Abstract:
A method of mounting electronic components on a printed board includes providing a storage tape including a first portion and a second portion that are connected by a connection tape and containing electronic components stored therein, advancing the storage tape so that an electronic component is advanced to a component pickup position where electronic components are picked up by a suction nozzle, picking up the advanced electronic component at the component pickup position by the suction nozzle, and mounting the picked up electronic component on a printed board. The advancing of the storage tape, the picking up of the electronic component and the mounting of the electronic component are repeated, and the component pickup position is adjusted when the second portion of the storage tape is advanced to the component pickup position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE OF THE INVENTION 
     This application is based on Japanese Patent Applications No. No. 2005-192116, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     This application is a division of Ser. No. 11/478,434, filed Jun. 30, 2006 now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to an electronic component mounting apparatus having a plurality of component feeding units aligned on a feeder base, the component feeding unit feeding an electronic component stored in a storage tape to a component pickup position, in which a suction nozzle picks the electronic component fed by the component feeding unit and mounts the electronic component on a printed board. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In this kind of electronic component mounting apparatus, particularly in a high-speed gantry-type mounting device, since the component feeding units are fixed and not moved, there are rapidly increasing users employing the so-called splicing where storage tapes are connected to each other for supplying the components during automatic driving. A method of connecting storage tapes to each other is disclosed in the Japanese patent application publication No. Hei 5-338618 and so on, for example, and a technology of facilitating the connection work is proposed. 
     However, in a case where the component feeding unit is dismounted from the feeder base, the storage tapes are connected to each other with a connection tape, and then the component feeding unit is mounted back on the feeder base when a shortage of electronic components occurs, a position where the suction nozzle lowers to pick the electronic component of the component feeding unit is shifted due to the connection tape or the dismount or mount of the component feeding unit, thereby causing an error in picking a component and reduction in a pickup rate. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides an electronic component mounting apparatus that includes a feeder base, and a component feeding unit disposed on the feeder base and feeding electronic components stored in a storage tape so that each of the electronic components is advanced to a component pickup position where a suction nozzle is configured to pick up the electronic component fed by the component feeding unit for mounting the electronic component on a printed board. The apparatus also includes a seam detection device provided for the component feeding unit and detecting a connection tape connecting two storage tapes, a counter counting the feeding of the electronic components to the component pickup position after the seam detection device detects the connection tape, a recognition camera taking an image of one of storage concave portions of the storage tape storing the electronic components therein when the counting of the feeding reaches a predetermined number, a recognition processing device performing a recognition processing to the image taken by the recognition camera, and a control device adjusting the component pickup position based on a result of the recognition processing of the recognition processing device. 
     The invention also provides an electronic component mounting apparatus that includes a feeder base, and a component feeding unit disposed on the feeder base and feeding electronic components stored in a storage tape so that each of the electronic components is advanced to a component pickup position where a suction nozzle is configured to pick up the electronic component fed by the component feeding unit for mounting the electronic component on a printed board. The apparatus also includes a detection device provided for the component feeding unit and detecting a pickup error of the electronic component by the suction nozzle, a counter provided for the component feeding unit and counting the pickup errors, a recognition camera taking an image of one of storage concave portions of the storage tape storing the electronic components therein when the counting of the pickup errors reaches a predetermined number, a recognition processing device performing a recognition processing to the image taken by the recognition camera, and a control device adjusting the component pickup position based on a result of the recognition processing of the recognition processing device. 
     The invention further provides An electronic component mounting apparatus that includes a feeder base and a component feeding unit disposed on the feeder base and feeding electronic components stored in a storage tape so that each of the electronic components is advanced to a component pickup position where a suction nozzle is configured to pick up the electronic component fed by the component feeding unit for mounting the electronic component on a printed board. The apparatus also includes a monitoring device keeping track of the electronic components remaining in the storage tape and providing a prompt when the remaining electronic components reach a predetermined number, a recognition camera taking an image of one of storage concave portions of another storage tape storing the electronic components therein when all electronic components of the storage tape are picked up, a recognition processing device performing a recognition processing to the image taken by the recognition camera, and a control device adjusting the component pickup position based on a result of the recognition processing of the recognition processing device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of an electronic component mounting apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a component feeding unit fixed on a feeder base. 
