Apparatus for handling and maintaining the orientation of a matrix of miniature electrical devices

Claim 2

Apparatus for holding a matrix of articles to be washed by a fluid, said apparatus comprising: a. a housing, one end of said housing having a pattern of apertures extending therethrough, said end being adapted to engage said matrix of articles, b. a chamber within said housing and adapted to communicate with said matrix of articles through said pattern of apertures, c. conduit means communicating between said chamber and a source of vacuum to hold said matrix of articles in contact with the apertured end of said housing or selectively communicating between said chamber and a source of fluid to wash said matrix of articles through said pattern of apertures.

Claim 3

Apparatus as in claim 1, said apertures being smaller than said articles.

Claim 4

Apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising: d. fastening means on said housing adapted to hold said matrix of articles in contact with the apertured end of said housing when said conduit means has been disconnected from said source of vacuum.

Claim 5

Apparatus for holding a matrix of articles to be washed by a fluid, said apparatus comprising: a. a housing having a first end and a second end, b. a first transparent plate mounted to the first end of said housing, c. a second light-pervious plate mounted to the second end of said housing, said second plate having a pattern of apertures extending completely therethrough and adapted to correspond with said matrix of articles, said second plate being adapted to engage said matrix of articles, d. a chamber within said housing between said first and second plates and adapted to communicate with said matrix of articles through said pattern of apertures, e. conduit means communicating between said chamber and a source of vacuum to hold said matrix of articles in contact with said second plate or selectively communicating between said chamber and a source of fluid to wash said matrix of articles through said pattern of apertures, f. said first transparent plate and said second light-pervious plate providing an optical path adapted to permit visual comparison of the relative positions of the matrix of articles and the pattern of apertures.

Claim 6

Apparatus for holding a matrix of articles to be washed by a fluid, said apparatus comprising: a. a housing having a first end and a second end, b. a first transparent plate mounted to the first end of said housing, c. a second light-pervious plate mounted to the second end of said housing, said second plate having a pattern of apertures extending completely therethrough and adapted to correspond with said matrix of articles, said second plate being adapted to engage said matrix of articles, d. a chamber within said housing between said first and second plates and adapted to communicate with said matrix of articles through said pattern of apertures, e. conduit means communicating between said chamber and a source of vacuum to hold said matrix of articles in contact with said second plate or selectively communicating between said chamber and a source of fluid to wash said matrix of articles through said pattern of apertures, f. said first transparent plate and said second light-pervious plate providing an optical path adapted to permit visual comparison of the relative positions of the matrix of articles and the pattern of apertures.

Claim 7

Apparatus as in claim 4, said apertures being smaller than said articles.

Claim 8

Apparatus as in claim 4, further comprising: g. fastening means on said housing adapted to hold said matrix of articles in contact with said second plate when said conduit means has been disconnected from said source of vacuum.

Claim 9

Apparatus for holding a planar matrix of beam lead devices to be washed bY a fluid, each of said beam lead devices having a plurality of beam leads extending beyond the perimeter thereof, said apparatus comprising: a. a block, b. a pattern of mesas extending from one face of said block, the tops of said mesas lying in one common plane, the pattern of mesas being adapted to register with and support the matrix of beam lead devices, c. a pattern of channels among said mesas and adapted to underly said beam leads when said matrix of beam lead devices is registered with and supported by said pattern of mesas, d. said pattern of channels providing passageways for fluid to wash said beam lead devices, e. a plurality of apertures extending through said block to the faces of said mesas, f. means to apply a vacuum to said apertures to hold said matrix of beam lead devices to the faces of said mesas.

Claim 10

Apparatus for holding a planar matrix of beam lead devices to be washed bY a fluid, each of said beam lead devices having a plurality of beam leads extending beyond the perimeter thereof, said apparatus comprising: a. a block, b. a pattern of mesas extending from one face of said block, the tops of said mesas lying in one common plane, the pattern of mesas being adapted to register with and support the matrix of beam lead devices, c. a pattern of channels among said mesas and adapted to underly said beam leads when said matrix of beam lead devices is registered with and supported by said pattern of mesas, d. said pattern of channels providing passageways for fluid to wash said beam lead devices, e. a plurality of apertures extending through said block to the faces of said mesas, f. means to apply a vacuum to said apertures to hold said matrix of beam lead devices to the faces of said mesas.

Claim 11

Apparatus as in claim 7, further comprising: g. said block and mesas being formed from magnetic material, h. a magnetic grid adapted to be attracted by said magnetic block and mesas, said magnetic grid being adapted to register with said pattern of channels and overly said beam leads extending over said pattern of channels.

Claim 12

Apparatus for holding a planar matrix of beam lead devices to be washed by a fluid, each of said beam lead devices having a plurality of beam leads extending beyond the perimeter thereof, said apparatus comprising: a. a block, b. a pattern of mesas extending from one face of said block, the tops of said mesas lying in one common plane, the pattern of mesas being adapted to register with and support the matrix of beam lead devices, c. said block and mesas being formed from magnetic material, d. a pattern of channels among said mesas and adapted to underly said beam leads when said matrix of beam lead devices is registered with and supported by said pattern of mesas, e. said pattern of channels providing passageways for fluid to wash said beam lead devices, f. a magnetic grid adapted to be attracted by said magnetic block and mesas, said magnetic grid being adapted to register with said pattern of channels and overly said beam leads extending over said pattern of channels.

Claim 13

Apparatus for holding a planar matrix of beam lead devices to be washed by a fluid, each of said beam lead devices having a plurality of beam leads extending beyond the perimeter thereof, said apparatus comprising: a. a block, b. a pattern of mesas extending from one face of said block, the tops of said mesas lying in one common plane, the pattern of mesas being adapted to register with and support the matrix of beam lead devices, c. said block and mesas being formed from magnetic material, d. a pattern of channels among said mesas and adapted to underly said beam leads when said matrix of beam lead devices is registered with and supported by said pattern of mesas, e. said pattern of channels providing passageways for fluid to wash said beam lead devices, f. a magnetic grid adapted to be attracted by said magnetic block and mesas, said magnetic grid being adapted to register with said pattern of channels and overly said beam leads extending over said pattern of channels.