Component feeding device

Abstract

A component feeding device comprises a belt cover that covers an upper surface of the carrier belt transported on a conveying surface, the belt cover having a component removal opening formed at a component removal position and a cover belt passage formed at an upstream position separated from the component removal opening, a front presser that presses a portion on a downstream side with respect to the component removal opening against the carrier belt on the conveying surface, a middle presser that presses a portion sandwiched between the component removal opening and the cover belt passage against the carrier belt on the conveying surface, and a rear presser that presses a portion on an upstream side with respect to the cover belt passage against the carrier belt on the conveying surface.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to a component feeding device that exposes a component supported on a carrier tape and covered with a cover tape, conveys the exposed component to a component removal position, and feeds the component to a component mounter. State of the art

[0002] Conventionally, a component feeding device is known that exposes a component supported on a carrier tape and covered with a cover tape, conveys the exposed component to a component removal position, and feeds the component to a component mounter. Patent 1 described below discloses such a component feeding device having a structure in which a leading portion of a cover tape protrudes from a leading end of a carrier tape, and the protruding portion of the cover tape is blown with air to catch and pull it away immediately before passing a component removal position, thereby peeling the cover tape from the carrier tape. BibliographyPatent literature

[0003] PTL 1: International Publication No. WO 2021 / 070954 Overview of the invention

[0004] However, the component feeding device disclosed in PTL 1 has a problem that it is difficult to apply pressure to a member (tape cover) having a component removal opening and a passage for the cover tape peeled off from the carrier tape and pressing the carrier tape from above against the conveying path side of the carrier tape in a balanced manner, and there is a possibility that the carrier tape cannot be stably conveyed on the conveying path.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a component feeding apparatus capable of stably conveying a carrier tape in an area including the vicinity of a component removal position.

[0006] A component feeding device of the present invention is a component feeding device that peels a cover tape, which has a front part protruding from a front side of a carrier tape, from the carrier tape, exposes a component stored in the carrier tape in a state covered by the cover tape, conveys the exposed component to a component removal position, and feeds the component to a component mounter. The component feeding device comprises a conveying path having a conveying surface that supports the carrier tape from below, a carrier tape conveying part that conveys the carrier tape along the conveying path with the front part first, a tape cover that covers an upper surface of the carrier tape conveyed by the carrier tape conveying part and has a component removal opening formed at the component removal position and a cover tape passage formed at a separate position upstream of the component removal opening, a cover tape pulling part,which draws in the cover tape that has passed through the cover tape passage and moved over the tape cover, a front presser that presses a portion of the tape cover on a side upstream of the component removal opening against the carrier tape on the conveyor surface, a middle presser that presses a portion of the tape cover that lies between the component removal opening and the cover tape passage against the carrier tape on the conveyor surface, and a rear presser that presses a portion of the tape cover on a side upstream of the cover tape passage against the carrier tape on the conveyor surface.

[0007] The present invention can smoothly convey the carrier tape in the area including a vicinity of the component removal position. Short description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a component mounter using a tape feeder according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2(a) and Fig. 2(b) are perspective views illustrating the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention together with a feeder base of the component mounter. Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 3(b) are views for describing a case where a leading part of a cover tape of a carrier tape conveyed by the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a part of the cover tape. Fig. 4(a) and Fig. 4(b) are views for describing a case where the front part of the cover tape of the carrier tape conveyed by the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a part of an auxiliary tape. Fig. 5(a) and Fig. 5(b) are perspective views of a tape feeder included in the component mounter according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a side view of the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a tape cover included in the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 is a side view of a part of the tape feeder (when the carrier tape is not conveyed) according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9 is a side view of the tape feeder part (when the carrier tape is conveyed) according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the tape cover included in the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is attached to a main body of the tape feeder. Fig. 11 is a side view illustrating a part of the tape cover included in the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, together with a straightener and a cover tape pulling part. Fig. 12 is a side view of a portion of the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 13 is a side view of a portion of the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 14 is a side view of a portion of the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 15 is a view illustrating a state in which an upward bend of the front part of the cover tape is straightened by the straightening device included in the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 16 is a side view of a portion of the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 17 is a view illustrating a state in which a downward bend of the front part of the cover tape is straightened by the straightening device included in the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 18 is a side view illustrating a part of the tape cover included in the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, together with the straightening device and the cover tape pulling part. Fig. 19 is a side view of a portion of the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 20 is a side view illustrating a part of the tape cover included in the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, together with the cover tape pulling part and the air ejection unit. Fig. 21 is a side view illustrating a part of the tape cover included in the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, together with the cover tape pulling part and the air ejection unit. Fig. 22 is a side view illustrating a part of the tape cover included in the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, together with the cover tape pulling part and the air ejection unit. Fig. 23 is a side view illustrating a part of the tape cover included in the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, together with the cover tape pulling part and the air ejection unit. Fig. 24 is a side view of a portion of the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 25 is a side view of a portion of the tape feeder according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 26 is a side view illustrating a part of the tape cover included in a tape feeder according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention together with a straightening device. Fig. 27 is a side view illustrating a part of the tape cover included in a tape feeder according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention together with a straightening device. Fig. 28 is a side view illustrating a part of the tape cover included in a tape feeder according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, together with a cover tape pulling part, a channel, and a suction part. Fig. 29 is a side view illustrating a part of the tape cover included in a tape feeder according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, together with a cover tape pulling part and a guide member. Fig. 30 is a side view illustrating a part of the tape cover included in a tape feeder according to a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, together with a cover tape pulling part. Description of Embodiments (First Exemplary Embodiment)

[0008] Fig. 1 shows a component mounter 1 with a belt feeder as a component feeding device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The component mounter 1 is an apparatus for mounting a component BH on a circuit board KB. The component mounter has a circuit board conveying part 12 on a base 11. The circuit board conveyor 12 conveys the circuit board KB in the horizontal direction and positions the circuit board KB at a predetermined work position. Hereinafter, for the convenience of description, the conveying directions of the circuit board KB conveyed by the circuit board conveyor 12 are referred to as X directions, the horizontal directions orthogonal to the X directions are referred to as Y directions, and the vertical directions are referred to as Z directions.In the Y directions, a direction pointing toward the central side of the base 11 is called "front," and a direction pointing toward the opposite side is called "back."

[0009] A mounting head 13 is provided above the base 11. The mounting head 13 is moved horizontally by a head movement mechanism (not shown). The mounting head 13 has a plurality of downwardly projecting component holding nozzles 14.

[0010] In Fig. 1, a carriage 15 is connected in the Y direction to one end of the base 11. The carriage 15 has a feed base frame 21 and a roll holder 22. Several tape feeders 16 are mounted side by side in the X direction on the feed base frame 21.

[0011] In Fig. 2(a) and Fig. 2(b), the feeder base frame 21 includes a post 31 having a block shape and a wall 32 provided at a front portion of the post 31 and extending upward. The upper surface of the post 31 serves as a feeder support 33, and the rear surface of the post 31 serves as a feeder connection surface 34.

[0012] The stand 31 is provided with fastening slots 35 in which the tape feeder 16 is to be fastened side by side in the X-directions. As in Fig. 2(a), a single mounting slot 35 includes two pairs of feed guides 41 arranged side by side in the X direction in the feed bracket 33, two upper and lower positioning holes 42 that are through holes penetrating the wall 32 in the thickness direction (Y direction), a mounting hole 44 provided in the feed connection surface 34, an electrical bushing 45, and an air bushing 46. In the first exemplary embodiment, the feed base 21 includes the plurality of mounting slots 35 arranged side by side in the X directions in this manner.

