JP2000174417A - Transfer of electrophotographic printed wiring board - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a trouble such as jamming between processes without dissipating electric charges held on the surface of a laminate by using a chucking and transfer means which chucks the laminate by a part outside an effective image region, in contact transfer of the electrophotographic laminate which holds electric charges on part of its surface. SOLUTION: An electrophotographic laminate chucking and transfer mechanism is constituted of a chucking holder 3 for holding a laminate chucking means 4A, and an elevation means 2 and a horizontal transfer means 1 which constitute a laminate levitation transfer means. The laminate levitation transfer means is provided with a mechanism for pressing the laminate chucking means 4A against a part of the laminate 5 out of an effective image region (margins of about 5-10 mm formed on the four sides of the laminate which are to be cut out when the laminate becomes a finished product), a mechanism for levitating the laminate 5 using the chucking action of the laminate chucking means which is secured by a pressure reducing means, and a mechanism for transferring the chucked and levitated laminate 5 to a specified place. Such a transfer mechanism is required for transfer between an electrification process and an exposure process, etc.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a process for producing an electrophotographic printed wiring board using an electrophotographic laminate having a photoconductive layer on at least one side of a copper-clad laminate. And a method for transporting an electrophotographic laminate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A method for producing a printed wiring board using electrophotography is to provide a photoconductive layer on at least one side of a copper-clad laminate, uniformly charge the surface of the photoconductive layer in the dark, and then expose the wiring pattern by exposure. Is formed. The electrostatic latent image is subjected to toner development processing and fixing, and the toner image is used as a resist to dissolve and remove the photoconductive layer in the toner image non-formed portion, and a resist image of a metal conductive layer including the toner image and the photoconductive layer is formed. Is produced. Dissolution and removal of the unnecessary portion of the metal conductive layer and the subsequent steps of manufacturing the printed wiring board can be performed in the same manner as in the related art.

[0003] As an exposure method in a printed wiring board manufacturing process, in addition to a surface exposure drawing method using a photomask, a scanning exposure apparatus using a laser or an LED is used to directly output wiring image data from a computer. A direct drawing method for forming a high-density printed wiring board without using a photomask is being studied, and the high-sensitivity and high-resolution characteristics of the electrophotography method are being applied to the printed wiring board manufacturing process by the electrophotography method. Studies on the application of the direct drawing method are in progress.

[0004] In a printed wiring board, a photopolymer conventionally used and a resist material listed as a dry film include a photopolymer provided with a certain film thickness or a dry film layer exposed to ultraviolet light or the like. The exposed portion is cured or solubilized to form a resist layer.

In the process of manufacturing a printed wiring board using such a photopolymer and a dry film, unlike an electrophotographic method, a resist pattern is directly formed by exposure without requiring a charging step. When a resist material was used, there was no need to pay particular attention to the contact transfer method. On the other hand, in the electrophotographic process, an electrostatic latent image is formed by the exposure process as described above, and a resist pattern is formed only in the subsequent toner developing process and fixing process. Therefore, in the process of manufacturing a printed wiring board by electrophotography, regardless of the type of exposure method to be applied, the electrostatic latent image is formed when the transporting means that contacts the portion holding the charge is applied. It is necessary to carry out the transportation between processes so as not to be physically disturbed.

On the other hand, in an electrophotographic photoreceptor conventionally used for an electrophotographic lithographic printing plate or the like, image data is directly sent from a computer without using a photomask by scanning exposure with a laser beam, and a high-density image is transmitted. Has been put to practical use.

A transfer device after charging and exposure in an electrophotographic lithographic printing plate is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-35240. When the printing plate is safely transported in the air using suction means by the device. At the same time, the present invention provides a method of transporting an electrophotographic lithographic printing plate capable of preventing the image portion from being disturbed by contacting and transporting an area of the printing plate where an image is not formed.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a process for producing an electrophotographic printed wiring board using an electrophotographic laminate having a photoconductive layer on at least one side of a copper-clad laminate. In the step of having a portion for retaining the electric charge at least on a part of the electrophotographic laminated plate surface from the time until the formation of the toner image, the electric charge retained on the electrophotographic laminated plate surface by the conveying means contacting the electrophotographic laminated plate surface It is an object of the present invention to provide a transporting method that does not cause loss of paper and does not cause trouble such as jam between processes.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems As a result of investigations to solve the above problems, the present inventors have found that an electrophotographic printed wiring board is manufactured using an electrophotographic laminate having a photoconductive layer on at least one side of a copper-clad laminate. This was achieved by a transport method in which the object of contact in the transport means during manufacturing is outside the effective image area of the electrophotographic laminate.

