Tape feeder, electronic component mounting apparatus using the same, and method of feeding electronic components

An electronic component mounting apparatus comprising:

• a transfer head for transferring an electronic component from a pick-up location on a tape to a substrate, and for placing the electronic component on the substrate;
• a head drive unit including a control unit for controlling movement of said transfer head;
• a first data storage unit for storing data necessary to perform a mounting operation of the electronic component on the substrate;
• and
• a tape feeder for feeding the electronic component on the tape to the pick-up location, said tape feeder including:
• a sprocket for engaging feedholes arranged at regular pitches along the tape, for advancing the tape intermittently;
• a drive mechanism having a motor for rotating said sprocket;
• a second data storage unit for storing motor control parameters to control said motor based on a type of tape to be advanced by said sprocket;
• a motor controller for controlling said motor based on said motor control parameters;
• and
• a communication unit for receiving said motor control parameters from said control unit, and for writing said motor control parameters into said second data storage unit;
• wherein said communication unit is operable to receive a control signal including data identifying a type of tape, and is operable to transmit the data identifying the type of tape to said motor controller, said motor controller being operable to control said motor according to said motor control parameters stored in said second data storage unit based on the data identifying the type of tape transmitted by said communication unit;
• and
• wherein said motor control parameters include tape data comprising tape advancing pitch data and tape advancing speed data;
• wherein said second storage unit is configured to store said tape data of a particular type of tape, and
• wherein said motor controller, said second storage unit, and said communication unit are configured and interconnected such that said motor controller controls said motor to change at least a tape advancing speed based on an identifying command identifying the particular type of tape to be advanced by said motor, the identifying command being transmitted to said motor controller by said communication unit.