JP2004237665A - Screen printing method and printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing method capable of reducing a frequency of trial printing, a loss of objects to be printed and printing paste, as well as a loss of time, and a printing device. <P>SOLUTION: While backing a reverse surface of a screen printing plate 1 with a holding member 6 and uniformly wiping it with a rag 5 immersed with a liquid having affinity to a printing paste, printing of a printing object 10 is launched before this affinity liquid is dried, or printing of the printing object 10 is launched after the printing paste is supplied to the surface of the screen printing plate 1 before the above affinity liquid is dried and the surface of the screen printing plate 1 is covered with the printing paste and allowed to be left for a fixed length of time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a screen printing method and a printing apparatus, in particular, a screen printing method in which a printing paste applied to the surface of a screen printing plate having a predetermined pattern opening is coated on a printing material from the pattern opening with a squeegee and the screen printing method. It relates to a printing device used in the method.
[0002]
[Prior art and problems]
Conventionally, for example, when a plurality of internal electrodes are screen-printed in a predetermined pattern on a ceramic green sheet using a conductive printing paste, the following procedure has been performed.
[0003]
Procedure (1): The surface of the screen printing plate having a predetermined pattern opening is covered with a printing paste by a scraper.
Procedure {circle over (2)}: The surface of the screen printing plate is squeezed to print on a printing substrate.
Step (3): Steps (1) and (2) are repeated until the printing state is stabilized (test printing).
Step (4): When the printing state is stabilized, the actual printing is performed.
[0004]
Conventionally, when screen printing is performed, blurring or blurring occurs until the pattern openings become familiar with the printing paste, and it is necessary to perform test printing (the above procedure (3)) many times until the printing state is stabilized. In addition to the loss of printing paste and printing, the time loss was also large. In particular, such a ratio of loss was remarkable in the production of various kinds and in small quantities.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 2-46628 This document 1 has a mechanism for supplying a transparent tape for test printing to the back surface of a screen printing plate, and prints on a transparent tape during test printing to reduce the loss of a printing material. A screen printer intended to be reduced is disclosed.
[0006]
Certainly, in the screen printing machine disclosed in Document 1, the loss of the printing material due to test printing is eliminated. However, since the number of times of trial printing is not reduced, loss of printing paste and time loss are not solved. In addition, when the printability (liquid absorbency, surface roughness, etc.) of the transparent tape for test printing and the printing material is different, the bleeding of the paste may occur on the back surface of the screen printing plate. As a result, test printing was required until the printing state became stable, and in some cases, this was not a solution.
[0007]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a screen printing method and a printing apparatus that can reduce the number of times of test printing, and reduce loss of a print material and a printing paste and time loss.
[0008]
Means and Action for Solving the Problems
In order to achieve the above object, a first invention is a screen printing method in which a printing paste applied to the surface of a screen printing plate having a predetermined pattern opening is coated on a printing material from the pattern opening with a squeegee. The back surface of the screen printing plate is wetted with a liquid having an affinity for the printing paste, and printing on a printing substrate is started before the affinity liquid is dried.
[0009]
In the screen printing method according to the first invention, the back surface of the screen printing plate is wetted with a liquid having an affinity for the printing paste, and printing on the printing substrate is started before the affinity liquid is dried. As a result, a priming effect is achieved in which the printing paste is drawn to the pattern openings, the paste is easily filled in the pattern openings, and the number of test printings is reduced.
[0010]
In the screen printing method according to the first invention, a printing paste is supplied to a surface of the screen printing plate before the affinity liquid dries, and a predetermined amount of the printing paste is covered with the surface of the screen printing plate covered with the printing paste. It may be left for a while, and then the printing on the printing substrate may be started. While the priming effect is exhibited, before the affinity liquid dries, the printing paste is supplied to the surface of the screen printing plate to leave the surface of the screen printing plate covered with the printing paste for a predetermined period of time, The paste is reliably filled in the pattern openings, and the number of test prints is reduced. In this case, the predetermined time for leaving the screen printing plate covered with the printing paste is preferably 10 to 120 seconds.
[0011]
Also, to wet the back surface of the screen printing plate with the affinity liquid, a method of wetting the back surface of the screen printing plate with a member containing the affinity liquid, or a member holding the cloth-like body containing the affinity liquid is used. And at least one of the methods of wiping the back surface of the screen printing plate while pressing with. When the back surface of the printing plate is wetted or wiped, it is preferable to perform it uniformly.
[0012]
Further, in the screen printing method according to the first invention, a printing paste is supplied to the surface of the screen printing plate before the affinity liquid dries, and the surface of the screen printing plate is covered with the printing paste. The pattern opening may be filled with a printing paste with a squeegee in a state where the back surface of the screen printing plate is not in contact with the printing material, and then printing on the printing material may be started. The priming effect is exhibited, and before the affinity liquid dries, a printing paste is supplied to the surface of the screen printing plate to cover the surface of the screen printing plate with the printing paste, and the surface of the screen printing plate is squeegeeed. Since the printing paste is filled into the pattern openings with the paste, the pattern openings are reliably filled with the paste, and the number of test printings is reduced.
