Patent ID: 8196295

Claim:
A component mounting method comprising the steps of; using a nozzle to hold a component at a lower end of the nozzle, said component being supplied from a component supply unit; moving said nozzle up and down and horizontally based on information about positions and heights of obstacles located between said component supply unit and a board; and mounting said component on said board; wherein said moving step comprising; finding a highest one of said obstacles located between a current position of said nozzle and a position of said board; moving up said nozzle to a height high enough not to interfere with said highest obstacle; moving said nozzle horizontally toward said board; determining said nozzle having passed over said highest obstacle; comparing a current height of said nozzle with heights of upcoming obstacles located between said highest obstacle and said board; and moving down said nozzle to a height high enough not to interfere with said upcoming obstacles in sync with the time when said nozzle has finished passing over said highest obstacle.