US20040124119A1

US20040124119A1 - Carrier tape for use in the automated parts-implanting machine for carrying parts therewith

Info

Publication number: US20040124119A1
Application number: US10/330,264
Authority: US
Inventors: Seung Ahn; Jin Park
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-12-30
Filing date: 2002-12-30
Publication date: 2004-07-01
Also published as: KR20040062370A

Abstract

Disclosed is a carrier tape for use in the parts-implanting machine for carrying parts therewith having means for being towed in the carrier tape and disposed in a longitudinal direction thereof and first means for capturing each of first parts, further comprising one or two longitudinally linear linings formed of hot-melt or sticky material and coated on one surface of the carrier tape such that each of the first part-capturing means is disposed in parallel with the linings, whereby after a cover tape is overlaid on the surface of the carrier tape, heat-staked or born down hard with each of the first parts captured by the first part-capturing means and disposed in between the carrier tape and the cover tape, and then fed into the machine by towing the means for being towed, each of the first parts is carried over to a place intended for the first parts and ready to be taken out in a cyclic manner as the carrier tape is peeled off the cover tape. Also disclosed is a carrier tape having means for being towed therein, first means for capturing each of the first parts, and second means for capturing each of second parts, further comprising one, two, or three longitudinally linear linings disposed on one surface of the carrier tape, whereby after a cover tape is overlaid on the surface of the carrier tape, heat-staked or born down hard with a set consisting of one of the first parts and at least one of the second parts captured in the first and second part-capturing means disposed in parallel with the first part-capturing means in between the carrier tape and the cover tape, and then fed into the machine by towing the means for being towed, both of the first and second parts are carried over to places intended and ready to be taken out together in a cyclic manner as the carrier tape is peeled off the cover tape.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a parts-carrier tape for use in the parts-implanting machine for consecutively carrying mechanical, electrical, electromechanical, or electronic parts therewith as in the field of electronic device and equipment manufacturing industry.

The process of automatically carrying and implanting varieties of mechanical, electromechanical and electronic parts as on the printed circuit boards or on other varieties of plates and parts-mounting brackets has become widely employed as a cost-effective mass-production means for implanting such parts especially in electronics industry. A cover tape is usually used together with the carrier tape wherein means for capturing electronic parts such as pockets is formed so that each of the parts to be carried thereby and implanted as on the printed circuit boards is successively enclosed in each of the pockets and then the conventional cover tape with hot-melt or sticky adhesive materials coated on one surface thereof is heat-staked or born down hard such that each of the parts are consecutively captured in each of the pockets disposed along the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape and then enclosed by the cover tape. Once the carrier tape assembly with parts loaded therein like a bandoleer is fed into the parts-implanting machine, each of the parts captured therein is carried over to a place where such parts are to be implanted, then each of the parts is taken out of the pocket as by a suction cup operated by pneumatic power and then eventually implanted as on the printed circuit boards.

2. Description of the Conventional Art

The overall mechanism of the conventional part-carrying and implanting processes is basically the same as that of the present invention. One surface of a plain-surface cover tape is partially coated with hot-melt or sticky adhesive solution as by application of heat or by addition of solvents or thinners while the surface of the conventional carrier tape to be mated with the cover tape with parts captured as in the pockets disposed in the carrier tape along the longitudinal direction thereof is not provided as with adhesive or hot-melt material coated usually in solution, film, or droplets. As central portion of the sticky surface of the conventional cover tape that is to be in contact with upper surface of each of the parts captured in each of the pockets disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape is to be free of sticky property, such central zone on lower surface of the cover tape should be additionally either covered as with another non-sticky film or coated as with a solution that becomes non-sticky when dried up or cured after coating so that manufacturing cost thereof is considerably higher than plain cover tape in view of bigger diameter of the cover-tape roll, increase in weight of the roll, increase in magnitude of spindle spacing for the parts-implanting machine, and vulnerability to infringement of environmental protection requirements as from excessive use of solvents or thinners resulting in more expensive packaging cost, higher handling cost, increase in manufacturing cost for the parts-implanting machine together with a separate bulky coating machine, and increase in the cost for anti-pollution control respectively as compared with plain cover tape. It is to be noted that as the left and right marginal coating on one surface of the conventional cover tape is difficult to make accurately, hot-melt or adhesive coating on the overall area on one surface of the cover tape contributes to increase in manufacturing cost for the cover tape resulting from use of another tape to overlay on the central zone transversely confined by the left and right marginal lining. Other problem with the conventional cover tape is that when the carrier tape is peeled off the cover tape, sticky coat on the cover tape can inadvertently take said part with the cover tape so that malfunction of the parts-implanting machine could take place.

For these reasons set forth above, it is needed to have either a linear lining formed of hot-melt or sticky material coated on one surface of the carrier tape while using cheap and problem-free plain cover tape. Primary reason why these features of the carrier tape in accordance the present invention is needed is that the plain cover tape is a lot cheaper above all resulting from no restriction to any specific materials required for manufacturing of the cover tape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to have one or two essentially longitudinally linear linings formed of hot-melt or adhesive material coated on one surface of the conventional carrier tape wherein each of first part-capturing means is disposed in a longitudinal direction thereof in a repetitive manner and in parallel with means of being towed also disposed in the carrier tape in the longitudinal direction so that plain cover tape devoid of any means of providing adhesion property to the cover tape thereon may be used instead of expensive conventional cover tape requiring a few prior processes prior to use before loading on the parts-implanting machine for carrying each of the first parts captured in each of the first part-capturing means to a place intended for the first part as on the printed circuit board, resulting in drastic reduction in manufacturing cost.

