Tape feeder and tape feeding method for chip mounter

A tape feeder for a chip mounter, the tape feeder including: a tape support unit extending along a moving direction of a carrier tape to which a cover tape is separably attached, and contacting a top surface of the carrier tape; a separation unit separating a first side portion of the cover tape in a lengthwise direction; a bending guide unit guiding the first side portion of the cover tape separated from the carrier tape such that the first side portion of the cover tape separated from the carrier tape is bent and away from the separated portion of the carrier tape; and a folding guide unit folding the first side portion over a second side portion of the cover tape to drop the first side portion downward.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relates to a tape feeder and a tape feeding method for a chip mounter, and more particularly, to a tape feeder and a tape feeding method for a chip mounter, which are capable of discharging a cover tape and a carrier tape together without completely separating the cover tape and the carrier tape.

BACKGROUND ART

Chip mounters are apparatuses for surface-mounting an electronic component onto a printed circuit board (PCB), and perform operations of receiving and moving various electronic components, such as integrated circuits (ICs), diodes, capacitors, and resistors, from a component provider to surface-mounting locations of a PCB, and then surface-mounting the various electronic components on the PCB.

The chip mounters generally include a tape feeder for providing a carrier tape including a component, a conveyer for transferring a PCB, a head assembly including nozzles to pick up the component from the tape feeder and surface-mount the component onto the PCB, and a driving apparatus for moving the head assembly in a horizontal or vertical direction.

Generally, the tape feeder continuously provides a carrier tape including an electronic component while separating a cover tape attached to a surface of the carrier tape, thereby exposing the electronic component for the head assembly to pick it up. The carrier tape from which the cover tape is separated is discharged in front of the tape feeder, and the cover tape separated from the carrier tape is discharged at the rear of the tape feeder.

If the cover tape separated from the carrier tape is not quickly collected, the cover tape formed of very thin vinyl material may get tangled, and generate static electricity or interfere with other components of the tape feeder, and thus overall operations of the tape feeder and the chip mounter may have to be stopped.

US 2003/0230617 (published on 18 Dec. 2003) discloses a tape feeder including a mechanism for separating a cover tape separated from a carrier tape. In such a tape feeder, the carrier tape and the cover tape are separately collected by completely separating the cover tape from the carrier tape. Accordingly, separate components need to be installed in the tape feeder in order to continuously wind the separated cover tape or to transfer the separated cover tape to a separate collection unit and discharge the separated cover tape, and thus the number of components of the tape feeder is increased and a volume of the tape feeder is also increased.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

Embodiments of the present invention provide a tape feeder and a tape feeding method for a chip mounter, which are capable of discharging a cover tape and a carrier tape together, without completely separating the cover tape and the carrier tape.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide a tape feeder and a tape feeding method for a chip mounter, which are capable of effectively handling carrier tapes having various widths and electronic components having various sizes.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide a tape feeder and a tape feeding method for a chip mounter, wherein an operation of separating a cover tape from a carrier tape is stably and accurately performed.

Solution to Problem

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a tape feeder for a chip mounter, the tape feeder including: a tape support unit extending along a moving direction of a carrier tape having one surface to which a cover tape is separably attached, and contacting a top surface of the carrier tape; a separation unit for separating a first side portion of the cover tape in a lengthwise direction from the carrier tape; a bending guide unit for guiding the first side portion of the cover tape separated from the carrier tape such that the first side portion of the cover tape separated from the carrier tape is bent and away from a separated portion of the carrier tape; and a folding guide unit for folding the first side portion of the cover tape over a second side portion of the cover tape, which is not separated from the carrier tape, to drop the first side portion downward.

The cover tape may be bent by an angle within a range from 225to 315with respect to the carrier tape.

The tape feeder may further include a pair of sprockets disposed below the tape support unit and respectively disposed in front of and at the rear of the separation unit in a transfer direction of the carrier tape so as to bind and move the carrier tape, wherein the tape support unit and the pair of sprockets may be disposed such that the top surface of the carrier tape moves while contacting a bottom surface of the tape support unit.

