Apparatus and method for applying a structure composed of a printing medium onto a substrate

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for applying a structure composed of a printing medium onto a substrate, comprising a rotatable transfer cylinder, a printing medium supply unit, and a substrate supply unit, wherein the printing medium supply unit is designed to supply the printing medium to the transfer cylinder, and the device is designed to transfer the printing medium indirectly or directly from the transfer cylinder onto the substrate supplied by the substrate supply unit so as to form the structure composed of the printing medium on the substrate. The invention is characterized in that the printing medium supply unit has a distribution unit which has a plurality of outlets for the printing medium, the distribution unit being designed to cooperate with a transfer cylinder designed as a distribution transfer cylinder to simultaneously apply a plurality of parallel and spaced-apart printing medium lines of the printing medium onto the distribution transfer cylinder, and the device has at least one length limiting unit which is designed to limit the length of the printing medium lines generated by the respective unit on the distribution transfer cylinder and / or on another transfer cylinder of the device. The present invention also relates to a method for applying a structure composed of a printing medium onto a substrate.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for applying a structure composed of a printing medium onto a substrate according to the present invention. Background Art

[0002] For applying a structure composed of a printing medium onto a substrate, a rotary printing process is known. In this method, a printing medium is supplied to a transfer cylinder by a printing medium supply unit and the printing medium is transferred indirectly or directly from the transfer cylinder onto the substrate in order to form a structure composed of the printing medium on the substrate. In order to form the structure, here, a structured area on a printing plate, for example, a raised area in a letterpress or flexographic printing process, a recessed area in a gravure printing process, or an open area in a transfer or screen printing process, is transferred precisely with high reproducibility to a predetermined position on the substrate. Summary of the Invention

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to extend the scope of use of the previously known rotary printing process.

[0004] The object is achieved by an apparatus according to the present invention for applying a structure composed of a printing medium onto a substrate and by a method according to the present invention for applying a structure composed of a printing medium onto a substrate. Advantageous embodiments are given in the embodiments provided by the present invention.

[0005] The apparatus according to the present invention is preferably used to carry out the method according to the present invention, in particular a preferred embodiment of the method. The method according to the present invention is preferably used to be carried out by the apparatus according to the present invention, in particular by a preferred embodiment of the apparatus.

[0006] The present invention is based on the recognition that there is a need for a printing method which applies a structure composed of a printing medium onto a substrate, the structure having a plurality of lines spaced parallel to each other at a distance. Such a line structure and / or grid structure is desired for many functions, for example, for establishing conductor lines for electric current on a substrate, forming lines composed of a printing medium with dopants in order to form line-shaped doped regions in a substrate, in particular a semiconductor substrate, forming insulating structures or blocking structures or forming light conductors.

[0007] Applying a printing medium onto a semiconductor substrate or a substrate coated with a semiconductor layer is very advantageous in the manufacture of electronic devices and in particular in the manufacture of photovoltaic solar cells. Here, in particular in order to reduce costs, a high printing speed and thus a high production volume are desired.

[0008] It is known that parallel lines of printing medium are output onto a substrate by a dispensing unit. Here, a plurality of dispensing units can be arranged side by side in parallel or a dispensing unit can have a nozzle with a plurality of openings arranged side by side, so that a plurality of printing medium lines can be output simultaneously by one dispensing unit. So far, it has been recognized that directly outputting the printing medium onto the substrate by the dispensing unit is the fastest and most economical solution.

[0009] However, the applicant's research shows that especially at the start and end of the printing process, that is, at the start of the line composed of the printing medium and at the end of such a printing medium line, there are high technical requirements, especially accurately determining the start and end of the printing medium line during the high-speed dispensing process. In particular, what constitutes a high technical requirement is that when outputting a plurality of parallel lines, the lines are output with exactly the same length and starting points on a common line and ending points on a line parallel to the common line.

[0010] Therefore, the present invention provides a combination solution of rotary printing and dispensing printing.

[0011] The device according to the present invention for applying a structure composed of a printing medium onto a substrate has a rotatable transfer drum, a printing medium supply unit, and a substrate supply unit. The printing medium supply unit is designed to supply the printing medium to the transfer drum. The device is designed to transfer the printing medium indirectly or directly from the transfer drum to the substrate supplied by the substrate supply unit, so as to form the structure composed of the printing medium on the substrate.

