JP2007168283A - Screen printing apparatus and squeegee holder for screen printing - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a screen printing apparatus which can decrease installation cost and can appropriately use a plurality of kinds of squeegee members by a simple attaching/detaching operation, and a squeegee holder for screen printing. <P>SOLUTION: In the screen printing apparatus which prints a paste on a substrate by sliding a squeegee member 17A on a mask plate, the squeegee holder for holding the squeegee member 17A is composed of a first member 27 provided with a first holding face 27b, and a second member 28 constituted freely removably to the first member 27, and provided with a second holding face 28b opposing the first holding face 27b under a condition that it is connected with the first member 27, and forming a specified mounting gap t, and the squeegee member 17A and the back-up member 30A are fixed by pinching them between the first holding face 27a and the second holding face 28b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a screen printing apparatus that prints paste such as cream solder or conductive paste on a substrate with a squeegee, and a squeegee holder for screen printing.

In an electronic component mounting process, screen printing is used as a method for printing paste such as cream solder or conductive paste on a substrate. In this method, paste is printed on a substrate through a pattern hole provided in accordance with a portion to be printed, and the squeegee member is horizontally moved in a state where the lower end portion of the squeegee member is pressed against the mask plate. The pattern hole is filled with paste by the moving squeezing operation, and this paste is printed on the substrate set on the lower surface of the mask plate. Conventionally, a plate-like member made of a flexible material such as urethane rubber has been used as the squeegee member, and is detachably mounted by being sandwiched between squeegee holders provided in a squeegee head of a screen printing apparatus (for example, Patent Documents). 1).
JP 2004-122678 A

  By the way, in recent years, printing conditions for printing paste on a substrate by squeezing have been diversified depending on the types of substrates on which electronic components are mounted, that is, materials, thicknesses, and finer printing pitches. For this reason, it is necessary to use different squeegee members according to printing conditions, and in addition to urethane rubber squeegee members, plastic and metal squeegee members are used.

  However, since these squeegee members have different thicknesses, it is necessary to prepare a dedicated squeegee holder for each type of squeegee member. And when attaching and detaching these multiple types of squeegee members to the same screen printing device, it is necessary to replace each squeegee holder. It took a lot of time and labor.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a screen printing apparatus and a screen printing squeegee holder that can reduce equipment costs and can use a plurality of types of squeegee members by simple attachment and detachment operations.

  In the screen printing apparatus of the present invention, a substrate is brought into contact with a mask plate provided with a pattern hole, and a plate-like squeegee member is lifted and lowered by a lifting means with respect to the mask plate supplied with the paste. A screen printing apparatus that prints a paste on a substrate through the pattern hole by a squeegee movement that is squeezed on the mask plate by a squeegee moving means, and that holds the squeegee member and is coupled to the lifting means. The holder is coupled to the elevating means, and is detachably attached to the first member provided with a first holding surface inclined in an overhanging state in the advancing direction of the squeegee member in the squeezing operation. In a state where it is configured and coupled to the first member, the predetermined mounting is performed facing the first holding surface. A second member provided with a second holding surface that forms a gap, and the first holding surface and the second holding surface holding the back side and the front side of the squeegee member respectively. Fastening means for fastening the member and the second member, and squeegee fixing means for fixing the squeegee member to the first member.

  The squeegee holder for screen printing according to the present invention is a squeegee in which a plate-like squeegee member is raised and lowered by an elevating means with respect to a mask plate supplied with paste, and the squeegee member is slid on the mask plate by a moving means. A squeegee holder that holds the squeegee member and couples to the elevating means in a screen printing apparatus that prints a paste on a substrate through a pattern hole provided in the mask plate by operation, and is coupled to the elevating means And a first member provided with a first holding surface inclined in an overhanging state in the advancing direction of the squeegee member in the squeezing operation, and the first member configured to be detachable from the first member, A second mounting gap is formed opposite to the first holding surface in the coupled state. A second member provided with a holding surface, and the first member and the second member in a state where the back side and the front side of the squeegee member are held by the first holding surface and the second holding surface, respectively. Fastening means for fastening and squeegee fixing means for fixing the squeegee member to the first member.

