Patent ID: 7220092

Claim:
An apparatus for collectively changing electronic components at an electronic component supply section, comprising: a plurality of component supply cassettes for storing electronic components; a component supply section for supplying electronic components from said plurality of component supply cassettes to an electronic component mounting machine according to a mounting requirement of the electronic component mounting machine; a transfer rack loaded with said plurality of component supply cassettes, each of said component supply cassettes being individually positioned and supported in said transfer rack such that each of said component supply cassettes is capable of being individually loaded onto and unloaded from said transfer rack, said transfer rack being operable to collectively manipulate said component supply cassettes; a storage device for storing electronic component information about a type of electronic component stored in each of said component supply cassettes, said storage device being located at one of said transfer rack and each of said component supply cassettes; a detecting device for detecting a delivery and a removal of a transfer rack at said component supply section; and a decision device for determining if said transfer rack has been replaced based on a detection of said detecting device, and for determining if the electronic components in said component supply cassettes of said transfer rack are suitable after said replacement of said transfer rack based on the electronic component information stored in said storage device.