Apparatus for feeding components from packaged component band

An apparatus for feeding components from a packaged component band includes a stand defining a platform allowing the packaged component band passing therealong, a first guiding unit installable to the stand beside the platform, and a second guiding unit installable to the stand next to the another end of the platform. The first guiding unit is urged to remove a package from the packaged component band to expose components at one end of the platform and guides the package toward another end of the platform. The second guiding unit accepts the package from the first guiding unit and accelerates movement of the package passing therethrough. The second guiding unit includes a first friction pulley urged to rotate, and a second friction pulley rotatably movable together with the first friction pulley and engagable with the package when the package engagably passes therethrough.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Relevant subject matter is disclosed in a co-pending U.S. patent application entitled “PACKAGE REMOVAL DEVICE”, filed on Dec. 21, 2005 with application Ser. No. 11/316,009, and assigned to the same assignee with this application.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to removal devices, and particularly to a removal device which can efficiently remove a package that is stripped from a component band.

2. General Background

Conventionally, there are a lot of electronic components arranged on a circuit board to form a circuit with a certain function, such as capacitors, resistors, and inductors. As showing inFIG. 1, a component band1fixed with above-mentioned electronic components is often used during the assembly of the circuit board. The component band1includes a carrier band2, and a package5attached on the carrier band2. The carrier band1defines a lot of dents3, and a lot of apertures6therein. Each dent3accommodates with an electronic component4therein. The package5is configured to prevent the components4from damaging. Before assembly, the package5must be removed by some tools to expose the components4on the carrier band2for easily being picked up. Japan Patent No. 9-64586 discloses a package removal device. The package removal device includes a conveyor band, and a collecting wheel. The component band moves through the package removal device, and the package winds around the collecting reel to be stripped from the component band. However, when many of the packages wind around the collected reel, the machine must stop to take down the collecting wheel for cleaning the packages. This is inconvenient and costly during the whole assembly process.

What is desired, therefore, is a package removal device which can efficiently remove a package that is stripped from a component band.

SUMMARY

An exemplary package removal device for removing a package that is stripped from a component band includes a first guiding unit and a second guiding unit. The first guiding unit transports the package stripped from the component band. The second guiding unit further removes the package that is removed from the first guiding unit. The second guiding unit includes a first friction pulley rotating via the moving of the component band, and a second friction pulley mounted to and rotating together with the first friction pulley. The second friction pulley removes the package.

Other advantage and novel feature will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 3, a package removal device of an apparatus to feed components for further processing in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown for removing a package5that is stripped from a component band1to expose electronic components4thereon. The package removal device includes a stand10, a first guiding unit100and a second guiding unit110. The first guiding unit100includes a first scrolling unit101, a second scrolling unit102, and a U-shaped ditch46providing a transport passage for the package5.

The stand10includes a platform12, a main mounting board30extending upwardly from an edge of the platform12, a first mounting board42mounted to the main mounting board30, a second mounting board26parallel to the main mounting board30, and a crank bar94. The ditch46is slantingly disposed between the platform12and the main mounting board30.

The main mounting board30includes a post13, and a rod15extending perpendicularly therefrom. The second mounting board26includes a spindle27and a pole28extending perpendicularly therefrom. Rollers272,282are rotatably mounted to the spindle27and pole28. The main mounting board30defines a first mounting hole32therein. Referring also toFIG. 8, the first mounting board42defines an aperture43, and a second mounting hole44therein.

The first scrolling unit101of a driving mechanism for the package5includes a first gear52, a first one-way bearing53, a swing plate56, a pressing plate36, a spring washer51, a mounting member34defining a threaded hole therein, a lever38, a bushing60, three resilient members39,48,58, and a screw40. A grading hole55is defined in a central portion of the first gear52. A through hole531is defined in the one-way bearing53, corresponding to the grading hole55. The swing plate56includes a hollow sleeve563extending from an end thereof, and a flange562extending perpendicularly from the opposite end thereof. An aperture564is defined in the flange562. The pressing plate36includes a central hole362defined in a middle portion thereof, a mounting pole366extending from an end portion thereof with a roller368rotatably mounted thereto, and an aperture364defined in another opposite end portion thereof. A mounting post341extends from the mounting member34. The lever38includes a central hole382defined in a general central portion thereof, a tab388defining a slot389extending perpendicularly from a bottom end thereof, a through hole385and an aperture386defined therein adjacent the central hole382in an upper portion thereof. A contact side387is formed at a top edge portion of the lever38.

