JP7686815B2 - Printing System - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a printing device and a storage device.

Conventionally, among printing devices that use a screen mask to perform a printing process of a viscous fluid on a printing target such as a substrate, there are known devices that automatically replace the screen mask. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a printing device that includes a rod that protrudes downward and a slider that slides the screen mask in and out of the main frame by moving the rod.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 04-107146

In addition to the screen mask, printing devices also have other components that require replacement, such as squeegees. Conventionally, these components have been replaced manually by workers. This has led to the problem that the replacement process requires a lot of time and effort on the part of the worker.

This disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its main purpose is to enable automatic replacement of replaceable parts of a printing device.

This disclosure takes the following steps to achieve the above-mentioned primary objective.

The printing device of the present disclosure is
A printing apparatus that performs a printing process of a viscous fluid on a printing object using a screen mask,
a moving unit that moves the replaceable member to a replacement position and/or carries in and out the replaceable member for each of two or more replaceable members including at least one of the cartridge, the squeegee, and the cleaning member among the cartridge that contains the viscous fluid, the squeegee, the cleaning member used to clean the screen mask, the screen mask, and the support member that fixes the printing target;
an exchange control unit that controls the moving unit to execute an exchange process for exchanging the exchangeable member;
It is equipped with the following:

This printing device is equipped with a movement unit that moves each of two or more types of exchangeable parts to an exchange position and/or transports the exchangeable parts in and out. The printing device then uses the movement unit to perform an exchange process to exchange the exchangeable parts. This allows the printing device to automatically exchange two or more types of exchangeable parts. Here, the "exchange position" includes a delivery position and a receiving position.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a printing system. Schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the printing device 10 and the storage device 100. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical connections of the printing system 1. 2 is a perspective view of a squeegee fixing portion 24, a squeegee 30, and a squeegee transport jig 110. FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the supply unit 40 and the cartridge transport jig 120. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a substrate support member 70 and a support member transport jig 130. FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cleaning unit 80 and the cleaning member transport jig 140 in a protruding state. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cleaning part 80 in a non-protruding state. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a printing process and a reading process are performed in parallel. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of an exchange processing routine. 5A to 5C are explanatory diagrams illustrating an operation of mounting the cartridge 49 on the supply head 41. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a cleaning member carrying-out process. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a cleaning member carrying-in process. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a mask unloading process. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of attaching the squeegee 30 to the squeegee fixing portion 24. FIG. FIG. FIG.

Next, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a printing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a printing device 10 and a storage device 100. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection relationship of the printing system 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the squeegee fixing unit 24, the squeegee 30, and the squeegee transport jig 110. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the supply unit 40 and the cartridge transport jig 120. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the supply unit 40 and the holder 122. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the substrate support member 70 and the support member transport jig 130. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cleaning unit 80 and the cleaning member transport jig 140 in a protruding state. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the cleaning unit 80 in a non-protruding state. The printing system 1 includes a printing device 10 that prints a solder paste (hereinafter simply referred to as solder) as a viscous fluid onto a printing target (here, a substrate S) using a screen mask 55. The printing system 1 also includes a storage device 100 that stores one or more types of replaceable members 13 used in the printing device 10, and a management computer (PC) 150 that manages information related to processing in the printing device 10. The printing system 1 may be configured as a mounting system further including other substrate-related work devices, such as a mounting device (not shown) that mounts electronic components on the substrate S. Examples of the viscous fluid include conductive paste and adhesives in addition to solder. The printing device 10 is configured as a device capable of automatically replacing the replaceable members 13 used in the printing process when changing the printing target to a different type of substrate S. The replaceable members 13 include one or more of the following: a cartridge 49 that stores solder, a squeegee 30, a cleaning member 82, a screen mask 55, and a substrate support member 70. In the printing device 10 of this embodiment, all of these five types are configured to be automatically replaceable as the replaceable members 13. Furthermore, the replacement process for these five types of masks other than the screen mask 55 is performed using a squeegee transport jig 110, a cartridge transport jig 120, a support member transport jig 130, and a cleaning member transport jig 140 shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the left-right direction (X-axis), the front-back direction (Y-axis), and the up-down direction (Z-axis) are as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the printing device 10 is a device that applies (prints) solder onto the substrate S below through the pattern holes 58 by using a squeegee 30 to push solder on a screen mask 55 into the pattern holes 58 formed in the screen mask 55. The printing device 10 includes a print control unit 11 (an example of a replacement control unit, Fig. 3), a print processing unit 20, a supply unit 40, a mask work unit 50, a substrate fixing unit 60, a cleaning unit 80, and a reading unit 97. The printing device 10 also includes a display operation unit 98 (Fig. 3) configured as an operation panel on which a display screen is displayed and on which the operator can perform various input operations, and a communication unit (not shown) that communicates with other connected devices.

The print control unit 11 is configured as a microprocessor centered on a CPU, and includes a ROM for storing processing programs, a RAM used as a working area, and a HDD for storing various data. The print control unit 11 controls the entire printing device 10.

The print processing unit 20 is disposed on the upper stage of the printing device 10, and is a unit that prints a viscous fluid onto a substrate S using a screen mask 55. As shown in FIG. 3, the print processing unit 20 includes a print head 21, a print movement unit 22, a squeegee lifting unit 23, a squeegee fixing unit 24, a squeegee 30, and a transport rod 38. The print movement unit 22 moves the print head 21 in a predetermined printing direction (here, the front-rear direction), and includes a guide formed in the front-rear direction, a slider that moves along the guide, and a motor that drives the slider. The squeegee lifting unit 23 is configured as an air cylinder having a piston rod 23a (FIGS. 2 and 4), and raises and lowers the squeegee fixing unit 24 and the squeegee 30 by raising and lowering the piston rod 23a. The print processing section 20 has two squeegees 30, the first and second squeegees 30a and 30b, and correspondingly has two piston rods 23a and two squeegee fixing parts 24.

The two squeegee fixing parts 24 have the same configuration except that they are arranged symmetrically from front to back, so below, the front squeegee fixing part 24 will be described using Figure 4. Note that Figure 4 shows the state before the squeegee 30 is attached to the squeegee fixing part 24, and in this Figure 4, the squeegee 30 is attached to a squeegee transport jig 110 that is used in the squeegee replacement process described below.

The squeegee fixing part 24 is a mechanism configured to switch between a fixed state in which the squeegee 30 (here, the first squeegee 30a) is fixed and a released state in which the squeegee 30 is not fixed. As shown in FIG. 4, the squeegee fixing part 24 is connected to the lower end of the piston rod 23a and includes an air cylinder 25 and a regulating member 26. The air cylinder 25 is a mechanism for raising and lowering the cylinder shaft 25a that protrudes downward. A flange 25b is formed at the lower end of the cylinder shaft 25a, and the upper surface of the flange 25b is configured to support the squeegee 30 from below. The regulating member 26 is a member that engages with the protruding part 34 of the squeegee 30 in the fixed state to regulate the movement of the squeegee 30 forward and backward. One regulating member 26 is disposed on each of the left and right sides of the air cylinder 25. Each regulating member 26 has claws 27a and 27b that protrude forward. The lower surfaces of the claws 27a and 27b are respectively formed with upwardly recessed recesses 28a and 28b. In the squeegee fixing part 24, the state in which the air cylinder 25 raises the flange 25b is the fixed state, and the state in which the air cylinder 25 lowers the flange 25b compared to the fixed state is the released state. Due to this raising and lowering of the flange 25b, in the fixed state, the squeegee fixing part 24 clamps the mounting member 32 of the squeegee 30 between the upper surface of the flange 25b and the lower surface of the regulating member 26. In the released state, the squeegee fixing part 24 releases the fixation of the squeegee 30 by relatively separating the flange 25b and the regulating member 26 vertically compared to the fixed state.

As shown in FIG. 4, the squeegee 30 includes a squeegee blade 31 formed to be longer in the left-right direction than the pattern hole 58 (FIG. 2), and an attachment member 32 for attaching the squeegee blade 31 to the squeegee fixing portion 24. The attachment member 32 includes a positioning member 33, a protruding portion 34, an axis member 35, and a flange portion 36. The positioning member 33 is a member formed in a U-shape when viewed from above, and has an opening 33a through which the cylinder shaft 25a of the squeegee fixing portion 24 can pass back and forth, and a gripped surface 33b which is the lower surface of the positioning member 33 and protrudes horizontally toward the opening 33a (toward the inside of the U). When the cylinder shaft 25a of the squeegee fixing portion 24 enters the opening 33a of the positioning member 33 from the rear to the front, the upper surface of the flange 25b faces the gripped surface 33b in the vertical direction. The gripped surface 33b and the gripped surface 32a, which is the upper surface of the mounting member 32, are sandwiched between the upper surface of the cylinder shaft 25a of the squeegee fixing portion 24 and the lower surface of the regulating member 26, so that the squeegee 30 is gripped and fixed to the squeegee fixing portion 24. The protrusions 34 are arranged on both the left and right sides of the positioning member 33, and each of the protrusions 34 is configured to fit into the recesses 28a, 28b of the squeegee fixing portion 24 and engage with the regulating member 26. The engagement of the regulating member 26 with the protrusions 34 regulates the movement of the squeegee 30 in the front-rear direction relative to the squeegee fixing portion 24. The shaft members 35 are arranged on both the left and right sides of the positioning member 33, and each protrudes upward from the upper surface of the protrusions 34. A flange portion 36 is formed on the upper end of each of the shaft members 35. The flange portion 36 is a member that engages with the engagement portion 115 of the squeegee transport jig 110.

4 also illustrates a squeegee transport jig 110 used by the printing device 10 for automatic replacement of the squeegee 30. The squeegee transport jig 110 includes a frame 111, a holder 112 to which the squeegee 30 can be attached, and a barcode 116 located near the rear end of the right side of the frame 111. The squeegee transport jig 110 includes two holders 112 that are symmetrical from front to back. Each holder 112 includes a main body portion that is arranged to span the frame 111 from left to right, and a support portion 113 that protrudes from the main body portion to the inside of the frame 111 in the front-rear direction. Two support portions 113 are arranged side by side on the left and right for each holder 112. As shown in the enlarged view in the upper right of FIG. 4, the support portion 113 has an opening 114 through which the shaft member 35 of the squeegee 30 can pass in the front-rear direction. The support 113 also has an engagement portion 115 that engages with the flange 36 of the squeegee 30 to fix the squeegee 30. The engagement portion 115 is a recess formed on the opening edge of the support 113 into which the lower side of the flange 36 fits. When the flange 36 fits into the engagement portion 115, the squeegee 30 is restricted from moving in the XY directions relative to the squeegee transport jig 110 by its own weight. When the squeegee 30 is moved upward and the flange 36 is disengaged from the engagement portion 115 (also referred to as the removal position), the restriction on movement in the XY directions is released and the squeegee 30 can be removed from the opening 114. The barcode 116 is identification information for identifying the squeegee 30 attached to the squeegee transport jig 110, and is attached in advance by an operator, for example.

