Abstract:
An electronic component feeding apparatus which conveys electronic components in a ranging condition and feeds a foremost electronic component to a component taking-out position. This apparatus includes a component conveying passage, a shutter for opening and closing a component outlet port of the component passage, a component stopper including an air suction path which leads to the component outlet port, a shutter for opening and closing the component outlet port, an air suction unit having an air suction port, an air tube for communicating an air suction force from the air suction port to the air suction path, and a lever mechanism for operating the shutter and the air suction unit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    (1) Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an electronic component feeding apparatus for conveying electronic components such as chip components in a ranging condition and feeding a foremost electronic component to a component taking-out position.  
           [0003]    (2) Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    This kind of an electronic component feeding apparatus has been disclosed in a Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H6-232596. The apparatus disclosed in the application has functions to discharge chip components contained in a bulk state in a storeroom onto a belt through a component conveying pipe, to convey the discharged chip components by use of a belt, and to stop the conveyed chip components at a predetermined component taking-out position by use of a stopper.  
           [0005]    In the above-described apparatus, since the belt is used in order to convey chip components forward, a mechanism for moving the belt, for example, a ratchet mechanism for intermittently moving the belt becomes separately necessary. Recently, a reduction in cost has been requested for this kind of apparatus, but in the above-described apparatus requiring the belt and its moving mechanism in order to convey components, there is naturally a limit to reduce the apparatus cost. Apart from the above-described apparatus, there has been known an apparatus utilizing air suction for conveying the chip components forward, but since a large-sized suction source such as a vacuum pump will be separately required, and air piping from the suction source will become complicated, this is not suitable to reduce the apparatus cost.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    An object of the present invention is to provide a low-priced electronic component feeding apparatus simple in structure, capable of precisely feeding electronic components.  
           [0007]    In order to attain the above-described object, the present invention comprises: a component passage for conveying electronic components in a ranging condition, said component passage having a component outlet port; a shutter for opening and closing the component outlet port of the component passage; a component stopper for stopping an advancement of the electronic components, said component stopper including an air suction path which leads to the component outlet port of the component passage; an air suction unit having an air suction port; an air tube for communicating an air suction force from the air suction port of the air suction unit to the air suction path of the component stopper; and a lever mechanism for operating the shutter and the air suction unit so that the air suction force acts in the air suction path of the component stopper through the air tube when the component outlet port of the component passage is closed by the shutter, and no air suction force acts in the air suction path of the component stopper through the air tube when the component outlet port of the component passage is opened by the shutter.  
           [0008]    According to this electronic component feeding apparatus, the air suction force generated in the air suction unit is caused to act on the component outlet port of the component passage through the air tube and the air suction path of the component stopper, whereby it is possible to cause a flow of air toward the component stopper within the component passage through the use of this air suction force, to convey the electronic components within the component passage in the ranging condition by means of this flow of air, and to cause the foremost electronic component to abut on the component stopper. Therefore, such the belt and its moving mechanism, the large-sized suction source such as the vacuum pump, the air piping from this suction source and so on in the conventional case are not required in order to convey the electronic components.  
           [0009]    Also, the air suction force acts in the air suction path of the component stopper through the air tube when the component outlet port of the component passage is closed by the shutter, and no air suction force acts in the air suction path of the component stopper through the air tube when the component outlet port of the component passage is opened by the shutter, whereby conveyance of components by air suction can be precisely executed.  
           [0010]    The foregoing and other objects of the present invention, structural features, and operational effect will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a left side view showing an electronic component feeding apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views each showing an example of a shape of an electronic component applicable to the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a partially-enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a partially-enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing a component passage of a first component guide portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a partially-enlarged top view showing the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a view obtained by excluding a shutter and a supporting shaft from FIG. 5;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a view obtained by excluding a component stopper and the supporting shaft from FIG. 6;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on a line A-A of FIG. 7;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 9A to  9 D are a top view, a left side view, a partially-exploded left side view and a partially-exploded front view showing the component stopper respectively;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 10A and 10B are a top view and a left side view showing the shutter respectively;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 is a left side view showing an operating lever;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 12 is a left side view showing a driving lever;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 13 is a left side view showing a driving plate;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing an operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIGS. 19A and 19B are explanatory views each showing the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 20 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIGS. 21A and 21B are explanatory view each showing the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 22 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 23 is a left side view showing an electronic component feeding apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 24 is a partially-enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing the apparatus shown in FIG. 23;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 25 is a partially-enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing a component passage of a first component guide portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 23;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 26 is a partially-enlarged top view showing the apparatus shown in FIG. 23;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 27 is a view obtained by excluding a fixed shutter and a supporting shaft from FIG. 26;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 28 is a view obtained by excluding a movable shutter from FIG. 27;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 29 is a view obtained by excluding a component stopper and a supporting shaft from FIG. 28;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 30 is a sectional view taken on a line B-B of FIG. 29;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIGS. 31A to  31 C are a top view, a left side view, and a partially-exploded rear view showing the component stopper respectively;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIGS. 32A and 32B are a top view and a left side view showing the movable shutter respectively;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIGS. 33A and 33B are a top view and a left side view showing the fixed shutter respectively;  
         [0044]    [0044]FIGS. 34A to  34 D are a left side view showing the operating lever, a left side view showing a first link, a left side view showing a third link, and a left side view showing a fourth link respectively;  
         [0045]    [0045]FIGS. 35A and 35B are left side views showing a second link and a fifth link respectively;  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 36 is a left side view showing a first driving lever;  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 37 is a left side view showing a second driving lever;  
         [0048]    [0048]FIGS. 38A and 38B are a top view and a longitudinal sectional view showing a manifold respectively;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 39 is an explanatory view illustrating an operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 23;  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 40 is an explanatory view illustrating an operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 23;  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 41 is an explanatory view illustrating an operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 23;  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 42 is an explanatory view illustrating an operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 23;  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 43 is an explanatory view illustrating an operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 23;  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 44 is an explanatory view illustrating an operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 23;  
         [0055]    [0055]FIGS. 45A and 45B is explanatory views each illustrating an operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 23;  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 46 is an explanatory view illustrating an operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 23;  
         [0057]    [0057]FIGS. 47A and 47B are explanatory views each illustrating an operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 23;  
         [0058]    [0058]FIGS. 48A and 48B are views showing a variation of a component stopper according to the first and second embodiments respectively;  
         [0059]    [0059]FIGS. 49A and 49B are views showing a variation of a component stopper according to the first and second embodiments respectively;  
         [0060]    [0060]FIGS. 50A and 50B are views showing a variation of a component stopper according to the first and second embodiments respectively;  
         [0061]    [0061]FIGS. 51A and 51B are views showing a variation of a component stopper according to the first embodiment respectively;  
         [0062]    [0062]FIGS. 52A and 52B are views showing a variation of a component stopper according to the second embodiment respectively;  
         [0063]    [0063]FIGS. 53A and 53B are views showing a variation of a component stopper according to the first and second embodiments respectively;  
         [0064]    [0064]FIGS. 54A and 54B are views showing a variation of a component stopper according to the first and second embodiments respectively;  
         [0065]    [0065]FIGS. 55A and 55B are views showing a variation of a rear-side component passage according to the first and second embodiments respectively;  
         [0066]    [0066]FIGS. 56A and 56B are views showing a variation of a rear-side component passage according to the first and second embodiments respectively;  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 57 is a view showing a variation of an air cylinder according to the first and second embodiments;  
         [0068]    [0068]FIGS. 58A to  58 C are views showing a variation of an air auxiliary passage according to the first and second embodiments respectively; and  
         [0069]    [0069]FIGS. 59A and 59B are views showing a variation of the air auxiliary passage according to the first and second embodiments respectively. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0070]    [First Embodiment] 
         [0071]    FIGS.  1  to  22  show a first embodiment according to the present invention, and in the following description, the left side of FIG. 1 is indicated as front, the right, as behind, this side, as left, and the inside, as right.  
         [0072]    [0072]FIG. 1 is a left side view showing an electronic component feeding apparatus, FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views each showing an example of a shape of an electronic component applicable to the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a partially-enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a partially-enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing a component passage of a first component guide portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a partially-enlarged top view showing the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 6 is a view obtained by excluding a shutter and a supporting shaft from FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a view obtained by excluding a component stopper and the supporting shaft from FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on a line A-A of FIG. 7, FIGS. 9A to  9 D are a top view, a left side view, a partially-exploded left side view and a partially-exploded front view showing the component stopper respectively, FIGS. 10A and 10B are a top view and a left side view showing the shutter respectively, FIG. 11 is a left side view showing an operating lever, FIG. 12 is a left side view showing a driving lever, FIG. 13 is a left side view showing a driving plate, and FIGS.  14  to  22  are explanatory views illustrating an operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0073]    In those drawings, reference numeral  1  denotes a frame;  2 , a storage unit,  3 , a fixed pipe;  4 , a movable pipe;  5 , a pipe holder;  6 , a first component guide;  7 , a first cover for the first component guide;  8 , a second component guide;  9 , a second cover for the second component guide;  10 , a component stopper;  11 , a shutter;  12 , an operating lever;  13 , a driving lever;  14 , a driving plate;  15 , an air cylinder;  16 , a control valve; and  17 , an air tube.  
         [0074]    The frame  1  is formed by shaping a plate material obtained by stamping a metallic plate of stainless steel or the like in a predetermined shape, by performing flex or the like. In the frame  1  shown in the drawing, the lower end edge and the rear end edge are provided with a bent portion for improving the frame stiffness, but these bent portions are not always required. On the left side surface of the frame  1 , there are provided a first stopper  1   a  for stipulating a return position of the operating lever  12 , and a second stopper  1   b  for stipulating a return position of the driving lever  13 .  
         [0075]    The storage unit  2  has a storeroom  2   a  having a smaller dimension along the lateral direction than a dimension along the back-and-forth direction, and having a substantially V-character-shaped inclined bottom surface. On the top of the storage unit  2 , there are provided a replenish port  2   b  for replenishing components into the storeroom  2   a , and a slide cover  2   c  for opening or closing this replenish port  2   b . Also, at the deepest recess of the storeroom  2   a , there is formed a circular port  2   d  so as to penetrate, and a substantially-cylindrical bushing  2   e  is fitted in this circular hole  2   d . The bushing  2   e  has a cone-shaped guide surface  2   e   1  at the top end, has, at the center, an inner hole  2   e   2  having a slightly smaller circular cross section than an upper outside diameter of the movable pipe  4 , and has an annular concave portion  2   e   3  for housing an upper part of a first coiled spring CS 1 , and a collar  2   e   4  for stipulating a fitting-in position on the circular hole  2   d  at the lower part. In the storage unit  2 , at least the left side portion is constructed by a transparent part in such a manner that a quantity of stored components can be confirmed from outside. Also, the storage unit  2  is detachably mounted to the frame  1  by means of setscrews.  
         [0076]    Within the storeroom  2   a , a multiplicity of electronic components EC having such a square pillar shape as shown in FIG. 2A are housed in a bulk state. This electronic component EC is chip component such as, for example, chip condenser, chip inductor and chip resistor, and have external electrodes ECa at both ends in the lengthwise direction. The electronic component EC shown in FIG. 2A has dimensional relationship of length&gt;width=height, and it is also possible to handle the electronic component EC having such dimensional relationship of length&gt;width&gt;height as shown in FIG. 2B.  
