A feeder comprising: a sprocket that is adapted to engage with indexing holes formed at regular intervals in a conveyance direction of a first carrier tape (T1), the sprocket is adapted to rotate so as to index the first carrier tape (T1) inserted into an insertion section (Ni) in the conveyance direction characterized in that the feeder further comprises a tape indexing unit which is adapted to index the first carrier tape (T1) along a rail ; a pushing member provided moveably in a vertical direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction that is adapted to push the first carrier tape (T1) against the rail from an initial position to an upstream position; an engaging member that is adapted to engage with indexing holes of the first carrier tape (T1) at a position further to the insertion section side (Ni) than a contact portion at which the pushing member contacts the first carrier tape (T1); and an interlocking mechanism (Mn) that moves the engaging member up by interlocking with movement up of the pushing member ; wherein the engaging member , when a leading end of the first carrier tape (T1) is positioned at a position further to the insertion section side (Ni) than the contact portion and the first carrier tape (T1) is interposed between the engaging member and the rail , is adapted to engage with the indexing holes of the first carrier tape (T1) so as to restrict the movement of the first carrier tape (T1) to the insertion section side (Ni), and the interlocking mechanism (Mn), when the pushing member is pushing the first carrier tape (T1) against the rail , is adapted to release the engaging member from the indexing holes of the first carrier tape (T1), so as to allow movement of the first carrier tape (T1) in the conveyance direction, by moving the engaging member up by interlocking with movement up of the pushing member . a sprocket that is adapted to engage with indexing holes formed at regular intervals in a conveyance direction of a first carrier tape (T1), the sprocket is adapted to rotate so as to index the first carrier tape (T1) inserted into an insertion section (Ni) in the conveyance direction characterized in that the feeder further comprises a tape indexing unit which is adapted to index the first carrier tape (T1) along a rail ; a pushing member provided moveably in a vertical direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction that is adapted to push the first carrier tape (T1) against the rail from an initial position to an upstream position; an engaging member that is adapted to engage with indexing holes of the first carrier tape (T1) at a position further to the insertion section side (Ni) than a contact portion at which the pushing member contacts the first carrier tape (T1); and an interlocking mechanism (Mn) that moves the engaging member up by interlocking with movement up of the pushing member ; wherein the engaging member , when a leading end of the first carrier tape (T1) is positioned at a position further to the insertion section side (Ni) than the contact portion and the first carrier tape (T1) is interposed between the engaging member and the rail , is adapted to engage with the indexing holes of the first carrier tape (T1) so as to restrict the movement of the first carrier tape (T1) to the insertion section side (Ni), and the interlocking mechanism (Mn), when the pushing member is pushing the first carrier tape (T1) against the rail , is adapted to release the engaging member from the indexing holes of the first carrier tape (T1), so as to allow movement of the first carrier tape (T1) in the conveyance direction, by moving the engaging member up by interlocking with movement up of the pushing member . <EOS>