JP6666791B2 - Coating agent remaining amount check device, coating device, coating agent remaining amount checking method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for detecting a shortage of the remaining amount of a coating agent applied to an application target such as a substrate.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a coating apparatus that stores a coating material, which is a liquid material such as a solder paste or an adhesive, in a storage container such as a syringe and applies the coating material discharged from a discharge port at the tip of the storage container to a coating target. I have. Patent Documents 1 and 2 and the like propose various techniques for detecting such a shortage of the remaining amount of the coating material in the storage container.

  In Patent Literature 1, a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit are arranged to face each other in a syringe. When there is no coating agent in the syringe, the light emitted from the light emitting unit passes through the syringe and reaches the light receiving unit, while when the coating agent is present in the syringe, the light emitted from the light emitting unit Is refracted by the coating agent in the syringe and does not reach the light receiving portion. Therefore, by confirming the light reception by the light receiving unit, it is possible to detect a shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent in the syringe.

  In Patent Document 2, a magnet floating on the coating material in the syringe and a proximity sensor attached to the lower part of the syringe are provided, and the magnet descends toward the proximity sensor as the coating material in the syringe decreases. I do. Therefore, by confirming that the proximity sensor has detected the proximity of the magnet, it is possible to detect a shortage of the remaining amount of the coating material in the syringe.

JP 2011-147838 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-115469

  By the way, there is a case where a thin film of the coating agent adheres and remains on the inner wall of the storage container from which the coating agent is discharged with the consumption of the coating agent. And, the film of the coating agent spread thinly on the inner wall of the storage container has been a factor of reducing the detection accuracy of the insufficient remaining amount of the coating agent in the storage container. For example, in Patent Literature 1, the light emitted from the light emitting unit is refracted by the coating material film adhered to the inner wall of the storage container, and thus the remaining amount of the coating material may not be accurately detected. Further, in Patent Document 2, when the coating material has conductivity, the proximity sensor receives the influence of the film of the coating material attached to the inner wall of the syringe, and cannot detect the insufficient remaining amount of the coating material accurately. was there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and suppresses the influence of a film of a coating agent that is thinly spread on an inner wall of a storage container, and accurately detects a shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent in the storage container. The purpose is to provide technologies that can be used.

  The applicator remaining amount checking device according to the present invention includes a vibrating unit that applies vibration to a storage container capable of storing the coating material in a storage chamber therein, and a vibration generated in the storage container when the vibration is applied by the vibrating unit. And a detection unit for detecting a shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent in the storage container based on the information.

  A coating apparatus according to the present invention includes a coating unit configured to coat a substrate with a coating agent discharged from a storage container capable of storing the coating agent in a storage chamber therein, and the coating agent remaining amount checking device.

  The method for checking the remaining amount of the coating agent according to the present invention includes a step of applying vibration to a storage container capable of storing the coating agent in the storage chamber therein, and a step in the storage container based on the vibration generated in the storage container by the vibration being applied. Detecting a shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent.

  In the present invention configured as described above (the remaining amount of the coating material, the coating device, and the method of checking the remaining amount of the coating material), the remaining amount of the coating material in the storage container is insufficient based on the vibration generated in the storage container in response to the vibration. Is detected. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect the shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent in the storage container while suppressing the influence of the film of the coating agent remaining thinly spread on the inner wall of the storage container.

  Further, the vibrating unit may be configured with a coating agent remaining amount checking device so as to apply vibration to the storage container by hitting the storage container. Thereby, vibration can be applied to the storage container by a simple method such as hitting.

  Further, the vibrating section hits a predetermined hitting point on the side wall of the storage container surrounding the storage chamber, and the detecting section detects the residual coating agent in the storage container based on vibration generated inside the hitting point in the storage chamber. The application agent remaining amount checking device may be configured to detect the amount shortage. With such a configuration, it is possible to accurately detect the shortage of the remaining amount of the coating material in the storage container based on the fact that the vibration generated in the inner portion of the hitting portion changes with the consumption of the coating material.

  In addition, in the storage room, the cavity increases with the consumption of the coating material, and the detection unit determines that the remaining amount of the coating material in the storage container is insufficient based on a change in the natural vibration generated in the cavity inside the impact point. An application agent remaining amount confirmation device may be configured to perform detection. In such a configuration, the cavity inside the impact portion expands with the consumption of the coating agent, and based on the change in the natural vibration generated in the cavity, the shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent in the storage container is accurately determined. Can be detected.

  At this time, the detection unit is configured with a coating agent remaining amount confirmation device so as to determine that the remaining amount of the coating agent in the storage container is insufficient when the frequency of the natural vibration generated in the cavity becomes less than a predetermined value. Is also good. With such a configuration, when the frequency of the natural vibration generated in the cavity becomes less than the predetermined value, it is possible to easily detect the shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent in the storage container.

