WO2023106355A1

WO2023106355A1 - Printing device and printing method

Info

Publication number: WO2023106355A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/045198
Authority: WO
Inventors: 正幸萬谷; 俊行村上; 哲矢田中; 祐介末安; 仁史山内
Original assignee: パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社
Priority date: 2021-12-08
Filing date: 2022-12-07
Publication date: 2023-06-15
Also published as: JPWO2023106355A1; CN117813201A

Abstract

This printing device comprises: a substrate holding unit that holds a substrate and positions the same with respect to an opening of a mask; a printing head that fills the opening with a paste and prints a solder paste on the substrate; a cleaning unit provided with a blade for scraping off the solder paste adhered to the back surface of the mask; a cleaning unit movement mechanism that moves the cleaning unit along the back surface of the mask so as to perform an operation of scraping off the solder paste adhered to the back surface of the mask with the blade; and a blade cleaning unit that cleans the blade.

Description

Printing device and printing method

The present disclosure relates to a printing device and a printing method.

Conventionally, a screen printer is known that scrapes off the paste adhering to the bottom surface of the screen mask. This screen printer is a screen printer in which a substrate is brought into contact with the lower surface of a screen mask having patterned holes, and a squeegee is slid on the screen mask to print paste on the substrate through the patterned holes. and a cleaning device for removing the paste adhering to the lower surface of the screen mask, the cleaning device having a plurality of scrapers for scraping off the paste adhering to the lower surface of the screen mask by sliding the lower surface of the screen mask in the cleaning direction. A member and a holding body for holding a plurality of scraping members are provided, and the plurality of scraping members are held by the holding body while being aligned in series with respect to the cleaning direction.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-075781

In the printing apparatus of Patent Literature 1, if the paste adhering to the lower surface of the screen mask is continued to be scraped off (mask cleaning), the scraped paste accumulates on the scraping member. Since the paste contains sticky flux, repeated mask cleaning may transfer the paste on the scraping member to the lower surface of the mask. In this case, the printing precision of the paste onto the substrate may be degraded. Therefore, there is room for improvement in mask cleaning.

The present disclosure provides a printing apparatus and a printing method that can improve the cleaning accuracy of the mask and improve the printing accuracy of the paste through the mask.

One aspect of the present disclosure is a printing apparatus that prints solder paste on a substrate using a mask having predetermined openings, comprising: a substrate holding unit that holds the substrate and aligns the substrate with the opening; a printing head that fills the space with paste and prints the solder paste on the substrate; a cleaning unit that includes a blade that scrapes off the solder paste adhering to the back surface of the mask; a cleaning unit moving mechanism that scrapes off the solder paste adhered to the back surface of the mask by moving the blade with the blade; and a blade cleaning unit that cleans the blade.

One aspect of the present disclosure is a printing method for printing solder paste on a substrate using a mask having predetermined openings, comprising: holding the substrate and aligning it with the opening; and printing the solder paste on the substrate; and moving a cleaning unit equipped with a blade for scraping off the solder paste adhering to the back surface of the mask along the back surface of the mask. The printing method includes the steps of scraping off the solder paste adhering to the back surface of the mask with a blade, and cleaning the blade.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the cleaning accuracy of the mask and improve the printing accuracy of the paste through the mask.

1 is a side view of a configuration example of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. FIG. 2 is a top view of a configuration example of a printing apparatus according to the first embodiment; Perspective view showing a configuration example around the blade holder Block diagram showing a configuration example of a control system of a printing apparatus A diagram for explaining a printing operation by a printing device. A diagram for explaining a printing operation by a printing device. A diagram for explaining a printing operation by a printing device. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the printing operation by the printing device (a continuation of FIGS. 5A to 5C); FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the printing operation by the printing device (a continuation of FIGS. 5A to 5C); FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining adhesion of paste to a screen mask and mask cleaning related to a printing operation; FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining adhesion of paste to a screen mask and mask cleaning related to a printing operation; Diagram showing paste remaining on the blade after mask cleaning 6A and 6B are diagrams for explaining the printing operation by the printing apparatus 1 (a continuation of FIGS. 6A and 6B); FIG. Schematic diagram showing a first example of a blade cleaning unit Schematic diagram showing a second example of the blade cleaning unit Schematic diagram showing a third example of the blade cleaning unit

Hereinafter, embodiments specifically disclosing the configuration and operation of the printing apparatus according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. However, more detailed description than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of well-known matters and redundant descriptions of substantially the same configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary verbosity in the following description and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. It should be noted that the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided for a thorough understanding of the present disclosure by those skilled in the art and are not intended to limit the claimed subject matter.