         FIG. 3  is a vertical cross-sectional view of a cover tape peeling system of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a view from an arrow X in  FIG. 2 , showing a relation of the component feeding unit and the feeder base. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2  in a position of a front left-to-right control pin, showing the relation of the component feeding unit and the feeder base. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a seam detection device. 
         FIG. 7  is a view of the seam detection device from an arrow in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of storage tapes connected to each other with a connection tape. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the storage tapes connected to each other with the connection tape. 
         FIG. 10  is a control block diagram. 
         FIG. 11  is a flow chart. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An electronic component mounting apparatus having an electronic component feeding device and an electronic component mounting apparatus body will be described with reference to the attached drawings. This electronic component mounting apparatus is a so-called multifunctional chip mounter, which can mount a variety of electronic components on a printed board P. 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of the electronic component mounting apparatus. An electronic component mounting apparatus body  1  includes a base  2 , a conveyer portion  3  extending in a lateral direction in a center of the base  2 , and two component mounting portions  4  and two component feeding portions  5  each provided on the front (on a lower side of  FIG. 1 ) and the rear (on an upper side of  FIG. 1 ) of the base  2 . Each of the component feeding portions  5  is detachably set with a plurality of component feeding units  6  as the electronic component feeding device, thereby forming the electronic component mounting apparatus. 
     The conveyer portion  3  includes a central set table  8 , a left feeding conveyer  9 , and a right discharging conveyer  10 . The printed board P is supplied from the feeding conveyer  9  to the set table  8 , and is fixed at a predetermined height so as to be mounted with electronic components. After completing the electronic component mounting, the printed board P is discharged from the set table  8  to a downstream device through the discharging conveyer  10 . 
     Each of the component mounting portions  4  is provided with an XY stage  12  movably mounted with a head unit  13 , a component recognition camera  14 , and a nozzle stocker  15 . The head unit  13  is mounted with two mounting heads  16  for picking up and mounting the electronic components, and a board recognition camera  17  for recognizing the position of the printed board P. Normally, the XY stages  12  of both the component mounting portions  4  are alternately driven. 
     In each of the XY stages  12 , a beam  12 A moves in a Y direction driven by a Y axis drive motor  12 Y, and the head unit  13  moves in an X direction driven by an X axis drive motor  12 X. Therefore, the head unit  13  moves in the X and Y directions. 
     In each of the component feeding portions  5 , many component feeding units  6  are laterally and detachably aligned on a feeder base  19 . Each of the component feeding units  6  is provided with a storage tape C storing many electronic components in storage portions Cc aligned at predetermined pitches, which will be described below. By intermittently feeding the storage tape C, the electronic components are fed one by one from an end of the component feeding unit  6  to the component mounting portion  4 . 
     This electronic component mounting apparatus body  1  is driven based on mounting data stored in a storage portion thereof. First, the XY stage  12  is driven, the head unit  13  moves to the component feeding unit  6 , and then a suction nozzle  18  of the mounting head  16  is lowered to pick a required electronic component up. Then, the mounting head  16  rises up, and the XY stage  12  is driven to move the electronic component to a position right above the component recognition camera  14 . The component recognition camera  14  recognizes a posture and a position of the electronic component on the suction nozzle  18 . Next, the mounting head  16  moves to above the printed board P on the set table  8 , and the board recognition camera  17  recognizes a position of the printed board P. Then, an X axis drive motor  12 X and a Y axis drive motor  12 Y of the XY stage  12 , and a θ axis drive motor  18 A of the suction nozzle  18  are moved by a corrected amount based on a recognition result of the component recognition camera  14  and the board recognition camera  17 , and then the electronic component is mounted on the printed board P. 
