JP2006321150A - Screen printing apparatus and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify structures of a squeegee and a mechanism for driving this, to prevent an adverse effect due to running-down of paste from the squeegee, or others, and further to suitably regulate the squeegee on the occasion of switchover of forward and backward movements to each other in a screen printing apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The screen printing apparatus comprises a printing-direction driving means for moving a head 6 in the printing direction, an ascent-descent driving means for moving the head 6 in ascending and descending directions, a rotationally driving means for rotating the squeegee 50 around the horizontal axis 34 and a control means for controlling these driving means. Making the driving means operate synchronously on the occasion of switchover of the forward and backward movements of the head 6, the control means makes controls to move the squeegee 50 from one side of the paste P over to the opposite side thereof, while making it avoid the paste P left on a mask sheet 4, and to change the direction of inclination of the squeegee 50 according to the switchover of the forward and backward movements. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a screen printing apparatus and a printing method for applying a paste such as cream solder to an object to be printed such as a printed board.

  Conventionally, a mask sheet is overlaid on a substrate set on a stage, and paste such as cream solder and conductive paste supplied on the mask sheet is expanded with a squeegee, through an opening formed in the mask sheet. 2. Description of the Related Art A screen printing apparatus that applies (prints) a paste to a predetermined position on a substrate is generally known.

  Conventionally, this type of screen printing apparatus has a head provided with a pair of squeegees having different inclination directions so that the squeegee can be moved up and down, and pastes by alternately using the pair of squeegees while reciprocating the head along the mask sheet. However, with this device, it is difficult to keep the printing load uniform during forward and backward movements because each squeegee is raised and lowered separately, and the contact angle of the squeegee with respect to the mask sheet There were problems such as a low degree of freedom.

  In recent years, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a screen printing apparatus has been proposed in which printing can be performed both in the forward movement and in the backward movement with one squeegee. That is, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in this document, one side of the squeegee is attached to the squeegee holder, and the base end of the squeegee holder is rotated by a motor attached to the upper shaft. Connected to the shaft (vertical axis) via a fulcrum, and the squeegee is tilted by a predetermined angle to one side with respect to the vertical direction by rotating the squeegee holder around the vertical axis during forward movement and backward movement And it can be switched to a state reversed 180 ° around the vertical axis in the inclined state.

As another example in this document, instead of rotating around the vertical axis, the squeegee is inclined at a predetermined angle from the vertical direction to one side with a fulcrum supporting the base end of the squeegee holder as the center. By changing the tilt state by swinging the squeegee according to the forward movement and the backward movement, it can be swung within a range of the state inclined to the side by a predetermined angle (tilt angle can be changed), A structure is shown in which one side of the squeegee is the work surface for applying the paste during the forward movement and the other side of the squeegee is the work surface during the backward movement.
JP-A-8-39767

  In the structure of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in Patent Document 1, a horizontally long squeegee is rotated around the vertical axis in a direction crossing the mask sheet, so that a considerable space is required for the squeegee rotation. In addition, the paste attached to the squeegee may fall on the mask sheet or out of the mask sheet during the rotation of the squeegee, leading to printing defects or contaminating each part of the apparatus. Furthermore, since the mechanism for rotating about the vertical axis only reverses the squeegee with a constant inclination angle, the inclination angle of the squeegee with respect to the mask sheet is to be adjusted according to the substrate to be printed, the viscosity of the paste, etc. In this case, it is necessary to provide a mechanism for adjusting the tilt angle in addition to the mechanism for rotating around the vertical axis, which complicates the structure of the apparatus.

  Moreover, in the structure shown as another Example in the said literature, the inclination angle of the squeegee with respect to the mask sheet is controlled by a mechanism that swings the squeegee around the fulcrum (horizontal axis) on the base end side of the squeegee holder. The adjustment and the change of the inclination state of the squeegee according to the forward / backward movement can be performed together. However, since both sides of the squeegee become work surfaces according to forward and backward movements, the amount of paste adhering to the squeegee increases, waste of paste increases, and the opposite of printing when one side is used as the work surface There is a possibility that the paste adhering to the side surface may drip onto the mask sheet and adversely affect printing.

