Patent Publication Number: US-9839170-B2

Title: Feeder

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application relates to a feeder for supplying carrier tape in which components are stored. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     As disclosed in PTL 1, non-splicing feeders which supply components stored in carrier tape to a component mounter without the need to perform splicing work have been proposed. With these kinds of feeders, a sprocket which engages with engaging holes formed in the carrier tape is provided, and the carrier tape is indexed by rotating this sprocket. In the non-splicing feeder disclosed in PTL 1, an insertion sprocket is provided near the insertion gate. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     PTL 1: JP-A-2011-77096 
     SUMMARY 
     Problem to be Solved 
     With the non-splicing feeder disclosed in patent literature 1, when carrier tape being supplied has been completely fed, an operator inserts new carrier tape into the insertion gate. However, when the leading end of the new carrier tape engages with the insertion sprocket, the new carrier tape is taken into the feeder suddenly, leading to a problem in that there is a danger that the operator who is holding the new carrier tape may have their stance disturbed and so on. 
     The present application takes account of the above issue, and an object thereof is to provide a non-splicing feeder into which carrier tape is able to be set safely. 
     Means for Solving the Problem 
     In order to solve the above problem according to one aspect of the disclosure, a feeder for inserting carrier tape, in which many components are successively stored in a conveyance direction and in which engaging holes which have a prescribed relationship with the components are formed at a regular pitch interval in the conveyance direction, into an insertion section, and feeding the carrier tape such that the components are sequentially supplied to a supply position on a side opposite to the insertion section, the feeder comprising: a main body; a downstream sprocket rotatably provided on the insertion section of the main body; and an upstream sprocket rotatably provided further upstream in the conveyance direction than the downstream sprocket; wherein downstream engaging protrusions that engage with the engaging holes are formed at a fixed angle around an entire outer circumference of the downstream sprocket; and wherein upstream engaging protrusions that engage with the engaging holes are formed at only a portion of an outer circumference of the upstream sprocket. 
     According to this, upstream engaging protrusions that engage with the engaging holes are formed at only a portion of an outer circumference of the upstream sprocket. By this, when the upstream protrusion of the upstream sprocket engages with the engaging hole formed on a leading end of newly inserted carrier tape, the carrier tape moves intermittently to the upstream sprocket side. Therefore, since the new carrier tape is not suddenly pulled to the upstream sprocket side, this is safe. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, a rotation drive section that rotates the downstream sprocket and the upstream sprocket synchronously is provided on the main body. 
     Even when the downstream sprocket and the upstream sprocket are rotated synchronously by the synchronous rotation drive section, the new carrier tape is not pulled suddenly to the downstream sprocket side. Accordingly, because there is no need to provide two rotation drive sections for respectively rotating the downstream sprocket and the upstream sprocket, feeder costs are kept down. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a conceptual view of a component mounting device from above. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of a carrier tape. 
         FIG. 3  is an A-A sectional diagram of the carrier tape illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cutaway side view of a feeder. 
         FIG. 5  is a cutaway side view representing an insertion section of the feeder. 
         FIG. 6  is a cutaway side view representing an insertion section of the feeder. 
         FIG. 7  shows the carrier tape in a state engaged with the third sprocket and the fourth sprocket. 
         FIG. 8  shows the carrier tape in a state engaged with the third sprocket and the fourth sprocket. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a non-splicing feeder with a tape peeling unit attached. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing the tape peeling unit in detail. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the tape peeling unit. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional diagram taken along the B-B line of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional diagram taken along the C-C line of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating a state in which cover tape is folded over by the tape peeling unit. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     (Component Mounting Device) 
     Hereinafter, description will be given of component mounting device  100  which uses feeders  21  of the present embodiment using  FIG. 1 . Note that, in the description, a conveyance direction of a printed circuit board will be referred to as an X-axis direction, a direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction in a horizontal plane will be referred to as a Y-axis direction, and a direction which is perpendicular to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction will be referred to as a Z-axis direction. Component mounting device  100  includes board conveyance device  10 , component supply section  20 , component mounting device  40 , and reel holding section  50 . 
