly system without any significant interruption in the manufacturing process. 
     A still further object of the invention is to provide a conveying apparatus which minimizes the locations where the automated assembly system must be programmed to pick up the components to be assembled during the manufacturing process or placed when loading a JEDEC tray with components for later assembly. 
     The present invention relates to a conveying apparatus for sequentially feeding a plurality of stacked carrier members, said conveying apparatus comprising: a first bin for storing a desired quantity of stackable carrier members, said first bin having an outlet for sequentially discharging a carrier member therefrom; a feed mechanism communicating with said outlet of said first bin, and said feed mechanism facilitating individual feeding of said carrier members, in a sequential manner, from said first bin during use; a conveyor mechanism communicating with said outlet of said first bin for receiving one carrier member, fed by said feed mechanism, and for conveying said carrier member to an assembly area where a plurality of components can be retrieved from said carrier member to manufacture a desired product or loaded on said carrier member for later manufacture of a desired product; a second bin for collecting each said carrier member returned by said conveyor mechanism from said assembly area, and said second bin having an inlet located adjacent said conveyor mechanism; and a transfer assembly for transferring carrier members from said first bin to said feed mechanism and for transferring each said carrier member, returned by said conveyor mechanism from said assembly area, to the second bin. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is diagrammatic top plan view showing a prior art automated assembly system; 
     FIG. 2 is diagrammatic top plan view showing a preferred prior art carrier member for use with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is diagrammatic side elevational view of a thinnest allowable embodiment of the carrier member of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 3A is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a thickest allowable embodiment of the carrier member of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is diagrammatic partial sectional view of a first embodiment of the conveying apparatus according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4A is diagrammatic partial sectional view of a second embodiment of the conveying apparatus according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the conveying apparatus of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 5A is a diagrammatic top plan view of the conveying apparatus of FIG. 4A; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial diagrammatic cross-sectional view through the conveying apparatus of FIG. 4 generally along section line  6 — 6 ; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial diagrammatic cross-sectional view generally along section line  7 — 7  of FIG. 5; 
     FIGS. 8 through 17 are diagrammatic views, similar to FIG. 7, showing the feed sequence by the feed mechanism of a stacked carrier member onto the conveyor mechanism; 
     FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the conveyor mechanism generally along section line  18 — 18  of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the conveyor mechanism generally along section line  19 — 19  of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 20 is a partial diagrammatic cross-sectional view through the conveying apparatus of a second embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 4A generally along section line  20 — 20 ; 
     FIG. 21 is a partial diagrammatic cross-sectional view, similar to that of FIG. 7, of the second embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIGS. 23 through 33 are diagrammatic views, similar to FIG. 21, showing the feed sequence by the feed mechanism of a stacked carrier member onto the conveyor mechanism according to the second embodiment. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to FIGS. 2,  3  and  3 A, a brief description concerning two preferred prior art JEDEC carrier members will now be provided. As can be seen in these Figures, each carrier member  12  has a top surface  14  which is provided with a plurality of cavities  16  therein, e.g. between about 4 to 200 cavities, which are each able to accommodate a desired component  18  to be assembled by the automated assembly system. A portion of the top surface  14  of the carrier member  12  is partially recessed or removed to form a perimeter shoulder  15  extending around the perimeter of the carrier member  12 . The narrower width top surface of the carrier member  12  forms a protrusion  20 . The bottom surface of the carrier member  12  is provided with a recessed area  22  which is sized and shaped to matingly accommodate the protrusion  20  of another mating carrier member  12  to facilitate nesting or stacking of the plurality of separate carrier members  12 , one on top of and closely adjacent the other. Such a stacking feature allows a plurality of carrier members  12  to be located, one on top of the other, and prevent the components  18 , carried by each carrier member  12 , from being inadvertently lost or separated from the associated cavity  16  supporting the component  18 . 
     Each one of the carrier members  12  is provided with four conventional transfer notches  49  (see FIGS.  3  and  3 A), one spaced apart pair being provided along each longitudinal side of the carrier member, to facilitate conveyance and/or handling of the carrier member  12 . In addition, an alignment component  51  can be provided on each carrier member to facilitate feeding of the carrier members in a consistent and desired orientation. As such conveyance and alignment features are conventional and well known in the art, a further detailed description concerning the same is not provided. 
     The typical dimensions of the carrier member  12 , shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, has a length dimension of about 12.70 inches and width dimension of about 5.35 inches and a height dimension of about 0.30 inches. The typical dimensions for a second embodiment of the carrier member  12 , shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A, has a length dimension of about 12.70 inches and width dimension of about 5.35 inches and a height dimension of about 0.48 inches. Both of these embodiments of the carrier members  12  are made in accordance with the JEDEX #95-1 Standard. It is to be appreciated that the recessed area  22  and the protrusion  20  of the carrier member  12  can be reversed if desired, i.e. the top surface  14  of the carrier member  12  is provided with the recessed area  22  which supports the cavities  16  while the bottom surface of the carrier member  12  is provided with the mating protrusion  20 . 
     Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a brief discussion concerning the basis components of a first embodiment of the conveying apparatus  30 , according to the present invention, will now be provided. As can be seen in those Figures, the automated conveying apparatus  30  comprises a top first (supply) bin  32  for holding a desired quantity of stacked carrier members  12 , e.g. trays manufactured in accordance with the JEDEC Standards. The bottom portion of the first bin has an outlet  35  which communicates with an inlet of a feed mechanism  34  to sequentially feed the carrier members  12 , one at a time, onto a first section  36  of a conveyor mechanism  38 . The conveyor mechanism  38 , in turn, conveys each sequentially fed carrier member  12  to an assembly area  40 , at a remote end  42  of the conveyor mechanism  38 , where each conveyed carrier member  12  is temporarily held in a restrained position. Thereafter, the automated assembly equipment  2  can retrieve the components  18 , carried by the carrier member  12 , to assemble a desired product(s) being manufactured. Once all of the components  18 , carried by the carrier member  12 , are properly placed during the manufacturing process, the conveyor mechanism  38  is again activated in a reverse direction to reconvey the emptied carrier member  12  back towards the feed mechanism  34  and discharge the empty carrier member  12  into a lower second (collection) bin  44 . After the empty carrier member  12  is reconveyed back to the feed mechanism  34  and stored within the second bin  44 , another full carrier member  12 , containing a fresh supply of components  18  to be assembled, is then conveyed by the feed mechanism  34  to the assembly area  40 . As each feed cycle typically only takes a few seconds or so, e.g. 2-4 seconds, the feed cycle does not significantly interfere with the substantially continuous production of desired products by the automated assembly system. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 4A and 5A, a brief discussion concerning the basis components of the second embodiment of the conveying apparatus  30 , according to the present invention, will now be provided. As can be seen in those Figures, the automated conveying apparatus  30  comprises a bottom first (supply) bin  44  for holding a desired quantity of stacked carrier members  12 , e.g. trays manufactured in accordance with the JEDEC Standards. The top portion of the first bin  44  has an outlet which communicates with an inlet of a feed mechanism  34  to sequentially feed the carrier members  12 , one at a time, onto a first section  36  of a conveyor mechanism  38 . The conveyor mechanism  38 , in turn, conveys each sequentially fed carrier member  12  to an assembly area  40 , at a remote end  42  of the conveyor mechanism  38 , where each conveyed carrier member  12  is temporarily held in a restrained position. Thereafter, the automated assembly equipment can load an empty carrier member  12  with the necessary components  18  for later assembly of a desired product(s). Once all of the components  18  are properly loaded onto the carrier member  12 , the conveyor mechanism  38  is again activated in a reverse direction to reconvey the loaded carrier member  12  back towards the feed mechanism  34  and discharge the loaded carrier member  12  into a top second (collection) bin  32 . After the filled carrier member  12  is reconveyed back to the feed mechanism  34  and stored within the second bin  32 , another empty carrier member  12  is then conveyed by the feed mechanism  34  to the assembly area  40 . As each feed cycle typically only takes a few seconds or so, e.g. 2-4 seconds, the feed cycle does not significantly interfere with the substantially continuous production of desired products by the automated assembly system. 
     The first bin  32  or  44  may be provided with either a fixed or removable key or some other first alignment component (not shown) which is attached or located within the first bin  32  or  44 . The first alignment component, if utilized, cooperates with the mating second alignment component  51  (see FIG. 2) formed or located on each of the carrier members  12  to facilitate correct orientation of the carrier members  12  as they are loaded or placed in the first bin  32  or  44 . This alignment feature ensures that when the carrier members  12  are fed and conveyed to the assembly area  40  of the conveyor mechanism  38 , the conveyed components  18  are properly oriented, with respect to the conveyor mechanism  38 , for accurate pick up and assembly by the automated assembly equipment  2  or filling the empty carrier members  12  with a supply of components  18  for later manufacture. 
     In both embodiments, the feed mechanism  34  comprises a conventional drive device such as a pneumatic cylinder  46  (see FIG. 6) which supports a pusher rod or element  48 . The pusher element  48  has an end face which forms a pushing surface  50  to facilitate movement and loading of the proximate carrier member  12 , from either a transfer assembly  54  or a set of first fixed pivots  90 , onto the first section  36  of the conveyor mechanism  38  for conveyance to the assembly area  40  and a further detailed description concerning the same will follow below. 