[0013]
A screen printing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a screen printing plate having a predetermined pattern opening, and a squeegee for applying a printing paste applied to the surface of the screen printing plate from the pattern opening onto a printing substrate. Liquid applying means for applying a liquid having an affinity for the printing paste to the back surface of the screen printing plate.
[0014]
According to the screen printing apparatus according to the second invention, the screen printing method according to the first invention can be easily implemented.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of a screen printing method and a printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0016]
(Printing device and screen printing plate)
FIG. 1 shows a printing apparatus for performing a screen printing method according to the present invention. In this printing apparatus, a screen printing plate 1 having a predetermined pattern opening is overlapped at a predetermined interval above a printing substrate 10 fixed on a table 11, and applied to the surface of the screen printing plate 1 by a scraper 3. This is a screen printing apparatus that applies a printing paste to the printing material 10 from a pattern opening by applying a predetermined tension to the printing material 10 using a squeegee 4.
[0017]
Between the table 11 and the screen printing plate 1, a strip-shaped waste 5, a pressing member 6 thereof, a nozzle 7 for supplying a liquid having an affinity for a printing paste to the waste 5, and a waste cloth shown in FIG. A member 8 is provided.
[0018]
Here, the liquid having an affinity for the printing paste is a solvent contained in the printing paste, a solvent used for washing the solvent or the paste, or an organic solvent such as ethanol or acetone. It is written.
[0019]
As the strip-shaped waste 5, various materials such as cloth, paper, and cleaning paper can be used as long as the strip-shaped waste 5 can contain the affinity liquid. The holding member 6 is a rod-shaped body or a cylindrical body made of rubber, resin, metal, or the like, and may have a function of discharging liquid instead of the nozzle 7 for supplying the liquid to the waste 5.
[0020]
The waste member 8 is for uniformly wetting the entire back surface of the screen printing plate 1 with the affinity liquid, and any member that can achieve this purpose has a semi-circular cross section shown in FIG. The present invention is not limited to this, and may be a roller-shaped or band-shaped member.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 2, the screen printing plate 1 is a so-called electroforming pattern in which a pattern opening 2 has a two-layer structure of a figure portion 2a and a mesh portion 2b, and an internal electrode for a multilayer capacitor is formed on the surface of a ceramic green pattern. Is formed. The electroforming pattern has been disclosed in detail in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-85077 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-175012 by the present applicant.
[0022]
Specifically, the mesh portion 2b has an aperture ratio of 40% or less, preferably 30%, a mesh opening shape of 50 μm square or less, preferably 35 μm, and a mesh thickness of 1 to 50 μm, preferably 35 μm. The thickness of the figure portion 2a is 1 to 50 μm, preferably 10 to 30 μm. Of course, the size is not limited to this, and a screen printing plate having only a normal screen opening may be used. In the following drawings, only the pattern opening 2 is shown for simplification.
[0023]
The printing paste used in the screen printing plate 1 has a viscosity of 20 Pa · S or less, preferably 10 Pa · S.
[0024]
(1st Embodiment)
In the screen printing method according to the first embodiment, the following procedures (1) to (5) are continuously executed.
[0025]
Procedure (1) (see Fig. 3):
The back surface of the dried screen printing plate 1 is uniformly wetted with the waste member 8 impregnated with the affinity liquid. As a result, the affinity liquid M adheres to and fills the back surface of the screen printing plate 1 and the pattern openings 2. In the procedure (1), various liquid applying means such as a roller can be used in addition to the waste member 8.
[0026]
Procedure 2 (see FIGS. 4 and 5)
The back surface of the screen printing plate 1 is uniformly wiped with a rag 5 (liquid wiping unit) impregnated with the affinity liquid M while being lined with the pressing member 6. Thus, the excess affinity liquid attached to the back surface of the screen printing plate 1 is wiped off, and the affinity liquid M penetrates to every corner of the pattern opening 2.
[0027]
As a method of moving the waste 5 and the pressing member 6, the waste 5 may be fixed and only the pressing member 6 may be moved along the back surface of the screen printing plate 1, or the relative position between the waste 5 and the pressing member 6 may be determined. In a fixed state, it may be moved along the back surface of the screen printing plate 1 at the same time. The latter is advantageous in repeated use because the use area of the waste 5 is small and the amount of the affinity liquid M used is small.
[0028]
In this procedure (2), since the back surface of the screen printing plate 1 has already been wetted with the affinity liquid M by performing the procedure (1), the affinity liquid M is not soaked into the waste cloth 5. Alternatively, only the back surface of the screen printing plate 1 may be wiped.
