Parts supply device

Abstract

To provide a component supply device capable of easily attaching and detaching a tape cover to a main body part of a tape feeder.SOLUTION: A component supply device comprises: main body parts 51 that each include a conveying path for conveying a carrier tape; a tape cover 70 that can be attached to and detached from the main body parts 51, and covers an upper surface of the carrier tape on the conveying path; and a tape cover pressure part that depresses a tape cover 70 against the carrier tape. The tape cover pressure part includes a front pressure part 81 that depresses a downstream side end part 70F of the tape cover 70. The front pressure part 81 includes: a pedestal part 81a that swings as a center of a support pin 81d as a swinging shaft horizontally crossing a conveying direction of the carrier tape; a presser plate 81b that can be freely attached to and detached from the pedestal part 81a; and a first coil spring 81c as an elastic member that depresses the presser plate 81b attached to the pedestal part 81a against an upper surface of the downstream side end part 70F of the tape cover 70 by swinging the pedestal part 81a so as to be energized in one direction (upward).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a component supply device that transports components stored in a carrier tape to a component extraction position and supplies them to a component mounting device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a component supply device that transports components stored in a carrier tape to a component extraction position and supplies them to a component mounting device is known as a tape feeder. Patent Document 1 below shows a tape feeder provided with a tape cover that covers the upper surface of a carrier tape in the vicinity of a component extraction position in a main body portion having a conveyance path for the carrier tape. The tape cover provided in this tape feeder is attached by engaging a fulcrum pin with a hook-shaped side wall portion provided at the tip end portion in the longitudinal direction thereof. And it has a structure in which the fulcrum pin is pushed downward by a spring to urge the tape cover against the carrier tape.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Due to the need to deal with conveyance troubles of the carrier tape and to perform maintenance, the tape cover is detachably attached to the tape feeder. However, the tape feeder shown in Patent Document 1 has a problem that it takes time to attach and detach the tape cover and the work efficiency during maintenance is not good.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a component supply device that can easily attach and detach a tape cover to and from a main body portion of a tape feeder.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The parts supply device of the present invention is a parts supply device that transports parts stored on a carrier tape to a parts retrieval position and supplies them to a parts mounting device, and comprises a main body having a transport path for transporting the carrier tape, a tape cover that is detachably attached to the main body and covers the upper surface of the carrier tape on the transport path, and a tape cover pressing part that presses the tape cover against the carrier tape, wherein the tape cover pressing part includes a front pressing part that presses the downstream end of the tape cover, and the front pressing part has a base that swings about a swing axis that intersects horizontally in the transport direction of the carrier tape, a pressing plate that is detachably attached to the base, and an elastic member that presses the pressing plate attached to the base against the upper surface of the downstream end by biasing the base in one direction and swinging it. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a parts supply device that allows for easy attachment and detachment of a tape cover to the main body of a tape feeder. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Perspective view of a component mounting device using a tape feeder according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] (a)(b) Perspective view showing a tape feeder in one embodiment of the present invention together with a feeder base for mounting components. [Figure 3] (a)(b) Explanatory diagram in one embodiment of the present invention where the leading portion of the cover tape of the carrier tape transported by the tape feeder is part of the cover tape. [Figure 4] (a)(b) Explanatory diagram in one embodiment of the present invention where the leading portion of the cover tape of the carrier tape transported by the tape feeder is part of the auxiliary tape. [Figure 5] (a)(b) Perspective view of a tape feeder included in a component mounting device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] Side view of a tape feeder in one embodiment of the present invention [Figure 7] A perspective view of a part of the main body (with the tape cover removed) of a tape feeder according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] A partial side view of a tape feeder (when carrier tape is not being transported) in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] A partial side view of a tape feeder (during carrier tape transport) in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] Enlarged side view of a portion of a tape feeder in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] Perspective view of a tape cover provided in a tape feeder according to one embodiment of the present invention [Figure 12] A partial perspective view of a tape feeder in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] A perspective view showing the tape cover of a tape feeder in one embodiment of the present invention, together with a part of the main body. [Figure 14] (a)(b) A partial side view of a tape feeder in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] (a) Perspective view of the front retaining portion of a tape feeder in one embodiment of the present invention with the retaining plate removed (b) Perspective view with the retaining plate attached [Figure 16] A partial side view of a tape feeder in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] A diagram illustrating the direction in which the tape cover of a tape feeder in one embodiment of the present invention moves. [Figure 18] This figure shows how the tape cover of a tape feeder in one embodiment of the present invention is attached to the main body. [Figure 19] This figure shows how the pressing plate of the front pressing part of a tape feeder in one embodiment of the present invention is attached to the base. [Figure 20] A partial side view of a tape feeder in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21]Side view of a part of a tape feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention [Figure 22] Side view of a part of a tape feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention [Figure 23] Side view of a part of a tape feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention [Figure 24] Side view of a part of a tape feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention [Figure 25] Side view of a part of a tape feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a component mounting apparatus 1 including a tape feeder as a component supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] The component mounting apparatus 1 is an apparatus for mounting components BH on a substrate KB, and includes a substrate transfer unit 12 on a base 11. The substrate transfer unit 12 transfers the substrate KB in the horizontal direction and positions it at a predetermined working position. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the transfer direction of the substrate KB by the substrate transfer unit 12 is defined as the X direction, the horizontal direction orthogonal to the X direction is defined as the Y direction, and the vertical direction is defined as the Z direction. Also, among the Y directions, the direction toward the center side of the base 11 is referred to as "front", and the direction toward the opposite side is referred to as "rear".

[0011] [[ID=2​​​​​​​​In Figures 2(a) and 2(b), the feeder base 21 has a block-shaped base portion 31 and a wall portion 32 provided at the front of the base portion 31 and extending upward. The upper surface of the base portion 31 is a feeder support portion 33, and the rear surface of the base portion 31 is a feeder connection surface 34.

[0014] The base portion 31 is provided with mounting slots 35 for mounting tape feeders 16, arranged in the X direction. As shown in Figure 2(a), one mounting slot 35 consists of a pair of feeder guides 41 arranged in the X direction on the feeder support portion 33, two upper and lower positioning holes 42 which are through holes penetrating the wall portion 32 in the thickness direction (Y direction), a mounting hole 44 provided on the feeder connection surface 34, an electrical socket 45, and an air socket 46.

[0015] The feeder guide 41 consists of rail-shaped members arranged side by side in the lateral direction (X direction) and extending in the front-to-back direction (Y direction). Two upper and lower positioning holes 42 are provided side by side in the Z direction. The mounting hole 44, the electrical socket 45, and the air socket 46 are aligned in the Z direction, with the mounting hole 44 located above the electrical socket 45. The air socket 46 is located between the mounting hole 44 and the electrical socket 45.

[0016] The reel holding unit 22 rotatably holds the reel RL around which the carrier tape CT, transported by the tape feeder 16, is wound. As shown in Figures 3(a) and (b), the carrier tape CT is provided with a large number of component storage pockets PK arranged in a row, and a large number of feed holes KH are provided in a row parallel to the row of component storage pockets PK.

