Sheet application device and sheet application method

Abstract

To provide a holding device and a holding method, and a sheet sticking device and a sheet stacking method, capable of preventing an increase in device size.SOLUTION: A holding device EA forms a pressure change space CS between a holding object AS and a held surface AS1 and reduces pressure in the pressure change space CS to hold the holding object AS. The holding device includes: pressure change space forming means 10 capable of forming the pressure change space CS together with the held surface AS1; sealing control means 20 capable of sealing and opening the pressure change space CS in the state where the pressure change space CS is formed; and external force applying means 30 deforming the pressure change space forming means 10. The pressure change space forming means 10 includes volume change means 11 capable of changing the volume of the pressure change space CS by deformation. After the pressure change space CS has been sealed, the external force applying means 30 deforms the volume change means 11 in a direction where the volume of the pressure change space CS increases, and reduces pressure in the pressure change space CS to obtain holding power to hold the holding object AS.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention , relates to a sheet sticking device and a sheet sticking method.

Background Art

[0002] A holding device for holding an object to be held and a sheet sticking device for sticking an adhesive sheet to an adherent using the holding device are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the sticking portion 3 (holding device) and the sticking device (sheet sticking device) described in Patent Document 1, a pressure - changing space is formed by the held surface of the label L (object to be held) and the suction pad 33 (pressure - changing space forming means), and a large - scale device such as the pressure adjusting means 6 is used to decompress the pressure - changing space to obtain a holding force for holding the sheet. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that the device becomes large - sized.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to prevent the device from becoming large - sized ru shi and to provide a sheet sticking device and a sheet sticking method.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention adopts the configuration described in the claims.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, after the pressure-transforming space is sealed, the volume-changing means is deformed in a direction that increases the volume of the pressure-transforming space, thereby reducing the pressure in the pressure-transforming space and obtaining the holding force to hold the object to be held. This eliminates the need for large-scale equipment. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the equipment from becoming large. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] (A) is an explanatory diagram of a holding device and a sheet attaching device according to one embodiment of the present invention. (B) to (D) are explanatory diagrams of a holding device according to a modified example of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figure 1. In this embodiment, the X, Y, and Z axes are orthogonal to each other. The X and Y axes are axes within a predetermined plane, and the Z axis is an axis perpendicular to the predetermined plane. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when directions are indicated based on a view from the front direction in Figure 1(A) parallel to the Y axis, "up" is the direction of the Z-axis arrow and "down" is the opposite direction, "left" is the direction of the X-axis arrow and "right" is the opposite direction, "front" is the front direction in Figure 1(A) parallel to the Y axis and "back" is the opposite direction.

[0010] The holding device EA is a device that holds an adhesive sheet AS by forming a pressure-variable space CS between itself and the surface AS1 of the adhesive sheet AS to be held, and reducing the pressure in the pressure-variable space CS. The device comprises a pressure-variable space forming means 10 capable of forming a pressure-variable space CS with the surface AS1, a sealing control means 20 capable of sealing and opening the pressure-variable space CS when it is formed, and an external force applying means 30 for deforming the pressure-variable space forming means 10. The sheet application device EA1 is a device that uses a holding device EA and comprises a supply means 40 for supplying adhesive sheets AS, a holding device EA, and a pressing means 50 for pressing and applying the adhesive sheets AS held by the holding device EA to the object to be applied WK, and is located near a transport means 60 for transporting the object to be applied WK. In this embodiment, the adhesive sheet AS has an adhesive layer AL laminated on one side.

[0011] The pressure transformation space forming means 10 includes a bellows 11 as a volume changing means that can change the volume of the pressure transformation space CS by deformation, and a contact member 12 supported by the bellows 11 and having a recess 12A that communicates with a recess 11A of the bellows 11, and the pressure transformation space CS is formed by the recess 11A, the recess 12A and the held surface AS1. In this embodiment, the bellows 11 and the contact member 12 are made of an elastic material such as rubber or resin that can be elastically deformed.

