Patent ID: 6202826
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: B65G,H05K

Abstract:
An apparatus for feeding chip components comprising:a first component reservoir for storing chip components in bulk, the first component reservoir having a declined bottom portion on which the chip components move down by their own weight;a second component reservoir, provided under the first component reservoir, for two-dimensionally storing the chip components in a space which is defined so that the chip components are not overlapped in their thickness direction, the second component reservoir having a declined bottom portion on which the chip components move down by their own weight;a component alignment path, provided under the second component reservoir, for one-dimensionally aligning the chip components, the component alignment path having a cross section which corresponds to the cross section of the chip component;first alignment means, provided between the first component reservoir and the second component reservoir, for two-dimensionally aligning the chip components and letting the chip components move down by their own weight;second alignment means, provided between the second component reservoir and the component alignment path, for one-dimensionally aligning the chip components and letting the chip components move down by their own weight;movable plate means, provided adjacent to at least one of the first alignment means and the second alignment means, which moves in a predetermined direction when the chip components are caught or drawn between itself and at least one of the first alignment means and the second alignment means, said movable plate means including at least one of a first movable plate provided near the second alignment means in the second component reservoir, a second movable plate provided on the side portion of the first alignment means, and a third movable plate provided on the back portion of the first alignment means; andmeans for feeding the chip components in the component alignment path to a predetermined position.