     Component supply section  20  is configured from multiple slots  20   a , and multiple feeders  21  which are detachably mounted on each slot  20   a . Slots  20   a  are provided in component supply section  20  lined up in parallel in the X-axis direction. 
     Reel holding section  50  holds, in an exchangeable manner, first reel  810  and second reel  820  on which carrier tapes  900  are wound. First reel  810  and second reel  820  are arranged adjacent to each other in the Y direction, and multiple of the reels are arranged in the X direction corresponding to each of the feeders  21 . 
     Carrier tape  900  stores many components such as electronic components or the like consecutively in the conveyance direction of carrier tape  900 . As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , carrier tape  900  is formed of base tape  901 , cover tape  902 , and bottom tape  903 . Base tape  901  is formed of a flexible material such as a paper material or a resin. 
     Storage sections  901   a , which are cavities, are formed as through-holes in a center portion of base tape  901  in the width direction at a fixed pitch P 1  (hereinafter referred to as component pitch P 1 ) in the length direction. Components are stored in storage sections  901   a . Engagement holes  901   b  are formed as through-holes in a side portion of the base tape  901  at a fixed pitch P 2  (hereafter referred to hole pitch P 2 ) in the length direction. Note that, there is a relationship between the position in which engagement holes  901   b  are formed, and the position in which storage sections  901   a  are formed. In the present embodiment, component pitch P 1  is four times the length of hole pitch P 2 . 
     Both side portions of cover tape  902  are adhered to both side portions of the top surface of base tape  901  using an adhesive  902   a . Cover tape  902  is formed of a transparent polymer film. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , bottom tape  903  is adhered to the bottom surface of base tape  901 . Components which are stored in storage sections  901   a  are prevented from falling out by bottom tape  903 . Bottom tape  903  is formed of a paper material, a polymer film or the like and is transparent or semi-transparent. 
     Carrier tape  900  which is wound on first reels  810  and second reels  820  is inserted into each of the corresponding feeders  21 . Also, carrier tape  900  which is wound on one of the reels  810  is inserted from insertion section  21   d  provided on the rear end of feeder  21 , and sequentially supplied to component supply position  21   a , which is provided on a tip portion of feeder  21  (the opposite side to insertion section  21   d ), by feeder  21 . In this way, components held in carrier tape  900  are supplied to supply position  21   a . Also, carrier tape  900  which is wound on the other reel  820  is inserted into feeder  21 , but this carrier tape  900  stands by without being supplied by feeder  21 . Detailed description of feeder  21  will be given later. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , in board conveyance device  10 , a pair of guide rails  13   a  and  13   b  are provided respectively on base  41  of component mounting device  40 . Also, a pair of conveyor belts which support and convey a printed circuit board B which is guided by both of the guide rails  13   a  and  13   b  and which are omitted from the drawings are provided in board conveyance device  10 . Also, a clamp device which holds up and clamps the printed circuit board B which is conveyed to a predetermined position and which is omitted from the drawings is provided in board conveyance device  10 . 
     In this board conveyance device  10 , printed circuit board B onto which components are to be mounted is conveyed in the X-axis direction to a component mounting position by the conveyor belts while being guided by guide rails  13   a  and  13   b . Printed circuit board B which is conveyed to the component mounting position is positioned and clamped in the component mounting position by the clamp device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , component mounting device  40  includes guide rail  42 , Y-axis slide  43 , a Y-axis servo motor (not shown), X-axis slide  45 , an X-axis servo motor (not shown), component mounting head  48 , and section nozzle  47  (shown in  FIG. 11 ). 
     A Y robot is configured from guide rail  42 , Y-axis slide  43 , and the Y-axis servo motor. Guide rail  42  is mounted in the Y direction above the base  41  and is arranged to be above board conveyance device  10 . Y-axis slide  43  is provided to be capable of moving in the Y-axis direction along guide rail  42 . Y-axis slide  43  is moved in the Y-axis direction by a ball screw mechanism that has a ball screw connected to an output shaft of the Y-axis servo motor. 