The separation unit may be disposed to cross a straight line extending in the moving direction of the carrier tape at a contact point of the pair of sprockets and the carrier tape.

The separation unit may be disposed to tilt with respect to the moving direction of the carrier tape.

A thickness of the separation unit may increase along the moving direction of the carrier tape.

The bending guide unit may include at least one plate disposed at a top of the separation unit, and the at least one plate may have a sloping side tilting with respect to the moving direction of the carrier tape.

A tilt angle of the separation unit with respect to the moving direction of the carrier tape may be larger than a tilt angle of the sloping side of the at least one plate with respect to the moving direction of the carrier tape.

The bending guide unit may include a plurality of plates disposed at a top of the separation unit, and the plurality of plates may have sloping sides tilting with respect to the moving direction of the carrier tape at different angles.

The folding guide unit may include a top plate disposed on the separation unit and a side plate bending from the top plate and extending downward to cover a side of the carrier tape.

The bending guide unit may include a first rod member extending from a top of the separation unit towards an edge of the tape support unit and a second rod member extending along an extending direction of the tape support unit to cross the first rod member.

The folding guide unit may include an introducing unit formed at a region corresponding to the first rod member at the edge of the tape support unit to fold the first side portion of the cover tape bent by the first rod member to the edge of the carrier tape, and a side plate extending downward at the edge of the tape support unit to cover the first side portion of the cover tape folded at the edge of the carrier tape.

The first rod member may include a first extending unit extending while tilting with respect to the moving direction of the carrier tape, and a second extending unit bent towards a bottom of the tape support unit to extend towards the side plate at an end of the first extending unit.

A tilt angle of the separation unit with respect to the moving direction of the carrier tape may be larger than a tilt angle of the first extending unit with respect to the moving direction of the carrier tape.

The second extending unit may be connected to the inside of the side plate.

The bending guide unit may bend to have a cross section having a semicircle shape opened downward and extend from the separation unit towards an edge of the tape support unit.

The folding guide unit may include an introducing unit folding the first side portion of the cover tape bent by the bending guide unit to a side of the carrier tape at the edge of the tape support unit, and a side plate extending downward from the edge of the tape support unit to cover the first side portion of the cover tape folded to the side of the carrier tape.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a tape feeder for a chip mounter, the tape feeder including: a tape support unit extending along a moving direction of a carrier tape to which a cover tape is separably attached, and contacting a top surface of the carrier tape; a separation unit for separating a first side portion of the cover tape in a lengthwise direction from the carrier tape; a bending guide unit for guiding the first side portion of the cover tape separated from the carrier tape such that the first side portion of the cover tape separated from the carrier tape is bent and away from a separated portion of the carrier tape; a folding guide unit for folding the first side portion of the cover tape at a second side portion of the cover tape, which is not separated; and a pair of sprockets respectively disposed in front of and at the rear of the separation unit, wherein the separation unit is disposed to cross a straight line passing a contact point of the pair of sprockets and the carrier tape and extending in the moving direction of the carrier tape.

The first side portion of the cover tape may rotate at least 180and be folded to drop downward over the second side portion of the cover tape, which is not separated from the carrier tape.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing components for a chip mounter, the method including: providing a carrier tape to which a cover tape is separably attached and which accommodates electronic components thereon to a pick-up location of the chip mounter while contacting a top surface of the carrier tape to a bottom surface of a tape support unit; separating a first side portion of the cover tape in a lengthwise direction from the carrier tape; bending the first side portion of the cover tape such that the first side portion crosses over a second side portion of the cover tape and drops downward outside the second side portion of the cover tape; and discharging the carrier tape from which at least the first side portion is separated.

The bending may include: first bending the first side portion of the cover tape to be away from the carrier tape; second bending the first side portion of the cover tape, that is away from the carrier tape, to turnover with respect to the carrier tape; and third bending the second bent first side portion of the cover tape to cross over the second side portion of the cover tape and drop downward with respect to the second side portion of the cover tape.

The first bending, the second bending, and the third bending may be performed by individual units that are not integrally formed with each other.

