Patent ID: 6170633
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: H05K

Abstract:
An electronic-component supplying apparatus, comprising:a bed including at least one linear table guide;at least four tables each of which is supported by said table guide such that said each table is movable relative to the bed, said each table supporting a plurality of electronic-component supplying cartridges such that respective component-supply portions of said cartridges are arranged along a straight line parallel to said table guide, said at least four tables including at least one table belonging to a first table group, and at least one table belonging to a second table group;at least three carriers each one of which is movable, independent of the other carriers, through a corresponding one of at least three routes which is associated with said each one carrier exclusively, said each one carrier being stoppable at any position on said corresponding one route, said at least three routes extending parallel to one another and said table guide, within a carrier-movement area on said bed which is an intermediate area on said bed in a direction parallel to the table guide;at least three carrier moving devices which are connected to said at least three carriers, respectively, and which move said at least three carriers through said at least three routes, respectively;a plurality of carrier-related engaging devices and a plurality of engageable portions each of which is disengageably engageable with at least one corresponding engaging device of said engaging devices, one of (a) each of said at least four tables and (b) each of said at least three carriers supporting a corresponding one of said engaging devices, the other of (a) said each of said at least four tables and (b) said each of said at least three carriers including a corresponding one of said plurality of engageable portions;a first table retracting device which retracts said at least one table of said first table group, to a first waiting area on said bed which is one of two side areas on both sides of said intermediate area on said bed in said direction parallel to said table guide;a second table retracting device which retracts said at least one table of said second table group, to a second waiting area on said bed which is the other side area on said bed; anda control device which is connected to said at least three carrier moving devices, said engaging devices and said first and second table retracting devices and which controls said at least three carrier moving devices, said engaging devices and said first and second table retracting devices, such that a first carrier of said at least three carriers is disengageably engaged with a first table of said at least four tables and iteratively moves and stops the first table, in a first direction parallel to said table guide, for supplying electronic components, and such that a second carrier of said at least three carriers is disengageably engaged with a second table of said at least four tables and moves the second table that is not supplying the electronic components, to follow, in the first direction, the first table that is being moved and stopped for supplying the electronic components, at an acceleration whose absolute value is smaller than that of an acceleration of the first table and at a deceleration whose absolute value is smaller than that of a deceleration of the first table, wherein said at least four tables include at least two tables belonging to said first table group, and at least two tables belonging to said second table group, and said first table retracting device comprises;a first movable member which is movable in said direction parallel to said table guide;at least one first-movable-member-related engaging device and a plurality of first engageable portions each of which is disengageably engageable with said at least one first-movable-member-related engaging device, one of (a) said first movable member and (b) said at least two tables of said first table group supporting said at least one first-movable-member-related engaging device, the other of (a) said first movable member and (b) said at least two tables of said first table group including said plurality of first engageable portions; anda first moving device which is connected to said first movable member and which moves said first movable member within a first composite area provided by said carrier-movement area and said first waiting area, and wherein said second table retracting device comprises:a second movable member which is movable in said direction parallel to said table guide;at least one second-movable-member-related engaging device and a plurality of second engageable portions each of which is disengageably engageable with said at least one second-movable-member-related-engaging device, one of (a) said second movable member and (b) said at least two tables of said second table group supporting said at least one second-movable-member-related engaging device, the other of (a) said second movable member and (b) said at least two tables of said second table group, including said plurality of second engageable portions; anda second moving device which is connected to said second movable member and moves said second movable member within a second composite area provided by said carrier-movement area and said second waiting area and wherein said first table retracting device further comprises a first guide which guides said first movable member and is associated therewith exclusively, and said second table retracting device further comprises a second guide which guides said second movable member and is associated therewith exclusively, and said first guide extends over said first waiting area and at least a portion of said carrier-movement area, and said second guide extends over said second waiting area and at least a portion of said carrier-movement area.