Top-cover-tape feeding apparatus and top-cover-tape treating apparatus

An apparatus for feeding a top cover tape peeled from an electric-component tape which additionally includes a carrier tape having pockets which accommodate electric components, respectively, and whose respective upper openings are closed with the top cover tape, the apparatus including two rotatable members which are rotatable about respective axis lines parallel to each other and whose respective outer circumferential surfaces cooperate with each other to pinch the top cover tape, a rotary drive device which rotates one of the two rotatable members, one of the two rotatable members having a scraper groove which is formed in the entire outer circumferential surface thereof, in an intermediate portion thereof in an axial direction thereof parallel to the two axis lines, and a scraper which is provided on an outlet side of the two rotatable members in a tape-feed direction, such that a portion of the scraper is fitted in a portion of the scraper groove that corresponds to a position where the respective outer circumferential surfaces of the two rotatable members pinch the top cover tape, so that the scraper prevents the top cover tape from clinging to the one rotatable member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The present invention relates to a top-cover-tape feeding apparatus for
 feeding a top cover tape as an element of an electric-component tape and a
 top-cover-tape treating apparatus for treating a top cover tape, and in
 particular to the art of improving the reliability or stability of feeding
 of a top cover tape.
 2. Related Art Statement
 There is known an electric-component ("EC") tape which includes (A) a
 carrier tape having a plurality of pockets which are formed in a
 lengthwise direction thereof and which accommodate a plurality of ECs,
 respectively, and (B) a top cover tape which closes respective upper
 openings of the pockets. When the ECs are supplied from the EC tape, the
 top cover tape is peeled from the carrier tape at a position on an
 upstream side of an EC-supply position where each EC is taken from the
 pocket, as seen in a tape-feed direction in which the EC tape is fed
 forward, and then is fed by a top-cover-tape feeding device. The top cover
 tape is treated in various manners.
 For example, Japanese Patent Application laid open for inspection purposes
 under Publication No. 6(1994)-232593 discloses an EC supplying unit which
 includes a collecting box for collecting a top cover tape peeled from a
 carrier tape of an EC tape. The EC supplying unit has a top-cover-tape
 feeding device which includes a pair of tape-feed rotatable members, and a
 rotary drive device for rotating one of the two rotatable members. The top
 cover tape peeled from the carrier tape is pinched by the two rotatable
 members, which are rotated in synchronism with the feeding of the EC tape
 by an EC-tape feeding device. Thus, the top cover tape is fed while being
 peeled from the carrier tape, and is collected into the collecting box.
 However, since, usually, a top cover tape is thin and flexible, it has been
 difficult to feed the top cover tape with stability or collect the same
 into the collecting box with stability. In a particular case where a tacky
 material is left on one surface of the top cover tape that has been
 adhered to the carrier tape, the top cover tape may cling to one of the
 two rotatable members that contacts the tacky surface of the top cover
 tape, thereby interfering the feeding of the same, or cling to an wall
 surface of the collecting box that defines an introduction passage through
 which the top cover tape is collected into the box, thereby interfering
 with the collecting of the same into the box. Thus, the prior
 top-cover-tape feeding and treating devices suffer from the problem that
 the reliability or stability of feeding or treating of the top cover tape
 is low.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
 top-cover-tape feeding apparatus which feeds a top cover tape with
 reliability and stability.
 It is another object of the present invention to provide a top-cover-tape
 treating apparatus which treats a top cover tape with stability.
 The present invention provides a top-cover-tape feeding apparatus and a
 top-cover-tape treating apparatus which have one or more of the technical
 features that are described below in respective paragraphs given
 parenthesized sequential numbers (1) to (28). Any technical feature which
 includes another technical feature shall do so by referring, at the
 beginning, to the parenthesized sequential number given to that technical
 feature. Thus, two or more of the following technical features may be
 combined, if appropriate. Each technical feature may be accompanied by a
 supplemental explanation, as needed. However, the following technical
 features and the appropriate combinations thereof are just examples to
 which the present invention is by no means limited.
 (1) According to a first feature of the present invention, there is
 provided a top-cover-tape feeding apparatus for feeding a top cover tape
 peeled from an electric-component tape which additionally includes a
 carrier tape having a plurality of pockets which are formed in a
 lengthwise direction of the carrier tape, which accommodate a plurality of
 electric components, respectively, and whose respective upper openings are
 closed with the top cover tape, the apparatus comprising a pair of
 tape-feed rotatable members which are rotatable about respective axis
 lines parallel to each other and whose respective outer circumferential
 surfaces cooperate with each other to pinch the top cover tape peeled from
 the electric-component tape; a rotary drive device which rotates at least
 one of the two tape-feed rotatable members; at least one of the two
 tape-feed rotatable members having a scraper groove which is formed in the
 entire outer circumferential surface thereof, in an intermediate portion
 thereof in an axial direction thereof parallel to the two axis lines; and
 at least one scraper which is provided on at least an outlet side of the
 two tape-feed rotatable members in a tape-feed direction in which the top
 cover tape is fed, such that a portion of the scraper is fitted in a
 portion of the scraper groove that corresponds to a position where the
 respective outer circumferential surfaces of the two rotatable members
 pinch the top cover tape, so that the scraper prevents the top cover tape
 from clinging to the at least one of the two rotatable members. The EC
 tape may be an embossed-carrier-type ("ECT") one, or a
 punched-carrier-tape ("PCT") one. The ECT EC tape includes (a) a carrier
 tape which includes a pair of widthwise opposite end portions each
 extending in a lengthwise direction thereof, and a plurality of embossed
 portions each projecting downward from between the two end portions and
 each accommodating one EC, and (b) a top cover tape which is adhered to
 the carrier tape to close respective upper openings of the embossed
 portions. The PCT EC tape includes (c) a carrier tape which includes (c1)
 a base tape which is formed of, e.g., paper or synthetic resin and which
 has a plurality of through-holes formed through the thickness thereof and
 (c2) a bottom cover tape which closes respective lower openings of the
 through-holes to provide a plurality of EC accommodating pockets each
 accommodating one EC, and (d) a top cover tape which is adhered to the
 carrier tape to close respective upper openings of the through-holes or
 the EC accommodating pockets. The two tape-feed rotatable members may be
 rollers or gears. The rotatable members may have serration or knurl on the
 outer circumferential surfaces thereof. One tape-feed rotatable member may
 have one or more scraper grooves. For example, one rotatable member may
 have a middle scraper groove in an axially middle portion thereof and two
 side scraper grooves on both sides of the middle scraper groove. In the
 case where one rotatable member has a plurality of scraper grooves, the
 present apparatus may comprise a plurality of scrapers which are fitted in
 the plurality of scraper grooves, respectively, or a single scraper having
 a plurality of groove-fit portions which are fitted in the plurality of
 scraper grooves, respectively. The present top-cover-tape ("TCT") feeding
 apparatus may be one which feeds the top cover tape while peeling the same
 from the carrier tape, that is, one which also functions as a TCT peeling
 apparatus. Alternatively, the present TCT feeding apparatus may be used
 with a TCT peeling apparatus which is separate from the feeding apparatus.
 In the present TCT feeding apparatus, one scraper prevents the TCT from
 clinging to a corresponding one tape-feed rotatable member even if a tacky
 material may be left on the TCT peeled from the carrier tape. Thus, the
 TCT is fed with reliability and stability. Since a portion of the scraper
 is present in a portion of the scraper groove that corresponds to a
 TCT-pinch position where the respective outer circumferential surfaces of
 the two tape-feed rotatable members pinch the TCT, the scraper starts
 guiding the TCT immediately after the TCT leaves the TCT-pinch position.
 In addition, since the scraper is present in the scraper groove at the
 TCT-pinch position, the scraper does not interfere with the feeding of the
 TCT. In the case where the one tape-feed rotatable member has no scraper
 groove, the TCT feeding apparatus must have a small space between an end
 portion of the scraper and the one rotatable member, to avoid the
 interference between the two members, and accordingly the TCT may enter
 the small space and may not be smoothly fed. In a first case where the
 respective outer circumferential surfaces of the two tape-feed rotatable
 members are each a simple cylindrical surface, it is possible that the
 scraper be formed of a thin sheet (or leaf) spring (which may have a
 sharpened end portion) and be provided such that the scraper extends in a
 direction substantially parallel to a tangential line with respect to the
 outer circumferential surface of the one rotatalble member and the end
 portion of the scraper is elastically pressed against the outer
 circumferential surface of the one rotatalble member. In the first case,
 the TCT can be considerably smoothly fed without being caught by the end
 portion of the scraper. However, in a second case where the rotatable
 members have teeth or unevenness on the outer circumferential surfaces
 thereof, it is impossible to employ the above-explained countermeasures.
 Thus, the present TCT feeding apparatus is more advantageous in the second
 case. A first length of the TCT between the TCT-pinch position and a
 TCT-peel position where the TCT is peeled from the carrier tape is
 considerably stably moved because the first length is connected at its end
 to the carrier tape. Thus, the first length of the TCT does not cling to
 the one rotatable member. In contrast, a second length of the TCT located
 on an outlet side of the two rotatable members may not have a sufficient
 tensile force depending upon the manner in which the TCT is treated. Thus,
 the TCT tends to cling to the one rotatable member. Thus, it is preferred
 that at least one scraper be provided on at least an outlet side of the
 two rotatable members. The TCT tends to cling to one of the two rotatable
 members that contacts one of opposite major surfaces of the TCT that has
 been adhered to the carrier tape. Therefore, it is desirable that at least
 one scraper be provided for at least the one rotatable member.
 (2) According to a second feature of the present invention that includes
 the first feature (1), the scraper is continuous from an upstream side of
 the two tape-feed rotatable members in the tape-feed direction, to a
 downstream side thereof, and at least an intermediate portion of the
 scraper that is around the portion thereof fitted in the portion of the
 scraper groove has a width which enables the intermediate portion of the
 scraper to be fitted in the scraper groove. Since the scraper is
 continuous from the upstream side of the two tape-feed rotatable members
 to the downstream side thereof, the scraper functions as a guide member
 which guides the TCT to the TCT-pinch position. Both the upstream-side and
 downstream-side portions of the scraper may be connected to a support
 member, as needed. In the latter case, the scraper enjoys a higher
 rigidity as compared with the case where the scraper is provided like a
 cantilever.
 (3) According to a third feature of the present invention that includes the
 first or second feature (1) or (2), each of the two tape-feed rotatable
 members has a scraper groove which is formed in the entire outer
 circumferential surface thereof, in an intermediate portion thereof in an
 axial direction thereof parallel to the two axis lines, and wherein the
 apparatus comprises two scrapers which are provided on the outlet side of
 the two tape-feed rotatable members, such that a portion of each of the
 two scrapers is fitted in a portion of a corresponding one of the two
 scraper grooves, the portion of the one scraper groove corresponding to
 the position where the respective outer circumferential surfaces of the
 two rotatable members pinch the top cover tape, the each scraper
 preventing the top cover tape from clinging to a corresponding one of the
 two rotatable members. It is preferred that the two scrapers define,
 therebetween, that is, contains an angle not smaller than 45 degrees.
 Since the two scrapers are provided for the two tape-feed rotatable
 members, the TCT is more effectively prevented from clinging to each of
 the two rotatable members. For example, in the case where a straight line
 perpendicularly intersecting the respective axis lines about which the two
 rotatable members are rotatable, is vertical or almost vertical, and the
 TCT is fed in a horizontal direction such that the upper surface thereof
 is provided by one of the two opposite surfaces thereof that has been
 adhered to the carrier tape, one of the two scrapers prevents the TCT from
 clinging to the upper rotatable member because of the tacky material left
 on the upper surface of the TCT, and the other scraper prevents the TCT
 from clinging to the lower rotatable member even if the TCT may hang down
 onto the same because of the own weight thereof. For the purpose of
 smoothly feeding the TCT after the two rotatable members, it is desirable
 that the two rotatable members contain a great angle, preferably not
 smaller than 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 90 degrees, or 120 degrees.
 (4) According to a fourth feature of the present invention that includes
 any one of the first to third features (1) to (3), at least one surface of
 the scraper that faces a path along which the top cover tape is fed is
 formed of a material having a friction factor lower than a friction factor
 of metal. Polytetrafluoroethylene is preferably used as the material
 having a low friction factor. The scraper may be formed of a metal. The
 scraper formed of a metal may be coated with the material having a
 friction factor lower than that of the metal. However, the scraper may be
 entirely formed of the material having a low friction factor. In this
 case, the TCT hardly clings to the scraper, and the TCT is fed with higher
 reliability and stability.
 (5) According to a fifth feature of the present invention that includes any
 one of the first to fourth features (1) to (4), the scraper additionally
 includes a portion which is not fitted in the scraper groove and which has
 a width not smaller than a length of the at least one of the two tape-feed
 rotatable members in the axial direction. In this case, the scraper
 prevents the TCT from clinging to the one tape-feed rotatable member, even
 if the TCT may be displaced out of position in the axial direction of the
 one rotatable member after leaving the two rotatable members. In addition,
 in the case where a cover member is provided, on at least the outlet side
 of the two rotatable members in the tape-feed direction, adjacent to the
 two rotatable members in the axial direction of the one rotatable member,
 the scraper may be provided close to the cover member, so that the TCT is
 prevented from entering a space possibly produced between the one
 rotatable member and the cover member.
 (6) According to a sixth feature of the present invention that includes any
 one of the first to fifth features (1) to (5), each of the two tape-feed
 rotatable members have a plurality of teeth on the outer circumferential
 surface thereof, the teeth of one of the two rotatable members being
 meshed with the teeth of the other rotatable member. In this case, the two
 tape-feed rotatable members can be said as two gears, and the teen of one
 of the two gears are meshed with those of the other gear via the TCT.
 Thus, the TCT is reliably fed without sliding relative to the gears. In
 addition, since a portion of the scraper is present in a portion of the
 scraper groove that corresponds to a tooth-mesh position where the teeth
 of the two gears are meshed with each other. Thus, the TCT is effectively
 prevented from clinging to one gear or entering a space possibly produced
 between the one gear and the scraper. The sixth feature (6) may be
 employed independent of the feature of the scraper and the scraper groove.
 That is, the sixth feature (6) may be employed in a TCT feeding device
 which comprises a pair of tape-feed rotatable members but does not
 comprise the scraper or the scraper groove.
 (7) According to a seventh feature of the present invention that includes
 the sixth feature (6), one of the two tape-feed rotatable members is
 movable toward, and away from, the other rotatable member, and wherein the
 apparatus further comprises a biasing device which biases the one
 rotatable member in a direction toward the other rotatable member. In this
 case, an operator can move one of the two tape-feed rotatable members away
 from the other rotatable member, thereby producing a space between the two
 rotatable members, and pass a leading end portion of the TCT through the
 space produced between the two rotatable members. Thus, the operator can
 easily set the TCT in the present TCT feeding apparatus.
 (8) According to an eighth feature of the present invention that includes
 the seventh feature (7), the apparatus further comprises a support member
 which supports the one tape-feed rotatable member such that the one
 rotatable member is movable, and which includes an operable portion which
 is operable by an operator to move the one rotatable member away from the
 other rotatable member. The operator can easily move the one rotatable
 member from the other rotatable member, by grasping and displacing the
 operable portion of the support member.
 (9) According to a ninth feature of the present invention that includes any
 one of the sixth to eighth features (6) to (8), the two tape-feed
 rotatable members have a same shape and a same size. The two rotatable
 members having the same shape and size more likely outputs the TCT in a
 direction perpendicular to the straight line perpendicularly intersecting
 the respective axis lines of rotation of the two rotatable members, as
 compared with the case where the two rotatable members have different
 shapes or sizes.
 (10) According to a tenth feature of the present invention that includes
 any one of the sixth to ninth features (6) to (9), the teeth of each of
 two tape-feed rotatable members have respective rounded edges. In this
 case, the TCT is prevented from being broke y the two rotatable members.
 The rotatable members whose teeth have the rounded edges more effectively
 prevent the breaking of the TCT, as compared with the case where the edges
 of the teeth are chamfered.
 (11) According to an eleventh feature of the present invention that
 includes any one of the sixth to tenth features (6) to (10), the two
 tape-feed rotatable members are provided by respective moldings. The
 moldings can be mass-produced and accordingly the two rotatable members
 can be produced with ease and at low cost. In a particular case where the
 eleventh feature (11) is combined with the tenth feature (10), the two
 rotatable members whose teeth have the rounded edges can be easily
 provided. The rotatable members may be molded of, e.g., a synthetic resin
 or aluminum.
 (12) According to a twelfth feature of the present invention that includes
 any one of the first to eleventh features (1) to (11), the top-cover-tape
 feeding apparatus further comprises a tensile-force adjusting device which
 adjusts a tensile force of the top cover tape and which is provided on an
 upstream side of the two tape-feed rotatable members in the tape-feed
 direction, the tensile-force adjusting device comprising a roller on which
 the top cover tape is wound; a roller-support member which supports the
 roller such that the roller is movable in a direction intersecting a path
 along which the top cover tape is fed; and a biasing device which provides
 a biasing force to bias the roller-support member in a direction in which
 the roller engages the top cover tape and thereby changes the path along
 which the top cover tape is fed. As the tensile force of the TCT
 increases, the roller-support member is moved against the biasing force of
 the biasing device; and as the tensile force decreases, the roller-support
 member is moved by the biasing force of the biasing device. Therefore, the
 tensile force of the TCT is maintained at a substantially constant value,
 owing to the movement of the roller-support member, and the TCT is
 prevented from breaking or loosening. Thus, the present TCT feeding
 apparatus feeds the TCT with high stability and reliability. For example,
 in the case where the EC tape is fed by an EC-tape feeding device and the
 TCT is fed in synchronism with the feeding of the EC tape, the TCT may be
 temporarily fed by a more amount or length than that by which the EC tape
 is fed, for the purpose of surely peeling a certain length of the TCT from
 the carrier tape. In this case, the roller is moved against the biasing
 force of the biasing device, to accommodate the difference between the
 respective lengths of feeding of the TCT and EC tapes. Thus, the tensile
 force of the TCT is prevented from excessively increasing, and the TCT is
 prevented from breaking. In addition, in the case where the carrier tape
 is fed by a more length than that of feeding of the TCT, the roller is
 moved to keep the TCT stretched out, so that the TCT is peeled from the
 carrier tape and fed. Each of the twelfth to fourteenth features (12) to
 (14) may be employed in a TCT feeding device which does not comprise the
 scraper or the scraper groove, or may be employed in a TCT feeding device
 which comprises two tape-feed rotatable members each of which does not
 have any teeth.
 (13) According to a thirteenth feature of the present invention that
 includes the twelfth feature (12), the tensile-force adjusting device
 further comprises a roller-position detecting device which detects that
 the roller supported by the roller-support member has been moved to a
 predetermined position against the biasing force of the biasing device;
 and a tape-feed stopping device which stops the rotation of the rotary
 drive device in response to the detection of the roller-position detecting
 device that the roller has been moved to the predetermined position. Even
 in the case where the roller-support member is moved against the biasing
 force of the biasing device and accordingly the tensile force of the TCT
 is maintained at a constant value, the amount of movement of the
 roller-support member has a certain limit. Since the present TCT feeding
 apparatus employs the roller-position detecting device and the tape-feed
 stopping device, and stops the rotation of the rotary drive device, the
 tensile force of the TCT is prevented from exceeding a reference value and
 the TCT is prevented from breaking.
 (14) According to a fourteenth feature of the present invention that
 includes the twelfth or thirteenth feature (12) or (13), the
 roller-support member comprises a lever which is pivotable about an axis
 line parallel to a widthwise direction of the top cover tape. The lever as
 the roller-support member can be easily provided, and can be pivoted in a
 small space. Thus, the present TCT feeding apparatus enjoys a compact
 construction.
 (15) According to a fifteenth feature of the present invention that
 includes any one of the first to fourteenth features (1) to (14), the
 rotary drive device comprises an electric motor as a drive source thereof,
 the electric motor having a rotor which is rotatable about an axis line
 perpendicular to a widthwise direction of the top cover tape fed by the
 apparatus. Even if a dimension of the electric motor in a direction
 parallel to the axis line of rotation of the rotor thereof may be greater
 than a dimension thereof in a direction perpendicular to the axis line,
 the electric motor can be provided without having to increasing a
 dimension of the present TCT feeding apparatus in the widthwise direction
 of the TCT. Each of the fifteenth to nineteenth features (15) to (19) may
 be employed independent of the feature of the scraper and the scraper
 groove, or the feature of the tensile-force adjusting device. In addition,
 each of the features (15) to (19) may be employed independent of the
 feature of the two tape-feed rotatable members each having the teeth, that
 is, may be employed in a TCT feeding device which comprises, in place of
 the two rotatable members each having the teeth, a pair of tape-feed
 rollers, or the combination of a tape-feed roller and a non-rotatable
 tape-pressing member.
 (16) According to a sixteenth feature of the present invention that
 includes the fifteenth feature (15), the rotary drive device further
 comprises a rotation transmitting device which transmits the rotation of
 the rotor of the electric motor to one of the two tape-feed rotatable
 members, the rotation transmitting device comprising a worm wheel which is
 connected to the one rotatable member, and a worm which is connected to
 the electric motor and which is meshed with the worm wheel. The TCT
 feeding apparatus according to the fifteenth feature (15) can be easily
 provided by employing the rotation transmitting device comprising the worm
 wheel and the worm. In addition, the electric motor is prevented from
 being backward rotated by one or both of the two tape-feed rotatable
 members. That is, the TCT is prevented from loosening by the backward
 rotation of one or both of the two rotatable members.
 (17) According to a seventeenth feature of the present invention that
 includes the fifteenth or sixteenth feature (15) or (16), the
 top-cover-tape feeding apparatus further comprises a frame, the electric
 motor being attached to the frame at a position lower than a position
 where the two tape-feed rotatable members are attached to the frame. In
 may cases, the electric motor provided at a low position produces less
 vibration of the frame than that provided at a high position.
 (18) According to an eighteenth feature of the present invention that
 includes any one of the fifteenth to seventeenth features (15) to (17),
 the top-cover-tape feeding apparatus further comprises a main frame member
 and a secondary frame member thinner than the main frame member, the
 electric motor being attached to the main frame member, the two tape-feed
 rotatable members being attached to the secondary frame member. Since the
 electric motor is attached to the main frame member thicker than the
 secondary frame member, the overall weight of the present TCT feeding
 apparatus can be reduced and the vibration produced by the same can also
 be reduced.
 (19) According to a nineteenth feature of the present invention, there is
 provided a top-cover-tape feeding apparatus for feeding two top cover
 tapes respectively peeled from two electric-component tapes each of which
 additionally includes a carrier tape having a plurality of pockets which
 are formed in a lengthwise direction of the carrier tape, which
 accommodate a plurality of electric components, respectively, and whose
 respective upper openings are closed with a corresponding one of the two
 top cover tapes, the apparatus comprising two pairs of tape-feed rotatable
 members, the two tape-feed rotatable members of each of the two pairs
 being rotatable about respective axis lines parallel to each other, and
 having respective outer circumferential surfaces which cooperate with each
 other to pinch a corresponding one of the two top cover tapes respectively
 peeled from the two electric-component tapes; two rotary drive devices
 each of which comprises an electric motor as a drive source thereof and
 which rotates at least one of the two tape-feed rotatable members of a
 corresponding one of the two pairs; a frame which supports the two pairs
 of tape-feed rotatable members and the two rotary drive devices, such that
 the two rotatable members of one of the two pairs and the two rotatable
 members of the other pair are arranged in a widthwise direction of the
 frame that is parallel to the respective axis lines about which the two
 rotatable members of the one pair are rotatable and the respective axis
 lines about which the two rotatable members of the other pair are
 rotatable, and such that the respective electric motors of the two rotary
 drive devices are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the widthwise
 direction of the frame and each of the two electric motors is connected to
 the one of the two rotatable members of a corresponding one of the two
 pairs via a rotation-transmitting shaft member and two universal joints
 provided at opposite ends of the rotation-transmitting shaft member; at
 least one of the two tape-feed rotatable members of each of the two pairs
 having a scraper groove which is formed in the entire outer
 circumferential surface thereof, in an intermediate portion thereof in an
 axial direction thereof parallel to the widthwise director f the frame;
 and at least two scrapers each of which is provided on at least an outlet
 side of the two tape-feed rotatable members of a corresponding one of the
 two pairs, in a tape-feed direction in which a corresponding one of the
 two top cover tapes is fed, such that a portion of the each scraper is
 fitted in a portion of the scraper groove that corresponds to a position
 where the respective outer circumferential surfaces of the two rotatable
 members of the corresponding one pair pinch the corresponding one top
 cover tape, so that the each scraper prevents the corresponding one top
 cover tape from clinging to the at least one of the two rotatable members
 of the corresponding one pair. The present TCT feeding apparatus may be
 employed in an EC supplying unit which comprise two EC-tape feeding
 devices for supplying ECs from a selected one of two EC tapes. In this
 case, the TCT feeding apparatus feeds the TCT peeled from the selected one
 EC tape. The two EC tapes may be of different types or may have different
 thicknesses, so long as they have a same width. Generally, a dimension of
 each pair of tape-feed rotatable members in a direction parallel to the
 respective axis lines of rotation of the each pair of rotatable members is
 smaller than a dimension of a corresponding one electric motor in a
 direction parallel to the axis line of rotation of the rotor thereof.
