Tape connecting method, member and tool

An apparatus for connecting respective one end portions of a first tape and a second tape, to each other, each of the first and second tapes having a plurality of tape-feed holes at a first pitch, the apparatus comprising:

• a tape connecting member;
• and
• a tape connecting tool,
• the tape connecting member including:
• a flat main portion which has a plurality of tape-feed holes at a second pitch, and
• a plurality of flat to-be-caulked projections which project from the flat main portion in a direction perpendicular thereto,
• wherein the tape connecting member is aligned with the respective one end portions of the first and second tapes, such that at least one first hole of the tape-feed holes of the tape connecting member is aligned with at least one of the tape-feed holes of the first tape and at least one second hole of the tape-feed holes of the tape connecting member is aligned with at least one of the tape-feed holes of the second tape,
• the tape connecting tool including:
• a pair of pressing plates having respective pressing surfaces which are opposed to each other,
• a pressing mechanism which supports the two pressing plates such that the two pressing plates are movable toward, and away from, each other and which moves the respective pressing surfaces of the two pressing plates toward opposite surfaces of each of the respective one end portions of the first and second tapes, respectively,
• a plurality of positioning projections which project, in an array, from one of the respective pressing surfaces of the two pressing plates, and which fit in said first and second tape-feed holes of the tape connecting member, said at least one tape-feed hole of the first tape and said at least one tape-feed hole of the second tape and thereby position the tape connecting member and the first and second tapes relative to one of the two pressing plates which has said one pressing surface, and
• a plurality of receiving holes which are formed in the other pressing surface such that the receiving holes are opposed to the positioning projections, respectively, and which receive the positioning projections, respectively, which pass through the first and second tape-feed holes of the tape connecting member and the respective tape-feed holes of the first and second tapes, when the two pressing plates are moved toward each other by the pressing mechanism,
• wherein when the two pressing plates are moved toward each other by the pressing mechanism, at least one first projection of the to-be-caulked projections of the tape connecting member penetrates through a thickness of the first tape, at least one second projection of the to-be-caulked projections penetrates through a thickness of the second tape, the flat main portion of the tape connecting member contacts one of the opposite surfaces of the first tape and one of the opposite surfaces of the second tape, and respective portions of the first and second projections that penetrate out of the respective other surfaces of the first and second tapes are caulked by the other pressing surface, so that the respective one end portions of the first and second tapes are connected to each other with the tape connecting member.

A tape connecting tool for connecting, with a tape connecting member, respective one end portions of a first tape and a second tape, to each other, each of the first and second tapes having a plurality of tape-feed holes at a first pitch, the tape connecting member including a flat main portion having a plurality of tape-feed holes at a second pitch, and additionally including a plurality of to-be-caulked projections projecting from the flat main portion in a direction perpendicular thereto, the tape connecting member being aligned with the respective one end portions of the first and second tapes, such that at least one first hole of the tape-feed holes of the tape connecting member is aligned with at least one of the tape-feed holes of the first tape and at least one second hole of the tape-feed holes of the tape connecting member is aligned with at least one of the tape-feed holes of the second tape, the tape connecting tool comprising:

• a pair of pressing plates having respective pressing surfaces which are opposed to each other;
• a pressing mechanism including a first lever having an elongate shape;
• a second lever having an elongate shape;
• and a lever connecting portion which connects the first lever and the second lever to each other such that one of lengthwise opposite end portions of the first lever and a corresponding one of lengthwise opposite end portions of the second lever are movable toward, and away from, each other, said one end portion of the first lever and said one end portion of the second lever supporting the two pressing plates, respectively, so that the two pressing plates are movable toward, and away from, each other, the pressing mechanism moving the respective pressing surfaces of the two pressing plates toward opposite surfaces of each of the respective end portions of the first and second tapes, respectively;
• a plurality of positioning projections which project from one of the respective pressing surfaces of the two pressing plates, and which fit in said first and second tape-feed holes of the tape connecting member, said at least one of the tape-feed holes of the first tape and said at least one of the tape-feed holes of the second tape and thereby position the tape connecting member and the first and second tapes relative to one of the two pressing plates which has said one pressing surface;
• and
• the other of the two pressing plates having a plurality of caulking surfaces that are inclined with respect to the other of the respective pressing surfaces,
• wherein the positioning projections pass through the first and second tape-feed holes of the tape connecting member and the respective tape-feed holes of the first and second tapes, so that when the two pressing plates are moved toward each other by the pressing mechanism, at least one first projection of the to-be-caulked projections of the tape connecting member penetrates through a thickness of the first tape, at least one second projection of the to-be-caulked projections penetrates through a thickness of the second tape, the flat main portion of the tape connecting member contacts one of the opposite surfaces of the first tape and one of the opposite surfaces of the second tape, and respective portions of the first and second projections that penetrate out of the respective other surfaces of the first and second tapes are caulked by the caulking surfaces of the other pressing plate, respectively, so that the respective one end portions of the first and second carrier tapes are connected to each other with the tape connecting member.

A tape connecting tool for connecting, with a tape connecting member, respective one end portions of a first tape and a second tape, to each other, each of the first and second tapes having a plurality of tape-feed holes at a first pitch, the tape connecting member including a flat main portion having a plurality of tape-feed holes at a second pitch, and additionally including a plurality of to-be-caulked projections projecting from the flat main portion in a direction perpendicular thereto, the tape connecting member being aligned with the respective one end portions of the first and second tapes, such that at least one first hole of the tape-feed holes of the tape connecting member is aligned with at least one of the tape-feed holes of the first tape and at least one second hole of the tape-feed holes of the tape connecting member is aligned with at least one of the tape-feed holes of the second tape, the tape connecting tool comprising:

• a pair of pressing plates having respective pressing surfaces which are opposed to each other;
• a pressing mechanism including a first lever having an elongate shape;
• a second lever having an elongate shape;
• and a lever connecting portion which connects the first lever and the second lever to each other such that one of lengthwise opposite end portions of the first lever and a corresponding one of lengthwise opposite end portions of the second lever are movable toward, and away from, each other, said one end portion of the first lever and said one end portion of the second lever supporting the two pressing plates, respectively, so that the two pressing plates are movable toward, and away from, each other, the pressing mechanism moving the respective pressing surfaces of the two pressing plates toward opposite surfaces of each of the respective end portions of the first and second tapes, respectively;
• and
• a plurality of positioning projections which project from one of the respective pressing surfaces of the two pressing plates, and are arranged in an array in a widthwise direction of each of the first and second levers, and which fit in said first and second tape-feed holes of the tape connecting member, said at least one of the tape-feed holes of the first tape and said at least one of the tape-feed holes of the second tape and thereby position the tape connecting member and the first and second tapes relative to one of the two pressing plates which has said one pressing surface,
• wherein the positioning projections pass through the first and second tape-feed holes of the tape connecting member and the respective tape-feed holes of the first and second tapes, so that when the two pressing plates are moved toward each other by the pressing mechanism, at least one first projection of the to-be-caulked projections of the tape connecting member penetrates through a thickness of the first tape, at least one second projection of the to-be-caulked projections penetrates through a thickness of the second tape, the flat main portion of the tape connecting member contacts one of the opposite surfaces of the first tape and one of the opposite surfaces of the second tape, and respective portions of the first and second projections that penetrate out of the respective other surfaces of the first and second tapes are caulked by the other pressing surface, so that the respective one end portions of the first and second tapes are connected to each other with the tape connecting member.