  Further, as shown in these prior arts, when printing can be performed both in the forward movement and in the backward movement with one squeegee, the squeegee is set to the vertical axis when switching between the forward movement and the backward movement. It is necessary to adjust the tilt direction of the squeegee by rotating it around or around the horizontal axis, and also adjust the position of the squeegee in the printing direction. When it comes into contact, there is a risk that it will be pushed out and scattered, so it is required to move the squeegee so as to avoid the paste on the mask sheet. On the other hand, it is desirable for efficiency improvement that the time required for the squeegee adjustment operation at the time of switching is as short as possible.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, simplifying the structure of the squeegee and the mechanism for driving the squeegee, eliminating waste of paste, and adverse effects due to the dripping of the paste from the squeegee. In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a screen printing apparatus and a printing method capable of preventing, and in particular, suitably performing a squeegee adjustment operation when switching between forward movement and backward movement.

  In order to solve the above problems, a screen printing apparatus of the present invention includes a head that supports a squeegee and relatively reciprocates the squeegee along a mask sheet superimposed on a substrate, and the squeegee is the mask sheet. A screen printing apparatus configured to apply the paste to a printed material through the mask sheet by moving while pressing the paste supplied on the head, wherein the head moves the squeegee along the mask sheet. The squeegee can be moved forward and backward in the printing direction, and can be moved in the ascending / descending direction, which is a direction in which the squeegee mask sheet is moved toward and away from the squeegee mask sheet. And a print direction driving hand that is provided so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis and moves the head in the print direction. And an elevating drive means for moving the head in the elevating direction, a rotation drive means for rotating the squeegee around a horizontal axis, and a control means for controlling these drive means, the control means comprising: Using one side of the squeegee as a work surface for pressing the paste, when the squeegee is moved forward and backward during printing, the squeegee is moved forward with the work surface tilted forward in the direction of travel. In addition to causing printing by applying the squeegee, the squeegee is moved from one side of the paste to the other side while avoiding the paste that has accumulated on the mask sheet when switching from either forward or reverse movement to the other. In addition, the driving means are controlled so as to change the inclination direction of the squeegee according to the switching.

  According to this screen printing device, printing can be performed at the time of forward movement and backward movement with one squeegee, so that the structure is simpler than that of a conventional device in which a pair of squeegees are individually lifted and lowered. Since one side of the squeegee is used as a work surface and the work surface is directed forward in the forwardly inclined state when the squeegee moves forward and backward, the paste may adhere to both sides of the squeegee. In addition, the waste of the paste is reduced and the paste does not sag from the back side of the squeegee.

  Also, when switching from one of the forward movement and the backward movement to the other, adjustment of the squeegee position and inclination direction is performed while avoiding the paste, so that the paste is pushed out or scattered. The adjustment operation is suitably performed.

  In this screen printing apparatus, the control means includes at least one of rotation of the squeegee by the rotation driving means, movement in the printing direction by the printing direction driving means, and movement of the head in the elevation direction by the elevation driving means. It is preferable that the control is performed so as to be performed simultaneously. In particular, the squeegee rotation by the rotation driving means, the movement in the printing direction by the printing direction driving means, and the movement in the elevation direction of the head by the elevation driving means are controlled simultaneously. Is preferred.

  By doing so, the position and the inclination direction of the squeegee are adjusted in as short a time as possible when switching from one of the forward movement and the backward movement to the other.

  In this case, the control means moves along a substantially arc-shaped trajectory centered on the paste staying on the mask sheet by the synchronous movement of the print direction and the elevation direction of the head. Along with the movement of the horizontal axis, the squeegee moves from a state of being inclined forward toward the paste on one side of the paste to a state of being substantially horizontal above the paste, and then toward the paste on the opposite side of the paste. It is preferable that each of the driving means is controlled so as to rotate until it is in a forward tilted state.

  In this way, the movement of the head in the up-and-down direction, the movement in the printing direction, and the rotation of the squeegee are performed in synchronization, and in particular, the squeegee is moved as little as possible while avoiding paste on the mask sheet. The position and the inclination direction are adjusted.

