JP3924470B2 - Printing agent filling device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a printing in which a printing agent such as a conductive paste or a photosensitive resin is filled in a through hole or a concave portion of a printing mask used for printing on a printing surface of a printed object such as an electronic circuit board such as a transparent conductive substrate. The present invention relates to an agent filling device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Printing for placing a conductive paste as a printing material on an electronic circuit board uses a mask or a screen as a printing medium, and printing agent filling apparatuses used for these are roughly classified into the following two types. Things are known. The first is a rubbing type device. In this apparatus, a squeegee blade made of urethane or the like is moved along the surface of the printing mask while being pressed against the surface of the printing mask, so that the printing agent placed on the surface is rubbed against the through-holes or recesses of the printing mask. It is a device that fills in so that it fills. There is also an apparatus having a structure in which the same structure as the squeegee blade is provided in front of the squeegee blade along the printing direction (hereinafter also referred to as “squeezing direction”). The squeegee blade provided in front of the squeegee is for performing the backward printing while collecting the printing agent placed on the printing mask after the printing is completed. However, the two squeegee blades provided at the front and rear along the squeezing direction are independent and have a single function, that is, a function of performing a printing operation while extruding the printing material immediately before itself. is there. On the other hand, the second is a press-fitting type device. This apparatus prints the filling member while pushing out the printing agent in the printing agent container of the filling member from a discharge port surrounded by a pair of blades attached to the printing mask side of the printing agent container. Move along the surface of the mask. Thereby, it is an apparatus which fills the through hole or recessed part of a printing mask with a printing agent. After the printing is finished, the pair of blades cooperate to collect and store surplus printing agent, float away from the surface of the printing mask that has been in contact therewith, and return to the printing start point.
[0003]
Since the latter press-fitting type apparatus forcibly presses the printing agent into the through holes and recesses of the printing mask, sufficient filling can be performed even when the inner walls of the through holes and recesses of the printing mask are rough. It has the advantage of being able to.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the press-fitting type apparatus, when the pair of blades collects and stores the excess printing agent after the printing is finished and leaves the printing mask surface, a part of the blade is brought to the blade tip due to the viscosity of the conductive paste. Adhere to. As a result, a state in which the conductive paste pulls the thread between the printing mask and a surface state with severe irregularities is obtained. The conductive paste in such a state is separated in the process in which the blade tip and the print mask surface are separated. However, since it falls so as to be folded on the conductive paste remaining on the surface of the printing mask, air is caught in the folded portion. Then, the conductive paste remaining on the surface of the printing mask is agitated as the blade moves in the subsequent printing process, and the air becomes innumerable small bubbles and is mixed into the conductive paste. When this conductive paste is used for printing, printing defects and voids may occur due to the influence of mixed bubbles. In particular, when UV photosensitive resin is used as a printing agent, air bubbles are noticeably mixed. For example, in a printing mask for forming dot spacers on a touch panel substrate, fine through holes with a diameter of about 20 to 50 μm are formed. If air bubbles mixed in the photosensitive resin enter the through hole, the printing agent is poorly filled, resulting in poor printing.
In general, the pair of blades abut against the surface of the print mask in the form of an inverted letter C, so the back blade in the squeezing advance direction is at an angle formed with the print mask surface in the squeezing advance direction. The so-called attack angle becomes an obtuse angle. In this case, the rear blade may collide with the opening edge or step of the printing mask, and the printing mask or blade tip may be damaged and damaged, resulting in printing failure.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to prevent printing defects by preventing generation of bubbles due to air mixing into the printing agent, and to achieve good reciprocal printing. It is to provide a filling device.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 includes at least two squeegee members, and a squeegee holding member that holds the two squeegee members in a direction perpendicular to the squeegeeing direction and parallel to the print mask surface; First reciprocating means for reciprocating the squeegee holding member in the squeegeeing direction, and moving the squeegee holding member while bringing the tip portions of the two squeegee members into contact with the print mask surface; In the printing agent filling apparatus for filling a printing agent in the through hole or the concave portion of the printing mask, the squeegee holding member in a state in which the tip portions of the two squeegee members and the printing mask surface are kept in contact with each other. The moving direction with the two squeegee members is switched to perform reciprocal printing . Specifically, the two squeegee members are connected to each other by a connecting member so as to be able to swing at the lower end side while maintaining parallelism with each other, and are held swingably on the squeegee holding member. The squeegee holding members are provided in two upper and lower guide grooves formed in both side surfaces in the width direction of the frame reciprocated by the first reciprocating means, and two in the upper and lower sides on each side surface in the width direction of the squeegee holding member. Provided with a second reciprocating means for reciprocally moving the squeegee holding member along the guide groove with respect to the frame;