 However, in the present TCT feeding apparatus, the two rotatable members
 of one of the two pairs and the two rotatable members of the other pair
 are arranged in the widthwise direction of the frame, and the respective
 electric motors of the two rotary drive devices are arranged in a
 direction perpendicular to the widthwise direction of the frame.
 Therefore, the frame may have a small width. In addition, in the present
 TCT feeding apparatus, the two pairs of rotatable members are located at
 respective positions away in opposite directions from the middle of the
 frame in the widthwise direction thereof, and the respective axis lines of
 rotation of the respective rotors of the two electric motors are located
 at a same position in the widthwise direction of the frame. Thus, the axis
 line of rotation of the rotor of each of the two electric motors is not
 aligned with a corresponding one pair of the two pairs of rotatable
 members in the widthwise direction of the frame. However, in the present
 TCT feeding apparatus, the above misalignment is accommodated by a
 corresponding pair of universal joints, so that the each electric motor
 can rotate the corresponding one pair of rotatable members without any
 problems.
 (20) According to a twentieth feature of the present invention, there is
 provided a top-cover-tape treating apparatus, comprising a top-cover-tape
 feeding apparatus according to any one of the first to nineteenth features
 (1) to (19); and a top-cover-tape collecting box which is provided on a
 downstream side of the top-cover-tape feeding apparatus in the tape-feed
 direction and which collects the top cover tape output from the two
 tape-feed rotatable members. The TCT output from the two tape-feed
 rotatable members easily clings to one or both of the two rotatable
 members before it is collected into the TCT collecting box, if no
 countermeasures are employed, because the TCT is not combined by any means
 between the two rotatable members and the collecting box. Hence, the TCT
 feeding apparatus according to any one of the first to nineteenth feature
 (1) to (19) is combined with the TCT collecting box, so as to provide the
 present TCT treating apparatus which collects the TCT in the collecting
 box with high stability and reliability. However, it is not essentially
 required that the TCT fed by the TCT feeding apparatus according to any
 one of the first to nineteenth feature (1) to (19) be collected into a TCT
 collecting box. For example, the TCT may be introduced to a TCT collecting
 space via a TCT introducing pipe or tube. Each of the twentieth to
 twenty-fourth features (20) to (24) may be employed independent of the
 feature of the two tape-feed rotatable members each having the teeth, for
 example, may be employed in a TCT feeding device which comprises, in place
 of the two gears as the two rotatable members each having the teeth, a
 pair of tape-feed rollers, or the combination of a tape-feed roller and a
 non-rotatable tape-pressing member. In addition, each of the features (20)
 to (24) may be employed independent of the feature of the scraper and the
 scraper groove, the feature of the tensile-force adjusting device, or the
 feature of the rotary drive device.
 (21) According to a twenty-first feature of the present invention that
 includes the twentieth feature (20), the top-cover-tape treating apparatus
 further comprises a frame, wherein the top-cover-tape collecting box is
 detachably attached to the frame. When the TCT collecting box is full of
 the TCT, an operator may replace the full box with another empty box.
 Alternatively, the operator may remove the TCT from the full box and
 thereby empty the box. Moreover, a TCT collecting container may be
 provided inside the TCT collecting box. In the last case, the container
 full of the TCT may be replaced with another empty container.
 (22) According to a twenty-second feature of the present invention that
 includes the twentieth or twenty-first feature (20) or (21), at least an
 inner surface of the top-cover-tape collecting box is formed of a material
 having a friction factor lower than a friction factor of metal. For
 example, it is recommended that the inner surface of the TCT collecting
 box formed of a metal or a synthetic resin be coated with
 polytetrafluoroethylene. In this case, polytetrafluoroethylene has a
 friction factor lower than that of the metal. Since the TCT hardly clings
 to the inner surface of the collecting box, the TCT is smoothly collected
 into the box. Thus, a more amount of the TCT can be collected in the box,
 as compared with the case where the inner surface of the box is not formed
 of the material.
 (23) According to a twenty-third feature of the present invention that
 includes any one of the twentieth to twenty-second features (20) to (22),
 the top-cover tape collecting box has an inlet through which the
 collecting box receives the top cover tape fed by the top-cover-tape
 feeding apparatus, and a lid which is located opposite to the inlet and
 which can be opened and closed. An operator can remove the TCT from the
 TCT collecting box, by opening the lid, without having to remove the box
 from the TCT treating apparatus.
 (24) According to a twenty-fourth feature of the present invention that
 includes any one of the twentieth to twenty-third features (20) to (23),
 the top-cover-tape collecting box has an observation window through which
 an operator can observe an inner space of the collecting box. An operator
 can look into the inside space of the TCT collecting box through the
 observation window, and can observe the state of the TCT, e.g., see the
 current amount of the collected TCT, and judge whether the TCT is normally
 collected in the box.
 (25) According to a twentieth feature of the present invention, there is
 provided a top-cover-tape feeding apparatus for feeding a top cover tape
 peeled from an electric-component tape which additionally includes a
 carrier tape having a plurality of pockets which are formed in a
 lengthwise direction of the carrier tape, which accommodate a plurality of
 electric components, respectively, and whose respective upper openings are
 closed with the top cover tape, the apparatus comprising a pair of
 tape-feed rotatable members which are rotatable about respective axis
 lines parallel to each other and whose respective outer circumferential
 surfaces cooperate with each other to pinch the top cover tape peeled from
 the electric-component tape; a rotary drive device which rotates at least
 one of the two tape-feed rotatable members; and a pair of scrapers which
 are provided on at least an outlet side of the two tape-feed rotatable
 members in a tape-feed direction in which the top cover tape is fed, and
 which prevent the top cover tape from clinging to the two rotatable
 members, respectively. In the present TCT feeding apparatus, each
 tape-feed rotatable member may not have any scraper grooves. The present
 TCT feeding apparatus can enjoy the same effects and advantages as those
 of the TCT feeding apparatus according to the third feature (3).
 (26) According to a twenty-sixth feature of the present invention that
 includes the twenty-fifth feature (25), the two scrapers define,
 therebetween, an angle not smaller than 45 degrees.
 (27) According to a twenty-seventh feature of the present invention, there
 is provided a top-cover-tape feeding apparatus for feeding a top cover
 tape peeled from an electric-component tape which additionally includes a
 carrier tape having a plurality of pockets which are formed in a
 lengthwise direction of the carrier tape, which accommodate a plurality of
 electric components, respectively, and whose respective upper openings are
 closed with the top cover tape, the apparatus comprising a pair of
 tape-feed rotatable members which are rotatable about respective axis
 lines parallel to each other and whose respective outer circumferential
 surfaces cooperate with each other to pinch the top cover tape peeled from
 the electric-component tape; a rotary drive device which rotates at least
 one of the two tape-feed rotatable members; and at least one scraper which
 is provided on at least an outlet side of the two tape-feed rotatable
 members in a tape-feed direction in which the top cover tape is fed, and
 which prevent the top cover tape from clinging to at least one of the two
 rotatable members, at least one surface of the scraper that faces a path
 along which the top cover tape is fed being formed of a material having a
 friction factor lower than a friction factor of metal. In the case where
 the scraper is formed of a metal, the material has a friction factor lower
 than that of the metal. In the present TCT feeding apparatus, each
 tape-feed rotatable member may not have any scraper grooves. The present
 TCT feeding apparatus can enjoy the same effects and advantages as those
 of the TCT feeding apparatus according to the fourth feature (4).
 (28) According to a twenty-eighth feature of the present invention, there
 is provided a top-cover-tape feeding apparatus for feeding a top cover
 tape peeled from an electric-component tape which additionally includes a
 carrier tape having a plurality of pockets which are formed in a
 lengthwise direction of the carrier tape, which accommodate a plurality of
 electric components, respectively, and whose respective upper openings are
 closed with the top cover tape, the apparatus comprising a pair of
 tape-feed rotatable members which are rotatable about respective axis
 lines parallel to each other and whose respective outer circumferential
 surfaces cooperate with each other to pinch the top cover tape peeled from
 the electric-component tape; a rotary drive device which rotates at least
 one of the two tape-feed rotatable members; and a tensile-force adjusting
 device which adjusts a tensile force of the top cover tape and which is
 provided on an upstream side of the two tape-feed rotatable members in the
 tape-feed direction, the tensile-force adjusting device comprising a
 roller on which the top cover tape is wound, a roller-support member which
 supports the roller such that the roller is movable in a direction
 intersecting a path along which the top cover tape is fed, and a biasing
 device which provides a biasing force to bias the roller-support member in
 a direction in which the roller engages the top cover tape and thereby
 changes the path along which the top cover tape is fed; a roller-position
 detecting device which detects that the roller supported by the
 roller-support member has been moved to a predetermined position against
 the biasing force of the biasing device, and a tape-feed stopping device
 which stops the rotation of the rotary drive device in response to the
 detection of the roller-position detecting device that the roller has been
 moved to the predetermined position. In the present TCT feeding apparatus,
 each tape-feed rotatable member may not have any scraper grooves. The
 present TCT feeding apparatus can enjoy the same effects and advantages as
 those of the TCT feeding apparatus according to the twelfth feature (12).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 Hereinafter, there will be described, by reference to the drawings, a
 circuit-board ("CB") assembling system 10 including an electric-component
 ("EC") supplying device including a top-cover-tape ("TCT") treating device
 to which the present invention is applied.
 As shown in FIG. 1, the CB assembling system 10 includes a base 12, a
 print-wired-board ("PWB") conveying device 14 and an EC mounting system 16
 which are provided on the base 12, and an EC supplying system 18 which can
 be connected to the EC mounting system 16. The EC mounting system 16 takes
 ECs from the EC supplying system 18, and mounts the ECs on a PWB 20 which
 is conveyed, and is positioned at a predetermined position, by the PWB
 conveying device 14. Thus, the CB assembling system 10 assembles an
 electric circuit on the PWB 20, i.e., a CB (circuit board). The EC
 mounting system 16 includes an EC sucker 22 as an EC holder that sucks
 each EC by applying a negative air pressure thereto; a Z-direction moving
 and rotating device 24 which supports the EC sucker 22 such that an axis
 line of the EC sucker 22 extends in a vertical direction (hereinafter,
 referred to as the Z direction), moves the EC sucker 22 in the Z
 direction, and rotates the EC sucker 22 about its axis line extending in
 the Z direction; and an X-Y-direction moving device 26 which supports the
 Z-direction moving and rotating device 24, and moves the same 24 in each
 of two directions perpendicular to each other in a horizontal plane
 (hereinafter, referred to as the X and Y directions). One of the X and Y
 directions that is parallel to the direction in which the PWB 20 is
 conveyed will be referred to as the X direction. Strictly, the PWB 20
 should be called as a CB after the ECs are mounted thereon by the EC
 mounting system 16. However, in the present embodiment, the PWB 20 is
 called as the PWB as before, even after the ECs are mounted thereon.
 Similarly, the PWB conveying device 14 is called as before even after the
 ECs are mounted on the PWB 20, although the device 14 should be called as
 a CB conveying device.
 The EC supplying system 18 includes two tables 30 (only one table 30 is
 shown in FIG. 1), and a plurality of EC-supply units 32 which are
 detachably attached to each of the two tables 30. Each of the EC-supply
 units 32 provides an EC supplying device. Each of the two tables 30 is
 mounted on a car 34, and can be moved relative to the EC mounting system
 16. When the EC supplying system 18 supplies the ECs to the EC mounting
 system 16, each of the two cars 34 is connected by a connecting device 36
 to the base 12, so that the EC supplying system 18 is connected to the EC
 mounting system 16. The base 12 provides a frame of the EC mounting system
 16, and each of the two tables 30 is connected to the frame of the system
 16 via the corresponding car 34. Thus, the EC supplying system 18 supplies
 the ECs to the EC mounting system 16 in the state in which the position of
 the system 18 is fixed relative to that of the system 16. An image taking
 device 38 which takes an image of each EC held by the EC sucker 22, is
 provided between the PWB conveying device 14 and the EC supplying system
 18.
 As shown in FIG. 2, each of the EC-supply units 32 includes a frame 40
 provided by a plurality of members which are integrally fixed thereto and
 which include a first member 42, a second member 44, a third member 46, a
 fourth member 48 (FIG. 17), a fifth member 50, and a sixth member 52. The
 first member 42 has a shape like a wide and long plate. The second member
 44 has a shape like an elongate block, and is fixed to the first member 42
 such that the second member 44 extends parallel to the lengthwise
 direction of the first member 42. The second member 44 includes a pair of
 first positioning projections 54 and a single second positioning
 projection 55. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the two tables 30 has a
 plurality of first positioning grooves 56 which are formed at a
 predetermined pitch in the X direction. Each of the EC-supply units 32 is
 attached to one of the two tables 30 such that the two first positioning
 projections 54 are fitted in one of the first positioning grooves 56 and
 the second positioning projection 55 is fitted in one of a plurality of
 second positioning grooves (not shown) of the one table 30. Thus, the each
 EC-supply unit 32 is positioned relative to the one table 30 in the
 widthwise direction of the each unit 32, i.e., in the X direction. In
 addition, an inclined surface 58 (FIG. 2) of a front one of the two first
 positioning projection 54 of the each EC-supply unit 32 engages an
 inclined surface (not shown) of the one table 30, so that the each unit 32
 is positioned relative to the one table 30 in the lengthwise direction of
 the each unit 32, i.e., in the Y direction, and is prevented from moving
 up off the upper surface of the one table 30. Moreover, the each unit 32
 is fixed to the one table 30 by a corresponding one of a plurality of unit
 fixing devices (not shown) which are provided corresponding to the
 plurality of second positioning grooves. Thus, a plurality of EC-supply
 units 32 are fixed to each table 30 such that respective EC-supply
 portions of the units 32 are arranged along a straight line parallel to
 the X direction, the widthwise direction of each unit 32 is parallel to
 the X direction, and the lengthwise direction of the each unit 32 is
 parallel to the Y direction. Each of the two cars 34 is supplied with
 electric power from the EC mounting system 16, and each of the EC-supply
 units 32 is supplied with electric power from a corresponding one of the
 two cars 34.
 As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, each EC-supply unit 32 supplies an EC tape
 62 which holds a plurality of ECs 60. The EC tape 62 is of the
 embossed-carrier type, and includes a carrier tape 64 and a top-cover tape
 66 which cooperate with each other to hold the ECs 60. The carrier tape 64
 includes a pair of end portions 68 which are located on widthwise opposite
 sides of the tape 64, respectively, and which extend in the lengthwise
 direction of the same 64; and a number of embossed portions 70 which
 project downward from between the two end portions 68, at a predetermined
 pitch in the lengthwise direction of the tape 64. The ECs 60 are
 accommodated in the embossed portions 70, respectively, and respective
 upper openings of the portions 70 are closed by the top-cover tape 66
 adhered to the carrier tape 64. Each of the embossed portions 70 provides
 an EC accommodating pocket. Thus, the ECs 60 are held by the carrier tape
 64 at a predetermined pitch in the lengthwise direction of the tape 64.
 The width of the top-cover tape 66 is shorter than that of the carrier
 tape 64, and one of the two end portions 68 of the tape 64 that is not
 covered by the top-cover tape 66 has a number of feed holes 74 which are
 formed through the thickness of the tape 64, from a top surface 72 thereof
 to a back surface 73 thereof, and which are arranged in an array at a
 predetermined pitch in the lengthwise direction of the tape 64.
 The EC supplying system 18 can supply different sorts of EC tapes which
 have different widths and/or different pitches at which ECs are held by
 the EC tapes. For example, FIG. 8 shows a different sort of EC tape 75
 which has the same width as that of the EC tape 62 but holds ECs 60 at a
 pitch different from that of the EC tape 62. In the present embodiment, it
 is assumed that the first EC tape 62 holds the ECs 60 at the smallest
 pitch and the second EC tape 75 holds the ECs 60 at a pitch two times
 longer than the smallest pitch. Other sorts of EC tapes than the first EC
 tape 62 have respective pitches "M" times longer than the smallest pitch.
 The number M is an integral number not smaller than two. The second EC
 tape 75 has dimensions different from those of the first EC tape 62, but
 has the same structure as that of the same 62. Accordingly, the same
 reference numerals as used for the first tape 62 are used to designate the
 corresponding parts of the second tape 75, in FIG. 8.
 The EC tapes 62, 75 hold the ECs 60 whose respective widths correspond to
 the respective widths of the tapes 62, 75, and the EC-supply units 32
 supply the EC tapes 62, 75 whose respective widths correspond to the
 respective widths of the units 32. That is, the wider EC tapes 62, 75 hold
 the wider ECs 60, and the wider EC-supply units 32 supply the wider tapes
 62. 75. The predetermined pitch at which the first positioning grooves 56
 are formed in the upper surface of each table 30 is somewhat greater than
 the smallest width of the respective widths of the EC-supply units 32.
 Therefore, some EC-supply units 32 whose widths are greater than the pitch
 of formation of the grooves 56 may be attached to the each table 30 such
 that the respective pairs of first positioning projections 54 of the units
 32 are fitted in every second ones of the grooves 56. Thus, each table 30
 can simultaneously support different sorts of EC-supply units 32 which
 supply different sorts of EC tapes having different widths. In the present
 embodiment, it is assumed that the first EC tape 62 has the smallest width
 of the respective widths of all the different sorts of EC tapes including
 the first and second EC tapes 62, 75. Thus, some EC-supply units 32 each
 of which supplies the first EC tape 62 holding the ECs 60 can be attached
 to the each table 30 at the smallest pitch equal to the pitch of formation
 of the grooves 56.
 As shown in FIG. 1, each EC tape 62, 75 is wound around a supply reel 76.
 Each car 34 includes a container-like bucket 78 as an integral portion
 thereof. Each bucket 78 provides a reel-support member, and thereby
 provides an EC storing device. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, each bucket 78
 has two arrays of rollers 79 each as a rotatable support member at two
 positions distant from each other in a front-rear direction parallel to
 the Y direction. The front array of rollers 79 are rotatable about a front
 common axis line parallel to the widthwise direction of each EC-supply
 unit 32, i.e., the X direction, and the rear array of rollers 79 are
 rotatable about a rear common axis line parallel to the X direction.
 Each bucket 78 has three partition-plate holding members 80, 81, 82 each as
 a partition-member holding member. The three holding members 80, 81, 82
 are supported by a front surface, a rear surface, and a bottom surface of
 the each bucket 78, respectively. Each of the three holding members 80,
 81, 82 has a plurality of grooves 83 formed at the same pitch as that of
 formation of the first positioning grooves 56 of each table 30, in a
 direction parallel to the widthwise direction of each EC-supply unit 32,
 i.e., in the X direction, such that the grooves 83 are aligned with the
 grooves 56, respectively, with respect to the X direction. A partition
 plate 84 as a partition member can be fitted in each of the grooves 83 of
 the first one of the three holding members 80, 81, 82, a corresponding one
 of the grooves 83 of the second one of the three holding members 80, 81,
 82, and a corresponding one of the grooves 83 of the third one of the
 three holding members 80, 81, 82. Each pair of partition plates 84
 adjacent to each other cooperate with each other to define an inside space
 which can accommodate one supply reel 76. Each supply reel 76 is fitted in
 the inside space defined between one pair of partition plates 84, such
 that the reel 76 is rotatably supported on a corresponding pair of rollers
 79 and is prevented from being moved in the widthwise direction thereof.
 Since each partition plate 84 has two recesses corresponding to the two
 arrays of rollers 79, the each plate 84 is prevented from being interfered
 with by the rollers 79.
 Like the EC-supply units 32, the supply reels 76 supply EC tapes whose
 respective widths correspond to respective widths of the reels 76, and
 accordingly the wider reels 76 supply the wider tapes. Therefore, a
 plurality of partition plates 84 are attached to each bucket 78,
 corresponding to the respective widths of the EC tapes supplied from the
 supply reels 76. For example, the first EC tapes 62 each having the
 smallest width are supplied from the supply reels 76 each having the
 smallest width. In this case, the partition plates 84 are fitted in all
 the grooves 83 of each holding member 80, 81, 82, so as to define the
 smallest inside spaces for accommodating the reels 76 having the smallest
 width. In the case of wide supply reels 76 which cannot be accommodated in
 the smallest inside spaces, the partition plates 84 may be fitted in every
 second ones of the grooves 83 of each holding member 80, 81, 82, so as to
 define respective wide inside spaces which can accommodate the wide reels
 76. Thus, each bucket 78 can simultaneously accommodate different sorts of
 supply reels 76 having different widths. The distance between the front
 and rear holding members 80, 81 is greater than the outer diameter of of
 the supply reels 76, and the intermediate holding member 82 is provided
 below a horizontal plane passing through the respective upper ends of the
 two arrays of rollers 79. Thus, the supply reels 76 are prevented from
 being interfered with by the three holding members 80, 81, 82.
 Accordingly, each supply reel 76, having either a small or large width,
 can be fitted in an inside space defined by two partition plates 84 and
 can be supported on the rollers 79, without being interfered with by any
 of the holding members 80, 81, 82.
 A bar code 88 is printed on a side surface of each supply reel 76. In the
 present embodiment, the bar code 88 represents an identification number
 identifying a particular sort of ECs held by an EC tape supplied from the
 each reel 76; the dimensions of each EC; an initial number of the ECs held
 by the new EC tape from which no ECs have not been taken yet; the width of
 the EC tape; the pitch at which the ECs are held by the EC tape; and
 information indicating which one of the embossed-carrier type, the
 punched-carrier type, and the lead-wire-terminal-taped type the EC tape
 supplied from the each reel 76 is of.
 As shown in FIG. 2, an EC tape 62 drawn from one supply reel 76 is fed by
 an EC-tape feeding device 90 of a corresponding EC-supply unit 32 at a
 predetermined pitch in the lengthwise direction of the tape 62, in a
 direction parallel to the lengthwise direction of the each unit 32. Thus,
 the ECs 60 are supplied one by one to a predetermined EC-supply position
 of the each unit 32, while the top-cover tape 66 is treated by a
 top-cover-tape ("TCT") treating device 92. The EC sucker 22 sucks an EC 60
 from each embossed portion 70 of the carrier tape 64, at the EC-supply
 position of the each unit 32. The EC-supply position is predetermined in a
 front portion of the each unit 32 that is near to the PWB conveying device
 14 in the front-rear direction of the each unit 32, i.e., in the
 lengthwise direction of the same 32. The EC-supply portion of the each
 unit 32 includes the EC-supply position and a portion around that
 position. The widthwise direction of the EC tape 62 is parallel to that of
 the each unit 32.
 When the supplying of the ECs 60 from the EC tape 62 wound around the
 supply reel 76 advances and the consumption of the EC tape 62 comes near
 to the end, an operator replenishes a new EC tape 62. More specifically
 described, first, the operator removes the current supply reel 76
 supplying the terminal end portion of the current EC tape 62, from the
 bucket 78, removes the terminal end portion of the current tape 62 from
 the current reel 76, sets a new supply reel 76 to supply the new EC tape
 62, to the bucket 78, and draws the initial end portion of the new tape 62
 from the new reel 76. Then, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the operator
 manually connects, using a metallic connection member 100, and a
 connection tape 102 as another sort of connection member, the terminal end
 portion 96 of the current tape 62 supplying the ECs 60, to the initial end
 portion 98 of the new tape 62 to subsequently supply the ECs 60. The
 connection member 100 and the connection tape 102 cooperate with the
 terminal end portion 96 and the initial end portion 98 of the two EC tapes
 62 to provide a connection portion 103. The operator connects the two EC
 tapes 62 to each other, at a position near the position where the current
 reel 76 supplying the current tape 62 is supported by the bucket 78. In
 FIG. 9, the ECs 60 are not illustrated.
 As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the tape connection member 100 includes a flat
 main portion 104 which is formed of a generally rectangular metal (e.g.,
 iron) plate; a plurality of feed holes 106 (three holes 106, in the
 present embodiment) which are formed through the thickness of the main
 portion 104, at the same pitch as the pitch at which the feed holes 74 are
 formed in the carrier tape 64; and a plurality of caulking projections 108
 (eight projections 108, in the present embodiment) which project from the
 main portion 104 in a direction perpendicular thereto. The main portion
 104 has a width not greater than twice the distance between the center of
 each of the feed holes 74 of each EC tape 62 and a side edge of one of the
 two end portions 68 that has the feed holes 74.