[0012] The sealed control means 20 includes a solenoid valve 21 as a drive device equipped with a valve 21A, and a pipe 22 that connects the solenoid valve 21 to the pressure transformation space CS. Furthermore, the sealing control means 20 can seal and open the voltage transformation space CS by opening and closing the valve 21A.

[0013] The external force application means 30 includes a linear motor 31 as a drive device and a linear motor 32 as a drive device supported by the slider 31A of the linear motor 31 and supporting the bellows 11 with its output shaft 32A. After the pressure transformation space CS is sealed, the bellows 11 is deformed in a direction that increases the volume of the pressure transformation space CS, thereby reducing the pressure in the pressure transformation space CS and obtaining a holding force to hold the adhesive sheet AS. In this embodiment, the external force applying means 30 forms the pressure-transformed space CS by elastically deforming the bellows 11 in a direction that decreases the volume of the pressure-transformed space CS before the pressure-transformed space CS is sealed, and after the pressure-transformed space CS is sealed by the sealing control means 20, the external force on the bellows 11 is reduced so that the elastic restoring force of the bellows 11 deforms the bellows 11 in a direction that increases the volume of the pressure-transformed space CS, thereby holding the adhesive sheet AS.

[0014] The supply means 40 includes a base plate 41 that directly or indirectly supports the components constituting the supply means 40, a support roller 42 that supports a raw roll RS on which an adhesive sheet AS is temporarily attached to one side of a release sheet RL, a guide roller 43 that guides the raw roll RS, a release plate 44 as a release means that folds the release sheet RL at the release edge 44A and peels the adhesive sheet AS from the release sheet RL, a drive roller 45 supported on the output shaft (not shown) of a rotary motor 45A as a drive device and sandwiches the release sheet RL between itself and a pinch roller 45B, and a recovery roller 46 supported on the output shaft of a drive device (not shown) and constantly applies a predetermined tension to the release sheet RL between itself and the pinch roller 45B while the sheet application device EA1 is in automatic operation and recovers the release sheet RL.

[0015] In this embodiment, the pressing means 50 is also used as the external force applying means 30 and includes a linear motor 31 and a linear motor 32.

[0016] The conveying means 60 includes a conveyor 61 such as a belt conveyor or roller conveyor for conveying the object to be attached WK.

[0017] The operation of the sheet application device EA1 equipped with the above-described holding device EA will now be explained. First, the user of the sheet application device EA1 (hereinafter simply referred to as "user") sets the raw material RS as shown in the Figure 1(A), with each component positioned in the initial position shown by the solid line in the Figure 1(A). Then, a signal to start automatic operation is input via an operating means such as an operation panel or personal computer (not shown). The supply means 40 then drives the rotary motor 45A to feed out the raw material RS, and as shown in Figure 1(A), when the leading adhesive sheet AS reaches a predetermined position on the release plate 44, the driving of the rotary motor 45A is stopped.

[0018] Next, when the user or transfer means (not shown) such as a multi-joint robot or a belt conveyor places the adherent WK on the conveyor 61 as shown in Fig. 1(A), the conveying means 60 drives the conveyor 61 to convey the adherent WK to the left. When the adherent WK reaches a predetermined position as shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure, the driving of the conveyor 61 is stopped. At the same time as the start of the driving of the conveyor 61, the external force applying means 30 drives the linear motor 32 to lower the output shaft 32A, and the contact member 12 is brought into contact with the holding surface AS1 of the adhesive sheet AS to form the pressure change space CS. After that, even after the contact member 12 comes into contact with the holding surface AS1, the lowering of the output shaft 32A continues, and as shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 1(A), the bellows 11 is crushed (deformed) in the direction in which the volume of the pressure change space CS decreases. At this time, the air in the pressure change space CS is exhausted from the pressure change space CS because the valve 21A of the solenoid valve 21 is open. Next, when the bellows 11 is crushed by a predetermined amount, after the external force applying means 30 stops driving the linear motor 32, the sealing control means 20 drives the solenoid valve 21 to close the valve 21A and seal the pressure change space CS.