     Next, the component feeding unit  6  will be described based on  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The component feeding unit  6  includes a unit frame  21 , a storage tape reel (not shown) rotatably mounted on the unit frame  21 , a tape feeding system  22  for intermittently feeding the storage tape C let out from the storage tape reel reeled with the storage tape C to a position where the electronic component is picked up by the suction nozzle  18 , and a cover tape peeling system  20  for peeling a cover tape Ca from the storage tape C just before the pickup position. 
     The storage tape C let out from the storage tape reel is fed to the pickup position under a suppressor  23  which is provided just before the pickup position in a tape route. This suppressor  23  is formed with an opening for picking. The suppressor  23  is also formed with a slit. The cover tape Ca of the storage tape C is peeled off at this slit, and stored in a storage portion  26 . That is, the electronic component stored in the storage tape C is fed to a position to the opening for picking, with the cover tape Ca being peeled off, and picked up by the suction nozzle  18 . 
     Next, the tape feeding system  22  will be explained referring to  FIG. 2 . The tape feeding system  22  includes a servomotor  28  which is provided with a gear  27  at its output axis and serves as a drive source which can rotate forward and backward, a rotation axis  33  rotatably supported by a supporting body  31  through a bearing  32  and provided with a gear  30  at its end where a timing belt  29  is stretched from the gear  27 , and a sprocket  36  provided with a worm wheel  35  engaged with a worm gear  34  provided in a center of the rotation axis  33  and also engaged with feed holes Cb formed in the storage tape C to feed the storage tape C. The support axis  37  of the worm wheel  35  and the sprocket  36  penetrates an intermediate partition body of a unit frame  21 . 
     Therefore, when the servomotor  28  is driven to rotate forward in order to feed an electronic component stored in the storage tape C in the component feeding unit  6 , the gear  27  and the gear  30  rotate through the timing belt  29  to rotate the rotation axis  33  only, and the sprocket  36  intermittently rotates by a predetermined angle in a forward direction through the worm gear  34  and the worm wheel  35  to intermittently feed the storage tape C with the feed holes Cb. 
     Next, the cover tape peeling system  20  will be described. The cover tape peeling system  20  includes a drive motor  42 , a first rotating body  46 , a second rotating body  50 , a third rotating body  56 , a roller  57 , and a tension applying body  62 . The drive motor  42  is provided with a worm gear  41  at its output axis. The first rotating body  46  is provided with a gear  43  engaged with a gear  45  and the gear  41  therearound, and is rotatably supported by a supporting body  44  through a support axis  46 A, the supporting body  44  being fixed on the unit frame  21 . The second rotating body  50  is provided with a gear  47  engaged with a contact portion  51  and the gear  45  therearound, and is rotatably supported by a supporting body  49  through a support axis  50 A, the supporting body  49  being fixed on the unit frame  21  through an attachment body  48 . The third rotating body  56  is provided with a contact portion  52  contacting with the contact portion  51  being pushed by a spring  55  therearound, and is rotatably supported by an attachment body  54  through a support axis  56 A, the attachment body  54  being fixed on the unit frame  21  and rotatable through a support axis  53 . The roller  57  is provided for guiding the cover tape Ca. The tension applying body  62  is provided with the roller  60  for guiding the cover tape Ca guided by the roller  57  on an end of an attachment body  59 , the attachment body  59  being fixed on the unit frame  21  and rotatable around a support axis  58 , and applies tension to the cover tape Ca being pushed by a spring  61 . A numeral  63  designates a stopper for limiting rotation of the attachment body  59  there. 
