Abstract:
The invention is directed to prevention of interference of an operation of mounting proper electronic components and improvement of usability without reduction of a manufacturing speed of printed boards. Suction states of electronic components held by suction by suction nozzles are detected by a line sensor unit. When the detection result shows that there is an improper electronic component, the improper electronic component is disposed of, and after the disposal a component recognition camera takes images of electronic components judged proper as a result of the detection and a recognition processing device performs a recognition process. When the recognition result shows that there is an improper electronic component, the improper electronic component is disposed of, and after the disposal only electronic components judged proper as a result of the recognition are mounted on a printed board.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE OF THE INVENTION 
     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-21957, the content of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 11/340,866, filed Jan. 27, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,721,424. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to an electronic component mounting method and an electronic component mounting apparatus, in which electronic components are picked up from a component feeding unit by suction by a plurality of suction nozzles, a component recognition camera takes images of the electronic components, a recognition processing device performs a recognition process to the images, and the only electronic components that are judged proper as a result of the recognition are mounted on a printed board. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     When the component recognition camera takes an image of an electronic component held by suction by the suction nozzle and the electronic component is judged improper, for example, when the electronic component is recognized as wrong due to its bending lead or so-called standing suction (including wrong posture or improper suction), the component is collected in a component collection box. The relevant technology is described in the Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-69287. 
     In a mounting method where electronic components judged proper as a result of the recognition are mounted on a printed board and thereafter the electronic component judged improper as a result of the recognition is disposed of, there can be a problem that the improper electronic component drops to the printed board during the mounting operation of the proper electronic components and the dropping component interferes with the mounting operation of the proper electronic components. 
     The invention is directed to prevention of the interference with the mounting operation of the proper electronic components and improvement of usability without the reduction of the manufacturing speed of the printed boards. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a method of mounting an electronic component. The method includes picking up a plurality of electronic components from a component feeding unit by suction using a plurality of suction nozzles, taking images of the electronic components held by the suction nozzles using a component recognition camera, performing a recognition processing to the images taken by the component recognition processing camera, releasing one of the electronic components that is judged improper as a result of the recognition processing, and mounting on a printed board electronic components that are judged proper as the result of the recognition processing after the releasing of the improper electronic component. 
     The invention also provides an electronic component mounting apparatus that includes a component feeding unit storing a plurality of electronic components, a plurality of suction nozzles picking up the electronic components from the component feeding unit, a component recognition camera taking images of the electronic components held by the suction nozzles, a recognition processing device performing a recognition process to the images taken by the component recognition camera, and a selection device selecting a first mounting sequence in which electronic components judged proper as a result of the recognition processing are mounted on a printed board after electronic components judged improper as the result of the recognition process are released from the suction nozzles or a second mounting sequence in which the electronic components judged improper as the result of the recognition process are released from the suction nozzles after the electronic components judged proper as the result of the recognition processing are mounted on a printed board. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of an electronic component mounting apparatus of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a view of a front longitudinal section of a mounting head body of the embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a view of a side longitudinal section of the mounting head body of the embodiment holding a thin electronic component by suction. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of a first cam, a first lever, and so on of the embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the mounting head body of the embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a simple plan view for explaining a vacuum or air blow state of the embodiment when an electronic component is held by suction or mounted by a suction nozzle. 
         FIGS. 7 and 15  are views of a side longitudinal section of a main portion of the mounting head body of the embodiment holding a thin electronic component by suction. 
         FIG. 8  shows a bottom surface of the main portion of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 9  is a control block diagram. 
         FIG. 10  is a flow chart of a disposal priority mounting sequence. 
         FIG. 11  is a flow chart of a speed priority mounting sequence. 
         FIG. 12  is a view of a side longitudinal section of the mounting head body of the embodiment mounting a thin electronic component. 
         FIG. 13  is a view of a side longitudinal section of the mounting head body of the embodiment holding a thick electronic component by suction. 
         FIG. 14  is a view of a side longitudinal section of the mounting head body of the embodiment mounting a thick electronic component. 
         FIG. 16  is a view of a side longitudinal section of the main portion of the mounting head body of the embodiment holding and slanting the electronic component. 
