JP2012142451A - Photogravure device and method of manufacturing multilayer ceramic electronic component using same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photogravure device capable of forming an internal electrode pattern in which a thick region and a thin region are present, and to provide a method of manufacturing a multilayer ceramic capacitor which is excellent in surface flatness, with a pulling-out part being thick, with no possibility of causing interlayer peeling nor adhesion failure.SOLUTION: A print pattern 2 of a gravure roll 1: (a) includes a print direction mound 3 formed along a print direction Q, an orthogonal direction mound 4 formed along the direction orthogonal to it, and a plurality of cell parts 5 that are defined by them, to hold a conductive paste: and (b) has a region Y of which a percentage of a flat surface area of a cell part per a unit flat surface area is larger than the percentage of the flat surface area of the cell part per a unit flat surface area in other region X when viewed along the direction orthogonal to a circumferential direction, while the percentage of the flat surface area of the cell part per a unit flat surface area in the region X and the region Y are uniform along the circumferential direction of the gravure roll.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gravure printing apparatus and a method for manufacturing a multilayer ceramic electronic component using the same.

  A multilayer ceramic capacitor, which is one of the typical multilayer ceramic electronic components, includes, for example, a plurality of internal electrodes 42a and 42b stacked in a ceramic body 41 through a ceramic layer 43 as shown in FIG. In addition, internal electrodes 42a and 42b facing each other via the ceramic layer 43 are alternately drawn out to one and the other of the pair of end faces 44a and 44b of the ceramic body 41 to form the end faces 44a and 44b. The external electrodes 45a and 45b are connected to each other.

  In the monolithic ceramic capacitor as shown in FIG. 15, the internal electrodes 42a and 42b are laminated via the ceramic layer 43 in the region (opposing region) A for forming the capacitance and are opposed to each other. On the other hand, in the extraction regions B1 and B2 on both ends of the ceramic body 41, only one of the internal electrodes 42a and 42b is extracted on one end face side of the ceramic body 41. In B2, the number of stacked internal electrodes 42a or 42b is half of the number of stacked layers in the opposing region A, and a step is generated due to the difference in the number of stacked layers. In the extraction regions B1 and B2, there is a problem that the adhesion of the ceramic layer 43 becomes insufficient, causing delamination and poor adhesion.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16, the thickness of the lead-out portions 62a and 62b for pulling out the internal electrodes 42a and 42b and connecting them to the external electrodes 45a and 45b is set so as to face each other through the ceramic layer 43 (capacitance formation Part) A multilayer ceramic electronic component (multilayer ceramic capacitor) has been proposed that is thicker than 52a and 52b to prevent the occurrence of a step and prevent delamination or adhesion failure (Patent Document 1).

  And in this patent document 1, in order to increase the thickness of the extraction | drawer parts 62a and 62b of the internal electrodes 42a and 42b, it describes that an internal electrode is applied twice etc. (refer paragraph 0015 of patent document 1). ).

  However, when the internal electrode (usually conductive paste for forming the internal electrode) is applied twice, it is necessary to apply the internal electrode at the exact same position so as not to cause coating misalignment. There is a problem that the printing process becomes complicated and the productivity is lowered.

  In recent years, a method of printing internal electrodes using a gravure printing method has been widely used from the viewpoint of improving productivity by increasing the number of laminated layers accompanying an increase in capacity of a multilayer ceramic capacitor (see Patent Document 2). ).

  The gravure printing method described in Patent Document 2 is excellent in the linearity of the contour line of the graphic pattern formed by printing the conductive paste, and can suppress the occurrence of random stringing. Thus, it is possible to form a graphic pattern having excellent smoothness and uniformity of thickness, but the thickness of one graphic pattern as desired when forming the internal electrode pattern of the multilayer ceramic capacitor is reduced. In fact, it does not enable even printing in which a thick area and a thin area exist.

JP-A-9-232179 JP 2006-110917 A

  The present invention eliminates the decrease in productivity caused by coating the internal electrode twice in the multilayer ceramic electronic component of Patent Document 1 described above, and the internal electrode lead-out portion is thick, causing delamination and poor adhesion. A method of manufacturing a multilayer ceramic capacitor capable of efficiently manufacturing a multilayer ceramic capacitor that does not cause a problem, and an internal electrode pattern having a thick region and a thin region used therefor can be formed by a gravure printing method. An object of the present invention is to provide a possible gravure printing apparatus.