(First embodiment)
<Configuration of printing device>
FIG. 1 is a side view of a configuration example of a printing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a top view of a configuration example of the printing apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the transport direction of the substrate 2 is defined as the X direction, the direction perpendicular to the X direction in the horizontal plane is defined as the Y direction, and the direction perpendicular to the XY plane is defined as the Z direction. In addition, the positive side in the Z direction is also called "up", and the negative side in the Z direction is called "down".

The printing device 1 has a function of printing a paste P such as cream solder or conductive paste on the substrate 2 . The printing device 1 may be, for example, a screen printer.

The printing apparatus 1 includes a substrate support table 4 and a substrate support table moving mechanism 5. The substrate support table 4 clamps, fixes and supports the substrate 2 transported from the upstream side. The substrate support table moving mechanism 5 can move the substrate support table 4 in the X and Y directions, and can move (lift) the substrate support table 4 in the Z direction. Further, the substrate support table moving mechanism 5 can rotate the substrate support table 4 in a rotation direction θ that is different from the XY plane. Therefore, the substrate support table 4 is movable in the X direction (bx direction), Y direction (by direction), and Z direction (bz direction), and is rotatable in the rotational direction θ (bθ direction). The substrate support table 4 is driven by the substrate support table moving mechanism 5 to adjust the position and orientation of the substrate support table 4, that is, the position and orientation of the substrate 2, and the screen mask 13 (specifically, the pattern holes of the screen mask 13). 13h) to determine the position of the substrate 2 and align it.

The substrate 2 is carried in by a substrate transport mechanism (not shown) from the upstream side and positioned. After printing on the substrate 2, the substrate 2 is carried out downstream by the substrate transport mechanism.

The printing device 1 includes a screen mask 13, a print head 14, a print head moving mechanism 15, and a squeegee 16. A flexible screen mask 13 is spread over the mask frame 13a. Further, the screen mask 13 is formed with a plurality of pattern holes 13h corresponding to the shape, position, etc. of the electrodes to be printed on the substrate 2, and the like. A paste P is supplied onto the screen mask 13 by a paste supply mechanism (not shown). The paste P contains an adhesive flux. A print head 14 is arranged on the screen mask 13 .

The print head 14 has a squeegee elevating mechanism for elevating the squeegee 16 . Two squeegees 16 are provided as a pair along the Y direction. The squeegee 16 is formed in an elongated shape with the X direction as its longitudinal direction. The squeegee 16 is moved up and down in the z direction by driving the squeegee lifting mechanism. That is, one squeegee 16 moves up and down in the a1 direction, and the other squeegee 16 moves up and down in the a2 direction. As the squeegee 16 descends, the squeegee 16 comes into contact with the upper surface of the screen mask 13 . The squeegee 16 contacts the screen mask 13 and slides on the upper surface of the screen mask 13 to print the paste onto the substrate 2 through the pattern holes 13 h of the screen mask 13 . Further, the contact of the squeegee 16 with the upper surface of the screen mask 13 is released by raising the squeegee 16 .

The print head moving mechanism 15 moves the print head 14 along the Y direction. The print head 14 is movable in the Y direction (ay direction) by driving the print head moving mechanism 15 . Therefore, the squeegee 16 attached to the print head 14 moves in the Y direction and prints the paste P onto the substrate 2 through the pattern holes 13 h of the screen mask 13 .

The printing device 1 includes a camera unit 26. A camera unit 26 is arranged below (on the back side of) the screen mask 13 .

As shown in FIG. 2, the camera unit 26 is configured to be mounted on a camera unit movement base 28 and movable in the X direction. The camera unit movement base 28 has a mechanism for moving the camera unit 26 along the X direction. The camera unit movement base 28 extends along the X direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, a guide rail 29 is arranged along the Y direction, and a slider 30 slidably fitted to the guide rail 29 is connected to the camera unit moving base 28 via a bracket. ing. As a result, the camera unit moving base 28 is slidable (movable) in the Y direction. The camera unit movement base 28 is horizontally moved in the Y direction by a camera unit movement base movement mechanism 33 . The camera unit movement base movement mechanism 33 includes, for example, a nut, a feed screw, and a movement motor that rotationally drives the feed screw. Thus, the camera unit movement base 28 and the camera unit movement base movement mechanism 33 constitute a camera unit movement mechanism 34 that horizontally moves the camera unit 26 in the X and Y directions. Therefore, the camera unit 26 is movable in the X direction (cx direction) and the Y direction (cy direction).

