Tape feeder

A tape feeder configured so that a reel cassette, which guides a component supply tape drawn out from a tape reel to a component adsorption position, is removably mounted on a feeder main body, the tape feeder comprising:

• a sprocket driving mechanism portion that feeds the component supply tape to the component adsorption position by rotating a sprocket while causing teeth of the sprocket to be engaged with sprocket holes of the component supply tape;
• an actuator that moves the sprocket driving mechanism portion upward and downward between an engagement position where the teeth of the sprocket are in a state of being engaged with the sprocket holes of the component supply tape and a retract position where the teeth of the sprocket are positioned below the sprocket holes of the component supply tape;
• a clamp member that is moved upward and downward integrally with the sprocket driving mechanism portion, and clamps the reel cassette when the sprocket driving mechanism portion is lifted to the engagement position;
• and
• automatic clamp release means for performing automatic clamp release, in which a clamp state of the reel cassette by the clamp member is released, by operating the actuator and lowering the sprocket driving mechanism portion to the retract position when it is detected that the reel cassette has to be removed from the feeder main body.