A cartridge for supplying a carrier tape which carries a plurality of electronic components, the tape having a plurality of pockets for accommodating the respective components, and a pair of side portions on both sides of the pockets, the pockets projecting downward from the side portions, the cartridge including a cartridge frame, a tape feeding device mounted on the cartridge frame, for feeding the carrier tape in a feeding direction, a pair of rails provided on the cartridge frame such that the rails extend parallel to the feeding direction, the pair of rails supporting the pair of the portions of the carrier tape, respectively, and permitting movement of the pockets of the tape when the tape is fed on the rails by the tape feeding device, a tape positioning device which positions the carrier tape with respect to a lateral direction in which the pair of side portions of the tape are spaced from each other, and a rail adjusting device which adjusts a spacing between the pair of rails to each of a plurality of different values.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an electronic-component supplying 
cartridge and particularly to the art of supplying electronic-component 
carrier tapes having different widths. 
2. Related Art Statement 
An electronic-component (EC) carrier tape carries a plurality of electronic 
components. The EC carrier tape includes an EC accommodating tape having a 
plurality of pockets for accommodating the respective components, and two 
side portions on both sides of the pockets, respectively. The side 
portions extend in a longitudinal direction of the EC accommodating tape. 
The pockets project downward from the side portions. For example, the 
pockets may be provided by forming a longitudinally continuous projection 
projecting downward from the side portions and forming a number of upward 
opening recesses at regular intervals of distance in the continuous 
projection. In this case, the recesses function as the pockets for 
accommodating the components. Alternatively, the pockets may be provided 
by forming a number of upwardly opening containers projecting downward 
from the side portions at regular intervals of distance. In the second 
case, the containers function as the pockets for accommodating the 
components. A cover film covers the respective openings of the pockets of 
the EC accommodating tape, thereby providing the EC carrier tape. 
There is known a cartridge for supplying an EC carrier tape, which includes 
(a) a cartridge frame, (b) a tape feeding device mounted on the cartridge 
frame, for feeding the carrier tape in a feeding direction, (c) a pair of 
rails provided on the cartridge frame such that the rails extend parallel 
to the feeding direction, the pair of rails supporting a pair of side 
portions of the carrier tape, respectively, and permitting the pockets of 
the carrier tape to move or pass therebetween when the tape is fed on the 
rails by the tape feeding device, and (d) a tape positioning device which 
positions the carrier tape with respect to a lateral or widthwise 
direction thereof in which the pair of side portions of the tape are 
spaced from each other. 
The positioning of a carrier tape in a cubic space is achieved by 
positioning the tape with respect to not only a longitudinal direction 
thereof but also a widthwise direction thereof and a direction of 
thickness thereof which are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. 
Usually, the longitudinal-direction positioning of the tape is done by the 
tape feeding device. The widthwise-direction and thickness-direction 
positioning of the tape is done by, for example, the pair of rails and/or 
a cover member covering the cartridge frame. The rails and the cover 
member cooperate with each other to sandwich the tape therebetween, 
thereby positioning the tape in the thickness direction thereof. In 
addition, the cover member has a pair of side portions which just contact 
opposite side ends of the tape, respectively, or oppose the two side ends 
with small clearances left therebetween, respectively. Thus, the 
widthwise-direction positioning of the tape is achieved. 
In the above-described conventional cartridge, the pair of rails are 
provided such that the rails are immovable relative to the cartridge 
frame, and the spacing of the two rails is pre-determined at a value which 
ensures that the two rails respectively support the two side portions of a 
carrier tape to be supplied by the cartridge. 
However, usually, different electronic components having different sizes 
are carried by different carrier tapes having different widths. 
Accordingly, different EC supplying cartridges having different spacings 
of rails are needed for supplying different carrier tapes having different 
widths. Many sorts of EC supplying cartridges are needed and each sort of 
cartridges are needed only in a small number. Thus, the production cost of 
the cartridges as a whole increases to a disadvantage. Moreover, since the 
total number of the cartridges increases, the maintenance cost of the same 
increases to another disadvantage. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an 
electronic-component supplying cartridge which can supply different sorts 
of electronic-component carrier tapes having different widths, i.e., 
different distances of side portions. 
The above object has been achieved by the present invention, which provides 
a cartridge for supplying a carrier tape which carries a plurality of 
electronic components, the tape having a plurality of pockets for 
accommodating the respective components, and a pair of side portions on 
both sides of the pockets, the pockets projecting downward from the side 
portions, the cartridge comprising: a cartridge frame; a tape feeding 
device mounted on the cartridge frame, for feeding the carrier tape in a 
feeding direction; a pair of rails provided on the cartridge frame such 
that the rails extend parallel to the feeding direction, the pair of rails 
supporting the pair of side portions of the carrier tape, respectively, 
and permitting movement of the pockets of the tape when the tape is fed on 
the rails by the tape feeding device; a tape positioning device which 
positions the carrier tape with respect to a lateral direction in which 
the pair of side portions of the tape are spaced from each other; and a 
rail adjusting device which adjusts a spacing between the pair of rails to 
each of a plurality of different values. 
In the electronic-component (EC) supplying cartridge constructed as 
described above, the rail adjusting device is operable to adjust the 
spacing or distance between the pair of rails, from one of the different 
values to another value or the other value, for example, in the case where 
the rails having the current spacing equal to said one value cannot 
support the side portions of a carrier tape to be supplied by the present 
cartridge. The rails having the adjusted spacing equal to said another or 
said other value can support the side portions of the carrier tape in 
issue. The rail adjusting device may comprise a removable rail adjusting 
member which is removably attached to the cartridge frame to adjust or 
change the spacing of the rails, or a movable rail adjusting member which 
is attached to the cartridge frame such that the adjusting member is 
movable in the widthwise direction of the frame parallel to the lateral 
direction of the carrier tape. Thus, a single EC supplying cartridge in 
accordance with the present invention can supply a plurality of sorts of 
carrier tapes having different spacings of side portions. Therefore, only 
fewer sorts of cartridges are needed to supply many sorts of carrier tapes 
and the overall production cost of the cartridges is reduced. In addition, 
the total number of the cartridges decreases and the cartridges which are 
not in use are kept in a smaller space. Thus, the cartridges can be 
maintained more easily. 
In a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention, the rail 
adjusting device comprises a removable rail adjusting member which is 
removably attached to the cartridge frame, the adjusting member providing 
at least one of the pair of rails. In this case, the spacing of the rails 
is easily adjusted by attaching the removable rail adjusting member to the 
cartridge frame, or detaching the adjusting member from the frame. One or 
both of the pair of rails may be formed literally integrally with the 
cartridge frame, or may be formed separately from the frame and then 
unremovably fixed to the frame. Hereinafter, the thus obtained rail or 
rails is/are referred to as "integral" rail or rails. In the case where a 
pair of integral rails are provided on the cartridge frame, the removable 
rail adjusting member may comprise (a) a two-rail-type removable rail 
adjusting member providing a pair of rails which are separate from the 
integral rails and are removably attached between the integral rails, or 
(b) a one-rail-type removable rail adjusting member providing a single 
rail which is separate from the integral rails, is removably attached 
adjacent to one of the integral rails, and functions as a rail in place of 
said one integral rail. The two-rail-type removable rail adjusting member 
may be formed as (a-1) an integral-two-rail-type removable rail adjusting 
member wherein the two rails thereof are formed integrally with each other 
to have, e.g., a generally U-shaped cross section, or (a-2) a 
separate-two-rail-type removable rail adjusting member wherein the two 
rails thereof are formed separately from each other and each rail is 
individually attached to the cartridge frame. In the case where (a-1) the 
integral-two-rail-type removable rail adjusting member or (b) the 
one-rail-type removable rail adjusting member is employed, the spacing of 
the rails is changeable in two steps or values, one value without the 
adjusting member and the other value with the adjusting member. When (a-2) 
the separate-two-rail-type removable rail adjusting member is used in such 
a manner that the two separate rails are simultaneously attached to, and 
detached from, the cartridge frame, the adjusting member is substantially 
the same as (a-1) the integral-two-rail-type removable rail adjusting 
member. However, if (a-2) the adjusting member is used in such a manner 
that only one of the two separate rails is attached to, and detached from, 
the cartridge frame, independently of the other rail, the spacing of the 
rails is changeable to each of three values. In the case where the 
removable rail adjusting member is attached to the cartridge frame in such 
a manner that the adjusting member is held in close contact with an inner 
side surface of one of the integral rails, the side surface of said one 
integral rail functions as an adjusting-member positioning device which 
positions the adjusting member in the widthwise direction of the frame. In 
the last case, the spacing of the rails is changeable in three or more 
values, by employing two or more removable rail adjusting member having 
different widths and selectively attaching them to the frame. In the case 
where (a-2) the separate-two-rail-type removable rail adjusting member or 
(b) the one-rail-type removable rail adjusting member is employed, the 
spacing of the rails is changeable in three or more values, without having 
to prepare a plurality of adjusting member having different widths. This 
is achieved by just changing the position of attachment of the adjusting 
member relative to the cartridge frame. In the last case, it is preferred 
that an adjusting-member positioning device, separate from the integral 
rails, be provided for positioning the adjusting member in the widthwise 
direction of the frame. This adjusting member functions as not only a 
removable adjusting member but also a movable adjusting member. In the 
case where only one of the pair of rails is an integral rail, the 
removable rail adjusting member comprises one or more removable rails each 
of which functions as the other rail, and/or one or more removable rails 
each of which can be used in place of the integral rail. In the last case, 
the rail spacing is adjustable in two or more values, by employing two or 
more removable rails having different widths, or by changing the position 
of attachment of a single removable rail relative to the frame. In the 
case where neither of the pair of rails is an integral rail, the removable 
rail adjusting member comprises two removable rails which function as the 
pair of rails of the cartridge. In the last case, the rail spacing is 
adjustable in two or more values, by changing the spacing of the two 
removable rails. In any case where one of the pair of rails is an integral 
rail and cannot be replaced by any other rail, a cover member which covers 
said one rail may be used as the tape positioning device for positioning 
the carrier tape in the lateral direction thereof, in such a manner that 
an inner side surface of one of two side portions of the cover member 
which portion is adjacent to said one rail contacts one of two side ends 
of the carrier tape. On the other hand, in the case where neither of the 
pair of rails is an integral rail, or where one or two integral rails can 
be replaced by another or other removable rails in order to reduce the 
rail spacing, it is required that a cover member suitable for the integral 
rail or rails be replaced by another cover member suitable for the 
removable rail or rails, so that said another cover member may function as 
the tape positioning device. Alternatively, in any case, it is possible 
that one or both of the pair of rails may be used as the tape positioning 
device, e.g., in such a manner that the rail is formed with a stepped 
surface which just contacts one side end of the carrier tape, or with an 
inner side surface which just contacts an outer side surface of the 
pockets of the tape. 
In another embodiment in accordance with the invention, the rail adjusting 
device comprises: a movable rail adjusting member which is attached to the 
cartridge frame such that the adjusting member is movable in the lateral 
direction; and an adjusting-member positioning device which positions the 
movable rail adjusting member at each of a plurality of different 
positions in the lateral direction. In this embodiment, the movable rail 
adjusting member may provide a movable rail as one of the pair of rails of 
the cartridge, and the other rail may be an integral rail. In the last 
case, the two side portions of the carrier tape are supported by the 
movable and integral rails, respectively. The movable rail are movable to 
a selected one of the different positions where the movable rail 
cooperates with the integral rail to support the carrier tape to be 
supplied. The different positions may be continuously or steplessly 
selectable or may be stepwise selectable. In the former case, the 
adjusting-member positioning device steplessly positions the movable rail 
adjusting member; and in the latter case, the positioning device stepwise 
positions the adjusting member. In the case where the position of the 
adjusting member is steplessly adjusted, the spacing of the rails can be 
changed to a value equal to the width of the pockets of the tape, so that 
respective inner surfaces of the two rails cooperate with each other to 
function as the tape positioning device for positioning the pockets of the 
tape in the lateral or widthwise direction of the tape. Alternatively, one 
or both of the two rails may be formed with a stepped surface which just 
contacts one or both of respective outer side ends of the two side 
portions of the tape, so that the stepped surface may function as the tape 
positioning device. Either in the case where the rail spacing is 
steplessly adjustable, or in the case where the rail spacing is stepwise 
adjustable, the rail spacing is adjustable to each of a plurality of 
different positions, by using a single movable rail adjusting member. 
