Patent ID: 6032845
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: B65H,H05K

Abstract:
A pitch switch assembly for a variable pitch carrier tape feeder of the type that periodically advances the carrier tape to sequentially position at a pick-up location each of a series of parts contained in regularly-spaced recesses in a carrier tape, comprising:a cover assembly for covering a carrier tape having an opening at the pickup location to provide access to a part contained by said carrier tape by a pick and place machine;a shutter slidably supported by said cover assembly and variably occluding said opening; anda switch accessible and repositionable by an operator to select a desired pitch, the switch comprising:control means for defining a retracted position of said shutter which varies with the desired pitch, said shutter being in said retracted position when positioned over at least one adjacent part which immediately follows a part positioned at the pickup location without hindering access to the part at the pickup location, andmeans for providing an indication to a control unit of a desired pitch so that said control unit can advance the carrier tape the correct distance during each advance operation performed by the carrier tape feeder.