The transport rod 38 is disposed on the print head 21 so that it can be raised and lowered by a motor (not shown) (Figure 2). This transport rod 38 is moved back and forth by the print moving unit 22 while protruding below the squeegee 30, thereby pushing and transporting the screen mask 55 and each transport tool placed on the transport rail 53 back and forth. This allows the transport rod 38 to transport the screen mask 55 and each transport tool from the storage device 100 to the printing device 10.

The supply unit 40 is a device that supplies the solder contained in the cartridge 49 onto the screen mask 55. The supply unit 40 includes a supply head 41 and a supply moving unit 46. The supply head 41 positions and holds the cartridge 49, and discharges the solder. The supply moving unit 46 moves the supply head 41 in the X-axis direction (left and right direction). As shown in FIG. 3, the supply head 41 includes an air supply unit 42, a clamp unit 43, and a rotary motor 44. As shown in FIG. 6, the supply head 41 includes a back plate portion 41a disposed on the supply moving unit 46, and a fixing member 41b formed by protruding forward from the upper end of the back plate portion 41a. The supply head 41 moves between the solder discharge position on the screen mask 55 and the holder 122 of the cartridge transport jig 120 in which the replacement cartridge 49 is disposed. The air supply unit 42 is connected to the cartridge 49 and supplies air to the cartridge 49 for discharging solder from the cartridge 49. The air supply unit 42 is cylindrical and is inserted into a hole-shaped connection portion 49d formed in the cartridge 49. The air supply unit 42 also serves as a positioning portion for the cartridge 49, as the position of the cartridge 49 is fixed by being inserted into the connection portion 49d. The air supply unit 42 has an opening on the lower side and is disposed on the lower surface of the fixing member 41b. The air supply unit 42 exhausts air supplied via a pipe (not shown) from the opening.

The clamp section 43 is a member that fixes the cartridge 49. The clamp section 43 is rotatably supported on the lower side of the back plate section 41a, and moves (here, rotates) between a fixed position where the cartridge 49 is fixed and a release position where the fixation of the cartridge 49 is released by the driving force from the rotation motor 44. The release position is a position where the clamp section 43 is in a vertical state that is the same as the formation direction of the back plate section 41a. The fixed position is a position where the clamp section 43 is in a horizontal state perpendicular to the formation direction of the back plate section 41a. When the air supply section 42 is connected to the connection section 49d of the cartridge 49 and the clamp section 43 moves to the fixed position, the clamp section 43 supports and fixes the cartridge 49 from below. The clamp section 43 is formed in a hollow disk shape, and the bottom of the cartridge 49 fits into the hollow part.

The supply movement unit 46 is disposed in front of the print head 23. Therefore, the supply head 41 is moved in the Y-axis direction by the print movement unit 24, and moved in the X-axis direction by the supply movement unit 46. The supply movement unit 46 includes a guide 46a, a ball screw 46b, and a drive motor 48. When the drive motor 48 rotates the ball screw 46b, the supply head 41 moves left and right along the guide 46a.

The cartridge 49 has a cylindrical main body 49a, flanges 49b formed with a larger diameter than the main body 49a and disposed on the upper and lower sides of the main body 49a, and a connection 49d formed in the center of the upper flange 49b. A nozzle (not shown) that ejects solder to the outside is formed in the center of the lower flange 49b of the cartridge 49. The connection 49d is a hole into which the air supply unit 42 is inserted and connected. When air is supplied from the air supply unit 42 to the connection 49d of the cartridge 49, a pressing member (not shown) inside the main body 49a is pressed, ejecting the solder from the nozzle.

5 also illustrates a cartridge transport jig 120 used by the printing device 10 for automatic replacement of the cartridge 49. The cartridge transport jig 120 includes a frame 121, a plurality of holders 122 to which the cartridge 49 can be attached, and a barcode 126. A plurality of holders 122 (five in FIG. 5) are arranged in the X direction, and each is attached to the rear of the frame 121. As shown in FIG. 6, the holder 122 includes a support portion 123 having an opening 124 through which the main body portion 49a of the cartridge 49 can pass, and an engagement portion 125 formed on the support portion 123 and engaged with the upper flange portion 49b of the cartridge 49 to fix the cartridge 49. The support portion 123 is a C-shaped plate member. The engagement portion 125 is a recess formed on the edge of the opening of the support portion 123 into which the lower surface portion of the upper flange portion 49b fits. When the flange portion 49b fits into the engaging portion 125, the cartridge 49 is restricted in its movement in the XY directions relative to the cartridge transport jig 120 by its own weight. When the cartridge 49 is moved upward and the flange portion 49b is disengaged from the engaging portion 125 (also referred to as a removal position), the restriction on the movement in the XY directions is released and the cartridge 49 can be removed from the opening 124. When the clamp portion 43 of the supply head 41 described above is rotated to the fixed position, the clamp portion 43 pushes up the cartridge 49 attached to the holder 122 and positions the cartridge 49 at the removal position of the holder 122. That is, the fixing operation of the cartridge 49 by the clamp portion 43 also serves as the release operation of the restriction on the movement of the cartridge 49 from the holder 122. The barcode 126 is disposed near the rear end of the right side surface of the cartridge transport jig 120, more specifically, on the right side surface of the rightmost holder 122. The barcode 126 is identification information for identifying the cartridge 49 attached to the cartridge transport jig 120, and is attached in advance, for example, by an operator.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mask working section 50 is disposed between the print processing section 20 and the substrate fixing section 60 in the vertical direction, and is a unit that fixes and holds the screen mask 55. As shown in FIG. 3 and other figures, the mask working section 50 includes a mask fixing section 51, a position adjustment section 52, and a conveying rail 53. The mask fixing section 51 positions the screen mask 55 and supports and fixes it in a horizontal position. The position adjustment section 52 adjusts the position of the mask fixing section 51 in the XY direction so that the pattern holes 58 of the screen mask 55 are positioned at an appropriate position relative to the substrate S fixed to the substrate fixing section 60. The conveying rails 53 are a pair of left and right rails that extend in the front-rear direction, and guide the screen mask 55 and each conveying tool pressed by the conveying rod 38 so that they move along the front-rear direction. The screen mask 55 includes a mask body 56 in which pattern holes 58 such as a desired wiring pattern are formed, and a frame body 57 that holds the mask body 56 with a predetermined tension. The mask body 56 is, for example, a thin metal plate. An identification portion (for example, a mark) for position recognition is formed on the underside of the screen mask 55. A barcode 57a (FIG. 5) indicating identification information of the screen mask 55 is disposed near the rear end of the right side surface of the screen mask 55. This barcode is attached in advance, for example, by an operator.

The substrate fixing unit 60 is disposed below the mask working unit 50 and is a unit that carries in the substrate S, positions and supports the carried-in substrate S, and brings it into contact with and away from the screen mask 55. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the substrate fixing unit 60 includes a substrate transport conveyor 61, a substrate guide 62, a substrate guide moving unit 63 (see FIG. 3), a support platform lifting unit 65, a fixing unit lifting unit 66, a support platform 67, and a substrate support member 70. The substrate transport conveyor 61 is provided on each of the pair of side frames 60b and transports the substrate S in the X direction. The substrate guide 62 is a plate-shaped member provided on the upper surface of each of the pair of side frames 60b. The substrate guide moving unit 63 is a mechanism that moves the pair of side frames 60b in the front-rear direction to move them closer to and away from each other. As a result, the board guide 62 also moves in the front-rear direction, clamping and fixing the board S in a state where the top surface of the board S and the top surface of the board guide 62 are flush with each other. The support platform lifting unit 65 is a mechanism that raises and lowers the support platform 67 relative to the main body 60a of the board fixing unit 60. The fixing unit lifting unit 66 is a mechanism that raises and lowers the entire board fixing unit 60 relative to the main body of the printing device 10. The support platform 67 is a member on which the board support member 70 can be positioned. The board fixing unit 60 is equipped with fixing units and position adjustment units (not shown) that fix and position the board support member 70 on the support platform 67.

The substrate support member 70 is placed on the support stand 67 and is connected to a pressure reducing device (not shown) by piping, and is a member that supports and fixes the substrate S from the underside by negative pressure. As shown in FIG. 7, the substrate support member 70 has a main body 70a, a pair of cylindrical protrusions 71, 71 arranged to protrude from the left and right sides of the main body 70a, a pair of protrusions 72, 72 arranged forward of the protrusions 71, and a plurality of suction ports 73 opening on the upper surface of the main body 70a. The plurality of protrusions 71, 72 function as engagement parts that engage with the first to fourth protrusion holders 132 to 135 of the support member transport jig 130 shown in FIG. 7. In addition, an identification part 75 (e.g., a mark) for position recognition and a bar code 76 for type recognition of the substrate support member 70 are formed on the upper surface of the main body 70a. The substrate support member 70 is replaced depending on the substrate S.

Figure 7 also illustrates the support member transport jig 130 used by the printing device 10 for automatic replacement of the substrate support member 70. The support member transport jig 130 includes a frame 131, first to fourth protrusion holders 132 to 135 arranged inside the frame 131, and a bar code 136 arranged near the rear end of the right side of the frame 131. The first to fourth protrusion holders 132 to 135 are arranged in this order from the front to the rear. The first to fourth protrusion holders 132 to 135 are each arranged in pairs in the left and right directions, and are arranged at the tips of arms extending downward from the frame 131. The support member transport jig 130 can attach one substrate support member 70 by the first and second protrusion holders 132 and 133, and can attach one substrate support member 70 by the third and fourth protrusion holders 134 and 135. The upper surfaces of the first to fourth protrusion holders 132 to 135 have recesses formed thereon that are slightly larger than the outer diameter of the protrusions 71 and 72 of the substrate support member 70. By placing the protrusions 71 and 72 in these recesses, the support member transport jig 130 can transport the substrate support member 70 while fixing the relative position of the substrate support member 70 in the front-to-rear direction. The barcode 136 is identification information for identifying the substrate support member 70 attached to the support member transport jig 130, and is attached in advance by an operator, for example.

The cleaning unit 80 is disposed between the mask working unit 50 and the substrate fixing unit 60 in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 2, and is a unit that performs a cleaning process to clean the back surface of the screen mask 55. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cleaning unit 80 includes a replacement module 81 that includes a cleaning member 82 and can be replaced between the storage device 100, a mounting member 84 on which the replacement module 81 is placed, a support member 86 that supports the replacement module 81 and the mounting member 84, and a cleaning movement unit 87 that moves the replacement module 81 and the mounting member 84. Note that FIG. 8 also illustrates a cleaning member transport jig 140 that the printing device 10 uses for automatic replacement of the replacement module 81. The cleaning movement unit 87 can switch between a protruding state in which the replacement module 81 and the mounting member 84 protrude forward and a non-protruding state in which they do not protrude. FIG. 8 shows the protruding state, and FIG. 9 shows the non-protruding state.