[0013] The feed guides 41 are made of rail-shaped members arranged side by side in lateral directions (X directions, the directions that intersect the conveying directions of the carrier tape in a horizontal plane) and extending in the front-to-back directions (Y directions). Two upper and lower positioning holes 42 are provided side by side in the Z directions. The mounting hole 44, the electrical bushing 45, and the air bushing 46 are arranged in the Z directions, and the mounting hole 44 is located above the electrical bushing 45. The air bushing 46 is positioned between the mounting hole 44 and the electrical bushing 45.

[0014] The roll holder 22 rotatably holds a roll RL around which the carrier tape CT to be transported by the tape feeder 16 is wound. As shown in Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 3(b), the carrier tape CT is provided with a large number of component storage pockets PK arranged in a row, and feed ports KH in a large number are provided in a row at positions parallel to the row of component storage pockets PK.

[0015] In Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 3(b), a component BH is stored in each component storage pocket PK, and a cover tape TT is attached to a position covering the component storage pocket PK on the upper surface of the carrier tape CT. That is, the component BH is stored in the carrier tape CT in a state covered with the cover tape TT.

[0016] As in Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 3(b) or Fig. 4(a) and Fig. As shown in Figure 4(b), the cover tape TT has a front part SD that protrudes from the front end ST of the carrier tape CT. The front part SD may have a shape in which a front end of the cover tape TT protrudes from the front end ST of the carrier tape CT, as shown in Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 3(b), or have a shape in which a part of an auxiliary tape HJ attached to the cover tape TT protrudes from the front end ST of the carrier tape CT, as shown in Fig. 4(a) and Fig. 4(b).

[0017] In the form in which a front end of the cover tape TT protrudes from the front end ST of the carrier tape CT, the front part SD is formed from a part (a section with the length L) of the cover tape TT protruding from the front end ST of the carrier tape CT ( Fig. 3(a)). In the form in which an auxiliary adhesive tape HJ is used, the front part SD is formed from a part (a section of length L) of the auxiliary adhesive tape HJ that projects from the front end ST of the carrier tape CT ( Fig. 4(b)).

[0018] In Fig. 5(a), Fig. 5(b) and Fig. 6, the tape feeder 16 has a main body 51 detachably mounted on a mounting slot 35 of the feeder base 21. Two forwardly projecting positioning pins 52 are provided at a front end portion of the main body 51.

[0019] In Fig. 5(a), Fig. 5(b) and Fig. 6, a lower extension 53 extending downward is formed at a rear portion of the main body 51 of the tape feeder 16. On the front side of the lower extension 53, a fixed part 54, a connector 55, and an air port 56 are provided in a forwardly projecting state.

[0020] When the tape feeder 16 is attached to the mounting slot 35, an engaging part 51K ( Fig. 6), which is located at the lower part of the main body 51, is inserted between the feed guides 41, which form the fastening slot 35 ( Fig. 2(a) → Fig. 2(b)). As a result, two positioning pins 52 are inserted into two upper and lower positioning holes 42, and a fixed part 54 is inserted into the mounting hole 44. The connector 55 is connected to the electrical socket 45, and the air connector 56 is connected to the air socket 46.

[0021] When the fixed part 54 is inserted into the mounting hole 44, the fixed part 54 is connected to a fixing part (not shown) provided in the stand 31, and the tape feeder 16 is fixed to the stand 31. When the connector 55 is connected to the electrical connector 45, the tape feeder 16 is electrically connected to the stand 31 for signal transmission. When the air connector 56 is connected to the air outlet 46, air can be supplied from the base 11 side to the tape feeder 16 side through the stand 31.

[0022] In Fig. 6, the conveying path 61 on which the carrier tape CT is conveyed is provided in the main body 51. The conveying path 61 has a carrier tape insertion opening 61A at a rear portion of the main body 51 and a carrier tape outlet opening 61B at a front portion of the main body 51. The upper surface of the conveying path 61 serves as a conveying surface 61M (see Fig. 8) for supporting and conveying the lower surface of the carrier belt CT. That is, in the first exemplary embodiment, the conveying path 61 includes the conveying surface 61M that supports the carrier belt CT from below.

[0023] In Fig. 6, the carrier tape conveying part 62 for conveying the carrier tape CT is provided in a front upper portion of the main body 51. The carrier tape conveying part 62 includes three gears (infeed gear 62A, positioning gear 62B, and output gear 62C) arranged from back to front, and a gear drive motor 62D.

[0024] In Fig. 6, a plurality of feed pins 62P are provided on the outer peripheral portions of the insertion gear 62A, the positioning gear 62B, and the output gear 62C, respectively. These three gears are rotated in the same direction by the gear drive motor 62D via a gear mechanism (not shown). The direction in which the three gears are rotated is the direction in which the feed pin 62P, located at the highest position of each gear, moves forward. The operation of the gear drive motor 62D is controlled by the controller 63 ( Fig. 6) controlled.

[0025] The carrier tape CT is pulled out from the roll RL, and its leading end (the side on which the above-described leading part SD is formed) is inserted into the conveying path 61 from the carrier tape insertion opening 61A. The carrier tape CT inserted into the conveying path 61 is conveyed forward (downstream) by the three gears (infeed gear 62A, positioning gear 62B, and output gear 62C), that is, by the carrier tape conveying part 62, which is rotated by the gear drive motor 62D. At this time, the carrier tape CT is guided to the insertion gear 62A, the positioning gear 62B, and the output gear 62C in this order.

[0026] The carrier tape CT introduced from the carrier tape introduction port 61A is conveyed to the downstream side, that is, to the carrier tape discharge port 61B, by the carrier tape conveying part 62. In the carrier tape CT conveyed toward the downstream side, the cover tape TT is peeled off before passing through the component removal port 16K provided in an upper front portion of the main body 51, and at the time of passing through the component removal port 16K, the component BH stored in the carrier tape CT in a state covered with the cover tape TT is exposed.

[0027] The component removal opening 16K is provided between the positioning gear 62B and the output gear 62C, and the exposed components BH are intermittently positioned one by one at the component removal position 16T defined within the component removal opening 16K. As a result, the mounting head 13 can suck and hold the component BH positioned at the component removal opening 16K (component removal position 16T) with the component retaining nozzle 14 and remove (pick up) the component BH from the tape feeder 16. In this way, the carrier tape conveying part 62 conveys the carrier tape CT along the conveying path 61 with the leading part SD of the cover tape TT leading, and positions the component BH at the component removal position 16T.

[0028] In Fig. 6, the above-described air port 56 provided in the lower extension 53 of the main body 51 is connected through the air pipe 64 to the air discharge unit 65 provided in the front upper portion of the main body 51, which is provided in the lower extension 53. An air discharge control valve 66 provided in the lower extension 53 is located in the air pipe 64 at an intermediate position.

[0029] When the tape feeder 16 is mounted on the feeder base 21, the air port 56 is connected to the air port 46 on the feeder base 21 side. By controlling the air discharge control valve 66 by the controller 63 in a state where the air port 56 is connected to the air sleeve 46, the air supplied from the feeder base 21 side through the air duct 64 can be discharged from the air discharge unit 65.