  In addition, the detection unit detects a shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent in the storage container based on a change occurring in the vibration in the inner portion of the hitting portion with a decrease in the coating agent remaining in the inner portion of the hitting portion, A coating agent remaining amount checking device may be configured. With such a configuration, it is possible to accurately detect a shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent in the storage container based on the fact that the amount of the coating agent remaining in the inner portion of the impact location decreases with the consumption of the coating agent.

  At this time, the detection unit compares the vibration generated at the inner part of the impact point with the vibration at the inner part of the impact point when the impact point is hit while the inner part of the impact point is filled with the coating agent. The application agent remaining amount confirmation device may be configured to determine that the remaining amount of the application agent in the storage container is insufficient when the amplitude or the frequency changes by a predetermined amount or more. With such a configuration, it is possible to easily detect a shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent in the storage container when the amplitude or the frequency of the vibration generated in the inner portion of the impact location has changed by a predetermined amount or more.

  In addition, various specific configurations for measuring the vibration generated in the storage container are conceivable. That is, the detection unit has a vibration measuring device provided in the storage chamber, and detects the remaining amount of the coating material in the storage container based on the vibration measured by the vibration measuring device. May be configured. Alternatively, the detecting unit has a vibration measuring device provided outside the storage container, and detects the remaining amount of the coating agent in the storage container based on the vibration measured by the vibration measuring device. A confirmation device may be configured.

  Further, the application agent remaining amount confirmation device may be configured to further include a notification unit that notifies the user of the insufficient remaining amount of the application agent when the detection unit detects the insufficient amount of the application agent in the storage container. . Thereby, the user can appropriately cope with a shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent.

  When the remaining amount of the coating material in the storage container is determined to be insufficient by the coating material remaining amount checking device, at least the amount of the coating material consumed for one substrate remains in the storage container. As described above, the coating apparatus may be configured. This can prevent the coating agent from running out during application of the coating agent to the substrate.

  Further, the coating material remaining amount checking device is configured such that a criterion for determining whether the remaining amount of the coating material in the storage container is insufficient is changed according to the consumption amount of the coating material for one substrate. You may. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent the application agent from running out during application of the application agent to the substrate.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately detect a shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent in the storage container while suppressing the influence of the film of the coating agent remaining thinly spread on the inner wall of the storage container. .

1 is a partial plan view schematically illustrating a dispenser to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of a dispense head and a periphery thereof according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram partially showing an electrical configuration of the dispenser of FIG. 1. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for checking whether the remaining amount of the coating agent in the dispense head is insufficient. It is a fragmentary sectional view showing typically composition of a dispense head and its circumference in a 2nd embodiment. It is a fragmentary sectional view showing typically composition of a dispense head and its circumference in a 2nd embodiment. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a printing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. It is sectional drawing which shows a solder supply unit.

  FIG. 1 is a partial plan view schematically showing a dispenser to which the present invention is applied. The figure shows XYZ orthogonal coordinates consisting of a Z direction parallel to the vertical direction, an X direction and a Y direction parallel to the horizontal direction, respectively. The dispenser 1 includes a pair of conveyors 12, 12 provided on a base 11 for loading and unloading a substrate B, and a head unit 3 for applying a liquid coating agent such as an adhesive or cream solder to the substrate B. Prepare. Then, the head unit 3 applies the coating material to the substrate B that the conveyor 12 has carried in from the upstream side in the X direction (substrate transport direction) to the working position (the position of the substrate B in FIG. 1). Subsequently, the conveyor 12 unloads the substrate B on which the coating agent has been applied by the head unit 3 from the work position to the downstream side in the X direction.

  Further, the dispenser 1 includes a mechanism for moving the head unit 3 in the X direction and the Y direction above the conveyors 12 and 12. That is, the dispenser 1 is provided with a pair of Y-axis rails 21 extending in the Y direction, a Y-axis ball screw 22 extending in the Y direction, and a Y-axis motor My for driving the Y-axis ball screw 22 to rotate. 23 is fixed to a nut of a Y-axis ball screw 22 in a state supported by a pair of Y-axis rails 21 and 21 so as to be movable in the Y direction. An X-axis ball screw 24 extending in the X direction and an X-axis motor Mx for rotating the X-axis ball screw 24 are attached to the head support member 23, and the head unit 3 can be moved in the X direction by the head support member 23. And is fixed to a nut of the X-axis ball screw 24 while being supported by the. Therefore, the head unit 3 can be moved in the Y direction by rotating the Y-axis ball screw 22 by the Y-axis motor My, or the head unit 3 can be moved in the X direction by rotating the X-axis ball screw 24 by the X-axis motor Mx. it can.

