# US 2014/0150256 A1 · Tape feeder, component mounting apparatus, and component mounting method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150256 A1 - Document ID: US20140150256A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/234,792 - Filed: 2012-08-16 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-25 - Assignees: Panasonic Corporation - Inventors: Kazunori Kanai; Masanori Hiyoshi; Shigekazu Yoneyama; Satoshi Kawaguchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150256A1 ## CPC - H05K 13/02: Feeding of components - H05K 13/0419: {tape feeders} - Y10T 29/4913: Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc. - Y10T 29/53174: Means to fasten electrical component to wiring board, base, or substrate - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A size S1 of each of projections 32b provided on an outer perimeter of a sprocket 32 in a proceeding direction of a tape member 20 at a height where each of the projections 32b is engaged with each of feed holes 22 of the tape member 20 is larger than a diameter D of each of the feed holes 22 of the tape member 20, and a size S2 of each of the projections 32b in a direction perpendicular to the proceeding direction of the tape member 20 at a height where each of the projections 32b is engaged with each of the feed holes 22 of the tape member 20 is smaller than the diameter D of each of the feed holes 22 of the tape member 20. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-4. (canceled) ### Claim 5 A tape feeder that makes a tape member comprising a plurality of component storage units that are aligned at regular intervals and a plurality of feed holes that are aligned at regular intervals in parallel with the alignment of the component storage units proceed, and supplies components that are housed in each of the component storage units of the tape member to a predetermined component ejection slot, the tape feeder comprising: a feeder main body comprising a tape passage that is a passage of the tape member; a sprocket that is provided rotatable under the tape member that passes inside the tape passage of the feeder main body, and comprises a number of projections on an outer perimeter; and sprocket driving means for moving each of the projections provided on the outer perimeter of the sprocket on a circular orbit having a rotation axis of the sprocket as its center by drivingly rotating the sprocket intermittently, inserting each of the projections from beneath into each of the feed holes of the tape member that passes through the tape passage of the feeder main body to engage each of the projections with each of the feed holes before and after each of the projections passes through one region on the circular orbit, and making the tape member proceed in a manner that each of the projections leaves the tape member for the beneath of the feed holes after retracting the tape member, wherein a size of each of the projections provided on the outer perimeter of the sprocket in a proceeding direction of the tape member at a height where each of the projections is engaged with each of the feed holes of the tape member is larger than a diameter of each of the feed holes of the tape member, and a size of each of the projections in a direction perpendicular to the proceeding direction of the tape member at a height where each of the projections is engaged with each of the feed holes of the tape member is smaller than the diameter of each of the feed holes of the tape member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The tape feeder according to claim 5, wherein each of the projections provided on the outer perimeter of the sprocket has a cross section that is cut in a plane parallel to the tape member at a position where each of the projections is engaged with each of the feed holes of the tape member, the cross section comprising a pair of arc shaped portions that are opposed to the proceeding direction of the tape member, and a pair of parallel straight-line portions that are opposed to a direction of the rotation axis of the sprocket. ### Claim 7 A component mounting apparatus comprising: a substrate positioning unit arranged to perform positioning of a substrate; a tape feeder that is arranged to make a tape member comprising: a plurality of component storage units that are aligned at regular intervals; and a plurality of feed holes that are aligned at regular intervals in parallel with the alignment of the component storage units, proceed, and to supply components that are housed in each of the component storage units of the tape member to a predetermined component ejection slot; and a mounting head arranged to pick up the components that are supplied to the predetermined component ejection slot of the tape feeder and to mount the components on the substrate of which positioning is performed by the substrate positioning unit, wherein the tape feeder comprises a feeder main body comprising a tape passage that is a passage of the tape member, a sprocket that is provided rotatable under the tape member that passes inside the tape passage of the feeder main body, and comprises a number of projections on an outer perimeter, and sprocket driving means for moving each of the projections provided on the outer perimeter of the sprocket on a circular orbit having a rotation axis of the sprocket as its center by drivingly rotating the sprocket intermittently, inserting each of the projections from beneath into each of the feed holes of the tape member that passes through the tape passage of the feeder main body to engage each of the projections with each of the feed holes before and after each of the projections passes through one region on the circular orbit, and making the tape member proceed in a manner that each of the projections leaves the tape member for the beneath of the feed holes after retracting the tape member, and wherein a size of each of the projections provided on the outer perimeter of the sprocket in a proceeding direction of the tape member at a height where each of the projections is engaged with each of the feed holes of the tape member is larger than a diameter of each of the feed holes of the tape member, and a size of each of the projections in a direction perpendicular to the proceeding direction of the tape member at a height where each of the projections is engaged with each of the feed holes of the tape member is smaller than the diameter of each of the feed holes of the tape member. ### Claim 8 A component mounting method by a component mounting apparatus, the component mounting apparatus comprising: a substrate positioning unit arranged to perform positioning of a substrate; a tape feeder that is arranged to make a tape member comprising: a plurality of component storage units that are aligned at regular intervals; and a plurality of feed holes that are aligned at regular intervals in parallel with the alignment of the component storage units, proceed, and to supply components that are housed in each of the component storage units of the tape member to a predetermined component ejection slot; and a mounting head arranged to pick up the components that are supplied to the predetermined component ejection slot and to mount the components on the substrate of which positioning is performed by the substrate positioning unit, wherein the tape feeder comprises a feeder main body comprising a tape passage that is a passage of the tape member, a sprocket that is provided rotatable under the tape member that passes inside the tape passage of the feeder main body, and comprises a number of projections on an outer perimeter, and sprocket driving means for moving each of the projections provided on the outer perimeter of the sprocket on a circular orbit having an rotation axis of the sprocket as its center by drivingly rotating the sprocket intermittently, inserting each of the projections from beneath into each of the feed holes of the tape member that passes through the tape passage of the feeder main body to engage each of the projections with each of the feed holes before and after each of the projections passes through one region on the circular orbit, and making the tape member proceed in a manner that each of the projections leaves the tape member for the beneath of the feed holes after retracting the tape member, and wherein a size of each of the projections provided on the outer perimeter of the sprocket in a proceeding direction of the tape member at a height where each of the projections is engaged with each of the feed holes of the tape member is larger than a diameter of each of the feed holes of the tape member, and a size of each of the projections in a direction perpendicular to the proceeding direction of the tape member at a height where each of the projections is engaged with each of the feed holes of the tape member is smaller than the diameter of each of the feed holes of the tape member, the component mounting method comprising the steps of: performing positioning of the substrate by the substrate positioning unit; supplying the components to the component ejection slot by the tape feeder; and picking up the components that are supplied by the tape feeder with use of the mounting head to mount the components on the substrate of which positioning is performed.