Placement head for a pick-and-place machine

A placement head for a pick-and-place machine, the placement head comprising

• a housing comprising a passageway defining an axis;
• a rigid handling device comprising:
• a shaft portion partly received in the passageway, wherein the housing and the shaft portion jointly define a linear bearing, wherein the shaft portion is configured to translate along the passageway substantially parallel to the axis, and wherein a first end of the shaft portion extends from a first end of the passageway,
• wherein the first end of the shaft portion is configured to accommodate a nozzle suitable for holding components;
• a first resilient element configured to generate a first force between the housing and the rigid handling device biasing the first end of the shaft portion away from the first end of the passageway in a first direction substantially parallel to the axis;
• a blocking means configured to releasably block the first end of the shaft portion from moving towards the first end of the passageway in a second direction opposite the first direction;
• and
• a detection device configured to detect a magnitude of translation of the rigid handling device with respect to the housing substantially parallel to the axis,