     An X-axis robot is formed from X-axis slide  45  and the X-axis servo motor. X-axis slide  45  is provided to be capable of moving in the X-axis direction on Y-axis slide  43 . The X-axis servo motor is provided on Y-axis slide  43 . X-axis slide  45  is moved in the X-axis direction by a ball screw mechanism, which is not shown, connected to an output shaft of the X-axis servo motor. 
     Component mounting head  48  is provided on X-axis slide  45 . Component mounting head  48  holds suction nozzle  47  (shown in  FIG. 11 ) in a detachable manner. Suction nozzle  47  picks up a component which is supplied to component supply position  21   a  and mounts the component on the printed circuit board B which is positioned in the component mounting position by board conveyance device  10 . 
     (Feeder) 
     Hereinafter, description will be given of feeder  21  of the present embodiment using  FIGS. 4 to 8 . Note that, in the description hereinafter, the term “conveyance direction” indicates the conveyance direction of carrier tape  900 . In  FIGS. 4 to 8 , the right side of the paper surface is set to the front (the downstream side in the conveyance direction) and the left side of the paper surface is set to the rear (the upstream side in the conveyance direction). In  FIGS. 4 to 6 , upward on the paper surface is set to upward, and downward on the paper surface is set to downward. 
     Feeder  21  is formed mainly of main body  21   b , first servo motor  22 , second servo motor  23 , first gear  24 , second gear  25 , third gear  26 , fourth gear  27 , lifting prevention member  28 , torsion spring  29 , stopper member  31 , upstream side retaining member  32 , downstream side retaining member  33 , first sprocket  61 , second sprocket  62 , third sprocket  63 , fourth sprocket  64 , rail  38 , control section  39 , and tape peeling unit  70 . 
     Feeder  21  is mounted by being inserted into slot  20   a  from the front. Main body  21   b  is a flat box shape. Note that,  FIGS. 4 to 6  are diagrams with a side wall of main body  21   b  removed to show the internal structure of feeder  21 . 
     Rail  38  is provided from insertion section  21   d  at the rear section of main body  21   b  to supply position  21   a  above fourth sprocket  54  to first sprocket  61  along the conveyance direction of the carrier tape. The top surface of rail  38  forms the conveying path of carrier tape  900 . Front section  38   a  of rail  38  is formed horizontally. In the present embodiment, rail  38  is inclined to gradually increase in height from the rear section to before front section  38   a . Note that, although not depicted in the drawings, guide members which are separated by a dimension which is slightly greater than the width dimension of carrier tape  900  are provided on both sides of rail  38 . 
     Each of first sprocket  61  and second sprocket  62  is provided, to be capable of rotating, from the front toward the rear (from the downstream side to the upstream side in the conveyance direction) in main body  21   b  beneath front section  38   a  of rail  38 , that is, in positions adjacent to the supply position  21   a  of main body  21   b . Each of third sprocket  63  and fourth sprocket  64  is provided, to be capable of rotating, from the front toward the rear in main body  21   b  beneath the rear section of rail  38 , that is at a position adjacent to insertion section  21   d  of main body  21   b.    
     First engaging protrusions  61   a , second engaging protrusions  62   a , and third engaging protrusions  63   a  are formed at a fixed angle on the outer circumferences of first sprocket  61 , second sprocket  62 , and third sprocket  63 , respectively. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7 , fourth engaging protrusions  64   a  are formed at a fixed angle only a portion of the outer circumference of fourth sprocket  64 . That is, there is a segment on a portion of the outer circumference of fourth sprocket  64  at which no fourth engaging protrusions  64   a  are provided. Each of the engaging protrusions  61   a  to  64   a  engages with engagement holes  901   b  of carrier tape  900 . 