     According to a preferred form of the present invention, the conveyor belts  39  of the conveyor mechanism  38  are simultaneously rotated by a conveyor motor CM until a switch S 1  is activated and the conveyor mechanism  38  is stopped. Typically, the time period is about 3 to 4 seconds which is a sufficient amount of time to facilitate loading of a carrier member  12  onto the first section  36  of the conveyor mechanism  38  and ensure complete conveyance of the carrier member  12  against the stop member  74 . If desired, the conveyor mechanism  38  can operate for a slightly longer time period, e.g. a quarter of a second or so, to ensure that the leading end  72  (see FIG. 3A) of the carrier member  12  is in an abutting relationship with the stop member  74 . The carrier member  12  remains in this position until the conveyor mechanism  38  is again reactivated. Due to a clamping and sandwiching arrangement discussed below, the conveyed carrier member  12  is firmly supported, in the assembly area  40 , to prevent inadvertent pick up of the carrier member  12  itself by retrieval equipment of the automated assembly system  2 , i.e. only the components  18  are able to be retrieved from or placed onto the carrier member  12 . The carrier member  12  is maintained in this position until all of the components  18 , carried by the carrier member  12 , are either properly retrieved or placed by the automated assembly system  2 . Once this has occurred, the emptied or filled carrier member  12  is reconveyed along the conveying surface of the conveyor mechanism  38  toward the feed mechanism  34 . 
     During the return travel, the carrier member  12  is guided by an upper pair of opposed guide rails  68  (FIG. 18) which facilitates sandwiching the carrier member  12  between inwardly facing surfaces of the guide rails  68  and the upwardly facing surfaces of the conveyor belts  39 . If desired, the inwardly facing surfaces of the guide rails  68  can be provided with an anti-friction coating, e.g. polytetrafluoroethylene, to facilitate conveying of the carrier members  12  therealong. The carrier member  12  is conveyed along the guide rails  68  until it reaches a location adjacent the feed mechanism  34 . At the end, the conveyor mechanism  38  discharges the emptied carrier member  12 , via an exit, onto the first set of fixed pivots  90 , as described above. 
     Now that the basic components have been described, a further detailed description concerning the first embodiment of feeding filled carrier members from the first bin  32  to the assembly area  40  and from the assembly area  40  to the second bin  44  will be initially provided, with reference to FIGS. 4-17, and this will be followed by a detailed description concerning the second embodiment of feeding empty carrier members  12  from the first bin  44  to the assembly area  40  and from the assembly area  40  to the second bin  32  provided, with reference to FIGS. 4A,  5 A and  20 - 33 . 
     With reference now to FIGS. 4-17, the first embodiment of the feed mechanism  34  of the present invention is now described. As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 8, the transfer assembly  54  is shown in its idle stand-by position ready to receive a carrier component  12 , depleted of all of its components  18 , from the assembly area  40 . For the sake of simplicity, the following description will describe a mid-cycle of the present invention with one carrier member  12  already being located at the assembly area  40 . 
     When the automated assembly system  2  requires further components  18  to be assembled, the feed mechanism  34  is activated. As seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the transfer assembly  54  is located such that the lower carrying surface  56  of the transfer assembly  54  is horizontally aligned with the conveying surface CS of the conveyor mechanism  38 . Accordingly, as an emptied carrier member  12  is conveyed from the assembly area  40  toward the transfer assembly  54 , the empted carrier member  12  will be conveyed into and received by the lower carrying surface  56  of the transfer assembly  54 . Once the empted carrier member  12  is completely received and accommodated solely by the lower carrying surface  56  (see FIG. 9) and a leading end of the carrier member  12  contacts a first stop sensor S 1 , the first stop sensor S 1  is activated and sends a signal to the computer C to stop drive of the conveyor motor CM. The transfer assembly  54  is then moved vertically downwardly toward the second bin  44 , so that the carrier member  12 , retained by the lower carrying surface  56  of the transfer assembly  54  (see FIG.  7 ), can be deposited in the second bin  44 . As the transfer assembly  54  approaches either an upwardly facing base surface  66  of the elevator assembly  88  of the second bin  44  or a top surface of the topmost collected carrier member  12 , the transfer assembly  54  then gently lowers the retrieved carrier member  12  (see FIGS. 10-14) thereon. This gentle lowering is achieved via a lower portion of two opposed pairs projecting notches  64 , of the transfer assembly  54 , being brought into engagement with a respective one of four mating fixed pry surfaces  60 , supported by opposed side wall surfaces  62  of the second bin  44 , which bias the respective projecting notches  64  outwardly away from one another to allow a gentle separation and release of the retrieved carrier member  12 , from the two opposed pair projecting notches  64 . The notches  64  are supported by a lower surface of the transfer assembly  54  and forming the lower carrying surface  56  of the transfer assembly  54 , and facilitate release of the retrieved carrier member  12  onto either the base surface  66  of the elevator assembly  88  or the top surface of the topmost carrier member  12 . 
     It is to be appreciated that the transfer assembly  52  and the cam flippers  58  are separate components but work in unison with one another to facilitate both loading and unloading of a carrier member  12 , e.g. there is limited relative sliding movement between those two components. Both components are driven in a conventional manner by the same transfer drive (e.g. an air cylinder AC) to one of two end positions and the transfer drive is controlled by the computer C. 