The camera unit 26 has a camera 26c and a prism 26p. The camera 26c has, for example, a function as a board recognition camera that captures an image of the board 2 from above and a function as a mask recognition camera that captures an image of the screen mask 13 from the bottom side. The camera 26c may have these two functions by itself, or may have these two cameras. The prism 26p can image the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 and the upper surface of the substrate 2 by dispersing, refracting, or reflecting light. The camera unit 26 moves horizontally along the X direction and the Y direction, and images the substrate 2 and the screen mask 13 at the same time, thereby making it possible to recognize the substrate 2 and the screen mask 13 at the same time. do.

The printing device 1 includes a cleaning unit 27. A cleaning unit 27 is arranged below (on the back side of) the screen mask 13 . Note that the standby positions of the camera unit 26 and the cleaning unit 27 when not in use are, for example, both sides of the screen mask 13 along the X direction, but are not limited to this.

The cleaning unit 27 cleans the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 (mask cleaning). The cleaning unit 27 has a function of cleaning by removing the paste P adhering to the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 or the paste P remaining in the pattern holes 13h without being transferred to the substrate 2, or the like. The cleaning unit 27 includes a blade 42 , a blade holder 38 and a cleaning unit moving base 35 . The blade 42 contacts the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 and scrapes off the paste P. As shown in FIG. Blade holder 38 holds blade 42 . The cleaning unit moving base 35 holds a blade holder 38 . The blade holder 38 may or may not be moved up and down in the Z direction by driving an elevating mechanism (not shown). The cleaning unit moving base 35 extends along the X direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, a guide rail 29 is arranged along the Y direction, and a slider 31 slidably fitted to the guide rail 29 is connected to a cleaning unit moving base 35 via a bracket. . As a result, the cleaning unit moving base 35 is slidable (movable) in the Y direction. The cleaning unit moving base 35 is horizontally moved in the Y direction by the cleaning unit moving mechanism 36 . The cleaning unit moving mechanism 36 includes, for example, a nut, a feed screw, and a moving motor that rotationally drives the feed screw. Thus, the cleaning unit moving mechanism 36 horizontally moves the cleaning unit 27 in the Y direction. Therefore, the cleaning unit 27 is movable in the Y direction (dy direction).

The cleaning unit 27 performs mask cleaning while the paste P is not being printed using the screen mask 13 . The cleaning unit 27 is arranged in the area A1 below the screen mask 13 by being driven by the cleaning unit moving mechanism 36 during mask cleaning. On the other hand, the cleaning unit 27 is arranged in a waiting area A2 adjacent to the lower area A1 of the screen mask 13 and stands by during a period in which mask cleaning is not performed. The standby area A2 is positioned so as not to overlap the screen mask 13 when the printer 1 is viewed from above.

The printing device 1 includes a blade cleaning unit 50 and a blade cleaning unit moving mechanism 51. The blade cleaning unit 50 cleans the blades 42 of the cleaning unit 27 . The blade cleaning unit moving mechanism 51 extends along the X direction and has a mechanism for moving the blade cleaning unit 50 along the X direction. Therefore, the blade cleaning unit 50 is movable along the X direction (ex direction). The blade cleaning unit 50 cleans the blade 42 while moving from one end of the blade 42 to the other end along the X direction, for example, during the period of cleaning the blade 42 . The blade cleaning unit 50 is placed, for example, at the positive end in the X direction and stands by while the blade 42 is not being cleaned. The period during which the blade 42 is cleaned is included in the period during which the cleaning unit 27 is arranged in the standby area A2 at the end in the Y direction, not during the mask cleaning period.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration example around the blade holder 38. FIG.

The cleaning unit 27 scrapes off the paste P adhering to the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 and sucks and removes the scraped off paste P. The blade holder 38 of the cleaning unit 27 has a frame 38a and a mask receiving portion 38b. The frame 38a and the mask receiving portion 38b form the outer edges (sides and bottom) of the blade holder 38. As shown in FIG. The blade holder 38 has an opening or a notch extending in the X direction inside the space formed by the frame 38a and the mask receiving portion 38b. The mask receiving portions 38b are arranged at both ends of the blade holder 38. As shown in FIG. The blade holder 38 can accommodate a plurality of flat blades 42 through openings or notches. The upper surface of the mask receiving portion 38b is a mask contact surface 38m, which contacts the screen mask 13 during mask cleaning. As a result, the inside of the blade holder 38 becomes a closed space during mask cleaning. The end (upper end) of the blade 42 on the side of the screen mask 13 is located above the mask contact surface 38m.

The blade 42 is a thin "spatula-shaped" flexible member made of metal such as SUS. The blade 42 may be made of an elastic material such as urethane rubber. The blade 42 has a substantially rectangular cross section elongated in the X direction. A plurality of blades 42 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the Y direction. During mask cleaning, the upper end of the blade 42 contacts the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 and slides along the Y direction. Thereby, the blade 42 can scrape off the paste P adhering to the lower surface 13 c of the screen mask 13 . When the blade 42 contacts the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13, the blade 42 may be bent. The blade 42 may be replaceable, fixed and unfixable with respect to the blade holder 38, and removable.

