JPH1012505A - Method and apparatus for manufacturing electronic component with multiple terminal electrodes - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable simultaneously forming outer terminal electrodes on a material for multiple numbers of components by eliminating the displacement of outer terminal electrodes and faulty shaping of electrodes. SOLUTION: An elastic intaglio 30 is comprised of endless flat belts 21. Materials 10 for components are disposed opposite to the straight line parts of the endless flat belts 21. Conductive paste is transported to positions opposing the materials 10 for components by intermittent running of the endless flat belts 21. When the endless flat belts 21 stop, the straight line parts of the endless flat belts 21 press the materials 10 for components to apply the conductive paste 2 to the materials 10 for components in such a manner as to turn from one surface to an adjacent surface.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing an electronic component having a plurality of terminal electrodes having terminal electrodes for surface mounting, such as a capacitor network, an LC filter, and a chip type capacitor array.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, as a method of manufacturing this kind of electronic component with a plurality of terminal electrodes, the present applicant has disclosed Japanese Patent Publication No.
There is what was presented in the issue. As shown in FIG. 6, the method for manufacturing an electronic component with a multi-terminal electrode disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 6-20035 uses drums 1A and 1B having cylindrical (or roll-shaped) intaglio plates of elastic material. Here, the drum 1A is indicated by an arrow P
The drum 1B rotates intermittently counterclockwise as shown in FIG.
Is synchronously rotated intermittently clockwise as indicated by an arrow P '. When the drums 1A and 1B are stopped, they perform an operation of moving in a horizontal direction as indicated by an arrow Q (operation of moving toward and away from each other) in synchronization with each other. Each drum 1A, 1B
On the intaglio plate formed on the outer peripheral surface, required grooves are formed over one circumference, and the groove width and groove pitch (sequence interval) of these grooves are formed.
Corresponds to the width and arrangement interval of the external terminal electrodes to be formed on the component substrate side.

A dispenser 3 for supplying a conductive paste 2 is disposed above each of the drums 1A and 1B, and an upper doctor knife 4 is provided above each of the drums 1A and 1B.
A, 1B are arranged to contact the intaglio surface,
The upper side of the upper doctor knife 4 is a conductive paste pool. A lower doctor knife 5 is provided below the drums 1A and 1B so as to contact the intaglio surfaces of the drums 1A and 1B, and a lower part of each drum receives the conductive paste scraped off by the lower doctor knife 5. A paste dish 6 is arranged.

In this conventional configuration, the left and right drums 1
The conductor paste 2 is supplied from the dispenser 3 to the intaglio on the outer periphery of the drums A and 1B according to the intermittent rotation of each drum. The conductor paste other than the groove is mostly removed by the upper doctor knife 4 and remains by the lower doctor knife 5. After the excess conductive paste is scraped off, each drum 1A, 1
The intaglio on the outer periphery of the drum B reaches a position facing the component base 10 between the left and right drums, and the drums 1A and 1B synchronized with each other.
The conductor paste in the groove portion of each intaglio is applied to both ends of the component substrate 10 at a plurality of positions by the lateral movement of the arrow Q. At this time, since the intaglio on the outer periphery of each drum is an elastic body, when the component substrate 10 hits,
The conductor paste can be applied so as to be depressed along the surface of the component base 10 and wrap around from one end face of the component base 10 to the adjacent face, and have an approximately U-shape having electrode portions wrapping around the adjacent faces from both end faces on both sides of the component base 10. It is stated that an electronic component with a plurality of terminal electrodes in which a plurality of external terminal electrodes are formed at a plurality of locations is obtained.

[0005]

However, in the conventional configuration using a drum having an intaglio plate on the outer periphery as shown in FIG. 6, (1) if the center of the component base is not aligned with the center of the drum, the component base is formed. The generally U-shaped coating shape of the external terminal electrodes becomes unbalanced. (2) A single coating operation can only apply a single component substrate, and multiple coatings cannot be applied simultaneously. (3)
The drum center needs to be realigned due to a change in the component base thickness, and (4) the eccentricity of the drum easily affects the substantially U-shaped dimension of the external terminal electrode.