 Each of the caulking projections 108 has a height greater than the
 thickness of the carrier tape 64. In the present embodiment, the eight
 caulking projections 108 include two sorts of projections, i.e., four
 Y-shaped projections 110 two of which project from one of lengthwise
 opposite end portions of the main portion 104 and the other two of which
 project from the other end portion of the same 104; and four
 inverted-J-shaped projections 112 two of which project from a first
 intermediate portion of the main portion 104 between one pair of adjacent
 feed holes 106 of the three feed holes 106 and the other two of which
 project from a second intermediate portion of the same 104 between the
 other pair of adjacent feed holes 106 of the three feed holes 106. Thus,
 the two pairs of Y-shaped projections 110 are provided at two locations,
 respectively, which are distant from each other in the lengthwise
 direction of the main portion 104, and similarly the two pairs of
 inverted-J-shaped projections 112 are provided at two locations,
 respectively, which are distant from each other in the lengthwise
 direction of the main portion 104. The distance between the center of each
 of the opposite end feed holes 106 of the three feed holes 106 and a
 corresponding pair of Y-shaped projections 110 is equal to the distance
 between that center and a corresponding pair of inverted-J-shaped
 projections 112.
 The two pairs of Y-shaped projections 110 are formed by bending two pairs
 of projecting portions which respectively project from the lengthwise
 opposite ends of the main portion 104 in opposite directions parallel to
 the plane of the main portion 104, such that the bent projecting portions
 extend in a same direction perpendicular to the plane of the main portion
 104, as shown in FIG. 12. Each pair of Y-shaped projections 110 are
 arranged in the widthwise direction of the main portion 104, as shown in
 FIG. 13. Each Y-shaped projection 110 includes a bifurcated upper portion
 114 which gives a generally Y-shape configuration thereto. As shown in the
 enlarged view of FIG. 14, each Y-shaped projection 110 includes a base
 portion 116 having a generally trapezoidal shape. The width of the base
 portion 116 decreases in a direction toward the upper portion 114, which
 is formed within a range corresponding to the greatest width of the base
 portion 116.
 Each inverted-J-shaped projection 112 is formed by cutting, and then
 bending, a portion of the main portion 104 such that the bent portion
 extends perpendicularly to the remaining portion of the main portion 104,
 as shown in FIG. 12. Therefore, the main portion 104 has four openings
 each having a shape corresponding to each projection 112, as shown in FIG.
 11. As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 15, each inverted-J-shaped
 projection 112 has a generally inverted-J-shaped configuration wherein an
 upper portion 118 of the each projection 112 is curved in a direction
 having a component parallel to the widthwise direction of the each
 projection 112. The upper portion 118 is formed by forming a recess 120 in
 an inner one of widthwise opposite end portions of the each projection 112
 and forming an upper end edge 122 which is inclined such that one of
 widthwise opposite ends of the upper end edge 122 on the side of the inner
 end portion of the each projection 112 is more distant from the main
 portion 104 than the other end of the same 122 on the side of the other,
 outer end portion. The recess 122 is defined by a generally concave curve.
 Thus, the upper curved portion 118 is formed within a range corresponding
 to the width of a base portion 124 of the each projection 122. Like each
 pair of Y-shaped projections 110, each pair of inverted-J-shaped
 projections 112 are formed side by side in the widthwise direction of the
 main portion 104, and the two projections 112 are symmetrical with each
 other such that the respective upper curved portions 118 thereof project
 inward toward each other.
 The connection member 100 is used to connect respective particular portions
 of the terminal and initial end portions 96, 98 of the two EC tapes 62
 that correspond to the feed holes 74 of the respective carrier tapes 64.
 An exclusive tape connecting tool (not shown) is used by the operator to
 caulk the caulking projections 108 of the connection member 100 and
 thereby connect the two EC tapes 62 to each other. This tape connecting
 tool is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/108,243. The tape
 connecting tool has a plurality of positioning projections on which first
 the feed holes 106 of the connection member 100 are fitted and then the
 feed holes 74 of the terminal and initial portions 96, 98 of the two EC
 tapes 62 are fitted. Thus, one of the lengthwise opposite end feed holes
 106 of the connection member 100 is aligned with one of the feed holes 74
 of the terminal end portion 96 of the current EC tape 62, the other end
 feed hole 106 of the connection member 100 is aligned with one of the feed
 holes 74 of the initial end portion 98 of the new EC tape 62, and the
 intermediate feed hole 106 of the connection member 100 is aligned with
 respective semi-circular feed holes 74 of the two end portions 96, 98.
 Each pair of inverted-J-shaped projections 112 are positioned between the
 semi-circular feed holes 74 and a corresponding one of the respective
 complete feed holes 106 of the two EC tapes 62, and each pair of Y-shaped
 projections 110 are positioned between the two complete feed holes 106 of
 a corresponding one of the two EC tapes 62.
 When in the above-indicated state the operator operates the tape connecting
 tool, first, the Y-shaped projections 110 and the inverted-J-shaped
 projections 112 substantially completely penetrate through the respective
 carrier tapes 64 of the two EC tapes 62 and project out of the respective
 top surfaces 72 of the carrier tapes 64. Then, the upper bifurcated
 portions 114 of each pair of Y-shaped projections 110 and the upper curved
 portions 118 of a corresponding pair of inverted-J-shaped projections 112
 are bent toward each other. Consequently the main portion 104 is closely
 contacted with the respective back surfaces 73 of the two carrier tapes
 64, and the upper portions 114, 118 are closely contacted with the
 respective top surfaces 72 of the carrier tapes 64, and cooperate with the
 main portion 104 to sandwich the respective end portions of the two
 carrier tapes 64 and thereby reliably connect the terminal and initial end
 portions 96, 98 of the two EC tapes 62 to each other.
 After the respective carrier tapes 64 of the two EC tapes 62 are connected
 to each other by the connection member 100, the respective top-cover tapes
 66 of the terminal and initial end portions 96, 98 of the two EC tapes 62
 are connected to each other with the connection tape 102 which is formed
 of a synthetic resin, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The connection tape 102
 has a tacky material applied to one of opposite major surfaces thereof,
 and the operator adheres the connection tape 102 to the respective
 top-cover tapes 66 of the current and new EC tapes 62.
 Each of the third and fourth members 46, 48 as the two elements of the
 frame 40 of each EC-supply unit 32 has a shape like a thin plate, as shown
 in FIG. 17. The third and fourth members 46, 48 cooperate with each other
 to sandwich the first member 42 in the widthwise direction of the each
 unit 32, and are fixed to the first member 42. A rear end of the third
 member 46 that is distant from the first member 42 and is near to the
 corresponding supply reel 76 supports a guide roller 140 as a rotatable
 guide member, via a lever 142, such that the guide roller 140 is rotatable
 about an axis line parallel to the widthwise direction of the EC tape 62.
 The EC tape 62 drawn from the supply reel 76 is engaged with the guide
 roller 140, and is fed forward while being prevented from being moved in
 the widthwise direction thereof by a pair of flanges 146 of the roller 140
 (only one flange 146 is shown in FIG. 16).
 A detecting head 152 of a metal detecting device 150 as a connection
 detecting device is provided adjacent to, and on a downstream side of, the
 guide roller 140 in the direction in which the EC tape 62 is fed
 (hereinafter, referred to as the "EC-feed direction"). The detecting head
 152 includes a block-like main member 156 which is fitted in a space
 defined between the third and fourth members 46, 48, and is fixed to those
 members 46, 48 such that the main member 156 can be detached from the same
 46, 48. The main member 156 includes an upper end portion which projects
 upward from the third and fourth members 46, 48 and which has a shallow
 groove 158 and a deep groove 160. The shallow groove 158 extends parallel
 to the EC-feed direction and has a width slightly greater than that of the
 carrier tape 64. The deep groove 160 opens in the bottom of the shallow
 groove 158, has a width smaller than that of the shallow groove 158, and
 allows the embossed portions 70 of the EC tape 62 to pass therethrough.
 The deep groove 160 is provided at a position biased toward the fourth
 member 48 relative to the shallow groove 158. The shallow groove 158 has a
 pair of support surfaces 162, 163 which support and guide the pair of end
 portions 68 of the EC tape 62, respectively. The one support surface 162
 on the side of the third member 46 has a greater width, and supports and
 guides the one end portion 68 having the feed holes 74. The other support
 surface 163 on the side of the fourth member 48 has a smaller width, and
 supports and guides the other end portion 68 free of the feed holes 74.
 Each of the support surfaces 162, 163 has two inclined surfaces 164 which
 are formed in opposite end portions thereof as seen in the EC-feed
 direction, respectively, such that each of the two inclined surfaces 164
 is inclined downward in a direction toward a corresponding one of the
 opposite ends of the each surface 164. The front and rear inclined
 surfaces 164 of the support surfaces 162, 163 guide the end portions 68 of
 the EC tape 62, when each portion of the tape 62 enters and quits the
 metal detecting device 150.
 Two electrodes 166 are fixed by respective fixing devices (not shown) to
 two side surfaces of a particular portion of the main member 156,
 respectively, that corresponds to the wide support surface 162. The two
 side surfaces are distant from each other in the EC-feed direction. Each
 of the two fixed electrodes 166 extends in a vertical direction, and can
 be detached from a corresponding one of the two side surfaces. As shown in
 FIGS. 16 and 17, respective upper portions of the two electrodes 166 are
 bent, along the wide support surface 162, toward each other with a
 predetermined space being left therebetween. Thus, the two electrodes 166
 are distant from each other on a path along which the connection member
 100 is moved when the EC tapes 62 are fed forward, and cooperate with the
 wide support surface 162 to support the one end portion 68 having the feed
 holes 74. When the connection member 100 passes over the two electrodes
 166, the connection member 100 can simultaneously contact both of the two
 electrodes 166 and thereby electrically connect the same 166 to each
 other.
 The two electrodes 166 of the detecting head 152 are connected via a wiring
 167 to a connection detecting circuit 168 (FIG. 31). The detecting head
 152 and the detecting circuit 168 cooperate with each other to provide the
 metal detecting device 150. Thus, the metal detecting device 150 is a sort
 of contact-type sensor. In the state in which the two electrodes 166 are
 electrically connected to each other, the connection detecting circuit 168
 produces a first signal; and in the state in which the two electrodes 166
 are not connected to each other, the detecting circuit 168 produces a
 second signal different from the first signal. Usually, the two electrodes
 166 are not connected to each other. When the metallic connection member
 100 connecting between the two EC tapes 62 passes over the two electrodes
 166, the two electrodes 166 are electrically connected to each other via
 the connection member 100. From the first or second signal supplied from
 the metal detecting device 150 or the connection detecting circuit 168
 thereof, a unit controller 500 (FIG. 31) recognizes that the connection
 member 100 is passing over the two electrodes 166, and thereby detects the
 connection member 100 or the connection portion 103.
 After the EC tape 62 is guided by the guide roller 140, the two end
 portions 68 thereof are supported and guided by the wide support surface
 162 (and the two electrodes 166) and the narrow support surface 163,
 respectively, while the embossed portions 70 thereof enter the groove 160
 and move in the same 160. One of the two end portions 68 that has the feed
 holes 74 is pressed against the two electrodes 166 by a pressing roller
 170 as a pressing member that is attached to the fifth member 50 fixed to
 the third member 46.
 As shown in FIG. 17, the fifth member 50 has a shape like a thin plate, and
 a lever 172 is attached to a rear end portion of the fifth member 50 such
 that the lever 172 is pivotable about an axis line perpendicular to the
 EC-feed direction. The pressing roller 170 is attached to the lever 172
 such that the roller 170 is rotatable about an axis line parallel to the
 axis line of pivotal motion of the lever 172. The lever 172 is biased by a
 spring member 174 as an elastic member as a sort of biasing device that is
 provided between the lever 172 and the fifth member 50, so that the
 pressing roller 170 is biased in a direction toward the two electrodes
 166. Thus, the pressing roller 170 presses the EC tape 62 or the carrier
 tape 64 against the electrodes 166. When the connection member 100 passes
 over the two electrodes 166, the pressing roller 170 presses the
 connection member 100 against the electrodes 166, so that the two
 electrodes 166 are reliably electrically connected to each other via the
 connection member 100. Thus, the unit controller 500 surely detects the
 connection portion 103 of the two EC tapes 62.
 The lever 172 includes an operable portion 176 which is manually operable
 by the operator for pivoting the lever 172 against the biasing force of
 the spring member 174, so that a space is produced between the pressing
 roller 170 and the electrodes 166 and an end portion of an EC tape 62 can
 be manually put in that space. After the end portion of the EC tape 62 is
 sandwiched between the pressing roller 170 and the main member 156 of the
 detecting head 152, the operator releases the operable portion 176, to
 allow the pressing roller 170 to press the one end portion 68 having the
 feed holes 74, against the electrodes 166.
 As shown in FIGS. 16 and 18, an upper portion of the fourth member 48 is
 bent perpendicularly toward the third member 46, so that an upper surface
 of the bent upper portion of the fourth member 48 provides a horizontal
 support surface 180 which extends in the lengthwise direction of the each
 EC-supply unit 32 and which supports and guides respective bottoms of the
 embossed portions 70 of the EC tape 62. One of opposite end portions of
 the support surface 180 that is nearer to the detecting head 152, i.e., an
 upstream-side one of the opposite end portions as seen in the EC-feed
 direction has a guide surface 182 which is inclined downward in a
 direction toward the head 152. The EC tape 62, after having passed through
 the detecting head 152, moves on the support surface 180. The EC tape 62
 moving on the support surface 180 is prevented, by the respective frames
 of two EC-supply units 32 adjacent to the each EC-supply unit 32, from
 moving in the widthwise direction of the tape 62.
 After the EC tape 62 is supported and guided by the support surface 180,
 the tape 62 is guided by the sixth member 52 which has a groove 190 in a
 front portion of the each EC-supply unit 32. As shown in FIGS. 19 and 21,
 the sixth member 52 has a shape like an elongate block, and is detachably
 attached to the front portion of the first member 42. The first member 42
 provides a main frame member; the sixth member 52 provides a tape-guide
 member; and the sixth member 52 attached to the first member 42 provides a
 tape-guide portion 192 of the EC-supply unit 32.
 The groove 190 extends in the lengthwise direction of the sixth member 52,
 i.e., parallel to the EC-feed direction. As shown in FIG. 21, the groove
 190 has a width and a depth which allow the embossed portions 70 to pass
 therethrough. The groove 190 is defined by a pair of side walls which
 provide a pair of support rails 198, 200, respectively. The two support
 rails 198, 200 has respective upper end surfaces which provide respective
 support surfaces 202, 204 which support and guide the respective lower
 surfaces of the two end portions 68 of the EC tape 62. The first support
 surface 202 is wider than the second support surface 204, and supports the
 one end portion 68 having the feed holes 74. The second support surface
 204 supports the other end portion 68 free of the feed holes 74.
 As shown in FIGS. 21 and 24 (24A and 24B), lengthwise opposite end portions
 of the sixth member 52 have respective legs 206. As shown in FIG. 21, the
 legs 206 are provided at respective locations distant from the first
 support surface 202 in the widthwise direction of the sixth member 52. The
 sixth member 52 has two positioning surfaces 208, 210 which are
 perpendicular to each other.
 A cover member 210 is attached to the sixth member 52, and prevents the EC
 tape 62 from moving up off the support surfaces 202, 204. As shown in FIG.
 21, the cover member 210 has a generally inverted-U-shaped cross section
 and, as shown in FIG. 20, a top wall of the cover member 210 covers almost
 all portions of the groove 190 and the support surfaces 202, 204. The
 cover member 210 has an opening 212 through which each EC 60 is taken by
 the EC sucker 22 of the EC mounting system 16.
 The cover member 210 is attached to the sixth member 52 such that the cover
 member 210 is movable in the lengthwise direction of the sixth member 52,
 i.e., in opposite directions parallel to the EC-feed direction. Thus, the
 position of the cover member 210 relative to the frame 40 including the
 sixth and first members 52, 42 can be changed in the directions parallel
 to the EC-feed direction. A slide member 214 is movably or slideably
 fitted in an elongate hole 216 which is formed in the sixth member 52 such
 that the elongate hole 216 extends parallel to the EC-feed direction. As
 shown in FIG. 25, an axis member 218 is fitted in a front portion of the
 slide member 214 such that the axis member 218 extends perpendicularly to
 the EC-feed direction, i.e., parallel to the widthwise direction of the EC
 tape 62. Opposite end portions of the axis member 218 project out of the
 slide member 214 on both sides of the sixth member 52, and respective
 lengthwise intermediate portions of a pair of side walls of the cover
 member 210 are pivotally fitted on the projecting end portions of the axis
 member 218, respectively. Thus, the cover member 210 is attached to the
 sixth member 52 such that the cover member 210 is pivotable about an axis
 line parallel to the widthwise direction of the EC tape 62. The axis
 member 218 also functions to attach the slide member 214 to the sixth
 member 52 and attach the cover member 210 to the slide member 214. The
 sixth member 52 has two elongate holes 220, shown in FIGS. 24 and 25,
 which prevent the axis member 218 from being interfered with by the sixth
 member 52 when the cover member 210 and the slide member 214 are moved
 with each other.
 A lengthwise intermediate portion 222 of the slide member 214 has a great
 width, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 23, and a rear portion of the cover member
 210 is engaged with the wide portion 222. As shown in FIG. 23, the wide
 portion 222 has a through-hole 224 which is formed through the thickness
 of the slide member 214 in the widthwise direction thereof. A pair of
 engaging pins 226 each as an engaging member are fitted in axially
 opposite end portions of the through-hole 224, respectively, such that the
 two pins 226 are oriented in opposite directions, respectively, and a
 spring member 228 biases the two pins 226 in those opposite directions,
 respectively, i.e., in respective directions in which the two pins 226
 project out of the through-hole 224. Each pin 226 has a stepped shape, and
 a large-diameter engaging portion 230 of the each pin 226 is fitted in an
 engaging hole 232 of the cover member 210. Thus, the cover member 210 is
 attached to the wide portion 222 of the slide member 214. FIG. 24 shows a
 recess 234 which is continuous with each engaging hole 232 of the cover
 member 210 and which has a width smaller than the diameter of the each
 engaging hole 232. Thus, when the operator pivots the cover member 210 in
 the state in which the engaging pins 226 are retracted into the
 through-hole 224 against the biasing force of the spring member 228 and
 respective small-diameter portions 236 of the two pins 226 are positioned
 in the respective engaging holes 232, the cover member 210 can be
 disengaged from the pins 226 and can be pivoted about the axis member 218.
 FIG. 24 also shows a recess 238 of the sixth member 52 that allows the
 wide portion 222 to be moved relative to the sixth member 52. The limit of
 movement of each engaging pin 226 due to the biasing action of the spring
 member 228 is defined by a movement-limit defining member (not shown).
 Thus, the pins 226 are prevented from coming off the through-hole 224,
 which means that the movement-limit defining members also function as
 coming-off preventing members.
 As shown in FIGS. 19 and 21, the first member 42 has two recesses 240 at
 two locations distant from each other in the lengthwise direction thereof.
 The sixth member 52 is placed on the first member 42 such that the legs
 206 of the sixth member 52 are fitted in the recesses 240 of the first
 member 42, the first positioning surface 208 is contacted with an upper
 surface 242 of the first member 42, and the second positioning surface 209
 is contacted with a recess-defining surface 244 of the first member 42.
 Thus, the sixth member 52 is accurately positioned relative to the first
 member 42, both in the widthwise direction of the each EC-supply unit 32
 and in a vertical direction perpendicular to the widthwise and lengthwise
 directions of the same 32. Bolts 246 each as a fixing device are used to
 attach the sixth member 52 to the first member 42 such that the sixth
 member 52 is detachable from the first member 42. The upper surface 242
 and the recess-defining surface 244 of the first member 42 function as
 positioning surfaces which position the six member 52 relative to the
 first member 42, and cooperate with the positioning surfaces 208, 209 to
 provide a positioning device. The second positioning surface 209 also
 functions as a reference plane which defines a position of the sixth
 member 52 relative to the first member 42 in the widthwise direction of
 the each EC-supply unit 32.
 In addition, since the downstream-side leg 206 of the sixth member 52 as
 seen in the EC-feed direction is contacted with an end surface 247 of the
 downstream-side recess 240 of the first member 42, the sixth member 52 is
 positioned relative to the first member 42 in the EC-feed direction. The
 upstream-side recess 240 as seen in the EC-feed direction has dimensions
 which allow, in the state in which the sixth member 52 is thus positioned
 relative to the first member 42, the upstream-side leg 206 of the sixth
 member 52 to be fitted therein. A portion of the sixth member 52 that
 defines the positioning surfaces 208, 209 provides an attachment portion
 which is attached to the first member 42 as the main frame member. A
 portion of the sixth member 52 that includes the support rail 198 having
 the wide support surface 202 supporting the one end portion 68 having the
 feed holes 74, provides a portion of the sixth member 52 that corresponds
 to the EC-tape feeding device 90, or a sprocket 272 (described later) as
 an element of the feeding device 90. The sixth member 52 has both the
 attachment portion and the portion corresponding to the EC-tape feeding
 device 90, in the same half portion thereof as seen in the widthwise
 direction thereof.
 In the state in which the sixth member 52 is fixed to the first member 42,
 a screw 252 is screwed with the first member 42 such that the screw 252
 extends through a through-hole 248 (FIG. 24) formed through the thickness
 of the sixth member 52, and through an elongate hole 250 (FIG. 20) of the
 slide member 214. Thus, as shown in FIG. 19, the slide member 214 is fixed
 to the first member 42 in the state in which a head portion 254 of the
 screw 252 as a fixing device and a moving-off preventing device prevents
 the slide member 214 from moving off the first member 42.
 Before the slide member 214 is fixed to the first member 42, the position
 of the cover member 210 in the directions parallel to the EC-feed
 direction is adjusted. As shown in FIGS. 20 and 24, a rear portion of the
 slide member 214 has a plurality of conical holes 256 at a regular
 interval of distance in the lengthwise direction of the sixth member 52.
 Since a ball 260 of a ball plunger 258 of the first member 42 is fitted in
 one of the conical holes 256, the slide member 214 is positioned relative
 to the first member 42, and accordingly the cover member 210 is positioned
 relative to the first member 42. The slide member 214 has a plurality of
 center holes, and respective opening end portions of the center holes
 define the conical holes 256. As shown in FIG. 19, the ball plunger 258
 includes a cylindrical casing 262 which has an externally threaded outer
 circumferential surface and which accommodates the ball 260, and a spring
 member 264 which biases the ball 260 in a direction in which the ball 260
 projects out of the casing 262. The casing 262 is screwed with the first
 member 42. The movement of the slide member 214 is allowed by the
 retraction of the ball 260 into the casing 262 against the biasing force
 of the spring member 264 and the disengagement of the ball 20 from one
 conical hole 256. When the ball 260 is engaged with another conical hole
 256, the slide member 214 or the cover member 210 is positioned relative
 to the first member 42.
 The position of the cover member 210 relative to the frame 40 including the
 first member 42 and the sixth members 42, 52 can be changed in the same
 number of steps as the number of the conical holes 256, for example, to
 one position shown in FIG. 24A and another position shown in FIG. 24B. The
 position of the cover member 210 is changed in those steps depending on a
 dimension of the ECs 60 as seen in a direction parallel to the EC-feed
 direction, i.e., depending on a pitch at which the ECs 60 are held by the
 EC tape 62. Whichever position the cover member 210 may take, the cover
 member 210 does not cover each EC 60 being fed to the EC-supply position,
 thereby allowing the each EC 60 to be taken from the embossed portion 70,
 but covers the next or adjacent EC 60 on the upstream side of the each EC
 60 being at the EC-supply position.
 The cover member 210 is attached together with the sixth member 52 to the
 first member 42, in the state in which the cover member 210 is attached to
 the sixth member 52. After the sixth member 52 is attached to the first
 member 42, the cover member 210 is moved in the EC-feed direction to a
 position corresponding to the pitch at which the ECs 60 are held by the EC
 tape 62 (hereinafter, referred to as "the EC-hold pitch"). In the state in
 which the ball 260 of the ball plunger 258 is engaged with one conical
 hole 256 and the sixth member 52 is positioned relative to the first
 member 42, the screw 252 is screwed with the first member 42 through the
 elongate hole 250, and thus the slide member 214 or the cover member 210
 is fixed to the first member 42 in the directions parallel to the EC-feed
 direction. Therefore, even if vibration may be input to the each EC-supply
 unit 32, the cover member 210 is not moved out of position relative to the
 first member 42. Even in this state, the cover member 210 can be
 disengaged from the slide member 214 and pivoted about the axis member
 218.