The carrier tape in accordance with the first version of the present invention is one for use in the automated parts-implanting machine for carrying each of first parts therewith comprising (1) means for being towed provided to the carrier tape and disposed in a longitudinal direction thereof, and (2) first means for capturing each of the first parts therein, each of the first part-capturing means being provided to the carrier tape and disposed in the longitudinal direction in a repetitive manner and in parallel with the means for being towed, wherein the carrier tape further comprises: (a) an essentially longitudinally linear first lining formed of hot-melt material and coated on one surface of the carrier tape along the longitudinal direction such that the first part-capturing means is disposed in parallel with the first lining when viewed from a direction from which each of the first parts is fed to be captured by the first part-capturing means, the surface being one facing the first parts prior to being captured by the first part-capturing means; whereby after a cover tape is overlaid on the surface from the first-parts feeding direction, heat-staked with each of the first parts captured by the first part-capturing means and disposed in between the carrier tape and the cover tape, and then fed into the machine by towing the means for being towed such as circular holes disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape, each of the first parts is cyclically carried over to a place intended for the first part as on a printed circuit board and ready to be taken out as with a pneumatic suction cup as the carrier tape is peeled off the cover tape by the parts-implanting machine.

The first lining can be formed of any sticky material such as adhesive solution so that when the solution is dried up after coating on the surface of the carrier tape and a plain cover tape is born down hard thereon with each of the first parts captured by the first part-capturing means disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape, then the first parts can also be carried over to the place where the first part is intended to be so that each of the first parts can be taken out of the first part-capturing means and implanted as on a printed circuit board.

Plan view of the first lining disposed on the carrier tape in accordance with the first version of the invention can be at least one dotted line along the longitudinal direction, each of the dotted lines comprising multiplicity of dots and being disposed in a transverse direction of the carrier tape, at least one linear line along the longitudinal direction, each of the linear lines being disposed in the transverse direction, or a combination of said at least one dotted line and said at least one linear line.

The carrier tape in accordance with the second version of the present invention is one for use in the automated parts-implanting machine for carrying each of first parts therewith comprising: (1) the means for being towed, and (2) the first part-capturing means, both being of the prior art in compliance with the first version of the invention, wherein the carrier tape further comprises: (a) an essentially linear first lining formed of sticky material and coated on one surface of the carrier tape along the longitudinal direction, the surface being one facing the first parts prior to being captured by the first part-capturing means; and (b) an essentially linear second lining formed of the material and coated on the surface along the longitudinal direction, the first and second lining being spaced apart in a transverse direction of the carrier tape such that the first part-capturing means is disposed in between the first and second lining when viewed from a direction from which each of the first parts is fed to be captured by the first part-capturing means; whereby after a cover tape is overlaid on the surface from the first-parts feeding direction, born down hard with each of the first parts captured by the first part-capturing means and disposed in between the carrier tape and the cover tape, and then fed into the machine by towing the means for being towed, each of the first parts is cyclically carried over to a place intended for the first part and is ready to be taken out as the carrier tape is peeled off the cover tape by the parts-implanting machine.

What is to be noted for the carrier tape of the second version of the invention is that each of the first and second lining can be formed of hot-melt material so that when the cover tape is overlaid on the carrier tape and heat-staked thereon with each of the first parts captured by the first part-capturing means disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape, then the first parts can also be carried over to the place where the first part is intended to be. The advantage of using hot-melt material for the first and second lining on the carrier tape over any sticky materials is that those linings formed of hot-melt material is supposed to be free of dusts or other foreign object particles gathered thereon due to non-sticky material properties thereof under the ambient temperature conditions.

As is the case for the first version of the invention, plan view of each of the first and second lining on the carrier tape in compliance with the second version of the invention can be one or more dotted lines along the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape, each of the dotted lines comprising, not consisting of, multiplicity of dots and being disposed in the transverse direction of the carrier tape, one or more linear lines along the longitudinal direction, each of the linear lines being disposed in the transverse direction of the carrier tape, or a combination of said at least one dotted line and said at least one linear line.

It is another object of this invention to have one, two, or three essentially linear linings formed of hot-melt or adhesive material coated on one surface of the conventional carrier tape wherein each of first part-capturing means is disposed in a longitudinal direction thereof in a repetitive manner and in parallel with means of being towed also disposed in the carrier tape in the longitudinal direction and each of second part-capturing means is disposed in the longitudinal direction in a repetitive manner in parallel with the first part-capturing means so that plain cover tape not provided with any means of providing adhesion property thereon may be used instead of expensive conventional cover tape requiring a few prior processes to be used before loading on the parts-implanting machine for carrying each of the first parts and each of the second parts captured in each of the first part-capturing means to a place intended for the first part and in each of the second part-capturing means to another places intended for the second parts respectively, resulting in drastic reduction in manufacturing cost as is the case for the first and second versions of the present invention.