Due to these problems (1) to (4), the displacement of the external terminal electrode makes the connection with the internal electrode or the circuit pattern of the circuit board uncertain, and in the worst case, disconnection or separation. A product failure occurs due to a short circuit between the external terminal electrodes and the like.

In view of the above, the present invention provides an electronic component with a plurality of terminal electrodes, which can form external terminal electrodes simultaneously on a large number of component bases without causing displacement of external terminal electrodes and electrode shape defects. It is an object of the present invention to provide a manufacturing method and apparatus.

[0008] Other objects and novel features of the present invention will be clarified in embodiments described later.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a method of manufacturing an electronic component with a plurality of terminal electrodes according to the present invention comprises providing a conductive paste on an intaglio plate of an elastic body and pressing a component substrate against the intaglio plate. When applying the conductor paste so as to wrap around from one surface of the component base to an adjacent surface,
The intaglio plate of the elastic body is formed of a flat belt-shaped endless band, and the component base is supported facing a linear portion of the endless band,
The conductive paste supplied to the endless band is transferred to a position facing the component base by intermittent running of the endless band, and the linear portion of the endless band is pressed against the component base while the endless band is stopped running. It is characterized by:

In the method of manufacturing an electronic component with a plurality of terminal electrodes, the endless bands are arranged on both sides of the component base so as to intermittently travel, and the endless bands are simultaneously pressed against both sides of the component base. It may be.

Further, a configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of the component bases are supported by supporting means in the same posture, and the endless belt is simultaneously pressed against the plurality of component bases.

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for manufacturing an electronic component with a plurality of terminal electrodes, comprising: an endless band constituting an intaglio of an elastic body stretched between a plurality of rollers; and a paste for supplying a conductive paste to an outer surface of the endless band. Supply means, a pressing member capable of contacting the inner surface of the linear portion of the endless band, and supporting means for supporting the component body in opposition to the linear portion of the endless band, the plurality of rollers The entire unit having the endless band and the pressing member or the pressing member is moved toward the component base to press the linear portion of the endless band against the component base.

In the above-mentioned apparatus for manufacturing an electronic component with a plurality of terminal electrodes, a unit having the plurality of rollers, an endless band, and a pressing member is disposed on both sides of a component base supported by the support means. Is also good.

Further, the supporting means may be constituted by a conveying jig sequentially supplied by conveying means at a position close to the linear portion of the endless belt.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a method and an apparatus for manufacturing an electronic component with a plurality of terminal electrodes according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows the entire configuration of the first embodiment, FIG. 2 shows a flat belt-shaped endless belt constituting an intaglio of an elastic body, and a drive roller or a driven roller portion on which the belt is stretched, and FIG. 1 illustrates a chip-type noise filter as an example of an electronic component with multiple terminal electrodes obtained in one embodiment.

In these figures, a pair of coating units 20A, 20B having a structure in which a flat belt-shaped endless band (ring) 21 constituting an elastic intaglio is stretched between a driving roller 22 and a driven roller 23 are shown. They are symmetrically arranged to face each other. Each coating unit 20A, 20
B is a dispenser 2 for supplying a conductive paste.
4. A conductive paste transfer roller 25, a pusher 26 as a pressing member, a doctor knife 27 for scraping off excess conductive paste, and a paste tray 28 are provided. Here, the dispenser 24 is disposed beside (or above) the flat belt-shaped endless belt 21, and the roller 25 is a roller made of metal, plastic, rubber having some elasticity, and the like. And is rotatably supported so as to contact the surface of the intaglio formed on the outer surface of the endless belt 21.
At the same time, it rotates as the endless belt 21 runs. Accordingly, the conductive paste 2 supplied from the dispenser 24 onto the outer peripheral surface of the roller 25 is uniformly crushed and transferred on the surface of the endless belt 21. A doctor knife 27 is arranged below the endless band 21 so as to contact the surface of the intaglio, and a paste dish 28 for receiving the conductive paste 2 scraped off by the doctor knife 27 is arranged below the endless band 21. I have.

