Parts feed apparatus and parts feed method

A parts feed apparatus comprising:

• an agitating chamber for agitating parts by air;
• a parts feed route connected to the agitating chamber for receiving agitated parts in a specific direction, arranging them in neat order, and sending them up to a specific parts feed position by air;
• and
• an air supply means for supplying air to the agitating chamber and parts feed route;
• wherein
• a magnet is provided in a bottom of the parts feed position opened upward at the leading end of the parts feed route.

A parts feed apparatus comprising:

• a parts feed cassette for sending out parts to a parts feed route while agitating them by air, and sending them up to a parts feed position of the parts feed route while arranging them in neat order to feed them up to a mounting machine;
• a moving table for picking up the parts feed cassette at a waiting position and moving between the waiting position and a working position where a mounting machine works;
• a drive mechanism for moving the moving table between the waiting position and working position;
• an air supply means for supplying air to the parts feed cassette on the moving table at the working position;
• a preliminary air supply means for supplying air to the parts feed cassette on the moving table at an intermediate position between the waiting position and working position;
• and
• a control means for operating the air supply means and preliminary air supply means appropriately.

A parts feed apparatus comprising:

• an agitating chamber for agitating parts by air;
• a parts feed route connected to the agitating chamber for receiving agitated parts in a specific direction, arranging them in neat order, and sending them up to a specific parts feed position by air;
• an air supply means for supplying air to the agitating chamber and parts feed route;
• and
• a control means for controlling the air supply means so that, when the parts are being fed from a parts feed cassette to a mounting machine, air is preliminarily supplied to the parts feed cassette to send the parts aligned in neat order up to the parts feed position in the parts feed route before the parts are taken out, and air is again supplied after a part sent up to the parts feed position is taken out.