FR2691441A1 - Electronic component packaging means and mechanism and method of supplying electronic components using the electronic component packaging means. - Google Patents

Abstract

Electronic component packaging box (1) comprising: a body (3) comprising a spiral duct (5), a straight duct (7) extending the spiral duct (5), and an outlet port (9) extending the rectilinear duct (7); electronic components housed in a row in the spiral conduit (5); and air inlets (17) to facilitate the advance of electronic components towards the outlet port (9); the housing being supportable on a base (202) of a component supply mechanism, the body (3) standing on the base (202); the outlet port (9) facing upward when the housing is supported on the base (202), and the mounting head (H) being held above the port. Further, a mechanism and method of feeding using the housing is provided.

Description

MEANS FOR PACKAGING ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS

  AND MECHANISM AND METHOD FOR SUPPLYING COMPONENTS

  ELECTRONICS USING THE PACKING MEDIUM

OF ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS

  The present invention relates to a surface-mounted type of electronic component packaging means and a mechanism and method for delivering

  electronic components using the packaging means.

  More specifically, the present invention relates to packaging means for packaging electronic components for storage and transport as well as for delivering electronic components to a mounting head of an automatic electronic component mounting apparatus. when the mounting head mounts electronic components on printed circuit boards, and a mechanism and method for delivering electronic components to the mounting head using the

packing medium.

  Heretofore, an automatic electronic component feeding mechanism having a bulk type storage cassette has been widely used as a means of delivering surface-mounted type electronic components to a mounting head of a switchgear. mounting of electronic components, since a large number of electronic components of the surface-mounted type can be stored loose in a bulk type storage cassette and the electronic components housed in the bulk type storage cassette , can be

  delivered, one by one, to the assembly head.

  This kind of bulk type storage cassette is described in the Japanese patent application which was opened for public examination under the publication number.

Provisional 2 801 129/1987.

  The storage cassette includes a body having a storage chamber formed therein for storing, in bulk, a plurality of electronic components, an electronic component conduit formed at the base of the storage chamber, and an orifice of outlet formed at one end end of the duct In order to allow the electronic components housed in the storage chamber to move downwardly by gravity, the interior of the storage chamber is shaped, substantially, into a form of mortar or As a variant, the body of the storage cassette is arranged obliquely in such a way that the storage chamber is inclined. The electronic components housed inside the storage chamber are designed to move downwards by gravity and circulate in the driven to be evacuated, one by one,

out of the body through the orifice.

  In the conventional electronic component feeding mechanism comprising the storage cassette, the storage cassette is designed with its outlet port located in a lower and lateral position, so that when a mounting head is moved to the low in relation to the outlet to directly receive an electronic component discharged from the orifice, the storage cassette will interfere with the downward movement of the mounting head In addition, it is possible that the mounting head is missing the reception of an electronic component evacuated from the orifice In order to avoid such a disturbance, a suction head or reception base is used which is designed to directly receive an electronic component discharged from the orifice. or suction receiving base is arranged near the outlet orifice The suction receiving head or base receiving the electronic component

  is designed to deviate laterally from the orifice.

  When the sucking head or receiving base is laterally spaced and reaches a predetermined position where the vertical displacement of the mounting head does not interfere with the storage cassette, the mounting head is moved downward relative to the electronic component held by the head, or receiving base, sucking and grasps the electronic component of the head, or suction receiving base to mount the

  electronic component on a printed circuit board.

  In the conventional feeding mechanism, the outlet of the storage cassette is located in a lower and lateral position as described above. Therefore, if an XY table, which carries a printed circuit board, is arranged on the side of the storage cassette which is opposite to the side of the storage cassette where the sucking head or receiving base is disposed, it will be necessary for the mounting head to move in several directions. vertical displacement, the mounting head, after having seized an electronic component, coming from the head, or receiving base, with suction, must move around the storage cassette, or it must pass over the storage cassette so to mount the electronic component on the printed circuit board, carried by the XY table This is undesirable for the high speed mounting of electronic components In order to eliminate a n such a drawback, the XY table on which a printed circuit board must necessarily be arranged on the one side of the storage cassette, o is placed the head, or reception base, sucking Thus, the position of establishment of the XY table is limited In addition, the conventional feeding mechanism comprises the suction head or reception base as an indispensable element thereof, so that the feed mechanism is

  complex structure and high manufacturing cost.

  An exemplary packaging means, which is designed to package electronic components for storage and transportation and which is also adapted for use as a power source for electronic components, is described in the Japanese utility model application (at name of TDK Corporation) which has been opened for public review under Provisional Publication No. 111

682/1990 of 6 September 1990.

  The packaging means described in the above utility model application comprises a substantially disk-shaped body. The body comprises a substantially disk-shaped base portion and a substantially disk-shaped lid portion. The shaped base portion. disc has a spiral groove formed in one of its faces, an outlet formed at a side portion thereof as an extension of an outermost portion of the spiral groove, and a plurality of air inlets, the air inlets being formed in line with respective circular portions of the spiral groove for communicating the spiral groove and the exterior of the disc-shaped base portion. of electronic components are housed as a row in the spiral groove of the disk-shaped base portion The disk-shaped cover portion is mounted on a spiral-shaped grooved face of the

basic part.

  When the electronic component packaging means is used as a power source for electronic components, the electronic component packaging means is adapted to be supported on the basis of an electronic component supply mechanism so as to stand in the base, the outlet being located at a lower and a lateral position In addition, when the packing means is supported on the base, the air inlets of the packing means are designed to be connected via connection means to an air supply source which is provided to deliver intermittently air intermittently delivered air from the air supply source; flows into the spiral groove through the air inlets, whereby the electronic components housed in the spiral groove are moved toward the opening along the rim. spiral and then discharged, one by one, through the outlet port An electronic component discharged through the exit port of the packing means is received by a receiving means which is disposed near the exit port of the means for packaging and adapted to be moved laterally The receiving means which receives an electronic component discharged from the outlet orifice is spaced laterally from the orifice to a position situated below a waiting position of A mounting head of an electronic component mounting apparatus. Next, the mounting head is moved downwardly relative to the receiving means to hold, by suction, the electronic component received by the receiving means. The mounting head. holding the electronic component is moved up and then moved to a printed circuit board to mount the electronic component on the printed circuit board The packaging means is said to be storage and transportation because it is compact and has a spiral groove allowing a large number of electronic components

are housed.

  As described above, the packaging means is designed such that the outlet, formed on the side of the package means body, is located in a lower and lateral position when the packaging means is therefore, if an XY table, which carries a printed circuit board, is disposed on the side of the packaging means, which is opposed to the side of the packaging means the receiving means is arranged, it will be necessary for the mounting head to move in several directions, exactly as the mounting head of the conventional electronic component supply mechanism described above must do in order to eliminate such a disadvantage , the XY table must necessarily be arranged only on the side of the packaging means o the receiving means is placed Thus, the position of implementation of the XY table is limited Therefore, the e electronic component feeding mechanism which is designed to deliver electronic components using the packaging means comprises the receiving means as an indispensable element thereof, so that the feeding mechanism is of complex structure and a high manufacturing cost. As described above, when the packaging means is used as a power source for electronic components it is intended to be supported on the basis of an electronic component feeding mechanism, the body standing on the base The electronic components contained in the body of the packaging means are moved towards the outlet orifice, along the spiral groove, by air delivered intermittently in the spiral groove by the air intakes La intermittent delivery of air into the body through the air inlets is provided to be performed whenever an electronic component is discharged from the body through the outlet port When air is delivered into the spiral groove by the air inlets, the electronic components housed in the spiral groove are moved to the outlet port along the spiral groove while abutting each other In addition, when the power supply In the air groove in the spiral groove by the air inlets is stopped, the electronic components, which have been moved to the upper regions of the respective circular parts of the spiral groove of the packing means, which is standing on the base of the electronic component feeding mechanism, are moved, by gravity, to the lower regions of the respective circular parts of the spiral groove, while abutting against each other Such collisions of the electronic components with each other occur will produce each time that air delivery is performed and stopped. Repeated collisions of electronic components with each other may result in damage to the electronic components and / or result in the deterioration of the characteristics of the electronic components. therefore, in the conventional packaging means, it is necessary to reduce the possibilities for the electronic components contained in the packing medium to collide with each other during the movement of the components

  along the spiral groove.

  The present invention has been made in order to overcome the above problems of the art

earlier.

  It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a packaging means for packaging electronic components for storage and transport, as well as for delivering electronic components to a mounting head of an automatic mounting apparatus. electronic components, which mounting means allows the mounting head to directly take each of the electronic components to the output

packaging means.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic component packaging means that can be used as a power source for electronic components without limiting the positioning position of the support means, which is carried a circuit board. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a means for packaging electronic components which can facilitate mounting, by the mounting head, of the electronic components on printed circuit boards without causing the head mounting must be moved in many directions. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an electronic component packaging means which can facilitate the reduction of the number of collisions of the electronic components with each other during the movements of the electronic components along an electronic component. spiral conduit of the packaging means. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for delivering electronic components to the mounting head using the component packaging means.

  presented above.

  According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a means for packaging electronic components for packaging electronic components for storage and transport as well as for delivering electronic components to a mounting head of an automatic electronic component mounting apparatus, the packaging means comprising: a substantially plate-like housing body having a substantially spiral duct formed therein, a rectilinear conduit formed therein as an extension of the outermost circular portion of the spiral duct; and an outlet port formed therein as an extension of the rectilinear conduit for communicating with the exterior of said body; a plurality of electronic components housed in a row in the spiral conduit of the housing body; and means for facilitating advancement of the electronic components along the spiral duct to the outlet port; the means for facilitating the advancement of the electronic components comprising a plurality of main air inlets, the air inlets being formed in the casing body so as to communicate respective circular portions of the spiral duct and the outside the housing body and being adapted to be connected to an air supply source when the packaging means is used as a power source for electronic components; the packaging means being adapted to be supported on a basis of an electronic component feeding mechanism, the plate-like housing body standing on the base when the packaging means is used as a power source in electronic components; the outlet orifice and the rectilinear conduit being formed in line with a portion of the plate-like housing body which is located in an upper position when the packing means is supported on the base, the outlet orifice being rotated upward, the mounting head being designed to be

  waiting above the outlet.

  According to another aspect, the present invention also provides a mechanism for supplying electronic components for delivering electronic components to a mounting head of an automatic electronic component mounting apparatus by using electronic component packaging means, the means for electronic component packaging apparatus comprising: a substantially plate-like housing body having a substantially spiral duct formed therein, a rectilinear conduit formed therein as an extension of the outermost circular portion of the conduit; spiral, and an outlet port formed therein as an extension of the rectilinear conduit to communicate with the outside of the body; a plurality of electronic components housed in a row in the spiral conduit of the housing body; and means for facilitating advancement of the electronic components along the spiral duct to the outlet port; the means for facilitating the advancement of the electronic components comprising a plurality of main air inlets, the air inlets being formed in the casing body so as to communicate respective circular portions of the spiral duct and the outside the case body; the electronic component feeding mechanism comprising: a base for supporting the electronic component packaging means so as to cause the plate-like body to stand upright on it; and air supply means for supplying air into the spiral duct through the air inlets to cause the electronic components to move along the spiral duct to the outlet port; the outlet orifice and the rectilinear conduit being formed in line with a portion of the plate-like housing body which is located in an upper position when the packing means is supported on the base, the outlet orifice being rotated upward, the mounting head being designed to be on standby above

the outlet port.