The carrier tape in accordance with the third version of the present invention is one for use in the automated parts-implanting machine for carrying a set of one of first parts and at least one of second parts therewith comprising: (1) means for being towed provided to the carrier tape and disposed in a longitudinal direction thereof, (2) first means for capturing each of the first parts therein, each of the first part-capturing means being provided to the carrier tape and disposed along the longitudinal direction in a repetitive manner and in parallel with the means for being towed, and (3) second means for capturing each of the second parts therein, each of the second part-capturing means being provided to the carrier tape and disposed along the longitudinal direction in a repetitive manner and in parallel with the first part-capturing means, wherein the carrier tape further comprises: (a) an essentially linear first lining formed of hot-melt material and coated on one surface of the carrier tape along the longitudinal direction such that the first part-capturing means is disposed in parallel with the first lining when viewed from a direction from which each of the sets is fed to be captured by the first and second part-capturing means, the surface being one facing the first parts prior to being captured by the first part-capturing means; whereby after a cover tape is overlaid on the surface from the first-parts feeding direction, heat-staked with each of the sets captured by one of the first part-capturing means and as many said second part-capturing means as the second parts of one of the sets and disposed in between the carrier tape and the cover tape, and then fed into the machine by towing the means for being towed, the first part of one of the sets is carried over to a place intended for the first part to be ready to be taken out while as many said second parts of one of the sets as the second part-capturing means disposed in the longitudinal direction in parallel with the first part-capturing means are carried over to as many places intended for the second parts as the second parts of one of the sets to be ready to be taken out in a cyclic manner as the carrier tape is peeled off the cover tape by the parts-implanting machine.

The first lining disposed on the carrier tape in accordance with this version of invention can also be formed of any sticky material such as adhesive material either in a tape form or in solution.

Plan view of the first lining coated on one surface of the carrier tape according to the third version of the invention can be at least one dotted line along the longitudinal direction, each of the dotted lines comprising multiplicity of dots regardless of the shape thereof and being disposed in a transverse direction of the carrier tape, at least one linear line along the longitudinal direction, each of the linear lines being disposed in the transverse direction of the carrier tape, or a combination of said at least one dotted line and said at least one linear line.

The carrier tape in accordance with the fourth version of the present invention is one for use in the automated parts-implanting machine for carrying a set of one of first parts and at least one of second parts therewith comprising: (1) the means for being towed, (2) the first part-capturing means, and (3) the second part-capturing means, each of which being of the prior art in compliance with the third version of the invention, wherein the carrier tape further comprises: (a) an essentially linear first lining formed of hot-melt material and coated on one surface of the carrier tape along the longitudinal direction, the surface being one facing the first parts prior to being captured by the first part-capturing means; and (b) an essentially linear second lining formed of the material and coated on the surface along the longitudinal direction, the first and second lining being spaced apart in a transverse direction of the carrier tape such that at least one of the first part-capturing means and the second part-capturing means is disposed in between the first and second lining when viewed from a direction from which each of the sets is fed to be captured by the first and second part-capturing means; whereby after a cover tape is overlaid on the surface from the first-parts feeding direction, heat-staked with each of the sets captured by one of the first part-capturing means and as many said second part-capturing means as the second parts of one of the sets and disposed in between the carrier tape and the cover tape, and then fed into the machine by towing the means for being towed as with a dragger sprocket disposed inside the parts-implanting machine, the first part of one of the sets is carried over to a place intended for the first part to be ready to be taken out while as many said second parts of one of the sets as the second part-capturing means disposed in the longitudinal direction in parallel with the first part-capturing means are carried over to as many places intended for the second parts as the second parts of one of the sets to be ready to be taken out in a cyclic manner as the carrier tape is peeled off the cover tape by the parts-implanting machine.

It is to be noted that each of the first and second lining can be formed of any sticky material so that when the cover tape is overlaid on the carrier tape and pressed down hard as with a pressure roller disposed in the machine with each of the first parts and each of the second parts captured by the first part-capturing means and the second part-capturing means respectively disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape, then the first parts and the second parts can also be carried over to the place intended for the first parts and another place for the second parts respectively.

Plan view of each of the first and second lining coated on the carrier tape in accordance with this version of the invention can be at least one dotted line along the longitudinal direction, each of the dotted lines comprising multiplicity of dots, each of the dots not necessarily restricted to circular, rectangular, elliptical dot, and being disposed in the transverse direction of the carrier tape, at least one linear line along the longitudinal direction, each of the linear lines being disposed in the transverse direction of the carrier tape, or a combination of said at least one dotted line and said at least one linear line.