  The screen printing method of the present invention includes a head that supports a squeegee and relatively reciprocates the squeegee along a mask sheet superimposed on a substrate, and the squeegee is supplied onto the mask sheet. A printing method in a screen printing apparatus in which the paste is applied to a printing material through the mask sheet by moving while pressing the head, wherein the head is in a direction in which the squeegee is moved along the mask sheet. Forward and backward in the direction, and movable in the up-and-down direction, which is a direction to contact and separate from the squeegee mask sheet, the squeegee can be rotated around the horizontal axis with respect to the head, When one side of the squeegee is used as the work surface for pressing the paste, when the squeegee moves forward and back during printing Each squeegee is moved forward with the work surface tilted forward to perform printing by applying paste, and when switching from one of the forward movement and the backward movement to the other, the squeegee is placed on the mask sheet. The squeegee is rotated, the head is moved in the printing direction so that the paste is moved from one side to the opposite side of the paste while the paste is retained, and the inclination direction of the squeegee is changed according to the switching. The head is moved in the up and down direction.

  In this printing method, it is preferable to perform control so that the rotation of the squeegee, the movement of the head in the printing direction, and the movement of the head in the up-and-down direction are performed simultaneously.

  According to the screen printing apparatus and the printing method of the present invention, only one side of one squeegee can be used as a work surface, and printing can be performed properly at the time of forward and backward movement of the squeegee, either forward or backward. When switching from one to the other, the position and inclination direction of the squeegee can be adjusted suitably.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2 schematically show a screen printing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a front view, and FIG. 2 is a side view showing the screen printing apparatus.

  As shown in these drawings, on a base 1 of a screen printing apparatus, a carry-in conveyor 2a and a carry-out conveyor 2b are arranged with a print stage 3 to be described later interposed therebetween, and a printed board W (hereinafter referred to as a board). W) is carried into the printing stage 3 by the carry-in conveyor 2a, and after being subjected to the printing process, it is carried out by the carry-out conveyor 2b.

  In the following description, the conveyance direction of the substrate W by these conveyors 2a and 2b is the Y-axis direction, the direction orthogonal to this on the horizontal plane is the X-axis direction, and the direction orthogonal to both the X-axis and Y-axis directions is Z. The description will proceed as an axial direction.

  A four-axis unit 10 is disposed on the printing stage 3.

  The four-axis unit 10 supports the substrate W and positions the mask sheet 4 with respect to the mask sheet 4 to be described later. The substrate W loaded by the carry-in conveyor 2a is horizontally aligned with the X axis, the Y axis, It is supported so that it can be displaced in the Z-axis and R-axis (rotation around the Z-axis) directions.

  That is, the four-axis unit 10 includes a fixed table 11 fixed on the base 1 and an X driven by a servo motor supported relative to the fixed table 11 so as to be movable in the X-axis direction. Axis table 12, a Y-axis table 13 provided so as to be movable in the Y-axis direction relative to this X-axis table 12 and driven by a servo motor, and rotated relative to this Y-axis table 13 An R-axis table 14 that can be provided and driven by a servo motor and a lift table 15 that can be moved up and down with respect to the R-axis table 14 and are driven by a servo motor are hierarchically provided. Then, by supporting the substrate W by the support unit 16 provided on the lifting table 15, the substrate W is moved to the X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis and R-axis (in accordance with the driving of each table 12, 13, 14, 15 ( It can be moved to any position in the direction of rotation around the Z axis.

  The support unit 16 includes a plurality of support pins that can be projected and retracted in the Z-axis direction, is attached to the lift table 15 so as to be lifted and lowered, and is attached to the lift table 15 and a substrate support mechanism 17 that directly supports the substrate W. The clamp mechanism 18 clamps the substrate W from both sides in the X-axis direction. The clamp mechanism 18 includes a fixed portion 18a that is connected and fixed to the lifting table 15, and a movable portion 18b that is movable in the X-axis direction with respect to the fixed portion 18a. The upper ends of the fixed portion 18a and the movable portion 18b A conveyor belt for carrying in and out the substrate W as a pair is attached to each part. The position of the movable portion 18b is adjusted according to the size of the substrate W in the X-axis direction. When the substrate W is carried from the carry-in conveyor 2a onto the conveyor belt of the clamp mechanism 18, each support pin of the substrate support mechanism 17 protrudes to support the substrate W from the lower side (back side) and the clamp mechanism 18 The substrate W is clamped from both sides in the X-axis direction, so that the substrate W is fixed to the support unit 16 in a positioned state.