Incidentally, supporting means (not shown) such as chucks
The endless bands 21 of the coating units 20A and 20B in which a plurality of component bases 10 (for example, square plate shapes) are
Are supported in the same posture between the linear portions (excluding portions curved along the outer periphery of the driving roller 22 and the driven roller 23).

As shown in FIG. 2, a flat belt-like endless belt 2 is provided.
Reference numeral 1 denotes an elastic body such as silicon rubber having an appropriate hardness, and an outer surface thereof is an intaglio 30, and a plurality of required grooves 31 are formed over one circumference.
The groove pitch (arrangement interval) corresponds to the width and arrangement interval of the external terminal electrodes to be formed on the component substrate 10 side. The endless belt 21 is stretched around the outer peripheral surfaces of the rollers 22 and 23.
Guide projections 32 are formed on both edges of the outer peripheral surfaces of the guide members 2 and 23.

The endless belt 21 of each of the coating units 20A and 20B shown in FIG. 1 runs intermittently when each drive roller 22 rotates intermittently synchronously.
The drive roller 22 of 0A intermittently rotates counterclockwise as indicated by an arrow F, and the drive roller 22 of the application unit 20B intermittently rotates clockwise as indicated by an arrow F 'in synchronization therewith. The endless belt 21 in each of the coating units 20A and 20B.
Each of the pushers 26 provided so as to be able to contact the inner side surface of the linear portion is made of metal or the like having a flat end surface. The operation of moving the pusher 26 toward and away from the component substrate 10 (the horizontal movement of the pushers 26 approaching and separating from each other) is performed in synchronization with each other. Instead of making the entire front end surface of the pusher 26 a flat surface, it is also possible to make only the front end portion of the pusher 26 corresponding to the arrangement portion of the component substrate 10 a flat surface.

In the first embodiment, the dispensers 24 of the left and right coating units 20A and 20B are provided.
Roller 2 for transferring conductive paste
5 and the driven roller 23 and the transfer roller 25 rotate dependently according to the intermittent running of the endless belt 21 accompanying the intermittent rotation of the drive roller 22, so that each coating unit 20
The conductive paste 2 is supplied (transferred) to the intaglio 30 of the endless belt 21 of A and 20B, and the excess conductive paste 2 other than the grooves 31 of the intaglio 30 in FIG. Then, the intaglio portion on the outer surface of each endless band 21 with the conductive paste 2 left only in the groove 31 reaches a position facing the plurality of component bases 10 supported at an intermediate position between the left and right endless bands 21. At this time, the straight portions of the left and right endless bands 21 form parallel planes. Thereafter, in a state where the left and right endless bands 21 are stopped, the left and right pushers 26 that have been waiting in a state of being separated from each other move in a direction approaching each other in synchronization with each other, and the outer surface of the linear portion of each endless band 21 is moved. The intaglio 30 is pressed against both ends of the component substrate 10. As a result, the conductive paste 2 remaining in the grooves 31 of the left and right intaglios 30 is applied to predetermined locations on both ends of the component substrate 10.
At this time, each endless band 21 has elasticity,
When the two ends of the component substrate 10 are pressed against each other, the intaglio side is depressed along the surface of the component substrate 10, so the conductive paste 2 is applied so as to extend from both end surfaces of the component substrate 10 to the adjacent surfaces. The portion where the conductive paste 2 is applied is a portion to be an external terminal electrode.

Therefore, by performing a required baking step after the application of the conductive paste 2, as shown in FIG. 3, a substantially U-shaped external part having an electrode portion that goes from one end face of the component base 10 to an adjacent face is provided. An electronic component with a plurality of terminal electrodes, such as a chip noise filter 40 having a plurality of terminal electrodes 41 formed at both ends, can be easily obtained.

The left and right coating units 20A, 20B
By supplying a plurality of new component bases 10 one after another to an intermediate position between the endless belts 21, it is possible to apply a large number of conductor pastes 2 to the component base 10 at the same time on both sides, which is excellent in mass productivity. Fully automatic application can be performed.