  According to the present invention, the squeegee holder is provided with the first member provided with the first holding surface, and the second member provided with the second surface facing the first holding surface and forming a predetermined mounting gap. The squeegee member is fastened to the first member by fastening the first member and the second member with the first holding surface and the second holding surface holding the back side and the front side of the squeegee member, respectively. By fixing to a plurality of types, a plurality of types of squeegee members having different thicknesses can be held by a common squeegee holder, and the facility cost can be reduced and a plurality of types of squeegee members can be selectively used in a simple operation.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a front view of a screen printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the screen printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a screen printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the screen printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the squeegee unit of the screen printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9 are explanatory views of the squeegee member mounted on the squeegee holder of the screen printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is.

  First, the structure of the screen printing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. In FIG. 1, the screen printing apparatus is configured by disposing a screen printing mechanism above a substrate positioning unit 1. The substrate positioning unit 1 is configured by stacking a Y-axis table 2, an X-axis table 3, and a θ-axis table 4, and further combining a first Z-axis table 5 and a second Z-axis table 6 thereon. Yes.

  The configuration of the first Z-axis table 5 will be described. Similarly, on the upper surface side of the horizontal base plate 4 a provided on the upper surface of the θ-axis table 4, the horizontal base plate 5 a is held up and down by an elevating guide mechanism (not shown). The base plate 5a is moved up and down by a Z-axis lifting mechanism configured to rotationally drive a plurality of feed screws 5c through a belt 5d by a motor 5b.

A vertical frame 5e is erected on the base plate 5a, and a substrate transport mechanism 8 is held at the upper end of the vertical frame 5e. The substrate transport mechanism 8 includes two transport rails arranged in parallel to the substrate transport direction (X direction—the direction perpendicular to the paper in FIG. 1), and both end portions of the substrate 10 to be printed by these transport rails. It supports and conveys. By driving the first Z-axis table 5, the substrate 10 held by the substrate transport mechanism 8 can be lifted and lowered with respect to the screen printing mechanism described later together with the substrate transport mechanism 8. FIG.
3, the substrate transport mechanism 8 extends to the upstream side (left side in FIGS. 2 and 3) and the downstream side, and the substrate 10 carried from the upstream side is transported by the substrate transport mechanism 8. Positioning is performed by the positioning unit 1. Then, the substrate 10 after being printed by a screen printing mechanism to be described later is carried out downstream by the substrate transport mechanism 8.

  The configuration of the second Z-axis table 6 will be described. A horizontal base plate 6a is disposed between the substrate transport mechanism 8 and the base plate 5a so as to be movable up and down along a lifting guide mechanism (not shown). The base plate 6a is moved up and down by a Z-axis lifting mechanism configured to rotationally drive a plurality of feed screws 6c through a belt 6d by a motor 6b. On the upper surface of the base plate 6a, there is disposed a substrate lower receiving portion 7 having a lower receiving surface for holding the substrate 10 on the upper surface.

  By driving the second Z-axis table 6, the substrate receiving unit 7 moves up and down with respect to the substrate 10 held by the substrate transport mechanism 8. The substrate receiving portion 7 supports the substrate 10 from the lower surface side when the lower receiving surface of the substrate lower receiving portion 7 contacts the lower surface of the substrate 10. A clamp mechanism 9 is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate transport mechanism 8. The clamp mechanism 9 includes two clamp members 9a that are arranged opposite to each other on the left and right sides, and the substrate 10 is clamped and fixed from both sides by moving the clamp member 9a on one side forward and backward by the drive mechanism 9b.

  Next, the screen printing mechanism disposed above the substrate positioning unit 1 will be described. 1 and 2, a mask plate 12 is extended on the mask frame 11, and the mask plate 12 corresponds to the shape and position of the electrode 10a to be printed on the substrate 10 (see FIG. 3). Pattern holes 12a are provided. A squeegee head 13 is disposed on the mask plate 12. The squeegee head 13 has a configuration in which a squeegee lifting mechanism 15 that lifts and lowers the squeegee unit 16 is disposed on a horizontal plate 14. A plate-like squeegee member 17 is detachably attached to the squeegee unit 16. By driving the squeegee raising / lowering mechanism 15, the squeegee unit 16 moves up and down, so that the squeegee member 17 contacts the upper surface of the mask plate 12. The squeegee elevating mechanism 15 is an elevating means for elevating the squeegee member 17.