The separating of the first side portion may be performed by a separation unit disposed to cross a straight line passing a contact point of at least one sprocket for providing the carrier tape and the carrier tape and extending in a moving direction of the carrier tape.

The providing may be performed by a first sprocket disposed at the rear (upstream) of the separation unit in a transfer direction of the carrier tape and a second sprocket disposed in front (downstream) of the separation unit.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing components for a chip mounter, the method including: providing, by at least one sprocket, a carrier tape to which a cover tape is separably attached and accommodating electronic components thereon to a pick-up location of the chip mounter; separating a first side portion of the cover tape in a lengthwise direction from the carrier tape; exposing the electronic components by folding the first side portion separated from the cover tape; and discharging the carrier tape from which at least a part of the cover tape is separated, wherein the separating is performed by a separation unit disposed to cross a straight line passing a contact point of the at least one sprocket and the carrier tape and extending in a moving direction of the carrier tape.

The exposing may include bending the separated first side portion of the cover tape such that the first side portion crosses over a second side portion of the cover tape and drops downward outside a second side portion of the cover tape.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to a tape feeder and a tape feeding method for a chip mounter according to the embodiments described above, since a part of a cover tape is bent and folded at an edge of a carrier tape while another part of the cover tape is continuously attached to the carrier tape, the carrier tape and the cover tape may be discharged together outside the tape feeder after an electronic component is picked up.

Widths of the carrier tape and the cover tape may increase or decrease according to a size of an electronic component provided in the carrier tape. However, in the tape feeder according to the above embodiments, since the cover tape is discharged outside the tape feeder together with the carrier tape while the cover tape is folded to a side of the carrier tape, collection apparatuses of the carrier tape and the cover tape may not be differently designed according to changes of the widths of the carrier tape and the cover tape, and a width increase of the tape feeder may be minimized even when the widths of the carrier tape and the cover tape are large.

Also, since a separation unit is disposed at one edge of a tape support unit so as to correspond to a contact point of the carrier tape and a first sprocket, an operation of separating the cover tape from the carrier tape may be stably performed.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, structures and operations of a tape feeder and a tape feeding method for a chip mounter according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings in which the embodiments are shown.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a component reel8used in a tape feeder for a chip mounter.

The tape feeder installed in the chip mounter continuously provides a carrier tape3provided from the component reel8shown inFIG. 1.

About 2000 to about 5000 electronic components may be accommodated in the component reel8. A plurality of storage spaces3aare formed in the carrier tape3wound around the component reel8. An electronic component5, such as a semi-conductor chip, is accommodated in each of the storage spaces3aspaced apart from each other along an extending direction of the carrier tape3. A cover tape2is attached to a top of the carrier tape3, and seals the storage spaces3aaccommodating the electronic components5. A plurality of transfer holes3bare formed at regular intervals at an edge of the carrier tape3.

FIG. 2is a lateral view of a tape feeder100for a chip mounter, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A plurality of the tape feeders100shown inFIG. 2may be disposed in the chip mounter at regular intervals in parallel.

The tape feeder100continuously moves the carrier tape3to a pick-up location A. In other words, the tape feeder100unwinds the carrier tape3from a component reel (not shown) while separating a cover tape attached to the carrier tape3, folding the separated portion of the cover tape to a side of the carrier tape3, and discharging the separated portion with the carrier tape3to outside the tape feeder100.

A pick-up nozzle7aof a head assembly7of the chip mounter picks up an electronic component (not shown) attached to a region of the carrier tape3from which the cover tape is removed, and transfers the picked up electronic component to a predetermined location of a printed circuit board (not shown) of the chip mounter.

A first sprocket71and a second sprocket72are rotatably provided at a base frame80. A tape support unit10for guiding movement of the carrier tape3is provided at a top of the base frame80. The tape support unit10contacts the first and second sprockets71and72. As the first and second sprockets71and72rotate, the carrier tape3moves in an X-axis direction between the tape support unit10and the first and second sprockets71and72.

FIG. 3is a perspective view schematically illustrating a combination relationship of some components of the tape feeder100ofFIG. 2,FIG. 4is an exploded perspective view of some components of the tape feeder100ofFIG. 3, andFIG. 5is a perspective view schematically illustrating an operation state of the tape feeder100ofFIG. 3.

