Electronic component feeder

An electronic component feeder is provided for feeding electronic components in their stable position into an electronic component mounting apparatus and allowing the taking up of a top tape with high stability thus increasing the speed of component mounting action. As the top tape (4) is being taken up on a reel (42), a shutter (34) moves backward together with a slit (51) provided integral on the shutter (34). The turning in the tape take-up direction of the reel (42) is driven by the restoring force of a return spring (39). When the reel (42) has completed its take-up motion, the electronic component (1) can be picked up at a component pick-up location with the shutter (34) staying backward. A stationary roller (31) is provided between the slit (51) and the reel (42) and a movable roller (32) is provided for keeping the length of the top tape (4) between the slit (51) and the stationary roller (31) substantially constant.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to an electronic component feeder attached 
for use in an electronic component mounting apparatus. 
BACKGROUND ART 
A conventional electronic component feeder is explained referring to FIGS. 
9 to 15. 
Such an electronic component feeder is commonly designed for supplying 
electronic components 1 from an electronic component carrying tape A shown 
in FIG. 9. This is not only because components 1 can be aligned in a row 
which is advantageous for continuous supply but also because such tape 
allows easy conveying and handling by an operator. 
The electronic component carrying tape A shown in FIG. 9 includes a holder 
tape 3 having a row of storage recesses 2 provided therein at equal 
intervals in a lengthwise direction, the electronic components 1 stored in 
their respective storage recesses 2, a top tape 4 attached to the upper 
surface of the holder tape 3 for protecting and preventing electronic 
components 1 from dropping off, and a row of sprocket apertures 5 provided 
at equal intervals in a lengthwise direction. 
For supplying the electronic components 1 from the electronic component 
carrying tape A, it is necessary to repeat a cycle of actions comprising 
three steps; peeling off the top tape 4, holding the electronic component 
1 with a suction nozzle, and advancing the electronic component carrying 
tape A by a distance equal to the distance between any two adjacent 
storage recesses 2. 
Such cycle of actions carried out in a conventional electronic component 
feeder installed in an electronic component mounting apparatus will now be 
described in more detail referring to FIGS. 10 to 15. 
Motions of each element of the component feeder in accordance with actions 
of the suction nozzle will be described according to the timing chart 
shown in FIG. 13 as well as referring to the front view in FIG. 10, the 
rear view in FIG. 11, and the plan and cross sectional views of a tip of 
the component feeder in FIG. 12. 
As shown in FIG. 13, each element repeats component feeding actions in 
accordance with a cycle of actions consisting of descending, attracting 
components by suction, and ascending of the suction nozzle in the 
electronic component mounting apparatus. 
Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, in response to the actions of the suction 
nozzle, an actuator lever (not shown) comes into contact with a feed lever 
6 (denoted by oblique lines in FIG. 10) which then turns down clockwise 
about a first pivot center 16 as shown in FIG. 10. As the feed lever 6 has 
turned down a given distance, it strikes a take-up lever 11 which then 
turns up clockwise as shown in FIG. 10. 
One cycle of actions the feed lever 6 which consists of descending, 
pausing, and ascending is converted by a link 7 to the forward and 
backward turning motion of a wheel driving lever 18 about a second pivot 
center 19. 
Through a combination of a first pin 20 fitted into a hole 24a of a shutter 
24 mounted to the wheel driving lever 18, second pins 22, 22 mounted to 
the tape guide 12, and a slot 23 provided in the shutter 24 for engagement 
with and guidance of the two second pins 22, the forward and backward 
turning action of the wheel driving lever 18 is converted to an 
intermittent linear reciprocating movement of the shutter 24. The shutter 
24 has a distal end 24b bent down as best shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B so 
that it can reciprocate intermittently on the tape guide 12 without 
covering the entirety of a suction window 25 provided at a component 
pick-up position of the tape guide 12 but holding a central position of 
the electronic component 1 exposed to the suction window 25. The distal 
end 24b of the shutter 24 remains retracted in a gap 24a defined in the 
tape guide 12 when the suction window 25 is not closed with the shutter 
24. 
Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, when the feed lever 6 is started 
to turn downwardly, the shutter 24 moves backward to the right-hand side 
in FIG. 11, allowing the distal end 24b thereof to retreat into the gap 
24a. As the actuator lever in the electronic component mounting apparatus 
stops at its given position, the turning movement of the feed lever 6 is 
ceased thus to halt the take-up lever 11 and the shutter 24. Since the 
shutter 24 is at this time in its retracted position, the suction window 
25 of the tape guide 12 is fully opened. 
The suction window 25 has a larger opening area than for picking up the 
component 1. When the suction window 25 is open, the electronic component 
1 is located substantially at the center of the suction window 25. 
The suction nozzle which has been lifted down then picks up the electronic 
component 1 and moves upward. 
The upward movement of the suction nozzle triggers an upward turning action 
of the actuator lever of the electronic component mounting apparatus. The 
feed lever 6 accompanies the upward motion of the actuator lever by the 
function of a return spring 9 and turns counterclockwise about the first 
pivot center 16 in FIG. 10. As the feed lever 6 turns upward, it departs 
from the take-up lever 11 which is thus driven by the pulling force of a 
return spring 10 to descend counterclockwise in FIG. 10. 
The take-up lever 11 and the reel 8 are mounted on a common axis about the 
first pivot center 16 and provided with a known one-directional rotary 
ratchet mechanism. As shown in FIG. 10, the counterclockwise turning of 
the take-up lever 11 directs the counterclockwise turning of the reel 8. 