 When the operator sets an initial end portion of an EC tape 62 on the sixth
 member 52, first, the cover member 210 is removed from the engaging pins
 226, is pivoted about the axis member 218, and is moved away from the
 sixth member 52. Next, the embossed portions 70 of the EC tape 62 are
 fitted in the groove 190, so that the two end portions 68 are placed on
 the two support surfaces 202, 204, respectively, and the feed holes 74 are
 engaged with projections of the sprocket 272 described later. Then, the
 cover member 210 is pivoted to cover the EC tape 62, while the pins 226
 are retracted into the through-hole 224 against the biasing force of the
 spring 228 to a position where the respective small-diameter portions 236
 of the pins 226 are aligned with the respective recesses 234 of the cover
 member 210. After the cover member 210 is pivoted and the small-diameter
 portions 236 are fitted in the respective engaging holes 232 through the
 respective recesses 234, the operator releases the pins 226. Thus, the
 engaging portions 230 are engaged with the respective engaging holes 232
 because of the biasing action of the spring member 228, and the cover
 member 210 is attached to the slide member 214. In this state, the cover
 member 210 cannot be pivoted. Therefore, when the top-cover tape 66 is
 peeled from the carrier tape 64, the cover member 210 cannot be moved. The
 EC tape 62 is prevented from moving in the widthwise direction thereof,
 because the embossed portions 70 thereof are fitted in the groove 190 and
 because the two end portions 68 thereof are prevented from moving in the
 widthwise direction thereof, by the two side walls of the cover member
 210.
 After the sixth member 52 and the cover member 210 are thus fixed to the
 first member 42, the position of the cover member 210 is changed when the
 current sort of EC tapes 60 are changed to another sort of EC tapes 75. In
 this situation, the operator loosens the screw 252 and thereby unfastens
 the cover member 210 from the first member 42. Then, the operator grasps
 the cover member 210, and moves the slide member 214 or the cover member
 210 while retracting the ball 260 of the ball plunger 258 into the casing
 262 against the biasing force of the spring member 264 and thereby
 disengaging the ball 260 from one conical hole 256. Though the screw 252
 is not removed from the first member 42, the movement of the slide member
 214 relative to the screw 252 (i.e., the first member 42) is allowed by
 the elongate hole 250.
 The cover member 210 is re-positioned relative to the first member 42, when
 the ball 260 is engaged with another conical hole 256 and the slide member
 214 is positioned again relative to the first member 42. After this
 re-positioning of the cover member 210, the operator re-fastens the screw
 252 and thereby fixes the cover member 210 to the first member 42 in the
 directions parallel to the EC-feed direction. In the present embodiment,
 the engaging pins 226 and the engaging holes 232 cooperate with each other
 to provide an attaching device which attaches the cover member 210 to the
 slide member 214; the slide member 214, the conical holes 256 as engaging
 recesses as a sort of stationary engaging portions, the ball 260 as an
 engaging projection as a sort of elastic engaging portion, and the spring
 member 264 cooperate with each other to provide a stepwise position
 changing device 266; and the stepwise position changing device 266
 cooperates with the axis member 218 and the elongate holes 220 to provide
 a cover attaching device 268.
 When the cover member 210 is moved to change its position in the directions
 parallel to the EC-feed direction, the axis member 218 is also moved
 together with the cover member 210 and the slide member 214. Accordingly,
 at any position, the cover member 210 can be pivoted about the axis member
 218, so that an EC tape 62 can be set on the each EC-supply unit 32.
 Next, there will be described the EC-tape feeding device 90.
 As shown in FIGS. 19 and 22, the first member 42 supports an axis member
 270 such that the axis member 270 is rotatable about an axis line
 perpendicular to the EC-feed direction, i.e., parallel to the widthwise
 direction of the each EC-supply unit 32 and the widthwise direction of the
 EC tape 62. A sprocket 272 as a feed member is attached to the axis member
 270 such that the sprocket 272 is not rotatable relative to the axis
 member 270. The sprocket 272 has a number of projections 274 which project
 radially outward from an entire outer circumferential surface of the
 sprocket 272. The projections 274 are engaged with the feed holes of 74 of
 the carrier tape 64. The sprocket 272 supports a ratchet wheel 276 whose
 diameter is smaller than that of the sprocket 272, such that the ratchet
 wheel 276 is concentric with the sprocket 272 and is not rotatable
 relative to the same 272. As shown in FIG. 24, the sixth member 52 has a
 recess 278 which prevents the sixth member 52 from interfering with the
 sprocket 272 and the ratchet wheel 276. As shown in FIG. 20, the cover
 member 210 has a recess 279 in a portion thereof corresponding to the feed
 holes 74 of the carrier tape 64, and the recess 279 prevents the cover
 member 210 from interfering with the projections 274 of the sprocket 272.
 As shown in FIGS. 20 and 22, the axis member 270 additionally supports two
 pivotable members 280, 282 as two reciprocative members, such that each of
 the two pivotable members 280, 282 is reciprocatively pivotable relative
 to the axis member 270 about a common axis line. The ratchet wheel 276 has
 an annular shape, and is fixed with a plurality of pins 283 to the
 sprocket 272 such that the ratchet wheel 276 is concentrically positioned
 relative to the sprocket 272. As shown in FIG. 22, the second pivotable
 member 282 includes a base portion which is located on the same plane as
 that on which the ratchet wheel 276 is located, and is bent at a
 lengthwise intermediate portion thereof from which an end portion thereof
 extends radially outward on the same plane as that on which the first
 pivotable member 280 is located. The two pivotable members 280, 282 have
 the same radial length from the common axis line thereof to the respective
 radially outer ends thereof. The ratchet wheel 276 may be formed as an
 integral portion of the sprocket 272.
 The two pivotable members 280, 282 support respective ratchet pawls 284,
 286 at the same radial distance from the common axis line, such that the
 two ratchet pawls 284, 286 are pivotable about respective pins 288, 290,
 are engageable with teeth 292 provided on an entire outer circumferential
 surface of the ratchet wheel 276, and are biased toward respective
 directions in which the pawls 284, 286 engage the teeth 292, by respective
 spring members 294, 296 which are provided between the pawls 284, 286 and
 the corresponding pivotable members 280, 282. When each of the pivotable
 members 280, 282 is pivoted in a first direction (i.e., a counterclockwise
 direction in FIG. 19; hereinafter, referred as "the forward direction"), a
 corresponding one of the ratchet pawls 284, 286 remains engaged with the
 teeth 292; and when the each pivotable member 280, 282 is pivoted in a
 second direction (i.e., a clockwise direction in FIG. 19; hereinafter,
 referred as "the backward direction"), the corresponding one ratchet pawl
 286, 284 is moved back over the teeth 292.
 Therefore, when each of the pivotable members 280, 282 is pivoted in the
 forward direction, the ratchet wheel 276 is rotated in its forward
 direction and the sprocket 272 is rotated to feed forward the EC tape 62.
 This is an EC-tape feeding action of the EC-tape feeding device 90.
 However, when the each pivotable member 280, 282 is pivoted in the
 backward direction, the corresponding one ratchet pawl 284, 286 is moved
 over the teeth 292 of the ratchet wheel 276. This is a preparing action of
 the EC-tape feeding device 90 for its next EC-tape feeding action. Thus,
 each of the two pivotable members 280, 282 performs its forward and
 backward pivotal motions to feed forward the EC tape 62.
 A stepper motor 300 as a rotary drive source as an element of a drive
 device, and a motion converting device 302 cooperate with each other to
 pivot reciprocatively the two pivotable members 280, 282 in opposite
 directions, respectively, that is, in such a way that when one of the two
 members 280, 282 is pivoted in the forward direction, the other member
 282, 280 is pivoted in the backward direction and, when the one member
 280, 282 is pivoted in the backward direction, the other member 282, 280
 is pivoted in the forward direction. The stepper motor 300 is supported by
 the first member 42 such that an axis line about which the rotor of the
 motor 300 is rotated is parallel to the common axis line of pivotal motion
 of the two pivotable members 280, 282. The stepper motor 300 is rotated by
 an amount or angle proportional to the number of drive signals supplied
 thereto.
 The motion converting device 302 includes a plate cam 306 as a rotary cam
 as a sort of cam, a bell-crank lever 308 as a cam follower, and two
 connection links 310, 312 each as a connecting device as a sort of motion
 transmitting device. An outer circumferential surface of the plate cam 306
 provides a cam surface 314. The plate cam 306 is attached to the first
 member 42 via an axis member 316 such that the cam 306 is rotatable about
 an axis line parallel to the common axis line of pivotal motion of the two
 pivotable members 280, 282. When the rotation of the stepper motor 300 is
 transmitted to the plate cam 306 via gears 318, 320, 322, the cam 306 is
 rotated. The cam surface 314 of the plate cam 306 has a generally elliptic
 shape which includes two identical portions having respective identical
 shapes, as seen in the circumferential direction of the cam 306. More
 specifically described, the cam surface 314 includes two first portions
 the distance from the axis member 316 of each of which continuously
 increases in the circumferential direction of the cam 306, and two second
 portions the distance from the axis member 316 of each of which
 continuously decreases in the same direction. The two first portions are
 distant from each other by 180 degrees about the axis member 316, the two
 second portions are distant from each other by 180 degrees about the same
 316, and the two first portions and the two second portions are alternate
 with each other about the same 316. Thus, the four portions in total are
 distant from one another by a regular angular interval of 90 degrees about
 the axis member 316.
 Each of the above-indicated four portions of the cam surface 314 is so
 formed that the bell-crank lever 308 as the cam follower is pivoted
 according to a known modified constant velocity curve. Therefore, while
 the bell-crank lever 308 follows each of the above-indicated first
 portions of the cam surface 314 over 90 degrees, the lever 308 is first
 pivoted positive-acceleratedly, subsequently at a constant velocity, and
 then negative-acceleratedly (i.e., deceleratedly); and while the lever 308
 follows each of the second portions of the cam surface 314 over 90
 degrees, the lever 308 is pivoted, at respective angles or timings,
 strictly symmetrically with the pivotal motion thereof along the each
 first portion, therefore, is pivoted at respective acceleration values
 whose respective absolute values are equal to those of respective
 acceleration values at corresponding timings when the lever 308 follows
 the each first portion but whose positive or negative signs are opposite
 to those of the latter acceleration values. Thus, the cam surface 34 has a
 shape which assures that while the plate cam 306 is rotated at a constant
 velocity, the velocity of pivotal motion of the bell-crank lever 308 is
 smoothly increased from zero, is kept at a constant velocity for a while,
 and then is smoothly decreased to zero, and additionally is smoothly
 decreased from zero, is kept at a constant velocity for a while, and then
 is smoothly increased to zero.
 The bell-crank lever 308 is attached to the first member 42 via an axis
 member 324 such that the lever 308 is pivotable about an axis line
 parallel to the common axis line of pivotal motion of the two pivotable
 members 280, 282. The lever 308 includes two arms 326, 328 which support
 respective rollers 330, 332 which are engaged with two portions of the cam
 surface 314 that are angularly distant from each other by about 90
 degrees. Therefore, as the plate cam 306 is continuously rotated in a
 certain direction, the bell-crank lever 308 is forcedly pivoted in its
 forward and backward directions, in an alternate manner, so that the two
 arms 326, 328 of the lever 308 are reciprocatively pivoted in a same
 direction by a same angle irrespective of which direction the lever 308
 may be pivoted in. The forward and backward directions of pivotal motion
 of the lever 308 correspond to a clockwise and a counterclockwise
 direction in FIG. 19, respectively.
 The two arms 326, 328 have a same length, and respective one circular end
 portions 334 of the two connection links 310, 312 are pivotally connected
 to respective end portions of the two arms 326, 328 that are at a same
 distance from the axis member 324. The respective other circular end
 portions 334 of the two connection links 310, 312 are pivotally connected
 to respective end portions of the two pivotable members 280, 282 that are
 at a same distance from the axis member 270. Each of the respective end
 portions of the two pivotable members 280, 282 and the two arms 326, 328
 to which the circular end portions 334 of the two links 310, 312 are
 connected, has a recess 336 including a circular portion and a tapered
 portion. Thus, the respective circular end portions 334 of the links 310,
 312 are pivotally connected to the respective circular portions of the
 respective recesses 336 of the pivotable members 280, 282 and the arms
 326, 328, on a common plane. In other words, the arms 326, 328, the links
 310, 312, and the pivotable members 280, 282 are pivotally connected to
 one another on the common plane. The first member 42 supports a plurality
 of hold-down members 338 which prevent the connection links 310, 312 from
 coming off the arms 326, 328 and the pivotable members 280, 282,
 respectively.
 When the bell-crank lever 308 is pivoted reciprocatively, forward and
 backward, by the plate cam 306, the two pivotable members 280, 282 are
 pivoted reciprocatively, forward and backward, via the respective
 connection links 310, 312. However, the two connection links 310, 312
 connect the two pivotable members 280, 282 to the two arms 326, 328,
 respectively, such that the two members 280, 282 are pivoted by a same
 angle but in opposite directions, respectively, that is, such that when
 one of the two members 280, 282 is pivoted forward, the other member 282,
 280 is pivoted backward and, when the one member 280, 282 is pivoted
 backward, the other member 282, 280 is pivoted forward. The two connection
 links 310, 312 are connected to the two pivotable members 280, 282 and the
 two arms 326, 328, such that when the two members 280, 282 are positioned
 at respective middle angles of respective angular ranges within which the
 two members 280, 282 are allowed to pivot, the two links 310, 312 extend
 perpendicular to the corresponding members 280, 282 and such that when the
 two arms 326, 328 are positioned at respective middle angles of respective
 angular ranges within which the two arms 326, 328 are allowed to pivot,
 the two links 310, 312 extend perpendicular to the corresponding arms 326,
 328. The two arms 326, 328 have a same length, i.e., a same distance
 between the axis member 324 and each of the respective portions of the two
 arms 326, 328 to which the two links 310, 312 are connected. The two
 pivotable members 280, 282 have a same length, i.e., a same distance
 between the axis member 270 and each of the respective portions of the two
 members 280, 282 to which the two links 310, 312 are connected. Therefore,
 the two arms 326, 328 are always pivoted by a same angle in a same
 direction, whereas the two pivotable members 280, 282 are always pivoted
 by a same angle but in opposite directions, respectively.
 When the bell-crank lever 308 is pivoted in its forward direction by the
 rotation of the plate cam 306, the second pivotable member 282 is pivoted
 forward so that the sprocket 272 is rotated and the EC tape 62 is fed
 forward. This is one EC-tape feeding action of the pivotable member 282.
 During this, the first pivotable member 280 is pivoted backward so that
 the first ratchet pawl 284 is moved back over the teeth 292 of the ratchet
 wheel 276, and thus prepares for the next EC-tape feeding action thereof.
 When the lever 308 is pivoted in its backward direction, the second
 pivotable member 282 is pivoted backward so that the second ratchet pawl
 286 is moved back over the teeth 292 of the ratchet wheel 276, and thus
 prepares for the next EC-tape feeding action thereof, and the first
 pivotable member 280 is pivoted forward so that the sprocket 272 is
 rotated forward, and thus performs one EC-tape feeding action. When one of
 the two pivotable members 280, 282 is pivoted backward and a corresponding
 of the two ratchet pawls 284, 286 is moved over the teeth 292, the ratchet
 wheel 276 is not rotated backward, because the other member 282, 280 is
 pivoted forward to rotate the ratchet wheel 272 forward. The ratchet wheel
 276 cooperates with each of the two ratchet pawls 284, 286 to provide a
 one-way pivotal-motion transmitting device which transmits the forward
 pivotal motion of a corresponding one of the two pivotable members 280,
 282 to the sprocket 272 but does not transmit the backward pivotal motion
 of the corresponding one pivotable member 280, 282 to the same 272. Thus,
 the two one-way pivotal-motion transmitting devices commonly include the
 ratchet wheel 272.
 As described above, the cam surface 314 of the plate cam 306 has a
 generally elliptic shape including two identical portions having an
 identical shape. As indicated at solid line in FIG. 26, the first
 pivotable member 280 performs two EC-tape feeding actions and two
 EC-tape-feed preparing actions, while the plate cam 306 is rotated one
 time, i.e., over 360 degrees. The second pivotable member 282 does so but,
 as indicated at two-dot chain line, has an angular-phase difference of 90
 degrees from the first member 280. Each time the plate cam 306 is rotated
 by 90 degrees, the bell-crank lever 308 changes its pivoting direction,
 and the two pivotable members 280, 282 exchange their pivoting directions
 with each other and alternately perform their EC-tape feeding actions. As
 described above, the cam surface 314 is so formed that the bell-crank
 lever 308 is pivoted according to a modified constant velocity curve. As
 shown in FIG. 26, the acceleration (and deceleration), A, of each of the
 two pivotable members 280, 282 is smoothly changed, that is, the each
 pivotable member 280, 282 is smoothly accelerated from the velocity, V, of
 zero and smoothly decelerated to the velocity V of zero, and additionally
 is smoothly decelerated from the velocity V of zero and smoothly
 accelerated to the velocity V of zero.
 Therefore, the inertia produced when the sprocket 272 and the ratchet wheel
 276 are stopped is small. In addition, the biasing force of each of the
 spring members 294, 296 to bias a corresponding one of the ratchet pawls
 284, 286 in a direction to engage the teeth 292 of the ratchet wheel 272
 is predetermined at a value which can prevent the corresponding one
 ratchet pawl 284, 286 from being pivoted by the sprocket 272 and the wheel
 276 against the biasing force of the each spring member 294, 296. Thus,
 the sprocket 272 and the ratchet wheel 276 are prevented from being
 rotated in excess of an angular position which is given thereto by the
 forward pivotal motion of each of the pivotable members 280, 282.
 Accordingly, each of the ECs 60 held by the EC tape 62 is accurately
 positioned at the EC-supply position of the each EC-supply unit 32.
 A pitch at which the EC tape 62 is fed when each of the two pivotable
 members 280, 282 performs one EC-tape feeding action, will be referred to
 as "the reference pitch". The reference pitch is equal to the smallest one
 of respective different pitches at which ECs are held by different sorts
 of EC tapes. As described previously, in the case where different sorts of
 ECs having different dimensions are held at different pitches by different
 sorts of EC tapes, the different pitches are the reference pitch or the
 product of the reference pitch and an integral number M not less than two.
 Therefore, when the first EC tape 62 holding the ECs 60 at the smallest
 pitch, i.e., the reference pitch is fed over a distance equal to the
 reference pitch, the plate cam 306 needs to be rotated by 90 degrees to
 drive the sprocket 272 one time; and when the second EC tape 75 holding
 the ECs 60 at a pitch equal to twice the reference pitch is fed over a
 distance equal to twice the reference pitch, the cam 306 needs to be
 rotated by 180 degrees to drive the sprocket 272 two times. The first EC
 tape 62 provides a first sort of EC tape, and the second EC tape 75
 provides a second sort of EC tape. Similarly, when an EC tape holding ECs
 at a pitch equal to the product of the reference pitch and the integral
 number M (not less than three) is fed over a distance equal to that
 product, the cam 306 needs to be rotated by (90.times.M) degrees to drive
 the sprocket 272, M times.
 Respective gear ratios of the gears 318, 320, 322 which transmit the
 rotation of the stepper motor 300 to the plate cam 306 are predetermined
 such that when the motor 300 is fully rotated one time, the cam 306 is
 rotated by 90 degrees and the sprocket 272 is driven one time. Therefore,
 when the sprocket 272 needs to be driven one time, the motor 300 is fully
 rotated one time; and when the sprocket 272 needs to be driven M times
 (not less than two), the motor 300 is rotated M times. Thus, the motor 300
 can be easily controlled.
 The first member 42 supports a rotation-stop-position detecting device 350
 which detects that the plate cam 306 is positioned at any one of its four
 rotation stop positions which are equiangularly distant from one another
 by 90 degrees. The detecting device 350 includes a detection plate 352
 fixed to the axis member 316 to which the plate cam 306 is fixed, and a
 rotation-stop-position sensor 354. The detection plate 352 has four dogs
 356 which are equiangularly distant from one another about the axis member
 316. The rotation-stop-position sensor 354 is provided by a
 transmission-type optical sensor which includes a light emitter and a
 light receiver. When the plate cam 306 is positioned at any one of the
 four rotation-stop positions, a corresponding one of the four dogs 356
 interrupts the light emitted by the light emitter and prevents the light
 receiver from receiving the light.
 Irrespective of whether the sprocket 272 needs to be driven one time or M
 times, the rotation-stop-position sensor 354 produces a stop-position
 signal, so long as the stepper motor 300 does not go out of synchronism
 and accordingly accurately stops the plate cam 306 at one of its
 rotation-stop positions. However, if the motor 300 goes out of synchronism
 and accordingly does not stop the cam 306 at any rotation-stop positions,
 the light receiver receives the light emitted by the light emitter and
 accordingly the sensor 354 does not produce the stop-position signal.
 Thus, the unit controller 500 recognizes that the stepper motor 300 is out
 of synchronism, and operates for eliminating the difference between the
 number of drive signals supplied to the motor 300 and the current rotation
 position of the same 300. More specifically described, if the
 stop-position signal is produced when the motor 300 is additionally
 rotated by a predetermined small angle, the motor 300 is further rotated
 so that one of the dogs 356 is aligned with the respective centers of the
 light emitter and receiver as seen in the direction of rotation of the
 detection plate 352. On the other hand, if the stop-position signal is not
 produced, the unit controller 500 immediately informs the operator of the
 occurrence of an abnormality, for example, operates an alarm device 532
 (FIG. 31) to produce an alarm sound in a manner described later.
 Alternatively, the controller 500 may do so after having tried a
 predetermined number of times to rotate additionally the motor 300 and
 thereby obtain the stop-position signal.
 Next, the TCT treating device 92 will be described in detail.
 As shown in FIG. 27, the TCT treating device 92 includes a TCT feeding
 device 366 and a TCT collecting box 368. As shown in FIG. 15, the fifth
 member 50 fixed to the first member 42 has a shape like a plate, is
 thinner than the same 42, and projects upward from the same 42. The first
 member 42 provides a main frame member, the fifth member 50 provides a
 secondary frame member, and the first and fifth members 42, 50 provides
 respective elements of a frame 369 of the TCT feeding device 366.
 As shown in FIG. 27, a roller 382 is attached to a side surface of the
 fifth member 50 such that the roller 382 is rotatable about an axis line
 parallel to the widthwise direction of the top cover tape ("TCT") 66. The
 TCT 66 which is peeled from the carrier tape 64 is folded back about 180
 degrees at an end of the opening 212 of the cover member 210, and is
 engaged with the roller 382 such that the widthwise direction of the TCT
 66 is substantially horizontal and is parallel to the widthwise direction
 of the each EC-supply unit 32. The opening 212 of the cover member 210 and
 the roller 382 cooperate to define a path along which the TCT 66 is fed.
 The roller 382 has a pair of flanges (not shown) which prevent the TCT 66
 from moving out of position in its widthwise direction.
 The fifth member 50 supports a tensile-force or tension adjusting device
 371 which is provided on an upstream side of the roller 382 in the
 direction in which the TCT 66 is fed (hereinafter, referred to as "the
 TCT-feed direction"), that is, is provided such that the adjusting device
 371 is nearer to the opening 212 of the cover member 210 than the roller
 382. The tension adjusting device 371 includes a roller-support lever 370
 as a roller-support member, a roller 372 supported by the lever 370, and a
 spring member 374 as an elastic member as a sort of biasing device. The
 roller-support lever 370 is attached, at one end portion thereof, to the
 fifth member 50 such that the lever 370 is pivotable about an axis line
 parallel to the widthwise direction of the TCT 66.
 The roller 372 is rotatably attached to the other end portion of the
 roller-support lever 370. The lever 370 has a length which can cross the
 path of feeding of the TCT 66, and supports the roller 372 such that the
 roller 372 is movable in a direction in which the roller 372 crosses the
 path. The spring member 374 whose one end is engaged with the fifth member
 50 biases the roller-support lever 370 in a direction in which the roller
 372 engages and bends the TCT 66 and thereby changes the path of feeding
 of the same 66. The roller 372 has a pair of flanges (not shown) which
 prevent the TCT 66 from moving out of position in its widthwise direction.
 The roller-support lever 370 includes a detection member 376 as a
 detectable portion that projects in a direction (i.e., clockwise in FIG.