     First sprocket gear  61   b , second sprocket gear  62   b , third sprocket gear  63   b , and fourth sprocket gear  64   b  are formed closer to the inside than the outer circumference of the first sprocket  61  to the fourth sprocket  64 , respectively. Note that, window hole  38   b  (refer to  FIGS. 5 and 7 ) is provided above each of the sprockets  61  to  64  of rail  38 . Each of the engaging protrusions  61   a  to  64   a  protrudes from the top of rail  38  through window hole  38   b.    
     First servo motor  22  is a servo motor which rotates the first sprocket  61  and the second sprocket  62 . First drive gear  22   b  is provided on rotating shaft  22   a  of the first servo motor  22 . First gear  24  is rotatably provided on main body  21   b  beneath first sprocket  61  and second sprocket  62 . First outside gear  24   a  which meshes with first drive gear  22   b  is formed on the outer circumference of first gear  24 . First inside gear  24   b  is formed closer to the inside than the outer circumference of first gear  24 . 
     Second gear  25  is rotatably provided on main body  21   b  between first sprocket  61  and second sprocket  62 , and first gear  24 . Second gear  25  meshes with first sprocket gear  61   b , second sprocket gear  62   b , and first inside gear  24   b . According to this configuration, the rotation speed of first servo motor  22  is reduced and transmitted to first sprocket  61  and second sprocket  62 , and, first sprocket  61  and second sprocket  62  rotate in synchronization. 
     Second servo motor  23  is a servo motor which rotates third sprocket  63  and fourth sprocket  64 . Second drive gear  23   b  is provided on rotating shaft  23   a  of second servo motor  23 . Third gear  26  is rotatably provided on main body  21   b  beneath third sprocket  63  and fourth sprocket  64 . Third outside gear  26   a  which meshes with second drive gear  23   b  is formed on the outer circumference of third gear  26 . Third inside gear  26   b  is formed closer to the inside than the outer circumference of third gear  26 . 
     Fourth gear  27  is rotatably provided on main body  21   b  between third sprocket  63  and fourth sprocket  64 , and third gear  26 . Fourth gear  27  meshes with third sprocket gear  63   b , fourth sprocket gear  64   b , and third inside gear  26   b . According to this configuration, the rotation speed of second servo motor  23  is reduced and transmitted to third sprocket  63  and fourth sprocket  64 , and, third sprocket  63  and fourth sprocket  64  rotate in synchronization. 
     Downstream side retaining member  33  is block-shaped and is provided on insertion section  21   d  of main body  21   b  above the rear section of rail  38 . Downstream side retaining member  33  is attached to first support member  30 - 1  and second support member  30 - 2 , which are attached to main body  21   b , via shaft  34 - 1  so as to be capable of moving in the vertical direction. Coil spring  35 - 1  which biases downstream side retaining member  33  downward is attached to shaft  34 - 1 . Retaining section  33   d  which abuts rail  38  on third sprocket  63  is formed in front of the downstream side retaining member  33 . According to this configuration, retaining section  33   d  moves toward and away from the rail  38 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , penetrating section  33   b  is formed as a cutout on the bottom portion of the rear end of retaining section  33   d.    
     Upstream side retaining member  32  is block-shaped and is provided along the top surface of the rear section of rail  38 . Upstream side retaining member  32  is attached beneath the rear section of downstream side retaining member  33  via shaft  34 - 2  to be capable of moving in the vertical direction. Upstream side retaining member  32  is adjacent to the rear of retaining section  33   d . Coil spring  35 - 2  which biases upstream side retaining member  32  downward is attached to shaft  34 - 2 . According to this configuration, upstream side retaining member  32  moves toward and away from rail  38 . Insertion recessed section  32   a  is formed as a cutout on the bottom portion of the rear end of upstream side retaining member  32 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , stopper member  31  is block-shaped and is provided adjacent on the downstream side of upstream side retaining member  32 . Stopper member  31  is capable of rocking due to shaft support section  31   b  which is formed in a middle portion of stopper member  31  being axially supported by downstream side retaining member  33 . Abutting section  31   a  which is formed to protrude downward is formed on the bottom portion of stopper member  31  which is closer to the front than the shaft support portion  31   b . The rear end of the bottom section of stopper member  31  is stopping section  31   c.    
