Tape guide and magazine at a component machine

A tape guide for guiding a carrier tape in a component mounting machine, the carrier tape being wound on a carrier tape reel and carrying components positioned in sequence and covered by a cover, the tape guide being arranged for ready attachment and detachment into a tape magazine or a component mounting machine having first locking means, the tape guide comprising

• second locking means for interaction with said first locking means for enabling said ready attachment and detachment,
• carrier tape retaining means for preventing accidental removal of the carrier tape from the tape guide when the tape guide is located away from the component mounting machine, and
• exposure means for exposing the components at a picking position,
• wherein the tape guide is arranged for allowing feeding means provided in the magazine or the component mounting machine to engage with the carrier tape for feeding the carrier tape towards a picking position.

A tape guide for guiding a carrier tape components to a component mounting machine, the carrier tape carrying components positioned in sequence and covered by a cover, the carrier tape being wound on a carrier tape reel, wherein the tape guide is formed by an elongated body comprising

• proximal and distal locking elements for interaction with corresponding locking elements in a tape magazine or a component mounting machine for enabling ready attachment and detachment of a tape guide into the tape magazine or a component mounting machine, the proximal and distal locking means being provided spaced apart along the length of the elongated body,
• an intermediate portion adapted for receiving feeding means for engagement with and feeding said carrier tape towards a picking position, wherein said intermediate portion is located between the proximal locking means and the distal locking means,
• carrier tape retaining means for preventing accidental removal of the carrier tape from the tape guide when the tape guide is located away from the component mounting machine, and
• exposure means for exposing the components at a picking position.

A system for mounting components on a substrate, the components being provided on a carrier tape carrying components positioned in sequence and covered by a cover, the carrier tape being wound on a carrier tape reel, comprising:

• a component mounting machine for picking components from said carrier tape and placing them on a substrate;
• a component tape magazine arranged to be loaded into said component mounting machine, the magazine comprising a receptor for receiving at least one carrier tape reel, a feeding mechanism arranged for engagement with holes provided on the carrier tape of each of said at least one carrier tape reel for feeding the carrier tape towards a picking position in said component mounting machine, and a first lock for enabling ready attachment and detachment of at least one tape guide attached to said at least one carrier tape reel into the component tape magazine;
• and
• at least one tape guide for guiding said carrier tape, the tape guide comprising a second lock for interaction with said first lock, a carrier tape retainer for preventing accidental removal of the carrier tape from the tape guide when the tape guide is located away from the component mounting machine, and an exposure mechanism for exposing the components at a picking position.

A component tape magazine for providing components to a component mounting machine, the components being provided on a carrier tape carrying components positioned in sequence and covered by a cover, the carrier tape being wound on a carrier tape reel, wherein the component tape magazine is arranged to be loaded into a component mounting machine, the magazine comprising:

• a receptor for receiving at least one carrier tape reel,
• a feeding mechanism arranged for engagement with holes provided on the carrier tape of each of said at least one carrier tape reel for feeding the carrier tape towards a picking position in said component mounting machine;
• and
• a first lock for enabling ready attachment and detachment of at least one tape guide attached to said at least one carrier tape reel into the component tape magazine by interacting with a second lock provided on the tape guide.

A tape guide for guiding a carrier tape in a component mounting machine, the carrier tape being wound on a carrier tape reel and carrying components positioned in sequence and covered by a cover, the tape guide being arranged for ready attachment and detachment into a tape magazine or a component mounting machine having a first lock, the tape guide comprising:

• a second lock for interaction with said first lock for enabling said ready attachment and detachment;
• a carrier tape retainer for preventing accidental removal of the carrier tape from the tape guide when the tape guide is located away from the component mounting machine;
• and
• an exposure mechanism for exposing the components at a picking position,
• wherein the tape guide is arranged for allowing a feeding mechanism provided in the magazine or the component mounting machine to engage with the carrier tape for feeding the carrier tape towards a picking position.

A tape guide for guiding a carrier tape components to a component mounting machine, the carrier tape carrying components positioned in sequence and covered by a cover, the carrier tape being wound on a carrier tape reel, wherein the tape guide is formed by an elongated body comprising:

• proximal and distal locking elements for interaction with corresponding locking elements in a tape magazine or a component mounting machine for enabling ready attachment and detachment of a tape guide into the tape magazine or the component mounting machine, the proximal and distal locking elements being provided spaced apart along the length of the elongated body;
• an intermediate portion adapted for receiving a feeding mechanism for engagement with and feeding said carrier tape towards a picking position, wherein said intermediate portion is located between the proximal locking element and the distal locking element;
• a carrier tape retainer for preventing accidental removal of the carrier tape from the tape guide when the tape guide is located away from the component mounting machine;
• and
• an exposure mechanism for exposing the components at a picking position.

An assembly for use at a component mounting machine, the assembly comprising:

• a component tape reel provided with a component tape wound thereon, the component tape comprising a carrier tape carrying components positioned in sequence, and a cover covering the components;
• and
• a tape guide for guiding the component tape to a component mounting machine, the tape guide comprising a lock for interaction with a corresponding lockin a tape magazine or a component mounting machine, for enabling ready attachment and detachment of a tape guide into the tape magazine or the component mounting machine, a component tape retainer, and an exposure mechanism for exposing the components at a picking position,
• wherein the tape guide is loosely attached to the component tape reel via said component tape by said carrier tape retainer, for preventing accidental removal of the component tape from the tape guide when the tape guide is located away from the component mounting machine, and for facilitating storage of the component tape and the reel with the tape guide.