Selecting articles from an array thereof

摘要

An assembly is provided for selecting at least one vertically oriented planate article such as a disc-shaped wafer (10) from an array of such wafers. A carrier (20) holds the wafers (10) in a mutually spaced, substantially parallel relationship along a single horizontal file. Peripheral portions of each wafer (10) are supported in opposing guides (26) formed generally vertically along opposing first and second sidewalls (22) and (24), respectively, of the carrier (20). A frame (42) positions the carrier (20) so the file of wafers (10) extends substantially along a vertical plane (44) passing generally centrally of each wafer and of the frame (32). A rotatable shaft (62) extends parallel to the file and subjacent of the wafers (10). For selecting a singular wafer (10), at least one cam (64) is mounted to and rotates with the shaft (62) for engaging and displacing a randomly selected wafer (10) a desired distance upwardly along the guides (26) of the carrier (20). For selecting groups of wafers (10), for example every third wafer (10) in the file, a plurality of cams (64) are mounted to shaft (62). Then one such cam (64) is located in a plane passing through every third wafer (10) starting with a desired wafer, such as the lead wafer in the file. The rotatable shaft (62) is also indexable so that a single cam (64) or a plurality of such cams may be serially or randomly located along the file in cycles to optionally provide access to all wafers (10) in the file.