When the blade 42 is in contact with the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13, the attack angle of the blade 42 with respect to the horizontal lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 may be an angle smaller than 90°, that is, an acute angle. The attack angle of the blade 42 is the angle formed by the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 and the blade 42 with respect to the cleaning direction (here, the Y direction). Then, the blade 42 slides in the cleaning direction in this angular state to scrape off the paste P adhering to the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 .

Inside the blade holder 38, the paste P scraped off by the blade 42 is guided downward, and solid components such as solder particles contained in the paste P are captured by a filter (not shown). The frame 38a of the blade holder 38 has an opening in a part of the lower surface on the negative side in the Z direction, and communicates with the vacuum suction mechanism 56 (see FIG. 4) from the opening through a conduit. By driving the vacuum suction mechanism 56, the inside of the pipeline is vacuum-sucked, and the components of the paste P that have passed through the filter after being scraped off by the blade 42 are sucked through the pipeline.

The blade cleaning unit 50 cleans the blade 42 while moving along the X direction during the blade cleaning period. During the blade cleaning period, the lower surface of the blade cleaning unit 50 may contact the upper end side of the blade 42 . The blade cleaning unit 50 may, for example, wipe off the paste P adhering to the blade 42, blow it downward, or suck it upward.

Next, the configuration of the control system of the printing apparatus 1 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the control system of the printing apparatus 1. As shown in FIG.

The control unit 52 included in the printing apparatus 1 includes a storage unit 53, a mechanism driving unit 54, and a recognition processing unit 55. The control unit 52 also controls the substrate support table moving mechanism 5, the print head 14, the print head moving mechanism 15, the camera unit 26, the camera unit moving base 28, the camera unit moving base moving mechanism 33, the cleaning unit moving mechanism 36, the blade cleaning mechanism. It is connected to the unit 50, the blade cleaning unit moving mechanism 51, the vacuum suction mechanism 56, and the like.

The storage unit 53 stores printing work data necessary for screen-printing the paste P on the substrate 2, cleaning work data necessary for cleaning the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13, and blade cleaning data necessary for cleaning the blade 42. Store work data, etc.

The mechanism driving section 54 drives the substrate support table moving mechanism 5, the print head 14, the print head moving mechanism 15, the camera unit 26, the camera unit moving base 28, the camera unit moving base moving mechanism 33, and the like. As a result, the printing device 1 executes the printing operation of screen printing. Further, the mechanism driving section 54 drives the cleaning unit moving mechanism 36, the vacuum suction mechanism 56, and the like. As a result, the printing apparatus 1 executes mask cleaning. Further, the mechanism driving section 54 drives the blade cleaning unit 50, the blade cleaning unit moving mechanism 51, the vacuum suction mechanism 56, and the like. As a result, the printing apparatus 1 cleans the blade 42 for mask cleaning (blade cleaning).

The recognition processing unit 55 performs recognition processing on the image captured by the camera 26c. The image includes the substrate 2, the screen mask 13, or the like. The recognition processing unit 55 can detect the positions of the substrate 2 and the screen mask 13 by performing recognition processing. This position detection result may be used, for example, for alignment between the screen mask 13 and the substrate 2 . Further, the recognition processing unit 55 may recognize the state of the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 (for example, how much paste P remains, whether mask cleaning has been properly performed) by image recognition processing. .

<Operation of printing device>
Next, the operation of the printer 1 will be described.

5A, 5B, and 5C are diagrams for explaining the printing operation of the printing apparatus 1. FIG. 5A, 5B and 5C, substrate recognition, alignment of substrate 2 and screen mask 13, movement of print head 14 and filling of paste P are performed.

Here, it is assumed that the substrate 2 has a pattern including a plurality of electrodes and is formed in a plate shape. It is assumed that the screen mask 13 is provided with pattern holes 13h at predetermined intervals corresponding to the intervals at which a plurality of electrodes are arranged on the upper surface of the substrate 2 .

In the printing apparatus 1, the substrate support table 4 holds the substrate 2 transported by the substrate transport device. The camera unit 26 is driven by the camera unit moving mechanism 34 to move in the X direction and the Y direction and pick up an image of the substrate 2 . The control unit 52 recognizes the imaged state of the substrate 2 (FIG. 5A).