Thus, the rail adjusting device can be produced at low cost. 
In another embodiment in accordance with the invention, the rail adjusting 
device comprises a rail adjusting member providing one of the pair of 
rails, the other rail being provided as a part of the cartridge frame. In 
this case, the rail adjusting member may be removable or movable. In any 
case, the spacing of the two rails can be adjusted by using a single rail 
adjusting member. Thus, the number of the rail adjusting members needed 
for the invention cartridges as a whole is reduced, and the production 
cost of the same is also reduced. 
In another embodiment in accordance with the invention, the rail adjusting 
device comprises a pair of rail adjusting members providing the pair of 
rails, respectively, the rail adjusting device adjusting a spacing between 
the pair of rail adjusting members such that a center of the spacing does 
not change even after the spacing is adjusted to the each of the different 
values. In this case, the rail adjusting members may be movable or 
removable. In the case of the movable rail adjusting members, the rail 
spacing is adjusted by moving the two adjusting members symmetrically with 
each other with respect to a point or line as the center of the rail 
spacing. In the case of the removable rail adjusting members, the rail 
spacing is adjusted by attaching or detaching, to or from the cartridge 
frame, the two adjusting members (i.e., (a-2) the above-mentioned 
separate-two-rail-type removable rail adjusting member) symmetrically with 
each other with respect to the center of the rail spacing, or 
alternatively by attaching or detaching a single removable member having 
two rail-adjusting top surfaces symmetrical with each other (i.e., (a-1) 
the above-mentioned integral-two-rail-type removable rail adjusting 
member). Since the center of the rail spacing does not change even after 
the rail spacing is adjusted or changed, the center line of the pockets of 
each carrier tape supplied by the present cartridge does not change even 
if different carrier tapes having different widths are supplied. For 
example, when the present cartridge supplies different sorts of electronic 
components having different widths which are respectively carried by 
different carrier tapes having different widths, the EC picking-up 
position where a suction nozzle picks up by air suction the components 
from the respective pockets of each of the different tapes need not be 
changed with respect to the widthwise direction of the cartridge frame in 
which direction the two rails are spaced from each other. In the case of 
the movable rail adjusting members, the rail spacing may be changed 
steplessly or stepwise. In any case, one or both of the two rails may be 
used as the tape positioning device in the same manners as described 
above. 
In another embodiment in accordance with the invention, the tape feeding 
device comprises: a driver member which is movable in a first direction 
and a second direction different from the first direction; a feeding 
mechanism which feeds the carrier tape based on the movement of the driver 
member in the first direction and does not transmit, to the tape, the 
movement of the driver member in the second direction; a first-direction 
stopper which defines a first limit of movement of the driver member in 
the first direction; and a second-direction stopper which defines a second 
limit of movement of the driver member in the second direction. When the 
driver member is moved in the first direction, the carrier tape is fed by 
the feeding mechanism; and when the driver member is moved in the second 
direction, the tape is not fed, but the feeding mechanism prepares for 
feeding the tape when the driver member is again moved in the first 
direction. Therefore, the pitch of feeding of the carrier tape by the 
feeding mechanism can be changed by changing one of the first and second 
limits of movement of the driver member. For example, in the case where 
the first limit cannot be changed and the second limit can be changed 
depending upon a selected tape feeding pitch, the leading one of the 
electronic components accommodated in the pockets of the carrier tape is 
moved to the EC picking-up position which need not be changed in the tape 
feeding direction even if the tape feeding pitch is changed. The present 
cartridge may further comprise a drive source for driving the driver 
member of the tape feeding device, the drive source being mounted on the 
cartridge frame. Since the present cartridge has an exclusive drive 
source, the cartridge can be used with any apparatus whose drive source 
cannot be shared by the cartridge. The drive source may comprise an air 
cylinder. The air cylinder can be produced at low cost. The air cylinder 
may be of a single-acting type or a double-acting type. 
According to a preferred feature of the invention, the second-direction 
stopper comprises: a first stopper member which is movable together with 
the driver member; a movable member which is attached to the cartridge 
frame such that the movable member is movable and adjustable with respect 
to a position thereof relative to the frame; at least one second stopper 
member which is provided on the movable member and defines the second 
limit of movement of the driver member by abutting the first stopper 
member movable with the driver member; and a free-movement preventing 
device which prevents a free movement of the movable member relative to 
the cartridge frame. When the pitch of feeding of the carrier tape is 
changed to a desired one, the free-movement preventing device is operated 
by the operator to permit the movement of the movable member relative to 
the cartridge frame, so that the movable member can be moved and adjusted 
to a position thereof relative to the frame which position defines the 
second limit of movement of the driver member such that the second limit 
corresponds to the desired tape feeding pitch. Thereafter, the 
free-movement preventing device is again operated to prevent or inhibit 
the movement of the movable member relative to the frame. In the case 
where the second-direction stopper comprises a plurality of second stopper 
members which are provided on the movable member and each of which defines 
a corresponding one of a plurality of different second limits of movement 
of the driver member by abutting the first stopper member moved with the 
driver member, the movable member is moved such that a selected one of the 
second stopper members is moved to the second-direction-movement limiting 
position where the selected second stopper is abutable on the first 
stopper member to stop the movement of the driver member in the second 
direction. Thus, the tape feeding pitch is changeable in two or more 
values. Even in the case where the second-direction stopper comprises a 
single second stopper member provided on the movable member, an attachment 
member with which the movable member is attached to the cartridge frame 
may be used as another second stopper member, so that the tape feeding 
pitch is changeable to two values. The present cartridge can supply not 
only different sorts of carrier tapes having different widths, but also 
different sorts of carrier tapes having different feeding pitches. In the 
present cartridge, the tape feeding pitch can be changed easily and 
quickly. The tape feeding pitch can be changed in other manners. For 
example, the tape feeding pitch can be changed by employing different 
stopper members which define different second limits of movement of the 
driver member, respectively. In the last case, one of the different 
stopper members is selected which corresponds to a desired feeding pitch, 
and the selected stopper member is attached to the cartridge frame. 
However, the number of the stoppers increases, and the operator is 
required to replace the current stopper member with another stopper member 
each time the current feeding pitch is changed to a new one. In the 
present cartridge including the second-direction stopper having the 
preferred feature described above, the tape feeding pitch can easily and 
quickly be changed by just moving the movable member. In addition, the 
single movable member can be maintained more easily than the plurality of 
stopper members. 
According to another feature of the invention, the second-direction stopper 
further comprises an attachment member secured to the cartridge frame, the 
movable member being attached to the attachment member such that the 
movable member is movable, relative to the attachment member, to a 
position thereof where the movable member causes a portion of the 
attachment member to be exposed and opposed to the first stopper member 
movable with the driver member. When the present cartridge is in a 
situation in which the movable member is moved to, and located at, a 
position thereof where the movable member causes a portion of the 
attachment member to be exposed and opposed to the first stopper member, 
that portion of the attachment member functions as the second stopper 
member to stop the movement of the driver member in the second direction 
by abutting the first stopper member. In the case where the movable member 
supports one second stopper member provided thereon and is movable to a 
position thereof to cause a portion of the attachment member to be exposed 
and opposed to the first stopper member, the second-direction stopper 
comprises two second stopper members one of which is provided by one 
supported by the movable member and the other of which is provided by that 
portion of the attachment member. The attachment member may be formed as 
an integral portion of the cartridge frame, or as a separate member from 
the frame. 
According to another feature of the invention, the movable member of the 
second-direction stopper comprises a rotary member which is rotatable 
about an axis line, the at least one second stopper member comprising a 
plurality of second stopper members provided along a circle whose center 
rides on the axis line of the rotary member. When the present cartridge is 
in a situation in which the free-movement preventing device is operated by 
the operator to permit the movement of the rotary member as the movable 
member relative to the cartridge frame, the rotary member can be rotated 
so that a selected one of the second stopper members is moved to the 
second-direction-movement limiting position where the selected second 
stopper member is abutable on the first stopper member to thereby define a 
corresponding second limit of movement of the driver member in the second 
direction. The rotary member may be a circular plate, one obtained by 
cutting a circular plate, a rectangular plate, a cross-shaped plate, or a 
polygon-shaped plate. In the case where a rotary member is employed as the 
movable member, the rotary member can be accommodated in a small space 
within the cartridge frame. In the case where a linearly movable member is 
used as the movable member, the cartridge frame needs a larger space to 
permit the linear movement of the movable member, than the space occupied 
by the same. In contrast, the rotary member can be moved or rotated almost 
within the space occupied thereby and accordingly does not need any 
additional space to permit the rotation thereof. Various mechanisms such 
as the tape feeding mechanism are provided on the cartridge frame, and it 
is difficult to allot a large space to the movable member of the 
second-direction stopper. Since the rotary member as the movable member 
needs a small space only, the second-direction stopper can easily be 
provided on the cartridge frame. 
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cartridge further 
comprises: a taking-up device which has a take-up drum and takes up, 
around the take-up drum, a cover film covering respective openings of the 
pockets of the carrier tape being fed by the tape feeding device; and a 
holder device which holds a tape storage device in which the carrier tape 
is stored, the holder device holding the tape storage device such that the 
tape is continuously fed from the storage device to the pair of rails, the 
take-up drum being positioned relative to the tape storage device and the 
pair of rails such that the carrier tape is fed from the storage device to 
the rails by being guided by a guide roller provided by the take-up drum 
or the cover film being wound around the drum. The carrier tape may be 
engaged with a portion of a circumferential surface of the guide roller 
such that a direction of feeding of the tape from the tape storage device 
to the pair of rails via the portion of the roller is same as a direction 
of movement of the portion of the roller. As the carrier tape is fed by 
the tape feeding device, the cover film of the tape is taken up by the 
rotation of the take-up drum of the taking-up device, and is wound around 
the take-up drum. Simultaneously, a portion of the outer circumferential 
surface of the take-up drum or the cover film wound around the drum which 
portion is moved in the same direction as the feeding direction of the 
carrier tape, engages the carrier tape and functions as a guide roller for 
guiding the tape being fed from the tape storage device toward the pair of 
rails. Since the present cartridge does not need an exclusive guide 
roller, the production cost of the cartridge is reduced. The diameter of 
the cover film wound around the take-up drum increases with the feeding of 
the carrier tape. However, the angular velocity of the take-up drum 
decreases with the increasing of the diameter of the taken-up cover film, 
so that the amount of movement of the outer circumferential surface of the 
taken-up cover film per unit time, i.e., the amount of movement of the 
cover film per unit time is kept substantially equal to the amount of the 
carrier tape per unit time. Therefore, substantially no slippage is 
observed between the outer circumferential surface of the taken-up cover 
film and the carrier tape being fed. Accordingly, there may be produced, 
without any problem, a great resistance between the taken-up cover film 
and the carrier tape. However, the taken-up cover film can apply an 
additional force to the carrier tape, thereby assisting the tape feeding 
device in feeding the carrier tape from the tape storage device toward the 
pair of rails.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown an electronic-component supplying 
cartridge 10 to which the present invention is applied. 
The cartridge 10 includes a tape-reel holding device 12, a tape feeding 
device 14, and a film taking-up device 16. The tape-reel holding device 12 
holds a tape reel as a tape storage device around which a carrier tape 22 
(FIG. 2) is wound. The carrier tape 22 includes an electronic-component 
(EC) accommodating tape 24, and a thin, transparent cover film 26, as 
shown in FIG. 13. The tape feeding device 14 feeds the carrier tape 22 in 
a feeding direction (described later). The film taking-up device 16 takes 
up the cover film 26 from the carrier tape 22 being fed by the feeding 
device 14. 
As shown in FIGS. 13-15, the EC accommodating tape of the carrier tape 22 
has a series of container-like pockets 30 each of which accommodates an 
electronic component 20 with leads, and a pair of side portions 28, 28 
which are provided on both sides of the series of pockets 30 and extend 
parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction of the EC accommodating 
tape 24. Each container-like pocket 30 projects downward from the level of 
side portions 28, 28, and has an opening 32 in an upper surface of the 
tape 24. The pockets 30 are equidistant from each other on the carrier 
tape 22. In the following description, the electronic components 20 
accommodated in the pockets 30 of the carrier tape 22 will be referred to 
simply as the carrier tape 22. 
