JP2003311220A - Clean system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clean system which can shorten the closedown time, can increase a throughput and has a long working life. <P>SOLUTION: The clean system 300 includes a reservoir 302 for storing a cleaning fluid, a clean head 304 for cleaning pads (or leads) 404 on a substrate, and a metering pump 306 other than a peristaltic pump for pumping the cleaning fluid from the reservoir 302 to the clean head 304. Suitable metering pumps for use in the present invention are piston pumps, gear pumps or diaphragm pumps. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to a clean system, and more particularly to a clean system for cleaning pads (or leads) formed on a display panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, liquid crystal panels and plasma display panels have been known as display panels for electronic devices. In general, such a display panel is assembled by connecting external leads of a driving device to pads (or leads) located at an end of a lower panel made of a glass plate. A general driver (driving circuit) is composed of a tape carrier package (hereinafter referred to as TCP) formed by a TAB (Tape Automated Bonding) method.

However, it is necessary to clean the panel pads (or leads) to ensure good electrical contact between the TCP external leads and the panel pads (or leads) before the bonding process is performed. is there. Therefore, the conventional external lead bonding apparatus generally
It has a clean system to clean the pads (or leads) of the panel. As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional clean system 100 includes a cleaning fluid from a storage tank 104 to an upper clean head 106 and a lower clean head 1.
Two processing units 10 to supply each
Have two.

Presently, each processing unit 102 is equipped with a peristaltic pump 200 (see FIG. 2) to ensure accurate delivery of a set amount of cleaning fluid. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation of the peristaltic pump 200 uses a rotary roller head 204 to compress or squeeze a bendable tube 202 (may be arranged between fixed flow paths) of a predetermined length. It is done by doing. When the roller head 204 rotates, the roller 206 moves the tube 20.
Pinch part of 2 to push any fluid trapped in the tube 202 between the rollers 206 in the direction of rotation.
At this time, the flow rate is determined by the rotation speed and driving force of the roller head 204.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the use of a peristaltic pump as a processing unit in such an external lead bonding apparatus has the following problems. (A) The bendable tubing of a peristaltic pump wears out during operation, resulting in undesirable flow rate changes of the cleaning fluid. (B) It is necessary to periodically replace the worn tube, and at the time of replacement, it is necessary to completely stop the entire external lead bonding apparatus. (C) The mechanism part of the peristaltic pump is easily worn. These disadvantages not only increase the costs required to replace tubes and repair peristaltic pumps, but also significantly increase downtime and significantly reduce throughput.

[0006] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a clean system having a long operating life which can solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, or at least can reduce the work stop time and increase the throughput. To do. Another object of the present invention is to provide a reliable clean system for use in an external lead bonding process for cleaning a substrate with pads (or leads) formed on the substrate.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above objects and other objects, the clean system according to the present invention mainly comprises a storage tank for storing a cleaning fluid, a first clean head,
A metering pump other than the peristaltic pump that discharges the cleaning fluid from the storage tank to the first clean head is provided. The metering pump that can be preferably used in the present invention is a piston pump, a gear pump or a diaphragm pump, which has a space of a constant volume for discharging the same volume for each discharge cycle. The metering pump has an inlet and an outlet. The inflow port is connected to the storage tank and allows the cleaning fluid to flow into the metering pump. The outlet is connected to the first clean head, and allows the cleaning fluid to flow from the metering pump to the first clean head. The clean system may also include a check valve disposed between the metering pump and the first clean head to prevent the cleaning fluid from flowing back from the first clean head to the metering pump.

The clean system can also include a second clean head. The first and second clean heads are connected to the same metering pump described above. The clean head preferably comprises a string, for example, a non-woven string, which comes into contact with and cleans the surface of the semi-finished product. By moistening the string with a cleaning fluid, the clean head can easily wipe dust, dirt and other surface contaminants from the surface of the semi-finished product.