         FIG. 17  is a view showing a setting screen of the speed priority mounting sequence. 
         FIG. 18  is a view showing a setting screen of the disposal priority mounting sequence. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of an electronic component mounting apparatus will be described with reference to figures.  FIG. 1  is a plan view of an electronic component mounting apparatus  1 , and a plurality of well-known component feeding units  3  as a component feeding device which supplies electronic components to a component pickup position (component suction position) one by one is aligned in each of four blocks on a base (apparatus body)  2  of the electronic component mounting apparatus  1 . That is, the electronic component mounting apparatus  1  is divided into a left stage  1  and a right stage  2 , and further divided into a front portion SIDE-A and a rear portion SIDE-B in each of the stages, so that there are four blocks divided. 
     A feeding conveyer  4  is provided in a middle portion of the mounting apparatus  1  so that a printed board P can be conveyed in a lateral direction. A positioning mechanism for positioning a printed board P received from an upstream device on each of two positioning portions is provided in the feeding conveyer  4 , where electronic components are mounted on the printed board P and then the printed board P is conveyed to a downstream device. 
     A numeral  8  designates a pair of beams extending in an X direction. Each of the beams  8  respectively moves in a Y direction above the printed board P fixed by the positioning portion  5  or the component feeding positions (component pick-up positions) of the component feeding units  3  as sliders  11  fixed to each of the beams  8  slide along a pair of left and right guides, driven by each of linear motors  9 . Each of the linear motors  9  has a pair of upper and lower stationary members fixed on the base  2  and a moving member fixed to a lower part of an attachment board provided on each end of the beam  8 . 
     Each of the beams  8  is provided with a mounting head body  7  which moves in a longitudinal direction, i.e., in the X direction along guides  13  driven by the linear motor  14 . The linear motor  14  has a pair of front and back stationary members  14 A fixed to the beam  8  and a moving member  14 B provided on the mounting head body  7 . Each of the mounting head bodies  7  has a mounting head  16  having twelve suction nozzles  15  each fixed to and pulled up by each of twelve springs  12 . 
     The mounting head  16  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . A numeral  20  designates a rotor of a pulse motor  21  which is provided in an upper part of a first inner cylinder  17 A and rotatable in a θ direction being contact with bearings  23  inside a stator  22  provided in an outer cylinder  18  fixed to the mounting head body  7 . A numeral  25  designates a rotor of a pulse motor  26  which is provided in a lower part of a second inner cylinder  17 B and rotatable in a θ direction being contact with bearings  28  inside a stator  27  provided in the outer cylinder  18  fixed to the mounting head body  7 . Twelve suction nozzles  15  are provided on a circumference of a circle at predetermined intervals inside the second inner cylinder  17 B, being movable upward and downward. 
     A numeral  30  designates a first cam which makes a basic up-and-down stroke of the suction nozzles  15 . The first cam  30  which is fixed to a follower axis  34  rotates by a belt  36  stretched between a pulley  33  provided on a driving axis  32  and a pulley  35  provided on the follower axis  34 , driven by a drive motor  31  ( FIG. 4 ). A cam follower  39  is provided on one side of a first lever  38  which is rotatable around a support axis  29  supported by a support portion  7 A extending from the mounting head body  7 . The support axis  29  and the follower axis  34  are connected with a connecting lever  37 . 
     A numeral  40  designates a second cam which rotates driven by a drive motor  41  and makes an aligned up-and-down stroke of the suction nozzles  15  corresponding to a thickness of an electronic component. The cam follower  39  is pressed into contact with a circumference of the second cam  40 . A cam follower  44  is provided on one end of the second lever  43  which turns around a support axis  42 , and is pressed into contact with a circumference of the first cam  30 . A cam follower  45  is provided on another end of the second lever  43 , and engaged with a cam engagement portion  48  of a vertical shift body  47  which is movable upward and downward along a strut  46  which is a center of θ rotation of the mounting head  16 . A spring  50  is interposed between the vertical shift body  47  and a support body  49 , and pressurizes the vertical shift body  47  downward. 
