JP6820758B2 - Automatic solder replenishment unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic solder replenishment unit that automatically replenishes a solder container to a printing machine.

In the screen printing machine, a mask having a printing pattern hole is held inside the machine body, and the substrate is conveyed under the mask by the substrate conveying device, and screen printing of cream solder on the substrate is performed. At that time, the cream solder is supplied to the upper surface of the mask by the solder supply device. The cream solder is then rolled onto the mask by the squeegee device and pushed into the print pattern holes. The solder supply device described in Patent Document 1 below is configured so that cream solder contained in a solder container is set and pressure is applied by a pressing cylinder to push it out onto a lower mask. Two solder containers are set in the container holding portion so that the empty solder container can be moved to the standby position.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-240159

In the solder supply device of the above document, solder is supplied from a solder container located below the pressing cylinder, but the empty solder container moves to a standby position deviated from that position. At that time, the other solder container moves integrally and is sent under the pressing cylinder so that the solder supply is continuously performed. Then, the empty solder container is removed and replaced with a new solder container, and the solder supply device is replenished with solder. However, the replacement of such a new solder container was troublesome because the operator had to do it. In addition, the timing of replenishment is notified to the operator by the notification means, but there is a possibility that a replenishment error may occur without noticing the notification.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic solder replenishment unit that automatically replaces a solder container in order to solve such a problem.

The automatic solder replenishment unit according to the present invention includes a replacement means for moving the replenishment solder container and the used solder container in the rotational direction and arranging them at predetermined positions, and the replenishment solder container and the used solder container as a printing machine. The delivery means to be delivered between the solders, the carry-in means for supplying the replenishment solder container to the replacement means, the carry-out means for carrying out the used solder container from the replacement means, and the used solder. It has a transfer means for transferring the container from the replacement means to the carry-out means, and a stop means for holding the replenishing solder container to be moved to the replacement means in the carry-in means.

According to the above configuration, the replenishment solder container supplied from the carry-in means via the stop means and the used solder container returned from the printing machine by the delivery means are moved in the rotational direction by the replacement means, and the transfer means. The used solder container is moved to the carry-out means and discharged, and the replenishment solder container is delivered to the printing machine by the delivery means.

It is a top view which conceptually showed the internal structure of a screen printing machine. It is a figure which conceptually showed the structure of the solder automatic replenishment unit. It is a figure at the time of delivery of a used solder container which conceptually showed the structure of the automatic solder replenishment unit. It is a figure at the time of discharging a used solder container which conceptually showed the structure of the automatic solder replenishment unit. It is a side view which showed the carry-in side roller conveyor. It is a figure which showed the robot hand which is a delivery means. It is a figure which conceptually showed the structure of the solder automatic replenishment unit of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which showed the alternative of the delivery means.

Next, an embodiment of the automatic solder replenishment unit according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view conceptually showing the internal configuration of a screen printing machine to which an automatic solder replenishment unit can be attached. This screen printing machine 1 prints cream solder on a substrate, and constitutes a circuit board production line together with, for example, a solder inspection machine that inspects the printing state and a component mounting machine that mounts electronic components on the substrate. It is something to do. Conveyance ports are formed on both side surfaces of the screen printing machine 1 so that the substrate is transported in the X-axis direction, which is the width direction of the machine, by the transport device inside the machine. On the drawing, printing is performed on the board carried in from the left side in the machine, and the printed board is carried out to the right side and sent to the next component mounting machine or the like.

In the screen printing machine 1, the mask 12 having the print pattern holes formed in the mask holder 11 is held horizontally, and the substrate is conveyed horizontally under the mask 12. Therefore, the screen printing machine 1 includes a substrate transporting device for loading and unloading a substrate in the machine width direction and a clamping device for clamping the substrate from the machine body front-rear direction (Y-axis direction) under the mask holder 11, that is, the mask 12. A backup device that raises and lowers the substrate to the clamp position, and an elevating device that raises and lowers the clamped substrate together with the device are assembled.

