Tape and Reel Packaging

Introduction

The electronics industry is making a tremendous investment in surface-

mount technology. The reasons for this investment include cost savings

resulting from automated component placement and increased density

of PCB layout due to smaller package sizes.

Today’s placement machines can pick and place thousands of components

per hour with a very high degree of accuracy. To achieve this performance,

the component delivery system must be capable of feeding parts at high

speeds in a consistent orientation, positively indexed to the demands of the

machine. The leads of the components must be protected from damage

during shipment, handling, and placement.

The preferred packing material available today for these demands is

tape and reel. Analog Devices’ tape and reel system is fully compatible

with the detaping equipment that is standard in most automated place-

ment equipment.

In the tape and reel format, the components are placed in specifically

designed pockets embossed in a plastic carrier tape. The cover tape is

sealed to the carrier tape to keep the parts in place in these pockets. A row

of sprocket holes is provided along one edge of the embossed tape to facili-

tate positive indexing. The tape is then wound onto a rigid plastic reel that

provides mechanical protection during handling and storage. These reels

are dust-free and compatible with a clean environment.

Specifications

Analog Devices’ tape and reel specifications are in conformance with the

EIA Standard 481 “Taping of Surface-Mount Components for Automatic

Placement.”

ESD Protection

Analog Devices’ tape and reel delivery system is designed to offer a very

high degree of protection against electrostatic discharge (ESD). All tape

and reel materials are static-dissipative. In addition, drypacked reels are

shipped in moisture barrier bags; nondrypacked reels are shipped in a box

with ESD conductive coating or in a conductive ESD bag. To retain the bene-

fits of this protection, the bags should be opened only at ESD controlled

workstations by trained personnel.

Peel Back Strength

The peel back force will be between 10 g and 100 g for 8 mm wide

tape and 10 g to 130 g for tapes 12 mm and wider when tested at room

temperature and pulled at a 175° to 180° angle with a peel-off speed of

300

± 10 mm/min.

Direction of Feed

Direction of feed is defined as the direction in which the end user unreels

the tape. The direction of feed for all products is counterclockwise when the

reel is held with the round sprocket holes facing the observer.

Figure 1. Direction of feed.

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