     When the cover tape Ca is peeled off, the drive motor  42  is driven to rotate the first rotating body  46  through the gears  41  and  43 . By the rotation of the first rotating body  46 , the second rotating body  50  rotates through the gears  45  and  47 . By rotation of the second rotating body  50 , the third rotating body  56  rotates with the cover tape Ca being interposed between the contact portions  52  and  51  pushed by the spring  55 . Then, the cover tape Ca is peeled from the storage tape C by a pitch at the slit of the suppressor  23  without generating the slack, and is stored in a storage portion  26  provided in an end of the component feeding unit  6 . 
     The suppressor  23  forms an almost L shape in its cross-section by a vertical piece as a support portion and a horizontal piece pressing the storage tape C of which the feed holes Cb are engaged with the gear teeth of the sprocket  36  for preventing disengagement of the tape C. The vertical piece is supported by the unit frame  21 , being rotatable around the support axis as a fulcrum in its rear end portion inside the unit frame  21 , and the horizontal piece has a vertical hook piece in its front end portion, the vertical hook piece having hook holes which can be hooked on a hook body (not shown) applied with pressure by a spring in a hooking direction. 
     The component feeding unit  6  is so formed that the storage tape C can be set on the component feeding unit  6  through the opening for setting  65  connected to a tape route  64  formed from the side of the component feeding unit  6  to the unit frame  21  with the suppressor  23  rotated upward, which serves as a peeling point of the cover tape Ca of the storage tape C. A numeral  66  designates a prevention member for preventing the storage tape C set in the component feeding unit  6  from separating from the opening for setting  65 , which is provided to the tape route  64  near its rear end portion, in an intermediate portion of its horizontal portion, near an upper end portion of its slope portion, in a boundary portion between the horizontal portion and the slope portion, and so on (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     A numeral  68  designates a label attached to a rear side of a handle  77  of the component feeding unit  6 , where a barcode indicating a serial number of the component feeding unit  6  is written. Thus, even when the plurality of component feeding units  6  is set aligned close to each other on the electronic component mounting apparatus body  1 , the barcodes can be read out by a barcode scanner (not shown). 
     The structure of the component feeding units  6  which are detachably set aligned on the feeder base  19  will be described. First, a pair of guiding members  70  guiding each of the component feeding units  6  and having parallel sides  70 A is provided on an upper surface of the feeder base  19  by a plurality of attachment pins  101 , and a guided member  71  having a U-shape in its cross-section is provided on a bottom side of the component feeding unit  6 , having concave portions  71 A on its outer sides where the pair of the guiding members  70  are fit to guide the guided member  71 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  5 . The front end portions of the pair of guiding members  70  slopes upward, and are formed with sides  70 B facing but increasing in these interval toward the front side. 
     Although the pair of guiding members  70  is provided for the component feeding unit  6 , these guiding members  70  are also used as the guiding members  70  for the adjacent component feeding units  6  since the plurality of component feeding units  6  is set aligned. 
     A front-to-rear control member  72  is provided, which controls the position of the component feeding unit  6  in a front-to-rear direction by making the guided member  71  reach the end portion of the feeder base  19  in its depth side when the guided member  71  is moved for mounting the component feeding unit  6 , being guided by the pair of guiding members  70  and sliding on the feeder base  19 . 
     A cylindrical rear left-to-right control pin  73  is provided on the feeder base  19  between the sides  70 A of the guiding members  70  in its front portion, being engaged with a control groove  71 B of the guided member  71  to control the position of the component feeding unit  6  in the left-to-right direction. Furthermore, a cylindrical front left-to-right control pin  74  is provided in a position near the front-to-rear control member  72  where the guiding member  70  is not provided, being engaged with the control groove  71 B of the guided member  71  to control the position of the unit  6  in the left-to-right direction. 
