Advancing material of indeterminate length – By intermittent material-mover – Comprising reciprocating or oscillating material-mover
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-01
2002-06-25
Mansen, Michael R. (Department: 3653)
Advancing material of indeterminate length
By intermittent material-mover
Comprising reciprocating or oscillating material-mover
C226S148000, C226S156000, C053S235000, C156S583200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06409067
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a device for moving. a film or strip of plastics material intended particularly, but not exclusively, for recovering step by step films that are unrolled from robots for placing electronic components.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known that in order to assemble components quickly on a card, a robot can be used which takes a component from a dispenser film and places it at the appropriate location on a card. The thickness of the film is about 0.1 mm. The present invention relates to the film after the components have been taken from it. It is necessary to remove the film from the machine, to store it, and finally to discard it.
Traditionally, the film is wound onto the hub of a reel that is rotated. If the reel rotates at constant speed, then the winding speed of the film is irregular and depends on the extent to which the reel has been filled. As a result, the traction which is applied thereto varies, and numerous breaks are observed in such film, thereby requiring the machine to be stopped.
In order to remedy that drawback, proposals have already been made to cause the film to pass between two knurled wheels whose peripheries come into contact, and then to store the film behind the wheels in a suitable compartment. However, the film has a tendency to wind around the knurled wheels. In addition, that fixed system requires a special drive provided by means of a DC motor, and that is very expensive.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to mitigate the drawbacks of known systems and to propose a system that is simple, adjustable, and reliable.
According to the invention, the timed device for removing a strip or film, in particular a strip for carrying electronic components and after the components have been removed therefrom, comprises a clamp member driven with-reciprocating motion, synchronized by the machine, and entraining and pushing the film step by step.
In a first embodiment, the device comprises a clamp driven with synchronized reciprocating motion entraining the film into a storage cavity.
In another embodiment of the invention, the device comprises two synchronized one-way toothed wheels entraining the film step by step. The term “one-way wheel” is used to designate a wheel of the “freewheel”, type which can rotate in one direction only.
Thus, by back-and-forth motion of a wheel, the device pushes the plastics film towards its storage location, with the applied force remaining constant over the entire length of the film so operation is safe. The pay-out step size of the strip in this type of machine lies in practice in the range 4 mm to 12 mm. This device enables the film to be advanced by a determined length synchronously with the general movement of the robot.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4089451 (1978-05-01), Zlaikha
patent: 4638991 (1987-01-01), Kato
patent: 4768915 (1988-09-01), Fujioka
patent: 4887778 (1989-12-01), Soth et al.
patent: 5013291 (1991-05-01), Granger
patent: 5147279 (1992-09-01), Granger
patent: 5725140 (1998-03-01), Weber et al.
patent: 5975395 (1999-11-01), Takada et al.
patent: 0 345 061 (1989-06-01), None
patent: 0 340 124 (1989-11-01), None
Mansen Michael R.
Morris LLP Duane
LandOfFree
Step-by-step recovery of a strip does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Step-by-step recovery of a strip, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Step-by-step recovery of a strip will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2947628