JPH0671847A - Screen printing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To contrive the automation of selection of screen plates for a matter to be printed as well as the regulation of printing instruments by a method wherein a plurality of kinds of screen plate receiving units, data storage means, data discriminating codes, code reading means and screen plate selecting means are provided in a screen printing machine. CONSTITUTION:In a screen printing machine, a bar code Ka, provided on a print substrate K, is read by a bar-code scanner. Then, a screen plate S, corresponding to the print substrate K, is selected automatically from data read by the scanner. Subsequently, the selected screen plate S is extracted out of a receiving rack 11 and is mounted automatically on a plate retainer 15. On the other hand, regulating data, corresponding to the print substrate K, are selected by the read data to regulate printing instruments automatically based on the regulating data. Further, a bar-code Sd, provided on the screen plate S, is read by the bar-code scanner whereby data with respect to the classification of the screen plate S are registered in a memory. Accordingly, there will never to mistakes with respect to the selection and mounting of the screen plate S whereby faulty printing, accidents and the like can be prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a screen printing machine capable of easily selecting a screen plate for a material to be printed and adjusting a printing machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional screen printing machine, for example, a screen printing machine for printing cream solder on a printed circuit board,
A plate holder that holds the screen plate, a paste supply unit such as a dispenser that supplies the cream solder onto the held screen plate, and a squeegee that presses the cream solder onto the printing object on the table through the screen plate. Therefore, the cream solder that has passed through the screen plate can be printed with a predetermined thickness on the land portion of the printed circuit board.

[0003]

By the way, in the above-mentioned screen printing machine, it is necessary to replace the screen plate with another one according to the change of the type of the printed circuit board. But,
Conventionally, the work of selection and mounting accompanying this replacement is performed artificially, so that there is a problem that a wrong screen plate is often mounted and a printing defect or failure is likely to occur.

Further, it is necessary to adjust the printing equipment, such as adjusting the height position of the table with respect to the thickness dimension of the printed circuit board, at the same time as the replacement of the screen plate. However, since this adjustment work is conventionally performed artificially, there is a drawback that it takes a considerable amount of time because of the troublesome work itself.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. A first object of the present invention is to provide a screen printing machine capable of automatically selecting a screen plate for an object to be printed. An object of the present invention is to provide a screen printing machine which can automatically adjust the printing equipment in addition to the above.

[0006]

To achieve the first object, in claim 1, a plate holder for holding a screen plate, and a paste supply unit for supplying a printing paste onto the held screen plate. In a screen printing machine equipped with a squeegee that presses the supply paste onto a substrate to be printed on the table through the screen plate, a plate storage unit capable of storing a plurality of types of screen plates, and a correspondence relationship between the substrate and the screen plate A data storage unit that stores data and the like, an identification code that is provided on the printing material and that represents data relating to the type of the printing material, an identification code reading unit that reads the identification code of the printing material, and an identification code reading unit. A screen plate selecting means for selecting a screen plate corresponding to the printed material from the data is provided.

Further, in order to achieve the second object, in claim 2, a plate holder for holding the screen plate, a paste supply unit for supplying a printing paste onto the held screen plate, and a supply paste are provided. In a screen printing machine equipped with a squeegee that presses against a printing object on a table through the screen printing plate, a printing plate storage unit capable of storing a plurality of types of screen printing plates, data relating to the correspondence between the printing printing plate and the screen printing plate, and the printing printing object. A data storage unit that stores data related to adjustment of a printing device corresponding to the above, an identification code that is provided on a printed material and that represents data related to the type of the printed material, and an identification code reading unit that reads the identification code of the printed material. A screen plate selection means for selecting a screen plate corresponding to a printing material from the data read by the identification code reading means, Screen plate mounting means for extracting the selected screen plate from the plate storage part and mounting it on the plate holder, and adjustment data selecting means for selecting the adjustment data of the printing device corresponding to the printing object from the data read by the identification code reading means. And printing device adjusting means for adjusting the printing device based on the selected adjustment data.

Further, in claim 3, claim 1 or 2
The screen printing machine described above is provided with an identification code representing data relating to the type of the screen edition on the screen edition, and a data registration means for registering the data read by the identification code reading means in the data storage means.

[0009]

In the screen printing machine according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the identification code provided on the material to be printed is read by the identification code reading means, the screen plate corresponding to the material to be printed is selected by the screen plate selection means from the read data. Then, the screen plate is taken out from the plate storage portion by the screen plate mounting means and mounted on the plate holder.