     Since the control groove  71 B of the guided member  71  is to control the position of the component feeding unit  6  in the left-to-right direction by being engaged with the front left-and-right control pin  74  having a larger diameter than that of the rear left-to-right control pin  73 , the control groove  71 B is formed to have almost the same width as the diameter of the front left-to-right control pin  74  in the position where the front left-to-right control pin  74  is engaged and to have almost the same width as the diameter of the rear left-to-right control pin  73  in the position where the rear left-to-right control pin  73  is engaged, in order to control the position of the unit  6  in the left-to-right direction when the component feeding unit  6  is fixed to the feeder base  19 . 
     The handle  77  and a lock release lever  79  which is rotatable around a support axis  78  as a fulcrum are formed in the rear portion of the component feeding unit  6 . A lock release member  81  having a contact portion  81 A and supported rotatably around a support axis  80  as a fulcrum and the lock release lever  79  are connected to each other through a connection plate  84  which is rotatably supported by support axes  82  and  83 . Although the lock release member  81  is pulled by a spring  85  so as to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, the rotation in the counterclockwise direction is controlled by a control pin  86 . 
     A coil spring  90  is stretched between an attachment member  87  of the feeder base  19  and a hook member  89  which is rotatable around a support axis  88  as a fulcrum, and applies pressure to the hook member  89  so as to rotate the member  89  in the clockwise direction, the hook member  89  having a first hook member  89 A which can be hooked on the first lock member  92  provided on the component feeding unit  6 . The first lock member  92  includes a roller  92 A and a support member  92 B provided with the roller  92 A. The lock release lever  79 , the lock release member  81 , the connection plate  84 , and so on form a release device releasing hooking of the first hook member  89 A of the hook member  89  from the roller  92 A of the first lock member  92 . 
     When the component feeding unit  6  is to be mounted on the feeder base  19 , an operator holds the handle  77  and moves the component feeding unit  6  in the depth direction with the guided member  71  guided by the guiding member  70 , and the roller  92 A is hooked on the first hook member  89 A after the roller  92 A is in contact with the guide portion  89 C of the hook member  89  provided on the electronic component mounting apparatus body  1  and the hook member  89  is being rotated in the counterclockwise direction. 
     A numeral  93  designates a lock cylinder forming an activating member provided on the electronic component mounting apparatus body  1 , and one end portion of a second lock member  95  which is rotatable around a support axis  94  as a fulcrum is in contact with a rod  93 A of the lock cylinder  93 , being applied with pressure by a spring  96 . When the lock cylinder  93  is activated and its rod  93 A extends, the second lock member  95  provided on the electronic component mounting apparatus body  1  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, and a lock lever  95 A on another end of the second lock member  95  becomes in contact with a second hook member  89 B of the hook member  89 , thereby limiting the rotation of the hook member  89  in the counterclockwise direction. 
     Although the hook member  89  is provided for each of the component feeding units  6 , the lock cylinder  93  and the second lock member  95  are provided for the plurality of the component feeding units  6 . Therefore, the lock lever  95 A is extended in the alignment direction of the component feeding units  6 . 
     In  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a numeral  102  designates a seam detection device for the storage tape C, which is provided on an attachment member  103  attached to the rear end portion of the component feeding unit  6 . This seam detection device  102  includes a device body  104  provided with a light emissive element  102 A and a light receiving element  102 B at an interval of 8 mm, and a route formation body  107  having a prism  105  on its upper end portion, a U-shape in its cross-section, and a tape route opening portion  106  in its middle portion so that the storage tape C can pass therethrough. 
     That is, in the feeding operation of the storage tape C, the storage tape C without a seam can be detected as having no seam by the seam detection device  102  since light from the light emissive element  102 A is reflected by the prism  105  and returned therefrom through feed holes (formed at intervals of 4 mm) Cb and received by the light receiving element  102 B. The storage tape C with the seam is detected as having a seam since light from the emissive element  102 A is blocked by the connection tape  108 A covering the feed holes Cb and not received by the light receiving element  102 B in the feeding operation (see  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). 
