JP5288917B2 - Paste coating apparatus and paste coating method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a paste application apparatus and a paste application method for applying a paste to an object to be applied.

  Paste applicators are used to manufacture various devices such as liquid crystal display panels. This paste coating apparatus includes a coating head that discharges and applies a paste to a coating target, and applies the paste to the coating target while moving the coating head, and a predetermined paste on the coating target. A pattern is formed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In particular, in the manufacture of a liquid crystal display panel, since two substrates are bonded together, the paste application device has a sealing property such as a sealing agent and the like so as to surround the display area of the liquid crystal display panel with respect to the substrate that is the application target. An adhesive paste is applied.

In recent years, the panel size of a liquid crystal display panel has been diversified from a small panel for mobile use such as a mobile phone to a large panel such as a television. In addition, panel prices have become low, and demands for improving panel productivity have become stricter. Usually, in order to produce a necessary amount of necessary panels, multi-sided taking a plurality of panels from a single substrate is performed. In this case, the number of coating heads corresponding to the number of chamfers on the panel is attached to the device, the drawing conditions are set and drawing is performed. Alternatively, the number of coating heads is increased or decreased by removal, and drawing conditions are set again. Normally, this setup change interrupts production.
JP-A-9-323056

  However, in the conventional paste coating apparatus, when changing the panel size and the number of chamfers, it is necessary to attach or remove the coating head and to determine the drawing conditions. As a result, productivity decreases.

  Here, as shortening the setup change time, when adjusting the coating amount when drawing conditions are set, each paste pattern drawn by a plurality of coating heads by increasing the number of measuring instruments for measuring the coating amount of the applied paste However, it is difficult to secure an installation space for each device and the device price also increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a paste coating apparatus and a paste coating method capable of improving productivity by shortening the setup change time while suppressing the addition of equipment and price increase. That is.

A first feature according to an embodiment of the present invention is that, in the paste application device, a plurality of application heads that respectively perform an application operation for discharging and applying a paste to an application object and a maintenance operation for maintaining the application performance; A control unit that controls the coating operation and the maintaining operation of the plurality of coating heads, and the control unit performs the coating operation on a coating execution target coating head in the plurality of coating heads. is executed, the time to execute the maintenance operation on the coating executed of the coating head is to perform the maintenance work for the plurality of application execution asymmetric coating head in the coating head.

A second feature according to the embodiment of the present invention is that, in the paste coating method, a plurality of coating heads that respectively perform a coating operation for discharging and applying a paste to a coating target and a maintenance operation for maintaining coating performance. Performing a coating operation on the coating execution target coating head, performing a maintenance operation on the coating execution target coating head, and maintaining the coating operation target coating head. when to be executed, it is to have a step of performing the maintenance work to the plurality of coating heads of the coating run non-target in the coating head.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a paste coating apparatus and a paste coating method capable of improving productivity by shortening the setup change time while suppressing equipment addition and price increase.

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

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the paste coating apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the substrate K as a coating object is in a horizontal state (in FIG. 1, a state along the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction orthogonal thereto). A plurality of coating heads 3A and 3B for respectively applying a paste having sealing properties and adhesive properties such as a sealing agent to the substrate K on the substrate stage 2 and the coating heads 3A, An X-axis moving mechanism 4 that supports 3B so as to be movable in the X-axis direction (in FIG. 1) and moves along the X-axis direction, and supports each coating head 3A, 3B via the X-axis moving mechanism 4. A support member 5, a pair of Y-axis moving mechanisms 6A and 6B for supporting the support member 5 movably in the Y-axis direction (in FIG. 1) and moving the support member 5 along the Y-axis direction, and the substrate stage 2 and the pair of pairs A stand for supporting the Y-axis moving mechanism 6A, 6B, etc. When, and a control unit 8 that controls each unit.