[0030] In Fig. 6 is the Fig. 7 is provided in the front upper part of the main body 51. In particular, the band cover, as shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, is provided to cover a part of the conveying path 61, the part being positioned from above between the positioning gear 62B and the output gear 62C. In the first exemplary embodiment, the belt cover 70 is formed from a plate-like member and is detachable from the main body 51.

[0031] Fig. 10 shows a state in which the tape cover 70 is attached to the main body 51. As can be seen from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 10, the main body 51 of the tape feeder 16 has two carrier tape supports 51S extending and distributed along the YZ plane and facing each other in the X direction. An upper edge of the carrier tape support 51S serves as a conveying surface 61M.

[0032] As in Fig. 10, a tape cover 70 is provided at the front upper portions of two carrier tape supports 51S to cover part of the upper edges (i.e., the conveying surface 61M) of two carrier tape supports 51S from above. As described above, since the conveying surface 61M is formed of the upper edges of two carrier tape supports 51S and both ends of the carrier tape CT are supported from below by the upper edges of two carrier tape supports 51S, not only a type without a downward projecting portion (so-called paper tape type) but also an embossed type having an embossed downward projecting portion can be used as the carrier tape CT.

[0033] In Fig. 7 and Fig. 10, the tape cover 70 has a first tape presser 71 forming a central portion thereof, a second tape presser 72 forming a portion on the upstream side with respect to the first tape presser 71, and a third tape presser 73 forming a portion on the downstream side with respect to the first tape presser 71. The first tape presser 71 and the second tape presser 72 are connected by a coupling part 74. A cover tape passage 75 formed from a gap between the first tape presser 71 and the second tape presser 72 is formed on one side (one side of the tape cover 70 in the width directions, ie, one side in the X directions) of the coupling part 74. The third tape presser 73 is connected to the above-described component removal opening 16K ( Fig. 7).

[0034] In this way, in the first exemplary embodiment, the tape cover 70 covers the upper surface of the carrier tape CT conveyed by the carrier tape conveying part 62, and has the component removal opening 16K formed at the component removal position 16T and the cover tape passage 75 formed from a gap formed at a position away from the component removal opening 16K on the upstream side.

[0035] In Fig. 7, an upstream projecting portion 71H is formed at an upstream end of the first tape presser 71, and an edge of the projecting portion 71H (ie, an upstream edge of the first tape presser 71) serves as a stopper 76. As will be described later, the stopper 76 functions as part of a guide 140 ( Fig. 8) which guides the leading part SD from the cover tape passage 75 upward (to the upper surface of the tape cover 70) by stopping the feeding of the leading part SD of the cover tape TT contained in the carrier tape CT conveyed by the carrier tape conveying part 62.

[0036] As described above, the second tape presser 72 is connected to the upstream side of the first tape presser 71 through the coupling part 74. The downstream end of the second tape presser 72 has a straight shape extending in the X direction and is positioned on the upstream side of the stopper 76, which is the upstream edge of the first tape presser 71, facing the stopper 76 with a predetermined gap (cover tape passage 75) therebetween.

[0037] In Fig. 11, a downstream portion of the second belt presser 72 is a contact part 77 extending above the conveying surface 61M in parallel with the conveying surface 61M. A portion on the upstream side with respect to the contact part 77 is an inclined part 78 whose height gradually increases from the conveying surface 61M to the upstream side. The lower surface of the inclined part 78 is a conical surface 78M whose distance from the conveying surface 61M decreases from the upstream to the downstream side.

[0038] In Fig. 11, in a state where the carrier tape CT is not inserted into the conveying path 61, the lower surface of the second tape presser 72 does not abut the conveying surface 61M, and a gap of size GP is formed between the lower surface of the second tape presser 72 and the conveying surface 61M. The size GP of the gap is larger than the thickness of the cover tape TT but smaller than the thickness of the carrier tape CT.

[0039] In Fig. 7, both ends in the width directions (X directions) of the third tape presser 73 serve as downwardly bent bending parts 79. Since the bending parts 79 at both ends of the third tape presser 73 in the width direction are formed as described above, the bending rigidity in the up-and-down direction is increased, and the third tape presser hardly warps. Thus, the carrier tape CT can be firmly pressed against the conveying surface 61M near the component removal opening 16K. On the other hand, since the first tape presser 71 connected to the upstream side of the third tape presser 73 and the second tape presser 72 connected to the further upstream side of the third tape presser via the coupling part 74 do not have a bending part like the third tape presser 73, the first tape presser and the second tape presser are liable to warp in the upstream and down directions.

[0040] In Fig. 7 and Fig. 10, the belt cover 70 is provided with a gear escape hole 80 extending in the Y direction. The gear escape hole 80 is provided to prevent interference between the feed pin 62P of the positioning gear 62B and the belt cover 70.

[0041] In Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, the tape cover 70 is biased (pressed) from above by three biasing members (front presser 81, middle presser 82, and rear presser 83) provided at the upper front portion of the main body 51. Here, the front presser 81 has the function of pressing a portion of the tape cover 70 on the downstream side with respect to the component removal opening 16K against the carrier tape CT on the conveying surface 61M. The middle presser 82 has the function of pressing a portion between the component removal opening 16K of the tape cover 70 and the cover tape passage 75 against the carrier tape CT on the conveying surface 61M. The rear presser 83 has the function of pressing a part of the tape cover 70 on the upstream side with respect to the cover tape passage 75 against the carrier tape CT on the conveying surface 61M.

[0042] In this way, in the first exemplary embodiment, since the entire tape cover 70 is biased to the conveying surface 61M in a balanced manner by the three biasing members (front presser 81, middle presser 82, and rear presser 83), the carrier tape CT, which advances along the conveying path 61 in the front upper portion of the main body 51 including the component removal position 16T, continues to move while being pressed against the conveying surface 61M with an appropriate pressing force. Thus, the positioning of the component BH at the component removal position 16T can be accurately performed, and further, the occurrence of picking errors for the component BH caused by the mounting head 13 can be prevented.

[0043] In Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, the front presser 81 includes a pressing plate 81a as a first pivot lever, a socket 81b, and a first coil spring 81c. The pressing plate 81a extends in the Y direction in the front upper portion of the main body 51 (specifically, in an area including the upper portion of the output gear 62C and the vicinity of the carrier tape discharge opening 61B), and the socket 81b provided at the downstream end portion is supported by the main body 51 by means of a support pin 81d extending in the X direction. The first coil spring 81c is provided between the socket 81b and the main body 51 and presses the socket 81b in a direction in which the socket is pushed upward with respect to the main body 51.

[0044] As in Fig. 8 and Fig. As shown in Figure 9, the upstream end of the pressure plate 81a abuts against the vicinity of the downstream end of the belt cover 70 from above. Thus, the downstream portion (third belt presser 73) of the belt cover 70 is biased (pressed) downward (toward the conveying surface 61M) by the first coil spring 81c via the pressure plate 81a.

[0045] Thus, in the first exemplary embodiment, the front presser 81 has the presser plate 81a as the first pivot lever, which pivots about a horizontal shaft (support pin 81d) orthogonal to the conveying directions of the carrier tape CT, and the first coil spring 81c that biases one end of the presser plate 81a toward the upper surface of the tape cover 70. The lower surface of the third tape presser 73 abuts the conveying surface 61M when the carrier tape CT introduced into the conveying path 61 has not yet reached the tape cover 70 (this state is referred to as the "initial state", see Fig. 8).

