EP1963198A1

EP1963198A1 - Component carrier tape

Info

Publication number: EP1963198A1
Application number: EP06839421A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lahoussaine Lalouch; Geno L. Pietrobon; Torrey W. Prigge; Abderahmane Oubihi
Original assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
Current assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
Priority date: 2005-12-20
Filing date: 2006-12-18
Publication date: 2008-09-03
Also published as: WO2007075662A1; CN101346287A; TW200800741A; US20080296201A1

Abstract

A component carrier tape includes a longitudinal flexible strip having a plurality of component receiving pockets positioned therein. The component carrier tape further includes a plurality of indicators positioned longitudinally on the longitudinal strip and configured for indicating the position of each of the plurality of pockets. The indicators are positioned between adjacent pockets.

Description

COMPONENT CARRIER TAPE

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/756627, filed December 20, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to carrier tapes of the kind having a plurality of pockets spaced longitudinally on the tape for accommodating components therein. More particularly, the invention relates to carrier tapes with pocket position indicators.

BACKGROUND

In general, carrier tapes that are used to hold and transport components are well known. For example, in the field of electronics circuit assembly, electronic components are often carried from a supply of components to a specific location on a circuit board for attachment thereto. The components may be of several different types, including surface mount components. Particular examples include memory chips, integrated circuit chips, resistors, connectors, processors, capacitors, gate arrays, etc.

Rather than manually affixing each individual electronic component to a circuit board, the electronics industry makes extensive use of robotic placement machines, sometimes known as "pick-and-place" machines, that grasp a component at a specific location (i.e., from the carrier tape) and place it at another specific location (i.e., on a printed circuit board). Grasping of the components is commonly accomplished with a vacuum pick-up device that grasps the top of the component by suction. Robotic placement equipment is typically programmed to repeat a precise sequence of movements in every cycle. For electronic component assembly, the robotic equipment may be programmed to grasp a memory chip, for example, and place it in a specific location on a circuit board. To ensure the sustained operation of the robotic placement machine, a continuous supply of electronic components must be furnished to the machine at a predetermined rate and location. It is therefore important that each component be located in the same position (i.e., the point at which the robotic placement machine grasps the component) as each preceding and succeeding component. A common way to provide a continuous supply of electronic components to robotic placement equipment is to use a component carrier tape. Conventional component carrier tapes generally comprise elongated strips that have a series of identical pockets formed at predetermined, uniformly spaced intervals along the length of the tape. The pockets are each designed to receive an electronic component therein. Frequently, the pockets are sized to match a particular component. The component manufacturer typically loads components into the series of pockets. After components are placed in the pockets, a cover is applied over the elongated strip to retain the components in their respective pockets. The loaded carrier tape is wound into a roll or onto a reel, and then transported from the component manufacturer to another manufacturer or assembler, where the roll of carrier tape may be mounted within some type of assembly equipment. The carrier tape is typically unwound from the roll and automatically advanced toward a robotic pick-up location. Advancement of the carrier tape is commonly accomplished using a series of through-holes uniformly spaced along one or both edges of the elongated strip forming the carrier tape. The through-holes receive the teeth of a drive sprocket that advances the tape toward the robotic placement machine. Eventually, the cover is stripped from the carrier tape, the components are removed from the pockets and then placed onto the circuit board.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention described herein provides a component carrier tape having a longitudinal flexible strip, a plurality of pockets longitudinally positioned in the longitudinal strip, and a plurality of indicators. Each pocket is configured for receiving a component therein. The indicators are configured for indicating the position of the pockets, and are positioned longitudinally on the longitudinal strip between adjacent pockets. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one embodiment of a component carrier tape according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top view of the exemplary embodiment of a component carrier tape according to the present invention illustrated in Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form part hereof. The accompanying drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, one embodiment of a component carrier tape according to the present invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The illustrated component carrier tape is particularly useful for the storage and delivery of electronic components by an advancement mechanism. Figure 1 shows a fragmentary perspective view of the component carrier tape, with an optional cover thereof having been partially removed to show components stored within pockets of the carrier tape. The component has been omitted from the leading pocket to show the interior of the pocket more clearly.

A component carrier tape 100 comprises a longitudinal flexible strip 101 defining a top surface 102 and a bottom surface 103 opposite the top surface 102. The longitudinal flexible strip 101 includes parallel longitudinal edge surfaces 104 and 106, and a row of equally spaced advancement holes 108 and 110 formed in and extending along one or both edge surfaces. Advancement holes 108 and 110 provide a means for receiving an advancement mechanism such as the teeth of a sprocket drive (not shown) for advancing component carrier tape 100 toward a predetermined location.

A plurality of pockets 112 is longitudinally positioned in the longitudinal flexible strip 101, the pockets opening through the top surface 102 of the strip portion. Within a given carrier tape, each pocket 112 is usually essentially identical to the other pockets.