The cover film 26, adhered to the upper surface of the EC accommodating 
tape 24, covers the respective openings 32 of the pockets 30. One of the 
two side portions 28, 28 has an array of perforations 34 formed through 
the thickness thereof. The perforations 34 are equidistant from each other 
in the longitudinal direction of the tape 24. 
The tape reel 38, around which the carrier tape 22 is wound, is detachably 
attached to a rear end portion 44 of a cartridge frame 40 via a first axis 
member 42. The end portion 44 and the axis member 42 cooperate with each 
other to provide the tape-reel holding device 12 of the cartridge 10. A 
resisting member 46 is pivotally attached to the end portion 44 via a 
second axis member 48, and a spring 50 biases the resisting member 46 in a 
direction to contact an outer circumferential surface of the tape reel 38. 
Thus, the resisting member 46 resists the rotation of the tape reel 38. 
The end portion 44 has a plurality of insertion holes 52 into each of which 
the first axis member 42 can be inserted. The insertion holes 52 are 
provided for supporting different tape reels 38 having different 
diameters, so that the resisting member 46 suitably resists the rotation 
of each tape reel 38. Electronic components of different sizes are 
accommodated in carrier tapes of different sizes, respectively, which in 
turn are wound around tape reels 38 of different diameters, respectively. 
The carrier tape 22 which is wound around the tape reel 38 held by the 
tape-reel holding device 12, is sent to the tape feeding device 14 via the 
film taking-up device 16. The taking-up device 16 also functions as a 
guiding device for guiding the carrier tape 22 in a manner described 
later. 
The cartridge frame 40 has an elongate, thin box-like configuration and 
stands such that the lengthwise and thickness-wise directions thereof are 
horizontal and the widthwise direction thereof is vertical. As shown in 
FIG. 11, a front end portion of the frame 40 supports a pair of rails 60, 
60 which project from a top surface 58 of the frame 40 and extend parallel 
to each other in the tape feeding direction in which the carrier tape 22 
is fed by the tape feeding device 14. The pair of rails 60, 60 can 
support, from underside, the pair of side portions 28, 28 of the EC 
accommodating tape 24 of each of different carrier tapes 22 having 
different widths, when each carrier tape 22 is fed on the rails 60 by the 
feeding device 14. The two rails 60, 60 are spaced from each other by a 
spacing or distance which permits the pockets 30 of the tape 24 to pass 
therethrough. 
As shown in FIG. 11, the pair of side portions 28, 28 of the carrier tape 
22 are supported from the underside thereof by the pair of rails 60, 60, 
and are covered with a cover member 62. Thus, the carrier tape 22 is fed 
by the feeding device 14 such that the side portions 28, 28 are sandwiched 
between the rails 60, 60 and the cover member 62. 
The tape feeding device 14 intermittently feeds the carrier tape 22 in the 
feeding direction contained in the horizontal plane, by a predetermined 
feeding pitch equal to the distance between the respective centers of each 
pair of adjacent pockets 30 of the EC accommodating tape 24. As shown in 
FIG. 2, the tape feeding device 14 includes an air cylinder 66 and a 
piston rod 68 which is advanced from, and retracted into, the air cylinder 
66. The air cylinder 66 is of a double-acting type and has two air 
chambers which are selectively communicated with an air source (not shown) 
and the atmosphere, respectively. 
A stopper block 70 is fixed to an end portion of the piston rod 68, and a 
rotary plate 72 is connected to the stopper block 70 such that the plate 
72 is rotatable relative to the block 70. A central portion of the rotary 
plate 72 is connected to one of opposite end portions of a third axis 
member 74 which is fixed to the cartridge frame 40 by being fastened with 
a screw member 75 (FIG. 5). Thus, the rotary plate 72 is rotatable about a 
horizontal axis line perpendicular to the tape feeding direction. As shown 
in FIG. 5, a bottom portion of the rotary plate 72 fits on a fourth axis 
member 76 fixed to the stopper block 70, such that the plate 72 is 
rotatable about the axis member 76. When the piston rod 68 is retracted 
and advanced by the air cylinder 66, the rotary plate 72 is rotated in a 
forward and a backward direction thereof, respectively, as seen at the 
place where the carrier tape 22 is fed on the pair of rails 60, 60. 
Opposite end portions of the fourth axis member 76 project from the 
stopper block 70. The rotary plate 72 fits on one of the end portions of 
the axis member 76, and a link 77 fits on the other end portion of the 
axis member 76 such that the link 77 is rotatable relative to the axis 
member 76. The link 77 is also connected to the other end portion of the 
third axis member 74 such that the link 77 is rotatable relative to the 
axis member 74. The rotary plate 72 is sandwiched with precision between a 
head portion 78 of the fourth axis member 76 and a flange of a sleeve 79, 
so that the rotation of the plate 72 relative to the axis member 76 and 
the stopper block 70 is permitted and the tilting of the axis member 76 is 
prevented. The link 77 also functions to prevent the tilting of the axis 
member 76. 
As shown in FIG. 2, a ratchet pawl 80 is rotatably connected to the rotary 
plate 72 via a fifth axis member 82. A spring 84 as a biasing member 
biases the ratchet pawl 80 in a direction in which the pawl 80 engages the 
teeth 88 of a ratchet wheel 86. The ratchet wheel 86 is fixed to a 
sprocket 90 so that the wheel 86 is not rotatable relative to the sprocket 
90. The sprocket 90 is rotatably supported by the third axis member 74. 
Teeth 92 of the sprocket 90 are engaged with the perforations 34 of the EC 
accommodating tape 24 of the carrier tape 22. When the piston rod 68 is 
retracted and the rotary plate 72 is rotated in the forward direction 
thereof, the ratchet pawl 80 connected to the plate 72 is moved in 
engagement with the teeth 88 of the ratchet wheel 86, so that the ratchet 
wheel 86 is rotated in a forward direction thereof and accordingly the 
sprocket 90 is rotated in a forward direction thereof. Consequently the EC 
accommodating tape 24, i.e., the carrier tape 22 is fed in the feeding 
direction. 
The limit of forward-direction rotation of the rotary plate 72 is defined 
by a stopper projection 96 on which the ratchet pawl 80 is abutable. The 
stopper projection 96 is fixed to the cartridge frame 40. Thus, the 
feeding device 14 feeds the carrier tape 22 such that the leading one of 
the components 20 accommodated in the pockets 30 from which the cover film 
26 has already been removed is sent to a predetermined EC picking-up 
position where each leading component 20 is picked up, one after another, 
by an EC mounting apparatus (not shown). 
When the piston rod 68 is advanced by the air cylinder 66 and the rotary 
plate 72 is rotated in the backward direction thereof, the ratchet pawl 80 
moves over the teeth 88 of the ratchet wheel 86. In this situation, the 
rotation of the ratchet wheel 86 is inhibited by a stopper lever 94. Thus, 
the carrier tape 22 is prevented from moving in the feeding direction. In 
addition, the leading component 20 is inhibited from moving out of the EC 
picking-up position. Thus, the stopper lever 94 also functions to position 
the leading component 20 at the EC picking-up position. When the rotary 
plate 72 is rotated in the forward direction thereof, the ratchet wheel 86 
is rotated by an angle equal to a central angle corresponding to the 
number of teeth 88 which the ratchet pawl 80 had moved over during the 
prior backward-direction rotation of the plate 72. Thus, the pitch of 
feeding of the carrier tape 22 is defined as the number of teeth 88 which 
the ratchet pawl 80 moves over in each backward-direction rotation of the 
rotary plate 72. Therefore, the feeding pitch of the carrier tape 22 can 
be changed by changing the limit of backward-direction rotation of the 
rotary plate 72. 
The limit of backward-direction rotation of the rotary plate 72 is defined 
by a backward-direction stopping device 112 provided on the cartridge 
frame 40. The stopping device 112 includes a base member 116 fixed to the 
frame 40, and a rotary member 120 secured to the base member 116 with a 
bolt 118. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 6, the base member 116 includes a first 
portion 122 fixed with bolts 126 to the frame 40, within a recess 124 
formed in the front end portion of the frame 40, and a second portion 128 
extending horizontally toward a central portion of the frame 40. 
As shown in FIG. 10, the second portion 128 of the base member 116 has an 
end face 130 on the side of the air cylinder 66. The position of the end 
face 130 defines a limit of the advancing movement of the piston rod 68, 
i.e., a limit of the backward-direction rotation of the rotary plate 72 
which corresponds to the greatest one of the four tape feeding pitches 
available on the present cartridge 10. 
As shown in FIG. 7, the rotary member 120 includes a first and a second 
stopper projection 132, 134 diametrically opposite to each other, and a 
recess 136 intermediate between the two projections 132, 134. The recess 
136 is formed by cutting off a portion of a circular plate such that the 
cut portion does not contain the center of the circular plate and has a 
surface area to permit a bottom portion of the stopper block 70 fixed to 
the piston rod 68 to pass therethrough so as to abut on the end face 130 
of the base member 116. 
As shown in FIG. 10, the rotary member 120 fixed to the cartridge frame 40 
has such a thickness that an end face 138 thereof on the side of the air 
cylinder 66 defines a limit of the advancing movement of the piston rod 68 
which corresponds to the second greatest one of the tape feeding pitches 
available on the cartridge 10. The first and second stopper projections 
132, 134 have a first and a second length or height which defines the 
third greatest tape feeding pitch and the smallest tape feeding pitch 
available on the cartridge 10, respectively. 
By loosening the bolt 118, the rotary member 120 is made rotatable relative 
to the base member 116. Thus, the rotary member 120 can be rotated and 
adjusted such that one of the first and second stoppers 132, 134, the end 
face 138 of the rotary member 120, and the end face 130 of the base member 
116 faces the stopper block 70 fixed to the piston rod 68, as shown in 
FIGS. 6 and 8 to 10. Thus, the rotary member 120 and the base member 116 
cooperate with each other to define four rotation-limiting positions which 
correspond to the four limits of backward-direction rotation of the rotary 
plate 72, respectively. When each of the first and second stoppers 132, 
134 and end face 138 of the rotary member 120 is faced toward the stopper 
block 70, each portion 132, 134, 138 of the rotary member 120 is held in 
close contact with the base member 116, so that each portion 132, 134, 138 
is supported by the base member 116. 
In the case where one of the two stopper projections 132, 134 is faced 
toward the stopper block 70, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the stopper block 
70 is abutable on the stopper projection 132, 134 to limit the 
backward-direction rotation of the rotary plate 72. In the case where the 
end face 138 of the rotary member 120 is faced toward the stopper block 
70, as shown in FIG. 9, the stopper block 70 is abutable on the end face 
138 to limit the backward rotation of the rotary plate 72. In the case 
where the end face 130 of the base member 116 is exposed and faced toward 
the stopper block 70, as shown in FIG. 10, the stopper block 70 is 
abutable, via the recess 136, on the end face 130 to limit the backward 
rotation of the rotary plate 72. It can be said that when one of the two 
stoppers 132, 134 and end face 138 of the rotary member 120 is faced to 
the stopper block 70, the rotary member 120 is in an operative or advanced 
position thereof and that when the end face 130 of the base member 116 is 
faced toward the stopper block 70, the rotary member 120 is in an 
inoperative or retracted position thereof and the base member 116 is in an 
operative position thereof. 
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 12, the cover member 62 has a generally U-shaped 
cross section, and is pivotally attached at a rear end portion thereof to 
the cartridge frame 40 via a sixth axis member 146 (FIG. 6). As shown in 
FIG. 3, the cover member 62 includes a pair of side plates 148, 148. As 
shown in FIG. 6, the two side plates 148, 148 have respective engaging 
recesses 150, 150 with which a pair of engaging members 152, 152 attached 
to the cartridge frame 40 are engaged, respectively. Each engaging member 
152 has a vertically elongate hole 154, and fits on a pin 156 fixed to a 
side face of the frame 40 such that the engaging member 152 is movable 
relative to the frame 40. The engaging members 152, 152 are biased 
downward by a spring 158. Thus, the two engaging members 152, 152 are 
engaged with the cover member 62 such that the former 152, 152 cannot be 
disengaged from the latter 62. In addition, the engaging members 152, 152 
biases the cover member 62 downward so that a bottom surface 159 of the 
cover member 62 contacts an upper surface of the carrier tape 22 and 
thereby prevents the components 20 from jumping out of the pockets 30, as 
shown in FIG. 3. The bottom surface 159 of the cover member 62 provides a 
fixed surface for preventing the jumping of the electronic components 20. 
