JP2014022418A - Board clamp device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stably clamp a board without incurring deformation such as warping in the board by causing a pressing force during clamp operation to equally act on side edges of the board even when there is distortion, burring, or shape defect in the board to be clamped in a board clamp device.SOLUTION: A reference-side clamp member 13 and a subordinate-side clamp member 14 holding both side edges of a circuit board 11 therebetween are divided into a plurality of blocks 16, 23, respectively, and air cylinders 17, 24 for individually moving the blocks 16, 23 in a clamp direction and abutting them to the side edges of the circuit board 11 are provided in the respective blocks 16, 23. Chuck mechanisms 21 are provided for fixing positions of the respective reference-side blocks 16 while holding both the side edges of the circuit board 11 between the two or more reference-side blocks 16 and the two or more subordinate-side blocks 23 therebetween. A pressing force pressing the subordinate-side blocks 23 against the side edge of the circuit board 11 is made equal to or less than a predetermined value.

Description

  The present invention relates to a substrate clamping device that clamps both side edges of a substrate conveyed by a conveyor by sandwiching it between a reference side clamping member and a subordinate side clamping member.

  For example, in a screen printing apparatus that screen-prints a solder pattern or the like on a circuit board, as described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-245435), both side edges of the circuit board conveyed by a conveyor are used as a reference. The screen mask is sandwiched between the side clamp member (fixed side clamper) and the subordinate side clamp member (movable side clamper) and clamped. In this state, the circuit board is raised and lightly brought into contact with the lower surface of the screen mask. The solder paste supplied above is spread with a squeegee to screen-print a solder pattern or the like on the circuit board. In general, the reference side / subordinate side clamp members are made of metal in a straight line. Therefore, if the circuit board is distorted, burred, or has a defective shape, the side edges of the circuit board may not be in a straight line, As a result, there is a possibility that the clamp member and the side edge of the circuit board are only partially in contact with each other, and the circuit board cannot be clamped stably.

  As techniques for solving such problems, there are Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-83189) and Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-27038).

  In Patent Literature 2, the subordinate-side clamp member is divided into a plurality of blocks, each block is attached to the width adjusting plate via a spring, and the width adjusting plate is moved in the clamping direction during the clamping operation, and the spring of each block is moved. Each block is pressed against the side edge of the circuit board using compression deformation.

  In Patent Document 3, an elastic member such as rubber is provided on the clamp surface of the subordinate side clamp member (movable side clamper), and the elastic member of the subordinate side clamp member is pressed against the side edge of the circuit board during the clamping operation. By elastically deforming the shape of the edge, the elastic member is pressed against the entire side edge of the circuit board.

JP 2007-245435 A JP-A-9-83189 JP 2009-27038 A

  However, in the configurations of Patent Documents 2 and 3, since the reference side clamp member (fixed side clamper) is formed in a straight line, if there is distortion of the circuit board, burrs, shape defects, etc., There is a possibility that the side clamp member and the side edge of the circuit board are only in partial contact, and the circuit board cannot be clamped stably.

  In addition, if the reference side clamping member and the side edge of the circuit board are only in contact with each other, the pressing force during the clamping operation is concentrated on the contact part, so that the circuit board is deformed to a plastic substrate or the like. In the case of a thin board that is easily deformed, there is a possibility that deformation such as warping may occur in the circuit board due to the pressing force during the clamping operation.

  In the configurations of Patent Documents 2 and 3, the slave side clamp member (movable side clamper) compresses and deforms an elastic member such as a spring or rubber in accordance with the shape of the side edge of the circuit board. Can be brought into contact with the entire side edge of the circuit board, but the amount of compressive deformation of the elastic member fluctuates according to the shape of the side edge of the circuit board, and the pressing force during the clamping operation is Since it may not act evenly on the edges, a thin substrate that is easily deformed, such as a plastic substrate, may cause deformation such as warpage in the circuit substrate.