         [0077]    The fixed pipe  3  is constructed by circular pipe material of predetermined length made of metal, hard resin or the like, and has an inner hole having a circular cross section at the center. The shape of the cross section of the inner hole in the fixed pipe  3  is slightly larger than length of a diagonal line of the end surface of the electronic component EC so that the electronic component EC can be caused to fall down by gravity in the lengthwise direction. This fixed pipe  3  is inserted at its lower end portion into a pipe mounting hole of the first component guide  6  through a pinching slit  5   a  of the pipe holder  5 . The pipe holder  5  is secured to the first component guide  6  by screws, and a clearance in the pinching slit  5   a  is narrowed by a screwing operation, whereby the fixed pipe  3  can be held. The upper end of the fixed pipe  3  is at a slightly lower position than the upper end of the bushing  2   e , but may be at a position which coincides with the upper end of the bushing  2   e , or at a slightly higher position than the upper end thereof.  
         [0078]    The movable pipe  4  portion other than the bushing  4   d  is made of metal, hard resin or the like, and the movable pipe  4  has a cone-shaped guide surface  4   a  at the top end, and has, at the center, an inner hole  4   b  having a slightly larger circular cross section than the outside diameter of the fixed pipe  3 . Also, inside the lower part of the movable pipe  4 , there is formed a bushing mounting hole  4   c , and in this hole  4   c , there is mounted a bushing  4   d  made of non-lubricated resin or the like in order to reduce kinetic frictional resistance between the fixed pipe  3  and the hole  4   c . Further, on the external surface of the movable pipe  4 , there are formed a first collar  4   e  and a second collar  4   f , and the outside diameter of an upper side portion of the first collar  4   e  of the movable pipe  4  is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the inner hole  2   e   2  of the bushing  2   e . This movable pipe  4  is arranged in annular space between the bushing  2   e  and the fixed pipe  3  in such a manner as to be movable vertically. Also, between the bushing  2   e  and the first collar  4   e , there is interposed a first coiled spring CS 1 , between the first collar  4   e  and the second collar  4   f , there is interposed a second coiled spring CS 2 , and between the second coiled spring CS 2  and the second collar  4   f , there is inserted an U-character-shaped engaging portion  13   c  of the driving lever  13 . The movable pipe  4  is biased downward by the first coiled spring CS 1  so that the top end of the movable pipe  4  in a standby state is located at a lower position than the top end of the fixed pipe  3 . In the drawings, there has been exemplified a movable pipe in which force relationship between the first coiled spring CS 1  and the second coiled spring CS 2  is set to CS 1 &lt;CS 2 , but the force relationship between the first coiled spring CS 1  and the second coiled spring CS 2  may be CS 1 =CS 2  or CS 1 &gt;CS 2 .  
         [0079]    A first component guide  6  has, as shown in FIG. 3, a groove  6   a  for a pipe mounting hole, and a component passage groove  6   b  connected thereto on the left side, and is secured to the left side of the frame  1  by screws. The groove  6   b  consists of a curved portion and a long-sideways portion, and has a slightly larger rectangular cross section than a shape of an end surface of the electronic component EC. Also, an aperture edge of the long-sideways portion of the groove  6   b  is formed with an air auxiliary passage groove  6   c  being shallower than the groove  6   b  from the front end thereof to this side of the curved portion. On the left side of the first component guide  6 , a transparent first cover  7  is detachably secured by screws so as to block respective side apertures for the groove  6   a  for a pipe mounting hole, the component passage groove  6   b  and the air auxiliary passage groove  6   c . More specifically, the groove  6   a  for a pipe mounting hole is blocked at its side aperture by the first cover  7 , whereby the groove serves as the pipe mounting hole, and as shown in FIG. 4, the component passage groove  6   b  is blocked at its side aperture by the first cover  7 , whereby the component passage groove  6   b  serves as the component passage (hereinafter, the same symbol  6   b  as the groove  6   b  will be cited). The air auxiliary passage groove  6   c  is blocked at its side aperture by the first cover  7 , whereby the air auxiliary passage groove  6   c  serves as the air auxiliary passage (hereinafter, the same symbol  6   c  as the groove  6   c  will be cited).  
         [0080]    A second component guide  8  has, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a component passage groove  8   a  on the top surface, and is secured to the left side of the frame  1  by screws in such a manner that the groove  8   a  is continuous to the above-described component passage  6   b  without any difference in level. The groove  8   a  consists of a long-sideways portion and a curved portion, and has a slightly larger rectangular cross section than a shape of an end surface of the electronic component. Also, aperture edges of the long-sideways portion and the curved portion of the groove  8   a  are formed with an air auxiliary passage groove  8   b  being shallower than the groove  8   a  from the front end thereof to the rear end in such a manner that it communicates to the above-described air auxiliary passage  6   b . As shown in FIG. 5, on the nearly left half of the top surface of the second component guide  8 , a transparent second cover  9  is detachably secured by a setscrew FS so as to block top surface apertures other than tip end portions of the component passage groove  8   a  and the air auxiliary passage groove  8   b . In other words, the component passage groove  8   a  is blocked at the top surface apertures other than the tip end portions by the second cover  9  as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, whereby the component passage groove  8   a  serves as the component passage (hereinafter, the same symbol  8   a  as the groove  8   a  will be cited), and the air auxiliary passage groove  8   b  is blocked at the top surface apertures other than the tip end portions by the second cover  9 , whereby the air auxiliary passage groove  8   b  serves as the air auxiliary passage (hereinafter, the same symbol  8   b  as the groove  8   b  will be cited).  
         [0081]    Also, on the right side of the top surface of the second component guide  8 , there is formed a concave portion  8   c  for housing the component stopper. This concave portion  8   c  has such a shape of top surface as shown in FIG. 7, and the component passage groove  8   a  and the air auxiliary passage groove  8   b  are extendedly provided to the left side of a narrow portion of the concave portion  8   c . The depth of the concave portion  8   c  is slightly larger than the thickness of the component stopper  10 , and a base of the narrow portion is formed with an air flow port  8   d , and on the underside thereof, there is formed an air tube connecting hole  8   e  so as to penetrate, and on the base of a wide portion of the concave portion  8   c , there is formed a tapped hole  8   f  for mounting the supporting shaft SS 1 . Further, on the top surface of the second component guide  8 , there are formed a tapped hole  8   g  for mounting a setscrew FS for the second cover, and a tapped hole  8   h  for mounting the supporting shaft SS 2 .  
         [0082]    The component stopper  10  has such a shape of top surface as shown in FIG. 9A, and predetermined thickness. As can be also seen from FIGS. 9B to  9 D, in the front end portion of the component stopper  10 , air flow ports  10   a  having a semicircular cross section are formed at a predetermined interval so as to penetrate, and between two air flow ports  1   a , there is formed a concave portion  10   b . To this concave portion  10   b , a permanent magnet MG made of samarium-cobalt magnet or the like is fixed such that one of N-pole and S-pole is opposite to an attraction wall  10   c . The thickness of the permanent magnet MG is smaller than the depth of the concave portion  10   b , and the height of the top surface of the attraction wall  10   c  coincides with that of this permanent magnet MG. More specifically, on the upper side of the permanent magnet MG and the attraction wall  10   c , there is formed an air flow channel  10   d  for communicating to the top portion of two air flow ports  10   a  while the top surface of the component stopper  10  is covered by the shutter  11 , and in the component stopper  10 , there is constituted an air suction path capable of communicating to the tip end of the component passage  8   a  by means of the air flow port  1   a  and the air flow channel  10   d . Also, on the left side of the rear end portion of the component stopper  10 , there is formed a hole  10   e  for housing a third coiled spring CS 3 , and on the right side thereof, there is formed a curved surface portion  10   f . Further, at the center of the component stopper  10 , there is formed a hole  10   g , into which the supporting shaft SS 1  is inserted. After the third coiled spring CS 3  is mounted in the hole  10   e  as shown in FIG. 6, the supporting shaft SS 1  inserted into the hole  10   g  is mounted into the tapped hole  8   f  in the second component guide  8 , whereby the component stopper  10  is arranged within the concave portion  8   c  in the second component guide  8 . The component stopper  10  rotatably supported by the supporting shaft SS 1  is biased in anti-clockwise direction by the third coiled spring CS 3  so that the attraction wall  10   c  is in contact with the left side of the narrow portion of the concave portion  8   c.    
         [0083]    The shutter  11  has such a shape of top surface as shown in FIG. 10A, and predetermined thickness. As can be also seen from FIG. 10B, in the front end portion of the shutter  11 , there is formed a guide groove  11   a , into which the front-side supporting shaft SS 2  is inserted, and in the rear portion, there is formed a guide hole  11   b , into which the rear-side supporting shaft SS 2  is inserted. Also, behind the guide groove  11   a  of the shutter  11 , there is formed a component outlet port  11   c  capable of opening the tip end portions of the component passage groove  8   a  and the air auxiliary passage groove  8   b . Further, at the substantially center of the shutter  11 , a protrusion lid with a slope for causing the component stopper  10  to make rotational displacement is provided so as to protrude on the under surface side. Further, on the back side of a guide hole  11   b  of the shutter  11 , there is formed an engaging hole lie, into which an engaging portion  14   a  of the driving plate  14  is inserted. As shown in FIG. 5, the supporting shafts SS 2  inserted into the guide groove  11   a  and the guide hole  11   b  are mounted into the tapped holes  8   h  in the second component guide  8 , whereby this shutter  11  is arranged on the top surface of the second component guide  8  so as to block the top surface aperture of the concave portion  8   c  and the tip end portions of the component passage groove  8   a  and the air auxiliary passage groove  8   b . In other words, the tip end portion of the component passage groove  8   b  is blocked at its top surface aperture by the shutter  11 , whereby the tip end portion of the component passage groove  8   a  serves as the component passage (hereinafter, the same symbol  8   a  as the groove  8   a  will be cited), and the tip end portion of the air auxiliary passage groove  8   b  is blocked at its top surface aperture by the shutter  11 , whereby the tip end portion of the air auxiliary passage groove  8   b  serves as the air auxiliary passage (hereinafter, the same symbol  8   b  as the groove  8   b  will be cited). The shutter  11  is capable of moving in a back-and-forth direction while being regulated in direction by means of two supporting shafts SS 2 . The component outlet port  11   c  of the shutter  11  in a stand-by state is deviated forward from the tip end portions of the component passage  8   a  and the air auxiliary passage  8   b.    
         [0084]    The operating lever  12  has such a shape of left side as shown in FIG. 11, and predetermined thickness. On the left side of the top end portion of the operating lever  12 , a first roller  12   a  is rotatably provided, and on the right side of the underside thereof, there are provided a second roller  12   b  for the driving lever, and a third roller  12   c  for the driving plate. Also, between a second roller  12   b  of the operating lever  12  and the third roller  12   c , there is formed a hole  12   d  for engaging one end of the fourth coiled spring CS 4 , and at the lower end of the operating lever  12 , there is formed a hole  12   e  for coupling a coupled plate  15   b  provided for a rod  15   a  of the air cylinder  15 . Further, the bent portion of the operating lever  12  is formed with a hole  12   f , through which the supporting shaft SS 3  is inserted. As shown in FIG. 1, the supporting shaft SS 3  inserted through the hole  12   f  is mounted in a tapped hole (not shown) in the frame  1 , and the fourth coiled spring CS 4  is extended between the hole  12   d  and the frame  1 , whereby this operating lever  12  is arranged on the left side of the frame  1 . The operating lever  12  rotatably supported by the supporting shaft SS 3  is biased in anti-clockwise direction by the fourth coiled spring CS 4  so that it is in contact with the first stopper  1   a.    