 27) opposite to the direction in which the spring member 374 biases the
 lever 370. The fifth member 50 supports a roller-position sensor 378 at a
 downstream-side end of locus of movement of the detection member 376 as
 seen in the direction of projection of the same 376. The roller-position
 sensor 378 is provided by a transmission-type optical sensor which
 includes a light emitter and a light receiver and, when the roller-support
 lever 370 is pivoted or moved against the biasing force of the spring
 member 374 so that the detection member 376 interrupts the light emitted
 by the light emitter and prevents the light receiver from receiving the
 light, the sensor 370 detects that the lever 370 or the roller 372 has
 reached a predetermined position. The roller-position sensor 378 and the
 detection member 376 cooperate with each other to provide a
 roller-position detecting device 379.
 The limit of pivotal motion of the roller-support lever 370 due to the
 biasing action of the spring member 374 is defined by a stopper member 380
 supported by the fifth member 50, and the limit of pivotal motion of the
 lever 370 in the direction toward the roller-position sensor 378 is
 defined by a stopper member 381 supported by the fifth member 50. The
 second stopper 381 is provided at a position which assures that the
 stopper 381 stops the lever 370 after the detection member 376 interrupts
 the light emitted by the light emitter of the roller-position sensor 378,
 and before the member 376 interferes with the sensor 378.
 The TCT 66 which is engaged with the roller 372 is additionally engaged
 with the roller 382, and is further pinched by a pair of feed gears 384,
 386 as TCT-feed rotatable members. The tension adjusting device 371 is
 provided on an upstream-side of the feed gears 384, 386 in the direction
 of feeding of the TCT 66. The axis line of rotation of the roller 382 is
 level with respective meshing portions of the feed gears 384, 386. Thus,
 the TCT 66 which leaves the roller 382 easily enters and leaves the feed
 gears 384, 386 in a direction perpendicular to a straight line connecting
 between respective axis lines of rotation of the feed gears 384, 386.
 The two feed gears 384, 386 have a same size and are provided by respective
 moldings each formed of aluminum. As shown in FIG. 28, end portions of
 each tooth 388 of each feed gear 384, 386 are rounded to provide rounded
 portions 390. The first feed gear 384 is rotated by a rotary drive device
 394. As shown in FIG. 28, an axis member 396 is supported by the fifth
 member 50 such that the axis member 396 extends parallel to the widthwise
 direction of the TCT 66, i.e., a direction perpendicular to the direction
 of feeding of the TCT 66, and the feed gear 384 is rotatably attached to
 the axis member 396. A worm wheel 398 is provided as an integral portion
 of the first feed gear 384. The worm wheel 398 is meshed with a worm 402
 which is supported by a support block 400 fixed to the fifth member 50,
 such that the worm 402 is rotatable about an axis line perpendicular to
 the widthwise direction of the TCT 66. When the worm 402 is rotated by a
 DC (direct current) motor 408 as a sort of electric motor as a drive
 source, via gears 404, 406 (FIG. 27), the feed gear 384 is rotated.
 The DC motor 408 is attached to a bracket 410 fixed to the fifth member 50,
 such that an axis line of rotation of a rotor of the motor 408 is parallel
 to the axis line of rotation of the worm 402, that is, is perpendicular to
 the widthwise direction of the TCT 66. The worm 402 and the worm wheel 398
 cooperate with each other to transmit or transform the rotation of the
 rotor of the DC motor 408 about the axis line perpendicular to the
 widthwise direction of the TCT 66, into the rotation of the feed gear 384
 about the axis line parallel to the widthwise direction of the TCT 66.
 Therefore, the each EC-supply unit 32 can have a smaller widthwise
 dimension as compared with the case where the DC motor 408 would be
 provided such that the axis line of rotation of its rotor is parallel to
 the widthwise direction of the TCT 66. The worm wheel 398, the worm 402,
 and the gears 404, 406 cooperate with one another to provide a rotation
 transmitting device 312, which cooperates with the DC motor 408 to provide
 the rotary drive device 394.
 The second feed gear 386 is rotatably supported by a gear-support lever 420
 as a rotatable-member-support lever as a sort of rotatable-member-support
 member that is pivotally attached to the fifth gear 50 at a level higher
 than the first feed gear 384. A spring member 422 as an elastic member as
 a sort of biasing device that is provided between the lever 420 and the
 fifth member 50 biases the lever 420 in a direction toward the first feed
 gear 384. Thus, the second feed gear 386 can be moved toward, and away
 from, the first feed gear 384. The straight line connecting between the
 respective axis lines of rotation of the two feed gears 384, 386 is
 vertical, and the two feed gears 384, 386 are meshed with each other on
 the vertical straight line.
 The gear-support lever 420 includes an operable portion 424 which extends
 in a direction parallel to the widthwise direction of the TCT 66. The
 operator pivots, with his or her fingers, the operable portion 424 of the
 lever 420 against the biasing force of the spring member 422, and thereby
 moves the second feed gear 386 away from the first feed gear 384. In this
 state, the operator can insert an end portion of the TCT 66 in between the
 two feed gears 384, 386. When the operator releases his or her fingers
 from the operable portion 424, the second feed gear 386 is biased and
 moved toward the first feed gear 384, so that the end portion of the TCT
 66 is pinched between the respective teeth 388 of the two feed gears 384,
 386.
 As shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, the two feed gears 384, 386 have, at
 respective axially middle portions thereof, respective annular scraper
 grooves 430, 432 which are formed in respective outer circumferential
 surfaces thereof. Two scrapers 434, 436 are partly fitted in the two
 scraper grooves 430, 432, respectively. The scrapers 434, 436 are provided
 by respective metallic thin plates.
 The first scraper 434 provided for the first feed gear 384 includes a
 lengthwise middle narrowed portion whose width assures that the middle
 narrowed portion can be fitted in the first scraper groove 430; two
 lengthwise intermediate widened portions which are located on both sides
 of the middle narrowed portion and whose width is equal to that of the
 first feed gear 384; and lengthwise opposite end portions whose width is
 greater than that of the gear 384, as shown in FIG. 29, and is somewhat
 smaller than the distance between the fifth member 50 and a cover member
 438 which is fixed to the support block 400 to cover the feed gears 384,
 386. The cover member 438 is provided adjacent to the feed gears 384, 386
 in a direction parallel to the respective axis lines of rotation of the
 gears 384, 386, such that the cover member 438 covers a side surface of
 the fifth member 50 from an upstream portion of the side surface with
 respect to the respective meshing portions of the gears 384, 386 as seen
 in the direction of feeding of the TCT 66, via a portion of the surface
 corresponding to those meshing portions, to a downstream portion of the
 surface adjacent to the TCT collecting box 368. The cover member 438
 cooperates with the first and fifth members 42, 50 to provide the frame
 369 of the TCT feeding device 366.
 The narrowed middle portion of the first scraper 434 is fitted in the first
 scraper groove 430, the two widened portions of the same 434 on both sides
 of the middle portion that are not fitted in the groove 430 are bent along
 the first feed gear 384, and the two end portions of the same 434 are
 fixed to the support block 400. That is, a portion of the first scraper
 434 is fitted in the first scraper groove 430, such that that portion of
 the scraper 434 is present in the respective meshing portions of the two
 feed gears 384, 386. Thus, the first scraper 434 is continuously present
 from a position upstream of the first feed gear 384 to a position
 downstream of the same 384 as seen in the direction of feeding of the TCT
 66. Since the first scraper groove 430 is deeper than respective tooth
 grooves of the teeth 388 of the first feed gear 384, the portion of the
 first scraper 434 that is present in the meshing portions of the feed
 gears 384, 386 does not interfere with the feeding of the TCT 66. In
 addition, the first scraper 434 starts guiding the TCT 66 just when the
 TCT 66 leaves the meshing portions of the feed gears 384, 386. All the
 above explanations are true with the second scraper groove 432, the second
 scraper 436, and the second feed gear 386.
 As shown in FIG. 29, the first scraper 434 has an opening 440 which is for
 preventing the scraper 434 from interfering with the worm 402. The first
 scraper 434, except for its middle portion fitted in the first scraper
 groove 430, is provided in close contact with the cover member 438, which
 contributes to preventing the TCT 66 from entering a space possibly left
 between the cover member 438 and the first feed gear 384.
 Like the first scraper 434, the second scraper 436 provided for the second
 feed gear 386 includes a lengthwise middle narrowed portion whose width
 assures that the middle narrowed portion can be fitted in the second
 scraper groove 432; and two widened portions which are located on both
 sides of the middle narrowed portion and whose width is equal to that of
 the second feed gear 386. The narrowed middle portion of the second
 scraper 436 is fitted in the second scraper groove 432 of the second feed
 gear 386, the two widened portions of the same 436 on both sides of the
 middle portion that are not fitted in the groove 432 are bent along the
 second feed gear 386, and opposite end portions of the same 436 are fixed
 to the gear-support lever 420. That is, a portion of the second scraper
 436 is fitted in the second scraper groove 432, such that that portion of
 the scraper 436 is present in the respective meshing portions of the two
 feed gears 384, 386. Thus, the second scraper 436 is continuously present
 from a position upstream of the second feed gear 386 to a position
 downstream of the same 386 in the direction of feeding of the TCT 66. The
 second scraper 436, except for its middle portion fitted in the second
 scraper groove 432, is provided in close contact with the cover member
 438, which contributes to preventing the TCT 66 from entering a space
 possibly left between the cover member 438 and the second feed gear 386. A
 material having a low friction coefficient, such as
 polytetrafluoroethylene, is applied to respective surfaces of the scrapers
 434, 436 that are exposed to the path of feeding of the TCT 66, to lower
 respective friction coefficients of those surfaces of the same 434, 436.
 Thus, the two scrapers 434, 436 are provided for the two feed gears 384,
 386, respectively, such that the scrapers 434, 436 are continuously
 present from the upstream side of the gears 384, 386 to the downstream
 side of the same 384, 386, that is, the respective one widened portions of
 the scrapers 434, 436 are present on the side of an inlet of the meshed
 gears 384, 386, that is, on an upstream side of the same 384, 386 in the
 direction of feeding of the TCT 66, and the respective other widened
 portions of the scrapers 434, 436 are present on the side of an outlet of
 the gears 384, 386, that is, on a downstream side of the same 384, 386 in
 the same direction. An angle contained by the respective widened portions
 of the two scrapers 434, 436 at each of the inlet and the outlet of the
 meshed gears 384, 386 is greater than 45 degrees, most preferably, greater
 than 120 degrees.
 The TCT 66 fed by the feed gears 384, 386 is collected by the TCT
 collecting box 368. The collecting box 368 is provided on a downstream
 side of the feed gears 384, 386 in the direction of feeding of the TCT 66,
 and is detachably attached to the fifth member 50. As shown in FIG. 30, an
 upper end portion of a rear portion of the fifth member 50 is first bent
 toward a widthwise middle portion of the each EC-supply unit 32 and then
 bent vertically upward to provide a positioning portion 452 which extends
 in the lengthwise direction of the unit 32.
 As shown in FIGS. 27 and 30, the TCT collecting box 368 includes two beam
 members 454, 456 each of which has a shape like a thick block, and two
 thin side plates 458, 460 which are fixed to respective side surfaces of
 the beam members 454, 456, and has a front and a rear opening as seen in a
 direction parallel to the direction of feeding of the TCT 66. The beam
 members 454, 456 and the side plates 458, 460 are formed of a metallic
 material, such as aluminum, which contributes to preventing the TCT 66
 from adhering to the collecting box 368.
 As shown in FIG. 30, the rear opening of the TCT collecting box 368 that is
 more distant from the feed gears 384, 386 than the front opening thereof
 is closed by a lid 464 which is formed of a magnetic material and which is
 pivotally attached to the first beam member 454 via an axis member 462.
 The lid 464 is kept closed because the lid 464 is attracted by a magnet
 466 fixed to the second beam member 456. Since the lid 464 has a window
 468, the operator can look into an inside space of the box 368 through the
 window 468. Since the window 468 is covered by a transparent resin sheet
 470, the TCT 66 does not "leak" from the box 368.
 The front opening of the TCT collecting box 368 that is near to the feed
 gears 384, 386 is kept open, and provides an inlet 472 through which the
 TCT 66 flows into the box 368. As shown in FIG. 27, the first beam member
 454 includes a TCT-guide projection 474 which projects obliquely upward
 and frontward, toward the first scraper 434, and which guides the flowing
 of the TCT 66 into the box 368. Polytetrafluoroethylene is applied to
 respective inner surfaces of the beam members 454, 456, the side plates
 458, 460, the lid 464, and the guide projection 474 that are exposed to
 the inside space of the box 368, to lower respective friction coefficients
 of those inner surfaces and thereby prevent the TCT 66 from adhering
 thereto.
 As shown in FIG. 30, the first beam member 454 has a positioning groove 476
 formed in a widthwise middle portion thereof. The operator fits the
 positioning groove 476 on the positioning portion 452 of the fifth member
 50, thereby positioning the TCT collecting box 368 in the widthwise
 direction thereof, and then moves the box 368 forward on the positioning
 portion 452. Thus, the box 368 is attached to the fifth member 50.
 Similarly, the second beam member 456 has a positioning groove 478 formed
 in a widthwise middle portion thereof, and the operator fits the
 positioning groove 478 on another positioning portion 480 of the fifth
 member 50, thereby positioning the box 368 in the widthwise direction
 thereof.
 Two ball plungers 482 are provided on both side surfaces of the positioning
 portion 480 of the fifth member 50 (only one plunger 482 is shown in FIG.
 27; the fifth member 50 is indicated at two-dot chain line but the one
 ball plunger 482 is indicated at solid line and broken line for easier
 understanding purposes only). Each of the two ball plungers 482 includes a
 casing 484 having a threaded outer circumferential surface; a ball 486 as
 an engaging member that is accommodated in the casing 484; and a spring
 member 486 as an elastic member as a sort of biasing device that biases
 the ball 486 in a direction in which the ball 486 projects out of the
 casing 484. The TCT collecting box 368 is moved to a position where the
 respective balls 484 of the two ball plungers 482 project and engage
 respective conical holes 490 as engaging holes which are formed in the
 second beam member 456, so that the box 368 is positioned in the
 lengthwise direction thereof. Since the box 368 is thus engaged with the
 fifth member 50, the box 368 is prevented from moving out of position due
 to, e.g., vibration exerted thereto. In this state, the TCT-guide
 projection 474 projects toward the first scraper 434 provided for the
 first feed gear 384, to a position adjacent to the scraper 434, and guides
 the TCT 66 from the scraper 434 to the box 368. The operator can remove
 the box 368 from the fifth member 50, by drawing the box 368 in a
 direction away from the fifth member 50, thereby causing the balls 486 to
 be pushed back into the casings 484 against the biasing forces of the
 spring members 488, and moving the box 368 rearward. As shown in FIG. 27,
 the gear-support lever 420 includes a closing portion 492 which extends
 parallel to the widthwise direction of the TCT 66 and which prevents the
 TCT 66 from "leaking" out of the inlet 472 of the box 368.
 As shown in FIG. 27, a fixed handle member 550 is detachably attached to an
 upper end portion of the fifth member 50, such that the fixed handle
 member 550 is positioned in the widthwise direction of the each EC-supply
 unit 32. A movable handle member 552 is supported by the fixed handle
 member 550 such that the movable handle member 552 is movable in a
 direction parallel to the lengthwise direction of the each unit 32. A rear
 end portion of the movable handle member 552 projects rearward from the
 fifth member 50. The operator can draw or move the movable handle member
 552 rearward by grasping the projecting end portion of the member 552. The
 operator attaches and detaches the each unit 32 to and from the table 30,
 while grasping the movable handle member 552 drawn out of the fifth member
 50, and carries the each unit 32 while grasping the fixed handle member
 550 with the movable handle member 552 being drawn out.
 As shown in FIG. 30, the movable handle member 552 has, in an outer
 circumferential surface thereof, two flat surfaces 553 as rotation
 preventing surfaces that extend in a direction parallel to the lengthwise
 direction of the member 552 and that prevent the member 552 from rotating
 relative to the fixed handle member 550. In addition, the movable handle
 member 552 has, in the outer circumferential surface thereof, two
 chamfered portions that extend in the lengthwise direction of the fixed
 handle member 550 and that have respective surfaces 554 to one of which a
 bar-code seal 556 is adhered. A bar code representing identification
 information identifying the each EC-supply unit 32 from the other
 EC-supply units 32 is printed on the bar-code seal 556.
 As shown in FIG. 1, the carrier tape 64 from which the ECs 60 have been
 supplied is guided by a guide member 494 provided on the car 34, to a tape
 cutter 496, so that the carrier tape 64 is cut into small pieces by the
 tape cutter 496 and the small pieces are collected by a collecting box
 498.
 As shown in FIG. 31, each of the EC-supply units 32 includes a unit
 controller 500 including three computers (not shown) which are exclusively
 used to monitor the connection of two EC tapes 62 on the each unit 32,
 control the stepper motor 300, and control the DC motor 408, respectively.
 In addition, the connection detecting circuit 168 of the metal detecting
 device 150, the rotation-stop-position sensor 354, the roller-position
 sensor 378, and an operation panel 502 are connected to the unit
 controller 500. FIG. 32 shows a flow chart representing a connection
 monitoring routine which is stored in a read only memory ("ROM") of the
 first exclusive computer which monitors the connection of two EC tapes 62,
 and a random access memory ("RAM") of the first computer includes, in
 addition to a working memory, a reference-identification-information
 memory 504, an input-identification-information memory 506, an
 identification-information-input-time memory 508, a
 connection-portion-detect-time memory 510, and a remaining-amount counter
 512. A processing unit ("PU") of the first computer includes a timer.
 As shown in FIG. 31, the unit controller 500 of each EC-supply unit 32 is
 connected to a car-side controller 520 which is provided on each car 34,
 and exchanges information with the car-side controller 520. Each of the
 two car-side controllers 520 is connected to a mounting-system controller
 530 which is employed by the EC mounting system 16, and exchanges
 information with the mounting-system controller 530. The mounting-system
 controller 530 controls the alarm device 532 and a display device 534
 which are employed by the EC mounting system 16, such that the alarm
 device 532 generates an alarm sound and the display device 534 displays
 information describing an error which has occurred. A bar-code reader 538
 is connected to the each car-side controller 520. The mounting-system
 controller 530 is connected to a host computer 540, and exchanges
 information with the host computer 540.
 In the CB assembling system 10 constructed as described above, the EC
 sucker 22 is moved to take an EC 60 from one of the EC-supply units 32 and
 mount the EC 60 on a PWB 20. After the EC sucker 22 takes the EC 60 and
 before the sucker 22 mounts the EC 60 on the PWB 20, the image taking
 device 38 takes an image of the EC 60 held by the EC sucker 22, and the
 mounting-system controller 530 calculates, based on image data
 representing the taken image, X-direction and Y-direction position errors
 of the EC 60 held by the EC sucker 22 and a rotation position error of the
 EC 60 about an axis line of the EC 60. In addition, before the EC 60 is
 mounted on the PWB 20, another image taking device (not shown) takes
 respective images of two reference marks which are affixed to two portions
 of the PWB 20, respectively, that are diagonally distant from each other,
 and the controller 530 calculates, based on image data representing the
 taken images, X-direction and Y-direction position errors of each of a
 plurality of EC-mount places on the PWB 20 where ECs 60 are to be mounted.
 After the X-direction and Y-direction position errors of the EC 60, the
 X-direction and Y-direction position errors of the EC-mount place where
 the EC 60 is to be mounted, and the rotation position error of the EC 60
 are corrected, the EC 60 is mounted at the EC-mount place on the PWB 20.
 Each of the EC-supply units 32 is waiting for supplying the following EC
 60, in the state in which the preceding EC 60 has been taken from the
 embossed portion 70 of the carrier tape 64, that is, in the state in which
 the empty embossed portion 70 is positioned at the EC-supply position. The
 mounting-system controller 530 selects one of the EC-supply units 32 that
 is next to supply an EC 60 to the EC sucker 22, and sends, to the unit
 controller 500 of the selected unit 32, a command that commands the
 exclusive computer of the unit controller 500 to operate the stepper motor
 300 and thereby feed the EC tape 62.
 The stepper motor 300 is rotated by an amount needed for the following EC
 60 to be moved to the EC-supply position, depending upon the pitch at
 which the ECs 60 are held by the EC tape 62. Since the pitch at which the
 ECs 60 are held by the first EC tape 62 is the smallest pitch equal to the
 reference pitch, the stepper motor 300 is controlled to rotate the plate
 cam 306 by 90 degrees. Consequently one of the two pivotable members 280,
 282 performs one EC-tape feeding action (i.e., one forward motion) to feed
 the EC tape 62 by a distance equal to the reference pitch. That is, one
 EC-tape feeding action of the pivotable member 280 or 282 causes the
 sprocket 272 to be driven one time, so that the following EC 60 is moved
 to the EC-supply position. Each time the sprocket 272 is driven one time,
 one EC 60 is supplied to the EC sucker 22. Hereinafter, this EC supplying
 step will be referred to as the single-feeding-action EC supplying step.
 In the case where one EC-supply unit 32 feeds the second EC tape 75 and
 supplies the ECs 60 from the same 75, the pitch at which the ECs 60 are
 held by the tape 75 is twice the reference pitch, and the stepper motor
 300 is controlled to rotate the plate cam 306 by 180 (i.e., 90.times.2)
 degrees. Thus, the two pivotable members 280, 282 alternately perform
 respective EC-tape feeding actions (i.e., respective forward motions),
 each one time, so that the sprocket 272 is driven two times and the
 following EC 60 is moved to the EC-supply position. Since one EC 60 is
 supplied to the EC sucker 22 each time the sprocket 272 is driven M (e.g.,
 two) times, this EC supplying step will be referred to as the
 M-time-feeding-action EC supplying step. The exclusive computer of the
 unit controller 500 that controls the stepper motor 300 provides a
 tape-feed control device which controls the number of rotations of the
 stepper motor 300, depending upon a pitch at which ECs are held by an EC
 tape, so that the EC tape is fed by a distance equal to the pitch.
 In the case where one EC is supplied to the EC sucker 22 each time the
 sprocket 272 is driven one time, the EC sucker 22 is lowered in
 synchronism with the feeding of an EC tape in response to the single
 driving of the sprocket 272. Meanwhile, in the case where one EC is
 supplied to the EC sucker 22 each time the sprocket 272 is driven M times,
 the EC sucker 22 is moved downward in synchronism with the feeding of an
 EC tape in response to the last or M-th driving of the sprocket 272. The
 mounting-system controller 530 functions as a synchronism control device
 which controls the EC sucker 22 such that the EC sucker 22 is move
 downward concurrently with at least a portion of the single or M-th
 feeding of an EC tape, or immediately after the single or M-th feeding of
 the EC tape has ended. In the case where the EC sucker 22 is move downward
 concurrently with at least a portion of the single or M-th feeding of an
 EC tape, the single or M-th feeding of the EC tape ends before the EC
 sucker 22 takes an EC from the EC tape, that is, the leading EC of the EC
 tape is moved to the EC-supply position before the EC sucker 22 sucks and
 holds the leading EC. Since the mounting-system controller 530 can obtain,
 from the unit controller 500 of each EC-supply unit 32, information
 relating to the feeding of the EC tape, i.e., information relating to the
 driving of the sprocket 272, the mounting-system controller 530 can
 control, based on the obtained information, the downward movement of the
 EC sucker 22.
 As described above, the cam surface 314 of the plate cam 306 is so formed
 that each of the two pivotable members 280, 282 is pivoted according to
 the modified constant velocity curve shown in FIG. 26. More specifically
 described, the bell-crank lever 308 is smoothly accelerated from the speed
 of zero, subsequently pivoted at a constant velocity, and then smoothly
 decelerated to the speed of zero, so that each of the two pivotable
 members 280, 282 is smoothly accelerated from the speed of zero,
 subsequently pivoted at a constant velocity, and then smoothly decelerated
 to the speed of zero. Therefore, the feeding of the EC tape 62 can be
 started and stopped with reduced vibration, and accordingly each EC 60 can
 be prevented from jumping out of the embossed portion 70 or changing its
 posture in the embossed portion 70.
 In addition, since the two pivotable members 280, 282 alternately perform
 respective EC-tape feeding actions and substantially continuously drive
 the sprocket 272, the EC tape 62 is fed forward without cease. Therefore,
 even in the case where the pitch at which ECs are held by an EC tape is M
 times longer than the reference pitch, the EC tape can be fed quickly.
 The second exclusive computer of the unit controller 500 controls the
 stepper motor 300 and thereby controls the feeding of the EC tape 62. This
 exclusive computer, a drive circuit (not shown) for driving the stepper
 motor 300, and the rotation-stop-position detector 350 cooperate with one
 another to provide a drive-source control device.