  The substrate stage 2 is a mounting table that is fixed to the upper surface of the gantry 7. The substrate stage 2 is formed with two mounting surfaces at the same height in the front and rear (Y-axis direction), and the manufacturing substrate K is mounted on the mounting surface on the back side. On the mounting surface, a discarded substrate Ka as a coating object for discarding is placed. A glass substrate or the like is used as the production substrate K and the discarded substrate Ka. The substrate stage 2 includes a suction mechanism (not shown) that sucks the production substrate K and the discarded substrate Ka, and the substrate K and the discarded substrate Ka are fixed to the upper mounting surface by the suction mechanism. Hold. For example, a vacuum suction mechanism is used as the suction mechanism.

  Each coating head 3A, 3B has a storage cylinder 3a such as a syringe for storing a paste, and a nozzle 3b that communicates with the storage cylinder 3a and discharges the paste. These coating heads 3A and 3B are respectively connected to a gas supply unit (both not shown) via gas supply tubes and the like. Each of the coating heads 3A and 3B discharges the paste inside the storage cylinder 3a from the nozzle 3b by the gas supplied into the storage cylinder 3a.

  These coating heads 3A and 3B are provided on the X-axis moving mechanism 4 via the YZ-axis moving mechanism 3c, respectively. The YZ-axis moving mechanism 3c is a moving mechanism that individually supports the coating heads 3A and 3B and moves them in the Y-axis direction, and further moves in the Z-axis direction (in FIG. 1) perpendicular to the horizontal plane, that is, the substrate. This is a moving mechanism that moves the coating heads 3A and 3B in the contacting / separating direction with respect to the stage 2. For example, a feed screw mechanism using a ball screw is used as the YZ axis moving mechanism 3c.

  Further, the YZ axis moving mechanism 3c is provided with a distance measuring device 3d such as a laser displacement meter for measuring the distance to the surface of the substrate K on the substrate stage 2 or the discarded substrate Ka. The distance measuring device 3d is electrically connected to the control unit 8, and the distance measured by the distance measuring device 3d is such that the gap between the surface of the substrate K or the discarded substrate Ka and the nozzle 3b is a predetermined gap. Used for maintaining gap control.

  The X-axis moving mechanism 4 is provided on the front surface of the support member 5. The X-axis moving mechanism 4 supports the two coating heads 3A and 3B so as to be movable in the X-axis direction, and moves the coating heads 3A and 3B in the X-axis direction, that is, along the support member 5. Mechanism. As the X-axis moving mechanism 4, for example, a linear motor mechanism using a linear motor or a feed screw mechanism using a ball screw is used.

  The support member 5 is a column that supports the two coating heads 3A and 3B via the X-axis moving mechanism 4. The support member 5 is extended in a direction intersecting the moving direction (Y-axis direction), for example, a direction orthogonal to the movement direction (X-axis direction), and formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, for example. The support member 5 is provided in parallel to the mounting surface of the substrate stage 2. Such a support member 5 is moved in the Y-axis direction by the pair of Y-axis moving mechanisms 6 </ b> A and 6 </ b> B, and positions the coating heads 3 </ b> A and 3 </ b> B at positions facing the mounting surface of the substrate stage 2.

  The pair of Y-axis moving mechanisms 6A and 6B are respectively provided on the upper surface of the gantry 7 so as to sandwich the substrate stage 2 from both sides. The Y-axis moving mechanism 6A includes a support base 6a on which the end of the support member 5 is fixed and placed, a guide rail (not shown) extending in the Y-axis direction, and the like. The support base 6a is formed to be movable in the Y-axis direction along the guide rail. Similarly, the Y-axis moving mechanism 6B includes a support base 6b on which the end of the support member 5 is fixed and placed, a guide rail (not shown) extending in the Y-axis direction, and the like. The support base 6b is also formed to be movable in the Y-axis direction along the guide rail. That is, the pair of Y-axis moving mechanisms 6A and 6B support the supporting member 5 so as to be movable in the Y-axis direction in cooperation with each other, and are moving mechanisms that move the supporting member 5 along the Y-axis direction. . As the pair of Y-axis moving mechanisms 6A and 6B, for example, a linear motor mechanism using a linear motor or a feed screw mechanism using a ball screw is used.