         [0085]    The driving lever  13  has such a shape of left side as shown in FIG. 12, and predetermined thickness. At the front end of the driving lever  13 , there is formed an inclined surface  13   a , and in the rear portion, a 90° bent plate-shaped portion  13   b  is integrally formed, and at the rear end portion of the plate-shaped portion  13   b , there is formed a U-character-shaped engaging portion  13   c . Also, at the center of the driving lever  13 , there is formed a hole  13   d , through which the supporting shaft SS 4  is inserted. The supporting shaft SS 4  inserted through the hole  13   d  is mounted in a tapped hole (not shown) in the frame  1 , whereby the driving lever  13  is arranged on the side of the left side of the frame  1  as shown in FIG. 1. An engaging portion  13   c  of the driving lever  13  rotatably supported by the supporting shaft SS 4  is inserted between the second coiled spring CS 2  and the second collar  4   f , and the driving lever  13  is biased in clockwise direction by the first coiled spring CS 1  so that it is in contact with the first stopper  1   b . Also, a flat surface  13   a  of the driving lever  13  is located in contact or in non-contact on the underside of the second roller  12   b  of the operating lever  12 .  
         [0086]    The driving plate  14  has such a shape of left side as shown in FIG. 13, and predetermined thickness. On the underside at the font end of the driving plate  14 , there is formed an engaging portion  14   a  capable of being inserted into an engaging hole  11   e  of the shutter  11 . Also, in the front and rear portions of the driving plate  14 , there is formed a guide hole  14   b , through which the supporting shaft SS 5  is inserted. Further, behind a front-side guide hole  14   b  of the driving plate  14 , there is formed a slit  14   c  for housing a fifth coiled spring CS 5 , and behind it, there is formed a hole  14   d  for engaging one end of the fifth coiled spring CS 5 . Further, behind a guide hole  14   b  behind the driving plate  14 , there is formed a long-sideways control hole  14   e  in which a third roller  12   c  of the operating lever  12  can be inserted. As shown in FIG. 1, the supporting shafts SS 5  inserted into two guide holes  14   b  are mounted into tapped holes (not shown) in the frame  1 , the fifth coiled spring CS 5  is extended between the hole  14   d  and the frame  1  through the use of the slit  14   c , the engaging portion  14   a  is inserted into an engaging hole  11   e  in the shutter  11 , and the second roller  12   c  of the operating lever  12  is inserted into the control hole  14   e , whereby this driving plate  14  is arranged on the side of the left side of the frame  1 . The driving plate  14  is capable of moving in a back-and-forth direction while being regulated in direction by two supporting shafts SS 5 , and is biased forward by the fifth coiled spring CS 5  so that the rear ends of the both guide holes  14   b  are in contact with the supporting shafts SS 5 . Also, the second roller  12   c  of the operating lever  12  inserted into the control hole  14   e  is located in front of the control hole  14   e.    
         [0087]    An air cylinder  15  is of a double-acting type having two air supply/release ports, and is, at its front end portion, rotatably supported by means of the supporting shafts SS 6  mounted in tapped holes (not shown) in the frame  1 . The rod  15   a  of the air cylinder  15  is, at its tip end, mounted with a connecting plate  15   b , and this connecting plate  15   b  is rotatably connected to a hole  12   e  in the operating lever  12 . Also, to one air supply/release port of the air cylinder  15 , there is connected a control valve  16  for diverging an air suction port and an air release port. Particularly, the air cylinder  15  has such valve structure that as valve symbols are shown in FIG. 1, when the rod  15   a  retracts, the back side of the control valve  16  serves as the air release port, and when the rod  15   a  advances from the retract position, the front side of the control valve  16  serves as the air suction port. Incidentally, the other air supply/release port of the air cylinder  15  is open to the open air.  
         [0088]    An air tube  17  is, at its one end, connected to the air suction port of the control valve  16 , while it is, at the other end, connected to a connecting hole  8   e  of the second component guide  8  through an adequate connection fitting. More specifically, on the air flow port  8   d  of the second component guide  8 , an air suction force acts only when the rod  15   a  of the air cylinder  15  advances.  
         [0089]    Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS.  14  to  22 , the description will be made of an operation of an apparatus according to the first embodiment.  
         [0090]    The apparatus according to the first embodiment repeats such an operation as to depress the first roller  12   a  of the operating lever  12  from the stand-by state shown in FIG. 1 by a predetermined stroke, and thereafter to return the operating lever  12  at a predetermined cycle (See symbol tt in FIG. 22), for example, at about 0.1 second as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 to thereby perform intended component supply.  
         [0091]    When the first roller  12   a  of the operating lever  12  is depressed, the operating lever  12  rotates in anti-clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 14, and the second roller  12   b  of the operating lever  12  presses down an inclined surface  13   a  of the driving lever  13  to rotate the driving lever  13  in anti-clockwise direction.  
         [0092]    When the driving lever  13  rotates in anti-clockwise direction, the movable pipe  4  rises by a predetermined stroke while the first coiled spring CS 1  is being compressed, and the rise of this movable pipe  4  raises electronic components EC located above the movable pipe  4  upwardly as shown in FIG. 16 so that the electronic components EC within the storeroom  2   a  are subjected to an agitating operation. Thereby, the stored components EC enter the top end of the inner hole of the fixed pipe  3  on a one-by-one basis lengthwise through the use of the inclined guide surface  4   a , or directly. The electronic components EC, which have entered the inner hole of the fixed pipe  3 , move downward within the inner hole by gravity to enter the component passage  6   b , and when passing through the curved portion by gravity, their posture is changed from a vertical position to a horizontal position to enter the long-sideways portion. Since the curved portion and the long-sideways portion of the component passage  6   b  have both a rectangular cross section, the orientations of four sides except for both end surfaces in the longitudinal direction of the electronic components EC are corrected mainly when passing through the curved portion, and substantially conform to the four inner surfaces of the component passage  6   b  when entering the long-sideways portion.  
         [0093]    After a lapse of predetermined time (see a symbol t 1  of FIG. 22) from the commencement of the depressed first roller  12   a  of the operating lever  12 , in other words, immediately before the depressing operation is completed, the third roller  12   c  of the operating lever  12  comes into contact with the rear end of the control hole  14   e  of the driving plate  14 , and thereafter, with rotational displacement of the operating lever  12 , the driving plate  14  retracts.  
         [0094]    When the driving plate  14  retracts, the engaging hole lie is drawn in backward by the engaging portion  14   a  of the driving plate  14  as shown in FIG. 17 to retract the shutter  11  by a predetermined stroke, whereby the component outlet port  11   c  of the shutter  11  coincides with the tip end portions of the component passage  8   a  and the air auxiliary passage  8   b  to expose the tip end portion of the component passage  8   a  through the component outlet port  11   c.    
         [0095]    When the shutter  11  retracts, the slope of the protrusion lid of the shutter  11  comes into contact with the curved surface portion  10   f  of the component stopper  10  as shown in FIG. 18 to press the curved surface  10   f  in the left direction, whereby the component stopper  10  rotates by a little angle, for example, about 3° in clockwise direction against the biasing force of the third coiled spring CS 3  so that the attraction wall  10   c  leaves the left side of the narrow portion of the concave portion  8   c . When a foremost electronic component EC within the component passage  8   a  is attracted on the attraction wall  10   c  by means of a magnetic force of a permanent magnet MG as shown in FIG. 19A, the foremost electronic component EC slightly moves in the right direction together with the attraction wall  10   c  with rotational displacement of the component stopper  10  as shown in FIGS. 19B and 20, whereby the foremost electronic component EC is separated from the succeeding components. Incidentally, time t 2  of FIG. 22 is time to take out the foremost electronic component EC from the component outlet port  11   c  by means of an attraction nozzle or the like.  
         [0096]    Also, when the first roller  12   a  of the operating lever  12  is depressed, the rod  15   a  of the air cylinder  15  coupled to the operating lever  12  retracts as shown in FIG. 14 in synchronization with rotational displacement of the operating lever  12  (See movement from POSITION  1  to POSITION  2  of FIG. 22). Since the back side of the control valve  16  serves as the air release port at this time, air is released into the outside as indicated by an arrow of broken line as the rod  15   a  retracts.  
         [0097]    On the other hand, after a lapse of predetermined time (see a symbol t 2  of FIG. 22) from the completion of the depressed first roller  12   a  of the operating lever  12 , the depressed first roller  12   a  of the operating lever  12  is released as shown in FIG. 15 so that the operating lever  12  returns to the original position by means of biasing force of the fourth coiled spring CS 4 .  
         [0098]    When the operating lever  12  returns to its original state, the driving lever  13  returns to its original state by means of the biasing force of the first coiled spring CS 1  in synchronization therewith to lower the movable pipe  4  from the raised position by a predetermined stroke. This descent of the movable pipe  4  causes, as shown in FIG. 3, the electronic components EC located above the movable pipe  4  to lower so that electronic components EC within the storeroom  2   a  are subjected to the same agitating operation as described above. Thereby the stored components EC enter the top end of the inner hole of the fixed pipe  3  on a one-by-one basis lengthwise through the use of the inclined guide surface  4   a , or directly. The electronic components EC, which have entered the inner hole of the fixed pipe  3 , move downward within the inner hole by gravity to enter the component passage  6   b , and when passing through the curved portion by gravity, their posture is changed from a vertical position to a horizontal position to enter the long-sideways portion. Since the curved portion and the long-sideways portion of the component passage  6   b  have both a rectangular cross section, the orientations of four sides except for both end surfaces of the electronic components EC in the longitudinal direction are corrected mainly when passing through the curved portion, and substantially conform to the four inner surfaces of the component passage  6   b  when entering the long-sideways portion.  
         [0099]    Also, when the operating lever  12  starts to return to its original state, the driving plate  14  advances by means of the biasing force of the fifth coiled spring CS 5  in synchronization therewith. The advance of the driving plate  14  causes, as shown in FIG. 5, the shutter  11  to be pushed forward by means of the engaging portion  14   a  of the driving plate  14  to advance by a predetermined stroke, whereby the component outlet port  11   c  is deviated forward from the tip end portions of the component passage  8   a  and the air auxiliary passage  8   b  to block the tip end portion of the component passage  8   a  again. Also, when the shutter  11  advances, the protrusion lid of the shutter  11  is separated from the curved surface portion  10   f  of the component stopper  10  so that the component stopper  10  rotates in anti-clockwise direction by means of the biasing force of the third coiled spring CS 3  for returning to its original state, and the attraction wall  10   c  comes into contact with the left side of the narrow portion of the concave portion  8   c  again.  
         [0100]    Further, when the operating lever  12  returns to its original state, the rod  15   a  of the air cylinder  15  makes a displacement forward (see movement of POSITION  2  to POSITION  1  of FIG. 22) from the retracted position in synchronization therewith. Since the front side of the control valve  16  serves as the air suction port at this time, the air suction force acts on the air flow port  8   d  of the second component guide  8  through the air tube  17  along with the advancement of the rod  15   a . The air flow port  8   d  of this second component guide  8  communicates to the tip end portions of the component passage  8   a  and the air auxiliary passage  8   b  through the air flow port  10   a  and the air flow channel  10   d  of the component stopper  10 , and therefore, a flow of air toward the component stopper  10  occurs even in the component passage  8   a , the air auxiliary passage  8   b , a rear-side component passage  6   b  continuing to these, and the air auxiliary passage  6   c  as indicated by an arrow of broken line in FIGS. 21A and 21B.  
