GPAX, Ltd ThruPAX carrier tape / Mechanically Interlocking cover tape

EIA Standard ThruPAX™-
Mechanically Interlocking Flat Carrier for Thru-Hole Components

Side view of ThurPAX tape

ThruPAX carrier: A flat carrier with prepunched holes which correspond to the unique lead pattern of the component. The punched holes in the carrier tape gauge and register the pattern of the ocmponent's leads, board posts, or other features. The component sits on top of the carrier tape with its leads protruding downward through the carrier tape. The mechanically interlocking StitchLock cover tape loops over the component securing it in place. An anti-stat polypropylene foam interleae tape is utilized between each wrap to protect leads and to dissipate any triboelectric charge.

Low Cost...

• Spliceable tapes mean elimination of scrap at the packaging operation and the avoidance of taping equipment downtime when replacing new supply reels. A typical ThruPAX carrier supply reel contains enough carrier tape to package 20,000, and the tapes are spliceable.
• The availability of a low cost tape and reel process which can provide accurate repeatable part presentation and registration within the tape package is of paramount importance to the successful implementation of the assembly process. No vision assist required, fastest placement cycle time.
• GPAX flat thru-hole prepunched carrier tape with mechanically interlocking cover tape provides the most cost effective parts presentation process solution fo rmost thru-hole parts.
• Additional benefits of this technology are reduced cycle time versus tray or tube feeding. Multiple parts per pitch facilitate high on-line inventory and multiple parts picking and increased throughput.

Robust...

• ThruPAX carrier and looping StitchLock™ cover tape mechanically interlock at each pitch across the carrier tape width for highest durability.

Compact...

• ThruPAX carrier and cover tapes generate less scrap volume because they are flat after use.
• More packaged parts on a reel compared to pockets because less air is in the package.

Process Proven-Automation Package...

• Leads are protected by the foam interleave. Upper portion of component extends above the carrier tape surface providing easy access for robot or pick and place grippers.
• Narrower width tapes mean narrower feeders, less feeder slots, and optimized work space around placement equipment.
• A representative example of the application of ThruPAX carrier technology is a SIP hybrid used by Nortel (Solectron):

This component was previously fed from a matrix tray, with 156 pick positions. Cycle time was approximately eight seconds to pick, register the leads and place each device. Using GPAX, on-line inventory increased to 700 components per reel, only 1 pick position, uses only 1/5 the work envelope space versus trays. Cycle time is now less than 2 seconds, a 75% reduction over the previous method. Parts are picked from tape and placed directly into the PCB without vision or other lead registration assist methods. Seventy-five percent of the robot cells were made obsolete with a considerable reduction in factory floor space.