In the screen printing machine according to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the above operation, the adjustment data of the printing device corresponding to the printing material is selected from the read data by the adjustment data selecting means, and printing is performed based on the adjustment data. The device adjusting means adjusts the printing device.

In the screen printing machine according to the third aspect, when the identification code provided on the screen plate is read by the identification code reading means, the read data is registered in the data storage means.

[0012]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a screen printing machine. In FIG. 1, 1 is a printing machine body, 2 is a screen plate storage door provided on the front surface of the printing machine body 1, and 3 is a left and right inside the printing machine body 1. A conveyance path 4 and 5 that penetrates the CRT and a keyboard arranged on the upper surface of the printer body 1, 6 a floppy disk (FD) insertion slot provided below the keyboard 5, and 7 a bar code reader Is.

FIGS. 2 and 4 are internal structural views of the printing machine main body 1. In FIG. 2, 11 is a storage rack, 12 is a rack elevator, 13 is a plate moving machine, 14 is a guide rail for a screen plate, and 15 is a plate. A plate holder, 16 is a guide rail for a printed circuit board, 17 is a table for carrying the printed circuit board, 1
8 is a squeegee and 19 is a dispenser.

The storage rack 11 has a plurality of (five in the figure) shelves 11a in the vertical direction, and the screen plates S of different types are stored on each of the shelves 11a. The storage rack 11 faces the storage door 2 on the right side in the drawing.
The screen plate S can be stored and exchanged by opening the screen.

As shown on the left side of FIG. 3, the screen plate S is composed of a rectangular screen film Sa and a frame Sb surrounding the screen film Sa, and positioning holes Sc are provided at four corners of the frame Sb.
have. Further, on the upper surface of the frame Sb of the screen plate S, a bar code Sd representing data related to the type of the screen plate S is provided by sticking a label. on the other hand,
On the upper surface of the printed circuit board K, as shown on the right side of the drawing, a bar code K representing data relating to the type of the printed circuit board K.
a is provided by attaching a label.

The rack lifter 12 has a nut 12a connected to the side of the storage rack 11, a ball screw 12b screwed into the nut 12a, a motor 12c with a speed reducer for rotationally driving the ball screw 12b, and an illustration not shown. A guide mechanism is provided so that the storage rack 11 can be lifted in a cantilever state by the forward and reverse rotations of the motor 12c.

The plate moving machine 13 includes an air cylinder 13a,
Engagement piece 13 tiltably provided at the tip of rod 13b
c, and the screen plate S at the predetermined height position of the storage rack 11 is expanded by expanding and contracting the rod 13b.
It is possible to extract the screen plate S from 1a toward the plate holder 14 and push the extracted screen plate S back onto the shelf 11a.

The guide rail 14 for the screen plate is composed of a pair of rail members arranged in parallel along the rod extending and contracting direction of the plate moving machine 13, and the screen plate S in the middle of movement.
Slide on the top surface.

The plate holder 15 is made of a frame material having a rectangular hole larger than the printed circuit board K, and sharp positioning pins 15a which can be fitted into the positioning holes Sc of the screen plate S are provided at the four corners of the upper surface of the frame material. Is provided. Although not shown, this plate holder 15 can be moved up and down by the operation of an air cylinder or the like, and when raised, its positioning pin 15
The screen plate S can be held by fitting a into the positioning hole Sc of the screen plate S on the guide rail 14, and the holding can be released by descending.

The guide rail 16 for the printed circuit board is composed of a pair of rail members arranged in parallel along the traveling direction (X direction) of the table 17, and slides the printed circuit board K on the inner surface thereof during transportation. To do. Although illustration is omitted,
The guide rail 16 can be moved in the Y direction by the operation of an air cylinder or the like, and its facing interval can be changed according to the dimension of the printed circuit board K in the Y direction.

The table 17 has four tables in the XYZ-θ directions.
It has a degree of freedom, and has a suction plate 17a for sucking and holding the printed circuit board K at the top thereof. 5 and 6
As shown in FIG. 5, the suction plate 17a is composed of three divided pieces 17a1 to 17a3 which can be expanded and contracted in the Y direction, each having a plurality of suction holes 17a4. Although illustration is omitted,
The left and right divided pieces 17a2 and 17a3 can be moved in the Y direction by operating an air cylinder or the like, and the width in the Y direction can be changed by the movement. The suction holes 17a4 of the divided pieces 17a1 to 17a3 are connected to a vacuum source such as an air compressor via a valve in the air compressor.