  When the inventors of the present invention print a conductive paste for forming an internal electrode by using a gravure printing method, a predetermined region of the internal electrode pattern formed by printing (for example, the leading portions 62a and 62b (FIG. 16)). ) Was studied so that the thickness of the region corresponding to ()) is thicker than the thickness of other regions (for example, regions corresponding to the facing portions 52a and 52b (FIG. 16)).

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 13, a cylindrical gravure roll 51 having a plurality of print patterns 52 corresponding to the graphic pattern to be printed on the outer peripheral surface and configured so that the circumferential direction is the printing direction. As shown in FIG. 14, each printing pattern 52 is formed along a printing direction bank 53 formed along a circumferential direction (printing direction) indicated by an arrow Q and a direction orthogonal to the printing direction. And a plurality of cell portions 55 formed by orthogonal banks 54, corresponding to regions (for example, regions corresponding to the lead-out portions 62a and 62b (FIG. 16)) whose thickness is desired to be thicker than other regions. For the region Y to be processed, by increasing the arrangement pitch of the orthogonal banks 54 in the printing direction, in the region Y of the gravure roll 51, the circumferential dimension S2 of the cell 55 (55b) is set to another region ( For example, it is larger than the circumferential dimension S1 of the cell 55 (55a) in the region X corresponding to the facing portions 52a and 52b (FIG. 16), and is held per unit plane area of the region Y. The region Y is larger than the region corresponding to the region X (opposite portion of the internal electrode) so that the amount of the conductive paste is larger than the amount of the conductive paste held per unit plane area of the region X. It came to think that the area | region (leading part of an internal electrode) corresponding to this can be thickened.

  In the case of the configuration in FIG. 14, among the graphic patterns (internal electrode patterns) formed by printing, the region corresponding to the above-mentioned region Y (the central portion in the vertical direction in FIG. 14) is thicker. Therefore, by dividing at the central portion in the vertical direction of the region corresponding to the region Y, two internal electrode patterns (graphic patterns) in which the leading portion at one end is thicker than the other region are formed. .

  However, in the case of the above-described method, there are locations where the volume of the cell portion is small (region X) and locations where the volume of the cell portion is large (region Y) along the printing direction. There is a problem that the threading state of the conductive paste to be printed changes at the boundary with the region Y, the surface smoothness is deteriorated, the surface is smeared, and the coating thickness varies.

That is, in the part where the size of the cell part changes in the circumferential direction (the part where the cell part changes from a small area to a large area, and conversely, the part where the cell part changes from a large area to a small area), printing is performed. In the case of a large-capacity multilayer ceramic capacitor in which internal electrodes are laminated via a thin ceramic layer, the insulation resistance tends to deteriorate. The problem is concerned.
The inventors have conducted further experiments and examinations in consideration of these matters, and have completed the present invention.

That is, the gravure printing apparatus of the present invention is
In the ceramic body, a plurality of internal electrodes are laminated so as to face each other through a ceramic layer, and the internal electrodes are alternately arranged on the opposite side of the pair of end faces facing each other. The pair of end faces of the ceramic body are provided with external electrodes that are electrically connected to the internal electrodes drawn to the end faces, and the internal electrodes are drawn to the end faces. Gravure printing used for printing a conductive paste for forming the internal electrode when manufacturing a multilayer ceramic capacitor in which the thickness of the portion is thicker than the thickness of the opposing portions facing each other through the ceramic body A device,
A cylindrical gravure roll disposed on the outer peripheral surface, having at least one printing pattern corresponding to the graphic pattern to be printed, and configured so that the circumferential direction is the printing direction;
The printing pattern is defined by a printing direction bank formed along the printing direction, an orthogonal direction bank formed along a direction orthogonal to the printing direction, the printing direction bank, and the orthogonal direction bank. A plurality of cell portions for holding the conductive paste,
In the printed pattern, when the ratio of the planar area of the cell unit per unit planar area is seen in the direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction, the ratio of the planar area of the cell unit per unit planar area in the other region X And the ratio of the planar area of the cell part per unit planar area in the region X and the region Y is uniform in the circumferential direction of the gravure roll,
A region corresponding to the region Y in the graphic pattern formed by transferring the conductive paste held in the cell portion when printing is performed using the gravure roll having the print pattern. The print figure area Yp is configured such that the print thickness is larger than that of the print figure area Xp which is an area corresponding to the area X.