     Spring  36  which biases stopper member  31  in a direction in which abutting section  31   a  approaches rail  38  is attached to downstream side retaining member  33 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , in relation to the conveyance direction, the apex section of fourth sprocket  64  is positioned between the front end of downstream side retaining member  33  and the rear end of stopper member  31 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , lifting prevention member  28  is plate-shaped and is provided along the top of rail  38  between the third sprocket  63  and the second sprocket  62 . Shaft support portion  28   a  is formed on the front end of lifting prevention member  28 , and shaft support portion  28   a  is axially supported on shaft portion  21   c  which is provided in main body  21   b , and, lifting prevention member  28  is attached to main body  21   b  to be capable of rocking. Guide section  28   b  which is bent upward is formed on the rear end of lifting prevention member  28 . Torsion spring  29  is attached to main body  21   b  above lifting prevention member  28  and biases lifting prevention member  28  downward. The bottom surface of lifting prevention member  28  comes into close contact with the top surface of rail  38  due to torsion spring  29 . 
     Note that, space  38   c  is formed above rail  38  between second sprocket  62  and third sprocket  63 . 
     Control section  39  controls feeder  21  and controls the rotation of first servo motor  22  and second servo motor  23 . Control section  39  includes a microprocessor and a driver which supplies the drive currents to servo motors  22  and  23 . 
     First sensor  65  which detects the presence or absence of carrier tape  900  and outputs that detection signal to control section  39  is provided in main body  21   b  on the downstream side of third sprocket  63 . First sensor  65  is a sensor which detects a boundary portion between conveyance tape  910  and standby tape  920  which are described later. Second sensor  66  which detects the presence or absence of carrier tape  900  and outputs that detection signal to control section  39  is provided in main body  21   b  on the upstream side of second sprocket  62 . Description will be given of the role of second sensor  66  later. In the present embodiment, first sensor  65  and second sensor  66  are contact type sensors, but the sensor type is not limited to this, and there is no hindrance to using a proximity sensor, a photoelectric sensor, or the like. 
     (Tape Peeling Unit) 
     Next, tape peeling unit  70  of the present embodiment will be described using  FIGS. 9 to 14 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 9 , at the upper section of the front section of feeder  21 , tape peeling unit  70  is detachably provided on main body  21   b  of feeder  21 . Tape peeling unit  70  is for peeling cover tape  902  of carrier tape  900  which has been fed to supply position  21   a.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 to 13 , tape peeling unit  70  has box-shaped unit main body  71  the bottom side of which is open. The front and rear of both side walls  71   a  and  71   b  of unit main body  71  are fixed to both side surfaces of feeder main body  21   b  using a fastening means such as a screw. Carrier tape  900  is guided between both of the side walls  71   a  and  71   b . As shown in  FIG. 10 , cutout  71   c   1  is formed in the front section of upper wall  71   c  of unit main body  71 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the front section of cutout  71   c   1  is supply position  21   a , and a component stored in storage section  901   a  of carrier tape  900  is picked up and removed by suction nozzle  47  from this cutout  71   c   1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , first sprocket  61  is provided on main body  21   b  at supply position  21   a  (cutout  71   c   1 ) at the downstream side in the conveyance direction. That is, first engaging protrusion  61   a  positioned at the apex section of first sprocket  61  is positioned at the downstream side in the conveyance direction of cutout  71   c   1  (supply position  21   a ). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , plated shaped cutter member  72  is fixed to upper wall  71   c  of unit main body  71  in a position above rail  38  (carrier tape  900 ) so as to cover cutout  71   c   1 . Cutting edge  72   a  with a sharp tip that peels cover tape  902  of carrier tape  900  is provided at the rear of cutter member  72 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , second sprocket  62  is provided at the downstream side in the conveyance direction of cutting edge  72   a  of cutter member  72 . That is, second engaging protrusion  62   a  positioned at the apex section of second sprocket  62  is positioned at the downstream side of the conveyance direction of cutting edge  72   a  of cutter member  72 . 
