Methods and apparatus for singulating micro-well tape
US8499669B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 22, 2009 |
| Grant date | Aug 6, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 20, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T83/654
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for singulating micro-well tape includes a tape drive (12) and a cutting assembly (14). The micro-well tape is advanced into and passes between upper and lower tape retainers (44, 45), with the upper tape retainer (44) including a groove (441) into which a raised ridge (451) of a multiplicity of ridges (450) of the bottom tape retainer (45) extends, with the rows of wells moving between adjacent ridges (450) in a movement direction. When a bar code on the micro-well tape is detected by a sensor 24, a knife blade (30) mounted on a slide block (32) is moved vertically to cut the micro-well tape. The new leading edge of the micro-well tape pushes the cut micro-well tape which is deflected by the raised ridge (451).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.