  The head unit 3 has two dispense heads 4 (coating means). The dispensing heads 4 are arranged in the X direction, and each dispensing head 4 applies the coating material to the target location by discharging the coating material while being positioned above the target location on the substrate B. Since the two dispense heads 4 have the same configuration, only one dispense head 4 will be described below.

  FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the dispense head and its periphery in the first embodiment. The dispense head 4 has a hollow syringe 41 having an open upper end, and a nozzle 42 provided at a lower end of the syringe 41. The syringe 41 has a cylindrical portion 411 extending in the Z direction, and a truncated conical portion 412 tapered in the Z direction from the lower end of the cylindrical portion 411 toward the nozzle 42, and has a storage chamber 410 (hollow portion) inside the syringe 41. ) Is stored with the coating agent E. In the cylindrical portion 411, the storage chamber 410 has a cylindrical shape with a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the nozzle 42, and in the frustoconical portion 412, the storage chamber 410 has a truncated conical shape in which the diameter decreases downward. At the lower end of the truncated cone 412, the diameter of the storage chamber 410 and the inner diameter of the nozzle 42 match. The discharge port 420 at the lower end of the nozzle 42 and the storage chamber 410 are in communication with each other, and the coating agent E stored in the storage chamber 410 can be discharged downward from the discharge port 420 of the nozzle 42.

  The cylindrical portion 411 of the syringe 41 is detachably supported from below by the syringe holder 31 of the head unit 3, and the upper end of the syringe 41 is closed by the lid member 32. Therefore, when the remaining amount of the coating agent E in the syringe 41 is insufficient, a new syringe 41 supported by the syringe holder 31 is replaced while removing the lid member 32 from the used syringe 41 to obtain a new one. The syringe 41 can be mounted on the syringe holder 31. Incidentally, in a state where the syringe 41 is supported by the syringe holder 31, the lower end of the nozzle 42 projects downward from the syringe holder 31.

  Further, the dispense head 4 has a plunger 43 arranged in the storage chamber 410. The plunger 43 has a disk shape having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the storage chamber 410 in the cylindrical portion 411, and is in contact with the upper surface of the coating agent E stored in the storage chamber 410. That is, in the storage chamber 410, a portion below the plunger 43 is the filling portion 410A filled with the coating agent E, and a portion above the plunger 43 is the hollow portion 410B. Further, a gas hole 321 is provided in the lid member 32, and when gas (air) is introduced from the gas hole 321 into the cavity 410 </ b> B of the storage chamber 410, the plunger 43 that has received the gas pressure moves to the discharge port 420. And pushes the coating agent E in the storage chamber 410. Thus, the coating material E is discharged (discharged) from the discharge port 420 of the dispense head 4. In the storage chamber 410 of the dispense head 4, the volume of the filling portion 410A decreases while the volume of the hollow portion 410B increases as the application agent E is consumed.

  Incidentally, as described above, the diameter of the plunger 43 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the storage chamber 410. Thereby, the frictional force generated between the outer edge of the plunger 43 and the inner wall of the storage chamber 410 is suppressed, and the plunger 43 is moved smoothly, so that the discharge amount of the coating agent E from the dispense head 4 is stabilized. it can. On the other hand, the coating material E that has passed through the gap between the outer edge of the plunger 43 and the inner wall of the storage chamber 410 may spread and adhere to the wall surface of the cavity 410B in a thin film shape. However, as described later, in the present embodiment, it is possible to accurately detect the remaining amount of the coating agent E in the storage chamber 410 while suppressing the influence of the film of the coating agent E.

  For the dispense head 4, a vibration unit 51 and a detection unit 56 are provided. The vibrating section 51 and the detecting section 56 are provided for the upper end portion 413 of the syringe 41 in which the interior of the syringe 41 becomes a hollow section 410B from the state where the coating agent E is not used (the state of FIG. 2). That is, the vibrating unit 51 includes a spherical hammer 52 facing the hitting point P set on the side wall 41A (outer wall) of the upper end portion 413 of the syringe 41, a linear motion solenoid 53 that drives the hammer 52, a hammer 52, And a hammer support 54 that detachably supports the linear solenoid 53 with respect to the syringe 41. When the direct-acting solenoid 53 drives the hammer 52 toward the striking point P, the hammer 52 strikes the striking point P on the side wall 41A of the syringe 41. On the other hand, the detecting unit 56 has a vibration measuring device 57 disposed inside the upper end portion 413 of the syringe 41 (reservoir 410), and detects the vibration generated in the hollow portion 410B by the hammer 52 hitting the hitting point P. It is measured by the vibration measuring device 57. In addition, as the vibration measuring device 57, for example, a small microphone or the like can be used.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram partially showing an electrical configuration of the dispenser of FIG. The dispenser 1 includes a main control unit 100 which is a computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). Then, the main control unit 100 controls each unit of the dispenser 1 in a centralized manner.