     Once the transfer assembly  54  releases the retrieved carrier member  12 , the base surface  66  of the elevator assembly  88  is automatically indexed down or lowered, by the computer C actuating elevator motor EM, a distance equal to one tray thickness of the carrier members  12  (see FIG. 15) to facilitate stacking the next retrieved carrier member  12  from the assembly area  40 . The indexing or lowering of the elevator assembly  88  is achieved by the elevator motor EM which is coupled to the computer C to facilitate raising and lowering movement of the elevator assembly  88 . As such teaching is conventional and well known in the art, a further detailed description concerning the same is not provided. 
     Following this indexing, the transfer assembly  54  is then moved upwardly and returned back to its initial upper position by air cylinder AC (see FIGS. 16,  17  and  8 ) to facilitate retrieving another carrier member  12  from the assembly area  40 . During this return action, the projecting notches  64  return back to their normal inward position and the upper carrying surface  52  of the transfer assembly  54  is simultaneously at least partially loaded with a lowermost carrier member  12  of the nested array  13  and a further detailed description concerning such loading will follow below. 
     As can be seen in FIG. 15, for example, the lowermost carrier member  12  is supported by two opposed pair of pivot members  76  (only the front two pivot members can be seen while the remaining other two pivot members are located behind and not visible in this Figure, the four pivot members can be seen in FIG.  6 ). Each pivot member  76  is fixedly located and supported by a side wall surface of the first bin  32  and is spring biased by a spring (not shown in detail) to pivot inwardly toward the other opposed pivot member  76  so that a lower free hooked end  78  (see FIG. 8) of each pivot member  76  can engage with one of the transfer notches  49  (see FIGS. 3 and 3A) of the carrier member  12  to facilitate support of the lowermost carrier member  12  as well as the remainder of the nested array  13  within the first bin  32 . During the end of the return stroke of the transfer assembly  54 , as shown in FIG. 17, the lowermost carrier member  12  is brought into abutment with the upper carrying surface  52  of the transfer assembly  54 . 
     To facilitate release of the lowermost carrier members  12  from a remainder of the nested array  13 , the two opposed pairs of the sliding cam flippers  58 , which each have a tapered leading edge  80  that is aligned to engage with a mating cutout notch  82  provided in a downwardly facing portion of one of the four pivot members  76 , cause the lower free hooked end  78  of each pivot member  76  to be biased away from one another out of engagement with the transfer notches  49  of the lowermost carrier member  12  of the nested array  13  and retract into the side wall of the first bin  32 . As a result of such retraction, the carrying surface  52  of the transfer assembly  54  solely supports the lowermost carrier member  12  as well as the remainder of the nested array  13 . 
     As noted above, the two opposed pairs of the sliding cam flippers  58  operate in combination with the transfer assembly  54  and move substantially in unison with the transfer assembly  54  but have approximately ¼ of an inch or so of movement or play. Specifically, the sliding cam flippers  58  are spring biased in a vertical upward position relative to the transfer assembly  54  (see the spring biased position of FIG. 10) to maintain a prolonged engagement with the respective cut out notches  82 , even when the transfer assembly  54  commences to move vertically downward and thereby facilitate a gradual release from the respective pivot member  76 . 
     The transfer assembly  54  has a stroke of about 0.875 inch between the upper position, shown in FIG. 9, and the lower end position, shown in FIG.  15 . Movement of the transfer assembly  54 , its upper and lower positions, is achieved by the air cylinder AC which is operated in a conventional manner and coupled to the transfer assembly via four rods (not numbered). As such, a further detailed description concerning the same is not provided. 
     As the transfer assembly  54  commences moving vertically downward toward the second bin  44 , the tapered leading edges  80  of the sliding cam flippers  58  initially remain engaged with the mating cutout notches  82  (see FIG.  10 ), due to their spring bias, and then subsequently become disengaged from the mating cutout notches  82  provided in a downwardly facing surface of the pivot members  76  (see FIG. 11) once the transfer assembly  54  has been lowered at least about ¼ of an inch or so. Such disengagement from the mating cutout notches  82 , allows the spring biased pivot members  76  to re-pivot back inwardly toward the interior of the first bin  32  to their normal biased positions and engage with the next lowermost carrier members  12 ′ as the nested array  13  is lowered by the transfer assembly  54  (see FIG.  12 ). 
     It is to be appreciated that the disengagement of the sliding cam flippers  58 , from the mating cutout notches  82  of the pivot members  76 , is such that transfer assembly  54  must have been lowered a sufficient distance, e.g. at least ⅛ of an inch, so that the free hooked end  78  of the pivot members  76  cannot re-engage with the transfer notches  49  of the lowermost carrier member  12 , e.g. the free hooked end  78  can only engage with the transfer notches  49  of the next lowermost carrier member  12 ′ of the nested array  13 . In a preferred form of the invention, the disengagement of the sliding cam flippers  58  from the mating cutout notches  82  of the pivot members  76  will be just slightly after the transfer assembly  54  has lowered the lowermost carrier member  12  a sufficient distance to prevent the free hooked end  78  from re-engaging with the transfer notches  49  of the lowermost carrier members  12 . As such, the free hooked ends  78  will slide along the exterior side wall surface of the lowermost carrier member  12  (see FIG. 10) prior to engaging with the next lowermost carrier member  12 ′ of the nested array  13 , as can been seen in FIG.  11 . 