     It is noted that the connection tape  108 A connects an old storage tape C where the number of electronic components is reduced and a new storage tape C, with the connection tapes  108 B and  108 C. 
     Next, a control block diagram of the electronic component mounting apparatus of this embodiment shown in  FIG. 10  will be described. A numeral  110  designates a CPU as a control portion for controlling the operation of mounting the electronic component of the electronic component mounting apparatus, a numeral  111  designates a RAM (random access memory) as a memory device, and a numeral  112  designates a ROM (read only memory). 
     The RAM  111  is stored with mounting data for each of types of the printed board P, which include values in the X and Y directions and an angle on the printed board, alignment numbers of the component feeding units  6 , and so on in order of component mounting (in order of step number). Furthermore, the RAM  111  is stored with component disposition data which include types of the electronic components (component ID) corresponding to the alignment numbers (lane numbers) of the component feeding units  6 . Furthermore, the RAM  111  is stored with component library data including items indicating features of the electronic component in each of ID. 
     Then, the CPU  110  controls a component mounting operation of the electronic component mounting apparatus based on data stored in the RAM  111  and according to a program stored in the ROM  112 . That is, the CPU  110  controls driving of the X axis drive motor  12 X, the Y axis drive motor  12 Y, the θ axis motor  18 A, and the vertical axis motor  16 A vertically moving the mounting head  16  respectively through the drive circuit  113 , the drive circuit  114 , the drive circuit  115 , and the drive circuit  116 . 
     A numeral  117  designates a recognition processing device connected with the CPU  110  through an interface  118 . The recognition processing device  117  performs recognition processing to images taken and stored by the component recognition camera  14  or the board recognition camera  17 , and sends a recognition result to the CPU  110 . That is, the CPU  110  outputs a command to perform recognition processing (e.g. calculation of a shifting amount of an electronic component from a proper position) to images taken and stored by the component recognition camera  14  or the board recognition camera  17  to the recognition processing device  117 , and receives a recognition processing result from the recognition processing device  117 . 
     That is, when the recognition processing device  117  performs recognition processing and recognizes a shifting amount from a proper position, this recognition result is sent to the CPU  110 . Then, the CPU  110  control the apparatus body  1  to move the X axis drive motor  12 X and the Y axis drive motor  12 Y of the XY stage  12 , and the θ axis motor  18 A of the suction nozzle  18  by a corrected amount and mount the electronic component on the printed board P. 
     Various touch panel switches  119 B as input means for data setting are provided on a monitor  119 A as a display device, and an operator can make various settings by operating the touch panel switches  119 B. Set data is stored in the RAM  111 . A numeral  109 A designates a counter provided for each of the component feeding units  6 , and counts the number of times the storage tape C is fed from the time when the seam detection device  102  detects the connection tape  108 A (the number of times the CPU  110  sends a feeding command). The number of times the tape C is fed until the electronic component stored at the seam reaches the electronic component pickup position from the time when this seam is detected by the seam detection device  102  is N. A numeral  109 B designates a counter provided for each of the component feeding units  6  and counting the number of times a pickup error occurs. It is detected that the suction nozzle  18  holds an electronic component or no electronic component by a line sensor  109 C provided on the mounting head  16  or the component recognition process, and the counter  109 B counts the number of sequential times the suction nozzle  18  is detected as holding no component or holding the component improperly. It is noted that  FIG. 10  shows only each one of the counters  109 A and  109 B for convenience although the counters  109 A and  109 B are provided for each of the component feeding units  6 . 
     A numeral  130  designates a connector connected to the CPU  110  through the interface  118 . The connector  130  includes each electronic component mounting apparatus side connector  130 A and each component feeding unit side connector  130 B which is detachably attached to the connector  130 A, and the component feeding unit side connector  130 B is connected to the servomotor  28  and the drive motor  42  through a drive circuit  131 . It is noted that  FIG. 10  shows only each one of the connectors  130 , the drive circuits  131 , the servomotors  28 , and the drive motors  42  for convenience although those are provided for each of the component feeding units  6 . 