When the take-up lever 11 is turned clockwise, the one-directional rotary 
ratchet mechanism causes the reel 8 to rest. Accordingly, the pulling 
force of the return spring 10 exerted on the take-up lever 11 becomes a 
force for turning the reel 8 counterclockwise and thus a force for taking 
up the top tape 4. The top tape 4 is peeled off from the upper surface of 
the holder tape 3 by this force at the slit 13 of the tape guide 12 when 
the electronic component carrying tape A is conveyed in the direction 
denoted by the arrow in FIG. 10 and taken up via a stationary roller 15 
around the reel 8. 
Simultaneously, the wheel driving lever 18 turns counterclockwise in FIG. 
11 about the second pivot center 19 and its turning drives the shutter 24 
to move to the left-hand side in FIG. 12A and close the suction window 25. 
The wheel driving lever 18 and a wheel 21 turn about the common second 
pivot center 19 and are provided with a known one-directional rotary 
ratchet mechanism between them. Only when the wheel driving lever 18 turns 
counterclockwise in FIG. 11, the wheel 21 is rotated in the same direction 
together with the lever 18. The wheel 21 has a plurality of pins 21a 
provided at equal intervals of a pitch on the circumference thereof for 
engagement with the sprocket apertures 5 of the holder tape 3. With the 
forward movement of the shutter 24 to the left-hand side in FIG. 12A the 
wheel 21 turns counterclockwise FIG. 11, the pins 21a at its 
circumferential edge engaging with the sprocket apertures 5 of the holder 
tape 3, thereby driving the holder tape 3 in the turning direction of the 
wheel 21. 
At this time, the top tape 4 which has been urged by the peeling force 
departs from the upper surface of the holder tape 3 as shown in FIG. 10 
and is taken up by the reel 8 via the stationary roller 15. As the feed 
lever 6 stops at its upper limit, the wheel driving lever 18 comes to a 
halt, and so do the shutter 24 and the electronic component carrying tape 
A. 
When the reel 8 has taken up the top tape 4, its action stops upon the 
tension on the top tape 4 being balanced with the take-up force. At the 
time of completing its action, the take-up lever 11 rests at the position 
away from the feed lever 6 and remains urged counterclockwise in FIG. 10 
by the yielding force of the return spring 10. Such resting position of 
the take-up reel 11 is varied depending on the taken-up quantity of the 
top tape 4 on the reel 8, i.e, the diameter of the taken-up tape. 
FIG. 14 illustrates a holding member 14 for elastically holding down the 
tape guide 12 onto a feeder body 17. While the electronic component 
carrying tape A conveys the electronic components 1 stored in their 
respective recesses 2 of its holder tape 3 and held under the top tape 4 
as mentioned above, the tape guide 12 assists the electronic components 1 
to stay in their respective recesses 2 before the electronic components 1 
are picked up by the suction nozzle after removal of the top tape 4. Also, 
the tape guide 12 prevents the electronic component carrying tape A from 
lifting up, loosening, or displacing upon the top tape 4 being peeled off. 
The holding member 14 is pivotally supported by a pivot 14b and urged by a 
spring 26 to inhibit the lifting motion of the tape guide 12. 
As shown in FIG. 10, the actuator lever of the electronic component 
mounting apparatus travels two, large and small, distances d and c to 
strike and cause the feed lever 6 to descend clockwise in FIG. 10 about 
the first pivot center 16. There are hence provided two types of 
electronic component feeder for allowing the feed lever 6 to move a small 
stroke c' in response to a motion of the actuator lever by the small 
distance c and a large stroke d' in response to a motion of the actuator 
lever by the large distance d. 
In the former type of electronic component feeder in which the feed lever 6 
moves a smaller stroke c', the feed lever 6 is constructed such as to be 
able to move the large stroke d' so that it can follow an erroneous motion 
by the large distance d of the actuator lever for preventing any damage of 
the electronic component feeder. 
As explained, the conventional electronic component feeder allows the 
take-up lever 11 to be turned counterclockwise in FIG. 10 in response to 
the returning motion of the feed lever 6 thus rotating the reel 8 in the 
same or take-up direction to take up the top tape 4. The angle of rotation 
of the reel 8 and the take-up lever 11 varies depending on the amount of 
taken up top tape 4 on the reel 8. When the diameter of the taken up 
quantity of the top tape 4 is small, the angle of rotation is large. If 
the diameter of the taken up quantity is large, the angle of rotation is 
small. Since the angle of rotation is not constant, the feed lever 6 and 
the take-up lever 11 which are detachable from each other turn together in 
an early stage of the motion, where the feed lever 6 turns 
counterclockwise in FIG. 10 and the take-up lever 11 turns in the same 
direction. Upon the top tape 4 having been taken up, the take-up lever 11 
stops its motion and the feed lever 6 continues its turning motion to 
depart from the take-up lever 11 before coming to a halt as shown in FIG. 
15A. 
As the feed lever 6 turns in the forward direction, it travels clockwise in 
FIG. 10 and FIG. 15A, hits against a contact point 28 of the take-up lever 
11 on its way, and further moves together with the take-up lever 11 in the 
clockwise direction. As previously mentioned, the take-up lever 11 rotates 
clockwise in FIG. 10 freely from the reel 8 which is pausing. 
Such hitting occurs when the shutter 24 is at its retracted position as 
shown in FIG. 13. In other words, the strike occurs at a moment just 
before the suction window 25 is opened. Hence, the impact or vibration 
generated by at the striking may shake the electronic component 1 held 
without any protecting force and located in the center of the opened 
suction window 25 and if worse, allow it to jump out from the storage 
recess 2 or turn to a vertical state. Minute electronic components 1 are 
more liable to be affected by such impact or vibration especially as the 
speed of mounting operation is increased, which causes a decline in the 
picking up capability of the suction nozzle. 
