WO2024171285A1 - Printer and solder rolling method - Google Patents

Abstract

In the present invention, a squeegee 61 has side members 7 attached to both ends thereof in a Y-direction (width direction). Each of the side members 7 has formed therein an opening 72 that is open toward the squeegee 61 side in the Y-direction. The opening 72 faces, in the Y-direction, a solder Dr on which rolling is to be performed by the squeegee 61. As the rolling is performed, a solder Ds having flowed outward in the Y-direction beyond each of the ends of the squeegee 61 moves into the inside of the corresponding opening 72. In other words, the solder Ds having flowed out from the end of the squeegee 61 is received in the opening 72 of the corresponding side member 7. As a result, it is possible to avoid accumulation of a large amount of a solder D at the ends of the squeegee 61.

Description

Printing device and solder rolling method

This invention relates to a technique for rolling solder by moving a squeegee in the direction of the squeegee on the top surface of a mask on which solder is placed.

In a conventional printing device that prints solder, a squeegee that comes into contact with the solder placed on the top surface of a mask is moved in the squeegee direction, and rolling is appropriately performed to rotate the solder while pushing it aside with the squeegee. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a printing device that moves the solder on the top surface of a stencil by sliding a wiping blade (squeegee) over the stencil (mask). Also, in this printing device, a deflector is provided at the end of the wiping blade to return the solder that flows out from the end of the wiping blade back to the stencil side.

WO03/057493A1

In addition to the deflector described above, other components that can be attached to the end of the squeegee include plates and the like that prevent solder from flowing out from the end of the squeegee. In this way, side members are appropriately attached to the end of the squeegee to deal with solder that flows out from the end of the squeegee. However, attaching a side member to the end of the squeegee can sometimes cause the following problem. That is, when this side member restricts the movement of solder from the end of the squeegee to the outside, a large amount of solder ends up staying at the end of the squeegee. As a result, a large amount of solder adheres to the end of the squeegee, impeding the rolling of the solder by the squeegee and making it difficult to properly maintain the properties of the solder, such as its viscosity.

This invention was made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a technology that can prevent the rolling of solder from being hindered by a large amount of solder adhering to the end of a squeegee when rolling the solder with a squeegee having a side member attached to its end.

The printing device according to the present invention comprises a squeegee that is in contact with the upper surface of the mask and can move in a predetermined squeegee direction, and a side member that is attached to the end of the squeegee in a width direction perpendicular to the squeegee direction and can move in the squeegee direction along with the squeegee, the squeegee moves in the squeegee direction while contacting the solder placed on the upper surface of the mask from the upstream side in the squeegee direction, thereby performing rolling to move the solder in the squeegee direction relative to the upper surface of the mask, the side member has an opening that opens on the squeegee side in the width direction, the opening faces the solder being rolled from the width direction, and as rolling is performed, the solder that flows out from the end of the squeegee to the outside in the width direction moves inside the opening.

The solder rolling method according to the present invention includes a step of performing rolling on the solder placed on the upper surface of the mask by moving a squeegee in a predetermined squeegee direction in contact with the upper surface of the mask. During rolling, the squeegee moves in the squeegee direction while contacting the solder from the upstream side of the squeegee direction, thereby moving the solder in the squeegee direction relative to the upper surface of the mask. A side member that can move in the squeegee direction along with the squeegee is attached to the end of the squeegee in the width direction perpendicular to the squeegee direction. The side member has an opening that opens to the squeegee side in the width direction, and the opening faces the solder being rolled from the width direction. As rolling is performed, the solder that flows outward in the width direction from the end of the squeegee moves inside the opening.

In the present invention (printing device and rolling method) configured in this manner, the side member attached to the end of the squeegee has an opening that opens toward the squeegee in the width direction. This opening faces the solder being rolled in the width direction. As rolling is performed, the solder that flows outward in the width direction from the end of the squeegee moves inside the opening. In other words, the opening of the side member receives the solder that flows out from the end of the squeegee. This makes it possible to prevent a large amount of solder from accumulating at the end of the squeegee. As a result, it is possible to prevent rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder adhering to the end of the squeegee.

The printing device may also be configured so that an opening is provided so that, when viewed from the side in the width direction, the center between both ends of the solder in the squeegee direction is located inside both ends of the opening. In this configuration, the solder that flows out from the end of the squeegee is reliably received by the opening of the side member, preventing a large amount of solder from accumulating at the end of the squeegee. As a result, it is possible to prevent rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder adhering to the end of the squeegee.