The replacement module 81 includes a first roller 81a, a second roller 81b, a cleaning member 82, and an attachment member 83. The cleaning member 82 is a member for cleaning the screen mask 55, and in this embodiment is a wiping sheet that cleans the screen mask 55 by wiping it. The cleaning member 82 is wound around the first roller 81a. The second roller 81b is disposed forward of the first roller 81a, and retracts the cleaning member 82 reeled out from the first roller 81a. The portion of the cleaning member 82 that is reeled out by the first roller 81a and reeled in by the second roller 81b is used to clean the screen mask 55.

The mounting member 83 is a member for mounting the first and second rollers 81a, 81b and the cleaning member 82. The mounting member 83 has a box body 83a, which is a box-shaped member with an opening at the top and bottom. Inside the box body 83a, two pairs of bearings 83b (only three are shown) facing each other on the left and right are arranged. The shaft ends of the first and second rollers 81a, 81b can be inserted into each of the two pairs of bearings 83b, so that the bearings 83b rotatably support the first and second rollers 81a, 81b. The right front bearing 83b (not shown) is coaxially connected to a gear 83c arranged on the outside of the box body 83a, so that the second roller 81b and the gear 83c rotate together. The gear 83c is arranged to mesh with the gear 86b of the winding motor 86a in the non-protruding state, so that the second roller 81b rotates by the driving force from the winding motor 86a to wind up the cleaning member 82. The box body 83a also has protruding parts 83d that protrude from the mounting member 83 on both the left and right sides. In this embodiment, one protruding part 83d is arranged on the right side of the box body 83a, and two protruding parts 83d are arranged on the left side of the box body 83a. These multiple protruding parts 83d function as engaging parts that engage with the protrusion holding part 142 of the cleaning member transport jig 140 shown in FIG. 8. A receiving member 83e is arranged on each of the left and right ends of the front surface of the box body 83a. The receiving member 83e has a recess that opens toward the left and right outside, and is configured to engage with the locking member 86d of the locking mechanism 86c in the non-protruding state. An opening 83f is formed on each of the left and right side surfaces of the box body 83a, and an engagement shaft 83g extending in the Y direction is disposed within the opening 83f. The engagement shaft 83g is configured to engage with the claw member 84c of the mounting member 84 (enlarged view in the upper right of Figure 8).

The mounting member 84 is configured as a plate-shaped member on which the replacement module 81 is placed and supported from below. The mounting member 84 and the mounting member 83 serve as a cleaning head and are moved back and forth by the cleaning movement part 87. On the upper surface of the mounting member 84, a contact member 84a, a lifting device 84b, a claw member 84c, and a connection part 84d are arranged. The contact member 84a is a member that supports the cleaning member 82 from below. The lifting device 84b is configured as, for example, an air cylinder, and lifts and lowers the contact member 84a while supporting it from below. When the lifting device 84b has raised the contact member 84a, the contact member 84a lifts the cleaning member 82 upward, allowing the upper surface of the cleaning member 82 to abut against the back surface of the screen mask 55. In this state, the cleaning movement unit 87 moves the mounting member 84, and the cleaning unit 80 performs a cleaning process of wiping off the solder on the back surface of the screen mask 55 with the cleaning member 82. The claw members 84c are members for preventing the replacement module 81 from falling off the mounting member 84 when the mounting member 84 moves in the Y direction, and are arranged on the left and right sides of the mounting member 84, one on each side. The claw members 84c are substantially rectangular prism-shaped members whose longitudinal direction is along the up-down direction. The claw members 84c have an inclined surface on the inner side in the left-right direction of the upper end (the inner side of the mounting member 83), and a recess that engages with the engagement shaft 83g of the mounting member 83 is formed below the inclined surface. The claw members 84c are rotatably supported around a rotation shaft arranged near the lower end and aligned in the Y direction, and the upper end of the claw members 84c is biased in a direction of rotating inward in the left-right direction by an elastic member such as a spring (not shown). As a result, when the replacement module 81 descends from above the mounting member 84, the engagement shaft 83g of the mounting member 83 of the replacement module 81 is guided by the inclined surface of the claw member 84c and engages with the recess of the claw member 84c, restricting the relative movement in the Y direction between the mounting member 83 and the mounting member 84. Note that the elastic force of the elastic member that biases the claw member 84c is adjusted so that the engagement between the engagement shaft 83g and the claw member 84c is released when the replacement module 81 attempts to move upward from the mounting member 84. The connection portion 84d is a member that is connected to the connection portion 89b of the mounting member moving mechanism 89, and is disposed on the rear side of the mounting member 84.

As shown in FIG. 1, the support member 86 is a plate-shaped member whose left and right ends are supported by the guide rails 88b. As a result, the support member 86 supports the placement member 84 from the left and right directions along the horizontal direction. The support member 86 is provided with a winding motor 86a and a locking mechanism 86c. The winding motor 86a is disposed on the right side of the mounting member 83 of the support member 86, and rotates the gear 83c and the second roller 81b via the gear 86b. The cleaning unit 80 performs a sheet feeding process in which the portion of the cleaning member 82 that has been cleaned, i.e., the portion to which solder has been attached, is fed into the second roller 81b by the winding motor 86a rotating the second roller 81b for a certain period of time after the cleaning process, for example. The locking mechanism 86c is configured as, for example, an air cylinder, and is a mechanism that protrudes the locking member 86d in the X direction via the cylinder. The locking mechanism 86c is disposed on both the left and right sides of the mounting member 83 of the support member 86, one each. As shown in FIG. 9, when the replacement module 81 and the mounting member 84 are in a non-protruding state, the locking mechanism 86c causes the locking member 86d to protrude toward the mounting member 83, and the locking member 86d is inserted into a recess in the receiving member 83e of the mounting member 83, and the two engage with each other. This restricts the relative movement of the replacement module 81 and the mounting member 84 in the Y direction with respect to the support member 86, and the replacement module 81 and the mounting member 84 are fixed in a non-protruding state. On the other hand, when the locking mechanism 86c does not cause the locking member 86d to protrude as shown in FIG. 8, the replacement module 81 and the mounting member 84 can be switched between a protruding state and a non-protruding state by the mounting member moving mechanism 89.

The cleaning movement unit 87 includes a support member movement mechanism 88 and a mounting member movement mechanism 89. As shown in FIG. 1, the support member movement mechanism 88 includes a Y-axis slider 88a and a pair of left and right guide rails 88b extending in the front-rear direction. The Y-axis slider 88a is disposed on the support member 86, and the Y-axis slider 88a moves along the guide rails 88b to move the support member 86 in the Y direction. The support member movement mechanism 88 moves the replacement module 81 and the mounting member 84 in the Y direction by moving the support member 86 in the Y direction. As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the mounting member movement mechanism 89 includes a drive source 89a configured as, for example, an air cylinder, and a connection portion 89b disposed at the tip of the cylinder rod of the drive source 89a and connected to the connection portion 84d of the mounting member 84. The mounting member moving mechanism 89 also includes an extendable rail 89c having a plurality of rails that are disposed on the support member 86 and slide in the Y direction. When a driving force in the Y direction from the driving source 89a acts on the mounting member 84 via the connection portion 89b and the connection portion 84d, the extendable rail 89c extends and retracts, and the mounting member 84 moves in the Y direction relative to the support member 86. This allows the mounting member moving mechanism 89 to switch between a protruding state ( FIG. 8 ) in which the replacement module 81 and the mounting member 84 protrude forward relative to the support member 86, and a non-protruding state ( FIG. 9 ) in which the replacement module 81 and the mounting member 84 do not protrude forward relative to the support member 86. The cleaning moving unit 87 moves the cleaning member 82 between a cleaning position where the cleaning member 82 cleans the screen mask 55 and a replacement position where the cleaning member 82 is replaced between the cleaning member transport jig 140 and the cleaning member transport jig 140, by the support member moving mechanism 88 and the mounting member moving mechanism 89. The cleaning position is, for example, a position directly below the screen mask 55 fixed to the mask fixing part 51. The replacement position is, for example, a position where the replacement module 81 is handed over between the cleaning member transport jig 140 and the cleaning part 80. The cleaning movement part 87 also transports the cleaning member 82 and the replacement module 81 including it in and out.

The cleaning member transport jig 140 shown in FIG. 8 serves as a holder to which the replacement module 81 is attached. The cleaning member transport jig 140 includes a frame 141 with an open rear side, a protrusion holder 142 arranged on the inner side of the frame 141 in the left-right direction, and a barcode 146 arranged near the rear end of the right side of the frame 141. The protrusion holders 142 are arranged in the same number (three in this example) as the protrusions 83d of the mounting member 83. More specifically, one protrusion holder 142 is arranged on the right side, and two protrusion holders 142 are arranged on the left side. The protrusion holder 142 has a recess formed on the upper surface, and engages with the protrusion 83d placed in this recess to support the protrusion 83d from below. By engaging the protrusion 83d with this recess, the cleaning member transport jig 140 can transport the replacement module 81 while fixing the relative position of the replacement module 81 in the front-rear direction. The barcode 146 is identification information for identifying the cleaning member 82 attached to the cleaning member transport jig 140, and is attached in advance, for example, by an operator.

The reading unit 97 is a device that reads information about one or more of the replaceable members 13, and in this embodiment is configured as a barcode reader. As shown in FIG. 1, the reading unit 97 is located in the front right of the printing device 10, with the reading direction being to the left. The reading unit 97 is located at the same height as the height at which the screen mask 55 is carried in and out (the carrying-in height and carrying-out height), and can read the barcode 57a (FIG. 5) attached to the right side surface of the screen mask 55. The reading unit 97 can also read the barcodes 116, 126, 136, 146 attached to each of the transport jigs 110, 120, 130, 140 if they are transported to the same height.

The storage device 100 is disposed in front of the printing device 10, stores one or more types (here, five types) of exchangeable members 13, and transports one or more types (here, five types) of the exchangeable members 13 between the printing device 10. The storage device 100 includes a housing 101, a storage section 102, a transport conveyor 104, a conveyor lift section 105, and a storage control section 106. The housing 101 is a roughly rectangular box body, and has a storage section 102 inside. A moving section such as a caster is disposed on the underside of the housing 101, and for example, an operator can move the storage device 100. The storage section 102 is a box body that can store the exchangeable members 13 and transport jigs, and has multiple transport conveyors 104 disposed inside. The conveyors 104 are arranged in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction, and in this embodiment, the first to ninth conveyors 104a to 104i are arranged in order from the top as shown in FIG. 2. Each of the first to ninth conveyors 104a to 104i is configured as a pair of left and right belt conveyors, and conveys an object placed thereon in the front-rear direction. For convenience of illustration, only four stages of the conveyor 104 are shown in FIG. 1. The storage section 102 is configured so that at least one exchangeable member 13 can be placed on each of the first to ninth conveyors 104a to 104i. The storage section 102 also has a plurality of storage areas 103 in the vertical direction, which are divided by the first to ninth conveyors 104a to 104i. The storage area 103 has a first storage area 103a as an area above the first transport conveyor 104a, and similarly has second to ninth storage areas 103b to 103i as areas above the second to ninth transport conveyors 104b to 104i. The storage area 103 does not necessarily have to be inside the storage section 102. For example, the cartridge transport jig 120 placed on the first transport conveyor 104a shown in FIG. 2 partially protrudes rearward from the storage section 102, and the area where this protruding part exists is also included in the first storage area 103a. The storage section 102 is open at the front and rear. This allows an operator to insert the replaceable member 13 into the storage section 102 from the front, and allows the storage device 100 to carry the replaceable member 13 into and out of the printing device 10 through the rear of the storage section 102. The conveyor lifting unit 105 is a mechanism for raising and lowering the storage unit 102, and includes, for example, a guide, a ball screw, and a drive motor (not shown). The conveyor lifting unit 105 raises and lowers the storage unit 102, which causes the transport conveyor 104 to rise and fall.

