Roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus, including: a material that moves when unwound and wound by an unwinder and a winder; and a clamp arranged so that a width direction of the material matches a longitudinal direction of the material and configured to fix the material, wherein the clamp includes: a first clamp and a second clamp formed on opposite ends of the clamp; and a first and second clamp link formed between the first clamp and the second clamp.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.SC §119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0130303, filed on September 30, 2021, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] One or more embodiments of this disclosure relate to a roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus. Background Technology

[0004] According to existing technology, methods for manufacturing printed circuit boards include methods for manufacturing multilayer printed circuit boards of the panel type. As a process for manufacturing general-purpose printed circuit boards from interlayer bonding methods for manufacturing multilayer printed circuit boards (PCBs), the method for manufacturing multilayer printed circuit boards of the panel type consists of a stacking process of sequentially stacking materials to be bonded and a lamination process of bonding the stacked materials together by using heat and pressure.

[0005] However, depending on the electroplating technology used for the panel type, there are significant thickness variations between panels, and even within a single panel, there can be substantial thickness variations depending on the location. Furthermore, due to the material properties of thin-plate products, it is difficult to automate the process, resulting in more damage during processing and operator-induced defects. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One or more embodiments provide roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing equipment capable of manufacturing circuit boards in a roll-to-roll continuous electroplating method.

[0007] However, the technical features described above are exemplary, and the scope of this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0008] Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and will be apparent in part from the description, or may be learned from the embodiments of this disclosure as presented in practice.

[0009] The roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing equipment includes: material that moves as it is unwound and wound by an uncoiler and a coiler; and a fixture arranged such that the width direction of the material matches the longitudinal direction of the material and holds the material in place, wherein the fixture includes: a first fixture and a second fixture formed at opposite ends of the fixture; and a first and second fixture linkage formed between the first fixture and the second fixture.

[0010] The first and second clamp links may have an elastomer that provides tension between the first clamp and the second clamp.

[0011] The first and second clamp links may have a magnetic portion to provide tension between the first clamp and the second clamp.

[0012] The fixture may comprise multiple fixtures arranged at constant intervals along the direction of material travel.

[0013] The clamp may include a clamp arm that is attached to the clamp for securing the clamp, and the clamp arm may be attached to or detached from the clamp.

[0014] The clamp arm can be attachable / detachable when moving in a direction perpendicular to the clamp.

[0015] The clamping arm may include a first clamping arm connected to a first clamp and a second clamping arm connected to a second clamp, and the first clamping arm and the second clamping arm may be separately attached / detached from each other.

[0016] The clamp arm can have a variable length.

[0017] The roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing equipment may further include a clamp support formed along the direction of material travel, wherein the clamp can be connected to the clamp support.

[0018] The roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing equipment may further include a track portion formed on a fixture support along the direction of material travel, wherein a fixture may be connected to the track portion and the fixture may move along the track portion.

[0019] Other aspects will be better understood from the accompanying drawings, claims, and embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of this disclosure will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 This is a top view of a roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 2 According to embodiments of this disclosure Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the fixture taken by line A-A'.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating a vertically moving structure of a gripper arm attributed to an obstacle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 4 It shows when the material comes from Figure 3 The diagram shows the vertical movement structure of the other clamping arm during the state movement shown.

[0025] Figure 5This is a diagram illustrating a structure for adjusting the length of a clamping arm according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 6 It is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the clamp taken by line A-A', the clamp having a magnet portion formed thereon according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] Explanation of icon numbers

[0028] 10: Uncoiling machine;

[0029] 20: Winding machine;

[0030] 30: Materials;

[0031] 100: Fixture;

[0032] 110: First clamp;

[0033] 111: First gripper arm;

[0034] 120: Second clamp;

[0035] 121: Second gripper arm;

[0036] 121': Grip arm;

[0037] 130: The first and second clamps are linked;

[0038] 140: Elastomer;

[0039] 140': Magnet section;

[0040] 200: Fixture support component;

[0041] 210: Track section;

[0042] A: Obstacle;

[0043] A-A': line;

[0044] H: Height;

[0045] L1, L2: Length. Detailed Implementation

[0046] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference numerals throughout the text refer to similar elements. In this respect, embodiments may take different forms and should not be construed as limited to the description set forth herein. Therefore, embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to explain various aspects of this specification. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated enumerations. For example, the expression “at least one of” modifies the entire list of elements rather than individual elements of the list when preceding it.

[0047] Because this disclosure allows for various variations and numerous embodiments, specific embodiments will be shown in the accompanying drawings and described in detail in writing. However, this is not intended to limit this disclosure to a particular mode of practice, and it should be understood that this disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and / or substitutions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In describing this disclosure, similar reference numerals refer to the same elements even when elements are provided in another embodiment.

