Apparatus for forming external electrodes of electronic component, component inserting apparatus, paste coating apparatus, and component conveyer belt

An apparatus for forming external electrodes on component chips, comprising:

• an endless component conveyer belt arrangement including at least one row of component holding holes for resiliently holding the component chips, the row extending longitudinally of the belt, the holes being spaced from each other by substantially the same distance along the length of the belt;
• a belt driving mechanism for intermittently driving said component conveyer belt arrangement longitudinally;
• a component-inserting machine for inserting the component chips into the component holding holes, the component inserting machine including first pressure pins for projecting a first end portion of each component chip from one surface of said component conveyer belt arrangement;
• a component-feeding machine for moving within the component holding holes the component chips held within the component holding holes, the component-feeding machine including second pressure pins for projecting second end portions of each component chip from a second surface of said component conveyer belt arrangement;
• paste-coating machinery for coating with electrode paste the projection of each component chip held within each component holding hole;
• and
• a component-discharging machine including third pressure pins for forcing the paste-coated component chips from the component holding holes;
• each pressure pin in said component-inserting machine, said component-feeding machine, and said component-discharging machine having a tapered tip with a cross-sectional pushing area smaller than that of said component holding hole.