     A numeral  52  designates a third cam for switching a vacuum valve, which rotates driven by the drive motor  53 . A cam follower  56  on one end of a third lever  55  which turns around a support axis  54  is pressed into contact with the third cam  52 . A cam follower  57  on another end of the third lever  55  is engaged with a cam engagement portion  59  of a vacuum valve switch operating body  58  which is movable upward and downward corresponding to movement of the vertical shift body  47 . 
     The vertical shift body  47  is provided with a vertical shift bar  62  for raising and lowering the suction nozzles  15 . By rotation of the first cam  30  and the second cam  40 , the first lever  38  and the second lever  43  turn around the support axis  29  and the support axis  42  respectively. Then, the vertical shift body  47  descends and the vertical shift bar  62  lowers the suction nozzles  15  by a predetermined stroke corresponding to a thickness of an electronic component D, thus completing mounting of the electronic component D on the printed board P. 
     When the suction nozzle  15  descends for mounting, as shown in  FIGS. 12  (for mounting a thin electronic component) and  14  (for mounting a thick electronic component), turning of the third lever  55  by rotation of the third cam  52  makes the vacuum valve switch operating body  58  descend corresponding to descending of the vertical shift body  47  connected therewith through the cam engagement portion  59 . The vertical shift bar  63  of the vacuum valve switch operating body  58  depresses a first switch bar  65  to turn a switch lever  68  around a support axis  67  and to push a second switch bar  66  upward, so that a projected stopper  61  is engaged with a recess for engagement  69 B of the second switch bar  66 . When picking the electronic component up, as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  13 , and  7 , the vertical shift bar  63  of the vacuum valve switch operating body  58  depresses the second switch bar  66  to turn the switch lever  68  around the support axis  67  and to push the first switch bar  65  upward, so that the projected stopper  61  is engaged with a recess for engagement  69 A of the second switch bar  66 . 
     The vacuum path is disconnected from a vacuum source and air blows in the suction nozzle  15  so as to cease the vacuum suction of the electronic component D by the suction nozzle  15  when the first switch bar  65  descends in response to the descending of the vertical shift bar  63  of the vacuum valve switch operating body  58  during the mounting. On the other hand, the vacuum path is connected to the vacuum source so as to maintain the vacuum suction of the electronic component D by the suction nozzle  15  when the second switch bar  66  descends. 
     That is, air from an air supply source blows in an inner path  15 A of the suction nozzle  15  through an air path  70 , a path  71 , and a connecting path  72  in the state where the first switch bar  65  descends. On the contrary, vacuum suction is performed by connecting the inner path  15 A of the suction nozzle  15  to the vacuum source through the connecting path  72 , the path  71 , and a vacuum path  73  in the state where the second switch bar  66  descends. 
     A numeral  74  designates a line sensor unit for detecting presence or absence and an attached posture of an electronic component and a diameter of a suction nozzle. As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 15 , the line sensor unit  74  has a light emitting unit  80  and a light receiving unit  81 . The light emitting unit  80  has a light emitting element  77  such as an LED in an upper part of a cylindrical light emitting unit attachment body  76 , a lens  78  below the light emitting element  77 , and a prism  79  having a reflective surface  79   a  provided with an inclination of 45 degrees below the lens  78 . The cylindrical light emitting unit attachment body  76  is provided on a lower end of a strut  75  provided almost in a center of each of the mounting heads  16 . Bearings B are provided between the cylindrical light emitting unit attachment body  76  and the third inner cylinder  17 C. A light receiving unit  81  has CCD elements arrayed in a matrix as a plurality of receiving elements for receiving light emitted from the light emitting element  77  through the prism  79 , being fixed on a bottom of the outer cylinder  18 . The mounting head  16  with the line sensor unit  74  can be minimized by placing the line sensor unit  74  as above. 