As shown in FIG. 14, the tape guide 12 and the holding member 14 are 
contacted with each other at a point 27 where an extension 12a of the tape 
guide 12 touches a projection 14a of the holding member 14. However, such 
structure does not allow the holding member 14 and the tape guide 12 to 
smoothly contact with each other at the contact point 27, and the force of 
the spring 26 for holding down the tape guide 12 is not efficiently 
transmitted thereto. 
When the tape guide 12 is lifted up from the electronic component carrying 
tape A for some reasons such that the suction nozzle fails to pick up the 
electronic component 1 or that the electronic component 1 drops down 
between the holder tape 3 and the tape guide 12, the force of the spring 
26 for holding down the tape guide 12 cannot swiftly follow up because of 
the poor condition of smoothness at the contact point 27. Accordingly, a 
gap beneath the tape guide 12 will not be eliminated immediately even 
after the electronic component 1 has been removed out by the advancing 
movement of the tape A. The electronic components 1 locating between a 
position where the top tape 4 has been peeled off and a pick-up position 
thus lose the holding down force above them, by which their postures may 
be disturbed thus lowering the efficiency of picking up action. 
In the electronic component feeder in which the feed lever 6 moves the 
small stroke c', the feed lever 6 is constructed to be able to move the 
large stroke d' in order to prevent any damage in the event that the 
actuator lever of the electronic component mounting apparatus moves the 
large stroke d erroneously. This causes such problem as described below. 
When setting the electronic component carrying tape A into the electronic 
component feeder with the small stroke c', the feed lever 6 is manually 
moved. It is, however, difficult to cause the feed lever 6 to move 
precisely by the stroke c' and stop there. In case that the feed lever 6 
is moved further from the small stroke c', the electronic component 
carrying tape A travels an excessive distance hence releasing two or more 
of the electronic components 1 at once and producing a loss. In addition, 
the peeling off of top tape 4 is interrupted on the way and the top tape 4 
may be conveyed together with the holder tape 3 and stuck between the tape 
guide 12 and the feeder body 17. 
When the actuator lever in the electronic component feeder designed for the 
small stroke c' mounted in electronic component mounting apparatus is 
moved accidentally by the large stroke d due to setting errors of the 
program, the feed lever 6 is returned by the large stroke d' to its 
initial position in the counterclockwise direction. This will delay the 
identification of such setting errors in the program of the electronic 
component mounting apparatus. Also, the amount of movement of the shutter 
24 is increased, causing a critical collision between the shutter 24 and 
the suction nozzle. 
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
An electronic component feeder according to the present invention 
comprises: a wheel for conveying a holder tape of an electronic component 
carrying tape by intermittent rotation in one direction and for feeding 
electronic components stored in their respective storage recesses on the 
holder tape in sequence to a component pick up position; a reel for taking 
up a top tape for peeling off the top tape from the holder tape of the 
electronic component carrying tape; a tape guide for receiving and guiding 
the electronic component carrying tape; a shutter which is supported and 
guided by the tape guide and moves forward and backward in such a way that 
the shutter covers the electronic components from above stored in the 
storage recesses of the holder tape after the top tape has been peeled off 
and clears above the component pick-up position for allowing the 
electronic component to be picked up only when the shutter is at its 
retreated position; a slit provided integral with the shutter for passing 
and directing the top tape peeled off from the holder tape to the reel; a 
feed lever which, on receipt of a driving force from an electronic 
component mounting apparatus, repeats intermittent reciprocating rotation 
consisting of forward turning motion, pause, and backward turning motion 
about a pivot center which is identical with that of the reel; a power 
transmitting means for converting the intermittent reciprocating rotation 
of the feed lever to intermittent one-directional turning movements of the 
wheel, in such a way that the wheel is turned only when the feed lever 
turns backward to advance the holder tape; a power transmitting means for 
converting the intermittent reciprocating rotation of the feed lever to 
intermittent forward and backward movements of the shutter, in such a way 
that the shutter is moved backward when the feed lever turns forward and 
the shutter is moved forward when the feed lever turns backward; a take-up 
lever which rotates forward and backward about the pivot center which is 
identical with that of the reel; a spring for giving a bias to cause the 
take-up lever to rotate in the tape take-up direction; a take-up lever 
driving member driven by the feed lever for moving detachably to and from 
the take-up lever so that the take-up lever driving member moves away from 
the take-up lever when the feed lever turns forward so as to allow the 
take-up lever to rotate by the urging force of the spring in the tape 
take-up direction and that when the feed lever turns backward, the take-up 
lever driving member approaches and contacts the take-up lever and further 
causes the take-up lever to rotate in a direction opposite to the tape 
take-up direction; and a one directional power transmitting means for 
transmitting the rotation in the tape take-up direction of the take-up 
lever to the reel so as to cause the reel to rotate in the tape take-up 
direction while not transmitting the rotation in a opposite direction of 
the take-up lever to the reel so as to allow the take-up lever to rotate 
freely. 
According to the present invention described above, with the forward 
rotation of the feed lever, the reel is turned in the tape take-up 
direction to take up the top tape, at the same time when the slit provided 
in the shutter is moved backward thus ensuring the smooth motion of 
peeling off and taking up the top tape. Also, since the take-up lever is 
driven by the urging force of the spring for turning the reel in the tape 
take-up direction, the generation of shock or vibration caused by the 
take-up lever striking immediately before the electronic component is 
picked up as in a prior art will be avoided. The shutter then opens above 
the component pick-up position when the feed lever is pausing, allowing 
the electronic component to be picked up by a suction nozzle or the like. 
At this time, as there has not been generated any shock or vibration, the 
electronic component can be maintained in its correct, stable position. 
This permits the electronic component to be picked up by the suction 
nozzle with high efficiency and steadiness. When the feed lever turns 
backward, the wheel is driven to advance the electronic component carrying 
tape along with the shutter. As the top tape is not peeled off during such 
advancing movement and the electronic component exposed in the storage 
recess is protected by the shutter which is moving along in synchronism. 