The second scrolling unit102of the driving mechanism includes a second gear85, a second one-way bearing87, an urging plate88, a first stud86defining a threaded hole therein, a second stud92defining a threaded hole therein, a torsion spring90, a gasket83defining a through hole therein, and a pair of screws41,45. A grading hole89is defined in a central portion of the second gear85. A through hole871is defined in the second one-way bearing87. The urging plate88includes a hollow sleeve884extending from an end thereof, and an aperture882and a through hole886defined therein.

The second guiding unit110further removing the package5that is removed from the first guiding unit100includes a mounting plate105extending from the import end14aof the platform12, a lifting member mounted to a distal end of the mounting plate105for lifting the component band1, and a pull member mounted to the mounting plate105between the import end14aof the platform12and the lifting member for removing the package5that is removed from the first guiding unit100. A limiting pole116protrudes from the distal end of the mounting plate105, corresponding to the lifting member.

The lifting member includes a hollow lifting roller112, a first shaft114defining a threaded hole therein, and a first fixing hole106defined in the mounting plate105.

The pull member includes a first friction pulley132defining a through hole in a center portion thereof, a second friction pulley134mounted to the first friction pulley132defining a through hole communicating with the through hole of the first friction pulley132, a second shaft136, and a second fixing hole107defined in the mounting plate105. A diameter of the second friction pulley134is larger than that of the first friction pulley132. Silica-gel rings having large friction coefficient can ring the first friction pulley132and the second friction pulley134. A first separator138is fixed between the first friction pulley132and the second friction pulley134. A Second separator139is fixed to an outer surface of the second friction pulley134.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 8, the first guiding unit100, and the second guiding unit110are separately assembled to the stand10.

The screw40is extended through the first mounting hole32of the main mounting board30, the central hole382of the lever38, the central hole362of the pressing plate36in turn to engage in the threaded hole of the mounting member34. The mounting post341of the mounting member34is extended through the hollow sleeve563of the swing plate56, the through hole531of the first one-way bearing53, the grading hole55of the first gear52to engage with the spring washer51. The resilient member58is extended through the bushing60. Two free ends of the resilient member58engage in the aperture564of the swing plate56and the slot389of the lever38respectively. Two free ends of the resilient member48engage in the aperture364of the pressing plate36and aperture386of the lever38respectively. Two free ends of the resilient member39engage in the slot389of the lever38and the rod15of the stand10respectively. The screw95is extended through the through hole942of the crank bar94to engage in the through hole385of the lever38.

The second one-way bearing87engages in the grading hole89of the second gear85. The screw41is extended through the through hole886of the urging plate88, the gasket83, and the through hole871of the second one-way bearing87to engage in the first stud86. The second stud92engages in the hollow sleeve884of the urging plate88. The screw45is extended through the second mounting hole44of the first mounting board42, and the torsion spring90to engage in the second stud92. Two free fingers of the torsion spring90are engaged in the aperture882of the urging bar88and the aperture43of the first mounting board42, respectively.

The first shaft114engages in the hollow lifting roller112. A screw is extended through the first fixing hole106of the mounting plate105to engage in the first shaft114. The second shaft136engages in the second friction pulley134and the first friction pulley132. A screw120is extended through the second fixing hole107of the mounting plate105to engage in the second shaft136.

In work, the component band1received in a first container7is fed into the package removal device through the limiting pole116and the lifting roller112. The component band1moves on a lower circumference of the first friction pulley132to compel the first and second friction pulleys132,134to rotate together. The component band1creeps below the post13and along the platform12to the export end14b. The component band1moves below the bridge20and is divided into the package5and the carrier band2. The carrier band2moves on and passes through the carrier band export22, with the apertures6engaging with teeth of the locating gear18. The package5is stripped from the component band1by the blade23and is propelled in a different direction with the carrier band2out of the package export24. The package5moves along a lower circumference of the roller282of the pole28, an upper circumference of the roller272of the spindle27, and a lower circumference of the roller368of the pressing plate36to climb to the first gear52. The second gear85is pushed away from the first gear52, and the torsion spring90is twisted. When the package5moves on a top circumference of the first gear52, the second gear85is released to mesh with the first gear52. The package5moves between the first gear52and the second gear85, and further moves into the ditch46. The package S transported from the ditch46is removed from the second guiding unit110, and still further moves into a second container8.