The printing device may also be configured so that the material of the side member is polyurethane, silicone, or polypropylene. By configuring the side member from a resin of such a material, it is possible to suppress adhesion of solder to the side member, that is, it is possible to suppress solder that reaches the side member from the squeegee from adhering to and accumulating on the side member. Therefore, it is possible to allow the solder that flows out from the end of the squeegee to reach the opening of the side member, and to prevent a large amount of solder from accumulating at the end of the squeegee. As a result, it is possible to suppress the hindrance of rolling due to a large amount of solder adhering to the end of the squeegee. In particular, when a synthetic resin is used as a flux component of the solder, it is preferable to configure the side member from such a material.

The printing device may also be configured so that the side member has an opening periphery that surrounds the opening. In this configuration, the opening periphery that surrounds the opening supports the solder that flows out from the end of the squeegee into the opening, preventing a large amount of solder from accumulating at the end of the squeegee. As a result, it is possible to prevent rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder adhering to the end of the squeegee.

The printing device may also be configured so that the opening periphery has a lower periphery that is adjacent to the opening from below and extends along the opening in the direction of the squeegee, contacting the upper surface of the mask. In such a configuration, the lower periphery of the opening periphery supports the solder that flows out from the end of the squeegee, preventing a large amount of solder from accumulating at the end of the squeegee. As a result, it is possible to prevent rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder adhering to the end of the squeegee.

The printing device may also be configured so that the solder that flows out from the end of the squeegee into the opening as rolling is performed is supported by the lower peripheral portion and moves in the squeegee direction along with the lower peripheral portion. In such a configuration, the solder that flows out from the end of the squeegee and is supported by the lower peripheral portion moves in the squeegee direction following the solder being rolled by the squeegee. This makes it possible to prevent the solder supported by the lower peripheral portion from impeding rolling.

The printing device may also be configured so that the opening is open on both sides in the width direction. In this configuration, the width of the opening is sufficient to securely receive the solder that flows out from the end of the squeegee. As a result, it is possible to prevent a large amount of solder adhering to the end of the squeegee from interfering with rolling.

According to the present invention, when rolling solder with a squeegee having a side member attached to its end, it is possible to prevent the rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder adhering to the end of the squeegee.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a printing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a schematic view of a squeegee included in the squeegee unit and a side member attached to the squeegee; 4 is a side view showing a schematic diagram of a squeegee included in the squeegee unit and a side member attached to the squeegee; FIG.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing device. In FIG. 1, the horizontal X direction, the horizontal Y direction perpendicular to the X direction, and the vertical Z direction are appropriately shown. The printing device 1 comprises a mask holding unit 2 that holds a mask M, a substrate holding unit 4 arranged below the mask M, and a squeegee unit 6 arranged above the mask M. This printing device 1 uses the substrate holding unit 4 to position substrate B facing the mask M from below, while sliding the lower end 611 (tip) of the squeegee 61 of the squeegee unit 6 over the top surface of the mask M in the X direction. As a result, solder D supplied to the top surface of the mask M is printed on the top surface of substrate B via a pattern that penetrates the mask M.

The mask holding unit 2 has a clamp member 21, and the mask M is removably attached to the clamp member 21 via a frame 22 provided on the periphery of the mask M. This allows the mask M, which has a flat plate shape, to be held horizontally by the mask holding unit 2. This mask M has a rectangular shape in a plan view, and has through holes (mask pattern) shaped according to the printing pattern on the substrate B.

The substrate holding unit 4 is disposed below the mask M held by the mask holding unit 2, and serves to align the position of the substrate B with respect to the mask M. The substrate holding unit 4 has a pair of conveyors 41 that transport the substrate B, a substrate holding section 42 that holds the substrate B received from the conveyors 41, and a flat movable table 43 that supports the conveyors 41 and the substrate holding section 42.

The pair of conveyors 41 are arranged parallel to each other in the Y direction with a gap in the X direction, and their upper surfaces support both ends of the substrate B in the X direction from below. Each conveyor 41 transports the substrate B in the Y direction, thereby loading and unloading the substrate B into and from the printing device 1.

The substrate holding unit 42 has a flat lift table 421 and a slide support 422 that can slide in the Z direction relative to the movable table 43, and the lift table 421 is supported on the upper end of the slide support 422. A number of backup pins P are erected in the Z direction on the upper surface of the lift table 421 and are arranged at intervals in the X and Y directions, and the lift table 421 functions as a platform on which the backup pins P are placed. As the slide support 422 rises and falls, the backup pins P rise and fall together with the lift table 421.

