Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a plurality of electric-component tapes each of which includes a carrier tape and holds a plurality of electric components in a lengthwise direction of the carrier tape, and supplying, from the each electric-component tape, the electric components, one by one, to an object device, the apparatus including a feeding device which feeds a first electric-component tape in a lengthwise direction thereof, and a connection-portion detecting device which detects a connection portion where a terminal end portion of the first electric-component tape being fed by the feeding device is connected to an initial end portion of a second electric-component tape.

Abstract: A method of producing a photovoltaic panel, including the steps of producing a light-transmitting, photovoltaic-element holding member which holds, along a reference surface, a plurality of photovoltaic elements each of which includes a P-type layer and an N-type layer, and forming, on one of opposite sides of the photovoltaic-element holding member, a first electrode which is electrically connected to the respective P-type layers of the photovoltaic elements, and a second electrode which is electrically connected to the respective N-type layers of the photovoltaic elements.

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: An apparatus for feeding a plurality of electric-component tapes each of which includes a carrier tape and holds a plurality of electric components in a lengthwise direction of the carrier tape, and supplying, from the each electric-component tape, the electric components, one by one, to an object device, the apparatus including a feeding device which feeds a first electric-component tape in a lengthwise direction thereof, and a connection-portion detecting device which detects a connection portion where a terminal end portion of the first electric-component tape being fed by the feeding device is connected to an initial end portion of a second electric-component tape.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a plurality of electric-component tapes each of which includes a carrier tape and holds a plurality of electric components in a lengthwise direction of the carrier tape, and supplying, from the each electric-component tape, the electric components, one by one, to an object device, the apparatus including a feeding device which feeds a first electric-component tape in a lengthwise direction thereof, and a connection-portion detecting device which detects a connection portion where a terminal end portion of the first electric-component tape being fed by the feeding device is connected to an initial end portion of a second electric-component tape.

Abstract: Producing a photovoltaic panel, including forming holes in a first electrode plate, fitting, in the holes, photovoltaic elements, each having a P-N junction between a core and a shell, electrically connecting a first portion of the shell of each photovoltaic element to the first electrode plate, removing one second portion of the shell of each photovoltaic element located on both sides of the first portion of the shell, so that a third portion of the core of the each photovoltaic element that corresponds to the one second portion of the shell is exposed, and electrically connecting the third portion of the core of each photovoltaic element to a second electrode plate, wherein electrically connecting the first portion and electrically connecting the third portion includes soldering, a corresponding one of the first portion and the third portion to a corresponding one of the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate.

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 producing a photovoltaic panel, including the steps of producing a light-transmitting, photovoltaic-element holding member which holds, along a reference surface, a plurality of photovoltaic elements each of which includes a P-type layer and an N-type layer, and forming, on one of opposite sides of the photovoltaic-element holding member, a first electrode which is electrically connected to the respective P-type layers of the photovoltaic elements, and a second electrode which is electrically connected to the respective N-type layers of the photovoltaic elements.

Abstract: Producing a photovoltaic panel, including forming holes in a first electrode plate, fitting, in the holes, photovoltaic elements, each having a P-N junction between a core and a shell, electrically connecting a first portion of the shell of each photovoltaic element to the first electrode plate, removing one second portion of the shell of each photovoltaic element located on both sides of the first portion of the shell, so that a third portion of the core of the each photovoltaic element that corresponds to the one second portion of the shell is exposed, and electrically connecting the third portion of the core of each photovoltaic element to a second electrode plate, wherein electrically connecting the first portion and electrically connecting the third portion includes soldering, a corresponding one of the first portion and the third portion to a corresponding one of the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate.

Abstract: Producing a photovoltaic panel, including forming holes in a first electrode plate, fitting, in the holes, photovoltaic elements, each having a P-N junction between a core and a shell, electrically connecting a first portion of the shell of each photovoltaic element to the first electrode plate, removing one second portion of the shell of each photovoltaic element located on both sides of the first portion of the shell, so that a third portion of the core of the each photovoltaic element that corresponds to the one second portion of the shell is exposed, and electrically connecting the third portion of the core of each photovoltaic element to a second electrode plate, wherein electrically connecting the first portion and electrically connecting the third portion includes soldering, a corresponding one of the first portion and the third portion to a corresponding one of the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate.

Abstract: An electronic-component supplying apparatus, including a bed with two linear guides; six tables movably supported by the guides, each table supporting electronic-component supplying cartridges such that respective component-supply portions of the cartridges are arranged along a straight line parallel to the guides, the six tables including a first group of three tables and a second group of three tables; three carriers which are movable, independent of one another, through three routes, respectively, each carrier being stopable at any position on the corresponding route, the three routes extending parallel to one another and the guides, within a carrier-movement area on the bed; engaging devices and engageable portions each of which is disengageably engageable with at least one corresponding engaging device of the engaging devices, one of (a) each of the six tables and (b) each of the three carriers supporting a corresponding one of the engaging devices, the other of (a) the each of the six tables and (b) the

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a top cover tape peeled from an electric-component tape which additionally includes a carrier tape having pockets which accommodate electric components, respectively, and whose respective upper openings are closed with the top cover tape, the apparatus including two rotatable members which are rotatable about respective axis lines parallel to each other and whose respective outer circumferential surfaces cooperate with each other to pinch the top cover tape, a rotary drive device which rotates one of the two rotatable members, one of the two rotatable members having a scraper groove which is formed in the entire outer circumferential surface thereof, in an intermediate portion thereof in an axial direction thereof parallel to the two axis lines, and a scraper which is provided on an outlet side of the two rotatable members in a tape-feed direction, such that a portion of the scraper is fitted in a portion of the scraper groove that corresponds to a position where the respective outer

Abstract: An electric-component supplying unit for feeding an electric-component tape which includes a carrier tape and holds a plurality of electric components at a predetermined pitch in a lengthwise direction of the carrier tape, and supplying the electric components, one by one, from the electric-component tape, the supplying unit including a frame including a tape-guide portion which guides the electric-component tape, a feeding device which feeds, in the lengthwise direction, the electric-component tape being guided by the tape-guide portion, and positions the electric components, one by one, at a component-supply position, and the frame comprising a main frame member, and at least one tape-guide member which is detachably attached to the main frame member and provides the tape-guide portion.

