TAPE FEEDER AND METHOD FOR MOVING A CARRIER TAPE TOWARDS A PICKING POSITION IN A COMPONENT MOUNTING MACHINE

摘要

A tape feeder, including a tape feeder body and a feeder wagon/linear guide, is used to direct component tape in a linear movement towards a component pick position. The feeder wagon comprises a feeder wagon body slidably mounted to the tape feeder body for movement between a first, pickup position and a second, delivery position. The feeder wagon further comprises a feeder head mounted to the feeder wagon body for movement (1) with the feeder wagon body as it moves along the first path, and (2) along a second path transverse to the first path between a first, tape-engaged position and a second, tape-released position. The feeder head comprises a tape-engaging element engageable with component tape.

主权项

1. A method, for use with a component mounting machine including an electronic component pickup head at a component pick position, for directing component tape to the component pick position, the component tape including a carrier tape with compartments containing circuit board components, the method comprising:
positioning a length of component tape along a tape guide path of a tape feeder body of a tape feeder, the tape feeder further comprising a feeder wagon, the feeder wagon comprising a feeder wagon body and a feeder head; moving the feeder head along a feeder head path transverse to the tape guide path from a tape-released position to a tape-engaged position at which the feeder head drivingly engages the component tape; moving the feeder wagon body, and the feeder head therewith, along a linear path generally parallel to the tape guide path from a first feeder wagon position to a second feeder wagon position thereby causing the feeder head, engaging the component tape, to move a compartment of the carrier tape to the component pick position; moving the feeder head along a reverse feeder head path from the tape-engaged position to the tape-released position thereby disengaging the feeder head from the carrier tape; and moving the feeder wagon body, and the feeder head therewith, from the second feeder wagon position to the first feeder wagon position.