US3797655A

US3797655A - Package containing electric components

Info

Publication number: US3797655A
Application number: US00287968A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Boone; Der Heiden F Van
Original assignee: US Philips Corp
Current assignee: US Philips Corp
Priority date: 1971-09-25
Filing date: 1972-09-11
Publication date: 1974-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-19
Also published as: DE2245576A1; FR2154253A5; NL7113223A; JPS4841886A; JPS5412879B2; GB1383574A

Abstract

A package containing electric components in which the body of the components is placed in a cavity of a profiled paper strip and are prevented from moving in the transverse direction of the strip by parallel ribs. The cavities and the ribs are located on the same side of the profiled strip and are covered by a second smooth paper strip which is connected to the profile strip by means of several adhesive connections, one on each side of the cavities. The connection wires are enclosed by the two strips throughout their length and circumference. The package is very flexible in the longitudinal direction and has a great rigidity in the transverse direction.

Description

United States Patent Boone et al.

PACKAGE CONTAINING ELECTRIC COMPONENTS inventors: Salomon Boone; Frans Van Der Heiden, both of Emmasingel, Eindhoven, Netherlands .U.S. Philips Corporation, New

York, NY.

Filed: Sept. 11, 1972 Appl. No.2 287,968

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 25. 1971 Netherlands..' 7l 13223 US. Cl. gtmsgo Int. Cl B65d 73/02 Field of Search 206/65 F, 78 B, 80 A References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 4/l959 Krill 206/65 F UX 8/l960 Williams 206/65 F 10/1960 Nelson 206/63.2 R X Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Frank R. Trifari 5 7 ABSTRACT A package containing electric componentsin which the body of the components is placed in a cavity of a profiled paper strip and are prevented from moving in the transverse direction of the strip by parallel ribs. The cavities and the ribs are located on the same side of the profiled strip and are covered by a second smooth paper strip which is connected to the profile strip by means of several adhesive connections, one on each side of the cavities. The connection wires are enclosed by the two strips throughout their length and circumference. The package is very flexible in the longitudinal direction and has a great rigidity in the transverse direction.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PACKAGE CONTAINING ELECTRIC COMPONENTS The invention relates to a package containing electric components which are provided with connection wires, in which the components are arranged with their bodies in cavities of a profiled strip of a flexible material and are prevented from moving in the transverse direction of the strip by parallel ribs on both sides of the cavities. The cavities are bounded by two incisions in the longitudinal direction of the strip. Both the body of the components and the connection wires are located within the width of the strip.

For automated mounting of electric components on mounting panels, the components can be supplied by means of such a package in an orientated manner and at a given pitch distance from each other. In a known packing of this type the components are maintained at a given pitch distance but the connection wires are partly free and are protected from deformation only to a limited, extent.

Since the pitch distance of the connection wires must be very accurate for automated mounting deformation and damage to the connection wires must be prevented.

It is the object of the invention to provide a package which fulfils said requirements.

According to the invention this object is accomplished by providing the cavities and the ribs on the same side of the strip and closed by a second smooth strip of a flexible material which is locally and adhesively connected to the profiled strip. The connection wires are enclosed by the two strips throughout their length and circumference.

Bending of the connection wires is prevented by the complete enclosure of the connection wires by the strips and by the relatively great rigidity of the package in the transverse direction. However, the package is very flexible in the longitudinal direction, that is to say about an axis transverse to the longitudinal direction, so that the package can easily be rolled up or folded.

A preferred embodiment of the package according to the invention is characterized by an adhesive connection of the two strips on each side of the cavities. The shape and the dimensions of the strips correspond to the shape and the dimensions of the body of the components. The body of the components is enclosed and locked by the adhesive connections in such manner that any movement of the components relative to the strips isprevented.

The package according to the invention is suitable for components having either axial connection wires or for components having parallel connection wires. However, components having parallel connection wires are more difficult to pack in view of the asymmetric construction of said components. Another preferred embodiment of the package according to the invention which is particularly suitable for components having parallel connection wires is characterized in that the components are placed in the cavities with their connection wires facing the same edge of the strips. An adhesive connection is provided between the incisions and the edges and extending between two ribs parallel relative to the connection wires on both sides of the cavities, adhesive connections provided between successive cavities extending throughout the width of the strips.

It must be possible for the adhesive connections of the two strips to be provided in a simple manner. In a further preferred embodiment of the package according to the invention this is possible by providing strips which consist of paper having a polythene layer on the sides facing each other.

By laying the two strips against each other with their sides covered with a polythene layer and exerting a pressure on-the proper locations, the strips adhere together without, however, adhering to the components. Experiments have demonstrated that the strength of the resulting adhesive connections adequately meets the requirements. The use of polythene as an adhesive has the additional advantage that upon removing the components from the package by tearing the two strips apart, they do not tend to adhere together again. This aspect is of particular importance in the automated assembly of components in which a strongly adhering adhesive may result in disturbances during assembly.

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. In

the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an electric component to be packed having parallel connection wires,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of the package according to the invention,

FIG. 3 is a side-elevation of the package.