According to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) In order to apply the conductive paste 2 to the component substrate 10 using an elastic flat belt-shaped endless band 21 having an intaglio 30 formed on the outer side surface and utilizing the linear portion of the endless band 21 The conductor paste can be easily applied to a plurality of parts of the large number of component bases 10, and the mass productivity can be improved. Also, by setting an appropriate amount of pusher 26 for pushing the intaglio 30 on the outer surface of the endless belt against the component base 10, the conductor paste 2 can be applied so as to extend from one surface of the component base 10 to the adjacent surface. ,
As shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to form the substantially U-shaped external terminal electrodes 41, and there is an advantage that a plurality of substantially U-shaped external terminal electrodes can be formed by one coating operation without causing a variation in dimensions.

(2) In the conventional configuration using a drum having an intaglio plate on the outer periphery, it is indispensable to align the center of the component base with the center of the drum. In the first embodiment, however, the endless flat belt-shaped endless straight belt portion is used. Since the band 21 is used, centering and the like are unnecessary. Further, in the conventional configuration, the eccentricity at the time of forming the cylindrical roll and the intaglio and the eccentricity due to the attachment of the drum to the rotating shaft are large, which affects the variation of the wrapping dimension of the substantially U-shaped external terminal electrode. In the first embodiment of the present invention, when the pushing amount of the elastic endless band 21 into the component base is fixed, only the thickness of the endless band 21 defines the wraparound dimension of the substantially U-shaped external terminal electrode. Therefore, variations in the wraparound dimensions of the substantially U-shaped external terminal electrodes can be reduced. For this reason, for example, it is advantageous for forming an electrode of a product in which the wrapping dimension of the substantially U-shaped external terminal electrode is small, a product having a small component base size, and the like.

(3) A pair of coating units 20A, 20B
By supporting a large number of component bases 10 between the linear portions of the endless band 21 of the coating units 20A and 20B in the symmetrical arrangement, a plurality of substantially The U-shaped external terminal electrodes can be formed at the same time, and in this regard, mass productivity can be improved.

In the first embodiment, it has been described that the pushers 26 as the pressing members of the coating units 20A and 20B perform the lateral movement of approaching and separating from each other. , 20B may be configured to perform an operation of approaching and separating from each other. However, in this case, the function of independently moving in the lateral direction like the pusher 26 becomes unnecessary, and a pressing member (the shape may be the same as that of the pusher 26) that can freely contact the inner surface of the linear portion of the endless band 21 is used. This is used for the coating units 20A, 20A.
Move along with B as a whole.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, in addition to the coating unit shown in the first embodiment, a transport jig as a means for supporting a component base and a mechanism for circulating the transport jig are further provided.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, a support frame 51 is provided upright with respect to a base 50, and a transport belt driving roller 53 for stretching a transport belt 52 to the support frame 51 and a transport belt. Belt driven roller 54
Is attached. The transport belt 52 stretched between the transport belt driving roller 53 and the transport belt driven roller 54 intermittently travels (moves forward by a constant pitch) as the transport belt driving roller 53 rotates intermittently.

A chucking conveyance jig 60 shown in FIG. 5 is attached to the conveyance belt 52 at regular intervals.
The chucking / conveying jig 60 constitutes support means for supporting a plurality of component bases 10 in a uniform posture, and includes a movable upper chuck pawl 62 and a fixed lower chuck pawl 6 which can be freely opened and closed.
3 (fixed to the main body 64) and a plurality of chucks 61 for clamping the component substrate 10 at equal intervals. Further, positioning holes 65 are formed in the main body 64 of the chucking conveyance jig 60.
Are formed. The movable upper chuck pawls 62 and the fixed lower chuck pawls 63 both have the width W of the component substrate 10.
The thickness is smaller than that of the conductive paste, so that the conductive paste does not adhere to the chuck claws 62 and 63 when the conductive paste is applied.