In this embodiment, the cartridge conveying jig 120 is placed on the first conveyor 104a, the squeegee conveying jig 110 is placed on the second and third conveyors 104b and 104c, the cleaning member conveying jig 140 is placed on the fourth and fifth conveyors 104d and 104e, the screen mask 55 is placed on the sixth and seventh conveyors 104f and 104g, and the support member conveying jig 130 is placed on the eighth and ninth conveyors 104h and 104i. The interval between the vertically adjacent conveying conveyors 104 is adjusted according to the height of the conveying jig placed on each conveying conveyor 104 and the replaceable member 13 attached to that conveying jig. The width of each of the transport jigs 110 to 140 and the screen mask 55 in the left-right direction is determined so that they can be placed on any of the multiple transport conveyors 104, and for example, the left-right widths are approximately the same.

The storage control unit 106 is configured as a microprocessor centered on a CPU, and includes a ROM for storing processing programs, a RAM used as a working area, and a HDD for storing various data. The storage control unit 106 controls the entire storage device 100.

Next, the operation of the printing system 1 configured in this manner will be described. First, the printing process executed by the printing device 10 and the reading process that reads the identification information of the exchangeable members 13 stored in the storage device 100 in parallel with the printing process will be described. Figure 10 is an explanatory diagram showing how the printing process and the reading process are performed in parallel.

First, the printing process will be described. The printing process routine for performing the printing process is stored in the HDD of the printing control unit 11, and is executed after the printing control unit 11 receives an instruction to execute the printing process from the operator via the display operation unit 98, or after the printing control unit 11 receives an instruction to execute the printing process from the management PC 150. When the printing process routine is started, the printing control unit 11 first performs a substrate transport and fixation process in which the substrate S is fixed by the substrate fixing unit 60 and abutted against the screen mask 55, as shown in FIG. 10. Specifically, the printing control unit 11 first drives the substrate transport conveyor 61 to transport the substrate S to the substrate fixing unit 60, and clamps and fixes the substrate S with the substrate guide 62. In addition, the printing control unit 11 adjusts the position of the screen mask 55 by the mask work unit 50 as necessary, and aligns the pattern hole 58 with the substrate S. Next, the print control unit 11 raises the support table 67 to bring the upper surface of the substrate support member 70 into contact with the lower surface of the substrate S, and adsorbs and fixes the substrate S to the substrate support member 70 by the negative pressure from the pressure reducing device. Then, the print control unit 11 raises the substrate fixing unit 60 to bring the upper surface of the substrate S into contact with the lower surface of the screen mask 55. After the substrate transport and fixing process is performed, the print control unit 11 performs a solder supply process. Specifically, the print control unit 11 moves the supply head 41 onto the screen mask 55, supplies air from the air supply unit 42, and ejects solder from the cartridge 49 onto the screen mask 55. After the solder supply process is performed, the print control unit 11 performs a squeegee movement process. Specifically, the print control unit 11 moves the print head 21 and lowers the squeegee 30 (the first squeegee 30a in FIG. 10) to bring the squeegee 30 into contact with the upper surface of the screen mask 55, and moves the squeegee 30 in the front-rear direction to print the solder on the substrate S. The printing control unit 11 performs at least one of a process of moving the first squeegee 30a backward and a process of moving the second squeegee 30b forward on the screen mask 55. In this way, the printing control unit 11 performs a printing process including a substrate transport and fixing process, a solder supply process, and a squeegee movement process to print on the substrate S. The printing control unit 11 repeats this printing process until the production process is completed. The printing process may also include the cleaning process and sheet feeding process described above. The printing control unit 11 performs the cleaning process and sheet feeding process at a predetermined timing, such as every time a predetermined time has elapsed or after each printing process of a predetermined number of substrates S, to clean the back surface of the screen mask 55.

The operator stores the exchangeable members 13 for replacement in the storage device 100 in advance in preparation for the case where one or more of the exchangeable members 13 need to be replaced, for example, during a changeover while the printing device 10 is performing this printing process. For example, if all five types of exchangeable members 13 need to be replaced at the time of the next changeover, the operator stores each transport jig and the exchangeable members 13 attached thereto in the storage device 100 as shown in FIG. 2. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the operator stores the cartridge transport jig 120 with the replacement cartridge 49 attached to the holder 122 in the first storage area 103a. At this time, the operator leaves at least one of the multiple holders 122 of the cartridge transport jig 120 empty as shown in FIG. 5. The operator stores the empty squeegee transport jig 110 in the second storage area 103b, and stores the squeegee transport jig 110 with two replacement squeegees 30 attached in the third storage area 103c. The worker stores the empty cleaning member transport jig 140 in the fourth storage area 103d, and stores the cleaning member transport jig 140 with the replacement module 81 attached in the fifth storage area 103e. The worker leaves the sixth storage area 103f open for carrying out the screen mask 55 in use from the printing device 10, and stores the replacement screen mask 55 in the seventh storage area 103g. The worker stores the empty support member transport jig 130 in the eighth storage area 103h, and stores the support member transport jig 130 with one replacement board support member 70 attached in the ninth storage area 103i. In this way, the worker can store the replacement replaceable member 13 in the storage device 100 in advance while the printing device 10 is performing the printing process, rather than when it becomes necessary to replace the replaceable member 13 due to a change of setup or the like. Therefore, the worker can perform the work of preparing the replacement replaceable member 13 during a time period when the worker is less burdened with work.

The worker attaches a barcode representing the identification information of the replaceable member 13 attached to each transport jig in advance. For example, the worker makes sure that the identification information included in the barcode 126 of the cartridge transport jig 120 includes information representing the type of the cartridge 49 attached to the cartridge transport jig 120. Similarly, the worker makes sure that the identification information included in the barcode 57a of the screen mask 55 includes information representing the type of the screen mask 55. In this way, the print control unit 11 can identify which of the five types of replaceable members 13 it relates to by having the reading unit 97 read the barcodes of each transport jig and the screen mask 55. The print control unit 11 can also identify the finer types of the same type of replaceable member 13, such as which type of cartridge 49 out of multiple types of cartridges 49 is attached to the cartridge transport jig 120. The barcode may also include information representing the state of each transport jig (such as whether or not there is a vacant holder). For example, the barcode 126 of the cartridge transport jig 120 may include information regarding which of the multiple holders 122 of the cartridge transport jig 120 the cartridge 49 is attached to (which holder 122 is empty).

Next, the reading process will be described. The reading process routine for performing the reading process is stored in the HDD of the print control unit 11, and is executed, for example, every time a predetermined time has elapsed or after an instruction to execute the reading process is input by the operator. When the reading process routine is started, the print control unit 11 outputs a command to the storage control unit 106 of the storage device 100 to sequentially move the replaceable member 13 stored in the storage unit 102 or the empty transport jig to a position where the reading unit 97 can read it. Upon receiving this command, the storage control unit 106 first raises and lowers the storage unit 102 by the conveyor lift unit 105 so that the cartridge transport jig 120 on the first transport conveyor 104a is positioned at the same height as the reading unit 97. In addition, the storage control unit 106 transports the cartridge transport jig 120 in the Y direction by the first transport conveyor 104a as necessary to move the barcode 126 to a position where the reading unit 97 can read it, and then transports the cartridge transport jig 120 back to its original position. During this time, the print control unit 11 makes the reading unit 97 read the barcode 126 and stores the acquired information in the HDD. The storage control unit 106 performs the same process for the second transport conveyor 104b to the ninth transport conveyor 104i in sequence. FIG. 10 shows a state in which the storage device 100 transports the squeegee transport jig 110 stored in the second storage area 103b to a position where the reading unit 97 can read it. Thus, in the reading process, the print control unit 11 makes the storage device 100 transport or raise/lower the exchangeable member 13 as a movement to a position where the reading unit 97 can read it. Through this reading process, the print control unit 11 acquires and stores information required for the exchange process described later, such as information on the exchangeable members 13 stored in each of the storage areas 103 of the storage device 100 and information on which type of transport jig is stored in each of the storage areas 103. In addition, the print control unit 11 can also identify an empty storage area 103 (the sixth storage area 103f in FIG. 10) in which no transport jig is stored, by detecting that the reading unit 97 has not read information for a predetermined period of time even when transport is performed by the transport conveyor 104. As shown in FIG. 10, the reading unit 97 is disposed at the front of the printing device 10. Therefore, even if the exchangeable members 13 and the like are transported from the front storage device 100 to the reading position of the reading unit 97, there is no hindrance to the operation of the print processing unit 20, the supply unit 40, the mask work unit 50, the substrate fixing unit 60, and the cleaning unit 80 in the above-mentioned printing process. Therefore, the print control unit 11 can perform the reading process in parallel with the printing process. This allows the print control unit 11 to obtain information on the exchangeable members 13 and transport jigs stored in the storage device 100 without stopping the printing process.

Regarding the operation of the storage device 100 during the reading process, an operation routine for the reading process may be stored in advance in the memory of the storage control unit 106, and the print control unit 11 may simply output a command to start the operation routine. Alternatively, the print control unit 11 may sequentially output individual operation commands for the conveyor lift unit 105 and the transport conveyor 104 to the storage control unit 106.

Next, an exchange process for automatically exchanging the exchangeable parts 13 will be described. FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an example of an exchange process routine. This exchange process routine is stored in the HDD of the print control unit 11. Each time a print process is completed, the print control unit 11 determines whether or not one or more of the exchangeable parts 13 required for the next print process are different from those for the current print process, based on information relating to the print process acquired from the management PC 150, and determines whether or not exchange process is necessary. If the print control unit 11 determines that exchange process is necessary, it starts the exchange process routine. The print control unit 11 performs the exchange process routine while appropriately referring to the information acquired in the reading process described above.