  In the gravure printing apparatus of the present invention, among the plurality of cell portions constituting the region X and the region Y of the print pattern, the cell portions arranged in the circumferential direction have the same plane area. It is preferable.

  In the gravure printing apparatus of the present invention, the plurality of orthogonal banks defining the plurality of cell parts constituting the region X and the region Y are arranged at the same pitch in the circumferential direction. Is preferred.

  Moreover, in the gravure printing apparatus of this invention, it is preferable to make the said printing pattern arrange | positioned in the outer peripheral surface of the said gravure roll so that it may wrap around an outer peripheral surface, without interrupting.

In addition, the method for producing the multilayer ceramic capacitor of the present invention includes
In the ceramic body, a plurality of internal electrodes are laminated so as to face each other through a ceramic layer, and the internal electrodes are alternately arranged on the opposite side of the pair of end faces facing each other. The pair of end faces of the ceramic body are provided with external electrodes that are electrically connected to the internal electrodes drawn to the end faces, and the internal electrodes are drawn to the end faces. The thickness of the part is a manufacturing method of a multilayer ceramic capacitor formed thicker than the thickness of the opposing parts facing each other through the ceramic body,
When printing the conductive paste on the surface of the ceramic green sheet using the gravure printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, when viewed in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, the region Yp with a thick print thickness, Forming an internal electrode forming pattern having an area Xp having a printing thickness thinner than that of the area Yp in one graphic pattern;
Of the internal electrode forming pattern, the thick printed region Yp serves as the lead-out portion of the internal electrode of the multilayer ceramic capacitor, and the thin printed region Xp has a thinner printed thickness than the region Yp. A step of forming a laminated block by laminating a plurality of the ceramic green sheets in such a manner as to be the facing portion in the internal electrode;
A step of cutting the multilayer block at a predetermined position and dividing the multilayer block into unfired individual ceramic bodies that become the ceramic body in the multilayer ceramic capacitor after firing.

  The gravure printing apparatus of the present invention has a cylindrical shape that is arranged on the outer peripheral surface and has at least one print pattern corresponding to the graphic pattern to be printed, and is configured such that the circumferential direction is the printing direction. A gravure roll is provided, and a printing pattern is defined by a printing direction bank formed along the printing direction, an orthogonal direction bank formed along a direction orthogonal to the printing direction, and a printing direction bank and an orthogonal direction bank. A plurality of cell parts for holding the conductive paste, and the printed pattern is obtained when the ratio of the planar area of the cell part per unit planar area is viewed in the direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction. The planar surface of the cell portion per unit plane area in the region X and the region Y has a region Y larger than the ratio of the planar area of the cell portion per unit planar area in the region X Since the ratio of is uniform in the circumferential direction of the gravure roll, the conductive paste held in the cell portion is transferred by printing the conductive paste using the gravure printing apparatus of the present invention. Of the figure pattern to be formed, the printed figure area Yp, which is an area corresponding to the area Y, is thicker than the printed figure area Xp, which is an area corresponding to the area X.

  Further, since the ratio of the planar area of the cell unit per unit planar area in the region Y and the region X is uniform in the circumferential direction of the regions Y and X, the thread of the conductive paste to be printed in the printing process It is possible to form a graphic pattern that is less likely to vary in the state of drawing and that has excellent surface smoothness.

  Therefore, by using the gravure printing apparatus of the present invention to print and form the internal electrode pattern, the internal electrode pattern having two regions, that is, a thick region serving as the lead portion and a thin region serving as the opposing portion. Can be efficiently formed, and a multilayer ceramic capacitor having an internal electrode in which the thickness of the lead portion is larger than the thickness of the opposing portion can be efficiently manufactured.

  In addition, among the plurality of cell portions constituting the region X and the region Y of the print pattern, when the planar area of each cell portion arranged in the circumferential direction is the same, the conductivity retained by each cell portion The amount of paste is the same in the circumferential direction, and it is possible to stabilize the stringing state of the conductive paste that is printed more reliably, and the present invention can be further effectively realized.

  In addition, even when a plurality of orthogonal banks defining the plurality of cell portions constituting the region X and the region Y are arranged at the same pitch in the circumferential direction, the state of stringing of the conductive paste to be printed Can be stabilized.