[0017] In Figures 3(a) and 3(b), one component BH is stored in each component storage pocket PK, and a cover tape TT is attached to the upper surface of the carrier tape CT, covering the component storage pocket PK. In other words, the component BH is stored in the carrier tape CT covered by the cover tape TT.

[0018] As shown in Figures 3(a) and 3(b) or 4(a) and 4(b), the cover tape TT has a leading portion SD that protrudes from the leading edge ST of the carrier tape CT. The leading portion SD may be in the form of the leading edge of the cover tape TT extending from the leading edge ST of the carrier tape CT, as shown in Figures 3(a) and 3(b), or it may be in the form of a part of the auxiliary tape HJ attached to the cover tape TT protruding from the leading edge ST of the carrier tape CT, as shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b).

[0019] In the configuration where the tip of the cover tape TT protrudes from the tip ST of the carrier tape CT, the leading portion SD consists of a part of the cover tape TT (a portion of length L) that protrudes from the tip ST of the carrier tape CT (Figure 3(a)). In the configuration using an auxiliary tape HJ, the leading portion SD consists of a part of the auxiliary tape HJ (a portion of length L) that protrudes from the tip ST of the carrier tape CT (Figure 4(b)).

[0020] In Figures 5(a), (b) and 6, the tape feeder 16 includes a main body 51 that is detachably mounted in a mounting slot 35 of the feeder base 21. Two positioning pins 52 that protrude forward are provided at the front end of the main body 51.

[0021] In Figures 5(a), (b) and 6, a downward extension 53 is formed at the rear of the main body 51 of the tape feeder 16. On the front side of the downward extension 53, a fixed portion 54, a connector 55, and an air connection portion 56 are provided, each protruding forward.

[0022] When installing the tape feeder 16 into the mounting slot 35, the engaging portion 51K (Figure 6) located at the bottom of the main body 51 is inserted between the feeder guides 41 (Figure 2(a) → Figure 2(b)). This causes the two positioning pins 52 to be inserted into the two upper and lower positioning holes 42, and the fixed portion 54 to fit into the mounting hole 44. In addition, the connector 55 is connected to the electrical socket 45, and the air connection portion 56 is connected to the air socket 46.

[0023] When the fixed part 54 is fitted into the mounting hole 44, the fixed part 54 connects to a fixing part (not shown) provided inside the base part 31, and the tape feeder 16 is fixed to the base part 31. When the connector 55 is connected to the electrical socket 45, the tape feeder 16 is electrically and signal-transmittingly connected to the base part 31. When the air connection part 56 is connected to the air socket 46, it becomes possible to supply air from the base 11 side to the tape feeder 16 side through the base part 31.

[0024] In Figures 6 and 7, the main body 51 of the tape feeder 16 extends along the YZ plane and has two side covers 51C facing each other in the X direction. A transport path 61 is formed in the space sandwiched between these two side covers 51C, through which the carrier tape CT is transported. In other words, the side covers 51C of the main body 51 are provided so as to sandwich the transport path 61 that transports the carrier tape CT.

[0025] In Figure 6, the transport path 61 has a carrier tape inlet 61A at the rear end of the main body 51 and a carrier tape outlet 61B at the front end of the main body 51. The upper surface of the transport path 61 is a transport surface 61M that supports the carrier tape CT from below (the lower surface of the carrier tape CT) (see also Figure 7).

[0026] In Figure 6, a carrier tape transport unit 62 for transporting the carrier tape CT is provided in the upper front part of the main body 51. The carrier tape transport unit 62 consists of three sprockets (introduction sprocket 62A, positioning sprocket 62B, and discharge sprocket 62C) arranged from rear to front, and a sprocket drive motor 62D.

[0027] In Figure 6, multiple feed pins 62P are provided on the outer circumference of each of the following sprockets: the introduction sprocket 62A, the positioning sprocket 62B, and the discharge sprocket 62C. These three sprockets are rotated in the same direction by a sprocket drive motor 62D via a gear mechanism (not shown). The direction in which the three sprockets rotate is the direction in which the feed pin 62P located at the highest position on each sprocket moves forward. The operation of the sprocket drive motor 62D is controlled by a control unit 63 (Figure 6) located within the main body 51.

[0028] The carrier tape CT is pulled out from the reel RL, and its leading end (the side where the aforementioned leading section SD is formed) is inserted into the transport path 61 through the carrier tape inlet 61A. The carrier tape CT inserted into the transport path 61 is transported forward (downstream) by the three sprockets (inlet sprocket 62A, positioning sprocket 62B, and discharge sprocket 62C) which are rotationally driven by the sprocket drive motor 62D (i.e., by the carrier tape transport section 62). At this time, the carrier tape CT is passed in the order of inlet sprocket 62A, positioning sprocket 62B, and discharge sprocket 62C.

[0029] The carrier tape CT, which is transported downstream by the carrier tape transport unit 62, has its cover tape TT peeled off by the cover tape peeling unit 64 (Figure 6) located upstream of the component removal opening 16K provided on the front upper part of the main body 51, before it passes through the opening. The carrier tape CT, with its cover tape TT peeled off, continues downstream, and as it passes through the component removal opening 16K, the component BH in the component storage pocket PK is exposed as the cover tape TT has been peeled off.

[0030] The cover tape TT peeled off by the cover tape peeling section 64 is discharged into the cover tape discharge channel 65 (Figure 6) located upstream of the cover tape peeling section 64 within the main body 51 and recovered. The carrier tape CT, after the component BH has been picked up, is discharged from the carrier tape discharge port 61B.

[0031] The component removal opening 16K is located between the positioning sprocket 62B and the discharge sprocket 62C, and exposed components BH are intermittently positioned one after another at the component removal position 16T set inside the component removal opening 16K. This allows the mounting head 13 to use the component holding nozzle 14 to attract and hold the components BH located at the component removal opening 16K (component removal position 16T) and remove (pick up) them from the tape feeder 16.

[0032] In this embodiment, the carrier tape transport unit 62 transports the carrier tape CT along the transport path 61 with the lead portion SD of the cover tape TT in the lead position, thereby positioning the component BH at the component removal position 16T.

[0033] In Figure 6, the aforementioned air connection section 56, provided in the downward extension section 53 of the main body section 51, is connected to an air ejection section 67 provided in the front upper part of the main body section 51 via an air pipe 66 provided within the downward extension section 53. An air ejection control valve 68, provided within the downward extension section 53, is interposed in the air pipe 66.

[0034] When the tape feeder 16 is mounted on the feeder base 21, the air connection part 56 is connected to the air socket 46 on the feeder base 21 side. With the air connection part 56 connected to the air socket 46, the control unit 63 controls the air ejection control valve 68, which allows air supplied from the feeder base 21 side through the air pipe 66 to be ejected from the air ejection part 67.

[0035] As shown in Figures 6, 8, 9, and 10 (Figure 10 is an enlarged view of area AR in Figure 8), a tape cover 70, as shown in Figure 11, is provided on the front upper part of the main body 51. As shown in Figure 11, in this embodiment, the tape cover 70 is made of a single plate-like member. The tape cover 70 is detachable from the main body 51, and when attached to the main body 51, it covers at least the area above the positioning sprocket 62B and the area above the portion of the transport path 61 located between the positioning sprocket 62B and the discharge sprocket 62C (Figures 8 and 9).