As shown in FIG. 12, the cover member 62 has a slit 160 extending 
perpendicular to the tape feeding direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the cover 
film 26 removed from the EC accommodating tape 24 is drawn through the 
slit 160, subsequently is guided by a guide roller 164 fixedly supported 
by the cartridge frame 40, and then is taken up by a take-up reel 162 as a 
part of the film taking-up device 16 which will be described later. 
The cover member 62 has an elongate hole 168 formed in a portion thereof 
corresponding to the perforations 34 of the carrier tape 22. The provision 
of the elongate hole 168 ensures that the teeth 92 of the sprocket 90 do 
not interfere with the cover member 62. A generally rectangular opening 
170 is formed in a portion of the cover member 62 which portion is nearer 
to a front end of the same 62 than the slit 60. A suction head or nozzle 
172 picks up each component 20 from the carrier tape 22 through the 
opening 170. The opening 170 has such dimensions which permit the 
electronic components 20 to be picked up therethrough by the suction head 
172. 
The suction head 172 is mounted on an X-direction movable device (not 
shown) such that the head 172 can be moved upward and downward by an 
elevating device (not shown). The suction head 172 is moved by the 
X-direction movable device, in an X direction which orthogonally 
intersects a Y direction as the tape feeding direction in the horizontal 
plane. A number of EC supplying cartridges 10 each in accordance with the 
present invention are mounted on a support table (not shown) such that the 
respective EC picking-up positions thereof are aligned with a reference 
straight line parallel to the X direction. The suction head 172 is movable 
in the X direction, along the reference line, i.e., such that the position 
of the head 172 with respect to the Y direction is not changed from the 
reference line. Thus, the suction head 172 can pick up electronic 
components 20 from each of the cartridges 10. 
The opening 170 of the cover member 62 can partly be covered by a shutter 
180, or can completely be uncovered. As shown in FIG. 5, the shutter 180 
includes a plate-like slide portion 182 and an EC-jumping preventing 
portion 184. The slide portion 182 fits between the rotary plate 72 and 
the ratchet wheel 86, and extends in the tape feeding direction. The 
preventing portion 184 extends from a top end of the slide portion 182 
onto the cover member 62. 
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a recess 186 is formed in a front portion of the 
slide portion 182. The recess 186 extends vertically and opens downward. A 
projection 188 provided on the rotary plate 72 fits in the recess 186. 
When the rotary plate 72 is rotated forward or backward, the shutter 180 
is advanced or retracted in the tape feeding direction. An elongate hole 
190 is formed in a central to a rear portion of the slide portion 182. The 
elongate hole 190 extends parallel to the tape feeding direction. Stepped 
pins 192 each including a head portion and a stepped axis portion are 
inserted to the elongate hole 190 such that the stepped axis portion of 
each pin 192 extends through the hole 190. A small-diameter portion of the 
stepped axis portion of each pin 192 is caulked and fixed to one of the 
side plates 148 of the cover plate 62. A large-diameter portion of the 
stepped axis portion of each pin 192 is movable relative to the elongate 
hole 190 in the tape feeding direction. The elongate hole 190 and the 
respective large-diameter portions of the stepped axis portions of the two 
pins 192 cooperate with each other to provide a shuttle guiding device for 
guiding the shutter 180 in a direction parallel to the tape feeding 
direction. 
The EC-jumping preventing portion 184 of the shutter 180 has such a length 
which ensures that a rear portion of the preventing portion 184 overlaps a 
front portion of the cover member 62 even when the shuttle 184 is advanced 
over a maximum distance. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 12, the preventing 
portion 184 extends from the slide portion 182 to a central position 
between the pair of rails 60, 60 where the portion 184 extends downward as 
an EC-jumping preventing tongue 194. The cover member 62 has a slit 196 
which is formed upstream of the opening 170 as seen in the tape feeding 
direction, extends parallel to the feeding direction, and communicates 
with the opening 170. Thus, the cover member 62 does not interfere with 
the preventing tongue 194 which fits in the slit 196 such that the tongue 
194 is movable relative to the cover member 62. A bottom surface 198 of 
the tongue 194 is flush with the fixed EC-jumping preventing surface 159 
of the cover member 62. Thus, the bottom surface 198 of the tongue 194 
defines a movable EC-jumping preventing surface. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the film taking-up device 16 is provided between the 
tape-reel holding device 12 and the tape feeding device 14. When the 
carrier tape 22 is fed by the feeding device 14, the taking-up device 16 
takes up the cover film 26 from the carrier tape 22. As shown in FIG. 2, 
the taking-up device 16 includes a take-up reel 162 which has a 
cylindrical drum 202 and a pair of flanges 204, 204 extending radially 
outwardly from opposite axial ends of the drum 202, respectively. The drum 
202 is engaged, via a friction-engagement member such as a rubber ring, 
with a reel supporting member (not shown) which is rotatably supported on 
a seventh axis member 206. 
The seventh axis member 206 is attached to a support member 210 as a part 
of the cartridge frame 40. A take-up lever 214 is rotatably attached to 
the axis member 206. The take-up lever 214 has a triangular shape. As 
shown in FIG. 2, the lever 214 is biased by a tension coil spring 216 that 
is an elastic member as a biasing device, in a direction to take up the 
cover film 26. The coil spring 216 is provided between the lever 214 and 
the support member 210. 
The take-up lever 214 has an arcuate elongate hole 218 whose center rides 
on an axis line of the seventh axis member 206. An engagement member 222 
which rotatably fits on an axis member fixed to one of two end portions of 
a link 220, is engaged with the elongate hole 218 such that the engagement 
member 222 is movable relative to the lever 214. The other end portion of 
the link 220 is connected to the rotary plate 72 and the stopper block 70 
via the fourth axis member 76. More specifically, the link 220 fits on the 
axis member 76 such that the link 220 is rotatable relative to the plate 
72 and the block 70. A knob 224 is formed in an intermediate portion of 
the link 220. The knob 224 can be used by an operator for manually moving 
the link 220. 
A first one-way clutch (not shown) is provided between the reel supporting 
member (not shown) which supports the take-up reel 162, and the take-up 
lever 214. The first one-way clutch inhibits the lever 214 from being 
rotated relative to the reel 162 in a first direction in which to take up 
the cover film 26, but permits the lever 214 to be rotated relative to the 
reel 162 in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A second 
one-way clutch (not shown) is provided between the reel supporting member 
and the seventh axis member 206. The second one-way clutch permits the 
reel 162 to be rotated relative to the axis member 206 in the first 
direction in which to take up the cover film 26, but inhibits the reel 162 
from being rotated relative to the axis member 206 in the second direction 
opposite to the first direction. 
As described above, the drum 202 of the reel 162 is friction-engaged with 
the reel supporting member, and the rotation of the reel supporting member 
in the second direction opposite to the first, film-taking-up direction is 
inhibited by the second one-way clutch. Therefore, if a rotation torque 
which overcomes the friction resistance produced between the reel 162 and 
the reel supporting member is applied to the reel 162, the reel 162 can be 
rotated relative to the reel supporting member in the direction opposite 
to the film-taking-up direction. Thus, the take-up reel 162 can easily be 
attached to, and detached from, the reel supporting member. In addition, 
an appropriate length of the cover film 26 which has been wound around the 
drum 202 of the reel 162 can easily be re-wound so as to again cover the 
openings 32 of the pockets 30, so that the components 20 covered with the 
film 26 are supplied to the suction head 172. 
The carrier tape 22 wound around the tape reel 38 is drawn from the reel 38 
by the operator, and subsequently the tape 22 is engaged with a bottom 
portion of an outer circumferential surface of the drum 202 of the take-up 
reel 162. Then, the pair of side portions 28, 28 of the carrier tape 22 
are placed on the pair of rails 60, 60 provided on the cartridge frame 40, 
and the perforations 34 of the tape 22 are engaged with the teeth 92 of 
the sprocket 90. 
The take-up reel 162 is attached to the cartridge frame 40 such that a 
straight line connecting the tape reel 38 and the rails 60, 60 intersects 
the bottom portion of the outer circumferential surface of the drum 202, 
so that a tape supply route from the reel 38 to the rails 60, 60 is 
changed or curved by the bottom portion of the drum 202. Accordingly the 
carrier tape 22 is engageable with the bottom portion of the drum 202. As 
the carrier tape 22 is fed, i.e., as the electronic components 20 are 
supplied, the diameter of the tape 22 wound around the tape reel 38 
decreases and the diameter of the cover film 26 wound around the drum 202 
of the take-up reel 162 increases. Irrespective of the decreasing of the 
diameter of the tape 22 wound around the tape reel 38 or the increasing of 
the diameter of the film 26 wound around the take-up reel 162, the outer 
circumferential surface of the drum 202 or the cover film 26 wound around 
the drum 202 partly defines the tape supply route between the tape reel 38 
and the rails 60, 60. In other words, the outer circumferential surface of 
the drum 202 or the cover film 26 wound around the drum 202 provides a 
guide roller for guiding the tape 22 being fed from the reel 38 to the 
rails 60, 60. The direction of feeding of the tape 22 from the reel 38 to 
the rails 60, 60 via the bottom portion of the drum 202 is the same as the 
direction of movement of the bottom portion of the drum 202 when the drum 
202 is rotated about the seventh axis member 206. 
As described previously, the attachment position where the tape reel 38 is 
attached to the rear end portion 44 of the cartridge frame 40 is 
changeable depending upon the diameter of the tape reel 38 to be used, so 
that the rotation of the reel 38 is resisted by the resisting member 46. 
The changing of the attachment position ensures that the carrier tape 22 
is engaged with the bottom portion of the drum 202 or the cover film 26 
wound around the drum 202. 
However, it is possible that the take-up reel 162 be attached to the 
cartridge frame 40 in such a manner that a straight line connecting the 
tape reel 38 and the rails 60, 60 does not intersect any portion of the 
outer circumferential surface of the drum 202, i.e. is completely distant 
from the drum 202 even after the cover film 26 is fully wound around the 
drum 202. In the latter manner, the tape 22 is engaged with a portion of 
the drum 202 which is the most distant from the straight line, such that 
the direction of feeding of the tape 22 from the reel 38 to the rails 60, 
60 via the most distant portion of the drum 202 is the same as the 
direction of movement of the most distant portion of the drum 202 when the 
drum 202 is rotated about the seventh axis member 206. 
The present EC-supplying cartridge 10 can supply two sorts of carrier tapes 
22, 22' including different EC-accommodating tapes 24, 24' having 
different widths, respectively. One 22 of the two carrier tapes 22, 22' is 
fed on the pair of rails 60, 60 formed integrally with the cartridge frame 
40, such that the side portions 28, 28 thereof are supported by the rails 
60, 60, respectively. The other or second carrier tape 22' has a width, 
i.e., a distance between a pair of side portions thereof which is smaller 
than that of the side portions 28, 28 of the first carrier tape 22. As 
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the second tape 22' is fed on one of the rails 60, 
60 and a rail-spacing adjusting block 230. 
The spacing adjusting block 230 has the same height as that of the rails 
60, 60 as measured from the top surface 58 of the cartridge frame 40. The 
block 230 is placed on the top surface 58 such that the block 230 is held 
in close contact with an inner side surface 232 of one of the rails 60, 60 
which is opposite to the other rail 60 on the side of which the sprocket 
90 and the ratchet wheel 86 are provided. The block 230 is removably 
secured to the frame 40 with a plurality of bolts (not shown). An upper 
surface of the block 230 is flush with an upper surface of the other rail 
60. Thus, the block 230 cooperates with the other rail 60 to provide a 
pair of rails on which the tape 22' is fed toward the EC taking-up 
position. 