Referring also toFIGS. 6 and 7, a force is applied to the contact side387of the lever38to rotate the lever38clockwise. The pressing plate36, the bushing60, and the swing plate56are accordingly rotated clockwise. The lever38stretches the resilient member48. The crank bar94is accordingly moved to rotate the leaf17. The slider21moves away from the carrier band export22, with the pin172of the leaf17sliding in the channel212of the slider21. The one-way ratchet16, the component band1, the first gear52, the second gear85are keep still. The blade23of the slider21strips the package5from the component band1. The roller368of the pressing plate36accordingly stretches the package5. Thus, the electronic components4of the component band1are exposed on the carrier band2.

Referring also toFIGS. 4,5and8, when the force is released, the resilient members39,48are restored to move the lever38back, the resilient member48is restored to move the pressing plate36back, and the resilient member58is restored to move the swing plate56back. Accordingly, the first gear52rotates anticlockwise to mesh with the second gear85. The locating gear18rotates clockwise to drive the carrier band2passes through the carrier band export22. The first and second friction pulleys132,134rotate anticlockwise together via the component band1. The package5moves along the ditch46via the first gear52and the second gear85. The package5moves on a top circumference of the second friction pulley134, and falls into the second container8. At the same time, the crank bar94, the slider21, and the leaf17move back to their respective original positions.

With the recycle of the above operations, the package5moves into the second container8from the import end14a, and the carrier band2is attained out of the export end14bin continuous. Without any stops, the package5is removed from the component band1during the work. The efficiency is increased.

FIGS. 9-11show a second guiding unit110′ in accordance with the alternative embodiment of the present invention. The second guiding unit110′ includes a mounting plate105′ extending from the import end14aof the platform12, a lifting member mounted to a distal end of the mounting plate105′, a pull member mounted to the mounting plate105′ between the import end14aof the platform12and the lifting member. The lifting member and the pull member are similar to those of the above-mentioned embodiment. The second guiding unit110′ further includes a restriction member150′, a torsion spring180′, a limiting member170′, a third shaft140′, a bolt164′, and a nut166′. The mounting plate105′ further defines an opening106′, a first securing hole108, and an aperture (not shown) adjacent the securing hole108′ therein. A second securing hole168′ is defined in a distal end of one side panel of the ditch46.

The restriction member150′ includes a body152′, a pair of mounting tabs151′ extending downwardly from opposite sides of one end of the body152′, and a location portion154′ extending downwardly from the other end of the body152′. Two rotation holes153′ aligning with each other are defined in the mounting tabs151′. A clasp156′ protrudes from a side of the location portion154′. A cutout158′ is defined in a top portion of the location portion154′ with a shelter160′ being formed at an opposite side of the location portion154′. The limiting member170′ includes an extension172′ extending downwardly from an end of the body171′, and a pressing portion174′ extending perpendicularly from a lower side of the extension172′. A pivot hole176′ is defined in the other end of the body171′.

In assembly, the third shaft140′ successively engages in the rotation holes153′ of the restriction member150′ and the torsion spring180′. The screw162′ is extended through the first securing hole108′ of the mounting plate150′ to engage in the third shaft140′. One end of the torsion spring180′ is engaged in the aperture of the mounting plate105′. The other end of the torsion spring180′ is engaged with the body152′ of the restriction member150′. The bolt164′ is extended through the pivot hole176′ of the restriction member170′ and the second securing hole168′ of the ditch46to engage with the nut166′.

Before work, the clasp156′ of the restriction member150′ clasps a bottom side of the mounting plate105′. After the component band1is put on a lower circumference of the first friction pulley132, the clasp156′ is released from the bottom side of the mounting plate105′ to be received in the opening106′ of the mounting plate105′. The body152′ and the lower circumference of the first friction pulley132tight press the component band1therebetween. The first separator138rotatably passes through the cutout158′ of the restriction member150′. The shelter160′ is located at a lower portion of the second friction pulley134. The pressing portion174′ presses the package5moving on the second friction pulley134to augment a force of friction between the package5and the second friction pulley134. The shelter160′ can prevent the package moving from the second friction pulley134to move toward the platform12.

The first gear52and the second gear85can be replaced by other elements, such as a pair of engaging wheels with enough frictions therebetween. Another unidirectional clutch member, such as a ratchet, also can respectively replace the first one-way bearing53and the second one-way bearing87.

It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the example hereinbefore described merely being a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the invention.