  According to yet another aspect, the present invention finally proposes a method for supplying electronic components to a mounting head, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: preparing a means for packaging electronic components, the means of package of electronic components comprising: a substantially plate-like housing body having a substantially spiral duct formed in its inner portion, a rectilinear conduit formed therein as an extension of the outermost circular portion of the spiral duct; and an outlet port formed therein as an extension of the rectilinear conduit for communicating with the outside of the body; a plurality of electronic components housed in a row in the spiral conduit of the housing body; and means for facilitating advancement of the electronic components along the spiral duct to the outlet port; the means for facilitating the advancement of the electronic components comprising a plurality of main air inlets, the air inlets being formed in the casing body so as to communicate respective circular portions of the spiral duct and the outside the case body; the packaging means being adapted to be supported on a basis of an electronic component feeding mechanism, the plate-like housing body standing on the base; the outlet orifice and the rectilinear conduit being formed in line with a portion of the body of the plate-like housing which is located in an upper position when the packing means is supported on the base, the outlet opening being turned upward, the mounting head being designed to be on standby above the outlet port; delivering air into the spiral duct via the main air inlets to advance the electronic components to the straight duct along the spiral duct; detection of the electronic components arriving at the rectilinear duct by delivering air into the spiral duct through the main air intakes; delivery of air in the straight duct through the auxiliary air inlet to advance the electronic components, arriving at the right of the straight duct through the delivery of air into the spiral duct through the air inlets to the outlet port; seizing electronic components, arriving at the right of the orifice of

  exit, one by one, through the mounting head.

  The characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will emerge from the following description at

  by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the figures, and in which: Figure 1 is a schematic front view of the preferred embodiment of the packaging means electronic components according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic elevational view of the electronic component packaging means; Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of the electronic component packaging means; Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary schematic view, in section, of a housing body; Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary schematic perspective view of a mold, or die, for forming a base plate of the housing body; Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary schematic view, in section, of the base plate and the mold, or die; Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary schematic view, in section, of a first variant of the base plate shown in Figure 5; FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary schematic view, in section, of a second variant of the base plate shown in FIG. 5; FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary schematic view, in section, of assistance in explaining how to make the base plate shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary schematic view, in section, of a third variant of the base plate shown in Figure 5; Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary schematic view, in section, of a fourth variant of the base plate shown in Figure 5; Figs. 12 and 13 are enlarged fragmentary schematic sectional views for assisting with explanation of how the base plate shown in Fig. 11 is formed; Figure 14 is an enlarged schematic view, in perspective, of a metal cap; Figure 15 is an enlarged schematic view, in perspective, of a first variant of the metal cap shown in Figure 14; Figure 16 is an enlarged schematic view, in perspective, of a second variant of the metal cap; Figure 17 is an enlarged schematic fragmentary perspective view of the housing body to which the metal cap of Figure 14 is attached; Figure 18 is an enlarged schematic view, in section, of the packaging means comprising a sealing means; Figure 19 is a schematic front view of a mechanism for supplying electronic components; Figs. 20A and 20B are enlarged fragmentary schematic sectional views of the packaging means having the closure means of Fig. 18, wherein the packaging means is supported by a support frame; Fig. 21 is an enlarged schematic sectional view of a first alternative of the closure means shown in Figs. 18, 20A and 20B; Figure 22 is an enlarged schematic view, in section, of a second variant of the closure means; Fig. 23A and 23B are schematic views of a pair of pawls and packaging means having latching recesses; Figure 24 is a diagrammatic, side elevational view of a positioning means for positioning the packaging means; Figure 25 is an enlarged schematic view in section of a connector; and, Fig. 26 is a schematic plan view of a detection means for detecting components

  contained in the case body.

  The electronic component packaging means according to the present invention is used to package chip-type electronic components for storage and transport, and it is also used as a power source for delivering the electronic components to a mounting head. an automatic device for mounting

electronic components.

  Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown the means for packaging electronic components 1 The electronic component packaging means 1 comprises a plate-type housing body 3 The housing body 3 has a substantially spirally formed conduit 5 formed therein, a rectilinear conduit 7 formed therein as an extension of a circular portion 5 to the outermost of the spiral conduit, and an electronic component outlet 9 formed internally for communicating an end of the straight duct 7 and the outside of the casing body 3 A plurality of electronic components (not shown) are housed in a row in the spiral duct 5 More precisely in the embodiment shown, the plate-like casing body 3 comprises a base plate 11 and a cover plate 13, as shown in FIG. 3 Each of the spiral duct 5 and the duct rectilinear 7 is formed in one of the faces of the base plate 11 and takes the form of a groove having a substantially U-shaped conformation in vertical section which is suitable for receiving the electronic components The cover plate 13 is mounted on the As will be described in more detail hereinafter, the electronic component packaging means 1, when used as a power source for electronic components, is intended to be supported on a first-to-last basis. a mechanism for supplying electronic components, the case body 3 standing on the base of the electronic component supply mechanism, and the body outlet port 9

  of housing 3 being located in a higher position.

  The end of the straight groove 7 is plugged by an end wall 15 The outlet orifice 9 is formed in a portion of an upper wall of the straight groove 7, which is close to the end wall 15. communicating the rectilinear groove 7 and the outside of the

  housing body 3, and it takes the form of an opening.

  The base plate 11 further comprises a plurality of main air inlets 17 formed in line with respective circular portions of the spiral groove 5 for communicating the spiral groove 5 and the outside of the housing body 3. 17 are arranged in a row along a radial direction from the innermost circular portion 5b of the spiral groove 5 to the outermost circular portion 5b of the the spiral groove 5 and they are formed within a lower half-surface of the base plate 11 of the housing body 3 standing on the base of the electronic component feeding mechanism, when the means of In addition, an auxiliary air inlet 19 may be formed in line with an initial end portion of the rectilinear conduit 7, extending from the circular portion 5 to the pl The auxiliary air inlet 19 communicates the rectilinear duct 7 and the outside of the casing body 3. Each of the air inlets 17 and 19 to the

shape of a through hole.

  The cover plate 13 has a plurality of air outlets 21 formed in parts thereof which correspond, from the point of view of position, to the respective circular parts of the spiral groove 5, when the cover plate 13 is mounted on the The air outlets 21 can communicate the spiral groove 5 and the outside of the housing body 3 when the cover plate 13 is mounted on the base plate 11. 21 are arranged in rows along a radial direction from a central portion of the cover plate 13 to a peripheral portion of the cover plate 13, in an upper half-surface of the cover plate 18 of the housing body 3 standing on the base of the electronic component supply mechanism, when the electronic component packaging means 1 is used as the electronic component supply source Each of the air outlets 21

  takes the form of a through hole.

  As shown in Fig. 2, the base plate 11 further has a raised frame portion 23 of substantially annular shape on its back side so as to surround the main air inlets 17 when the packing means 1 is used as the a source of supply of electronic components, a connector connected to an air supply source which is provided to deliver air intermittently is provided to be introduced into the frame part 23. auxiliary air 19 is provided to be connected to the air supply source When air is delivered through the air inlets 17 and 19 in the conduits 5 and 7 of the packaging means 1 from the source the electronic components housed in the spiral duct 5 are moved towards the outlet 9 along the spiral duct 5 and the rectilinear duct 7. During the displacement of the electronic components towards the straight duct 7, the air delivered into the spiral duct 5 through the air inlets 17 escapes through the air outlets 21 whereby the electronic components can be gently moved to the straight duct 7 where the most forward electronic components arrives at the outlet port 9 and is stopped against the end wall 15, a mounting head, an automatic mounting apparatus for mounting electronic components on printed circuit boards, is moved downwardly relative to the outlet orifice 9 to grasp, by suction, the foremost electronic component and is then moved upwards while still sucking the electronic component, as will be described In more detail in the following Thus, the electronic components contained in the housing body 3 are taken from the housing body 3 of the means

  1, one by one, by means of the mounting head.

  In order to effectively apply the air from the air supply source through the air inlets 17 and 19 to the electronic components contained in the housing body 3, it is desirable that each of the air inlets 17 and 19 are formed so as to rise obliquely from the rear side of the casing body 3 in the direction in which the electronic components contained in the spiral duct 5 are moved towards the outlet orifice 9 by the air delivered from the air supply source The formation of the air inlets 17 and 19 in the base plate 11 of the housing body 3 can be carried out after the end of the manufacture of the base plate 11 However, this is troublesome Therefore, it is preferred that, when the base plate 11 is produced by injection molding, or die casting, the air inlets 17 and 19 are formed simultaneously if the formation of the air inlets is performed simultaneously with the airfoil. of the base plate 11, by injection molding, or die casting, a plurality of fine tips for forming the air inlets 17 and 19 are disposed on a surface of a mold, or die, which mold , or matrix is used to form the base plate 11, so as to rise upwards from the mold surface, or matrix In addition, to form the air inlets 17 and 19, which extend obliquely in the advancing direction of the electronic components, as described above, each of the tips must be inclined at an angle corresponding to a predetermined inclination of each of the air inlets 17 and 19 Therefore, when a base plate 11 is completed , produced by injection molding, or by die casting, is separated from the mold, or die, the separation of the base plate it from the mold, or die, must be performed while making sure that the base plate 11 is moved into an oblique direction This is annoying In addition to this, it is possible that the inclined tips of the mold, or matrix, are damaged during the

  separating the base plate 11 from the mold, or matrix.

  In order to solve the problems mentioned above, it is desirable that each of the air inlets 17 and 19 has a shape facilitating the separation of a finished base plate from a mold, or die, without damaging the mold, or

  matrix, as will be described in more detail later.

  Although only the air inlets 17 will be mentioned later, the auxiliary air inlet 19 is

  formed in the same way as the air inlets 17.

  Referring now to FIG. 4, each of the air inlets 17 (only one shown in FIG. 4) takes the form of a through-hole widening from its proximal portion of the spiral duct 5 to its close to the rear side of the base plate 11 The base plate 11 comprises a recess 25, surrounded by the raised annular frame 23 The through hole 17 comprises a first surface 17a constituting a rear surface with respect to the forward direction X electronic components, and a second surface 17b constituting a front surface with respect to the forward direction X of the electronic components The first surface 17a constitutes a slope rising obliquely from the rear side of the base plate 11 in the direction of The slope 17a is inclined at an angle of about 300 with respect to a horizontal plane of the base plate 11. The surface 17b may be at right angles to in the horizontal plane of the base plate 11, or it may constitute a steep rising slope in Figure 4, the surface 17b is at right angles to the horizontal plane of the base plate 11 An opening 17 c of the air inlet 17 which communicates with the spiral duct has a smaller dimension than that of each of the electronic components contained in the spiral duct 5 In addition, the opening 17 d of the air inlet 17 which is close of the recessed portion 25 of the base plate it is relatively large Thus, the air inlet 17 becomes narrower as the air inlet 17 extends from the rear side of the base plate 11 to the

  spiral duct 5, as shown in FIG. 4.

  The forming of the base plate 1 h is carried out using a pair of molds, or dies, which are designed to fit together, thereby forming the base plate 11 in FIG. One of the molds, or dies, is shown. The mold, or die, 100 comprises a body 102 and a plurality of protruding pieces 104 for

form the air inlets.

  The projecting pieces 104 protrude upwardly from the body surface 102 and are spaced at predetermined intervals. Each of the projecting pieces 104 is of substantially trapezoidal shape corresponding to the shape of the air inlet 17. described above, the base plate 11 carries, formed on its rear side so as to surround the air inlets 17, a frame portion substantially of annular shape 23 (see FIGS.

4).

  In order to form the annular-shaped frame portion 23, an annular-shaped groove 106 is provided in the face portion of the mold body 102, or die, 100 so as to surround the protruding pieces 104. When a plurality of entrances 17 have to be arranged in a row as shown in FIG. 1, the protruding parts 104 are arranged in a row on the surface of the mold, or matrix, in addition to recesses (not shown) to form ribs. reinforcement on the base plate it can be provided in the body 102 of the mold, or matrix, To form the spiral groove 5 and the straight groove 7 in the base plate 11, the mold, or matrix, corresponding, not shown, has a substantially spiral projection and a straight projection extending as an extension of the spiral projection The base plate 11 is shaped into a predetermined shape using the molds, or dies, made as described above. each of the projecting pieces 104 of the mold, or die, 100 has a greater width than the top of each of the projecting pieces 104, so that the removal of the finished base plate, mold, or die, 100 can be done easily by simply making sure that the finished base plate is spaced in a straight line from the mold, or matrix, 100, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 6 In addition to this, it is not possible that the protruding parts 104 of the mold, or die, 100 are damaged during the removal of the

  base plate 11 finished mold, or matrix, 100.