[0019] Then, when the supply means 40 drives the rotation motor 45A to unwind the base material RS, the external force applying means 30 drives the linear motor 31 to move the pressure change space forming means 10 to the left in accordance with the feeding speed of the adhesive sheet AS. As a result, the leading adhesive sheet AS is peeled off from the release sheet RL, and the bellows 11, which has lost the support by the release plate 44 together with the peeled adhesive sheet AS, tries to return to its original shape by its own elastic restoring force. Therefore, the bellows 11 is deformed in the direction in which the volume of the pressure change space CS increases, and the pressure in the pressure change space CS is reduced, so that a holding force for holding the adhesive sheet AS is obtained. Next, when the entire leading adhesive sheet AS is peeled off from the release sheet RL and held by the holding device EA, and the next adhesive sheet AS following the leading adhesive sheet AS reaches a predetermined position on the release plate 44, the supply means 40 stops driving the rotation motor 45A.

[0020] Thereafter, the pressing means 50 drives the linear motor 31 and the direct-acting motor 32, and as shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 1(A), presses the adhesive sheet AS held by the holding device EA against the adherend WK and attaches it. Next, the sealing control means 20 drives the solenoid valve 21, returns the valve 21A to the initial position to open the pressure-changing space CS, and then the pressing means 50 drives the linear motor 31 and the direct-acting motor 32 to return the pressure-changing space forming means 10 to the initial position. Then, the conveying means 60 drives the conveyor 61 to convey the adherend WK to the left toward the next process, and the same operations as above are repeated thereafter.

[0021] According to the above-described embodiment, after the pressure-changing space CS is sealed, the bellows 11 is deformed in the direction in which the volume of the pressure-changing space CS increases to reduce the pressure in the pressure-changing space CS and obtain the holding force for holding the adhesive sheet AS, so that a large-scale device is not required. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the device from becoming large-sized.

[0022] As described above, the best configuration, method, etc. for implementing the present invention are disclosed in the above description, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the present invention is mainly illustrated and described with respect to specific embodiments, but without departing from the scope of the technical idea and purpose of the present invention, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art to the above-described embodiments in terms of shape, material, quantity, and other detailed configurations. In addition, the descriptions limiting the shape, material, etc. disclosed above are illustrative descriptions for facilitating the understanding of the present invention and do not limit the present invention. Therefore, the descriptions using the names of members with some or all of the limitations on those shapes, materials, etc. removed are included in the present invention.

[0023] The pressure-changing space forming means 10 may be constituted by an integral structure of the bellows 11 and the contact member 12 (for example, a suction pad with a bellows), or may be constituted by a separate structure in which the bellows 11 and the contact member 12 are connected by a pipe connecting the recess 11A and the recess 12A. The volume changing means may consist of a bellows 11 and a contact member 12, or a deformable hollow sphere may be used, or a syringe type that returns to a predetermined shape by an elastic member such as a spring or resin may be used, or any other means that can change the volume of the pressure changing space CS by deforming.

[0024] The sealing control means 20 may employ, in addition to the solenoid valve 21, a drive device that displaces a directional control valve, variable throttle valve, gate valve, butterfly valve, etc., to enable sealing and opening of the pressure-transforming space CS; or it may be configured to open the pressure-transforming space CS to the atmosphere; or it may be configured to open the pressure-transforming space CS to a gas-containing means such as a chamber or tank; or the piping 22 may be connected to the recess 12A, or to the bellows 11 and the contact member 12; or the piping 22 may be eliminated and directly connected to the recess 11A or recess 12A.