  A mask sheet 4 is stretched above the printing stage 3, and printing is provided above the mask sheet 4 with a squeegee 50 for expanding paste such as cream solder and conductive paste supplied onto the sheet 4. A head 6 is provided.

  The head 6 is supported so as to be movable in the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction, and is driven by a servo motor. That is, a pair of fixed rails 7 extending in the X-axis direction are provided above the mask sheet 4, and the head support member 5 is horizontally mounted on the fixed rails 7, and the servo motor 21 (see FIG. 5). The support member 5 is connected to a ball screw (not shown) to be driven. The head 6 is attached to a Z-axis direction fixed rail 22 provided on the support member 5 and is connected to a ball screw 24 that is driven to rotate by a servo motor 23. As a result, the head 6 moves integrally with the support member 5 in the X-axis direction by driving the servo motor 23 and the like, and the head 6 moves in the Z-axis direction with respect to the support member 5.

  3 and 4 show a specific configuration of the head 6, FIG. 3 is a perspective view, and FIG. 4 is a front view showing the head 6.

  As shown in these drawings, the head 6 has a plate-like main frame 20 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), and is supported by the fixed rail 22 and the like via the main frame 20. An arm member 25 having an inverted L-shaped cross section is fixed to the main frame 20, and a support portion 28 in which a pressure sensor 26 such as a load cell is interposed is suspended from the arm member 25. The subframe 30 is supported in a swingable manner. Specifically, a first support shaft 29 extending in the X-axis direction protrudes from the support portion 28, and the sub frame 30 is supported on the first support shaft 29 via a bearing or the like, whereby the sub frame 30 Is supported so as to be swingable around the first support shaft 29.

  A unit assembly member 32 corresponding to the squeegee assembly portion is rotatably supported by the subframe 30 via a second support shaft 34 (horizontal axis for squeegee support). The drive mechanism which drives is mounted.

  The unit assembly member 32 is a rectangular plate-like member elongated in the Y-axis direction, and a squeegee unit 45 including a squeegee 50 and a squeegee holder 46 that holds the unit assembly member 32 is detachable. It is assembled. Then, one side of the squeegee 50 is used as a work surface 50a for pressing the paste, and the second support shaft 34 is located on the side opposite to the work surface 50a. A squeegee 50 is rotatably supported via the unit assembly member 32.

  More specifically, the arm portion 32a is erected in the middle in the longitudinal direction on the back side of the unit assembly member 32 (opposite to the squeegee unit side), while being positioned on the back side of the unit assembly member 32. A second support shaft 34 extending in the Y-axis direction is supported by the subframe 30 so as to be rotatable about the axis, and the arm portion 32a is fixed (key-coupled) to the second support shaft 34. Thus, the unit assembly member 32 is rotatably supported with respect to the subframe 30.

  The second support shaft 34 that supports the unit assembling member 32 passes through the subframe 30 and protrudes to the opposite side, and a gear 44 is fixed (key-coupled) to this protruding portion. A servo motor 40 as a drive source is fixed to the subframe 30, and a drive gear 41 is attached to the output shaft of the servomotor 40, and the subframe 30 is interposed between the drive gear 41 and the gear 44. Idle gears 42 and 43 that are pivotally supported with respect to each other are interposed. That is, the servo motor 40 and the gears 41 to 44 constitute the drive mechanism, and when the servo motor 40 is operated, the rotational driving force is transmitted to the second support shaft 34 via the gears 41 to 44, Thus, the unit assembly member 32 is driven to rotate around the second support shaft 34. The origin position of the unit assembly member 32 with respect to the subframe 30 is detected, and a reference position used for the rotation angle control of the servo motor 40 is obtained.

  The squeegee holder 46 of the squeegee unit 45 is an elongated plate member in the Y-axis direction made of a light alloy such as an aluminum alloy. On the other hand, the squeegee 50 is a rectangular plate-like member made of, for example, hard urethane or stainless steel and elongated in the Y-axis direction, and is held by the holder 46 in a state of being superimposed on the squeegee holder 46 as shown in FIG. .

  The squeegee holder 46 has a pair of screw shafts (not shown) projecting from the surface opposite to the surface on which the squeegee 50 is held at a predetermined interval in the Y-axis direction. The nut member 48 is screwed and attached to these screw shafts in a state where the squeegee holder 46 is superimposed on the unit assembly member 32 through the guide groove 32b formed in the attachment member 32, whereby the squeegee unit 45 is It is fixed to the unit assembly member 32.