The squeegee 18 and the dispenser 19 are arranged above the plate holder 15. Although illustration is omitted,
The squeegee 18 moves up and down and Y by the operation of an air cylinder or the like.
It is possible to oscillate in any direction, and after the cream solder is supplied, it can be lowered and oscillated to perform desired printing. On the other hand, the dispenser 19 can supply a predetermined amount of cream solder onto the screen plate S held by the plate holder 15 by operating an air cylinder or the like.

FIG. 7 is a block structure diagram of an electric system circuit of the screen printing machine. In FIG. 7, 21 is a main controller, 2
2 is a memory, 23 is an FD interface unit, 24 is a table drive unit, 25 is a suction plate drive unit, 26 is a guide rail drive unit, 27 is a plate holder drive unit, 28 is a rack elevator drive unit, and 29 is a plate mover. A drive unit, 30 is a visual inspection machine drive unit, 31 is a squeegee drive unit, and 32 is a dispenser drive unit. Reference numerals 4, 5 and 7 are the CRT, the keyboard and the bar code reader described above.

The main controller 21 is composed of a well-known CPU, and the memory 22 is composed of a ROM in which a program is stored in advance and a battery backup RAM, both of which are connected via a bus BS. The main control unit 21 controls the drive of each unit based on the program stored in the ROM.

Based on the control signal from the main controller 21,
In the table drive unit 24, XYZ-θ of the table 17
The displacement of the suction plate 17 is controlled by the suction plate driving unit 25.
The width of a in the Y direction and the presence or absence of suction are controlled, the guide rail drive unit 26 controls the facing interval of the guide rails 16, and the plate holder drive unit 27 holds and holds the screen plate S by raising and lowering the plate holder 15. The release is controlled, the rack elevator drive unit 28 controls the elevation of the storage rack 11, and the plate moving machine 29 controls the loading and unloading of the screen plate S from the storage rack 11. In addition, the appearance inspection machine driving unit 30 controls an appearance inspection machine including a CCD camera (not shown),
The image data of the printed circuit board K on the table 17 is fetched. Further, the squeegee drive unit 31 controls the elevation and swing of the squeegee 18, and the dispenser drive unit 32 controls the supply of cream solder from the dispenser 19.

When the above-mentioned screen printing machine is used, data relating to the type (model number, size, etc.) of the printed board K to be printed and the screen plate S and the corresponding relationship between them, and the printed board K are to be printed. Data or the like relating to adjustment (position reference value, etc.) of the corresponding printing device is registered in the FD in advance through the keyboard 5. Incidentally, in the printing machine of this embodiment, the data relating to the type of the screen plate S can be registered by reading the bar code.

Hereinafter, a method of using the screen printer and a processing procedure will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 14.

First, the screen plate S is registered (s1 in FIG. 8). Here, as shown in s1 to s7 in Fig. 10, "Register the screen data. If registration is necessary, press the Y key. If not, press the N key. If registration is required, Then, enter the empty shelf number of the storage rack. "Is displayed on the CRT 4 and the operator is prompted to perform a key operation. When the input of the shelf number is completed, “Please read the barcode of the screen version to be registered with the barcode reader.” Is displayed on the CRT 4 to prompt the operator to perform the reading operation. Then, it is determined whether or not the barcode Sd is normally read,
If the reading was not successful, "The reading was not successful. Please try again."
Is displayed on the CRT 4 and the operator is prompted to read again.
When the reading is performed normally, the data related to the type of the screen plate S and the shelf number is registered in the memory 22. If the necessary data has been previously input through the keyboard and the registration is unnecessary, the registration process is stopped and the process proceeds to s2 in FIG.

Next, "Please read the bar code of the printed circuit board to be printed with a bar code reader." Is displayed on the CRT 4 to prompt the operator for the reading operation (s2 in FIG. 8). Then, it is determined whether or not the bar code Ka has been read normally, and if the bar code Ka is not read normally, "The bar code Ka could not be read normally.
Please read again. Is displayed on the CRT 4 to prompt the operator to read again (s3 and s4 in FIG. 8).

When the reading is normally performed, it is determined whether or not the data of the printed circuit board K that matches the read data exists in the memory 22, and then the printed circuit board K is read.
It is determined whether or not the data of the screen plane S corresponding to is stored in the memory 22. Either data is stored in the memory 22
If it does not exist, "The corresponding data is not stored in the printed circuit board that scanned the barcode. Please register the printed circuit board data." Or "The screen corresponding to the printed circuit board that scanned the barcode. The plate is not stored in the storage rack. Please register the screen plate data. ”Is displayed on the CRT to prompt the operator to register the data (s5, s6, s7 in Fig. 8).