  The support base 6a is provided with a receiving member 9a that receives the paste discharged from the coating head 3A and a cleaning member 10a for cleaning the coating head 3A. The receiving member 9a and the cleaning member 10a are provided side by side in the X-axis direction that is the moving direction of the coating heads 3A and 3B. Similarly, the support base 6b is also provided with a receiving member 9b for receiving the paste discharged from the coating head 3B and a cleaning member 10b for cleaning the coating head 3B. The receiving member 9b and the cleaning member 10b are also provided side by side in the X-axis direction that is the moving direction of the coating heads 3A and 3B. In addition, as each receiving member 9a, 9b, saucers, such as a tray, are used, for example. Further, as each of the cleaning members 10a and 10b, for example, an absorbing member that absorbs and removes the paste remaining in the nozzle 3b, a wiping member that wipes off the paste, etc. (for example, a sponge-like or cloth-like absorbing member or wiping) Member).

  The gantry 7 is a gantry that is installed on the floor surface and supports the substrate stage 2 and the pair of Y-axis moving mechanisms 6A and 6B at a predetermined height position from the floor surface. The upper surface of the gantry 7 is formed in a flat surface, and the substrate stage 2 and the pair of Y-axis moving mechanisms 6A and 6B are placed on the upper surface of the gantry 7.

  The control unit 8 is provided in the gantry 7 and includes a microcomputer that centrally controls each unit, and a storage unit that stores application information regarding paste application, various programs, and the like (none of which are shown). ing. The control unit 8 is connected to an input unit (not shown) that is input by an operator to set various setting values. The application information includes information about a predetermined application pattern (paste pattern), drawing speed, paste application amount (discharge amount), and the like.

  The control unit 8 selects a coating head to be coated from the coating heads 3A and 3B based on the coating information and various programs, and the X-axis moving mechanism 4 and the pair of Y-axis moving mechanisms 6A and 6B. The nozzle 3b of the selected coating heads 3A and 3B and the manufacturing substrate K on the substrate stage 2 are moved relative to each other in parallel to the surface direction of the substrate K, and predetermined coating is performed on the manufacturing substrate K. Apply paste to the pattern. At this time, the control unit 8 performs feedback control based on the separation distance measured by the distance measuring device 3d, and controls the gap between the surface of the substrate K and the nozzle 3b to be a predetermined gap (gap control). Moreover, the control part 8 adjusts the pressure of the gas supplied to each accommodating cylinder 3a of each coating head 3A, 3B, respectively, and controls the discharge pressure applied to the paste when discharging the paste (discharge amount control).

  Here, the control unit 8 selects a coating head to be coated (a coating head used for coating) from the coating heads 3A and 3B according to the number of chamfers. For example, when the number of chamfers is set to 1, the control unit 8 selects the coating head 3A as a coating execution target coating head from the coating heads 3A and 3B, and performs a coating operation on the selected coating head 3A. Will be executed. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 2, one frame-shaped paste pattern P <b> 1 is applied on the substrate K for manufacturing. During this coating operation, the coating head 3B that is not subject to coating execution (a coating head that is not used for coating) is in a standby position that does not face the manufacturing substrate K (for example, the coating head 3B faces the receiving member 9b or the cleaning member 10b). Wait at position. Such a coating operation is performed every time the manufacturing substrate K is replaced, and is repeated for a predetermined number of sheets to be produced.

  Thereafter, setup change is performed, and the panel size and the number of chamfers are changed. When the number of chamfers is set to 2, the control unit 8 selects both the coating heads 3A and 3B as the coating execution target coating heads from the respective coating heads 3A and 3B, and applies the selected coating heads 3A and 3B to the selected coating heads 3A and 3B. On the other hand, a coating operation is executed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, two frame-shaped paste patterns P <b> 2 are applied on the substrate K for manufacturing. Such a coating operation is performed every time the manufacturing substrate K is replaced, and is repeated for a predetermined number of sheets to be produced. Prior to manufacturing, drawing conditions for drawing paste on the manufacturing substrate K (drawing conditions such as drawing speed and coating amount) have been completed.