  Side leakage prevention plates 47 are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the squeegee holder 46, respectively, and this pair of lateral leakage due to the flow of paste to the side of the squeegee 50 (outside in the Y-axis direction) during the printing operation. The side leakage prevention plate 47 prevents this. Each side leakage prevention plate 47 can rotate about the Y axis with respect to the squeegee holder 46 and is elastically held at a neutral position (position shown in FIG. 4) with respect to the squeegee 50. According to the configuration, the side leakage prevention plate 47 can be in sliding contact with the mask sheet 4 without a gap regardless of the inclination angle of the squeegee 50 with respect to the mask sheet 4 (hereinafter referred to as the attack angle) during the printing operation.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the screen printing apparatus described above has a control device 55 (control means) for controlling its operation. The control device 55 is composed of a well-known CPU that executes logical operations, a ROM that stores various programs for controlling the CPU in advance, a RAM that temporarily stores various data during control operations, and the like. The main control unit 56, the shaft control unit 57, the moving direction determination unit 58, and the like have functional configurations.

  The axis control unit 57 includes a servo motor 21 (printing direction driving means) for driving the head 6 in the X-axis direction, a servo motor 23 (driving driving means) for driving the head 6 in the Z-axis direction, and a squeegee 50 as a second support shaft. Various servo motors and other actuators provided in the screen printing apparatus, such as an R-axis drive servo motor 40 (rotation drive means) for rotating around 34, according to a drive command given from the main control unit 56 Control.

  The movement direction determination unit 58 detects whether the head 6 is set on one side or the other side in the X-axis direction with the printing stage 3 interposed therebetween, and based on this, determines the movement direction of the head 6 in the next printing operation. Judgment. Specifically, when the movement from the left side to the right side of the head 6 is the forward movement and the reverse movement is the backward movement with reference to the state seen from the front side of the apparatus (the state shown in FIG. 1), the head 6 moves to the printing stage. When the head 6 is set on the left side, it is determined that the head 6 moves forward, and when the head 6 is set on the right side of the printing stage, it is determined that the head 6 moves backward.

  The main control unit 56 comprehensively controls driving of various actuators such as the servo motor via the axis control unit 57 so as to operate the head 6 and the four-axis unit 10 in accordance with programs and various data stored in advance. At the same time, various calculations such as calculation of a driving amount necessary for the control are performed.

  In particular, the control of the head 6 and the squeegee 50 for performing the printing operation is based on the determination by the movement direction determination unit 58, and the squeegee 50 is moved in the forward direction (right direction) as shown in FIG. When the head 6 is driven in the forward movement direction with the attack angle θ adjusted as appropriate, printing is performed by moving the squeegee 50 along the mask sheet 4 in the forward movement direction. At the time of movement, as shown in FIG. 7, the squeegee 50 is tilted forward in the backward movement direction (leftward), and the head 6 is driven in the backward movement direction with the attack angle θ adjusted appropriately, whereby the squeegee 50 is moved. Printing is performed by movement in the backward movement direction along the mask sheet 4.

  Further, when switching from one of the forward movement and the backward movement to the other, the squeegee 50 is moved from one side of the paste to the opposite side while avoiding the paste P staying on the mask sheet 4 as will be described in detail later. The servo motors 21, 23, and 40 are driven so that the squeegee tilt direction is changed according to the change of the moving direction. In this case, rotation of the squeegee 50 by the servo motor 40 (movement in the R-axis direction) and at least one of movement in the X-axis direction by the servo motor 21 and movement in the Z-axis direction by the servo motor 23 are performed simultaneously. Thus, in the present embodiment, the three axes of the X axis, the Z axis, and the R axis are moved simultaneously.

  An example of control when the head moving direction is switched by the control device will be described according to the flowchart of FIG. 8 with reference to the operation explanatory diagram of FIG.

