The linear motor includes: a frame; a slider having an mounting portion to allow the suction nozzle to be coupled thereto, wherein the slider is support by the frame in a movable manner in an up and down direction; a plurality of permanent magnets fixed to the slider while being aligned in the up and down direction; a spring member installed between the frame and a region of the slider spaced from the fixation position of the permanent magnets in the up and down direction, to bias the slider upwardly; a coil supported by the frame in such a manner as to be opposed to the permanent magnets; and an encoder supported by the frame in side-by-side relation with the coil in the up and down direction and adapted to detect a movement of the slider. The encoder and the spring member are arranged side-by-side in a horizontal direction.