     As the transfer assembly  54  continues to move vertically downwardly toward the second bin  44 , the lowermost carrier member  12  remains supported by the upper carrying surface  52  of the transfer assembly  54  while the next lowermost carrier member  12 ′, supporting the remainder of the nested array  13 , becomes engaged with and supported by the two opposed pairs of pivot members  76 . Once this occurs, the lowermost carrier member  12  separates from the next lowermost carrier member  12 ′ of the nested array  13  (see FIG.  13 ). The transfer assembly  54  continues moving vertically downward toward the second bin  44  until the upper carrying surface  52  of the transfer assembly  54  is horizontally aligned with the conveying surface of the conveyor mechanism  38 . Such aligned arrangement is shown in FIG. 14 of the drawings. 
     With the transfer assembly  54  horizontally aligned with the conveyor mechanism  38 , the left side of the pneumatic cylinder  46  (as seen in FIG. 5) is supplied with fluid pressure such as air. As this occurs, the pneumatic cylinder  46  moves the pusher element  48  in the direction of arrow A toward the lowered carrier member  12 , supported by the upper carrying surface  52  of the transfer assembly  54 , to commence horizontal displacement of the lowered carrier member  12  onto the first section  36  of the conveyor mechanism  38 . As the pusher element  48  nears the completion of its loading stroke, e.g. about 2 inches or so, the conveyor mechanism  38  will solely convey the carrier member  12  and facilitate release of the carrier member  12  from the pusher element  48 . 
     Once the pusher element  48  is separated from the carrier member  12 , a pair of spaced apart endless conveyor belts  39 , of the conveyor mechanism  38 , convey the carrier member  12  toward the assembly area  40  of the conveyor mechanism  38 . The conveyor motor CM is coupled, by a conventional pulley arrangement, to at least one of a first and a second pair of return rollers  69  or  70  supporting the pair of spaced apart conveyor belts  39 . Both the first pair of return rollers  69  and the second pair of return rollers  70  are connected to one another by a shaft to provide simultaneous rotation thereof by the conveyor motor CM. It is to be appreciated, however, that other conventional and well known drive mechanisms can also be provided for providing drive from the conveyor motor CM to the conveyor belts  39 . 
     If desired, a pusher element sensor (not shown) may be activated at the end stroke of the pneumatic cylinder  46  to reverse the pneumatic cylinder  46  and return the pneumatic cylinder  46  in the opposite direction indicated by arrow B. To return the pusher element  48 , fluid pressure (e.g. air) is now supplied to the right side of the pneumatic cylinder  46 . The pusher element sensor can be, for example, a leading end of the pneumatic cylinder  46  provided with a magnetic portion that activates the switch when the pneumatic cylinder  46  is moved to its maximum extended position so that the return stroke of the pneumatic cylinder  46  is thus activated. 
     Once the return stroke of the pusher element  48  is completed, the transfer assembly  54  is then again raised (see FIGS. 16 and 17) so as to come into engagement with the next lowermost carrier member  12  of the stacked array  13  (see FIG.  8 ). Such engagement releases the new lowermost carrier member  12  such that the new lowermost carrier member  12  as well as a remainder of the nested array  13  are solely supported on the upper carrying surface  52  of the transfer assembly  54 , as described above. 
     Once all of the desired components  18  are removed from the carrier member  12  located adjacent the assembly area  40 , the computer C determines that a fresh supply of components  18  is required. Due to that computer determination, or alternatively a manual determination, the computer C activates the conveyor motor CM to operate in a reverse drive direction which causes the first and second return rollers  69 ,  70  to rotate in an opposite direction to reconvey the emptied carrier member  12  back toward the first section  36  of the conveyor mechanism  38 . The final conveyance of the carrier member  12 , by the conveyor mechanism  38 , causes the carrier member  12  to be supported solely by the lower carrying surface  56  of the transfer assembly  54 . Once the carrier member  12  is completely accommodated by the lower support surface of the transfer assembly  54 , the conveyor mechanism  38  then stops rotation. Thereafter, the transfer assembly  54  moves downwardly, in the direction of the second bin  44 , to deposit the emptied carrier member  12  on top of the topmost carrier member  12  accommodated within the second bin  44 . This lowering motion also simultaneously lowers the next lowermost carrier member  12 ′, containing a fresh supply of components  18  to be assembled, to the level of the conveyor mechanism  38  for conveyance by the feed mechanism  34  to the assembly area  40 . 
