Patent ID: 6139246
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
A feeder for feeding a carrier tape with successive sprocket holes and indexed pockets for carrying small components, the feeder comprising:a. a housing for housing a carrier tape guiding means, an indexing means, and a push-up means;b. said carrier tape guiding means having a continuously self-adjusting single tape guide channel for accommodating different carrier tape widths, including at least two spring-loaded arms for biasing said carrier tape but providing flexibility to accommodate different widths of said carrier tape;c. said indexing means for engaging said successive sprocket holes on said carrier tape and advancing said indexed pockets of said carrier tape to a push-up area;d. said push-up means for allowing transverse-position adjustment of a push-up pin and actuating the push-up pin to push-up said small components one at a time from said carrier tape when a successive one of said indexed pockets arrives at said push-up area; ande. a control means electrically and electronically connected to and controlling said indexing means and said push-up means;f. whereby said small components are picked up one at a time directly from said carrier tape when the successive one of said indexed pockets arrives at said push-up area.