Long-stroke feeding mechanism

A method of feeding a component tape towards a picking position of a component mounting machine by means of a feeding mechanism configured to engage the component tape at an engaging position and to disengage the component tape at a disengaging position, the method comprising:

• engaging the component tape at the engaging position;
• moving, by means of the feeding mechanism, the component tape from the engaging position to the disengaging position;
• disengaging the component tape at the disengaging position;
• and
• returning the feeding mechanism from the disengaging position to the engaging position;
• wherein the feeding mechanism is configured to, during a feeding cycle, provide at least two sequentially arranged compartments of the component tape to the picking position before returning to the engaging position, wherein a distance between the engaging position and the disengaging position is determined by a spacing between said at least two adjacent compartments;
• and
• wherein the feeding mechanism moves the component tape in a linear motion between the engaging position and the disengaging position.