Apparatus for and method of discharging tape

Abstract

An apparatus for and method of discharging a cover tape. The apparatus includes a tape collector including an inlet through which a top cover tape is introduced into the tape collector, an outlet through which the top cover tape is discharged from the tape collector, and a passage formed inside the tape collector to receive the top cover tape from the inlet and guide the top cover tape to the outlet; and a discharge guide rotatably installed inside the tape collector, the discharge guide being rotated to open the outlet by a pushing force exerted by the top cover tape fully filled in the passage, the discharge guide returning to an original position to close the outlet after the top cover tape filled in the tape collector is discharged through the outlet.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0075308, filed on Aug. 9, 2006, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to an apparatus for discharging a tape, and more particularly, to an apparatus for receiving and discharging a top cover tape in a tape feeder.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]A tape feeder is used in a component mounter such as a chip mounter to supply components. A chip mounter is a device that mounts components such as semiconductor chips on a printed circuit board at desired positions. Various components are supplied to the chip mounter in various ways, and the chip mounter mounts the components on a printed circuit board using a suction nozzle or the like.[0006]Components are supplied to the chip mo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019]The present invention provides an apparatus for smoothly receiving and discharging a top cover tape.

[0022]The present invention further provides an apparatus in which a top cover tape is formed with a longitudinal groove and is introduced into a tape collector, so that the top cover tape can advance straight with less bending.

[0031]According to a further another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of discharging a tape, the method including: passing a top cover tape between a first gear and a second gear that are engaged with each other and disposed at an inlet of a tape collector so as to introduce the top cover tape into the tape collector through the inlet; filling a passage of the tape collector with the top cover tape as the top cover tape moves into the passage; allowing the top cover tape fully filled in the tape collector to push up a discharge guide rotatably mounted on an upper wall of the passage and closing an outlet of the tape collector, so as to open the outlet and discharge the top cover tape filled in the passage to an outside of the tape collector; and after the top cover tape filled in the passage is discharged, allowing the discharge guide to rotate down by its weight to close the outlet and returning to the passing of the top cover tape.

Problems solved by technology

However, trays are not suitable to supply small components.

When very small components such as semiconductor chips are mounted on a printed circuit board, the components may be lost or damaged while being transported.

Further, it is difficult to pick up the small components one by one.

Furthermore, the small components are easily damaged by environmental agents such as dust.

As a result, a pick-up point can be deviated, and thus the operation of the tape feeder may be affected.

However, such a conventional tape discharging apparatus has a disadvantage in that the top cover tape 10 is not uniformly filled in the tape collector 6.

Therefore, the top cover tape 10 cannot be uniformly filled in the tape collector 6.

As a result, the top cover tape 10 cannot apply a sufficient force to the door 7 for opening the outlet.

In this case, a tape feeder cannot separate the top cover tape 10 from a tape, and thus the tap feeder cannot supply components.

In addition, when the door 7 is opened and the top cover tape 10 filled in the tape collector 6 is discharged, it is inconvenient for an operator to manually return the door 7 to its original position.

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