The tape feeder100for the chip mounter shown inFIGS. 3 through 5includes the tape support unit10extending along the moving direction of the carrier tape3and guiding the movement of the carrier tape3, a separation unit20formed in the tape support unit10to separate a part of the cover tape2, a bending guide unit30guiding deformation and movement of the part of the cover tape2separated from the carrier tape3, and a folding guide unit40guiding folding of the deformed part of the cover tape2to a side of the carrier tape3.

The tape support unit10extends in the moving direction of the carrier tape3, i.e., in the X-axis direction ofFIG. 3, and is formed of a material such as synthetic resin or a metal plate. The tape support unit10guides the carrier tape3to move along the X-axis direction.

The tape support unit10includes the separation unit20for separating the part of the cover tape2at an edge of the carrier tape3. In the current embodiment, the separation unit20is formed by cutting a part of the tape support unit10. However, a method of forming the separation unit20is not limited thereto, and the separation unit20may be separately manufactured from the tape support unit10, and combined with the tape support unit via welding or by using a coupling unit, such as a rivet, a bolt, and adhesive.

The bending guide unit30guides bending of the part of the cover tape2separated from the carrier tape3so that the part of the cover tape2is away from the carrier tape3. The bending guide unit30may include a first plate31and a second plate32disposed on top of the separation unit20. In the current embodiment, the bending guide unit30includes two plates, i.e., the first and second plates31and32, but the number of plates is not limited thereto and may be one or may be increased to more than two.

The first plate31and the second plate31and32respectively include a first sloping side31aand a second sloping side32a, which form different tilt angles −2 and −3 with respect the moving direction of the carrier tape3. The tilt angle −3 of the second sloping side32aof the second plate32may be larger than the tilt angle −2 of the first sloping side31aof the first plate31(−3>−2).

The folding guide unit40includes a top plate41covering a top surface of the second plate32and a side plate42extending downward from the top plate41to cover a side of another edge10aof the tape support unit10.

The top plate41includes a third sloping side41atilting with respect to the moving direction of the carrier tape3. A tilt angle −4 of the third sloping side41amay be larger than the tilt angle −3 of the second sloping side32aof the second plate32(−4>−3).

The tape support unit10may be combined with a top of the base frame80. The base frame80includes the first sprocket71and the second sprocket72. The first and second sprockets71and72move the carrier tape3while contacting the carrier tape3by being disposed below the tape support unit10.

The tape support unit10includes long holes11and12at locations corresponding to protruding portions71aand72aof the first and second sprockets71and72. The long holes11and12also extend along the moving direction of the carrier tape3. The first and second sprockets71and72are disposed on a straight line L2extending along the moving direction of the carrier tape3at a location corresponding to the transfer hole3bof the carrier tape3.

The tape support unit10includes a pick-up hole13for externally exposing the region of the carrier tape3from which the cover tape2is removed.

The separation unit20is disposed at one edge10bof the tape support unit10to form a tilt angle −1 with respect to the moving direction of the carrier tape3. The separation unit20is disposed to cross a straight line L1extending along the moving direction of the carrier tape3from a contact point P1of the first sprocket71and the carrier tape3.

In order to guide easy bending of the part of the cover tape2from which the first plate31is separated, the tilt angle −2 of the first sloping side31aof the first plate31may be smaller than the tilt angle −1 of the separation unit20(−1>−2).

At least some of the tape support unit10and carrier tape3may vibrate with respect to the base frame80while the carrier tape3is provided in the X-axis direction while the tape support unit10is combined with the base frame80, the part of the cover tape2is separated from the carrier tape3, and the electronic component5is picked up by the pick-up nozzle7aof the head assembly7from the carrier tape3.

Since the carrier tape3needs to stably move even while the electronic component5is picked up as the tape support unit10moves the carrier tape3, a mutual location change between the tape support unit10and the first sprocket71is designed to be reduced at the contact point P1of the tape support unit10, the carrier tape3, and the first sprocket71. In other words, a location change of the tape support unit10and the first sprocket71with respect to the base frame80at the contact point P1is reduced.