For example, when the conveyor 41 carries in the board B, the upper end of each backup pin P is positioned below the upper surface of the conveyor 41. Then, when the conveyor 41 carries in the board B directly above the backup pin P, the backup pin P rises and the upper end of the backup pin P protrudes upward from the upper surface of the conveyor 41. As a result, the upper end of the backup pin P contacts the lower surface of the board B while pushing up the board B, and the board B is transferred from the upper surface of the conveyor 41 to the upper end of each backup pin P.

The substrate holding section 42 also has a pair of clamp plates 424 spaced apart in the X direction above the pair of conveyors 41, and at least one of these clamp plates 424 is movable in the X direction. The upper surface of each clamp plate 424 is a plane parallel to the X and Y directions and is located at the same height. Then, when substrate B on backup pin P rises up to between the pair of clamp plates 424, one of the clamp plates 424 moves towards the other, and substrate B is clamped from the X direction (horizontal direction) by these clamp plates 424.

Furthermore, the substrate holding unit 4 has a table driving mechanism 44 that drives the movable table 43. This table driving mechanism 44 drives the conveyor 41 and substrate holding part 42 arranged on the movable table 43 in the X, Y, Z, and R directions by an X-axis table 441, a Y-axis table 442 attached to the upper surface of the X-axis table 441, an R-axis table 443 attached to the upper surface of the Y-axis table 442, and a ball screw 444 that raises and lowers the movable table 43 relative to the R-axis table 443. For example, when positioning substrate B relative to mask M, the position of substrate B clamped to clamp plate 424 is adjusted in the X, Y, Z, and R directions to bring the upper surfaces of the clamp plate 424 and substrate B into contact with the lower surface of mask M.

In this way, in the printing device 1 shown in FIG. 1, the squeegee unit 6 moves the squeegee 61 in the X direction with the lower end 611 of the squeegee 61 in contact with the upper surface of the mask M. This causes the lower end 611 of the squeegee 61 to slide in the X direction against the upper surface of the mask M. In addition, solder D is placed on the upper surface of the mask M, and the solder D is printed on the upper surface of the substrate B via the pattern of the mask M by the squeegee 61 sliding in the X direction. Next, the configuration related to the squeegee 61 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a squeegee of the squeegee unit and a side member attached to the squeegee, and FIG. 3 is a side view showing a squeegee of the squeegee unit and a side member attached to the squeegee. In FIG. 2, the Y1 side and the Y2 side in the Y direction are shown. Here, the Y1 side and the Y2 side face in opposite directions.

The squeegee 61 is a flat plate extending parallel to the Y direction, and the lower end 611 of the squeegee 61 contacts the upper surface of the mask M. The squeegee 61 contacts the upper surface of the mask M while tilting at a predetermined angle (attack angle) relative to the upper surface of the mask M. The squeegee unit 6 performs rolling of the solder D by moving the squeegee 61, which contacts the mask M at the attack angle in this manner, in the squeegee direction S parallel to the X direction.

In other words, during rolling, the squeegee 61 moves in the squeegee direction S while contacting the solder D from the upstream side of the squeegee direction S, thereby moving the solder D placed on the upper surface of the mask M in the squeegee direction S. This rolling causes the solder D to rotate on the upper surface of the mask M as shown by the dashed arrow in Figure 3, and the characteristics (viscosity, etc.) of the solder D are well maintained. In the following, of the solder D supplied to the mask M, the solder D rolled by the squeegee 61 is specifically referred to as solder Dr, and the solder D that flows outward from the squeegee 61 in the Y direction is specifically referred to as solder Ds.

The squeegee unit 6 also has side members 7 (side plates) attached to both ends of the squeegee 61 in the Y direction. The side members 7 can be attached to the squeegee 61 by means of fastening members such as screws. However, the specific configuration for attaching the side members 7 to the squeegee 61 is not limited to fastening members. The side members 7 are provided to receive the solder D that flows outward in the Y direction from the ends of the squeegee 61 as it rolls.

The side member 7 has a side member main body 71 and an opening 72 that penetrates the side member main body 71 in the Y direction. In a side view from the Y direction, the shape of the opening 72 is a triangle with rounded corners. In contrast, the side member main body 71 has an opening peripheral portion 73 that surrounds the opening 72. The opening peripheral portion 73 has three peripheral portions 731, 732, 733 that respectively correspond to each side of the triangle of the opening 72. The inner wall surfaces 721, 722, 723 of the peripheral portions 731, 732, 733 respectively define the opening 72 and are each arranged parallel to the Y direction.