     The lowering motion of the transfer assembly  54 , of the emptied carrier member  12 , also facilitates the depositing and release of the emptied carrier member  12  within the second bin  44 . It is to be appreciated that the transfer assembly  54  must remain, in this lowered position, a sufficient amount of time to facilitate loading of the carrier member  12  from the upper carrying surface  52  onto the conveyor mechanism  38  via the feed mechanism  34 . Once this has occurred, the transfer assembly  54  can be raised to its upper position (see FIG. 8) to facilitate loading of the new lowermost carrier member, of the stacked array  13 , onto the upper carrying surface  52  of the transfer assembly  54  for a further cycle while the lower carrying surface  56 , of the transfer assembly  54 , is brought to the same level as that of the conveying surface CS of the conveyor mechanism  38 , to facilitate receiving a new carrier member  12  once it is emptied of its components  18 . 
     Turning now to FIGS. 18 and 19, a detailed description concerning the operation and function of the conveyor mechanism  38  and the assembly area  40  will now be provided. As can be seen in FIG. 18, the conveyor mechanism  38  is provided with a pair of opposed guide rails  68  which facilitate containing of the conveyed carrier member between the inwardly facing surfaces of the guide rails  68  and on the top surfaces of the conveyor belts  39 . 
     The guide rails  68  facilitate conveying of the carrier member  12  to the second return rollers  70  of the conveyor mechanism  38 , until a leading end  72  of the carrier member  12  abuts against a stop member  74 . Once the carrier member  12  abuts against the stop member  74 , a stop member sensor S 3  (not shown in detail) associated with the stop member  74  is activated and the computer C receives a signal which stops the conveyor motor CM from rotating the conveyor belts  39 . The conveyor mechanism  38  is generally provided with three sensors S 1 , S 2  and S 3 . A beam sensor S 2  is located midway along the conveyor mechanism  38  to output a signal to the computer C which causes the rotation of the conveyor motor CM to slow down since the carrier member  12  is approaching the assembly area  40 . 
     As noted above, there is a sensor S 3  associated with the stop member  74  which turns the conveyor motor CM off as soon as the stop member  74  is sufficiently engaged. Once this occurs, a clamping member, accommodated within the conveyor mechanism  38 , pivots from a lowered retracted position into an upper active clamping position in which the clamping mechanism  75  forces the carrier member  12  toward the stop member  74  to clamp the conveyed carrier member at the assembly area  40  to prevent carrier member  12  from being inadvertently moved or disturbed from its conveyed position at the assembly area  40 . The clamping mechanism is operated by a pneumatic cylinder (not numbered) and controlled by the computer C. Lastly, a first sensor S 1  is located adjacent the feed mechanism  34  for stopping the conveyor motor CM once the conveyor mechanism  38  has reconveyed the returned carrier member  12  so that it completely accommodated by the transfer assembly  54 . 
     To facilitate maintaining the elevator assembly  94  at a desired height, the first bin  44  or the second bin  44  is provided with high and low beam sensors H 1 , L 1  which are spaced apart from one another by a small distance, e.g. about {fraction (40/1000)} inch or so. The high and low beam sensors H 1 , L 1  provide an operating range at which the base surface  66  of the elevator assembly  88  or top surface of the topmost carrier member  12 , contained in the first bin  44  or the second bin  44 , is to be conveyed. The high and low beam sensors H 1 , L 1  are both coupled to the computer C (not shown in detail) to control operation of the elevator motor EM to convey the elevator assembly  88  to the desired operating height, e.g. an elevator assembly height such that a leading edge of an uppermost carrier member  12  or the base surface  66  of the elevator assembly  88  interrupts only the beam of the low beam sensor L 1  but does not block the beam of the high beam sensor H 1 . 
     The elevator assembly  88  is supported by two opposed pairs of endless chains  95  which rotate about fixed pulleys. The elevator assembly  88  is coupled to only one and the same side of each of the four endless chains  95  so that as the four endless chains  95  rotate, in either one direction or another, the elevator assembly  88  is correspondingly raised or lowered. A chain drive  97 , from the elevator motor EM, is coupled in a conventional manner to simultaneously drive all four endless chains  95 . As such drive arrangement is conventional and well known, a further detailed description concerning the same is not provided. 
     According to the first embodiment, the first bin  32  is provided with an empty sensor SE (not shown in detail), located adjacent the feed mechanism  34 , to signal the computer C that the first bin  32  is empty and a fresh supply of full carrier members is required while the second bin  44  is provided with a full sensor SF (not shown in detail), located remote from the feed mechanism  34 , to indicate that the second bin  44  is full of carrier members and needs to be emptied. In the second embodiment, the first bin  44  is provided with an empty sensor located adjacent the feed mechanism  34  (e.g. a sensor that detects the presence of the metal elevator assembly) to determine the location of the elevator and signal to the computer C that the first bin  44  is empty and a fresh supply of empty carrier members is required while the second bin  32  is provided with a full sensor SF, located remote from the feed mechanism  34 , to indicate that the second bin  32  is full of carrier members and needs to be emptied. 
