US2915212A - Diode taping machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1, 195% F. WOHLMAN 2,915,212

1 DIODE TAPING MACHINE Fil d July s, 1956 s" Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 1, 1959 F. WOHLMAN 2,915,212

v DIODE TAPING MACHINE Filed July 3, 1956 A s Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 1, 1959 F. WOHLMAN DIODE TAPING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 3, 1956 Awa /w.

A1 50 W044 M4M Un ed at Pa e DIODE TAPING MACHINE Fred Wohlman, Inglewood, Calif., assignor to Hughes Aircraft Company, Culver City, Calif., a corporation L of Delaware Application July 3, 1956, Serial No. 595,783 3 Claims. (Cl. 216-9) This invention relates to means for assembling components automatically, and particularly to a device for assembling and packaging very small diodes in such a way that they may be later handled by automatic production machinery.

" Current techniques in the fabrication of the computer equipment utilizing large numbers of very small diodes require that the diodes be delivered to the equipment in such away that they may be readily handled by automatic machinery.

Diodes of this type consist of a sealed cylindrical glass envelope having the active rectifying material entirely enclosed therein and having a connecting lead extending from each end of the envelope. The problem of handling these diodes during assembly presents difficulties because of the frangible nature of the envelope and the susceptibility to breaking the seals around the connecting leads if the units are strained in handling. Since each diode is of the order of 7 in diameter and A" in length, it will be readily understood that it is difficult to grasp the envelope firmly without damage, and to maintain the connecting leads, one of which normally extends outwardly for about 1" coaxially from each end of the cylindrical diode, in proper alignment parallel to the adjacent diodes.

The instant invention has a supply receptacle in which a large number of the diodes may be stored with their axes substantially parallelly positioned for delivery one at a time to a loading station. Delivery is accomplished through a zig-zag gravity-feed chute extending between the supply receptacle and the loading station. At the loading station, each diode is counted, and in turn is brought into contact with a carrier medium, which may be a flexible tape presenting a tacky, pressure-sensitive surface coating to the diodes. As the tape is pulled by motor means along a pre-set course, a resiliently faced pressure roller is arranged to press each of the diodes securely onto the carrier tape. The alignment of the diodes is maintained between delivery to the tape at the loading station and engagement with the pressure roller by means of a series of spaced slots defined by a pair of toothed wheels disposed on either side of a backing roller over which the tape rides, and which is arranged to resist the pressure of the resiliently surfaced idler wheel. After the diodes have been impressed on the tacky tape surface, the assembly is wound around a carrier reel. When a predetermined number of diodes have been processed, electronic counter means actuate, through suitable delay means, a cut-off switch which stops the operation, so that the full reel may be removed and a fresh one supplied. One revolution of bare tape is wound around the outside of the loaded reel to ensure the proper retention of the diodes in position.

In subsequent production steps, the outer tape may be removed as the carrier strip is fed into the processing machinery.

It will be seen that this device permits delivery of a predetermined number of diodes in spaced array with tion steps may follow without manual handling of these ice their axes parallel to'each other so that desired producdelicate devices. v a v The invention has been illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled device;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the invention; and

Fig. 3 is. a fragmentary schematic side view showing the relation of the essential parts.

The device indicated generally as 1 has 'a framework consisting essentially of a pair of parallel side plates 2 and 4 connected by suitable cross braces 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11. A zig-zag delivery chute 12 is arranged to receive diodes one at a time from a conventional hopper 14 shown fragmentarily inthe figure; The hopper 14 delivers diodes to the chute 12 by gravity, The chute controls the feed rate and maintains a proper parallel relation between the diodes. After being delivered through the z'ig-gag passage thereof, the diodes are presented at a deliverystation 15 immediately adjacent the periphery of a slotted wheel 16.

These diodes are of conventional design, with material having the desired electrical characteristics enclosed in a thin-walled, sealed cylindrical glass capsule. A connecting wire, or terminal lead, is sealed through each end of the capsule to provide the electrical contact to the inner material.

The carrier medium is carried on an idler wheel 17. The carrier medium may be a strip 18 of flexible tape A" wide having a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the side presented to the diodes. The tape is passed over the central portion of the slotted wheel 16 with its tacky surface 19 disposed awayfrom the wheel center As each diode arrives at the delivery station 15, it seats by gravity on the tacky surface, and is carried by rotation of the wheel into engagement with the pressure roll 20, the circumference of which has a resilient engaging layer 21. The pressure roll 20 is mounted on a fork 22 pivotally supported at 24 relative to the side plates 2 and 4 of the frame. extending outwardly from the-supporting fork in both directions and engaged terminally by springs 26. The springs 26 may be adjusted to apply a desired amount of pressure to the diodes in order to ensure proper engagement with the supporting tape. The slotted wheel 16 has suflicient clearance between the adjacent slotted portions to permit the frangible glass body of each of the diodes to nest readily therein with just sufiicient clearance to allow for the tacky backing.