[0046] In Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, the center presser 82 includes a spring retainer 82a, a torsion spring 82b, and a pressure roller 82c. The spring retainer 82a is formed from a wave-shaped member, both ends of which are supported by a side cover 51P provided on the side surface (YZ plane) of the main body 51 so as to enclose the conveying path 61 and extend in the X direction. The side cover 51P constitutes the main body 51.

[0047] In Fig. 8, Fig. 9 and Fig. 12, the coiled portion of the torsion spring 82b is inserted into the spring holder 82a (in the X direction) to be held by the spring holder 82a, and of the upstream extension extending upstream and the downstream extension extending downstream, the upstream extension is locked to a pin fixed to the side cover 51P. The pressure roller 82c extends in the X direction, and its two ends are held by two side covers 51P in an up-and-down movable state. The pressure roller 82c is rotatable about an axis along the X directions.

[0048] The pressure roller 82c is positioned at an intermediate portion of the tape cover 70 (a portion located between the component removal opening 16K and the cover tape passage 75) and is biased downward by the downstream extension of the torsion spring 82b. Thus, the intermediate portion (first tape presser 71) of the tape cover 70 is biased (pressed) downward (toward the conveying surface 61M) by the torsion spring 82b via the pressure roller 82c (pressing force F1, see Fig. 12).

[0049] Thus, in the first exemplary embodiment, the middle presser 82 includes the pressure roller 82c as a roller pin rotatable about a horizontal axis (X-axis) intersecting the conveying directions of the carrier tape CT, and the torsion spring 82b as an elastic body that biases the pressure roller 82c toward the upper surface of the tape cover 70. In the initial state in which the carrier tape CT introduced into the conveying path 61 has not yet passed under the tape cover 70, the underside of the second tape pressing element 72 abuts the conveying surface 61M ( Fig. 12).

[0050] In Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, the rear presser 83 has a rear press lever 91 as a second pivot lever and a second coil spring 92. The rear press lever 91 extends in the Y direction in a front upper portion of the main body 51 (more precisely, in an upper portion of the insertion gear 62A). As shown in Fig. 12, the rear pressing lever 91 has an intermediate portion in the Y direction supported by the lever pivot shaft 93 extending in the X direction, and has an upstream extension 91a extending upstream of the lever pivot shaft 93 and a downstream extension 91b extending downstream.

[0051] In Fig. 12, a front portion of the downstream extension 91b is bent downward and extends accordingly, and a pressure lever front portion 91c, which is a front portion of the bent and extended portion, is positioned above the second belt pusher 72. The second coil spring 92 pushes the upstream extension 91a of the rear pressure lever 91 upward, that is, in a direction away from the conveying surface 61M. Thus, the lever front portion 91c of the rear pressure lever 91 is biased downward, that is, toward the conveying surface 61M.

[0052] The rotation range of the rear pressing lever 91 is restricted by the pin 94 fixed to the main body 51. Therefore, in the initial state in which the carrier tape CT has not arrived below the contact part 77 of the second tape presser 72, the lever front part 91c is located at a position separated from the upper surface of the upstream portion (second tape presser 72) of the tape cover 70 by a distance smaller than the thickness dimension of the carrier tape CT, and the lever front part 91c is not in contact with the second tape presser 72. When the carrier tape CT comes below the contact part 77 of the second tape presser 72 and the second tape presser 72 is lifted by the carrier tape CT, the second tape presser 72 abuts the lever front part 91c. As a result, the second tape presser 72 is pre-tensioned (pressed) downwards (carrier tape CT) by the second spiral spring 92 via the rear pressure lever 91 (see also Fig. 24).

[0053] In this way, in the first exemplary embodiment, the rear presser 83 includes the rear presser lever 91 as the second pivot lever that pivots about the horizontal axis (lever pivot shaft 93) orthogonal to the conveying directions of the carrier tape CT, and the second coil spring 92 that biases one end of the rear presser lever 91 toward the upper surface of the tape cover 70. The rear presser 83, together with the middle presser 82, presses an upstream portion (first tape presser 71 and second tape presser 72) located on the upstream side with respect to the third tape presser 73, which is a downstream portion of the tape cover 70 in which the component removal opening 16K is formed.

[0054] In Fig. 8, Fig. 9 and Fig. 12, the cover tape pulling part 101 is provided at a position upstream of the component removal position 16T. Specifically, the cover tape pulling part is provided at a position above the tape cover 70 in the main body 51. The cover tape pulling part 101 has the function of pulling upward the cover tape TT peeled from the carrier tape CT.

[0055] In Fig. 11 and Fig. 12, the cover tape pulling part 101 has a drive roller 101a and a driven roller 101b, which has a smaller diameter than the drive roller 101a and is arranged downstream of the drive roller 101a. The drive roller 101a and the driven roller 101b are in contact with each other, and when the drive roller 101a is in Fig. 11 rotates counterclockwise, the driven roller 101b is rotated clockwise by the drive roller 101a. The drive roller 101a is driven by a gear mechanism (not shown) that transmits the power of the gear drive motor 62D. Thus, the drive roller 101a is driven at the same time as the carrier belt conveying part 62.

[0056] In Fig. 8, Fig. 9 and Fig. 12, a cover tape discharge path 102 is provided at a position on the upstream side with respect to the cover tape pulling part 101 in the main body 51. The cover tape TT pulled by the cover tape pulling part 101 is supplied to the cover tape discharge path 102.

[0057] In Fig. 8, Fig. 9 and Fig. 12, the straightening device 103 is provided at a position on the upstream side of the belt cover 70 in the main body 51 (see also Fig. 11). The straightening device 103 has the function of aligning the front part SD of the cover tape TT of the carrier tape CT, which is inserted from the carrier tape insertion opening 61A into the conveying path 61, when the front part SD is bent upward or downward.

[0058] As in Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, the straightening device 103 has a pivot member 111 and a recess 112. The straightening device 103 is arranged on the upstream side with respect to the component removal position 16T and has a function of aligning the front part SD of the cover tape TT so as to be aligned downstream of the front end ST of the carrier tape CT along with the movement of the carrier tape CT, which is fed downstream and then returned upstream by the carrier tape conveying part 62.

[0059] In Fig. 11, the pivoting member 111 has a base 111a supported by the lever pivot shaft 93, which is a pivot shaft of the rear pressing lever 91, and an extension 111b extending downstream from the base 111a and having a bent and downwardly extending end portion. When the pivoting member 111 begins to pivot due to its own weight in a direction in which the front part of the extension 111b is lowered (in Fig. 11 clockwise), the swivel element hits a swivel limiting element (not shown) and the swivel range is restricted.

[0060] In a state where the pivoting of the pivoting member 111 is restricted due to its own weight (which is shown in Fig. 11, which is referred to as the "swing limiting state"), the edge of the lower end of the extension 111b (swing member edge 111c) is located at a position spaced upward from the conveying surface 61M by a certain distance (size gp). The size gp of the fixed distance is greater than the thickness of the cover tape TT and smaller than the sum of the thickness of the carrier tape CT and the thickness of the cover tape TT. In the first exemplary embodiment, the edge 111c of the swing member and the conveying surface 61M are separated from each other by the size gp. However, when there is no risk of the front part SD of the cover tape TT being folded, the edge 111c of the swing member may abut against the conveying surface 61M.