         [0101]    This flow of air does not occur as soon as the rod  15   a  of the air cylinder  15  starts the advancement, but actually starts to occur immediately after the advancement of the rod  15   a  has been completed as shown in FIG. 22, and its flow rate shows such a curvilinear change that it slowly rises from zero value to reach the maximum value, and thereafter reduces to the zero value again. According to the flow of air shown in FIG. 22, a time range in which the flow of air is occurring is a range: from return of the operating lever  12  to the original state to immediately after depression of the first roller  12   a  is started again, but within the same time range, retraction of the shutter  11  has not been started, but no impediment occurs in the operation because the tip end portions of the component passage  8   a  and the air auxiliary passage  8   b  are covered with the shutter  11 .  
         [0102]    When a flow of air toward the component stopper  10  occurs even in the component passage  8   a , the air auxiliary passage  8   b , a rear-side component passage  6   b  continuing to these, and the air auxiliary passage  6   c , the electronic components EC, which have entered the long-sideways portion of the component passage  6   b , move forward by means of the flow of air to enter the component passage  8   a . Of the electronic components EC which have further entered the component passage  8   a , the foremost electronic component EC abuts on the attraction wall  10   c  of the component stopper  10  to be attracted and held on the attraction wall  10   c  by means of the magnetic force of the permanent magnet MG.  
         [0103]    After a lapse of predetermined time (see a symbol t 3  of FIG. 22) from the completion of the return of the operating lever  12 , the first roller  12   a  of the operating lever  12  is depressed by a predetermined stroke again to perform the same operation as described above. Incidentally, the time t 3  of FIG. 22 is waiting time when the first roller  12   a  of the operating lever  12  returned is depressed again.  
         [0104]    As described above, in the above-described apparatus, by utilizing such an operation as to return the operating lever  12  to its original state after the first roller  12   a  of the operating lever  12  is depressed by a predetermined stroke, the rod  15   a  of the air cylinder  15  is caused to retract and advance; through the use of the air suction force when the rod  15   a  advances, a flow of air toward the component stopper  10  is caused to occur even in the component passage  8   a , the air auxiliary passage  8   b , a rear-side component passage  6   b  continuing to these, and the air auxiliary passage  6   c ; and through the use of this flow of air, the electronic components EC within the component passages  6   b  and  8   a  are caused to move forward in the lined-up state, whereby it is possible to cause the foremost electronic component EC to abut on the attraction wall  10   c  of the component stopper  10 . In other words, in addition to being able to precisely execute supply of square pillar-shaped electronic components EC, it is possible to construct the apparatus itself simply at low cost, because such a belt and its moving mechanism, a large-sized suction source such as a vacuum pump, air piping from this suction source and the like as in the conventional case are not required in order to convey the components.  
         [0105]    Also, the foremost electronic component within the component passage  8   a  can be attracted and held on the attraction wall  10   c  of the component stopper  10  by means of a magnetic force of the permanent magnet MG, and yet when the tip end portion of the component passage  8   a  is exposed through the component outlet port  11   c  of the shutter  11 , the foremost electronic component EC can be separated from the succeeding components by means of rotational displacement of the component stopper  10 . Therefore, when the foremost electronic component EC is taken out of the component outlet port  11   c  by means of the attraction nozzle or the like, it is possible to satisfactorily perform a component taking-out operation by preventing the electronic component EC to be taken out from interfering with the succeeding components.  
         [0106]    Further, since the shutter  11  is caused to retract immediately before the depression of the first roller  12   a  of the operating lever  12  is completed, it is possible to reliably cover the tip end portions of the component passage  8   a  and the air auxiliary passage  8   b  with the shutter  11  when a flow of air is actually occurring in the component passages  8   a  and  6   b , whereby it is possible to precisely execute component conveyance using air suction. Also, since the tip end portion of the component passage  8   a  can be exposed only during a duration corresponding to component taking-out, problems caused by the tip end portion of the component passage  8   a  to be unnecessarily exposed for many hours such as, for example, entry of dust and the like can be prevented.  
         [0107]    Further, there is provided an air flow port  8   d  on the upper side of the connecting hole  8   e  of the second component guide  8 , to which the air tube  17  has been connected, and this air flow port  8   d  communicates to the tip end portions of the component passage  8   a  and the air auxiliary passage  8   b  through the air flow port  10   a  of the component stopper  10  and the air flow channel  10   d , and therefore, it is possible to construct a simple air suction route with low pressure loss and flow rate loss.  
         [0108]    In this respect, in the above-described first embodiment, the double-acting type having two air supply/release ports was used as the air cylinder  15 , the control valve  16  was connected to one air supply/release port and the other air supply/release port was opened to the open air. However, in order to prevent dust and the like from being sucked together with air into the air cylinder  15  from the other air supply/release port when the rod  15   a  retracts, it may be possible to arrange a filter in the other air supply/release port. Also, when air is sucked into the control valve  16  through the air tube  17 , in order to prevent dust and the like from being sucked within the control valve  16  and within the air cylinder  15  together with air, it may be possible to arrange a filter in the air suction port of the control valve  16 . Of path, a single-acting type having a single air supply/release port may be used as the air cylinder  15 .  
         [0109]    Also, a sectional area ratio of the component passage  6   b ,  8   a  shown in the first embodiment described above to the air auxiliary passage  6   c ,  8   b  must be properly set when the components are conveyed by means of air suction. As a result of various experiments, a sectional area ratio of a desirable air auxiliary passage is 20 to 120 assuming the sectional area of the component passage to be 100. When the sectional area ratio of the air auxiliary passage is excessively low although it also depends upon the size of the electronic component EC to be handled, it becomes difficult to secure a sufficient flow of air to convey the components during air suction, and when the sectional area ratio of the air auxiliary passage is excessively high on the contrary, it becomes difficult to convey the components because of reduced flow velocity and the like.  
         [0110]    [Second Embodiment] 
         [0111]    FIGS.  23  to  45  show a second embodiment according to the present invention, and in the following description, the left side of FIG. 23 is indicated as front, the right side, as behind, this side, as left, and the inside, as right.  
         [0112]    [0112]FIG. 23 is a left side view showing an electronic component feeding apparatus, FIG. 24 is a partially-enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing the apparatus shown in FIG. 23, FIG. 25 is a partially-enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing a component passage of a first component guide portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 23, FIG. 26 is a partially-enlarged top view showing the apparatus shown in FIG. 23, FIG. 27 is a view obtained by excluding a fixed shutter and a supporting shaft from FIG. 26, FIG. 28 is a view obtained by excluding a movable shutter from FIG. 27, FIG. 29 is a view obtained by excluding a component stopper and a supporting shaft from FIG. 28, FIG. 30 is a sectional view taken on a line B-B of FIG. 29, FIGS. 31A to  31 C are a top view, a left side view, and a partially-exploded rear view showing the component stopper respectively, FIGS. 32A and 32B are a top view and a left side view showing the movable shutter respectively, FIGS. 33A and 33B are a top view and a left side view showing the fixed shutter respectively, FIGS. 34A to  34 D are a left side view showing the operating lever, a left side view showing a first link, a left side view showing a third link, and a left side view showing a fourth link respectively, FIGS. 35A and 35B are left side views showing a second link and a fifth link respectively, FIG. 36 is a left side view showing a first driving lever, FIG. 37 is a left side view showing a second driving lever, FIGS. 38A and 38B are a top view and a longitudinal sectional view showing a manifold respectively, and FIGS.  39  to  47  are explanatory views illustrating an operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 23.  
         [0113]    In those drawings, reference numeral  21  denotes a frame;  22 , a storage unit,  23 , a fixed pipe;  24 , a movable pipe;  25 , a pipe holder;  26 , a first component guide;  27 , a first cover for the first component guide;  28 , a second component guide;  29 , a second cover for the second component guide;  30 , a component stopper;  31 , a movable shutter;  32 , a fixed shutter;  33 , an operating lever;  34 , a first link;  35 , a second link;  36 , a third link;  37 , a fourth link;  38 , a first driving lever;  39 , a second driving lever;  40 , a fifth link;  41 , an air cylinder;  42 , a control valve; and  43 , an air tube.  
         [0114]    The frame  21  is formed by shaping, by means of flexing or the like, a plate material obtained by stamping a metallic plate of stainless steel or the like in a predetermined shape. In the frame  21  shown in the drawing, each of the lower end edge and the rear end edge is provided with a bent portion for improving the frame stiffness, but these bent portions are not always required. The frame  21  is formed with a slit  21   a  for allowing a coupling portion of the second link  35  to move back and forth, and on the left side surface of the frame  21 , there is provided a first stopper  21   b  for stipulating a return position of the operating lever  33 .  
         [0115]    The storage unit  22  has a storeroom  22   a  having a smaller dimension along the lateral direction than a dimension along the back-and-forth direction, and having a substantially V-character-shaped inclined bottom surface. On the top of the storage unit  22 , there are provided a replenish port  22   b  for replenishing components into the storeroom  22   a , and a slide cover  22   c  for opening or closing this replenish port  22   b . Also, at the deepest recess of the storeroom  22   a , there is formed a circular port  22   d  so as to penetrate, and a substantially-cylindrical bushing  22   e  is fitted in this circular hole  22   d . The bushing  22   e  has a cone-shaped guide surface  22   e   1  at the top end, has, at the center, an inner hole  22   e   2  having a slightly smaller circular cross section than an upper outside diameter of the movable pipe  24 , and has an annular concave portion  22   e   3  for housing an upper part of a first coiled spring CS 11 , and a collar  22   e   4  for stipulating a fitting-in position on the circular hole  22   d  at the lower part. In the storage unit  22 , at least the left side portion is constructed by a transparent component in such a manner that a quantity of stored components can be confirmed from outside. Also, the storage unit  22  is detachably mounted to the frame  21  by means of setscrews.  
         [0116]    Within the storeroom  22   a , a multiplicity of electronic components EC having such a square pillar shape as shown in FIG. 2A are housed in a bulk state. These electronic components EC are chip components such as, for example, chip condensers, chip inductors and chip resistors, and have external electrodes ECa at both ends in the lengthwise direction. The electronic component EC shown in FIG. 2A has dimensional relationship of length&gt;width=height, and it is also possible to handle the electronic component EC having such dimensional relationship of length&gt;width&gt;height as shown in FIG. 2B.  
         [0117]    The fixed pipe  23  is constructed by circular pipe material of predetermined length made of metal, hard resin or the like, and has an inner hole having a circular cross section at the center. The shape of the cross section of the inner hole in the fixed pipe  23  is slightly larger than length of a diagonal line of the end surface of the electronic component EC so that the electronic component EC can be caused to fall down by gravity in the lengthwise direction. This fixed pipe  23  is inserted at its lower end portion into a pipe mounting hole of the first component guide  26  through a pinching slit  25   a  of the pipe holder  25 . The pipe holder  25  is secured to the first component guide  26  by screws, and a clearance in the pinching slit  25   a  is narrowed by a screwing operation, whereby the fixed pipe  23  can be held. The upper end of the fixed pipe  23  is at a slightly lower position than the upper end of the bushing  22   e , but may be at a position which coincides with the upper end of the bushing  22   e , or at a slightly higher position than the upper end thereof.  