  For example, the main control unit 100 controls the discharge of the application liquid by the dispense head 4 by opening and closing a switching valve 72 that connects the dispense head 4 and the gas supply source 71. That is, when the switching valve 72 is opened, the gas supplied from the gas supply source 71 is introduced into the storage chamber 410 of the dispense head 4, and the coating liquid is discharged from the discharge port 420. On the other hand, when the switching valve 72 is closed, the introduction of gas from the gas supply source 71 into the storage chamber 410 of the dispense head 4 stops, and the discharge of the coating liquid from the discharge port 420 stops. Further, the main control unit 100 notifies the error by the notifying unit 73 based on the result of checking that the remaining amount of the coating agent in the dispense head 4 is insufficient by the coating agent remaining amount checking device 5 having the vibration unit 51 and the detecting unit 56. I do. The notification unit 73 notifies the user of the error by displaying, for example, a display on the display that the remaining amount of the coating agent is insufficient.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for confirming the remaining amount of the coating agent in the dispense head. This flowchart is executed under the control of the main control unit 100. When the dispense head 4 applies the coating agent to all target locations on one substrate B (step S101), the hammer 52 of the vibrating unit 51 hits the impact location P provided on the syringe 41 of the dispense head 4. Thus, vibration is applied to the syringe 41 of the dispense head 4 (step S102).

  Subsequently, the detecting unit 56 measures the vibration generated in the cavity 410B of the syringe 41 by the vibration measuring device 57 (Step S103), and performs an operation for analyzing the frequency of the measurement result (Step S104). The frequency of the natural vibration (natural frequency) generated in the cavity 410B of the syringe 41 is obtained by the frequency analysis in step S104. When approximation is made to follow Helmholtz resonance, the natural frequency of the cavity 410B is inversely proportional to the square root of the volume of the cavity 410B. That is, when the volume of the cavity 410B increases with the consumption of the coating agent E in the storage chamber 410, the natural frequency of the cavity 410B obtained in step S104 decreases. Therefore, the detecting unit 56 detects the shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent E in the storage chamber 410 by using the relationship between the volume of the hollow portion 410B and the natural frequency.

  That is, when the syringe 41 is vibrated in a state where the remaining amount of the coating agent E in the storage chamber 410 has decreased to the predetermined remaining amount, the natural frequency generated in the cavity 410B is obtained in advance by calculation or experiment, and the threshold value ( (Threshold frequency) is stored in the detection unit 56. Then, the detection unit 56 detects whether the remaining amount of the coating agent E in the storage chamber 410 is insufficient by determining whether the natural frequency obtained in step S104 is less than the threshold (step S105). That is, when the natural frequency is less than the threshold, it is determined that the remaining amount of the coating material E is insufficient ("YES" in step S105), and the notification unit 73 performs error notification (step S106). On the other hand, when the natural frequency is equal to or higher than the threshold, it is determined that the remaining amount of the coating material E is sufficient (“NO” in step S105), and the process proceeds to step S107. Then, in step S107, it is determined whether or not the production of the substrate B to which the coating agent E has been applied is to be terminated. If production is to be continued (in the case of “NO” in step S106), the process returns to step S101, while If the processing is to be ended (“YES” in step S106), the flowchart in FIG. 4 ends.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the shortage of the remaining amount of the coating material E in the syringe 41 is detected based on the vibration generated in the syringe 41 in response to the vibration. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect the shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent E in the syringe 41 while suppressing the influence of the film of the coating agent E which is thinly spread on the inner wall of the syringe 41.

  The vibration unit 51 applies vibration to the syringe 41 by hitting the syringe 41. Thus, it is possible to apply vibration to the syringe 41 by a simple method such as hitting.

  Further, the vibration unit 51 hits a predetermined hitting point P on the side wall 41A of the syringe 41 surrounding the storage chamber 410. Then, the detection unit 56 detects a shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent E in the syringe 41 based on the vibration generated in the inner portion Ip of the striking point P in the storage chamber 410. With such a configuration, it is possible to accurately detect the shortage of the remaining amount of the coating material E in the syringe 41 based on the fact that the vibration generated in the inner portion Ip of the impact location P changes with the consumption of the coating material E.