 As described above, if the stepper motor 300 goes out of synchronism, the
 second computer of the unit controller 500 performs countermeasures
 including additionally rotating the stepper motor 300 by a small angle, so
 as to obtain the stop-position signal produced by the
 rotation-stop-position sensor 354. On the other hand, if the unit
 controller 500 cannot eliminate the error that has occurred, because of
 the out-of-synchronism state, between the number of drive signals supplied
 to the motor 300 and the current rotation position of the same 300, the
 mounting-system controller 530 controls, based on the commands supplied
 from the unit controller 500 via the car-side controller 520, the alarm
 device 532 to produce an alarm sound indicating that an abnormality has
 occurred, and controls the display device 534 to display a screen image
 describing what the abnormality is.
 When the EC tape 62 is fed forward, the stepper motor 300 is operated and
 simultaneously the DC motor 408 of the TCT feeding device 366 is operated.
 Thus, the TCT 66 is fed forward while being peeled from the carrier tape
 64, so that the TCT 66 is collected into the TCT collecting box 368. This
 means that the TCT feeding device 366 also functions as a TCT peeling
 device.
 When the DC motor 408 is operated, the two feed gears 384, 386 are rotated
 to feed the TCT 66. Since the amount of peeling of the TCT 66 from the
 carrier tape 64 is limited by the end of the opening 212 of the cover
 member 210, the TCT 66 is peeled from the carrier tape 64 by an amount
 equal to the amount of feeding of the carrier tape 64 or the EC tape 62.
 Since it is required that the TCT 66 be accurately peeled by the amount
 equal to the amount of feeding of the carrier tape 64, the feed gears 384,
 386 are rotated to feed the TCT 66, by an amount more than the amount of
 feeding of the carrier tape 64.
 The above-indicated excessive rotation of the feed gears 384, 386 is
 allowed because then the tensile force of the TCT 66 is increased and
 accordingly the roller-support lever 370 is pivoted against the biasing
 force of the spring member 374. The DC motor 408 is stopped before the
 stepper motor 300 is stopped, and accordingly the feed gears 384, 386 are
 stopped before the feeding of the carrier tape 64 is stopped. As the
 carrier tape 64 is fed after the stopping of the feed gears 384, 386, the
 roller-support lever 370 is pivoted by the biasing action of the spring
 member 374, so that the TCT 66 is peeled from the carrier tape 64. While
 the carrier tape 64 is fed, the tensile force of the TCT 66 is adjusted by
 the lever 370, so that the TCT 66 is fed while being peeled, without being
 loosened.
 More specifically described, the amount of feeding of the TCT 66 is
 somewhat more than that of the carrier tape 64, and accordingly the
 roller-support lever 370 is positioned, because of the increased tensile
 force of the TCT 66, at a position nearer to the roller-position sensor
 378 than the stopper member 380. Though the lever 370 is pivoted against
 the biasing force of the spring member 374, the lever 370 is not contacted
 with the stopper member 380 and the TCT 66 is not loosened. However, as
 the feeding of the EC tape 62 is repeated and the peeling and feeding of
 the TCT 66 is repeated, eventually the detection member 376 of the lever
 370 is detected by the roller-position sensor 378, so that the DC motor
 408 is stopped. Thus, the tensile force of the TCT 66 is prevented from
 exceeding a predetermined value, and the TCT 66 is prevented from being
 broken. As the EC tape 62 is fed after the DC motor 408 is stopped, the
 lever 370 is pivoted by the spring member 374, so that the TCT 66 is
 peeled from the carrier tape 64 while being stretched out. If the time
 period in which the TCT 66 is fed by the operation of the DC motor 408 has
 not ended yet when the lever 370 is pivoted by the biasing action of the
 spring member 374 and accordingly the roller-position sensor 378 no longer
 detects the detection member 376, the DC motor 408 is started again to
 rotate the feed gears 384, 386 and thereby feed the TCT 66.
 The roller-position sensor 378 can detect an abnormality which occurs to
 the TCT feeding device 366. For example, if the DC motor 408 continues to
 operate, for some reason, even after the feeding of the EC tape 62 ends,
 the tensile force of the TCT 66 is increased and the roller-support lever
 370 is pivoted against the biasing force of the spring member 374, so that
 the detection member 376 is detected by the roller-position sensor 378.
 Thus, the unit controller 500 can recognize that an abnormality has
 occurred to the DC motor 408 or a control circuit to control the motor
 408, and can stop the operation of the motor 408. Thus, the TCT 66 is
 prevented from being broken. In addition, the unit controller 500 commands
 the mounting-system controller 530 to control the alarm device 532 and the
 display device 534 to inform the operator of the occurrence of
 abnormality. The third exclusive computer of the unit controller 500
 controls the DC motor 408 based on the detection signals supplied from the
 roller-position sensor 378. Thus, the exclusive computer of the unit
 controller 500 that controls the DC motor 408 of the TCT feeding device
 366 provides a TCT-feed stopping device.
 The TCT 66 which has been peeled from the carrier tape 64 and fed by the
 feed gears 384, 386 flows into the TCT collecting box 368 through the
 inlet 472 thereof. Since the two feed gears 384, 386 are rotated while the
 respective teeth 388 thereof mesh each other and pinch the TCT 66, the TCT
 66 is surely fed forward. In addition, the second scraper 436 provided for
 the second feed gear 386 can surely peel the TCT 66 from the teeth 38 of
 the gear 386, even if the TCT 66 may be adhered to the teeth 38 because of
 a tacky material possibly left on one major surface of the TCT 66 that has
 been adhered to the carrier tape 64. Thus, the TCT 66 is prevented from
 remaining adhered to the teeth 388 of the second feed gear 386 and
 interfering with the feeding of the following portion of the TCT 66. The
 other major surface of the TCT 66 on which no tacky material is provided
 is contacted with the first feed gear 384. The first scraper 434 which is
 provided for the first feed gear 384 peels, even if the TCT 66 may hang
 down onto the gear 384 because of its own weight, the TCT 66 from the
 teeth 388 of the gear 384 and thereby prevents the TCT 66 from jamming on
 the gear 384.
 In addition, the respective bent, widened portions of the two scrapers 434,
 436 that are provided on the side of the outlet of the two feed gears 384,
 386 open about 120 degrees. Accordingly, the TCT 66 is not adhered to the
 scrapers 434, 436 and is smoothly fed to the TCT collecting box 368. Since
 polytetrafluoroethylene is applied to the respective surfaces of the
 scrapers 434, 436 that face the path of feeding of the TCT 66, and the
 inner surfaces of the box 368, to lower their respective friction
 coefficients, the TCT 66 is not adhered to those elements 434, 436, 368.
 The operator can look into the inner space of the TCT collecting box 368
 through the window 468 and judge whether the box 368 is full of the
 collected TCT 66. If a positive judgment is made, the operator opens the
 lid 464 and removes the TCT 66 from the box 368. Alternatively, the
 operator can remove the full box 368 from the fifth member 50, and replace
 the full box 368 with a new, empty box 368. At this time, the operator
 cuts the TCT 66 at a portion thereof near the feed gears 384, 386, and
 inserts the cut end of the TCT 66 into the new box 368. Alternatively, a
 container may be placed in the inside space of the box 238. In the last
 case, the operator replaces the container full of the collected TCT 66,
 with a new, empty container.
 When the supplying of the ECs 60 advances and eventually the remaining
 amount of the current EC tape 62 wound on one supply reel 76 decreases to
 a small amount, the alarm device 532 and the display device 534 inform the
 operator of this situation and command him or her to connect another EC
 tape 62 to the current EC tape 62 now supplying the ECs 60. More
 specifically described, first, the operator removes the current EC tape 62
 from the current supply reel 76, removes the current supply reel 76 from
 the bucket 78, sets another supply reel 76 in the bucket 78, and connects
 another EC tape 62 wound on the new supply reel 76, to the current EC tape
 62 supplying the ECs 60. The connection of the two EC tapes 62 are carried
 out using the above-described metallic connection member 100 and the
 connection tape 102. In the present embodiment, another EC tape 62 which
 is to be connected to the terminal end portion 96 of the current EC tape
 62 being fed by the EC-tape feeding device 90 to supply the ECs 60, is a
 new one which has not supplied any ECs 60. The respective operations of
 the alarm device 532 and the display device 534 will be described in
 detail later.
 The first exclusive computer of the unit controller 500 monitors the
 connection of two EC tapes, according to the connection monitoring routine
 shown in FIG. 32. First, at Step S1, the computer judges whether
 identification information identifying an EC tape has been input. When the
 operator connects two EC tapes, he or her operates, before or after the
 connection, the bar-code reader 538 to read in the bar code 88 of the
 supply reel on which the following EC tape to be connected to the current
 or preceding EC tape 62 is wound, and the bar code printed on the bar-code
 seal 556 adhered to the EC-supply unit 32 feeding the preceding EC tape
 62. The bar code of the EC-supply unit 32 is read in, in the state in
 which the movable handle member 552 is drawn out of the fixed handle
 member 550. Since the bar-code reader 538 is connected to the car-side
 controller 520, the car-side controller 520 sends, based on the
 identification information represented by the read-in bar code of the
 EC-supply unit 32, the identification information represented by the
 read-in bar code 88 of the following EC tape, to the unit controller 500
 of that EC-supply unit 32. Thus, a positive judgment is made at Step S1.
 On the other hand, if a negative judgment is made at Step S1, the control
 of the computer goes to Step S3 to judge whether a connection portion 103
 has been detected. If a negative judgment is made at Step S3, the current
 control cycle according to this routine ends.
 If a positive judgment is made at Step S1, the control goes to Step S2 to
 store the input identification information identifying the following EC
 tape, in the input-identification-information memory 506. In addition, the
 computer reads in a time which is measured by the timer when a positive
 judgment is made at Step S1, and stores the read-in time in the
 identification-information-input-time memory 508. Step S2 is followed by
 Step S3. Since a connection-detect position where the detecting head 152
 is provided is distant from a tape-connect position where the two EC tapes
 are connected to each other, a certain time is needed for the connection
 portion 103 to be fed from the tape-connect position to the
 connection-detect position. Therefore, at an early stage, a negative
 judgment is made at Step S3.
 Whether the operator may have read in, or may have failed to read in, using
 the bar-code reader 538, the bar code 88 of the following EC tape, before
 or after connecting the two EC tapes to each other, a positive judgment is
 made at Step S3, when the connection portion 103 reaches the detecting
 head 152 and the connection member 100 electrically connects the two
 electrodes 166, that is, when the detecting head 152 detects the
 connection portion 103. Then, the control of the computer goes to Step S4
 to judge whether any identification information is present in the
 input-identification-information memory 506. In the case where the
 operator has failed to read in the bar code 88 of the following EC tape
 when connecting the following EC to the preceding EC tape 62, no
 information is present in the memory 506 and a negative judgment is made
 at Step S4. Thus, the control goes to Step S5.
 At Step S5, the computer sends, to the mounting-system controller 530 via
 the car-side controller 520, commands to operate the alarm device 532 and
 the display device 534 to inform and indicate that the operator has failed
 to read in the bar code 88 of the following EC tape, and stop the
 operation of the EC mounting system 16. More specifically described, the
 mounting-system controller 530 controls the alarm device 532 to generate
 an alarm sound, and controls the display device 534 to display a message
 that the operator has failed to read in the bar code, and indicate a
 particular EC-supply unit 32 which is feeding the following EC tape whose
 bar code 88 has not been read in. The mounting-system controller 530 can
 identify the particular EC-supply unit 32, based on the particular unit
 controller 500 which has sent the commands to operate the alarm device 532
 and the display device 534. In addition, the controller 530 stops the
 operation of the EC mounting system 16.
 The current control cycle ends with Step S5, and the computer starts with
 Step S1 in the next control cycle. If the operator reads in the bar code
 88 of the following EC tape and, inputs the identification information
 represented by the read-in bar code 88, a positive judgment is made at
 Step S1, and Steps S2 and S3 are performed. If the EC mounting system 16
 is started again after the reading of the bar code 88, a connection-detect
 signal is virtually produced, and a positive judgment is made Step S3.
 Thus, Step S4 is performed. Since the identification information is
 present in the memory 506, a positive judgment is made at Step S4, and the
 control goes to Step S6. It is usual that the system 16 is resumed after
 the reading of the bar code 88. Steps S1 and S3 are repeated till
 identification information is input and the system 16 is resumed.
 Thus, in the present embodiment, it is judged whether identification
 information has been input when two EC tapes are connected to each other
 and, before the identification information is input, no ECs are mounted on
 a PWB 20. Thus, each EC-supply unit 32 is prevented from supplying ECs
 from an incorrect sort of EC tape, and the EC mounting system 16 is
 prevented from mounting an incorrect sort of ECs on a PWB 20.
 If a positive judgment is made at Step S4, the control goes to Step S6 to
 read in a time which is measured by the timer when a positive judgment is
 made at Step S4, and store the read-in time in the
 connection-portion-detect-time memory 510. Step S6 is followed by Step S7
 to subtract the time stored in the memory 508, from the time stored in the
 memory 510, and judge whether the thus obtained time difference is smaller
 than a reference time difference. Since Step S7 is carried out only when a
 positive judgment is made at Step S4 and Step S2 must have been carried
 out before Step S4, the computer can compare the time difference between
 the two times, with the reference time difference.
 The above-indicated time-difference comparison is performed to exclude the
 identification information which has not been input in relation with the
 connection of two EC tapes 62, and avoid a wrong judgment that the
 identification information has been input in relation with the connection
 of two EC tapes. Since the connection-detect position and the tape-connect
 position are distant from each other, it needs a certain time for the
 connection portion 103 to be moved from the tape-connect position to the
 connection-detect position. This time can be estimated based on the
 distance between the tape-connect position and the connection-detect
 position (i.e., a length of the preceding EC tape 62 between the detecting
 head 152 and the connection member 100 when the two EC tapes are connected
 to each other); the pitch at which the ECs 60 are held by each EC tape 62;
 and the rate at which the each EC-supply unit 32 supplies the ECs 60 from
 the each EC tape 62, that is, whether or not the each unit 32 continuously
 supplies the ECs 60. Therefore, the reference time difference is
 predetermined to be somewhat longer than the thus estimated time. Thus, if
 the connection portion 103 is detected within the reference time
 difference after the following EC tape is connected to the preceding EC
 tape 62 and identification information is input, it can be judged that the
 input identification information is the identification information which
 has been input in relation with the connection of two EC tapes. In
 addition, the reference time difference is predetermined to be long enough
 to be able to judge that the input identification information is the
 identification information which has been input in relation with the
 connection of two EC tapes, even in the case where the operator reads in
 the bar code 88 of the following tape before connecting the two EC tapes
 to each other.
 On the other hand, if no connection portion 103 is detected within the
 reference time difference, a problem may have occurred. For example, in
 the present CB assembling system 10, after the EC mounting system 16
 starts mounting the ECs 60 on the PWBs 20, the bar code 88 of one supply
 reel may be read in for some reason although, in fact, no EC tapes are
 connected. Even in this case, a positive judgment is made at Step S1 and,
 at Step S2, the time when the positive judgment is made is read in and
 stored, and the identification information is stored in the
 input-identification-information memory 506. If subsequently the operator
 does not fail to read in the bar code 88 of the following EC tape
 connected to the preceding EC tape 62, then new identification information
 represented by the read-in bar code 88 is stored in the memory 506 in
 place of the old identification information. In this case, therefore, no
 problem occurs. On the other hand, if the operator fails to read in, the
 memory 506 keeps the identification information which has not been input
 in relation with the connection of two EC tapes, and the identification
 information causes a positive judgment to be made at Step S4. In the
 latter case, however, since the identification information or bar code 88
 has been input or read in a considerably long time before the two EC tapes
 are connected to each other, the time difference between the inputting of
 the identification information and the detection of the connection portion
 103 is greater than the reference time difference. Thus, a negative
 judgment is made at Step S7, since it is judged that the identification
 information stored in the memory 506 cannot be the identification
 information input in relation with the connection of two EC tapes.
 If a negative judgment is made at Step S7, the control of the computer goes
 to Step S8 to delete the information stored in the
 input-identification-information memory 506 and send, to the
 mounting-system controller 530 via the car-side controller 520, commands
 to stop the operation of the EC mounting system 16 and operate the alarm
 device 532 and the display device 534 to inform and indicate that
 identification information has been input, but not in relation with the
 connection of two EC tapes, and that the reading-in of the bar code 88 has
 not been done in relation with the connection of two EC tapes. After Step
 S8, the current control cycle ends, and the computer operates in the same
 manner as described above in the case where the reading-in of the bar code
 88 has not been done and a negative judgment is made at Step S4.
 If the time difference between the inputting of the identification
 information and the detection of the connection portion 103 is smaller
 than the reference time difference, a positive judgment is made at Step
 S7, and the control goes to Step S9 to judge whether the identification
 information identifying the following EC tape connected to the preceding
 EC tape 62 is identical with reference identification information
 identifying a correct sort of EC tape 62 to be connected to the preceding
 tape 62. The reference identification information is supplied from the
 host computer 540 and is stored in the
 reference-identification-information memory 504. A negative judgment made
 at Step S9 means that the following EC tape actually connected to the
 preceding one 62 is not the correct sort of EC tape 62 to be connected to
 the preceding one 62. In this case, the control goes to Step S10 to
 produce a set of inappropriate-tape-connection information indicating that
 the input and stored identification information is not identical with the
 reference identification information. More specifically described, the set
 of inappropriate-tape-connection information includes information
 indicating that an incorrect sort of EC tape has been connected;
 information specifying a particular EC-supply unit 32 to which the
 incorrect sort of EC tape 62 has been connected; the identification
 information identifying the correct sort of EC tape 62 to be connected;
 and the identification information identifying the incorrect sort of EC
 tape 62 which has been actually connected. Step S10 is followed by Step
 S11 to delete the information stored in the memory 506 and send, to the
 mounting-system controller 530 via the car-side controller 520, commands
 to stop the operation of the EC mounting system 16, operate the alarm
 device 532 to inform the operator of the fact that an incorrect sort of EC
 tape 62 has been connected, and operate the the display device 534 to
 display the set of inappropriate-tape-connection information. In addition,
 the computer sends the set of inappropriate-tape-connection information to
 the controller 530.
 If a positive judgment is made at Step S9, the control goes to Step S12 to
 set, as a count number, C, of the remaining-amount counter 512, the sum of
 the number of ECs 60 held by the following EC tape 62 connected to the
 preceding one 62 and the number of ECs 60 held by the preceding one 62
 between the connection-detect position and the EC-supply position. Since
 the distance between the connection-detect position and the EC-supply
 position is known in advance based on the designing of the each EC-supply
 unit 32, the computer can calculate, based on this distance and the pitch
 at which the ECs 60 are held by the each EC tape 62, the number of ECs 60
 held by the preceding EC tape 62 between the connection-detect position
 and the EC-supply position. In addition, the computer deletes the
 information stored in the input-identification-information memory 506,
 since that information is no longer needed, in the present connection
 monitoring routine, after a positive or negative judgment is obtained at
 Step S9.
 Step S12 is followed by Step S13 to judge whether one EC 60 has been
 supplied, that is, whether the EC sucker 22 has taken one EC 60 from one
 embossed portion 70. The computer makes this judgment based on the
 information supplied thereto from the mounting-system controller 530 which
 controls the EC taking operation of the EC sucker 22. If a positive
 judgment is made at Step S13, the control goes to Step S14 to subtract one
 from the count number C of the remaining-amount counter 512. Step S14 is
 followed by Step S15 to judge whether the count number C is equal to, or
 smaller than, a reference number, C.sub.S. That is, the computer judges
 whether the remaining amount of the ECs 60 held by the EC tape 62 has
 decreased to a considerably small amount. At an early stage, a negative
 judgment is made at Step S15, and the control goes back to Step S13.
 Steps S13 to S15 are repeated till a positive judgment is made at Step S15.
 Meanwhile, if a positive judgment is made at Step S15, the control goes to
 Step S16 to send, to the mounting-system controller 530 via the car-side
 controller 520, commands to operate the alarm device 532 and the display
 device 534 to inform and indicate that the remaining amount of the ECs 60
 has decreased to the small amount. More specifically described, the
 computer sends information based on which the alarm device 532 generates
 an alarm sound requesting the operator to replenish a new EC tape 62, and
 based on which the display device 534 displays a message requesting the
 operator to replenish a new EC tape 62, and additionally displays the
 particular EC-supply unit 32 whose ECs 60 have decreased to the small
 amount, and the particular sort of EC tape 62 to be connected. Step S16 is
 followed by Step S17 to reset the count number C of the remaining-amount
 counter 512, to zero, and the current control cycle ends.
 Next, there will be described a second embodiment of the present invention
 by reference to FIGS. 34 to 46.
 The second embodiment relates to an EC-supply unit 800 which supplies ECs
 from a selected one of two EC tapes 801. The two EC tapes are of the
 embossed-carrier type, and each have a width smaller than that of each EC
 tape 62. The width of the EC-supply unit 800 is substantially the same as
 that of each EC-supply unit 32. Thus, a plurality of EC-supply units 800
 are attached to each table 30 at the smallest pitch. Two supply reels (not
 shown) on which the two EC tapes are wound, respectively, are accommodated
 together in the smallest inside space defined between two partition plates
 in a bucket. Since each EC tape 801 has a structure similar to that of
 each EC tape 62, the same reference numerals as used for each EC tape 62
 are used to designate the corresponding parts of each EC tape 801, and the
 description thereof is omitted.
 As shown in FIG. 34, the EC-supply unit 800 includes a frame 802 which is
 provided by a plurality of members which include a first member 804, a
 second member 806, a third member 808, a fourth member 810 (FIG. 35), a
 fifth member 812, a sixth member 814, and two seventh members 816, and
 which are integrally fixed to one another except the seventh members 816.
 The first member 804 has a shape like a wide and elongate plate, and the
 second member 806 is fixed to the first member 804. Since the second
 member 806 has a structure similar to the second member 44 of the first
 embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 33, the same reference numerals as used for
 the second member 44 are used to designate the corresponding parts of the
 second member 806, and the description thereof is omitted.
 As shown in FIG. 36, the third and fourth members 808, 810 each have a
 shape like a plate thinner than the first member 804, and are fixed to
 opposite side surfaces of the same 804, respectively. As shown in FIG. 35,
 respective upper end portions of the third and fourth members 808, 810 are
 bent inward toward each other, to provide respective horizontal support
 surfaces 820 which extend parallel to a lengthwise direction of the
 EC-supply unit 800, i.e., a EC-feed direction in which the ECs or the EC
 tapes 801 are fed. The two support surfaces 820 support and guide the
 respective embossed portions of the two EC tapes 801, respectively.
 On a rear side of the respective support surfaces 820 of the third and
 fourth members 808, 810, that is, on an upstream side of the support
 surfaces 820 in the EC-feed direction, there are provided two guide
 rollers 822 (only one guide roller 822 is shown in FIG. 34) which are
 rotatably supported by two levers 824, respectively, and which guide the
 two EC tapes 801, respectively. The two guide rollers 822 are arranged
 side by side in a widthwise direction of the EC-supply unit 800, i.e., a
 direction perpendicular to the EC-feed direction and parallel to a
 widthwise direction of each EC tape 801. In addition, there are provided
 respective detecting heads 828 of two metal detecting devices 826 which
 are arranged side by side in the widthwise direction of the EC-supply unit
 800. Since each metal detecting device 826 has a structure similar to the
 metal detecting device 150 of the first embodiment, the same reference
 numerals as used for the detecting device 150 are used to designate the
 corresponding elements or parts of each detecting device 826, and the
 description thereof is omitted. Likewise, each EC tape 801 is pressed by a
 pressing roller 170 against a pair of electrodes 166. However, the
 respective detecting heads 828 of the two metal detecting devices 826
 share a common frame 830.
 The two pressing rollers 170 are attached to the fifth member 812 via
 respective levers 172. The respective support surfaces 820 of the third
 and fourth members 808, 810 define, therebetween, a linear space which
 extends parallel to the EC-feed direction and in which the fifth member
 812 is fitted such that lengthwise opposite end portions of the fifth
 member 812 are fixed to a bracket 832 (FIG. 35) fixed to the fourth member
 810, and to the first member 804, respectively. The first member 804 has a
 groove which is formed in a middle portion thereof in the widthwise
 direction thereof and which extends parallel to the EC-feed direction. A
 front end portion of the fifth member 812 is fitted in the groove of the
 first member 804, and thus is fixed to the same 804.