[0036] Figures 12 and 13 show the tape cover 70 attached to the main body 51. As can be seen from Figure 13, the main body 51 of the tape feeder 16 is provided with two carrier tape support sections 51S that extend outwards along the YZ plane and face each other in the X direction, between the two side covers 51C, and the upper edges of the carrier tape support sections 51S form the aforementioned transport surface 61M.

[0037] Thus, the transport surface 61M consists of the upper edges of the two carrier tape support parts 51S, and both ends of the carrier tape CT are supported from below by the upper edges of the two carrier tape support parts 51S. For this reason, in this embodiment, not only carrier tapes CT of the type without a downwardly protruding portion (so-called paper tape type) but also embossed types with an embossed portion that protrudes downward can be used.

[0038] In Figure 11, the tape cover 70 comprises a first tape retaining portion 71 that constitutes its central part, a second tape retaining portion 72 that constitutes the part upstream of the first tape retaining portion 71, and a third tape retaining portion 73 that constitutes the part downstream of the first tape retaining portion 71. The first tape retaining portion 71 and the second tape retaining portion 72 are connected by a connecting portion 74.

[0039] In Figures 11 and 13, a cover tape passage 75 is formed on the side of the connecting portion 74 (in the width direction of the tape cover 70, i.e., the X direction), consisting of the gap between the first tape retaining portion 71 and the second tape retaining portion 72. The aforementioned parts removal opening 16K is formed in the third tape retaining portion 73 (see also Figure 12).

[0040] In this embodiment, the tape cover 70 covers the upper surface of the carrier tape CT transported by the carrier tape transport unit 62 and has a cover tape passage 75 consisting of a parts removal opening 16K formed at the parts removal position 16T and a gap formed at a position upstream from the parts removal opening 16K.

[0041] In Figure 11, a protruding piece 71H is formed at the upstream end of the first tape holding portion 71, and the edge of this protruding piece 71H (i.e., the upstream edge of the first tape holding portion 71) serves as a stopper 76 (see also Figure 13). As will be described later, the stopper 76 has the function of blocking the progress of the lead portion SD of the cover tape TT of the carrier tape CT being transported by the carrier tape transport portion 62, and guiding the lead portion SD upward from the cover tape passage 75 (to the upper side of the tape cover 70, which will be described later as the cover tape retraction portion 111).

[0042] As described above, the second tape retaining portion 72 is connected to the upstream side of the first tape retaining portion 71 by a connecting portion 74. The downstream end of the second tape retaining portion 72 has a straight shape extending in the X direction and is positioned upstream of the stopper 76, which is the upstream edge of the first tape retaining portion 71, with a predetermined gap (cover tape passage 75) between it and the stopper 76.

[0043] In Figures 10, 11, 13, and 14(a), the downstream portion of the second tape-holding portion 72 is a contact portion 77, and the upstream portion is an inclined portion 78. The contact portion 77 extends above the conveying surface 61M parallel to the conveying surface 61M (Figure 14(a)), and the inclined portion 78 is a tapered surface 78M in which the height of the lower surface from the conveying surface 61M gradually increases towards the upstream side (the distance between it and the conveying surface 61M narrows from upstream to downstream).

[0044] In Figure 14(a), when the carrier tape CT is not inserted into the transport path 61, the lower surface of the second tape retainer 72 is not in contact with the transport surface 61M, and a gap of size GP is formed between the lower surface of the second tape retainer 72 and the transport surface 61M. The size of this gap GP is larger than the thickness of the cover tape TT, but smaller than the thickness TH of the carrier tape CT (Figure 14(b)). Therefore, when the carrier tape CT enters the space between the contact portion 77 and the transport surface 61M, the second tape retainer 72 is pushed upward by the thickness of the carrier tape CT (Figure 14(b)).

[0045] In other words, in this embodiment, the second tape retaining portion 72 of the tape cover 70 is located upstream of the cover tape passage 75 and the stopper 76, and functions as an upstream tape retaining portion that is pushed up by the carrier tape CT. Note that, as long as at least the portion of the lower surface of the second tape retaining portion 72 that abuts the cover tape TT is located at a distance GP above the transport surface 61M, other portions may be in contact with the transport surface 61M.

[0046] In Figures 11 and 10, both ends of the third tape retaining portion 73 in the width direction (X direction) are bent portions 73R that are folded downward. Because the third tape retaining portion 73 has bent portions 73R formed at both ends in the width direction in this way, its bending rigidity in the vertical direction is increased and it is less prone to bending, so that it can firmly press the carrier tape CT near the parts removal opening 16K against the transport surface 61M. On the other hand, the first tape retaining portion 71 connected to the upstream side of the third tape retaining portion 73, and the second tape retaining portion 72 connected further upstream via a connecting portion 74, do not have bent portions like the third tape retaining portion 73, and therefore can easily bend in the vertical direction.

[0047] In Figures 11 and 13, the third tape retaining portion 73 of the tape cover 70 is provided with a sprocket avoidance hole 73H extending in the Y direction. The sprocket avoidance hole 73H has the function of preventing interference between the feed pin 62P of the positioning sprocket 62B and the tape cover 70.

[0048] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 11 and 13, a component discharge opening 70S is provided at the end (downstream end 70F) of the third tape retaining portion 73 of the tape cover 70. The component discharge opening 70S is a groove-shaped opening that extends in a slit-like manner in the Y direction from the downstream side of the component removal opening 16K to the downstream edge of the tape cover 70. The component discharge opening 70S is provided to ensure that any component BH remaining on the carrier tape CT due to the mounting head 13 failing to remove the component BH supplied to the component removal opening 16K is discharged. In other words, even if the component BH remains in an upright position and a part of it protrudes from the upper surface of the carrier tape CT, the component discharge opening 70S functions as a passage for the component BH to discharge the component BH to the outside of the tape feeder 16 without interfering with the tape cover 70.

[0049] The width dimension (X direction) of the component discharge opening 70S, which intersects horizontally with the transport direction of the carrier tape CT, is narrower than the width dimension of the component removal opening 16K. A tapered guide portion 70T, with its corners beveled, is formed at the connection point between the component removal opening 16K and the component discharge opening 70S. Therefore, the connection point between the component removal opening 16K and the component discharge opening 70S gradually narrows as it moves downstream in the transport direction of the carrier tape CT. By providing such a guide portion 70T, the tape cover 70 guides components BH that have fallen into the component removal opening 16K to the component discharge opening 70S via the guide portion 70T, thereby avoiding transport problems caused by components BH getting caught between the carrier tape CT and the tape cover 70.

[0050] In Figures 11, 12, and 13, a pair of protrusions 79 are provided in the middle of the tape cover in the Y direction, extending outwards on both sides along the width direction (X direction) of the tape cover 70. In other words, in this embodiment, the tape cover 70 has a configuration in which protrusions 79 extend outwards on both sides from its middle section in a direction (X direction) that is horizontally intersecting the transport direction of the carrier tape CT.