  Referring to Figure 7, there is shown a variant of the base plate 11 shown in Figure 4 This variant is substantially similar to the base plate 11 shown in Figure 4 except that the surface 17b of the through hole 17 has an air guide fin 17b 'formed thereon so as to extend obliquely from the opening 17c to the slope 17a. For this reason, each of the protruding parts 104 of the mold, die, 100 is provided at its vertical surface side with a cutout (not shown) for the formation of the air guide fin 17; in FIG. 7, the elements which are similar to those shown in FIG. are appointed by

  identical reference numbers and their description

will not be repeated.

  Referring to FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, there is shown another variant of the base plate shown in FIG. 4. This variant is substantially similar to the base plate 11 shown in FIG. type

  plate 27 is permanently mounted in the through hole 17.

  In Figures 8 to 10, the elements which are similar to those shown in Figure 4, are designated by numbers of

  identical reference and their description will not be

  The plate-like part 27 is designed to be inserted into the through-hole 17 from the recess portion 25, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 9. The plate-like part 27 has a substantially rectangular section 29 and a section substantially A slope 3a of the triangular section 31 corresponds angularly to the slope 17a of the through-hole 17 When the plate-like part 27 is introduced into the through-hole 17 for assembly, a surface upper portion 27a of rectangular section 29 cooperates with an upper surface 25a of the recess portion 25 and a vertical surface of triangular section 31 fits the surface 17b of the through hole 17 Whereby the plate member 27 is positioned relative to the base plate 11 Thus, an air inlet 17 'of a substantially straight slot shape is formed between the slope 17a and the through hole 17 and a The introduction of the plate-like part 27 into the through hole 17 is carried out after the base plate has been formed by the molds, or dies Each of the slope 17a of the through-hole 17 and the slope 3a of the plate-like part 27 can be curved as shown in FIG. 10 In this case, an air inlet 17 'of a substantially curved slot shape is formed between the slope 17a of the through hole

  17 and the slope 3a of the plate-like part 27.

  FIG. 11 shows a further variant of the base plate shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 11, the elements which are similar to those shown in FIG. 4 are designated by identical reference numerals and

  their description will not be repeated In this variant,

  the surface 17b of the through-hole 17 constitutes a slope extending obliquely in parallel with the opposite slope 17a of the through-hole 17 Furthermore, the upper end of the slope 17a and the lower end of the slope 17b are aligned with each other on a vertical line Y with respect to the horizontal plane of the casing body 3 The formation of the base plate 11 is performed using first and second molds, or dies, 100 and 120 shown in Figs. 12 and the first mold, or die, comprises a body 102 and a plurality of substantially right-angled triangular shaped pieces 104 (only one of which is shown in Figures 12 and 13) raised upwardly from the face of the body 102 The second mold, or die, 120 includes a body 122, a substantially spiral projection 124 to form the spiral groove 5, a straight projection (not shown) to form the straight groove 7 The substantially spiral projection 124 is fo In addition, the rectilinear projection not shown is formed on the face of the body 122 so as to extend as an extension of the spiral projection 124. The body 122 further has a plurality of substantially shaped pieces. triangular right angle 126 (only one of which is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13) protruding downward from the surfaces of the regions of the respective circular portions of the spiral projection 124 The pieces 126 of the first mold, or die, 120, correspond to in number to the pieces, 104 of the first mold, or die, 100 Each of the pieces 104 of the first mold, or die, 100 is formed on the body 102 so as to correspond, in line with its vertical surface, with a vertical surface of the a corresponding piece 126 of the second mold, or matrix, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, when the first mold, or die, 100 and the second mold, or

  matrix, 120 are assembled to form the base plate 11.

  Removal of the finished base plate, first and second molds, or dies, 100 and 120 can be easily accomplished by only having the first and second molds, or dies, 100 and 120 spaced apart in a straight line from each other, as indicated by

the arrows in Figure 13.

  Thus, it should be noted that the air intakes of the predetermined shapes shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 to 13 facilitate the separation of a completed base plate from the molds, or dies. In addition, the air intakes of the predetermined shapes shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 to 13 may allow separation of a finished base plate from the molds, or dies, to be carried out without causing

damage to molds, or dies.

  When the electronic components contained in the housing body 3 are moved towards the outlet orifice 9 along the spiral groove 5 and the straight groove 7 by air delivered from the air supply source , static electricity can be produced between the electronic components and the grooves and 7, which results that the electronic components can be prevented from sliding gently on the bottom surface of the grooves 5 and 7 To avoid such trouble, the The housing body 3 may be made of a material which can prevent the production of static electricity between the electronic components and the grooves 5 and 7. As an example of antistatic material, it is possible to use a material which consists essentially of a mixture of synthetic resin, for example, a polyacetal resin available under the name "DURACON" (supplied by Du Pont Company) with an antistatic powder such as a powders e of

  carbon, or other antistatic metal powders.

  Preferably, about 10 to 30 percent, by weight, and more preferably about 15 percent by weight of antistatic powder is present in the material. When the housing body 3 comprises the base plate 11 and the cover plate 13, only the base plate can be made of the material which can prevent the production of static electricity between the electronic components and the conduits. Preferably, the cover plate 13 is made of a transparent resin-based material, to enable by this means to see the inside of the packaging means 1 In the embodiment shown, the cover plate 18 is made of a transparent resin material If the housing body 3 comprises the base plate 11 and the plate 13 which are made of resin-based material, the housing body 3 is assembled in such a way that the cover plate 13 is removably mounted on the base plate 11. housing body 3 can be assembled by high frequency connection of a peripheral portion of the cover plate 13 to a peripheral portion of the base plate 11 In place of the material described above, the housing body 3 can be made of a metal which can prevent the production of static electricity between the electronic components and the conduits 5 and 7, selected from the group consisting of aluminum, iron and copper When the case body 3 is made of aluminum, the entire casing body 3, including the ducts 5 and 7, can easily be formed to a predetermined shape by pressure molding. Even when metal is used, only the base plate 11, having the grooves 5 and 7 formed therein, can be made of such a metal that can prevent the production of static electricity, or the base plate it and the cover plate 13 can both be

made of such a metal.

  When the electronic components contained in the housing body 3 are to be removed from the housing body 3, one by one, by the mounting head, the mounting head waiting in a position above the orifice 9 of the housing body 3 is moved downwards with respect to the outlet orifice 9 of the housing body 3 to be introduced, in line with its suction nozzle, into the outlet orifice 9 of the housing body 3. Then, the suction nozzle of the mounting head comes into contact with an electronic component, which has been brought to the end of the rectilinear conduit 7 along the spiral duct 5 by the air delivered from the air supply source, to maintain the electronic component by suction and grasping the electronic component in the housing body 3 by upward movement of the mounting head The suction nozzle of the mounting head is adapted to enter and exit the orifice 9 of the housing body 3 When the nozzle When the mounting head is sucked in and out of the orifice 9 of the casing body 3, the suction nozzle of the mounting head can accidentally touch the walls surrounding the outlet orifice 9 of the casing body 3. the walls surrounding the outlet port 9 of the housing body 3 can be damaged. In addition, the outlet orifice portion 9 of the housing body 3 is exposed to the outside air so that the outlet orifice portion 9 of the housing body 3 can be damaged by any external force that would be accidentally applied to the outlet port portion 9 of the housing body 3. Therefore, it is necessary that the outlet port portion 9 of the housing body 3 it is designed to withstand any external force In addition, in order for the suction nozzle of the mounting head to securely grip an electronic component in the outlet port 9 of the housing body 3, it is necessary that the the outlet orifice 9 of the body of

  housing 3 is shaped with high precision.

  To meet such a need, the casing body 3 as a whole must be made of metal. However, if complex conformations of the different parts of the casing body 3 are made by a metallurgical process, the manufacturing costs of the casing body 3 will increase. When the casing body 3 is made by plastic molding, the casing body 3 can be made at low cost. Therefore, it is desirable that the entire casing body 3 is made by plastic molding. However, the plastic is

  fragile and is likely to be damaged.

  In view of the foregoing, the case body 3 is itself made of plastic while the outlet port portion of the case body 3 may be made of metal. More specifically, the outlet port portion 9 can take the form of a metal cap

  as will be described in more detail later.

  Referring to Fig. 14, there is shown a metal cap 33 which comprises a substantially U-shaped body. From the point of view of its shaping and rigidity, the cap 33 should be made, for example, of Aluminum, stainless steel, or the like The body of the cap 33 comprises a pair of spaced sections 33a and 33b, and an intermediate section 33c connecting the spaced sections 33a and 33b. The cap 33 is made of metal. so that the overall dimension of the cap 33 can be made accurately In addition to this, each of the inner faces of the U-shaped cap 33 can be

finished so as to be flat.

  FIG. 15 shows a variation of the metal cap 33 shown in FIG. 14. This variant is substantially similar to the metal cap 33 shown in FIG. 14, except that the base section 33d is formed in one piece on the lower side of the U-shaped body FIG. 16 shows another variant of the metal cap 33 shown in FIG. 14. This variant is substantially similar to the metal cap 33 of FIG. 14, except that the U-shaped body has a pair of arms. engagement 33 a 'and 33 b' extending in a straight line from the free ends of the sections

spaced 33 a and 33 b.

  Fig. 17 shows the metal cap 33 of Fig. 14 which is attached to the casing body 3 When the metal cap 33 is used, an end portion of the straight duct 7 of the casing body 3 is cut out. The height and width of the metal cap 33 corresponds respectively to the height and the width of a cutout 35 of the casing body 3 The metal cap 33 is fixedly fixed in the cutout 35 of the casing body 33, the internal space thereof being

  aligned with the straight duct 7 of the casing body 3.

  The metal cap 33 of Fig. 15 is permanently mounted in the cutout 35 of the housing body 3 in substantially the same manner as the metal cap 33 of Fig. 14. The metal cap 33 of Fig. 16 is permanently mounted in the cutout. 35 of the housing body 3 so that the engagement arms 33a 'and 33b' engage with the outer surfaces

  two side walls of the rectilinear conduit 7.

  If the metal cap 33 is used, the space enclosed by the spaced sections 33a and 33b and the intermediate section 33c of the metal cap 33 constitutes the outlet orifice 9 An electronic component that reaches the right of the metal cap 33 through to the air supply in the housing body 3 can be positioned by the metal cap 33 In addition, the cap 33 is made of metal, so that even if the suction nozzle of the mounting head accidentally touches the faces internal of the cap 33 when the suction nozzle of the mounting head enters and leaves the orifice 9, it is not possible for the sections 33a, 33b and 33c of the cap 33 which surrounds the space constituting In addition to this, the space constituting the outlet orifice 9 is surrounded by the sections 33a, 33b and 33c which are made of metal, so that the orifice of

  output 9 can be precisely shaped.

  If different kinds of electronic components are required to form an electrical circuit on the same printed circuit board, it is necessary that a plurality of packaging means 1 containing the different kinds of electronic components are prepared. In this case, it is necessary to necessary to quickly grasp the type of electronic component that is contained in the case body 3 of each of the packaging means 1 By a rapid entry of this kind, a plurality of packaging means containing the different kinds of electronic components, which are necessary to form an electrical circuit on the same printed circuit board, can be prepared quickly Moreover, when the electronic components contained in a certain packaging means have all been taken by the mounting head, which results in that the packing medium is empty, the empty packing means can be replaced quickly by a new packaging means containing the same type of electronic components If the type of electronic components contained in each of the packaging means can be seen quickly, this is also favorable with regard to the sorting of a plurality of packaging means, the management of the packaging means, and the packaging of the packaging means for sending to the destinations of the

packing medium.

  To satisfy the need described above, an identification mark 37 for facilitating the management of a plurality of packaging means may be applied to the package body 3 of the packaging means 1, as shown in FIG. which identification mark 37 contains data concerning the type of the electronic components contained in the case body 3, the part number, the date of manufacture, and the like. The identification mark 37 may be formed by direct printing of the data on the case body 3, or by gluing, to the case body 3, any suitable label, carrying the printed data. The printing may be a magnetic printing. Alternatively, the mark 37 may be formed by printing a barcode on housing body 3 or by sticking a bar code label to the housing body 3 The printing can also be a magnetic print The mark 37 is read by any reader suitable as a code reader, a

magnetic reader, or the like.