     This enables differentiating a case where the electronic component is picked up with a normal position as shown in  FIG. 7  from a case where the component is picked up with its wrong surface being attached to the suction nozzle, i.e., standing or slanting ( FIG. 16 ), since height of a lower end surface of the electronic component D can be detected by recognizing a border between the position receiving no light and the position receiving light in each of the CCD elements. In detail, after the suction nozzle  15  descends, picks up the electronic component D from the component feeding unit  3  by suction, and rises up, the pulse motors  21  and  26  are driven to rotate the mounting head  16 , i.e., the first inner cylinder  17 A and the second inner cylinder  17 B rotate around the strut  75  to rotate the suction nozzle  15  holding the electronic component D by suction. When the electronic component D held by the suction nozzle  15  comes between the prism  79  and the light receiving unit  81  while the suction nozzle  15  is rotating, presence or absence, an attached posture and so on of the component can be detected by detecting height of the lower end surface of the electronic component D at plural positions. 
     The outside diameter of the suction nozzle  15  can be also detected by rotating the mounting head  16  at a predetermined speed by driving the pulse motors  21  and  26  at a predetermined speed. In detail, the suction nozzle  15  passes between the prism  79  and the light receiving unit  81  by the rotation of the mounting head  16 , so that the outside diameter of the suction nozzle  15  can be detected by detecting a light-shielded time at the CCD elements as the light receiving elements which receive light from the light emitting element  77  through the prism  79 . Although the detection is performed while the mounting head  16  is rotating and moving in this embodiment, alternatively the detection can be performed with the mounting head  16  being stopped between the prism  79  and the light receiving unit  81 . 
     In a case where the electronic component D is not detected, light emitted from the light emitting element  77  is received by the light receiving unit  81 . Thus, the detection result is “absence” of the electronic component D so that the vertical shift bar  63  of the vacuum valve switch operating body  58  descends to lower the first switch bar  65  and vacuum suction is stopped by disconnecting the vacuum path from the vacuum source by closing a vacuum valve (not shown), preventing leaking. In a case where the electronic component is detected as being attached to the suction nozzle  15  at its wrong surface, i.e., with standing or slanting, the mounting head  16  and the suction nozzle  15  moves to a position above a disposal box  82  ( FIG. 1 ), and drops the electronic component D therein. 
     Even in a case where the electronic component is detected as being attached properly, a lower end level (lower end position) of the electronic component D can be detected so that a CPU  90  controls the drive motor  31  to change an amount of a descending stroke of the suction nozzle  15  for mounting the component D on the printed board P corresponding to the lower end level. This compensates for variations in type of the components D. In detail, the drive motor  31  is driven to rotate the first cam  30  to set it at a predetermined angle and turn the second lever  43  around the support axis  42  so that the vertical shift body  47  descends and the vertical shift bar  62  lowers the suction nozzle  15  by a predetermined amount of a stroke. 
     A numeral  83  designates a component recognition camera. The component recognition camera  83  is provided for each of the mounting heads  16  so that there are four cameras  83  in total. The cameras  83  sequentially take images of all the electronic components D picked up by the suction nozzles  15  to detect an amount of shifting from a proper position of the electronic component D on the suction nozzle  15  in X and Y directions and at rotating angles. Alternatively, the camera  83  can take images of the plurality of the electronic components D simultaneously. Furthermore, the component recognition camera  83  can recognize whether or not the electronic component D is held by suction by the suction nozzle  15  by taking an image. 
     Next, description will be made with reference to a block diagram showing controlling of the electronic component mounting apparatus  1  in  FIG. 9 . A numeral  90  designates the CPU (mounting control portion) as a control portion for controlling the mounting apparatus  1 . The CPU  90  is connected with a RAM (random access memory)  92  and a ROM (read only memory)  93  through buses. The CPU  90  controls all operation for component mounting of the electronic component mounting apparatus  1  according to programs stored in the ROM  93  based on data stored in the RAM  92 . That is, the CPU  90  controls driving of the linear motors  9  and  14 , the pulse motors  21  and  26 , and the drive motors  31 ,  41 , and  53  through an interface  94  and a drive circuit  95 . 
     The RAM  92  is stored with mounting data on component mounting which include values in the X and Y directions (indicated by X and Y respectively) and an angle (indicated by Z) on the printed board, alignment numbers of the component feeding units  3 , and so on in order of component mounting (in order of step number). Furthermore, the RAM  92  is stored with component disposition data which include a type of the electronic component (component ID), alignment coordinates of the component feeding units  3 , and so on corresponding to alignment numbers of the component feeding units  3 . 