  During the manufacturing process including such a setup change, the control unit 8 performs the desired timing on the coating head to be coated (if the number of chamfers is 1, the coating head 3A and the number of chamfers). Is 2 (for each of the coating heads 3A and 3B), a maintenance operation for maintaining the coating performance is executed. At this time, the control unit 8 causes the maintenance operation to be performed also on the coating heads that are not subjected to coating execution in the coating heads 3A and 3B (also on the coating head 3B when the number of chamfers is 1). . Accordingly, each of the coating heads 3A and 3B performs a coating operation for discharging and applying a paste to the production substrate K according to the number of chamfers, and is a coating head to be coated regardless of the number of chamfers. Regardless of whether or not the maintenance operation is performed simultaneously. Thereby, the application | coating performance of all the application heads 3A and 3B can always be maintained favorable.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the maintaining operation includes a discarding operation for discharging and applying a paste toward the discarding substrate Ka, and a discarding discharge for discharging the paste toward the receiving members 9a and 9b as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, there are a cleaning operation for bringing the nozzle 3b into contact with the cleaning members 10a and 10b, a suck back operation (suction operation) for drawing the paste into the head, and the like. The suck back operation is also performed during the coating operation, and is also performed after the discarding operation and the discarding discharge operation. In addition, the paste applied on the discarded substrate Ka is photographed by an inspection camera (for example, a CCD), and the ejection amount is obtained from the image to determine whether or not it is a prescribed amount. The inspection camera is provided, for example, fixed to the YZ axis moving mechanism 3c so as to be able to pick up an image of the paste on the discarded substrate Ka.

  Usually, the viscosity characteristics of the paste change over time. For this reason, when the paste is discharged from the nozzle 3b and the coating operation is sequentially performed on the transported manufacturing substrate K, the paste is solidified when the long time has passed since the previous coating, and the nozzle 3b In some cases, it may become clogged and not discharged, or on the contrary, the paste may soften and the discharge amount may exceed a specified amount. In order to avoid the occurrence of these problems, it is necessary to perform a maintenance operation. Therefore, by performing the discarding operation as the maintenance operation, the paste can be inspected, and further, the application performance can be prevented from being deteriorated due to paste solidification or paste softening. In addition, by performing the discard discharge operation as the maintenance operation, it becomes possible to discharge and remove the solidified paste, and to prevent the application performance from being deteriorated due to the solidification of the paste. Further, by performing the cleaning operation as the maintenance operation, the nozzle 3b is cleaned, and it is possible to prevent the application performance from being deteriorated due to the paste adhering to the nozzle 3b. By performing the suck back operation as the maintenance operation, the paste dripping In addition, contamination of the nozzle 3b can be prevented.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the application operation means application of a main seal pattern applied in a rectangular pattern on the manufacturing substrate K and a dummy seal pattern applied around the periphery as necessary. The maintenance operation is the above-described discarding operation, discarding discharge operation, cleaning operation, suck back operation, and the like performed before, after, or between application operations.

  Next, the manufacturing operation performed by the paste applying apparatus 1 will be described. In addition, the control part 8 of the paste coating apparatus 1 performs a manufacturing process based on various programs.

  First, before starting production, various setting values such as a drawing speed and an application amount (discharge amount) are input to the paste application device 1 by a setter such as an operator. These set values are stored in the storage unit of the control unit 8. Various setting values may be stored in the storage unit in advance. In this case, these setting values are called from the storage unit and used. The control unit 8 controls each unit based on various set values and draws a paste in a predetermined pattern on the surface of the substrate K on the substrate stage 2. The setter confirms (inspects) the paste pattern applied on the substrate K and adjusts various set values again. Such adjustment operation is repeated several times to draw drawing conditions (setting application information).

  When the drawing condition setting is completed and the production is started, as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 8 determines whether or not the replacement of the manufacturing substrate K is completed (step S1), and then the predetermined time is reached. It is determined whether or not a period has elapsed (step S2). Further, it is determined whether or not a predetermined number of manufacturing substrates K have been applied (step S3), and the process returns to step S1. Here, for example, completion of replacement of the production substrate K is determined based on whether or not the operator has pressed the replacement completion button (input unit), on / off of a sensor for detecting completion of placement of the substrate K, and the like.

  When it is determined in step S1 that the substrate used for condition determination is unloaded from the substrate stage 2, the manufacturing substrate K is loaded onto the substrate stage 2, and the replacement of the manufacturing substrate K is completed ( In step S1, YES, first, the application heads 3A and 3B are caused to perform a cleaning operation (step S4), and then the application heads 3A and 3B are caused to perform a discarding operation (step S5). The coating operation of the coating execution target in 3A and 3B is caused to perform a coating operation (step S6), and the process returns to step S1. Here, the cleaning operation and the discarding operation are set to be performed every time the production substrate K is replaced, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is performed every predetermined time or every predetermined number of sheets. May be set.

  If it is determined in step S2 that the predetermined time has elapsed (YES in step S2), the application heads 3A and 3B are caused to perform a discarding operation (step S7), and the process returns to step S1. Here, the predetermined time is, for example, 30 seconds, and this predetermined time is set so that the discarding operation is performed when the next substrate K is not transported. Therefore, the passage of the predetermined time is measured from the completion of the removal of the substrate K after application.

  If it is determined in step S3 that a predetermined number of production substrates K have been applied (YES in step S3), the application heads 3A and 3B are caused to perform a discarding discharge operation (step S8), and the process is performed. Return to S1. Here, the predetermined number is, for example, 30 sheets. The discard discharge operation is set to be performed every predetermined number of sheets, but is not limited thereto, and may be set to be performed every predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes), for example.

  When discarding, the control unit 8 moves the support member 5 in the Y-axis direction by the pair of Y-axis moving mechanisms 6A and 6B, and the X-axis moving mechanism 4 moves the coating heads 3A and 3B in the X-axis direction, respectively. The application heads 3A and 3B are made to face each application start position of the discarded substrate Ka on the substrate stage 2 regardless of the application execution target and the application execution non-target. Thereafter, the control unit 8 uses the X-axis moving mechanism 4 to cause each coating head to discharge the paste from each nozzle 3b of each coating head 3A, 3B based on the coating information (discharge pressure, drawing speed, gap, etc.). 3A and 3B are moved in the X-axis direction, and the paste is applied to the surface of the discarded substrate Ka on the substrate stage 2 to form a linear or frame-shaped paste pattern (see FIG. 4). As a result, a paste pattern is formed on the discarded substrate Ka, so that the paste can be inspected using the paste pattern, and further, the solidified or softened paste is discharged and removed. Even in a coating head that is not subject to coating execution, it is possible to prevent a decrease in coating performance due to paste solidification or paste softening.

  Further, when performing the discard discharge, the control unit 8 moves each of the coating heads 3A and 3B in the X-axis direction by the X-axis moving mechanism 4 so that the coating head 3A is opposed to the receiving member 9a, and the coating head 3B. The receiving member 9b is made to face. Thereafter, the control unit 8 causes the respective pastes to be ejected from the nozzles 3b of the coating heads 3A and 3B regardless of whether the coating is performed or not. The paste discharged from the coating head 3A accumulates on the receiving member 9a, and the paste discharged from the coating head 3B accumulates on the receiving member 9b (see FIG. 5). Thereby, since the paste in a solid state is discharged and removed, it is possible to prevent a drop in coating performance due to solidification of the paste.

  When performing cleaning (nozzle cleaning), the control unit 8 causes the X-axis moving mechanism 4 to move the application heads 3A and 3B in the X-axis direction regardless of whether the application is performed or not. The coating head 3A is opposed to the cleaning member 10a, and the coating head 3B is opposed to the cleaning member 10b. Thereafter, the control unit 8 moves each of the coating heads 3A and 3B in the Z-axis direction by using each YZ-axis moving mechanism 3c, brings the nozzle 3b of the coating head 3A into contact with the cleaning member 10a, and causes the nozzle 3b of the coating head 3B to move. It contacts with the cleaning member 10b (refer FIG. 6). As a result, excess paste remaining on the tip of each nozzle 3b is removed and each nozzle 3b is cleaned, so that it is possible to prevent a drop in coating performance due to the paste adhered to the nozzle 3b. Become.

  When performing application, the control unit 8 selects an application execution target application head from the application heads 3A and 3B, and moves the support member 5 in the Y-axis direction by the pair of Y-axis moving mechanisms 6A and 6B. And the X-axis moving mechanism 4 moves the application head to be applied in the X-axis direction so that the application head to be applied is opposed to the application start position of the production substrate K on the substrate stage 2. Thereafter, the control unit 8 discharges the paste from the nozzle 3b of the application head to be applied based on application information (e.g., discharge pressure, drawing speed, and gap) that is a drawing condition, and then a pair of Y-axis moving mechanisms 6A. 6B, the support member 5 is moved in the Y-axis direction, the application head to be applied is moved in the X-axis direction by the X-axis moving mechanism 4, and the paste is applied to the surface of the production substrate K on the substrate stage 2. Then, a paste pattern having a predetermined frame shape is formed.

  Here, when the number of chamfers is 1, the coating head 3A performs a coating operation as a coating head to be coated (see FIG. 2). At this time, the coating head 3B not subjected to coating execution stands by at a standby position where the coating head 3B does not face the manufacturing substrate K (for example, a position where the coating head 3B faces the receiving member 9b or the cleaning member 10b) (see FIG. 1). . On the other hand, when the number of chamfers is 2, each of the coating heads 3A and 3B performs a coating operation as a coating head to be coated (see FIG. 3). The suck back operation is also performed during the coating operation, and is also performed after the discarding operation and the discarding discharge operation. This suck-back operation can prevent the nozzle 3b from being soiled in addition to the paste dripping.

  In such a manufacturing process, each of the coating heads 3A and 3B is maintained at a predetermined timing as described above regardless of the number of chamfers, that is, regardless of whether the coating is performed or not performed. Operation, disposal discharge operation, cleaning operation, suck back operation, etc.). Therefore, even when the number of chamfers is 1, not only the application head 3A that is the application head to be applied, but also the application head 3B that is the application head that is not the application target performs the maintenance operation. . That is, each of the coating heads 3A and 3B performs the maintenance operation at the same time regardless of whether or not it is a coating execution target.

  Thereafter, even when the panel size is changed at the time of setup change and the number of chamfers is set to 2, the coating performance of the coating head 3B, which is the coating head that is not subjected to coating execution, is the coating head 3A that is the coating execution target. Thus, it is possible to use the coating head 3B as it is as a coating head to be coated this time. In addition, since drawing conditions are set once by the coating heads 3A and 3B before the start of production, it is not necessary to set drawing conditions again when the number of chamfers is changed to two. Therefore, even when the panel size and the number of chamfers are changed, it is not necessary to attach or remove the coating head as in the prior art, and it is not necessary to set the drawing conditions for each change. The replacement time can be shortened, and productivity can be improved. In particular, when adjusting the application amount when drawing conditions are set to shorten the setup change time, the number of applied amount measuring instruments that measure the applied amount of the applied paste is increased, and multiple paste patterns can be measured simultaneously. When the inspection is performed, it is not necessary to increase the number of image processing apparatuses, so that it is not necessary to secure an installation space for each device, and in addition, an increase in apparatus price can be suppressed.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the maintenance operation is performed on the coating head 3A to be coated in each coating head 3A, 3B, Even if the panel size and the number of chamfers are changed at the time of setup change by performing the maintenance operation on the coating head 3B that is not subject to coating execution, the coating performance of the coating head 3B that is not targeted for coating execution last time. Is maintained in the same manner as the application head 3A to be applied, so that the application head 3B can be directly used as the application head to be applied this time. As a result, even when the panel size and the number of chamfers are changed, it is not necessary to attach or remove the coating head as in the prior art, and it is not necessary to set the drawing conditions for each change. The replacement time can be shortened, and productivity can be improved. In addition, in order to shorten the setup change time, when adjusting the coating amount when drawing conditions are set, when increasing the coating amount measuring device to measure a plurality of paste patterns at the same time or when performing joint inspection, the image processing device is Since there is no need to increase the number of devices, an increase in the device price can be suppressed without securing a mounting space for each device. As a result, productivity can be improved by shortening the setup change time while suppressing equipment addition and price increase.