         [0118]    The movable pipe  24  portion other than the bushing  24   d  is made of metal, hard resin or the like, and the movable pipe  24  has a cone-shaped guide surface  24   a  at the top end, and has, at the center, an inner hole  24   b  having a slightly larger circular cross section than the outside diameter of the fixed pipe  23 . Also, inside the lower part of the movable pipe  24 , there is formed a bushing mounting hole  24   c , and in this hole  24   c , there is mounted a bushing  24   d  made of non-lubricated resin or the like in order to reduce kinetic frictional resistance between the fixed pipe  23  and the hole  24   c . Further, on the external surface of the movable pipe  24 , there are formed a first collar  24   e  and a second collar  24   f , and the outside diameter of an upper side portion of the first collar  24   e  of the movable pipe  24  is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the inner hole  22   e   2  of the bushing  22   e . This movable pipe  24  is arranged in annular space between the bushing  22   e  and the fixed pipe  23  in such a manner as to be movable vertically. Also, between the bushing  22   e  and the first collar  24   e , there is interposed a first coiled spring CS 11 , between the first collar  24   e  and the second collar  24   f , there is interposed a second coiled spring CS 12 , and between the second coiled spring CS 12  and the second collar  24   f , there is inserted an U-character-shaped engaging groove  38   b  of the first driving lever  38 . The movable pipe  24  is biased downward by the first coiled spring CS 11  so that the top end of the movable pipe  24  in a standby state is located at a lower position than the top end of the fixed pipe  23 . In the drawings, there has been exemplified a movable pipe in which force relationship between the first coiled spring CS 11  and the second coiled spring CS 12  is set to CS 11 &lt;CS 12 , but the force relationship between the first coiled spring CS 11  and the second coiled spring CS 12  may be CS 11 =CS 12  or CS 11 &gt;CS 12 .  
         [0119]    A first component guide  26  has, as shown in FIG. 24, a groove  26   a  for a pipe mounting hole, and a component passage groove  26   b  connected thereto on the left side, and is secured to the left side of the frame  21  by screws. The groove  26   b  consists of a curved portion and a long-sideways portion, and has a slightly larger rectangular cross section than a shape of an end surface of the electronic component EC. Also, an aperture edge of the long-sideways portion of the groove  26   b  is formed with an air auxiliary passage groove  26   c  being shallower than the groove  26   b  from the front end thereof to the end portion of the curved portion. On the left side of the first component guide  26 , a transparent first cover  27  is detachably secured by screws so as to block respective side apertures for the groove  26   a  for a pipe mounting hole, the component passage groove  26   b  and the air auxiliary passage groove  26   c . More specifically, the groove  26   a  for a pipe mounting hole is blocked at its side aperture by the first cover  27 , whereby the groove serves as the pipe mounting hole, and as shown in FIG. 25, the component passage groove  26   b  is blocked at its side aperture by the first cover  27 , whereby the component passage groove  26   b  serves as the component passage (hereinafter, the same symbol  26   b  as the groove  26   b  will be cited). The air auxiliary passage groove  26   c  is blocked at its side aperture by the first cover  27 , whereby the air auxiliary passage groove  26   c  serves as the air auxiliary passage (hereinafter, the same symbol  26   c  as the groove  26   c  will be cited).  
         [0120]    A second component guide  28  has, as shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, a component passage groove  28   a  on the top surface, and is secured to the left side of the frame  21  by screws in such a manner that the groove  28   a  is continuous to the above-described component passage  26   b  without any difference in level. The groove  28   a  consists of a long-sideways portion and a curved portion, and has a slightly larger rectangular cross section than a shape of an end surface of the electronic component EC. Also, aperture edges of the long-sideways portion and the curved portion of the groove  28   a  are formed with an air auxiliary passage groove  28   b  being shallower than the groove  28   a  from the front end thereof to the rear end in such a manner that it communicates to the above-described air auxiliary passage  26   b . As shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, on the nearly left half of the top surface of the second component guide  28 , a transparent second cover  29  is detachably secured by a setscrew FS so as to block top surface apertures other than tip end portions of the component passage groove  28   a  and the air auxiliary passage groove  28   b . In other words, the component passage groove  28   a  is blocked at the top surface apertures other than tip end portions by the second cover  29  as shown in FIGS. 26, 27 and  30 , whereby the component passage groove  28   a  serves as the component passage (hereinafter, the same symbol  28   a  as the groove  28   a  will be cited), and the air auxiliary passage groove  28   b  is blocked at the top surface apertures other than tip end portions by the second cover  29 , whereby the air auxiliary passage groove  28   b  serves as the air auxiliary passage (hereinafter, the same symbol  28   b  as the groove  28   b  will be cited).  
         [0121]    Also, on the top surface of the second component guide  28 , there is formed a concave portion  28   c  for housing the component stopper. This concave portion  28   c  has such a shape of top surface as shown in FIG. 29, and the component passage groove  28   a  and the air auxiliary passage groove  28   b  are extendedly provided to the left side of a rear-side narrow portion of the concave portion  28   c . The depth of the concave portion  28   c  is slightly larger than the thickness of the component stopper  30 , and a base of the rear-side narrow portion is formed with an air flow port  28   d  so as to penetrate, and on the base of a wide portion of the concave portion  28   c , there is formed a tapped hole  28   e  for mounting the supporting shaft SS 11 . Further, behind the concave portion  28   c  of the second component guide  28 , there is formed a slit  28   f , so as to penetrate, for allowing a U-character-shaped engaging portion  39   b  of the second operating lever  39  to move back and forth. Further, on the top surface of the second component guide  28 , there are formed a tapped hole  28   g  for mounting the shutter supporting shaft SS 12  and a tapped hole  28   h  for mounting a setscrew FS for the second cover. Also, on the underside of the air flow port  28   d , there is formed a concave portion  28   i  for mounting a manifold  44 .  
         [0122]    The component stopper  30  has such a shape of top surface as shown in FIG. 31A, and predetermined thickness. As can be also seen from FIGS. 31B and 31C, in the rear end portion of the component stopper  30 , air flow ports  30   a  having a circular cross section are formed at a predetermined interval so as to penetrate, and between two air flow ports  30   a , there is formed a concave portion  30   b  so as to overlap about a quarter of each air flow port  30   a . To this concave portion  30   b , a permanent magnet MG made of samarium-cobalt magnet or the like is fixed such that one of N-pole or S-pole is opposite to an attraction wall  30   c . The thickness of the permanent magnet MG is smaller than the depth of the concave portion  30   b , and the height of the top surface of the attraction wall  30   c  coincides with that of this permanent magnet MG. More specifically, on the upper side of the permanent magnet MG and the attraction wall  30   c , there is formed an air flow channel  30   d  for communicating to the top portions of two air flow ports  30   a  while the top surface of the component stopper  30  is covered with the movable shutter  31 , and in the component stopper  30 , there is constituted an air suction path capable of communicating to the tip end of the component passage  28   a  by means of the air flow port  30   a  and the air flow channel  30   d . Also, the attraction wall  30   c  is formed with a groove  30   e  for connecting the top end aperture to the lower end aperture of the front-side air flow port  30   a . Further, on the back surface of the front portion of the component stopper  30 , there is formed a hole  30   f  for housing a third coiled spring CS 13 , and in the left end portion of the front portion  30  thereof, there is formed a hole  30   g , through which the supporting shaft SS 11  is inserted. After the third coiled spring CS 13  is mounted in the hole  30   f  as shown in FIG. 28, the supporting shaft SS 11  inserted through the hole  30   g  is mounted into the tapped hole  28   e  of the second component guide  28 , whereby this component stopper  30  is arranged within the concave portion  28   c  of the second component guide  28 . The component stopper  30  rotatably supported by the supporting shaft SS 11  is biased in anti-clockwise direction by means of the third coiled spring CS 13 , but since it is pressed backward by means of the first protrusion  31   b  of the movable shutter  31  in a stand-by state, the attraction wall  30   c  is in contact with the left side of the rear-side narrow portion of the concave portion  38   c.    
         [0123]    The movable shutter  31  has such a shape of top surface as shown in FIG. 32A, and predetermined thickness. As can be also seen from FIG. 32B, on the left side at a substantially central portion of the movable shutter  31 , there is formed a component outlet port  31   a  capable of opening the tip end portions of the component passage groove  28   a  and the air auxiliary passage groove  28   b . Also, on the front side of the component outlet port  31   a  of the movable shutter  31 , there is provided a first protrusion  31   b  constructed by bending a protruded piece downward. Further, behind the component outlet port  31   a  of the movable shutter  31 , there is provided a second protrusion  31   c  constructed by bending a protruded piece downward, and inside this second protrusion  31   c , there is provided a roller  31   c   1 . At the front and rear ends of the movable shutter  31 , there is respectively formed a guide hole  31   d , through which the supporting shaft SS 12  is inserted.  
         [0124]    The fixed shutter  32  has such a shape of top surface as shown in FIG. 33A, and predetermined thickness. As can be also seen from FIG. 33B, on the left side at a substantially central portion of the fixed shutter  32 , there is formed a component outlet port  32   a , which positionally coincides with each of the tip end portions of the component passage groove  28   a  and the air auxiliary passage groove  28   b . Also, at the front and rear ends of the fixed shutter  32 , there is respectively formed a positioning hole  32   b , through which the supporting shaft SS 12  is inserted.  
         [0125]    In a state in which the fixed shutter  33  is superimposed on the movable shutter  31  such that the guide hole  31   d  and the positioning hole  32   b  coincide with each other as shown in FIG. 26, the supporting shaft SS 12  inserted through the front-side guide hole  31   d  and the positioning hole  32   b , and the supporting shaft SS 12  inserted through the rear-side guide hole  31   d  and the positioning hole  32   b  are mounted into tapped holes  28   g  in the second component guide  28 , whereby the movable shutter  31  and the fixed shutter  32  are arranged on the top surface of the second component guide  28  so as to block nearly right half of the top surface aperture of the concave portion  28   c , the top surface aperture of the slit  28   f , and the tip end portion of the component passage groove  28   a  and the air auxiliary passage groove  28   b . At this time, the first protrusion  31   b  of the movable shutter  31  is inserted into the front-side narrow portion of the concave portion  28   c , and the second protrusion  31   c  is inserted into the slit  28   f . In other words, the tip end portion of the component passage groove  28   a  is blocked at its top surface aperture by the movable shutter  31 , whereby the tip end portion of the component passage groove  28   a  serves as the component passage (hereinafter, the same symbol  28   a  as the groove  28   a  will be cited), and the tip end portion of the air auxiliary passage groove  28   b  is blocked at its top surface aperture by the movable shutter  31 , whereby the tip end portion of the air auxiliary passage groove  28   b  serves as the air auxiliary passage hereinafter, the same symbol  28   b  as the groove  28   b  will be cited). The fixed shutter  32  located above the movable shutter  31  is in a fixed state because the movement in the back-and-forth direction is restricted by two supporting shafts SS 12 , but the movable shutter  31  is capable of moving in the back-and-forth direction while being regulated in direction by means of those two supporting shafts SS 12 . The component outlet port  32   a  of the fixed shutter  32  in the stand-by state coincides with the tip end portions of the component passage  28   a  and the air auxiliary passage  28   b , but the component outlet port  31   a  of the movable shutter  31  in the stand-by state is deviated backward from the tip end portions of the component passage  28   a  and the air auxiliary passage  28   b.    