The clean system according to the present invention replaces a conventional peristaltic pump with a metering pump such as a piston pump, a gear pump or a diaphragm pump. The operation of piston pumps, gear pumps or diaphragm pumps does not require easily abrading parts such as the bendable tubes of conventional peristaltic pumps, which allows the clean system to have a longer service life than traditional clean systems. Therefore, the work stop time can be reduced and the processing amount can be increased. Furthermore, the clean system according to the present invention is sufficiently compatible with existing materials and related equipment used in the external lead bonding process, and does not affect their performance.

The present invention provides a clean system which can have a long operating life by replacing the conventional peristaltic pump with a metering pump such as a piston pump, a gear pump or a diaphragm pump. The solution presented here is well compatible with existing devices and does not affect their performance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a clean system 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The clean system 300 mainly includes a storage tank 302, a clean head 304, and a metering pump 306. The reservoir 302 contains a cleaning fluid such as isopropyl alcohol (IPA). The metering pump 306 discharges the cleaning fluid from the storage tank 302 toward the clean head 304. The metering pump 306 has an inlet 308 and an outlet 310. Since the inflow port 308 is connected to the storage tank 302, the cleaning fluid discharged can flow into the metering pump 306. Since the outlet 310 is connected to the clean head 304, the metering pump 30
Clean head 304 for cleaning fluid discharged from 6
Inflow is possible. The clean system may include a check valve 312 located between the metering pump 306 and the clean head 304. The check valve 312 is selectively closed to prevent the cleaning fluid from flowing back from the clean head 304 to the metering pump 306. The clean head 304 according to the present invention is preferably used for cleaning a pad (or lead) 404 (only one pad is designated by reference numeral 404) formed on the upper surface 402 of the display panel 406. (See Figure 5). The clean head 304 preferably has a string-like object 400 made of, for example, a non-woven string-like object in order to clean the pad (or the lead) 404 on the display panel 406 while making contact with the clean head 304.
When the cleaning fluid is discharged into the clean head 304, the string-like object 400 can be moistened with the cleaning fluid, so that the surface of the pad (or the lead) 404 is
Dust, dust, and other surface contaminants can be easily wiped off.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a clean system 350 according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, in the present invention, another clean head 31 connected to the same metering pump 306 for cleaning the lower surface of the display panel 406 facing the upper surface 402 is further used.
4 are provided (see FIG. 5). Clean head 314
Has substantially the same structure and material as the clean head 304. The metering pump discharges the cleaning fluid from the storage tank 302 to both the clean head 304 and the clean head 314. Preferably, the clean system 350 is
It has a check valve 316 arranged between the metering pump 306 and the clean head 314. The check valve 316 is selectively closed to prevent the cleaning fluid from flowing back from the clean head 314 to the metering pump 306.

The metering pump suitable for use in the present invention is a piston pump, a gear pump, or a diaphragm pump characterized by having a constant volume void for discharging the same volume for each discharge cycle. Piston pumps use a reciprocating plunger to move liquid through the unit. The piston pump consists of a rigid piston assembly,
With such a configuration, the piston pump can have the highest pressure and accuracy as a metering pump. Gear pumps operate by transferring a fluid that is interposed between the teeth of two or three rotating gears. Since the gear pump moves many small voids per revolution, it does not pulsate as often as a piston pump. The diaphragm pump moves the liquid for each stroke by pulsating the flexible diaphragm. The pump action is
It is further augmented by a reciprocating piston (not shown) that is protected from fluid by a diaphragm (not shown). The diaphragm is actuated mechanically by a solenoid or by hydraulic fluid supplied between the piston and the diaphragm. The metering pump 306 according to the present invention is preferably a solenoid-driven diaphragm pump from the viewpoint of minimizing the number of moving parts. ProMinent Dosie as a suitable solenoid driven diaphragm pump
Pumps (trademark Beta) from rtechnik GmbH are commercially available. This pump has an air valve that is moved back and forth by an electric signal and has a two-position four-way electric solenoid valve, which has a single operator and a spring return mechanism. When power is applied, the valve spool moves and the air boosts the pressure in the air chamber. When the electric signal is released, the spring return mechanism moves the valve spool to a position where the pressure of the pressurized air chamber is reduced and the pressure of the air chamber facing the air chamber is increased. The pump reciprocates by alternately applying and releasing electric power. The faster the electrical signal is delivered, the faster the pump will operate.