In the present invention, as described above, the plurality of cell portions constituting the region X and the region Y,
(1) Using several cell parts as one unit, arrange them in the circumferential direction so that the ratio of the planar area of the cell part per unit planar area is the same.
(2) Further, the planar areas of the individual cell parts are made the same, and the cell parts are arranged repeatedly in the circumferential direction.
(3) In addition, at least one of a plurality of orthogonal banks defining each cell portion is arranged at the same pitch in the circumferential direction, and the state of stringing of the conductive paste to be printed is provided. It becomes possible to stabilize.
Therefore, it is excellent in surface smoothness, and an internal electrode pattern in which a thick region Y and a thin region X exist in one graphic pattern (internal electrode pattern) can be efficiently and stably formed.

  In addition, when the print pattern disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the gravure roll is configured to circulate around the outer peripheral surface without interruption, printing is performed without interruption, so that the threading of the conductive paste to be printed is performed. It is possible to more reliably stabilize the state, and it is possible to increase the density of the print pattern on the outer peripheral surface of the gravure roll, thereby improving productivity.

In addition, the method for manufacturing the multilayer ceramic capacitor of the present invention includes:
When using the gravure printing apparatus of the present invention (gravure printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4), printing a conductive paste on the surface of the ceramic green sheet, when viewed in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, After forming the internal electrode forming pattern having the thick print thickness area Yp and the thin print thickness area Xp in one figure pattern in the one pattern Y, the thick print thickness area Yp of the internal electrode forming pattern Are stacked by stacking a plurality of ceramic green sheets in such a manner that the region Xp whose printed thickness is thinner than the region Yp is the opposing portion of the internal electrode of the multilayer ceramic capacitor. After forming the block, the laminated block is cut at a predetermined position to form an unfired individual ceramic body. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently produce a highly reliable multilayer ceramic capacitor that has an internal electrode whose leading portion is thicker than the opposing portion and that does not cause delamination or poor adhesion. It becomes possible.

It is a figure which shows typically the whole structure of the gravure roll which comprises the gravure printing apparatus concerning one Example (Example 1) of this invention. It is a figure which shows the printing pattern (pattern corresponding to the internal electrode pattern formed by printing an electrically conductive paste) currently formed in the gravure roll of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the internal electrode pattern formed by printing an electrically conductive paste using the gravure printing apparatus of Example 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the multilayer ceramic capacitor manufactured by the manufacturing method of the multilayer ceramic capacitor of this invention. It is a figure which shows the method of laminating | stacking the ceramic green sheet on which the internal electrode pattern was printed using the gravure printing apparatus of Example 1, shifting a position. It is a perspective view which shows the non-fired ceramic body produced in one process of the manufacturing method of the multilayer ceramic capacitor of this invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which a side gap region is formed by applying a ceramic paste to the side surface of the unfired ceramic body of FIG. 6. It is a figure which shows typically the whole structure of the gravure roll which comprises the gravure printing apparatus concerning the other Example (Example 2) of this invention. It is a figure which shows the printing pattern currently formed in the gravure roll of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the internal electrode pattern formed by printing an electrically conductive paste using the gravure printing apparatus of Example 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the method of laminating | stacking the ceramic green sheet on which the internal electrode pattern was printed using the gravure printing apparatus of Example 2, shifting a position. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning aspect (mode of a side gap area | region and an end gap area | region) of the internal electrode in the ceramic body formed by the method of Example 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the gravure roll produced in the step before completing this invention. It is a figure which shows the printing pattern of the gravure roll produced in the step before completing this invention. It is a figure which shows the conventional multilayer ceramic capacitor. It is a figure which shows the other example of the conventional multilayer ceramic capacitor.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below to describe the features of the present invention in more detail.

  In the first embodiment, a method of manufacturing a multilayer ceramic capacitor as shown in FIG. 4 and in that case, a conductive paste is used to form a predetermined pattern in order to form internal electrodes 42a and 42b. A gravure printing apparatus will be described.

  The multilayer ceramic capacitor shown in FIG. 4 includes a plurality of internal electrodes 42 a and 42 b stacked in a ceramic body 41 with a ceramic layer 43 interposed therebetween, and internal electrodes 42 a and 42 b facing each other with the ceramic layer 43 interposed therebetween. Are alternately drawn out to one and the other of the pair of end faces 44a and 44b of the ceramic body 41 and connected to external electrodes 45a and 45b formed on the end faces 44a and 44b, The thickness of the lead portions 62a and 62b for pulling out the electrodes 42a and 42b and connecting them to the external electrodes 45a and 45b is made thicker than the facing portions (capacitance forming portions) 52a and 52b, so that the internal electrode 42a in the ceramic body 41 is formed. , 42b prevents and prevents the occurrence of a step due to the difference in density so as not to cause delamination or adhesion failure. It was a laminated ceramic capacitor.