[0051] In Figures 7, 10, and 12, a pair of guide grooves 51G, each consisting of a vertically elongated U-shaped groove, are formed on the upper edge of a pair of side covers 51C that constitute the main body 51. The pair of projections 79 of the tape cover 70 are engaged with the pair of guide grooves 51G (Figures 10 and 12). The projections 79 engaged with the guide grooves 51G are allowed to move vertically within the guide grooves 51G, enabling vertical movement along the guide grooves 51G.

[0052] In other words, in this embodiment, the guide groove 51G, which serves as the tape cover holding portion, is a vertically elongated groove that guides the projection 79 of the tape cover 70 in the vertical direction, and is a tape cover holding portion that engages with the projection 79 and holds the tape cover 70 so as to be displaceable in the vertical direction.

[0053] In Figures 7 and 12, the upper ends of the guide grooves 51G of each of the pair of side covers 51C are open portions 51H that are open upwards. Furthermore, the upper edge of the side cover 51C located downstream of the guide groove 51G is an inclined surface 51Y that slopes gently downward toward the upstream side, and its lower end (the upstream end) is connected to the upper edge downstream of the guide groove 51G (Figures 7, 10, and 12).

[0054] When engaging the pair of projections 79 of the tape cover 70 with the pair of guide grooves 51G of the side cover 51C, the entire tape cover 70 is moved upstream while the projections 79 are in contact with the inclined surface 51Y. As a result, the projections 79 move upstream (downward) along the inclined surface 51Y, and when the inclined surface 51Y ends, they fall into the guide grooves 51G and are engaged with the guide grooves 51G.

[0055] In this embodiment, the upper part of the guide groove 51G provided in the side cover 51C that constitutes the main body 51 has an open portion 51H formed at the top to allow the projection 79 of the tape cover 70 to be inserted and removed. The inclined surface 51Y, which is the upper edge of the side cover 51C leading to the open portion 51H, serves as a tape cover guide portion that guides the projection 79 into the guide groove 51G. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the guide groove 51G formed in the side cover 51C is designed to hold the projection 79 of the engaged tape cover 70 so that it can be displaced vertically.

[0056] In Figures 8 and 9, the front upper part of the main body 51 is provided with tape cover retaining parts (front retaining part 81, middle retaining part 82, and rear retaining part 83). The tape cover retaining parts bias the tape cover 70 toward the transport surface 61M, thereby pressing the carrier tape CT moving on the transport surface 61M with the tape cover 70, and thus pressing the carrier tape CT onto the transport surface 61M.

[0057] As shown in Figures 12 and 15(a),(b), the front retaining portion 81 comprises a base portion 81a, a retaining plate 81b, and a first coil spring 81c (see also Figures 8 and 9). As shown in Figures 12 and 15(a),(b), the tip of the main body portion 51 is provided with a tip block 51B equipped with a carrier tape guide 51D that guides the carrier tape CT downward (see also Figures 8 and 9), and the base portion 81a is mounted on this tip block 51B. In detail, the base portion 81a is pivotably attached to the tip block 51B (i.e., the main body portion 51) by support pins 81d that extend in the X direction (a direction horizontally intersecting the transport direction of the carrier tape CT) and have both ends supported by the tip block 51B.

[0058] In Figures 15(a) and (b), the upper part of the base portion 81a is provided with a pair of side wall portions 91 that extend upward and face each other in the X direction. A receiving portion 92 extending in the X direction is provided between these pair of side wall portions 91, and a retaining claw 93 extending in the X direction in a cantilevered manner is provided on one of the pair of side wall portions 91. The retaining claw 93 is located upstream of the receiving portion 92 (Figure 15(a)).

[0059] In Figures 12 and 15(a) and (b), the retaining plate 81b consists of a plate-shaped member extending in the Y direction. As shown in Figures 15(a) and (b), the retaining plate 81b comprises a retaining portion 94 having an elongated relief portion 94H extending in the Y direction, and a mounting portion 95 consisting of the downstream portion of the retaining portion 94. The widthwise dimension (X direction) of the mounting portion 95 is smaller than the widthwise dimension of the retaining portion 94, and the downstream end face of the stepped portion formed at the boundary between the retaining portion 94 and the mounting portion 95 is the retaining portion side positioning surface 95M (Figure 15(a)).

[0060] In Figures 12 and 15(a) and (b), the first coil spring 81c is provided between the base portion 81a and the main body portion 51 (see also Figures 8 and 9). The first coil spring 81c biases the base portion 81a in a direction that pushes it upward relative to the main body portion 51.

[0061] In Figures 12 and 15(b), the retaining plate 81b, when mounted on the base portion 81a, has its mounting portion 95 positioned between a pair of side wall portions 91 of the base portion 81a. The retaining portion side positioning surface 95M is brought into contact with the base side positioning surface 91M (Figure 15(a)), which is the downstream end face of one of the side wall portions 91, from the upstream side. The receiving portion 92 is pushed upward by the first coil spring 81c, and the middle portion of the retaining plate 81b in the Y direction is pressed against the lower surface of the retaining claw 93 from below (Figure 15(b)).

[0062] The retaining plate 81b mounted on the base portion 81a swings together with the base portion 81a around the support pin 81d by the first coil spring 81c, and the rear end portion 94T (Figures 12 and 15(a), (b)), which is the upstream end of the retaining plate 81b, presses downward on the downstream end portion 70F of the tape cover 70 (pressing force F1 shown in Figures 8 and 9). When the carrier tape CT inserted into the transport path 61 has not yet reached below the tape cover 70 (referred to as the "initial state"; Figures 8 and 10), the third tape retaining portion 73 is biased downward by the front retaining portion 81, and its lower surface is in contact with the transport surface 61M.

[0063] In this embodiment, the front pressing portion 81, which serves as the tape cover pressing portion, comprises a base portion 81a that pivots around a support pin 81d, which is a pivot axis (a pivot axis extending in the X direction) that intersects horizontally in the transport direction of the carrier tape CT; a pressing plate 81b that is detachably attached to the base portion 81a; and a first coil spring 81c as an elastic member that biases the base portion 81a in one direction (upward in this case) and pivots it, thereby pressing the pressing plate 81b attached to the base portion 81a against the upper surface of the downstream end 70F of the tape cover 70. The base portion 81a further comprises a receiving portion 92 that supports the lower surface of the pressing plate 81b and a pressing claw 93 that presses the upper surface of the pressing plate 81b supported by the receiving portion 92, and the front pressing portion 81 presses the downstream end 70F of the tape cover 70 downward.

[0064] As described above, a slit-shaped component discharge opening 70S is formed at the downstream end 70F of the tape cover 70, and the downstream end 70F is bifurcated. The pressing plate 81b of the front pressing portion 81 abuts against the bifurcated downstream end 70F, and both of these bifurcated portions are biased downward by the pressing plate 81b. As a result, the rigidity of the downstream end 70F of the tape cover 70 is reduced due to the component discharge opening 70S, but the front pressing portion 81 in this embodiment presses from the upper surface of the downstream end 70F, thus avoiding a situation where the downstream end 70F deforms due to the pressing force and is unable to stably press down on the carrier tape CT. This enables stable transport of the carrier tape CT at the downstream end 70F of the tape cover 70.