As described above, since the separation unit20is disposed at the one edge10bof the tape support unit10so as to cross the straight line L1passing the contact point P1and extending along the moving direction of the carrier tape3, the separation unit20may stably separate the part of the cover tape2from the carrier tape3while the carrier tape3is moving. Also, since the carrier tape3is stably moved to the separation unit20while the first and second sprockets71and72contact the carrier tape3respectively in front of and at the rear of the separation unit20, vibration generated when the cover tape2is separated may be reduced.

FIG. 6is a cross-sectional view taken along a line VI-VI ofFIG. 5, andFIG. 7is a cross-sectional view taken along a line VII-VII ofFIG. 5.

When the carrier tape3moves along the X-axis direction by being guided by the tape support unit10, the part of the cover tape2attached to the top surface of the carrier tape3is separated by the separation unit20. Since the separation unit20is tilted with respect to the moving direction of the carrier tape3, the cover tape2is separated from the one edge10bof the tape support unit10.

InFIG. 6, a region of the cover tape2separated from the carrier tape3is shown as a separated portion2b(first side portion) and a region of the cover tape2attached to the carrier tape3is shown as an attached portion2a(second side portion).

The separated portion2bof the cover tape2separated from the carrier tape3is guided by the bending guide unit30to be away from the carrier tape3and bend towards the other edge10aof the tape support unit10to turnover with respect to the attached portion2aof the cover tape2. The separated portion2bof the cover tape2bent by the bending guide unit30is folded at the edge of the carrier tape3by the folding guide unit40. In other words, the cover tape2is folded by the folding guide unit40such that a surface2b-1of the separated portion2bof the cover tape2, which faced upward when the cover tape2was attached to the carrier tape3, is dropped down over the attached portion2aand faces a side3dof the edge of the carrier tape3.

The attached portion2aof the cover tape2is continuously attached to the carrier tape3while a part of the separated portion2bof the cover tape2is folded, and the other surface2b-2of the separated portion2bof the cover tape2, which was attached to the carrier tape3before being separated from the carrier tape, faces the side plate42of the folding guide unit40. Since the folded cover tape2is guided and discharged into the side plate42by the side plate42, the part of the cover tape2separated from the carrier tape3may be prevented from being deviated outside the tape feeder100.

Also, some components may move along the cover tape2while being adhered to the cover tape2that is bent by the bending guide unit30, due to static electricity, during a predetermined period of time after the cover tape2is separated. In this case, since the components adhered to and moving with the cover tape2fall down to the folded side of the cover tape2, the components do not interfere with the movement of the carrier tape3.

FIG. 8is a perspective view schematically illustrating an operation relationship of the carrier tape3and the cover tape2in the tape feeder ofFIG. 5,FIG. 9is a cross-sectional view taken along a line IX-IX ofFIG. 8,FIG. 10is a cross-sectional view taken along a line X-X ofFIG. 8, andFIG. 11is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XI-XI ofFIG. 8.

For convenience of description, some components shown in previous drawings are not shown inFIGS. 8 through 11.

The part of the cover tape2is separated from the carrier tape3by the separation unit20disposed in the middle of a path for providing the carrier tape3in the X-axis direction. As shown inFIG. 9, when the carrier tape3reaches the separation unit20, the part of the cover tape2on the surface of the carrier tape3is separated.

Referring toFIG. 10, the separated portion2bof the cover tape2separated from the carrier tape3is bent to be away from the carrier tape3. The cover tape2may bend by an angle in a range from 225to 315with respect to the carrier tape3. Referring toFIG. 11, the separated portion2bof the cover tape2is folded to the side of the carrier tape3. Referring toFIGS. 10 and 11, since the attached portion2aof the cover tape2is continuously attached to the surface of the carrier tape3while the separated portion2bof the cover tape2is folded, the carrier tape3and the cover tape2may be discharged outside the tape feeder100together after the electronic components are picked up from the carrier tape3.