  Referring again to FIG. 1, a sealing means 39 for opening and closing the outlet port 9 of the housing body 3 may be provided in line with a housing body portion 3 which is close to the housing body. The closure means 39 is best shown in FIG. 18. The closure means 39 comprises an elongate body 41 in the form of a leaf spring. The body 41 of the closure means 39 has a first piece. 41 formed integrally with it so as to protrude downwardly from an end portion of the shutter body 41 A second member 41b formed integrally therewith so as to project downwardly from the other end portion of the shutter body 41, and a projection 41c formed integrally with it so as to protrude upwardly from substantially a middle portion of the shutter body 41 first piece 41a is longer than the second piece 41b The shutter body 41 da ns together, comprising the first piece 41a, the second piece 41b and the projection 41c, is made of a material

  elastic like plastic or stainless steel.

  If this sealing means 39 is used, an elongated recess 43 is formed in the housing body 3 so as to extend along and be disposed on the top wall of a predetermined portion of the straight duct 7. a through-hole 45 is formed in an upper wall of the recess 43 of the casing body 3 The shutter body 41 is housed in the recess 43 of the casing body 3, its first part 41 being introduced at the right of its housing. end tip in the outlet port 9 of the housing body 3, its projection 41 c protruding upwardly relative to the housing body 3 through the through hole 45, and the second part 41b is in contact with the upper wall of the rectilinear conduit 7 The shutter body 41 is supported at its portion located between the first part 41a and the projection 41c on the housing body 3 by means of a support pin 47 The tip of end of the first piece 41 a of the body shutter 41 is usually introduced into the outlet orifice 9 of the casing body 3, so as to ensure that the outlet orifice 9 is closed As described above,

  the shutter body 41 is made of an elastic material.

  Therefore, when the projection 41c of the shutter body 41 is pushed downward, as will be described in more detail below, a portion of the shutter body 41 between the second shutter body member 41b 41 and a part of the shutter body 41 which is supported on the housing body 3 by the axis 47, is deformed downwards, while the first part 4a of the shutter body 41 is elastically deformed upwardly. and exits the outlet orifice 9 of the packaging means

  1, which results in the outlet orifice 9 being open.

  A mechanism for supplying electronic components 200 is shown in FIG. 19. In FIG. 19, the packaging means 1 is supported on the base 202 of the electronic components supply mechanism 200 via a support frame 204. The electronic component supply mechanism 200 includes the base 202, and the support frame 204 of a substantially square shape to cause the packing means 1 to stand upright relative to the base 202, which support frame 204 is mounted on the base 202 The support frame 204 comprises an upper section 206, a lower section 208, a left lateral section 210, and

a right lateral section 212.

  The upper section 206 of the support frame 204 carries a first straight groove 206 formed therein and extending along its entire length. Similarly, the lower section 208 carries a straight groove 208 formed in its portion. higher

  and extending along its total length.

  Each of the grooves 206a and 208a has a width (measured in the direction perpendicular to the sheet of Fig. 19) slightly larger than the package body 3 of the package means 1. The upper section 206 has a smaller length than the the lower section 208 The left side section 210 extends upwardly from one end of the lower section

  208 but is not connected to the upper section 206.

  The right lateral section 212 connects the upper section 206 and the lower section 208, and is shifted in the direction perpendicular to the sheet of FIG. 19, with respect to the left lateral section 210, thereby facilitating the reception of the means Packaging 1 as will be described later The left side section 210 has a protrusion 210a protruding towards the right side section 212 As a result, a recess 49 is formed in a portion of the housing body 3 of the packaging means 1 which corresponds from the point of view of position to the projection 210a of the left side section 210 when the packing means 1 is supported by the support frame 204 The packing means 1 is designed to be delivered to the support frame 204 from the right side of Figure 19 The delivery of the packaging means 1 to the support frame 204 is performed by introducing the ends of the upper and lower portions of the housing body 3 in the r 206 and 208 have upper and lower sections 206 and 208 while placing one side of the package body 3 of the package means 1 against the right side section 212 of the support frame 204 which is offset in the direction perpendicular to the FIG. 19, as described above. Then, the packing means 1 is moved in the direction to the left of FIG. 19 along the grooves 206a and 208a with upper and lower sections 206 and

  208, and is stopped against the left side section 210.

  Simultaneously, the recess 49 of the packaging means 1 cooperates with the projection 210a of the left side section 210 Thus the packing means 1 is securely supported by the support frame 204, its upper and lower parts being respectively introduced in the groove 206a of the upper section 206 and in the groove 208a of the lower section 208, its side being held by the left side section 210, and its recess portion 49 cooperating with the projection 210a of the left side section 210 The upper section 206 of the support frame 204 is relatively shorter in length than that (measured in the transverse direction of FIG. 19) of the case body 3 of the packing means 1 and is not connected to the left side section 210 As described above Thus, when the packing means 1 is supported by the support frame 204, the outlet opening 9 of the packing means 1 is in the open air without being covered by the section

  upper 206 of the support frame 204.

  In the packing means 1 provided with the closure means 39 of Figures 1 and 18, the projection 41c of the shutter body 41 protrudes upwardly relative to the housing body 3 as described above. the packaging means 1 is delivered to the support frame 204 of the electronic component supply mechanism as described above, the projection 41c of the closure means 39 is pushed downwards by a face of

  groove of the upper section 206 of the support frame 204.

  As a result, the outlet opening 9 of the packing means 1 is opened unnecessarily. Therefore, in the case where the case body 3 of the packing means 1 contains a complete charge of electronic components, some of the electronic components contained therein in the case body 3 could be spilled accidentally out of the case body 3 through the outlet opening 9 opened unnecessarily during the movement of the packing means 1 in the direction to the left of Fig. 19. Therefore, if the means 1, comprising the closure means 39 of Figure 18 is used, it is necessary to imagine any device to solve the problem, as will be described

in more detail later.

  Referring now to FIGS. 20A, 20B, the upper section 206 of the support frame 204 has a second straight groove 206b in addition to the first straight groove 206a. The second rectilinear groove 206b is disposed on the first groove 206a. communicates with the first straight groove 206a and extends from a straight end of the upper section 206 to a predetermined portion of the upper section 206 along the first straight groove 206a. The second groove 206b of the upper section 206 has a height sufficient to receive the projection 41c of the closure means 39 which protrudes upwardly relative to the casing body 3 of the packing means 1, when the packing means 1 is delivered to the frame In addition, the second straight groove 206b of the upper section 206 has a downward slope 206c downward in the direction in which the packing means 1 is moved along the sections. upper and lower 206 and 208 of the support frame 204, from an end of an upper wall of the second straight groove 206 b When the packaging means 1 is delivered to the support frame 204 as described above, the projection 41c of the shutter means 39 which protrudes upwardly relative to the casing body 3 of the packing means 1 is received in the second groove 206b of the upper section 206 When the packing means is moved to the left side section 210 of the support frame 204 along the upper and lower sections 206 and 208 as described above, the projection 41c of the closure means 39 is also moved in the second groove 206b of the upper section 206 At this time, the projection 41c of the closure means 39 is in the second groove 206b and is not yet pressed downwards, so that the outlet orifice 9 of the casing body 3 is always

  closed by the first part 41a of the closure means 39.

  Consequently, none of the electronic components contained in the casing body 3 can spread out of the casing body 3 By additional movement of the packing means 1 relative to the support frame 204, the projection 41c of the closure means is abutted against the downward slope 206c of the upper section 206 and is then moved along the downward slope 206c of the upper section 206 while being gradually pressed downward by the downward slope C The further movement of the packing means 1 relative to the support frame 204 causes the projection 41c of the shutter means 39 to be offset from the second groove 206b of the upper section 206 in a front portion 206a 'of the first groove 206a of the upper section 206 At this moment, the projection 41c of the closure means 39 is completely pressed downwards by the upper surface of the front portion 206a 'of the first groove 206 As a result, the outlet opening 9 of the housing body 3 is opened as described above. Simultaneously, the packing means 1 is stopped against the left side section 210 of the support frame 204 as described above. when the packing means 1 is delivered to the support frame 204, the projection 41c of the closure means 39 is not first pressed downwards by the upper section 206. 1 to the support frame 204 is made while maintaining the outlet port 9 of the housing body 3 closed. When the packing means 1 is moved to the left side section 210 of the support frame 204 along the upper and lower sections 206 and 208, thereby causing the projection 41c of the closure means 39 to be shifted from the second groove 206b of the upper section 206 of the support frame 204 to the front portion 206a 'of the first groove 206a of the section upper 206, the protrusion e 41 c of the closure means 39 is completely pressed by the front portion 206 a 'of the first groove 206 a at this time, the portion of the shutter body 41 located between the second part 41 b of the shutter body 41 and the part of the shutter body 41, which is supported on the housing body 3 by the axis 47, is deformed downwards, while the first part 41a of the shutter body 41 is elastically deformed upwards. and exits from the outlet 9 of the packaging means 1, whereby the outlet 9 of the housing body 3 is opened as shown in FIG. 20 B When the electronic components contained in the body of the housing 3 of the packaging means 1 have all been gripped in the housing body 3 through the open outlet 9, by means of the suction nozzle of the mounting head, which has the result that the means of 1 is empty, the empty packing means is removed from the support frame 204 to replace it The removal of the empty packing means from the support frame 204 is effected by pulling the empty packing means out of the support frame 204 so that the empty packing means is moved into the Figure 19 along the upper and lower sections 206 and 208 of the support frame 204. During removal of the empty packing means from the support frame 204, the projection 41c of the closure means 39 is released from the support frame 204. the upper surface of the front portion 206a 'of the first groove 206a of the upper section 206 and protrudes elastically

  in the second groove 206b of the upper section 206.

  At this time the shutter body 41 is returned to its initial state because the shutter body 41 is made of an elastic material as described above. Therefore, the outlet port 9 of the housing body 3 is again

  closed by the first piece 41a of the shutter body 41.

  FIG. 21 shows a variant of the closure means 39 shown in FIGS. 18, 20A and 20B. This variant 39 comprises a protection plate 50 on which a lug 52 is placed. The protection plate 50 has a width (measured in FIG. perpendicularly to the sheet of Fig. 21> slightly larger than straight conduit 7 of housing body 3 if variant 39 is used, a straight hole 54 is formed in housing body 3 so as to extend along , and to be disposed on, a predetermined portion of the rectilinear conduit 7 The straight hole 35 communicates with the portion of the rectilinear conduit 7 and has a width (measured in the direction perpendicular to the sheet of Figure 21) slightly larger than the conduit rectilinear 7 In addition, a vertical through hole 56 is formed in the housing body 3 so as to communicate with the straight hole 54 and is located on the straight hole 54 The plate of pro 50 is slidably inserted into the straight hole 54, the lug 52 being received in the through-hole 56. The exit port 9 of the housing body 3 is designed to be protected by the guard plate 50 after components The electronic components contained in the casing body 3 are not spread out of the casing body 3 during the storage and transport of the packaging means. In FIG. 21, the electronic components contained in the casing body 3 are not spilled out of the casing body 3. outlet port 9 of housing body 3 is protected by protection plate 50 When the electronic components contained in housing body 3 are to be taken from housing body 3 by means of the suction nozzle of the mounting head, the outlet opening 9 of the housing body 3 is opened by sliding the protection plate 50 along the straight hole 54 in the direction to the left of FIG. 21

  while pushing the pin 52 in the same direction.

  Fig. 22 shows another variation of the closure means 39 shown in Figs. 18, 20A, and 20B. This variant 39 comprises an elongate body 60 housed in a recessed portion 62 formed in an upper portion of the

  housing body 3 which is close to the outlet port 9.

  The elongate body 60 is pivotally connected to the right of its substantially central portion of the housing body 3 by a support shaft 66. In addition, the elongate body 60 of the closure means 59 has a stop piece 60 disposed in the right of one of its end parts and a recess 60b formed in a part near its other end part The Goa stop piece hangs down at

  from one of the end portions of the elongated body 60.

