JPH04367388A - Exchanger of laser mask for marking - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the exchanger of laser masks for making which allows the automatic exchange of the masks for marking, can continuously execute marking operations on products varying in markings and have no errors in the masks for marking to be set. CONSTITUTION:A mask holder 1 having a sensor 11 which is disposed in correspondence to a laser beam source 8 and confirms the kinds of the masks to be set, a mask magazine 2 which houses the plural masks of different kinds, and a position detecting means 3 which detects the position of the mask to be set among the plural masks to be housed in this mask magazine 2 are provided. A moving means 4 which moves the mask magazine 2 up to the position where the mask to be set corresponds to the mask holder 1 by the detection signal of the position detecting means 3 and the mask to be set is mounted in the mask holder 1 and a mask clip 5 which returns and houses the set mask to the mask magazine 2 after the end of the marking are provided.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a marking laser mask changing device used for marking lot indications on electronic components such as transistors, diodes, and ICs.

0002

[Prior Art] A device for marking electronic components such as transistors with lot indications, etc. includes a laser light source, a mask holder arranged corresponding to the laser light source, and a mask holder arranged below the mask holder. (not shown). A mark mask (stencil) is set in the mask holder, and a meniscus lens for condensing light is set in the lens holder.

[0003] For marking, a laser light source emits laser light onto a mask, and the light passing through the mask is focused by a meniscus lens and irradiated onto electronic components. As a result, the surface of the electronic component is burnt and discolored by the laser beam, and the character shape within the mask surface is marked as a character.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventionally, for example, when the marking work for one lot of products is completed and the next lot of products are to be marked, the worker takes out the finished mask from the mask holder, In addition, the newly used mask is attached to the mask holder. Therefore, since the mask replacement is done manually, it is not only time-consuming, but also requires the device to be temporarily stopped each time the mask is replaced, resulting in extremely poor marking efficiency. In addition, the worker must carefully check the type of mask when replacing it, and if the wrong type of mask is worn, the entire mask will be discarded, resulting in a large loss of product.

[0005] The present invention provides a laser mask for marking, in which the marking mask can be automatically replaced, marking work can be performed continuously on products with different markings, and there is no error in setting the marking mask. The purpose is to provide a replacement device for

[0006]

Means and Effects for Solving the Problems In order to achieve this object, the marking laser mask changing device of the present invention has the following construction.

The laser mask exchange device for marking includes a mask holder arranged in correspondence with a laser light source and equipped with a sensor for confirming the type of mask to be set, and a mask magazine for storing a plurality of masks of different types. and a position detection means for detecting the position of the mask to be set among the plurality of masks stored in this mask magazine, and a detection signal from this position detection means to move the mask magazine until the mask to be set corresponds to the mask holder. and a mask clip that attaches the mask to be set to the mask holder and returns and stores the set mask in the mask magazine after marking is completed.

In the marking laser mask changing device having such a structure, the mask magazine is a frame with open front and rear surfaces, and a mask clip is arranged on the front side and a mask holder on the rear side. The magazine has a large number of mask receiving grooves arranged in the vertical direction. When using, please follow the order in which multiple masks are used (marking order).
Place it vertically in the mask receiving groove at the appropriate position. Further, this magazine includes a rack section, and this rack section is linked to a pinion of a motor, and the motor is controlled by a control section, so that the magazine can be moved in the vertical direction with respect to the mask holder (and mask clip). . When the operator presses the start switch, the mask magazine is driven by a motor to a position where a limit switch (starting limit sensor installed below the magazine) is turned on. During this time, the storage position of the mask to be set is detected by the position detection means (sensor for confirming the position of the mask to be set). This detection signal causes the mask magazine to be moved to a position where the mask to be set corresponds to the mask holder. Here, the mask clip grasps the mask to be set, carries it to the mask holder, and sets it. The mask is provided with a hole for identification, and the type of mask is confirmed by a mask type confirmation sensor (a light emitting element and a light receiving element). Based on the confirmation signal from the photoelectric sensor, the laser light source is turned on, the laser light passes through the mask, and the passing light is focused by a meniscus lens to mark the electronic component.