[0012] Importantly, the printing medium supply unit has a dispensing unit, the dispensing unit has a plurality of outlets for the printing medium, and the dispensing unit is designed to cooperate with a transfer drum designed as a dispensing transfer drum to simultaneously apply a plurality of parallel and spaced-apart printing medium lines of the printing medium onto the dispensing transfer drum. In addition, the device has at least one length limiting unit, and the length limiting unit is designed to limit the length of the printing medium lines generated by the dispensing unit on the dispensing transfer drum and / or another transfer drum of the device.

[0013] The present invention is based on the applicant's recognition that in principle it is advantageous to use a dispensing unit with a plurality of outlets for generating a plurality of parallel and spaced-apart lines composed of the printing medium. The problem of inaccuracies regarding the start and end of the printing medium line (also referred to as the "start-end problem") is solved according to the present invention in such a way that the printing medium line is transferred to the substrate only indirectly via at least the dispensing transfer drum by the dispensing unit and a length limiting unit for limiting the length of the printing medium line on the dispensing transfer drum and / or another transfer drum is used.

[0014] Thus, the high printing speed and high production volume achievable by the dispensing unit are not reduced because the rotary printing process itself is also suitable for high printing speeds. However, in particular, it is not necessary to start or stop the output of the printing medium from the dispensing unit with high precision to achieve an exact length of the printing medium line. Thus, by additionally providing a length limiting unit, the start-end problem is solved or at least the resulting length inaccuracy is significantly reduced by means of an additional unit.

[0015] A method for applying a structure composed of a printing medium to a substrate according to the invention has the following method steps:

[0016] A. applying the printing medium to a rotatable transfer cylinder, and

[0017] B. transferring the printing medium indirectly or directly from the transfer cylinder to the substrate (9).

[0018] Importantly, in method step A, the printing medium is applied to a transfer cylinder designed as a dispensing transfer cylinder by dispensing the printing medium in a plurality of parallel and spaced-apart printing medium lines, and before performing method step B, the length of the printing medium lines on the dispensing transfer cylinder and / or another transfer cylinder is limited by a length limiting unit.

[0019] The above-described advantages are thus obtained.

[0020] The length limiting unit advantageously has at least one limiting element which is arranged on the circumferential surface of the dispensing transfer cylinder or another transfer cylinder to limit the length of the printing medium lines.

[0021] Such a limiting element can be configured as a rib, in particular a rib arranged parallel to the axis of rotation of the transfer cylinder. Also within the scope of the invention is the arrangement of a structure with a limiting element on the transfer cylinder according to the principle of relief printing or according to the principle of intaglio printing. In particular, the edge of a relief die or an intaglio die can be used as a limiting element. Particularly advantageously, the length limiting unit has at least one limiting element which is arranged on the circumferential surface of the dispensing transfer cylinder or another transfer cylinder.

[0022] The length limitation is thus achieved in a simple manner.

[0023] In addition to the limiting element, the length limiting unit advantageously has a scraping element which cooperates with the transfer cylinder provided with the limiting element, so that the excess printing medium, in particular the printing medium on the limiting element, is removed by the scraping element. Such a scraping element is preferably configured as a squeegee which is provided on the transfer cylinder but does not perform the rotational movement of the transfer cylinder, so that the excess printing medium is scraped off by the relative movement between the squeegee and the transfer cylinder when the transfer cylinder rotates.

[0024] The device advantageously has a rotatable second transfer cylinder which is configured and arranged to cooperate with the dispensing transfer cylinder to receive at least partially the printing medium line from the dispensing transfer cylinder and transfer it to the substrate. Thereby, the advantage is obtained that the second transfer cylinder can have a surface optimized for the transfer to the substrate (for example, a flexible, elastic surface for printing on a hard and uneven substrate), while the first transfer cylinder is optimized for the length limitation of the dispensed printing medium. Therefore, the second transfer cylinder advantageously has surface characteristics different from those of the first transfer cylinder. In particular, the second transfer cylinder preferably has a softer circumferential surface compared to the circumferential surface of the first transfer cylinder.

[0025] Particularly advantageously, the length limiting unit is designed and arranged to cooperate with the dispensing transfer cylinder, so that the printing medium line is transferred to the second transfer cylinder with a length limited by the length limiting unit.

[0026] Thereby, the advantage is obtained that the surface characteristics of the two cylinders can be optimized for precise length limitation during the transfer between the two cylinders.

[0027] Also within the scope of the present invention, the printing medium line can be transferred from the dispensing transfer cylinder to the second transfer cylinder and preferably from the second transfer cylinder to the substrate. Particularly advantageously, the length of the printing medium line is limited on the second transfer cylinder, in particular by the length limiting unit, and / or the length of the printing medium line on the second transfer cylinder is limited. Thereby, the advantage is obtained that the surface characteristics of the second cylinder can be optimized individually for the transfer of the printing medium to the substrate.