  A compression spring 68 is disposed between the recess b of the elongated body 60 and a recess 66 formed in the bottom of the recessed portion 62 of the housing body 3. Due to the action of the compression spring 68, the elongated body 60 of the sealing means 63 is always pushed in such a way that its stop piece 60a protrudes into the outlet orifice 9 of the casing body 3, thereby causing the closing of the outlet orifice 9 When the means 1 with the closure means 39 of FIG. 22 is used, the closure means 39 is designed to be actuated by an operating means 70, for example a solenoid. The solenoid 70 is supported on the basis of the mechanism supplying electronic components so as to be located above the sealing means 39 when the packaging means 1 is supported on the basis of the mechanism for supplying electronic components via the support frame The solenoid 70 is adapted to be implemented synchronously with the intermittent delivery of air into the housing body 3

  packing means 1 by the air supply source.

  When the solenoid 70 is actuated, a shank of the solenoid pushes the other end portion of the elongate body 60 downwards to cause the elongated body 60 of the closure means 39 to be rotated about the support axis 64 against the action of the compression spring 68, so as to cause the stop piece 60 has the closure means 39 to exit the outlet orifice 9 Thus,

  the outlet orifice 9 of the packaging means 1 is open.

  As will be described in more detail below, the packaging means 1 can be automatically delivered to the support frame 204 and automatically removed from the frame

support 204.

  Referring now to FIGS. 23A and 23B, there is shown a pair of spaced recesses 73 and 75 which are

  formed in the case body 3 of the packing means 1.

  The spaced recesses 73 and 75 are respectively formed in the upper part of the casing body 3 and in the lower part of the casing body 3 The delivery of the casing means 1 to the support frame 204 of the electronic components supply mechanism and removing the packing means 1 from the support frame 204 are automatically performed by any suitable conventional automatic changing means. The automatic changing means comprises a pair of clamping dogs 300 and 302. being delivered to the support frame 204 or removed from the support frame 204, the clamping pawls 300 and 302 of the automatic changing means are adapted to be actuated to be respectively engaged in the spaced recesses 73 and 75 of the packing means 1A. 23A, each of the spaced recesses 73 and 75 of the packing means 1 is shaped substantially U-shaped. an end tip of each of the pawls 300 and 302 of the automatic changing means is shaped to a shape corresponding to that of each of the spaced recesses 73 and 75. As shown in Fig. 23 B, each of the spaced recesses 73 and 75 may In this case, the end tip of each of the pawls 300 and 302 is acute. The automatic change means is designed to be moved between the support frame 204 and a position, in which is disposed a magazine (not shown) for receiving a plurality of electronic component packaging means, by any suitable conventional drive means (not shown) When the electronic component packaging means 1 is to be delivered to the support frame 204 the pawls 300 and 302 of the automatic changing means are actuated to engage respectively with the spaced recesses 73 and 75 of one of the means ens of packaging of electronic components housed in the store not shown and to tighten the packing means Then, the automatic changing means holding tight the means of packaging electronic components by its pawls 300 and 302 is moved to the support frame 204 and it delivers the means of packaging electronic components to the support frame 204 After delivery of the packaging means to the support frame 204, the pawls 300 and 302 of the automatic change means are

  operated to release the packaging means.

  When the electronic components contained in the case body 3 of the packing means 1 supported by the support frame 204 have all been removed from the case body 3 by means of the suction nozzle of the mounting head, which results in that the casing body 3 of the packing means 1 is empty, the catches 300 and 302 of the automatic shifting means are actuated to engage, respectively, with the spaced recesses 73 and 75 of the

  Empty casing body and to tighten the empty casing body.

  The automatic changing means holding the empty casing body 3 tightly by its pawls 300 and 302 is then moved to the magazine, not shown, by removing the casing body from the support frame 204, and returning the empty casing body to the magazine Then, a new packing means is delivered to the support frame 204 from the magazine by the automatic changing means in the manner that has been

described above.

  In addition to the support frame 204, a positioning means for positioning the packaging means 1 with respect to the support frame 204 may be used. As shown in FIG. 24, the positioning means 400 comprises a positioning pin 402 which is designed to be actuated by any appropriate operating means 404, for example, a solenoid or jack When the positioning means 400 is used, a receiving recess 77 is formed at the right of a substantially

  central housing body 3 of the packaging means.

  The positioning pin 402 is designed to be displaced transversely with respect to the support frame 204 by the operating means 404. When the packaging means is supported by the support frame 204, the positioning pin 402 is moved towards the means of support. packaging by the operating means 404 and is engaged with the receiving recess 77 of the packaging means Thus, the packaging means is securely positioned relative to the support frame 204 by the locating pin 402. furthermore, when the packaging means is removed from the support frame 204, the positioning pin 402 is separated from the packaging means by the operating means 404. Thus, the packaging means is released from the spigot.

402 positioning.

  Referring back to Fig. 19, it will be seen that the electronic component delivery mechanism 200 includes an air supply source 500 for intermittently supplying air. The air supply source 500 includes an air valve. air 502 mounted on the base 202 The air valve 502 is connected to one end of a substantially U-shaped connecting pipe by means of a first coupling 506 The other end of the connecting pipe 504 is connected to a branch pipe 508 by means of a second connector 510 The branch pipe 508 includes a first pipe portion 512 and a second pipe portion 514 The first pipe portion 512 of the branch pipe 508 is provided at its end with a coupling 516 which is designed to be introduced into the frame portion 23 (see Fig. 2) surrounding the air inlets 17 of the housing body 3 as briefly described above. One end of the second pipe portion 514 of the branch pipe 508 is conc ee to be connected to the auxiliary air inlet 19 of the housing body 3 when the packing means 1 is supported by the support frame 204 An air nozzle (not shown) may be provided at the end of the housing. second portion of pipe 514 When the packing means 1 is supported by the support frame 204, the air nozzle is introduced into the auxiliary air inlet 19 As shown in FIG. 25, the connection 516 comprises a body 516. The body 516a has an aperture 516b of sufficient size to surround the air inlets 17 of the housing body 8 when the connector 516 is mounted on the frame portion 23. a is provided inside a partition wall 516c to divide the interior into an aperture side 516b and a side connected to the first pipe portion 512 of the branch pipe 508 The partition wall 516c is provided with a plurality of air nozzles 516 of which only one is shown 25) communicating with the side of the connecting body 516 which is connected to the first pipe portion 512 of the branch pipe 508 The air nozzles 516 d correspond in number to the air inlets 17 Each of the air nozzles 17 516 d is inclined When the packing means 1 is supported by the support frame 204, the fitting 516 is mounted on the frame part 23 of the packing means 1 so that each of the air nozzles 516 d is introduced in one

  corresponding air inlets 17 of the housing body 3.

  In order to seal, a substantially O-shaped rubber ring 516 e may be mounted on the opening side of the connector 516. The connector 516 may be connected to any suitable drive means (not shown). the packing means is supported by the support frame 204, the coupling 516 is moved to the frame portion 23 of the packing means 1 by the driving means, not shown, to be automatically introduced into the frame part 23 furthermore when the packing means has been emptied and must be removed from the support frame 204, the fitting 516 is moved away from the frame portion 23 by the drive means, whereby the coupling 516 is automatically removed from the frame portion 23 of the packing means The first pipe portion 512 of the branch pipe 508 is provided with a first switching valve (not shown) for closing and opening the first pipe portion 512 Similarly, the second pipe portion 514 pipe Branch 508 is provided with a second switching valve (not shown) to close and open the second

part of pipe 514.

  As described above, the electronic components contained in the spiral duct 5 of the casing body 3 are moved along the lines 5 and 7 to the outlet port 9, which is located at the upper part of the casing. housing 3 standing on the base 202 of the electronic component supply mechanism 200, by the air delivered in the ducts 5 and 7 by the air inlets 17 and 19 of the housing body 3, from the Air supply source 500 The electronic components are moved to the outlet port while abutting each other In addition, when the delivery of air into the housing body 3 by the air supply source is stopped, the electronic components that have not yet arrived at the rectilinear conduit 7 move by gravity along the respective circular portions of the spiral duct 5 to the innermost circular portion 5b of the spiral duct 5 all The repeated collisions of the electronic components with each other, which are caused by the intermittent delivery of air into the casing body 3, can cause the electronic components to be damaged and / or can the characteristics of the electronic components are deteriorated. This problem can be limited by the detection of the electronic components that arrive at the right of the rectilinear conduit 7 and by the control of the delivery of air so as to reduce the number of collisions the components

  electronic with each other.

  In addition to this, if the electronic components that arrive at the rectilinear conduit 7 can be detected, it will also be possible to detect when the packing means 1 has been emptied. This will facilitate the rapid replacement of the empty packing means. by a

new way of packing.

  In view of the above, the detection means for detecting the electronic components contained in the case body 3 can be used as will be described

in detail below.

  Referring to Fig. 26, there is shown detection means 600 for detecting electronic components contained in the housing body 3. If this detecting means 600 is used, a through hole 80 is formed in the housing body 3. so as to traverse a portion of the rectilinear conduit 7 of the housing body 3 which is spaced a predetermined distance L from the outlet port 9 and which is a portion between the outlet port 9 and the inlet The predetermined distance may vary from the length of an electronic component to that of another electronic component, but it substantially corresponds to the total length of a small number of electronic components, e.g. In addition, the diameter of the through-hole 80 varies from the size of an electronic component to that of another electronic component, but is smaller than the size of the electronic component. The detection means 600 comprises a light emitting means 602 for emitting light and a light receiving means 604, for example, a light sensor for receiving the light emitted by the light emitting means 602. The light emitting means 602 and the light receiving means 604 are supported on the base 202 of the electronic component feeding mechanism 200 by any suitable support means and arranged so as to interpose therebetween the means for receiving light. 1 when the packaging means 1 is supported by the support frame 204 A light emitting section 602 'of the light emitting means 602 and a light receiving section 604' of the light receiving means 604 are aligned with each other. the other In addition, the through hole 80 when the packing means 1 is supported by the support frame 204 is designed not to be covered by the upper section. 206 of the support frame 204 since the length of the upper section 206 is shorter than that of the packaging means, as described above, and is designed to be aligned with the light emitting section 602 'and the receiving section light 604 ', whereby light emitted by the light emitting section 602' can pass through the through hole 80 to the light receiving section 604 'The light emitting means 602 and the light receiving means 604 are connected The light receiving means 604 is adapted to continue to send a signal to the control means 700 as long as the light receiving section 604 'continues to receive light emitted by the light emitting section 602'. more precisely, the control means 700 generally comprises a first section (not shown) electrically connected via a switch (not shown). the light emitting means 602 and a second section (not shown) electrically connected to the first switching valve for the first pipe portion 512 of the branch pipe 508 (see Fig. 19) and the second switching valve for the The light emitting means 602 is usually in operation, whereby light is emitted from the light emitting section 602 'as long as the control means 700 continues to receive the signal from the light emitting section 602'. light receiving means 604, the second section of the control means 700 is adapted to continue sending signals to the first switching valve for the first pipe portion 512 of the branch pipe 508 and to the second switching valve for the second portion. In addition, as long as the first and second switching valves continue to receive signals from the second section of the hub 700, the first pipe portion 512 is adapted to be held open by the first switching valve and the second pipe portion 514 is adapted to be held closed by the second switching valve in accordance with the signals. sending the signals to the first and second switching valves from the second section of the control means 700 is stopped, the first switching valve is designed to automatically close the first pipe portion 512 and the second switching valve is designed to automatically open the second pipe portion 514 In the state where the second section of the control means 700 continues to send the signals to the first and second switching valves, whereby the first pipe portion 512 is opened by the first switching valve and the second pipe portion 514 is closed by the second switching valve, air supplied by the source of al 500, flows into the first pipe portion 512 of the branch pipe 508 and springs from the main air inlets 17 of the housing body 3 to the electronic components housed in the spiral pipe 5 of the housing body 3. the delivery of air into the casing body 3 through the main air inlets 17, the electronic components contained in the casing body 3 are moved to the straight duct 7 along the spiral duct 5 of the casing body 3 and some of the electronic components then arrive at the rectilinear conduit 7 After air has been delivered for a moment to the casing body 3 by the air inlets 17, the electronic components that have not arrived at the rectilinear conduit 7 are moved to the innermost circular part 5b of the spiral duct 5, by gravity When some of the electronic components arrive at the rectilinear conduit 7 thanks to the delivery of air in the case body 3 through the main inlets 17 and the one which is the furthest forward of the electronic components arriving at the rectilinear conduit 7 passes the through-hole 80, the light emitted by the light-emitting section 602 'is stopped by the electronic component and does not reach the light receiving section 604 ', resulting in a state in which the signal is not sent to the control means 700 from the light receiving means 604 When sending the signal by means of control 700 from the light receiving means is stopped, the second section of the control means 700 does not send the signals to the first switching valve for the first pipe portion 512 of the branch pipe 508 nor to the second switching valve for the second pipe portion 514 of the branch pipe 508 As a result, the first pipe portion 512 is automatically closed by the first switching valve and that the second pipe portion 514 is automatically opened by the second switching valve, as described above. Thus, air delivered intermittently from the air supply source 500 flows to the second portion. pipe 514 of the branch pipe 508, passes through the second pipe portion 514, and springs from the auxiliary air inlet 19 to the electronic components in the straight pipe 7 by intermittently delivering air into the pipe rectilinear 7 by the auxiliary air inlet 19, the electronic components that are in the straight duct 7, are in turn moved to

the outlet orifice 9 along the rectilinear conduit 7.