When the spacing adjusting block 230 is attached to, or detached from, the 
cartridge frame 40, the cover member 62 is retracted away from the frame 
40. More specifically described, with the engaging recess 150 of the cover 
member 62 being disengaged from the engaging member 152, the cover member 
62 is pivoted and retracted from the frame 40. Simultaneously, the shutter 
180 which is attached to the cover member 62 via the elongate hole 190 and 
the stepped pins 192, 192 is retracted from the frame 40 together with the 
cover member 62. The shutter 180 is engaged with the rotary plate 72 via 
the recess 186 and projection 188 engaged with each other, but the 
position of engagement of the recess 186 and projection 188 is distant 
from the sixth axis member 146 about which the cover member 62 rotates. 
Therefore, when the cover member 62 is pivoted about the axis member 146, 
the recess 186 is moved substantially vertically, so that the recess 186 
can be disengaged from the projection 188 of the rotary plate 72. 
Next, there will be described the operation of the EC supplying cartridge 
10 constructed as described above. 
Prior to the commencement of supplying of the carrier tape 22, 22', the 
spacing adjusting member 230 is attached to, or detached from, the 
cartridge frame 40, as needed, depending upon the predetermined width or 
distance of the side portions 28, 28 of the tape 22 or the side portions 
of the tape 22'. In addition, the limit of backward-direction rotation of 
the rotary plate 72 is changed depending upon the predetermined feeding 
pitch of the tape 22, 22'. 
In the case where the carrier tape 22 having the greater width is supplied, 
the side portions 28, 28 of the tape 22 are fed on the pair of rails 60, 
60, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. In this case, respective 
outer side ends of the side portions 28, 28 are held in close contact with 
respective inner surfaces of the side plates 148, 148 of the cover plate 
62, with substantially no clearances therebetween. Thus, the position of 
the carrier tape 22 with respect to the widthwise or lateral direction 
thereof in which the side portions 28, 28 are spaced from each other, is 
defined by the close contact of the side portions 28, 28 with the side 
plates 148, 148. The position of the tape 22 with respect to the 
longitudinal direction thereof, i.e., in the tape feeding direction is 
defined by the engagement of the teeth 92 of the sprocket 90 with the 
perforations 34 of the tape 22. FIG. 12 shows pockets 30 having openings 
32 whose width in the lateral direction is a maximum and whose length in 
the feeding direction is a minimum corresponding to the maximum width. 
Therefore, the cartridge 10 can supply different carrier tapes whose 
pockets or openings have greater lengths than shown in FIG. 12. This is 
also the case with pockets 30' or openings of the carrier tape 22' shown 
in FIG. 4. 
In the case where the carrier tape 22' having the smaller width, the tape 
22' is fed on one of the rails 60 and the spacing adjusting block 230, as 
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this case, only one of the side portions 28', 
28' of the tape 22' in which perforations are formed is held in close 
contact with a corresponding one of the side plates 148, 148 of the cover 
member 62, with substantially no clearance therebetween. In this case, the 
positioning of the tape 22' with respect to the lateral direction thereof 
is defined by the contact of the one side portion with the one side plate 
148. The positioning of the tape 22' with respect to the tape feeding 
direction is defined by the engagement of the teeth 92 of the sprocket 90 
with the perforations of the tape 22'. Thus, a portion of the tape 22' 
which is engaged with the teeth 92 of the sprocket 90 is well positioned 
in the horizontal plane. That is, the cover member 62 prevents the tape 
22' from being rotated about the above-mentioned engaged portion thereof 
in the horizontal plane. Thus, the tape 22' is positioned with respect to 
both the lengthwise and widthwise directions thereof. 
The opening 170 of the cover member 62 has such dimensions which permit 
large components 20 to be picked up therethrough by the suction nozzle 
172. Small components 20 have such dimensions which ensure that the 
shutter 180 prevents the jumping of the components 20 out of the carrier 
tape 22', as shown in FIG. 4. Therefore, even if the tapes 22, 22' are 
changed with each other and the spacing adjusting block 230 is attached to 
or detached from the cartridge frame 40, the cover member 62 or the 
shutter 180 is not changed. Components 20 having different dimensions are 
accommodated in pockets 30, 30' having different dimensions. However, 
irrespective of the dimensions of the components 20, the pockets 30, 30' 
are provided with a constant distance from the perforations 34 formed in 
one side portion 28 of the carrier tape 22, 22'. Accordingly, if the tapes 
22, 22' are changed with each other, the respective centers of the pockets 
30, 30' or components 20 accommodated in the pockets are moved with 
respect to the lateral direction of the tape 22, 22'. Therefore, the EC 
picking-up position where the suction nozzle 172 picks up by air suction 
each component 20 from the tape 22, 22' should be moved or adjusted in the 
X direction, depending upon the width of the tape 22, 22' or the 
dimensions of the components 20, so that the suction nozzle 172 can apply 
air suction or vacuum to the center of each component 20. 
When the feeding pitch of the carrier tape 22, 22' is changed, the limit of 
backward-direction rotation of the rotary plate 72 is changed to a new 
one. With the bolt 118 being loosened, the rotary member 120 is rotated, 
so that a desired one of the two stopper projections 132, 134, the end 
face 138 of the rotary member 120, or the end face 130 of the attachment 
member 116 is faced toward the stopper block 70 fixed to the piston rod 68 
of the air cylinder 66. The desired one 132, 134, 138, 130 corresponds to 
the changed or new feeding pitch of the tape 22, 22'. After the rotary 
member 120 is thus rotated, the bolt 118 is fastened again so that the 
rotary member 120 is secured to the attachment member 116. 
As the piston rod 68 of the air cylinder 66 is extended or advanced, the 
stopper block 70 fixed to the rod 68 is brought into abutment on one of 
the two stoppers 132, 134 and the two end faces 138, 130, thereby limiting 
the backward-direction rotation of the rotary plate 72. In this situation, 
the ratchet pawl 80 has moved over a predetermined number of teeth 82 of 
the ratchet wheel 86, and the shutter 180 is held at the retracted 
position thereof. 
When the piston rod 68 is withdrawn from the advanced position thereof, the 
rotary plate 72 is rotated in the forward direction thereof, so that the 
shutter 180 is advanced in the tape feeding direction and the ratchet 
wheel 86 and the sprocket 90 are rotated in the forward directions 
thereof. Thus, the carrier tape 22, 22' is fed by a distance corresponding 
to one pitch. That is, the leading one of the electronic components 20 
from which the cover film 26 has been removed is fed to the EC picking-up 
position while simultaneously the jumping of the leading component 20 from 
the tape 22, 22' is effectively prevented by the movable 
jumping-preventing tongue 194 of the shutter 180. 
Since the shutter 180 has a sufficient length which ensures that the rear 
end portion of the shutter 180, moved to the advanced position thereof, 
overlaps the cover member 62, the components 20 accommodated in the 
pockets 30, 30' from which the cover film 26 has been removed are 
effectively prevented from jumping out of the pockets 30, 30', by the 
immovable jumping-preventing surface 159 of the cover member 62 or the 
movable jumping-preventing surface 198 of the shutter 180, before each 
component 20 is picked up by the suction head 172. 
Subsequently, the piston rod 68 is advanced, and the rotary plate 72 is 
rotated in the backward direction thereof. However, the ratchet wheel 86 
is not rotated, so that the carrier tape 22, 22' is not fed. Only the 
shutter 180 is moved in the feeding direction, from the advanced position 
thereof to the retracted position thereof, so that the movable 
jumping-preventing tongue 194 is retracted away from the leading component 
20 positioned at the EC picking-up position just below the suction nozzle 
172. 
In synchronism with the movement of the shutter 180 from the advanced 
position thereof to the retracted position thereof, the suction nozzle 172 
held at the EC picking-up position is lowered in such a manner that the 
suction nozzle 172 is brought into contact with the leading component 20 
just after the movable jumping-preventing tongue 194 is completely 
retracted away from the leading component 20. Thus, the suction nozzle 172 
picks up by air suction the leading component 20. The suction nozzle 172 
holding the component 20 is lifted upward and subsequently moved in the X 
direction, so that the suction nozzle 172 mounts the component 20 on an 
object such as a printed circuit board (PCB). 
When the ratchet pawl 80 is moved over the teeth 88 of the ratchet wheel 86 
as a result of the extension or advancing movement of the piston rod 68, 
the link 220 is advanced forward, so that the take-up lever 214 is 
rotated, against the biasing force of the tension coil spring 216, in a 
backward direction thereof opposite to a forward direction thereof in 
which to take up the cover film 26 removed from the carrier tape 22, 22'. 
In this case, however, the rotary motion of the lever 214 is not 
transmitted, by the first one-way clutch (not shown), to the reel 
supporting member (not shown) or the take-up reel 162, and the rotation of 
the reel supporting member or the take-up reel 162 is prevented by the 
second one-way clutch. 
When the carrier tape 22, 22' is fed by the retraction of the piston rod 
68, the link 220 is retracted so that the take-up lever 214 is biased by 
the tension coil spring 216 so as to be rotated in the forward direction 
thereof, i.e., cover-film taking-up direction. This rotation of the lever 
214 is transmitted by the first one-way clutch to the reel supporting 
member and the take-up reel 162 whose rotations are permitted by the 
second one-way clutch, so that the cover film 26 is removed from the 
carrier tape 22, 22' and is taken up around the reel 162. As the amount of 
winding of the film 26 around the reel 162 increases, the diameter of the 
film 26 wound around the drum 202 of the reel 162 increases and, 
accordingly, the amount of winding of the film 26 around the reel 162, per 
unit rotation angle of the same 162, increases. However, any excessive 
rotation angle or amount of the reel 162 is accommodated by the movement 
of the engagement member 222 within the elongate hole 218 relative to the 
lever 214, i.e., the disengagement of the link 220 from the lever 214. In 
other words, as the diameter of the film 26 wound around the drum 202 
increases, the angle of rotation of the reel 162 for each film winding 
decreases, so that a length of the film 26 equal to the tape feeding pitch 
is taken up for each film winding, irrespective of the increased diameter 
of the film 26. The amount of deformation of the biasing spring 216 is 
kept substantially constant. 
The slit 160 of the cover member 62 through which the cover film 26 is 
drawn is positioned outside the range in which the shutter 180 is advanced 
and retracted. Therefore, the film 26 is not interfered with by the 
shutter 180 when the shutter 180 is moved. Only when the shutter 180 is 
advanced and the carrier tape 22, 22' is fed forward, the film 26 is 
removed from the tape 22, 22', drawn through the slit 160, and taken up by 
the take-up reel 162. 
Thus, the winding direction and winding timing of the cover film 26 
correspond to the feeding direction and feeding timing of the carrier tape 
22, 22', respectively. The tape 22, 22' engaged with the outer 
circumferential surface of the drum 202 or the film 26 wound around the 
drum 202, is guided and fed by the drum 202 or the film 26 wound around 
the drum 202. Since an adhesive used to adhere the film 26 to the EC 
accommodating tape 24 remains on an outer surface of the film 26 wound 
around the drum 202, a high friction resistance is produced between the 
film 26 wound around the drum 202 and the carrier tape 22, 22' being fed 
from the tape reel 38 toward the rails 60, 60 or the rail 60 and block 
230. However, a portion of the film 26 being wound around the drum 202 
which portion is engaged with the tape 22, 22' being fed is moved in the 
same direction as the direction of feeding of the tape 22, 22'. Thus, the 
feeding of the tape 22, 22' is not resisted by the taken-up film 26, but 
rather is assisted by the taken-up film 26. The film 26 wound around the 
drum 202 assists the tape feeding device 14 in feeding the tape 22, 22' in 
the feeding direction. 
As described above, even if the diameter of the film 26 wound around the 
drum 202 increases, the amount of movement of the outer circumferential 
surface of the wound film 26 as measured in the circumferential direction 
thereof, in each tape feeding cycle, is equal to the pre-selected or 
pre-determined tape feeding pitch. Therefore, no sliding occurs between 
the film 26 taken up around the drum 202 and the carrier tape 22, 22' 
guided by the taken-up film 26. If, however, the tape 22, 22' is curved 
due to the weights of the components 20, between the tape reel 38 and the 
rails 60, 60 or the one rail 60 and the block 230, the film 26 wound 
around the take-up reel 162 cannot guide the tape 22, 22' or help the tape 
feeding device 14 to feed the tape 22, 22'. 