For example, when the marking work for one lot is completed, the operator presses an end switch. As a result, the mask whose mask clip has been completed is returned to the mask magazine. Thereafter, when the operator presses the start switch again, the mask magazine is moved to a position where the next mask to be used corresponds to the mask holder. The mask magazine is moved one step by controlling the number of engagements between the rack part and the pinion, that is, the number of rotations of the motor (controlling the motor drive time), and the next new mask is positioned corresponding to the mask holder. ing. Then, a mask whose mask clip has a use order of "2" is set in the mask holder, and a new marking operation is performed. Thereafter, this work is continued repeatedly.

[0010] In this way, it is possible to select the corresponding type of mask for different types of products, automatically execute mask exchange, and continuously perform marking operations on different types of products. Furthermore, since the marking operation is performed after confirming the type of mask using a photoelectric sensor when setting the mask, there is no risk of marking with the wrong type of mask.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a side view showing a specific embodiment of a marking laser mask exchanging device according to the present invention.

The marking laser mask exchanging device includes a mask holder 1 which is disposed corresponding to a laser light source 6 and is equipped with a sensor 11 for confirming the type of mask A to be set, and a plurality of masks A of different types. , B, and C; a position detection means 3 for detecting the mask position to be set among the plurality of masks A, B, and C stored in this mask magazine 2; and this position detection means 3. A moving means 4 for moving the mask magazine 2 to a position where the mask A to be set corresponds to the mask holder 1 based on the detection signal of
and a mask clip 5 for attaching the mask A to be set to the mask holder 1 and for returning and storing the set mask A to the mask magazine 2 after marking is completed.

The mask holder 1 is disposed correspondingly between the laser light source 8 and the meniscus lens 9. This mask holder 1 has a fixing part 12 that fixes the mask A within the plane.
A sensor 11 is provided above the fixing part 12 to confirm the type of mask. In the embodiment, 12 sensors 11 are provided as photoelectric sensors (receiving/emitting elements). On the other hand, the masks A, B, and C are provided with holes for type discrimination, so that the type can be discriminated based on the light receiving state of the photoelectric sensor 12.

The above mask magazine 2 has left and right side plates 2
A and 2b, the frame body is open at the front and rear sides, and the mask clip 5, which will be described later, is placed on the front side, and the mask holder 1 is placed on the rear side. That is, both the mask clip 5 and the mask holder 1 are fixedly arranged on both sides of the magazine 2 at the center of its length. Further, in the mask magazine 2, a large number of mask receiving grooves 21 are arranged in the vertical direction on the inner surfaces of both side plates 2a and 2b. This mask receiving groove 21 is in communication with the mask clip 5 and the mask holder 1. Furthermore, mask receiving grooves 2 are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction.
1, a plurality of masks A, B, and C to be used are arranged. In addition, a rack portion 4 is provided on one side plate 2b.
1 is provided, and this rack portion 41 is set to be slidable with respect to the support column 6. The above-mentioned moving means 4 consists of this rack part 41, a forward/reverse rotation motor 42, and a pinion 43 attached to the rotating shaft of the motor 42, and the rack part 41 and the pinion 43 are meshed with each other. This motor 42 is electrically connected to a control unit (controller) not shown.
Magazine rack 2 is mask holder (mask clip) 1
It is designed to move up and down.

The mask position detecting means 3 is a position confirmation sensor disposed below the mask magazine 2 and near the front side of the mask magazine 2. This mask position detection means 3 is arranged below a mask clip 5, which will be described later. Furthermore, limit sensors 7 and 7a are arranged above and below the mask position detection means 3, that is, on the front side of the mask magazine 2, at the upper and lower end positions of the support column 6, respectively. The lower limit sensor 7 is for starting, and the upper limit sensor 7a is for ending.

The mask clip 5 has a sandwich-shaped mask gripping portion 51 at its distal end, and a cylindrical slider 52 at its base end.
It is equipped with This slider 52 is movably fitted into a cylinder 53 arranged in parallel below. That is, the mask clip 5 is moved by the slider 52 reciprocating on the cylinder 53, and the mask is transferred between the mask magazine 2 and the mask holder 1. Further, the mask gripping section 51 at the tip is a plunger mechanism, and is configured to grip or release the mask using an electromagnet. That is, the grip section 51 grips and releases the mask in response to an electric signal (on, off) from the control section. The driving of the mask gripping section 51 and the reciprocating movement of the slider 52 are electrically connected to and controlled by a control section (not shown).