On the other hand, a squeegee device 13 is provided on the upper side of the mask 12. The squeegee device 13 is movable along a guide rail 14 provided in the front-rear direction of the machine body, and has a configuration in which cream solder is rolled and spread on the mask 12. That is, the squeegee device 13 is equipped with a pair of squeegee heads facing each other in the front-rear direction of the machine body, and each squeegee is configured to move up and down by a cylinder. In the pair of squeegee heads, one squeegee descends depending on the moving direction of the squeegee device 13 to roll the cream solder on the mask 12, and when the squeegee device 13 moves in the opposite direction, the squeegee of the other squeegee head moves. It descends and rolls the cream solder on the mask 12.

The squeegee device 13 is configured with a solder supply mechanism. In the solder supply mechanism, a guide rail 15 parallel to the main body of the squeegee device 13 in the X-axis direction is formed, and a cup holder 16 holding the solder cup 8 is slidably attached to the guide rail 15. Has been done. Further, the cup holder 16 is configured with a ball screw mechanism, and the output of the drive motor enables linear movement along the guide rail 15. Then, the cup holder 16 is provided with a pressing means for discharging the cream solder in the solder cup 8, so that the cream solder is discharged onto the mask 12 while the cup holder 16 moves in the X-axis direction. There is.

The cup holder 16 is provided with a container detection sensor so that the remaining amount of cream solder in the solder cup 8 can be detected. Therefore, the used solder cup 8 and the new refilling solder cup 8 are replaced at a predetermined timing according to the detection result. However, in the present embodiment, the solder automatic refilling unit 2 attached to the screen printing machine 1 is replaced. It is designed to be done automatically through. As shown in the figure, the automatic solder replenishment unit 2 is mounted on the side surface of the screen printing machine 1 and on the front portion of the machine body which does not interfere with the transport port of the substrate. At the time of replacement, the cup holder 16 moves to a position where the delivery window 17 is located, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line, and the solder cup 8 is delivered to and from the automatic solder replenishment unit 2.

Next, FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing the configuration of the automatic solder replenishment unit 2 attached to the screen printing machine 1. The automatic solder replenishment unit 2 supplies the replenishment solder cup 8 (hereinafter referred to as “replenishment solder cup 8a”) to the screen printing machine 1, while the used solder cup (hereinafter referred to as “used solder cup 8b”). ) Is discharged. Therefore, a supply unit for supplying the replenishment solder cup 8a, a discharge unit for discharging the used solder cup 8b, a replacement unit for replacing the replenishment solder cup 8a and the used solder cup 8b, and the like are configured. In the replacement portion, two mounting bases 23 on which the solder cups 8 are placed are attached to the rotary table 21 at positions symmetrical with respect to the rotary axis.

The carry-in side roller conveyor 25 for supplying the replenishment solder cup 8a is installed on the opposite side of the rotary table 21 from the delivery window 17 of the screen printing machine 1. Here, FIG. 5 is a side view showing the carry-in side roller conveyor 25. The carry-in side roller conveyor 25 is inclined so as to descend toward the rotary table 21 side. Therefore, the high end of the carry-in side roller conveyor 25 protrudes from the unit body 20 as shown in FIG. 2, but the replenishment solder cup 8a replenished by the operator is naturally a low rotary table 21. It will slide to the side and move. A stopper 26 is provided at the tip of the carry-in side roller conveyor 25, and a stopper mechanism for holding the refilling solder cup 8a on the carry-in side roller conveyor 25 is configured.

The stopper 26 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction, and is normally in an ascending position as shown by the solid line in FIG. 5 to stop the movement of the replenishing solder cup 8a, but is indicated by a alternate long and short dash line at a predetermined timing. This allows the replenishment solder cup 8a to move. Therefore, in the supply section of the replenishment solder cup 8a, a plurality of replenishment solder cups 8a are arranged in a row on the carry-in side roller conveyor 25, and the stopper 26 lowers and rises at predetermined time intervals to replenish the head. The solder cup 8a for replenishment passes and moves to the mounting table 23, and the next solder cup for replenishment 8a is stopped by the stopper 26 to be in a standby state.

