Tape Feeder Guide Sections Prevent Thin Holder Cover Catching
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Solution Overview
Problem
The holder covers of tape feeders, made of thin stainless steel, are prone to deformation, leading to end edges being caught by adjacent feeders, which deteriorates attachability and detachability.
Innovation Solution
The provision of guide sections at the end portions of the reel holder to prevent the end edges of the holder covers from being caught by adjacent feeders, improving attachability and detachability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the holder cover is made of thin sheet metal to reduce thickness and weight, then the tape feeder becomes thinner and lighter, but the holder cover deforms easily causing end edges to be caught by adjacent feeders
Solution Approach 1:
A guide section is introduced as an intermediary component between the holder cover and adjacent feeders. This guide section prevents direct contact between the holder cover end edges and adjacent feeders, eliminating the catching problem while allowing the holder cover to remain thin and lightweight.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder cover structure is segmented by adding a separate guide section at the end portion. This guide section is distinct from the main holder cover body, allowing the thin-walled cover to maintain its lightweight properties while the guide section provides the necessary protective function.
2Length of moving object
If the holder cover is made of thin sheet metal to reduce thickness and weight, then the tape feeder becomes thinner and lighter, but the holder cover deforms easily causing end edges to be caught by adjacent feeders
Solution Approach 1:
The guide section serves as a mediator that prevents direct interaction between the thin holder cover and adjacent feeders. This allows the holder cover to maintain its reduced thickness while the guide section provides the mechanical protection needed to prevent catching during attachment and detachment operations.
3Reliability
If the end edges of the holder cover come into contact with adjacent feeders during attachment and detachment, then the holder cover deforms and becomes caught, but providing protective measures increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is segmented from the main holder cover structure and implemented as a separate guide section. This modular approach adds minimal complexity while effectively preventing the catching problem, as the guide section is a simple additive component rather than a complex redesign of the entire holder cover.
Data Source
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AI summary
A tape feeder (10) configured to be attached to and detached from a feeder setting section (31) of a component mounter includes a feeder main body (11), a reel holder (13) in which a tape reel (12) around which a component supply tape is wound is loaded, a reel displacement mechanism (41, 42) for holding the reel holder in such a manner as to be displaced in a width direction thereof relative to the feeder main body, and a holder cover (14, 37) of sheet metal which is attached to at least a part of a side surface of the reel holder. A guide section (53, 54) is provided at both end portions of the reel holder in attaching and detaching directions to guide the tape feeder when the tape feeder is attached to or detached from the feeder setting section in such manner that end edges in the attaching and detaching directions of the holder cover of the tape feeder are not caught by an adjacent tape feeder.