[0029]
In step (2), as shown in FIG. 5, a roller 9 made of a rag or the like may be rotationally moved along the back surface of the screen printing plate 1 to wipe off excess affinity liquid. The roller 9 may or may not be impregnated with the affinity liquid.
[0030]
The roller 9 may be moved along the back surface of the screen printing plate 1 while rotating the roller 9 or may be moved along the back surface of the screen printing plate 1 without rotating the roller 9. Good. The latter is advantageous in repeated use because the use area of the roller 9 is small and the use amount of the affinity liquid M is small.
[0031]
Procedure (3) (See Fig. 6)
The printing paste N is supplied to the surface of the screen printing plate 1 and test printing is performed once or twice. Thus, the printing paste N penetrates and fills the pattern openings 2. Here, the number of times of trial printing is arbitrarily selected according to the printing conditions, the type of the paste N, and the like. Further, the printing pressure in the test printing may be set to be higher than that in the main printing, and the printing paste N may further penetrate and fill the pattern openings 2.
[0032]
Here, if the opening ratio of the pattern opening 2 is sufficiently large and the paste N sufficiently penetrates into the affinity liquid M of the pattern opening 2 by its own weight, the test printing here is unnecessary.
[0033]
Step 4 (see Figure 6)
As shown in FIG. 6A, the screen printing plate 1 is left for 10 to 120 seconds with the surface thereof covered with the printing paste N. Thus, the paste N penetrates into the affinity liquid M of the pattern opening 2 by its own weight. The leaving time is arbitrarily selected according to the printing conditions, the type of the paste N, and the like.
[0034]
Procedure ▲ 5 ▼
Normal printing (final printing) is performed on the print substrate 10.
[0035]
By performing the above procedures (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5), as shown by the curve A in the graph of FIG. In the sixth printing, the change rate of the printing area became 0%. That is, good printing without bleeding or blurring was possible in the sixth printing.
[0036]
Incidentally, in the conventional printing method, as shown by the curve C in the graph of FIG. 7, the bleeding or blurring of the paste occurred until the twentieth printing or later.
[0037]
Here, the operation of steps (1), (2), (3), and (4) will be described. In step (1), the printing paste is drawn to the pattern opening 2 (hereinafter referred to as a priming effect) in order to fill the pattern opening 2 with a liquid having a high affinity for the printing paste. Also, a state in which the paste is easily filled in the pattern opening 2 occurs.
[0038]
In step (2), the affinity liquid adhering to the back surface of the screen printing plate 1 in contact with the printing material is wiped off, and the affinity liquid sufficiently penetrates all corners of the pattern opening 2. In the procedure (2), the same action as in the procedure (1) is achieved by immersing the affinity liquid in the waste cloth 5. That is, the procedure (2) can be replaced with the procedure (1).
[0039]
In the procedure (3), the affinity liquid M previously filled in the pattern opening 2 and the paste N are well blended, and compared with the case where the pattern opening 2 is printed from the dry state, the paste N 2 is filled smoothly.
[0040]
In step (4), the paste N is allowed to permeate into the affinity liquid M of the pattern opening 2 by its own weight by leaving the screen printing plate 1 covered with the paste N for a predetermined time while covering the entire surface with the paste N. By printing on the printing material from this state, the paste N is smoothly filled in the pattern openings 2.
[0041]
(2nd Embodiment)
In the second embodiment, only the above procedures (1) and (5) are performed. That is, the back surface of the screen printing plate 1 is uniformly wetted with the liquid M having a high affinity with the printing paste N, and printing on the printing substrate 10 is started before the affinity liquid M is dried.
[0042]
In the procedure (1), since the priming effect is exhibited as described above and the paste N is likely to be filled in the pattern openings 2, if printing is started before the affinity liquid M is dried, the printing is started in the early stage of printing. Even so, the paste N is smoothly filled into the pattern openings 2, and the number of test printings until the printing state is stabilized decreases. That is, in the second embodiment, as shown by the curve B in the graph of FIG. 7, the change rate of the printing area becomes 0% in the ninth printing, and good printing without bleeding or blurring is possible. became.
[0043]
(Third embodiment)
In the third embodiment, only the steps (2) and (5) are performed. That is, the back surface of the screen printing plate 1 is evenly wiped with the rag 5 impregnated with the liquid M having a high affinity with the printing paste N, so that the back surface of the screen printing plate 1 is made uniform with the affinity liquid M. , And printing on the printing substrate 10 is started before the affinity liquid M is dried.
[0044]
Also in the procedure (2), the priming effect is exhibited as described above, and the state in which the paste N is easily filled in the pattern opening 2 occurs. Therefore, if the printing is started before the affinity liquid M is dried, the printing is started in the early stage of the printing. Even so, the paste N is smoothly filled into the pattern openings 2, and the number of test printings until the printing state is stabilized decreases.
