Patent ID: 8317076

Claim:
A minute ball array apparatus comprising: an array jig comprising insert parts, into which minute balls are to be inserted, and which are formed in a predetermined pattern matching with a pattern of electrodes on an object to be mounted; an array jig supporting apparatus that supports the array jig at a position above the object to be mounted while matching the pattern of the insert parts with the pattern of the electrodes on the object to be mounted; a ball cup, which comprises a thrust surface in an interior surface thereof, which has a substantially cylindrical shape, and which stores the minute balls; a ball cup moving unit that moves the ball cup along an upper surface of the array jig supported by the array jig supporting apparatus while levitating the ball cup to an elevated position from the array jig so as to move the ball cup without a contact with the array jig; a collapsing member, which is provided so as to be moveable with respect to the thrust surface, and which collapses a buildup of the minute balls rising along the thrust surface when the ball cup moving unit is moved; and a motion imparting unit that imparts the collapse member with motion for directly contacting and collapsing the rising buildup of the minute balls.