     Both edges of cover tape  902  are adhered to the carrier tape  900  and cutting edge  72   a  of cutter member  72  is provided in a position corresponding to one edge (the edge at the engagement hole  901   b  side) of cover tape  902 . Cutting edge  72   a  of cutter member  72  is interposed between base tape  901  and cover tape  902  as carrier tape  900  is fed so as to peel one edge of cover tape  902  while maintaining the adhered state of the other edge of cover tape  902 . 
     Note that, when engaging hole  901   b  of carrier tape  900  is engaged with first engaging protrusion  61   a , carrier tape  900  is pulled by first sprocket  61 , and an edge section of cover tape  902  is peeled by cutting edge  72   a  of cutter member  72 . On the other hand, when preceding carrier tape  900  has been fully fed to feeder  21  and an engaging hole  901   b  formed in the leading end of new carrier tape  900  is engaged only with second engaging protrusion  62   a , carrier tape  900  is pushed onto cutter member  72  by second sprocket  62  and an edge section of cover tape  902  is peeled by cutting edge  72   a  of cutter member  72 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , plate-shaped fold-over member  73  is provided on upper wall  71   c  of unit main body  71  such that a small gap is formed between fold-over member  73  and the top surface of carrier tape  900 . Fold-over member  73  erects and folds over one of the edges of peeled cover tape  902 . Inclined surface  73   a  which is inclined in the width direction of cover tape  902  is formed on fold-over member  73  across a predetermined length along the feeding direction of carrier tape  900 . Inclined surface  73   a  of fold-over member  73  protrudes in the width direction of cover tape  902  in relation to cutter member  72 . 
     Fold-over member  73  folds over the one of edges of cover tape  902  which is peeled by cutting edge  72   a  of cutter member  72  such that the edge of cover tape  902  is gradually erected by inclined surface  73   a , thus opening (exposing) the top surface of storage section  901   a  in which the component which is supplied to the component supply position  21   a  is stored. As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , cover tape  902  which is folded over by inclined surface  73   a  of fold-over member  73  is forcefully inserted into the gap between fold-over member  73  and the top surface of carrier tape  900  (base tape  901 ) such that the open state of the top surface of storage section  901   a  is maintained. 
     By adopting this configuration, as with conventional art, individual collection mechanisms which fold over and collect cover tape  902  become unnecessary, and cover tape  902  becomes capable of being collected together with base tape  901  of carrier tape  900 . Note that,  74  in  FIG. 9  is a guide for collecting cover tape  902  and carrier tape  900 , and is fixed to the tip portion of main body  21   b.    
     (Feeder Operation) 
     Hereinafter, description will be given of operations of feeder  21 . A worker inserts carrier tape  900  between the insertion recessed section  32   a  and the rear end of rail  38  which are illustrated in  FIG. 4 . When this is done, fourth engaging protrusions  64   a  engage with engagement holes  901   b  which are formed in the leading end of the inserted carrier tape  900 , and the carrier tape  900  is conveyed to third sprocket  63  by fourth sprocket  64 . Since fourth engaging protrusions  64   a  are only formed in a portion of the outer circumference of fourth sprocket  64 , inserted carrier tape  900  is only fed to the downstream side when fourth engaging protrusions  64   a  engage with engagement holes  901   b  which are formed in the leading end of the inserted carrier tape  900 ; when fourth engaging protrusions  64   a  are not engaged with engagement holes  901   b  which are formed in the leading end portion of the inserted carrier tape  900 , carrier tape  900  is not fed to the downstream side. Accordingly, carrier tape  900  is moved intermittently to the third sprocket  63  side. 