The clean system according to the present invention is particularly preferably used in the external lead bonding process having the following steps. First, as shown in FIG. 6, the pad (or lead) 404 of the display panel 406 is cleaned by the clean system 300 according to the present invention. Thereafter, the anisotropic conductive tape 500 (see FIG. 6), which is inherently adhesive, is attached to the display panel 406 on the pad (or lead) 404. Next, the tape carrier package (TCP) 502 is placed on the display panel 406.
The TCP 502 is generally formed (eg, affixed) on the film 504, the driver chip 506 coupled to the film 504, and the film 504.
And a plurality of external leads 508. Here, a minute gap is provided between two adjacent external leads 508. In this process, the external lead 508 of the TCP 502
Align with the pads (or leads) 404 of the display panel 406. Finally, the tape carrier package outer leads 508 are bonded to the pads (or leads) 404 by, for example, a thermocompression bonding tool.

The clean system according to the present invention replaces a conventional peristaltic pump with a metering pump such as a piston pump, a gear pump or a diaphragm pump. The operation of piston pumps, gear pumps and diaphragm pumps does not require components that are easily worn away like the bent tubes of conventional peristaltic pumps, which allows the clean system to have a longer service life than conventional clean systems. Therefore, the operation stop time can be reduced and the processing amount can be increased. Furthermore, the clean system according to the present invention is sufficiently compatible with existing materials and related equipment used in the external lead bonding process, and does not affect their performance.

While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, many other modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed below. But you can understand.

[0017]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a clean system which can reduce the work stop time and increase the processing amount and has a long operating life. Further, since the substrate is cleaned together with the pads (or leads) formed on the substrate, it is possible to provide a reliable clean system used in the external lead bonding process.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conventional clean system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a peristaltic pump used in the clean system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a clean system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a clean system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

5 shows a clean head of the clean system of FIG. 3 used to clean pads (or leads) on a display panel.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a tape carrier package combined with the display panel of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

300: Clean system 302: Storage tank 304: Clean head 306: Metering pump 308: Inlet 310: Outlet 312: Check valve 400: string-like object 402: upper surface 404: Pad (or lead) 406: Display panel 504: film 506: Driver chip 508: External lead

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A system for cleaning the substrate having at least one pad formed on a first surface of the substrate, the reservoir storing a cleaning fluid, and the pad on the substrate. And a metering pump other than a peristaltic pump for discharging the cleaning fluid from the storage tank to the clean head. 2. The metering pump is connected to the storage tank, is connected to the first clean head, and has an inlet for allowing the cleaning fluid to be discharged to flow into the metering pump. An outlet for allowing the cleaning fluid to be discharged from the metering pump to the clean head. 3. The system further comprises a first check valve disposed between the metering pump and the first clean head, the check valve wherein the cleaning fluid is the first clean valve. The system of claim 1 which is selectively closed to prevent backflow from the head to the metering pump. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the clean head has a string that carries the cleaning fluid and contacts the pad on the substrate to clean. 5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the string-like object is a non-woven string-like object. 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the metering pump is a piston pump. 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the metering pump is a gear pump. 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the metering pump is a diaphragm pump. 9. The system of claim 1 wherein the metering pump is a solenoid driven diaphragm pump. 10. The system further comprises a second clean head connected to the metering pump to clean a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface, the metering pump and the second clean head. A check valve disposed between the first and second cleaning heads and selectively closed to prevent the cleaning fluid from flowing backward from the second clean head to the metering pump. The system described. 11. The claim in which each of the clean heads has a string-like object that carries the cleaning fluid and that contacts the first surface or the second surface of the substrate to clean the cleaning fluid. 10. The system according to 10. 12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the string-like object is a non-woven string-like object.