  When printing is performed while the squeegee 50 moves along the mask sheet 4 in the forward or backward movement direction and reaches the end of the movement range for the printing (see FIG. 9A), the head movement direction is changed. As a preparatory work for switching to perform the next printing, a squeegee replacement operation for changing the position and inclination direction of the squeegee is started (step S1 in FIG. 8), and synchronous movement of the X axis, Z axis, and R axis is started. (Step S2). That is, movement of the head 6 in the X-axis direction by driving the servo motor 21, movement of the head 6 in the Z-axis direction by driving the servo motor 23, and rotation of the squeegee 50 by the servo motor 40 are started simultaneously.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 9B, the movement of the head 6 in the printing direction (movement in the X-axis direction: arrow A) and the movement in the up-and-down direction (movement in the Z-axis direction: arrow B) are synchronized. As a result, the servo motors 21 and 23 are driven so that the second support shaft 34 moves along a substantially arc-shaped locus (line C) centered on the paste P staying on the mask sheet 4. Is controlled. More specifically, for example, during the squeegee replacement operation when switching from forward movement to backward movement, the second support shaft 34 moves in the X-axis direction so that the second support shaft 34 moves from the left position to the right position of the paste P. While the movement (arrow A) is performed, the second support shaft 34 gradually rises up to the middle of the movement in the X axis direction, and from the middle, the second support shaft 34 gradually descends in the Z axis direction of the head. Movement (arrow B) is performed.

  Further, with the movement of the second support shaft 34, the squeegee 50 leans forward toward the paste P on one side (left side in FIG. 9B) of the paste P, and substantially above the paste P. After passing through the horizontal state, it rotates around the second support shaft 34 until it is in a state of being inclined forward toward the paste P on the opposite side (right side in FIG. 9B) of the paste P (arrow D). .

  In this way, movement in each direction of the X axis, the Z axis, and the R axis is performed in synchronization, so that the squeegee 50 moves from one side of the paste P to the opposite side while avoiding the paste P. The inclination direction is changed.

  Then, after the start of the synchronous movement, it is determined whether or not all the movements of the X axis, the Z axis, and the R axis have been completed (step S3). If the movement has not been completed, the movement is continued. (Step S4).

  According to the screen printing apparatus of the present embodiment as described above, during printing, the substrate W is positioned by the four-axis unit 10 and the substrate W and the mask sheet 4 are overlapped, and then the operation by the operator is performed. Based on the start instruction input operation, the squeegee 50 is set to contact the mask sheet 4 at an appropriate attack angle and the paste P is supplied, and then the squeegee 50 moves along the mask sheet 4, The paste P is applied to the substrate W through the mask sheet 4.

  For example, after printing is performed on the substrate W by the forward movement of the squeegee 50 moving from the left side to the right side, the printed substrate W is separated from the mask sheet 4 and carried out of the 4-axis unit 10. A new substrate W is carried onto the 4-axis unit 10 and positioned, and is superimposed on the mask sheet 4. During the replacement of the substrate W, the squeegee replacement process shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is performed, and then the new substrate W is printed by the backward movement of the squeegee 50. By repeating the forward and backward movements of the squeegee 50 with such substrate W replacement and squeegee replacement processing in between, the paste P is sequentially printed on each substrate W fed into the printing apparatus.

  In such a printing operation, the apparatus of this embodiment can perform printing with the single squeegee 50 at the time of forward movement and backward movement. The structure of the head 6 can be simplified and reduced in size as compared with the case where the head 6 is properly used. Further, since the unit assembly member 32 rotates around the second support shaft 34 that is the horizontal axis, the posture of the squeegee 50 is changed according to the forward movement and the backward movement. Unlike the structure in which the squeegee is rotated around the vertical axis shown in Patent Document 1 described in the background art, a large space is not required for rotating the squeegee. Furthermore, one side of the squeegee 50 is used as a work surface 50a, and the work surface 50a can press the paste P at any time by changing the posture of the squeegee 50 according to forward movement and backward movement. Compared to the structure using both sides of the squeegee at the time of forward movement and at the time of backward movement (structure shown as another example in Patent Document 1), the paste does not adhere to both sides of the squeegee, The waste of the paste can be reduced, and the paste can be prevented from dripping onto the mask sheet from the back side of the squeegee during printing due to movement of the squeegee.

  In addition, at the time of switching between forward movement and backward movement, the squeegee replacement process causes the squeegee 50 to move from one side of the paste P to the opposite side while avoiding the paste P staying on the mask sheet 4. Since the driving means for the X, Z, and R axes are controlled so that the tilt direction is changed, the squeegee 50 abuts against the paste P when it is rotated to change the tilt direction, and pushes or scatters the paste P to the outside. The paste P staying on the mask sheet 4 can be effectively used for the next printing process.