[0025] The external force applying means 30 may be independent and not shared with the pressing means 50. For example, the volume changing means may be deformed in a direction that decreases the volume of the transforming space CS by a drive device other than the linear motor 32. Alternatively, the adhesive sheet AS may be moved without moving the transforming space forming means 10 or while moving it, and the volume changing means may be deformed in a direction that increases the volume of the transforming space CS by the elastic restoring force of the volume changing means. The external force application means 30 may include a movement suppression member that prevents the adhesive sheet AS on the release plate 44 from moving in the direction of movement of the output shaft 32A of the linear motor 32 when reducing the pressure in the variable pressure space CS. The external force application means 30 may, for example, employ a chuck motor 33 as a drive device equipped with chuck jaws 33A and 33B that can contract and extend the bellows 11, as shown in Figures 1(B) to (C). In this case, as shown in Figures 1(B) and (C), the external force applying means 30 may deform the bellows 11 in a direction that decreases the volume of the pressure-transformed space CS by bringing the chuck jaws 33A and 33B closer together when the pressure-transformed space CS is not formed, and after the pressure-transformed space CS is formed and sealed, deform the bellows 11 in a direction that expands the volume of the pressure-transformed space CS by moving the chuck jaws 33A and 33B apart, thereby reducing the pressure in the pressure-transformed space CS and obtaining a holding force to hold the adhesive sheet AS. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 1(D), the external force applying means 30 may deform the bellows 11 in a direction that decreases the volume of the pressure-transformed space CS by bringing the chuck jaws 33A and 33B closer together when the pressure-transformed space CS is formed and the pressure-transformed space CS is open, and after the pressure-transformed space CS is sealed, deform the bellows 11 in a direction that expands the volume of the pressure-transformed space CS by moving the chuck jaws 33A and 33B apart, thereby reducing the pressure in the pressure-transformed space CS and obtaining a holding force to hold the adhesive sheet AS. In the case of the external force application means 30 shown in Figures 1(B) to (C), the bellows 11 (volume changing means) may or may not be elastically deformable. If the volume changing means is not elastically deformable, the external force application means 30 may apply an external force to the volume changing means to shrink or expand it, thereby deforming the volume changing means in a direction that increases the volume of the pressure change space CS, reducing the pressure in the pressure change space CS and obtaining a holding force to hold the adhesive sheet AS. Alternatively, the volume changing means may be expanded without shrinking it, thereby deforming the volume changing means in a direction that increases the volume of the pressure change space CS, reducing the pressure in the pressure change space CS and obtaining a holding force to hold the adhesive sheet AS.

[0026] The supply means 40 may feed a roll of raw material in which a closed loop-shaped cut or a cut along the entire width direction is formed in a strip-shaped sheet base material temporarily attached to a release sheet RL, thereby forming an adhesive sheet AS in a predetermined area partitioned by the cut, after which the adhesive sheet AS is peeled off and supplied. Alternatively, a sheet raw material in which a strip-shaped sheet base material is temporarily attached to a release sheet RL may be used, and while the sheet raw material is being fed, a closed loop-shaped cut or a cut along the entire width direction is formed in the sheet base material with a cutting blade as a cutting means, thereby forming an adhesive sheet AS in a predetermined area partitioned by the cut, after which the adhesive sheet AS is peeled off and supplied. Alternatively, plate-shaped members or shaft members may be used to support and guide the raw material RS or release sheet RL instead of rollers such as support rollers 42 and guide rollers 43. It is also possible to do so, or to support the raw roll RS by, for example, fan-folding it without winding it, or to employ a recovery means for recovering the release sheet RL by, for example, fan-folding it, shredding it with a shredder, or haphazardly accumulating it without winding it, or not to employ a recovery means, or to supply the adhesive sheet AS that is not temporarily attached to the release sheet RL by unwinding it, or to supply the adhesive sheet AS without laminating the adhesive layer AL on it, or to supply a transfer means such as a table or belt conveyor to receive the adhesive sheet AS that has been peeled off from the release sheet RL before the adhesive sheet AS is held in the holding device EA, or to provide such a means in the holding device EA of the present invention, or not to provide it.