     Next, an operation of picking and mounting the electronic component will be described based on a flow chart of  FIG. 11 . First, the CPU  110  sends a command to the component feeding unit  6  which feeds an electronic component belonging to the first step number of the mounting order in the mounting data (data on the position, posture, or types of the component to be mounted on a printed board), and drives the servomotor  28  and the drive motor  42  of the component feeding unit  6  to perform the component feeding operation and the peeling operation of the cover tape Ca. 
     Then, the CPU  110  judges whether or not the component feeding unit  6  is dismounted from the feeder base  19  and mounted back thereon, whatever the cause is. 
     In detail, when an operator operates an operating portion (not shown) of the electronic component mounting apparatus first, the CPU  110  activates the lock cylinder  93  to draw the rod  93 A, rotates the second lock member  95  around the support axis  94  as a fulcrum in the clockwise direction. Then, the lock lever  95 A at another end portion of this second lock member  95  is separated from the second hook portion  89 B of the hook member  89  to provide a state where this hook member  89  can rotate in the counterclockwise direction. Thus, when the operator puts, for example, a thumb on the rotatable lock release lever  79 , puts the other fingers inside the handle  77 , and draws the lever  79  by the thumb, the lock release lever  79  rotates around the support axis  78  as a fulcrum in the clockwise direction, the lock release member  81  rotates in the clockwise direction, the contact portion  81 A pushes up the guide portion  89 C of the hook member  89  against the pressure of the coil spring  90 , the hook member  89  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, and the roller  92 A is separated from the first hook portion  89 A (unhooked). Therefore, the operator draws the component feeding unit  6  toward the operator with holding the handle  77 , and the guided member  71  is moved toward the operator, being guided by the guiding member  70 , thereby separating the component feeding unit  6  from the feeder base  19 . Then, the operator moves the component feeding unit  6  in the depth direction with holding the handle  77  while the guided member  71  is guided by the guiding member  70 , and can mount the component feeding unit  6  on the feeder base  19 . 
     At this time, it is necessary to disconnect the electronic component mounting apparatus side connector  130 A from the component feeding unit side connector  130 B when the component feeding unit  6  is dismounted from the feeder base  19 , and to connect the electronic component mounting apparatus side connector  130 A and the component feeding unit side connector  130 B when the component feeding unit  6  is mounted back on the feeder base  19 . Since the CPU  110  always monitors the component feeding unit  6 , the CPU  110  can judge that the component feeding unit  6  is dismounted from the feeder base  19  and mounted back thereon, according to a signal inputted from the component feeding unit  6  through the interface  118 . 
     When the CPU  110  judges that the unit  6  is dismounted and mounted back, the CPU  110  moves the board recognition camera  17  to the pickup position of the component feeding unit  6  which is dismounted and mounted back by driving the X axis drive motor  12 X and the Y axis drive motor  12 Y, the camera  14  takes an image of the storage portion Cc of the storage tape C, and the recognition processing device  117  performs recognition processing to the image. When this recognition processing is performed, since the size data of the storage portion Cc forming a rectangle in its planar view is stored in the RAM  111 , the processing device  117  can recognize either one of the edge of the storage portion Cc and the edge of the electronic component if the electronic component is stored in the storage portion Cc, which has the nearest size to the size data, to be that of the component storage portion Cc. Therefore, the storage portion Cc and the electronic component stored in the storage portion Cc can be discriminated from each other. 
     Then, based on a result of the recognition processing, a correction value is stored in the RAM  111 , and the X axis drive motor  12 X and the Y axis drive motor  12 Y are driven taking this correction value into account, then the vertical axis drive motor  16 A is driven, and the suction nozzle  18  lowers and picks the electronic component by suction. Thus, even if the position of the storage portion Cc is slightly shifted due to the component feeding unit  6  dismounted from the feeder base  19  and mounted back thereon, the electronic component can be picked up without fail. In the subsequent pickup operations, too, the position where the suction nozzle  18  is to lower is corrected by adding this correction value to the value of the previous pickup position. 