The substrate support table 4 is driven by the substrate support table moving mechanism 5 to move in the XY plane and rotate in the rotation direction θ as needed so that the electrodes of the substrate 2 and the pattern holes 13h of the screen mask 13 face each other. Then, the substrate 2 and the screen mask 13 are aligned (FIG. 5B). The substrate support table 4 is driven by the substrate support table moving mechanism 5 to move in the Z direction to bring the substrate 2 into contact with the lower surface 13 c of the screen mask 13 . Thereby, the screen mask 13 is aligned and superimposed on the substrate 2 .

The print head 14 moves (lowers) the squeegee 16 downward in the Z direction, lands the squeegee 16 on the screen mask 13 , and brings the lower edges of the pair of squeegees 16 into contact with the upper surface of the screen mask 13 .

The print head moving mechanism 15 moves the print head 14 in the printing direction A, and slides the pair of squeegees 16 on the screen mask 13 (Fig. 5C). During this time, each pattern hole 13h on each electrode of the substrate 2 is filled with the paste P supplied to the upper surface of the screen mask 13 (FIG. 5C). The printing direction A may be in one direction (positive direction or negative direction in the Y direction) or in both directions (positive direction and negative direction in the Y direction). That is, one-way printing or two-way printing may be used.

6A and 6B are diagrams for explaining the printing operation by the printing device 1 (continuation of FIGS. 5A to 5C). In FIGS. 6A and 6B, plate separation and transfer of paste P, as well as mask cleaning and unloading of substrate 2 are performed.

When the entire printing by the printing device 1 is completed and all the pattern holes 13h in the screen mask 13 are filled with the paste P, the print head moving mechanism 15 stops the movement of the print head 14. The print head 14 raises the squeegees 16 to separate the lower edges of the pair of squeegees 16 from the upper surface of the screen mask 13 . Then, the substrate support table moving mechanism 5 lowers the substrate support table 4 to separate the substrate 2 from the screen mask 13 (plate separation) (FIG. 6A). As a result, the paste P remains on each electrode 2a of the substrate 2, and the paste P is printed (transferred) onto the substrate 2 (FIG. 6A).

When the printing of the paste P onto the substrate 2 is completed, a substrate transport device (not shown) removes the substrate 2 from the substrate support table 4 and transports (carries out) it outside the printing device 1 (FIG. 6B). After completing printing on the substrate 2 , the cleaning unit 27 departs from the standby area A<b>2 and enters the area A<b>1 below the screen mask 13 . The cleaning unit 27 performs mask cleaning by moving in the Y direction while the upper end of the blade 42 is in contact with the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 (FIG. 6B).

In the mask cleaning, the cleaning unit 27 contacts the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 with the upper end of the blade 42 only in one Y direction of the reciprocating movement in the Y direction, and moves in one direction in this state. , may be mask cleaning. Further, the cleaning unit 27 moves in both directions in the Y direction, with the upper end of the blade 42 in contact with the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 in both directions of the Y direction, and moves in both directions in this state to clean the mask. good too. FIG. 6B illustrates mask cleaning in only one direction (return pass only).

7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining the adhesion of the paste P to the screen mask 13 and mask cleaning related to the printing operation. 7A and 7B show in more detail the operation of the cleaning unit 27 during mask cleaning. FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate that when the cleaning unit 27 moves in the positive Y direction, the blade 42 comes into contact with the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 to perform mask cleaning.

In FIG. 7A, the paste P remains in the pattern holes 13h of the screen mask 13 and on the bottom surface 13c. During mask cleaning, when the cleaning unit 27 is placed at the start position of mask cleaning, the blade holder 38 is lifted under the control of the controller 52 to bring the blades 42 into contact with the lower surface 13 c of the screen mask 13 . When the blade holder 38 is lifted, the control unit 52 drives the vacuum suction mechanism 56 to reduce the pressure in the closed space formed inside the blade holder 38 through the pipe, thereby creating a vacuum suction state. As a result, the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 is in a state of being sucked.

With the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 sucked, the blade holder 38 moves in the cleaning direction (for example, the positive direction in the Y direction) to remove the paste P adhering to the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 and the pattern holes 13h. Perform a removing mask cleaning operation (FIGS. 7A and 7B). That is, while the blade holder 38 is moving, the blade 42 scrapes the paste P adhering to the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13, and the scraped paste P is sucked. In FIG. 7B, the paste P remaining in the pattern holes 13h of the screen mask 13 and on the lower surface 13c is removed after the cleaning unit 27 that performs mask cleaning has passed.

When the cleaning unit 27 passes through the lower area A1 of the screen mask 13 and moves to the waiting area A2, the control section 52 stops driving the vacuum suction mechanism 56 . Also, the cleaning unit 27 descends to a predetermined position in the standby area A2.