[0028] The dispensing transfer cylinder preferably rotates about a rotation axis, in particular by a motorized device. The plurality of output ports for the printing medium of the dispensing unit are preferably arranged along a line. The rotation axis of the transfer cylinder is preferably parallel to this line.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the device has a plurality of transfer cylinders, and the rotation axes of these transfer cylinders are preferably arranged parallel to the rotation axis of the dispensing transfer cylinder.

[0030] The rotation of all transfer cylinders is preferably also achieved by motorized devices. The rotation directions of adjacent transfer cylinders are preferably opposite.

[0031] The length limiting unit advantageously has a relief stamp which is arranged on the circumferential surface of the dispensing transfer cylinder or another transfer cylinder to limit the length of the printing medium line. Particularly advantageously, the relief stamp is arranged in particular on the circumferential surface of the second transfer cylinder. This has the advantage that the relief stamp only occupies the area of the dispensing printing medium to be transferred from the first transfer cylinder, while the area not to be transferred remains on the first transfer cylinder and is removed here by a cleaning device and, if necessary, can also be recycled.

[0032] In another advantageous embodiment, the length limiting unit has a selective printing medium receiving surface which is arranged on the circumferential surface of the dispensing transfer cylinder or another transfer cylinder to limit the length of the printing medium line. The selective printing medium receiving surface has at least one receiving area with a surface having a relatively high adhesion to the printing medium and / or being able to better wet the printing medium and / or at least one blocking area with a surface having a relatively lower adhesion to the printing medium and / or being able to wet the printing medium less or not at all, in order to limit the length of the printing medium line in the receiving area by the blocking area. Additionally or alternatively, the printing medium receiving surface preferably has a receiving area (printing medium receiving surface) with a surface that can well wet the printing medium and at least one blocking area (printing medium repelling surface) with a surface that cannot well wet or even cannot wet relative to the receiving area.

[0033] This has the advantage that the tearing of the dispensed printing line and thus the length limitation can be achieved very precisely and without interference at the transition between the printing medium receiving surface and the printing medium repelling surface.

[0034] In another advantageous design of the method according to the invention, the length limiting unit has a moving device for the dispensing transfer cylinder to move the dispensing transfer cylinder relative to one or more of the following elements:

[0035] - the dispensing unit,

[0036] - the substrate,

[0037] - another transfer cylinder, in particular the second transfer cylinder as described above,

[0038] so that the interruption of the printing medium line is achieved due to the relative movement, in particular due to the lifting of the dispensing transfer cylinder from the substrate.

[0039] In a favorable refinement, the movement described above is carried out in combination with a short - time change in the rotational speed (e.g., acceleration) of the movement and distribution transfer roller or another transfer roller.

[0040] In this case, thus, the length limitation is achieved by mechanically stretching the printed - medium line due to the movement, thereby ultimately tearing the printed - medium line. Thus, after the printed - medium line reaches the desired length, the distribution transfer roller is moved away from one or more of the aforementioned elements from the receiving position by the moving device, thereby tearing the printed line. Next, the moving device moves closer to the element it moved away from before, in order to achieve the re - transfer of the printed - medium line.

[0041] This results in the advantage that the relative movement of the rollers can be controlled precisely and reproducibly in terms of the machine structure, preferably by means of a cam to control the relative movement, and thereby a high reproducibility of the length limitation is achieved. At the same time, the continuous distribution process is not affected, which would be the case if the distribution unit were lifted and could lead to an interruption of the distribution process.

[0042] In another favorable design, the length - limitation unit has a separating device, which has at least one separating element, and the separating element is designed to cooperate with the distribution transfer roller and / or another transfer roller to interrupt the printed - medium line on the distribution transfer roller and / or another transfer roller by means of the separating element. Thus, in this favorable embodiment, the printed - medium line is mechanically interrupted by the separating element.

[0043] The separating element is preferably designed as a separating squeegee, and the separating squeegee is preferably arranged on a rotatable separating roller. The separating roller preferably has a rotational axis parallel to the rotational axis of the transfer roller, and the length limitation of the printed - medium line will be carried out on this transfer roller by the separating squeegee. In particular, the separating roller is preferably driven in a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the cooperating transfer roller.