     In a case where it is judged that the component feeding unit  6  is not dismounted from the feeder base  19  and mounted back thereon when it is checked whether or not the component feeding unit  6  is dismounted from the feeder base  19  and mounted back thereon, after the seam of the storage tape C is detected, the CPU  110  judges whether or not the count number of the counter  109 A, which is the number of times a feeding command is sent, reaches N. That is, the number of times of feeding the tape, that is needed until the electronic component stored on the upstream side of the seam detected by the seam detection device  102  reaches the pickup position of the electronic component, is N. It is preferable to set N slightly more than needs be with a little allowance so that the seam can pass the pickup position and the storage portion Cc of the added storage tape C can be surely positioned on the pickup position. In a case where the count value reaches N, the board recognition camera  17  takes an image of the storage portion Cc of the storage tape C, the recognition processing is performed to the image, the suction nozzle  18  is moved by a corrected amount, and then the pickup operation of the electronic component is performed, as described above. 
     In a case where the count value of the counter  109 A does not reach N, however, the number of sequential times a suction error occurs is counted by the counter  109 B, and when the CPU  110  judges that the count number reaches M, the board recognition camera  17  takes an image of the storage portion Cc of the storage tape C, the recognition processing is performed, the suction nozzle  18  is moved by a corrected amount, and then the pickup operation of the electronic component is performed, as described above. The suction error is a case where the line sensor  109 C or the component recognition camera  14  detects the suction nozzle  18  as holding no electronic component or holding the electronic component with improper posture. 
     In a case where the number of sequential times a suction error occurs counted by the counter  109 B does not reach M yet, however, the CPU  110  judges whether or not a pickup rate is lower than a predetermined value. In detail, in a case where a value calculated by dividing the number of times the suction error occurs by the number of times the component is picked up becomes higher than the predetermined value and a pickup rate is thus reduced, the board recognition camera  17  takes an image of the storage portion Cc of the storage tape C, the recognition processing is performed to the image, the suction nozzle  18  is moved by a corrected amount, and then the pickup operation of the electronic component is performed, as described above. 
     The described operation is performed in mounting order indicated in the mounting data until the mounting data of the next step number does not exist. 
     The judge and the pickup operation of the electronic component by the suction nozzle  18  are thus performed. 
     It is also possible that the CPU  110  divides the length of the storage tape C set on the component feeding unit  6  stored in the RAM  111  by a feeding pitch of the storage tape, recognizes the remaining number of the electronic components, stores the number in the RAM  111 , and always monitors the remaining number by subtracting 1 from the remaining number in the counter after each of the feeding operations, instead of detecting the seam by the seam detection device  102 . That is, the CPU  110 , the RAM  111 , the counter, and so on form a monitoring device. Thus, when the remaining number reaches a predetermined number, a need for splicing for connecting the old storage tape to the new storage tape is announced and the splicing is performed. Then, after the predetermined number of electronic components are fed (it is preferable to set the predetermined number slightly more than need be so that the new storage tape can surely reach the pickup position), the board recognition camera  17  takes an image of the storage portion Cc of the storage tape C, the recognition processing is performed, the suction nozzle  18  is moved by a corrected amount, and then the pickup operation of the electronic component is performed, as described above. 
     Although the so-called multifunctional chip mounter is used as an example of the electronic component mounting apparatus in the above description, the invention is not limited to this and can be also applied to a high speed type chip mounter such as a rotary table type. 
     The component feeding unit can be mounted on a cart detachably connected to the body, and the feeder base can be provided on a cart. 
     Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus are possible based on the disclosure for those skilled in the art and lie within the scope of the present invention.