Carrier Tape Guide Recesses for Side Component Insertion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional carrier tapes for electronic component storage are not suited for inserting components from the side, as they are designed for top insertion, making it difficult to align components accurately during the insertion process.

Innovation Solution

A carrier tape with storage recesses and guide recesses designed for side insertion, where the guide recesses increase in depth from the top face towards the side face and continue into the storage recesses, allowing for precise alignment and insertion of electronic components from the side, and a cover tape to block the top openings of the storage recesses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional carrier tapes with rectangular storage recesses are used for top insertion, then component storage is simple, but side insertion alignment becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveside insertion alignmentVSAvoidcarrier tape structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage recess is divided into two functional segments: a guide recess portion and a storage recess portion. The guide recess portion has gradually increasing depth to guide component alignment during side insertion, while the storage recess portion provides the actual storage space. This segmentation allows the carrier tape to perform both alignment and storage functions, resolving the contradiction between ease of side insertion and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide recess portion extends in the depth direction (vertical dimension) with gradually increasing depth from the top surface toward the bottom. This dimensional change creates a tapered guidance path that naturally aligns components during side insertion from the horizontal direction, solving the alignment difficulty without adding complex external mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If guide recesses with gradually increasing depth are added for side insertion, then alignment precision improves, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent alignment precisionVSAvoidcarrier tape fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The guide recess portion and storage recess portion are merged into a single integrated structure formed as one continuous cavity in the carrier tape. This combining eliminates the need for separate alignment fixtures or multi-step manufacturing processes, allowing precision alignment features to be created through standard injection molding or embossing techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide recess portion is pre-formed during carrier tape manufacturing with its gradually increasing depth profile already established. This preliminary formation of the alignment guidance structure eliminates the need for post-manufacturing alignment adjustments or complex assembly operations, achieving high precision while maintaining ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If storage recesses are designed for top insertion, then manufacturing is simple, but side insertion functionality is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsertion method flexibilityVSAvoidrecess structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier tape structure achieves multi-functionality by incorporating both guide recess and storage recess portions. The guide recess portion handles alignment during side insertion, while the storage recess portion provides secure component storage. This universal design allows the same carrier tape structure to accommodate side insertion methodology while maintaining simple manufacturing through integrated formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10384860B2Carrier tape for electronic component storage tape, electronic component storage tape, and method for manufacturing electronic component storage tape

Publication Date: 2019.08.20 TAIYO YUDEN KK

AI summary

In an embodiment, a carrier tape 10 for storing electronic components includes a band-shaped tape body 11 and storage recesses 12a, each having length L1, width W1, and depth D1 sufficient to store an electronic component EC, which storage recesses are provided in the tape body 11 at equal intervals in the length direction. On one width-direction side of the storage recesses 12a in the tape body 11, guide recesses 12b are provided in such a way that their depth D2 increases from the top face of the tape body 11 toward the one width-direction side face of the storage recess 12b, and that the guide recesses 12b themselves continue to the storage recesses 12a. The carrier tape is suited for the method of inserting electronic components into the storage recesses in the carrier tape from the side.