[0065] In this embodiment, the tape cover 70 has a parts discharge opening 70S formed at the downstream end 70F, which is continuous with the parts removal opening 16K, and the pressing plate 81b of the front pressing portion 81 is provided to cover the parts discharge opening 70S.

[0066] In this embodiment, as described above, the retaining plate 81b is detachably attached to the base portion 81a, and its rear end portion 94T has a shape that allows it to be used as a tool. In this embodiment, the rear end portion 94T is formed in a straight line as shown in Figures 15(a) and (b). Therefore, the retaining plate 81b can be used as a tool (for example, a screwdriver) for use with the tape feeder 16. In other words, in this embodiment, the end portion of the retaining plate 81b functions as a tool for use with the tape feeder 16.

[0067] In Figures 8, 9, and 10, the middle retaining portion 82 is positioned on the upper surface of the middle portion of the tape cover 70, upstream of the projection 79. As also shown in Figure 7, the middle retaining portion 82 comprises a spring retaining portion 82a, a torsion spring 82b, and a retaining roller 82c. The spring retaining portion 82a consists of an axial member extending in the X direction, supported at both ends by a pair of side covers 51C that constitute the main body portion 51 (Figure 7).

[0068] In Figures 7, 10, and 12, the coiled portion of the torsion spring 82b is inserted into the spring retaining portion 82a. The torsion spring 82b is held in place by the spring retaining portion 82a when the upstream extension portion, which extends upstream, is locked to a pin (not shown) fixed to the side cover 51C.

[0069] In Figure 7, the press roller 82c consists of a roller member extending in the X direction, with both ends supported by two side covers 51C. More specifically, the press roller 82c is located within press roller guide holes 51N that extend vertically in each of the two side covers 51C, and is rotatable about an axis along the width direction (X direction) of the tape cover 70, as well as being able to move up and down guided by the press roller guide holes 51N (see also Figures 10 and 12).

[0070] In other words, in this embodiment, the pressing roller 82c consists of a roller having a rotation axis oriented in the width direction of the tape cover 70 (a direction that intersects horizontally with the transport direction of the carrier tape CT, i.e., the X direction).

[0071] In Figures 10, 12, and 13, the pressing roller 82c is located in the middle of the tape cover 70 in the Y direction, sandwiched between the parts removal opening 16K and the cover tape passage 75 (more specifically, upstream of the projection 79 in the first tape pressing section 71). As shown in Figure 7, the pressing roller 82c is biased downward by the downstream extension of the torsion spring 82b, so that the middle part of the tape cover 70 (first tape pressing section 71) is pressed against the transport surface 61M via the pressing roller 82c and the torsion spring 82b (pressing force F2 shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10). In the initial state when the carrier tape CT inserted into the transport path 61 has not yet reached the bottom of the tape cover 70, the second tape pressing section 72 is biased downward by the middle pressing section 82, and its lower surface is in contact with the transport surface 61M (Figure 10).

[0072] In this embodiment, the middle pressing section 82 is configured to include a pressing roller 82c as a pressing member that linearly presses down on the upper surface of the middle part of the tape cover 70 along a direction (X direction) that is horizontally intersecting the transport direction of the carrier tape CT, and a torsion spring 82b as an elastic member that presses down on the pressing roller 82c. The pressing roller 82c is positioned upstream of the projection 79 located in the middle part of the tape cover 70 in the Y direction, and the middle pressing section 82 as a tape cover pressing section is configured to press down on the middle part of the tape cover 70 (near the projection 79) downward.

[0073] As described above, in this embodiment, not only is the downstream end 70F of the tape cover 70 (Figures 7 and 10) pressed downward, but the middle part of the tape cover 70 in the Y direction (near the projection 79) is also pressed downward. Therefore, in the tape feeder 16 of this embodiment, the carrier tape CT near the part removal position 16T can be advanced while being pressed against the transport surface 61M with an appropriate pressing force, and the positioning of the part BH at the part removal position 16T can be accurately performed. Consequently, the occurrence of pickup errors of the part BH by the mounting head 13 can be prevented.

[0074] In Figures 8, 9, and 16, the rear retaining portion 83 comprises a rear retaining lever 101 and a second coil spring 102. The rear retaining lever 101 is provided extending in the Y direction from the upper part of the main body portion 51 (more specifically, the area above the introduction sprocket 62A). The rear retaining lever 101 is supported in the Y direction by a lever pivot shaft 103 that extends in the X direction, and has an upstream extension portion 101a extending upstream from the lever pivot shaft 103 and a downstream extension portion 101b extending downstream (Figure 16).

[0075] In Figure 16, the downstream extension 101b of the rear-pressure lever 101 has its tip bent downwards. The tip of this bent extension, the lever tip 101c, is located above the second tape-pressure portion 72. The second coil spring 102 biases the upstream extension 101a of the rear-pressure lever 101 upwards, that is, away from the conveying surface 61M. Therefore, the lever tip 101c of the rear-pressure lever 101 is biased downwards, that is, toward the conveying surface 61M.

[0076] In Figure 16, the range of rotation of the rear-holding lever 101 is restricted by a regulating pin 101P fixed to the main body 51. In the initial state, when the carrier tape CT has not yet reached below the tape cover 70, the lever tip 101c is not in contact with the tape cover 70 and is located at a distance smaller than the thickness dimension of the carrier tape CT from the upper surface of the inclined portion 78 (Figure 14(a)).

[0077] As described above, the pair of projections 79 on the tape cover 70 are located within a pair of vertically elongated guide grooves 51G provided in the main body 51. Therefore, the tape cover 70 can swing freely with the pair of projections 79 as pivot points (see arrow A in Figure 17) and can move (raise and lower) in the vertical direction (see arrow B in Figure 17). Thus, when the leading edge ST of the carrier tape CT enters the space between the tape cover 70 and the transport surface 61M, the tape cover 70 is lifted up by the thickness of the carrier tape CT and is biased downward not only by the front pressing portion 81 and the middle pressing portion 82, but also by the rear pressing portion 83 (described later).

[0078] In this state, the vertical displacement of the projection 79 in contact with the guide groove 51G is small (equivalent to the thickness TH of the carrier tape CT), and the upstream end 70A (Figures 11 and 13) and downstream end 70F of the tape cover 70 are easily displaced vertically in accordance with the thickness TH of the carrier tape CT. Therefore, in this embodiment, smooth movement of the tape cover 70 can be ensured, and the carrier tape CT can be stably pressed against the transport surface 61M during transport.

[0079] As shown in Figure 14(b), when the leading edge ST of the carrier tape CT reaches below the contact portion 77 and the second tape retaining portion 72 (specifically the contact portion 77) of the tape cover 70 is lifted by the carrier tape CT, the inclined portion 78 of the second tape retaining portion 72 comes into contact with the lever tip portion 101c (Figure 14(a) → Figure 14(b)). As a result, the second tape retaining portion 72 is pressed against the carrier tape CT by the second coil spring 102 via the rear retaining lever 101.

