Component carrier and method for making

Abstract

A component carrier tape having a longitudinal flexible strip; a plurality of pockets longitudinally positioned on the longitudinal strip and configured for receiving a component therein, each of the pockets separated from an adjacent pocket by a crossbar; wherein at least one crossbar includes at least one release feature.

1 . A component carrier tape comprising:
 a longitudinal flexible strip;   a plurality of pockets longitudinally positioned on the longitudinal strip and configured for receiving a component therein, each of the pockets separated from an adjacent pocket by a crossbar;   wherein at least one crossbar includes at least one release feature.   
   
   
       2 . The component carrier tape of  claim 1  having multiple release features on at least one crossbar. 
   
   
       3 . The component carrier tape of  claim 2  wherein the multiple release features differ with respect to one or more of size, shape, height, width, depth, and spacing. 
   
   
       4 . The component carrier tape of  claim 1  wherein the uppermost portion of the release feature is at or below the plane of the longitudinal flexible strip. 
   
   
       5 . The component carrier tape of  claim 1  wherein at least one release feature is a trough. 
   
   
       6 . The component carrier tape of  claim 5  having at least two troughs. 
   
   
       7 . The component carrier tape of  claim 3  wherein the release features comprise at least two ridges separated by a trough. 
   
   
       8 . The component carrier tape of  claim 1  wherein the release feature acts as a hinge as the component carrier tape is removed from a forming tool. 
   
   
       9 . The component carrier tape of  claim 8  wherein the release feature can flex at an angle of up to about 45 degrees. 
   
   
       10 . A flexible carrier tape for storage and delivery of components by an advancement mechanism, the carrier tape comprising:
 a longitudinal flexible strip having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface;   a plurality of pockets for receiving components spaced along the strip and opening through the top surface thereof, wherein adjacent pockets are separated from each other by a crossbar; and   wherein a top surface of at least one the crossbar has at least one release feature.   
   
   
       11 . A method for producing an embossed carrier tape comprising:
 providing a rotatable tool having an outer circumferential surface, the outer circumferential surface including a series of projections for forming a plurality of longitudinally spaced component receiving pockets and at least one patterned depression between adjacent projections for forming at least one crossbar having at least one release feature between adjacent component receiving pockets;   introducing a polymer web onto the tool;   conforming the polymer web against the tool to emboss the web with the projections and depressions on the circumferential surface of the tool; and   removing the embossed web from the tool.