The carrier tape in accordance with the fifth version of the present invention is one for use in the automated parts-implanting machine for carrying a set of one of first parts and at least one of second parts therewith comprising: (1) the means for being towed, (2) the first part-capturing means, and (3) the second part-capturing means, each of which being of the prior art in compliance with each of the third and fourth versions of the invention, wherein the carrier tape further comprises: (a) an essentially linear first lining formed of hot-melt material and coated on one surface of the carrier tape along the longitudinal direction, the surface being one facing the first parts prior to being captured by the first part-capturing means; (b) an essentially linear second lining formed of the material and coated on the surface along the longitudinal direction, the first and second lining being spaced apart in a transverse direction of the carrier tape such that both of the first part-capturing means and the second part-capturing means are disposed in between the first and second lining when viewed from a direction from which each of the sets is fed to be captured by the first and second part-capturing means; and (c) an essentially linear third lining formed of the material and coated on the surface along the longitudinal direction, the third lining being disposed in the transverse direction such that the first part-capturing means is disposed in between the first and third lining and that the second part-capturing means is disposed in between the third and second lining when viewed from the feeding direction for each of the sets; whereby after a cover tape is overlaid on the surface from the first-parts feeding direction, heat-staked with each of the sets captured by one of the first part-capturing means and as many said second part-capturing means as the second parts of one of the sets and disposed in between the carrier tape and the cover tape, and then fed into the machine by towing the means for being towed, the first part of one of the sets is carried over to a place intended for the first part to be ready to be taken out while as many said second parts of one of the sets as the second part-capturing means disposed in the longitudinal direction in parallel with the first part-capturing means are carried over to as many places intended for the second parts as the second parts of one of the sets to be ready to be taken out in a cyclic manner as the carrier tape is peeled off the cover tape by the parts-implanting machine.

It is to be noted again that each of the first, second and third lining can be formed of any sticky material.

Here also, plan view of each of the first, second and third lining of the carrier tape in compliance with the fifth version of the invention can be at least one dotted line along the longitudinal direction, each of the dotted lines comprising multiplicity of dots not necessarily limited to circular ones but including combination of circular dots and other dots having different patterns such as longitudinally elongated linear segments or other combinations as well, and being disposed in the transverse direction of the carrier tape, at least one linear line along the longitudinal direction, each of the linear lines being disposed in the transverse direction of the carrier tape, or a combination of said at least one dotted line and said at least one linear line.