Here, as the mask cleaning time elapses, the paste P scraped out from the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 adheres to the upper end side of the blade 42, and the adhesion amount of the paste P gradually increases (Fig. 7B).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing paste P remaining on the blade 42 after mask cleaning. In FIG. 8, a blade 42A, a blade 42B, a blade 42C, and a blade 42D are installed in order from the positive side in the Y direction (the head in the leading direction). As shown in FIG. 8, during mask cleaning, the amount of paste P adhering to the blade 42A located at the leading edge of the print head 14 in the traveling direction is the largest. This is because the blade 42A first comes into contact with the region of the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 that has not been mask-cleaned. In addition, the amount of paste P adhered to the blade 42 gradually decreases toward the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the print head 14 .

Specifically, while the blade 42 slides, the blade 42A positioned at the leading edge in the cleaning direction scrapes off the paste P adhering to the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13. As shown in FIG. While the number of mask cleaning operations is small, all the paste P is completely scraped off by the leading blade 42A. In the process of repeating and continuing the cleaning operation, the paste P that has not been sucked by the cleaning unit 27 is gradually accumulated on the upper end of the leading blade 42A. Then, as the accumulated amount of the paste P increases, the blade 42A bends backward (in the direction opposite to the cleaning direction), creating a gap between the screen mask 13 and the blade 42A. In addition, the gap may be caused not only by the bending of the blade 42 but also by the unevenness of the lower surface 13 c of the screen mask 13 . Due to this gap, a portion of the paste P that has not been scraped off by the blade 42A may remain on the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13. FIG. However, behind the blade 42A, the next blade 42B slides on the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13, so the remaining paste P is scraped off by this blade 42B. Since the same bending as that of the blade 41A occurs in order from the leading end to the trailing end in the advancing direction, the amount of paste P remaining on the blade 42 after mask cleaning is the same as that of the blade 42A, the blade 42B, and the blade 42C. , blade 42D.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the printing operation by the printing device 1 (a continuation of FIGS. 6A and 6B). In FIG. 9, blade 42 is cleaned.

When the mask cleaning is completed, the cleaning unit 27 returns to the standby area A2 and stops moving. The cleaning unit 27 faces the blade cleaning unit 50 in the Z direction when arranged in the standby area A2 (positive end in the Y direction). The blade cleaning unit 50 cleans the blade 42 of the cleaning unit 27 while moving in the X direction by being driven by the blade cleaning unit moving mechanism 51 (FIG. 9). Thereby, the blade cleaning unit 50 removes the paste P adhering to, for example, the upper end of the blade 42 .

In blade cleaning, the blade cleaning unit 50 may clean the blade only in one direction in the X direction during the reciprocating movement in the X direction. Further, the blade cleaning unit 50 may clean the blade in both directions in the X direction during the reciprocating movement in the X direction.

After cleaning the blade, when a new substrate 2 is brought in, the printing apparatus 1 repeats printing of the paste P using the screen mask 13 (paste printing), cleaning the mask, and cleaning the blade. Note that the printing apparatus 1 may perform mask cleaning each time paste printing is completed a predetermined number of times (for example, once or multiple times). Further, the printing apparatus 1 may perform blade cleaning each time mask cleaning is completed a predetermined number of times (for example, once or multiple times).

Next, a specific example of the blade cleaning unit 50 will be described.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a first example of the blade cleaning unit 50. FIG. In FIG. 10, the blade cleaning unit 50 has an air blower 50A that blows air toward the object. The air blow section 50A removes the paste P adhering to the blade 42 of the cleaning unit 27 by blowing it downward inside the blade holder 38 that holds the blade 42 with an air blow (air (compressed air, for example)). The removed blade 42 is vacuum-sucked and discharged to the outside of the blade holder 38 .

The air blower 50A has an air ejection nozzle that blows air toward the blade 42. The orientation of the air ejection nozzle may determine the orientation of the air. The air blower 50A may control the direction of blowing air. The direction in which the air is delivered may be along the installation angle (attack angle) of the blade 42 or may be at an angle close to vertical (for example, vertical) with respect to the blade 42 . When the air blower 50A blows air in a direction along the installation angle of the blade 42, the paste P adhering to the lower end side of the blade 42 is also easily removed. When the air blowing part 50A blows air at an angle nearly perpendicular to the installation angle of the blade 42, the paste P adhering to the vicinity of the upper end of the blade 42 can be easily removed with a strong force.

In addition, the air blow unit 50A may control the amount of air to be delivered, the compression rate of air, or the like, or control the delivery pattern of delivering air (for example, the amount of air in time series or the magnitude of the compression rate of air). You may When air is sent by the air blower 50A, the air blower 50A may or may not contact the blade 42 during blade cleaning.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a second example of the blade cleaning unit 50. FIG. In FIG. 11 , the blade cleaning unit 50 has a suction part 50B that sucks the target (for example, paste P) by sucking air from around the blade cleaning unit 50 . The suction part 50B sucks upward the paste P adhering to the blade 42 and removes it. The suction part 50B may be connected to a vacuum suction mechanism 56, similar to the blade holder 38.

The suction part 50B has a suction nozzle that sucks air from the blade 42 side. The orientation of the suction nozzle may determine the orientation of air suction. The suction unit 50B may control the direction in which air is sucked. The direction in which the air is sucked may be along the installation angle (attack angle) of the blade 42 or may be at an angle close to perpendicular to the blade 42 (for example, perpendicular). When air is sucked in the direction along the installation angle of the blade 42, the suction part 50B can easily remove the paste P adhering to the lower end side of the blade 42 as well. The suction part 50B can easily remove the paste P adhering to the vicinity of the upper end of the blade 42 with a strong force when the air is sucked at an angle nearly perpendicular to the installation angle of the blade 42 . The sucked paste P is sucked by the suction section 50B and discharged to the outside of the suction section 50B, for example.

In addition, the suction unit 50B may control the suction force, or may control the suction pattern (for example, the size of the suction force in chronological order) when sucking. When suction is performed by the suction portion 50B, the suction portion 50B may be in contact with or not in contact with the blade 42 during blade cleaning.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a third example of the blade cleaning unit 50. FIG. In FIG. 12, the blade cleaning unit 50 has a wiping part 50C that wipes off the paste P that is the object. The wiping part 50C is, for example, a cleaning material, and may be cloth, paper, or sponge. When wiped by the wiping portion 50C, the suction portion 50B comes into contact with the blade 42 during blade cleaning. That is, the paste P may be wiped off by tracing the upper end of the blade 42 while the wiping portion 50C is pressed against the upper end side of the blade 42 .

As described above, according to the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the blade 42 used for mask cleaning is cleaned, so that when the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 contacts and slides with the blade 42, residual particles remain on the blade 42. It is possible to prevent the paste P from being transferred to the lower surface 13 c of the screen mask 13 . Therefore, the printing apparatus 1 can prevent the paste P from remaining on the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 or the pattern holes 13h after mask cleaning. Therefore, the printing apparatus 1 can improve the cleaning accuracy of the screen mask 13 and improve the printing accuracy of the paste P through the screen mask 13 .

Also, during printing of the paste P onto the substrate 2, the cleaning unit 10A is arranged in the standby area A2 and faces the blade cleaning unit 50. Therefore, the printing apparatus 1 can clean the blade during printing. Therefore, the printing apparatus 1 can clean the blade with less influence on printing efficiency and mask cleaning efficiency.

Note that the blade cleaning unit 50 may be fixedly arranged in the waiting area A2 so as to face the cleaning unit 27 on standby in the Z direction. In this case, the blade cleaning unit 50 may have a shape elongated in the X direction when viewed from above, for example, so as to cover the entire area above the blade 42 .

As described above, the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment uses the screen mask 13 (an example of the mask) formed with the predetermined pattern holes 13h (an example of the opening) to apply the paste P (an example of the solder paste) to the substrate 2. to print. The printing apparatus 1 includes a substrate support table 4 (an example of a substrate holding unit) that holds the substrate 2 and aligns it with the pattern hole 13h, and a printing table that fills the pattern hole 13h with a paste P and prints the paste P on the substrate 2. a head 14; The printing apparatus 1 includes a cleaning unit 27 having a blade 42 for scraping off the paste P adhering to the bottom surface 13 c (an example of the back surface) of the screen mask 13 , and moving the cleaning unit 27 along the bottom surface 13 c of the screen mask 13 . a cleaning unit moving mechanism 36 that scrapes off the paste P adhering to the lower surface 13 c of the screen mask 13 with the blade 42 . The printing device 1 includes a blade cleaning unit 50 that cleans the blade 42 .

As a result, the printing apparatus 1 cleans the blade 42 used for mask cleaning, so that the paste P remaining on the blade 42 is removed from the screen mask 13 when the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 and the blade 42 contact and slide. can be suppressed from being transferred to the lower surface 13c of the . Therefore, the printing apparatus 1 can prevent the paste P from remaining on the lower surface 13c of the screen mask 13 or the pattern holes 13h after mask cleaning. Therefore, the printing apparatus 1 can improve the cleaning accuracy of the screen mask 13 and improve the printing accuracy of the paste P through the screen mask 13 .

Further, the blade cleaning unit 50 may have an air blower 50A that removes the paste P adhering to the blade 42 by an air blow. As a result, the printing apparatus 1 can clean the blade 42 by blowing off the paste P from the blade 42 , and can gather the portions where the paste P remains in the blade holder 38 other than the screen mask 13 .