  1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a gravure roll constituting a gravure printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a printing pattern formed on the outer peripheral surface of the gravure roll of FIG. FIG.

  A plurality of printing patterns 2 corresponding to the graphic pattern to be printed are arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the gravure roll 1 constituting the gravure printing apparatus according to this embodiment.

  And each printing pattern 2 is formed so that it may circulate around the outer peripheral surface of a gravure roll without interruption, and it is constituted so that the circumferential direction (direction shown by arrow Q) of gravure roll 1 may become a printing direction. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each printing pattern 2 includes a printing direction bank 3 formed along the printing direction, an orthogonal direction bank 4 formed along the direction orthogonal to the printing direction, and a printing direction bank. 3 and a plurality of cell parts 5 that hold the conductive paste, defined by the orthogonal bank 4.

Each cell portion 5 is not surrounded by the printing direction bank 3 and the orthogonal direction bank 4, but the orthogonal direction bank 4 has a discontinuous portion, and the orthogonal direction bank 4 passes through the discontinuous portion. The cell portions 5 arranged in the circumferential direction communicate with each other.
On the other hand, the printing direction bank 3 circulates around the outer peripheral surface of the gravure roll without interruption.
In some cases, each of the cell portions 5 may be configured so that the entire circumference is surrounded by the printing direction bank 3 and the orthogonal direction bank 4 so as not to communicate with each other.

  Each printed pattern 2 has a plane area of the cell unit 5 per unit plane area in the other region X when the ratio of the plane area of the cell unit 5 per unit plane area is seen in the direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction. It has the area | region Y larger than the ratio.

  Further, the ratio of the planar area of the cell unit 5 per unit planar area in the region Y is uniform in the circumferential direction of the region Y, and the ratio of the planar area of the cell unit 5 per unit planar area in the region X is also set. The region X is uniform in the circumferential direction.

In the gravure printing apparatus according to the first embodiment, among the plurality of cell portions 5 constituting the region X and the region Y of the print pattern 2, the cell portions 5 arranged in the circumferential direction have the same plane area. is doing.
Further, the plurality of orthogonal banks 4 that define the cell portions 5 constituting the region X and the region Y are arranged at the same pitch in the circumferential direction.

  When the conductive paste for forming the internal electrode is printed on the ceramic green sheet using the gravure roll 1 having the printing pattern 2 as described above, the conductive paste held in the cell portion 5 (FIG. 2) is transferred. The figure pattern (internal electrode pattern) 42 (see FIG. 3) formed as a result of the printed pattern area Yp, which is an area corresponding to the area Y where the ratio of the planar area of the cell part 5 is large, is the cell part. 5 is thicker than the thickness of the printed figure region Xp, which is a region corresponding to the region X having a small plane area ratio.

  Then, among the graphic pattern (internal electrode pattern) 42 (FIG. 3) formed by printing the conductive paste using the above gravure printing apparatus, the printed graphic region Yp having a large printing thickness is stacked in FIG. The drawn portions 62a and 62b of the internal electrodes 42a and 42b in the ceramic capacitor are used, and the printed graphic region Xp having a thin print thickness in the graphic pattern (internal electrode pattern) 42 is replaced with the internal electrodes 42a and 42b in the multilayer ceramic capacitor of FIG. By using as the facing portions 52a and 52b, a multilayer ceramic capacitor having the structure shown in FIG. 4 can be efficiently manufactured.

  Below, the method to manufacture a multilayer ceramic capacitor using the ceramic green sheet which formed the internal electrode pattern using the above-mentioned gravure printing apparatus is demonstrated.

(1) First, by printing the conductive paste using the above-described gravure printing apparatus, as shown in FIG. 5, the printed graphic region Xp that is a thin portion for the opposing portion of the internal electrode and the lead portion forming A ceramic green sheet 10 in which a plurality of strip-like internal electrode patterns 42 having a printed figure region Yp which is a thick portion is arranged is prepared.
The strip-shaped internal electrode pattern 42 includes two internal electrodes when viewed in the direction in which the internal electrodes 42a and 42b (FIG. 4) of the multilayer ceramic capacitor are drawn, and is in a direction perpendicular to the drawing direction. In this case, it includes a large number of internal electrodes of the multilayer ceramic capacitor.