     A numeral  91  designates a component recognition processing device connected with the CPU  90  through the interface  94 . In the component recognition processing device  91 , images taken and stored by the component recognition camera  83  undergo recognition processing. 
     The images taken by the component recognition camera  83  are displayed on the CRT  96 . The CRT  96  is provided with various touch panel switches  97  and an operator operates the touch panel switches  97  for various settings including settings for informing. 
     The touch panel switches  97  include a glass substrate which is coated with a transparent conductive film on its whole surface and printed with electrodes on its four edges. When an operator touches one of the touch panel switches  97  in a state where minimal electric currents flow on the surface of the touch panel switches  97 , current flows change at the four electrodes and coordinates of a touched position are calculated by a circuit board connected with the electrodes. If the calculated coordinates correspond to one of coordinates originally stored in the RAM  92 , which will be described below, as a switch for executing a certain operation, the operation is executed. 
     Either a speed priority mounting sequence (speed priority sequence) or a disposal priority mounting sequence (disposal priority sequence) can be set as an operation method. In detail, as shown in  FIG. 17 , in the screen displayed on the CRT  96 , a mounting sequence can be set for each of the four blocks of the left stage  1 , the right stage  2 , the front portion SIDE-A, and the rear portion SIDE-B. The setting of the speed priority mounting sequence will be described. First, a “stage  1 ” switch portion  100  of the touch panel switch  97  is pressed for setting the left stage  1 , and further a “SIDE-A” switch portion  101  is pressed for setting the front portion SIDE-A. Then, an “all improper components” switch portion  102  of a “disposal sequence selection” part is pressed and an “after mounting” switch portion  104  of the “all improper components” switch portion  102  displayed when the “all improper components” switch portion  102  is pressed is pressed. Then, a “simultaneously” switch portion  103  of a “disposal process” part is pressed, and then a “decide” switch portion  105  is pressed, thereby completing the setting of the front portion SIDE-A on the left stage  1  to the speed priority mounting sequence. The rear portion SIDE-B of the left stage  1  and the front and rear portions SIDE-A and SIDE-B of the right stage  2  can be also set in the same manner. It is noted that the setting can be canceled by pressing a “cancel” switch portion  106 . 
     Next, the setting of the disposal priority mounting sequence will be described with reference to  FIG. 18 . First, the “stage  1 ” switch portion  100  of the touch panel switch  97  is pressed for setting the left stage  1 , and further the “SIDE-A” switch portion  101  is pressed for setting the front portion SIDE-A. Then, an “each improper component” switch portion  107  of the “disposal sequence selection” part is pressed, and “before mounting” switch portions  108  to  111  are pressed in the disposal settings of “none found by sensor”, “found standing by sensor”, “none found by component recognition”, “found improper by component recognition” of the “each improper component” switch portion  107  displayed when the “each improper component” switch portion  107  is pressed. Furthermore, the “simultaneously” switch portion  103  of the “disposal process” part is pressed and the “decide” switch portion  105  is pressed, thereby completing the setting of the front portion SIDE-A of the left stage  1  to the disposal priority mounting sequence. The rear portion SIDE-B of the left stage  1  and the front and rear portions SIDE-A and SIDE-B of the right stage  2  can be also set in the same manner. It is noted that the setting can be canceled by pressing the “cancel” switch portion  106 . 
     Accordingly, the described mounting sequence can be set in each of the four blocks of the left and right stages  1  and  2  and the front and rear portions SIDE-A and SIDE-B. 
     With the described structure, the operation of mounting the electronic components D will be described hereafter. First, the printed board P is conveyed from the upstream device to the positioning portion through the feeding conveyer  4 , and the positioning mechanism starts the positioning operation. Although either the speed priority mounting sequence or the disposal priority mounting sequence can be set as the operation method as described above, the description will be given supposing that all the four blocks are set to the disposal priority mounting sequence, with reference to  FIG. 10 . 
