Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Coil holder or support – Spool or core
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-02
2001-02-06
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Coil holder or support
Spool or core
C242S609100, C242S613000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182922
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a reassemblable reel and a disassembly device.
PRIOR ART
Conventionally, when storing and transporting electronic components such as semiconductor chips, it is a common practice to set electronic components in indentations formed in a plastic tape or the like, cover the parts with a covering tape or the like and then wind the plastic tape around a reel. Examples of such art are disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Public Disclosure Nos. 64851/1984 and 44969/1986.
Other examples include a configuration offered in Japanese Utility Model Public Disclosure No. 33867/1984, which calls for forming a reel in such a manner that two flanges are so disposed as to face each other and joined together by bringing a boss protruding from the center of one of the flanges into contact with another boss protruding from the center of the other flange. In addition, examples of a structure wherein a take-up hub is provided with a conductive layer in order to prevent electrostatic charge are disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Public Disclosure Nos. 137760/1985 and 147657/1987.
When producing a reel having any one of the structures described above, a reel hub, i.e. a winding drum portion, and flange portions are formed separately and securely assembled later. This method, however, requires an extra step in the production process in order to bond the reel hub to the flanges. An example of methods for solving this problem is a reel disclosed in the aforementioned Japanese Utility Model Public Disclosure No. 33861/1984, wherein a raised portion which serves as a reel hub is so formed as to project from each flange and, when assembled, connected to the corresponding raised portion by means of butt joint.
According to the above configuration, the number of parts is only two. However, as no specific location is set for the joining point, it is difficult to join the two parts so as to form a uniform and straight reel hub. Furthermore, as they have to be joined by using a bonding agent or a weld, the bonding operation is extremely troublesome.
In order to overcome these problems, the applicant of the present invention had previously offered a configuration having advantages such that a reel can easily be assembled simply by fitting two members to each other; assembly can easily be done in a short period of time with no need of such other steps as bonding, because a reel hub and a whole flange are formed in an integral body by using a conductive material; and that production costs are very low because it requires only two members (refer to Japanese Utility Model Public Disclosure Nos. 20855/1992 and 20856/1992).
As an increasingly large number of electronic components have been consumed recently, there has arisen a need to store and transport a great amount of conventional electronic components, which is difficult for conventional reels to fully cope with. In order to store a large number of electronic components, there is the need of reels which have a diameter larger than that of conventional reels as well as such a strength that is not possible with reels of the conventional assembled type. Furthermore, because of their high production costs, those large reels have to be used a number of times. A problem that has arisen in this regard involves transportation of empty reels after the use of tapes; as these reels are bulky, transportation costs are high in spite of their lightweight.
Problems to Be Solved by the Invention:
Components and connecting member of a reel with a great diameter require a sufficient strength. In addition, their engagement mechanism, too, has to be strong in order to protect chips or other electronic components to be wound around the reel for storage. However, as tightly engaged parts are usually difficult to disengage, it is difficult to obtain a structure that is easy to assemble and, at the same time, is also easy to disassemble. Furthermore, a reel consisting of two parts presents a problem when it has a large diameter and mass in that its parts tend to be bulky even in the disassembled state.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a reassemblable reel which can easily be assembled and has a capacity as well as strength sufficient to contain and protect a great quantity of chips or other electronic components when in use and, after use, can easily be disassembled into compact parts which are easy to transport. To be more specific, a reassemblable reel according to a feature of the invention is comprised of two flanges and a reel hub which includes flexible plates formed therein, wherein each flexible plate is provided with tooth-shaped protrusions respectively formed on the front and back ends of the flexible plate and protruding therefrom; the reel is so designed as to be formed by bringing the flanges into contact with both ends of the reel hub and pushing the flanges so that the elasticity of the flexible plates engages the tooth-shaped protrusions with stopper portions formed in the flanges; and wherein the tooth-shaped protrusions of each flexible plate can be disengaged by pushing the flexible plate from the outside of either flange in such a direction as to disengage the tooth-shaped protrusions. According to the second feature of the invention, a reassemblable reel comprises two flanges and a reel hub which includes flexible plates formed therein, wherein each flexible plate is provided with tooth-shaped protrusions respectively formed on the front and back ends of the flexible plate and protruding therefrom; the reel is so designed as to be formed by bringing the flanges into contact with both ends of the reel hub and pushing the flanges so that the elasticity of the flexible plates engages the tooth-shaped protrusions with stopper portions formed in the flanges; and wherein key bars adapted to push the flexible plates in such a direction as to disengage their tooth-shaped protrusions are so provided as to be removably inserted into through holes formed in the flanges. According to the third feature of the invention, key bars for pushing the flexible plates are formed on a handle portion or a plate body provided at the handle portion so that the key bars extend vertically and correspond to through holes formed in the flanges. According to the fourth feature of the invention, key bars corresponding to through holes formed in the flanges are formed on a handle portion or a plate body provided at the handle portion so that the key bars extend vertically therefrom, and wherein said push-rod has at its end an abutment piece corresponding to the center cylinder of the reel hub, said push-rod disposed in such a manner as to be removably inserted through the handle portion.
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Oldham & Oldham Co. L.P.A.
Rivera William A.
Toyo Jushi Co., Ltd.
Walsh Donald P.
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