  Thus, the problem to be solved by the present invention is that even if there is distortion, burrs, shape defects, etc. of the substrate, the pressing force during the clamping operation can be applied evenly to the side edge of the substrate. It is an object of the present invention to provide a substrate clamping device capable of stably clamping a substrate that is easily deformable without causing deformation such as warping of the substrate.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim 1 is the substrate clamp device, wherein both side edges of the substrate conveyed by the conveyor are clamped by being sandwiched between the reference side clamp member and the dependent side clamp member. Each reference side block is provided with reference side moving means for dividing the reference side clamp member into a plurality of reference side blocks and individually moving each reference side block in the clamping direction to contact the side edge of the substrate. In addition, the dependent side moving means for dividing the dependent side clamping member into a plurality of dependent side blocks and individually moving the dependent side blocks in the clamping direction so as to contact the side edges of the substrate. Each reference side block in a state where both side edges of the substrate are sandwiched between two or more reference side blocks and two or more subordinate side blocks. Reference side fixing means for fixing the position of the rack is provided in each reference side block, and the reference side moving means and the slave side moving means are arranged so that the reference side block and the slave side block are on the side edges of the substrate The pressing force to be pressed is configured to be equal to or less than a predetermined value.

  In this configuration, both the reference side clamp member and the subordinate side clamp member are each divided into a plurality of blocks, and both side edges of the substrate are sandwiched between two or more reference side blocks and two or more subordinate side blocks. Since the position of each reference side block is fixed by the reference side fixing means in the state, by setting the pressing force to press the dependent side block against the side edge of the substrate to a predetermined value or less, the distortion, burr, shape of the substrate Even if there is a defect, the entire side edge of the board can be pressed evenly with a relatively weak pressing force during the clamping operation, and each reference side block is fixed by the reference side fixing means. The substrate can be positioned on the basis of the block position to prevent the substrate from being displaced. As a result, even a thin substrate that is easily deformed, such as a plastic substrate, can be stably clamped with a relatively weak pressing force without causing deformation such as warpage.

  Specifically, as in claim 2, if the reference side moving means and the subordinate side moving means are each constituted by an air cylinder, and the air pressure is set so that the driving force of each air cylinder becomes a predetermined value or less. good. Since the driving force of the air cylinder is determined by the supplied air pressure, the pressing force for pressing the reference side block and the dependent side block against the side edge of the substrate can be easily adjusted by the air pressure.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the reference side block and the dependent side block are preferably supported by the reference side moving means and the dependent side moving means so as to be swingable in the substrate width direction. In this way, with a simple support structure, the reference side block and the dependent side block can be oscillated in accordance with the shape of the side edge of the substrate and pressed against the side edge of the substrate evenly.

  The present invention includes a control means for controlling the reference side moving means, the dependent side moving means, and the reference side fixing means, as in claim 4, wherein the control means includes a plurality of reference side blocks and a plurality of subordinate blocks during the clamping operation. The reference-side moving means and the dependent-side moving means so that the side blocks are simultaneously moved in the clamping direction so that both side edges of the substrate are sandwiched between two or more reference-side blocks and two or more dependent-side blocks. After the control, the reference side fixing means is operated to fix the position of the reference side block, and the subordinate side moving means so as to equalize the pressing force pressing the subordinate side block against the side edge of the substrate. It is better to control.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a substrate clamping apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the substrate clamping apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the substrate clamping apparatus according to the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, two embodiments 1 and 2 in which the mode for carrying out the invention is applied to a screen printing apparatus will be described.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The screen printing apparatus is provided with two conveyors 12 for conveying the circuit board 11 (substrate) so as to extend in parallel in the horizontal direction. A substrate clamping device 15 is provided that clamps both side edges of the circuit board 11 conveyed to the printing position by the conveyor 12 between the reference side clamping member 13 and the dependent side clamping member 14.

  The reference-side clamp member 13 is divided into a plurality of reference-side blocks 16, and two or more reference-side blocks 16 come into contact with the side edges of the circuit board 11. Each reference side block 16 is provided so as to be individually movable in the clamping direction, and a connecting member 16a (see FIG. 2) provided downward in the center of each reference side block 16 is connected to each reference side air cylinder 17 (reference reference). (Side moving means) is supported by a rod 18 via a shaft 19 so as to be swingable in the width direction (horizontal direction) of the circuit board 11. Accordingly, each reference side block 16 can swing in the width direction of the circuit board 11 with a shaft 19 provided on the rod 18 of each reference side air cylinder 17 as a fulcrum. Each reference-side air cylinder 17 is attached to the main body base of the substrate clamping device 15 (the main body base of the substrate transfer device).