Typically, the pockets 112 are aligned with each other and equally spaced apart. In the illustrated embodiment, each pocket 112 includes four side walls 1 14, each at generally right angles with respect to each adjacent wall. Side walls 1 14 adjoin and extend downwardly from the top surface 102 of the strip portion and adjoin bottom wall 116 to form pocket 112. Bottom wall 116 is generally planar and parallel to the plane of the longitudinal flexible strip 101. The transverse side walls 114 of adjacent longitudinally positioned pockets 112 define crossbars 117 that separate adjacent pockets 112. Pockets 112 may be designed to conform to the size and shape of the components that they are intended to receive. Alternately, pocket 112 may have a generic design to readily accommodate components of varying sizes and/or shapes. Although not specifically illustrated, the pockets may have more or less side walls than the four that are shown in the preferred embodiment. In general, each pocket includes at least one side wall 114 that adjoins and extends downwardly from the longitudinal flexible strip 101, and a bottom wall 116 that adjoins the side wall 114 to form the pocket 112. Thus, the pockets 1 12 may be circular, oval, triangular, pentagonal, or have other shapes in outline. Each side wall 114 may also be formed with a slight draft (i.e., a slant toward the center of the pocket) to facilitate insertion of the component, and to assist in releasing the pocket from a mold or forming die during fabrication of the carrier tape. The depth of the pocket can also vary depending on the component that the pocket is intended to receive. In addition, the interior of the pockets 1 12 may be formed with ledges, ribs, pedestals, bars, rails, appurtenances, and other similar structural features to better accommodate or support particular components.

Although a single column of pockets 112 is illustrated in the drawings, two or more columns of aligned pockets could also be formed along the length of the longitudinal flexible strip 101 to facilitate the simultaneous delivery of multiple components. The columns of pockets could be arranged parallel to each other with pockets in one column being in aligned rows with the pockets in the adjacent column(s), as described in United States PatentNo. 4, 298,120. Alternately, the pockets in adjacent columns may be offset from each other, as described in United States Patent No. 4,724,958.

In an exemplary embodiment of the component carrier tape according to the present invention, the depth of the pockets 112 from the top surface 102 of the longitudinal flexible strip 101 is greater than the thickness of the longitudinal flexible strip 101.

Carrier tape 100 may optionally include a cover 120. The cover 120 is releasably secured to the top surface 102 of the longitudinal flexible strip 101 applied over the pockets 112 of the component carrier tape 100 to retain the components therein. An exemplary component 1 18 is schematically illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The cover 120 can also protect the components from dirt and other contaminants that could invade the pockets. As shown in Figure 1, the cover 120 is flexible, overlies part or all of pockets 112. and is disposed between the rows of advancement holes 108 and 110 along the length of the longitudinal flexible strip 101. The cover 120 is releasably secured to the top surface of the longitudinal flexible strip 101 so that it can be subsequently removed to access the stored components. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figures 1 and

2, the component carrier tape 100 comprises a plurality of indicators 200 positioned longitudinally on the longitudinal flexible strip 101 between adjacent pockets 112. The indicators are configured for indicating the position of each of the plurality of pockets 112. In the process of making the component carrier tape 100, the indicators 200 and the pockets 112 may be formed simultaneously, which achieves a highly repeatable and accurate position of each indicator 200 relative to its corresponding pocket 112. This enables the video recognition system of the robotic placement machine, after detection of the indicator 200, to highly repeatably and accurately detect the center of the corresponding pocket 112, which enables the robotic placement machine to reliably pick the component out of the pocket or place the component into the pocket.

Each of the plurality of indicators 200 may be a protrusion, recess, printed feature, or punched feature and may be substantially elliptical, oblong, or polygonal. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the indicators 200 are elliptical protrusions. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the longitudinal flexible strip 101 may optionally include recessed surfaces 202. The recessed surfaces may be positioned in the crossbars 117 that separate adjacent pockets 1 12. Each of the plurality of indicators 200 may be positioned on a recessed surface 202 of the longitudinal flexible strip 101. In case the indicators 200 positioned on the recessed surfaces 202 are protrusions not extending beyond the top surface 102 of the longitudinal flexible strip 101, the optional cover 120 may be releasably secured to the top surface of the longitudinal flexible strip 101 without being deformed by the protrusions.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein for purposes of description of the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. Those with skill in the mechanical, electro-mechanical, and electrical arts will readily appreciate that the present invention may be implemented in a very wide variety of embodiments. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the preferred embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A component carrier tape comprising: a longitudinal flexible strip; a plurality of pockets longitudinally positioned in the longitudinal strip and each configured for receiving a component therein; and a plurality of indicators positioned longitudinally on the longitudinal strip and configured for indicating the position of each of the plurality of pockets, the plurality of indicators positioned between adjacent pockets.

2. The component carrier tape of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal strip has first and second parallel longitudinal edge surfaces, and at least one of the edge surfaces includes a plurality of equally spaced advancement holes for receiving an advancement mechanism.

3. The component carrier tape of claim 1, further comprising a cover releasably secured to a top surface of the longitudinal strip, extending along the strip, and covering the plurality of pockets.

4. The component carrier tape of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pockets has a depth from a top surface of the longitudinal strip that is greater than the thickness of the longitudinal strip.

5. The component carrier tape of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of indicators is a protrusion.

6. The component carrier tape of claim 5, wherein the protrusion is substantially elliptical.

7. The component carrier tape of claim 5, wherein the protrusion is substantially oblong.

8. The component carrier tape of claim 5, wherein the protrusion is substantially polygonal.

9. The component carrier tape of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of indicators is a recess.

10. The component carrier tape of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of indicators is a printed feature.

11. The component carrier tape of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of indicators is a punched feature.

12. The component carrier tape of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of indicators is positioned on a recessed surface of the longitudinal strip.

13. The component carrier tape of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of indicators is a protrusion positioned on a recessed surface of the longitudinal strip.