In the present cartridge 10, the rotary member 120 is attached to the 
cartridge frame 40 via the attachment member 116, such that the rotary 
member 120 is rotatable about an axis line parallel to the direction of 
movement of the stopper block 70. When the block 70 abuts on the rotary 
member 120 or the attachment member 116, the impact of abutment is exerted 
in the direction parallel to the axis line of the rotary member 120 and is 
received by the frame 40 via the two elements 120, 116 or the element 116, 
so that the impact is assuredly received by the frame 40 and does not 
result in rotating the rotary member 120. Thus, the rotary member 120 may 
be produced with low mechanical strength and may be attached to the frame 
40 with low attachment strength. Accordingly, the backward-direction 
stopping device 112 can be produced at low cost. 
The rotary member 120 has a sufficient thickness ensuring that the end face 
138 thereof functions as a stopper, thereby reducing the number of stopper 
projections (132, 134) provided thereon. In this respect, too, the 
backward-direction stopping device 112 can be produced at low cost. 
Since the diameter of the rotary member 120 is smaller than the width of 
the cartridge frame 40, the provision of the rotary member 120 does not 
result in increasing the width of the frame 40. 
It emerges from the foregoing description that in the present embodiment 
shown in FIGS. 1 to 15, the perforations 34 formed in the carrier tape 22, 
22', the sprocket 90, and the cover member 62 cooperate with one another 
to provide a tape positioning device for positioning the tape 22, 22' with 
respect to the lateral direction thereof in which the side portions 28, 28 
are spaced from each other; the spacing adjusting block 230 functions as a 
removable rail adjusting member which is removably attached to the 
cartridge frame 40 and can be used in place of one of the rails 60, 60; 
and the block 230 and the bolts (not shown) for securing the block 230 to 
the frame 40 cooperate with each other to provide a rail adjusting device 
for adjusting the spacing of the two rails (60, 60) or (60, 230) on which 
the carrier tape 22, 22' is fed. 
The air cylinder 66 functions as a drive source of the cartridge 10; the 
rotary plate 72 functions as a driver member of a tape feeding mechanism; 
the sprocket 90 and the ratchet wheel 86 cooperate with each other to 
provide the tape feeding mechanism; the stopper projection 96 functions as 
a first-direction stopper for defining a first limit of forward-direction 
movement of the rotary plate 72 as the driver member; the stopper block 70 
functions as a first stopper member of a second-direction stopper which is 
movable together with the rotary plate 72 as the driver member; the rotary 
member 120 functions as a movable member of the second-direction stopper; 
the stopper projections 132, 134 and the end faces 138, 130 provide a 
plurality of second stopper members of the second-direction stopper which 
are stationary with respect to the frame 40; and the bolt 118 functions as 
a free-movement preventing device for preventing a free movement or 
rotation of the rotary member 120 as the movable member relative to the 
frame 40. The base member 116 functions as an attachment member to which 
the rotary member 120 as the movable member is secured. 
In the present embodiment, the width of the cartridge frame 40 is greater 
than the diameter of the rotary member 120 as a part of the 
backward-direction stopping device 112, and the rotary member 120 can be 
rotated within the frame 40. However, in the case where a carrier tape 22 
carrying components 20 each having a small width is supplied by a 
cartridge 10 having a correspondingly small width, the rotary member 120 
may be replaced by a different rotary member which cannot completely be 
rotated within the small-width cartridge 10, i.e., may be used in such a 
manner that a portion of the rotary member projects outside of the 
cartridge frame 40 via an opening or recess formed in the frame 40. 
When the small-width components 20 are fed by the small-width cartridge 10 
as described above, it is usual that only a few sorts of tape feeding 
pitches are employed. For example, in the case of three feeding pitches, a 
rectangular rotary plate may be used in place of the rotary member 120. 
The rotary plate has, at one end portion thereof, a stopper projection 
which functions as a first stopper; the other end portion of the rotary 
plate functions as a second stopper; and an end face of an attachment 
member to which the rotary plate is attached functions as a third stopper. 
Each of the first to third stoppers defines a corresponding one of the 
three limits of backward-direction movement of the drive member 72. When 
the third stopper is selected, the rotary plate is detached from the 
attachment member and is kept in a receiver provided in the frame 40. In 
this case, the single rotary member can define three sorts of tape feeding 
pitches, although the operator is required to attach or detach the rotary 
member to or from the attachment member when the feeding pitches are 
changed. 
In the present embodiment, the removable spacing adjusting block 230 is 
used. However, as shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, the pair of fixed rails 60, 60 
and the removable spacing adjusting block 230 may be replaced by a fixed 
rail 244 and a movable rail 246. The same reference numerals as used in 
FIGS. 1-15 are used to designate the corresponding elements or parts of 
the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, and the description of 
those elements or parts is omitted. 
As shown in FIG. 16, the fixed rail 244 is provided as an integral part of 
a cartridge frame 240 with a top surface 242, on the side where the 
sprocket 90 is provided. The movable rail 246 is provided on the top 
surface 242, on the other side opposite to the side where the fixed rail 
244 is provided. The movable rail 246 is movable or slideable in a lateral 
direction of the rails 244, 246 in which the two rails 244, 246 are spaced 
from each other. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 18, the movable rail 246 has an 
L-shaped cross section and extends in a tape feeding direction in which a 
carrier tape 22 including an EC-accommodating tape 24 is fed on the two 
rails 244, 246. The movable rail 246 includes a vertically extending 
support portion 248 whose top face supports, from underside, one of side 
portions 28, 28 of the carrier tape 22 or EC-accommodating tape 24. 
As shown in FIG. 18, two guide rods 252, 252 are attached to two 
longitudinally distant locations of a slide portion 250 of the movable 
rail 246, respectively. The slide portion 250 is slideable on the top 
surface 242 of the cartridge frame 240. Each guide rods 252 extends in the 
lateral direction of the rails 244, 246, and slideably fits in a 
corresponding guide passage 254 formed in the frame 240. Two positioning 
devices 256, 256 are threadedly engaged with two longitudinally distant 
locations of the slide portion 250, respectively, outside the two distant 
locations of the same 250 where the two guide rods 252, 252 are attached. 
As shown in FIG. 17, each positioning device 256 includes a casing 258 and 
a ball member 260 which movably fits in the casing 258. A biasing spring 
biases the ball member 260 in a direction in which to advance the ball 
member 260 out of the casing 258. The biasing spring 262 is secured to the 
casing 258 within the slide portion 250. 
The top surface 242 of the cartridge frame 240 has two arrays of notches 
266 in the lateral direction, at each of two locations of the surface 242 
which are distant from each other in the tape feeding direction and 
correspond to the two positioning devices 256, 256, respectively. Each 
array of notches 266 includes four notches each having a conical shape as 
shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. However, the notches 266 may be replaced by four 
grooves each of which has a V-shaped cross section and extends parallel to 
the tape feeding direction. The eight notches 266 in total define four 
different spacings or distances between the fixed rail 244 and the movable 
rail 246. The movable rail 246 can be positioned relative to the frame 
240, in the lateral direction of the rails 244, 246, by the fitting of the 
ball members 269 in the notches 266 formed in the top face 242. 
In order to change or adjust the spacing or distance between the fixed rail 
244 and the movable rail rail 246, a force is applied to the movable rail 
246 in the lateral direction of the rails 244, 246, i.e., in the widthwise 
direction of the cartridge frame 240. As a result, the ball members 260 
are disengaged from the notches 266 so that the movement of the movable 
rail 246 is permitted. The ball members 260 can be engaged with the 
notches 266 at a desired position in the lateral direction, and the 
movable rail 246 can thus be positioned in the lateral direction. 
In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, the movable rail 246 
functions as a movable rail adjusting member; and the positioning devices 
256 and the notches 266 cooperates with each other to provide an 
adjusting-member positioning device. The guide rods 252 function as guided 
elements, the guide passages 254 function as guiding elements, and the 
guide rods 252 and the guide passages 254 cooperate with each other to 
provide a guiding device for guiding the movable rail 246 in the lateral 
direction. The movable rail 246 as the movable rail adjusting member 
cooperates with the guide rods and passages 252, 254 as the guiding device 
to provide a rail adjusting device. 
The guided elements and guiding elements of the guiding device are not 
limited to the guide rods 252 and the guide passages 254 of the 
illustrated embodiment. For example, engagement grooves or rails extending 
in the widthwise direction of the cartridge frame 240 may be formed in the 
top surface 242 of the frame 240, and engagement rails or grooves 
engageable with the engagement grooves or rails of the frame 240 may be 
formed in a bottom surface of the slide portion 250 of the movable rail 
member 246. In the latter case, the grooves or rails of the frame 240 and 
the rails or grooves of the slide portion 250 cooperate with each other to 
provide the guiding and guided elements of the guiding device. 
In each of the first and second embodiments, the single rail-spacing 
adjusting block 230 or the single movable rail 246 is employed as a rail 
adjusting member. However, a pair of rail adjusting members may be 
employed. For example, a pair of removable rail-spacing adjusting members 
may be used in such a way that the two removable rail-spacing adjusting 
members, preferably each having the same width, are secured to the 
cartridge frame 40 by being held in close contact with respective inner 
side surfaces of the rails 60, 60. 
Referring next to FIGS. 19 to 22, there will be described a third 
embodiment of the invention wherein a pair of movable rails 274, 276 are 
employed as two rail adjusting members. FIG. 19, corresponding to FIG. 5, 
shows that the two movable rails 274, 276 are provided on a top surface 
272 of a cartridge frame 270 such that each rail 274, 276 is movable or 
slideable in a widthwise direction of the frame 270, i.e., in a lateral 
direction of the rails 274, 276. Similar to the second embodiment shown in 
FIGS. 16 to 18, each of the movable rails 274, 276 is positioned in the 
lateral direction by an adjusting-member positioning device including 
positioning devices 278 and notches 280 (FIG. 20), and is guided by a 
guiding device including guide rods 282 and guide passages 284 (FIG. 20). 
As shown in FIG. 20, notches 280 are formed in four groups, and each group 
includes four notches 280 arranged in a double-staggered fashion. Two and 
the other two notches 280 of each notch group are formed at different 
positions in a tape feeding direction perpendicular to the lateral 
direction, and the two notches 280 formed at each position in the tape 
feeding direction are formed at different positions in the lateral 
direction. This arrangement is for avoiding the overlapping of notches 28 
adjacent to each other. In the case where the size of the notches 280 is 
sufficiently smaller than the distance of the notches 280, the 
double-staggered fashion need not be employed. 
Each movable rail 274, 276 has an L-shaped cross section and extends in the 
tape feeding direction. The rails 274, 276 respectively include vertically 
extending support portions 288, 290 which have a height equal to the 
thickness of a carrier tape 22 or an EC-accommodating tape 24 and which 
respectively have recesses 292, 294 extending parallel to the tape feeding 
direction and respectively having bottom surfaces 296, 298. The carrier 
tape 22 is fed on the rails 274, 276 such that two side portions 28, 28 of 
the tape 22 are supported from underside by the bottom surfaces 296, 298 
of the support portions 288, 290, respectively. The recesses 296, 298 
respectively have guide surfaces 300, 302 which have a height equal to the 
thickness of the side portions 28, 28 of the tape 22 and respectively 
guide the side portions 28, 28 in the tape feeding direction. 
The cartridge frame 270 has a stepped hole 306 which opens in one of major 
side surfaces of the frame 270 and extends in the widthwise direction of 
the frame 270. An axis member 308 is secured to a bottom wall of the 
stepped hole 308 such that the axis member 308 is coaxial with the hole 
308. A first spline sleeve 310 having splines formed in an outer 
circumferential surface thereof fits on the axis member 308 such that the 
sleeve 310 is rotatable relative to the axis member 308. A second spline 
sleeve 314 formed integrally with a sprocket 312 and having splines in an 
inner circumferential surface thereof, fits on the first spline sleeve 
310. The sprocket 312 fits in a recess 316 formed in one 276 of the 
movable rails 274, 276, such that the sprocket 312 is rotatable relative 
to the movable rail 276 but immovable relative to the same 276 both in the 
tape feeding direction and the lateral direction. When the movable rail 
276 is moved in the lateral direction, the sprocket 312 is moved together 
with the rail 276. A recess 318 is formed for avoiding the interference of 
the cartridge frame 270 with the lateral-direction movement of the 
sprocket 312. 