[0061] When the swivel element edge 111c is pushed out of the Fig. 11, the pivoting element 111 pivots in a direction in which the pivoting element edge 111c is raised (in Fig. 11 counterclockwise). Then, the state in which the pivot element edge 111c rests against the upper side of the carrier tape CT is maintained.

[0062] In Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, the recess 112 has a curved surface 112M in which a part of the conveying surface 61M is recessed downward. As described above, the conveying surface 61M is formed by the upper edges of two carrier belt supports 51S facing each other in the X direction, and the recess 112 (curved surface 112M) is also formed on the upper edges of these two carrier belt supports 51S ( Fig. 10). Among the upstream and downstream edges of the recess 112, the recess edge 112E, which is the upstream edge, is located on the downstream side with respect to the pivot element edge 111c ( Fig. 11).

[0063] Next, the operation of feeding component BH with the tape feeder 16 will be described. When the tape feeder 16 conveys the carrier tape CT and feeds the component BH to the component removal position 16T, the operator first causes the leading part SD to protrude from the leading end of the carrier tape CT according to the method described above, and then manually inserts the leading end ST of the carrier tape CT into the carrier tape insertion opening 61A. Then, the operator pushes the carrier tape CT toward the downstream side until the feed opening KH at the leading end ST of the carrier tape CT engages with the feed pin 62P of the insertion gear 62A.

[0064] When the carrier tape CT is inserted from the carrier tape insertion opening 61A, the feed opening KH near the front end ST of the carrier tape CT is engaged with the feed pin 62P of the insertion gear 62A, which is detected by a sensor (not shown). When the sensor detects that the feed opening KH of the carrier tape CT is engaged with the feed pin 62P of the insertion gear 62A, the controller 63 actuates the gear drive motor 62D to rotate the three gears (insertion gear 62A, positioning gear 62B, and output gear 62C). Alternatively, the operator inserts the carrier tape CT through the carrier tape insertion opening 61A, connects the feed opening KH to the feed pin 62P of the insertion gear 62A, operates the tape feeder operation switch 16 to start the gear drive motor 62D, and rotates the three gears.Accordingly, the transport of the carrier belt CT is started by the carrier belt conveying part 62, and the carrier belt CT moves downstream on the conveying surface 61M. At this time, the belt cover 70 is still in the initial state (. Fig. 12).

[0065] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 13, the leading end ST of the carrier belt CT, moving downstream on the conveying surface 61M, passes the edge 111c of the pivoting member, which is waiting at a position separated from the conveying surface 61M, and further passes the edge 112E of the recess. When the leading end ST of the carrier belt CT reaches the position P1, which is separated downstream from the position S1 of the recess edge 112E by a predetermined distance D1 ( Fig. 13), the controller 63 temporarily stops the operation of the gear drive motor 62D (i.e., temporarily stops the feed of the carrier tape CT).

[0066] Here, the predetermined distance D1 is a distance that exceeds the length L of the leading part SD of the cover tape TT (D1 > L). Therefore, when the leading part SD of the cover tape TT is bent upward or downward at the time of stopping the rotation of the gear drive motor 62D (and accordingly, stopping the feeding of the carrier tape CT), the leading part tip SS (see also FIGS. 3(a) and 4(b)), which is the tip of the leading part SD of the cover tape TT, is located on the downstream side with respect to the pivoting element edge 111c and the recess edge 112E ( Fig. 13). When the leading part SD of the cover tape TT is not bent upward or downward from the carrier tape CT, the leading part tip SS of the cover tape TT enters the space between the conveying surface 61M and the lower surface of the contact part 77 of the second tape presser 72 (the space of the gap with the size GP described above).

[0067] After the advance of the carrier tape CT has been temporarily stopped as described above, the controller 63 rotates the gear drive motor 62D in the opposite direction. This advances (ie, retracts) the carrier tape CT in the upstream side. When the front part SD of the cover tape TT is in an upwardly bent state as shown in Fig. 13, at the time when the carrier tape CT starts to retract, the front part tip SS of the cover tape TT abuts from the downstream side against the extension 111b of the pivot member 111 and the edge 111c of the pivot member ( Fig. 14 and Fig. 15).

[0068] When the retraction of the carrier belt CT is started, the controller 63 stops the operation of the gear drive motor 62D when the front end ST of the carrier belt CT reaches the position P2, which is a predetermined distance D2 downstream of the position S2 of the swing element edge 111c ( Fig. 16). Here, by setting the predetermined distance D2 to a value that is smaller than the length L of the front part SD of the cover tape TT and greater than half the length of the front part SD (0.5L < D2 < L), the front end ST of the carrier tape CT is located on the upstream side of the pivoting element edge 111c when the retraction operation of the carrier tape CT is stopped. In this state, the front part SD of the cover tape TT is released from the upwardly bent state and extends substantially straight toward the downstream side, that is, the upward bend of the front part SD of the cover tape TT is straightened ( Fig. 16).

[0069] In this way, in the first exemplary embodiment, a series of operations (hereinafter referred to as "retraction operation") are performed in which the leading end ST of the carrier tape CT is moved relative to the straightening edge (here, the notch edge 112E) by a predetermined distance D1 (from the notch edge 112E to the downstream position separated therefrom by the distance greater than the length L of the leading part SD), and then the carrier tape CT is moved (retracted) to the upstream position where the leading end ST is separated from the straightening edge (pivot edge 111c) by a predetermined distance D2, which is smaller than the length L of the leading part SD and greater than half the length L of the leading part SD. When the leading part SD of the cover tape TT is in an upwardly bent state, this state can be resolved by performing this retraction operation.

[0070] In this way, the straightening device 103 in the first exemplary embodiment has the pivot member 111 disposed on the upper side of the conveying surface 61M and having the pivot member edge 111c as a straightening edge at the lower end. The pivot member edge 111c of the pivot member 111 waits for the leading end of the carrier tape CT to advance from the upstream side at a position spaced upward from the conveying surface 61M.

[0071] When the front part SD of the cover tape TT of the carrier tape CT inserted into the carrier tape insertion opening 61A is bent downward to the lower side of the carrier tape CT, the front part tip SS of the cover tape TT is caught by the upstream edge (recess edge 112E) of the recess 112 in the retraction process ( Fig. 17). Thus, in a state where the retraction operation is completed and the leading end ST of the carrier tape CT is positioned on the upstream side with respect to the pivoting element edge 111c ( Fig. 16), the downward bend of the front part SD of the cover strip TT is eliminated, and the front part SD extends substantially straight toward the downstream side, ie the downward bend of the front part SD of the cover strip TT is straightened ( Fig. 16).

[0072] In this way, in the first exemplary embodiment, the recess 112 formed on the conveying surface and the recess edge 112E of the upstream edge of the recess 112 serve as part of the straightening device 103.

[0073] When the upward bending or downward bending of the cover tape TT is caused by the retraction of the carrier tape CT ( Fig. 16), the controller 63 actuates the gear drive motor 62D to rotate the three gears in the direction in which the carrier tape CT moves toward the downstream side. As a result, the leading end ST of the carrier tape CT passes the edge 111c of the pivot member toward the downstream side, and the leading tip SS of the cover tape TT, which extends toward the downstream side, enters under the inclined part 78 of the second tape presser 72 of the tape cover 70 ( Fig. 18). In addition, the front part tip SS of the cover tape TT enters a space between the second tape presser 72 and the conveying surface 61M (a space with a gap of size GP) ( Fig. 19).

