US 5,956,925 AGranted

Carrier tape and method for washing of components in carrier tape

AssigneeBMI, Inc.

InventorRobert Raymond Ruble, III

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Abstract

A carrier tape suitable for facilitating in-line washing of components for use in pick-and-place operations. The components are loaded into their respective pockets after emerging from one or more forming machines, with the components having lubricant remaining thereon, and are placed into respective pockets of the carrier tape with lubricant remaining on the components. The carrier tape has a plurality of pockets for receiving respective components, with the pockets having washing openings through which cleaning fluid is imparted to the components and allowed to drain from the pockets as the pockets are passed through washing and drying stations. After being washed and dried, a cover strip is detachably adhered to the carrier tape to maintain the components in their respective pockets.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A method for producing a carrier strip having cleaned components disposed therein, the method comprising:

forming said components in one or more forming machines, at least one of which forming machines utilizes machining lubricant;
providing a strip portion of a carrier strip having a top surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of pockets formed in the strip portion and spaced along the strip portion for receiving and carrying respective ones of said components, with said plurality of pockets each having an upper removal opening through the upper surface to allow removal of the components from their respective pockets through said upper openings for automated pick-and-place operations, and said plurality of pockets each having a washing opening through the bottom surface;
inserting the formed components, having machining lubricant thereon from the forming machines, into respective pockets of the strip portion;
and
washing at least a substantial portion of the machining lubricant from the components while the components are maintained within their respective pockets, through the washing opening in the strip portion.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.