Patent ID: 6162007
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: B65H,H05K

Abstract:
An apparatus for feeding electronic components positioned at intervals on a tape for extraction by a pick-up device, the apparatus comprising:a feeder receiving the tape, the feeder defining a plurality of spaced bores, the feeder including:a body defining a guide to receive the tape, the guide further defining a pick-up window to permit extraction of an electronic component exposed in the pick-up window from the tape;a sprocket rotatably mounted in the body, the sprocket having a circumferential edge positioned at least approximately tangentially to a surface of the guide, the circumferential edge having teeth extending into perforations defined in the tape;a slider slidably mounted to reciprocate in the body in a direction at least approximately tangential to the circumferential edge of the sprocket;a drive member mounted to the slider; anda base unit having a plurality of spaced posts adapted to be received in the bores of the feeder, the base unit including a pressure sensor positioned in close proximity to the feeder if the feeder is positioned on the base unit, the pressure sensor generating a signal that is activated by the pick-up device exerting pressure against the feeder to extract an electronic component, and that generates a signal that is deactivated by release of pressure exerted against the feeder as the pick-up device moves away from the feeder to extract the electronic component from the tape, the base unit driving the slider to reciprocate to cause the drive member to engage with and rotate the sprocket in one direction to advance the tape by an interval to expose the next electronic component in the tape for extraction by the pick-up device, based on the deactivation of the signal from the sensor.