[0074] Here, the front part SD of the cover tape TT which has been directed downstream by the straightening device 103 in a state of expansion (or the front part SD of the cover tape TT which has not been bent upward or downward from the carrier tape CT from the beginning when the cover tape TT is inserted from the carrier tape insertion opening 61A) is slightly bent upward before entering the space between the contact part 77 of the second tape presser 72 and the conveying surface 61M (the space of the gap with the size GP) (see the section indicated by reference symbol “SD1” in Fig. 18), the leading part tip SS moves to the downstream side and follows the tapered surface 78M of the second tape presser 72. This prevents the leading part SD of the cover tape TT, which has been straightened by the pivot edge 111c and the recess edge 112E, from being bent upward again. In this way, the lower surface (tapered surface 78M) of the inclined part 78 of the second tape presser 72 serves as an anti-bending surface that prevents the cover tape TT from being bent upward.

[0075] When the front part SD of the cover belt TT is slightly curved downwards before it enters the space between the second belt presser 72 and the conveying surface 61M (see the front part indicated by the reference symbol “SD2” in Fig. 18), the leading part tip SS follows the curved surface 112M of the recess 112 and moves toward the downstream side. Thus, the leading part SD of the cover tape TT, which has once been straightened by the pivot edge 111c and the recess edge 112E, is prevented from bending downward again. In this way, the surface (curved surface 112M) of the recess 112 serves as a downward bending preventive surface that prevents the downward bending of the cover tape TT, in which the cover tape TT is bent toward the lower side of the carrier tape CT.

[0076] The front part SD of the cover tape TT, which has entered the space (the gap space with size GP) between the contact part 77 of the second tape presser 72 and the conveying surface 61M, hits the stopper 76 abutting against the conveying surface 61M and is stopped by the stopper, thereby preventing the front part SD from advancing further to the downstream side ( Fig. 20). When the carrier tape CT is further conveyed to the downstream side, the leading tip SS of the cover tape TT passes upward through the passage 75 of the cover tape and protrudes on the upstream side of the second tape presser 72 (ie, on the upstream side of the tape cover 70) ( Fig. 21).

[0077] In this way, the stopper 76 of the first tape presser 71 has the function of preventing the leading tip SS of the cover tape TT advanced from the upstream side from penetrating between the first tape presser 71 and the conveying surface 61M when the first tape presser 71 abuts against the conveying surface 61M. In the first exemplary embodiment, the first tape presser 71 has the stopper 76 positioned on the downstream side of the second tape presser 72 and arranged on the conveying surface 61M, and serves as a carrier tape presser that presses the carrier tape CT onto the conveying surface 61M.

[0078] The controller 63 controls the air discharge control valve 66 at the time (or the time immediately before) when the front part tip SS of the cover tape TT reaches the cover tape passage 75 of the cover tape 70, as described above, to discharge air 107 upward from the air discharge unit 65 ( Fig. 21). The air ejection unit 65 is mounted at a position where the exhaust air 107 flows from below through the cover tape passage 75.

[0079] When the air 107 is discharged from the air discharge unit 65 when the leading tip SS of the cover tape TT reaches the cover tape passage 75, the leading tip SS of the cover tape TT moves upward through the cover tape passage 75 and protrudes upward from the tape cover 70 while being guided by the flowing air 107 discharged from the air discharge unit 65. As the carrier tape CT moves to the downstream side, the leading tip moves upward and reaches a position between the drive roller 101a and the driven roller 101b, which form the cover tape pulling part 101 ( Fig. 22).

[0080] In this way, in the first exemplary embodiment, the air ejection unit 65 serves as an auxiliary part that assists the movement of the front part SD toward the cover tape pulling part 101 using the air flow (ie, gas). In the first exemplary embodiment, the first tape pusher 71 as a carrier tape pusher, including the stopper 76, and the air ejection unit 65 as an auxiliary part, form the guide 140 that guides the front part SD toward the cover tape pulling part 101.

[0081] The front part tip SS of the cover tape TT, which has reached a portion between the drive roller 101a and the driven roller 101b, is caught by the cover tape pulling part 101 (due to the mutual rotation of the drive roller 101a and the driven roller 101b) and pulled upward ( Fig. 23).

[0082] When the front part SD of the cover tape TT has been guided upwards through the cover tape passage 75 as described above, the front end ST of the carrier tape CT abuts the conical surface 78M of the second tape presser 72 ( Fig. 21). When the carrier tape CT, whose front end ST abuts the conical surface 78M, advances further to the downstream side, the second tape presser 72 is pushed upward by the carrier tape CT ( Fig. 21 → Fig. 22).

[0083] The second belt presser 72, which is pushed upwards by the carrier belt CT, pulls the first belt presser 71 upwards via the coupling part 74. Thus, a gap with the distance G ( Fig. 22) is formed, in which the carrier tape CT can move forward, and the stopper 76, which is an upstream edge of the first tape presser 71, also moves upward from the conveying surface 61M. When the gap with the distance G is formed between the first tape presser 71 and the conveying surface 61M, the carrier tape CT moves in the gap to the downstream side ( Fig. 22 → Fig. 23).

[0084] In this way, the second tape presser 72 is a contact displacement part that comes into contact with and is displaced by the carrier tape CT, and the coupling part 74 is a transmission part that transmits the displacement of the second tape presser 72 as a contact displacement part to the first tape presser 71 to displace the stopper 76. The second tape presser 72 as a contact displacement part and the coupling part 74 as a transmission part form a height change part 70T ( Fig. 7), which lifts the stop 76 from the conveying surface 61M.

[0085] When the second tape presser 72 is pushed upward by the carrier tape CT as described above, the inclined part 78 of the second tape presser 72 abuts against the pressing lever front part 91c of the rear presser 83 from below and pushes the pressing lever front part 91c upward. As a result, the second coil spring 92 of the rear presser 83 is compressed by the upstream extension 91a of the rear pressing lever 91, and the upstream extension 91a is biased upward as a reaction force of the compression. Thus, the second tape presser 72 (inclined part 78) is biased downward by the second coil spring 92 via the rear pressing lever 91 (pressing force F2 in Fig. 24).

[0086] In this way, in the first exemplary embodiment, the rear presser 83 is configured such that the rear presser lever 91 is not in contact with the tape cover 70 when the carrier tape CT is not on the conveying path 61, and when the rear presser lever comes into contact with the tape cover 70 (specifically, the second tape presser 72) that is displaced upward by the carrier tape CT, the rear presser presses the tape cover 70 downward. That is, the rear presser lever 91 (second pivot lever) is configured to press the tape cover 70 downward when the tape cover 70 is displaced upward by the carrier tape CT.

[0087] When the carrier tape CT advances to the downstream side in the gap formed between the lower surface of the first tape presser 71 and the conveying surface 61M, the cover tape TT passing through the cover tape passage 75 and extending upward is further pulled upward (into the cover tape discharge path 102) by the cover tape pulling member 101 ( Fig. 25).

[0088] In this way, the cover tape pulling part 101 in the first exemplary embodiment pulls in the cover tape TT pulled from the carrier tape CT.