[0080] In this embodiment, the rear-holding lever 101 of the rear-holding section 83 is a member that swings about a horizontal axis (lever swing axis 103) perpendicular to the transport direction of the carrier tape CT, and the second coil spring 102 biases one end of the rear-holding lever 101 to the upper surface of the tape cover 70. The reason why the lever tip 101c is kept above the tape cover 70 without contacting it in the initial state when the carrier tape CT has not yet reached below the tape cover 70 is to reduce the resistance when the carrier tape CT lifts the second tape-holding section 72, and to prevent the carrier tape CT from buckling when the second tape-holding section 72 is lifted.

[0081] When attaching the tape cover 70 to the main body 51, first, the upstream end 70A of the tape cover 70 is tilted so that it is lower than the downstream end 70F, and the upstream end 70A of the tape cover 70 is inserted into the insertion space 82S (arrow Y1 shown in Figure 7 and Figure 18) formed between the transport surface 61M and the press roller 82c. After inserting the upstream end 70A of the tape cover 70 into the insertion space 82S, the operator inserts the pair of projections 79 of the tape cover 70 into the pair of guide grooves 51G provided in the main body 51 from above (from the opening 51H) (arrow Y2 shown in Figure 18).

[0082] At this time, the worker slides the tape cover 70 upstream while bringing each of the pair of protrusions 79 into contact with the corresponding inclined surface 51Y from above. As a result, each protrusion 79 moves upstream along the inclined surface 51Y while descending, and falls into the guide groove 51G where the inclined surface 51Y ends and is inserted. Once inserted into the guide groove 51G, the movement of the protrusions 79 in the front-to-back direction (Y direction) is restricted, and they are positioned relative to the main body 51. Therefore, the worker can easily attach the tape cover 70 to the main body 51 (side cover 51C).

[0083] With the tape cover 70 positioned relative to the main body 51 as described above, the pressing roller 82c contacts the middle portion of the tape cover 70 in the Y direction (specifically, slightly upstream of the pair of protrusions 79) from above. In this state, the tape cover 70 is positioned to conform to the transport surface 61M, and the upstream end 70A of the tape cover 70 is in a nearly horizontal position (Figure 19). Finally, the operator attaches the pressing plate 81b to the base 81a.

[0084] To attach the retaining plate 81b to the base portion 81a, the worker first presses the base portion 81a downward to position it in a position where the retaining plate 81b can be attached. Maintaining this position, the worker inserts the mounting portion 95 of the retaining plate 81b into the space below the retaining claw 93, with its downstream end, the front end 95T (Figures 15(a), (b)), facing upstream (Figure 15(a) → Figure 15(b). Arrow Y3 shown in Figure 19).

[0085] As a result, the mounting portion 95 of the retaining plate 81b reaches above the receiving portion 92, and when the positioning surface 95M on the retaining portion side contacts the positioning surface 91M on the base side from the upstream side (Figure 15(b)), the operator releases the downward pressing state of the base portion 81a. As a result, the retaining plate 81b swings downwards due to the retaining claws 93 of the base portion 81a, which is oscillated by the first coil spring 81c, and presses the downstream end 70F of the tape cover 70 downwards. Therefore, the downstream end 70F of the tape cover 70 is pressed down against the main body portion 51 by the front retaining portion 81. This completes the mounting of the tape cover 70 to the main body portion 51 (Figure 12).

[0086] Thus, in this embodiment, the tape feeder 16 has a tape cover pressing portion that presses the tape cover 70 onto the carrier tape CT, and includes a front pressing portion 81 that presses the downstream end of the tape cover 70. The front pressing portion 81 is configured to include a base portion 81a that is pivotable relative to the main body portion 51, a pressing plate 81b that is detachably attached to the base portion 81a, and a first coil spring 81c as an elastic member that biases the base portion 81a in one direction (upward).

[0087] In this embodiment, one end of the tape cover 70 (the upstream end 70A) is inserted into the insertion space 82S on the main body 51 side to attach it to the main body 51, and the other end (the downstream end 70F) is pressed down by a lever member (pressure plate 81b) biased by the first coil spring 81c to attach it to the main body 51. Therefore, in this embodiment, the tape cover 70 can be easily attached to and detached from the main body 51.

[0088] With the tape cover 70 attached to the main body 51 as described above, when the carrier tape CT enters the space between the tape cover 70 and the transport surface 61M from the upstream side, the tape cover 70 is first lifted at its upstream end 70A (second tape holding portion 72) by the thickness of the leading edge ST of the carrier tape CT. As a result, the entire tape cover 70 swings in the clockwise direction shown in Figure 17, and the projection 79 rises slightly within the guide groove 51G (Figure 14(a) → Figure 14(b)).

[0089] As the carrier tape CT moves further and its leading edge ST reaches below the projection 79 of the tape cover 70, its middle section is pushed up by the carrier tape CT and rises, separating from the transport surface 61M. As the carrier tape CT moves further and reaches below the downstream end 70F, the tape cover 70 swings in the counterclockwise direction as shown in Figure 17, and its third tape retaining portion 73 assumes a position approximately parallel to the transport surface 61M. The tape cover 70 maintains this position while the carrier tape transport portion 62 is positioning the carrier tape CT in the parts removal opening 16K, but as the rear end (not shown) of the carrier tape CT passes the projection 79 of the tape cover 70, the tape cover 70 swings in a direction that lowers the upstream end 70A, i.e., in the counterclockwise direction as shown in Figure 17. Then, when the rear end of the carrier tape CT completely slips out from between the tape cover 70 and the transport surface 61M, the tape cover 70 swings downward in the clockwise direction as shown in Figure 17, returning to a state where the second tape retaining portion 72 and the third tape retaining portion 73 are in contact with the transport surface 61M (Figure 10).

[0090] As described above, in the tape feeder 16 of this embodiment, a pair of projections 79 provided in the middle of the tape cover 70 engage with a guide groove 51G, which serves as a tape cover holding part, through an opening 51H provided in the side cover 51C that constitutes the main body 51, thereby allowing the tape cover to be held so as to be freely displaceable in the vertical direction relative to the main body 51 (specifically the side cover 51C). In this configuration, the tape cover 70 is positioned in the transport direction of the carrier tape CT by the engagement of the pair of projections 79 in the middle of the tape cover 70 with the guide groove 51G, and is also held so as to be freely displaceable in the vertical direction. On the other hand, the upstream end 70A and the downstream end 70F of the tape cover 70 are free ends that are not positioned in the transport direction of the carrier tape CT, and can be displaced vertically around the projections 79. Therefore, the tape cover 70 can smoothly change its orientation according to the position of the carrier tape CT. Moreover, the vertical displacement of the middle part of the tape cover 70 is smaller than that of the upstream end 70A and the downstream end 70f, and is about the thickness TH of the carrier tape CT. Therefore, when the tape cover 70 is pushed downstream by friction as the carrier tape CT is transported, frictional resistance is generated between the projection 79 and the guide groove 51G. However, since the vertical displacement of the intermediate portion including the projection 79 is small, the change in the orientation of the tape cover 70 is performed smoothly with almost no effect from frictional resistance. Furthermore, since the tape cover 70 can swing around the projection 79, the upstream end 70A and the downstream end 70F also displace smoothly with almost no effect from frictional resistance. For this reason, in this embodiment, smooth movement of the tape cover 70 can be ensured, and the carrier tape CT can be stably held down during transport.