[0048] In the following description, embodiments will be presented in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Regardless of the drawing numbers, the same or corresponding components are presented with the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0049] While terms such as "first" and "second" can be used to describe various components, such components must not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another.

[0050] Unless they have a distinctly different meaning in the context, expressions used in the singular form cover expressions used in the plural form.

[0051] In this specification, it should be understood that terms such as “including,” “having,” and “comprising” are intended to indicate the presence of features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to exclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof may be present or added.

[0052] In the accompanying drawings, the dimensions of the components may be enlarged for ease of explanation. In other words, since the dimensions and thicknesses of the components are arbitrarily shown in the drawings for ease of explanation, the following embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0053] When an embodiment can be implemented in different ways, a particular processing order may be executed differently from the described order. For example, two consecutively described programs may be executed substantially simultaneously or in the reverse order of their description.

[0054] The terminology used in this specification is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit this disclosure. It should be understood in this specification that terms such as “including,” “having,” and “comprising” are intended to indicate the presence of features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to exclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof may be present or added.

[0055] In the following text, see references Figures 1 to 4 A roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below.

[0056] As can be seen from the above, Figure 1 This is a top view of a roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 2 This illustrates an embodiment according to the present disclosure. Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the fixture taken by line A-A'. Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating a vertically moving structure of a gripper arm attributed to an obstacle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 It shows when the material comes from Figure 3 The diagram shows the vertical movement structure of the other clamping arm during the state movement shown.

[0057] refer to Figures 1 to 4 A roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a material 30 that moves when unwound and wound by an uncoiler 10 and a winding machine 20; and a clamp 100 arranged such that the longitudinal direction of the material 30 matches the width direction of the material 30 and fixes the material 30. The clamp 100 includes: a first clamp 110 and a second clamp 120 disposed at opposite ends of the clamp 100; and a first and second clamp link 130 disposed between the first clamp 110 and the second clamp 120.

[0058] The fixture 100 can fix the material 30 from opposite ends in the width direction. Since the material 30 moves when its opposite ends in the width direction are fixed by the fixture 100, the material can move stably and the electroplating process can be executed stably by drive, thereby improving the efficiency of circuit board manufacturing. Multiple fixtures 100 can be arranged at constant intervals along the travel direction of the material 30.

[0059] The first clamp 110 and the second clamp 120, which hold opposite ends of the material 30, are connected to each other below the material via a first and second clamp link 130. The first and second clamp links 130 are located below the material 30 and support the middle portion of the material 30.

[0060] According to embodiments of this disclosure, such as Figure 2 As shown, the first and second clamp links 130 may include an elastomer 140. The elastomer 140 provides elasticity between the first clamp 110 and the second clamp 120, such that elasticity can be applied in a direction that keeps the first clamp 110 and the second clamp 120 away from each other, and thus, the material 30 can be held from opposite sides without wrinkling.

[0061] refer to Figure 3 The clamp 100 may include a first clamp arm 111 and a second clamp arm 121 connected to the clamp 100 to secure the clamp 100. The first clamp arm 111 may be connected to the first clamp 110, and the second clamp arm 121 may be connected to the second clamp 120.

[0062] The first clamp arm 111 and the second clamp arm 121 move the clamp 100 so that the material 30 coupled to the clamp 100 can move in the direction of travel.

[0063] According to embodiments of this disclosure, such as Figure 3 As shown, the first clamping arm 111 and the second clamping arm 121 are attachable to / detachable from the clamp 100. Here, the first clamping arm 111 and the second clamping arm 121 are attachable to / detachable from the clamp 100 when moving in a direction perpendicular to the clamp 100.

[0064] As described above, the first clamping arm 111 and the second clamping arm 121 may have attachable / detachable structures to avoid obstacles A, such as pipes or wiring. (See reference) Figure 3 and Figure 4 The first clamping arm 111 and the second clamping arm 121 can be separately attached / detached. That is, when an obstacle is present above one side of the material 30, the first clamping arm 111 on one side of the material 30 can be separated from the first clamp 110 only. And when an obstacle is present above the other side of the material 30, the second clamping arm 121 on the other side of the material 30 can be separated from the second clamp 120 only.

[0065] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the clamp support 200 may be further provided along the direction of travel of the material 30. The clamp support 200 may be connected to the clamp 100 and support the clamp 100 to position the clamp 100.

[0066] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The clamp support 200 may further include a track portion 210 formed along the travel direction of the material 30. Here, the clamp 100 is connected to the track portion 210 and is movable along the track portion 210.