Further, as the contact conveying means, at least a member for contacting the electrophotographic laminate, made of an elastic material, is brought into contact with the electrophotographic laminate by pressing and contacting the electrophotographic laminate with a reduced pressure and then floating. By transporting
Stable contact transfer without trouble such as jam between processes was achieved.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The method of transporting an electrophotographic printed wiring board of the present invention will be described in detail below. Generally, when manufacturing a printed wiring board, a margin of about 5 to 10 mm that is cut and removed when the final product is formed on four sides of the laminated board, that is, outside the effective image area is secured. There is no exception in the production of electrophotographic printed wiring boards, and in the present invention, any part outside the effective image area becomes a contact part when contacting and transporting, and the floating board is stably transported by floating. Then, at least four or more arbitrary contact sites are set.

The electrophotographic laminate adsorbing and conveying means according to the present invention is provided with a series of mechanisms for transferring a portion of the electroconductive layer surface of the electrophotographic laminate outside the effective image area under reduced pressure while holding the same. It is sufficient that at least the same number of members as to be in contact with the contact portions set in contact with the lamination plate are constituted by a lamination plate suction means made of an elastic body, a decompression means, and a lamination board floating transfer means.

Therefore, according to the present invention, at least the laminate adsorbing means in which at least the member in contact with the electrophotographic laminate is made of an elastic body, comprises the elastic body in contact with the laminate and the laminate in the laminate adsorbing and conveying mechanism. A holder that is fixed to the levitation moving means, holds the elastic body, and constitutes a part of an intake path by the pressure reducing means.

The depressurizing means used in the electrophotographic laminate adsorbing and conveying mechanism according to the present invention comprises: an elastic body of the laminate adsorbing means in which at least a member in contact with the electrophotographic laminate is an elastic body; And a means for lowering the atmospheric pressure in the closed space formed by the above. Specific examples thereof include a vane type and oil rotary type vacuum pump and vacuum generator (ejector).

A suction pad is preferably used as the elastic body according to the present invention. Specific examples of the suction pad include a vacuum pad manufactured by Koganei Seisakusho, a vacuum pad with a built-in one-touch joint manufactured by Pisco Japan, and a vacuum pad manufactured by SMC. And the like. Examples of the material include nitrile rubber, silicone rubber, urethane rubber, and fluorine rubber, but may be made of other materials. Further, if the holder is a substantially inelastic structure that holds the elastic body and does not deform at least under reduced pressure,
Any shape and material can be selected.

The laminate floating and conveying means according to the present invention comprises a mechanism for pressing the laminate adsorbing means against a contact area outside the effective image area of the laminate, and a sufficient depressurizing means for sufficient adsorption action of the laminate adsorbing means. A mechanism for assuring and lifting the laminated plate and a mechanism for transferring the attracted and floated laminated plate to a predetermined location are also provided.

[0017]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples unless it departs from the gist.

A double-sided copper-clad laminate (manufactured by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co., Ltd.)
(340 × 510 × 0.8 mm, copper thickness: 18 μm) An electrophotographic laminate having photoconductive layers of appropriate thickness and properties formed on both sides is charged on one side only by a corona charger, and then scanned with a flatbed LED array. Exposure equipment (Lavenir)
(Pulsar 8000) was completed, and the exposure was completed. Thereafter, the electrophotographic laminate adsorbing / transporting apparatus (FIG. 2) for realizing the electrophotographic laminate conveying method of the present invention having the electrophotographic laminate adsorbing means shown in FIG. Floating conveyance was performed to the apparatus introduction part, and a good resist image was obtained by toner development processing.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electrophotographic laminate adsorbing means comprises a holder body 31 and an elastic body 30 mounted on the tip of the holder body.
1 and an air hose 12. Further, a mechanism for absorbing a shock when the electrophotographic laminate adsorbing means is pressed against the electrophotographic laminate by the air cylinder 13 is added.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electrophotographic laminated plate suction / conveying mechanism used in the present embodiment has six electrophotographic laminated plate suction means 4A in which at least a member in contact with the electrophotographic laminated plate is made of an elastic material. Each of the electrophotographic laminated board suction means 4A is constituted by an electrophotographic laminated board floating transfer mechanism comprising an adsorbing means holding body 3 for holding the electrophotographic laminated board floating means and a horizontal moving means 1 constituting an electrophotographic laminated board floating moving means. Are arranged evenly at the margins on the four sides of the used electrophotographic laminate. In addition, the electrophotographic printed wiring board exposing machine 20 and the electrophotographic printed wiring board toner developing machine 21 including the charging step are kept in a light-shielded state by an exterior member (not shown).