  Each chuck mechanism 21 (reference side fixing means) for fixing each reference side block 16 at an arbitrary position is attached to the main body base of the substrate clamping device 15. Each chuck mechanism 21 operates using an actuator (not shown) such as an air cylinder or a solenoid as a drive source, and each reference side block 16 is moved in the state where each reference side block 16 is pressed against the side edge of the circuit board 11. The position of each reference side block 16 can be fixed by directly grasping with each chuck mechanism 21 from the side surface direction.

  On the other hand, the subordinate side clamp member 14 is divided into a plurality of subordinate side blocks 23 so that two or more subordinate side blocks 23 come into contact with the side edge of the circuit board 11. Each subordinate block 23 is provided so as to be individually movable in the clamping direction, and a connecting member 23a (see FIG. 2) provided downward in the center of each subordinate block 23 is connected to each subordinate air cylinder 24 (subordinate). (Side movement means) is supported by a rod 25 via a shaft 26 so as to be swingable in the width direction (horizontal direction) of the circuit board 11. As a result, each dependent block 23 can swing in the width direction of the circuit board 11 with a shaft 26 provided on the rod 25 of each dependent air cylinder 24 as a fulcrum. Each subordinate air cylinder 24 is attached to the main body base of the substrate clamping device 15 (the main body base of the substrate transfer device).

  Each reference-side air cylinder 17 and each subordinate-side air cylinder 24 are arranged to prevent the circuit board 11 from being deformed by a pressing force that presses the blocks 16 and 23 against the side edges of the circuit board 11. The air pressure supplied to each of the air cylinders 17 and 24 is set to a predetermined pressure so that the driving force of 24 becomes a predetermined value or less.

The operation of the substrate clamping device 15 configured as described above is controlled as follows by the control device (control means) of the screen printing apparatus.
When a sensor (not shown) detects that the circuit board 11 has been transported to a predetermined position by the conveyor 12, the driving of the conveyor 12 is stopped. Thereafter, compressed air of a predetermined pressure is supplied to each of the reference side air cylinders 17 and each of the dependent side air cylinders 24 to cause the rods 18 and 25 to protrude, thereby simultaneously clamping each of the reference side blocks 16 and each of the dependent side blocks 23. The two or more reference side blocks 16 and the two or more subordinate side blocks 23 are pressed against the side edge of the circuit board 11 so that the circuit board 11 is sandwiched between the blocks 16 and 23. . At this time, each block 16, 23 swings (rotates) in the width direction of the circuit board 11 with the shafts 19, 26 as fulcrums following the shape of the side edge of the circuit board 11. The circuit board 11 is pressed evenly against the side edge. In this case, since the air pressure supplied to each air cylinder 17, 24 is set to a predetermined pressure so that the driving force of each air cylinder 17, 24 becomes a predetermined value or less, each block 16, 23 is connected to the circuit board 11. It is possible to prevent the circuit board 11 from being deformed by the pressing force that is pressed against the side edge.

  Thereafter, the chuck mechanism 21 of each reference side block 16 is operated to fix the position of each reference side block 16 by each chuck mechanism 21. After this, each subordinate air cylinder 24 continues to maintain the supply air pressure at a predetermined pressure and maintains each subordinate block 23 pressed against the side edge of the circuit board 11. As described above, the air pressure supplied to each subordinate air cylinder 24 is set to a predetermined pressure so that the driving force of each subordinate air cylinder 24 is less than or equal to a predetermined value. The circuit board 11 is prevented from being deformed by the pressing force pressed against the side edge of the circuit board 11. In addition, after fixing the position of each reference | standard side block 16 with each chuck | zipper mechanism 21, you may make it reduce the supply air pressure of each reference | standard side air cylinder 17. FIG.

  According to the first embodiment described above, both the reference side clamp member 13 and the subordinate side clamp member 14 are divided into a plurality of blocks 16 and 23, respectively, and two or more reference side blocks 16 and two or more subordinates are divided. Since the position of each reference side block 16 is fixed by each chuck mechanism 21 with both side edges of the circuit board 11 being sandwiched between the side block 23 and the side block 23, the slave side block 23 is fixed to the side edge of the circuit board 11. By setting the pressing force to be pressed below a predetermined value, the entire side edge of the circuit board 11 is evenly pressed with a relatively weak pressing force during the clamping operation even if the circuit board 11 is distorted, burred, or has a defective shape. In addition, the position of each reference side block 16 is fixed by each chuck mechanism 21 so that the circuit board 11 is based on the position of each reference side block 16. Positioning to be prevent displacement of the circuit board 11. As a result, even if the circuit board 11 is a thin board that is easily deformed, such as a plastic board, the circuit board 11 can be stably held with a relatively weak pressing force without causing deformation such as warpage. Can be clamped.

