Abstract: A component mounting apparatus includes a first pair of clamping members installed to face each other and to move toward and away from a hollow rod, and a second pair of clamping members installed to face each other at a predetermined angle with respect to the first clamping members and to move toward and away from the hollow rod. The first clamping members are driven by a first actuator and the second clamping members are driven by a second actuator. Thus, components of various configurations including any rectangle can be easily clamped. Another component mounting apparatus includes a lightweight component positioning unit. A component is picked up by a component pick-up unit protruding from the component positioning unit whose width becomes larger, positioned, and held by the component positioning unit. Thus, damage of the component can be prevented and component pick-up and mounting operations can be rapidly performed.

Abstract: A work positioner of a chip mounter comprising a positioner mechanism section for positioning a work such as a chip-shaped electronic part and a positioner driving section for driving the positioner mechanism section. The positioner mechanism section includes: guide plate; positioner blocks reciprocatively moving along at least one pair of guide grooves formed in a straight line and opposed to each other on the guide plate; and two pairs of positioner tips connected to the respective positioner blocks while clamping the guide plate in cooperation with the positioner blocks and adapted to open or close in operational association with the reciprocatory motions of the positioner blocks so as to clamp the chip-shaped work therebetween or to release it. The guide plate is clamped between the positioner blocks and the positioner tips, so that the positioner blocks and the positioner tips are caused to move along the guide grooves.

Abstract: A parts exchange mechanism of a chip mounter, capable of automatically exchanging parts such as a suction bit for sucking chip-shaped electronic parts to be mounted onto a printed circuit board, and a positioner for centering the same. The part exchange mechanism comprises: holding means for holding the parts to be exchanged on the side of the chip mounter; receiving and delivering means for receiving the parts from the holding means and delivering same thereto; clamp means capable of clamping and releasing the parts; and an actuator for causing the clamp means to clamp and release. A parts exchange mechanism capable of automatically and simultaneously exchanging plurality of parts of a chip mounted is also provided.

Abstract: A chip feeder for supplying a multiplicity of chip parts retained on a tape from a tape supply section to a parts takeout section of a chip mounter. The chip feeder comprises: a working lever having a first, second and third arm portions; a driving source for applying working force to the first arm portion; a tape feed device interlockingly connected to the second arm portion, for intermittently feeding the tape at a predetermined pitch; a protective tape peel-off device interlockingly connected to the third arm portion, for peeling the protective tape off the tape intermittently fed, and a chip takeout device for taking out the chip parts from the tape. The driving source and the chip takeout device are, respectively, a driving source and a chip takeout device for the chip mounter itself, and the working lever is interlocked in operation with the chip mounter.

Abstract: A chip feeder arranged to intermittently transport a tape having a row of a multiplicity of chip-like electronic parts retained thereon from a tape supply section to a chip takeout section along a guide path. Along the tape guide path are provided a pair of fixed and movable guide plates, a guide width adjusting device and a pitch adjusting device. The guide plates engage both lateral edges, respectively, of the tape being fed so as to guide it. The guide width adjusting device changes the spacing between the two guide plates in accordance with the width of the tape by moving the movable guide plate toward or away from the fixed guide plate. The pitch adjusting device adjusts the tape feed pitch in accordance with the dimensions of chips to be fed. Chips which are transported to the chip takeout section are removed from the tape by means of suction after a protective cover covering the tape has been separated therefrom.

Abstract: A chip mounter for automatically mounting an electronic part onto a substrate. The chip mounter has a sucker for vacuum-holding the electronic part, at least one pair of fingers capable of reciprocatively moving between an electronic part clamping position and a release position and of also moving vertically, and a guide for guiding the fingers so that they perform linear reciprocative movement. Positioners for clamping the electronic part are disposed on the respective distal ends of the fingers in such a manner that their positions are adjustable in the clamping direction.