Patent ID: 8448838

Claim:
A solder ball loading apparatus comprising: a table configured to move in a vertical direction and configured to support a printed wiring board; a solder ball positioning unit configured to position a solder ball according to a solder ball positioning mask; a solder ball removal tube configured to remove excess solder balls from the solder ball positioning mask; and a first airflow unit configured to cause an airflow into the solder ball removal tube, wherein the solder ball positioning mask includes a main body with multiple opening groups, each opening group having a plurality of openings for transporting the solder ball to a connection pad on a printed wiring board, and a spacer connected to a side of the mask main body such that the spacer is interposed between the mask main body and a printed wiring board on which a solder ball is to be placed when using the solder ball positioning mask, wherein the spacer having multiple spacer opening portions each corresponding to a respective opening group and encompassing the plurality of openings in the main body.