  As shown in FIG. 2, guide rails 22 are arranged on the vertical frame 21 in the Y direction. Sliders 23 slidably fitted on the guide rails 22 are attached to both ends of the plate 14 via blocks 24. Are combined. Thereby, the squeegee head 13 is slidable in the Y direction. The plate 14 is horizontally moved in the Y direction by squeegee moving means comprising a nut 26, a feed screw 25, and a squeegee moving motor (not shown) that rotationally drives the feed screw 25.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a head X-axis moving mechanism 19 and a head Y-axis moving mechanism 20 are provided on the lower surface side of the mask plate 12. The head X-axis moving mechanism 19 includes a camera unit and a cleaning unit ( (Not shown) is attached. The camera unit includes a mask recognition camera that captures an image of the lower surface of the mask plate 12 and a substrate recognition camera that captures an image of the substrate 10, and is horizontally moved by the head X-axis moving mechanism 19 and the head Y-axis moving mechanism 20. Similarly, the cleaning unit is horizontally moved by the head X-axis moving mechanism 19 and the head Y-axis moving mechanism 20, and the lower surface of the mask plate 12 is cleaned by the cleaning paper.

Next, the printing operation by the screen printing mechanism. This will be described with reference to FIG. First, when the substrate 10 is carried into the printing position by the substrate transport mechanism 8, as shown in FIG. 4A, the second Z-axis table 6 is driven to raise the substrate support 7, and the substrate 10 Underside the lower surface. In this state, the substrate 10 is sandwiched and fixed by the clamp member 9 a, and the substrate positioning unit 1 is driven to align the substrate 10 with the mask plate 12.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4B, the first Z-axis table 5 is driven to raise the substrate 10 together with the substrate receiving portion 7 so as to contact the lower surface of the mask plate 12. In this state, the cream solder 18 is scraped by the squeegee member 17 by performing a squeegeeing operation of sliding the squeegee 16 on the mask plate 12 to which the cream solder 18 as paste is supplied. Thereby, the cream solder 18 is printed on the substrate 10 through the pattern hole 12a.

  Next, the structure of the squeegee unit 16 attached to the squeegee head 13 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A, the squeegee lifting mechanism 15 disposed on the upper surface of the plate 14 has a lifting shaft 15a extending downward from the lower portion, and a mounting portion 15b is coupled to the lower end portion of the lifting shaft 15a. Has been. The squeegee unit 16 holding the squeegee member 17 is attached to the attachment portion 15b.

  A pair of squeegee units 16 having the same configuration are mounted on the squeegee head 13 in an opposite posture, and one of the squeegee units 16 is lowered according to the squeegeeing operation direction on the mask plate 12 to perform a screen printing operation. . That is, when the squeegeeing operation is performed in the direction of the arrow a, the left squeegee unit 16 is lowered, and when squeezing is performed in the direction of the arrow b, the right squeegee unit 16 is lowered and the squeezing operation is performed.

  By the way, in recent years, printing conditions for printing paste on a substrate by squeezing have been diversified depending on the types of substrates on which electronic components are mounted, that is, materials, thicknesses, and finer printing pitches. For this reason, it is necessary to replace the squeegee member 17 mounted on the squeegee head 13 with one suitable for the printing conditions so that various types of substrates can be processed in the same screen printing apparatus. In the screen printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5B, only the squeegee member 17 of the squeegee unit 16 coupled to the mounting portion 15b can be replaced.

  FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the squeegee unit 16 with the squeegee member 17 removed from the squeegee unit 16, that is, the squeegee holder 16a that holds the squeegee member 17 and is coupled to the above-described lifting means. As shown in FIG. 6A, the squeegee holder 16a has a structure in which a second member 28 is fastened and fixed to a first member 27 coupled to the mounting portion 15b by a bolt 29.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the first member 27 coupled to the mounting portion 15b has a first fastening surface 27a in a state overhanging in the traveling direction of the squeegee member 17 in the squeegeeing operation, the first fastening surface 27a. A holding surface 27b is provided. The second fastening surface 28a provided on the second member 28 comes into contact with the first fastening surface 27a, and in this state, the second member 28 is fastened to the first member 27 with the bolt 29, whereby the squeegee holder is secured. 16a is formed. The second member 28 is provided with a second holding surface 28b. In a state in which the second member 28 is fastened to the first member 27, the second holding surface 28b faces the first holding surface 27b in parallel and is between the first holding surface 27b and FIG. 6 (a). As shown, a predetermined mounting gap t is formed.