Further, the automatic solder replenishment unit 2 is provided with a carry-out side roller conveyor 27 for discharging the used solder cup 8b. The carry-out side roller conveyor 27 is inclined so as to descend from the rotary table 21 side toward the collection box 28 placed outside the unit main body 20. In the present embodiment, the position where the replenishment solder cup 8a is supplied and the position where the used solder cup 8b is discharged are the same supply / discharge position P1. Therefore, the lower end of the carry-in side roller conveyor 25 and the upper end of the carry-out side roller conveyor 27 are at the supply / discharge position P1. On the other hand, at a position 180 ° opposite, there is a delivery position P2 for delivering the solder cup 8 to and from the screen printing machine 1. The two mounting tables 23 alternately alternate between the supply / discharge position P1 and the delivery position P2.

A pusher 29 for transferring the used solder cup 8b to the carry-out side roller conveyor 27 is provided at the supply / discharge position P1. The pusher 29 is a solenoid that outputs a linear motion by, for example, expanding and contracting the plunger, and constitutes an extrusion mechanism of the used solder cup 8b. Therefore, the used solder cup 8b placed on the mounting table 23 on the horizontal mounting surface is carried to the supply / discharge position P1 and pushed by the pusher 29 to be sent out to the carry-out side roller conveyor 27. ing.

Further, although the automatic solder replenishment unit 2 is not shown in FIG. 2, a robot hand 32 as shown in FIG. 6 is provided on the delivery position P2 side. The robot hand 32 has a pair of chuck claws 322 that can be opened and closed attached to the rotating shaft 321. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the solder cup 8 gripped by the pair of chuck claws 322 is transferred between the mounting table 23 shown by the solid line and the cup holder 16 shown by the alternate long and short dash line due to the rotation of the rotating shaft 321. It is supposed to be done.

By the way, the cream solder in the solder cup 8 is preferably kept at a predetermined temperature in order to maintain its quality. Therefore, the automatic solder replenishment unit 2 is provided with a temperature sensor 33 for measuring the temperature inside the unit main body 20 and a temperature control device 34 for adjusting the internal temperature thereof. Since the automatic solder replenishment unit 2 is surrounded by the box-shaped unit main body 20, it is conceivable that the temperature rises due to the heat generated by the operating screen printing machine 1. Therefore, for the temperature control device 34, for example, a cooling fan for lowering the room temperature is used.

The automatic solder replenishment unit 2 is provided with a controller 30 for driving and controlling a rotary table 21, a drive motor used for the robot hand 32, a solenoid of the pusher 29, and the like. The controller 30 controls the temperature control device 34 based on the temperature information from the temperature sensor 33, is connected to the control device 18 that controls the drive of the screen printing machine 1, receives a replenishment command signal, and will be described later. , It is configured to perform a series of control regarding delivery of the solder cup 8.

Subsequently, the operation of the automatic solder replenishment unit 2 will be described. In the automatic solder replenishment unit 2 attached to the screen printing machine 1, a plurality of replenishment solder cups 8a are mounted on the carry-in side roller conveyor 25 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. The refilling solder cup 8a stands by in contact with the stopper 26 due to the inclination of the carry-in side roller conveyor 25. At this time, the temperature control device 34 is controlled by the controller 30 based on the temperature information from the temperature sensor 33, and the inside of the unit main body 20 is maintained at, for example, about 24 to 25 ° C.

On the other hand, in the screen printing machine 1, printing processing is performed on the substrate, and cream solder is discharged onto the mask 12 at a predetermined timing from the solder cup 8 held in the cup holder 16. Since the remaining amount of cream solder is detected by the container detection sensor, a replenishment command signal is transmitted from the control device 18 to the controller 30 based on the detection signal. Therefore, when the solder cup 8 is replenished, the used solder cup 8b moves to the position of the delivery window 17 as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 1 and is delivered from the cup holder 16 by the robot hand 32. It is transferred to the mounting table 23 at position P2. The delivery window 17 has an automatic opening / closing door, which opens / closes at the timing of delivery.

In the carry-in side roller conveyor 25, as the stopper 26 descends, the leading replenishing solder cup 8a slides down to the mounting table 23 at the supply / discharge position P1 as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. Then, the next refilling solder cup 8a is stopped by the stopper 26 rising before slipping down, and is in a standby state. Subsequently, as the rotary table 21 rotates 180 °, the positions of the refilling solder cup 8a and the used solder cup 8b are switched between the supply / discharge position P1 and the delivery position P2 as shown in FIG. Then, the used solder cup 8b at the supply / discharge position P1 is pushed out from the mounting table 23 by the pusher 29, slides on the carry-out side roller conveyor 27, and moves to the collection box 28. Further, the replenishing solder cup 8a at the delivery position P2 is transferred to the cup holder 16 by the robot hand 32.