Accordingly, the electronic component can be kept stable in position 
during the advancing movement of the electronic component carrying tape. 
Although the take-up lever driving member strikes the take-up lever in the 
backward turning motion of the feed lever, its striking action occurs 
after the electronic component is picked up and will hardly produce an 
adverse effect. 
The electronic component feeding apparatus may further comprise a 
stationary roller for guiding the top tape peeled off to the reel and a 
movable roller provided in the middle between the slit and the stationary 
roller for keeping the length of the top tape between the slit and the 
stationary roller substantially constant. Due to the function of the 
movable roller which holds the top tape with a certain margin, even when 
the shutter is advanced together with the electronic component carrying 
tape thus causing the slit provided in the shutter to advance during the 
backward rotation of the feed lever while the reel is pausing, the movable 
roller adjusts its position by moving an amount equal to the distance the 
slit has moved, preventing an excessive stretching tension from being 
exerted to the peeled off top tape thereby preventing the top tape from 
being cut. The above described function of the movable roller can be 
properly effected with the aid of the stationary roller irrespective of 
the diameter of the top tape taken up around the reel. 
The movable roller may be provided integral with the feed lever for 
simplification of the entire construction. 
It may preferably be arranged that the tape guide is resiliently pressed 
against a feeder body via a holding member in such a way that the tape 
guide and the holding member are directly joined to each other by a 
roller. As the friction between the tape guide and the holding member is 
reduced by the roller, the traceability of the tape guide to the 
electronic component carrying tape is highly improved and the electronic 
component carrying tape can be conveyed more stably. Accordingly, 
electronic component carrying tapes of any type can be dealt with 
irrespective of the thickness of the tape which varies depending on types 
of electronic components carried thereon. It is thus possible to improve 
the component picking up efficiency by suction, to enhance the ability to 
cope with more minute electronic components, and to increase the mounting 
speed. 
Also, an electronic component feeder according to the present invention 
comprises: a wheel for conveying a holder tape of an electronic component 
carrying tape by intermittent rotation in one direction and for feeding 
electronic components stored in their respective storage recesses on the 
holder tape in sequence to a component pick up position; a reel for taking 
up a top tape for peeling off the top tape from the holder tape of the 
electronic component carrying tape; a tape guide for receiving and guiding 
the electronic component carrying tape; a shutter which is supported and 
guided by the tape guide and moves forward and backward in such a way that 
the shutter, clears above the component pick-up position for allowing the 
electronic component to be picked up only when the shutter is at its 
retreated position; a slit provided behind the component pick up position 
for passing and directing the top tape peeled off from the holder tape to 
the reel; a feed lever which, on receipt of a driving force from an 
electronic component mounting apparatus, repeats intermittent 
reciprocating rotation consisting of forward turning motion, pause, and 
backward turning motion about a pivot center which is identical with that 
of the reel; a power transmitting means for converting the intermittent 
reciprocating rotation of the feed lever to intermittent one-directional 
turning movements of the wheel; a power transmitting means for converting 
the intermittent reciprocating rotation of the feed lever to intermittent 
forward and backward movements of the shutter; a power transmitting means 
for converting the intermittent reciprocating rotation of the feed lever 
to a tape take-up motion of the reel; and a stopper for giving a rotation 
inhibiting resistance to the feed lever at a specific position when the 
feed lever rotated more than a given amount and for stopping the rotation 
of the feed lever in its returning rotation at the specific position in 
the event that the feed lever overcomes the rotation inhibiting resistance 
and further rotates in the forward direction. 
According to the present invention described above, when the electronic 
component carrying tape is loaded by hand to the electronic component 
feeder and the feed lever is inadvertently turned more than necessary 
amount, the stopper hits and stops the feed lever. This allows the feed 
lever to be manually turned only by the requisite amount for advancing the 
electronic component carrying tape by a predetermined distance for feeding 
only one of the electronic components at a time. Accordingly, the loss of 
the electronic components will be minimized and the replacement of the 
electronic component carrying tape with a new one will be conducted with 
much ease. 
In case that the actuator lever is turned more than necessary amount due to 
setting errors in a program of the electronic component mounting apparatus 
in which the electronic component feeder is installed, the feed lever hits 
the stopper and stops by the function of the return spring and does not 
return to its initial position after rotating by the excessive amount. 
Component feeding operation is thereby interrupted, by which the setting 
errors of the program can be found at an earlier stage and damages to the 
suction nozzle can be prevented.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
One embodiment of the present invention will be described referring to 
FIGS. 1 to 9. 
An electronic component carrying tape A used in the embodiment is identical 
to that of the prior art shown in FIG. 9 and will be explained in no more 
detail. 
A feed lever 29 denoted by oblique lines in FIG. 1 is constituted for 
intermittent and reciprocating rotation about a first pivot center 41. The 
feed lever 29 is driven by the action of an actuator lever 62 (FIG. 8) in 
an electronic component mounting apparatus and the restoring force of a 
return spring 43 (FIGS. 2 and 8) for turning forward, pausing, and turning 
backward in accordance with the downward motion, pause, and upward motion 
of the actuator lever 62. More particularly, at the same time when a 
suction nozzle of the electronic component mounting apparatus is lifted 
down, the actuator lever 62 is lowered and comes into direct contact with 
the feed lever 29 which then turns about the first pivot center 41 
clockwise for downward (forward) movement as shown in FIG. 1. When the 
suction nozzle picks up an electronic component at its lower limit 
position, the actuator lever 62 also remains stationary at its lower limit 
position as well as the feed lever 29 is paused. When the suction nozzle 
is lifted up, the actuator lever 62 moves upward. At this time, the feed 
lever 29 is driven by the restoring force of the return spring 43 to turn 
counterclockwise in FIG. 1 about the first pivot center 41 for upward 
movement (backward rotation). 
