Tape Feeder Biasing Mechanism for Multi-Thickness Carrier Tapes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tape feeders lack versatility in handling multiple types of carrier tapes with different thicknesses and shapes, requiring frequent adjustments to the biasing member, which impairs their ability to deal with various electronic parts in a parts mounting operation.
Innovation Solution
A tape feeder with a second tape feeding mechanism that includes a sprocket with feeding pins and a biasing means with a recessed abutment surface, allowing the leading end of a following tape to be inserted between the sprocket and a preceding tape, enabling engagement and feeding of carrier tapes with different thicknesses and shapes without splicing, thereby enhancing versatility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the biasing member is brought into pressing abutment with the preceding tape to feed the carrier tape, then the carrier tape can be fed stably, but the versatility in dealing with multiple types of carrier tapes with different thicknesses and shapes is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member is designed with a recess portion at the pressing abutment position, creating a localized adaptation feature. This recess allows the biasing member to accommodate different tape thicknesses and shapes by providing a cavity that can adjust to various tape profiles, thereby maintaining stable pressing contact without requiring replacement of the entire biasing member for different tape types.
Solution Approach 2:
The recess portion in the biasing member enables changes in the pressing parameters (contact area, pressure distribution) to adapt to different carrier tape specifications. By modifying the geometry of the pressing surface through the recess, the system can handle tapes with varying thicknesses and shapes while maintaining reliable feeding operation.
2Ease of operation
If the leading end portion of the following tape is inserted between the preceding tape and the biasing means, then the following tape can be fed without splicing, but the biasing member needs to be replaced frequently to match different carrier tape thicknesses and shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The recess portion creates a localized adaptive feature in the biasing member that can accommodate various tape types. This local modification allows the same biasing member to handle different carrier tape thicknesses and shapes by adjusting the pressing geometry within the recess, eliminating the need to replace the entire biasing member when changing tape types.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member with the recess portion becomes a universal component that can handle multiple types of carrier tapes. The recess design allows a single biasing member to perform the function of multiple specialized biasing members, enabling the system to deal with various tape thicknesses and shapes without frequent replacements.
3Device complexity
If a fixed thickness and shape biasing member is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate carrier tapes with different thicknesses and shapes
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire biasing member complex, only a local recess portion is added to the pressing surface. This localized feature provides the necessary adaptability for different tape types while keeping the overall structure simple and easy to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member combines a simple overall structure with a localized recess feature, creating a composite design that balances structural simplicity with functional versatility. The recess portion acts as an integrated feature that provides adaptability without requiring a completely complex biasing member design.
Data Source
AI summary
A second tape feeding mechanism 20B can deal with a plurality of types of carrier tapes and has a biasing mechanism 25 that brings a biasing member 30 in which a recess portion 30b is provided in an abutment surface 30a into abutment with a carrier tape so as to bring the carrier tape into engagement with an outer circumferential surface of a sprocket 21B, and with a preceding tape kept in engagement with the sprocket 21B, a leading end portion of a following tape is inserted between the sprocket 21B and the preceding tape.