Reel table assembly

Claim 1

A reel table assembly for driving a tape reel having a center hole therein and a plurality of inwardly extending radial teeth formed circumferentially of the center hole, the reel table assembly comprising: a reel table driven by a reel motor and having a reel shaft formed centrally thereof for engaging with the center hole of the tape reel when the tape reel is carried thereon; a drive pawl provided circumferentially on said reel shaft, biasing means urging said pawl to normally project radially outwardly from said reel shaft for mesh engagement with the radial teeth of the tape reel to positively drive the tape reel, said pawl being movable radially inwardly toward the center of said reel shaft into a position in radial abutment with the radial teeth of the tape reel; a friction member provided on an upper side of said reel table for direct contact with a lower side of the tape reel to provide a high degree of friction with the tape reel; and projection means fixedly connected for rotation with said reel table and having a low-friction upper surface which contacts with a lower surface of the radial teeth of the tape reel only when said drive pawl is in radial abutment with the radial teeth and has a height maintaining the tape reel lifted apart from said friction member when a radial tooth of the tape reel contacts said projection means, said projection means having a width narrower than the space between adjacent teeth of the reel center hole so as to be located between the radial teeth when said drive pawl is located between the radial teeth of the tape reel thereby allowing the reel to contact said friction member, said projection means comprising at least one projection at a position separate from said drive pawl, whereby said tape reel is engaged with said drive pawl only when said projection is in alignment with a space between adjacent teeth, said drive movable independently of said projection means.