Carrier tape recycling apparatus and method of recycling carrier tape

An apparatus for recycling carrier tape, comprising:

• at least one tape reel configured for receiving a length of said carrier tape, said at least one tape reel having an axial thickness and including a hub extending between opposing disk-shaped side plates, each of said opposing side plates having an outer circumferential edge;
• a reel drive mechanism configured to receive said at least one tape reel and to rotationally drive said at least one tape reel at said outer circumferential edge of said each of said opposing side plates of said at least one tape reel;
• a frame configured to support said reel drive mechanism;
• at least two drive shafts, each of said at least two drive shafts having opposing ends supported by said frame on a first plane and an outer circumferential surface in contact with said outer circumferential edge of said each of said opposing side plates of said at least one tape reel;
• at least two guide shafts, each of said at least two guide shafts having opposing ends supported by said frame on a second plane above said first plane and an outer circumferential surface disposed proximate said outer circumferential edge of said each of said opposing side plates of said at least one tape reel;
• and
• an adjustable coupling disposed at each of said opposing ends of said at least two guide shafts configured to secure said each of said opposing ends of said at least two guide shafts to said frame.

An apparatus for receiving bare carrier tape from a manufacturing system dispensing bare carrier tape from a plurality of feed lines, said apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of tape reels, said plurality of tape reels including at least one tape reel for receiving bare carrier tape from each feed line of said plurality of feed lines dispensing bare carrier tape from said manufacturing system;
• a reel drive mechanism configured to rotate each tape reel of said plurality of tape reels independent of rotation of all other tape reels of said plurality of tape reels;
• a housing configured to support said reel drive mechanism;
• at least two drive shafts, each of said at least two drive shafts having opposing ends supported by said housing on a first plane and an outer circumferential surface located for contact with said outer circumferential edges of said at least one tape reel;
• at least two guide shafts, each of said at least two guide shafts having opposing ends supported by said housing on a second plane above said first plane and an outer circumferential surface located to be in proximity to an outer circumferential edge of said at least one tape reel;
• and
• an adjustable coupling disposed at each of said opposing ends of said at least two guide shafts configured to secure said each of said opposing ends of said at least two guide shafts to said housing.

A method of recycling a length of bare carrier tape, comprising:

• attaching an end of said length of bare carrier tape to a hub of a tape reel;
• supporting an outer cylindrical surface of said tape reel between at least two guide shafts mounted on a first plane;
• imparting frictional forces to said outer cylindrical surface of said tape reel with at least two drive shafts mounted on a second plane below said first plane to rotate said tape reel and to wind said length of bare carrier tape around said hub of said tape reel;
• and
• sensing a quantity of bare carrier tape wound on said hub of said tape reel.

A method of winding carrier tape onto a tape reel, comprising:

• securing an end of said carrier tape to a hub of said tape reel;
• adjusting at least two guide shafts extending transversely to said tape reel such that said at least two guide shafts support a circumferential edge of said tape reel;
• and
• rotating said tape reel with at least two drive shafts to wind said carrier tape around said hub of said tape reel.

A method of recycling carrier tape dispensed from a plurality of feed lines of a manufacturing system, comprising:

• securing an end of said carrier tape dispensing from one feed line of said plurality of feed lines to a hub of a first tape reel;
• securing an end of said carrier tape dispensing from at least one other feed line of said plurality of feed lines to a hub of another tape reel;
• supporting an outer cylindrical surface of said first tape reel and an outer cylindrical surface of said another tape reel between at least two guide shafts;
• imparting frictional forces to an outer cylindrical surface of said first tape reel with at least two drive shafts to rotate said first tape reel and to wind said carrier tape dispensing from said one feed line around said hub of said first tape reel;
• imparting frictional forces to an outer cylindrical surface of said another tape reel with said at least two drive shafts to rotate said another tape reel to wind said carrier tape dispensing from said at least one other feed line around said hub of said another tape reel;
• and
• sensing a quantity of carrier tape wound on at least one of said first tape reel and said another tape reel.

A method of recycling carrier tape flowing from a plurality of feed lines of a manufacturing system, comprising:

• providing an apparatus having a reel drive mechanism configured to receive and rotationally drive a plurality of tape reels;
• disposing a plurality of tape reels in said reel drive mechanism;
• supporting an outer circular surface of each tape reel of said plurality of tape reels between at least two guide shafts on a first plane;
• contacting said outer circular surface of each tape reel of said plurality of tape reels against at least two drive surfaces of said reel drive mechanism, said at least two drive surfaces located on a second plane below said first plane;
• securing an end of carrier tape flowing from each feed line of said plurality of feed lines to one tape reel of said plurality of tape reels;
• rotating said at least two drive surfaces of said reel drive mechanism to impart frictional forces to said outer circular surface of said each tape reel and to rotate said each tape reel;
• and
• winding said carrier tape flowing from said each feed line onto a corresponding said one tape reel.