  When the foremost of the electronic components reaches the right of the outlet port 9, the mounting head H (see Fig. 19) waiting in a position above the outlet port 9 is moved downward by relative to the outlet port 9 to hold the electronic component forward most by means of its suction nozzle and it outputs the electronic component of the housing body 3 while moving upwards Then, the mounting head H is moved to a printed circuit board carried by any means of support and

  electronic component on the printed circuit board.

  Then, the mounting head H returns to the position above the outlet port 9 of the housing body 3 and is again moved downwardly relative to the outlet port 9 to exit the housing. housing 3 the following electronic component The intermittent delivery of air into the straight duct 7 through the auxiliary air inlet 19 is provided to be performed each time the mounting head H outputs an electronic component of the housing body 3. when the mounting head H mounts an electronic component on a printed circuit board and returns to the position above the outlet port 9 of the housing body 3, a subsequent electronic component has already arrived at the Thus, the electronic components in the rectilinear conduit 7 are taken out of the housing body 3, one by one, by means of the mounting head H. When the electronic components are found In the straight duct 7 are moved to the outlet port 9 by the intermittent delivery of air in the straight duct 7 through the auxiliary air inlet 19 and the one that is furthest behind the electronic components passes the through hole 80, which results in a state in which there is no electronic component which stops the passage of the light emitted by the light emitting section 602 ', the light emitted by the light emitting section 602' passes through again the through hole 80 of the housing body 3 to the light receiving section 604 '. At this time, the signal is again sent to the control means 700 from the light receiving means 604. Then, the second section control means 700 again sends the signals to the first switching valve for the first pipe portion 512 of the branch pipe 508 and to the second switching valve for the second pipe portion 514 As a function of the signals, the first pipe portion 512 is opened by the first switching valve and the second pipe portion 514 is closed by the second switching valve. Thus, air delivered by the source of air supply 500 flows to the first pipe portion 512 of the branch pipe 508, passes through the first pipe portion 512 of the branch pipe 508 and flows through the main air inlets 17 into the spiral pipe 5 of the housing body 3 By delivering air into the spiral duct 5 through the main air inlets 17, the electronic components remaining in the spiral duct 5 are moved to the straight duct 7 along the spiral duct 5 Then the most forward electronic components blocks the passage of light emitted from the light emitting section 602 ', which results in a state in which the signal is not sent to the control means 700 by the Light receiving means 604 Simultaneously, the sending of the signals to the first and second switching valves by the second section of the control unit 700 is stopped, whereby the first pipe portion of the branch pipe 508 is automatically closed by the first switching valve and the second pipe portion 514 of the branch pipe 508 is automatically opened by the second switching valve Thus, air delivered by the air supply source 500 flows to the second pipe portion 514 branch pipe 508, passes through the second pipe portion 514 of the branch pipe 508 and springs from the auxiliary air inlet 19 into the straight pipe 7 of the casing body 3, whereby the electronic components arriving at the rectilinear conduit 7 are moved to the exit port 9 The operations described above are performed repeatedly Then, when all the electronic components remaining in the housing body 3 arrive at the straight duct 7 through the delivery of air into the spiral duct through the main air inlets 17 and that the further back of the remaining electronic components passes in front of the through hole 80 through the delivery of air in the straight duct 7 through the auxiliary air inlet 19, the light emitted by the light emitting section 602 'reaches again the light receiving section 604' and the second pipe portion 514 connected to the air inlet auxiliary 19 is closed by the second switching valve as described above so that the air from the air supply source 500 does not flow into the straight duct 7 through the auxiliary air inlet 19 Therefore, a small number of electronic components including the rearmost electronic component are not moved to the outlet port 9 and remain in a portion of the rectilinear conduit 7 located between the orifice of the 9 and the portion of the straight duct in which the through hole 90 is formed, since the predetermined distance L between the through hole 80 and the outlet 9 corresponds to the total length of a small number of electronic components as described herein. In this state, air from the air supply source 500 flows into the spiral duct 5 through the main air inlets 17. At this time, the rearmost electronic component is already passed through the through hole 80, so that even if the intermittent delivery of air into the spiral duct 5 through the main air inlets 17 is effected the passage of the light emitted by the light emitting section 602 'n' If a state, in which the light emitted by the light emitting section 602 'is not stopped, is maintained for a predetermined time even if the intermittent delivery of air into the duct 5 by the main air inlets 17 is performed, the first section of the control means 700 is designed to cause the extinction of the light emitting means 602 When the light emitting means 602 is off, no light is emitted by the light emitting section 602 ', sending the signal by the light receiving means 604 to the control unit 700 is stopped and sending the signals through the second section of the control means 700 to the first and second valves The result is that the first pipe portion 512, connected to the main air inlets 17, is automatically closed by the first switching valve and the second pipe portion 514 connected to the inlet of auxiliary air 19, is automatically opened by the second switching valve Thus, the intermittent delivery of air in the straight duct 7 by the auxiliary air inlet 19 is performed, whereby c remaining electronic components are in turn moved to the outlet port 9 and are all removed from the housing body 3 by the mounting head H As described above, the predetermined distance L between the outlet port 9 and the through hole 80 corresponds to the total length of a small number of electronic components intermittent delivery of air in the straight duct 7 through the auxiliary air inlet 19, which is performed after the light emitting means 602 has has been extinguished, is provided to be performed a predetermined number of times which corresponds to the number of the few electronic components remaining in the portion of the rectilinear conduit 7 located between the outlet orifice 9 and the through hole 80 More precisely, when the predetermined distance L corresponds to the total length of, for example, four electronic components, the intermittent delivery of air in the rectilinear conduit 7 through the inlet an auxiliary air 19 which is performed after turning off the transmitter means

  602 light, is intended to be performed four times.

  Thus, the remaining electronic components are all moved to the outlet orifice 9 by the intermittent delivery of air in the straight duct 7 through the auxiliary air inlet 19 and are taken out of the casing body 3 by the head as a result of which the casing body 3 is emptied. When the intermittent delivery of air in the rectilinear duct 7, which is effected after the extinction of the light-emitting means 602, has been effected the number of times predetermined, an indicator light (not shown) electrically connected to the control means 700 is designed to flash By thereby indicating to an operator that the means for packaging electronic components is emptied Thus, the operator can replace the means of empty packaging by a new packing means In place of the indicator light, a sound warning unit can be used In addition, if the automatic change means briefly described above is u In this case, when the packaging means is emptied, the control unit 700 is designed to send an instruction to the automatic change means. instruction, the automatic changing means automatically replaces the empty packing means with a new one

packing medium.

  In the case where the sensing means 600 shown in Fig. 26 is used, after the electronic components arriving at the rectilinear conduit 7 have been moved to the outlet port 9, the electronic components remaining in the spiral conduit 5 are moved. to the rectilinear conduit 7 Therefore, the electronic components that have arrived at the rectilinear conduit 7 do not collide with the remaining electronic components Thus, the number of collisions of the electronic components with each other will be reduced in a more specifies, in the case where the rectilinear conduit 7 has a length sufficient to receive, for example, twenty electronic components, only when the twenty electronic components have been transferred into the straight duct 7 by the delivery of air through the inputs main air 17 in the spiral duct 5 have been moved to the outlet port 9 and that the last of the electronic components passes the through hole 80 of the housing body through the delivery of air into the housing body 3 through the auxiliary air inlet 19, the electronic components remaining in the spiral duct 5 are moved to the outlet port 9 by air delivered back into the spiral duct 5 through the main air inlets 17 Therefore, the number of displacements of the electronic components to the outlet port 9 and the circular portion 5b the more inside the spiral duct 5, can be reduced using the means of

600 detection.

  As described above, the electronic component packaging means according to the present invention allows the mounting head to output the electronic components directly from the package body of the packaging means. In addition, the packaging means of the electronic components according to the present invention may allow the mounting head to perform the predetermined operation in a position above the electronic component packaging means which stands on the base of the electronic component supply mechanism, so that the displacement of the mounting head does not interfere with the packaging means In addition, the packaging means can be used as a source of electronic components supply without the position of setting up the support means , which carries a printed circuit board, is limited, since the mounting head can perform the predetermined operation in the position above the

packing medium.

Claims (48)

