Patent ID: 7603766

Claim:
An electronic-component holding apparatus, comprising: a plural-nozzle head including a main body which holds a plurality of suction nozzles such that the suction nozzles extend parallel to each other and hold respective electronic components, wherein the main body includes a to-be-held portion; and a head holding member including a head holding portion which holds the main body of the plural-nozzle head by application of suction to the to-be-held portion thereof, wherein at least one of the head holding portion and the to-be-held portion has a negative-pressure-chamber defining recess which is connected to a head-related negative-pressure supply passage and which cooperates with an other of the head holding portion and the to-be-held portion to define a head-related negative-pressure chamber which is supplied with a head-related negative pressure through the head-related negative-pressure supply passage so as to attach, by the suction caused by the head-related negative pressure, the to-be-held portion of the main body of the plural-nozzle head to the head holding portion of the head holding member, and wherein when the head-related negative-pressure chamber is not supplied with the head-related negative pressure through the head-related negative-pressure supply passage, the to-be-held portion of the main body of the plural-nozzle head is detachable from the head holding portion of the head holding member.