Abstract: Disclosed in an automatic tool changer in which the tool changing time can be shortened by increasing overlapping operations of the turning operation and the axial advancing/retracting operation of a replacement arm. An arm driver (32) is so constituted that the driver performs overlapping operations such that at least a part of the operation for turning a replacement arm (23) by 180° and the operation for advancing/retracting the replacement arm in the axial direction in order to insert or withdraw a tool (37) are performed simultaneously and in parallelism with each other. When the replacement arm (23) is advanced/retracted in the axial direction in order to insert or withdraw a tool, the replacement arm (23) is turned by a predetermined distance in a direction reverse to the direction (so called “normal direction”) for turning the arm by 180° in parallelism with the advancing/retracting operation, and thereafter, the replacement arm (23) is turned in the normal direction.

Abstract: A board work system operable by a plurality of operators assigned in turn to operate. The system includes (a) at least one device changeable to each one of a plurality of different modes; (b) a control device which controls the changeable device, and receives operator ID data identifying each operator, so as to recognize which one of the operators is currently assigned to operate the system; and (c) an ID-data input device operable to input the operator ID data to the control device. The control device includes: (b-1) a suitable-mode-establishing-data storing portion which stores suitable-mode-establishing data representative of one of the different modes which is to be established during operation of the system by each operator; and (b-2) a suitable-mode establishing portion which establishes one of the different modes on the basis of the suitable-mode establishing data and according to the operator ID data inputted to the control device.

Abstract: An electric-component mounting system including a component-holding device for holding an electric component, a board-supporting device for supporting a printed-wiring board on which the electric component is mounted, a first relative-movement device operable to move the component-holding device and the board-supporting device relative to each other in a first direction parallel to a surface of the board supported by the board-supporting device, a second relative-movement device operable to move the component-holding device and the board-supporting device relative to each other in a second direction which intersects the surface of the board; and a control device including a positioning portion operable to select one of a plurality of different control targets which is used for the first relative-movement device to establish a predetermined relative position between the component-holding device and the board-supporting device, and wherein the positioning portion selects one of the different control targets, de

Abstract: An apparatus for displacing two displaceable members, including a first member, a second member which is supported by the first member such that the second member is displaceable relative to the first member, a third member which is supported by the second member such that the third member is displaceable relative to the second member, a first and a second drive source which have respective output members and each of which is not movable relative to the first member, a mechanically motion-transmitting device which is connected to the respective output members of the first and second drive sources and to the second and third members and which mechanically transmits respective motions of the output members to the second and third members while allowing the second and third members to be displaced relative to each other, and a displacement control device which is connected to the first and second drive sources and which controls the first and second drive sources and thereby controls the displacement of each of

Abstract: A method of causing a wound-on member to contact a printed wiring board and conveying the printed wiring board by utilizing a frictional force produced between the wound-on member and the printed wiring board, the method including the steps of providing two conveying units each of which includes a wound-on member and two rotatable wheels on which the wound-on member is wound to have a straightly extending portion which straightly extends between the two rotatable wheels, such that the two conveying units are spaced from each other in a direction parallel to a printed wiring board, and such that the respective straightly extending portions of the two wound-on members of the two conveying units cooperate with each other to sandwich the printed wiring board in a direction substantially parallel to the printed wiring board, and conveying the printed wiring board by rotating the rotatable wheels of the two conveying units, and thereby moving the two wound-on members, while utilizing a frictional force produced bet