When the print control unit 11 starts the replacement process routine, it performs one or more of the following processes as necessary: cartridge replacement process (step S100), cleaning member replacement process (step S110), mask removal process (step S120), squeegee replacement process (step S130), substrate support member replacement process (step S140), and mask insertion process (step S150). Since the cartridge 49 and cleaning member 82 are consumables, not only when the type of each is changed, but also when the replacement process needs to be performed, at least one of the cartridge replacement process and the cleaning member replacement process may be performed together to replenish the consumables without changing the type of the consumables. For example, when one or more of the squeegee 30, screen mask 55, and substrate support member 70 need to be replaced, at least one of the cartridge 49 and cleaning member 82 may also be replaced. In this embodiment, when replacing the screen mask 55, the squeegee 30, and the substrate support member 70, the transport jig is transported using the transport rail 53 in any case. Therefore, if it is necessary to perform at least one of the squeegee replacement process and the substrate support member replacement process, the mask carry-out process is performed prior to these processes to remove the screen mask 55 from above the transport rails 53, and the mask carry-in process is performed after these processes. A process including the mask carry-out process and the mask carry-in process corresponds to a mask replacement process. Note that if it is not necessary to replace the screen mask 55, the screen mask 55 carried out in the mask carry-out process is carried in during the mask carry-in process. Below, each process of steps S100 to S150 will be explained using an example in which all five types of replaceable members 13 are replaced.

The cartridge replacement process in step S100 will be described. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of mounting the cartridge 49 to the supply head 41. When the cartridge replacement process is started, the print control unit 11 performs a cartridge ejection process to eject the cartridge 49 attached to the supply head 41, and a cartridge insertion process to insert a replacement cartridge 49. In the cartridge ejection process, the print control unit 11 first operates the conveyor lift unit 105 so that the cartridge transport jig 120 having an empty holder 122 on the first transport conveyor 104a is positioned at a height (ejection height) for ejecting the cartridge 49. The ejection height of the cartridge 49 is a height at which the cartridge 49 attached to the supply head 41 can be attached to the empty holder 122, and a height at which the main body 49a can be inserted into the opening 124. Next, the print control unit 11 controls the print movement unit 22 and the supply movement unit 46 to move the cartridge 49 attached to the supply head 41 to a delivery position where the cartridge 49 can be attached to an empty holder 122 of the cartridge transport jig 120. Next, the print control unit 11 releases the cartridge 49 from the supply head 41 and attaches the cartridge 49 to the empty holder 122. In the cartridge carrying-in process, the print control unit 11 first operates the conveyor lifting unit 105 so that the cartridge transport jig 120 is positioned at a height (carry-in height) for carrying in the replacement cartridge 49. In this embodiment, the carry-in height and the carry-out height of the cartridge 49 are the same, and the process of operating the conveyor lifting unit 105 is omitted. Next, the print control unit 11 moves the supply head 41 to a receiving position where the replacement cartridge 49 attached to the holder 122 can be received, and causes the supply head 41 to mount the replacement cartridge 49. After completing the cartridge ejection process and cartridge insertion process as described above, the print control unit 11 ends the cartridge replacement process.

When the cartridge 49 is attached to an empty holder 122 in the cartridge ejection process, the print control unit 11 first rotates the clamp unit 43 to the release position with the main body 49a inserted into the opening 124 of the holder 122 (an example of a delivery position). Then, with the rotation of the clamp unit 43, the cartridge 49 descends and is supported by the support unit 123 with the flange unit 49b engaged with the engagement unit 125. When the replacement cartridge 49 is attached to the supply head 41 in the cartridge insertion process, the print control unit 11 first rotates the clamp unit 43 to the fixed position with the connection unit 49d of the replacement cartridge 49 located directly below the air supply unit 42 (an example of a receiving position, FIG. 12A) (FIG. 12B). When the clamp unit 43 is located at the fixed position, the clamp unit 43 pushes up the cartridge 49 to release the engagement between the flange unit 49b and the engagement unit 125, and positions the cartridge 49 at the removal position. At this time, the air supply unit 42 is inserted into the connection portion 49d, the cartridge 49 is positioned, and the supply head 41 is able to supply air to the main body portion 49a. The print control unit 11 then moves the supply head 41 so that the main body portion 49a passes through the opening 124 (Figure 12B).

The cleaning member replacement process of step S110 will be described. When the cleaning member replacement process is started, the print control unit 11 performs a cleaning member carry-out process to carry out the replacement module 81 and a cleaning member carry-in process to carry in the replacement module 81 for replacement. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the cleaning member carry-out process. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the cleaning member carry-in process. In the cleaning member carry-out process, the print control unit 11 first operates the conveyor lift unit 105 so that the empty cleaning member transport jig 140 is positioned at a height (carry-out height) for carrying out the replacement module 81 (FIG. 13A). Here, the print control unit 11 raises and lowers the fourth transport conveyor 104d on which the empty cleaning member transport jig 140 is placed to the carry-out height. The carry-out height of the replacement module 81 is a height at which the protrusion holding portion 142 of the cleaning member transport jig 140 is positioned below the protrusion 83d of the replacement module 81 attached to the mounting member 84. The print control unit 11 also controls the support member moving mechanism 88 to move the replacement module 81 to the front of the printing device 10 (FIG. 13A). The position of the replacement module 81 at this time may be, for example, the front end position of the area in which the replacement module 81 can be moved by the support member moving mechanism 88, or may be the initial position of the replacement module 81. Next, the print control unit 11 controls the placement member moving mechanism 89 to put the placement member 84 in a protruding state, thereby moving the replacement module 81 to a delivery position where the replacement module 81 can be attached to the cleaning member transport jig 140 (FIG. 13B). In this embodiment, the delivery position is inside the storage unit 102, and the operation of the print control unit 11 to move the replacement module 81 to the delivery position also serves as the removal operation of the replacement module 81. In this state, each of the multiple protrusions 83d of the replacement module 81 is located directly above each of the multiple protrusion holding parts 142 of the cleaning member transport jig 140. Next, the print control unit 11 raises the storage unit 102 by the conveyor lift unit 105. As a result, the protrusion holding portion 142 and the protrusion 83d engage, and the replacement module 81 is attached to the cleaning member transport jig 140 and rises, and the replacement module 81 is removed from the mounting member 84 (FIG. 13C). As a result, the replacement module 81 is transported out and handed over to the cleaning member transport jig 140. After that, the print control unit 11 puts the mounting member 84 in a non-protruding state (FIG. 13D).

In the cleaning member loading process, the print control unit 11 first operates the conveyor lifting unit 105 so that the replacement module 81 on the transport conveyor 104 (here, the fifth transport conveyor 104e) is positioned above the height (see FIG. 13C) of the top end (here, the upper end of the abutting member 84a) of the mounting member 84 in the protruding state (FIG. 14A). Next, the print control unit 11 controls the mounting member moving mechanism 89 to put the mounting member 84 in a protruding state, thereby moving the mounting member 84 to a receiving position where the replacement module 81 can be received from the cleaning member transport jig 140 (FIG. 14B). At this receiving position, the mounting member 84 is located directly below the replacement module 81. Next, the storage unit 102 is lowered so that the cleaning member transport jig 140 on the fifth transport conveyor 104e is positioned at a height (loading height) for loading the replacement module 81, and then is further lowered below the loading height (FIG. 14C). As a result, the replacement module 81 is attached to the mounting member 84, and the cleaning member transport jig 140 is further lowered to disengage the protrusion holding portion 142 from the protrusion 83d. The height at which the replacement module 81 is brought in is the height at which the replacement module 81 is lowered and attached to the mounting member 84. The print control unit 11 then brings the mounting member 84 into a non-protruding state, thereby transporting the replacement module 81 into the printing device 10 (FIG. 14D). As a result, the replacement module 81 is received from the cleaning member transport jig 140 and transported into the printing device 10. After performing the cleaning member transport process and the cleaning member transport process as described above, the print control unit 11 ends the cleaning member replacement process.

The mask carry-out process of step S120 will be described. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the mask carry-out process. When the mask carry-out process is started, the print control unit 11 first operates the conveyor lift unit 105 so that the vacant transport conveyor 104 (here, the sixth transport conveyor 104f) is positioned at the height (carry-out height) for carrying out the screen mask 55. The carry-out height of the screen mask 55 is a position where the sixth transport conveyor 104f and the transport rail 53 are at the same height. Next, the print control unit 11 protrudes the transport rod 38 downward and controls the print moving unit 22 to transport the screen mask 55 forward along the transport rail 53 (FIG. 15). Then, the print control unit 11 transports the screen mask 55 to the sixth transport conveyor 104f by the transport rod 38 to carry out the screen mask 55. In addition, the print control unit 11 causes the sixth transport conveyor 104f to transport the screen mask 55 further forward, and stores the screen mask 55 in the storage unit 102. This removes the screen mask 55 from the transport rail 53, making it easier to transport other transport jigs on the transport rail 53. In FIG. 15, the transport rod 38 transports the screen mask 55 by pushing the end (here, the rear end) of the screen mask 55 from the outside, but this is not limited to this, and the screen mask 55 may be transported by, for example, pushing the inside of the frame 57. Similarly, in transporting a transport jig such as a squeegee transport jig 110 described later, the transport rod 38 may push the end of the transport jig from the outside, or may push the inside of the transport jig (for example, the inside of the frame 111) or the replaceable member 13 attached to the transport jig.

The squeegee replacement process of step S130 will be described. When the squeegee replacement process is started, the print control unit 11 performs a squeegee removal process to remove the squeegee 30 and a squeegee insertion process to insert a replacement squeegee 30. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the squeegee removal process. In the squeegee removal process, the print control unit 11 first operates the conveyor lift unit 105 so that the conveyor 104 (here, the second conveyor 104b) on which the squeegee transport jig 110 having the empty holder 112 is placed and the transport rail 53 are at the same height (removal height). That is, the print control unit 11 positions the second conveyor 104b at the same height as the removal height of the above-mentioned screen mask 55. Then, the second conveyor 104b and the transport rod 38 are controlled to transport the squeegee transport jig 110 into the printing device 10 (FIG. 16A). Next, the print control unit 11 controls the print movement unit 22 and the squeegee lift unit 23 to move the first squeegee 30a attached to the squeegee fixing unit 24 forward, and attaches the first squeegee 30a to the empty holder 112 on the front side of the squeegee transport jig 110 (FIG. 16B). Similarly, the print control unit 11 moves the second squeegee 30b backward, and attaches the second squeegee 30b to the empty holder 112 on the rear side of the squeegee transport jig 110 (FIG. 16C). Then, the print control unit 11 transports the squeegee transport jig 110 to which the squeegee 30 is attached to the second transport conveyor 104b by the transport rod 38, and transports the squeegee transport jig 110 out (FIG. 16D). The print control unit 11 also transports the squeegee transport jig 110 further forward by the second transport conveyor 104b, and stores the squeegee transport jig 110 in the storage unit 102.

In the squeegee loading process, the printing control unit 11 loads the squeegee 30 in the reverse order of the squeegee unloading process described above. That is, the printing control unit 11 first operates the conveyor lifting unit 105 so that the third transport conveyor 104c on which the squeegee transport jig 110 to which the replacement squeegee 30 is attached and the transport rail 53 are at the same height (loading height). Next, the printing control unit 11 loads the squeegee transport jig 110 using the third transport conveyor 104c and the transport rod 38. Next, the printing control unit 11 controls the printing movement unit 22 and the squeegee lifting unit 23 to move the front squeegee fixing unit 24 forward, and attaches the squeegee 30 attached to the front holder 112 of the squeegee transport jig 110 to the front squeegee fixing unit 24. Similarly, the print control unit 11 moves the rear squeegee fixing unit 24 backward and attaches the squeegee 30 attached to the rear holder 112 of the squeegee transport jig 110 to the rear squeegee fixing unit 24. The print control unit 11 then transports the squeegee transport jig 110 from which the squeegee 30 has been removed using the transport rod 38, and causes the third transport conveyor 104c to store the squeegee transport jig 110 in the storage unit 102.