An opening of the stepped hole 306 is closed by a lid member 320 which is 
fixed to the cartridge frame 270. The first spline sleeve 310 is supported 
by a ring member 322 press-fit in the lid member 320, such that the sleeve 
310 is rotatable relative to the lid member 320. A ratchet wheel 324 is 
formed integrally with an axially end portion of the first spline sleeve 
310 which extends outward of the lid member 320. A rotary plate 326 is 
rotatably attached to an axially end portion of the axis member 308 which 
extends outwardly of the ratchet wheel 324. 
In the third embodiment, a cover member 330 which covers the cartridge 
frame 270 includes a pair of side plates 332, 332 with which the cover 330 
is rotatably attached to the frame 270. As shown in FIG. 22, a recess 344 
formed in a front end portion of the cover member 330 is engaged with a 
support pin 336 projecting from the frame 270. The recess 344 includes a 
circular portion which just fits on the support pin 336, and a neck 
portion whose width is slightly smaller than that of the circular portion. 
The recess 344 is engaged with the pin 336 by `snap action`, i.e., elastic 
deformation of the neck portion of the recess 344, so that the cover 
member 330 is held in close contact with a top surface of the carrier tape 
22 with substantially no clearance therebetween. 
As shown in FIG. 21, the cover member 330 has a slit 340 through which a 
cover film 26 of the carrier tape 22 is withdrawn, and an opening 344 
through which an electronic component 342 is picked up. The opening 344 is 
located at a predetermined EC-component picking-up position. The component 
342 has no lead. The cover member 330 additionally has a pair of fitting 
recesses 346, 346 which extend, toward the upstream of the tape feeding 
direction, from an upstream-side edge of the opening 344. The cover 330 
also has a fixed jumping-preventing slip 348 formed between the two 
fitting recesses 346, 346. The slip 348 has a bottom surface 350 
functioning as a fixed jumping-preventing surface (FIG. 19). 
The two fitting recesses 346, 346 are formed to be symmetrical with respect 
to the center line between the two movable rails 274, 276, and the fixed 
jumping-preventing slip 348 or surface 350 is formed to be just in 
alignment with the center line of the rails 274, 276. 
A shutter 356 is attached to the cover member 330 such that the shutter 356 
is movable relative to the cover 330 in a direction parallel to the tape 
feeding direction. The shutter 356 includes a pair of slide portions 358, 
358 which are supported by the cover member 330 such that the slide 
portions 358 are movable or slideable in the tape feeding direction. The 
shutter 356 additionally includes a connection portion 360 which extends 
in the widthwise direction of the cartridge frame 270 and connects the two 
slide portions 358, 358 with each other. 
As shown in FIG. 22, each of the two slide portions 358, 358 has an 
elongate hole 362 extending parallel to the tape feeding direction. 
Similar to the stepped pins 192 shown in FIG. 6, stepped pins 364 are 
attached to the cover member 330 through the holes 362. The holes 362 and 
the pins 364 cooperate with each other to guide the shutter 356 in the 
tape feeding direction. One of the slide portions 358 has a vertically 
extending recess 366 in which a projection 368 of the rotary plate 326 
fits as shown in FIG. 19. When the rotary plate 326 is rotated in a 
forward and a backward direction thereof, the shutter 356 is advanced and 
retracted in the tape feeding direction. 
The connection portion 360 has a groove 372 at a location thereof 
corresponding to the center line between the two movable rails 374, 376, 
and two grooves 370, 374 at respective locations thereof corresponding to 
respective outside portions of the cover member 330 which respectively 
define from outside the two fitting recesses 346, 346. Each groove 370, 
372, 374 extends toward the downstream of the tape feeding direction. 
Thus, the connection portion 360 has two jumping-preventing slips 376, 378 
at respective locations thereof corresponding to the two fitting recesses 
346, 346. The two slips 376, 378 are fitable in the corresponding recesses 
346, 346, respectively. 
As shown in FIG. 22, the slips 376, 378 are bent downward at respective 
base portions thereof so that respective bottom surfaces 380, 382 of the 
bent slips 376, 378 are flush with the fixed jumping-preventing surface 
350 of the cover member 330 and function as movable jumping-preventing 
surfaces. The groove 372 between the slips 376, 378 has a width which is 
greater than a diameter of a suction nozzle used for picking up an 
electronic component 342 of the larger size and is smaller than a width of 
an electronic component 342 of the smaller size. As is apparent from FIG. 
20, the present cartridge can supply two sorts of carrier tapes 22 having 
different widths, i.e., carrying two sorts of components 342 having 
different sizes or widths. 
In the third embodiment, the spacing of the two movable rails 274, 276 can 
be changed, if necessary, before the commencement of supplying of the 
carrier tape 22. In order to change the rail spacing, first, the cover 
member 330 and the shutter 356 are retracted away from the cartridge frame 
270. In this situation, the movable rails 274, 276 are symmetrically moved 
in the lateral direction of the rails 274, 276, such that the center line 
between the rails 274, 276, i.e., the center of the rail spacing is not 
changed even after the rail spacing is increased or decreased. 
When the rail spacing is changed, the sprocket 312 is moved together with 
the movable rail 276. Carrier tapes 22 of different sizes have pockets 30 
or openings 32 having different widths, respectively, and have different 
distances of two side portions 28, 28, respectively. However, in the 
present embodiment, the two size-different carrier tapes 22 may have a 
common width that is the width of one of the two side portions 28, 28 
thereof which supports perforations 34. In such two carrier tapes, the 
respective distances between the series of pockets 30 and the perforations 
34 formed in one side portion 28 do not differ from each other. Thus, the 
two sorts of carrier tapes 22 can be manufactured easily. 
Similar to the first and second embodiments, the feeding of the carrier 
tape 22 is carried out as the rotary plate 326 is rotated in the forward 
direction thereof by an air cylinder (not shown). In this situation, 
first, the ratchet wheel 324 is rotated by the movement of a ratchet pawl 
(not shown). This rotation is transmitted to the sprocket 312 via the 
first and second spline sleeves 310, 314, and the rotation of the sprocket 
312 acts on the carrier tape 22. 
When the carrier tape 22 is fed, the shutter 356 is advanced by the 
rotation of the rotary plate 326. An electronic component 342 is fed to 
the EC picking-up position while the widthwise opposite ends of the 
component 342 are covered by the two movable jumping-preventing slips 376, 
378, respectively. In synchronism with the feeding of the component 342, 
the suction nozzle 172 is lowered and, after the stopping of feeding of 
the component 342, the suction nozzle 172 reaches the component 342 
through the groove 372 provided between the two slips 376, 378, and 
applies air suction to the component 342. Following the air suction of the 
component 342, the shutter 356 is retracted away from the EC picking-up 
position, and the slips 376, 378 are retracted away from the component 
342, so that the suction nozzle 172 is lifted up so as to pick up the 
component 342 from the pocket 30. 
The electronic component 342 is held down by the movable jumping-preventing 
slips 376, 378 until the air suction of the component 342 by the suction 
nozzle 172 is completed. Thus, the component 342 is effectively prevented 
from jumping out of the pocket 30 while the component 342 is fed to the EC 
picking-up position. In addition, the component 342 is prevented from 
standing upright on its side, or any other trouble in connection with the 
air suction of the component 342. 
As described above, the groove 372 between the two movable 
jumping-preventing slips 376, 378 has a width which is greater than the 
diameter of the suction nozzle used for picking up the component 342 of 
the larger size and is smaller than the width of the component 342 of the 
smaller size. Therefore, the cover member 330 or the shutter 356 need not 
be changed with another cover member or another shutter, even when the 
carrier tape 22 carrying the small-size components 342 is supplied by the 
present cartridge. The slips 376, 378 of the shutter 356 effectively 
prevent the small-size components 342 from jumping out of the pockets 30 
when the carrier tape 22 carrying the components 342 is supplied, and the 
groove 372 between the two slips 376, 378 permits the air-suction nozzle 
to pass therethrough to pick up the component 342 from the pocket 30. 
In the present embodiment, the respective outer side ends of the side 
portions 28, 28 of the carrier tape 22 are guided by the guiding surfaces 
300, 302 of the movable rails 274, 276, respectively. When the spacing of 
the rails 274, 278 is changed, the spacing of the guiding surfaces 300, 
302 is also changed, so that the respective outer side ends of each 
carrier tape 22 is guided by the guiding surfaces 300, 302. 
Two pairs of cover members 330 and shutters 356 may be used. In this case, 
when the spacing of the movable rails 274, 276 is changed, an appropriate 
pair of cover member and shutter 330, 356 are selected depending upon the 
size or width of electronic components 342 carried by a carrier tape 22 to 
be supplied. For example, in the case where a pair of cover member and 
shutter 330, 356 for large-size components 342 cannot hold down the 
respective widthwise side ends of small-size components 342, the first 
pair of cover member and shutter 330, 356 are replaced by the other pair 
of cover member and shutter 330, 356 wherein the slips 376, 378 of the 
shutter 356 can hold down the side ends of the small-size components 342 
and the groove 372 permits a suction nozzle for the large-size components 
342 to pass therethrough. 
As is apparent from the foregoing description, in the third embodiment, the 
movable rails 274, 276 function as the movable rail adjusting members; the 
rails 274, 276 cooperate with the guiding device 282, 284 to provide the 
rail-spacing adjusting device; and the sprocket 312 and the guide surfaces 
300, 302 of the rails 274, 276 cooperate with each other to provide a 
positioning device for positioning the carrier tape 22 in the lateral 
direction thereof. 
While in the first and second embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 18 the 
shutter 180 has the linear jumping-preventing tongue 194 for preventing 
the electronic components 20 from jumping out of the pockets 30 or 
openings 32, it is possible to employ a shutter 400, shown in FIGS. 23 and 
24, which has a jumping-preventing portion 402 having a wide area. The 
shutter 400 has two slide portions 404, 404 and a connection portion 406 
connecting the two slide portions 404, 404 with each other. Like the slide 
portions 182, 182 of the shutter 180 shown in FIG. 6, the slide portions 
404, 404 are respectively attached to two side plates 412, 412 of a cover 
member 410, each with an elongate hole (not shown) and stepped pins 408, 
408, such that the shutter 400 is movable relative to the cover member 
410. The connection portion 406 of the shutter 400 is positioned on a top 
plate 414 of the cover member 410. 
The cover member 410 has an opening 415 through which the electronic 
components are picked up, and a recess 416 which is formed in a central 
portion of the top plate 414 in the widthwise direction thereof and 
extends, toward the upstream of the tape feeding direction, from an 
upstream-side edge of the opening 415. The recess 416 has a width smaller 
than the widthwise dimension of an electronic component of the smallest 
size that is supplied by the present cartridge. The jumping-preventing 
portion 402 of the shutter 400 is formed by press-working a portion of the 
connection portion 406 which corresponds to the recess 416 in the 
widthwise direction of the cartridge. The jumping-preventing portion 402 
having a widened area protrudes from the connection portion 406 toward the 
top plate 414. The preventing portion 402 has a width which ensures that 
the portion 402 fits in the recess 416, and fits in the recess 416 such 
that the portion 402 is movable relative to the cover 410 in the tape 
feeding direction. A bottom surface 418 of the top plate 414 and a bottom 
surface 420 of the jumping-preventing portion 402 are flush with each 
other. The bottom surface 418 functions as a fixed or immovable 
jumping-preventing surface, and the bottom surface 420 functions as a 
movable jumping-preventing surface. 
When the shutter 400 is moved to, and located at, the retracted position 
thereof away from the EC picking-up position, the jumping-preventing 
portion 402 prevents an electronic component from jumping out of a pocket 
30 or an opening 32 which is adjacent to a pocket 30 currently positioned 
at the EC picking-up position and follows the latter pocket 30 in the tape 
feeding direction or order. Meanwhile, when the carrier tape is fed, the 
preventing portion 402 advances while covering the opening 32 of the 
former pocket 30; and when a suction head 172 reaches the component in the 
former pocket 30, the shutter 400 is retracted to the retracted position 
thereof. Since the recess 416 of the cover member 410 has a width smaller 
than the width of the smallest-size component, the jumping of the 
component from the pocket 30 or opening 32 is continuously prevented by at 
least one of the preventing portion 402 and the recess 416-defining 
portions of the cover member 410, until the component in issue is sent to, 
and located at, the EC picking-up position. 