The guide groove is formed in an arc shape in which the center portion of the groove is higher than both end portions, and the squeegee holding member and the second reciprocating movement through a free joint that can absorb the vertical displacement of the squeegee member with respect to the frame. When the direction of movement is switched by the first reciprocating means, the squeegee holding member is attached to the frame so as to reach the opposite groove end beyond the center of the guide groove. By moving by the reciprocating means, the angle formed between the print mask surface and the two squeegee members is switched while the tip portions of the two squeegee members and the print mask surface are kept in contact with each other. The two squeegee members are configured to perform reciprocal printing while the tip portions of the two squeegee members and the print mask surface are kept in contact with each other. In this printing agent filling apparatus, when switching the squeezing direction from the forward printing to the backward printing and from the backward printing to the outward printing, the squeegeeing is performed in a state in which the tip portions of the two squeegee members are in contact with the print mask surface. Switch direction. Therefore, it is not to involve air to the printing agent. This prevents printing defects due to air mixing into the printing agent, for example, printing defects and voids caused by bubbles entering fine holes for forming dot spacers in a printing mask, and performs good reciprocal printing. Can do.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing agent filling apparatus according to the first aspect, the two squeegee members are formed in a thin plate shape, and the surface of the printing mask on the squeezing progress direction side and the two squeegee members are formed. The squeegee holding member holds the two squeegee members so that the angle (attack angle) is an acute angle. In this printing agent filling apparatus, an angle formed by the squeegee member on the squeegee progression direction side and the so-called squeegee member, a so-called attack angle, is an acute angle smaller than 90 °. As a result, compared to the case where the attack angle is obtuse, the tip of the squeegee member follows the surface of the print mask better, and the opening edge of the print mask and the tip of the squeegee are not damaged and printed. The occurrence of defects can be reduced. Moreover, compared with the case where the said attack angle is an obtuse angle, a printing agent can be more reliably filled into the through-hole or recessed part of a printing mask.
[0008]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing agent filling apparatus according to the second aspect, when the squeegee holding member switches the squeezing advance direction of the two squeegee members, the tip portions of the two squeegee members are centered. The attack angle of the two squeegee members with respect to the print mask surface is reversed in accordance with the squeezing progress direction. In this printing agent filling apparatus, when the squeegeeing direction is switched, the attack angles of the two squeegee members with respect to the print mask surface are reversed with the front ends of the two squeegee members as the center. Thereby, the inclination of the two squeegee members can be quickly changed so that the attack angle is acute with respect to the squeegee traveling direction.
[0009]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printing agent filling apparatus according to the first, second, or third aspect, wherein the two squeegee members have side surfaces on both end sides in the length direction perpendicular to the printing direction and parallel to the print mask surface. And a printing agent filling port is formed in the squeegee holding member, and a printing agent container surrounded by the squeegee holding member, the two squeegee members, and the sealing member is formed. It is characterized by that. In this printing agent filling apparatus, the sealing member seals the printing agent flowing out from the side surfaces on both ends of the two squeegee members to the surface of the printing mask, and holds the printing agent in the printing agent container, so that the sealing member is provided. Compared with the case where there is no printing material, the consumption of the printing agent can be reduced. Further, stirring of the printing agent in the printing agent container is promoted along with the printing operation, and it becomes possible to prevent the printing agent from becoming highly viscous.
[0010]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the printing agent filling apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the printing agent container is hermetically sealed when the tip portions of the two squeegee members are brought into contact with the surface of the printing mask. The printing agent press-fitting means for press-fitting the printing agent into the printing agent container from the printing agent filling port of the squeegee holding member is provided. In this printing agent filling device, the printing agent press-fitting means presses the printing agent into the printing agent container from the printing agent replenishment port of the squeegee holding member, so that the two squeegee members are formed on the portion contacting the printing mask. The printing agent is discharged from the outlet so as to be pushed out against the printing mask, and the printing agent is surely filled into the through holes or the recesses of the printing mask.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention is applied to a printing agent filling apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “filling apparatus”) used when printing a UV photosensitive resin as a printing agent for forming dot spacers on a transparent conductive substrate such as ITO. An example of the embodiment will be described.