  When the squeegee member 17 made of urethane rubber and having a thickness t equal to the mounting gap t of the squeegee holder 16a is held by the squeegee holder 16a, as shown in FIG. Is fixed by the fastening force of the bolt 29. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7B, the first member is held in a state where the back surface 17b side and the front surface 17a side of the squeegee member 17 are respectively held by the first holding surface 27b and the second holding surface 28b. 27 and the second member 28 are fastened by bolts 29 as fastening means.

  Thereby, the squeegee member 17 is fixed to the first member 27 coupled to the squeegee lifting mechanism 15. Note that the back surface 17b and the front surface 17a of the squeegee member 17 are defined as a front surface in the advancing direction when the squeegee member 17 is moved on the mask plate 12 to perform a squeegee operation, and the opposite direction side is defined as the back surface. Yes. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the thickness of the squeegee member 17 is equal to the mounting gap t, and the fastening means that fastens the first member 27 and the second member 28 fixes the squeegee member 17 to the first member 27. It is a form that doubles as.

  FIG. 8 shows a mounting method when a squeegee member 17A made of resin and having a thickness t1 smaller than that of the urethane rubber is held by the squeegee holder 16a shown in FIG. In this case, the squeegee member 17A alone cannot hold the squeegee member 17A by the mounting gap t. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8A, t1 + t2 = t together with the squeegee member 17A between the mounting gaps t. In the state where the backup member 30 </ b> A having the thickness t <b> 2 is sandwiched, the bolt 29 is similarly fixed by the fastening force. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8B, the second holding surface 28b is brought into direct contact with the front side of the squeegee member 17A, and the backup member 30A is brought into contact with the back side.

  FIG. 9 shows a mounting method when holding the squeegee member 17B made of metal and having a thickness t3 smaller than the above-described t1 to the squeegee holder 16a. Also in this case, since the squeegee member 17B alone cannot hold the squeegee member 17B by the mounting gap t, as shown in FIG. 9A, t3 + t4 = t together with the squeegee member 17B between the mounting gaps t. In the state where the backup member 30 </ b> B having the thickness t <b> 4 is sandwiched, the bolt 29 is similarly fixed by the fastening force. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9B, the second holding surface 28b is brought into direct contact with the front side of the squeegee member 17B, and the backup member 30B is brought into contact with the back side.

  That is, in the examples shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the thicknesses of the squeegee members 17A and 17B are both smaller than the mounting gap t, and the back side of the squeegee members 17A and 17B is interposed between the first holding surface 27b. The squeegee fixing means for fixing the squeegee member 17A to the first member 27 is a fastening means which is held by the first holding surface 27b via the backup members 30A and 30B and is fastened to the first member 27 and the second member 28. It is a form that doubles as.

  By configuring the squeegee holder 16a for holding the squeegee in the squeegee unit 16 as described above, there is no need to prepare a dedicated squeegee holder for each type of squeegee member as in the conventional apparatus, and a single squeegee holder is shared. Therefore, the equipment cost can be reduced. Moreover, since the common squeegee holder 16a can be used, it is only necessary to insert and replace the squeegee member without replacing the squeegee unit 16 every time the squeegee is replaced. Has been.

  In the example shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the length La. Of the squeegee member 17A and the squeegee member 17B extending from the backup member 30A and the backup member 30B without being backed up. By appropriately setting Lb, there is an advantage that the rigidity of the squeegee member 17A and the squeegee member 17B held in the squeegee holder 16a can be set to an optimum state suitable for the printing conditions.

8 and 9, the backup member 30A and the squeegee member 17A, or the backup member 30B and the squeegee member 17B are both sandwiched and fixed by the first member 27 and the second member 28. However, the backup members 30A and 30B may be fixed to the first member 27 in advance by fixing means such as screw fastening. According to this method, when it is necessary to replace the squeegee members 17A and 17B newly due to wear or the like, the squeegee members 17A and 17B can be removed and replaced simply by loosening the bolt 29, thereby simplifying the operation. can do. That is, in this example, the backup member 30A, 30B is provided with backup member fixing means for fixing the first holding surface to the first holding surface 27b.