Therefore, according to the automatic solder replenishment unit 2, when the cream solder of the solder cup 8 is exhausted in the screen printing machine 1, the used solder cup 8b and the replenishment solder cup 8a filled with the cream solder are used. The exchange will be done automatically. Therefore, the operator can perform other operations without worrying about replacing the solder cup 8, and can eliminate the mistake of replenishing the cream solder. Further, since the carry-in means and the carry-out means for the cream solder 8 are the carry-in side roller conveyor 25 and the carry-out side roller conveyor 27 which do not require power, the weight of the automatic solder replenishment unit 2 can be reduced and the configuration can be simplified. ..

Since the automatic solder replenishment unit 2 has a supply / discharge position P1 and a delivery position P2 close to the mounting table 23 of the rotary table 21, the entire unit can be miniaturized. Therefore, it can be retrofitted to a conventional screen printing machine or the like. Further, since the internal structure of the automatic solder replenishment unit 2 is covered with the box-shaped unit main body 20, dust is prevented from being mixed into the cream solder of the solder cup 8 placed therein. Further, the temperature control device 34 of the cooling fan controls the temperature inside the unit body 20, which makes it possible to ensure the quality of the cream solder and also allows air to flow from the inside of the unit to the outside. It is possible to prevent dust from entering the cup 8.

Next, a second embodiment of the automatic solder replenishment unit will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram conceptually showing the configuration of the automatic solder replenishment unit 3 of the second embodiment. The same configuration as that of the above embodiment will be described with reference to the same reference numerals. The automatic solder replenishment unit 3 is provided with a replacement table 41 for replacing the solder cup 8. The replacement table 41 is a circular rotary table 411 on which the solder cup 8 is placed, on which a guide table 412 for positioning the solder cup 8 is superposed.

In the guide table 412, two mounting portions 415 cut out in a U shape on a circular plate as shown in the figure are formed at symmetrical positions about the rotation axis. The positions of the mounting portion 415 shown in the figure are the supply position P3 and the delivery position P2. That is, in the present embodiment, the used solder cup 8b is discharged not by the supply position P3 but by the discharge guide 42 in the middle of rotation. On the replacement table 41, a discharge guide 42 extending from the rotation center side to the carry-out side roller conveyor 27 side is arranged. Since the guide table 41 is thin and only the lower part of the solder cup 8 is contained in the mounting portion 415, the side surface of the used solder cup 8b on the rotating replacement table 41 touches the discharge guide 42. It has become.

In the automatic solder replenishment unit 3, the replenishment solder cup 8a is charged from the carry-in side roller conveyor 25 as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the leading replenishment solder cup 8a slides in an inclined manner and enters the mounting portion 415 of the supply position P3, but the next replenishing solder cup 8a hits the replenishing solder cup 8a in the mounting portion 415 and is a roller on the carry-in side. It will stay on the conveyor 25. That is, the automatic solder replenishment unit 3 does not have a stopper mechanism, and when the replacement table 41 rotates, its circumferential side surface 416 is always in sliding contact with the next replenishment solder cup 8a, which serves as a stopping means. It is configured to work.

Therefore, the replenishing solder cup 8a from the carry-in side roller conveyor 25 enters the mounting portion 415 of the supply position P3, while the used solder cup 8b used in the screen printing machine 1 is delivered from the cup holder 16 by the robot hand 32. It is transferred to the mounting unit 415 at position P2. Then, as the replacement table 41 rotates 180 °, the positions of the replenishing solder cup 8a and the used solder cup 8b move between the supply position P3 and the delivery position P2.

At that time, the next replenishing solder cup 8a located at the head on the carry-in side roller conveyor 25 slides on the circumferential side surface 416 of the rotating replacement table 41, and the standby state is maintained as it is. Then, the used solder cup 8b hits the discharge guide 42 on the way from the delivery position P2 to the supply position P3 side, is pushed out from the mounting portion 415, moves on the carry-out side roller conveyor 27, and slides to the collection box 28. Is sent. When the empty mounting portion 415 moves to the supply position P3, the replenishment solder cup 8a, which has been in the standby state on the carry-in side roller conveyor 25, slides down and is set.