As shown in FIG. 4, a ball feeder 7 is arranged on a base 50 by vibrating to arrange the component bases 10 in a line in a fixed posture and send them to a component base supply unit 70 to a chuck.
1 is installed. Component base supply unit 70 for chuck
Are the chucks 61 of the stopped chucking conveyance jig 60
Has a mechanism for supplying the component base 10 to the device. The component base positioning unit 72 executes positioning of the component base 10 held by the chucks 61 of the chucking transfer jig 60 with reference to the positioning holes 65. Y which is the direction and the front-back direction
The position of the component base 10 clamped by each chuck 61 is aligned in the X and Y directions.

In FIG. 4, a pair of coating units 20A and 20B as shown in FIG. 1 are provided on the left side where the conveyor belt 52 runs upward from below. Most of the upper side and the right side of the conveyor belt 52 are a drying heater zone 73 containing a drying heater. Further, a component base discharge unit 74 from the chuck is disposed at a position on the lower side of the conveyor belt 52 in front of the supply unit 70. The component base discharge unit 74 from the chuck releases the clamps of the chucks 61 of the chucking conveyance jig 60 to release and drop the component base 10. It should be noted that positioning pins 75 as positioning means are provided at locations where the transport jig 60 needs to be positioned, such as the supply section 70, the positioning section 72, and the discharge section 74.

In the second embodiment, the component bases 10 are arranged in a line in a fixed posture from the ball feeder 71 and sent to the component base supply unit 70 to the chuck. The component substrate 10 is supplied to each chuck 61 of the empty chucking conveyance jig 60 that has arrived and stopped at the supply unit 70 due to the intermittent running of the conveyance belt 52.

The chucking conveyance jig 60 clamping the component substrate 10 with each chuck 61 arrives at the component substrate positioning section 72 due to the intermittent traveling of the conveyor belt 52 and stops. Here, the positioning of the component substrate 10 held by each chuck 61 of the chucking transfer jig 60 is performed with reference to the positioning hole 65, and the X direction and the front-rear direction of each chuck 61 in FIG. Positioning in a certain Y direction is performed, and the positions of the component base 10 clamped by the chucks 61 in the X direction and the Y direction are aligned. That is, when the component substrate 10 clamped by each chuck 61 arrives between the pair of coating units 20A and 20B in the subsequent process, the component substrate 10 is positioned in the left-right direction such that the component substrate 10 is located exactly in the middle of the left and right endless bands 21. In addition to positioning in a certain X direction, positioning in the Y direction, which is the front-rear direction, is performed so as to contact appropriate positions of the intaglio on the outer surfaces of the left and right endless bands (positioning of the application position is performed).

The chucking and conveying jig 60 which clamps the component substrate 10 after the positioning in the X and Y directions is
2 left and right coating units 20A, 20B with intermittent running
It stops after arriving at the application position sandwiched between. Here, the conductor paste is applied to both ends of the component substrate 10 supported by each chuck 61 by the operation described in the first embodiment described above.

Thereafter, the component substrate 1 on which the conductor paste has been applied
The chucking conveyance jig 60 with 0 clamped reaches the drying heater zone 73, and while passing therethrough, the applied conductive paste is dried (or baked). Component base 10 after completion of drying (or baking)
The chucking conveyance jig 60 which has been clamped arrives at the component base discharge section 74 from the chuck and stops there. Here, the clamp of each chuck 61 is released, and the substantially U-shaped external terminal electrode 41 as shown in FIG. The chip-shaped noise filters 40 formed at a plurality of locations on both ends of the component base 10 are discharged from the chucking conveyance jig 60.

According to the second embodiment, a new component base 10 can be sequentially supplied to the coating position where the pair of coating units 20A and 20B are disposed by using the chucking and conveying jig 60. From the supply of the conductive paste to the application of the conductive paste and the drying (or baking) of the conductive paste applied to the component substrate 10, it is possible to fully automate each process.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the claims. There will be.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The intaglio plate of the elastic body is constituted by a flat belt-shaped endless band, and a component base is supported so as to face a linear portion of the endless band, and the conductor paste supplied to the endless band is intermittently run by the endless band. The conductor paste is transferred to a position facing the component base, and the linear portion of the endless band is pressed against the component base while the endless belt is in a running stop state so that the conductor paste wraps around from one surface of the component base to an adjacent surface. Is applied, displacement of a plurality of external terminal electrodes, variation in electrode shape, and occurrence of shape defects can be eliminated.