[0027] The pressing means 50 may be independent and not be shared with the external force applying means 30. For example, the holding device EA may be moved by an articulated robot as a drive device, and the adhesive sheet AS held by the holding device EA may be pressed and attached to the adherend WK. Alternatively, the adherend WK may be moved without moving the holding device EA or while moving it, and the adhesive sheet AS held by the holding device EA may be pressed and attached to the adherend WK. Alternatively, an unheld area pressing member may be provided to press the unheld area of ​​the adhesive sheet AS not held by the holding device EA against the adherend WK. Alternatively, the adhesive sheet AS may be pressed and attached to the lower surface or side surface of the adherend WK. The holding device EA of the present invention may or may not be equipped with such a member.

[0028] The conveying means 60 may be used in place of or in combination with the conveyor 61 to convey the object WK with a drive device such as an articulated robot, or the conveyor 61 may not be stopped when the adhesive sheet AS is attached to the object WK, or it may be provided in the holding device EA or the sheet attaching device EA1 of the present invention, or it may not be provided, and if it is not provided, the object WK may be conveyed by another device.

[0029] The holding device EA may be used in devices other than the sheet application device EA1. Examples of such other devices include sheet feeding devices and printing devices, but any other device is also acceptable.

[0030] The sheet application device EA1 may include printing means such as an inkjet printer or laser printer for printing on the adhesive sheet AS.

[0031] The material, type, shape, etc., of the adhesive sheet AS and the adherend WK are not particularly limited. For example, the adhesive sheet AS and adherend WK may be circular, elliptical, polygonal (triangle, square, etc.), or have other shapes. The adhesive sheet AS may also have pressure-sensitive or heat-sensitive adhesive properties. If a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet AS is used, it may be bonded by an appropriate method, such as providing a suitable heating means, such as a suitable coil heater or the heating side of a heat pipe, to heat the adhesive sheet AS. Furthermore, the adhesive sheet AS may be any type, such as a single layer of adhesive only, a two-layer sheet with a substrate and an adhesive layer laminated together, a three-layer or three-or-more-layer sheet with one or more intermediate layers laminated between the substrate and the adhesive layer, a three-layer or three-or-more-layer sheet with one or more cover layers laminated on the upper surface of the substrate, a sheet in which the substrate, intermediate layer, or cover layer is peelably provided, a single-layer double-sided adhesive sheet consisting only of an adhesive layer, or a double-sided adhesive sheet with adhesive layers laminated on both outermost surfaces of one or more intermediate layers. Furthermore, the adherend WK may be a single object such as food, a resin container, a semiconductor wafer such as a silicon semiconductor wafer or a compound semiconductor wafer, a circuit board, an information recording substrate such as an optical disc, a glass plate, a steel plate, a ceramic, a wooden board, or a resin, or it may be a composite object formed from two or more of these, and any form of component or article can also be included. Note that the adhesive sheet AS may be replaced with any sheet, film, tape, etc., such as an information label, decorative label, protective sheet, dicing tape, die attach film, die bonding tape, or recording layer forming resin sheet, based on its functional or functional reading. The objects to be held may be individual items such as food, plastic containers, semiconductor wafers such as silicon semiconductor wafers and compound semiconductor wafers, circuit boards, information recording substrates such as optical discs, glass plates, steel plates, ceramics, wooden boards, or resin, or composite objects formed from two or more of these, and any form of component or article may also be included.

[0032] The means and processes in the present invention are not limited in any way as long as they can perform the operations, functions, or processes described for those means and processes, and are certainly not limited in any way to the components or processes of just one embodiment shown in the above embodiments. For example, the sealing control means can be any means that can seal and open the transformed space when the transformed space is formed, and is not limited in any way as long as it is within the scope of the art in light of the common technical knowledge at the time of filing (the same applies to other means and processes).

