Abstract: The feeding apparatus comprises a flat housing mounted on the component insertion apparatus in vertical orientation. The housing includes a guiding channel for guiding the supporting tape of the belt containing the components to be fed. The guiding channel comprises a channel portion running horizontally along the upper narrow edge of the housing and has a freely exposed component pick-up area.Driving means are provided for stepwise forwarding the belt through the guiding channel, said driving means mounted in the interior of the housing and including a driving motor.The driving motor has a drive shaft running parallel to the two lateral surfaces of the housing. First and a second power transmission means are fixed to the drive shaft and adapted to stepwise forward the belt containing the components, and to forward the cover tape when it is peeled off from the belt.

Abstract: The device for picking and transporting components of different size has a gripping casing (1) which comprises a plurality of concentrically arranged, axially movable gripping elements (4, 8, 11). The elements move telescopically relative to each other, and each have a suction opening arranged at the end and connected, according to the working position, with a vaccuum inlet (3). For picking up a small part, only the innermost, smallest gripping element operates. In picking up a middle-size part, the innermost gripping element (11) and the middle gripping element (8) work together, while in the gripping of a large part, the outermost gripping element (4) is additionally actuated.

Abstract: The present method and apparatus provide a possibility to remove components from a magazine, from a storage bin or the like, to transport these components to a workpiece and to put these components onto the workpiece or into it precisely at a preselected position. The component which has been picked-up by and is retained by the transportation member will usually not be in a exactly preselected position with regard to the gripping means of the transportation device, but will be more or less shifted and/or tilted with regard to a theoretical, nominal positioning axis. In order to determine the actual position of the component retained by the gripping means, the component is brought to a position scanning station during its transportation from the magazine or storage bin to the workpiece. The scanning station measures and records the actual position of the component, e.g.