Printed circuit board K that matches the read data
Data and the screen plate S corresponding to the printed circuit board K
If the respective data are stored in the memory 22, the screen plate S is then loaded (s8 in FIG. 8). Here, as shown in s1 to s8 of FIG. 11, first, the plate holder 15
It is determined whether or not the screen plate S is currently mounted on the top. This determination is made based on a detection signal from a micro switch, a photoelectric switch, or the like provided on the plate holder 15. When the screen plate S is present on the plate holder 15,
The plate holder 15 is lowered to release the holding, and the guide rail 16 is released.
After being placed on the screen, the storage rack 11 is moved up and down so that the empty shelf 11a faces the screen plate S, and the rod 13b of the plate moving machine 13 is expanded and contracted to push back the screen plate S on the guide rail 16. If there is no screen plate S on the plate holder 15, the shelf number in which the screen plate S corresponding to the printed circuit board K is stored is read from the memory 22, and based on this, the storage rack 11 is moved up and down. The shelves 11a of the plate are confronted with the guide rails 16 and the rod 13b of the plate moving machine 13 is expanded and contracted so that the screen plate S is pulled out onto the guide rails 16. Then, the plate holder 15 is raised so that the screen plate S on the guide rail 16 is held by the plate holder 15.

After the loading of the screen plate S is completed, the width of the guide rail 16 is adjusted (see s in FIG. 8).
9). Here, as shown in s1 to s2 of FIG. 12, first, the dimension of the printed board K in the Y direction is read from the memory 22, and based on this, the guide rail 16 is moved to set the Y direction interval (width) to the printed board K. To match.

After the width of the guide rail 16 is adjusted, the width of the suction plate 17a is adjusted (s10 in FIG. 8). Here, as shown in s1 to s2 of FIG.
First, the dimension of the printed board K in the Y direction is read from the memory 22, and based on this, the left and right divided pieces 17a2 and 1
7a3 is moved to match the dimension (width) of the suction plate 17 in the Y direction with the printed board K.

After the width of the suction plate 17 is adjusted, the height of the table 17 is adjusted (s1 in FIG. 8).
0). Here, as shown in s1 to s2 of FIG. 14, first, the dimension (thickness) of the printed circuit board K in the Z direction is set to the memory 2.
2 is read, and based on this, the table 17 is moved in the Z direction to correct the rising reference position according to the substrate thickness.

After the height adjustment of the table 17 is completed,
The printed board K to be printed is carried into the table 17 (absorption plate 17a) from outside the apparatus, and the presence or absence of the carry-in is determined (s12 and s13 in FIG. 8). The presence or absence of the carry-in is determined based on a detection signal from a micro switch, a photoelectric switch, or the like provided on the suction plate 17a.

After the loading of the printed circuit board K is completed, C
Image data of the printed circuit board K is taken in through the CD camera, and the printed circuit board K is aligned based on the image data (s14 in FIG. 9). Specifically, the mark provided on the printed board K is compared with the reference coordinates registered in advance corresponding to the printed board K to detect the positional deviation of the mark, and the table is slightly displaced in the XY-θ directions. To correct it.

After the alignment of the printed circuit board K is completed, air is sucked from the suction holes 17a4 of the suction plate 17 to suck the printed circuit board K on the suction plate 17 (s1 in FIG. 9).
5).

After the adsorption of the printed board K is completed, the table 17 is moved in the XZ direction so that the printed board K on the table 17 is directly below the screen plate S held by the plate holder 15. That is, it is moved to a position where screen printing is possible (s16 in FIG. 9).

After the movement of the printed board K is completed, a predetermined amount of cream solder is supplied from the dispenser 19 onto the screen plate S, and the squeegee 18 is lowered and then swung to pass the screen solder Sa. Is printed on the land portion of the printed board K with a predetermined thickness (s17 in FIG. 9).

After the printing is completed, the table 17 is lowered to release the suction, and the printed circuit board K after printing is carried out of the apparatus (s18, s19, s20 in FIG. 9).

Thus, in the above-mentioned screen printing machine,
By reading the bar code Ka provided on the printed board K with the bar code reader 7, the screen plate S corresponding to the printed board K can be automatically selected from the read data, and the selected screen Since the plate S can be extracted from the storage rack 11 and automatically mounted on the plate holder 15, there is no error in selection and mounting of the screen plate S, and the burden on the operator associated with the replacement work is reduced. As a result, it is possible to prevent printing defects, failures, and the like due to replacement mistakes.

Further, since adjustment data corresponding to the printed circuit board K can be selected from the read data and the adjustment of the printing device can be automatically performed based on the adjusted data, it is necessary to change the printed circuit board K. Since no special adjustment work is required, the time required for the work can be eliminated and the desired printing can be performed efficiently.

