Component feeder having a high density cover tape reservoir

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the handling and containment of a cover tape peeled from a pocket tape in a component feeder are disclosed. A single folding pulley comprising inclined sides and an undercut at the hub folds the adhesive contaminated edges back onto themselves so as to captivate the adhesive therebetweeen. A cover tape reservoir, having an internal cavity defined by a curved perimeter and treated sides, stores the folded cover tape. The remaining reservoir capacity is monitor in software for fullness. The cover tape is corrugated to allow for maximum packing density with a minimum of voids as it is pushed into the reservoir.

1 . A component tape feeder comprising: 
 a motor for driving a cover tape removed from the component tape;    a cover tape reservoir for receiving a driven cover tape therein; and    a controller for measuring a current required for said cover tape driving motor to overcome a back force imparted by driving the cover tape into the cover tape reservoir, said controller generating a signal to indicate the cover tape reservoir remaining capacity as a function of the cover tape driving motor current.    
     
     
         2 . The component tape feeder of  claim 1 , wherein the cover tape driving motor current is representative of a drive torque force, and said force is employed as an indication of the remaining capacity of the cover tape reservoir.  
     
     
         3 . A method for determining a remaining capacity in a cover tape reservoir comprising: 
 energizing a cover tape drive motor to cause a cover tape to be driven through a cover tape drive nip and pushed into a cover tape reservoir;    determining the cover tape reservoir back force at the drive nip; and    calculating remaining reservoir capacity as a function of the back force.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the back force is compared to at least one threshold value, and a signal is generated upon exceeding said threshold value.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein determining the cover tape back force and calculating the remaining reservoir capacity further comprises: 
 measuring a current required by the cover tape drive motor to move the cover tape through the drive nip and into the cover tape reservoir;    comparing the measured current to one of a plurality of predetermined current values, each of the predetermined values associated with a cover tape reservoir capacity; and    indicating the remaining cover tape reservoir capacity in response to the measured current and the comparison to the predetermined values.