Here, the transfer of the squeegee 30 from the squeegee fixing part 24 to the holder 112 and the reception of a replacement squeegee 30 from the holder 112 to the squeegee fixing part 24 will be described in detail. For convenience of explanation, the reception of the squeegee 30 will be described first. FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of attaching the squeegee 30 to the squeegee fixing part 24. FIG. 17 shows the state in which the front squeegee fixing part 24 receives the squeegee 30. The left column of FIG. 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the positioning member 33 and the air cylinder 25 along the vertical and front-rear directions, the center column of FIG. 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the regulating member 26 and the shaft member 35 along the vertical and front-rear directions, and the right column of FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the squeegee fixing part 24 and the squeegee 30 as seen from the upper right front. When receiving the squeegee 30, the print control unit 11 first lowers the squeegee fixing unit 24, releases the squeegee fixing unit 24, and moves the squeegee fixing unit 24 forward from the rear of the squeegee 30 to be received (FIGS. 16B and 17A). As a result, the cylinder shaft 25a is inserted into the opening 33a of the squeegee 30. At this time, the shaft member 35 of the squeegee 30 is inserted between the claws 27a and 27b of the regulating member 26. Then, the cylinder shaft 25a abuts against the positioning member 33, and the cylinder shaft 25a is positioned in the front-rear direction at a position where the cylinder shaft 25a abuts against the positioning member 33 and the forward movement of the cylinder shaft 25a is regulated by the positioning member 33 (FIG. 17B). This position is the receiving position of the squeegee 30. In this embodiment, the receiving position is the position where the rear surface of the positioning member 33 facing the opening 33a (the dead end portion of the opening 33a) abuts against the front surface of the cylinder shaft 25a. However, the receiving position may be a position where the flange 25b and the positioning member 33 come into contact with each other and the forward movement of the flange 25b is restricted by the positioning member 33. When the squeegee fixing portion 24 is located at the receiving position, the recess 28a of the restricting member 26 is located directly above the protruding portion 34 of the squeegee 30 (FIG. 17B). Next, the print control unit 11 controls the air cylinder 25 to switch the squeegee fixing portion 24 from the release state to the fixed state (FIG. 17C). As a result, the flange 25b rises to a position in the fixed state and pushes up the gripped surface 33b of the positioning member 33. As a result, the flange portion 36 is pushed up and the engagement between the flange portion 36 and the engaging portion 115 of the holder 112 is released, and the squeegee 30 moves to the removal position. As a result, the protruding portion 34 of the squeegee 30 rises and fits into the recesses 28a and 28b of the squeegee fixing portion 24 and engages with the restricting member 26. The engagement of the regulating member 26 and the protruding portion 34 regulates the movement of the squeegee 30 in the front-rear direction relative to the squeegee fixing portion 24. In addition, in the fixed state, the gripped surface 33b, which is the lower surface of the positioning member 33, and the gripped surface 32a, which is the upper surface of the mounting member 32, are sandwiched between the upper surface of the cylinder shaft 25a of the squeegee fixing portion 24 and the lower surface of the regulating member 26, so that the squeegee 30 is gripped and fixed to the squeegee fixing portion 24. Then, the printing control unit 11 controls the printing movement unit 22 to move the squeegee fixing portion 24 backward. As a result, the flange portion 36 of the squeegee 30 passes through the opening 114, and the squeegee 30 is completely removed from the holder 112 (FIG. 17D). When the squeegee fixing portion 24 receives a replacement second squeegee 30b from the holder 112 on the rear side of the squeegee transport jig 110, the printing control unit 11 may perform an operation symmetrical to the above operation.

The transfer of the squeegee 30 from the squeegee fixing part 24 to the holder 112 can be performed in the reverse order of the above-mentioned receiving. When transferring the first squeegee 30a to the front holder 112 of the squeegee transport jig 110, the print control unit 11 first lowers the front squeegee fixing part 24 and moves it forward from the rear of the holder 112. This positions the flange part 36 directly above the engagement part 115 of the empty holder 112. This position is the transfer position of the squeegee 30. Next, the print control unit 11 switches the squeegee fixing part 24 from the fixed state to the released state. This causes the engagement part 115 and the flange part 36 to engage, positioning the squeegee 30 at the attachment position, and attaching the squeegee 30 to the holder 112. In addition, the engagement between the regulating member 26 and the protrusion 34 is released. Then, the print control unit 11 moves the squeegee fixing part 24 backward. When transferring the second squeegee 30b to the holder 112 at the rear of the squeegee transport jig 110, the print control unit 11 should perform an operation that is symmetrical to the above operation.

The substrate support member replacement process of step S140 will be described. When the substrate support member replacement process is started, the print control unit 11 performs a substrate support member carry-out process to carry out the substrate support member 70, and a substrate support member carry-in process to carry in the replacement substrate support member 70. FIGS. 18 and 19 are explanatory diagrams of the substrate support member carry-out process. In the substrate support member carry-out process, the print control unit 11 first operates the conveyor lift unit 105 so that the conveyor 104 (here, the eighth conveyor 104h) on which the support member transport jig 130 in which at least one of the first and second protrusion holding units 132, 133 and the third and fourth protrusion holding units 134, 135 is vacant is placed and the conveyor rail 53 is at the same height (carry-out height). That is, the print control unit 11 positions the eighth conveyor 104h at the same height as the carry-out height of the above-mentioned screen mask 55. Next, the print control unit 11 controls the eighth transport conveyor 104h and the transport rod 38 to transport the support member transport jig 130 into the printing device 10 (FIG. 18A). The print control unit 11 transports the support member transport jig 130 so that the protrusion holders (here, the third and fourth protrusion holders 134 and 135) that attach the substrate support member 70 are positioned offset in the front-rear direction (here, rearward) from directly above the protrusions 71 and 72 of the substrate support member 70. Next, the print control unit 11 separates the pair of side frames 60b and 60b from the front to rear by the substrate guide moving unit 63, and controls the support platform lifting unit 65 and the fixed unit lifting unit 66 to lift the substrate support member 70 (FIG. 18B). As a result, the protrusions 71 and 72 of the substrate support member 70 rise above the first to fourth protrusion holders 132 to 135. The position of the substrate support member 70 at this time is the transfer position of the substrate support member 70. Next, the print control unit 11 moves the support member transport jig 130 forward by the transport rod 38 so that the third and fourth protrusion holders 134, 135 are located directly below the protrusions 71, 72 of the substrate support member 70 (FIG. 18C). Then, the print control unit 11 lowers the support base 67. As a result, the protrusions 71, 72 of the substrate support member 70 engage with the third and fourth protrusion holders 134, 135, and the substrate support member 70 is attached to the support member transport jig 130 (FIG. 19A). After that, the print control unit 11 lowers the entire substrate fixing unit 60, and transports the support member transport jig 130 to which the substrate support member 70 is attached forward by the transport rod 38, and takes out the support member transport jig 130 (FIG. 19B). In addition, the print control unit 11 causes the eighth transport conveyor 104h to transport the support member transport jig 130 further forward and store the support member transport jig 130 in the storage unit 102. Note that the print control unit 11 may perform the next board support member loading process without lowering the board fixing unit 60.

The print control unit 11 can perform the board support member loading process in the reverse order of the board support member unloading process. In the board support member loading process, the print control unit 11 first operates the conveyor lift unit 105 so that the ninth transport conveyor 104i on which the support member transport jig 130 to which the replacement board support member 70 is attached and the transport rail 53 are at the same height (loading height). Next, the print control unit 11 loads the support member transport jig 130 using the ninth transport conveyor 104i and the transport rod 38, and transports the replacement board support member 70 to above the support table 67. Next, the print control unit 11 lifts the support table 67 to lift the board support member 70, and releases the engagement between the protrusions 71 and 72 and the protrusion holders (here, the third and fourth protrusion holders 134 and 135). The position of the board support member 70 at this time is the receiving position of the board support member 70. Thereafter, the print control unit 11 moves the support member transport jig 130 forward or backward to shift the positions of the protrusions 71, 72 and the third and fourth protrusion holders 134, 135 forward or backward, and then lowers the support platform 67. The print control unit 11 then lowers the entire substrate fixing unit 60 and transports the support member transport jig 130 forward using the transport rod 38 to remove the support member transport jig 130. The print control unit 11 also transports the support member transport jig 130 further forward using the ninth transport conveyor 104i, and stores the support member transport jig 130 in the storage unit 102.

The mask loading process in step S150 will be described. The print control unit 11 can perform the mask loading process in the reverse order to the above-mentioned mask unloading process. In the mask loading process, the print control unit 11 first operates the conveyor lift unit 105 so that the transport conveyor 104 (here, the seventh transport conveyor 104g) is positioned at a height (loading height) for loading the replacement screen mask 55. The loading height of the screen mask 55 is the same as the unloading height of the screen mask 55. Next, the print control unit 11 transports the replacement screen mask 55 backwards using the seventh transport conveyor 104g and the transport rod 38 to load the replacement screen mask 55. After performing the above steps S100 to S150, the print control unit 11 ends the replacement process routine.

The printing device 10 of the present embodiment described above in detail includes a moving unit that moves the replaceable member 13 to the replacement position and/or transports the replaceable member 13 for each of the replaceable members 13, which include at least two types (all five types in this embodiment) of the cartridge 49, the squeegee 30, and the cleaning member 82, among the cartridge 49, the squeegee 30, and the substrate support member 70. More specifically, the moving unit includes a printing moving unit 22 and a supply moving unit 46 that move the cartridge 49 to the replacement position and transport the cartridge 49, a printing moving unit 22 and a squeegee lifting unit 23 that move the squeegee 30 to the replacement position, and a printing moving unit 22, a transport rod 38, and a transport rail 53 that transport the squeegee 30. The moving unit also includes a cleaning moving unit 87 that moves the cleaning member 82 to the replacement position and transports the cleaning member 82 in and out, a printing moving unit 22, a transport rod 38, and a transport rail 53 that transport the screen mask 55 in and out, a support platform lifting unit 65 and a fixed unit lifting unit 66 that move the substrate support member 70 to the replacement position, and a printing moving unit 22, a transport rod 38, and a transport rail 53 that transport the substrate support member 70 in and out. The printing device 10 also includes a printing control unit 11 that controls the moving unit to execute a replacement process for replacing the replaceable member 13. Therefore, the printing device 10 can automatically replace two or more types of replaceable members 13 (five types in this embodiment).

