Carrier Tape Splicing Device for Component Mounters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual splicing of carrier tapes leads to deviations in pitch, causing errors in component pickup and image processing, and requires significant downtime, reducing production efficiency in component mounters.
Innovation Solution
A splicing device that automatically connects carrier tapes using splicing tape, with a joining device, cutting devices, and a positioning system to ensure accurate alignment and attachment, allowing for continuous operation of the component mounter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual splicing is performed, then splicing can be completed, but pitch deviation occurs causing pickup errors and image processing errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical splicing with an automated splicing device that uses a cutting unit to precisely cut carrier tapes, a positioning unit to accurately align them using indexing holes, and a joining unit to apply splicing tape. This automated system eliminates the pitch deviation and alignment errors inherent in manual splicing, ensuring consistent and accurate pitch measurements for component pickup and image processing.
2Reliability
If manual splicing is performed, then splicing can be completed, but production efficiency decreases due to machine downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The splicing device is designed to perform splicing operations automatically without requiring operator intervention. The cutting unit, positioning unit, and joining unit work in sequence to complete the splicing process autonomously. This self-service capability allows splicing to be performed during or between production cycles without stopping the component mounter, thereby maintaining production efficiency while ensuring reliable splicing completion.
3Reliability
If manual splicing is performed, then splicing can be completed, but splicing time increases reducing overall throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The automated splicing device enables continuous operation by performing cutting, positioning, and joining operations in rapid succession without interruption. The cutting unit cuts carrier tapes to precise lengths, the positioning unit immediately aligns them using indexing holes, and the joining unit applies splicing tape without delay. This continuous process eliminates the time-consuming manual operations of cutting, aligning, and taping separately, significantly reducing splicing time while ensuring reliable completion.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
Presented is a splicing device and splicing method in which automatic and accurate splicing is performed by inserting two carrier tapes into the device. Provided are cutting devices 54 and 55 for cutting the tail end of a first carrier tape T1 and the leading end of a second carrier tape T2 at a predetermined cutting position; a positioning device (50 and 51, steps S19 and S20) for indexing first and second carrier tapes towards each other respectively to splicing position LS at which positioning pins 93 and 94 engage with indexing holes Hc1 and Hc2 of the first and second carrier tapes; and a joining device 58 which, with splicing tape 30 affixed to connected protective tape 31 positioned at the splicing position, folds protective tape and joins the splicing tape to both surfaces of first and second carrier tapes straddling thereof.