(2) Then, as shown in FIG. 5, a predetermined number of the ceramic green sheets 10 on which the internal electrode patterns 42 are printed are stacked while alternately shifting one pitch at a time when viewed with respect to the first cut line C1. That is, the ceramic green sheets 10 on which the internal electrode patterns 42 are printed are stacked while being alternately shifted to the opposite side by a distance corresponding to one ceramic element body in a direction corresponding to the drawing direction of the internal electrodes.
Further, a predetermined number of outer layer ceramic green sheets on which no internal electrode pattern is printed are stacked on the upper and lower sides to produce an unfired mother laminate (mother block). The unfired mother laminate is pressure-bonded in the laminating direction by means such as an isostatic press as required.

  (3) Then, the unfired mother laminated body is cut into a predetermined size along the cut lines C1 and C2, and an unfired ceramic body (raw chip) is cut out. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 6, an unfired ceramic body 41a in which the internal electrode patterns 42 (42a, 42b) are exposed on the side surfaces 34a, 34b and the end surfaces 44a, 44b is obtained.

(4) Next, in order to coat the internal electrode patterns 42 (42a, 42b) exposed on the side surfaces 34a, 34b of the unfired ceramic body 41a, the ceramic paste 41p is applied to the side surfaces 34a, 34b of the unfired ceramic body 41a. Apply and dry. The coated and dried ceramic paste 41p constitutes a side gap region G2 located between the internal electrode pattern 42 (42a, 42b) and the side surfaces 34a, 34b of the unfired ceramic body 41a. In addition, as a ceramic material contained in the ceramic paste used here, the same ceramic material as that contained in the ceramic green sheet is used. However, in some cases, instead of applying the ceramic paste, it is possible to attach a ceramic sheet.
The end gap region G1 (see FIG. 4) located between the tip of the internal electrode pattern 42 (42a, 42b) and the first and second end faces 44a, 44b is separated from the internal electrode pattern 42 and the cut line C1. From the relationship of the positions, the green mother laminate is formed when the unfired mother laminate is cut.

  (5) The unfired ceramic body 41a having the side surface 31a coated with the ceramic paste 41p in the step (4) is fired under predetermined conditions. The firing temperature is usually 900 to 1300 ° C., although it depends on the ceramic material and internal electrode material.

  (6) Then, a conductive paste for forming external terminal electrodes is applied to the end faces 44a, 44b of the fired ceramic body 1 and baked to form a thick film conductor as a base. The baking temperature is preferably 700 to 900 ° C.

(7) Thereafter, if necessary, one or more plating films (for example, a Ni film and a Sn film) are formed on the thick film conductor.
Thereby, a multilayer ceramic capacitor having a structure as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained.

  By using the gravure printing apparatus of Example 1 described above to print a conductive paste on the ceramic green sheet 10, an internal portion having a printed graphic region Xp with a thin printed thickness and a printed graphic region Yp with a thick printed thickness Since the multilayer ceramic capacitor is manufactured by using the ceramic green sheet 10 provided with the internal electrode pattern 42 while forming the electrode pattern 42, the thickness of the lead portions 62a and 62b is the same as that of the opposing portions 52a and 52b. A highly reliable multilayer ceramic capacitor having internal electrodes 42a and 42b thicker than the thickness and causing no delamination or poor adhesion can be efficiently manufactured.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a gravure roll constituting a gravure printing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a printing pattern formed on the outer peripheral surface of the gravure roll of FIG. FIG.

  In the first embodiment, as the gravure roll 1 constituting the gravure printing apparatus, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the print pattern 2 corresponding to the graphic pattern to be printed wraps around the outer peripheral surface without interruption. Although the formed gravure roll was used, in this Example 2, as the gravure roll 1 constituting the gravure printing apparatus, the outer periphery was spaced at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction (the direction indicated by the arrow Q in FIGS. 8 and 9). A structure in which a plurality of columnar print patterns 2S formed by arranging a large number of print patterns 2 in a row so as to go around the surface are arranged at predetermined intervals in a direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction have.

  And each printing pattern 2 which comprises the line-shaped printing pattern 2S formed in the gravure roll 1 of this Example 2, as shown in FIG. 9, the printing direction bank 3 formed along the printing direction, and printing And a plurality of cell portions 5 each holding a conductive paste defined by an orthogonal bank 4 formed along a direction orthogonal to the direction, and a printing bank 3 and an orthogonal bank 4.

