To generate component data capable of generating the component data surely and correctly even with respect to an electronic component having a complicated electrode array, and permitting the highly accurate recognition or positioning of a component.

The image of the component 18 photographed by a component recognizing camera is transformed into a reference angle (0°) to set a region 32 for measuring the coordinate value and the dimension of an electrode. The set image is read out with respect to respective images along respective lines 33a, 33b to detect an image whose image data are larger than or not larger than a threshold as an edge, and to measure the central coordinate and the diameter of an electrode 18c. The measured data of the electrode are stored as data for recognizing the component. In such a constitution, the data are generated by actually measuring the electrode whereby correct component data can be generated even in a component having a number of electrodes with complicated arrays.