[0044] In the method according to the invention, the length limitation is advantageously carried out by one or more of the following method steps in the list:

[0045] - Using at least one limiting element, which is arranged on the circumferential surface of the distribution transfer roller or another transfer roller;

[0046] - Using a relief die with at least one limiting element, which is arranged on the circumferential surface of the distribution transfer roller or another transfer roller;

[0047] - Using a relief die, which is arranged on the circumferential surface of the distribution transfer roller or another transfer roller;

[0048] - Using a selective printing medium receiving surface provided on the circumferential surface of a dispensing transfer roller or another transfer roller, the selective printing medium receiving surface having at least one receiving area with a surface that has a relatively high adhesion to the printing medium and / or can better wet the printing medium and at least one blocking area with a surface that has a relatively lower adhesion to the receiving area and / or can wet the printing medium less or not at all, thereby restricting the length of the printing medium lines in the receiving area by the blocking area,

[0049] - Moving the dispensing transfer roller relative to one or more of the following elements:

[0050] - A dispensing unit,

[0051] - A substrate,

[0052] - Another transfer roller, in particular a second transfer roller,

[0053] so that the printing medium lines are interrupted due to the relative movement.

[0054] For some applications, in particular for producing structures for semiconductor devices, it is advantageous that in a preferred design of the device according to the invention, the printing medium supply unit has a lateral line output unit designed to apply one or more lateral lines composed of the printing medium to the dispensing transfer roller or another transfer roller, which are added to the parallel printing medium lines and are not parallel to the parallel printing medium lines. Particularly advantageously, the lateral lines form an angle in the range of 0.5° to 15° with the parallel printing medium lines.

[0055] In another advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the length limiting unit has a printing medium discharging unit for discharging the excess printing medium of the printing medium lines from the dispensing transfer roller and / or another transfer roller. Preferably, the excess printing medium is fed back to the dispensing unit in order to reduce the consumption of the printing medium.

[0056] The printing medium discharging unit is preferably arranged downstream of the transfer area along the rotational direction of the corresponding transfer roller, where the printing medium is transferred to another transfer roller or the substrate at the transfer area. Thus, in this way, first, the printing medium lines are transferred to the substrate or the downstream transfer roller, and then the possibly remaining printing medium is removed by the printing medium discharging unit.

[0057] Thus, in this advantageous embodiment, it is not necessary to interrupt the output of the printing medium from the dispensing unit to the dispensing transfer drum, thereby ensuring a continuous material flow of the printing medium and avoiding adverse effects, in particular avoiding the adverse effects of shear-thinning printing media.

[0058] The printing medium lines are advantageously limited to a length that is less than the length of the substrate.

[0059] In the method according to the invention, advantageously, the printing medium lines are applied to a plurality of successively supplied substrates, and during this time, the printing medium is continuously dispensed onto the dispensing transfer drum.

[0060] The use of a mesh substrate is also within the scope of the present invention. In the method according to the invention, in particular, parallel lines of a predetermined length are printed on the mesh substrate successively back and forth.

[0061] In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, a printing medium containing semiconductor dopants and / or metal particles is used, and a semiconductor substrate or a substrate coated with a semiconductor layer is used as the substrate. In addition, structures for forming metal contact structures and / or doping structures for generating selectively doped regions are formed in the semiconductor substrate or the semiconductor layer by means of the method.

[0062] The method according to the invention and the device according to the invention are particularly suitable for forming structures composed of a printing medium on a semiconductor substrate or a substrate coated with a semiconductor layer, in particular for manufacturing large-area semiconductor devices such as, for example, photovoltaic solar cells.

[0063] The device according to the invention and the method according to the invention are preferably designed such that after the printing medium lines are transferred to the substrate, the printing medium lines also exist on the substrate as parallel, spaced-apart printing medium lines.

[0064] Advantageously, by means of the method according to the invention, a number of parallel printing medium lines in the range of 5 - 200, in particular in the range of 10 - 100, are produced. The dispensing unit preferably has a corresponding number of output ports.

[0065] The output ports for the printing medium preferably have a diameter of less than 1 mm, in particular less than 500 μm, preferably less than 100 μm, particularly preferably less than 60 μm, and further preferably less than 30 μm. Description of the Drawings

[0066] Other advantageous features and preferred embodiments are illustrated below with reference to the drawings and examples. Six embodiments are shown in the figures. For each embodiment, a side view is shown for odd figure numbers and a top view as seen from the output direction of the substrate is shown for even figure numbers:

[0067] Figure 1 / Figure 2 : First embodiment of the device with a relief die according to the present invention;

[0068] Figure 3 / Figure 4 : Second embodiment of the device with a selective print medium receiving surface according to the present invention;

[0069] Figure 5 / Figure 6 : Third embodiment of the device with a moving device according to the present invention;

[0070] Figure 7 / Figure 8 : Fifth embodiment of the device with an additional dispensing head for lateral lines according to the present invention;

[0071] Figure 9 / Figure 10 : Sixth embodiment with a limiting element. Detailed description of the embodiments

[0072] The figures show schematic views not drawn to scale. In Figures 1 - 10 identical reference numerals denote identical or functionally identical elements.

