Patent ID: 6769172
Filing Date: 2004-08-03
Classification: H05K,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
An electric-component mounting system for mounting an electric component onto a circuit substrate, comprising:a plurality of nozzle holders each of which carries a plurality of suction nozzles and is rotatable to bring a selected one of the suction nozzles into an operating position thereof, said each nozzle holder having an engaging portion; a turning device operable to turn said plurality of nozzle holders about a common axis of turning, for sequentially stopping each of said nozzle holders at a plurality of predetermined working positions including a nozzle-selecting position, a component-receiving position and a component-mounting position, so that said each nozzle holder receives an electric component at said selected one suction nozzle placed in said operating position, when said each nozzle holder is located at said component-receiving position, and mounts said electric component onto said circuit substrate when said each nozzle holder is located at said component-mounting position; a holder rotating device including an engaging member engageable with and disengageable from said engaging portion of said each nozzle holder, said holder rotating device being disposed at said nozzle-selecting position and operable to rotate the nozzle holder located at said nozzle selecting position, while said engaging member is in engagement with said engaging portion so that said selected one of said suction nozzles is brought into said operating position in which said selected suction nozzle extends in the vertical direction; and an engaging-and-disengaging device operable to move said engaging member for engagement and disengagement with and from said engaging portion, wherein said holder rotating device further includes (i) a rotary member holding said engaging member and rotatable with said engaging member, (ii) a rotary drive device operable to rotate said rotary member and said engaging member, and (iii) a rotation transmitting device interposed between said engaging member and said rotary member and operable to transmit a rotate motion of said rotary member to said engaging member, while permitting said engaging member to be moved in at least said direction of turning of said each nozzle holder by said turning device, and said engaging-and-disengaging device moves said engaging member in an axial direction of said rotary member, for effecting engagement and disengagement of said engaging member with and from said engaging portion of said each nozzle holder, and is operable to hold said engaging member in engagement with said engaging portion of said each nozzle holder, for at least a predetermined period of time after initiation of a turning movement of said each nozzle holder by said turning device from said nozzle-selecting position toward said component-receiving position.