This ensures that the diodes will remain in proper I alignment and be carried on the belt without danger of being cracked by the force exertedby the resiliently surfaced roll in pressing them against the backing tape.

The tape then passes over an idler wheel 27 for delivery to a collecting reel 29. When a sufiicient length of tape has been wound upon the reel 29, a counter 3t) and an automatic switch 31 associated therewith cooperate to turn off the motor 32, driving the collecting reel 29. This motor operates under the control of a motor control box 33 to drive the reel 29 through a reduction gear box 34 at the proper speed. When the reel is full, the motor automatically stops, the tape is cut, and the reel may be removed for later use and replaced by a fresh empty reel.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for disposing elongated axial leaded electrical components on pressure sensitive adhesive tape material and about a packaging reel, said apparatus cornprising, in combination: a frame structure; a loading wheel freely rotatably carried by said frame structure; I

Patented Dec. 1, 1959 The pressure roll has an axle 25 ture and having a discharge end positioned adjacent said" periphery of said wheel; a tape supply reel rotatably carried bysaid frame structure; means, for supporting said packaging reel. in association with said frame structure; means for rotatably driving said packaging reel, a web of said pressure sensitive adhesive. tape material being adapted for disposition about and between said edge portions of: said wheel and to said. packaging reel, movement of said web and driving of said wheel being through tensile stress in said tape material; a zigzag delivery chute in said delivery mechanism whereby to maintain continuous gravitational travel of said components for disposition of leads thereof in-said serrations in said wheel, a body of each component being disposed laterally between said edge portions of said wheel and on said adhesive .ofsaid tape material; a pressure roller carried by said frame structure and having a resilient peripheral portion adapted for disposition between said edge portions and in engagement with said component bodies; and means for biasing said resilient portion of said roller into said engagement with said component bodies, whereby to press said bodies into secure contact with said adhesive, said components thus secured to said tape being thereafter wound on said packaging reel.

2. An apparatus for disposing elongated axial leaded electrical components on pressure sensitive adhesive tape material and about a packaging reel, said apparatus comprising, in combintion: a frame structure; a loading wheel freely rotatably carried by said frame structure; laterally spaced radially extending serrated edge portions on a periphery of said loading wheel; a component storage and delivery mechanism carried by said frame structure and having a discharge end positioned adjacent said periphery of said wheel; a tape supply reel freely rotatably carried by said frame structure; journal means for supporting said packagingreel in association with said frame structure; electric motor and gear reduction means for rotatably driving saidpackaging reel, a web of said pressure sensitive adhesive tape material being adapted for disposition about and between said edge portions of said wheel and to said packaging reel, movement of said web and driving of said wheel being only through tensile stress in said tape material; a zigzag delivery chute in said delivery mechanism whereby to maintain continuous gravitational travel of said components for disposition of leads thereof in said serrations in said wheel, a body of each component being disposed laterally between said edge portions of said wheel and on said adhesive of said tape material; a pressure roller carried by said frame structure and having a resilient peripheral portion adapted for disposition between said edge portions and in engagement with said component bodies; and tension spring means for biasing said resilient portion of said roller into said engagement with said component bodies, whereby to press said bodies into secure contact with said adhesive, said components thus secured to said tape being thereafter wound on said packaging reel.

3. An apparatus for disposing elongated axial leaded electrical components on pressure sensitive adhesive tape material and about a packaging reel, said apparatus comprising, in combination: a frame structure; a loading wheel freely rotatably carried by said frame structure; laterally spaced radially extending serrated edge portions on a periphery of said loading wheels; a component storage and delivery mechanism carried by said frame structure and having a discharge end positioned adjacent said periphery of said wheel; a tape supply reel freely rotatably carried by said frame structure; journal means for supporting said packaging reel in operative association with said frame structure; electric motor and gear reduction means for rotatably driving said packaging reel, a web of said pressure sensitive adhesive tape material being adapted for disposition about and between said edge portions of said wheel and to said packaging reel, movement of said web and driving of said wheel being only through tensile stress in said tape material; a zigzag delivery chute in said delivery mechanism whereby to maintain continuous gravitational travel of said components for disposition of leads thereof in said serra-v tions in said wheel, a body of each component being disposed laterally between said edge portions of said wheel and on said adhesive of said tape material; a pressure. roller mounted on a laterally movable axis, carried by said frame structure and having a resilient peripheral portion adapted for disposition between said edge portions and in engagement with said component bodies; tension spring means for biasing said resilient portion of said roller into said engagement with said component bodies, whereby to press said bodies into secure contact with said adhesive, said components thus secured to said. tape being thereafter wound on said packaging reel; and component counter means positioned adjacent said component storage and delivery mechanism and responsive to passage of components to said wheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,916,966 Cunningham July 4, 1933 2,372,072 Flaws Mar. 20, 1945 2,771,206 Daniels, et al Nov. 20, 1956

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