Special receptacle or package – Holder for a removable electrical component – Bar or tapelike carrier for plural components
Patent
1999-06-18
2000-11-28
Fidei, David T.
Special receptacle or package
Holder for a removable electrical component
Bar or tapelike carrier for plural components
206713, B65D 8586
Patent
active
061523046
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a component holder assembly constructed from a plurality of component holder units connected together for storing various kinds of components, such as electronic components, optical components, and mechanical components, and more particularly to an improvement to a connector device for connecting component holder units of the component holder assembly.
BACKGROUND ART
Hitherto, a holder tape formed with many storage recesses spaced at predetermined intervals has been used as a component holder assembly for holding a multiplicity of components, and for mounting the holder assembly as an assembly of components on a component supply device, in such a way that after components having been stored in the recesses, the upper side of the holder tape is covered with a cover tape for restraining popping up of the components.
However, with such a component holder assembly, it is necessary that for the purpose of storing components, the holder tape must be covered with the cover tape and that for the purpose of feeding components, the cover tape must be peeled off and, in turn, taken up. This necessitates a complex component feeder device, and the peeled-off cover tape is disposed of as a throw-away waste, resulting in higher cost or the like.
Therefore, in order to solve such an issue, the applicant previously proposed a component holder assembly 121 as shown in FIG. 4, the assembly comprising a multiplicity of component holder units 122 (only two shown in the drawing) connected together. The component holder unit 122 has a component holding portion 123 formed in a central portion thereof, with feed holes 124 formed at a predetermined pitch on opposite sides in the direction of connecting. At opposite sides of the holding portion 123 there are provided engagement pieces 125 which are respectively connected by a pair of link pieces 126 at both sides integrally to side walls opposed to each other in the direction of connection of holder units 122, the engagement pieces 125 being adapted to be movable between a projected position and a retracted position in relation to a top opening of the holding portion 123. At the projected position, the engagement pieces 125 engage the upper surface of a component stored in the holding portion 123 to prevent popping up of the component, and at the retracted position, the engagement pieces 125 permit the component to be inserted into the holding portion 123 and held therein, or to be released therefrom.
At one end edge of the holder unit 122 oriented in the direction of connecting, there are provided a pair of protrusions 133 formed with an elongate connecting hole 134 in suitably spaced relation in a direction perpendicular to the direction of connection of the holder assembly 121. At the other end edge of the holder unit 122 oriented in the direction of connecting, engagement protrusions 132 adapted to fit into the connecting holes 134 are provided at positions corresponding to the connecting holes 134. The engagement protrusions 132 have, at one side, a locking pawl 115 projecting therefrom. At the inner side of the locking pawl 115 there is formed a recessed portion 116 wider than the width of the pawl 115 such that both ends of the locking pawl 115 and side end walls of the recessed portion 116 are connected by thin connecting walls to enable the locking pawl 115 to be retracted into the recessed portion 116 by a suitable external force and to securely return to its original state.
However, with the construction of above described connector device, after the locking pawl 115 fits into the connecting hole 134, a gap exists between the locking pawl 115 and the inner wall of the connecting hole 134, which causes a play in the connection of the holder units 122 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of connection, and therefore, the component holder assembly 121 cannot secure its straightness. As such, even when component holder units 122 are positioned by a component holder assembly feeding device, units other than the so p
REFERENCES:
patent: 5727688 (1998-03-01), IIshii et al.
patent: 5823341 (1998-10-01), Nakasuji
patent: 6003675 (1999-12-01), Maruyama et al.
Hikita Osamu
Kosugi Satoshi
Miyazaki Masamitu
Fidei David T.
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
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