  Moreover, in the first embodiment, each dependent side block 23 is pressed against the side edge of the circuit board 11 by each dependent side air cylinder 24 during the clamping operation. There is an advantage that the pressing force to be pressed can be easily adjusted by the air pressure supplied to each subordinate air cylinder 24.

  In the first embodiment, the supply air pressure of the subordinate air cylinder 24 is maintained at a predetermined pressure before and after the position of each reference side block 16 is fixed by each chuck mechanism 21. Before the position of the block 16 is fixed by each chuck mechanism 21, the supply air pressure of each reference side air cylinder 17 and each subordinate side air cylinder 24 is set to a pressure lower than the predetermined pressure, and between the blocks 16 and 23. After the both side edges of the circuit board 11 are sandwiched and the positions of the respective reference side blocks 16 are fixed by the respective chuck mechanisms 21, the supply air pressures of the respective dependent side air cylinders 24 may be raised to the predetermined pressure.

  In the first embodiment, each reference side block 16 is directly held and fixed by each chuck mechanism 21 from the side surface direction during the clamping operation. However, in the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. The position of each reference side block 16 is fixed by grasping and fixing the protruding piece 16b of the connecting member 16a provided downward in the center of 16 with each chuck mechanism 21 from the side surface direction. Other configurations are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment.

Also in the second embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.
In the first and second embodiments, the air cylinders 17 and 24 are used as the reference / subordinate side moving means for moving the blocks 16 and 23 on the reference side / subordinate side in the clamping direction. Instead, for example, a linear solenoid may be used to electrically control the pressing force of the blocks 16 and 23 on the reference side / subordinate side to the side edge of the circuit board 11.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the substrate clamping device of the screen printing apparatus, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention, such as being applicable to various devices that transport the substrate and clamp it at a predetermined position. Needless to say, it can be implemented.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Circuit board (board | substrate), 12 ... Conveyor, 13 ... Reference | standard side clamp member, 14 ... Subordinate side clamp member, 15 ... Substrate clamp device, 16 ... Reference | standard side block, 16a ... Connection member, 17 ... Reference | standard side air cylinder ( Reference side moving means), 18 ... rod, 19 ... shaft, 21 ... chuck mechanism (reference side fixing means), 23 ... subordinate side block, 24 ... subordinate side air cylinder (subordinate side moving means), 25 ... rod, 26 ... axis

Claims (4)

In the substrate clamping device that clamps both side edges of the substrate conveyed by the conveyor by clamping between the reference side clamping member and the dependent side clamping member,
Reference side moving means for dividing the reference side clamp member into a plurality of reference side blocks and individually moving each reference side block in the clamping direction to contact the side edge of the substrate is provided for each of the reference side blocks. And providing a slave side moving means for dividing the slave side clamping member into a plurality of slave side blocks and moving each slave side block individually in the clamping direction to contact the side edge of the substrate. Provided in each block,
Reference side fixing means for fixing the position of each reference side block in a state where both side edges of the substrate are sandwiched between two or more reference side blocks and two or more subordinate side blocks. Respectively,
The reference-side moving means and the subordinate-side moving means are configured such that a pressing force that presses the reference-side block and the subordinate-side block against a side edge of the substrate is a predetermined value or less. Clamping device.   The reference side moving means and the subordinate side moving means are each constituted by an air cylinder, and the air pressure is set so that the driving force of each air cylinder becomes a predetermined value or less. The board | substrate clamp apparatus of description.   3. The substrate according to claim 1, wherein the reference side block and the dependent side block are supported by the reference side moving unit and the dependent side moving unit so as to be swingable in the substrate width direction, respectively. Clamping device. Control means for controlling the reference side moving means, the subordinate side moving means and the reference side fixing means,
The control means moves the plurality of reference-side blocks and the plurality of dependent-side blocks simultaneously in the clamping direction during the clamping operation so that the substrate is interposed between two or more reference-side blocks and two or more dependent-side blocks. After controlling the reference side moving means and the dependent side moving means so as to sandwich the both side edges of the reference side, the reference side fixing means is operated to fix the position of the reference side block, and the dependent side block is 4. The substrate clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the subordinate-side moving means is controlled so as to equalize the pressing force pressed against the side edge of the substrate.

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