Method of positioning products on a tape comprising compartments as well as an apparatus for implementing the method
First Claim
1. A method of positioning products on a tape having a plurality of product locations, the products being aligned, tested in a row in a measuring station, the tape being transported in a given direction and an uninterrupted series of approved products being positioned onto empty tape locations following occupied locations of the tape, said method comprising:
- advancing the tape a number of positions depending on the number of tape locations already occupied and the number of approved products to be placed;
discharging only the faulty products; and
placing the approved products onto the tape, filling the vacant positions in the measuring station.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Three sets of product pick-up elements each pick up products in a linear array, the three arrays being parallel. One set places products from a vibratory feeder to a buffer array, a second set places product into a measuring station from the buffer and the third set places products onto a packaging tape from the measuring station. Faulty products are individually discharged from the third set. A process is disclosed for filling the intervening empty slots in the tape due to the selective discharge of the faulty products.
22 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method of positioning products on a tape having a plurality of product locations, the products being aligned, tested in a row in a measuring station, the tape being transported in a given direction and an uninterrupted series of approved products being positioned onto empty tape locations following occupied locations of the tape, said method comprising:
-
advancing the tape a number of positions depending on the number of tape locations already occupied and the number of approved products to be placed; discharging only the faulty products; and placing the approved products onto the tape, filling the vacant positions in the measuring station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method of inserting electrical component products into a packaging tape composed of compartments, the products being positioned in parallel lines and aligned, then tested in a row in a measuring station after which a plurality of accepted products is inserted into said tape, said method comprising:
-
determining the positions of faulty products in said measuring station after testing while in said measuring station; picking up the acceptable and faulty products, if any, in the measuring station in accordance with their position in the measuring station; discharging only the picked up faulty products; and filling the vacant positions in the tape and in the measuring station with approved products. - View Dependent Claims (9)
-
-
10. Apparatus for inspecting and positioning products on a tape, said apparatus including a vibratory hopper, a linear buffer comprising parallel lines, a measuring station, pick-up elements, a feeding device for an empty tape, a feeding device for a cover tape, a tape sealing device and a tape discharge device for the filled, sealed tape, the improvement therewith comprising:
-
one set of first pick-up elements for picking up the products from the linear buffer and placing them into the measuring station; and one set of second pick-up elements spaced from the first elements for picking up products from the measuring station and subsequently discharging them, if faulty, or placing them onto the tape, if approved; and means for advancing the tape. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. In an apparatus including a vibratory hopper for feeding products, a linear buffer having parallel lines, a measuring station for distinguishing faulty from acceptable products, product pick-up elements, a feeding device for an empty packaging tape, a feeding device for a cover tape, a tape sealing device and a discharge device for discharging a product filled, sealed packaging tape, the combination therewith comprising:
-
two sets of product pick-up elements wherein one set of pick-up elements is arranged for picking up products from the linear buffer and placing them into the measuring station and the other set of pick-up elements is arranged for picking up the products from the measuring station and subsequently discharging them, if faulty, and inserting them into the packaging tape, if acceptable; and means for advancing the packaging tape.
-
Specification