  Incidentally, in the storage chamber 410 of the syringe 41, the cavity 410B increases with the consumption of the coating agent E. Therefore, the detecting unit 56 detects a shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent E in the syringe 41 based on a change in the natural vibration generated in the hollow portion 410B overlapping the inner portion Ip of the hit location P. In such a configuration, the volume of the cavity 410B overlapping the inner portion Ip of the impact location P increases with the consumption of the coating agent E, and the natural vibration generated in the cavity 410B changes. Insufficient remaining amount of the coating agent E can be accurately detected.

  Specifically, when the frequency of the natural vibration generated in the cavity 410B becomes lower than the predetermined threshold, the detecting unit 56 determines that the remaining amount of the coating agent E in the syringe 41 is insufficient. In such a configuration, the shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent E in the syringe 41 can be easily detected when the frequency of the natural vibration generated in the hollow portion 410B becomes lower than the predetermined value.

  When the detecting unit 56 detects a shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent E in the syringe 41, the notification unit 73 notifies the user of the shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent E. This enables the user to appropriately cope with a shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent E.

  5 and 6 are partial cross-sectional views schematically showing the configuration of the dispense head and its periphery in the second embodiment. In particular, FIG. 5 shows a state where the coating agent E is not used, and FIG. Indicates a state where the remaining amount is insufficient. In the following, a description will be given mainly of a configuration different from the above embodiment, and a description of a common configuration will be appropriately omitted. However, needless to say, the same effect can be obtained by providing a configuration common to the above embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the vibration measuring device 57 is disposed inside the upper end portion 413 of the syringe 41 (the cavity 410B of the storage chamber 410) in the same manner as described above. On the other hand, the vibration section 51 is provided for a lower end portion 414 of the cylindrical section 411 of the syringe 41. That is, the striking position P of the hammer 52 of the vibration unit 51 is set on the side wall 41B (outer wall) of the lower end portion 414 of the syringe 41. In the state where the coating material E is not used, the inside of the lower end portion 414 of the syringe 41 becomes a filling portion 410A, while in the state where the remaining amount of the coating material E is insufficient, the inside of the lower end portion 414 of the syringe 41 becomes a hollow portion. 410B. Therefore, immediately before the remaining amount of the coating material E becomes insufficient, the inner portion Ip of the hitting point P is filled with the coating material E, and the vibration applied by the impact of the hammer 52 is absorbed by the coating material E. The amplitude of the vibration that attenuates and is measured by the vibration measuring device 57 is extremely weak. On the other hand, when the application agent E starts to be discharged from the inner portion Ip of the impact location P with the consumption of the application agent E, and the hollow portion 410B starts to overlap the inner portion Ip of the impact location P, the impact of the hammer 52 causes In response to the excitation, a natural vibration occurs in the cavity 410B, and the amplitude of the vibration (natural vibration) measured by the vibration measuring device 57 sharply increases.

  In the second embodiment as described above, basically, the procedure described above with reference to FIG. 4 can confirm that the remaining amount of the coating agent E in the dispense head 4 is insufficient. However, the specific determination method in step S105 is different from the above. That is, when the syringe 41 is vibrated in a state where the inner portion Ip of the impact point P is filled with the coating agent E, the amplitude of the vibration (amplitude at the time of satisfaction) measured by the vibration measuring device 57 is calculated or experimented. Required in advance. In addition, when vibration is applied to the syringe 41 in a state where the hollow portion 410B is overlapped with the inner portion Ip of the impact point P, the amplitude of vibration (insufficient amplitude) measured by the vibration measuring device 57 is obtained in advance by calculation or experiment. Can be Then, a value (for example, an average value) between the sufficient amplitude and the insufficient amplitude is stored in the detection unit 56 as a threshold (threshold amplitude). Therefore, in step S105, when the amplitude of the vibration measured in step S103 is equal to or larger than this threshold, it is determined that the remaining amount of the coating agent E is insufficient (YES), and the vibration measured in step S103 is determined. Is smaller than this threshold, it is determined that the remaining amount of the coating agent E is sufficient (NO). Note that in the second embodiment in which the remaining amount of the coating agent E is detected based on the amplitude of the vibration generated in the cavity 410B, the frequency analysis in step S104 can be omitted.

  As described above, also in the second embodiment, the shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent E in the syringe 41 is detected based on the vibration generated in the syringe 41 in response to the vibration. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect the shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent E in the syringe 41 while suppressing the influence of the film of the coating agent E which is thinly spread on the inner wall of the syringe 41.

  In addition, in the second embodiment, the detection unit 56 determines that the change in the vibration occurring in the inner portion Ip of the impact location P with the decrease of the coating material E remaining in the inner portion Ip of the impact location P, that is, the sudden increase in the vibration amplitude. The shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent E in the syringe 41 is detected based on the increase. In such a configuration, it is possible to accurately detect the shortage of the remaining amount of the coating material E in the syringe 41 based on the decrease of the coating material E remaining in the inner portion Ip of the hitting point P with the consumption of the coating material E. Can be.

