Patent · US Expired

Automatic feeder for carrier-supported contacts

US6966738B1 · kind B1 · utility

2Cited by
15References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 17, 2002
Grant dateNov 22, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 17, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T156/1906
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A novel feeder construction, and method of operation, for feeding components arranged in pockets in a carrier tape to a conventional pick-and-place machine. In a preferred embodiment, the carrier is fed in a line spaced laterally from the pickup location. The lead component when separated from the carrier must then be moved laterally to the pickup location. The invention includes a novel winder for the waste generated when the typical cover strip is removed from the carrier in order to remove its components. The invention also includes a vacuum nozzle construction that is capable of picking-up components such as pins and posts without altering the angular orientation of the component from the orientation it had while at the pickup location.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.