Further, by reading the bar code Sd provided on the screen plate S with the bar code reader 7, the data related to the type of the screen plate S can be registered in the memory 22, so that the registration work can be performed through the keyboard. The input time can be significantly shortened as compared with the case of performing, and input mistakes can be reliably prevented.

The adjustment of the printing device corresponding to the printed circuit board can be applied to the supply amount of cream solder, the moving distance of the squeegee, the selection of the air suction hole, etc. in addition to the adjustment partner illustrated in the embodiment. Therefore, if various adjustment data are registered according to the printed circuit board to be used, automation of adjustment other than the above can be easily realized.

Further, the bar codes shown in the embodiment are characters,
It may be composed of symbols, numbers, or a combination thereof, and the bar code reader may be replaced with another reading means corresponding to the identification code used.

Further, the present invention can be widely applied to a mesh printing machine, a clavia printing machine, etc. which perform the same printing as the screen printing machine.

[0047]

As described above in detail, according to the screen printing machine of the first aspect, by reading the identification code of the printed material, the screen plate corresponding to the printed material is automatically generated from the read data. Can be selected as
Moreover, since the selected screen plate can be automatically taken out from the plate storage part and mounted on the plate holder, there is no error in selection and mounting of the screen plate.
It is possible to reduce the burden on the operator involved in the replacement work and prevent printing defects and failures due to replacement mistakes.

According to the screen printing machine of the second aspect, in addition to the above, the adjustment data corresponding to the printed material is selected from the read data, and the adjustment of the printing device is automatically performed based on the adjustment data. Since it can be performed at any time, no manual adjustment work is required due to the change of the printing material, and the desired printing can be efficiently performed by eliminating the time required for the work.

Further, according to the screen printing machine of the third aspect, in addition to the above, the data relating to the type of the screen plate can be registered by reading the identification code provided on the screen plate. The input time can be significantly shortened compared to the case where the registration work is performed using the keyboard, and input mistakes can be reliably prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a screen printing machine showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 2] Internal structure of screen printing machine

FIG. 3 is a top view of the screen plate and the printed circuit board.

[Fig. 4] Internal structure of the screen printing machine

FIG. 5: Top view of suction plate

FIG. 6 is a top view of the suction plate.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an electric system circuit of the screen printing machine.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer main body, 4 ... CRT, 5 ... Keyboard, 7 ... Bar code reader, 11 ... Storage rack, 12 ... Rack elevator, 13 ... Plate mover, 15 ... Plate holder, 17 ... Table, 18 ... Squeegee, 19 ... Dispenser, S ... Screen plate, Sd ... Bar code, K ... Printed circuit board, Ka ...
Bar code, 21 ... Main control unit, 22 ... Memory.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plate holder that holds a screen plate, a paste supply unit that supplies a printing paste onto the held screen plate, and a squeegee that presses the supplied paste onto a printing object on a table through the screen plate. In the equipped screen printing machine, a plate accommodating portion capable of accommodating a plurality of types of screen plates, a data storage unit that stores data relating to the correspondence relationship between the printing plate and the screen printing plate, and the printing plate provided on the printing plate. An identification code representing the data relating to the type, an identification code reading means for reading the identification code of the printed material, a screen version selecting means for selecting a screen version corresponding to the printed material from the data read by the identification code reading means, And a screen plate mounting means for pulling the screen plate out of the plate storage unit and mounting it on the plate holder. A screen printing machine characterized by the following. 2. A plate holder that holds a screen plate, a paste supply unit that supplies a printing paste onto the held screen plate, and a squeegee that presses the supplied paste onto a printing object on a table through the screen plate. In the equipped screen printing machine, a plate storage unit that can store multiple types of screen plates, data related to the correspondence relationship between the printing material and the screen printing material, and data that stores data related to adjustment of the printing equipment corresponding to the printing material. Storage means, identification code provided on the printed material and representing data relating to the type of the printed material, identification code reading means for reading the identification code of the printed material, and corresponding to the printed material from the data read by the identification code reading means Screen plate selection means to select the selected screen plate and the selected screen plate from the plate storage Screen plate mounting means to be mounted on the plate holder, adjustment data selecting means for selecting adjustment data of the printing device corresponding to the printing object from the data read by the identification code reading means, and printing based on the selected adjustment data A screen printing machine, comprising: a printing device adjusting means for adjusting the device. 3. The screen plate is provided with an identification code representing data related to the type of the screen plate, and data registration means for registering the data read by the identification code reading means in the data storage means is provided. The screen printing machine according to claim 1 or 2.