Apparatus and method for mounting electronic parts

A loading apparatus for electronic parts comprising:

• a loading member holding unit for holding a plurality of loading members for electronic parts, each of said plurality of loading members having a loading through-hole extending in the up-and-down direction for loading a plurality of electronic parts to be mounted on a printed circuit board and each having a detachment preventative unit for prohibiting incidental descent of the electronic parts from the loading through-hole, said plurality of electronic parts being loaded in a stacked state in groups of the same kind, said loading member holding unit also for holding an electronic part storage unit in which are stored a plurality of electronic parts of specified types to be loaded on said loading members for electronic parts in a pre-set configuration, so that a pre-set relative position will be maintained therebetween;
• an electronic part loading unit for loading the plurality of electronic parts taken out from the electronic part storage unit in said loading members for electronic parts by inserting the electronic parts into said loading through-holes;
• and
• an electronic part supporting unit for supporting at least one electronic part previously inserted by the electronic part loading unit into the loading through-hole of the loading member for electronic parts and positioned at a loading position in the vicinity of an inlet end of the loading through-hole.