FIG. 4, 5 and 6 show various stages of the packaging process.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the finished package.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a part of a package 1 having two identical components 3 shown in'FIG. 1. These components of which the body 5 has a rectangular crosssection and longitudinal section are provided with two parallel connection wires 7 which project from the base plane 9 of the body 5. The end face 11 of the body 5 is flat. The components have an overall length a, a width b and a thickness d; 0 denotes the distance from base-plane 9 to end face 11 of the body 5. The components 3 are placed with their body 5 in cavities 13 of a profiled paper strip 15 having a width e, the connection wires 7 facing one of the edges 17 of the strip. Viewed in the transverse direction, the cavities 13 are bounded by incisions 19 extending in the longitudinal direction. The strip 15 furthermore comprises on either side of the cavities 13 each time two

ribs

21, 23 which extend from the incisions 19 up to the edges 17 and are directed upwards on the same side of the strip 15 as the cavities 13. The connection wires 17 are enclosed over the greater part of their circumference by the ribs 21. The cavities 13 as well as the

ribs

21 and 23 are covered by a second smooth paper strip 25, the width of which is equal to the width e of the profiled strips 15. The two strips are locally connected together by

adhesive connections

27, 29 and 31. Adhesive connections 27 between successive cavities extend throughout the width 2 of the

strips

15 and 25 while

adhesive connections

29 and 31 extend from the incisions 19 up to the edges 17 between the

ribs

21 and 23. The body 5 of the components is locked in the cavities 13 by the adhesive connections, one on each side of the cavities l3, and by the

ribs

21 and 23, as a result of which any movement of the components relative to the strips is prevented. The width e of the

strips

15 and 25 is greater than the length a of the components so that they fall entirely within the width of the strips. The connection wires 7 are enclosed and protected by the strips throughout their length and circumference. The package according to the invention has a very great rigidity in the transverse direction as a result of which any deformation of the connection wires is practically prevented. In the longitudinal direction, however, the package has the flexibility which is required for coiling or folding. On their sides facing each other the strips are preferably provided with a polythene layer which serves as an adhesive, as a result of which adhesive connections with the required rigidity are obtained merely by the local squeezing of the strips.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show various stages of a possible method of packing the components as well as diagrammatically a device for carrying out the method. The paper strip which is not yet profiled is supplied, with the polythene layer directed upwards, to a chain 33 which is driven stepwise and comprises recesses 35 the width and depth of which, taking into account the thickness of the paper strip, are adapted to the width b and thickness d of the components 3 to be packed and the length of which corresponds to the width e of the strips. In a first position the cavities 13 are successively formed by pressing the paper strip 15 into the recesses 35 by means of a punch 37 and folding it. In view of the properties of the polythene layer serving as an adhesive the strip does not adhere to the punch. During the stepwise movement of the chain 33 the incisions 19 are made by incising the formed cavity 13 in two places in the longitudinal direction of the strip to approximately half the depth of the recesses 35. FIG. 5 shows a part of the strip after this operation. The distance of the two incisions 19 is substantially equal to the distance c between the base plane 9 and the end face 11 of the body 5. The components 3 which are supplied in an orientated manner are then placed in the incised cavities 13. The smooth paper strip 25 is then supplied, with the polythene layer directed downwards facing the profiled strip. In a further position the adhesive connections 27 are effected by pressing the two strips against the chain by means of a punch 39 between the components 3 and throughout the width e of the strips and adhering them together. This operation can be repeated in a following position by means of a second punch 41, the two punches naturally performing their punching stroke simultaneously. In this phase, the

adhesive connections

29 and 31 are also provided by pressing the part of the strip 15 on either side of the components 3 upwards by means of a lower punch 23 against the lower side of the smooth strip 25, which is supported by a rigid counter punch 45. As a result of this the

ribs

21 and 23 are also formed. The package is ultimately removed from the chain wheel 33. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the package obtained in this manner.

The components can be removed from the package nents out of the cavities from the wire side without cutting the paper strips, during which operation the profiled strip will tear.

For packing other components deviating from the embodiment, the dimensions and the location of the cavities, the ribs and the incisions as well as the width of the paper strips must be adapted to the shape and the dimensions of the components.

What is claimed is:

l. A package containing electric components each having a body and connection wires extending from said body comprising a first profiled strip of flexible material, a cavity formed in said profiled strip accommodating the body of each said component, ribs formed in said profiled strip in a direction parallel to said connection wires and transverse to the longitudinal direction of said strip located on a both sides of said cavities for preventing movement of said component, two incisions extending in the longitudinal direction of said strip forming the boundary of said cavities separating each cavity from its associated ribs, each said body and associated connection wires being accommodated within the width of said strip, said cavities and ribs located on the same side of said profiled strip, and a second unprofiled strip of flexible material covering said bodies and connection wires, said unprofiled strip being connected to said profiled strip at selected locations by an adhesive, the connection wires being sandwiched between said profiled and unprofiled strips and enclosed within at least some of said ribs throughout their length and circumference.

2. The package according to claim 1 further comprising an adhesive connection of said unprofiled and profiled strips on each side of said cavities, the shape and dimensions of said cavities corresponding to the shape and dimensions of the body of said components.

3. The package according to claim 2 wherein said components are provided with parallel connection wires and wherein said components are placed in said cavities with the connection wires facing toward the same edge of said strips, said adhesive connections being provided between said incisions and the edges of said strips and extending between two ribs parallel to said connection wires for each of said components, adhesive connections being provided between successive cavities and extending throughout the width of said strips.

4. The package according to claim 5 wherein each of said strips comprise paper having a polythene layer on the side facing each other.

Claims

1. A package containing electric components each having a body and connection wires extending from said body comprising a first profiled strip of flexible material, a cavity formed in said profiled strip accommodating the body of each said component, ribs formed in said profiled strip in a direction parallel to said connection wires and transverse to the longitudinal direction of said strip located oN a both sides of said cavities for preventing movement of said component, two incisions extending in the longitudinal direction of said strip forming the boundary of said cavities separating each cavity from its associated ribs, each said body and associated connection wires being accommodated within the width of said strip, said cavities and ribs located on the same side of said profiled strip, and a second unprofiled strip of flexible material covering said bodies and connection wires, said unprofiled strip being connected to said profiled strip at selected locations by an adhesive, the connection wires being sandwiched between said profiled and unprofiled strips and enclosed within at least some of said ribs throughout their length and circumference.