     Next, the CPU  90  controls the suction nozzles  15  of the mounting head  16  to pick the electronic components to be picked up from a predetermined component feeding unit  3  according to the mounting data stored in the RAM  92 , the suction nozzles  15  corresponding to the types of the electronic components. For this pick-up operation, the CPU  90  controls the linear motors  9  and  14  so that the suction nozzle  15  of the mounting head  16  in the mounting head body  7  moves to a position above the first electronic component in the component feeding unit  3  which has the electronic components to be mounted. Each of the head bodies  7  moves in the Y direction by moving of the beam  8  along the pair of the guides driven by the linear motor  9  and in the X direction along the guides  13  driven by the linear motor  14 , both the linear motors  9  and  14  being driven by the drive circuit  95 . 
     At this time, the predetermined component feeding unit  3  is already driven and the electronic component is ready to be picked up at a feeding position of the unit  3 . The suction nozzle  15  is selected by rotating of the first inner cylinder  17 A and the second inner cylinder  17 B of the mounting head  16  driven by the pulse motors  21  and  26 , and positioned on one of 0, 3, 6, and 9 o&#39;clock positions in the mounting head  16  and above the component feeding position of the component feeding unit  3 . The first cam  30  rotates to set at a predetermined angle driven by the drive motor  31 , the second lever  43  turns around the support axis  42 , and the vertical shift body  47  descends to lower the vertical shift bar  62  so that the suction nozzle  15  descends by a predetermined stroke to firmly pick the electronic component D up from the component feeding unit  3 . Then, the first cam  30  rotates to set at a predetermined angle and the second lever  43  turns so that the vertical shift body  47  rises up to raise the suction nozzle  15 . 
     At this time, the third cam  52  rotates driven by the drive motor  53  to turn the third lever  55 , the vacuum valve switch operating body  58  descends corresponding to descending of the vertical shift body  47 , and the vertical shift bar  63  descends to push the second switch bar  66  downward. Then, the inner path  15 A of the suction nozzle  15  becomes connected to the vacuum source through the connecting path  72 , the path  71 , and the vacuum path  73 , so that the suction nozzle  15  picks the electronic component D up from the component feeding unit  3  by vacuum suction and rises up with the electronic component D. After the twelve suction nozzles  15  of the mounting head  16  pick up the electronic components D in this manner, the mounting head  16  starts moving toward the position above the corresponding component recognition camera  83 . During this movement, the mounting head  16  rotates driven by the pulse motors  21  and  26 , and the first inner cylinder  17 A and the second inner cylinder  17 B turn around the strut  75  to rotate the suction nozzle  15  holding the electronic component D by suction. The electronic component D held by the suction nozzle  15  comes between the prism  79  and the light receiving unit  81 , and detecting of presence or absence or an attached posture of the electronic component D is performed by detecting height of a lower end surface of the electronic component D at plural positions by the line sensor unit  74 . 
     In a case where the electronic component is detected as being attached to the suction nozzle  15  at its wrong surface or with slanting ( FIG. 16 ), since the disposal setting is set to “before mounting”, the mounting head  16  and the suction nozzles  15  move to a position above the disposal box  82 , and drops the electronic component D therein for the component disposal process. 
     After the disposal of this improper electronic component, the CPU  90  moves the mounting head  16  toward above the component recognition camera  83 . In the timing that the mounting head  16  passes above the component recognition camera  83 , the component recognition camera  83  takes images of all the electronic components D held by suction by the mounting head  16  simultaneously and takes the images therein during the movement of the beam  8 , and the recognition processing device  91  performs the component recognition process. 
     Then, when the component is recognized as improper due to standing or a wrong component or the component is not recognized as a result of the component recognition process, since the disposal setting is set to “before mounting”, the mounting head  16  and the suction nozzle  15  move to above the disposal box  82  and drops the improper component D therein, thereby completing the component disposal process. 
     After the disposal of the improper electronic component, the electronic components D that are judged proper in the detection and the recognition, the vacuum suction of the components is kept and the lower end levels (lower end positions) of the electronic components D are detected by the line sensor unit  74 . Therefore, the CPU  90  controls the drive motor  31  to change an amount of a descending stroke of the suction nozzles  15  for mounting the components D on the printed board P corresponding to the lower end levels. This compensates for variations in type of the components D. 