Each of the first and second linear linings disposed on the carrier tape covering the first and second versions of the present invention, and each of the first, second, and third linings on the carrier tape in compliance with the third through fifth versions of the present invention may be embodied in such a way that each lining can be elongated longitudinally linear segments disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional perspective view of an embodiment to a carrier tape in accordance with the first version of the present invention, wherein each of the first part-capturing means is a circular pocket formed in the carrier tape and disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape whereon the first lining is disposed in the longitudinal direction; [0025]
FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional perspective view of an embodiment to a carrier tape in accordance with the second version of the present invention, wherein each of the first part-capturing means is a square pocket formed in the carrier tape and disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape whereon the first and second lining are disposed in the longitudinal direction; [0026]
FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional perspective view of an another embodiment to the carrier tape in accordance with the second version of the present invention, wherein the first part-capturing means is a series of square pockets formed in the carrier tape and disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape whereon the first and second lining are disposed in the longitudinal direction; [0027]
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a still another embodiment to the second version of the carrier tape with each of the first parts captured by the first part-capturing means disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape whereon alternative embodiment of the first lining and the second lining are disposed in the longitudinal direction; [0028]
FIG. 5 is a partially-cutaway three-dimensional perspective view of an embodiment to the third version of the carrier tape in accordance with the present invention, wherein each of the first part-capturing means and each of the second part-capturing means is a smaller circular pocket and a larger circular pocket respectively formed in the carrier tape and disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape whereon the first lining is disposed in the longitudinal direction in between the first part-capturing means and the second part-capturing means; [0029]
FIG. 6 is a partially-cutaway three-dimensional perspective view of an embodiment to the fourth version of the carrier tape in accordance with the present invention, wherein each of the first part-capturing means and each of the second part-capturing means is a square pocket and a circular pocket respectively formed in the carrier tape and disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape whereon the first lining and third lining are disposed in the longitudinal direction and confining the first part-capturing means; [0030]
FIG. 7 is a plan view of alternative embodiment to the fourth version of the carrier tape in accordance with the present invention, wherein each of the first part-capturing means and each of three of the second part-capturing means disposed in parallel with the first part-capturing means is a circular pocket and a small right-square pocket respectively formed in the carrier tape and disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape whereon alternative embodiment of the first and second lining are disposed in the longitudinal direction and confining the first part-capturing means and the second part-capturing means; and [0031]
FIG. 8 is a three-dimensional perspective view of an embodiment to the fifth version of the carrier tape in accordance with the present invention, wherein each of the first part-capturing means and each of two of the second part-capturing means disposed in parallel with the first part-capturing means is a longitudinally elongated square pocket and a right-square pocket respectively formed in the carrier tape and disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape whereon the first, second, and third lining are disposed in the longitudinal direction, the first and third lining confining the first part-capturing means while the third and second lining confining the second part-capturing means.[0032]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional perspective view of an embodiment to a carrier tape [0033] 30 a in accordance with the first version of the present invention, wherein each of the first part-capturing means is a circular pocket 32 a formed in the carrier tape 30 a and disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape 30 a whereon the first lining 36 a is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape 30 a. The conventional carrier tape for use in the automated parts-implanting machine for carrying electronic, mechanical, electromechanical, or electrical parts therewith typically consists of means for being towed provided to the carrier tape and disposed in a longitudinal direction thereof, and means for capturing each of the parts therein. Each of the part-capturing means is provided to the carrier tape and disposed in the longitudinal direction in a repetitive manner and in parallel with the means for being towed. Typical form of the means for being towed for the conventional carrier tape is shaped like circular openings 31 c disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape on one edge of the carrier tape as shown in FIG. 3. The carrier tape in accordance with the first version of the present invention further comprises a linear first lining 36 a formed of either sticky material such as adhesive or hot-melt material that is non-sticky when dried up after coating on an upper surface of the carrier tape 30 a. The first lining 36 a is disposed along the longitudinal direction such that circular pocket 32 a as first embodiment to the first part-capturing means wherein there is a sensor hole 33 a through which sensing of the presence of the first part 34 a is made is disposed in parallel with the first lining 36 a when viewed from above. After a cover tape 35 a is overlaid on the upper surface of the carrier tape 30 a, heat-staked or born down hard depending on said material chosen for the first lining 36 a with each of the first parts 34 a enclosed in each of the circular pockets 32 a disposed in between the carrier tape 30 a and the cover tape 35 a, and then fed into the parts-implanting machine by towing each of rectangular teeth 31 a as with a dragger sprocket disposed in the parts-implanting machine, each of the first parts 34 a is cyclically carried over to a place intended therefor and ready to be taken out as with a pneumatic suction cup as the carrier tape 30 a is peeled off the cover tape 35 a.
FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional perspective view of an embodiment to a carrier tape in accordance with the second version of the present invention, wherein the first part-capturing means is [0034] square pockets 32 b formed in the carrier tape 30 b and also disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape 30 b whereon two linear first linings 36 a as an alternative embodiment to the first lining and one linear second lining 37 a as a slightly wider embodiment to the second lining are disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape 30 b. As compared with the carrier tape 30 a disclosed in FIG. 1, the carrier tape 30 b is for carrying bigger parts such as first parts 34 b so that magnitude of the width of the carrier tape 30 b is bigger than that of the carrier tape 30 a that is suitable for smaller or miniature parts as used in the manufacturing industries such as watch or other precision equipment or devices. The other difference is a plan view of the square openings 31 b that are suitable for towing heavier parts loaded in the carrier tape requiring wider cover tape 35 b and stronger dragging force for feeding into the parts-implanting machine. Note also that there is one sensor hole 33 b through which sensing of the presence of the first part 34 b in each of the square pockets 32 b.
FIG. 3 is a partially-cutaway three-dimensional perspective view of an another embodiment to the carrier tape in accordance with the second version of the present invention, wherein the first part-capturing means is a series of channel-type [0035] square pockets 32 c formed in the carrier tape 30 c and disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape 30 c whereon the linear first lining 36 a and the linear second lining 37 a are disposed along the longitudinal direction while transversely confining each of the channel-type square pockets 32 c wherein the first parts 34 c are captured in cyclic fashion before a cover tape 35 c is overlaid on the carrier tape 30 c and then heat-staked or pressed down hard depending on the material chosen for each of the linear first lining 36 a and the linear second lining 37 a. Circular openings 31 c disposed on one edge of the carrier tape 30 c are disclosed as an alternative embodiment to the means for being towed. A circular sensor hole 33 c is also provided to each of the channel-type square pockets 32 c.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a still another embodiment to the second version of the carrier tape with each of [0036] first parts 34 d captured in each of square pockets 32 d disposed in the longitudinal direction of a carrier tape 30 d whereon the circular openings 31 c, alternative embodiment of the first lining consisting of three linear linings 36 b, and the second lining consisting of a linear lining 37 b and a dotted lining 37 c consisting of elliptical dots are disposed in the longitudinal direction. It is to be noted that plan view of each of the first and second lining may consist of more than one linear lining, more than one dotted lines consisting of dots not necessarily limited to circular ones, or a combination of more than one said linear lines and more than one said dotted lines. Afore mentioned plan view of each of the dots may be linearly elongated line segments as shown in FIG. 6, elliptical dots as shown in this figure, or any other plan view. One thing to be kept in mind in regard to freezing planform view of each of the dots for each of the first and second lining is that when the carrier tape is peeled off the cover tape 35 c, magnitude of the amplitude of perturbation for the peeling force is to be such that each part captured in the part-capturing means disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape should remain in the part-capturing means especially when carrying lighter and/or smaller parts.