 The two EC tapes 801 drawn from the two supply reels are wound on the two
 guide rollers 822, passed through the two detecting heads 828, placed on
 the two support surfaces 820, and placed on an upper surface of the first
 member 804. The EC tapes 801 on the support surfaces 820 are prevented
 from moving out of position in the widthwise direction thereof, by the
 fifth member 812 and the elements of two EC-supply units 800 adjacent to
 the present EC-supply unit 800.
 Two tape-guide portions 840 are provided by the two seventh members 816,
 respectively, which are located in a front end portion of the frame 802.
 The two seventh members 816 are detachably attached to a front end portion
 of the first member 804 such that the two seventh members 816 are arranged
 side by side in a widthwise direction of the frame 802 that is parallel to
 the widthwise direction of each EC tape 801. The first member 804 provides
 a main frame member and each seventh member 816 provides a tape-guide
 member. The two seventh members 816 share the first member 804. Since the
 two seventh members 816 have a same structure, one of the two members 816
 will be described in detailed below.
 As shown in FIGS. 37, 38, 39, and 40, each seventh member 816 has a shape
 like a column, extends in the lengthwise direction of the EC-supply unit
 800, and has a groove 842 which allows the passing of the embossed
 portions 70 of the EC tape 801. Two side walls which cooperate with each
 other to define the groove 842 therebetween provide respective support
 rails 844, 846 whose respective upper surfaces provide respective support
 surfaces 848, 850 which support and guide the two end portions 68 of the
 EC tape 801. Respective front portions of the bottom surface of the groove
 842 and the two support surfaces 848, 850 are inclined downward in a
 forward direction to provide guide surfaces 854, 852, 856. Thus, the
 respective inclined portions of the bottom surface of the groove 842 and
 the two support surfaces 848, 850 cooperate with each other to introduce a
 portion of the carrier tape 64 from which the ECs have been supplied, in a
 downward direction toward a carrier-tape cutting device 496. The width of
 a front end portion of each of the two seventh members 816 decreases in
 the frontward direction.
 As shown in FIG. 39, each seventh member 816 has two positioning holes 860,
 862 at two locations distant from each other in the lengthwise direction
 thereof. The front or downstream-side positioning hole 860, as seen in the
 EC-feed direction, has a circular cross section, has a stepped shape, and
 includes a large-diameter portion 864 and a small-diameter portion 866.
 The rear or upstream-side positioning hole 862 also has a stepped shape,
 and includes an elliptic or circular spot facing 868 and an elongate hole
 870. A dimension of the elongate hole 870 as measured in a direction
 perpendicular to the EC-feed direction is equal to the diameter of the
 small-diameter portion 866 of the front positioning hole 860, and a
 dimension of the same 870 in a direction parallel to the EC-feed direction
 is greater than that diameter.
 As shown in FIG. 37, each seventh member 816 is placed on the first member
 804, and is positioned relative to, and fixed to, the first member 804
 with two positioning bolts 872. For each seventh member 816, the first
 member 802 has, as shown in FIG. 37, two positioning holes 874 at two
 locations distant from each other in the EC-feed direction, and two
 internally threaded holes 876 each of which is coaxial with a
 corresponding one of the two positioning holes 874 and is continuous with
 the corresponding one hole 874. The diameter of each positioning hole 874
 is equal to that of the small-diameter portion 866 of the positioning hole
 860 of each seventh member 816. FIG. 42 shows one of the two positioning
 bolts 872. Each of the two bolts 872 includes a positioning shank portion
 878, an externally threaded portion 880 which is provided at one of
 opposite ends of the shank portion 878 and which is threadedly engageable
 with each internally threaded hole 876, and a head portion 882 which is
 provided at the other end of the shank portion 878. The positioning shank
 portion 878 of each positioning bolt 872 has a diameter which allows the
 shank portion 878 itself to be fitted in each of each positioning hole 874
 and the small-diameter portion 866 of each positioning hole 860, with
 substantially no space being left therebetween.
 When each seventh member 816 is attached to the first member 804, first,
 the each seventh member 816 is placed on the first member 804, and one
 positioning bolt 872 is inserted in the front positioning hole 860 of the
 seventh member 816 and the front positioning hole 874 of the first member
 804, so that the externally threaded portion 880 of the one bolt 872 is
 screwed in the internally threaded hole 876 continuous with the front hole
 874. In this state, the positioning shank portion 878 of the one bolt 872
 is fitted in both the front positioning hole 874 of the first member 804
 and the small-diameter portion 866 of the front positioning hole 860 of
 the seventh member 816, so that the seventh member 816 is positioned
 relative to the first member 804. The externally threaded portion 880 of
 the one positioning bolt 872 is screwed into the internally threaded hole
 876, to a position where the head portion of the one bolt 872 is contacted
 with the bottom surface of the large-diameter portion 864 of the
 positioning hole 860.
 Then, the other positioning bolt 872 is inserted in the rear positioning
 hole 862 of the each seventh member 816 and the rear positioning hole 874
 of the first member 804, so that the externally threaded portion 880 of
 the other bolt 872 is screwed in the internally threaded hole 876
 continuous with the rear hole 874. Since the elongate hole 870 as a
 portion of the rear hole 862 is longer, in a direction parallel to the
 EC-feed direction, than the diameter of the small-diameter portion 866 of
 the front positioning hole 860, i.e., the diameter of each positioning
 hole 874, the externally threaded portion 880 of the other bolt 872 can be
 surely screwed in the internally threaded hole 876 even if there may be a
 positional error between the rear hole 862 and the rear hole 874 in the
 direction parallel to the EC-feed direction. The width of the elongate
 hole 870 is equal to the diameter of the small-diameter portion 866, and
 the positioning shank portion 878 of the other bolt 872 is fitted in both
 the rear positioning hole 874 and the elongate hole 870 of the rear
 positioning hole 860, so that the seventh member 816 is positioned
 relative to the first member 804 in the widthwise direction of the same
 804 and additionally is prevented from rotating relative to the same 804.
 The externally threaded portion 880 of the other bolt 872 is screwed into
 the internally threaded hole 876, to a position where the head portion 882
 of the other bolt 872 is contacted with the bottom surface of the spot
 facing 868 of the rear hole 862. Thus, the each seventh member 816 is
 positioned relative to, and fixed to, the first member 804, by the
 positioning bolts 872 and the positioning holes 860, 862, 874.
 As shown in FIGS. 37 and 38, the two seventh members 816 each attached to
 the first member 804 include two cover members 890, respectively. Since
 the two cover members 890 have a same structure, one of them will be
 described in detail. One cover member 890 has a generally
 inverted-U-shaped cross section, and has a pair of leg portions 892 in
 respective rear end portions of the two side walls thereof. With the two
 leg portions 892 fitted on an axis member 894, the cover member 890 is
 pivotable about an axis line perpendicular to the EC-feed direction. As
 shown in FIG. 43, the two cover members 890 share the axis member 894.
 A front end portion of each cover member 890 (i.e., a downstream-side end
 portion of the same 890 as seen in the EC-feed direction, and opposite to
 the rear end portion thereof pivotally attached to the first member 804
 via the axis member 894) is engaged, as shown in FIG. 37, with the first
 member 804 via an engaging member 900. Each of the two engaging members
 900 has, as shown in FIGS. 37 and 38, a generally inverted-U-shaped cross
 section, and is fitted on a front end portion of a corresponding one of
 the two seventh members 816. Each engaging member 900 has a pair of leg
 portions 902 projecting from two side walls 901 thereof. The two leg
 portions 902 are fitted on a front end portion of the first member 804 via
 an axis member 904, such that each engaging member 900 is pivotable about
 an axis line parallel to the axis line about which the corresponding one
 cover member 890 is pivotable. The two engaging members 900 share the axis
 member 904. The two leg portions 902 of each engaging member 900 have
 respective elongate holes 906 through which the axis member 904 extends
 and which are elongate in a direction perpendicular to the axis line of
 pivotal motion of the each engaging member 900. Thus, each engaging member
 900 can be moved relative to the axis member 904 in the above direction.
 The two side walls 901 of each engaging member 900 include respective
 engaging hook portions 910 which are opposite to the respective leg
 portions 902 thereof pivotally attached to the first member 804. The two
 engaging hook portions 910 are fitted in respective engaging recesses 912
 formed in the two side walls of the corresponding one cover member 890,
 such that the two hook portions 910 are engaged with respective lower
 portions of the two recesses 912 (more strictly, respective lower, inner
 surfaces of the two side walls of the one cover member 890 that define the
 respective lower portions of the two recesses 912). A spring member 918 as
 an elastic member as a sort of biasing device is provided between the
 first member 804 and a tongue portion 916 provided between the two leg
 portions 902 of each engaging member 900. The spring member 918 biases the
 each engaging member 900 in a direction in which the engaging hook
 portions 910 of the each engaging member 900 engage the engaging recesses
 912 of the corresponding one cover member 890. Thus, each cover member 890
 is biased via the corresponding one engaging member 900, in a direction in
 which a front end portion of a top wall 920 of the each cover member 890
 is moved toward the corresponding one seventh member 816, so that the
 front end portion of the top wall 920 of the each cover member 890
 contacts the upper surface of the corresponding one EC tape 801 being
 guided by the one seventh member 801 and presses the one EC tape against
 the support surfaces 848, 850 of the one seventh member 816. Thus, each EC
 tape 801 is prevented from moving up off the support surfaces 848, 850 of
 the corresponding one seventh member 816.
 The EC-supply unit 800 includes two EC-tape feeding devices 930 and two TCT
 treating devices 932 (only one TCT treating device 932 is shown in FIG.
 44).
 Next, the two EC feeding devices 930 will be described in detail. Since the
 two feeding devices 930 have an identical structure, one of them will be
 described.
 As shown in FIGS. 37 and 41, one EC-tape feeding devices 930 includes a
 sprocket 942 as a feed member that is supported by an axis member 940
 fixed to the first member 804, such that the sprocket 942 is rotatable
 about a horizontal axis line perpendicular to the EC-feed direction.
 The sprocket 942 has a number of projections 944 projecting radially
 outward from an outer circumferential surface thereof. The projections 944
 are engaged with the feed holes 74 of the carrier tape 64 of each EC tape
 801. The sprocket 942 supports a ratchet wheel 946 whose diameter is
 smaller than that of the sprocket 942, such that the ratchet wheel 946 is
 coaxial with the sprocket 942 and is not rotatable relative to the same
 942.
 A pivotable plate 950 as a pivotable member is pivotally attached to the
 axis member 940. A ratchet pawl 952 is pivotally attached to the pivotable
 plate 950 via a pin 954, and a spring member 956 as an elastic member as a
 sort of biasing device that is provided between the ratchet pawl 952 and
 the pin 954 biases the pawl 952 in a direction in which the pawl 952
 engaged teeth 958 of the ratchet wheel 946. When the pivotable plate 950
 is pivoted forward (i.e., counterclockwise in FIG. 37), the ratchet pawl
 952 remains engaged with the teeth 958 of the ratchet wheel 946; and when
 the plate 950 is pivoted backward (i.e., clockwise in FIG. 37), the pawl
 952 is moved backward over the teeth 958 of the wheel 946.
 A stopper lever 960 is pivotally attached to the first member 804 via an
 eccentric pin 962, and a tension coil spring 964 as an elastic member as a
 sort of biasing device that is provided between the stopper lever 960 and
 the first member 804 biases the stopper lever 960 in a direction in which
 an engaging portion 966 of the stopper lever 960 engages the teeth 958 of
 the ratchet wheel 946. The stopper lever 960 allows the forward rotation
 of the ratchet wheel 946 but does not allow the backward rotation of the
 same 946.
 The eccentric pin 962 includes a first portion which is pivotally supported
 by the first member 804, and a second portion which is eccentric, and
 integral, with the first portion and which supports the stopper lever 960
 such that the lever 960 is pivotable about the second portion. The
 eccentric pin 962 is designed such that a tangential line at the position
 where the engaging portion 966 of the stopper lever 960 engages the teeth
 958 of the ratchet wheel 946 is parallel to a tangential line with respect
 to a circular arc described by the center of the second portion of the pin
 962 about the center of the first portion of the same 962.
 The eccentric pin 962 is fixed to the stopper lever 960 by a fixing device
 (not shown). The position of the engaging portion 966 of the stopper lever
 960 in a circumferential direction of the ratchet wheel 946 can be changed
 by first unfixing the fixing device and then pivoting the eccentric pin
 962 relative to the stopper lever 960. Thus, the position where the
 stopper lever 960 positions the ratchet wheel 946 can be adjusted, and
 accordingly the ratchet wheel 946 can be positioned at a desired angular
 phase with accuracy. That is, the leading EC of the EC tape 801 can be
 kept at the EC-supply position with accuracy.
 When the pivotable plate 950 is pivoted forward, the ratchet pawl 952 is
 moved while remaining engaged with the teeth 958 of the ratchet wheel 946,
 so that the ratchet wheel 946 is rotated forward and the sprocket 942 is
 rotated forward. Thus, the EC tape 801 is fed by one pitch. When the
 pivotable plate 950 is pivoted backward, the ratchet pawl 952 is moved
 over the teeth 958 of the ratchet wheel 946. Thus, the pivotable plate 950
 and the ratchet pawl 952 prepare for the next feeding of the EC tape 801.
 That is, the ratchet wheel 946 is not rotated and the EC tape 801 remains
 stopped.
 One end portion of a link 970 is pivotally connected to the pivotable plate
 950. The pivotable plate 950 has a circular engaging portion 972, the one
 end portion of the link 970 has a recess 974 including a circular portion
 and a tapered portion, and the engaging portion 972 is fitted in the
 recess 974. Thus, the pivotable plate 950 and the link member 970 are
 pivotally connected to each other on a common plane. A hold-down member
 976 fixed to the first member 804 prevents the engaging portion 972 from
 coming off the recess 974.
 A lever 980 is attached to the first member 804 via an axis member 982,
 such that the lever 980 is pivotable about an axis line parallel to the
 widthwise direction of the EC tape 801. The other end portion of the link
 970 is pivotally connected to one end portion of the lever 980 via a pin
 984. A roller 986 as a cam follower is rotatably attached to the other end
 portion of the lever 980, and a tension coil spring 988 as an elastic
 member as a sort of biasing device that is provided between the lever 980
 and the first member 804 biases the lever 980 in a direction in which the
 roller 986 engages a cam surface 992 of a plate cam 990 as a sort of
 rotary cam.
 The plate cam 990 is rotated by a DC (direct current) motor 1000 as an
 electric motor as a sort of drive source. The DC motor 1000 that is a sort
 of electric rotary motor has a rotor which is rotatable, as shown in FIG.
 43, about an axis line parallel to the widthwise direction of the
 EC-supply unit 800. The plate cam 990 is fixed to an output shaft 1002 of
 the DC motor 1000. The DC motor 1000 is a cheap motor which is rotatable
 in opposite directions, i.e., forward and backward and which is started
 and stopped in response to ON and OFF signals supplied thereto.
 When the plate cam 990 is rotated by the DC motor 1000, the lever 980 is
 pivoted and accordingly the pivotable plate 950 is pivoted. The plate cam
 990 is rotated in a direction indicated at arrow in FIG. 37. The cam
 surface 992 includes a tape feeding portion 1010, a tape-feed preparing
 portion 1012, and a position keeping portion 1014. The radial distance of
 the tape feeding portion 1010 from the center of rotation of the plate cam
 990 gradually increases as the cam 990 is rotated, so that the roller 986
 is moved, the pivotable plate 950 is pivoted forward, and the EC tape 801
 is fed forward. The radial distance of the tape-feed preparing portion
 1012 from the center gradually decreases as the cam 990 is rotated, so
 that the roller 986 is moved by the biasing force of the tension coil
 spring 988, the pivotable plate 950 is pivoted backward, and the ratchet
 pawl 952 prepares for the next feeding of the EC tape 801. The radial
 distance of the position keeping portion 1014 from the center does not
 change as the cam 990 is rotated, so that the roller 986 is not moved and
 the pivotable plate 950 is not pivoted. The position keeping portion 1014
 is provided adjacent to the tape feeding portion 1010 on a downstream side
 of the same 1010 in the direction of rotation of the plate cam 990.
 The tape feeding portion 1010 of the cam surface 992 includes an
 accelerating portion 1016 and a decelerating portion 1018 which give, to
 the roller 986, motions to accelerate and decelerate the EC tape 801. The
 accelerating or decelerating portion 1016, 1018 is so formed as to define
 the smallest possible rate of change of acceleration or deceleration of
 the EC tape 801, and as to give, to the roller 986, motions to smoothly
 accelerate the EC tape 801 from the velocity of zero or smoothly
 decelerate the same 801 to the velocity of zero. Thus, the movement of the
 EC tape 801 is started and stopped with minimized vibration. The cam
 surface 992 additionally includes, between the tape feeding portion 1010
 and the tape-feed preparing portion 1012, a small portion which is
 diametrically opposite to the position keeping portion 104 and whose
 radial distance from the center of rotation of the cam 990 does not
 change. The small portion is provided for the purpose of easier
 manufacturing of the cam 990.
 The first member 804 supports a projecting stopper 1020. The stopper 1020
 engages the ratchet pawl 952 when the pivotable plate 950 is further
 pivoted forward because of, e.g., inertia from the state in which the
 pivotable plate 950 has been pivoted forward by the engagement of the
 roller 986 with the cam surface 992. Thus, the forward pivotal motion of
 the pivotable plate 950 is eventually stopped and the leading EC is kept
 at the EC-supply position of the EC-supply unit 800. This forward pivotal
 motion of the pivotable plate 950 is allowed by the dimensional tolerances
 of the roller 982 and the cam surface 992.
 The lever 980 includes a detection portion 1026 at a free end of the one
 end portion thereof to which the link 970 is connected. An origin-position
 sensor 1028 which is supported by the first member 804 detects the
 detection portion 1026. The origin-position sensor 1028 is provided by a
 transmission-type photoelectric sensor which includes a light emitter and
 a light receiver. When the plate cam 990 is rotated and the roller 986 is
 moved in the direction to pivot the pivotable plate 950 backward, the
 detection portion 1026 enters a space between the light emitter and
 receiver, and prevents the light receiver from receiving the light emitted
 by the light emitter. Thus, the origin-position sensor 1028 detects an
 origin position of the plate cam 990 where each backward pivotal motion of
 the pivotable plate 950 ends, i.e., each tape-feed preparing action of the
 plate 950 ends, and the roller 986 is engaged with the position keeping
 portion 1014 of the cam surface 992. FIG. 37 shows the state in which one
 tape feeding action of the pivotable plate 950 ends and the next tape-feed
 preparing action of the plate 950 is about to start.
 Each cover member 890 has an opening (not shown) at a position
 corresponding to the EC-supply portion around the EC-supply position of
 the EC-supply unit 800 (the EC-supply portion includes the EC-supply
 position). The opening of the cover member 890 allows the EC sucker 22 to
 take each EC from the EC tape 801. In addition, each cover member 890 has
 an elongate hole at a position corresponding to the feed holes 74 of the
 carrier tape 64 of the EC tape 801. The elongate hole prevents the cover
 member 890 from interfering with the projections 944 of the sprocket 942.
 As shown in FIG. 39, each seventh member 816 has three recesses 1030,
 1032, 1034 which prevent the seventh member 816 from interfering with the
 sprocket 942, the ratchet wheel 946, and the pivotable member 950,
 respectively.
 Since the other of the two EC-tape feeding devices 930 has the same
 structure as that of the above-described one EC-tape feeding device 930,
 the same reference numerals as used for the one device 930 are used to
 designate the corresponding elements and parts of the other device 930,
 and the description thereof is omitted. For example, the DC motor 1000 of
 the other device 930 is provided, like the motor 1000 of the one device
 930, such that the rotor of the motor 1000 of the other device 930 is
 rotatable about an axis line parallel to the widthwise direction of the
 EC-supply unit 800, and the two motors 1000 are located at a same position
 in the widthwise direction of the unit 800. However, the two motors 1000
 are oriented in opposite directions each parallel to the widthwise
 direction. Therefore, the plate cam 990 rotated by the motor 1000 of the
 other device 930 is located in the other side opposite to one side of the
 unit 800 in which the plate cam 990 rotated by the motor 1000 of the one
 device 930 is located, in the widthwise direction of the unit 800.
 The TCT (top cover tape) 66 peeled from the carrier tape 64 of each EC tape
 801 is drawn out through the opening of the corresponding one cover member
 890, and is treated by the corresponding one TCT treating device 932.
 Next, the two TCT treating devices 932 will be described. Since the two
 TCT treating devices 932 have an identical structure, one of the two
 devices 932 is described below.
 As shown in FIG. 44, one TCT treating device 932 includes a TCT feeding
 device 1040 and a TCT collecting box 1042. The sixth member 814 is fixed
 to the first member 804 such that the sixth member 814 is adjacent to the
 fifth member 812. The sixth member 814 has a shape like a plate, is
 thinner than the first member 804, and is fitted in a positioning groove
 of the first member 804 that is formed in a widthwise middle portion of
 the same 804. Thus, the sixth member 814 is fixed to the first member 804.
 As shown in FIG. 44, a roller 1076 is rotatably attached to one side
 surface of the sixth member 814. The TCT 66 which is peeled from the
 carrier tape 64 is folded back about 180 degrees at an end of the opening
 of the cover member 890, and is engaged with the roller 1076 such that the
 widthwise direction of the TCT 66 is substantially horizontal and is
 parallel to the widthwise direction of the the EC-supply unit 800. The
 opening of the cover member 890 and the roller 1076 cooperate with each
 other to define a path along which the TCT 66 is fed. The roller 1076 has
 a pair of flanges (not shown) which prevent the TCT 66 from moving out of
 position in its widthwise direction.
 The sixth member 814 supports a tensile-force or tension adjusting device
 1058 which is provided on an upstream side of the roller 1076 as seen in
 the direction in which the TCT 66 is fed (hereinafter, referred to as "the
 TCT-feed direction"). The tension adjusting device 1058 includes a
 roller-support lever 1060 as a roller-support member, a roller 1062
 supported by the lever 1060, and a spring member 1064 as an elastic member
 as a sort of biasing device. The roller-support lever 1060 is attached, at
 one end portion thereof, to the sixth member 814 such that the lever 1060
 is pivotable about an axis line parallel to the widthwise direction of the
 TCT 66. The roller 1062 is rotatably attached to the other end portion of
 the roller-support lever 1060. The lever 1060 has a length which can cross
 the path of feeding of the TCT 66, and supports the roller 1062 such that
 the roller 1062 is movable in a direction in which the roller 1062 crosses
 the path. The spring member 1064 provided between the roller-support lever
 1060 and the sixth member 814 biases the lever 1060 in a direction in
 which the roller 1062 engages and bends the TCT 66 and thereby changes the
 path of feeding of the same 66. The roller 1062 has a pair of flanges (not
 shown) which prevent the TCT 66 from moving out of position in its
 widthwise direction.
 The roller-support lever 1060 includes a detection member 1066 as a
 detectable portion that projects in a direction (i.e., clockwise in FIG.
 44) opposite to the direction in which the spring member 1064 biases the
 lever 1060. The sixth member 814 supports a roller-position sensor 1068 at
 a downstream-side end of locus of movement of the detection member 1066 as
 seen in the direction of projection of the same 1066. The roller-position
 sensor 1068 is provided by a transmission-type photoelectric sensor which
 includes a light emitter and a light receiver and, when the roller-support
 lever 1060 is pivoted or moved against the biasing force of the spring
 member 1064 so that the detection member 1066 interrupts the light emitted
 by the light emitter and prevents the light receiver from receiving the
 light, the sensor 1068 detects that the lever 1060 or the roller 1062 has
 reached a predetermined position. The roller-position sensor 1068 and the
 detection member 1066 cooperate with each other to provide a
 roller-position detecting device 1070.
 The limit of pivotal motion of the roller-support lever 1060 due to the
 biasing action of the spring member 1064 is defined by a stopper member
 1072 supported by the sixth member 814, and the limit of pivotal motion of
 the lever 1060 in the direction toward the roller-position sensor 1068 is
 defined by a stopper member 1074 supported by the sixth member 814. The
 second stopper 1074 is provided at a position which assures that the
 stopper 1074 stops the lever 1060 after the detection member 1066
 interrupts the light emitted by the light emitter of the roller-position
 sensor 1068, and before the member 1066 interferes with the sensor 1068.
 The TCT 66 which is engaged with the roller 1062 is additionally engaged
 with the roller 1076, and is further pinched by a pair of feed gears 1080,
 1082 as TCT-feed rotatable members. The tension adjusting device 1058 is
 provided on an upstream-side of the feed gears 1080, 1082 in the direction
 of feeding of the TCT 66. The axis line of rotation of the roller 1076 is
 level with respective meshing portions of the feed gears 1080, 1082. Thus,
 the TCT 66 which leaves the roller 1076 easily enters and leaves the feed
 gears 1080, 1082 in a direction perpendicular to a straight line
 connecting between respective axis lines of rotation of the feed gears
 1080, 1082.