[0033] The drive equipment in the above embodiment can be electric equipment such as rotary motors, linear motors, single-axis robots, articulated robots with two or more axes, actuators such as air cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, rodless cylinders, and rotary cylinders, or a combination of these directly or indirectly. In the above embodiment, if a rotating member such as a roller is used, a drive device for rotating the rotating member may be provided, the surface of the rotating member or the rotating member itself may be made of a deformable material such as rubber or resin, the surface of the rotating member or the rotating member itself may be made of a non-deformable material, other members such as rotating or non-rotating shafts or blades may be used instead of rollers, and if a pressing means or pressing member such as a pressing roller or pressing head is used to press the object to be pressed, in addition to rollers, round bars, blade materials, and brush-like members, a method of blowing gas such as air or gas may be used instead of or in combination with those exemplified above, and the pressing material may be made of a deformable material such as rubber, resin, or sponge, or metal or resin It may be composed of non-deformable members such as, if a peeling means or peeling member such as a peeling plate or peeling roller is used to peel off the material to be peeled, a plate-shaped member, round bar, roller, etc. may be used instead of or in combination with those exemplified above, or the material to be peeled may be composed of a deformable member such as rubber or resin, or a non-deformable member, or if a cutting means or cutting member is used to cut the material to be cut or to form cuts or cutting lines on the material to be cut, a cutter blade, laser cutter, ion beam, thermal power, heat, water pressure, electric heating wire, spraying of gas or liquid, etc. may be used instead of or in combination with those exemplified above, or the material to be cut may be moved by combining appropriate drive equipment to perform the cutting. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0034] EA…Holding device EA1…Sheet application device 10...Means for forming a voltage transformation space 11...Bellows (means for changing volume) 20... Sealed control means 30...Means of applying external force 40…Supply means 50... means of pressing AL…adhesive layer AS…Adhesive sheet (for holding objects) AS1…Surface to be held CS... Transformed Space WK…being covered

Claims

1. A sheet application device, A supply means for supplying adhesive sheets, A holding device that forms a pressure-variable space between the adhesive sheet and the surface to be held, reduces the pressure in the pressure-variable space, and holds the adhesive sheet, The device comprises a pressing means for pressing the adhesive sheet, held by the holding device, onto an object to be attached, The holding device is A means for forming a voltage transformation space that can form the voltage transformation space with the surface to be held, With the aforementioned voltage transformation space formed, a sealing control means is provided that allows the sealing and opening of the voltage transformation space. The system includes an external force application means for deforming the aforementioned pressure transformation space forming means, The voltage transformation space forming means includes a volume changing means capable of changing the volume of the voltage transformation space by deformation, The external force applying means deforms the volume changing means in a direction that increases the volume of the pressure-transforming space after the pressure-transforming space is sealed, thereby reducing the pressure in the pressure-transforming space and obtaining a holding force to hold the adhesive sheet. A sheet application device characterized in that the pressing means is also used as the external force application means.

2. A method for attaching a sheet, A supply process for supplying adhesive sheets, A holding step comprising forming a pressure-variable space between the adhesive sheet and the surface to be held, reducing the pressure in the pressure-variable space, and holding the adhesive sheet, The process involves a pressing step in which the adhesive sheet held in the holding step is pressed onto the object to be attached using a pressing means, and then the pressing step is performed. In the holding step, A process of forming a voltage-transforming space, in which the surface to be held and the voltage-transforming space forming means form the voltage-transforming space, With the aforementioned voltage-transforming space formed, a sealing control step is performed to seal and open the voltage-transforming space, An external force application step is performed in which the external force application means deforms the pressure transformation space forming means, The voltage transformation space forming means includes a volume changing means capable of changing the volume of the voltage transformation space by deformation, In the external force application step, after the pressure-transforming space is sealed, the volume-changing means is deformed by the external force application means in a direction that increases the volume of the pressure-transforming space, thereby reducing the pressure in the pressure-transforming space and obtaining a holding force to hold the adhesive sheet. A method for attaching a sheet, characterized in that the pressing means is also used as the external force application means.

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