US 6,162,007 A · Apparatus for feeding electronic component tape

Abstract

The invented apparatus includes at least one feeder and a base unit for successively advancing one or more tapes containing electronic components so that such components can be extracted by a pick-up device for installation in circuit boards, for example. The feeder can include a body, a sprocket, a slider, and a one-way drive member. The body defines a guide through which a tape extends, and its sprocket is rotatably mounted in the body so that its teeth engage with and advance the tape if the sprocket is rotated. The drive member is mounted to the slider, and the slider is mounted to reciprocate in the body. The slider moves the drive member into contact with sprocket to rotate the sprocket by an amount sufficient to advance the tape by one interval to expose the next electronic component for extraction from the feeder. The apparatus' base unit can include at least one sensor, a controller, and at least one solenoid unit. The sensor generates a signal to indicate the release of pressure on the feeder as a pick-up device moves away from the feeder to extract an electronic component from the tape. After a predetermined time delay sufficient to permit the pick-up device to move clear of the feeder, the controller generates controls signals supplied to at least one solenoid unit to reciprocate the feeder's slider to advance the tape. The feeder can also include a mechanism that compacts the cover tape removed from a carrier tape for electronic components, into a string-like configuration for ready disposal, and a mechanism which prevents an electronic component from escaping the feeder before extraction by the pick-up device. The invention also includes related feeders and methods.

Claims42

Dependent claims

An apparatus for feeding electronic components positioned at intervals on a tape for extraction by a pick-up device, the apparatus comprising:

a feeder receiving the tape, the feeder defining a plurality of spaced bores, the feeder including:
a body defining a guide to receive the tape, the guide further defining a pick-up window to permit extraction of an electronic component exposed in the pick-up window from the tape;
a sprocket rotatably mounted in the body, the sprocket having a circumferential edge positioned at least approximately tangentially to a surface of the guide, the circumferential edge having teeth extending into perforations defined in the tape;
a slider slidably mounted to reciprocate in the body in a direction at least approximately tangential to the circumferential edge of the sprocket;
a drive member mounted to the slider;
and
a base unit having a plurality of spaced posts adapted to be received in the bores of the feeder, the base unit including a pressure sensor positioned in close proximity to the feeder if the feeder is positioned on the base unit, the pressure sensor generating a signal that is activated by the pick-up device exerting pressure against the feeder to extract an electronic component, and that generates a signal that is deactivated by release of pressure exerted against the feeder as the pick-up device moves away from the feeder to extract the electronic component from the tape, the base unit driving the slider to reciprocate to cause the drive member to engage with and rotate the sprocket in one direction to advance the tape by an interval to expose the next electronic component in the tape for extraction by the pick-up device, based on the deactivation of the signal from the sensor.

4 more elements

A feeder for feeding electronic components positioned at intervals on a tape for extraction by a pick-up device, the feeder driven by a base unit, the feeder comprising:

a body defining a guide to receive the tape, the body defining spaced bores to receive respective spaced posts of the base unit;
a sprocket rotatably mounted in the body, the sprocket having a circumferential edge positioned at least approximately tangential to a surface of the guide upon which the tape is positioned, the circumferential edge of the sprocket having teeth, the teeth extending through perforations defined in the tape;
a slider slidably mounted to reciprocate between first and second positions in the body along a direction that is at least approximately tangential to the sprocket's circumferential edge;
and
a drive member mounted to the slider, the drive member engaging and rotating the sprocket by an amount sufficient to advance the tape in the guide by an interval if the slider is moved from the first position to the second position, the drive member not rotating the wheel if the slider is moved from the second position to the first position.

2 more elements

An apparatus for feeding tapes for holding electronic components positioned at intervals along the tapes for extraction by at least one pick-up device, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of feeders for feeding respective tapes, the feeders defining respective spaced bores;
and
a base unit adapted to receive the feeders, the base unit including
a plurality of spaced posts adapted to receive respective feeders in the spaced bores thereof;
a plurality of pressure sensors positioned in association with respective spaced posts to detect exertion of pressure by the pick-up device against the respective feeders as such device moves toward the feeder to extract an electronic component from the tape, and to detect release of pressure exerted by the pick-up device against the respective feeders as such device moves away from the respective feeder to extract the electronic component from the feeders' respective tapes;
a controller electrically coupled to receive the signals from the pressure sensors, and generating at least one control signal, based on the signals from the pressure sensors;
and
at least one solenoid unit electrically coupled to the controller, the solenoid unit driving the feeders to advance respective tapes by an interval, based on the control signal.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for feeding electronic component tape

Life of this patent

Apparatus for feeding electronic component tape

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims42