JPH1110832A - Automatic operating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic operating apparatus for processing two or more objects to be operated in parallel to conduct an operation to be obtained with high positional accuracy with high productivity by simultaneously executing a main operation (printing) and other operation (receiving and delivering). SOLUTION: A rotatable index table 10 is provided at a side of a conveyor 50 for conveying a base plate Q from the former step to the latter step, and the plate Q is received and delivered between the conveyor 50 and the table 10 by a loader/unloader 12. And, the plate Q is aligned at the receiving and delivering position on the table 10 to print the plate Q. A printing position is provided at a position except the receiving and delivering position to screen print the plate Q. Thus, the printing at the printing position and the receiving and delivering of the plate Q at the receiving and delivering position can be conducted in parallel without influence to one another. And, many plates Q can be continuously printed with patterns with high productivity and positional accuracy.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic operation device for continuously performing operations such as printing on a large number of objects. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically performing operations requiring high positional accuracy, such as printing a pattern on a substrate in a manufacturing process of a printed wiring board, with high productivity.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The manufacturing process of a printed wiring board includes a work process requiring high positional accuracy, such as printing a solder pattern or an adhesive pattern on a substrate. Conventionally, this printing process has been performed as follows on a production line in which a positioning stage 90 and a printing stage 91 are linearly arranged in the direction of substrate flow as shown in FIG. That is, X-
A Y-axis biaxial movement function is provided. On the other hand, the printing stage 91 is provided with a screen mask 93 on which a pattern to be printed is formed. Then, the substrate (work object) arrived from the previous process is placed on the print table 94 which can be moved in the flow direction, and is positioned by the positioning stage 90 while recognizing the substrate and the screen mask by the CCD cameras 95 and 96. Then, the pattern is printed by screen printing on the print stage 91, and the pattern is paid out to a later process.

[0003]

However, the conventional pattern printing described above has a problem that the printing tact time is long. The reasons are that the alignment of the substrate takes longer than the printing itself, and that the print table 94 is involved in all operations from receiving the substrate to dispensing, so that two or more operations cannot be performed at the same time. There are two points. To take a closer look at this, it takes more time than the alignment itself.
The recognition of the substrate and the screen mask by the CD camera.

[0004] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. In other words, the task is to make it possible to perform main tasks such as printing and other operations at the same time, to process two or more work objects in parallel, and to perform tasks requiring high positional accuracy. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic working device that can be performed efficiently.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an index table on which a work object is placed and which is rotatable, and wherein the work object is placed on the index table. Receiving and paying means for receiving and paying out the work, positioning means for positioning the work object received on the index table, and work means for performing work on the work object positioned on the index table. The positioning by the positioning means and the work by the working means are specified as an automatic working device performed at different angular positions of the index table.

In this automatic working device, when the work object is received by the receiving and paying means and placed on the index table, the work object is positioned by the positioning means. Then, the positioned work object is moved to a different angular position on the index table, that is, rotated by a predetermined angle while the work object on which the index table is positioned is placed, and where the work object is rotated by the work means. Work is performed. The work object after the work is paid out by the payment means. Here, when the work object moves to the angular position where the work is performed by the work means, the next work object arrives at the angular position on the index table where the positioning is performed by the positioning means. The work by the working means and the positioning by the positioning means can be performed in parallel, and the work is performed with high productivity.

In this automatic working device, a "payment / payment means"
May be such that a single means performs both receiving and paying out, or may be provided with dedicated means for receiving and paying out. Further, the number of “work means” is not limited to one. That is, the work object may be successively worked by two or more work means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the automatic working apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the receiving / paying means operates the angular position on the index table at which positioning by the positioning means is performed. It is specified as a feature of receiving an object.

In this automatic working apparatus, when the receiving / paying means receives the work object and places it on the index table,
The positioning of the work object by the positioning means is performed at the angular position of the index table. That is, there is no rotation of the index table between receiving and positioning. Then, when the index table is rotated after the positioning and the work object is moved to the angular position where the work is performed by the work means, the next work object can be received by the index table by the receiving / paying means. At this time, a new work object can be positioned by the positioning means without further rotating the index table, that is, without affecting the work object on which the work is being performed by the work means. Productivity is realized.

Here, if the rotation angle between the receiving and the work and the rotation angle between the work and the paying out are made the same, the paying out of the work object after the work by the receiving and paying means can be performed by the working means. This is convenient because it can be performed without any influence. If there are two or more working means, the rotation angle between the reception and the first work, the rotation angle between the work and the next work, and the rotation angle between the last work and the payout are calculated. If they are the same, it is convenient because receiving, each work, and paying out can be performed without affecting each other.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the automatic printing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the working means is a printing means for performing printing on a work object. Is specified as a feature.

In this automatic working device, when the work object is received by the receiving and paying means and placed on the index table, the work object is positioned by the positioning means. Then, the positioned work object is moved to a different angular position on the index table, where printing is performed on the work object by the printing means.
The work object after printing is paid out by the payment means.
Here, if the receiving and paying means accepts the work object at the angular position on the index table where the positioning means performs positioning, the work object being printed by the printing means is affected. In addition, the positioning of a new work object can be performed by the positioning means.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is an automatic printing apparatus for printing a pattern on a substrate of a printed wiring board by screen printing.

The automatic printing apparatus according to the embodiment is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a conveyor 50 for transporting a substrate Q, which is an object to be worked, from a previous process to a subsequent process is disposed on a side thereof.
Index table 1 on which substrate Q can be placed
0 is provided. Index table 10
Is rotatable in a horizontal plane, and when the substrate Q is rotated with the substrate Q placed thereon, the substrate Q moves with the rotation. A loader / unloader 12 for transferring a substrate Q between the conveyor 50 and the index table 10 is provided at the closest point between the conveyor 50 and the index table 10. That is, the loader / unloader 12 is connected to the conveyor 50.
The substrate Q before printing is received from the index table 10 into the index table 10 and the conveyor 50 is
The printed board Q is paid out.

A position on the index table 10 where the loader / unloader 12 accepts and pays out the substrate Q (hereinafter, referred to as a “pay-out position”) is a positioner for precisely positioning the received substrate Q. A jig 14 is arranged. Positioning jig 14
Is to precisely align the substrate Q for pattern printing. However, the positioning jig 14 does not move with the rotation of the index table 10.

Further, a point on the index table 10 opposite to the point of payment at 180 ° (hereinafter referred to as “printing point”)
), A printing stage 16 for forming a pattern by performing screen printing on the substrate Q is arranged. On the printing stage 16, a screen mask 18 in which a pattern to be formed on the substrate Q is formed in advance is arranged. As shown in FIG. 2, the printing stage 16 includes a squeegee 20 that sweeps over the substrate via a screen mask, and prints a pattern of the screen mask on the substrate. The printing stage 16
Like the positioning jig 14, the screen mask 18 and the squeegee 20 do not move with the rotation of the index table 10.

In this automatic printing apparatus, printing is performed on the substrate Q as follows. First, the substrate Q first supplied from the previous process by the conveyor 50 (hereinafter, referred to as “first substrate Q”) is transferred from the conveyor 50 to the index table 10 by the loader / unloader 12 and received at the pick-up location. Can be The received first substrate Q is positioned by the positioning jig 14 and placed on the index table 10. When the index table 10 is rotated by 180 °, the first substrate Q moves with the rotation of the index table 10 while maintaining the state of being aligned by the positioning jig 14.

At this time, the first substrate Q is located at a printing position. On the other hand, the place for payment is open. Therefore, printing on the first substrate Q and reception of the substrate Q supplied from the previous process by the conveyor 50 (hereinafter, referred to as “second substrate Q”) are performed in parallel. These two
Since the two operations are performed with the index table 10 stopped, they do not affect each other.

Printing on the first substrate Q is performed by using a squeegee 20 to sweep over the first substrate Q via a screen mask on the printing stage 16 as shown in FIG. That is, a pattern of the printing agent having the same shape as the pattern of the screen mask is formed on the first substrate Q. Here, the substrate Q to be printed is aligned by the positioning jig 14 at the pick-up location and is moved to the printing location in that state, so that the pattern alignment accuracy is high.

The reception of the second substrate Q is performed in the same manner as when the first substrate Q was previously received. That is, the second substrate Q is transferred from the conveyor 50 to the pick-up location of the index table 10 by the loader / unloader 12 and is aligned by the positioning jig 14.

Printing on First Substrate Q and Second Substrate Q
Is completed, the index table 10 is rotated by 180 °. Then, the printed first substrate Q returns to the receiving location again, while the second substrate Q moves to the printing location. Accordingly, printing on the second substrate Q, paying out the first substrate Q, and receiving the substrate Q supplied next from the previous process (hereinafter, referred to as “third substrate Q”) are performed in parallel. . These actions are:
Since the operations are performed while the index table 10 is stopped, they do not affect each other.

The printing on the second substrate Q is performed in the same manner as the printing on the first substrate Q. On the other hand, at the pick-up point, first, the first substrate Q is transferred from the index table 10 to the conveyor 50 by the loader / unloader 12.
Transferred to and paid out. Next, the third substrate Q is transferred from the conveyor 50 to the pick-up location of the index table 10 by the loader / unloader 12, and is aligned and received by the positioning jig 14. The discharged first substrate Q is transported by the conveyor 50 to a subsequent process. Hereinafter, pattern printing is performed on the fourth substrate Q and the subsequent substrates Q by repeating the above procedure.

The automatic printing apparatus according to this embodiment is similar to that of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the printing stage may have two printing stages 26 and 36. In the automatic printing apparatus shown in FIG.
The printing stages 26 and 36 are provided at positions shifted 90 degrees back and forth with respect to the receiving and paying place. Hereinafter, the portions of the printing stages 26 and 36 are referred to as “first printing portions”, respectively.
This is referred to as a “second print location”. Each of the printing stages 26 and 36 performs pattern printing by the squeegee 20 as shown in FIG. 2, and is similar to the printing stage 16 in the automatic printing apparatus of FIG. However, the specific patterns of the screen masks 28 and 38 are different from each other. In addition, nothing is provided at a point D (hereinafter, referred to as a “dry point”) 180 ° opposite to the pick-up point.

