Patent ID: 8499669
Filing Date: 2013-08-06
Classification: B65H,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. Method for singulating comprising: advancing a micro-well tape including an array of wells including a plurality of rows, with the micro-well tape having a top face, a bottom face and a leading edge, with the micro-well tape being sufficiently rigid to hold a flat shape; inserting the leading edge between an upper tape retainer and a bottom tape retainer in a movement direction parallel to the plurality of rows of the array of wells, with the upper tape retainer positioned above the top face and with the bottom tape retainer positioned below the bottom face; passing the rows of the array of wells in the movement direction between a multiplicity of ridges on the bottom tape retainer after the leading edge is inserted, with the multiplicity of ridges having a height from the bottom tape retainer towards the upper tape retainer, with passing the rows including passing the micro-well tape over at least one of the multiplicity of ridges having a raised height greater than the height of remaining of the multiplicity of ridges to deflect the micro-well tape into a corrugated shape; cutting the micro-well tape perpendicular to the movement direction at a cut interface including a trailing edge and a new leading edge after the micro-well tape is passed over the at least one of the multiplicity of ridges, with the array of wells located intermediate the leading edge and the trailing edge; and inserting the new leading edge in the movement direction between the upper tape retainer and the lower retainer with the new leading edge pushing the trailing edge, with the micro-well tape being deflected by the at least one of the multiplicity of ridges, with the upper and lower tape retainers creating a restricted space to maintain a pushing relationship between the trailing edge and the new leading edge.