     The leading end of carrier tape  900  which is supplied to the downstream side by fourth sprocket  64  enters below retaining section  33   d  from penetrating section  33   b . When engagement holes  901   b  which are formed in the leading portion of carrier tape  900  are engaged with third engaging protrusions  63   a , carrier tape  900  is conveyed to second sprocket  62  by third sprocket  63 . Since third engaging protrusions  63   a  are formed along the entire circumference of the outer circumference of third sprocket  63 , carrier tape  900  is conveyed to second sprocket  62  side in a short time. Note that, conveyance tape  910  is pushed from above by retaining section  33   d  and the engagement between engagement holes  901   b  and third engaging protrusions  36   a  is not released. 
     The tip of carrier tape  900  enters beneath lifting prevention member  28  from between guide section  28   b  and rail  38 . The tip of carrier tape  900  is suppressed from lifting up from rail  38  by lifting prevention member  28  and is conveyed to second sprocket  62 . 
     When second sensor  66  detects the leading end of carrier tape  900  which is conveyed thereto by third sprocket  63 , first servo motor  22  and second servo motor  23  intermittently rotate sprockets  61  to  64  by component pitch P 1  (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). When engagement holes  901   b  which are formed on the leading end section of carrier tape  900  engage with second engaging protrusions  62   a , carrier tape  900  is fed to tape peeling unit  70  by second sprocket  62  and cover tape  902  is peeled from carrier tape  900  by tape peeling unit  70 . When engagement holes  901   b  which are formed on the leading end section of carrier tape  900  engage with first engaging protrusions  61   a , components which are stored in carrier tape  900  are sequentially positioned in supply position  21   a  so as to be supplied by first sprocket  61 . 
     While conveyance tape  910  which is carrier tape  900  being conveyed is being conveyed by the feeder  21 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , conveyance tape  910  presses abutting section  31   a , stopper member  31   c  rocks in a direction acting against the biasing force of spring  36  such that stopping section  31   c  approaches rail  38 , thus the rear-bottom end of stopper member  31  contacts the top surface of conveyance tape  910 . 
     The worker inserts standby tape  920 , which is the carrier tape  900  that stands by, between insertion recessed section  32   a  and conveyance tape  910 . When this is done, since the rear-bottom end of stopper member  31  contacts the top surface of conveyance tape  910 , the tip of standby tape  920  abuts stopping section  31   c  of stopper member  31 , conveyance to the downstream of standby tape  920  is prevented, and standby tape  920  stands by above conveyance tape  910 . 
     Standby tape  920  is pushed into conveyance tape  910  by upstream side retaining member  32 . Therefore, lifting of the tip of standby tape  920  from conveyance tape  910  is prevented, and the entering of the tip of standby tape  920  between the front end of upstream side retaining member  32  and the rear end of stopper member  31  is prevented. 
     Note that, conveyance tape  910  is wound on reel  810  which is on the front side. Standby tape  920  is wound on reel  820  which is on the rear side. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , when the tail end of conveyance tape  910  is conveyed closer to the downstream side than the leading end of standby tape  920 , standby tape  920  assumes a state of being on rail  38 , and engagement holes  901   b  which are formed in the leading section of standby tape  920  are engaged with fourth engaging protrusions  64   a . The tip of carrier tape  900  which is supplied by fourth sprocket  64  enters below retaining section  33   d  from penetrating section  33   b . When engagement holes  901   b  which are formed in the leading section of carrier tape  900  are engaged with third engaging protrusions  63   a , carrier tape  900  is conveyed to second sprocket  62  by third sprocket  63  and is conveyed to supply position  21   a  as described above. 
     When the leading end of carrier tape  900  which was standby tape  920  presses the abutting portion  31   a , stopper member  31  rocks in a direction against the biasing force of spring  36 , such that stopping portion  31   c  approaches the top surface of rail  38 , and the rear-bottom end of stopper member  31  comes into contact with the new conveyance tape  910  (the old standby tape  920 ). 