[0073] In Figure 1 a side view is shown and in Figure 2 a top view is shown of a first exemplary embodiment of a device according to the present invention for applying a structure composed of a print medium to a substrate. Figure 2 The plane of the drawing of Figure 1 is thus perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of Figure 2 and shows a top view as seen in the output direction from the substrate, that is, Figure 1 shows a view of the device as seen from the right edge of

[0074] The device has a motor-driven rotatable transfer cylinder, a print medium supply unit with a dispensing unit 1, and a substrate supply unit 10.

[0075] The substrate supply unit 10 is designed in the present case as a shuttle which can be moved linearly in a motorized manner in the direction marked by an arrow below the substrate supply unit 10, in the present case by means of a conveyor belt. The substrate 9 is located on the shuttle of the substrate supply unit 10, and the substrate 9 is designed in the present case as a silicon wafer which has already been produced as a precursor in the manufacture of solar cells and in particular has doping for forming an emitter and a base. In an alternative embodiment, the substrate supply unit 10 is designed for supplying a web substrate to which print lines are applied.

[0076] The dispensing unit 1 of the printing medium supply unit has a plurality of output ports for the printing medium arranged side by side. These output ports are arranged in a straight line, and the straight line is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing according to Figure 1 the illustration.

[0077] Thereby, the printing medium can be supplied to the transfer drum through the dispensing unit so as to apply a plurality of parallel and spaced-apart printing medium lines 2 to the transfer drum at the same time, as especially shown in Figure 2 . The transfer drum is thus designed as a dispensing transfer drum 3.

[0078] The device further has a rotatable second transfer drum, which is designed as a printing drum 6 in the present case, so as to transfer the printing medium line 2 to the substrate 9.

[0079] The dispensing transfer drum 3 and the printing drum 6 have a substantially cylindrical structure and are rotatably mounted about their respective drum axes and are driven in opposite directions by motors, as indicated by the circular arrows.

[0080] Here, the circumferential speed of the printing drum 6 is coordinated with the moving speed of the linear movement of the substrate 9 achieved by the substrate supply unit 10 such that there is no or at least negligible relative speed between the circumferential surface of the substrate 9 and the printing drum 6.

[0081] The device according to the first embodiment has a length limiting unit, which has a relief die 4 in the present case, and the relief die 4 is provided on the circumferential surface of the printing drum 6. The relief die 4 has a raised area 5, and the raised area 5 comes into contact with the printing medium line 2 on the dispensing transfer drum 3 due to a selected distance to the dispensing transfer drum 3. On the other hand, the non-raised area of the relief die 4 is spaced apart from the dispensing transfer drum 3 so that no transfer of the printing medium from the dispensing transfer drum 3 to the printing drum 6 occurs.

[0082] The raised area 5 of the relief die 4 thus serves as a length limiting function because the printing medium line 2 is transferred to the substrate 9 only in a specified length, which corresponds to the circumference of the printing drum 6 covered by the raised area 5.

[0083] Thereby, the length of the printing medium line 2 generated by the dispensing unit 1 to the printing drum 6 is limited by the length limiting unit.

[0084] Excess printing medium, in particular components of the printing medium line 2 that are not transferred through the raised areas 5 of the relief die 4, are removed from the distribution transfer roller 3 by the printing medium discharge unit 8 and supplied to a (not shown) printing medium storage, and are fed back from the printing medium storage to the distribution unit 1 again.

[0085] Thereby, in the design according to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , a plurality of shuttles each carrying a substrate 9 are sequentially supplied to the printing roller 6, so that parallel printing medium lines 2 of precisely defined length can be applied to the substrate 9 quickly and in sequence.

[0086] In Figure 2 , for better representation of the boundary, the raised areas 5 of the relief die 4 are shown hatched on the circumferential surface of the printing roller 6, and for better display of the correspondence, the printing medium lines 2 that have been transferred to the substrate 9 in this view are again marked by lines on the hatched area.