Widths of the carrier tape3and cover tape2may increase or decrease according to sizes of the electronic components provided in the carrier tape3. In the tape feeder100described above, since the separated portion2bof the cover tape2is discharged while being folded to the side of the carrier tape, while the attached portion2aof the cover tape2is attached to the carrier tape3, a width increase of the tape feeder100may be reduced even when the widths of the carrier tape3and cover tape2are wide. In this case, an installation space of the tape feeder100may be reduced when the plurality of tape feeders100are disposed in parallel in one chip mounter, and thus productivity per unit area of the chip mounter may be improved.FIG. 12Ais a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an operation state in which the cover tape2is separated from the carrier tape3by the tape feeder100ofFIG. 5, andFIG. 12Bis a cross-sectional view at a different angle fromFIG. 12A.

As shown inFIG. 12A, as the carrier tape3passes through the separation unit20, the part of the cover tape2becomes the separated portion2bby being separated from the carrier tape3, and the remaining part of the cover tape2becomes the attached portion2athat is attached to the carrier tape3.

The separation unit20is tilted with respect to the moving direction of the carrier tape3, in a thickness direction. In other words, a thickness of the separation unit20gradually increases along the moving direction of the carrier tape3. Accordingly, the separation unit20includes a sloping side20aat a front end facing the carrier tape3.

In order for the cover tape2to be smoothly separated from the carrier tape3, an angle B of the sloping side20aat the front end of the separation unit20with respect to the surface of the carrier tape3may be larger than an angle A of the cover tape2with respect to the surface of the carrier tape3formed as the cover tape2is detached from the carrier tape3by the separation unit20(B>A).

If the angle A is larger than the angle B (A>B), the cover tape2may not be smoothly detached from the carrier tape3. InFIGS. 12A and 12B, T denotes the thickness of the separation unit20.

An amount and locations of an adhesive coated between the cover tape2and the carrier tape when the cover tape2is attached to the carrier tape3may be irregular. Accordingly, in order to smoothly separate the cover tape2from the carrier tape3, a width W/2 of the separation unit20may be about half a width W of the cover tape2as shown inFIG. 12B.

The attached portion2aof the cover tape2should be attached to the edge of the carrier tape3while the cover tape2is separated from the carrier tape3. Accordingly, in order for the attached portion2anot to be detached from the carrier tape3, the thickness T of the separation unit20may be designed such that an angle C of the cover tape2detached from the carrier tape3by the separation unit20may be smaller than an angle for separating the attached portion2a.

According to the tape feeder described above, since the cover tape2is separated by the separation unit20disposed on a straight line passing the contact point P1of the carrier tape3and the first sprocket71, the cover tape2may be precisely and stably separated.

Also, since after the part of the cover tape2is separated from the carrier tape3, the carrier tape3and the cover tape2may move forward and be discharged outside the tape feeder100while the separated portion is folded to the side of the carrier tape3, mechanical components for collecting the cover tape2from the tape feeder100are not required, and thus the structure of the tape feeder100may be simplified.

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

FIG. 13is a perspective view schematically illustrating a tape feeder for a chip mounter, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The tape feeder according to the current embodiment ofFIG. 13includes a tape support unit210extending along the moving direction of the carrier tape3and guiding a movement of the carrier tape3, a separation unit220formed in the tape support unit210to separate the part of the cover tape2, a bending guide unit guiding deformation and movement of the part of the cover tape2separated from the carrier tape3, a folding guide unit240guiding folding of the deformed part of the cover tape2to the side of the carrier tape3.

The tape support unit210includes long holes211and212extending along the moving direction (a direction parallel to an X-axis) of the carrier tape3so that protruding portions (not shown) of a first sprocket (not shown) and a second sprocket (not shown) pass through the long holes211and212. Also, the tape support unit210includes a pick-up hole213for externally exposing the region of the carrier tape3from which the cover tape2is separated.

The separation unit220is formed at one edge210bof the tape support unit210while having a tilt angle −8 with respect to the moving direction of the carrier tape3. The separation unit220is disposed to cross the straight line L1extending along the moving direction of the carrier tape3from the contact point P1of the first sprocket and the carrier tape3.