  In addition, since the X, Z, and R axes move synchronously and the position and the inclination direction of the squeegee 50 are changed while avoiding the paste P with less wasteful movement, the time required for the squeegee replacement process is made possible. Therefore, the processing time of the printing apparatus including the reciprocating movement of the squeegee and the squeegee replacement process can be shortened, and the efficiency can be increased.

  10 and 11 show another example of control at the time of switching the squeegee movement direction.

  In this example, when the squeegee 50 performs printing while moving in the forward or backward direction along the mask sheet 4 and reaches the end of the moving range for the printing (see FIG. 11A), As a preparatory work for switching the head movement direction to perform the next printing, a squeegee replacement operation for changing the squeegee position and the inclination direction is started (step S11 in FIG. 10). The Z-axis movement is started (step S12). That is, even if the squeegee 50 is rotated around the second support shaft 34, the servo motor 23 is moved so that the head 6 is raised until the squeegee 50 reaches a height position that does not contact the paste P on the mask sheet 4. Driven (see FIG. 11B).

  Then, it is determined whether or not the Z-axis movement up to a height at which the R-axis can be rotated is completed (step S13). After the determination is YES, synchronous movement of the X, Z, and R axes is started. (Step S14).

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 11C, the head 6 is moved so that the second support shaft 34 moves from the position on one side (left side in this figure) of the paste P to the position on the opposite side (right side in this figure). Is moved in the X-axis direction (printing direction), and with this movement, the head 6 gradually descends, and the squeegee 50 is tilted in a direction opposite to that before rotation. The servomotors 21, 23, and 40 are synchronously driven so as to rotate around.

  Then, after the synchronous movement is started, it is determined whether or not all the movements of the X axis, the Z axis, and the R axis are completed (step S15). If the movement is not completed, the movement is continued. (Step S16).

  Also in this example, printing can be performed with the single squeegee 50 and with one side of the squeegee 50 as the work surface 50a at the time of forward movement and backward movement, and at the time of switching between forward movement and reverse movement, By the replacement process, the squeegee 50 moves from one side of the paste P to the opposite side while avoiding the paste P staying on the mask sheet 4, and the inclination direction of the squeegee 50 is changed.

  Further, only the rise of the Z-axis movement is performed independently, but the lowering and the R-axis movement of the X-axis movement and the Z-axis movement after the rise are performed at the same time, so that these movements are sequentially performed individually. Compared to the case, the processing time is shortened and the efficiency is improved.

  In addition, in the flowchart of FIG. 10, the program may be partially changed as follows.

  That is, in step S12, the R-axis rotation is started and the Z-axis direction upward movement is started, and at least one end of the squeegee 50 and the end of the squeegee 50 on the contact side with the mask sheet 4 is below the mask sheet 4. The R-axis rotation and the Z-axis direction upward movement are linked so that the squeegee 50 does not move to the position. After one end of the squeegee 50 passes just below the center of the second support shaft 34, at least the Z-axis direction upward movement is 50 until the other end of the squeegee 50 reaches a predetermined height (the height at which the other end of the squeegee 50 does not interfere with the paste on the mask sheet 4 when the X-axis is moved). Stop at the predetermined inclination angle. In step S13, it is determined whether or not the R-axis rotation and the Z-axis movement are completed. If YES, the process proceeds to step S14, the X-axis movement is started, and the Z-axis direction is lowered in conjunction with the X-axis movement. Make the move. Alternatively, after the X-axis movement is completed, the downward movement in the Z-axis direction is started.

  Also according to this modification, the R-axis rotation and the Z-axis direction ascending movement are linked to perform both at the same time, and the time required for squeegee replacement can be shortened. Further, in the case where the X-axis movement and the Z-axis direction downward movement are linked to perform both at the same time, the time required for squeegee replacement can be shortened also by this portion.

  The screen printing apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, a gear drive type drive mechanism in which a plurality of gears are combined is used as a drive mechanism for rotating the squeegee 50, but a belt drive type drive mechanism may be used. Specifically, a configuration in which a pulley is provided instead of the gear 44 of the second support shaft 34, a driving pulley is provided instead of the driving gear on the output shaft of the servo motor 40, and a driving belt is mounted over the pair of pulleys. It may be used.

