Component carrier tape

• US 5,132,160 A
• Filed: 06/28/1991
• Issued: 07/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: 3M Company
• Inventors: Bird, Gerald C.
• Primary Examiner(s): CANNON, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US07/722,907
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 206/329, 206/332, 206/523, 206/524.6, 428/131, 428/138, 428/159, 428/171, 428/218, 428/220, 428/288, 428/310.5, 428/311.5, 428/314.2, 428/170, 428/219, 428/906
• US Class Current: 428/159
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/006 Pressing and sintering powders, granules or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/0084 Containers and magazines for components, e.g. tube-like magazines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/906 Roll or coil
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24273 including aperture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24331 including nonapertured component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24504 Component comprises a polymer [e.g., rubber, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24595 and varying density
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24603 Fiber containing component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24992 Density or compression of components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249961 With gradual property change within a component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249975 Void shape specified [e.g., crushed, flat, round, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/618 Blend of chemically different inorganic microfibers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/647 Including a foamed layer or component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/68 Melt-blown nonwoven fabric

Abstract

A carrier tape comprising a strip of flexible material having a series of spaced pockets and a predetermined thickness, the size of the pockets and the predetermined thickness being adapted to receive a component between the major surfaces of said strip. In a preferred embodiment the pockets have at least a substantially closed base portion which lies between the major surfaces of the strip. The strip of flexible material comprises a layer of nonwoven thermoplastic polymeric fiber adhered together and has in the range of 20 to 70 percent air filled open spaces between the fibers. The strip of flexible material may also be composed of a thermoplastic foam.

Claims

1. A carrier tape comprising a strip of flexible, nonwoven web material having top and bottom major surfaces, said strip having a series of spaced pockets formed within the strip between said major surfaces to form a portion of a carrier tape in which components are received in the pockets between the major surfaces of said strips, said spaced pockets having a base surface at one end thereof and an opening through one of the major surfaces and opposite said base surface, and side walls projecting up from the base surface within the thickness of said web material, said base surface integrally formed within said strip of flexible material, and said base lying between said top and bottom major surfaces of the strip.

2. A carrier tape as in claim 1 wherein said strip of flexible, nonwoven material comprises a layer of nonwoven thermoplastic polymeric fibers, said fibers being adhered together at a substantial number of the fiber crossover points and said layer of nonwoven thermoplastic fibers having in the range of 20 to 70 percent air filled open spaces between the fibers.

3. A carrier tape as in claim 2 wherein said fibers are blown microfibers of polypropylene and polyethylene.

4. A carrier tape as in claim 2 wherein said fibers are blown microfibers of about 75 percent polypropylene and about 25 percent polyethylene.

5. A carrier tape as in claim 2 wherein said fibers are blown microfibers of about 75 percent polypropylene and about 25 percent polyethylene, and said strip of flexible material consists only of said layer of nonwoven thermoplastic polymeric fibers and has an average weight of about 400 grams per square meter and an average thickness between said major surfaces of about 0.9 millimeter (0.035 inch).

6. A carrier tape as in claim 2 wherein said layer of thermoplastic polymeric fibers has in the range of 45 to 50 percent air filled open spaces between the fibers.

7. A carrier tape as in claim 1 wherein said strip of flexible material is in the range of about 0.2 to 2.5 millimeter thick between said major surfaces.

8. A carrier tape as in claim 1 wherein said series of pockets have at least one step formed integrally within said pockets.

9. A carrier tape as in claim 1 wherein said series of pockets are formed by compressing portions of the strip of flexible nonwoven material.

10. A carrier tape as in claim 9 wherein the flexible nonwoven material underlying the base surface of said pockets has been compressed to a higher density than the average density of the remaining nonwoven material in said carrier tape.

11. A carrier tape as in claim 1 wherein said strip of flexible nonwoven material comprises a thermoplastic foam material.

12. A carrier tape as in claim 11 wherein the thermoplastic foam comprises an air volume of between about 20 to 90 percent.

13. A carrier tape as in claim 11 wherein the thermoplastic foam is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene and blends thereof.

14. A carrier tape as in claim 11 wherein said strip has an average thickness between said major surfaces of between about 0.5 millimeters (0.02 inches) and 15 millimeters (0.60) inches.

15. A carrier tape as in claim 11 wherein said series of pockets has at least one step formed integrally within said pockets.

16. A carrier tape as in claim 1 wherein the flexible nonwoven material underlying the base surface of said pockets has a higher density than the average density of the remaining nonwoven material in said carrier tape.