Tape feeder with splicing capabilities

A carrier tape feeder, comprising:

• a carrier tape reel support for supporting carrier tape;
• a guide for guiding said carrier tape from a carrier tape reel to a tape guide at a pick location;
• a carrier tape drive mechanism for advancing said carrier tape through said tape guide;
• a peel edge for peeling a cover tape from a surface of the carrier tape;
• a cover tape take-up reel disposed subsequent to said peel edge for receiving a cover tape peeled from the surface of the advancing carrier tape;
• a system for determining the state of fill of the cover tape take-up reel, including:
• a take-up reel drive motor for rotating said cover tape take-up reel in association with the advancement of a carrier tape;
• a spring-loaded peel arm having at least one roller disposed thereon, wherein said roller is disposed between the peel edge and the take-up reel and where the cover tape is wound at least partially about the roller such that advancement of the take-up reel results in the movement of the peel arm about a pivot point;
• a sensor for sensing the rotation of the peel arm;
• a take-up reel drive controller for initiating the rotation of the take-up reel at the time of advancement of the cover tape;
• and
• a calculator for estimating the state of fill of the take-up reel as a function of the relationship between the initiation of the rotation of the take-up reel and the signal produced by said sensor.