Patent ID: 7066314

Claim:
A carrier for holding and transporting electronic components in a belt having a belt surface and belt apertures therein to form internal edges for receiving such carriers, the electronic components having component dimensions, and the belt being adapted to be moved by one or more belt translation mechanisms to pass through one or more component processing stations, comprising: a substructure including a body and multiple support holes therein, each support hole having at least one support hole dimension that is greater than one of the component dimensions, the body having body perimeter dimensions that are smaller than or equal to corresponding dimensions of a belt aperture; a flange connected to or integrated with the substructure, the flange extending outwardly from the body and having a flange dimension adapted to overhang an internal edge of the belt; a resilient coating that is less rigid than, and supported by, the substructure and has receiving holes that are coaxial with the support holes, each receiving hole having a receiving dimension that is smaller than the support hole dimension and that is adapted to elastically hold one of the electronic components; and a projection that is adapted in cooperation with the flange to engage the internal edge of the belt to brace the carrier within the belt and is adapted to permit carrier disengagement from the belt, the projection having a different characteristic than the flange.