  The screen printing apparatus and the squeegee holder for screen printing according to the present invention have an effect that a plurality of types of squeegee members can be selectively used with low equipment cost and simple attachment / detachment work. This is useful for applications such as printing pastes.

1 is a front view of a screen printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The side view of the screen printing apparatus of one embodiment of this invention The top view of the screen printing apparatus of one embodiment of this invention Operation explanatory diagram of a screen printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention Structure explanatory drawing of the squeegee unit of the screen printing apparatus of one embodiment of this invention Structure explanatory drawing of the squeegee holder of the screen printing apparatus of one embodiment of this invention Explanatory drawing of the mounting state of the squeegee member to the squeegee holder of the screen printing apparatus of one embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the mounting state of the squeegee member to the squeegee holder of the screen printing apparatus of one embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the mounting state of the squeegee member to the squeegee holder of the screen printing apparatus of one embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Board | substrate positioning part 10 Board | substrate 12 Mask plate 12a Pattern hole 13 Squeegee head 15 Squeegee raising / lowering mechanism 16 Squeegee unit 16a Squeegee holder 17, 17A, 17B Squeegee member 27 1st member 27b 1st holding surface 28 2nd member 28b 2nd Holding surface 30A, 30B Backup member

Claims (8)

A substrate is brought into contact with a mask plate provided with a pattern hole, and a plate-like squeegee member is moved up and down by an elevating unit with respect to the mask plate supplied with paste, and this squeegee member is moved onto the mask plate by a squeegee moving unit. A screen printing apparatus that prints a paste on a substrate through the pattern hole by a squeezing operation that slides on
The squeegee holder that holds the squeegee member and is coupled to the elevating means is provided with a first holding surface that is coupled to the elevating means and is inclined in an overhanging state in the advancing direction of the squeegee member in the squeezing operation. A first holding member configured to be detachable from the first member and coupled to the first member, the second holding surface forming a predetermined mounting gap opposite the first holding surface; Fastening that fastens the first member and the second member with the second member provided and the back side and the front side of the squeegee member held by the first holding surface and the second holding surface, respectively. And a squeegee fixing means for fixing the squeegee member to the first member.   The screen printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the squeegee member is substantially equal to the mounting gap, and the fastening means also serves as the squeegee fixing means.   The thickness of the squeegee member is smaller than the mounting gap, and the back side of the squeegee member is held by the first holding surface via a backup member interposed between the first holding surface, 2. The screen printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fastening means also serves as the squeegee fixing means.   4. The screen printing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising backup member fixing means for fixing the backup member to the first holding surface. A pattern provided on the mask plate by a squeegeeing operation in which a plate-like squeegee member is moved up and down by an elevating unit with respect to the mask plate supplied with the paste, and the squeegee member is slid on the mask plate by a moving unit. In a screen printing apparatus for printing a paste on a substrate through a hole, a squeegee holder that holds the squeegee member and is coupled to the elevating means,
A first member that is coupled to the elevating means and is provided with a first holding surface that is inclined in an overhanging state in the advancing direction of the squeegee member in the squeezing operation, and is configured to be detachable from the first member. A second member provided with a second holding surface facing the first holding surface to form a predetermined mounting gap in a state of being coupled to the first member; and a back side and a front side of the squeegee member Fastening means for fastening the first member and the second member in a state in which the first holding surface and the second holding surface are respectively held, and squeegee fixing means for fixing the squeegee member to the first member And a squeegee holder for screen printing.   6. The squeegee holder for screen printing according to claim 5, wherein the thickness of the squeegee member is substantially equal to the mounting gap, and the fastening means also serves as the squeegee fixing means.   The thickness of the squeegee member is smaller than the mounting gap, and the back side of the squeegee member is held by the first holding surface via a backup member interposed between the first holding surface, 6. The squeegee holder for screen printing according to claim 5, wherein the fastening means also serves as the squeegee fixing means.   8. The squeegee holder for screen printing according to claim 7, further comprising backup member fixing means for fixing the backup member to the first holding surface.

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