High repeatability tape feeder for electronic component carrier tapes

摘要

A tape feeder (1) for precisely advancing a component-carrying tape (30) to present sequential electronic components disposed at a pitch in the tape (30) to a pick-and-place machine. A feed sprocket (10) and an encoder disc (40) are operatively associated with each other and rotatably disposed on a common axis within a housing (50). A motor (22) is operatively connected to the feed sprocket (10) to repetitively rotate the feed sprocket (10) over an angle corresponding to the pitch of the component-carrying tape (30). An encoder (46) is disposed to read the encoder disc (40) and provide a feedback signal indicating the angular position of the feed sprocket (10).