         [0126]    The operating lever  33  has such a shape of left side as shown in FIG. 34A, and predetermined thickness. On the rear side at the center of the operating lever  33 , there is formed a protrusion  33   a  capable of abutting on the first stopper  21   b  of the frame  21 , and there are formed coupling holes  33   b  at the center and in the lower part.  
         [0127]    The first link  34  has such a shape of left side as shown in FIG. 34B, and predetermined thickness. At both ends of the first link, which form a L-character shape, there is formed a coupling hole  34   a , and at the bent portion, there is formed a hole  34   b , through which the supporting shaft SS 13  is inserted. Also, on the right side between the coupling hole  34   a  formed at the upper end portion of the first link  34  and the hole  34   b , there is provided a roller  34   c.    
         [0128]    The second link  35  has such a shape of left side as shown in FIG. 35A, and predetermined thickness. The second link  35  is formed by bending the front and rear end portions in the direction of the length, and each bent portion is formed with a coupling hole  35   a.    
         [0129]    The third link  36  has such a shape of left side as shown in FIG. 34C, and predetermined thickness. At the lower end portion of the third link  36 , there is formed a coupling hole  36   a , and at the top end portion, there is formed a hole  36   b , through which the supporting shaft SS 14  is inserted.  
         [0130]    The fourth link  37  has such a shape of left side as shown in FIG. 34D, and predetermined thickness. At the top end portion of the fourth link  37 , there is formed a coupling hole  37   a , and at the substantially central portion, there is formed a hole  37   b , through which the supporting shaft SS 15  is inserted. Also, at the lower end portion of the fourth link  37 , there is provided a roller  37   c.    
         [0131]    The description will be made of coupling structure between the operating lever  33  and the first link  34  to the fourth link  37 . As shown in FIG. 23, to the upper coupling hole  33   b  of the operating lever  33 , the upper coupling hole  34   a  of the first link  34  is rotatably coupled, and the supporting shaft SS 13  inserted through the hole  34   b  is mounted in a tapped hole (not shown) of the frame  21 , whereby the first link  34  is arranged on the side of the left side of the frame  21 . To the lower coupling hole  34   a  of the first link  34 , the front-side coupling hole  35   a  of the second link  35  arranged on the side of the right side of the frame  21  is rotatably coupled, and to the rear-side coupling hole  35   a  of the second link  35 , the coupling hole of the third link  36  is rotatably coupled. The supporting shaft SS 14  inserted through the hole  36   b  is mounted to a tapped hole (not shown) of the frame  21 , whereby the third link  36  is arranged on the side of the left side of the frame  21 . To the lower coupling hole  33   b  of the operating lever  33 , the coupling hole  37   a  of the fourth link  37  is rotatably coupled, and the supporting shaft SS 15  inserted through the hole  37   b  is mounted to the tapped hole (not shown) of the frame  21 , whereby the fourth link  37  is arranged on the side of the left side of the frame  21 .  
         [0132]    The first driving lever  38  has such a shape of left side as shown in FIG. 36, and predetermined thickness. In the rear portion of the first driving lever  38 , a 90° bent plate-shaped portion  38   a  is integrally formed, and at the rear end portion of the plate-shaped portion  38   a , there is formed a U-character-shaped engaging portion  38   b . Also, the bent portion of the first driving lever  38  is formed with a hole  38   c , through which the supporting shaft SS 16  is inserted. As shown in FIG. 23, the supporting shaft SS 16  inserted through the hole  38   c  is mounted in a tapped hole (not shown) in the frame  21 , whereby this first driving lever  38  is arranged on the side of the left side of the frame  21 . The engaging portion  38   b  of the first driving lever  38  rotatably supported by the supporting shaft SS 16  is inserted between the second coiled spring CS 12  and the second collar  24   f , and the first driving lever  38  is biased in clockwise direction by means of the first coiled spring CS 11  so that its front end is located in contact with or in non-contact with the underside of the roller  34   c  of the first —link  34 .  
         [0133]    The second driving lever  39  has such a shape of left side as shown in FIG. 37, and predetermined thickness. At the rear end portion of the second driving lever  39 , there is integrally formed a 90° bent plate-shaped portion  39   a , and at the top end portion, there is formed a U-character-shaped engaging portion  39   b . Also, on the front side of the plate-shaped portion  39   a  of the second driving lever  39 , there is formed a protrusion  39   c  for engaging with one end of the fourth coiled spring CS 14 , and at the lower end portion, there is formed a hole  39   d , through which the supporting shaft SS 17  is inserted. As shown in FIG. 23, the supporting shaft SS 17  inserted through the hole  39   d  is mounted in a tapped hole (not shown) of the frame  21 , and the fourth coiled spring CS 14  is extended between the protrusion  39   c  and the frame  21 , whereby this second driving lever  39  is arranged on the side of the left side of the frame  21 . As can be seen from FIGS.  26  to  29 , the engaging portion  39   b  of the second driving lever  39  is inserted into the slit  28   f  of the second component guide  28  from the underside, and the engaging portion  39   b  engages with the roller  31   c   1  of the second protrusion  31   c  of the movable shaft  31 . The second driving lever  39  rotatably supported by the supporting shaft SS 17  is biased in clockwise direction by means of the fourth coiled spring CS 14  so that in a stand-by state, the movable shutter  31 , whose roller  31   c   1  engages with the engaging portion  39   b  of the second driving lever  39 , moves backward, and the first protrusion  31   b  of this movable shutter  31  presses the component stopper  30  backward so that the attraction wall  30   c  of the component stopper  30  is contact with the left side of the rear-side narrow portion of the concave portion  38   c.    
         [0134]    The fifth link  40  has a coupling hole  40   a  at the front end portion, and a coupling hole  40   b  at the rear-end bent portion. This fifth link  40  has the front-side coupling hole  40   a  rotatably coupled to the rear-side coupling hole  35   a  of the second link  35  on the rear on the back surface side of the frame  21 , and the rear-side coupling hole  40   b  is mounted to the rod  41   a  of the air cylinder  41 .  
         [0135]    An air cylinder  41  is of a double-acting type having two air supply/release ports, and is rotatably supported at its rear end portion by means of the supporting shafts SS 18  mounted in tapped holes (not shown) in the frame  21 . The rod  41   a  of the air cylinder  41  is mounted at its tip end with a spring hook  41   b , and between this spring hook  41   b  and the frame  21 , there is adjusted a fifth coiled spring  15 . This fifth coiled spring CS 15  plays a role to return the rod  41   a  to a retract position, and plays a role to draw the second link  35  backward through the fifth link  40  to thereby bias the first link  34  and the third link  36  in anti-clockwise direction, and to bias the operating lever  33  upward by means of this first link  34  to cause its protrusion  33   a  to abut on the first stopper  21   b.    
         [0136]    Also, to one air supply/release port of the air cylinder  41 , there is connected a control valve  42  for diverging into an air suction port and an air release port. Particularly, the air cylinder  41  has such valve structure that as valve symbols are shown in FIG. 23, when the rod  41   a  advances, the back side of the control valve  42  serves as the air release port, and when the rod  41   a  retracts from the advance position, the front side of the control valve  42  serves as the air suction port. Incidentally, the other air supply/release port of the air cylinder  41  is open to the open air.  
         [0137]    An air tube  43  is, at its one end, connected to the air suction port of the control valve  42 , while it is connected at the other end to a connecting hole  44   a  of a manifold  44  through an adequate connection fitting. Incidentally, the manifold  44  has such a shape of top surface as shown in FIG. 38, and is secured to the concave portion  28   i  of the second component guide  28  by screws as shown in FIG. 30. This manifold  44  has a groove  44   b  communicating to the connecting hole  44   a , and a thread inserting hole  44   c , and the shape of the wide portion of the groove  44   b  substantially coincides with that of air flow port  28   d  of the second component guide  28 . In other words, on the air flow port  28   d  of the second component guide  28 , an air suction force acts only when the rod  41   a  of the air cylinder  41  retracts.  
         [0138]    Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS.  39  to  47 , and FIG. 22 used in the first embodiment, the description will be made of an operation of an apparatus according to the second embodiment.  
         [0139]    The apparatus according to the second embodiment repeats such an operation as to depress the top end of the operating lever  33  from the stand-by state shown in FIG. 23 by a predetermined stroke, and thereafter to return the operating lever  33  to the original state as shown in FIGS. 39 and 40, at a predetermined cycle (See symbol tt in FIG. 22), for example, at about 0.1 second to thereby perform intended component supply.  
         [0140]    When the top end of the operating lever  33  is depressed, the first link  34  coupled to the operating lever  33  rotates in clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 39, and the roller  34   c  of the first link  34  presses the front end of the first driving lever  38  downward so that the first driving lever  38  rotates in anti-clockwise direction, and the fourth link  37  coupled to the operating lever  33  rotates in clockwise direction.  
         [0141]    When the first driving lever  38  rotates in anti-clockwise direction, the movable pipe  24  rises by a predetermined stroke while the first coiled spring CS 11  is being compressed, and this rise of the movable pipe  24  raises electronic components EC located above the movable pipe  24  upwardly as shown in FIG. 41 so that the electronic components EC within the storeroom  22   a  are subjected to an agitating operation. Thereby, the stored components EC enter the top end of the inner hole of the fixed pipe  23  on a one-by-one basis in a lengthwise direction through the use of the inclined guide surface  24   a , or directly. The electronic components EC, which have entered the inner hole of the fixed pipe  23 , move downward within the inner hole by gravity to enter the component passage  26   b , and when passing through the curved portion by gravity, their posture is changed from a vertical position to a horizontal position to enter the long-sideways portion. Since the curved portion and the long-sideways portion of the component passage  26   b  have both a rectangular cross section, the orientations of four sides except for both end surfaces, in the longitudinal direction, of the electronic components EC are corrected mainly when passing through the curved portion, and substantially conform to the four inner surfaces of the component passage  26   b  when entering the long-sideways portion.  
         [0142]    After a lapse of predetermined time (see a symbol t 1  of FIG. 22) from the commencement of the depressed top end of the operating lever  33 , in other words, immediately before the depressing operation is completed, the roller  37   c  of the fourth link  37 , which rotates in clockwise direction, comes into contact with the under surface of the plate-shaped portion  39   a  of the second driving lever  39 , and thereafter, along with rotational displacement of the fourth link  37 , the second driving lever  39  rotates in anti-clockwise direction against the biasing force of the fourth coiled spring CS 14 .  
         [0143]    When the second driving lever  39  rotates in anti-clockwise direction, the engaging portion  39   b  of the second driving lever  39  presses the roller  31   c   1  forward to advance the movable shutter  31  by a predetermined stroke as shown in FIGS. 42 and 43. This advancement of the movable shutter  31  causes the component outlet port  31   a  of the movable shutter  31  to coincide with the tip end portions of the component passage  28   a  and the air auxiliary passage  28   b , and the component outlet port  32   a  of the fixed shutter  32  so that the tip end portion of the component passage  28   a  is exposed through the both component outlet ports  31   a  and  32   a.    