  At this time, when the impact portion P is hit while the inner portion Ip of the impact portion P is filled with the coating agent E, the predetermined value is determined in advance based on the amplitude (amplitude amplitude) of the vibration generated in the inner portion Ip of the impact portion P. The detected threshold value is stored in the detection unit 56. Then, when the amplitude of the vibration generated in the inner portion Ip of the impact location P changes by more than this threshold value compared to the amplitude at the time of satisfaction, it is determined that the remaining amount of the coating agent E in the syringe 41 is insufficient. In such a configuration, when the amplitude of the vibration generated in the inner portion Ip of the impact location P has changed by a predetermined amount or more, that is, when the amplitude has exceeded the threshold value, it is possible to easily detect the insufficient remaining amount of the coating agent E in the syringe 41. .

  As described above, in the above embodiment, the dispenser 1 corresponds to an example of the “applying device” of the present invention, the dispense head 4 corresponds to an example of the “applying device” of the present invention, and the applicator remaining amount checking device 5 corresponds to The vibrating unit 51 corresponds to an example of the “vibrating unit” of the present invention, and the detecting unit 56 corresponds to an example of the “detecting unit” of the present invention. Correspondingly, the syringe 41 corresponds to an example of the “storage container” of the present invention, the storage room 410 corresponds to an example of the “storage room” of the present invention, and the coating agent E corresponds to an example of the “coating agent” of the present invention. Correspondingly, the hitting point P corresponds to an example of the “hitting point” of the present invention, the side wall 41A or the side wall 41B corresponds to an example of the “sidewall” of the present invention, and the inner portion Ip corresponds to the “inner portion” of the present invention. The cavity 410 </ b> B corresponds to an example of the “cavity” of the present invention. Corresponds to an example of the "vibration measuring instrument" of the present invention, the notification unit 73 corresponds to an example of the "notification portion" in the present invention.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various changes can be made to the above described one without departing from the gist of the invention. For example, in the first embodiment, as a threshold value for detecting a shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent E, the syringe 41 is vibrated in a state where the remaining amount of the coating agent E in the storage chamber 410 is reduced to a “predetermined remaining amount”. Is performed, the natural frequency generated in the cavity 410B is used. At this time, the “predetermined remaining amount” can be set to various amounts.

  As an example, the “predetermined remaining amount” can be set to be equal to or more than the amount consumed for applying the coating agent E to all target portions of one substrate B. With such a configuration, at the time when it is determined that the remaining amount of the coating agent E in the syringe 41 is insufficient, at least the amount consumed for one substrate B remains in the syringe 41. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the application agent E from being lost while the application agent E is being applied to the substrate B, and the application of the application agent E to the substrate B from being interrupted.

  At this time, the main control unit 100 calculates the consumption amount of the coating agent E consumed for producing one substrate B to be produced, and determines whether or not the remaining amount of the coating agent E in the syringe 41 is insufficient. That is, the threshold may be changed according to the calculation result. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent the application agent E from being lost during the application of the application agent E to the substrate B.

  Similarly, in the second embodiment as well, when it is determined that the remaining amount of the coating agent E in the syringe 41 is insufficient, at least the amount consumed for one substrate B is You may comprise so that it may remain. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the application agent E from being lost during the application of the application agent E to the substrate B, and to prevent the application of the application agent E to the substrate B from being interrupted.

  In the second embodiment, the insufficient remaining amount of the coating agent E is detected based on the amplitude of the vibration measured by the vibration measuring device 57. However, the second embodiment can be modified such that the remaining amount of the coating agent E is detected based on the frequency of the vibration measured by the vibration measuring device 57. That is, with the consumption of the coating material E, the coating material E starts to be discharged from the inner portion Ip of the striking point P, and when the vibration of the coating material E is no longer attenuated, the vibration generated in response to the vibration of the hammer 52 due to the hitting is performed. The higher frequency is used in this variant.

  More specifically, the vibration frequency (satisfactory frequency) measured by the vibration measuring device 57 when the syringe 41 is vibrated while the inner portion Ip of the impact location P is filled with the coating material E is calculated. Alternatively, it is obtained in advance by an experiment. In addition, when a vibration is applied to the syringe 41 in a state in which the hollow portion 410B overlaps the inner portion Ip of the impact point P, the vibration frequency (frequency at the time of insufficiency) measured by the vibration measuring device 57 is obtained in advance by calculation or experiment. Can be Then, a value (for example, an average value) between the satisfying frequency and the insufficient frequency is stored in the detection unit 56 as a threshold (threshold frequency). Therefore, in step S105, when the frequency of the vibration obtained in step S104 is equal to or higher than this threshold value, it is determined that the remaining amount of the coating agent E is insufficient (YES), and the vibration obtained in step S104 is determined. Is less than the threshold, it is determined that the remaining amount of the coating agent E is sufficient (NO).

