Tape cutting device and tape feeder changing carriage

1. A tape cutting device for cutting off an empty tape, comprising:

a tape feeder configured to pitch-feed a tape containing components and discharge the empty tape after supplying the components to a component mounting apparatus;

a pneumatic actuator driven by a supply of a pressurized air from a pneumatic pressure source controlled by a control valve configured to control a flow direction of the pressurized air;

two cutting blades actuated by the pneumatic actuator; and

a blade closing mechanism which is configured to cut the empty tape and which closes said two cutting blades when the supply of the pressurized air from the pneumatic pressure source to the pneumatic actuator is stopped.

2. The tape cutting device according to claim 1 , wherein the blade closing mechanism includes the pneumatic actuator, the control valve and a check valve inserted in a pipe passage between the pneumatic pressure source and the control valve,

when the supply of the pressurized air from the pneumatic pressure source to the pneumatic actuator is stopped by releasing the pipe passage to an atmospheric environment, the check valve closes the pipe passage to generate a pressure between the pneumatic actuator and the check valve, and

the control valve drives the pneumatic actuator by the pressure generated between the pneumatic actuator and the check valve.

3. The tape cutting device according to claim 1 , wherein the blade closing mechanism includes the pneumatic actuator, the control valve and an urging spring which urges one of said two cutting blades to approach the other of said two cutting blades,

when the supply of the pressurized air from the pneumatic pressure source to the pneumatic actuator is stopped by releasing a pipe passage between the pneumatic pressure source and the pneumatic actuator to the atmospheric environment, the control valve lets ports of the pneumatic actuator released to the atmospheric environment so that said two cutting blades are brought into a condition of freely openable and closable,

the urging spring urges one of said two cutting blades to approach the other of said two cutting blades.

4. A tape feeder changing carriage with which a plurality of tape feeders mounted thereon can be installed on or removed from a component mounting apparatus, the tape feeder changing carriage comprising:

a carriage body portion configured to be attached and detached from a component mounting apparatus by operating a handle;

a tape cutting device according to claim 1 ,

wherein a pipe passage between the pneumatic pressure source and the control valve is formed by coupling a first connector connected to the control valve provided in the carriage body portion and a second connector connected to the pneumatic pressure source provided, and

the supply of the pressurized air from the pneumatic pressure source to the pneumatic actuator is stopped by releasing the pipe passage to the atmospheric environment when the first connector and the second connector are detached from each other.

5. A tape feeder changing carriage with a plurality of tape feeders mounted thereon which can be installed on or removed from a component mounting apparatus, the tape feeder changing carriage comprising:

the tape cutting device of claim 1 and

a carriage body portion configured to be attached to and detached from a component mounting apparatus by operating a handle;

wherein the tape cutting device is configured to cut an empty tape discharged from the tape feeder, and

wherein the empty tape discharged from the tape feeder is directly transported to the tape cutting device without passing the component mounting apparatus.

6. The tape feeder changing carriage according to claim 5 , further comprising a tape collecting portion disposed below the tape cutting device which collects the empty tape cut off by the tape cutting device.