         [0144]    When the movable shutter  31  advances, the first protrusion  31   b  of the movable shutter  31  leaves the component stopper  30  forward as shown in FIG. 44, whereby the component stopper  30  rotates by a little angle, for example, about 3° in anti-clockwise direction by means of the biasing force of the third coiled spring CS 13  so that the attraction wall  30   c  leaves the left side of the rear-side narrow portion of the concave portion  28   c . When the foremost electronic component EC within the component passage  28   a  is attracted on the attraction wall  30   c  by means of a magnetic force of a permanent magnet MG as shown in FIG. 45A, the foremost electronic component EC slightly moves in the right direction together with the attraction wall  30   c  along with rotational displacement of the component stopper  30  as shown in FIGS. 45B and 46, whereby the foremost electronic component EC is separated from the succeeding components. Incidentally, time t 2  of FIG. 22 is time required to take out the foremost electronic component EC from the component outlet ports  31   a  and  32   a  by means of an attraction nozzle or the like.  
         [0145]    Also, when the top end of the operating lever  33  is depressed, the fifth link  40  moves forward through the second link  35  coupled to the first link  34  as shown in FIG. 39 in synchronization with the rotational displacement of the operating lever  33  to advance the rod  41   a  of the air cylinder  41  coupled to the fifth link  40  (See movement from POSITION  1  to POSITION  2  of FIG. 22). Since the rear side of the control valve  42  serves as the air release port at this time, air is released into the outside as indicated by an arrow of broken line as the rod  15   a  retracts.  
         [0146]    On the other hand, after a lapse of predetermined time (see a symbol t 2  of FIG. 22) from the completion of the depressed top end of the operating lever  33 , the depressed top end of the operating lever  33  is released as shown in FIG. 40 so that the first link  34  returns to the original state by means of the biasing force of the fifth coiled spring CS 15 , and the operating lever  33  and the fourth link  37  also return to their original states.  
         [0147]    When the first link  34  starts to return to its original state, the first driving lever  38  returns to its original state by means of the biasing force of the first coiled spring CS 11  in synchronization therewith to lower the movable pipe  24  from the raised position by a predetermined stroke. This descent of the movable pipe  24  causes, as shown in FIG. 24, the electronic components EC located above the movable pipe  24  to lower so that electronic components EC within the storeroom  22   a  are subjected to the same agitating operation as described above. Thereby the stored components EC enter the top end of the inner hole of the fixed pipe  23  on a one-by-one basis in the lengthwise direction through the use of the inclined guide surface  24   a , or directly. The electronic components EC, which have entered the inner hole of the fixed pipe  23 , move downward within the inner hole by gravity to enter the component passage  26   b , and at the time of passing through the curved portion by gravity, their posture is changed from a vertical position to a horizontal position to enter the long-sideways portion. Since the curved portion and the long-sideways portion of the component passage  26   b  have both a rectangular cross section, the orientations of four sides except for both end surfaces of the electronic components EC in the longitudinal direction are corrected mainly when passing through the curved portion, and substantially conform to the four inner surfaces of the component passage  26   b  when entering the long-sideways portion.  
         [0148]    Also, when the fourth link  37  starts to return to its original state, the second driving lever rotates in clockwise direction in synchronization therewith by means of the biasing force of the fourth coiled spring CS 14 , and the engaging portion  39   b  of the second driving lever  39  presses the roller  31   c   1  backward to thereby retract the movable shutter  31  by a predetermined stroke. This retraction of the movable shutter  31  causes the component outlet port  31   a  of the movable shutter  31  to be deviated backward from the component outlet port  32   a  of the fixed shutter  32  as shown in FIG. 26, and the tip end portion of the component passage  28   a  is blocked again. Also, when the movable shutter  31  retracts, the first protrusion  31   b  of the movable shutter  31  presses the component stopper  30  backward to rotate in clockwise direction, and the attraction wall  30   c  comes into contact with the left side of the rear-side narrow portion of the concave portion  28   c  again.  
         [0149]    Further, when the first link  34  returns to its original state, the fifth link  40  moves backward through the second link  35  coupled to the first link  34  in synchronization therewith, and the rod  41   a  of the air cylinder  41  coupled to the fifth link  40  retracts from the advance position (see movement of POSITION  2  to POSITION  1  of FIG. 22). Since the front side of the control valve  42  serves as the air suction port at this time, the air suction force acts on the air flow port  28   d  of the second component guide  28  through the air tube  43  and the manifold  44  along with the retraction of the rod  41   a . The air flow port  28   d  of this second component guide  28  communicates to the tip end portions of the component passage  28   a  and the air auxiliary passage  28   b  through the air flow port  30   a  and the air flow channel  30   d  of the component stopper  30 , and therefore, a flow of air toward the component stopper  30  occurs even in the component passage  28   a , the air auxiliary passage  28   b , a rear-side component passage  26   b  continuing to these, and the air auxiliary passage  26   c  as indicated by an arrow of broken line in FIGS. 47A and 47B.  
         [0150]    This flow of air does not occur as soon as the rod  41   a  of the air cylinder  41  starts the retraction, but actually starts to occur immediately after the retraction of the rod  41   a  has been completed as shown in FIG. 22, and its flow rate shows such a curvilinear change that it slowly rises from zero value to reach the maximum value, and thereafter reduces to the zero value again. According to the flow of air shown in FIG. 22, a time range in which the flow of air is occurring is a range: from return of the operating lever  33  to the original state to immediately after depression of the top end of the operating lever  33  is started again, but within the same time range, advancement of the movable shutter  31  has not been started, but no impediment occurs in the operation because the tip end portions of the component passage  28   a  and the air auxiliary passage  28   b  are covered with the movable shutter  31 .  
         [0151]    When a flow of air toward the component stopper  30  occurs even in the component passage  28   a , the air auxiliary passage  28   b , a rear-side component passage  26   b  continuing to these, and the air auxiliary passage  26   c , the electronic components EC, which have entered the long-sideways portion of the component passage  26   b , move forward by means of the flow of air to enter the component passage  28   a . Of the electronic components EC which have entered the component passage  28   a , the foremost electronic component EC abuts on the attraction wall  30   c  of the component stopper  30  to be attracted to and held by the attraction wall  30   c  by means of the magnetic force of the permanent magnet MG.  
         [0152]    After a lapse of predetermined time (See a symbol t 3  of FIG. 22) from the completion of the return of the operating lever  33 , the top end of the operating lever  33  is depressed by a predetermined stroke again to perform the same operation as described above. Incidentally, the time t 3  of FIG. 22 is waiting time when the top end of the operating lever  33  returned is depressed again.  
         [0153]    As described above, in the above-described apparatus, by utilizing such an operation as to return the operating lever  33  to its original state after the top end of the operating lever  33  is depressed by a predetermined stroke, the rod  41   a  of the air cylinder  41  is caused to advance and retract; through the use of the air suction force when the rod  41   a  retracts, a flow of air toward the component stopper  30  is caused to occur even in the component passage  28   a , the air auxiliary passage  28   b , a rear-side component passage  26   b  continuing to these, and the air auxiliary passage  26   c ; and through the use of this flow of air, the electronic components EC within the component passages  26   b  and  28   a  are caused to move forward still in the lined-up state, whereby it is possible to cause the foremost electronic component EC to abut on the attraction wall  30   c  of the component stopper  30 . In other words, in addition to being able to precisely supply square pillar-shaped electronic components EC, it is possible to construct the apparatus itself simply at low cost, because such a belt and its moving mechanism, a large-sized suction source such as a vacuum pump, air piping from this suction source and the like as in the conventional case are not required in order to convey the components.  
         [0154]    Also, the foremost electronic component EC within the component passage  28   a  can be attracted to and held by the attraction wall  30   c  of the component stopper  30  by means of the magnetic force of the permanent magnet MG, and yet when the tip end portion of the component passage  28   a  is exposed through the component outlet ports  31   a  and  32   a  of the movable shutter  31  and the fixed shutter  32 , the foremost electronic component EC can be separated from the succeeding components by means of rotational displacement of the component stopper  30 . Therefore, when the foremost electronic component EC is taken out of the component outlet ports  31   a  and  32   a  by means of the attraction nozzle or the like, it is possible to satisfactorily perform a component taking-out operation by preventing the electronic component EC to be taken out from interfering with the succeeding components.  
         [0155]    Further, since the movable shutter  31  is caused to advance immediately before the depression of the top end of the operating lever  33  is completed, it is possible to reliably cover the tip end portions of the component passage  28   a  and the air auxiliary passage  28   b  with the movable shutter  31  when a flow of air is actually occurring in the component passages  28   a  and  26   b , whereby it is possible to precisely execute component conveyance using air suction. Also, since the tip end portion of the component passage  28   a  can be exposed only during a duration corresponding to component taking-out, problems caused by the tip end portion of the component passage  28   a  to be unnecessarily exposed for many hours such as, for example, entry of dust and the like can be prevented.  
         [0156]    Further, there is provided an air flow port  28   d  on the upper side of the groove  44   b  of the manifold  44 , to which the air tube  43  has been connected, and this air flow port  28   d  communicates to the tip end portions of the component passage  28   a  and the air auxiliary passage  28   b  through the air flow port  30   a  of the component stopper  30  and the air flow channel  30   d , and therefore, it is possible to construct a simple air suction route with low pressure loss and flow rate loss.  
         [0157]    In this respect, in the above-described second embodiment, the double-acting type having two air supply/release ports was used as the air cylinder  41 , the control valve  42  was connected to one air supply/release port and the other air supply/release port was opened to the open air. However, in order to prevent dust and the like from being sucked together with air into the air cylinder  41  from the other air supply/release port when the rod  41   a  advances, it may be possible to arrange a filter for the other air supply/release port. Also, when air is sucked into the control valve  42  through the air tube  43 , in order to prevent dust and the like from being sucked within the control valve  42  and within the air cylinder  41  together with air, it may be possible to arrange a filter for the air suction port of the control valve  42 . Of path, a single-acting type having a single air supply/release port may be used as the air cylinder  41 .  
         [0158]    Also, a sectional area ratio of the component passage  26   b ,  28   a  shown in the second embodiment described above to the air auxiliary passage  26   c ,  28   b  must be properly set when the components are conveyed by means of air suction. As a result of various experiments, a desirable sectional area ratio of an air auxiliary passage is 20 to 120 assuming the sectional area of the component passage to be 100. When the sectional area ratio of the air auxiliary passage is excessively low although it also depends upon the size of the electronic component EC to be handled, it becomes difficult to secure a sufficient flow of air to convey the components during air suction, and when the sectional area ratio of the air auxiliary passage is excessively high on the contrary, it becomes difficult to convey the components because of reduced flow velocity and the like.  
         [0159]    [Other Embodiments] 
         [0160]    FIGS.  48  to  58  show other embodiments applicable to each of the above-described first embodiment and the second embodiment.  
         [0161]    [0161]FIG. 48A shows a variation of the component stopper  10  according to the first embodiment, and in order to prevent the outside air from entering through a gap between the under surface of the component stopper  10  and the base of the concave portion  8   c  during air suction to cause pressure loss or flow rate loss, the under surface of the component stopper  10  is provided with sealing material  51  so as to enclose the lower end aperture of the air flow port  10   a , and this sealing material  51  is brought into contact with the base of the concave portion  8   c . If resin material or the like having low frictional resistance is used as the sealing material  51 , the rotational displacement of the component stopper  10  will not be hindered.  