In addition, in the printing device 10, the moving section has a common moving mechanism that moves two or more types of members included in the replaceable member 13. Specifically, the printing moving section 22 is a common moving mechanism for moving the cartridge 49, the squeegee 30, the screen mask 55, and the substrate support member 70. The transport rod 38 and the transport rail 53 are common moving mechanisms for moving the squeegee 30, the screen mask 55, and the substrate support member 70. Therefore, the printing device 10 can automatically replace each of two or more types of members among the replaceable member 13 using the same moving mechanism. Therefore, the printing device 10 can have a compact device configuration compared to, for example, a case in which the printing device 10 has separate moving mechanisms for each type of replaceable member 13.

The printing device 10 further includes a reading unit 97 that reads the barcodes 57a, 116, 126, 136, and 146 attached to at least one of the two or more types of components included in the replaceable member 13 and the transport jigs for the components (in this embodiment, the screen mask 55 and each transport jig 110, 120, 130, and 140). This allows the printing device 10 to identify the replaceable member 13 by reading each barcode, allowing for more appropriate replacement processing. In addition, the printing device 10 uses the same reading unit 97 to read the barcodes of two or more types of components (in this embodiment, all five types), making it possible to make the device configuration more compact compared to, for example, a case in which the printing device 10 includes a separate reading unit for each type of replaceable member 13.

Furthermore, the printing device 10 is capable of transporting the exchangeable members 13 in and out of the storage device 100 that stores the exchangeable members 13, and the print control unit 11 causes the reading unit 97 to read one or more types of identification information of the exchangeable members 13 stored in the storage device 100 during the printing process. Therefore, the printing device 10 can read one or more types of barcodes 57a, 116, 126, 136, and 146 of the exchangeable members 13 in advance before the replacement process. Therefore, the printing device 10 can perform the replacement process in a shorter time than when all barcodes are read during the replacement process.

Furthermore, when the print control unit 11 causes the reader 97 to read one or more barcodes of the replaceable members 13, the print control unit 11 outputs a command to the storage device 100 to move the replaceable members 13 stored in the storage device 100 to a position where the reader 97 can read them. Therefore, even if the reader 97 cannot read the barcodes 57a, 116, 126, 136, and 146 while the replaceable members 13 are stored in the storage device 100, the print control unit 11 can move the replaceable members 13 to the storage device 100 so that the reader 97 can read the barcodes 57a, 116, 126, 136, and 146. In addition, since the barcodes are read during the printing process, the impact on the time required for the replacement process is small even if the storage device 100 moves the replaceable members 13 for reading.

The storage device 100 also includes a storage section 102 that stores the above-mentioned replaceable members 13, and a transport conveyor 104 that transports one or more of the replaceable members 13 (in this embodiment, three types: the squeegee 30, the screen mask 55, and the substrate support member 70) between the storage section 102 and the printing device 10. Therefore, the printing device 10 only needs to transfer the replaceable members 13 between the storage device 100 and the printing device 10, rather than between the printing device 10 and an operator, making it easier for the printing device 10 to automatically replace the replaceable members 13. In addition, the print control unit 11 transports the cartridges 49 and the replacement modules 81, which are not transported by the transport conveyor 104, using a mechanism on the printing device 10 side.

Furthermore, the storage device 100 is equipped with a conveyor lifting unit 105 that raises and lowers the storage unit 102, and the storage unit 102 has nine vertical storage areas 103 that store at least one type of exchangeable member 13 (all five types in this embodiment). Therefore, since each of the multiple storage areas 103a to 103i can store an exchangeable member 13, the storage unit 102 can easily store two or more types of exchangeable members 13. Furthermore, since the conveyor lifting unit 105 can adjust the height of the exchangeable members 13 when transferring the exchangeable members 13 to and from the printing device 10, this storage device 100 can transfer the exchangeable members 13 at an appropriate height for each printing device 10 and each type of exchangeable member 13.

Furthermore, the storage unit 102 stores the replaceable member 13 (here, the cartridge 49) that has the highest insertion height into the printing device 10 among the replaceable members 13 in the first storage area 103a on the top tier of the multiple storage areas 103. Therefore, it is easier to reduce the lifting range required for the conveyor lifting unit 105 compared to when, for example, the cartridge 49 with the highest insertion height is stored in a location other than the first storage area 103a on the top tier.

The storage unit 102 stores the replacement module 81 including the cleaning member 82 attached to the protrusion holding portion 142 of the cleaning member transport jig 140, and the conveyor lifting unit 105 lifts and lowers the cleaning member transport jig 140 by raising and lowering the storage unit 102, thereby attaching the replacement module 81 received (delivered) from the printing device 10 to the cleaning member transport jig 140. The conveyor lifting unit 105 also lifts and lowers the cleaning member transport jig 140 by raising and lowering the storage unit 102, thereby removing the replacement module 81 attached to the cleaning member transport jig 140 from the cleaning member transport jig 140 and delivering it to the printing device 10. Therefore, the conveyor lifting unit 105 can also serve as a mechanism for transferring the replacement module 81 between the storage device 100 and the printing device 10.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various forms as long as they fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the storage unit 102 stores the cartridge 49, which is the replaceable member 13 that can be brought into the printing device 10 at the highest height, in the first storage area 103a at the top level, but this is not limited to the above. The storage unit 102 may also store the replaceable member 13, which is the replaceable member 13 that can be brought into the printing device 10 at the lowest level among the multiple storage areas. For example, the cleaning member 82 may be stored in the ninth storage area 103i on the ninth transport conveyor 104i.

In the above embodiment, the print control unit 11 performs the reading process during the printing process, but this is not limited to this. For example, when executing the replacement process in FIG. 11, the print control unit 11 may first perform the reading process before steps S100 to S150. Alternatively, instead of performing the reading process, the print control unit 11 may input information about the exchangeable members 13 and the transport jigs stored in the storage unit 102 from the management PC 150 or from the operator via the display operation unit 98. Also, rules may be set in advance as to which storage area 103 should store which empty transport jigs, or rules may be set in advance as to which type of exchangeable members 13 should be stored in which storage area 103. In this case, the print control unit 11 stores the rules in advance, and if the operator stores the transport jigs and the exchangeable members 13 in the storage area 103 according to the rules, the print control unit 11 does not need to perform the reading process.

In the above-described embodiment, the printing device 10 is equipped with the reading unit 97, but this is not limited thereto, and for example, the storage device 100 may be equipped with the reading unit 97. In this case, the storage control unit 106 may perform the above-described reading process instead of the print control unit 11, and output the acquired information to the print control unit 11. In this case, too, the storage control unit 106 can perform the reading process without stopping the print process by the print control unit 11.

In the above-described embodiment, a barcode was attached to the transport jig for the replaceable member 13 transported by the transport jig, but this is not limited to this, and the barcode may be attached to the replaceable member 13. Also, in the above-described embodiment, a barcode was attached to the transport jig and the screen mask 55, but it is not limited to a barcode, and a two-dimensional code or the like may be attached.

In the above-described embodiment, the printing device 10 has the printing moving unit 22 as a moving mechanism common to the movement of four of the five types of replaceable members 13, but it may have a moving mechanism common to all five types of movement. For example, the mounting member moving mechanism 89 switches the replacement module 81 and the mounting member 84 between the protruding state and the non-protruding state, but this switching may be performed by the transport rod 38. For example, the transport rod 38 may be configured to protrude downward to the same height as the replacement module 81, and the protruding state and the non-protruding state may be switched by moving the transport rod 38 back and forth by the printing moving unit 22. In this case, the printing moving unit 22 becomes a moving mechanism common to the movement of all five types of replaceable members 13. In addition, the printing device 10 may have a moving mechanism (for example, the printing moving unit 22, the transport rod 38, and the transport rail 53) common to the movement of two or more types of members including the squeegee 30 among the squeegee 30, the screen mask 55, and the substrate support member 70. Alternatively, the printing device 10 may have a movement mechanism (e.g., the printing movement unit 22 and the transport rod 38) that is common to the movement of two or more members including at least one of the squeegee 30 and the cleaning member 82 among the squeegee 30, the screen mask 55, the substrate support member 70, and the cleaning member 82.

In the above-described embodiment, the print control unit 11 performs the mask removal process before performing the squeegee replacement process in the replacement process routine, but this is not limited to the above. For example, if the squeegee transport tool 110 and the squeegee fixing unit 24 can transfer the squeegee 30 in the area in front of the screen mask 55 without retracting the screen mask 55, the print control unit 11 does not need to perform the mask removal process before the squeegee replacement process.

Although not specifically described in the above embodiment, the print control unit 11 may determine whether or not all the necessary replacement exchangeable members 13 are stored in the storage device 100 at the start of the replacement process routine based on the information acquired in the reading process. When the print control unit 11 determines that the necessary replacement exchangeable members 13 are not stored, it may output error information indicating that to at least one of the display operation unit 98 and the management PC 150 to notify the operator that the exchangeable members 13 are insufficient. Note that when the print control unit 11 determines that the necessary replacement exchangeable members 13 are not stored, it may perform replacement processing of a type of exchangeable member 13 other than the exchangeable member 13. For example, even if the replacement cartridge 49 is not stored in the storage device 100, the print control unit 11 may execute replacement processing of any of the other four types of exchangeable members 13 if replacement processing is required. In this way, the replacement processing of the other exchangeable members 13 can be performed while the operator is preparing the missing exchangeable members 13.

In the above-described embodiment, the storage device 100 includes a storage control unit 106, and the print control unit 11 indirectly controls the storage device 100 by outputting commands to the storage control unit 106, but this is not limiting and the storage control unit 106 may be omitted. In this case, for example, the print control unit 11 may directly control the transport conveyor 104 and the conveyor lift unit 105 through communication.

In the above-described embodiment, the storage device 100 is provided with a moving unit and can be moved by a worker, but this is not limiting and the storage device 100 does not need to be provided with a moving unit. The storage device 100 may also be configured as a self-propelled AGV (Automatic Guided Vehicle) having a drive mechanism for driving the moving unit. In this case, the storage device 100 may move to a location where the exchangeable member 13 for replacement is stored, and automatically store the exchangeable member 13 for replacement in the storage unit 102.

In the above-described embodiment, replacement of the replaceable parts 13 when changing the setup has been described, but the timing of replacement is not limited to this. For example, for consumables such as the cartridges 49 and cleaning members 82, the print control unit 11 may perform replacement processing when a sensor that detects the remaining amount detects that the consumable has run out.

In the embodiment described above, the printing device 10 automatically exchanged all five types of exchangeable members 13 with the storage device 100, but this is not limited to this. For example, the printing device 10 itself may have two or more holders to which a replacement exchangeable member 13 can be attached for one or more types of exchangeable members 13. In this case, if an operator attaches a replacement exchangeable member 13 to at least one holder and leaves at least one holder empty, the printing device 10 can automatically exchange the member with the holder. In this way, the printing device 10 may perform an exchange process for one or more types of exchangeable members 13 that does not involve carrying them in or out.