  Conventionally, as the change difference in the number of chamfers increases, the setup change time tends to be longer (for example, when the change difference in the number of chamfers is 1, the time for attaching or removing the coating head and the drawing condition setting time are longer). Therefore, even if the number of coating heads corresponding to the maximum chamfering number is attached in advance and the number of coating heads to be coated is smaller than the total number of coating heads, as described above In addition to the application execution target application heads, if the application heads other than the application execution target (application heads not subject to application execution) are also maintained, the application performance of the application heads other than the application execution targets can be Since it is maintained at the same level as the application head, even if the number of chamfers increases afterwards, the application heads other than the application execution target remain as application execution targets. It can be used by coating head. Thereby, shortening of setup change time is realizable. In particular, as the change difference in the number of chamfers increases, the conventional setup change time becomes longer, so that the effect of shortening the setup change time is improved. Thereby, productivity can be improved.

  Also, a support member 5 that supports the coating heads 3A and 3B, a pair of Y-axis moving mechanisms 6A and 6B that support both ends of the support member 5 and move the support member 5, and the coating heads 3A and 3B. An X-axis moving mechanism 4 that moves the support member 5 along with the support member 5 and a plurality of receiving members 9a and 9b that are movable along with the support member 5, respectively. Since the non-executable coating heads are respectively opposed to the receiving members 9a and 9b and the coating heads are discarded and the discharging operation is performed, a moving mechanism that moves the receiving members 9a and 9b to a position facing the coating head. The X-axis moving mechanism 4 for moving the coating heads 3A and 3B can be shared, so that the complexity of the apparatus and the increase in the apparatus price can be suppressed. Further, a plurality of cleaning members 10a and 10b are provided at both ends of the support member 5 so as to be movable together with the support member 5, and an application head to be applied and an application head not to be applied to the cleaning members 10a and 10b, respectively. Since these coating heads are made to face each other and perform a cleaning operation, there is no need to provide a moving mechanism for moving each cleaning member 10a, 10b to a position facing the coating head, and X for moving each coating head 3A, 3B. Since the shaft moving mechanism 4 can be shared, it is possible to further suppress the complexity of the device and the increase in the device price.

  Further, since the receiving members 9a and 9b and the cleaning members 10a and 10b are provided at the standby position, it is possible to perform the maintenance operation even when the application head to be applied is being applied. Therefore, the time during which the discard discharge operation for the receiving members 9a and 9b is set in advance by the application head that is not subject to application execution passes within the period in which the application head that is the application execution target applies and draws the paste on the substrate K. It may be executed every time.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the two coating heads 3A and 3B are provided on the support member 5, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and three coating heads may be provided on the support member 5, respectively. Well, the number is not limited.

  In the embodiment described above, one support member 5 is provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and two support members 5 may be provided, and the number thereof is not limited. The two support members 5 may be provided with a plurality of coating heads, for example.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a sealing agent having a sealing property and an adhesive property is used as a paste. However, it is not always necessary to have a sealing property and an adhesive property, and only one of the sealing property and the adhesive property is used. You may make it use the paste which has other characteristics, such as the paste which has.