1 is a schematic front view showing a screen printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a side schematic diagram showing a screen printing device. It is a perspective view which shows the specific structure of the head of a screen printing apparatus. It is a front view which shows the specific structure of a head. It is a block diagram which shows the control apparatus provided in the screen printing apparatus. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state of a head during printing and illustrating a state during forward movement. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state of a head during printing and illustrating a state during backward movement. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the control at the time of head movement direction switching. (A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of the head and squeegee in the case of the control shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows another example of the control at the time of head movement direction switching. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of the head and squeegee in the case of the control shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

4 Mask sheet 6 Head 21 Servo motor (printing direction drive means)
23 Servo motor (lifting drive means)
32 Unit assembly member (squeegee assembly part)
34 Second support shaft (horizontal axis)
40 Servo motor (turning drive means)
45 Squeegee unit 50 Squeegee 55 Control device (control means)
W Printed circuit board P Paste

Claims (6)

A head that supports a squeegee and relatively reciprocally moves the squeegee along a mask sheet stacked on a substrate; the squeegee moves while pressing the paste supplied on the mask sheet; A screen printing apparatus for applying to a substrate through the mask sheet,
The head is capable of moving forward and backward in a printing direction, which is a direction in which the squeegee is moved along the mask sheet, and movable in a lifting direction, which is a direction in which the squeegee is moved toward and away from the squeegee mask sheet;
With respect to this head, the squeegee is provided so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis via a squeegee assembly part,
A printing direction driving means for moving the head in the printing direction, a lifting driving means for moving the head in the lifting direction, a rotation driving means for rotating the squeegee around a horizontal axis, and these driving means Control means for controlling,
The control means uses one side of the squeegee as a work surface for pressing the paste, and when the squeegee is moved forward and backward during printing, the squeegee is tilted forward in the advancing direction. To make printing by applying the paste, and at the time of switching from one of the forward movement and the backward movement to the other, the squeegee is moved to one side of the paste while avoiding the paste staying on the mask sheet. The screen printing apparatus is characterized in that each of the driving means is controlled so that the squeegee tilt direction is changed in accordance with the switching. The screen printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The control means causes at least one of the rotation of the squeegee by the rotation driving means and the movement in the printing direction by the printing direction driving means and the movement in the elevation direction of the head by the elevation driving means. A screen printing apparatus characterized by controlling the screen. The screen printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The control means controls the squeegee rotation by the rotation driving means, the movement in the printing direction by the printing direction driving means, and the movement in the elevation direction of the head by the elevation driving means. A screen printing apparatus. The screen printing apparatus according to claim 3.
The control means moves the horizontal axis along a substantially arc-shaped locus centering on the paste staying on the mask sheet by the synchronous movement of the printing direction of the head and the raising / lowering direction. Accordingly, the squeegee is tilted forward toward the paste on the opposite side of the paste from the state tilted forward toward the paste on one side of the paste and then substantially horizontal above the paste. A screen printing apparatus that controls each of the driving means so as to rotate to a minimum. A head that supports a squeegee and relatively reciprocally moves the squeegee along a mask sheet stacked on a substrate; the squeegee moves while pressing the paste supplied on the mask sheet; A printing method in a screen printing apparatus that applies to a substrate through the mask sheet,
The head can be moved forward and backward in the printing direction, which is the direction in which the squeegee is moved along the mask sheet, and can be moved in the ascending / descending direction, which is the direction in which the squeegee is moved toward and away from the squeegee mask sheet,
The squeegee can be rotated around the horizontal axis with respect to this head,
Using one side of the squeegee as a work surface for pressing the paste, the squeegee is moved forward with the work surface tilted forward in the traveling direction when the squeegee moves forward and back during printing, and paste Print by applying
At the time of switching from one of the forward movement and the backward movement to the other, the squeegee is moved from one side of the paste to the opposite side while avoiding the paste staying on the mask sheet, and the squeegee is inclined according to the switching. A printing method comprising: rotating the squeegee, moving the head in the printing direction, and moving the head in the up / down direction so as to change the direction. The printing method according to claim 5, wherein
A printing method comprising controlling the squeegee to rotate, move the head in the printing direction, and move the head in the up-and-down direction simultaneously.

Images