In the above-described embodiment, the storage device 100 stores the exchangeable members 13 other than the screen mask 55 in the storage section 102 while attached to a transport jig, but they may be stored while attached to a holder. For example, the storage device 100 may store one or more types of exchangeable members 13 other than the screen mask 55 while attached to a holder that cannot be transported by the transport conveyor 104. Even in this case, if the printing device 10 has a mechanism for transferring the exchangeable members 13 between the storage device 100 and the printing device 10, automatic replacement can be performed as in the above-described embodiment. For example, in the storage device 100 of the above-described embodiment, the cartridge 49 and the replacement module 81 can be automatically replaced without the storage device 100 transporting them back and forth, so at least one of the cartridge 49 and the replacement module 81 may be attached to a fixed holder rather than a transport jig.

In the above-described embodiment, the printing device 10 is configured to be capable of automatically replacing all five types of replaceable members 13, but the printing device 10 may be configured to automatically replace one or more types of replaceable members 13, including at least one type other than the screen mask 55. In addition, when the printing device 10 is capable of automatically replacing two to four types of replaceable members 13 out of the five types of replaceable members 13, any combination of the five types of replaceable members 13 that can be automatically replaced may be selected. In addition, one to four types of replaceable members out of the five types of replaceable members 13 may be configured so that they are not replaced by the operator (i.e., they are not replaceable members). In addition, the printing device 10 may not have one or more of the five types of replaceable members 13. For example, the printing device 10 may not have a cleaning unit 80 including a cleaning member 82.

The printing device and storage device of the present disclosure may be configured as follows:

In the printing device disclosed herein, the movement unit may have a common movement mechanism that moves two or more types of components included in the replaceable members. In this way, the printing device can automatically replace each of the two or more types of components among the replaceable members using the same movement mechanism. Therefore, the printing device can have a more compact device configuration than, for example, a printing device that has separate movement mechanisms for each type of replaceable member.

The printing device of the present disclosure may include a reading unit that reads identification information common to two or more types of components included in the replaceable member and/or the transport jig for the component. In this way, the printing device can identify the replaceable component by reading the identification information, and therefore can perform the replacement process more appropriately. In addition, because the printing device reads the identification information of each of two or more types of components with the same reading unit, the device configuration can be made more compact compared to, for example, a printing device that includes a separate reading unit for each type of replaceable component.

In this case, the printing device can transport the replaceable members to and from a storage device that stores the replaceable members, and the replacement control unit can cause the reading unit to read identification information of one or more of the replaceable members stored in the storage device during the printing process. In this way, the printing device can read the identification information of one or more of the replaceable members in advance before the replacement process. Therefore, the printing device can perform the replacement process in a shorter time than, for example, a case in which the identification information of all replaceable members is read during the replacement process.

In this case, when the replacement control unit causes the reading unit to read one or more types of identification information of the replaceable members during the printing process, the replacement control unit may output a command to the storage device to move the replaceable members stored in the storage device to a position where the reading unit can read them. In this way, even if the reading unit cannot read the identification information while the replaceable members remain stored in the storage device, the replacement control unit can move the replaceable members to the storage device so that the reading unit can read the identification information. Furthermore, because the identification information is read during the printing process, the impact on the time required for the replacement process is small even if the storage device moves the replaceable members for reading.

The storage device of the present disclosure is
A member used in a printing device that performs a printing process of a viscous fluid on a printing target using a screen mask, the member comprising: a cartridge that contains the viscous fluid; a squeegee; a cleaning member that is used to clean the screen mask; and a storage section that stores two or more replaceable members including at least one of the cartridge, the squeegee, and the cleaning member among the screen mask and a support member that fixes the printing target;
a transport unit that transports one or more of the replaceable members between the storage unit and the printing device;
It is equipped with the following:

This storage device stores two or more types of exchangeable members, and transports one or more of the exchangeable members between the storage device and the printing device. Therefore, the printing device only needs to transfer the exchangeable members between the storage device and the printing device, not with an operator, making it easier for the printing device to automatically exchange the exchangeable members. This storage device may transfer the exchangeable members between the printing device of the present disclosure in any of the above-mentioned aspects. Note that if there are exchangeable members that are not transported by the transport unit of the storage device, the transport of the exchangeable members may be performed by a mechanism on the printing device side.

The storage device of the present disclosure includes a lifting unit that lifts and lowers the storage unit, and the storage unit may have multiple storage areas in the vertical direction that store at least one of the exchangeable members. In this way, each of the multiple storage areas can store an exchangeable member, making it easy for the storage unit to store two or more types of exchangeable members. In addition, since the lifting unit can adjust the height of the exchangeable members when transferring them to and from the printing device, this storage device can transfer exchangeable members at an appropriate height for each printing device and each type of exchangeable member.

In this case, the storage section may be configured to at least one of store the replaceable member having the highest insertion height into the printing device in the topmost storage area of the multiple storage tiers, or store the replaceable member having the lowest insertion height into the printing device in the bottommost storage area of the multiple storage tiers. In this way, for example, when the member having the highest insertion height is stored in the topmost storage area of the multiple storage tiers, it is easier to reduce the lifting range required for the lifting section compared to storing it in any other tier than the topmost storage area. Similarly, for example, when the member having the lowest insertion height is stored in the bottommost storage area of the multiple storage tiers, it is easier to reduce the lifting range required for the lifting section compared to storing it in any other tier than the bottommost storage area.

The storage device of the present disclosure includes a lifting unit that lifts and lowers the storage unit, and the storage unit stores one or more of the replaceable members attached to a holder, and the lifting unit lifts and lowers the holder by lifting and lowering the storage unit to at least one of attaching the replaceable member received from the printing device to the holder, or removing the replaceable member attached to the holder from the holder and passing it to the printing device. In this way, the lifting unit that lifts and lowers the storage unit can also serve as a mechanism for transferring the replaceable member between the storage device and the printing device. The holder may be fixed to the storage unit or may be transportable. For example, the replaceable member may be attached to a holder of a transport jig that can be transported by a transport unit.

The present invention can be used in a printing device that prints a viscous fluid on a printing target such as a substrate.

1 Printing system, 10 Printing device, 11 Printing control unit, 13 Replaceable member, 20 Printing processing unit, 21 Printing head, 22 Printing movement unit, 23 Squeegee lifting unit, 23a Piston rod, 24 Squeegee fixing unit, 25 Air cylinder, 25a Cylinder shaft, 25b Flange, 26 Regulating member, 27a, 27b, Claw portion, 28a, 28b Recessed portion, 30 Squeegee, 30a, 30b First and second squeegees, 31 Squeegee blade, 32 Mounting member, 32a Gripped surface, 33 Positioning member, 33a Opening, 33b Gripped surface, 34 Protruding portion, 35 Shaft member, 36 Flange portion, 38 Transport rod, 40 Supply unit, 41 Supply head, 41a Back plate portion, 41b Fixing member, 42 Air supply unit, 43 Clamp portion, 44 Rotating motor, 45 remaining amount sensor, 46 supply movement section, 46a guide, 46b ball screw, 48 drive motor, 49 cartridge, 49a main body section, 49b flange section, 49d connection section, 50 mask working section, 51 mask fixing section, 52 position adjustment section, 53 transport rail, 55 screen mask, 56 mask main body, 57 frame, 57a bar code, 58 pattern hole, 60 substrate fixing section, 60a main body, 60b side frame, 61 substrate transport conveyor, 62 substrate guide, 63 substrate guide movement section, 65 support base lifting section, 66 fixing section lifting section, 67 support base, 70 substrate support member, 70a main body section, 71, 72 protrusion section, 73 suction port, 75 identification section, 76 bar code, 80 cleaning section, 81 replacement module, 81a First roller, 81b Second roller, 82 Cleaning member, 83 Mounting member, 83a Box body, 83b Bearing, 83c Gear, 83d Protrusion, 83e Receiving member, 83f Opening, 83g Engagement shaft, 84 Placement member, 84a Abutment member, 84b Lifting device, 84c Claw member, 84d Connection portion, 86 Support member, 86a Winding motor, 86b Gear, 86c Lock mechanism, 86d Lock member, 87 Cleaning movement portion, 88 Support member movement mechanism, 88a Y-axis slider, 88b Guide rail, 89 Placement member movement mechanism, 89a Drive source, 89b Connection portion, 89c Telescopic rail, 97 Reading portion, 98 Display operation portion, 100 Storage device, 101 Housing, 102 Storage portion, 103 Storage area, 103a-103i 1st to 9th storage areas, 104 conveyor, 104a-104i 1st to 9th conveyor, 105 conveyor lift, 106 storage control unit, 110 squeegee conveyor, 111 frame, 112 holder, 113 support, 114 opening, 115 engagement, 116 barcode, 120 cartridge conveyor, 121 frame, 122 holder, 123 support, 124 opening, 125 engagement, 126 barcode, 130 support member conveyor, 131 frame, 132-135 1st to 4th protrusion holders, 136 barcode, 140 cleaning member conveyor, 141 frame, 142 protrusion holder, 146 barcode, 150 management PC, S board.

Claims (4)

A printing device that performs a printing process of a viscous fluid on a printing target using a screen mask;
a storage section capable of storing replaceable members used in the printing device, the storage section having a plurality of storage areas in a vertical direction for storing at least one of the replaceable members and a transport jig to which the replaceable members can be attached;
a housing having the storage section therein;
A reading unit that reads, from a side, identification information attached to at least one side of the replaceable member and a transport jig to which the replaceable member can be attached;
A lifting unit that lifts and lowers the storage unit;
a print control unit that moves the identification information attached to at least one of the exchangeable members stored in the storage unit and the transport jig to which the exchangeable members can be attached to a position where the reading unit can read it by raising and lowering the storage unit using the lifting unit, and has the reading unit read the identification information moved to the readable position, thereby acquiring information as to which exchangeable members or transport jigs to which the exchangeable members can be attached are stored in each of the storage areas;
Equipped with
Printing system. 2. The printing system of claim 1,
the print control unit causes the reading unit to read the identification information in parallel with a print process performed by the printing device;
Printing system. A printing device that performs a printing process of a viscous fluid on a printing target using a screen mask;
a storage section capable of storing replaceable members used in the printing device, the storage section having a plurality of storage areas in a vertical direction for storing at least one of the replaceable members and a transport jig to which the replaceable members can be attached;
a housing having the storage section therein;
A reading unit that reads, from a side, identification information attached to at least one side of the replaceable member and a transport jig to which the replaceable member can be attached;
A lifting unit that lifts and lowers the storage unit;
a print control unit that moves the identification information attached to at least one of the replaceable member stored in the storage unit and a transport jig to which the replaceable member can be attached to a position where the reading unit can read the identification information by raising and lowering the storage unit using the lifting unit;
Equipped with
the print control unit causes the reading unit to read the identification information in parallel with a print process performed by the printing device;
Printing system. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
the replaceable member is a cartridge used in the printing device and contains the viscous fluid, a squeegee, a cleaning member used to clean the screen mask, the screen mask, and a support member that fixes an object of the printing process; and
Printing system.

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