Tape Feeder Optical Contrast for Feed Hole Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tape feeders face challenges in accurately recognizing feed holes on carrier tapes due to poor contrast between the feed hole color and the tape-support surface color, especially when handling different types of carrier tapes with varying colors and optical characteristics.
Innovation Solution
The tape feeder incorporates an optical-characteristic giving portion on its tape-support surface, which provides a distinct optical feature that enhances the recognition of feed holes by an optical recognizing device, ensuring accurate positioning of electronic circuit components despite variations in carrier tape colors and materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the tape-support surface has the same color as the carrier tape, then the manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the optical recognizing device cannot accurately recognize the feed hole
Solution Approach 1:
The tape-support surface is designed with different optical characteristics in different regions. Specifically, a first region with a first optical characteristic (e.g., white color) and a second region with a second optical characteristic (e.g., black color) are provided. This local differentiation enables the optical recognizing device to accurately detect feed holes by comparing the optical contrast between the feed hole and the surrounding tape-support surface, thereby resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and recognition accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the tape feeder is designed to handle multiple types of carrier tapes with different colors, then the adaptability is improved, but the feed hole recognition accuracy deteriorates due to color matching issues
Solution Approach 1:
The tape-support surface incorporates multiple regions with different optical characteristics (first region with first optical characteristic, second region with second optical characteristic). This allows the system to adapt to different carrier tape colors by providing sufficient optical contrast regardless of the carrier tape's inherent color, thereby maintaining both high adaptability and accurate feed hole recognition.
3Measurement precision
If the optical recognizing device processes images of feed holes with poor contrast, then the processing time is reduced, but the recognition accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tape-support surface is designed with specific optical characteristics (different colors or reflectivity) in different regions to create high optical contrast with the feed holes. This inherent contrast enhancement eliminates the need for complex image processing algorithms to compensate for poor contrast, thereby achieving both high recognition accuracy and efficient processing without time loss.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables reliable and accurate recognition of feed holes across different types of carrier tapes, ensuring precise positioning of electronic circuit components, even when the tape feeder supports multiple or diverse types of carrier tapes with different optical characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
the tape-support surface... has, in a path-related portion thereof located along a path of movement of the feed holes, at least one optical-characteristic giving portion which is larger than one of the feed holes and which has a first optical characteristic that is given to the one feed hole and is more appropriate for an optical recognizing device to recognize the one feed hole
Data Source
AI summary
A tape feeder includes a feeding member which feeds a carrier tape having feed holes in its lengthwise direction, and accommodating pockets which are arranged in the lengthwise direction, accommodate respective circuit components and have a predetermined position relative to the holes. The feeding member feeds the tape so that the circuit components are sequentially positioned at a component-supply position. The tape feeder also includes a tape-support surface which supports a surface of the tape and which has, in a path-related portion thereof located along a path of movement of the holes, one or more optical-characteristic giving portions each of which is larger than one of the holes and has a first optical characteristic that is given to the one hole and is recognized differently by an optical recognizing device than a second optical characteristic of another portion of the path-related portion.