[0012]
Fig.1 (a) is a top view which shows the principal part structure of the filling apparatus which concerns on this embodiment, The figure (b) is a side view of the filling apparatus. This filling apparatus includes a pair of squeegee blades 1 and 2 that are in contact with a printing mask (hereinafter referred to as “stencil mask”) 52 on which a printing pattern composed of through holes having a diameter of 20 to 50 μm is formed, and a pair of photosensitive resins 50. Press-fitting means for press-fitting into the squeegee blades 1 and 2.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 1B, the pair of squeegee blades 1 and 2 has an upper end formed in a substantially columnar shape in the figure, and the end formed in the columnar shape is a blade holder 3. And is supported by the blade holder 3 in a swinging manner. The squeegee blades can be swung while maintaining their parallelism by the connecting plate 4 disposed on the end faces of the pair of squeegee blades 1 and 2.
[0014]
The blade holder 3 is disposed inside the frame 5. Then, the guide groove 5a can be moved along the guide groove 5a by a total of four guide pins 6 each of which is screwed to the blade holder 3 through the guide grooves 5a drilled on both side surfaces in the frame width direction. It has become. The movement of the blade holder 3 with respect to the frame 5 is performed by an air cylinder 7. A free joint 7a is provided at the tip of the rod of the air cylinder 7 so as to absorb the vertical displacement associated with the movement of the blade holder 3 between the forward path position and the backward path position. In the illustrated example, the air cylinder 7 is used to reciprocate the blade holder 3, but a motor, an electromagnetic solenoid, or the like may be used instead.
[0015]
In the example of FIG. 1B, the blade holder 3 is in a position where forward printing is performed, and the angle formed by the surface of the stencil mask 52 on the forward squeezing direction F side and the pair of squeegee blades 1 and 2, the so-called attack angle θ _1. Is set to be about 60 °. During the return pass printing, the blade holder 3 and the pair of squeegee blades 1 and 2 are moved to a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in the drawing.
[0016]
The pair of squeegee blades 1 and 2 is configured by providing an elastic material (for example, an elastomer resin such as urethane rubber or silicon rubber) at least at a tip portion in contact with the stencil mask 52. Furthermore, by making the thickness of the tip portion thinner than other portions, the surface irregularities of the stencil mask 52 can be easily followed.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1A, a seal member 8 made of, for example, silicon rubber is affixed to each side surface of the pair of squeegee blades 1 and 2 and the blade holder 3 that are in contact with the inside of the frame 5. Yes. Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the seal member 8 is also attached to the lower surface of the frame 5 that is in contact with the stencil mask 52.
[0017]
Connected to the blade holder 3 is a pressurizing supply device 10 that pressurizes and supplies the photosensitive resin 50 through a pipe 9. The photosensitive resin 50 supplied to the blade holder 3 by the pressure supply device 10 is supplied to the printing agent container 11 through an introduction hole (not shown) provided in the blade holder 3. The printing agent container 11 is formed by a pair of squeegee plates 1 and 2, a blade holder 3, a frame 5, and a seal member 8. Further, since the discharge port 11a of the printing agent container 11 is blocked by the stencil mask 52, the printing agent container 11 is sealed.
The discharge port 11a is set to be sufficiently larger than the through hole (φ20 to 50 μm) of the stencil mask 52. A plurality of the pipes 9 are connected along the longitudinal direction of the blade holder 3, and the photosensitive resin 50 is uniformly supplied into the printing agent container 11.
[0018]
The frame 5 is held by a drive mechanism including a linear motion guide and a ball screw so as to be linearly reciprocable in the left-right direction in the figure with respect to an apparatus main body (both not shown). A pair of squeegee blades 1 and 2, a blade holder 3, an air cylinder 7, and the like can reciprocate integrally with the frame 5.
[0019]
Next, the case where the photosensitive resin for dot spacer formation is printed on the transparent conductive substrate 51 with the filling apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described.
First, with the pair of squeegee blades 1, 2 in contact with the surface of the stencil mask 52, the pressure supply device 10 pressurizes and supplies the photosensitive resin 50 to the printing agent container 11. Then, as shown in FIG. 1B, after the photosensitive resin 50 is sufficiently and uniformly supplied to the printing agent container 11, the frame 5 is moved in the forward squeezing direction F by a driving mechanism (not shown). As a result, the blade holder 3 and the pair of squeegee blades 1, 2, etc. move in the forward squeezing direction F integrally with the frame 5. A pair of squeegee blade 1 moves while sliding stencil mask 52 surface while keeping the attack angle theta ₁ with the stencil mask 52 surface, each approximately 60 °. As a result, the squeegee blade 2 on the upstream side in the moving direction rubs the photosensitive resin 50 into the through hole 52 a of the stencil mask 52.