FIGS. 5 through 8 disclose embodiments to the carrier tapes for carrying both of first and second parts together in accordance with the present invention, among which FIG. 5 is a partially-cutaway three-dimensional perspective view of an embodiment to the third version of the carrier tape according to the present invention, wherein each of the first part-capturing means and each of the second part-capturing means is smaller [0037] circular pockets 32 c and larger circular pockets 40 a respectively formed in the carrier tape 30 e and disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape 30 e whereon a linear first lining 36 c is disposed in between the first parts 34 e captured in each of the smaller circular pockets 32 e and the second parts 38 e enclosed in each of the larger circular pockets 40 a. The linear first lining 36 c is formed of hot-melt/sticky material and coated on the upper surface of the carrier tape 30 e so that if the assembly of the carrier tape 30 e, the first parts 34 e, and the second parts 38 a is fed into the machine by towing the circular openings 31 c provided to one edge of the carrier tape 30 e after a cover tape 35 e is overlaid on the upper surface and heat-staked/born down hard, then each of the first parts 34 e is carried over to a place intended therefor to be ready to be taken out while each of the second part 38 a is carried over to another place intended therefor also to be ready to be taken out in a cyclic manner as the carrier tape 30 e is peeled off the cover tape 35 e. This embodiment of the carrier tape 32 e is believed to be usable for carrying two small parts simultaneously.
FIG. 6 is a partially-cutaway three-dimensional perspective view of an embodiment to the fourth version of the carrier tape in accordance with the present invention, wherein each of the first part-capturing means and each of the second pat-capturing means is a [0038] square pocket 32 g and a circular pocket 40 b respectively formed in the carrier tape 30 f and disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape 30 f whereon a wide linear first lining 36 d and a segmentally-linear second lining 37 d are disposed in the longitudinal direction while transversely confining each of the circular pockets 32 g whereto a circular sensing hole 33 d is provided for check of the presence of first part 34 f. Revealed is the carrier tape 30 f for use in the automated parts-implanting machine for carrying therewith a set of one of the first parts 34 f and two of second parts 38 b disposed in a cyclic longitudinal feeding pitch for one of the first parts 34 f. After a cover tape 35 f is overlaid on the upper surface, heat-staked or born down hard depending on the material chosen for each of the wide linear first lining 36 d and the segmentally-linear second lining 37 d with each of the sets captured by one of the circular pockets 32 g and two of the circular pockets 32 h in between the carrier tape 30 f and the cover tape 35 f, and then fed into the machine by towing the square openings 31 b as with a sprocket for dragging the carrier tape 30 f, the first part 34 f of one of the sets is carried over to a place intended therefor to be ready to be taken out while two of the second parts 38 bs of one of the sets are carried over to two places intended therefor to be ready to be taken out in a cyclic fashion as the carrier tape 30 f is peeled off the cover tape 35 f. One thing to be noted in regard to various embodiments to the means for being towed disposed on one marginal edge of the carrier tape may well be placed in between the first-part capturing means and the second-part capturing means and also on the other edge of the carrier tape for the entire versions of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of alternative embodiment to the fourth version of the carrier tape in accordance with the present invention, wherein each of the first part-capturing means and each of three of the second part-capturing means disposed in parallel with the first part-capturing means is a [0039] circular pocket 32 h and a small rectangular pocket 40 c respectively formed in the carrier tape 30 g and disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier tape 30 g whereon a wider linear first lining 36 e and the second lining consisting of a linear second lining 37 e and a segmentally-elongated linear second lining 37 f are disposed on the upper surface of the carrier tape 30 g while transversely confining both of the circular pockets 32 h and the small rectangular pockets 40 c. The first lining and second lining in accordance with the fourth version of the invention may transversely confine the second part-capturing means, which is duly within the scope of the present invention. Here also, after a cover tape 35 g is overlaid on the upper surface of the carrier tape 30 g, heat-staked or born down hard depending on the material used for the linear first lining 36 e and the second lining consisting of the linear second lining 37 e and the segmentally-elongated linear second lining 37 f with each of the sets captured by one of the circular pockets 32 h and three of the small rectangular pockets 40 c and disposed in between the carrier tape 30 g and the cover tape 35 g, and then fed into the machine by towing circular openings 31 c as with a dragger sprocket for towing the carrier tape 30 g in the longitudinal direction thereof, the first part 34 g of one of the sets is carried over to a place intended therefor to be ready to be taken out while three of the second parts 38 c of one of the sets disposed in one longitudinal cyclic pitch for one of the first parts 34 g are carried over to three places intended therefor to be ready to be taken out in a cyclic manner as the carrier tape 30 g is peeled off the cover tape 35 g.
Finally, FIG. 8 is a three-dimensional perspective view of an embodiment to the fifth version of the carrier tape in accordance with the present invention, wherein each of longitudinally-elongated [0040] square pockets 32 i wherein each of first parts 34 h is enclosed; and each of two right-square pockets 40 d disposed in parallel with the square pockets 32 i, wherein each of second parts 38 d is captured is transversely confined by the first lining 36 a and a third lining 39; and by the third lining 39 and a second lining 37 g respectively. One unique feature of this embodiment of the carrier tape 30 h is that there are circular holes 31 c′ disposed along the other edge of the carrier tape 30 h, which is a second means for being towed, which is of course within the scope of the present invention. After a cover tape 35 h is overlaid on the upper surface, heat-staked or forced down hard with the first parts 34 h and the second parts 38 d disposed in between the carrier tape 30 h and the cover tape 35 h, and then fed into the machine by towing the circular openings 31 c, 31 c′ provided to left and right marginal zone of the carrier tape 30 h, the first part 34 h of the set is carried over to a place intended for the first part 34 h to be ready to be taken out while two of the second parts 38 of one of the sets disposed in the longitudinal direction in parallel with the longitudinally-elongated square pockets 32 i are carried over to two places intended therefor also to be ready to be taken out in a cyclic manner as the carrier tape 30 h is peeled off the cover tape 35 h.
One additional comment to be made is that the two second parts disposed within one longitudinal cyclic feeding pitch for one of the first parts do not necessarily need to be taken care of in taking out of the second part-capturing means. Each of the second parts longitudinally confined in each of the cyclic feeding pitch for the first part in accordance with the third through fifth version of the invention may either consecutively or simultaneously taken out of the second part-capturing means. [0041]
Having described a few embodiment to each of the first, second, and third lining formed of hot-melt or sticky material coated on one surface of the carrier tape wherein the first part-capturing means or both of the first and second part-capturing means is provided to the carrier tape in accordance with five versions of the present invention, it is believed to be obvious that other modifications and variations will be suggested to those skilled in the art in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiment of the means for being towed; each of the first, second, and third lining; and each of the first and second part-capturing means formed in the carrier tape and disposed in the longitudinal direction thereof in compliance with the present invention described which are within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by appended claims. [0042]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A carrier tape for use in the automated parts-implanting machine for carrying each of first parts therewith comprising:

