# US 9,521,793 B2 · Method and device for filling carrier tapes with electronic components > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,521,793 B2 - Document ID: US9521793B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/152,509 - Filed: 2011-06-03 - Published: 2011-09-22 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2009-02-03 - Assignees: Ismeca Semiconductor Holdings SA - Applicants: Sylvain Vienot; Franco Craveiro; Philippe Roy - Inventors: Sylvain Vienot; Franco Craveiro; Philippe Roy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521793B2 ## CPC - H05K 13/021: {Loading or unloading of containers (H05K13/028 takes precedence)} - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract A method for filling a carrier tape (10) with electronic components (12) and for removing and replacing defective electronic components (13) from the carrier tape, comprising the steps of: at a filling station (1), loading an electronic component in a pocket (11) of the carrier tape (10), moving said carrier tape (10) forward, automatically detecting that said electronic component which is defective, moving said carrier tape backward, and unloading the defective electronic component (13) from the carrier tape (10), at said filling station (1), filling said packet with a new electronic component. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for filling a carrier tape with electronic components and for removing and replacing defective electronic components from the carrier tape, the method comprising: loading an electronic component from one of a plurality of component holders disposed in a turret into a pocket of a carrier tape; moving the carrier tape forward; automatically detecting that the electronic component in the carrier tape is defective; rotating the turret, in response to detecting a defective component, in a first direction to allow an unloading device to be presented above the pocket of the carrier tape; moving the carrier tape backward; unloading the defective electronic component from the carrier tape using the unloading device; rotating the turret in a second direction opposite to the first direction to allow a loading system on the turret to be presented above the pocket of the carrier tape; and filling the pocket of the carrier tape with a new electronic component using the loading system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the same source of electronic components are used for loading the defective component and said new component. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said turret is rotated in said first direction and second direction by less than a step when a defective electronic component has been detected. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method claim 1, wherein the defective components are unloaded with a vacuum system independent of the component holder. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said carrier tape is moved forward after a new component has been loaded. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein said carrier tape is moved forward to its initial position after a new electronic component has been loaded. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising a step of inspecting said new electronic component after it has been loaded into said carrier tape, and removing said new component if it is defective. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said step of automatically detecting that said electronic component is defective comprises performing a visual inspection of said electronic component. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said step of automatically detecting that said electronic component is defective comprises performing a mechanical inspection of said electronic component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said step of automatically detecting that said electronic component is defective comprises using a first mechanical inspection system for detecting electronic components that protrude out of a pocket, and a second optical system for performing a visual inspection of said electronic component in the pocket. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the length of the backward movement depends on the inspection station that detected the defective component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method claim 1, wherein said detection of defective electronic components detects electronic components which are misaligned, flipped, turned or tilted, even if those electronic components are working properly. ### Claim 13 A device comprising: a carrier tape comprising a plurality of pockets; a turret having at least one component holder configured to load an electronic component into one of the plurality of pockets of the carrier tape; a plurality of component holders disposed in the turret; a motor coupled with the carrier tape and configured to move the carrier tape backward and forward; an inspection system to automatically detect that an electronic component located within one of the plurality of pockets of the carrier tape is defective, and in response to detecting that an electronic component located within one of the plurality of pockets of the carrier tape is defective initiates the motor to rotate the turret in a first direction and move the carrier tape backwards if the electronic component is detected as being defective; an unloading system, to be presented above the pocket of the carrier tape and distinct from the component holder, to remove the defective electronic component from the pocket of the carrier tape; and a loading system on the turret, to be presented above the pocket of the carrier tape after the turret rotates in a second direction opposite the first direction, to fill the pocket of the carrier tape with a new electronic component. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, further comprising motorized means for replacing said component holder by said unloading system at said filing station. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, said inspection system being a visual inspection system for automatically detecting defective electronic components in said carrier tape. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device of claim 15, said inspection system further comprising a mechanical inspection system for automatically detecting defective electronic components in said carrier tape. ### Claim 17 A method for filling a carrier tape with electronic components and for removing and replacing defective electronic components from the carrier tape, the method comprising: loading an electronic component from one or a plurality of component holders disposed in a turret, into a pocket of a carrier tape; moving the carrier tape forward; performing a visual inspection of the electronic component in the carrier tape; automatically detecting that the electronic component in the carrier tape is defective based on the visual inspection; rotating the turret in a first direction to allow an unloading device to be presented above the pocket of the carrier tape; moving the carrier tape backward; unloading the defective electronic component from the carrier tape using the unloading device; rotating the turret in a second direction opposite to the first direction to allow a loading system on the turret to be presented above the pocket of the carrier tape; and filling the pocket of the carrier tape with a new electronic component using the loading system. ### Claim 18 A method comprising loading an electronic component from one or a plurality of component holders disposed in a turret, into a pocket of a carrier tape; moving the carrier tape forward; performing a visual inspection of the electronic component in the carrier tape; automatically detecting that the electronic component in the carrier tape is defective based on the visual inspection; rotating the turret in a first direction to allow a vacuum system to be presented above the pocket of the carrier tape; moving the carrier tape backward; unloading the defective electronic component from the carrier tape using the vacuum system; rotating the turret in a second direction opposite to the first direction to allow a loading system on the turret to be presented above the pocket of the carrier tape; and filling the pocket of the carrier tape with a new electronic component using the loading system, wherein the loading system is distinct from the component holder and distinct from the vacuum system.