An integrated circuit taping system, comprising: a tray carrier system, comprising: a tray loading position 112, a tray off-loading position 114, four parallel rails extending from the tray loading position to the tray offloading position, a tray carrier platform mounted on each rail, each tray carrier platform configured to move along the rail on which it is disposed between the tray loading position and the tray off-loading position, each tray carrier platform comprising, a carriage for engaging the rail, swing arms attached to the carriage, retaining pieces attached to the swing arms for selectively retaining and releasing a tray, and means for moving the swing arms between an open position and a closed position, where the retaining pieces retain the tray at a tray level when the swing arms are in the closed position, and the retaining pieces release the tray and are disposed entirely below the tray level when the swing arms are in the open position, and two of the tray carrier platforms comprising a first tray carrier unit and other two of the tray carrier platforms comprising a second tray carrier unit, where the first tray carrier unit is capable of passing underneath a tray carried by the second tray carrier unit in the closed position when the first tray carrier unit is in the open position. a tray carrier system, comprising: a tray loading position 112, a tray off-loading position 114, four parallel rails extending from the tray loading position to the tray offloading position, a tray carrier platform mounted on each rail, each tray carrier platform configured to move along the rail on which it is disposed between the tray loading position and the tray off-loading position, each tray carrier platform comprising, a carriage for engaging the rail, swing arms attached to the carriage, retaining pieces attached to the swing arms for selectively retaining and releasing a tray, and means for moving the swing arms between an open position and a closed position, where the retaining pieces retain the tray at a tray level when the swing arms are in the closed position, and the retaining pieces release the tray and are disposed entirely below the tray level when the swing arms are in the open position, and a tray loading position 112, a tray off-loading position 114, four parallel rails extending from the tray loading position to the tray offloading position, a tray carrier platform mounted on each rail, each tray carrier platform configured to move along the rail on which it is disposed between the tray loading position and the tray off-loading position, each tray carrier platform comprising, a carriage for engaging the rail, swing arms attached to the carriage, retaining pieces attached to the swing arms for selectively retaining and releasing a tray, and means for moving the swing arms between an open position and a closed position, where the retaining pieces retain the tray at a tray level when the swing arms are in the closed position, and the retaining pieces release the tray and are disposed entirely below the tray level when the swing arms are in the open position, and mounted on each rail, each tray carrier platform configured to move along the rail on which it is disposed between the tray loading position and the tray off-loading position, each tray carrier platform comprising, a carriage for engaging the rail, swing arms attached to the carriage, retaining pieces a carriage for engaging the rail, swing arms attached to the carriage, retaining pieces attached to the swing arms for selectively retaining and releasing a tray, and means for moving the swing arms between an open position and a closed position, where the retaining pieces retain the tray at a tray level when the swing arms are in the closed position, and the retaining pieces release the tray and are disposed entirely below the tray level when the swing arms are in the open position, and releasing a tray, and means for moving the swing arms between an open position and a closed position, where the retaining pieces retain the tray at a tray level when the swing arms are in the closed position, and the retaining pieces release the tray and are disposed entirely below the tray level when the swing arms are in the open position, and two of the tray carrier platforms comprising a first tray carrier unit and other two of the tray carrier platforms comprising a second tray carrier unit, where the first tray carrier unit is capable of passing underneath a tray carried by the second tray carrier unit in the closed position when the first tray carrier unit is in the open position.