     The elevator assembly  88  maintains the desired spacings between the conveying surface of the guide rails  68  of the conveyor mechanism  38  and either a base surface  66  of the second bin  44  or a top surface of the topmost carrier member  12  contained within the second bin  44 . Due to this constant spacing arrangement, it is ensured that as each carrier member  12  is collected within the second bin  44 , the second bin  44  is gradually indexed or moved downwardly away from the exit of the conveyor mechanism  38  to facilitate maintaining the desired spaces and ensure proper stacking of the carrier members  12 . Due to as it is discharged by the conveyor belt  39  of the transfer mechanism  54  is properly and gently deposited into the second bin  44  to facilitate collection of the carrier members  12  in a stacked array with one another for reuse. 
     With reference to FIGS. 4A,  5 A and  20 - 33 , a second embodiment of the present invention will now be described. Opposed inwardly facing longitudinal side walls of the second bin  32  supports a vertically lower first set of two opposed pairs of elongate, fixed pivots  90  (a total of four (4) lower fixed pivots) which are located with their top surfaces horizontally aligned with the conveying surface CS of the conveyor mechanism  38 . The first set of fixed pivots  90  are maintained in their normal horizontal extending orientation by a stop (not shown) and can only rotate vertically upward in one direction. Each of these first set of fixed pivots  90  protrudes inwardly toward one another a sufficient distance to facilitate support of a bottom edge surface of a carrier member  12  thereon at a level which is horizontally aligned with the conveyor mechanism  38  to facilitate both feeding, by the pushing surface  50 , of a carrier member  12  onto the conveyor mechanism  38  and receiving of a carrier member  12  from the conveyor mechanism  38 . In addition, the opposed inwardly facing longitudinal side walls of the second bin  32  supports a vertically upper second set of two opposed pairs of fixed pivots  92  (a total of four (4) upper fixed pivots) vertically above the first set of fixed pivots  90 . The second set of fixed pivots  92  are also maintained in their normal horizontal extending orientation by a stop (not shown) and can only rotate vertically upward in one direction. The first and second sets of fixed pivots  90 ,  92  are vertically spaced apart from one another (i.e. above one another) a sufficient distance to allow conveyance of a carrier member  12  from the first set of fixed pivots  90  to the second set of fixed pivots  92 , e.g. they are vertically spaced apart from one another a distance of about 0.875 inch or so. 
     The transfer assembly  54 , according to this second embodiment, includes a vertically lower first set of two opposed pairs of movable pivots  96  (a total of four (4) lower movable pivots). This first set of movable pivots  96  protrudes inwardly toward one another a sufficient distance to facilitate support of a carrier member  12  thereon. The first set of movable pivots  96  are also maintained in their normal horizontal extending orientation by a stop (not shown) and can only rotate vertically upward in one direction. In addition, the transfer assembly  54 , according to this second embodiment, also supports a vertically upper second set of two opposed pairs of movable pivots  98  (a total of four (4) upper movable pivots). The second set of movable pivots  98  are also maintained in their normal horizontal extending orientation by a stop (not shown) and can only rotate vertically upward in one direction. Both the first and second set of movable pivots  96 ,  98  of the transfer assembly  54  are spaced apart from one another an identical distance to the spacing of the first and second sets of fixed pivots  90 ,  92  in the second bin  32  to facilitate feeding of a carrier member  12 . The first and second set of fixed pivots  90 ,  92  are sandwiched between the first set and the second set of movable pivots  96 ,  98 , as can be seen in FIGS. 4A and 5A. In addition, the first set of fixed pivots  90  are elongate members to facilitate level conveying of the carrier member  12  to the conveyor mechanism  38  and receiving the carrier member  12  from the conveyor mechanism  38 . 
     When an empty carrier member  12  is required at the assembly area  40 , the feed mechanism is activated. As can be seen in FIG. 22, the inwardly facing leading edge of the first movable pivots  96  are aligned to engage with the transfer notches  49  of the topmost carrier member  12  in the first bin  44 . As the transfer assembly  54  moves vertically upward, such motion facilitates separation of the topmost carrier member  12 , contained within the first bin  44  from the next topmost carrier member  12 ′ (see FIGS.  23  and  24 ). The transfer assembly  54  continues to vertically raise the topmost carrier member  12  and eventually such vertical motion causes the lowermost fixed pivots  90  to rotate into a retracted position, within the side walls of second bin  32 , and allow the topmost carrier member  12  to pass thereby (see FIGS.  24  and  25 ). After the topmost carrier member  12  is conveyed past the first set of fixed pivots  90 , all four fixed pivots  90  re-pivot back to their extended gravity biased protruding normal horizontal positions in which they are located to support the elevated topmost carrier member  12  (see FIG.  26 ). The transfer assembly  54  then commences its return downward stroke back toward the first bin  44  and such return movement causes the lower movable pivots  96  of the transfer assembly  54  to eventually become disengaged from the elevated topmost carrier member  12  (see FIG. 27) and the elevated topmost carrier member  12  is then supported solely by the first set of fixed pivots  90 . Such return motion of the transfer assembly  54  also causes the second set of movable pivots  98  of the transfer assembly  54  to become retracted within the side wall as they pass by the elevated carrier member  12  until the transfer assembly  54  is returned back to its initial retracted position (see FIG.  28 ). Once the transfer assembly  54  is returned to this position, the pusher element  48  can facilitate loading of the elevated empty carrier member  12  from the first set of fixed pivots  90  onto the first section  36  of the conveyor mechanism for conveyance to the assembly area  40 , as described above. 
     After the emptied carrier member  12  is filled with desired components, at the assembly area  40 , the conveyor mechanism  38  is then reversed to reconvey the filled carrier member  12  back toward the first section  36  of the conveyor mechanism  38  and onto the first set of fixed pivots  90 . As the filled carrier member  12  enters the first set of fixed pivots  90 , the filled carrier member  12  is supported by the first set of fixed pivots  90 , as can be seen in FIG.  29 . Once this has occurred, the transfer assembly  54  is ready to convey another topmost emptied carrier member  12 , from the first bin  44 , for conveyance to the feed mechanism  34 . As this motion occurs, the first set of movable pivots  96  of the transfer assembly  54 , conveys a new topmost empty carrier member  12  vertically upward (see FIG. 30) toward the first set of fixed pivots  90 , in the same manner previously described. 
     Simultaneously while this motion is occurring, the second set of movable pivots  98  of the transfer assembly  54  engage with the filled carrier member  12 , returned from the assembly area  40 , via engagement with the respective transfer notches  49 . Due to such engagement, the second set of movable pivots  98  of the transfer assembly  54  raise the returned and filled carrier member  12  vertically upward, as can be seen in FIGS. 30 and 31, into the inlet of the second bin  32 . The transfer assembly  54  continues to raise the filled carrier member  12  to a level above that of the second set of fixed pivots  92  (see FIG.  31 ). 
     Such motion of the transfer assembly  54  initially causes the second set of fixed pivots  92  to pivot and become retracted within the side wall of the second bin  32 , as the filled carrier member  12  is conveyed there past, and the filled carrier member  12  is raise a sufficient distance which allows second set of fixed pivots  92  to re-pivot and return back to their initial spring biased horizontal positions, as can be seen in FIG.  31 . Once this has occurred, the transfer assembly  54  returns back to its initial lowered position, as can be seen in FIGS. 32 and 33. During such return stroke, the filled and elevated carrier member  12  is gently lowered onto the second set of fixed pivots  92  and eventually become solely supported by the second set of fixed pivots  92  (see FIG. 33) as the transfer assembly  54  returns back towards its initial lowered end position for reconveying another topmost carrier member  12  from the first bin  44  as well as simultaneously elevating another filled and returned carrier member  12  received from the assembly area  40 . 
     The first and second bins  32 ,  44  are designed to be loaded with a desired quantity of carrier members, e.g. about 40 thin JEDEC trays (see FIG. 3) or 20 thick JEDEC trays (see FIG.  3 A). Once the second bin  44  has collected a desired amount of stacked carrier members  12 , a door (not shown in detail) of the second bin  44  may be pivoted, via a pivot, to an open position to facilitate removal of the stacked carrier members  12  from the second bin  44 . Following this, the door is repivoted back to its vertical in use position to facilitate further collection of additional carrier members  12  in the first bin  44  or the second bin  44 . 
     It is to be appreciated that the pneumatic system  46 , as well as all of the motors disclosed above can be coupled to and controlled by the computer C (FIG.  4 ). The computer C can, in turn, be coupled to the automatic assembly system  2  so that when the automatic assembly system  2  desires additional components to be assembled, the computer C activates the conveyor mechanism  38 , of the present invention, to operate so that the emptied or filled carrier member  12  is conveyed from the assembly area  40  to the second bin  32 ,  44  and a further carrier member  12 , containing a new supply of components  18  to be assembled or for filling with a supply of components  18  to be assembled, is conveyed to the assembly area  40 . 
     The inventors also contemplate that a plurality of similar or identical conveying apparatuses  30 , according to the present invention, can be arranged side by side next to one another to supply various components to the automated assembly system  2  while occupying a minimal amount of working area within the automated assembly system. It is to be appreciated that the conveying apparatus  30 , according to the present invention, can be mounted on a stand, if desired, or can be secured directly to the automatic assembly system  2  by conventional mounting brackets. 
     While the pusher element  48  is described as being operated by a pneumatic cylinder, it is to be appreciated that the pusher element can be operated by an electric motor or any other known or conventional drive mechanism. 
     In the preferred form of the invention, the conveying apparatus  30 , according to the present invention, has a width dimension no greater than about 160 mm. This narrow width of the conveying apparatus  30  facilitates placing a plurality of conveying apparatuses in a side by side relationship adjacent to an access door for an automated assembly system. 
     According to a preferred form of the invention, the pivot notches  64 , supported by the lower surface of the transfer assembly  54 , project at an angle of about 4° relative to the side wall and the mating fixed pry surfaces  60  are also provided with a corresponding taper of about 4° relative to the side wall. 
     Since certain changes may be made in the above described conveying apparatus, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all of the subject matter of the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted merely as examples illustrating the inventive concept herein and shall not be construed as limiting the invention.