[0091] Furthermore, since the tape cover 70 of this embodiment does not have a peeling blade for peeling the cover tape TT from the carrier tape CT, as described in Patent Document 1, the force pushing the tape cover 70 downstream is reduced, decreasing the frictional resistance between the projection 79 and the guide groove 51G, and preventing damage caused by wear resulting from the vertical movement of the tape cover 70. As a result, problems such as poor sliding or sticking with respect to the guide groove 51G caused by wear of the projection 79 (i.e., the movable part of the tape cover 70) are less likely to occur.

[0092] In Figures 8, 9, 10, and 16, a cover tape pull-in section 111 is provided upstream of the component removal position 16T. The cover tape pull-in section 111 has the function of pulling the cover tape TT, which has been peeled off from the carrier tape CT, upward.

[0093] In Figure 16, the cover tape retraction section 111 consists of a drive roller 111a and a driven roller 111b, which has a smaller diameter than the drive roller 111a and is located downstream of the drive roller 111a. The drive roller 111a and the driven roller 111b are in contact, and when the drive roller 111a rotates counterclockwise in Figure 16, the driven roller 111b is rotated clockwise by the drive roller 111a.

[0094] The drive roller 111a is driven by a sprocket drive motor 62D via a transmission gear mechanism (not shown). Therefore, the drive roller 111a is driven at the same timing as the carrier tape transport section 62. The cover tape TT, which has been pulled in by the cover tape pull-in section 111, is discharged into the cover tape discharge path 65 and recovered, as described above.

[0095] Next, the operation of supplying parts BH by the tape feeder 16 will be described. When the tape feeder 16 transports the carrier tape CT and supplies parts BH to the parts pick-up position 16T, the operator first ensures that the lead part SD is extended from the tip of the carrier tape CT according to the procedure described above, and then manually inserts the tip ST of the carrier tape CT into the carrier tape inlet 61A. Then, the operator pushes the carrier tape CT downstream until the feed hole KH of the tip ST of the carrier tape CT engages with the feed pin 62P of the introduction sprocket 62A.

[0096] When the carrier tape CT is inserted through the carrier tape inlet 61A, the feed hole KH near the leading edge ST of the carrier tape CT engages with the feed pin 62P of the introduction sprocket 62A, which is detected by a sensor (not shown). When the sensor detects that the feed hole KH of the carrier tape CT has engaged with the feed pin 62P of the introduction sprocket 62A, the control unit 63 activates the sprocket drive motor 62D to rotate the three sprockets (introduction sprocket 62A, positioning sprocket 62B, and discharge sprocket 62C). Alternatively, an operator inserts the carrier tape CT through the carrier tape inlet 61A, engaging the feed hole KH with the feed pin 62P of the introduction sprocket 62A, and operates the operation switch of the tape feeder 16 to activate the sprocket drive motor 62D and rotate the three sprockets. This starts the transport of the carrier tape CT by the carrier tape transport unit 62, and the carrier tape CT moves downstream on the transport surface 61M. At this time, the second tape-holding portion 72 and the third tape-holding portion 73 of the tape cover 70 are in contact with the transport surface 61M (Figure 10).

[0097] As the carrier tape CT moves downstream on the transport surface 61M, the leading edge ST of the carrier tape CT enters the space between the transport surface 61M and the lower surface of the contact portion 77 of the second tape retainer 72, with the leading edge SD of the cover tape TT leading, as shown in Figure 20. When the carrier tape CT moves further and the leading edge SS of the leading edge SD of the cover tape TT (see also Figures 3(a) and 4(b)) comes into contact with the stopper 76 on the transport surface 61M, preventing the leading edge SD from moving further downstream, the leading edge SS of the cover tape TT passes upward through the cover tape passage 75 and protrudes above the second tape retainer 72 (i.e., the tape cover 70) (Figure 21).

[0098] Thus, the stopper 76 provided by the first tape holding portion 71 has the function of preventing the leading edge SS of the cover tape TT, which is advancing from the upstream side, from entering the space between the first tape holding portion 71 and the conveying surface 61M when the first tape holding portion 71 is in contact with the conveying surface 61M.

[0099] As described above, the control unit 63 controls the air ejection control valve 68 at the timing when the leading edge SS of the cover tape TT reaches the cover tape passage 75 of the tape cover 70 (or just before that timing), causing air 107 to be ejected upward from the air ejection unit 67 (Figure 21). The air ejection unit 67 is positioned so that the ejected air 107 passes through the cover tape passage 75 from below, and when the air ejection unit 67 ejects air 107, the air 107 passes through the cover tape passage 75 from below.

[0100] Therefore, when air 107 is ejected from the air ejection port 67 at the moment the leading tip SS of the cover tape TT reaches the cover tape passage 75, the leading tip SS of the cover tape TT is guided by the flow of air 107 ejected from the air ejection port 67, passes upward through the cover tape passage 75, and protrudes above the tape cover 70. Then, as the carrier tape CT moves downstream, it moves upward and reaches the space between the drive roller 111a and the driven roller 111b that constitute the cover tape retraction section 111 (Figure 22).

[0101] The leading edge SS of the cover tape TT, which has reached between the drive roller 111a and the driven roller 111b, is captured by the cover tape retraction section 111 (by the opposing rotation of the drive roller 111a and the driven roller 111b) and pulled upward (Figure 23).

[0102] As described above, once the leading portion SD of the cover tape TT passes upward through the cover tape passage 75, the tip ST of the carrier tape CT comes into contact with the tapered surface 78M of the second tape retaining portion 72 (Figure 21). As the carrier tape CT, with its tip ST in contact with the tapered surface 78M, continues to move downstream, the second tape retaining portion 72 is pushed up by the carrier tape CT (Figure 21 → Figure 22).

[0103] The second tape retainer 72, pushed up by the carrier tape CT, pulls the first tape retainer 71 upward via the connecting portion 74. As a result, a gap of interval G (Figure 22) is formed between the first tape retainer 71 and the transport surface 61M, allowing the carrier tape CT to move forward, and the stopper 76, which is the upstream edge of the first tape retainer 71, also rises from the transport surface 61M. Once a gap of interval G is formed between the first tape retainer 71 and the transport surface 61M, the carrier tape CT moves downstream within that gap (Figure 22 → Figure 23).

[0104] As described above, the second tape retaining section 72 is an upstream tape retaining section located upstream of the cover tape passage 75 and pushed up by the carrier tape CT, and is also a contact displacement section that is displaced by contacting the carrier tape CT. The connecting section 74 is a transmission section that transmits the displacement of the second tape retaining section 72 as a contact displacement section to the first tape retaining section 71, thereby displacing the stopper 76. The second tape retaining section 72 as a contact displacement section and the connecting section 74 as a transmission section then act as a height changing section that lifts the stopper 76 upward from the transport surface 61M.

