Flat Punched carrier tape is a piece of carrier tape without pockets, only sprocket holes and heat-sealed cover tape.
The Flat Punched Carrier Tape comes into play when a reel of carrier tape runs low or ends, allowing for the easy addition of more tape to avoid machine downtime. Instead of replacing the reel entirely, the Flat Punched splices additional carrier tape onto the existing tape, letting production continue smoothly. This can improve efficiency and reduce machine stoppages.
Carrier tapes are typically wound on reels, and the Flat Punched Carrier tape helps maintain an uninterrupted flow of components during the SMT process.