  The print patterns 2 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the gravure roll 1 (the direction indicated by the arrow Q), and are also arranged at predetermined intervals in the direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction. It is installed.

  Each printed pattern 2 has a ratio of the planar area of the cell portion 5 per unit planar area per unit planar area in the other region X when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction (direction indicated by the arrow Q). It has the area | region Y larger than the ratio of the planar area of the cell part 5.

  Further, the ratio of the planar area of the cell unit 5 per unit planar area in the region Y is uniform in the circumferential direction of the region Y, and the ratio of the planar area of the cell unit 5 per unit planar area in the region X is also set. The region X is uniform in the circumferential direction.

Also in the gravure printing apparatus of the second embodiment, among the plurality of cell portions 5 constituting the region X and the region Y of the print pattern 2, the cell portions 5 arranged in the circumferential direction have the same plane area. is doing.
Further, the plurality of orthogonal banks 4 that define the cell portions 5 constituting the region X and the region Y are arranged at the same pitch in the circumferential direction.

  As described above, the print pattern 2 in the gravure roll of the second embodiment is not a belt-like pattern continuous in the circumferential direction as in the first embodiment, but a plurality of print patterns are circumferentially spaced at a predetermined interval. However, the arrangement of the printing direction bank 3 and the orthogonal direction bank 4 and the shape of the cell portion 5 defined by them are different from those of the first embodiment. This is the same as the case of 1.

  Even when the above-described gravure roll 1 having the print pattern 2 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is used to print the conductive paste for forming the internal electrode on the ceramic green sheet, the gravure roll 2 of Example 1 is used. As shown in FIG. 10, among the graphic patterns (internal electrode patterns) 42 formed by transferring the conductive paste held in the cell portion 5 (FIG. 9), as shown in FIG. The thickness of the printed figure region Yp, which is a region corresponding to the region Y where the ratio of the planar area of the cell part 5 is large, is the thickness of the printed figure region Xp which is the area corresponding to the region X where the ratio of the planar area of the cell part 5 is small Thicker than the thickness.

  Then, among the graphic patterns (internal electrode patterns) 42 (FIGS. 10 and 11) formed by printing the conductive paste using the above gravure printing apparatus, a thick printed graphic region Yp is displayed in FIG. As the lead portions 62a and 62b of the internal electrodes 42a and 42b in the multilayer ceramic capacitor of FIG. 4, the printed graphic region Xp having a thin print thickness in the graphic pattern (internal electrode pattern) 42 is replaced with the internal electrodes 42a and 42b in the multilayer ceramic capacitor of FIG. By using the facing portions 52a and 52b of 42b, a multilayer ceramic capacitor having a structure as shown in FIG. 4 can be efficiently manufactured.

  When the gravure printing apparatus of Example 2 is used, as shown in FIG. 11, the ceramic green sheet on which the graphic pattern (internal electrode pattern) 42 is formed by printing the conductive paste is used as the first cut. When the line C1 is viewed, a predetermined number of ceramic green sheets on which the internal electrode patterns 42 are printed are stacked while being alternately shifted one pitch at a time, and further, ceramic green sheets for outer layers on which the internal electrode patterns are not printed are stacked vertically. Then, after producing an unfired mother laminate (mother block), it is cut into a predetermined size along the cut lines C1 and C2, and an unfired ceramic body (raw chip) is cut out to obtain FIG. End gap region G1 and side gap region G2 side surfaces 34a, 34b and Face 44a, the internal electrode pattern 42 (42a, 42b) and 44b is unfired ceramic body 41a exposed is obtained.

  Therefore, in the case of the second embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment, in order to secure the side gap region G2, a ceramic paste is applied to the side surface of the ceramic body or a ceramic sheet is attached. It becomes unnecessary.