When using the marking laser mask changing device having such a configuration, the required plurality of masks A, B, and C are inserted into the mask receiving groove 21 in the order of use (marking work order). Arrange storage. When the operator presses a start switch (not shown), the motor 42 drives the mask magazine 2 to a position where the limit switch (starting limit sensor) 7 is turned on. During this time, the position detecting means (sensor for confirming the position of the mask to be set) 3 detects the storage position of the mask A to be set. This detection signal causes the mask magazine 2 to move to the position where the mask A to be set corresponds to the mask holder 1. Here, the mask clip 5 grips the mask A to be set, carries it to the mask holder 1, and sets it. The mask A is provided with a hole for identification, and the type of the mask A is confirmed by a photoelectric sensor (a light emitting element and a light receiving element) 11. Based on the confirmation signal from the photoelectric sensor 11, the laser light source 8
lights up, the laser light passes through the mask A, the passing light is focused by the meniscus lens 9, and the electronic component X is marked. For example, when the marking work for one lot is completed, the operator presses an end switch (not shown). Thereby, the mask A whose mask clip 5 has been finished is returned to the mask magazine 2. Thereafter, when the operator presses the start switch (not shown) again, the mask magazine 2 is moved to the position where the next mask B (see FIG. 2) to be used corresponds to the mask holder 1. Here, the movement of the mask magazine 2 is as follows.
By controlling the number of rotations of the motor 42 (controlling the motor driving time) by the number of engagements between the pinion 43 and the rack part 41,
It is set to take one step from the mask A position to the mask B storage position. Therefore, when the operator presses the start switch again, the mask magazine is moved by motor 4.
2, the next mask B automatically moves to the position corresponding to the mask holder 1. Then, the mask B with the mask clip 5 in the order of use "2" is set in the mask holder 1, and a new marking operation is performed. Thereafter, this work is continued repeatedly.

[0018] In this way, it is possible to select the corresponding type of mask for different types of products, automatically execute mask exchange, and perform marking work on different types of products continuously. Furthermore, since the marking operation is performed after confirming the type of mask using a photoelectric sensor when setting the mask, there is no risk of marking with the wrong type of mask.

In the embodiment, an example is shown in which a plurality of masks are stored in the mask receiving groove 21 of the mask magazine 2 in the order of marking work (order of use) and the marking work is continued in a stepwise manner. In implementation, a plurality of masks can be stored in the mask receiving groove 21 at random by storing the marking work order in the program of the control unit in advance. In this case, the mask position confirmation sensor 3 reads the numbers of a plurality of masks, and moves the mask magazine 2 according to the program to a position where the corresponding mask position corresponds to the mask holder 1. Therefore, each time the product lot changes, the mask is automatically replaced, and the mask switching operation is fully automatic, eliminating the need for any human labor.

[0020]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, in the present invention, the position of the mask to be set among a plurality of masks stored in the mask magazine is detected by the position detecting means, and the mask to be set is moved to the mask holder by the moving means. After moving the mask magazine to the corresponding position and attaching the mask to be set to the mask holder using the mask clip, the type of mask is confirmed with the confirmation sensor, and marking work is started.
After marking is completed, the set mask is returned to the mask magazine using a mask clip, so the mask can be replaced automatically, eliminating the need for manpower to replace the mask.
The efficiency of marking work is improved. In addition, when the mask is set in the mask holder, the type of mask is confirmed, and then
Since the marking work is started, there is no risk of setting the wrong mask, and there is no need to discard products due to mask setting mistakes, which has the excellent effect of achieving the purpose of the invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a main part showing an exchanging device for a laser mask for marking according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main parts of the exchanging device for the laser mask for marking according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Mask holder 2 Mask Magazine 3 Mask position confirmation sensor 4 Magazine movement means 5 Mask clip 11 Mask type confirmation sensor

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claims 1: A mask holder arranged in correspondence with a laser light source and equipped with a sensor for checking the type of mask to be set; a mask magazine for storing a plurality of different types of masks; and a mask magazine for storing a plurality of masks of different types. a position detecting means for detecting the position of a mask to be set among a plurality of masks; a moving means for moving a mask magazine to a position where the mask to be set corresponds to the mask holder based on a detection signal from the position detecting means; A marking laser mask changing device comprising a mask clip for mounting a mask to be used on a mask holder and returning and storing the set mask in a mask magazine after marking is completed.