Patent ID: 6773542
Filing Date: 2004-08-10
Classification: H05K,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
System for handling components at a component mounting machine, the system comprising:a plurality of component tapes of a given component tape width, each component tape comprising a carrier tape and a cover tape, and carrying components positioned in sequence on the carrier tape and covered by the cover tape, wherein the component tapes have different configurations depending on the carried components; a plurality of component tape holders, each holder being arranged for holding a component tape; and a plurality of tape guides arranged for receiving a component tape of said given component tape width and for bringing said component tape in position for feeding of the component tape and for picking components from the component tape at said component mounting machine, said tape guides being releasably mountable at said component mounting machine, wherein each tape guide is provided with a component exposure device, said component exposure device exposing a component at a picking position by at least partly removing or displacing the portion of the cover tape covering said component, wherein said tape guides are divided into sub-sets of tape guides, wherein the tape guides of all sub-sets have a similar geometrical outline and basic configuration, and wherein the tape guides of each sub-set have component exposure devices of a same design which is different from the designs of the component exposure devices of the tape guides of the other sub-sets, the design of the component exposure devices within each sub-set of tape guides being dependent on said configurations of the component tapes intended for said sub-set of tape guides.