Tape feeder

Abstract

A tape feeder in which centering of a component can be easily performed is provided. A component pickup opening 10 for taking out a component 5 from the tape feeder is provided with symmetrical markers 15 including patterns which are linearly symmetrical with respect to a position p 1 where a center p of the component 5 is to be positioned in a tape feeding direction (an arrow mark a), and are visually varied at a determined interval. When the component 5 is positioned in such a manner that brightness of the symmetrical markers 15 corresponding to a front end position p 2 of the component 5 may be equal to brightness corresponding to a back end position p 3, a state where the center p of the component 5 is positioned to the center p 1 of the symmetrical markers 15, that is, centering of the component 5 can be realized.

1 . A tape feeder comprising a feeding mechanism for feeding a carrier tape, a component pickup opening of which a length in a feeding direction of the carrier tape is variable, and a mark as a guidepost for positioning the component contained in the carrier tape with respect to the component pickup opening,
 wherein the mark includes patterns which are symmetrical with respect to a position where the component is to be positioned in the feeding direction of the carrier tape.   
   
   
       2 . A tape feeder as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said mark includes the patterns which are visually varied in the feeding direction of the carrier tape. 
   
   
       3 . A tape feeder as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said patterns are displayed by variation of either of features such as color, number, symbol or shape.