  In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the substrate stage 2 is fixed on the gantry 7 and the coating heads 3A and 3B and the support member 5 are moved to apply the paste to the surface of the substrate K. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the substrate stage 2 may be configured to be movable in the Y-axis direction, the X-axis direction, the θ direction (rotation direction in a plane including the X-axis and the Y-axis), and the like. The substrate stage 2 may be configured to be movable in the same direction as the movement direction (Y-axis direction) of the support member 5. In this case, when the substrate K and the coating heads 3A and 3B are relatively moved in the Y-axis direction, if the substrate stage 2 and the support member 5 are moved in directions opposite to each other, only the support member 5 is obtained. The moving speed of the substrate stage 2 and the support member 5 can be halved as compared with the case of moving. For this reason, since the inertial force accompanying the movement of the substrate stage 2 and the support member 5 is reduced, vibrations caused by acceleration or deceleration of the substrate stage 2 and the support member 5 can be reduced. As a result, it becomes possible to accurately apply the shape of the paste pattern corner portion of the paste pattern that changes the direction of application and the start and end of the paste pattern along the Y-axis direction in a desired shape. Can be manufactured.

  Finally, in the above-described embodiment, various numerical values are given, but these numerical values are merely examples and are not limited.

It is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a paste application device concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating application | coating in case the number of chamfering performed by the paste application | coating apparatus shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating application | coating in case the number of chamfering which the paste coating device shown in FIG. 1 performs is two. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the discarding operation | movement which the coating head with which the paste coating device shown in FIG. 1 is provided. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the discard discharge operation | movement which the coating head with which the paste coating apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is provided. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the cleaning operation | movement which the coating head with which the paste coating device shown in FIG. 1 is provided. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the manufacturing process which the paste coating device shown in FIG. 1 performs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Paste coating apparatus 3A, 3B Coating head 9a, 9b Receiving member 10a, 10b Cleaning member K Application | coating target object (board | substrate)
Ka Disposal object to be thrown away (discarded substrate)

Claims (10)

A plurality of coating heads for performing a coating operation for discharging and applying a paste to a coating object and a maintenance operation for maintaining the coating performance;
A controller for controlling the application operation and the maintenance operation of the plurality of application heads,
The controller is
Causing the coating operation to be performed on a coating head to be coated among the plurality of coating heads,
When the maintenance operation is performed on the coating execution target coating head, the maintenance operation is also performed on the coating execution non-target coating heads in the plurality of coating heads. .   2. The paste coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maintaining operation is a discarding operation for discharging and applying the paste to an object to be discarded.   The paste applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maintaining operation is a discarding discharge operation for discharging the paste toward a receiving member that receives the paste. A cleaning member for cleaning the application head;
2. The cleaning operation according to claim 1, wherein the maintaining operation is a cleaning operation in which the application head is moved to face the cleaning member and then cleaned by bringing a nozzle of the application head into contact with the cleaning member. Paste applicator.   The paste applying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maintaining operation is a suck back operation for drawing the paste. A step of performing the coating operation on the coating execution target coating heads in a plurality of coating heads, each performing a coating operation for discharging and applying a paste to a coating target and a maintenance operation for maintaining coating performance;
A step of causing the maintenance operation to be performed on the coating head to be coated,
A step of causing the maintenance operation to be performed on a non-application-execution application head in the plurality of application heads when the maintenance operation is executed on the application-execution application head;
A paste coating method characterized by comprising:   The paste application method according to claim 6, wherein the maintaining operation is a discard operation in which the paste is discharged and applied to an application object for disposal.   The paste application method according to claim 6, wherein the maintaining operation is a discard discharge operation of discharging the paste toward a receiving member that receives the paste. 7. The cleaning operation according to claim 6, wherein the maintaining operation is a cleaning operation in which the application head is moved to face the cleaning member and then cleaned by bringing the nozzle of the application head into contact with the cleaning member . Paste application method.   The paste application method according to claim 6, wherein the maintaining operation is a suck back operation for drawing the paste.

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