Of the inner wall surfaces 721, 722, and 723, a squeegee 61 is provided on the inner wall surface 723, and the inner wall surface 723 and the squeegee 61 are parallel to each other. The squeegee 61 may be provided so as to protrude from the inner wall surface 723 toward the inside of the opening 72 (FIG. 3), or may be provided so as to protrude from the inner wall surface 723 toward the outside of the opening 72, or may be provided flush with the inner wall surface 723. When performing the rolling shown in FIG. 3, the peripheral portion 731 comes into contact with the upper surface of the mask M, and the inner wall surface 721 is parallel to the upper surface of the mask M, i.e., parallel to the squeegee direction S.

Such opening 72 has a solder inlet 720 at the end on the squeegee 61 side in the Y direction. Specifically, a solder inlet 720 is provided at the Y2 side (squeegee 61 side) end of the opening 72 of the side member 7 provided on the Y1 side of the squeegee 61, and a solder inlet 720 is provided at the Y1 side (squeegee 61 side) end of the opening 72 of the side member 7 provided on the Y2 side of the squeegee 61. This solder inlet 720 faces the solder Dr rolled by the squeegee 61 from the Y direction. In particular, in a side view from the Y direction, the center Lc between both ends Leu, Led of the solder in the squeegee direction S is located inside (i.e., between) both ends Lu, Ld of the solder inlet 720 of the opening 72. Here, in the Y direction, the center Lc is located at the midpoint of both ends Leu and Led, and the distance in the Y direction from the center Lc to the end Leu is equal to the distance in the Y direction from the center Lc to the end Led.

Thus, in the Y direction, the solder inlet 720 opens on the squeegee 61 side, and the solder Ds that flows out from the squeegee 61 to the side member 7 side reaches the inside of the opening 72 via the solder inlet 720 and rests on the inner wall surface 721 of the peripheral portion 731. Meanwhile, the side member 7 is attached to the squeegee 61 and moves together with the squeegee 61 in the squeegee direction S. Therefore, during rolling, the solder Ds that reaches the opening 72 follows the solder Dr that is being rolled by the squeegee 61 while being supported by the peripheral portion 731 that moves together with the squeegee 61.

In the embodiment described above, a side member 7 is attached to the end of the squeegee 61 in the Y direction (width direction). This side member 7 has an opening 72 that opens toward the squeegee 61 in the Y direction. This opening 72 faces the solder Dr that is being rolled by the squeegee 61 from the Y direction. As rolling is performed, the solder Ds that flows out from the end of the squeegee 61 to the outside in the Y direction moves inside the opening 72. In other words, the opening 72 of the side member 7 receives the solder Ds that flows out from the end of the squeegee 61. This makes it possible to prevent a large amount of solder D from accumulating at the end of the squeegee 61. As a result, it is possible to prevent rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder D attached to the end of the squeegee 61.

In addition, the opening 72 is provided so that, in a side view from the Y direction, the center Lc between both ends Leu, Led of the solder D of the squeegee 61 is located inside both ends Lu, Ld of the opening 72. With this configuration, the solder Ds that flows out from the end of the squeegee 61 is reliably received by the opening 72 of the side member 7, preventing a large amount of solder D from accumulating at the end of the squeegee 61. As a result, it is possible to prevent rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder D adhering to the end of the squeegee 61.

The side member 7 also has an opening periphery 73 that surrounds the opening 72. In this configuration, the opening periphery 73 that surrounds the opening 72 supports the solder Ds that flows out from the end of the squeegee 61 into the opening 72, preventing a large amount of solder D from accumulating at the end of the squeegee 61. As a result, it is possible to prevent rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder D adhering to the end of the squeegee 61.

The opening peripheral portion 73 also has a peripheral portion 731 (lower peripheral portion). This peripheral portion 731 is adjacent to the opening 72 from below and extends along the opening 72 in the squeegee direction S, and contacts the upper surface of the mask M when the solder D is rolled. In this configuration, the peripheral portion 731 of the opening peripheral portion 73 supports the solder Ds that flows out from the end of the squeegee 61, preventing a large amount of solder D from remaining at the end of the squeegee 61. As a result, it is possible to prevent rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder D adhering to the end of the squeegee 61.

In addition, as rolling is performed, the solder D that flows out from the end of the squeegee 61 into the opening 72 is supported by the peripheral portion 731 and moves in the squeegee direction S along with the peripheral portion 731. In this configuration, the solder Ds that flows out from the end of the squeegee 61 and is supported by the peripheral portion 731 moves in the squeegee direction S following the solder Dr that is being rolled by the squeegee 61. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the solder Ds supported by the peripheral portion 731 from impeding the rolling of the solder Dr by the squeegee 61.

The openings 72 are also open on both sides in the Y direction. In this configuration, the openings 72 are provided across the entire side member 7 in the Y direction. This ensures that the width of the openings 72 in the Y direction can be secured, allowing the solder Ds that flows out from the end of the squeegee 61 to be securely received by the openings 72. As a result, it is possible to prevent the rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder D adhering to the end of the squeegee 61.