A wheel 47 is constructed identical to that of the prior art as shown in 
FIG. 2, which rotates intermittently in one direction to convey a holder 
tape 3 of the electronic component carrying tape A and feed the electronic 
components 1 stored in their respective recesses 2 of the holder tape 3 
one by one to the picking up position. The wheel 47 is driven for 
advancing the holder tape 3 by the backward rotation of the feed lever 29. 
A power transmitting means for shifting the intermittent reciprocating 
movements of the feed lever 29 to the intermittent one directional 
rotation of the wheel 47 is also constituted similarly with the prior art. 
Specifically, the wheel 47 and the power transmitting means are constructed 
as described below. Referring to FIG. 2, the wheel 47 rotates about a 
second pivot center 48. The feed lever 29 is joined by a link 30 to a 
wheel driving lever 46 which turns about the second pivot center 48. The 
forward rotation, pause, and backward rotation of the feed lever 29 are 
shifted to the clockwise motion, pause, and counterclockwise motion of the 
wheel driving lever 46 shown in FIG. 2. A known one-directional rotary 
ratchet mechanism is mounted between the wheel driving lever 46 and the 
wheel 47 for transmitting a force of rotation to the wheel 47 only when 
the wheel driving lever 46 turns counterclockwise in FIG. 2. The wheel 47 
has a plurality of pins 47a mounted at equal intervals of a pitch at the 
circumferential edge thereof for engagement with a row of sprocket 
apertures 5 provided in the holder tape 3. 
Accordingly, as the feed lever 29 turns forward, the wheel driving lever 46 
is turned clockwise in FIG. 2. Since the wheel driving lever 46 rotates 
freely from the wheel 47, the wheel 47 remains stationary. The wheel 47 
maintains to be stationary when the feed lever 29 is not driven. When the 
feed lever 29 turns backward, the wheel driving lever 46 is turned 
counterclockwise in FIG. 2 and its motion is transmitted by the one 
directional rotary ratchet mechanism to the wheel 47 which then turns 
counterclockwise in FIG. 2. The rotation of the wheel 47 causes the holder 
tape 47 engaged with the pins 47a and thus the electronic component 
carrying tape A to advance. 
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 7, a tape guide 35 for accepting and guiding 
the electronic component carrying tape A is mounted to be resiliently 
urged against a feeder body 36. A holding member 33 which resiliently 
holds down the tape guide 35 includes a hold-down projection 59 for 
pressing a roller 50 mounted on the tape guide 35 and is driven by a 
hold-down spring 60 to press down the roller 50, as best shown in FIG. 7. 
The hold-down projection 59 has a rolling contact with the roller 50 
providing a small resistance to friction and can quickly follow the upward 
and downward displacement of the tape guide 35. 
The tape guide 35 has an opening provided in the upper side thereof for 
allowing the electronic component 1 to be picked up and for passing the 
top tape 4 peeled off from the holder tape 3 to a reel 42, as shown in 
FIG. 3. A shutter 34 is supported and guided by the tape guide 35 and 
moves forward and backward such that the shutter clears above the position 
for picking up the electronic component 1 when it is at its backward 
position. Unlike that of the prior art, the shutter 34 has a flat shutter 
construction. The shutter 34 is designed to cover the opening of the tape 
guide 35 and capable of moving forward and backward with a flat plane for 
protecting from above the electronic component 1 stored in the storage 
recess 2 of the holder tape 3 with the top tape 4 having been peeled off. 
As shown in FIG. 3, the shutter 34 has a component outlet 34a configured 
to be recessed form provided in a front portion thereof for allowing the 
electronic component 1 to be picked up when the shutter 34 is at its 
backward position. Also, the shutter 34 has a slit 51 provided therein at 
the back of the component outlet 34a for passing the top tape 4 peeled off 
from the holder tape 3 to the reel 42. The slit 51 formed integrally in 
the shutter 34 is one of the characteristics of the present invention 
different from the prior art. 
The shutter 34 is moved backward when the feed lever 29 turns forward and 
paused when its turning stops for opening above the position for picking 
up components. The shutter 34 is moved forward when the feed lever 29 
turns backward. A transmitting means for shifting the intermittent 
reciprocation of the feed lever 29 to the intermittent forward and 
backward movements of the shutter 34 is similarly constructed with that of 
the prior art. As explained, the forward rotation, pause, and backward 
rotation of the feed lever 29 are converted to the clockwise motion, 
pause, and counterclockwise motion of the wheel driving lever 46 shown in 
FIG. 2. The wheel driving lever 46 has a first pin 49 for engagement with 
the coupling recess 34a of the shutter 34 and also a slot 45 extending 
lengthwise therein. A pair of front and rear second pins 44 are mounted on 
the tape guide 35 for engagement with the slot 45 of the shutter 34. The 
first pin 49 is used for shifting the intermittent reciprocation of the 
wheel driving lever 46 to the forward and backward movements of the 
shutter 34 which are guided by the engagement between the slot 45 and the 
second pins 44. 
The take-up reel 42 for taking up the top tape 4 peeled off from the holder 
tape 3 of the electronic component carrying tape A is intermittently 
rotated about the first pivot center 41 in the counterclockwise direction 
in FIG. 1 or in a direction for taking up the top tape 4. A take-up lever 
40 is mounted to the first pivot center 41 for forward and backward 
rotation thereabout. In addition, an L shaped lever (take-up lever driving 
member) 38 is provided for forward and backward rotation about a third 
pivot center 38a. The L shaped lever 38 has a lower projection 38b joined 
by a link 37 to the feed lever 29. The L shaped lever also has a reel 
facing projection 38c which is movable to and from a contact point 40a of 
the take-up lever 40. The take-up lever 40 is joined by a return spring 39 
to the link 37 and urged by the tensioning force of the return spring 39 
in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 or a direction for taking up 
the tape. Alternatively, the return spring 39 may be mounted between the 
take-up lever 40 and the feeder body 36 for urging the take-up lever 40 in 
the tape take-up direction. 