[0045]
In particular, in the third embodiment, since the excess affinity liquid M on the back surface of the screen printing plate 1 is wiped off by the waste 5 as compared with the second embodiment, the printing material of the affinity liquid M is used. 10 and the bleeding of the paste N is reduced, and the number of test prints is reduced.
[0046]
(Fourth embodiment)
In the fourth embodiment, the following procedures (3) 'and (4)' are performed instead of the procedures (3) and (4) of the first embodiment, that is, procedures (1), (2), Perform (3) ', (4)', and (5). It should be noted that only one of the procedures (1) and (2) may be performed.
[0047]
In step (3) ', the printing paste N is supplied to the surface of the screen printing plate 1. In step (4) ', the paste N is squeezed with the squeegee 4. When performing this squeezing, the distance between the back surface of the screen printing plate 1 and the front surface of the printing material 10 is sufficiently set so that the back surface of the printing plate 1 does not contact the printing material 10. Alternatively, the pressure of the squeegee 4 may be set lower than at the time of printing so that the back surface of the printing plate 1 does not contact the printing object 10. Due to this squeezing, the printing paste N penetrates into the affinity liquid M filled in the pattern openings 2.
[0048]
In the fourth embodiment, the priming effect is exhibited as described above by the squeezing of the procedure (4) ', and the printing paste N is easily filled into the pattern openings 2 even under a weak pressure, and the printing state is stable. The number of test prints before printing is reduced.
[0049]
(Other embodiments)
It should be noted that the screen printing method and the printing apparatus according to the present invention are not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously changed within the scope of the gist.
[0050]
In particular, in the first embodiment, it is not always necessary to perform all of the procedures (1) to (5), but the procedures (1), (2), (5), (1), and (2). , (3), (5), procedure (1), (4), (5), procedure (1), (2), (4), (5), procedure (1), (3), (4) It may be performed in a combination such as ▼ and ▲ 5.
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the screen printing method of the present invention, the back surface of the screen printing plate is wetted with a liquid having an affinity for the printing paste, and the printing material is dried before the affinity liquid is dried. Since the printing is started, the priming effect that the printing paste is drawn to the pattern opening is exhibited, the paste is easily filled in the pattern opening, the number of test prints is reduced, and the printing material and the printing paste are reduced. Loss and time loss are reduced.
[0052]
Further, according to the screen printing method according to the present invention, it is possible to easily implement a printing method having the above-described effects.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a screen printing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a screen printing plate used in the screen printing method according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure (1) of a screen printing method according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a first example of procedure (2) of the screen printing method according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a second example of procedure (2) of the screen printing method according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing procedures (3) and (4) of the screen printing method according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the number of test prints and the print area change rate in the screen printing method by comparing the present invention (curves A and B) with a conventional example (curve C).
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Screen printing plate 2 ... Pattern opening 3 ... Scraper 4 ... Squeegee 5 ... Strip-like waste 6 ... Pressing member 8 ... Waste member 9 ... Roller 10 ... Printed matter M ... Affinity liquid

Claims (7)

In a screen printing method of applying a printing paste applied to the surface of a screen printing plate having a predetermined pattern opening from the pattern opening to a printing substrate with a squeegee,
Wetting the back surface of the screen printing plate with a liquid having affinity for the printing paste,
Starting printing on the substrate before the affinity liquid dries,
Screen printing method characterized by the above-mentioned. Before the affinity liquid dries, a printing paste is supplied to the surface of the screen printing plate and left for a predetermined time while the surface of the screen printing plate is covered with the printing paste. The screen printing method according to claim 1, wherein: The screen printing method according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined time during which the surface of the screen printing plate is left covered with a printing paste is 10 to 120 seconds. The method according to claim 1, wherein the back surface of the screen printing plate is wetted with a member containing the affinity liquid. 5. The screen printing method according to claim 1, wherein the back surface of the screen printing plate is wiped while pressing the cloth-like body containing the affinity liquid with a pressing member. 6. Before the affinity liquid dries, supplying a printing paste to the surface of the screen printing plate to cover the surface of the screen printing plate with the printing paste,
Filling the pattern opening with a printing paste with a squeegee in a state where the back surface of the screen printing plate is not in contact with the printing material, and then starting printing on the printing material,
The screen printing method according to claim 1, wherein the screen printing method comprises: A screen printing plate having a predetermined pattern opening,
A squeegee for applying a printing paste applied to the surface of the screen printing plate from the pattern opening onto a printing substrate,
Liquid applying means for applying a liquid having an affinity for the printing paste to the back surface of the screen printing plate,
A screen printing apparatus comprising:

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