Abstract: The invention discloses that when parts are mounted on a single board in a plurality of identical patterns, parts mounting can be effieciently performed by changing the sequence of mounting the parts for each pattern in accordance with the arrangement state of the pattern, and a blank portion on the board can be minimized and hence patterning can be effectively performed by arbitrarily setting the directions of the mounting patterns to be mounted on the printed board in accordance with its form.

Abstract: An automatic mounting apparatus mounts chip-type electronic components on a printed circuit board. A plurality of chip-type electronic components are held at nearly equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of a tape, and this tape is drawn out from a tape reel to a feedout unit accommodated in a reel cassette together with the tape reel. The chip-type components are picked up one by one in sequence from the tape at the position of the feedout unit by a vacuum chuck, being placed on a predetermined position on the printed circuit board by this vacuum chuck. In the vicinity of the end of the tape holding the chip-type electronic components, a residual quantity indicator capable of mechanical detection is formed. When this residual quantity indicator is detected, the controller drives an alarm device such as, for example, a buzzer or a light emitter to inform that the chip-type electronic components on the tape will soon run out.