[0020]
Then, the movement of the frame 5 is stopped at the end position of the forward printing.
Here, in the apparatus described in the prior art, after the outward printing is completed, the pair of blades cooperate to collect and store the excess printing agent, and then float and print away from the surface of the printing mask that has been in contact therewith. It was to return to the starting point. For this reason, when the pair of blades are separated from the printing mask, there is a problem that air is mixed into the photosensitive resin remaining on the printing mask side.
[0021]
Therefore, the filling apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured such that the pair of squeegee blades 1 and 2 are not separated from the surface of the stencil mask 52, and the attack angle is reversed to perform return pass printing.
At the end position of the forward printing, the air cylinder 7 stopped during printing is operated, and the blade holder 3 is moved to the backward printing position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Since the blade holder 3 is held on the frame 5 by the guide pins 6, it moves to the return pass printing position while drawing an arc along the guide groove 5a. At this time, the pair of squeegee blades 1 and 2 swing around the tip part in contact with the stencil mask 52 without moving away from the stencil mask 52 while maintaining parallelism with each other. Thereby, air mixing into the photosensitive resin 50 can be prevented. Further, at this time, the inclination with respect to the print mask surface can be reversed while maintaining the contact pressure of the tip portions of the pair of squeegee blades 1 and 2 with respect to the print mask 52 substantially constant. Thereby, it is possible to prevent damage to the printing mask 52 without applying excessive contact pressure to the printing mask 52.
Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the pair of squeegee blades 1 and 2 have an attack angle θ ₂ of about 60 ° with the surface of the stencil mask 52 on the return squeezing direction R side.
[0022]
In this state, the frame 5 is moved in the backward squeezing direction R opposite to the forward squeezing direction F by a drive mechanism (not shown) to perform the backward printing. When the backward printing is finished, the blade holder 3 is moved again to the forward printing position, and the operation is repeated in the forward squeezing direction F. As described above, when the series of operations by the reciprocal printing is completed and the stencil mask 52 is replaced or the printing material such as the photosensitive resin 50 is collected, the stencil mask 52 and the pair of squeegee blades 1 and 2 are separated from each other. Let Since printing has been completed at this time, there is no problem as described above even if air is mixed into the photosensitive resin 50 remaining on the stencil mask 52 side. However, the discharge port 11a is closed with a shutter in advance, or the pressure suction device 10 is operated in reverse to collect the photosensitive resin 50 in the printing material container 11, and the photosensitive resin remaining on the stencil mask 52 side. It is desirable to reduce 50.
[0023]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the blade holders of the pair of squeegee blades are moved so as to draw an arc around the tip of the squeegee blade that is in contact with the stencil mask at the end of the one-way printing. Therefore, the inclination on the stencil mask surface can be reversed without separating the squeegee blade tip from the stencil mask. As a result, air can be prevented from being mixed into the photosensitive resin due to the reversal of the inclination of the squeegee blade, filling failure during printing can be prevented, and rapid reciprocal printing can be performed.
[0024]
In the above embodiment, a configuration has been described in which a pressure supply device is provided and the printing agent is rubbed into the stencil mask while pressurizing the printing agent. However, depending on the hole diameter of the stencil mask, the printing agent is supplied without being pressurized. It is good.
[0025]
Moreover, in the said embodiment, the case where the printing agent was filled in the printing mask (stencil mask) which has the pattern for printing consisting of a through-hole was demonstrated. However, the present invention is not limited to the case where the printing agent is filled in the stencil mask, but can also be applied to the case where the printing agent is filled into a printing mask (intaglio mask) having a printing pattern composed of concave portions.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
According to the invention of claims 1 to 5, when switching of the squeezing direction, never involving the air to the print agent. This prevents printing defects due to air mixing into the printing agent, for example, printing defects and voids caused by bubbles entering fine holes for forming dot spacers in a printing mask, and performs good reciprocal printing. There is an excellent effect of being able to.
[0027]
In particular, according to the invention of claim 2, the angle formed by the squeegee member on the squeegee traveling direction side and the so-called squeegee member is an acute angle. Thereby, compared with the case where the said attack angle is an obtuse angle, the opening part edge of a printing mask and the squeegee front-end | tip part do not get damaged, and there exists the outstanding effect that generation | occurrence | production of a printing defect can be reduced. . Moreover, there is also an excellent effect that the printing agent can be more reliably filled into the through holes or the recesses of the printing mask.