In the automatic printing apparatus shown in FIG. 3, printing on the substrate Q is performed as follows. First, the receiving of the first substrate Q is not different from the case of the automatic printing apparatus of FIG. 1, and is transferred to the index table 10 by the loader / unloader 12 and then aligned by the positioning jig 14. When the first substrate Q is received, the index table 10 is rotated by 90 °, the first substrate Q moves to the first printing location, and the receiving / paying location becomes empty. Therefore, printing at a first printing position on the first substrate Q (hereinafter, referred to as “first printing”),
Receiving the second substrate Q is performed in parallel.

When both of these steps are completed, the index table 10 is further rotated by 90 °, the first substrate Q is moved to the drying location, the second substrate Q is moved to the first printing location, and the receiving / paying location is vacant. State.
Therefore, the first printing on the second substrate Q and the receiving of the third substrate Q are performed in parallel. During this time, nothing is performed on the first substrate Q in the dry area. This is for drying the pattern formed by the first printing.

When these operations are completed, the index table 10 is further rotated by 90 °, and the first substrate Q is placed in the second printing location, the second substrate Q is placed in the drying location, and the third substrate Q is placed in the first printing location. It moves to each location, and the receiving / paying location becomes empty. Therefore, printing at a second printing position on the first substrate Q (hereinafter, referred to as “second printing”)
And the first printing on the third substrate Q and the receiving of the fourth substrate Q are performed in parallel. During this time, the second substrate Q waits at a drying location to dry the pattern formed by the first printing.

When these operations are completed, the index table 10 is further rotated by 90 °, and the first substrate Q is located at the pick-up location, the second substrate Q is located at the second printing location, and the third substrate Q is located at the drying location. Then, the fourth substrate Q is moved to the first printing location. Therefore, the first substrate Q is dispensed, the fifth substrate Q is received, and the second substrate Q
And the first printing on the fourth substrate Q is performed in parallel. During this time, the third substrate Q waits at a drying location to dry the pattern formed by the first printing. To unload the first substrate Q and receive the fifth substrate Q, first, the first substrate Q is transferred from the index table 10 to the conveyer 50 by the loader / unloader 12 and then unloaded, and then the fifth substrate Q is unloaded. This is performed by receiving it in the index table 10. The discharged first substrate Q is transported by the conveyor 50 to a subsequent process. Hereinafter, pattern printing is performed on the subsequent substrates Q by repeating the above procedure.

As described above in detail, according to the present embodiment, the rotatable index table 10 is provided on the side of the conveyor 50 for transporting the substrate Q from the previous process to the subsequent process, and the loader / unloader is provided. Conveyor 5 by 12
The board Q is transferred between the index table 10 and the index table 10, and the position for printing the board Q is adjusted at the transfer position on the index table 10 to provide a print position at a position other than the transfer position. Screen printing, the printing at the printing location and the receiving / paying of the substrate Q at the receiving / receiving location can be performed in parallel without affecting each other. An automatic printing apparatus capable of printing a pattern with high productivity and high positional accuracy is provided. By providing two printing locations and a drying location, there is provided an automatic printing apparatus that can be applied to the case where two patterns are continuously printed.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the conveyor 50 and the loader /
The number of unloaders 12 is one, and the receiving and paying out on the index table 10 is performed at one place (receiving / paying place). However, the loader and unloader are separated, and the receiving place and payout place are separated. Is also good. In the apparatus of FIG. 3, if it is not necessary to take a time for drying between the first printing and the second printing,
The dry spot may be eliminated, and the first print spot and the second print spot may be shifted 120 ° back and forth from the payout spot. Alternatively, the present invention can be applied to a process of performing three or more printings. Further, the present invention can be applied not only to pattern printing on a substrate of a printed wiring board but also to any process of continuously performing the same operation on a large number of identical objects.

[0030]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a main task such as printing and other operations can be performed simultaneously, so that two or more work objects can be processed in parallel. It is. Thus, an automatic operation device capable of performing operations requiring high positional accuracy with high productivity is provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an automatic printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an outline of printing in a printing stage of the automatic printing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an automatic printing apparatus provided with two printing stages.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a conventional automatic printing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Index Table 12 Loader / Unloader (Payment / Payment Means) 14 Positioning Jig 16 Printing Stage

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H05K 3/34 505 H05K 3/34 505D

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An index table on which a work object is placed and rotatable, receiving and paying means for receiving and paying out the work object on the index table, and a work object received on the index table A positioning means for positioning the object; and a work means for performing a work on the work object positioned on the index table, wherein the positioning by the positioning means and the work by the work means are different from those of the index table. An automatic working device, which is performed at an angular position. 2. The automatic working device according to claim 1, wherein said receiving / paying means includes:
An automatic working device, wherein a work object is received at an angular position at which positioning by the positioning means is performed. 3. An automatic printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said work means is a print means for performing printing on a work object.