In this manner, in the above embodiment, the mask M corresponds to an example of a "mask" of the present invention, the squeegee direction S corresponds to an example of a "squeegee direction" of the present invention, the squeegee 61 corresponds to an example of a "squeegee" of the present invention, the Y direction corresponds to an example of a "width direction" of the present invention, the side member 7 corresponds to an example of a "side member" of the present invention, the opening 72 corresponds to an example of an "opening" of the present invention, the printing device 1 corresponds to an example of a "printing device" of the present invention, the opening periphery 73 corresponds to an example of an "opening periphery" of the present invention, and the periphery 731 corresponds to an example of a "lower periphery" of the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made to the above without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the material of the side member 7 is not specifically described. However, the side member 7 can be made of various materials.

For example, the material of the side member 7 may be polyurethane, silicone, or polypropylene. By forming the side member 7 from a resin of such a material, it is possible to suppress adhesion of the solder Ds to the side member 7, that is, it is possible to suppress the solder Ds that reaches the side member 7 from the squeegee 61 from adhering to and accumulating at the end of the side member 7 on the squeegee 61 side (in other words, near the solder inlet 720). Therefore, it is possible to prevent a large amount of solder D from accumulating at the end of the squeegee 61 by making the solder Ds that flows out from the end of the squeegee 61 reach the opening 72 of the side member 7. As a result, it is possible to suppress the rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder D that adheres to the end of the squeegee 61. In particular, when a synthetic resin is used as a flux component of the solder D, it is preferable to form the side member 7 from such a material, since it is possible to suppress the adhesion of the solder Ds to the side member 7.

Furthermore, the opening 72 does not need to be open on both sides in the Y direction. Therefore, the opening 72 may be closed on the side opposite the squeegee 61.

The squeegee 61 can also be moved back and forth in the X direction to roll the solder D. In this case, the orientation of the squeegee 61 is reversed from the state shown in FIG. 3. Accordingly, rolling is performed with the peripheral portion 732 of the side member 7, rather than the peripheral portion 731, in contact with the upper surface of the mask M.

The shape and dimensions of the side member 7 can be changed as appropriate. Therefore, the shape of the opening 72 is not limited to a triangle, and can be other shapes such as a rectangle or an oval.

M: Mask S: Squeegee direction 61: Squeegee Y: Y direction (width direction)
7: Side member 72: Opening 1: Printing device 73: Opening periphery 731: Periphery (lower periphery)

Claims (8)

a squeegee that is movable in a predetermined direction while contacting an upper surface of the mask;
a side member attached to an end of the squeegee in a width direction perpendicular to the squeegee direction and movable in the squeegee direction along with the squeegee;
the squeegee moves in the squeegee direction while contacting the solder placed on the upper surface of the mask from the upstream side in the squeegee direction, thereby performing rolling to move the solder in the squeegee direction relative to the upper surface of the mask;
the side member has an opening that opens toward the squeegee in the width direction,
the opening faces the solder on which the rolling is performed in the width direction,
A printing device in which, as the rolling is performed, the solder that flows outward from the end of the squeegee in the width direction moves into the opening. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the opening is provided so that, when viewed from the side in the width direction, the center between both ends of the solder in the squeegee direction is located inside both ends of the opening. The printing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the material of the side member is polyurethane, silicone or polypropylene. The printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the side member has an opening periphery that surrounds the opening. The printing device according to claim 4, wherein the opening periphery is adjacent to the opening from below, extends along the opening in the direction of the squeegee, and has a lower periphery that contacts the upper surface of the mask. The printing device according to claim 5, wherein the solder that flows out from the end of the squeegee into the opening as the rolling is performed is supported by the lower peripheral portion and moves in the direction of the squeegee along with the lower peripheral portion. The printing device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the opening is open on both sides in the width direction. The method includes a step of performing rolling on the solder placed on the upper surface of the mask by moving a squeegee in a predetermined squeegee direction,
In the rolling, the squeegee moves in the squeegee direction while contacting the solder from the upstream side in the squeegee direction, thereby moving the solder in the squeegee direction relative to the upper surface of the mask,
a side member that is movable in the squeegee direction along with the squeegee is attached to an end of the squeegee in a width direction perpendicular to the squeegee direction,
the side member has an opening that opens toward the squeegee in the width direction,
the opening faces the solder on which the rolling is performed in the width direction,
A solder rolling method in which, as the rolling is performed, the solder that has flowed outward from the end of the squeegee in the width direction moves into the inside of the opening.

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