Therefore, also in this embodiment, the used solder cup 8b is automatically replaced with the new refilling solder cup 8a filled with the cream solder, which is effective in eliminating refilling errors. Further, due to the configuration of the replacement table 41 provided with the mounting portion 415 and the circumferential side surface 416, the replenishment solder cup 8a can be transferred from the carry-in side roller conveyor 25 and the used solder cup 8b can be transferred to the carry-out side roller conveyor 27. It was possible to configure the system so that the drive mechanism is not used for transfer. Therefore, the automatic solder replenishment unit 3 can further reduce the weight of the entire unit and simplify the configuration.

As another embodiment, the delivery of the solder cup 8 may have a structure as shown in FIG. In the first embodiment, the mounting table 23 of the rotary table 21 is fixed horizontally, but the mounting table 24 provided with this tilting mechanism is used. In this case, the screen printing machine 1 side is provided with a delivery table 14 having the same mechanism, and the transfer table 14 can be transferred to the cup holder 16 in the machine. The mounting table 24 and the delivery table 14 face each other at the same height when the solder cup 8 is delivered, so that the delivery side performs an ascending operation and an inclined operation. As a result, the solder cup 8 slides and is delivered to the other side.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, the automatic solder replenishment unit 3 of the second embodiment may have a configuration using the stopper 26 of the first embodiment.
Further, for example, the automatic solder replenishment unit 2 of the first embodiment may be provided with the discharge guide 42 of the second embodiment instead of the pusher 29.
Further, for example, an endless belt may be provided as a solder cup delivery structure, and the solder cup may be delivered between the delivery table 14 and the mounting table 23 of the screen printing machine 1.
Further, for example, in the above-described embodiment, the solder cup 8 has been described as an example of the solder container, but a syringe containing cream solder may also be used.
Further, for example, in the above-described embodiment, the one configured by the roller conveyor as the carry-in means and the carry-out means has been described, but in addition, a belt conveyor, a slide with low frictional resistance, or a roller conveyor provided with a drive mechanism It may be.

1 ... Screen printing machine 2 ... Solder automatic replenishment unit 8 ... Solder cup 8a ... Replenishment solder cup 8b ... Used solder cup 16 ... Cup holder 20 ... Unit body 21 ... Rotating table 23 ... Mounting stand 25 ... Carrying side roller conveyor 26 ... Stopper 27 ... Roller conveyor on the carry-out side 29 ... Pusher 30 ... Controller 34 ... Temperature control device

Claims (8)

A replacement means for moving the refilling solder container and the used solder container in the rotational direction and arranging them at predetermined positions,
A delivery means for delivering the replenishment solder container and the used solder container to and from the printing machine,
A carry-in means for supplying the replenishment solder container to the replacement means, and
A carry-out means for carrying out the used solder container from the replacement means,
A transfer means for transferring the used solder container from the replacement means to the carry-out means, and
An automatic solder replenishment unit having a stopping means for retaining the replenishing solder container that moves to the replacement means in the carrying-in means. The automatic solder replenishment unit according to claim 1, wherein the transfer means is an extrusion mechanism that pushes the used solder container from the replacement means to the carry-out means. The automatic solder replenishment unit according to claim 1, wherein the transfer means is a discharge side guide plate that guides the used solder container that is moved in the rotational direction by the replacement means to the carry-out means side. The automatic solder replenishment unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the carry-in means is a carry-in side roller conveyor inclined toward the replacement means side. The automatic solder replenishment unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the carry-out means is a carry-out side roller conveyor inclined from the replacement means side. The automatic solder replenishment unit according to claim 4, wherein the stopping means is a stopper mechanism provided at an end of the carry-in side roller conveyor and provided with a movable stopper for stopping the replenishing solder container. The replacement means has a disk-shaped rotating body formed with a recess for the replenishing solder container and the used solder container to enter and rotate integrally.
The automatic solder replenishment unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the circumferential side surface other than the concave portion of the rotating body constituting the replacement means functions as the stopping means. The automatic solder replenishment unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the whole is surrounded by a box-shaped unit body and has a temperature control means for adjusting the internal temperature thereof.

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