[0087] In the other embodiments shown in the following Figures 3 - 10 , basically have the same basic structure as the first embodiment according to Figure 1 and Figure 2 . Therefore, to avoid repetition, only the main differences will be described below.

[0088] In Figure 3 and Figure 4 , a second embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown, in which the length limiting unit has a selective printing medium receiving surface.

[0089] The selective printing medium receiving surface is provided on the circumferential surface of the printing roller 6. In an alternative embodiment, the selective printing medium receiving surface is arranged on the outer shell surface of the distribution transfer roller 3. In a further improvement of this alternative embodiment, the transfer of the printing medium line 2 is directly from the distribution transfer roller 3 to the substrate 9, thus omitting the printing roller 6.

[0090] However, in the embodiments according to Figure 3 and Figure 4 , as already explained in the first embodiment, the printing medium is continuously applied to the distribution transfer roller 3 in the form of parallel and spaced-apart printing medium lines 2 through the distribution unit 1. The circumferential surface of the printing roller 6 has a transfer surface 7 as shown in Figure 4 , the transfer surface 7 is designed as a printing medium receiving surface, and in the current case, the printing medium receiving surface has surface characteristics that allow good wetting with the printing medium in terms of surface energy or the polarity and dispersity of the surface energy (dispersen Anteil) or its chemical characteristics.

[0091] For a printing paste that is common in the manufacture of semiconductor devices, which is usually a solvent-based, particle-containing functional paste, a higher adhesion and / or better wettability is achieved on the transfer surface 7 compared to the remaining area of the peripheral surface of the printing cylinder 6, and the remaining area is Figure 4 shown in [ ] with oblique hatching and denoted by the reference numeral 4' and thus forms a blocking area that has less adhesion and / or lower wettability relative to the receiving area. The blocking area 4' has a surface in the present case, and due to its chemical properties or its surface energy, it causes less wetting of the printing medium or the printing medium cannot be wetted.

[0092] In the present case, the length limitation is carried out in such a way that when the printing medium line 2 is transferred from the dispensing transfer roller 3 to the printing cylinder 6, the transfer of the printing medium line 2 is only achieved in the area of the transfer surface 7 designed as the printing medium receiving surface. On the contrary, the transfer of the printing medium line does not occur in the blocking area 4'.

[0093] In this embodiment, the printing medium line 2 remaining on the dispensing transfer roller 3 is removed by the printing medium discharging unit 8.

[0094] In Figure 5 and Figure 6 a third embodiment is shown, in which the length limiting unit has a moving device for the dispensing transfer roller 3. In the present case, the length limiting unit is designed to move the dispensing transfer roller 3, the dispensing unit 1, and the printing medium discharging unit 8 away from or towards the printing cylinder 6 in the direction shown by the double arrow simultaneously according to the shown double arrow.

[0095] Therefore, in this embodiment, the printing medium line 2 is also continuously applied to the dispensing transfer roller 3 by the dispensing unit 1. The transfer of the printing medium line 2 from the dispensing transfer roller 3 to the printing cylinder 6 is achieved at the transfer position shown according to Figure 5 If the desired length of the printing medium line 2 is reached, the dispensing unit 1, the dispensing transfer roller 3, and the printing medium discharging unit 8 are moved away from the printing cylinder 6 by the moving device in a motorized manner, so as to break the printing medium line 2 in the transition area between the dispensing transfer roller 3 and the printing cylinder 6. Thereby, the length of the printing medium line 2 on the printing cylinder 6 is limited and thus the length of the printing medium line on the substrate 9 after the transfer is also limited.

[0096]

[0097] Figure 6 Figure 4 and Figure 6 The comparison with [ ] shows that according to Figure 6In the embodiment, all starting points and all end points of the printing medium line 2 are compulsorily located on a common straight line.

[0098] In contrast, in the embodiment according to Figure 4 and also in the embodiment according to Figure 2 an arbitrary shape is predefined by the letterpress die 4 or by the transfer surface 7 configured as a printing medium receiving surface, so that in particular in the edge region the printing medium line 2 can be configured to be shorter than in the central region. Thereby, for example, a printing medium line 2 with an adapted length can be provided for a so-called Pseudo-Squre-Wafer with beveled corners corresponding to the wafer shape.

[0099] In Figure 7 and Figure 8 a fifth embodiment is shown, which is basically configured as the embodiment according to Figure 5 and Figure 6 In particular, the length limiting unit has the moving device described above for moving the dispensing unit 1, the dispensing transfer roller 3 and the printing medium discharging unit 8 relative to the printing roller 6.

