Electronic component conveying apparatus and method of controlling the same

An electronic component measuring apparatus comprising:

• a conveyance table having a conveyance surface being inclined upwardly at an angle ranging from about 40° to about 90°;
• a disc-shaped conveying member mounted on the conveyance table and having a plurality of through holes;
• a guide member arranged to guide a plurality of electronic components that are randomly arranged to the plurality of through holes;
• a driving mechanism arranged to move the conveying member;
• a suction mechanism arranged to apply a negative pressure to the plurality of through holes;
• a measuring portion provided adjacent to the conveying member;
• a discharging mechanism provided adjacent to the conveying member;
• and
• a compressed air blowing mechanism having an exhaust nozzle provided adjacent to an outlet of the guide member and arranged to blow compressed air to an upper surface of the conveying member;
• wherein
• the plurality of electronic components are fed to the conveying member and disposed in the plurality of through holes in the conveying member by the negative pressure applied by the suction mechanism;
• the plurality of electronic components are conveyed by the conveying member while the plurality of electronic components are disposed in the plurality of through holes;
• electrical characteristics of the plurality of the electronic components are measured by the measuring portion during the conveyance of the plurality of electronic components that are disposed in the plurality of through holes;
• each of the plurality of through holes has an opening in the upper surface of the conveying member;
• the guide member is arranged along the movement path of the plurality of through holes;
• the compressed air blowing mechanism is arranged to blow compressed air in a direction such that the compressed air flows along the upper surface of the conveying member and generates a suction effect resulting in the electronic components disposed in the plurality of through holes being pulled out from the plurality of through holes;
• and
• when the conveying member is to be stopped in such a state that the plurality of electronic components that are waiting in a random position are located on the guide member, an operation of the suction mechanism is stopped, the compressed air is blown from the exhaust nozzle of the compressed air blowing mechanism so as to prevent the plurality of electronic components from entering the plurality of through holes, the plurality of electronic components remaining in the plurality of through holes located downstream of a location of the exhaust nozzle in a conveying direction are conveyed to the measuring portion and then to the discharging mechanism so as to be discharged, and then the conveying member is stopped.