     That is, the drive motor  31  is driven to rotate the first cam  30  to set it at a predetermined angle and turn the second lever  43  around the support axis  42  so that the vertical shift body  47  descends and the vertical shift bar  62  lowers the suction nozzle  15  by a predetermined amount of a stroke for mounting of the electronic component D. In this case, the mounting head  16  and the suction nozzle  15  are moved according to the recognition result of the recognition processing device  91 , and the electronic component D is mounted on the printed board P. In detail, the CPU  90  receives a recognition result calculated by the component recognition processing device  91 , and calculates a coordinate value of a moving target position in X, Y, and θ. Then, the CPU  90  drives the linear motor  9  to move the beam  8  in the Y direction to a target coordinate value calculated with the recognition result, drives the linear motor  14  to move the mounting head  16  in the X direction, and drives the pulse motors  21  and  26  to rotate the suction nozzle  15  to set at a θ angle. The first cam  30  and the second cam  40  rotate so that the suction nozzle  15  descends by a predetermined stroke corresponding to a thickness of the electronic component D, mounts the electronic component D on the printed board P, and rises up. The CPU  90  repeats this operation until all the electronic components D held by suction by the suction nozzles  15  of the mounting head  16  are mounted. 
     Then, when all the electronic components D specified by the mounting data are mounted on the printed board P, the printed board P is moved from the upstream device onto the left stage  1 , the printed board P on the left stage  1  is moved onto the right stage  2 , and the printed board P on the stage  2  is moved onto the downstream device. 
     As described above, in the disposal priority mounting sequence, when there is an electronic component judged improper as a result of the detection or the recognition, the improper electronic component is disposed of and thereafter the only electronic components D judged proper as a result of the recognition are mounted on the printed board P. This can prevent the problem that the improper electronic component drops to the printed board during the mounting operation of the electronic components judged proper as a result of the recognition, which can occur by a mounting method where the improper electronic component is disposed of after the proper electronic components are mounted on the printed board. 
     In this disposal priority mounting sequence, when the disposal settings of “each improper component” are set to “after mounting”, the suction state of the electronic components D held by suction by the suction nozzles  15  are detected by the line sensor unit  74 , and then the component recognition camera  83  takes images of the electronic components D held by suction by the suction nozzles  15  and the recognition processing device  91  performs the recognition process. Then, the only electronic components D judged proper as a result of the detection by the line sensor unit  74  and as a result of the recognition by the recognition processing device  91  are mounted on the printed board P, and thereafter the electronic component D judged improper as a result of the detection and the recognition is moved to above the disposal box  82  and is dropped and disposed of therein. 
     In this case where the disposal setting is set to “after mounting” and there is a component judged improper in the disposal priority mounting sequence, the only electronic components D judged proper as a result of the detection and the recognition are mounted on the printed board P, and thereafter the electronic component judged improper as a result of the detection and the recognition, which corresponds to the type set to the “after mounting” in the disposal settings, is disposed of. Therefore, the electronic components to be disposed of before the mounting operation of the electronic components D can be reduced, and thus the operation of mounting the electronic components can be performed speedily. 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 11 , when the speed priority mounting sequence is set, the component recognition camera  83  takes images of the electronic components D held by suction by the suction nozzles  15  and the recognition processing device  91  performs the recognition process first. Then, the only electronic components D judged proper as a result of the recognition by this recognition processing device  91  are mounted on the printed board P, and thereafter the electronic component judged improper as a result of the recognition is disposed of. 
     In this speed priority mounting sequence, the only electronic components D judged proper as a result of the recognition are mounted on the printed board P, and thereafter the electronic component judged improper as a result of the recognition is disposed of. Therefore, the mounting operation of the electronic components can be performed speedily. 
     As described above, since selection can be made between the disposal priority mounting sequence and the speed priority mounting sequence, the electronic component mounting apparatus is convenient for the operator. 
     Although particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus and method are possible based on the disclosure for those skilled in the art and lie within the scope of the present invention.