Since the preventing portion 402 of the shutter 400 provides an extended or 
widened area for preventing an electronic component from jumping out of a 
pocket 30 or opening 32, the portion 402 can hold down the component over 
an increased area in the widthwise direction of the component. Thus, a 
single shutter 400 may be used for various components having different 
widths falling within a wider range. Therefore, the frequency of changing 
of shutters 400 decreases, and the overall work needed to the size 
changing also decreases. Since a smaller number of shutters 300 suffice, 
the production cost of the cartridge is reduced. 
While the present invention has been described in its preferred 
embodiments, the present invention may otherwise be embodied. 
For example, in each of the first to fourth embodiments, the 
backward-direction stopping device includes the rotary member 120 as the 
movable member thereof. However, the rotary member 120 as the movable 
member may be replaced by a linearly movable member. 
The free-movement preventing device for preventing the free movement of the 
movable member 120 relative to the cartridge frame 40, 240, 270 is not 
limited to the bolt 118. For example, the preventing device may be 
provided by a positioning device similar to the positioning device 256 
employed in the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 16-18, and a plurality of 
notches engageable with a ball member of the positioning device. In this 
case, the positioning device may be provided in the cartridge frame, or in 
an attachment member attached to the frame, and the notches may be formed 
in the movable member, or vice versa. In the latter case, the operator 
need not loosen or fasten any bolts for adjusting the position of the 
movable member relative to the cartridge frame, but has only to move the 
movable member for the same purpose. 
In each of the illustrated embodiments, the pitch of feeding of the carrier 
tape 22 is changed by not changing the limit of forward-direction rotation 
or movement of the rotary plate 72 as the driver member of the tape 
feeding device, but changing the limit of backward-direction movement of 
the driver member. The tape feeding pitch may be changed by vice versa, 
i.e., not changing the limit of backward-direction movement of the driver 
member but changing the limit of forward-direction movement of the same. 
In the latter case, the EC picking-up position with respect to the tape 
feeding direction changes with the tape feeding pitch. Hence, the EC 
supplying cartridge 10 and the EC suction nozzle 172 are moved relative to 
each other in the tape feeding direction, so that the suction nozzle 172 
can pick up the electronic components 20, 342. 
In each of the illustrated embodiments, the limit of forward-direction 
rotation or movement of the rotary plate 72 as the driver member of the 
tape feeding device is indirectly defined by defining the limit of 
movement of the ratchet pawl 80, and the limit of backward-direction 
movement of the driver member is indirectly defined by defining the limit 
of extension or advancement of the piston rod 68. However, the limits of 
movement of the driver member may be defined in other manners. For 
example, the limit of forward-direction movement of the driver member may 
be defined by defining the limit of retraction of the piston rod 68, and 
the limit of backward-direction movement of the driver member may be 
defined by defining the limit of retracting movement of the shutter 180, 
356, 400. In short, the limits of movement of the driver member can 
indirectly be defined by defining the limit or limits of movement of any 
member which moves together with the driver member. Moreover, the limits 
of movement of the driver member can directly be defined in various 
manners. 
In each of the illustrated embodiments, the EC supplying cartridge 10 
includes the air cylinder 66 as the drive source for driving the driver 
member of the tape feeding device, and the air cylinder 66 is mounted on 
the cartridge frame 40, 240, 270. However, the air cylinder 66 may be 
replaced by other drive sources, and may be provided separately from the 
frame 40, 240, 270. 
There is known an electronic-component (EC) mounting apparatus which can 
take electronic components from a carrier tape fed by the EC supplying 
cartridge 10, and mount the components on an object such as a printed 
circuit board (PCB). The mounting apparatus includes a turn table 
rotatable about an axis line and a number of EC picking-up suction nozzles 
mounted on the table. When the table is turned or rotated, each nozzle is 
moved to a plurality of operation positions where the nozzle picks up the 
components and mounts the same on the PCB. This mounting apparatus also 
includes a drive motor for rotating the turn table. In the case where the 
EC supplying cartridge in accordance with the present invention is used 
with this mounting apparatus, the drive motor may be used as the drive 
source for driving the tape feeding device of the cartridge. 
In the above case, it is required that the rotation of the table, the 
moving-up and -down of each nozzle, and the picking-up and mounting of the 
components by each nozzle be synchronized with the feeding of the carrier 
tape 22. This synchronization may be assured by the employment of a 
specific cam which is rotated by the motor. To this end, between the motor 
and the driver member of the tape feeding device, there are provided the 
cam which is rotated by the motor, a cam follower which moves following a 
cam surface of the cam when the cam is rotated, and a motion transmitting 
device which converts the motion of the cam follower into the forward- and 
backward-direction movements of the driver member. 
If, in the same case, the EC supplying cartridge 10 employs the shutter 180 
shown in FIG. 12, the cam surface of the cam is designed to ensure that 
each suction nozzle contacts, and holds by air suction, an electronic 
component at the EC picking-up position, after the shutter 180 is 
retracted away from the component. On the other hand, if the cartridge 10 
employs the shutter 356 shown in FIG. 21, the cam surface of the cam is 
designed to ensure that the feeding of an electronic component to the EC 
picking-up position is done in synchronism with the moving-down of each 
nozzle and the shutter 356 is retracted away from the component after the 
nozzle holds by air suction the component at the picking-up position. 
It is not essentially required that the air cylinder 66 be provided to 
extend parallel to the tape feeding direction. The air cylinder 66 may be 
provided not to extend parallel to the tape feeding direction. In the 
latter case, it is preferred that the direction of movement of the stopper 
block 70 as the movable stopper member of the tape feeding device be 
parallel to the axis line about which the rotary member 120 of the tape 
feeding device is rotatable. 
In each of the illustrated embodiments, a plurality of EC supplying 
cartridges 10 in accordance with the invention are mounted on the support 
table such that the respective EC picking-up positions of the cartridges 
10 are aligned with a single straight line, so that the suction nozzle 172 
can pick up the electronic components 20, 342 when being moved in the X 
direction. However, the picking-up of the components from the carrier tape 
22 by the nozzle 172 may be done by only the relative movement of the 
nozzle 172 and the cartridge 10 in the horizontal plane. This relative 
movement may be obtained by any device which moves one or both of the 
nozzle 172 and the cartridge 10 relative to each other. 
For example, in the case where the suction nozzle 172 is attached to a turn 
table rotatable about a vertical axis line and the nozzle 172 is moved to 
the EC picking-up position when the table is rotated, the support table on 
which the cartridges 10 are mounted is moved in the X direction by an 
X-direction moving device, so that one of the cartridges 10 is moved to 
the EC picking-up position. 
In the case where the limit of forward-direction movement of the rotary 
plate 72 as the driver member of the tape feeding device can be changed to 
different positions, the support table on which the cartridges 10 are 
mounted is moved in the Y direction by a Y-direction moving device, so 
that each of the cartridges 10 is moved to the picking-up position just 
below the suction nozzle 172. 
Moreover, either one of the suction nozzle 172 and the support table on 
which the EC supplying cartridges 10 are mounted may be designed to be 
movable both in the X and Y directions. 
In each of the illustrated embodiments, the EC supplying cartridges 10 are 
mounted on the support table such that the respective EC picking-up 
positions of the cartridges 10 are aligned with the single reference line, 
and cooperate with each other to provide an EC supplying apparatus. 
However, the cartridges 10 may be arranged on the support table such that 
the respective picking-up positions of the cartridges 10 are arranged 
along an arc. 
In the case where a carrier tape 22 is changed with another carrier tape 22 
carrying electronic components 20, 342 having a very small width, the 
EC-jumping preventing tongue, slip, or portion 194, 376, 378, 402 of a 
shutter 180, 356, 400 may not prevent the jumping of the components out of 
the pockets 30 of the tape. In this case, the shutter is replaced by 
another shutter having such an EC-jumping preventing tongue, slip, or 
portion which can prevent the jumping of the components from the tape. For 
example, the shutter 180 used in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 15, 
can prevent the jumping from the tape of an electronic component having a 
width which ensures that the component occupies the space between the two 
rails 60, 60, over the center line of the same 60, 60, to one half space 
on the side of one rail 60 on which side the sprocket 90 or the ratchet 
wheel 86 is not provided. In the case, however, where the cartridge 10 
supplies an electronic component having so small a width that the 
component is positioned within the other half space on the side of the 
other rail 60 on which side the sprocket 90 and the ratchet wheel 86 are 
provided, the EC-jumping preventing tongue 194 of the shutter 180 may not 
prevent the jumping of the component from the tape. In the last case, 
therefore, the shutter 180 is replaced by another shutter having an 
EC-jumping preventing tongue which can prevent the jumping of the 
component from the tape. 
The shutter 180 may be changed with another shutter, each time a carrier 
tape 22 carrying a certain sort of electronic components 20 is changed 
with another carrier tape carrying another sort of components having a 
different width. A suitable one of the shutters 180 is selected depending 
upon the width of the components to be supplied, so that the EC-jumping 
preventing tongue 194 of the selected shutter 180 can hold down the 
widthwise central portion of each component, thereby preventing the 
jumping of the component from the pocket 30 of the carrier tape. 
In the carrier tape 22, the pockets 30 may be formed in the EC 
accommodating tape 24 in such a manner that the pockets 30 are positioned 
at the widthwise central portion of the EC supplying cartridge 10 
independently of the sizes of electronic components 20 accommodated in the 
pockets 30. In the latter case, the EC picking-up position with respect to 
the X direction does not move or change even if a carrier tape 22 carrying 
a certain sort of electronic components 20 is changed with another carrier 
tape carrying another sort of components having a different width. Thus, 
the X-direction position where the suction head 172 is stopped to pick up 
the components does not require any adjustment, and the shutter 180 need 
not be replaced with another shutter. 
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 15, the rear end portion of the cover 
member 62 fits on the sixth axis member 146 supported by the cartridge 
frame 40, and a stopper ring is used to prevent the cover member 62 from 
coming out of the axis member 146. However, the cover member 62 may be 
attached to the frame 40 in other manners. For example, similar to the 
cover member 330 shown in FIG. 22 wherein the front end portion thereof is 
attached to the cartridge frame 270 by the cooperation of the recess 334 
and the support pin 336, a support pin may be press-fit in the frame 40 in 
the widthwise direction thereof, such that opposite axial ends of the pin 
project from the frame 40 on both sides of the same 40, respectively, and 
two recesses formed in the rear end portion of the cover member 62 may fit 
on the two axial ends of the pin, respectively. In the last case, the 
front end portion of the cover member 62 may be attached to the frame 40 
by the cooperation of the engaging recess 150 and the engaging member 152, 
as shown in FIG. 6, or alternatively by the cooperation of a recess 334 
and a support pin 336, as shown in FIG. 22. 
In the above case, the cover member 62 can easily be attached to, and 
detached from, the cartridge frame 40. Thus, the cover member 62 can 
quickly be replaced with another, when the shutter 180 is replaced with 
another depending upon the size of electronic components 20 to be supplied 
by the EC supplying cartridge 10. 
If, in the same case, slits are formed around the recesses of the rear end 
portion of the cover member 62, the rear end portion is easily elastically 
deformed, so that the cover member 62 can more easily fit on the support 
pin. 
Moreover, in each of the illustrated embodiments, the electronic components 
20, 342 are prevented from jumping out of the pockets 30 or openings 32 of 
the carrier tape 22, by the cover member 62 and the shutter 180 which are 
attached to the cartridge frame 40 such that the cover member 62 is not 
movable, and the shutter 180 is movable, relative to the frame 40 in the 
tape feeding direction. However, the jumping of the components from the 
carrier tape can be prevented in other ways. For example, the cover member 
may be formed integrally with the shutter, and the jumping of the 
components from the carrier tape can be prevented by the movement of the 
cover member in the tape feeding direction. 
In each of the illustrated embodiments, the EC supplying cartridge 10 may 
be modified such that the modified cartridge can supply only a sort of 
carrier tapes 22 having a predetermined common width and can be adjusted 
with respect to only the tape feeding pitch. 
The present invention may otherwise be embodied by changing the manner of 
combination of the elements of each of the illustrated embodiments, e.g., 
by combining some of the elements of one embodiment with some of the 
elements of another or other embodiments. 
It is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied with 
other changes, improvements, and modifications that may occur to those 
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the 
invention defined in the appended claims.