Patent Publication Number: US-2007119746-A1

Title: Carrier tape with anti-mismating device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention is generally related to a carrier tape for handing electronic components, and especially to a carrier tape with an anti-mismating device.  
      2. Description of Related Art  
      In general, a carrier tape that is used to transport and storage components from a component manufacturer to a different manufacturer that assembles the components into electronic devices are well known.  
      Rather than manually fixing each individual component to an electronic device, the electronic industry makes extensive use of robotic placement machines, sometimes known as “pick-and-place” machines, which grasp a component at a specific location and place it at another specific location. To ensure the sustained operation of the robotic placement machine, a continuous supply of electronic components must be furnished to the machine at a predetermined rate and location to permit the machine to be programmed to repeat a precise sequence of movements during every cycle. It is therefore important that the components must be retained in the carrier tape in a proper predetermined position. On the other hand, in order to ensure security of shipment and storage of the components, the components also must be must be retained in the carrier tape in a proper position even manually fixing each individual component to an electronic device.  
      The carrier tape defines a plurality of pockets to receive the components. When the pockets are irregular shape corresponding to exterior of the components, such as disclosure in FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,886, the pockets and the components have identification functions themselves to have the components accommodated in right position of the pockets. However, when the pockets have regular shape, such as rectangular or square shape, disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,729,474 and 5,729,963, the components may be easily accommodated in the pockets in an improper position by mistakes. Thus, it is easily to damage the components or the carrier tape and produce excessive difficulties in subsequent steps.  
      Hence, an improved carrier tape is highly desired to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a carrier tape with an anti-mismating device.  
      To achieve the above object, a carrier tape adapted for accommodating a component comprises a main body and a plurality of pockets recessed downwardly from the main body. Each of the pockets comprises a bottom wall and at least a sidewall to define a receiving space for receiving the component. The bottom wall of the pocket forms with a protruding body protruding into the receiving space of the pocket. A mating portion protrudes into the receiving space from the protruding body to mate with the component to prevent the component from mismating with the pocket.  
      Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be drawn from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with attached drawings.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an assembled, perspective view of a carrier tape in accordance with the present invention with a component accommodated in;  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded, perspective view of the carrier tape of  FIG. 1 ; and  
       FIG. 3  is an exploded, perspective view similar to  FIG. 2 , but taken from another aspect. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
      In commonly, a carrier tape comprises a plurality of pockets for received a plurality of corresponding components. Because the plurality of pockets have same configuration, therefore, a single unit of the carrier tap is illustrated in the present invention for convenience.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the carrier tape  1  adapted for receiving a component  4  comprises a main body  2  and a pocket  3  recessed downwardly from an upper face of the body  2 . A plurality of though holes  21  are formed besides the pocket  3  along the carrier tape  2  to receive teeth of a drive sprocket that advances the carrier tape towards a next procedure.  
      The component  4 , such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC), is approximately rectangular configuration. The component  4  comprises a body portion  41  and a plurality of side portions  42  downwardly extending from four lateral sides of the body portion  41 , respectively. The body portion  41  is formed with a mating hole  43  near a corner thereof.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 2-3 , the pocket  3  comprises a bottom wall  321  and a plurality of sidewalls  31 , commonly defining a receiving space (not labeled) with an upward opening. The pocket  3  is approximately rectangular and a protruding body (not labeled) protruding upwardly and exposed into the receiving space from an approximate middle portion of the bottom wall  321 . The protruding body comprises an upper wall  322  and a plurality of sidewalls downwardly connecting with the bottom wall  32 , thus also defining a small space isolated from the receiving space of the pocket  3 . The sidewalls of the protruding body spaces away from the corresponding sidewalls  31  of the pocket  3  to leave a space among there. A plurality of inclined faces are formed at corners between the sidewalls  31  and the upper face of the main body  2 .  
      The upper wall  322  of the protruding body is formed with a mating portion  33  protruding upwardly into the receiving space of the pocket  3 . The mating portion  33  is approximately sphere configuration in this embodiment. When the component  4  is received in the pocket  3 , the protruding body sustains the component  4  in the pocket  3  and the mating portion  33  mates with the mating hole  43  to ensure the component  4  to accommodate properly in the carrier tape  1  so as to avoid mismating of the component  4  and the carrier tape  1 . The side portions  42  of the component  4  accommodate in the space among the sidewalls of the pocket  3  and the protruding body.  
      In the present, the mating portion  33  is also be other configurations, such as column, circular spot or recessed portion etc. The shape of the pocket and the protruding body vary corresponding to exterior configuration of the component.  
      While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention has been shown and described, equivalent modifications and changes known to persons skilled in the art according to the spirit of the present invention are considered within the scope of the present invention as described in the appended claims.