Abstract: An electronic-component supplying apparatus, including a bed with two linear guides; six tables movably supported by the guides, each table supporting electronic-component supplying cartridges such that respective component-supply portions of the cartridges are arranged along a straight line parallel to the guides, the six tables including a first group of three tables and a second group of three tables; three carriers which are movable, independent of one another, through three routes, respectively, each carrier being stopable at any position on the corresponding route, the three routes extending parallel to one another and the guides, within a carrier-movement area on the bed; engaging devices and engageable portions each of which is disengageably engageable with at least one corresponding engaging device of the engaging devices, one of (a) each of the six tables and (b) each of the three carriers supporting a corresponding one of the engaging devices, the other of (a) the each of the six tables and (b) the

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding an electric-component tape which includes a carrier tape having feed holes in its lengthwise direction and which holds electric components at a predetermined pitch in the lengthwise direction, the apparatus including a drive device, two pivotable members which are reciprocatively pivotable about a common axis line, a motion converting device which converts the motion of the drive device into the respective reciprocative pivotal motions of the two pivotable members, such that when one of the two pivotable members is pivoted in one of opposite directions about the common axis line, the other pivotable member is pivoted in the other direction and, vice versa, a feed member having projections projecting outward from its circulateable circumferential surface to engage the feed holes of the carrier tape, and two one-way transmitting devices one of which transmits the pivotal motion of the one pivotable member in the one direction, to the feed member, but does not transmit the pivotal motion

Abstract: An electronic component supplying apparatus including a frame member, component supplying units each including a movable member movable along a reference line, first drive sections each provided on a corresponding one of the movable members of the units, a second drive section provided on the frame member, first control devices each provided on the corresponding one movable member, a power source, a second control device provided stationarily relative to the frame member, a supplying device which includes a first supplying section provided on the frame member and second supplying sections each provided on the corresponding one movable member, has no wire connection between the first supplying section and the each second supplying section, and supplies the electric energy from the power source to the each first control device, while permitting the one movable member to be moved along the reference line, and a transmitting device which includes a first transmitting section provided on the frame member and secon

Abstract: An electronic-component supplying system including electronic-component supplying cartridges each of which includes a cartridge frame, an electronic-component holder which holds electronic components and which includes a connection portion connected to a connection portion of the cartridge frame, and an electronic-component feeder which feeds each of the electronic components from the holder to an electronic-component supplying position distant from the connection portion of the cartridge frame, a support member which supports the respective cartridge frames of the supplying cartridges such that the respective electronic-component supplying positions on the cartridge frames are aligned with each other in a predetermined direction, and an engaging device which is provided between the support member and an engageable portion of the holder of each cartridge, the engageable portion of the holder being distant from the connection portion thereof, the engaging device being engageable with the engageable portion of

Abstract: An electronic-component supplying cartridge is provided which includes a movable and an immovable jumping-out-preventing member and is free from jumping of electronic components out of electronic-component accommodating pockets, changing of posture of the components, or standing-up of the components due to suction. A shutter 210 is attached to a cover 82 fixed to a cartridge frame, such that the shutter 210 is movable relative to the cover 82 in the tape feeding direction. The shutter 210 includes a connection portion 214 having a groove 222 opening at a downstream-side end thereof as seen in the feeding direction, and a pair of movable jumping-out-preventing strips 228. When the shutter 210 is moved to a second position thereof, the strips 228 are received in receiving recesses 200, respectively. When a component carrier tape is fed, the shutter 210 is moved to a first position thereof where the strips 228 cover a component accommodating pocket fed to an electronic-component picking-up position.

Abstract: An electronic-component supplying cartridge is provided which includes a movable and an immovable jumping-out-preventing member and is free from jumping of electronic components out of electronic-component accommodating pockets, changing of posture of the components, or standing-up of the components due to suction. A shutter 210 is attached to a cover 82 fixed to a cartridge frame, such that the shutter 210 is movable relative to the cover 82 in the tape feeding direction. The shutter 210 includes a connection portion 214 having a groove 222 opening at a downstream-side end thereof as seen in the feeding direction, and a pair of movable jumping-out-preventing strips 228. When the shutter 210 is moved to a second position thereof, the strips 228 are received in receiving recesses 200, respectively. When a component carrier tape is fed, the shutter 210 is moved to a first position thereof where the strips 228 cover a component accommodating pocket fed to an electronic-component picking-up position.

Abstract: An electronic-component supplying system including electronic-component supplying cartridges each of which supplies each of electronic components, a support table to which the cartridges are attachable and which has a support surface for supporting the cartridges attached to the support table, a positioning device which positions each cartridge attached to the support table, on the support surface, and a preventing device which prevents each cartridge attached to the support table, from moving apart from the support surface, the positioning device including one or more first positioning projections provided on one of the support table and each cartridge, one or more first positioning grooves provided on the other of the support table and each cartridge, such that the first positioning groove extends in a first direction and is engageable with the first positioning projection to position the first positioning projection in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction while permitting the first posit