  As described above, even when the conductive paste is printed on the ceramic green sheet using the gravure printing apparatus according to the second embodiment, the conductive paste is printed using the gravure printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. As in the case of the above, an internal electrode pattern with a good surface characteristic, which has a printed graphic region with a large printed thickness and a printed graphic region with a thin printed thickness, can be efficiently formed on the ceramic green sheet. Then, by using the ceramic green sheet having the internal electrode pattern, a multilayer ceramic capacitor is manufactured, thereby causing delamination, poor adhesion, and the like having an internal electrode in which the leading portion is thicker than the opposing portion. A highly reliable monolithic ceramic capacitor can be efficiently manufactured.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example 1 and 2, The specific structure of the gravure roll which comprises a gravure printing apparatus, for example, the arrangement | positioning aspect of a printing direction bank and an orthogonal direction bank, a cell part Various applications and modifications can be made within the scope of the invention with respect to the specific shape, the specific shape of the print pattern corresponding to the graphic to be printed, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gravure roll 2 Print pattern 2S Line-shaped print pattern 3 Print direction bank 4 Orthogonal direction bank 5 Cell part 10 Ceramic green sheet 34a, 34b Side surface of unfired ceramic body 41 Ceramic body 41a Unfired ceramic body 41p Ceramic paste 42a , 42b Internal electrode 43 Ceramic layer 44a, 44b End face of ceramic body 45a, 45b External electrode 52a, 52b Opposite part of internal electrode (capacitance forming part)
62a, 62b Lead portion of internal electrode C1 First cut line C2 Second cut line G1 End gap region G2 Side gap region Q Arrow indicating the printing direction X Gravure roll other region Xp Conductive paste in region X is transferred Printed graphic region Y region where the proportion of the planar area of the cell portion is larger than region X Yp printed graphic region printed with conductive paste in region Y

Claims (5)

In the ceramic body, a plurality of internal electrodes are laminated so as to face each other through a ceramic layer, and the internal electrodes are alternately arranged on the opposite side of the pair of end faces facing each other. The pair of end faces of the ceramic body are provided with external electrodes that are electrically connected to the internal electrodes drawn to the end faces, and the internal electrodes are drawn to the end faces. Gravure printing used for printing a conductive paste for forming the internal electrode when manufacturing a multilayer ceramic capacitor in which the thickness of the portion is thicker than the thickness of the opposing portions facing each other through the ceramic body A device,
A cylindrical gravure roll disposed on the outer peripheral surface, having at least one printing pattern corresponding to the graphic pattern to be printed, and configured so that the circumferential direction is the printing direction;
The printing pattern is defined by a printing direction bank formed along the printing direction, an orthogonal direction bank formed along a direction orthogonal to the printing direction, the printing direction bank, and the orthogonal direction bank. A plurality of cell portions for holding the conductive paste,
In the printed pattern, when the ratio of the planar area of the cell unit per unit planar area is seen in the direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction, the ratio of the planar area of the cell unit per unit planar area in the other region X And the ratio of the planar area of the cell part per unit planar area in the region X and the region Y is uniform in the circumferential direction of the gravure roll,
A region corresponding to the region Y in the graphic pattern formed by transferring the conductive paste held in the cell portion when printing is performed using the gravure roll having the print pattern. The gravure printing apparatus is configured such that the printed figure area Yp is thicker than the printed figure area Xp which is an area corresponding to the area X.   2. The cell portions arranged in the circumferential direction among the plurality of cell portions constituting the region X and the region Y of the print pattern have the same planar area. The gravure printing apparatus as described.   3. The plurality of orthogonal banks defining the plurality of cell portions constituting the region X and the region Y are disposed at the same pitch in the circumferential direction. Gravure printing device.   The gravure printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing pattern disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the gravure roll circulates around the outer peripheral surface without interruption. In the ceramic body, a plurality of internal electrodes are laminated so as to face each other through a ceramic layer, and the internal electrodes are alternately arranged on the opposite side of the pair of end faces facing each other. The pair of end faces of the ceramic body are provided with external electrodes that are electrically connected to the internal electrodes drawn to the end faces, and the internal electrodes are drawn to the end faces. The thickness of the part is a manufacturing method of a multilayer ceramic capacitor formed thicker than the thickness of the opposing parts facing each other through the ceramic body,
Using the gravure printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, when a conductive paste is printed on the surface of the ceramic green sheet and viewed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the region Yp with a thick print thickness, Forming an internal electrode forming pattern having an area Xp having a printing thickness thinner than that of the area Yp in one graphic pattern;
Of the internal electrode forming pattern, the thick printed region Yp serves as the lead-out portion of the internal electrode of the multilayer ceramic capacitor, and the thin printed region Xp has a thinner printed thickness than the region Yp. A step of forming a laminated block by laminating a plurality of the ceramic green sheets in such a manner as to be the facing portion in the internal electrode;
A step of cutting the multilayer block at a predetermined position and dividing the multilayer block into unfired individual ceramic bodies that become the ceramic body in the multilayer ceramic capacitor after firing. Manufacturing method.

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