Patent ID: 6082954
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: B65H,H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
A tape feeder comprising:a sprocket having a plurality of teeth for engaging holes of a tape and thereby advancing said tape during rotation of said sprocket;a pawl for engaging selected said teeth of said sprocket; anda first lever having a first end substantially fixedly coupled to said pawl such that said first end of said lever and said pawl move substantially in unison and a second lever having a first end pivotally coupled to said first end of said first lever substantially proximate the coupling of said pawl and said first end of said first lever and a second end pivotally coupled to a source of a driving force, said first lever having a second end pivotally coupled substantially at a center of said sprocket a longitudinal axis of said first lever moving from a first angle to a second smaller angle with respect to an axis of said feeder vertically bisecting said center of said sprocket in response to a movement of a longitudinal axis of said second lever from a third angle to a fourth smaller angle with respect to an axis of said feeder horizontally bisecting said center of said sprocket in response to said driving force to generate a toggle action to selectively engage said pawl with ones of said teeth and thereby smoothly index said sprocket.