(1) means for being towed provided to the carrier tape and disposed in a longitudinal direction thereof, and

(2) first means for capturing each of the first parts therein, each of the first part-capturing means being provided to the carrier tape and disposed in the longitudinal direction in a repetitive manner and in parallel with the means for being towed, wherein the carrier tape further comprises:

(a) an essentially linear first lining formed of hot-melt material and coated on one surface of the carrier tape along the longitudinal direction such that the first part-capturing means is disposed in parallel with the first lining when viewed from a direction from which each of the first parts is fed to be captured by the first part-capturing means, the surface being one facing the first parts prior to being captured by the first part-capturing means;

whereby after a cover tape is overlaid on the surface from the first-parts feeding direction, heat-staked with each of the first parts captured by the first part-capturing means and disposed in between the carrier tape and the cover tape, and then fed into the machine by towing the means for being towed, each of the first parts is cyclically carried over to a place intended for the first part and ready to be taken out as the carrier tape is peeled off the cover tape.

2. A carrier tape for use in the automated parts-implanting machine for carrying each of first parts therewith comprising:

(a) an essentially linear first lining formed of sticky material and coated on one surface of the carrier tape along the longitudinal direction such that the first part-capturing means is disposed in parallel with the first lining when viewed from a direction from which each of the first parts is fed to be captured by the first part-capturing means, the surface being one facing the first parts prior to being captured by the first part-capturing means;

whereby after a cover tape is overlaid on the surface from the first-parts feeding direction, born down hard with each of the first parts captured by the first part-capturing means and disposed in between the carrier tape and the cover tape, and then fed into the machine by towing the means for being towed, each of the first parts is cyclically carried over to a place intended for the first part and is ready to be taken out as the carrier tape is peeled off the cover tape.

3. The carrier tape in compliance with any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein plan view of the first lining is one selected from a group consisting of (1) at least one dotted line along the longitudinal direction, each of the dotted lines comprising multiplicity of dots and being disposed in a transverse direction of the carrier tape, (2) at least one linear line along the longitudinal direction, each of the linear lines being disposed in the transverse direction, and (3) a combination of said at least one dotted line and said at least one linear line.

4. A carrier tape for use in the automated parts-implanting machine for carrying each of first parts therewith comprising:

(a) an essentially linear first lining formed of hot-melt material and coated on one surface of the carrier tape along the longitudinal direction, the surface being one facing the first parts prior to being captured by the first part-capturing means; and

(b) an essentially linear second lining formed of the material and coated on the surface along the longitudinal direction, the first and second lining being spaced apart in a transverse direction of the carrier tape such that the first part-capturing means is disposed in between the first and second lining when viewed from a direction from which each of the first parts is fed to be captured by the first part-capturing means;

whereby after a cover tape is overlaid on the surface from the first-parts feeding direction, heat-staked with each of the first parts captured by the first part-capturing means and disposed in between the carrier tape and the cover tape, and then fed into the machine by towing the means for being towed, each of the first parts is cyclically carried over to a place intended for the first part and is ready to be taken out as the carrier tape is peeled off the cover tape.

5. A carrier tape for use in the automated parts-implanting machine for carrying each of first parts therewith comprising:

(a) an essentially linear first lining formed of sticky material and coated on one surface of the carrier tape along the longitudinal direction, the surface being one facing the first parts prior to being captured by the first part-capturing means; and

6. The carrier tape in compliance with any one of claims 4 and 5, wherein plan view of each of the first and second lining is one selected from a group consisting of (1) at least one dotted line along the longitudinal direction, each of the dotted lines comprising multiplicity of dots and being disposed in the transverse direction of the carrier tape, (2) at least one linear line along the longitudinal direction, each of the linear lines being disposed in the transverse direction of the carrier tape, and (3) a combination of said at least one dotted line and said at least one linear line.