[0028]
In particular, according to the invention of claim 3, when switching the squeegeeing direction, the inclination of the two squeegee members can be quickly changed so as to have an acute attack angle with respect to the squeegee traveling direction. effective.
[0029]
In particular, according to the invention of claim 4, since the sealing member holds the printing agent in the printing agent container, it is possible to reduce the consumption of the printing agent compared to the case where the sealing member is not provided. There is an effect. In addition, there is an excellent effect that stirring of the printing agent in the printing agent container is promoted along with the printing operation, and it becomes possible to prevent the viscosity of the printing agent from being increased.
[0030]
Particularly, according to the invention of claim 5, the printing agent press-fitting means discharges the printing agent so as to push out the printing agent from the discharge port formed at the portion where the two squeegee members contact the printing mask. There is an excellent effect that the printing agent can be reliably filled in the through-holes or the recesses of the printing mask.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a top view showing a main part configuration of a filling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
(B) is a side view of a filling member or the like used in the filling device.
FIG. 2 is a side view of a filling device when performing return pass printing.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 Squeegee blade 3 Blade holder 4 Connection plate 5 Frame 5a Guide groove 6 Guide pin 7 Air cylinder 7a Free joint 8 Seal member 9 Pipe 10 Pressurizing supply device 11 Printing agent storage part 11a Discharge port 50 Photosensitive resin 51 Transparent conductive Substrate 52 stencil mask 52a through hole θ ₁ , θ ₂ attack angle

Claims (5)

At least two squeegee members;
A squeegee holding member that holds the two squeegee members in a direction perpendicular to the squeezing direction and parallel to the print mask surface;
First reciprocating means for reciprocating the squeegee holding member in the squeezing direction,
In the printing agent filling apparatus that moves the squeegee holding member while abutting the tip portions of the two squeegee members against the surface of the printing mask, and fills the through hole or the concave portion of the printing mask with the printing agent.
The two squeegee members are connected to each other by a connecting member so as to be able to swing on the lower end side while maintaining parallelism with each other, and held swingably on the squeegee holding member,
The squeegee holding member has two upper and lower guide grooves formed on both side surfaces in the width direction of the frame reciprocated by the first reciprocating means, and two upper and lower portions on each side surface in the width direction of the squeegee holding member. By being engaged with the provided guide pin, it is supported so as to be movable along the guide groove,
A second reciprocating means for reciprocating the squeegee holding member along the guide groove with respect to the frame;
The guide groove is formed in an arc shape in which the center portion of the groove is higher than both end portions, and the squeegee holding member and the second reciprocating movement through a free joint that can absorb the vertical displacement of the squeegee member with respect to the frame. Connecting the means,
In switching the moving direction by the first reciprocating means, the squeegee holding member is moved by the second reciprocating means with respect to the frame so as to reach the groove end portion on the opposite side beyond the center portion of the guide groove. Thus, the angle formed between the print mask surface and the two squeegee members is switched while the tip portions of the two squeegee members are in contact with the print mask surface, and the two squeegee members printing replenishing apparatus characterized by being configured so as to name a reciprocating printing in a state in which is brought into contact with the aforementioned tip and the printing mask surface. The printing agent filling apparatus according to claim 1,
The two squeegee members are configured in a thin plate shape, and
Printing characterized in that the squeegee holding member holds the two squeegee members so that an angle (attack angle) formed between the surface of the printing mask on the squeezing progress side and the two squeegee members is an acute angle. Agent filling device. The printing agent filling apparatus according to claim 2,
When the squeegee holding member switches the squeezing advance direction of the two squeegee members, the attack angle of the two squeegee members with respect to the print mask surface is advanced with the tip portion of the two squeegee members as the center. A printing agent filling apparatus characterized by being configured to reverse in accordance with a direction. In the printing agent filling apparatus according to claim 1, 2, or 3,
Sealing members are provided for sealing the side surfaces of both end portions of the two squeegee members in the length direction perpendicular to the squeegeeing direction and parallel to the printing mask surface, and a printing agent filling port is provided in the squeegee holding member. Forming,
A printing agent filling apparatus, characterized in that a printing agent container surrounded by the squeegee holding member, the two squeegee members, and the seal member is formed. The printing agent filling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
The printing agent container is configured to be sealed when the tip portions of the two squeegee members are brought into contact with the surface of the printing mask, and
A printing agent filling apparatus, comprising: a printing agent press-fitting means for press-fitting a printing agent into the printing agent container from the printing agent filling port of the squeegee holding member.

Images