Equipment and method for mounting electronic components

Abstract

The cycle time for mounting electronic components supplied from a tray can be shortened. An electronic component feeder (,) for mounting electronic components has a plurality of height levels (L,, L,, and L,) and can move tables (,) horizontally at the respective levels (L,, L,, and L,). A plurality of conveyers (,) are provided for the respective tables to move them to a pickup stage (A) from a standby stage (B). Transfer head (,) includes nozzles (,) for attracting electronic components by suction, and an upward-downward moving mechanism which moves the nozzles in accordance with the height level of each tray on the pickup stage (A). Since the trays are arranged at the different height levels at the pickup stage position, the conveyers can be moved independently and the transfer heads can individually move the nozzles between the position at which each nozzle picks up electronic components and another position at which the nozzle does not interfere with the pickup operation. Movement of a necessary tray from and to the pick up stage position can be performed quickly without being hindered by an other tray and, as a result, the cycle time for mounting electronic components can be shortened.