Further, the blade cleaning unit 50 may have a suction part 50B that sucks and removes the paste P adhering to the blade 42 . As a result, the printing apparatus 1 can suck the paste P into the suction portion 50B, and can suppress an increase in the residual amount of the paste P in the blade holder 38 .

In addition, the blade cleaning unit 50 may have a wiping part 50C that wipes off the paste P adhering to the blade 42. As a result, the printing apparatus 1 can wipe the paste P directly with the cleaning material of the blade cleaning unit 50 without performing electrical control within the blade cleaning unit 50 .

Further, the blade cleaning unit 50 may be arranged at a position not overlapping the screen mask 13 when the printing apparatus 1 is viewed from above. The cleaning unit moving mechanism 36 may move the cleaning unit 27 below the blade cleaning unit 50 .

As a result, the printing apparatus 1 can automatically clean the lower surface 13c of the mask by allowing the cleaning unit moving mechanism 36 to move. Further, the printing apparatus 1 can arrange the movable cleaning unit 27 so as to face the blade cleaning unit 50 . Therefore, when the blade cleaning unit 50 and the blade 42 face each other (for example, when the paste P is printed), the printing apparatus 1 reduces the influence on the printing efficiency and the mask cleaning efficiency so that the blade cleaning unit 50 moves the blade 42. Easy to clean.

The printing apparatus 1 may also include a blade cleaning unit moving mechanism 51 that moves the blade cleaning unit 50 along the longitudinal direction of the blade 42 (for example, the X direction).

As a result, even if the blade cleaning unit 50 is downsized, the printing apparatus 1 can clean the entire blade 42 by moving the blade cleaning unit 50 between both ends of the blade 42 (for example, between both ends in the Y direction). can.

Various embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, but it goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is obvious that a person skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications, modifications, substitutions, additions, deletions, and equivalents within the scope of the claims. Naturally, it is understood that it belongs to the technical scope of the present disclosure.
In addition, the constituent elements of the various embodiments described above may be arbitrarily combined without departing from the gist of the invention.

This application is based on a Japanese patent application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-199675) filed on December 8, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure is useful for a printing apparatus, a printing method, and the like that can improve mask cleaning accuracy and paste printing accuracy through the mask.

1 printing device 2 substrate 4 substrate support table 5 substrate support table movement mechanism 13 screen mask 13a mask frame 13c lower surface 13h pattern hole 14 print head 15 print head movement mechanism 16 squeegee 26 camera unit 26c camera 26p prism 27 cleaning unit 33 camera unit movement Base moving mechanism 34 Camera unit moving mechanism 35 Cleaning unit moving base 36 Cleaning unit moving mechanism 38 Blade holder 38a Frame 38b Mask receiving part 38m Mask contact surface 42 Blade 50 Blade cleaning unit 50A Air blow part 50B Suction part 50C Wiping part 51 Blade cleaning unit moving mechanism 52 Control section 53 Storage section 54 Mechanism driving section 55 Recognition processing section 56 Vacuum suction mechanism P Paste

Claims

A printing apparatus for printing solder paste on a substrate using a mask having predetermined openings,
a substrate holder that holds the substrate and aligns it with the opening;
a print head that fills the opening with a solder paste and prints the solder paste on the substrate;
a cleaning unit having a blade for scraping off the solder paste adhering to the back surface of the mask;
a cleaning unit moving mechanism that scrapes off the solder paste adhered to the back surface of the mask with the blade by moving the cleaning unit along the back surface of the mask;
a blade cleaning unit for cleaning the blade;
a printing device.
The blade cleaning unit has an air blower that removes the solder paste adhering to the blade with an air blow.
A printing device according to claim 1 .
The blade cleaning unit has a suction unit that sucks and removes the solder paste adhering to the blade,
A printing device according to claim 1 .
The blade cleaning unit has a wiping part that wipes off the solder paste adhering to the blade,
A printing device according to claim 1 .
The blade cleaning unit is arranged at a position not overlapping the mask when the printing apparatus is viewed from above,
The cleaning unit moving mechanism moves the cleaning unit below the blade cleaning unit.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-4.
a blade cleaning unit moving mechanism for moving the blade cleaning unit along the longitudinal direction of the blade;
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-5.
A printing method for printing a solder paste on a board using a mask having a predetermined opening,
holding and aligning the substrate with the opening;
filling the opening with a paste and printing the solder paste on the substrate;
An operation of scraping off the solder paste adhered to the back surface of the mask with the blade by moving a cleaning unit equipped with a blade for scraping the solder paste adhered to the back surface of the mask along the back surface of the mask. and
cleaning the blade;
A printing method having