A known one directional rotary ratchet mechanism (one directional rotation 
transmitting means) is mounted between the take-up lever 40 and the reel 
42 for transmitting the rotation in the tape take-up direction of the 
take-up lever 40 to the reel 42 to turn the reel 42 in the tape take-up 
direction and for allowing the take-up lever 40 to be turned freely 
without transmitting the rotation of the take-up lever 40 in the reverse 
direction to the reel 42. 
When the feed lever 29 turns in the clockwise direction (forward rotation) 
in FIG. 1, the L shaped lever 38 is moved via the link 37 in the clockwise 
direction in FIG. 1. As the reel facing projection 38c of the L shaped 
lever 38 rotates downward, it departs from the contact point 40a of the 
take-up lever 40. Since the take-up lever 40 is urged by the return spring 
39, it is turned in the counterclockwise (tape take-up) direction in FIG. 
1 in response to the movement of the L shaped lever 38. The rotation of 
the take-up lever 40 is then transmitted by the one directional rotary 
ratchet mechanism to the reel 42 which thus turns in the counterclockwise 
(tape take-up) direction in FIG. 1 for taking up the top tape 4. As the 
reel 42 has taken up a predetermined length of the top tape 4, it is 
balanced by the tension of the top tape 4 and paused due to the resisting 
effect of the tension. Accordingly, the rotation of the take-up lever 40 
is ceased. The L shaped lever 38 continues to turn and finally stops at a 
given position when its reel facing projection 38c comes apart from the 
contact point 40a of the take-up lever 40. 
On the other hand, when the feed lever 29 turns in the counterclockwise 
direction (backward rotation) in FIG. 1, the L shaped lever 38 is moved 
via the link 37 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1. As the reel 
facing projection 38c of the L shaped lever 38 approaches and hits the 
contact point 40a of the take-up lever 40 which is then driven by the L 
shaped lever 38 to turn in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 (opposite to 
the tape take-up direction) before stopping at the given position. While 
the take-up lever 40 is being turned, the reel 42 is disconnected and 
remains resting. At the same time, the return spring 39 stretches to 
restore its resilient energy. 
As explained above, the reel 42 is turned by the forward rotation of the 
feed lever 29 for taking up the top tape 4 which is one of the 
characteristics of this embodiment different from the prior art in which 
the reel is turned for taking up the top tape when the feed lever rotates 
backward. Also, the arrangement that the L shaped lever 38 strikes the 
take-up lever 40 and drives it to turn backward during the backward motion 
of the feed lever 29 is an advantageous feature which is absent in the 
prior art. 
The top tape 4 of the electronic component carrying tape A is taken up by 
the rotation of the reel 42 in the tape take-up direction and peeled off 
from the holder tape 3 upon changing its advancing direction through the 
slit 51. The top tape 4 guided out from the slit 51 is led to the reel 42 
by a movable roller 32 and a stationary roller 31 shown in FIG. 1. The 
stationary roller 31 is fixedly mounted to a particular position in the 
feeder body 36. The movable roller 32 is located between the slit 51 and 
the stationary roller 31 for deflecting the top tape 4 between the slit 51 
and the stationary roller 31 and also arranged movable for varying the 
angle of the deflection. The movable roller 32 moves in relation to the 
slit 51 so that the length of the top tape 4 between the slit 51 and the 
stationary roller 31 is substantially constant regardless of the movement 
of the shutter 34 in which the slit 51 is provided. More specifically, the 
movable roller 32 is joined to the distal end of a shutter facing arm 29a 
of the feed lever 29 as shown in FIG. 1. 
As explained above, in this embodiment, the reel 42 is turned in the tape 
take-up direction for taking up the top tape 4 when the feed lever 29 
rotates forward and at the same time the shutter 34 is retracted backward. 
At this time, the wheel 47 remains stationary thus allowing the holder 
tape 3 to be paused. For smoothly peeling off the top tape 4 from the 
holder tape 3 which is paused, the slit 51 is integrally formed in the 
shutter 34 so that it can move therewith. This allows the top tape 4 to be 
advanced by a distance equal to the backward movement of the slit 51 thus 
being successfully peeled off from the holder tape 3 and taken up on the 
reel 42. 
When the feed lever 29 turns backward, the shutter 34 and its slit 51 are 
moved forward while the reel 42 is paused and the wheel 47 is turned to 
advance the holder tape 3. Therefore, if the movable roller 32 was not 
provided, the top tape 4 would be cut by the forward motion of the slit 
51. For eliminating such an adverse event, the movable roller 32 is 
provided and its action will be explained in more detail referring to FIG. 
5. 
As shown in FIG. 5, the solid lines represent the position of the movable 
roller 32 and the state of the top tape 4 when the slit 51 is located at 
its forward position 54. The broken lines represent the position of the 
movable roller 32 and the state of the top tape 4 when the slit 51 is at 
the backward position 55. When the feed lever 29 turns forward, the 
movable roller 32 is moved downwardly in FIG. 5 in accordance with the 
backward motion of the slit 51 so that the deflection of the top tape 4 
between the stationary roller 31 and the slit 51 is increased in angle. On 
the other hand, when the feed lever 29 turns backward, the movable roller 
32 is moved upwardly in FIG. 5 in accordance with the forward motion of 
the slit 51 so that the deflection of the top tape 4 is decreased allowing 
the smooth forwarding action of the slit 51. In any states shown by solid 
lines or broken lines or in an inbetween state in FIG. 5, the movable 
roller 32 is adjusted so that the length of the top tape 4 between the 
slit 51 and the stationary roller 31 is kept substantially constant. 