7. A carrier tape for use in the automated parts-implanting machine for carrying a set of one of first parts and at least one of second parts therewith comprising:

(1) means for being towed provided to the carrier tape and disposed in a longitudinal direction thereof,

(2) first means for capturing each of the first parts therein, each of the first part-capturing means being provided to the carrier tape and disposed along the longitudinal direction in a repetitive manner and in parallel with the means for being towed, and

(3) second means for capturing each of the second parts therein, each of the second part-capturing means being provided to the carrier tape and disposed along the longitudinal direction in a repetitive manner and in parallel with the first part-capturing means, wherein the carrier tape further comprises:

(a) an essentially linear first lining formed of hot-melt material and coated on one surface of the carrier tape along the longitudinal direction such that the first part-capturing means is disposed in parallel with the first lining when viewed from a direction from which each of the sets is fed to be captured by the first and second part-capturing means, the surface being one facing the first parts prior to being captured by the first part-capturing means;

whereby after a cover tape is overlaid on the surface from the first-parts feeding direction, heat-staked with each of the sets captured by one of the first part-capturing means and as many said second part-capturing means as the second parts of one of the sets and disposed in between the carrier tape and the cover tape, and then fed into the machine by towing the means for being towed, the first part of one of the sets is carried over to a place intended for the first part to be ready to be taken out while as many said second parts of one of the sets as the second part-capturing means disposed in the longitudinal direction in parallel with the first part-capturing means are carried over to as many places intended for the second parts as the second parts of one of the sets to be ready to be taken out in a cyclic manner as the carrier tape is peeled off the cover tape.

8. A carrier tape for use in the automated parts-implanting machine for carrying a set of one of first parts and at least one of second parts therewith comprising:

(a) an essentially linear first lining formed of sticky material and coated on one surface of the carrier tape along the longitudinal direction such that the first part-capturing means is disposed in parallel with the first lining when viewed from a direction from which each of the sets is fed to be captured by the first and second part-capturing means, the surface being one facing the first parts prior to being captured by the first part-capturing means;

whereby after a cover tape is overlaid on the surface from the first-parts feeding direction, born down hard with each of the sets captured by one of the first part-capturing means and as many said second part-capturing means as the second parts of one of the sets and disposed in between the carrier tape and the cover tape, and then fed into the machine by towing the means for being towed, the first part of one of the sets is carried over to a place intended for the first part to be ready to be taken out while as many said second parts of one of the sets as the second part-capturing means disposed in the longitudinal direction in parallel with the first part-capturing means are carried over to as many places intended for the second parts as the second parts of one of the sets to be ready to be taken out in a cyclic manner as the carrier tape is peeled off the cover tape.

9. The carrier tape in compliance with any one of claims 7 and 8, wherein plan view of the first lining is one selected from a group consisting of (1) at least one dotted line along the longitudinal direction, each of the dotted lines comprising multiplicity of dots and being disposed in a transverse direction of the carrier tape, (2) at least one linear line along the longitudinal direction, each of the linear lines being disposed in the transverse direction of the carrier tape, and (3) a combination of said at least one dotted line and said at least one linear line.

10. A carrier tape for use in the automated parts-implanting machine for carrying a set of one of first parts and at least one of second parts therewith comprising:

(b) an essentially linear second lining formed of the material and coated on the surface along the longitudinal direction, the first and second lining being spaced apart in a transverse direction of the carrier tape such that at least one of the first part-capturing means and the second part-capturing means is disposed in between the first and second lining when viewed from a direction from which each of the sets is fed to be captured by the first and second part-capturing means;

11. A carrier tape for use in the automated parts-implanting machine for carrying a set of one of first parts and at least one of second parts therewith comprising:

12. The carrier tape in compliance with any one of claims 10 and 11, wherein plan view of each of the first and second lining is one selected from a group consisting of (1) at least one dotted line along the longitudinal direction, each of the dotted lines comprising multiplicity of dots and being disposed in the transverse direction of the carrier tape, (2) at least one linear line along the longitudinal direction, each of the linear lines being disposed in the transverse direction of the carrier tape, and (3) a combination of said at least one dotted line and said at least one linear line.

13. A carrier tape for use in the automated parts-implanting machine for carrying a set of one of first parts and at least one of second parts therewith comprising:

(a) an essentially linear first lining formed of hot-melt material and coated on one surface of the carrier tape along the longitudinal direction, the surface being one facing the first parts prior to being captured by the first part-capturing means;

(b) an essentially linear second lining formed of the material and coated on the surface along the longitudinal direction, the first and second lining being spaced apart in a transverse direction of the carrier tape such that both of the first part-capturing means and the second part-capturing means are disposed in between the first and second lining when viewed from a direction from which each of the sets is fed to be captured by the first and second part-capturing means; and

(c) an essentially linear third lining formed of the material and coated on the surface along the longitudinal direction, the third lining being disposed in the transverse direction such that the first part-capturing means is disposed in between the first and third lining and that the second part-capturing means is disposed in between the third and second lining when viewed from the feeding direction for each of the sets;

14. A carrier tape for use in the automated parts-implanting machine for carrying a set of one of first parts and at least one of second parts therewith comprising:

(a) an essentially linear first lining formed of sticky material and coated on one surface of the carrier tape along the longitudinal direction, the surface being one facing the first parts prior to being captured by the first part-capturing means;

15. The carrier tape in compliance with any one of claims 13 and 14, wherein plan view of each of the first, second and third lining is one selected from a group consisting of (1) at least one dotted line along the longitudinal direction, each of the dotted lines comprising multiplicity of dots and being disposed in the transverse direction of the carrier tape, (2) at least one linear line along the longitudinal direction, each of the linear lines being disposed in the transverse direction of the carrier tape, and (3) a combination of said at least one dotted line and said at least one linear line.