[0105] As described above, when the second tape retaining portion 72 is pushed up by the carrier tape CT, the inclined portion 78 of the second tape retaining portion 72 comes into contact with the lever tip 101c of the rear retaining portion 83 from below, pushing up the lever tip 101c. As a result, the second coil spring 102 of the rear retaining portion 83 is compressed by the upstream extension 101a of the rear retaining lever 101, and in reaction force biases the upstream extension 101a upward. Therefore, the second tape retainer 72 (inclined portion 78) is biased downward by the second coil spring 102 via the rear retaining lever 101 (pressing force F3 shown in Figures 9 and 24).

[0106] In this embodiment, the rear pressing lever 101 is not in contact with the tape cover 70 when the carrier tape CT is not in the transport path 61, and when it comes into contact with the tape cover 70 (specifically the second tape pressing lever 72) which has been displaced upward by the carrier tape CT, it presses it downward.

[0107] As the carrier tape CT moves downstream through the gap formed between the lower surface of the first tape holding section 71 and the transport surface 61M, the cover tape TT that has passed through the cover tape passage 75 and extends upward is further pulled upward (into the cover tape discharge passage 65) by the cover tape pull-in section 111 (Figure 24 → Figure 25).

[0108] Thus, in this embodiment, the cover tape retraction section 111 retracts the cover tape TT that has been peeled off from the carrier tape CT.

[0109] In this embodiment, the tape cover 70 and the cover tape pull-in section 111 constitute the aforementioned cover tape peel-off section 64 (Figures 8, 9, and 10). The cover tape peel-off section 64 is located upstream of the parts removal position 16T and has the function of capturing and pulling in the leading section SD of the cover tape TT that extends downstream from the tip ST of the carrier tape CT, and feeding it to the cover tape discharge path 65.

[0110] The carrier tape CT, from which the cover tape TT has been peeled by the cover tape peeling unit 64, is transported downstream along the transport path 61 by the carrier tape transport unit 62, and the first component storage pocket PK on the carrier tape CT is positioned at the component removal position 16T. This completes the positioning process of the carrier tape CT. The carrier tape transport unit 62 performs the operation (the positioning process of the carrier tape CT) until the first component storage pocket PK is positioned at the component removal position 16T without stopping.

[0111] During the positioning process, the carrier tape CT has its cover tape TT peeled off by the cover tape peeling unit 64. Thereafter, as the mounting head 13 of the component mounting device 1 picks up and removes the component BH (pickup operation), the carrier tape transport unit 62 performs pitch feeding, and the component storage pockets PK are sequentially positioned at the component removal positions 16T (carrier tape positioning operation).

[0112] In this embodiment, the tape feeder 16, acting as a parts supply device, peels off the cover tape TT, which has a leading portion SD protruding from the tip of the carrier tape CT, from the carrier tape CT, exposing the parts BH that were stored in the carrier tape CT while covered by the cover tape TT, and then transports the exposed parts BH to the parts retrieval position 16T for supply to the parts mounting device 1.

[0113] When a component mounting device 1 having the tape feeder 16 configured as described above performs a component mounting operation in which components BH are mounted on a substrate KB, first, the substrate transport unit 12 carries in the substrate KB supplied from outside the component mounting device 1 and positions it at a predetermined working position. Once the substrate KB is positioned at the working position, each tape feeder 16 supplies components BH to the component removal opening 16K, and the mounting head 13 uses the component holding nozzle 14 to hold and remove the components BH from the component removal position 16T of the tape feeder 16.

[0114] The mounting head 13, having retrieved the component BH from the component extraction position 16T of the tape feeder 16, moves above the circuit board KB and places the component BH at the designated target component mounting position on the circuit board KB. Once all the component BH to be mounted on the circuit board KB has been placed, the circuit board transport unit 12 transports the circuit board KB outside the component mounting device 1. This completes the component mounting process for one circuit board KB.

[0115] As described above, in this embodiment, the parts supply device (tape feeder 16) is designed so that the tape cover 70 that holds down the carrier tape CT can be attached to the main body 51 by being pressed down by a lever member (pressing plate 81b) biased by an elastic member (first coil spring 81c). Therefore, in this embodiment, the tape cover 70 can be easily attached to and detached from the main body 51, and maintenance work can also be easily performed.

[0116] While embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to those described above, and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the tape feeder 16 was configured to blow upward with air to capture the leading portion SD of the cover tape TT that protrudes from the leading edge ST of the carrier tape CT, and to pull it up to peel it off from the carrier tape CT. However, the tape feeder 16 to which the present invention is applied does not necessarily have to peel off the cover tape TT in such a process. [Industrial applicability]

[0117] The present invention provides a parts supply device that allows for easy attachment and detachment of the tape cover to the main body of a tape feeder. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0118] 1. Component mounting device 16. Tape feeder (parts supply device) 16K parts removal opening 16T Parts removal location 51 Main body 51B Tip block 61 Conveyor path 62A Introduction Sprocket 62B Positioning Sprocket 62C Exhaust Sprocket 70 Tape Covers 70A upstream end 70F downstream end 70S Parts Discharge Opening 71 First tape retaining section 72 Second tape retaining section 73 Third tape retaining section 81 Front pressing part (tape cover pressing part) 81a Base 81b Retaining plate 81c First coil spring (elastic member) 82. Middle presser foot (tape cover presser foot) 83. Rear retaining part (tape cover retaining part) 92 Receiving part 93. Pressing claw 101 Rear pressure lever 102 Second coil spring 111 Cover tape retraction section CT Carrier Tape ST tip TT Cover Tape SD Leading Section SS leading part tip BH parts

Claims

1. A parts supply device that transports parts stored on a carrier tape to a parts retrieval position and supplies them to a parts mounting device, A main body having a transport path for transporting carrier tape, A tape cover that is detachably attached to the main body and covers the upper surface of the carrier tape of the transport path, The tape cover is further comprising a tape cover retaining portion that presses the tape cover onto the carrier tape, The tape cover retaining portion includes a front retaining portion that holds down the downstream end of the tape cover. The aforementioned front pressing portion is A base that pivots around a pivot axis that intersects horizontally in the direction of transport of the carrier tape, A removable retaining plate is provided on the base portion, An elastic member that biases and swings the base portion in one direction, thereby pressing the retaining plate attached to the base portion against the upper surface of the downstream end, A parts supply device having

2. The component supply device according to claim 1, wherein the base portion comprises a receiving portion that supports the lower surface of the retaining plate and a retaining claw that presses against the upper surface of the retaining plate supported by the receiving portion.

3. The parts supply device according to claim 1, wherein a tip block having a carrier tape guide for guiding the carrier tape downward is provided at the tip of the main body, and the base is mounted on the tip block.

4. The end of the retaining plate functions as a tool for use with the parts supply device, as described in claim 1.

5. The parts supply device according to claim 1, wherein the tape cover has a parts removal opening formed at a position corresponding to the parts removal position and a parts discharge opening formed at the downstream end continuous with the parts removal opening, and the retaining plate covers the parts discharge opening.

6. The parts supply device according to claim 5, wherein the width dimension of the parts discharge opening that intersects the transport direction horizontally is narrower than the width dimension of the parts removal opening, and the width dimension of the connection portion of the parts discharge opening with the parts removal opening gradually narrows as it moves downstream in the transport direction.

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