  1 means for packaging electronic components (1) for packaging electronic components for storage and transport as well as for delivering electronic components to a mounting head (H) of an automatic electronic component mounting apparatus, said means for packaging comprising: a substantially plate-like casing body (3) having a substantially spiral duct (5) formed in its inner part, a rectilinear duct (7) formed therein as an extension of the most circularly circular part; outside said spiral duct (5), and an outlet port (9) formed therein as an extension of said rectilinear duct (7) for communicating with the outside of said body (3); a plurality of electronic components housed in a row in said spiral duct (5) of said casing body (3); and, means for facilitating advancement of said electronic components along said spiral duct (5) to said outlet port (9); said means for facilitating advancement of said electronic components comprising a plurality of main air inlets (17), said air inlets (17) being formed in said casing body (3) so as to port portions respective circular ducts of said spiral duct (5) and the outside of said casing body (3) and being adapted to be connected to an air supply source (500) when said packing means is used as a supply source in electronic components; said packaging means being adapted to be supported on a base (202) of an electronic component supply mechanism (200), said plate-like casing body (3) standing on said base (202) when said packaging means is used as a power source for electronic components; said outlet port (9) and said straight duct (7) being formed in line with a portion of said plate-like case body (3) which is located in an upper position when said packing means is supported on said base (202), said outlet port (9) being upwardly facing, said mounting head (H) being adapted to be on standby above said output (9).   Electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said housing body (3) is formed of a material which can prevent the production of static electricity between said components electronic devices and said conduits.   Electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said housing body (3) comprises a base plate portion (11) and a cover plate portion (13), wherein said spiral duct (5) is a spiral groove (5) and said rectilinear conduit (7) is a straight groove (7), said spiral groove (5) and said rectilinear groove (7) being formed in one face of said base plate (11), said cover plate portion (13) being placed on the grooved face of said base plate portion (11), and in that said outlet port (9) is formed in said base plate portion (11) as an extension of the said straight groove (7).   Electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that at least said base plate portion (11) is made of a material which can prevent the production of static electricity between   said electronic components and said grooves.   Electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said material consists essentially of a mixture of synthetic resin with an antistatic powder such as   than a carbon powder or other metal powders.   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said material is a metallic material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, iron and copper, which can prevent the production of static electricity. Electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said material consists essentially of a mixture of synthetic resin with an antistatic powder such as   than a carbon powder or other metal powders.   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said material is a metallic material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, iron and copper, which   can prevent the production of static electricity.   9 means for packaging electronic components (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said base plate portion (11) and said cover plate (13)   are linked together by high frequency link.   Electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that said base plate portion (11) and said cover plate (13)   are linked together by high frequency link.   11 means for packaging electronic components (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that said base plate portion (11) and said cover plate (13)   are linked together by high frequency link.   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said electronic component feeding mechanism (200) comprises a positioning means (400) for positioning said packaging means, said means for positioning (400) comprising a locating pin, and in that said housing body (3) has a receiving recess formed in line with its central portion, said receiving recess being adapted to receive said locating pin when said housing means packaging is supported on said base (202).   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said electronic component feeding mechanism (200) comprises a positioning means (400) for positioning said packaging means, said means for positioning (400) comprising a locating pin, and in that said base plate portion (11) has a receiving recess formed at the right of its central portion, said receiving recess being adapted to receive said locating pin when said receiving means packaging is supported on said base (202) 14 Electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said housing body (3) is made of plastic material and has a cutout formed by eliminating said outlet portion and a metal cap (33) having a substantially U-shaped body, said body of said metal cap (33) comprising a pair of sectio ns spaced and an intermediate section connecting said spaced sections, said metal cap (33) being introduced into said blank with its interior space which is aligned with said straight duct (7), whereby said cap   metal (33) constitutes said outlet orifice (9).   The electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that said metal cap (33) has a base section formed integrally on a lower side of said U-shaped body. An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that said spaced sections of said metal cap (33) have latching arms extending rectilinearly from their respective free ends, said interlocking arm engaging the outer surfaces of said housing body (3) when said metal cap (33) is inserted into said assembly cutout.  An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the assembly of said base plate (11) and said cover plate (13) is made of plastic material and has a cutout formed by eliminating said outlet portion and a metal cap (33) having a substantially U-shaped body, said body of said metal cap (33) comprising a pair of spaced sections and an intermediate section connecting said spaced sections, said metal cap (33) being introduced into said cutout with its interior space which is aligned with said rectilinear conduit (7), whereby said cap   metal (33) constitutes said outlet orifice (9).   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that said metal cap (33) has a base section formed integrally on a lower side of said U-shaped body. An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that said spaced sections of said metal cap (33) have latching arms extending rectilinearly from their respective free ends, said interlocking arm engaging the outer surfaces of an assembly formed of said cover plate portion (13) and said base plate portion (11) when said metal cap (33) is inserted into said assembly cutout.  Electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said housing body (3) has an identification mark (37) applied to it, said identification mark (37) comprising data concerning the type of electronic component contained in said case body (3), the number of parts, the date of manufacture, and the like, said data being recorded in advance on said mark.   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 20, characterized in that said mark is a magnetic mark which can be read magnetically. Electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 20, characterized in that said   mark is formed by a barcode.   23 means for packaging electronic components (1) according to claim 21, characterized in that said   mark is formed by a barcode.   24 means for packaging electronic components (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said cover plate portion (13) has an identification mark (37) applied on its outer face, said identification mark (37) comprising data concerning the type of electronic component contained in said casing body (3), the number of parts, the date of manufacture, and the like, said data being   previously registered on that mark.   Electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 24, characterized in that said mark is a magnetic mark which can be read magnetically. Electronic component packing means (1) according to claim 24, characterized in that said   mark is formed by a barcode.   Electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 25, characterized in that said   mark is formed by a barcode.   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said electronic component feeding mechanism (200) comprises an automatic changing means for automatically delivering said packaging means to said base (202). ) of said electronic component supply mechanism (200) and for automatically removing said packaging means from said base (202), said automatic changing means comprising a pair of clamping pawls (300, 302), and that said housing body (3) has a pair of spaced recesses (73, 75) formed therein, said clamping pawls (300, 302) being adapted to cooperate with said spaced recesses (73, 75) when said housing means package must be delivered to said base (202) of said component supply mechanism   (200), or removed therefrom.   Electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said electronic component feeding mechanism (200) comprises an automatic changing means for automatically delivering said packaging means to said base (202). ) of said electronic component supply mechanism (200) and for automatically removing said packaging means from said base (202), said automatic changing means comprising a pair of clamping pawls (300, 302), and that an assembly consisting of said cover plate portion (13) and said base plate portion (11) comprises a pair of spaced recesses (73, 75) formed therein, said clamping pawls (300, 302) being adapted to cooperate with said spaced recesses (73, 75) when said packaging means is to be delivered to said base (202) of said electronic component supply mechanism (200), or to be removed.   Electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a closure means (39) for opening said output orifice (9) synchronously with   advancing said electronic components.   Electronic component packaging device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises a closure means (39) for opening said output orifice (9) synchronously with   advancing said electronic components.   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 30, characterized in that said housing body (3) has a first recess formed in a portion thereof which is located in an upper position, when said means electronic component packaging (1) is supported on said base (202), and which is close to said outlet (9), and a second recess formed in the bottom of said first recess, and in that said means for closure (39) comprises an elongated body housed in said first recess of said housing body (3) and a compression spring, said elongate body having a stop piece extending downwardly from one of its parts end and a recess formed in a portion near its other end portion, said elongate body being pivotally connected, substantially right of its middle portion, to said housing body (3) by means of a support axis, said a compression spring being disposed between said recess of said elongate body and said second recess of said housing body (3), the action of said compression spring still urging said elongate body so that said stop member protrudes into said orifice outlet (9), whereby said orifice   outlet (9) is closed by said stop piece.   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 31, characterized in that said base plate portion (11) has a first recess formed in a portion thereof which is located in an upper position, when said means electronic component packaging (1) is supported on said base (202), and which is close to said outlet (9), and a second recess formed in the bottom of said first recess, and in that said means for closure (39) comprises an elongated body housed in said first recess of said base plate portion (11) and a compression spring, said elongated body having a stop piece extending downwardly from one of its end portions and a recess formed in a portion near its other end portion, said elongated body being pivotally connected substantially at right its middle portion to said base plate portion (11) by means of an axis support, said compression spring being disposed between said recess of said elongate body and said second recess of said base plate portion (11), the action of said compression spring always urging said elongate body so that said stopping piece thereof protrudes in said outlet port (9), whereby said outlet port (9) is closed by said stop piece. An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said housing body (3) has a straight hole extending along a predetermined portion of said rectilinear conduit (7) for communicating with outside said housing body (3) and disposed on the predetermined portion of said rectilinear conduit (7), a vertical through hole being disposed on said straight hole to communicate said rectilinear hole and the outside of said housing body (3). ), and a shutter means (39) for opening and closing said outlet port (9), said shutter means (39) including a cover plate for protecting said outlet port (9), said cover plate having a lug disposed thereon and which is slidably inserted into said straight hole, said lug being housed in said hole vertical crossing.   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said housing body (3) has a straight hole extending along a predetermined portion of said rectilinear groove (7) for communicating with the outside of said housing body (3) and disposed on the predetermined portion of said rectilinear groove (7), a vertical through hole being disposed on said straight hole for communicating said rectilinear hole and the outside of said housing body (3), and shutter means (39) for opening and closing said outlet port (9), said shutter means (39) including a cover plate for protecting said outlet port (9), said plate guard having a lug disposed thereon and which is slidably inserted into said straight hole, said lug being   housed in said vertical through hole.   Electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said housing body (3) has an auxiliary air inlet (19) formed in line with an initial end portion of said straight duct ( 7) for communicating said rectilinear conduit (7) and the outside of said body of housing (3).   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said base plate portion (11) has an auxiliary air inlet (19) formed in line with an initial end portion of said straight groove (7) for communicating said rectilinear groove (7) and the outside of said body of housing (3).   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said air inlets is in the form of a through hole, said through hole comprising a first surface (17a) constituting a back surface with respect to the advancing direction (X) of the electronic components, a second surface (17b) constituting a front surface with respect to the advancing direction (X) of the electronic components, a first opening close to said spiral duct (5) , and a second opening near the rear face of said housing body (3), said rear surface constituting a first slope rising obliquely from said rear face of said housing body (3) in the forward direction (X) of the electronic components, said front surface constituting a second steeper slope than said first slope, or at right angles to the horizontal plane of said housing body (3), said first opening being having a dimension smaller than the dimension of each of said electronic components, said second opening being relatively large, whereby said through hole becomes narrow as it extends from said   rear face towards said spiral duct (5).   Electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 38, characterized in that said second slope comprises an air guide fin (17b ') which is formed on it so as to extend obliquely from from said first opening to said first slope. An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 38, characterized in that said through hole has a plate-like part which is permanently inserted therein, said plate-like part having a slope, said plate-like part being introduced into said through-hole in such a manner that its said slope is opposite said first slope of said through hole, whereby a slot is provided between said slope of said plate-like part and said   first slope of said through hole.   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 40, characterized in that each of said slope of said plate member and said first slope of said through hole is curved, by what said slot is curved.   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said air inlets is in the form of a through hole, said through hole comprising a first surface (17a) constituting a back surface with respect to the advancing direction (X) of the electronic components, a second surface (17b) constituting a front surface with respect to the advancing direction (X) of the electronic components, a first opening close to said spiral duct (5) , and a second opening near the rear face of said housing body (3), said first and second surfaces extending obliquely in the advancing direction (X) of the electronic components, said first surface (17 a) constituting a first a slope forming an angle of about 300 to the horizontal plane of said housing body (3), said second surface (17b) constituting a second slope forming an angle of about 300 to the horizontal plane ontal of said housing body (3), the end of said first slope which is close to said first opening being aligned with the end of said second slope which is close to said second opening on a vertical line (Y) with respect to the horizontal plane of said housing body (3).   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that each of said air inlets is in the form of a through hole, said through hole comprising a first surface (17a) constituting a rear surface with respect to the advancing direction (X) of the electronic components, a second surface (17b) constituting a front surface with respect to the advancing direction (X) of the electronic components, a first opening close to said spiral groove (5); ), and a second opening close to the other face of said base plate portion (11), said rear surface constituting a first slope rising obliquely from said other face of said base plate portion (11) in the advancing direction (X) electronic components, said front surface constituting a second steeper slope than said first slope, or at right angles to the horizontal plane of said housing body (3), said first or gap having a dimension smaller than the dimension of each of said electronic components, said second opening being relatively large, whereby said through hole becomes narrow as it extends from the other   face towards said spiral groove (5).   