[0100] In Figure 7 and Figure 8 in the shown embodiment, the device additionally has a transverse line dispensing unit 1' for outputting transverse lines 2' that are perpendicular to the printing medium lines 2.

[0101] In Figure 8 it is shown that the transverse line dispensing unit 1' thus moves in the axial direction relative to the axis of rotation of the dispensing transfer roller 3. The moving unit can be moved motorically, that is, in Figure 10 to the right and to the left. Thereby, the transverse lines 2' are applied to the dispensing transfer roller 3 and transferred from the dispensing transfer roller 3 to the printing roller 6.

[0102] During operation, the transverse lines 2' are applied, and the angle is selected here such that the rotational movement of the roller is compensated, that is, as a result, lines parallel to the roller axis are dispensed onto the transfer roller.

[0103] In Figure 9 and Figure 10 a sixth embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown. However, the device according to this embodiment does not have a printing roller 6. Instead, the printing medium line 2 is directly transferred from the dispensing transfer roller 3 to the substrate 9. Here, parallel, spaced-apart printing medium lines 2 are also continuously applied to the dispensing transfer roller 3 by the dispensing unit 1.

[0104] In the present case, the length limiting unit has a separating squeegee 11a which is arranged on the separating drum 11. The separating drum 11 moves in the opposite direction to and at a distance from the dispensing transfer drum 3, such that only the separating squeegee 11a comes into contact with the printed medium line 2 on the surface of the dispensing transfer drum 3. Thereby, the length of the printed medium line 2 is limited by the separating squeegee 11a.

[0105] In an alternative embodiment, the separating drum 11 does not have a separating squeegee 11a. Instead, the length limiting unit additionally has a moving unit for moving the separating drum 11 away from and towards the dispensing transfer drum 3 in accordance with the double arrow shown. Thereby, for length limiting, the separating drum 11 is brought into contact with the surface of the dispensing transfer drum 3 for a short time by the moving unit, so that the printed medium line 2 is interrupted.

[0106] List of reference numerals

[0107] 1 Dispensing unit

[0108] 1’ Lateral line dispensing unit

[0109] 2 Printed medium line

[0110] 2’ Lateral line

[0111] 3 Dispensing transfer drum

[0112] 4 Relief die

[0113] 4’ Blocking area

[0114] 5 Raised area of the relief die 4

[0115] 6 Printing drum

[0116] 7 Transfer surface

[0117] 8 Printed medium discharging unit

[0118] 9 Substrate

[0119] 10 Substrate supply unit

[0120] 11 Separating drum

[0121] 11a Separating squeegee

Claims

1. A device for applying a structure composed of a printing medium onto a substrate (9), the device having a rotatable transfer cylinder, a printing medium supply unit, and a substrate supply unit (10), the printing medium supply unit being designed to supply the printing medium to the transfer cylinder, and the device being designed to transfer the printing medium indirectly or directly from the transfer cylinder onto the substrate (9) supplied by the substrate supply unit (10) so as to form the structure composed of the printing medium on the substrate (9). Characterized in that the printing medium supply unit has a distribution unit (1), the distribution unit having a plurality of outlets for the printing medium, the distribution unit being designed to cooperate with a transfer cylinder designed as a distribution transfer cylinder (3) to simultaneously apply a plurality of parallel and spaced-apart printing medium lines (2) of the printing medium onto the distribution transfer cylinder (3), and the device having at least one length limiting unit, the length limiting unit being designed to limit the length of the printing medium lines (2) generated by the distribution unit (1) on the distribution transfer cylinder (3) and / or on another transfer cylinder of the device; the length limiting unit has a moving device for the distribution transfer cylinder (3) to move the distribution transfer cylinder (3) relative to one or more of the following elements: the distribution unit (1), the substrate (9), another transfer cylinder; so that an interruption of the printing medium lines (2) is achieved due to the relative movement; the device has a rotatable second transfer cylinder, the second transfer cylinder being configured and arranged to cooperate with the distribution transfer cylinder (3) to at least partially receive the printing medium lines (2) from the distribution transfer cylinder (3) and transfer them onto the substrate (9); the another transfer cylinder is the second transfer cylinder.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The printing medium supply unit has a lateral line output unit.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The printing medium supply unit has a second distribution unit, the lateral line output unit being designed to apply one or more lateral lines composed of the printing medium, which are additional to the parallel printing medium lines (2), onto the distribution transfer cylinder (3) or another transfer cylinder, the lateral lines (2') not being parallel to the parallel printing medium lines (2).