  Further, the place where the vibration measuring device 57 is arranged is not limited to the above-described storage room 410. Therefore, the vibration measuring device 57 may be disposed at a position outside the syringe 41 and away from the syringe 41, and the vibration transmitted from the syringe 41 and transmitting the air may be measured by the vibration measuring device 57.

  Further, the drive mechanism for driving the hammer 52 is not limited to the above-described direct acting solenoid 53. Therefore, the hammer 52 may be driven by an air cylinder, or the hammer 52 mounted eccentrically with respect to the rotation axis of the motor may be driven by the rotation of the motor.

  In addition, a specific means for applying vibration to the syringe 41 is not limited to hitting. Therefore, for example, vibration may be applied by a piezo actuator, or vibration may be applied by an external sound wave.

  In addition, the error notification method by the notification unit 73 can be changed as appropriate. Therefore, the error can be notified by sound such as a buzzer sound or light such as a warning light.

  The specific type of the dispense head 4 for applying the coating agent E is not limited to the above-described pneumatic type. Therefore, the above contents can be appropriately applied to the detection of the insufficient remaining amount of the coating material E in the dispense head 4 for applying the coating material E by various means other than the pneumatic pressure.

  In addition, the present invention can be applied to a printing device (coating device) that applies a coating material (solder) to a substrate by screen printing. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a printing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The printing device 8 includes a substrate transport mechanism 81 provided on a base 80 for loading and unloading a substrate, and a print execution unit 82 (coating means) for printing (coating) liquid solder (coating agent) on the substrate. And Then, the print execution unit 82 prints solder on the substrate carried by the substrate transport mechanism 81 from the upstream side in the X direction (substrate transport direction) to the work position (below the mask 83 in FIG. 7). Subsequently, the board carrying mechanism 81 carries out the board on which the printing of the solder is completed by the print execution unit 82 from the work position to the downstream side in the X direction. The print execution unit 82 has a solder supply unit 9 provided above the mask 83 and a squeegee unit 85, and the squeegee unit 85 spreads the solder supplied by the solder supply unit 9 onto the mask 83. Solder is printed on a substrate located under the mask 83.

  FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the solder supply unit. The unit main body 901 of the solder supply unit 9 is attached to the squeegee unit 85 so as to be movable in the X direction, and the unit main body 901 is driven by the motor and moves in the X direction. A container support member 902 is disposed on the front side (the right side in FIG. 8) of the unit main body 901, and a container 906 with an adapter in which the distal end portion 905 of the discharge adapter 904 is fitted into the solder container 903 and integrated therewith. The container supporting member 902 is detachable from the front side (the left hand side in FIG. 8) of the printing apparatus 8. That is, the solder storage container 903 is a cylindrical storage container having an opening formed at one end, and has a concave storage chamber 907 having a substantially circular cross section formed therein. The storage chamber 907 contains solder. On the other hand, the distal end portion 905 of the discharge adapter 904 is finished in a flange shape smaller than the inner diameter of the solder storage container 903, and can be fitted into the solder storage container 903.

  Then, the discharge adapter 904 fitted in the solder storage container 903 can be relatively moved upward along the inner wall surface of the solder storage container 903. That is, the solder supply unit 9 pushes the solder downward from the storage chamber 907 through the discharge hole 908 of the discharge adapter 904 by reducing the distance between the upper inner surface of the solder storage container 903 and the upper surface of the discharge adapter 904. A guide block member 910 in which a guide channel 909 is formed is attached to the outlet of the discharge hole 908, and the solder discharged from the discharge hole 908 is supplied to the discharge port of the guide block member 910 through the guide channel 909. 911 can be discharged (discharged) to the mask 83.

  In such a solder supply unit 9, as the solder is discharged from the storage chamber 907 of the solder storage container 903, the solder is discharged from the lower portion 907 </ b> B of the storage chamber 907, and the hollow portion extends to the lower portion 907 </ b> B. It will be. Therefore, by providing the vibration unit 51 and the detection unit 56 to the solder storage container 903 as described above, the vibration unit 51 applies vibration to the solder storage container 903, and the detection unit 56 moves below the storage chamber 907. Insufficient remaining amount of solder in the storage chamber 907 can be detected based on the vibration generated in the portion 907B (hollow portion). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the striking point P where the vibration is applied to the storage chamber 907 by the vibrating section 51 is in a range where the inside becomes a hollow when the remaining amount of solder is insufficient, that is, the storage chamber. It is set on the side wall (outer wall) of the solder container 903 surrounding the lower part 907B of the solder container 907. Further, the vibration measuring device 57 of the detecting unit 56 is arranged at a position away from the solder storage container 903.

