Plastic embossed carrier tape apparatus and process
AssigneeAdaptsys Limited
InventorsBarry L. Gregerson, James E. Spitzer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An embossed carrier tape manufacturing apparatus includes features for integrating with other processing equipment so that other processes such as forming, filling, and sealing the tape can be performed sequentially in one integrated process. The apparatus includes retractable contact spot heaters for heating the tape prior to embossing, along with a unique heat shield arrangement that is interposable between the heaters and the tape so that the process may be paused. Also, a synchronizing apparatus is integrated so that the carrier tape embossing process may be automatically paused for adjusting to the input rate of other carrier tape processing apparatus.
Claims55
An apparatus for automatically embossing carrier pockets in a continuous strip of plastic material to form a carrier tape, the apparatus comprising:
- a guide structure having at least a first plate and a second plate for positioning and guiding the strip in the apparatus;
- at least one of said first plate and said second plate having at least one slot extending therethrough;
- a drive assembly adapted to selectively engage the strip through said guide structure, and feed the strip through said guide structure in a sequence of uniform increments;
- a heating assembly adapted to heat at least one region on each increment of the strip, the heating assembly including a selectively positionable portion adapted to apply heat to the strip at the at least one region, the portion being positionable in a retracted position spaced apart from the strip;
- a heat shield assembly arranged to selectively interpose a heat shield between the portion and the strip when the portion is positioned in the retracted position;
- and
- a molding assembly for molding the heated region into a pocket, the molding assembly including a pair of mold portions selectively contactable with the at least one pocket region, the pair of mold portions including a male mold portion and a corresponding female mold portion.
An apparatus for automatically embossing carrier pockets in a continuous strip of plastic material to form a carrier tape by a process including the steps of automatically positioning successive uniform increments of the strip, between a pair of opposing selectively positionable heating contact surfaces, momentarily contacting the strip with the contact surfaces so as to heat a region of the increment to a forming temperature, positioning the increment so that the heated region is between a male mold member and a female mold member, and engaging the region with the male and female mold members to form the pocket, the apparatus including said pair of opposing heating contact surfaces;
- and a vertical heat shield assembly comprising at least two vertically oriented heat shields operated from a common pneumatic actuator adapted to selectively, vertically interpose a heat shield between each contact surface and the strip when the process is paused, thereby preventing heat damage to the strip resulting from excessive heat transfer between the contact surfaces and the strip.
An apparatus for automatically embossing carrier pockets in a continuous strip of plastic material to form a carrier tape, the apparatus comprising:
- means for positioning and guiding the strip in the apparatus having a first plate contacting a second plate;
- means for selectively engaging and feeding the strip through the guide structure in a sequence of adjacent uniform increments;
- means for heating at least one region on each increment of the strip, means for selectively shielding the strip from the heating means;
- and means for molding the heated region into a pocket.
An apparatus for automatically embossing carrier pockets in a continuous strip of plastic material to form a carrier tape, the apparatus comprising:
- a stationary guide structure for positioning and guiding the strip in the apparatus;
- a drive assembly adapted to selectively engage and feed the strip through the guide structure in a sequence of uniform increments;
- a heating assembly adapted to heat at least one region on each increment of the strip, the heating assembly including a selectively positionable portion adapted to apply heat to the strip at the at least one region, the portion being positionable in a retracted position spaced apart from the strip;
- a heat shield assembly arranged to selectively interpose a heat shield between the portion and the strip when the portion is positioned in the retracted position;
- a molding assembly for molding the heated region into a pocket, the molding assembly including a pair of mold portions selectively contactable with the at least one pocket region, the pair of mold portions including a male mold portion and a corresponding female mold portion, and
- where said stationary guide structure includes a channel formed in a first plate dimensioned so that a strip is receivable in said channel, and said stationary guide structure further includes a slot into which a roller extends so as to engage the strip.
An apparatus for automatically embossing carrier pockets in a continuous strip of plastic material to form a carrier tape, the apparatus comprising:
- a guide structure having at least a first plate and a second plate for positioning and guiding the strip in the apparatus;
- at least one of said first plate and said second plate having at least one slot extending therethrough;
- a drive assembly adapted to selectively engage and feed the strip through the guide structure in a sequence of uniform increments;
- a heating assembly adapted to heat at least one region on each increment of the strip, the heating assembly including a selectively positionable portion adapted to apply heat to the strip at the at least one region, the portion being positionable in a retracted position spaced apart from the strip;
- a heat shield assembly arranged to selectively interpose a heat shield between the portion and the strip when the portion is positioned in the retracted position;
- a molding assembly for molding the heated region into a pocket, the molding assembly including a pair of mold portions selectively contactable with the at least one pocket region, the pair of mold portions including a male mold portion and a corresponding female mold portion;
- and
- said first plate and said second plate are both positioned at least partially before said heating assembly.
An apparatus for automatically embossing carrier pockets in a continuous strip of plastic material to form a carrier tape, the apparatus comprising:
- a guide structure having at least a first plate and a second plate for positioning and guiding the strip in the apparatus, and said first plate is planar and said second plate is planar;
- at least one of said first plate and said second plate having at least one slot extending therethrough;
- a drive assembly adapted to selectively engage and feed the strip through the guide structure in a sequence of uniform increments;
- a heating assembly adapted to heat at least one region on each increment of the strip, the heating assembly including a selectively positionable portion adapted to apply heat to the strip at the at least one region, the portion being positionable in a retracted position spaced apart from the strip;
- a heat shield assembly arranged to selectively interpose a heat shield between the portion and the strip when the portion is positioned in the retracted position;
- and
- a molding assembly for molding the heated region into a pocket, the molding assembly including a pair of mold portions selectively contactable with the at least one pocket region, the pair of mold portions including a male mold portion and a corresponding female mold portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.