Carrier tape with adhesive and protective walls
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorJames L. Schenz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flexible carrier tape used for protecting components while they are being transported, wherein the carrier tape comprises a strip portion having a component-receiving surface and first and second longitudinal edge surfaces. A plurality of walls extend from the component-receiving surface between the first and second longitudinal edge surfaces, and the walls extend longitudinally along the carrier tape. The carrier tape further comprises an adhesive on at least a portion of the component-receiving surface between at least one of the plurality of walls and one of the first and second longitudinal edge surfaces.
Claims24
An elongated flexible carrier tape for transporting a plurality of components, the carrier tape having a length and comprising:
- a strip portion comprising a component-receiving surface and first and second longitudinal edge surfaces;
- a plurality of walls extending from the component-receiving surface between the first and second longitudinal edge surfaces and extending longitudinally along the carrier tape, wherein each of the walls comprises a top surface spaced from the component-receiving surface, and wherein the top surface of each of the walls is spaced from the top surface of each adjacent wall in a longitudinal direction of the tape;
- and
- an adhesive on at least a portion of the component-receiving surface between at least one of the plurality of walls and one of the first and second longitudinal edge surfaces.
An elongated flexible carrier tape for advancement by an advancement mechanism and for transporting a plurality of components, the carrier tape having a length and comprising:
- a strip portion comprising a component-receiving surface, first and second longitudinal edge surfaces, and a means for advancing the carrier tape by an advancement mechanism;
- a plurality of wall pairs extending from the component-receiving surface between the first and second edge surfaces, wherein at least one of the plurality of wall pairs comprises a first wall and a second wall, at least a portion of the first wall being transversely opposite at least a portion of the second wall, wherein the first and second walls of at least one of the plurality of wall pairs are adjacent to the first and second longitudinal edge surfaces, respectively, wherein each of the walls comprises a top surface spaced from the component-receiving surface, wherein the top surface of each of the walls is spaced from the top surface of each adjacent wall in a longitudinal direction of the carrier tape;
- a plurality of component storage areas provided on the component-receiving surface wherein at least one of the component storage areas is defined as the area between the first wall and the second wall of at least one of the plurality of wall pairs;
- and
- an adhesive in at least one of the plurality of component storage areas for releasably attaching a component to the component-receiving surface.
A method of loading components into a carrier tape for seriatim delivery by an advancement mechanism, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an elongated flexible carrier tape, the carrier tape comprising:
- a strip portion comprising a component-receiving surface and first and second longitudinal edge surfaces;
- a plurality of walls extending from the component-receiving surface between the first and second edge surfaces and extending longitudinally along the carrier tape, wherein each of the walls compromises a top surface spaced from the component-receiveng surface, and wherein the top surface of each of the walls is spaced from the top surface of each adjacent wall in longitudinal direction of the tape;
- and
- an adhesive on at least a portion of the component-receiving surface between at least one of the plurality of walls and one of the first and second longitudinal edge surfaces;
- and
- (b) placing at least one component on the adhesive.
A method of protecting components on a carrier tape wound about the hub of a reel, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a carrier tape comprising a strip portion having a component-receiving surface, a rear surface, and first and second longitudinal edge surfaces, a plurality of walls extending from the component-receiving surface between the first and second longitudinal edge surfaces and extending longitudinally along the carrier tape, wherein each of the walls comprises a top surface spaced from the component-receiving surface, and wherein the top surface of each of the walls is spaced from the top surface of each adjacent wall in a longitudinal direction of the tape, and an adhesive on at least a portion of the component-receiving surface between at least one of the plurality of walls and one of the first and second longitudinal edge surfaces;
- placing at least one component on the adhesive;
- and
- winding the carrier tape about the hub of a reel so as to provide a plurality of carrier tape windings, wherein the plurality of walls in one winding engage the rear surface of the strip portion in an adjacent winding to protect the at least one component from contacting the rear surface of the strip portion of the adjacent winding.
An elongated flexible carrier tape for transporting a plurality of components, the carrier tape having a length and comprising:
- a strip portion comprising a component-receiving surface and first and second longitudinal edge surfaces;
- a plurality of walls extending from the component-receiving surface between the first and second longitudinal edge surfaces and extending longitudinally along the carrier tape;
- an adhesive on at least a portion of the component-receiving surface between at least one of the plurality of walls and one of the first and second longitudinal edge surfaces;
- and
- at least one reinforcing rib extending from a surface of the carrier tape opposite the component-receiving surface in a direction transverse to the longitudinal edge surfaces of the carrier tape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.