 The two feed gears 1080, 1082 have a same shape and a same size, and are
 provided by respective moldings each formed of aluminum. Like the rounded
 edges 390 of each tooth 388 of each feed gear 384, 386 shown in FIG. 28,
 the edges or corners of each tooth of each feed gear 1080, 1082 are
 rounded to provide rounded edges.
 The first feed gear 1080 is rotated by a rotary drive device 1080. As shown
 in FIG. 44, the fifth and sixth members 812, 814 are fixed to a wide
 support block 1092 (FIG. 45). Thus, the fifth and sixth members 812 are
 connected to each other by the support block 1092. Two cover members 1096
 are fixed to opposite side surfaces of the support block 1092,
 respectively. As shown in FIG. 44, each cover member 1096 is provided
 adjacent to the feed gears 1080, 8082 in a direction parallel to the
 respective axis lines of rotation of the gears 1080, 1082, such that the
 cover member 1096 covers a side surface of the sixth member 814 from an
 upstream portion of the side surface with respect to the respective
 meshing portions of the gears 1080, 1082 as seen in the direction of
 feeding of the TCT 66, via a portion of the surface corresponding to those
 meshing portions, to a downstream portion of the surface adjacent to the
 TCT collecting box 1042. The first member 804 provides a main frame
 member, each of the fifth and sixth members 812, 814 provides a secondary
 frame member, and the first, fifth, and sixth members 804, 812, 814
 cooperate with the two support blocks 192 and the two cover members 198 to
 provide a frame 1098 of one TCT feeding device 1040. The two TCT feeding
 devices 1040 share the single frame 1098.
 As shown in FIG. 44, an axis member 1100 is supported by the support block
 1092 such that the axis member 1100 extends parallel to the widthwise
 direction of the EC-supply unit 800, i.e., parallel to the widthwise
 direction of the TCT 66. The axis member 1100 is long in the widthwise
 direction of the unit 800, and the first feed gear 1080 is rotatably
 supported by one of axially opposite half portions of the axis member
 1100. Another axis member 1102 is supported by the support block 1092 at a
 position below the feed gear 1080, such that the second axis member 1102
 is parallel to the first axis member 1100. As shown in FIG. 45, A worm
 wheel 1104 is rotatably fitted on one of axially opposite half portions of
 the second axis member 1102. A gear 1106 whose diameter is greater than
 that of the worm wheel 1104 is provided as an integral portion of the worm
 wheel 1104, and is meshed with the first feed gear 1080. The worm wheel
 1104 is meshed with a worm 1108. The worm 1108 is supported by the support
 block 1092, at a position not aligned with the widthwise middle position
 of the block 1092. The worm wheel 1104, the gear 1106, and the worm 1108
 cooperate with one another to provide a rotation transmitting device 1110.
 The support block 1092 provides a housing which accommodates the feed gear
 1080, etc.
 The two axis members 1100, 1102 are shared by the two TCT feeding devices
 1040. The first feed gear 1080 and the worm wheel 1104 of the other TCT
 feeding device 1040 are rotatably fitted on the respective other half
 portions of the two axis members 1100, 1102. The common support block 1092
 or the common frame 1098 of the two TCT feeding devices 1040 supports two
 combinations each of which includes the pair of feed gears 1080, 1082 and
 the rotation transmitting device 1110. The two feed gears 1080, 1082 of
 one combination, and the two feed gears 1080, 1082 of the other
 combination are arranged side by side in the widthwise direction of the
 frame 1098 that is parallel to the respective axis lines of rotation of
 the four gears 1080, 1082, such that the two pairs of feed gears 1080,
 1082 are located at respective positions away in widthwise opposite
 directions from the widthwise middle position of the frame 1098. The first
 feed gears 1080 are attached to the fifth and sixth members 812, 814 each
 as the secondary frame member via the support block 1092.
 As shown in FIG. 45, the worm 1108 of the rotation transmitting device 1110
 of the other TCT feeding device 1040 is meshed with the worm wheel 1104 of
 the same transmitting device 1110, at a position which is opposite,
 respect to the common axis line of rotation of the two worm wheels 1104,
 to a position where the worm 1108 of the rotation transmitting device 1110
 of the one TCT feeding device 1040 is meshed with the worm wheel 1104 of
 the same transmitting device 1110. The two worms 1108 are located at
 respective positions away in widthwise opposite directions from the
 widthwise middle position of the frame 1098, and are arranged side by side
 in a direction perpendicular to the widthwise direction of the frame 1098.
 As shown in FIG. 44, each of the two worms 1108 is supported by the support
 member 1092 such that each worm 1108 is rotatable about an axis line which
 is perpendicular to the widthwise direction of the TCT 66 and which is
 slightly inclined relative to a vertical plane perpendicular to the
 TCT-feed direction. Each worm 1108 is connected to a DC motor 1116 as a
 sort of electric motor as a drive source, via a rotation-transmitting
 shaft member 1112 and two universal joints 1114 provided at axially
 opposite ends of the shaft member 1112. Each rotary drive device 1090 is
 provided by the rotation transmitting device 1090 and the DC motor 1116.
 The DC motor 1116 has the same width as that of the first member 804. The
 DC motor 1116 is fixed to the first member 804, such that as shown in FIG.
 46, an output shaft 1118 of a rotor of the DC motor 1116 is rotatable
 about an axis line located at the widthwise middle position of the first
 member 804, that as shown in FIG. 44, the axis line of rotation of the
 rotor is so inclined as to be parallel to that of rotation of the worm
 1108, and that the respective axis lines of rotation of the rotor and the
 worm 1108 are located on a common plane. Thus, the DC motor 1116 is
 attached to the frame 1098 at a position below the feed gears 1080, 1082.
 The respective worms 1108 of the two rotation transmitting devices 1110
 are arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the widthwise
 direction of the frame 1098, and the two DC motors 1116 are also arranged
 side by side in the direction perpendicular to the widthwise direction of
 the frame 1098.
 The axis line of rotation of the rotor of each DC motor 1116 located at the
 widthwise middle position of the frame 1098 is not aligned with the
 corresponding worm 1108 located at a position away from the widthwise
 middle position of the frame 1098, in the widthwise direction of the frame
 1098. However, this misalignment is accommodated by the two universal
 joints 1114. That is, the worm 1108 is rotated by the DC motor 1116, so
 that the feed gear 1080 is rotated.
 Since, as shown in FIGS. 44 and 45, the respective worms 1108, and the
 respective DC motors 1116, of the two TCT feeding devices 1040 are
 arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the widthwise
 direction of the frame 1098, the axis line of rotation of each worm 1108
 and the axis line of rotation of the rotor of the corresponding one DC
 motor 1116 can be located on a common plane though they are not aligned
 with each other in the widthwise direction of the frame 1098. In contrast,
 if the two worms 1108 would be arranged side by side in the widthwise
 direction of the frame 1098 and the two DC motors 1116 would be arranged
 side by side in the direction perpendicular to the widthwise direction of
 the frame 1098, the respective axis lines of rotation of each worm 1108
 and the rotor of the corresponding one DC motor 1116 would not be aligned
 with each other in not only the widthwise direction of the frame 1098 and
 but also the direction perpendicular to the widthwise direction of the
 frame 1098. To this end, the two universal joints 1114 have only to
 accommodate the misalignment of the respective axis lines of rotation of
 each worm 1108 and the rotor of the corresponding one DC motor 1116 in the
 widthwise direction of the frame 1098. Since the two DC motors 1116 are
 arranged side by side in the direction perpendicular to the widthwise
 direction of the frame 1098, the frame 1098 can have a small width. In
 addition, the rotation of each DC motor 1116 can surely be transmitted to
 the corresponding one worm 1108 via the rotation-transmitting shaft member
 1112 and the two universal joints 1114.
 The second feed gear 1082 is rotatably supported by a gear-support lever
 1130 as a rotatable-member-support lever as a sort of
 rotatable-member-support member that is pivotally attached to the sixth
 member 814 at a level higher than the first feed gear 1082. A spring
 member 1132 as an elastic member as a sort of biasing device that is
 provided between the lever 1130 and the sixth member 814 biases the lever
 1130 in a direction toward the first feed gear 1080. Thus, the second feed
 gear 1082 can be moved toward, and away from, the first feed gear 1080.
 The straight line connecting between the respective axis lines of rotation
 of the two feed gears 1080, 1082 is vertical, and the two feed gears 1080,
 1082 are meshed with each other on the vertical straight line.
 The gear-support lever 1130 includes an operable portion 1134 which extends
 in a direction parallel to the widthwise direction of the TCT 66. The
 operator pivots, with his or her fingers, the operable portion 1134 of the
 lever 1130 against the biasing force of the spring member 1132, and
 thereby moves the second feed gear 1082 away from the first feed gear
 1080. In this state, the operator can insert an end portion of the TCT 66
 in between the two feed gears 1080, 1082. When the operator releases his
 or her fingers from the operable portion 1134, the second feed gear 1182
 is biased and moved toward the first feed gear 1180, so that the end
 portion of the TCT 66 is pinched between the respective teeth of the two
 feed gears 1080, 1082. Likewise, the second feed gear 1082 of the other
 TCT feeding device 1040 is attached to the other side surface of the sixth
 member 814 via a gear-support lever 1130. The two second feed gears 1082
 are provided at respective positions away in widthwise opposite directions
 from the widthwise middle position of the frame 1098, and are meshed with
 the corresponding first feed gears 1080, respectively.
 The two feed gears 1080, 1082 have, at respective axially middle portions
 thereof, respective annular scraper grooves 1140, 1142 which are formed in
 respective entire outer circumferential surfaces thereof. Two scrapers
 1144, 1146 are partly fitted in the two scraper grooves 1140, 1142,
 respectively. The scrapers 1144, 1146 are provided by respective metallic
 thin plates.
 The first scraper 1144 provided for the first feed gear 1080 includes a
 lengthwise middle narrowed portion whose width assures that the middle
 narrowed portion can be fitted in the first scraper groove 1140; two
 lengthwise intermediate widened portions which are located on both sides
 of the middle narrowed portion and whose width is equal to that of the
 first feed gear 1080; and lengthwise opposite end portions whose width is
 equal to that of the gear 1080. The narrowed middle portion of the first
 scraper 1144 is fitted in the first scraper groove 1140, and the two end
 portions of the same 1144 are fixed to the support block 1092. That is, a
 portion of the first scraper 1144 is fitted in the first scraper groove
 1140, such that that portion of the scraper 1144 is present in the
 respective meshing portions of the two feed gears 1080, 1082. Thus, the
 first scraper 1144 is continuously present from a position upstream of the
 first feed gear 1080 to a position downstream of the same 1080 as seen in
 the direction of feeding of the TCT 66. Since the first scraper groove
 1140 is deeper than respective tooth grooves of the teeth of the first
 feed gear 1080, the portion of the first scraper 1144 that is present in
 the meshing portions of the feed gears 1080, 1082 does not interfere with
 the feeding of the TCT 66. The first scraper 1144, except for its narrowed
 middle portion fitted in the first scraper groove 1140, is provided in
 close contact with the corresponding one cover member 1096, which
 contributes to preventing the TCT 66 from entering a space possibly left
 between the cover member 1096 and the first feed gear 1080.
 Like the first scraper 1144, the second scraper 1146 provided for the
 second feed gear 1082 includes a lengthwise middle narrowed portion whose
 width assures that the middle narrowed portion can be fitted in the second
 scraper groove 1142; and two widened portions which are located on both
 sides of the middle narrowed portion and whose width is equal to that of
 the second feed gear 1082. The narrowed middle portion of the second
 scraper 1146 is fitted in the second scraper groove 1142 of the second
 feed gear 1082, and opposite end portions of the same 1146 are fixed to
 the gear-support lever 1130. That is, a portion of the second scraper 1146
 is fitted in the second scraper groove 1142, such that that portion of the
 scraper 1146 is present in the respective meshing portions of the two feed
 gears 1080, 1082. Thus, the second scraper 1146 is continuously present
 from a position upstream of the second feed gear 1082 to a position
 downstream of the same 1082 in the direction of feeding of the TCT 66. The
 second scraper 1146, except for its narrowed middle portion fitted in the
 second scraper groove 1142, is provided in close contact with the
 corresponding one cover member 1096, which contributes to preventing the
 TCT 66 from entering a space possibly left between the cover member 1096
 and the second feed gear 1082. A material having a low friction
 coefficient, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, is applied to respective
 surfaces of the scrapers 1144, 1146 that are exposed to the path of
 feeding of the TCT 66, to lower respective friction coefficients of those
 surfaces of the same 1144, 1146.
 Thus, the two scrapers 1144, 1146 are provided for the two feed gears 1080,
 1082, respectively, such that the scrapers 1144, 1146 are continuously
 present from the upstream side of the gears 1080, 1082 to the downstream
 side of the same 1080, 1082, that is, the respective one widened portions
 of the scrapers 1144, 1146 are present on the side of an inlet of the
 meshed gears 1080, 1082, that is, on an upstream side of the same 1080,
 1082 in the direction of feeding of the TCT 66, and the respective other
 widened portions of the scrapers 1144, 1146 are present on the side of an
 outlet of the gears 1080, 1082, that is, on a downstream side of the same
 1080, 1082 in the same direction. An angle contained by the respective
 widened portions of the two scrapers 1144, 1146 at each of the inlet and
 the outlet of the meshed gears 1080, 1082 is greater than 45 degrees, most
 preferably, greater than 120 degrees.
 The TCT 66 fed by the feed gears 1080, 1082 is collected by the TCT
 collecting box 1042. The collecting box 1042 has a great width, and is
 shared by the two TCT feeding devices 1040. Since the collecting box 1042
 has a structure similar to that of the TCT collecting box 368 of the first
 embodiment, the same reference numerals as used for the box 368 are used
 to designate the corresponding element and parts of the box 1042, and the
 description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 35, a lower beam member
 454 of the TCT collecting box 1042 has a positioning groove 476 which is
 fitted on the fifth member 812 located in the widthwise middle position of
 the EC-supply unit 800. Thus, the lower portion of the box 1042 is
 positioned in the widthwise direction of the unit 800.
 As shown in FIG. 44, a fixed handle member 550 similar to the fixed handle
 member 550 of the TCT treating device 92 of each EC-supply unit 32 is
 fitted on, and fixed to, respective upper end portions of the fifth and
 sixth members 812, 814. A movable handle member 552 is fitted in the fixed
 handle member 550. The operator attaches and detaches the EC-supply unit
 800 to and from a table 30, while grasping the movable handle member 552
 fitted in the fixed handle member 550. The movable handle member 552 has a
 pair of display surfaces 554 to each of which a bar-code seal 556 is
 adhered. A bar code representing identification information identifying
 each of the two EC-tape feeding devices 930 of each EC-supply unit 800
 from the other EC-tape feeding device 930 of the each EC-supply unit and
 the EC-tape feeding devices 930 of the other EC-supply units 800 is
 printed on a corresponding one of the two bar-code seals 556. Each
 EC-supply unit 800 has two unit controllers (not shown) each of which is
 similar to the unit controller 500 of each EC-supply unit 32, and each of
 the two unit controllers includes three exclusive computers which monitors
 the connection of two EC tapes 801, controls the corresponding one DC
 motor 1000, and the corresponding one DC motor 1116, respectively.
 Next, the operation of each EC-supply unit 800 constructed as described
 above will be described. After one EC is taken from one embossed portion
 70 of one EC tape 801, the EC-supply unit 800 waits for supplying the next
 EC, in the state in which the thus emptied one embossed portion 70 is kept
 at the EC-supply position. One EC-tape feeding device 930 is in the state
 in which the feeding device 930 has ended one tape-feed preparing action,
 that is, in which one DC motor 1000 is stopped and the roller 986 is
 engaged with the position keeping portion 1014 of the cam surface 992.
 Each EC tape 801 is fed when one EC is taken therefrom. In the EC-supply
 unit 800 from which the EC sucker 22 takes one EC from one EC tape 801,
 the corresponding one unit controller starts, based on a command supplied
 from a mounting-system controller 530, the corresponding DC motor 1000 to
 feed the one EC tape 801. The EC sucker 22 is moved to a position above
 the EC-supply position where the EC sucker 22 sucks and holds the one EC
 and takes the one EC from the one EC tape 801. The one DC motor is started
 in synchronism with the time when the EC sucker 22 takes the one EC, such
 that after the one EC tape 801 is fed and the leading EC is moved to, and
 stopped at, the EC-supply position, the EC sucker 22 sucks and holds the
 leading EC.
 When the one DC motor 1000 is started, the corresponding plate cam 990 is
 rotated. The DC motor 1000 is started from the state in which the roller
 986 is engaged with the position keeping portion 1014 of the cam surface
 992. Therefore, the roller 986 is not moved for a certain duration after
 the rotation of the plate cam 900 is started. During this duration, the
 rotation velocity of the plate cam 900 increases up to a constant
 velocity. Subsequently, the roller 986 engages the tape feeding portion
 1010, so that the pivotable plate 950 is pivoted forward. Consequently the
 ratchet wheel 946 and the sprocket 942 are rotated and the one EC tape 801
 is fed and the next EC is positioned at the EC-supply position. The lever
 ratio of the lever 980 and the link 970 is predetermined such that one
 tape feeding action of each EC-tape feeding device 930 causes one EC tape
 801 to be fed by a distance equal to the EC-hold pitch at which the one EC
 tape 801 holds the ECs, i.e., an embossed-portion pitch at which the
 embossed portions 70 are formed in the lengthwise direction of the carrier
 tape 64.
 The accelerating and decelerating portions 1016, 1018 of the tape feeding
 portion 1010 are so formed that each EC tape 801 is accelerated from the
 velocity of zero and is decelerated to the velocity of zero. Thus, each EC
 tape 801 is moved and stopped with minimized vibration. Although each EC
 is fed to the EC-supply position in the state in which the each EC is not
 covered by the TCT 66 or the cover member 890, the each EC does not jump
 out of the embossed portion 70, or lie on its side in the same 70. Thus,
 the EC sucker 22 can surely suck and hold the each EC.
 After one tape feeding action ends, the roller 986 engages the tape-feed
 preparing portion 1012 of the cam surface 992, so that the pivotable plate
 950 is pivoted backward and the ratchet pawl 952 is moved over a
 predetermined number of teeth 958 of the ratchet wheel 946. This is a
 tape-feed preparing action. During this action, the ratchet wheel 946 is
 accurately prevented from being rotated backward, by the stopper lever
 960. Thus, when the ratchet pawl 952 is moved over the teeth 958 of the
 ratchet wheel 946, the sprocket 942 and the ratchet wheel 946 are
 prevented from being rotated backward. Therefore, each EC can be kept at
 the EC-supply position, and the EC sucker 22 can surely take the each EC.
 After the tape-feed preparing action, the roller 986 engages the position
 keeping portion 1014 of the cam surface 992, and the origin position of
 the plate cam 990 is detected by the origin-position sensor 1028. Based on
 the detection signal supplied from the sensor 1028, the corresponding one
 unit controller stops the corresponding one DC motor 1000, so that the
 each EC-supply unit 800 waits for the following tape feeding action.
 When one EC tape 801 is fed, the corresponding one TCT feeding device 1040
 feeds the TCT 66 while peeling the same 66 from the carrier tape 64 of the
 one EC tape 801. Like the TCT feeding device 366, the one TCT feeding
 device 1040 starts the corresponding one DC motor 1116 simultaneously when
 the corresponding one DC motor 1000 is started to feed the one EC tape
 801. Since the manners in which each TCT feeding device 1040 peels and
 feeds a TCT 66 and adjusts the tensile force of the TCT 66 are the same as
 those in which the TCT feeding device 366 does, the description thereof is
 omitted. The exclusive computer of each unit controller that stops the
 corresponding one rotary drive device 1090, based on the detection signal
 supplied from the corresponding one roller-position detecting device 1070,
 provides a TCT-feed stopping device.
 The single TCT collecting box 1042 is commonly used by the two TCT feeding
 devices 1040. The two TCTs 66 peeled from the respective carrier tapes 64
 of the two EC tapes 801 are collected into the box 1042 through the inlet
 472. The operator can look, through the observation window 468, into the
 current amount of TCT 66 accumulated in the box 1042. When the box 1042 is
 filled with the TCT 66, the operator can open the lid 464 and removes the
 TCT 66. However, it is possible to employ two exclusive TCT collecting
 boxes for the two TCT feeding devices 1040, respectively.
 When the remaining amount of one EC tape 801 decreases to a small amount,
 the corresponding one unit controller operates for informing the operator
 of that fact. The operator connects another EC tape 801 to the one EC tape
 801, with a metallic connection member having a structure identical with
 that of the connection member 100. The connection portion of the two EC
 tapes 801 is detected by the corresponding one metal detecting device 826.
 The first exclusive computer of the corresponding one unit controller
 monitors the remaining amount of the another tape 801, based on the
 detection signal supplied from the detecting device 826, in the same
 manner as that employed in each EC-supply unit 32.
 In the illustrated embodiments, the EC-tape feeding device 90, 930 which
 feeds each EC tape includes the motion converting device 302 which
 includes the cam (i.e., the plate cam 306, 990) and the cam follower
 (i.e., the bell-crank lever 308, 986) and which converts the rotation of
 the stepper motor 300 or the DC motor 1000 as the rotary drive source into
 the respective reciprocative pivotal motions of the two pivotable members
 (280, 282), or the reciprocative pivotal motion of the single pivotable
 member (950) and the two one-way pivotal-motion transmitting devices
 (i.e., the ratchet wheel 276 and the two ratchet pawls 284, 286) which
 transmit the respective forward pivotal motions of the two pivotable
 members to the feed member (i.e., the sprocket 272), or the single one-way
 pivotal-motion transmitting device (i.e., the ratchet wheel 946 and the
 ratchet pawl 952) which transmits the forward pivotal motion of the
 pivotable member to the feed member (i.e., the sprocket 942). However, the
 EC-tape feeding device is not limited to the illustrated ones 90, 930. For
 example, the feeding device may employ a double-action
 fluid-pressure-operated cylinder device (e.g., a double-action
 air-pressure-operated cylinder device) as a sort of reciprocal drive
 source, and a motion converting device which converts the reciprocative
 motion of a reciprocative drive member of the fluid-pressure-operated
 cylinder device into the respective reciprocative pivotal motions of the
 two pivotable members, or the reciprocative pivotal motion of the single
 pivotable member. Otherwise, it is possible to pivot, based on a drive
 force of a drive source which is separate from each EC-supply unit 32,
 800, the two pivotable members or the single pivotable member and thereby
 cause the feed member to feed each EC tape. In each of the latter cases,
 it may, or may not, employ a cam and a cam follower to control the
 velocity of each of the two pivotable members, or the single pivotable
 member.
 In the illustrated embodiments, the tables 30 on which the EC-supply units
 32, 800 are attached are fixed in position when the ECs 60 are mounted on
 the PWBs 20. It is possible to employ a table moving device which moves
 each of the tables 30 along a straight line along which the respective
 EC-supply portions of the EC-supply units 32, 800 are arranged, so that
 each of the EC-supply portions may be positioned at a single EC-supply
 position where each EC 60 is supplied from the each EC-supply portion.
 This EC-supply position is located on the path of movement of the
 EC-supply portions.
 In each of the illustrated embodiments, after the EC sucker 22 takes one EC
 60 from one embossed portion 70 of each EC tape 62, 75, 801, the EC-supply
 unit 32, 800 feeding the each EC tape waits for supplying the next EC 60,
 in the state in which the emptied embossed portion 70 remains at the
 EC-supply position of the unit 32, 800. However, it is possible that the
 unit 32, 800 wait for supplying the next EC 60, in the state in which the
 next EC 60 is fed to, and held at, the EC-supply position of the unit 32,
 800. That is, after the EC sucker 22 takes one EC 60 from one embossed
 portion 70 of each EC tape, the each EC tape is immediately fed so that
 the next EC 60 is moved to, and kept at, the EC-supply position of the
 unit 32, 800.
 In each of the illustrated embodiments, the beam members 454, 456 and the
 side plates 458, 460 of the TCT collecting box 368, 1042 are formed of a
 metallic material, such as aluminum. However, those members 454, 456, 458,
 460 may be formed of iron. In addition, one or both of the beam members
 and the side plates may be formed of a non-metallic material, such as an
 anti-static resin. In the last case, the TCT 66 is prevented from clinging
 to the collecting box 368, 1042 because of static electricity.
 It is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied with
 other changes, improvements, and modifications that may occur to one
 skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the
 invention defined in the appended claims.