[0089] In the first exemplary embodiment, the cover tape 70 and the cover tape pulling part 101 form the cover tape peeling part 120 ( Fig. 8) (see also Fig. 6 and Fig. 11). Here, the cover tape peeling part 120 refers to a functional part that is arranged downstream of the straightening device 103 and upstream of the component removal position 16T, and peels the cover tape TT from the upper surface of the carrier tape CT fed downstream of the carrier tape conveying part 62 by gripping and retracting the leading part SD of the cover tape TT extended downstream of the leading end ST of the carrier tape CT.

[0090] The carrier tape CT, from which the cover tape TT is peeled off by the cover tape peeling part 120, is transported downstream on the conveying path 61 by the carrier tape conveying part 62, and the first component storage pocket PK in the carrier tape CT is positioned at the component removal position 16T. The carrier tape positioning step CT thus ends. The carrier tape conveying part 62 performs the process (carrier tape CT positioning step) of positioning the first component storage pocket PK of the carrier tape CT from the position P2 to the component removal position 16T without stopping.

[0091] In the carrier tape CT, the cover tape TT is peeled off by the cover tape peeling part 120 in the process of positioning the carrier tape CT. Thereafter, a timed feed is performed by the carrier tape conveying part 62 along with the process in which the mounting head 13 included in the component mounter 1 sucks and removes the component BH (removal process), and the component storage bag PK is sequentially positioned at the component removal position 16T (carrier tape positioning process).

[0092] In this way, in the first exemplary embodiment, the tape feeder 16 serving as a component feeding device is configured to peel the cover tape TT having the front part SD projecting from the front end of the carrier tape CT from the carrier tape CT, expose the component BH supported on the carrier tape CT and covered with the cover tape TT, convey the exposed component BH to the component removal position 16T, and feed the component BH to the component mounter 1.

[0093] When the component mounter 1 including the tape feeder 16 having the above configuration performs component mounting in which the component BH is mounted on the board KB, first, the board KB fed from outside the component mounter 1 is fed by the board conveying part 12 and positioned at a predetermined work position. When the board KB is positioned at the work position, each tape feeder 16 feeds the component BH to the component removal opening 16K, and the mounting head 13 holds and removes the component BH from the component removal position 16T of the tape feeder 16 with the component holding nozzle 14. The mounting head 13, having removed the component BH from the component removal position 16T of the tape feeder 16, moves over the board KB and mounts the component BH at a target component mounting position determined on the board KB.When all components BH to be mounted on the board KB have been mounted, the board conveyor part 12 transports the board KB out of the component picker 1. The component mounting process for a single board KB is thus completed.

[0094] As described above, the tape feeder 16 according to the first exemplary embodiment conveys the carrier tape CT along the conveying path 61 with the leading part SD of the cover tape TT in front and returns the downstream-fed carrier tape CT to the upstream side, so that the bent state of the leading part SD can be straightened by the straightening device 103. Thus, even if the cover tape TT is bent, the leading part SD can be reliably grasped by the cover tape pulling part 101.

[0095] The tape feeder 16 according to the first exemplary embodiment has the guide 140 that guides the leading part SD to the cover tape pulling part 101, and the leading part SD of the cover tape TT is stopped and guided by the stopper 76. Thus, the leading part SD of the cover tape TT can be reliably guided and picked up by the cover tape pulling part 101. After the leading part SD of the cover tape TT is caught by the cover tape pulling part 101, the stopper 76 is raised by the height changing part 70T. Thus, the carrier tape CT can advance along the conveying path 61 without being caught by the stopper 76, and the transport of the carrier tape CT is not blocked. The guide 140 in the tape feeder 16 according to the first exemplary embodiment has the carrier tape presser (first tape presser 72) that presses the carrier tape CT onto the conveying surface 61M downstream of the contact shifting part (second tape presser 71).

[0096] In the tape feeder 16 according to the first exemplary embodiment, a portion of the tape cover 70 having the component removal opening 16K and the cover tape passage 75 on the downstream side with respect to the component removal opening 16K is pressed by the front presser 81, a portion located between the component removal opening 16K and the cover tape passage 75 is pressed by the middle presser 82, a portion on the upstream side with respect to the cover tape passage 75 is pressed by the rear presser 83, and the entire tape cover 70 is balancedly pressed against the conveyance path 61.

[0097] Thus, the carrier tape CT can be stably conveyed in the area including the vicinity of the component removal position 16T, and the removal accuracy for the component BH can be improved. (Second exemplary embodiment)

[0098] Fig. 26 shows a portion of a tape feeder according to a second exemplary embodiment. The tape feeder according to the second exemplary embodiment is similar to the tape feeder 16 according to the first exemplary embodiment, except that the straightening edge is only the straightening edge facing the upper surface of the carrier tape CT (edge ​​of the pivoting member 111c in the first exemplary embodiment).

[0099] The second exemplary embodiment differs from the first exemplary embodiment in that the straightening device 103 does not have a recess 112. This structure can be used when the front part SD of the cover tape TT of the carrier tape CT inserted from the carrier tape insertion opening 61A cannot be bent downward, that is, when the front part SD of the cover tape TT is bent upward in advance when the carrier tape CT is inserted from the carrier tape insertion opening 61A, that is, when the carrier tape CT is inserted into the carrier tape insertion opening 61A in a state where the front part SD is bent upward. Since the straightening device 103 also has a straightening edge in the second embodiment, the same effect as in the case of the tape feeder 16 in the first embodiment can be achieved. (Third exemplary embodiment)

[0100] Fig. Figure 27 shows a portion of a tape feeder according to a third exemplary embodiment. The tape feeder according to the third exemplary embodiment is similar to the tape feeder 16 according to the first exemplary embodiment, except that the straightening edge is only the edge of the recess 112 formed on the conveying surface 61M.

[0101] The third exemplary embodiment differs from the first exemplary embodiment in that the straightening device 103 does not have a pivoting member 111. This structure can be used when the front part SD of the cover tape TT of the carrier tape CT inserted through the carrier tape insertion opening 61A cannot bend upward, that is, when the front part SD of the cover tape TT is bent downward in advance when the carrier tape CT is inserted through the carrier tape insertion opening 61A, that is, when the carrier tape CT is inserted through the carrier tape insertion opening 61A in a state where the front part SD is bent downward. Since the straightening device 103 also has a straightening edge in the third exemplary embodiment, the same effect as in the case of the tape feeder 16 in the first exemplary embodiment can be achieved. (Fourth exemplary embodiment)

[0102] Fig. 28 shows a portion of a tape feeder according to a fourth exemplary embodiment. The tape feeder according to the fourth exemplary embodiment is similar to the tape feeder 16 according to the first exemplary embodiment, except that the tape feeder according to the fourth exemplary embodiment does not include an air ejection unit 65 as in the first exemplary embodiment, and instead, a duct 130 covering the cover tape discharge path 102 and a suction member 131 sucking air 107 into the duct 130 are provided. The guide 140 of the fourth exemplary embodiment includes the first tape presser 71 and the suction member 131.

