Importance

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Abstract

A component carrier tape which can be molded as an integral member from flexible sheet material. The carrier tape includes a substrate having a plurality of spaced pallet/component-receiving apertures, walls projecting from the substrate and surrounding the apertures, one or more pedestal tabs extending from each wall into the associated aperture and one or more finger tabs extending from each wall into the associated aperture. The pedestal tabs have a sloping pedestal wall and a pedestal edge which extend into the aperture at an angle. The pedestal tabs engage and support a first surface of pallets positioned within the apertures at a pedestal height. The finger tabs extend from the wall into the aperture at a finger tab height which is vertically displaced from the pedestal height, and engage and support a second surface of pallets positioned within the apertures. Pallets such as electronic components can be inserted into the carrier tape by forcing the second surfaces of the pallets into engagement with the sloping pedestal walls through the apertures, thereby causing the pedestal tabs to deflect until the second surfaces of the pallets engage the finger tabs and the first surfaces of the pallets extend beyond the pedestal edges. The pedestal tabs then return to undeflected positions in engagement with the first surfaces of the pallets. The plurality of spaced pallet/component receiving apertures enable pallet/component access to mechanical part registration to facilitate electrical component testing and/or marking.

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First Claim