         [0162]    [0162]FIG. 48B shows a variation of the component stopper  30  according to the second embodiment, and in order to prevent the outside air from entering through a gap between the under surface of the component stopper  30  and the base of the concave portion  28   c  during air suction to cause pressure loss or flow rate loss, the under surface of the component stopper  30  is provided with sealing material  52  so as to enclose the lower end aperture of the air flow port  30   a , and this sealing material  52  is brought into contact with the base of the concave portion  28   c . If resin material or the like having low frictional resistance is used as the sealing material  52 , the rotational displacement of the component stopper  30  will not be hindered.  
         [0163]    [0163]FIG. 49A shows a variation of the component stopper  10  according to the first embodiment, and in order to prevent the outside air from entering through a gap between the top surface of the component stopper  10  and the under surface of the shutter  11  during air suction to cause pressure loss or flow rate loss, the top surface of the component stopper  10  is provided with sealing material  53  so as to enclose the top end aperture of the air flow port  10   a  and the air flow channel  10   d , and this sealing material  53  is brought into contact with the under surface of the shutter  11 . If resin material or the like having low frictional resistance is used as the sealing material  53 , the rotational displacement of the component stopper  10  will not be hindered.  
         [0164]    [0164]FIG. 49B shows a variation of the component stopper  30  according to the second embodiment, and in order to prevent the outside air from entering through a gap between the top surface of the component stopper  30  and the under surface of the movable shutter  31  during air suction to cause pressure loss or flow rate loss, the top surface of the component stopper  30  is provided with sealing material  54  so as to enclose the top end aperture of the air flow port  30   a  and the air flow channel  30   d , and this sealing material  54  is brought into contact with the under surface of the movable shutter  31 . If resin material or the like having low frictional resistance is used as the sealing material  54 , the rotational displacement of the component stopper  30  will not be hindered.  
         [0165]    [0165]FIG. 50A shows a variation of the component stopper  10  according to the first embodiment, and in order to prevent the outside air from entering through a gap between the top surface of the component stopper  10  and the under surface of the shutter  11  during air suction to cause pressure loss or flow rate loss, the top surface of the component stopper  10  is provided with a cover  55  so as to cover the top end aperture of the air flow port  10   a  and the air flow channel  10   d . If a thin non-magnetic plate such as stainless steel or the like is used as the cover  55 , the thickness dimension of the component stopper  10  will not be increased. Also, even if there may be a gap between the cover  55  and the shutter  11 , the pressure loss and the flow rate loss can be precisely prevented.  
         [0166]    [0166]FIG. 50B shows a variation of the component stopper  30  according to the second embodiment, and in order to prevent the outside air from entering through a gap between the top surface of the component stopper  30  and the under surface of the movable shutter  31  during air suction to cause pressure loss or flow rate loss, the top surface of the component stopper  30  is provided with a cover  56  so as to cover the top end aperture of the air flow port  30   a  and the air flow channel  30   d . If a thin non-magnetic plate such as stainless steel or the like is used as the cover  56 , the thickness dimension of the component stopper  30  will not be increased. Also, even if there may be a gap between the cover  56  and the movable shutter  31 , the pressure loss and the flow rate loss can be precisely prevented.  
         [0167]    [0167]FIGS. 51A and 51B show a variation of the component stopper  10  according to the first embodiment, and in order to reduce the pressure loss during air suction with the air flow path in the component stopper  10  as a simpler one, on the right side of the permanent magnet MG, there is formed one air flow port  10   a  having a semi-circular cross section, and the top portion of this air flow port  10   a  communicates to the air flow channel  10   d.    
         [0168]    [0168]FIGS. 52A and 52B show a variation of the component stopper  30  according to the second embodiment, and in order to reduce the pressure loss during air suction with the air flow path in the component stopper  30  as a simpler one, on the right side of the permanent magnet MG, there is formed one air flow port  30   a  having a semi-circular cross section, and the top portion of this air flow port  30   a  communicates to the air flow channnel  30   d.    
         [0169]    [0169]FIG. 53A shows a variation of the component stopper  10  according to the first embodiment, and in order to improve a flow of air in the air flow path formed in the component stopper  10  during air suction, the cross-section area of the air flow port  10   a   1  is enlarged to reduce a difference in cross-section area between the air flow port  8   d  of the second component guide  8  and the air flow port  10   a   1  of the component stopper  10 .  
         [0170]    [0170]FIG. 53B shows a variation of the component stopper  30  according to the second embodiment, and in order to improve a flow of air in the air flow path formed in the component stopper  30  during air suction, the cross-section area of the air flow port  30   a   1  is enlarged to reduce a difference in cross-section area between the air flow port  28   d  of the second component guide  28  and the air flow port  30   a   1  of the component stopper  30 .  
         [0171]    [0171]FIG. 54A shows a variation of the component stopper  10  according to the first embodiment, and the attraction wall  10   c  of the component stopper  10  is provided with a protruded portion  10   c   1  capable of being inserted into the tip end portion of the component passage  8   a  in such a manner that the foremost electronic component EC can be attracted to and held by this protruded portion  10   c   1 . If even when the component stopper  10  makes rotational displacement and the foremost electronic component EC is separated from the succeeding components, the tip end of the protruded portion  10   c   1  is completely kept not to slip out of the component passage  8   a , it will be possible to support the entire under surface of the foremost electronic component EC, which has been separated, by the base of the component passage  8   a  with stability, and to make it difficult to disturb the posture of the foremost electronic component EC by the separating operation.  
         [0172]    [0172]FIG. 54B shows a variation of the component stopper  30  according to the second embodiment, and the attraction wall  30   c  of the component stopper  30  is provided with a protruded portion  30   c   1  capable of being inserted into the tip end portion of the component passage  28   a  in such a manner that the foremost electronic component EC can be attracted to and held by this protruded portion  30   c   1 . If even when the component stopper  30  makes rotational displacement and the foremost electronic component EC is separated from the succeeding components, the tip end of the protruded portion  30   c   1  is completely kept not to slip out of the component passage  28   a , it will be possible to support the entire under surface of the foremost electronic component EC, which has been separated, by the base of the component passage  28   a  with stability, and to make it difficult to disturb the posture of the foremost electronic component EC by the separating operation.  
         [0173]    [0173]FIG. 55A shows a variation of the rear-side component passage  6   b  according to the first embodiment, and in order to improve a flow of air in the component passage  6   b , the air auxiliary passage  6   c , its front-side component passage  8   a  and the air auxiliary passage  8   b  during air suction, there is formed an air intake vent  57  such as through hole at a place, which corresponds to the curved portion of the component passage  6   b  of the first cover  7 . In this case, in order to prevent dust and the like from being sucked into the component passage  6   b  and the like from the intake vent  57  together with air, a filter may be arranged for the intake vent  57 . Of path, the above-described intake vent  57  may be formed at a place which corresponds to the rear portion of the long-sideways portion of the component passage  6   b  of the first cover  7  or the rear portion of the air auxiliary passage  6   c.    
         [0174]    [0174]FIG. 55B shows a variation of the rear-side component passage  26   b  according to the second embodiment, and in order to improve a flow of air in the component passage  26   b , the air auxiliary passage  26   c , its front-side component passage  28   a  and the air auxiliary passage  28   b  during air suction, there is formed an air intake vent  58  such as through hole at a place, which corresponds to the curved portion of the component passage  26   b  of the first cover  27 . In this case, in order to prevent dust and the like from being sucked into the component passage  26   b  and the like from the intake vent  58  together with air, a filter may be arranged for the intake vent  58 . Of path, the above-described intake vent  58  may be formed at a place which corresponds to the rear portion of the long-sideways portion of the component passage  26   b  of the first cover  27  or the rear portion of the air auxiliary passage  26   c.    
         [0175]    [0175]FIG. 56A shows a variation of the rear-side component passage  6   b  according to the first embodiment, and in order to improve a flow of air in the component passage  6   b , the air auxiliary passage  6   c , its front-side component passage  8   a  and the air auxiliary passage  8   b  during air suction, behind the air auxiliary passage  6   c , there is formed an air intake vent  59  for continuing to the air auxiliary passage  6   c  and whose end portion is opened to the open air. In this case, in order to prevent dust and the like from being sucked into the component passage  6   b  and the like from the intake vent  59  together with air, a filter  60  may be arranged at the open end of the intake vent  59 .  
         [0176]    [0176]FIG. 56B shows a variation of the rear-side component passage  26   b  according to the second embodiment, and in order to improve a flow of air in the component passage  26   b , the air auxiliary passage  26   c , its front-side component passage  28   a  and the air auxiliary passage  28   b  during air suction, behind the air auxiliary passage  26   c , there is formed an air intake vent  61  for continuing to the air auxiliary passage  26   c  and whose end portion is opened to the open air. In this case, in order to prevent dust and the like from being sucked into the component passage  26   b  and the like from the intake vent  61  together with air, a filter  62  may be arranged at the open end of the intake vent  61 .  
         [0177]    [0177]FIG. 57 shows a variation of the air cylinder  15 ,  41  according to the first or second embodiment, and to the other air supply/release port, which is not in use, there is connected a control valve  63  having a similar valve structure to the control valve  16 ,  42 , and to the air release port of this control valve  63 , one end of the air tube  64  is connected while the other end of this air tube  64  is connected to the intake vent  57 ,  58  shown in FIGS. 55A and 55B or the open end of the intake vent  59 ,  61  shown in FIGS. 56A and 56B. In the present embodiment, when air is sucked in the air suction port of one control valve  16 ,  42 , air to be emitted from the air release port of the other control valve  64  can be sent into the component passage  6   b , the air auxiliary passage  6   c , or the component passage  26   b  and the air auxiliary passage  26   c  through the air tube  64 . In other words, in the first or second embodiment, the components have been conveyed only through the use of the air suction force, but according to the present embodiment, the components can be conveyed through the use of air suction from the front side in combination with the air discharge from the rear side.  
         [0178]    [0178]FIGS. 58A to  57 C show a variation of the air auxiliary passage according to the first and second embodiments respectively, and in FIG. 58A, there are formed air auxiliary passages  72   a  in upper left and lower right, in the drawing, of the component passage  72  formed in the component guide  71 . Also, in FIG. 58B, there are formed air auxiliary passages  72   b  in lower left and lower right, in the drawing, of the component passage  72  formed in the component guide  71 . Further, in FIG. 58C, there are formed air auxiliary passages  72   c  having a triangular cross section in lower left and lower right, in the drawing, of the component passage  72  formed in the component guide  71 .  
         [0179]    [0179]FIG. 59A and FIG. 59B show variations of the air auxiliary passage according to the first and second embodiments respectively, and in FIG. 59A, on both sides of the component passage  73 , there are symmetrically formed air auxiliary passages  73   a , each consisting of a series of substantially semi-circular concave portions. Also, in FIG. 59B, on both sides of the component passage  73 , there are formed air auxiliary passages  73   a  each consisting of a series of substantially semi-circular concave portions in deviated relationship by the radius of the substantially semi-circular concave portion in the lengthwise direction. In the air auxiliary passage  73   a  shown in FIGS. 59A and 59B, the substantially semi-circular concave portions, which are adjacent each other, do not communicate to each other, but since it communicates to the component passage  73 , each substantially semi-circular concave portion can sufficiently play its role as a passage of air.  
         [0180]    The preferred embodiments described herein are illustrative, not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the accompanying claims. The present invention covers all variations within the scope of the claims.