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The lateral lines enclose an angle in the range of 85° to 95° with the parallel printing medium lines (2).

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The length limiting unit has a printing medium discharging unit (8) to discharge the excess printing medium of the printing medium lines (2) from the distribution transfer cylinder (3) and / or another transfer cylinder.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The printing medium discharging unit (8) supplies the discharged printing medium to the distribution unit.

7. A device for applying a structure composed of a printing medium onto a substrate (9), the device having a rotatable transfer cylinder, a printing medium supply unit, and a substrate supply unit (10), the printing medium supply unit being designed to supply the printing medium to the transfer cylinder, and the device being designed to transfer the printing medium indirectly or directly from the transfer cylinder onto the substrate (9) supplied by the substrate supply unit (10) so as to form the structure composed of the printing medium on the substrate (9). Characterized in that the printing medium supply unit has a distribution unit (1), the distribution unit having a plurality of outlets for the printing medium, the distribution unit being designed to cooperate with a transfer cylinder designed as a distribution transfer cylinder (3) to simultaneously apply a plurality of parallel and spaced-apart printing medium lines (2) of the printing medium onto the distribution transfer cylinder (3), and the device having at least one length limiting unit, the length limiting unit being designed to limit the length of the printing medium lines (2) generated by the distribution unit (1) on the distribution transfer cylinder (3) and / or on another transfer cylinder of the device; the length limiting unit has a separating device, the separating device having at least one separating element, the separating element being designed to cooperate with the distribution transfer cylinder (3) and / or another transfer cylinder to interrupt the printing medium lines (2) on the distribution transfer cylinder (3) and / or another transfer cylinder by means of the separating element.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The separating element is designed as a separating blade (11a).

9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The separating blade (11a) is arranged on a rotatable separating cylinder (11).

10. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The device has a rotatable second transfer cylinder, the second transfer cylinder being constructed and arranged to cooperate with the distribution transfer cylinder (3) to at least partially receive the printing medium lines (2) from the distribution transfer cylinder (3) and transfer them onto the substrate (9).

11. The device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that, The printing medium supply unit has a transverse line output unit.

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that, The printing medium supply unit has a second distribution unit, the transverse line output unit being designed to apply one or more transverse lines composed of the printing medium, which are not parallel to the parallel printing medium lines (2), onto the distribution transfer cylinder (3) or another transfer cylinder and which are additional to the parallel printing medium lines (2).

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein The transverse lines enclose an angle in the range of 85° to 95° with the parallel printing medium lines (2).

14. The device according to any one of claims 7-10, characterized in that, The length limiting unit has a printing medium discharging unit (8) for discharging the excess printing medium of the printing medium lines (2) from the distribution transfer cylinder (3) and / or another transfer cylinder.

15. The device according to claim 14, characterized in that, The printing medium discharging unit (8) supplies the discharged printing medium to the distribution unit.

16. A method for applying a structure composed of a printing medium onto a substrate (9), applied to the device according to any one of claims 1 - 15, having the following method steps: A. Applying the printing medium onto a rotatable transfer cylinder, and B. The printing medium is transferred indirectly or directly from the transfer cylinder to the substrate (9), characterized in that, in method step A, the printing medium is applied to a transfer cylinder designed as a dispensing transfer cylinder (3) by being dispensed in a plurality of parallel and spaced-apart printing medium lines (2), and before performing method step B, the length of the printing medium lines (2) on the dispensing transfer cylinder (3) and / or another transfer cylinder is restricted by a length restricting unit.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that, The printing medium lines (2) are applied to a plurality of sequentially supplied substrates and during this process, the printing medium is continuously dispensed onto the dispensing transfer cylinder (3).

18. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 17, characterized in that The printing medium lines (2) are transferred from the dispensing transfer cylinder (3) to a second transfer cylinder.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that, The printing medium lines (2) are transferred from the second transfer cylinder to the substrate (9).

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein The length of the printing medium lines (2) is restricted on the second transfer cylinder and / or the printing medium lines on the second transfer cylinder are length-restricted.

21. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 17, characterized in that, The printing medium lines (2) are restricted to a length that is less than the length of the substrate.

22. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 17, characterized in that, A printing medium containing semiconductor dopants and / or metal particles is used, a semiconductor substrate or a substrate (9) coated with a semiconductor layer is used as the substrate, and structures for forming metal contact structures and / or for forming doping structures for generating selectively doped regions are formed in the semiconductor substrate by the method.

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