Further, since the straight portion of the endless belt on which the intaglio plate is formed is used, the area where the conductor paste can be applied to the component substrate under the same conditions is wide, and the external terminal electrodes can be simultaneously formed on a large number of component substrates. It is possible to improve mass productivity.

Further, when the amount of pushing of the elastic endless band into the component base is made constant, only the thickness of the endless band is a factor for defining the wraparound dimension of the substantially U-shaped external terminal electrode. Variations in the wrap-around dimension of the U-shaped external terminal electrodes can be reduced, which is advantageous, for example, in forming electrodes for products in which the wrap-around dimensions of the substantially U-shaped external terminal electrodes are small, and for products with small component base dimensions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment according to the present invention, showing an overall configuration.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part including an endless band on which an intaglio is formed in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a chip-type noise filter as an example of an electronic component with a plurality of terminal electrodes obtained according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an entire configuration according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a chucking conveyance jig for clamping a plurality of component bases according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration using a conventional drum having an intaglio on the outer periphery.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1A, 1B Drum 2 Conductive paste 3,24 Dispenser 4,5,27 Doctor knife 6,28 Paste dish 10 Parts substrate 20A, 20B Coating unit 21 Endless belt 22 Drive roller 23 Follower roller 26 Pusher 30 Intaglio 31 Groove 40 Chip type noise Filter 41 U-shaped external terminal electrode 52 Conveyor belt 53 Conveyor belt drive roller 54 Conveyor belt driven roller 60 Chucking conveying jig 61 Chuck 62 Movable upper chuck claw 63 Fixed lower chuck claw 65 Positioning hole 70 Parts to chuck Base supply unit 71 Ball feeder 72 Component base positioning unit 73 Drying heater zone 74 Component base discharge unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An electronic component with a plurality of terminal electrodes, wherein a conductive paste is provided on an intaglio plate of an elastic body, and a component base is pressed against the intaglio plate to apply the conductive paste so as to extend from one surface of the component base to an adjacent surface. In the manufacturing method, the intaglio plate of the elastic body is constituted by a flat belt-shaped endless band, and the component body is supported so as to face a linear portion of the endless band,
The conductive paste supplied to the endless band is transferred to a position facing the component base by intermittent running of the endless band, and the linear portion of the endless band is pressed against the component base while the endless band is stopped running. A method for manufacturing an electronic component with a plurality of terminal electrodes, comprising: 2. The multi-terminal electrode with a multi-terminal electrode according to claim 1, wherein the endless bands are arranged on both sides of the component base so as to intermittently travel, and the endless bands are simultaneously pressed against both sides of the component base. Manufacturing method of electronic components. 3. The manufacturing of an electronic component with a plurality of terminal electrodes according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of component bases are supported by a supporting means in the same posture, and said endless band is pressed against said plurality of component bases simultaneously. Method. 4. An endless band constituting an intaglio of an elastic body stretched between a plurality of rollers, a paste supply means for supplying a conductive paste to an outer surface of the endless band, and a linear portion of the endless band. An entire unit comprising: a plurality of rollers, an endless band, and a pressing member, comprising: a pressing member capable of being in contact with an inner side surface; and support means for supporting a component body in opposition to a linear portion of the endless band. Alternatively, an apparatus for manufacturing an electronic component with a plurality of terminal electrodes, wherein the pressing member is moved toward the component base to press the linear portion of the endless band against the component base. 5. The electronic device with a plurality of terminal electrodes according to claim 6, wherein the unit having the plurality of rollers, the endless belt, and the pressing member are disposed on both sides of the component substrate supported by the support means. Parts manufacturing equipment. 6. The multi-terminal electrode-equipped electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the supporting means is constituted by a conveying jig sequentially supplied by a conveying means at a position close to the linear portion of the endless band. Parts manufacturing equipment.