The bending guide unit includes a first rod member230extending from a top of the separation unit220towards a side of the tape support unit210, and a second rod member233extending along a side edge of the tape support unit210to cross the first rod member230.

The folding guide unit240includes an introducing unit241formed at a region corresponding to the first rod member230at another edge210aof the tape support unit210and folding the part of the cover tape2bent by the first rod member230to the side of the carrier tape3, and a side plate242extending downward from the other edge210aof the tape support unit210to cover the part of the cover tape2folded to the side of the carrier tape3.

The first rod member230includes a first extending unit231extending while having a tilt angle −7 with respect to the moving direction of the carrier tape3, and a second extending unit232bending downward at an end of the first extending unit231and extending towards the side plate242.

Since the first extending unit231of the first rod member230is spaced apart from the separation unit220upward at a predetermined interval Tc, the part of the cover tape2separated from the carrier tape3by the separation unit220is guided by the first extending unit231and bent towards the other edge210aof the tape support unit210.

The second extending unit232may be connected into the side plate242. For example, an end of the second extending unit232may be welded or fixed via an adhesive into the side plate242, or fixed into the side plate242via a separate fixing unit. As such, since the second extending unit232of the first rod member230is combined with the side plate242, the first extending unit231may be spaced apart from the top of the separation unit220at the predetermine interval Tc while guiding bending of the cover tape2.

The part of the cover tape2bent by the first extending unit231may be further bent by the second extending unit232at a crossing point of the second rod member233and the second extending unit232so as to cover the side of the edge of the carrier tape3.

The part of the cover tape2is guided by the second extending unit232while being folded to cover the side of the edge of the carrier tape3and moves between the side plate242and the tape support unit210.

In order for the first extending unit231to guide easy bending of the part of the cover tape2, the tilt angle −7 of the first extending unit231may be smaller than the tilt angle −8 of the separation unit220(−8>−7).

FIG. 14is a perspective view schematically illustrating a tape feeder for a chip mounter, according to another embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 15is a perspective view of the tape feeder ofFIG. 14.

The tape feeder according to the current embodiment ofFIG. 14includes a tape support unit310extending along the moving direction of the carrier tape3and guiding the movement of the carrier tape3, a separation unit320formed in the tape support unit310to separate a part of the cover tape2, a bending guide unit330guiding deformation and bending of the part of the cover tape2separated from the carrier tape3, and a folding guide unit340guiding folding of the deformed part of the cover tape2to the side of the carrier tape3.

The tape support unit310includes long holes311and312extending along the moving direction (direction parallel to the X-axis) of the carrier tape3so that protruding portions (not shown) of a first sprocket (not shown) and a second sprocket (not shown) pass through the long holes311and312. Also, the tape support unit310includes a pick-up hole313for externally exposing the region of the carrier tape3from which the cover tape2is separated.

The separation unit320is disposed to have a tilt angle −9 with respect to the moving direction of the carrier tape3. The separation unit320is disposed to cross the straight line L1extending along the moving direction of the carrier tape3from a contact point P1of the first sprocket and the carrier tape3.

The bending guide unit330is bent to have a cross section having a semicircle shape opened downward, and extends towards another edge310aof the tape support unit310from the separation unit320. The bending guide unit330includes a base333attached to a top surface of the tape support unit310, a bending unit331bending the cover tape2that is bent towards a top of the base333and is separated by the separation unit320disposed at one edge310bof the tape support unit310towards the other edge310aof the tape support unit310, and a guiding unit332guiding the cover tape2bent by the bending unit331to the side of the carrier tape3.

The cover tape2that is bent by the bending unit331and has passed the guiding unit332is folded to the side of the carrier tape3by the folding guide unit340.

The folding guide unit340includes an introducing unit341folding the part of the cover tape2bent by the bending guide unit330at the edge of the tape support unit310to the side of the carrier tape3, and a side plate342extending downward from the other edge310aof the tape support unit310to cover the part of the cover tape2folded to the side of the carrier tape3.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Embodiments of the present invention may be applied to a tape feeder and a tape feeding method for a chip mounter.