Accordingly, the top tape 4 will be prevented from being cut apart by the 
forward motion of the slit 51. 
The stationary roller 31 is designed for ensuring the action of the movable 
roller 32. FIG. 5 illustrates a case in which the roll 53 of taken up top 
tape 4 on the reel 42 is small in diameter, whereas FIG. 6 shows another 
case in which the roll 58 is large. As apparent from the comparison 
between FIGS. 5 and 6, the points 52 and 57 of the top tape 4 tangent to 
the rolls 53 and 58 on the reel 42 respectively are different from each 
other depending on the diameter of the rolls 53 and 58. If the movable 
roller 32 is provided without the aid of the stationary roller 31, its 
position will hardly be controlled to maintain the length of the top tape 
4 between the slit 51 and the point on the roll 53 or 58 substantially 
constant. The stationary roller 31 is provided for preventing variation of 
the roll 53 or 58 from affecting directly on the control of the movable 
roller 32. Accordingly, the smooth forward and backward motion of the slit 
51 or the shutter 34 will be guaranteed with the help of a simple 
construction where the feed lever 29 is provided with the movable roller 
32. 
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 8, a stopper 61 is provided for preventing an 
excessive rotation of the feed lever 29. If the feed lever 29 turns more 
than a predetermined distance, the stopper 61 provides resistance to 
inhibit the rotation of the feed lever 29 at a predetermined rotating 
position e. In the event that the feed lever 29 overcomes the resisting 
force and turns further in the forward direction, the stopper causes the 
feed lever 29 to stop at a given position f in its backward rotation. The 
action of the stopper 61 will be explained in more detail referring to 
FIG. 8. 
FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate two cases of actions of the stopper 61 for 
stopping the feed lever 29 when the feed lever 29 is turned more than 
required. The stopper 61 comprises a leaf spring and has a finger 61a 
formed by folding a distal end portion thereof. 
In FIG. 8A, the feed lever 29 is turned by hand to feed one of the 
electronic components 1 from the electronic component carrying tape A 
loaded manually to the electronic component feeding apparatus. For loading 
the electronic component carrying tape A to the component feeder, the feed 
lever 29 is first turned by hand by a stroke e to advance the electronic 
component carrying tape A to a specific position. Since the feed lever 29 
is capable of moving as far as a stroke f, when the feed lever 29 is 
driven by hand to feed the single electronic component 1, the feed lever 
29 rotates about the first pivot center 41 by the stroke e in the 
counterclockwise direction in FIG. 8A before being hit and stopped by the 
stopper 61. As the feed lever 29 is returned in the clockwise direction in 
FIG. 8A by the yielding force of the return spring 43, the electronic 
component carrying tape A travels a predetermined length to feed only one 
electronic component 1. 
In FIG. 8B, the electronic component feeder is installed in the electronic 
component mounting apparatus of which actuator lever 62 has been moved 
excessively by a setting error in the operation program. 
Due to the setting error in the program of the electronic component 
mounting apparatus in which the electronic component feeder is installed, 
the actuator lever 62 strikes and drives the feed lever 29 to turn about 
the first pivot center 41 by the stroke f in the counterclockwise 
direction in FIG. 8B. Then, the actuator lever 62 stops. Meanwhile, when 
the feed lever 29 has been turned in the counterclockwise direction by the 
stroke e in FIG. 8B, it hits against the finger 61a of the stopper 61. 
Since the driving force of the actuator lever 62 for turning the feed 
lever 29 is greater than the controlling force of the stopper 61 for 
stopping the feed lever 29, the feed lever 29 is not stopped at this point 
and moves further by the point of the stroke f. The finger 61a of the 
stopper 61 then hooks up the feed lever 29 as shown in FIG. 8B. When the 
actuator lever 62 is driven in the clockwise direction in FIG. 8B, the 
feed lever 29 attempts to follow the motion of the actuator lever 62 by 
the yielding force of the return spring 43. However, the feed lever 29 is 
hooked up by the finger 61a of the stopper 61 and cannot return to its 
initial position. 
By providing such stopper 61 as described above, the feed lever 29 can be 
correctly reciprocated by a prescribed stroke for feeding the electronic 
components 1 one by one from the electronic component carrying tape A 
manually loaded to the electronic component feeder. Also, the stopper 61 
eliminates such a disadvantage that the top tape 4 may be stuck between 
the tape guide 35 and the feeder body 36. With the electronic component 
feeder of smaller stroke type installed in the electronic component 
mounting apparatus, the setting error in the operation program which 
causes the large stroke motion of the actuator lever 62 is easily 
identified at an early stage of the operation due to the feed lever 29 
caught at the predetermined rotating position f, hence preventing damages 
to the suction nozzle. Such structure with the stopper 61 is not limited 
to this embodiment but may be applied to the prior art electronic 
component feeder shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. 
Various actions in the embodiment corresponding to the motion of the 
suction nozzle are now explained referring to the timing chart in FIG. 4. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic component carrying tape A is supplied in 
the direction denoted by the arrow from a reel stand (not shown) located 
on the left-hand side in FIG. 1. The top tape 4 is peeled off through the 
slit 51 provided in the shutter 34 shown on the right-hand side and as the 
electronic components 1 have been fed, the holder tape 3 is discharged 
from the tape guide 35. The top tape 4 peeled off at the slit 51 is 
conveyed with its length between the stationary roller 31 and the slit 51 
kept constant by the action of the movable roller 32, passed through the 
stationary roller 31, and taken up on the reel 42. The action of the 
movable roller 32 for keeping the length of the top tape 4 between the 
stationary roller 31 and the slit 51 constant ensures the smooth movement 
of the shutter 34, thus allowing the top tape 4 to be peeled off from the 
holder tape 3 and taken up on the reel 42 in steadiness. 
