Method and apparatus for mounting component

A method of mounting components, comprising:

• picking up a component placed on a first tray, which is located in a component feed unit, wherein said component is picked up with a pickup nozzle fitted to a pickup head;
• mounting said picked up component on a board in a predetermined position of said board;
• and
• determining whether or not a further component is present on said first tray,
• wherein if it is determined that a further component is present on said first tray, then picking up and mounting said further component, or if it is determined that a further component is not present on said first tray, then removing said pickup nozzle from said pickup head and fitting a tray transfer nozzle to said pickup head,
• picking up, holding, and moving said first tray with said tray transfer nozzle,
• removing said tray transfer nozzle from said pickup head after removing said first tray,
• fitting said pickup nozzle to said pickup head, and
• returning said pickup head to said component feed unit.

A component mounting apparatus for mounting components on a board, said apparatus comprising:

• a component feed unit for feeding a plurality of stacked stages of trays on which components are accommodated to a component take out position;
• a pickup head disposed adjacent said component feed unit and being movable between said component feed unit and the board;
• a pickup nozzle connected to said pickup head for picking up a component from one of the trays;
• and
• a control unit for determining whether or not a component is present on one of the trays, said control unit being operably connected to said component feed unit and said pickup head such that when said control unit identifies an empty tray, said control unit controls said pickup head so that said pickup head removes the empty tray with said pickup nozzle.

A component mounting apparatus for mounting components on a board, said apparatus comprising:

• a component feed unit for holding plurality of stacked-in-stages trays having components accommodated thereon and feeding the trays to a component take out position;
• a pickup head disposed adjacent said component feed unit and being movable between said component feed unit and the board;
• a pickup nozzle, detachably connected to said pickup head, for picking up components accommodated on the trays;
• a nozzle replacement unit disposed adjacent said pickup head and having at least one tray transfer nozzle, said nozzle replacement unit being adapted to replace said pickup nozzle With a tray transfer nozzle, wherein said pickup head is moveable between said component feed unit and said nozzle replacement unit;
• and
• a control unit for determining whether or not a component is present on one of said plurality of trays, said control unit being operably connected to said component feed unit, said pickup head, and said nozzle replacement unit.