[0103] In the fourth exemplary embodiment, air 107 in the duct 130 is sucked by the suction part 131 provided on the upper surface of the conveying surface 61M. Thus, the leading part SD of the cover tape TT is reliably drawn into the cover tape pulling part 101 through the cover tape passage 75 without the air ejection unit 65 of the first exemplary embodiment. That is, in the fourth exemplary embodiment, the suction part 131, similar to the air ejection unit 65 described above, serves as an auxiliary part that assists the movement of the leading part SD toward the cover tape pulling part 101 using the gas flow. Similar to the air ejection unit 65, the suction part 131 also has the function of guiding the leading part tip SS of the cover tape TT toward the cover tape pulling part 101.Thus, the same effect as in the case of the tape feeder 16 in the first exemplary embodiment can be achieved also in the fourth exemplary embodiment. (Fifth exemplary embodiment)

[0104] Fig. 29 shows a part of a tape feeder according to a fifth exemplary embodiment. The tape feeder according to the fifth exemplary embodiment is similar to the tape feeder 16 according to the first exemplary embodiment, except that the tape feeder according to the fifth exemplary embodiment does not include an air ejection unit 65 as in the first exemplary embodiment, and instead, a guide member 132 is provided on the downstream side above the cover tape passage 75. The shape of the stopper 76 is changed so that it does not stop the advancement of the leading part SD of the cover tape TT, but allows the leading part SD to move upward from the cover tape passage 75. The guide 140 of the fifth exemplary embodiment includes the first tape pusher 71 and the guide member 132.

[0105] In the fifth exemplary embodiment, the front part SD abutting the stopper 76 changes its movement direction upward and protrudes upward from the tape cover 70 through the cover tape passage 75. The front part SD of the cover tape TT, which moves upward above the tape cover 70, is guided by the guide member 132 to the cover tape pulling part 101. Thus, the front part SD of the cover tape TT is reliably caught by the cover tape pulling part 101, and the same effect as in the case of the tape feeder 16 according to the first exemplary embodiment can be achieved. (Sixth exemplary embodiment)

[0106] Fig.30 shows a part of a tape feeder according to a sixth exemplary embodiment. The tape feeder according to the sixth exemplary embodiment is similar to the tape feeder 16 according to the first exemplary embodiment, except that the tape feeder according to the sixth exemplary embodiment does not include the air ejection unit 65, and the shape of the stopper 76 of the tape cover 70 (particularly, the height relative to the conveying surface 61M), the size and arrangement of the drive roller 101a and the driven roller 101b constituting the cover tape pulling part 101, and the like are different from those of the first exemplary embodiment. The shape of the stopper 76 is changed so that it does not stop the advancement of the leading part SD of the cover tape TT, but allows the leading part SD to move upward from the cover tape passage 75.The guide 140 of the sixth exemplary embodiment is formed only by the first band pusher 71.

[0107] In the sixth exemplary embodiment, the leading part SD of the cover tape TT, which protrudes upward from the tape cover 70 through the cover tape passage 75, can be guided to the cover tape pulling part 101 without the need for the auxiliary part (air ejection unit 65, suction part 131, guide member 132, etc.). Thus, the same effect as in the case of the tape feeder 16 in the first exemplary embodiment can be achieved in the sixth exemplary embodiment.

[0108] As described above, in the component feeding apparatus according to the first to sixth exemplary embodiments (tape feeder 16), a portion of the tape cover 70 including the component removal opening 16K and the cover tape passage 75 on the downstream side with respect to the component removal opening 16K is pressed by the front presser 81, a portion located between the component removal opening 16K and the cover tape passage 75 is pressed by the middle presser 82, and a portion on the upstream side with respect to the cover tape passage 75 is pressed by the rear presser 83, so that the tape cover is pressed against the conveying path 61 in a balanced manner. Thus, the carrier tape CT can be stably conveyed in the area including the vicinity of the component removal position 16T.

[0109] Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above exemplary embodiments, and various modifications and the like may be made. For example, as in the first, second, and fourth to sixth embodiments described above, when the pivot member 111 is in the pivot restriction state, the advancement of the carrier tape CT may be awaited with the pivot member edge 111c abutting against the conveying surface 61M, rather than awaiting the advancement of the carrier tape CT with the pivot member edge 111c separated from the conveying path 61. In this case, the conveying surface 61M may be configured to function as a pivot restriction member in the first exemplary embodiment. Industrial applicability

[0110] A component feeding device is provided which can stably feed a carrier tape in an area including the vicinity of a component removal position. Reference symbols in the drawings 1 component picker 16 Belt feeder (component feeding device) 16K component removal opening 16T component removal position 51 main body 61 conveyor path 61M conveying area 62 Carrier belt conveyor part 62A Feed gear 62B Positioning gear 62C Output gear 65 Air ejection unit 70 band cover 71 first tape presser 72 second tape presser 73 third belt presser 74 Coupling part 75 masking tape passage 76 stop 77 Contact part 78 inclined part 78M conical surface 79 curved part 81 front presser 81a Pressure plate (first pivot lever) 81c first spiral spring 82 middle presser 82a pen holder 82b Torsion spring (elastic body) 82c pressure roller (roller pin) 83 rear presser 91 rear pressure lever (second pivot lever) 92 second spiral spring 101 Cover tape tension part 103 Straightening device 111 Swivel element 111c Swivel element edge 112 recess 112M curved surface 112E Recess edge CT carrier tape ST front end or tip TT masking tape SD front part SS front tip Bra component KB board QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] WO 2021 / 070954

[0003]

Claims

[1] A component feeding device which peels off a cover tape having a front part projecting from a front end of a carrier tape from the carrier tape, exposes a component stored in the carrier tape in a state covered with the cover tape, conveys the exposed component to a component removal position and feeds the component to a component mounter, the component feeding device comprising: a conveyor path with a conveyor surface that supports the carrier belt from below; a carrier belt conveying part that conveys the carrier belt along the conveying path with the front part first; a belt cover covering an upper surface of the carrier belt conveyed by the carrier belt conveying part and having a component removal opening formed at the component removal position and a cover belt passage formed at a position separated upstream from the component removal opening; a cover tape pulling part that pulls in the cover tape that has passed through the cover tape passage and moved above the tape cover; a front pressing member that presses a portion of the belt cover on a downstream side with respect to the component removal opening on the conveying surface against the carrier belt; a central pressing member that presses a portion of the tape cover, which is arranged between the component removal opening and the cover tape passage, against the carrier tape on the conveying surface; and a rear presser that presses a portion of the belt cover on an upstream side with respect to the cover belt passage on the conveying surface against the carrier belt. [2] The component feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the tape cover has a bent part in which both side ends of a downstream region in which the component removal opening is formed are bent downward. [3] The component feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the middle presser and the rear presser each press an upstream portion located on an upstream side with respect to the downstream portion of the tape cover. [4] The component feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the front presser comprises a first pivot lever pivoting about a horizontal axis orthogonal to a conveying direction of the carrier tape, and a first coil spring biasing one end of the first pivot lever toward an upper surface of the tape cover. [5] The component feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the middle presser has a roller pin rotatable about a horizontal axis orthogonal to a conveying direction of the carrier tape and an elastic body biasing the roller pin toward an upper surface of the tape cover. [6] The component feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the rear presser has a second pivot lever pivoting about a horizontal axis orthogonal to a conveying direction of the carrier tape, and a second coil spring biasing one end of the second pivot lever toward an upper surface of the tape cover. [7] The component feeding device according to claim 6, wherein in a state where the carrier tape is not on the conveyance path, the second pivot lever is not in contact with the tape cover, and in a state where the tape cover is shifted upward by the carrier tape, the second pivot lever pushes the tape cover downward.

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