In accordance with the motion of the suction nozzle, the actuator lever 62 
of the electronic component mounting apparatus is driven to strike the 
feed lever 29 which then turns about the first pivot center 41 downwardly 
in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 (forward rotation). 
The feed lever 29 is joined to the link 37 and the L shaped lever 38. The 
reciprocating swing motions of the feed lever 29 are hence shifted to the 
forward and backward rotation about the first pivot center 41 of the 
take-up lever 40 through the actions of the L shaped lever 38 and the 
return spring 39. 
More particularly, as the feed lever 29 turns in the clockwise direction in 
FIG. 1 (forward rotation), the link 37 is moved in the clockwise direction 
in FIG. 1 causing the L shaped lever 38 to turn about the third pivot 
center 38a in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1. 
The feed lever 29, the take-up lever 40, and the reel 42 are all rotatably 
mounted to the first pivot center 41. The take-up lever 40 is joined by 
the return spring 39 to the link 37. When the feed lever 29 turns upward 
in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 (backward rotation), the L 
shaped lever 38 is turned about the third pivot center 38a in the 
counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1. 
In the relation between the take-up lever 40 and the reel 42 mounted to the 
first pivot center 41, the reel 42 remains stationary when the take-up 
lever 40 is turned in the clockwise direction (opposite to the tape 
take-up direction) in FIG. 1 and when the take-up lever 40 is turned in 
the counterclockwise (tape take-up) direction, the reel 42 turns in the 
same direction as that of the take-up lever 40. 
Accordingly, when the actuator lever 62 of the electronic component 
mounting apparatus is driven in accordance with the motion of the suction 
nozzle to strike and cause the feed lever 29 to turn downward about the 
first pivot center 41 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1, the L shaped 
lever 38 is moved downward in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1. 
Although the L shaped lever 38 departs from the take-up lever 40, the 
restoring force of the return spring 39 joining the take-up lever 40 to 
the link 37 allows the take-up lever 40 to turn downward in the 
counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 without producing any shock or 
vibration. 
While the electronic component carrying tape A is supplied from the 
left-hand side in FIG. 1 in the direction denoted by the arrow, the 
counterclockwise downward motion in FIG. 1 of the take-up lever 40 
triggers rotation of the reel 42 in the counterclockwise (tape take-up) 
direction thus permitting the top tape 4 to be peeled off through the slit 
51 of the shutter 34 and taken up on the reel 42. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the combined actions of the first pin 49 mounted on the 
wheel driving lever 46 and engaged with the coupling recess 34a of the 
shutter 34, the second pins 44 mounted on the tape guide 35, and the slot 
45 provided in the shutter 34 for guiding the second pins 44 permit the 
shutter 34 to perform the prescribed linear reciprocating motions over the 
electronic component carrying tape A in the tape guide 35. 
Accordingly, when the feed lever 29 turns downward (forward rotation), the 
shutter 34 is moved to the right-hand side in FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. 2. 
Simultaneously, the slit 51 creates a force for peeling the top tape 4 by 
a length equal to the amount of backward movement of the shutter 34. As a 
result, the top tape 4 is passed through the movable roller 32 and the 
stationary roller 31 and taken up on the reel 42. 
As shown in FIG. 4, accompanying with the rotation of the take-up lever 40 
in the tape take-up direction, the reel 42 rotates to take up the length 
of the top tape 4 which has been peeled off. 
When the actuator lever 62 of the electronic component mounting apparatus 
is stopped in FIG. 4, the feed lever 29 pauses and the motions of the 
shutter 34, the link 37, and the L shaped lever 38 are ceased. At this 
time, the take-up lever 40 and the reel 42 are balanced by the tension of 
the top tape 4 and thus halted before the L shaped lever 38 stops. 
Under this state, the shutter 34 is moved backward to the right-hand side 
in FIG. 3, allowing its component outlet 34a in recessed form on the 
left-hand side of the end shutter 34 to locate above the storage recess 2 
of the tape A where the electronic component 1 to be picked up is stored. 
The suction nozzle which has been lifted down picks up the electronic 
component 1 located at the center of the component outlet 34a and starts 
to ascend. 
In response to the upward movement of the suction nozzle, the actuator 
lever 62 is turned upward causing the feed lever 29 to follow the upward 
movement of the actuator lever 62 driven upward by the yielding force of 
the return spring 43. 
This is followed by the upward motion of the link 30 and the wheel driving 
lever 46, and the shutter 34 moves forward to the left-hand side in FIGS. 
2 and 3. 
The top tape 4 is advanced without being cut by the action of the movable 
roller 32 even when peeling is stopped and the shutter is further 
proceeded. 
The wheel driving lever 46 and the wheel 47 are arranged to turn about the 
second pivot center 48 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2. As the 
feed lever 29 turns upward, the wheel 47 is turned in the counterclockwise 
direction in FIG. 2 with the pins 47a at the circumferential edge thereof 
engaged with the sprocket apertures 5 of the electronic component carrying 
tape A to advance the electronic component carrying tape A to the 
left-hand side in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
The L shaped lever 38 is then turned upward in the counterclockwise 
direction in FIG. 1 to hit the take-up lever 40 which has been paused, and 
push the same to ascend further. 
When the electronic component carrying tape A has been advanced by a 
predetermined distance by the action of the wheel 47, one cycle of actions 
is finished and the entire apparatus is paused. 
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
As set forth above, the electronic component feeder of the present 
invention is capable of feeding electronic components in stable postures 
reliably into an electronic component mounting apparatus and taking up the 
peeled top tape stably thus increasing the speed of mounting operation.