     The worker removes the used reel  810  for which all of the conveyance tape  910  has been supplied from reel holding section  50  and causes the reel holding section  50  to hold the reel  820  on which new standby tape  920  is wound. The worker sets the new standby tape  920  by inserting the leading end of the new standby tape  920  between insertion recessed portion  32   a  and conveyance tape  910 . As described above, since the rear-bottom end of stopper member  31  contacts the new conveyance tape  910 , the tip of the new standby tape  920  abuts stopping portion  31   c  of stopper member  31 , conveyance to the downstream of the standby tape  920  is prevented, and standby tape  920  stands by above conveyance tape  910 . 
     Advantageous Effects of the Embodiment 
     As is apparent from the above description, as shown in  FIG. 7 , fourth engaging protrusions  64   a  (upstream engaging protrusions) that engage with engaging holes  901   b  are provided at only a portion of the outer circumference of fourth sprocket  64  (upstream sprocket). By this, inserted new carrier tape  900  is only fed to the downstream side when fourth engaging protrusions  64   a  engage with engagement holes  901   b  which are formed in the leading end of the inserted carrier tape  900 . Accordingly, carrier tape  900  is moved intermittently to the third sprocket  63  side. Therefore, since new carrier tape  900  is not suddenly pulled to the third sprocket  63  side, this is safe. 
     Also, without providing two servo motors for respectively rotating third sprocket  63  and fourth sprocket  64 , a configuration is realized in which, even when third sprocket  63  and fourth sprocket  64  are rotated synchronously by the same second servo motor  23  (rotation drive section), new carrier tape  900  is not pulled suddenly to the downstream sprocket  63  side. This means the cost of feeder  21  can be curtailed. 
     (Other Effects) 
     With non-splicing feeders, knowing the point at which carrier tape was switched from downstream carrier tape  900  to upstream carrier tape  900  is important for production management such as the tracking of defective lots, and management of remaining quantities of components stored in carrier tape  900 . Further, conventionally there is no open interval between the tail end of downstream carrier tape  900  and the leading end of upstream carrier tape  900 , leading to the problem that detection errors occur with the sensor at the point of switching. 
     In the present embodiment, third engaging protrusions  63   a  are formed along the entire circumference of the outer circumference of third sprocket  63 , whereas fourth engaging protrusions  64   a  are formed at only a portion of the outer circumference of fourth sprocket  64 . Due to this, as shown in  FIG. 7 , when the tail end of conveyance tape  910  is fed further downstream than the leading end of standby tape  920 , conveyance tape  910  engages with third sprocket  63 , hence conveyance tape  910  is fed downstream by the rotation amount of third sprocket  63 . Conversely, even though fourth sprocket  64  rotates, standby tape  920  is fed downstream only while fourth engaging protrusions  64   a  are engaged, thus standby tape  920  is moved intermittently to the third sprocket  63  side. 
     Thus, as shown in  FIG. 8 , a gap opens between the tail end of conveyance tape  910  and the leading end of standby tape  920 , such that first sensor  65  is able to reliably detect the boundary section of conveyance tape  910  and standby tape  920 . By fourth engaging protrusions  64   a  being formed only at a portion of the circumference of fourth sprocket  64 , a configuration is realized in which a gap opens between the tail end of conveyance tape  910  and the leading end of standby tape  920  while curtailing the cost of feeder  21 . 
     Another Embodiment 
     With the embodiment described above, first sensor  65  is provided downstream of third sprocket  63 . The attachment position of first sensor  65  is not restricted to this position, first sensor  65  may be provided downstream of fourth sprocket  64 . 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       21 : feeder;  21   a : supply position;  21   b : main body;  21   d : insertion section;  23 : second servo motor (rotation drive section);  38 : rail;  63 : third sprocket (downstream sprocket);  63   a : third engaging protrusion (downstream engaging protrusion);  64 : fourth sprocket (upstream sprocket);  64   a : fourth engaging protrusion (upstream engaging protrusion);  900 : carrier tape;  901   b : engaging hole