Johnson & Johnson Clinical Diagnostics, Inc.

Hover-davis, Inc.

Eastman-kodak Company

Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.

James G Miller

John N Piccone

Gary Steven Hartman

Greg Holcomb

The present invention is a tape feeding device with splicing capabilities for reliably conveying parts to a pickup location for attachment to a substrate using a pick and place machine, including an extensible carrier tape reel support, a system for sensing the fill state of a carrier tape take-up reel, and a split hub take-up reel design to facilitate the removal of carrier tape therefrom.

Tape feeder with splicing capabilities

The present invention is an apparatus for multiple-pitch carrier tape feeding, including a carrier tape reel support, a slidable tape window and cover tape peel edge for exposing a component at a pick location adjacent a peel edge, and a carrier tape drive mechanism for advancing the carrier tape through the tape guide. The feeder also includes a pitch selection cam having a plurality of positions, each corresponding to one of a plurality of carrier tape pitch sizes, wherein movement of said selection cam is directly translated into movement of the tape guide. A sensor is employed for detecting the position of the selection cam, and a control unit, responsive to the sensor, controls the carrier tape drive, thereby advancing the carrier tape a predetermined distance according to the selected pitch size.

Multiple-pitch tape feeder with multiple peel positions

The present invention is a method and apparatus for parting and peeling-back the cover tape on a carrier tape (consisting of a component tape with pockets therein and cover tape thereover) in order to expose the component for retrieval by an automated assembly system. More specifically, the cover tape is parted along one edge, or slit in the middle for wider component tapes. The cover tape flap(s) created by the parting operation are then retracted back away from the region above the component, whereby the component is exposed for retrieval at the pick-up location. Subsequent to the pick-up location the carrier tape, with the parted cover tape flap(s) still attached thereto, is directed to a waste receptacle or similar disposal mechanism, avoiding the need for a separate cover tape take-up reel.

Carrier tape feeder with cover tape parting

An incubator assembly useful in a clinical analyzer having at least two incubators, each having a rotationally driven rotor assembly having a plurality of slide element holding stations, which incubators are stacked one above the other to define a substantially vertical arrangement. In a preferred embodiment, in which the incubators are of varying size, the smaller rotor assembly is horizontally offset so that the outside diameter of each rotor assembly is coincident in one location, preferably an input station, so that slide elements can be loaded into and removed more conveniently from either rotor assembly.

Twin rotor incubator assembly

An incubator and its cover are provided for an analyzer, and especially a mechanism for raising and lowering the cover. Such a mechanism includes a connector between the cover and incubator that allows the cover to be raised to a superimposed position, but not rotated. A pivot pin is mounted directly between the connector and the cover so that the cover can be pivoted relative to the connector to complete exposure of the incubator for access. A latch is provided on the connector for automatically latching the cover in the raised position as soon as the cover is pivoted in the plane at least part way from the superimposed position.

Raising mechanism for incubator cover

An analyzer incubator is provided in which evaporation caps have feet extending through a support on which the caps and covered test elements rest. A preferably fixed mechanism is provided underneath the support to raise and cover both sides of each cap simultaneously to avoid any significant sideways thrust on the cap or on a test element underneath. The cap preferably has downwardly depending feet positioned to cooperate with this mechanism, through the support.

Growing community of inventors

Hilton, NY, United States of America

James G Miller