Next, a series of operations of conveying the electrophotographic laminate in the steps from charging to toner development will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, unlike the case where the exposure apparatus includes the charging step as described above, the charging step and the exposure step are separate, and two points are provided between the charging step and the exposure step and between the exposure step and the toner development step. This is a case where a transfer operation is required. Here, the operation of transporting the electrophotographic laminate between the exposure step and the toner development step will be described, but the same apparatus is used between the charging step and the exposure step.

The horizontal moving means 1 of the electrophotographic laminated board suction / conveying mechanism is on the surface plate of the electrophotographic printed wiring board exposing machine 20, and the suction means holder 3 is lowered by the elevating means 2, so that the electrophotographic lamination is performed. Each of the plate suction means 4A is pushed down (the position of the electrophotographic laminate suction means 4B), and the elastic body 30 attached to each of the electrophotographic laminate suction means 4B is pressed against the surface of the electrophotographic laminate immediately after depressurization. The means 11 is actuated to start the reduced pressure adsorption, and secure adsorption is performed.

The electrophotographic laminate 5 lifted substantially horizontally by the individual electrophotographic laminate suction means 4A is moved by the horizontal moving means 1 to move the suction means holder 3 (from 3 to 3 ').
(Position (1)), and moves onto the plate supplying section of the toner developing machine 21 for an electrophotographic printed wiring board. Thereafter, the electrophotographic laminate 5 is moved down on the plate feeding unit by the electrophotographic laminate adsorbing means 4A (positions 4A to 4B). After the electrophotographic laminate comes into contact with the plate feeding unit, the pressure reducing means 11 is stopped. Thus, the suction of the electrophotographic laminate suction means 4B is released. In this way, the electrophotographic laminate is placed on the plate feeding section of the toner developing machine 21 for an electrophotographic printed wiring board.

In a dark place, the electrophotographic laminate placed on the plate feeding section of the electrophotographic printed wiring board toner developing machine 21 from the plate feeding section as described above is subjected to an electrophotographic liquid A toner developing process is performed, and a dissolution process is performed in a subsequent dissolution process to obtain a resist pattern of the printed wiring board.

Further, when a double-sided printed wiring board is obtained, after a resist pattern is obtained on one side as described above, the same processing is performed on a surface on which no resist pattern is obtained.

As a result of manufacturing the double-sided printed wiring board continuously for 100 plates using the electrophotographic printed wiring board manufacturing apparatus by applying the above-described electrophotographic laminated board conveying mechanism, the electrophotographic laminated board suction means 4A is produced in all of the manufactured printed wiring boards. The electrophotographic laminate did not fall due to poor adsorption of, and a stable and favorable electrophotographic printed wiring board was obtained.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, a process for producing an electrophotographic printed wiring board using an electrophotographic laminate having a photoconductive layer on at least one surface of a copper-clad laminate. A suction conveyance means for setting a contact portion outside an effective image area during a contact conveyance in a process having a portion for holding a charge on at least a part of an electrophotographic laminate plate surface from charging to toner image formation; By applying the method, it is possible to provide a transporting method without losing the charge held on the surface and without causing trouble such as a jam between processes.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an electrophotographic laminate adsorbing means according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electrophotographic laminate suction and conveyance mechanism according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Horizontal moving means 2, 2 'Elevating means 3, 3' Suction means holder 4A, 4B Electrophotographic laminated board adsorption means 5 Electrophotographic laminated board 11 Decompression means 12 Air hose 13 Air cylinder 20 For electrophotographic printed wiring boards Exposure machine 21 Toner developing machine for electrophotographic printed wiring board 30 Elastic body 31 Holder body

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A method for manufacturing an electrophotographic printed wiring board using an electrophotographic laminate having a photoconductive layer on at least one surface of a copper-clad laminate, the electrophotography in a process from charging to toner development. A method of transporting an electrophotographic printed wiring board, wherein a portion outside the effective image area is used as a contact transport means in the method of transporting a laminate. 2. A method in which at least a member that comes into contact with the electrophotographic laminate is made of an elastic material is pressed into contact with a portion outside the effective image area of the electrophotographic laminate, and then is suctioned under reduced pressure and floated. 2. The method of conveying an electrophotographic printed circuit board according to claim 1, wherein the method is carried.