  Note that various changes can be made to the printing device 8 as in the example of the dispenser 1 described above. Therefore, vibration may be applied to the storage chamber 907 by a method not depending on the impact, or when the remaining amount of solder becomes insufficient, the vibration measurement of the detection unit 56 may be performed on the outer wall of the solder storage container 903 having a hollow inside. The container 57 may be attached.

1. Dispenser (coating device)
4. Dispensing head (coating means)
5 ... Applicant remaining amount confirmation device
51: Exciter,
56 Detector,
57 ... vibration measuring instrument,
41 ... syringe (storage container),
41A, 41B ... side walls,
410 ... storage room,
410A: filling section,
410B ... hollow part,
420 ... discharge port,
73… Notification unit,
B ... substrate,
E: coating agent,
P ... hit location,
Ip ... inner part,
8. Printing device (coating device)
82 print execution unit (coating means)
85 ... Squeegee unit,
9: solder supply unit 903: solder storage container (storage container),
907 ... storage room,
907B ... lower end part

Claims (14)

A vibrating section for applying vibration to a storage container capable of storing the coating agent in a storage chamber therein;
A detection unit that detects a shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent in the storage container based on vibration generated in the storage container when vibration is applied by the vibration unit ,
A plunger having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the storage chamber is disposed in the storage chamber, and the plunger pushes the coating material from the storage chamber to check the remaining amount of the coating material.   The applicator remaining amount confirmation device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration unit applies vibration to the storage container by hitting the storage container. The vibrating unit hits a predetermined hitting point on a side wall of the storage container surrounding the storage chamber,
The coating agent remaining amount confirmation device according to claim 2, wherein the detection unit detects a shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent in the storage container based on a vibration generated in an inner portion of the storage chamber within the impact location. In the storage chamber, the cavity increases with the consumption of the coating agent,
4. The remaining amount of the coating agent according to claim 3, wherein the detection unit detects a shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent in the storage container based on a change in natural vibration generated in the hollow portion of the inner portion of the impact location. 5. apparatus.   The application agent remaining amount checking device according to claim 4, wherein the detection unit determines that the remaining amount of the application agent in the storage container is insufficient when the frequency of the natural vibration generated in the hollow portion is less than a predetermined value. .   The detection unit is configured to determine that the remaining amount of the application agent in the storage container is insufficient based on a change that occurs in the vibration of the inside portion of the impact site with a decrease in the application agent remaining in the inside portion of the impact site. The applicator remaining amount checking device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the device detects a remaining amount of the coating agent.   The detection unit, compared with the vibration generated in the inner portion of the hitting point when hitting the hitting point in a state where the inner portion of the hitting point is filled with the coating agent, the 7. The remaining amount of the coating agent according to claim 6, wherein when the amplitude or frequency of the vibration generated in the inner portion changes by a predetermined amount or more, it is determined that the remaining amount of the coating agent in the storage container is insufficient.   The said detection part has a vibration measuring device provided in the said storage room, and detects the insufficient remaining amount of the said coating agent in the said storage container based on the vibration which the said vibration measuring device measured. The applicator remaining amount checking device according to any one of the preceding claims.   The said detection part has a vibration measuring device provided outside the said storage container, and detects the insufficient remaining amount of the said coating agent in the said storage container based on the vibration measured by the said vibration measuring device. The coating agent remaining amount checking device according to any one of claims 7 to 10.   The notification unit according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising: a notification unit configured to notify the user of the insufficient remaining amount of the coating agent when the detecting unit detects the insufficient remaining amount of the coating agent in the storage container. Apparatus remaining amount check device. Coating means for coating the substrate with the coating agent discharged from a storage container capable of storing the coating agent in a storage chamber therein,
An application device comprising the application agent remaining amount confirmation device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.   At the time when the remaining amount of the coating agent in the storage container is determined to be insufficient, the amount of the coating agent consumed for one substrate is at least the storage amount. The coating device according to claim 11, which remains in the container.   13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the application agent remaining amount checking device changes a reference for determining whether the remaining amount of the application agent in the storage container is insufficient, according to a consumption amount of the application agent for one substrate. The coating device according to the above. Applying vibration to a storage container capable of storing the coating agent in a storage chamber therein;
Detecting a shortage of the remaining amount of the coating agent in the storage container based on the vibration generated in the storage container by applying vibration ,
A plunger having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the storage chamber is disposed in the storage chamber, and the plunger pushes the coating material from the storage chamber to check the remaining amount of the coating material.

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