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 43, characterized in that said second slope comprises an air guide fin (17b ') which is formed thereon so as to extend obliquely from from said first opening to said first slope. An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 43, characterized in that said through hole has a plate-like part which is permanently inserted therein, said plate-like part having a slope, said plate-like part being introduced into said through hole such that said slope is opposite said first slope of said through hole, whereby a slot is provided between said slope of said plate member and said   first slope of said through hole.   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 45, characterized in that each of said slope of said plate member and said first slope of said through hole is curved, what said slot is curved.   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that each of said air inlets is in the form of a through hole, said through hole comprising a first surface (17a) constituting a back surface with respect to the advancing direction (X) of the electronic components, a second surface (17b) constituting a front surface with respect to the advancing direction (X) of the electronic components, a first opening close to said spiral groove (5); ), and a second aperture near the other side of said base plate portion (11), said first and second surfaces extending obliquely in the advancing direction (X) of the electronic components, said first surface (17a) ) constituting a first slope forming an angle of about 300 with respect to the horizontal plane of said base plate portion (11), said second surface (17b) constituting a second slope forming an angle of about 300 with respect to u horizontal plane of said base plate portion (11), the end of said first slope which is close to said first opening being aligned with the end of said second slope which is close to said second opening on a vertical line (Y) compared to the plan   horizontal of said base plate portion (11).   Electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 38, characterized in that said housing body (3) has an auxiliary air inlet (19) formed in line with an initial end portion of said straight duct ( 7) for communicating said rectilinear conduit (7) and the outside of said housing body (3), said auxiliary air inlet (19) taking the form of a through-hole, said auxiliary air inlet (19). ) comprising a third surface constituting a rear surface with respect to the advancing direction (X) of the electronic components, a fourth surface constituting a front surface with respect to the forward direction (X) of the electronic components, a third opening close to said duct; rectilinear (7), and a fourth opening near the rear face of said housing body (3), said third surface constituting a third slope rising obliquely from said rear face of said body housing rps (3) in the advancing direction (X) of the electronic components, said fourth surface constituting a fourth steeper slope than said third slope, or at right angles to the horizontal plane of said housing body (3), said third opening having a smaller dimension than the dimension of each of said electronic components, said fourth opening being relatively large, whereby said through hole of said auxiliary air inlet (19) becomes narrow as it extends of said face   rearwardly toward said spiral duct (5).   Electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 48, characterized in that said second slope comprises an air guide fin (17b ') which is formed on it so as to extend obliquely from from said first opening to said first slope, and in that said fourth slope includes an air guide fin (17b ') which is formed thereon so as to extend obliquely from said   third opening to said third slope.   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 48, characterized in that said through-hole of said main air inlet has a first plate-like part which is permanently inserted therein, said first plate-like part comprising a slope, said first plate-like part being introduced into said through-hole of the main air inlet (17) such that its said slope is opposed to said first slope of said through-hole of said main air inlet ( 17), whereby a first slot is provided between said slope of said first plate member and said first slope of said through hole of said main air inlet (17), and that said through hole of said inlet auxiliary air (19) has a second plate-like part which is permanently inserted therein, said second plate-like part having a slope, said second plate-like piece that being introduced into said through hole of the auxiliary air inlet (19) such that its said slope is opposed to said third slope of said through hole of said auxiliary air inlet (19), whereby a second slot is provided between said slope of said plate-like part and said third slope of said   through hole of said auxiliary air inlet (19).   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 50, characterized in that each of said slope of said first plate member and said first slope of said through hole of said main air inlet (17) is curved, whereby said first slot is curved and in that each of said slope of said plate member and said third slope of said through hole of said auxiliary air inlet (19) is curved, whereby said second slot is curved.   Electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 42, characterized in that said housing body (3) has an auxiliary air inlet (19) formed in line with an initial end portion of said straight duct ( 7) for communicating said rectilinear conduit (7) and the outside of said housing body (3), said auxiliary air inlet (19) taking the form of a through hole, said through hole of said inlet of said auxiliary air (19) comprising a third surface constituting a rear surface with respect to the forward direction (X) of the electronic components, a fourth surface constituting a front surface with respect to the forward direction (X) of the electronic components, a third opening close to said rectilinear conduit (7), and a fourth opening near the rear face of said housing body (3), said third and fourth surfaces extending obliquely in the advancing direction (X) electronic components, said third surface constituting a third slope forming an angle of about 300 with respect to the horizontal plane of said housing body (3), said fourth surface constituting a fourth slope forming an angle of about 300 with respect to the horizontal plane said housing body (3), an end of said third slope which is close to said third opening being aligned with the end of said fourth slope which is close to said fourth opening on a vertical line (Y) with respect to the plane   horizontal of said housing body (3).   53 Electronic Component Packing (1)   according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that said housing body (3) comprises through-hole means for facilitating the detection of said electronic components contained in said body housing (3).   An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 53, characterized in that said through hole means for facilitating detection of said electronic components is a through hole. An electronic component packaging means (1) according to claim 54, characterized in that said through-hole of said through-hole means is formed in said housing body (3) so as to pass through a portion of said straight conduit (7) which is spaced a predetermined distance (L) from said outlet port (9), said predetermined distance (L) substantially corresponding to the total length of a small number of electronic components.   56 Electronic Component Packing (1)   according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that said housing body (3) has air outlets (21) formed therein, said air outlets (21) communicating predetermined portions of said conduit and the exterior of said housing housing (3).   57 Electronic component supply mechanism (200) for supplying electronic components to a mounting head (H) of an automatic electronic component mounting apparatus using electronic component packaging means (1), said means electronic component packaging apparatus (1) comprising: a substantially plate-like housing body (3) having a substantially spiral duct (5) formed therein, a rectilinear conduit (7) formed therein as an extension of the outermost circular portion of said spiral duct (5), and an outlet port (9) formed therein as an extension of said rectilinear duct (7) for communicating with the exterior of said body (3); a plurality of electronic components housed in a row in said spiral duct (5) of said casing body (3); and, means for facilitating advancement of said electronic components along said spiral duct (5) to said outlet port (9); said means for facilitating advancement of said electronic components comprising a plurality of main air inlets (17), said air inlets (17) being formed in said housing body (3) so as to port portions respective circular ducts of said spiral duct (5) and the outside of said casing body (3); said electronic component supply mechanism (200) comprising: a base (202) for supporting said electronic component packaging means (1) so as to cause said plate-like case body (3) to hold standing on it; and air supply means (500) for supplying air into said spiral duct (5) through said air inlets to cause said electronic components to move along said spiral duct (5) to said outlet port (9); said outlet port (9) and said straight duct (7) being formed in line with a portion of said plate-like case body (3) which is located in an upper position when said packing means is supported on said base (202), said outlet port (9) being upwardly facing, said mounting head (H) being adapted to be on standby above said port output (9).   The electronic component supply mechanism (200) according to claim 57, characterized in that it further comprises a positioning means (400) for positioning said packaging means of   electronic components with respect to said base (202).   The electronic component supply mechanism (200) according to claim 58, characterized in that said positioning means (400) comprises a locating pin, and that said plate-like housing body (3) has a receiving recess formed in its central portion to receive said positioning pin. An electronic component supply mechanism (200) according to claim 57, 58 or 59, characterized in that said electronic component packaging means (1) further comprises a sealing means   (39) for opening and closing said outlet port (9).   An electronic component supply mechanism (200) according to claim 60, characterized in that said plate-like housing body (3) has an elongate recess disposed on an upper wall of a predetermined portion of said straight conduit (7) said housing body (3) standing on said base (202), a vertical through hole formed in line with an upper wall of said elongate recess for communicating said elongated recess and the exterior of said housing body (3) , in that said base (202) comprises a support frame (204) disposed thereon for supporting said electronic component packaging means (1), and in that said sealing means (39) comprises a body of elongated shutter (41) in the form of a leaf spring, said shutter body (41) having a first piece extending downwardly from one of its exterminates, a second piece extending towards the downwardly from its other end, and a protrusion protruding upwardly substantially from its middle portion, said shutter body (41) being housed in said elongated recess of said housing body (3), its said first piece being inserted at its end point into said outlet (9), said protrusion protruding upwardly from said housing body (3) through said vertical through hole of said housing body (3), and said second piece being in contact with an upper wall of said rectilinear conduit (7), said shutter body (41) being supported at its central portion on the housing body (3) via a support axis, said support frame (204) comprising a substantially square shaped body erected on said base (202), said frame body comprising an upper section, a lower section, a right section and a left section, said upper section having a straight groove (7) formed therein to receive the upper side of said housing body (3) when said packing means is supported by said support frame (204), said lower section having a straight groove (7) formed therein to receive the underside of said case body (3) when said packing means is supported by said support frame (204), said rectilinear groove (7) of said upper section having a top surface, said top surface comprising a first portion having a height sufficient to receive said projection of said shutter body (41), a sloping portion for causing said projection of said shutter body (41) to be gradually squeezed down, and a second a portion having a height such that said projection of said shutter body (41) is fully downwardly urged, said first and second portions and the sloping portion of said groove rectilinear (7) of said upper section being in turn disposed relative to said support frame (204), in the direction of delivery of the packaging means. The electronic component supply mechanism (200) according to claim 57, characterized in that said electronic component supply mechanism (200) further comprises detection means (600) for detecting said electronic components contained in said body housing (3), control means (700) electrically connected to said detecting means (600) and automatic changing means for automatically replacing said packaging means, said automatic changing means being electrically connected to said control means ( 700), and in that said housing body (3) has through-hole means for facilitating detection of said electronic components, said through-hole means being a through-hole formed in said housing body (3). way to cross a portion of said rectilinear conduit (7) which is spaced a predetermined distance (L) from said ori output fuse (9), said predetermined distance (L) corresponding substantially to the total length of a small number of electronic components, said detecting means (600) comprising a light emitting means (602) and a light receiving means (604), said light emitting means (602) and light receiving means (604) being arranged to interpose therebetween said packaging means which stands on said base (202) of said electronic component supply mechanism (200) and so as to be   aligned with said through hole.   The electronic component supply mechanism (200) of claim 57, characterized in that said electronic component supply mechanism (200) comprises a branch pipe (508) mechanically connected to said air supply means (500) , detecting means (600) for detecting said electronic components contained in said housing body (3), and control means (700) electrically connected to said detecting means (600), said branch pipe (508) comprising a first a pipe portion (512) and a second pipe portion (514), said first pipe portion (512) being provided with a first switching valve for closing and opening said first pipe portion (512), said second portion of pipe (514) being provided with a second switching valve for closing and opening said second pipe portion (514), said detecting means (600) comprising a light emitting means (602) and a second light receiver (604), and in that said housing body (3) has a through-hole for facilitating the detection of said electronic components and an auxiliary air inlet (19), said through hole being formed in said housing body; housing (3) so as to pass through a portion of said rectilinear conduit (7) which is spaced a predetermined distance (L) from said outlet port (9), said predetermined distance (L) corresponding substantially to the total length of the a small number of electronic components, said auxiliary air inlet (19) being formed in line with an initial end portion of said rectilinear conduit (7) for communicating said rectilinear conduit (7) and the outside of said housing (3), said first pipe portion (512) of said branch pipe (508) and said second pipe portion (514) of said branch pipe (508) being adapted to be connected, respectively, to said main air inlets (17) and said auxiliary air inlet (19), when said packaging means is supported on said base (202), said light emitting means (602) and said light receiving means (604) being arranged to interpose therebetween said packing means which stands on said base (202) and is aligned with said through hole, said first and second switch valves being electrically connected to said switch means. control (700), said light receiving means (604) being arranged to send a signal to said control means (700) when said light receiving means (604) receives light from said light emitting means (602), said control means (700) being adapted to send signals to said first and second switching valves when said control means (700) receives the signal from said light receiving means (604) said first switching valve being adapted to open said first pipe portion (512) of said branch pipe (508) and said second gate valve being adapted to close said second pipe portion (514) of said branch pipe (508) when said first and second switching valves receive signals from said control means (700), said first switching valve being adapted to automatically close said first pipe portion (512) of said branch pipe (508) and said second gate valve being configured for automatically opening said second pipe portion (514) of said branch pipe (508) when sending signals from said control means (700) to said first and second valves switching is stopped.   Method for supplying electronic components to a mounting head (H), characterized in that it comprises the steps of: preparing an electronic component packaging means (1), said component packaging means electronic devices (1) comprising: a substantially plate-like housing body (3) having a substantially spiral duct (5) formed in its inner part, a rectilinear duct (7) formed therein as an extension of the most circular part outside said spiral duct (5), and an outlet port (9) formed therein as an extension of said rectilinear duct (7) for communicating with the outside of said body (3); a plurality of electronic components housed in a row in said spiral duct (5) of said casing body (3); and means for facilitating advancement of said electronic components along said spiral duct (5) to said outlet port (9); said means for facilitating advancement of said electronic components comprising a plurality of main air inlets (17), said air inlets (17) being formed in said housing body (3) so as to port portions respective circular ducts of said spiral duct (5) and the outside of said casing body (3); said packaging means being adapted to be supported on a base (202) of an electronic component supply mechanism (200), said plate-like case body (3) standing on said base (202); said outlet port (9) and said straight duct (7) being formed in line with a portion of said plate-like case body (3) which is located in an upper position when said packing means is supported on said base (202), said outlet port (9) being upwardly facing, said mounting head (H) being adapted to stand over said outlet port (9); delivering air into said spiral duct (5) through said main air inlets (17) to advance said electronic components to said straight duct (7) along said spiral duct (5); detecting electronic components arriving at the right of said rectilinear conduit (7) by delivering air into said spiral conduit (5) through said main air inlets (17); supplying air into said straight duct (7) through said auxiliary air inlet (19) to advance the electronic components, arriving at the right of said straight duct (7) by delivering air into said spiral duct ( 5) by said air inlets to said outlet port (9); grasping said electronic components, arriving at the right of said outlet orifice (9), one by one, by said mounting head (H).