[0067] When the first clamping arm 111 and the second clamping arm 121 move in the travel direction, the clamp 100 connected to the first clamping arm 111 and the second clamping arm 121 can move along the track portion 210 in the travel direction. Here, the material 30 fixed by the clamp 100 can also move in the travel direction.

[0068] As described above, when obstacle A approaches the first clamp arm 111 and the second clamp arm 121 moving along the track portion 210, the first clamp arm 111 and the second clamp arm 121 separate from the first clamp 110 and the second clamp 120. Furthermore, when obstacle A passes, the first clamp arm 111 and the second clamp arm 121 reassemble with the first clamp 110 and the second clamp 120. Due to this structure, material 30 can move stably in the direction of travel.

[0069] In the following text, reference will be made to Figure 5 A roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is described.

[0070] Figure 5 This is a diagram illustrating a structure for adjusting the length of a clamping arm according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0071] refer to Figure 5 In a roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the length of the clamp arm 121' may be variable when it is separated from the second clamp 120. Therefore, the length L2 of the clamp arm 121' separated from the clamp may be less than the length L1 of the second clamp arm 121 coupled to the clamp.

[0072] Specifically, the lower end of the clamp arm 121' can move upward, while the upper end of the clamp arm 121' can remain in the same position as before separation. That is, even when the clamp arm 121' is separated from the clamp 100, the upper end of the clamp arm 121' remains unchanged. Therefore, the height H of the upper ends of the plurality of first clamp arms 111, second clamp arms 121, and clamp arms 121' is equal to that of each other, and when the moving part (not shown) of the clamp arm is moved in the direction of travel to connect to the first clamp arm 111, second clamp arm 121, and clamp arm 121' while maintaining the connection to the upper ends of the plurality of first clamp arms 111, second clamp arms 121, and clamp arms 121', the height H can be designed such that the clamp arm 121' can be attached to / detached from the clamp 100.

[0073] In the following text, reference will be made to Figure 6 A clamp having a magnetic portion formed thereon, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, is described below.

[0074] Figure 6This is a diagram showing a clamp formed thereon on a magnet portion according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0075] refer to Figure 6 In a roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the first and second clamp links 130 have magnetic portions 140' to provide tension between the first clamp 110 and the second clamp 120. The magnetic portions 140' may have a structure comprising a magnetic material, such as an electromagnet. Thus, information about the degree of tension desired by the user is transmitted to the magnetic portions 140', causing tension to be applied due to the magnetic force between the first clamp 110 and the second clamp 120, and correspondingly, the degree to which the material 30 held by the first clamp 110 and the second clamp 120 is straightened can be adjusted.

[0076] The present disclosure has been described above with reference to embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but these embodiments are merely examples. Those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and other equivalent embodiments can be made from the embodiments. Therefore, the scope of protection sought by this disclosure is defined by the appended claims.

[0077] The specific embodiments shown and described herein are illustrative examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments in any other way. For the sake of brevity and clarity in describing this disclosure, descriptions of the general techniques and structures of the prior art may be omitted.

[0078] Furthermore, the connecting lines or connectors shown in the accompanying drawings are intended to represent example functional relationships and / or physical or logical couplings between various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships, physical connections, or logical connections may exist in actual installations. Moreover, unless an element is explicitly described as “necessary” or “critical,” no item or component is critical to the practice of this disclosure.

[0079] Throughout this specification, and specifically in the claims, "the" or other similar references may refer to both the singular and plural forms. Unless otherwise defined, the scope defined herein is intended to include values ​​within the individual application scope and may be considered identical to the individual values ​​constituting the scope of the embodiment.

[0080] Furthermore, unless explicitly described in order or in reverse, the operations constituting the method may be performed in a suitable order. Exemplary embodiments are not necessarily limited to the order of operations given in this specification. Examples or exemplary terms used herein (e.g., etc.) merely describe exemplary embodiments in detail and are not intended to limit the embodiments, unless defined by the following claims. Moreover, those skilled in the art will readily understand that many substitutions, combinations, and modifications can be made based on the design conditions and factors within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0081] According to the roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing equipment according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the product can be wound and unwound in a roll-to-roll manner using an uncoiler and a winding machine, and then the circuit board can be manufactured by a continuous electroplating method through an automated process.

[0082] In a roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the material is fixed by using clamps disposed on opposite sides in the width direction, and thus the process can be performed while the material is moved stably.

[0083] Furthermore, in the roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the clamping arms on opposite sides may have a variable structure to avoid obstacles such as pipes, wiring, etc.

[0084] Furthermore, in the roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus according to embodiments of the present disclosure, a spring or magnet portion is disposed on the connecting clamp to apply a desired level of tension to the link of materials.

[0085] It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are to be considered descriptive in nature only and not for limiting purposes. The description of features or aspects within each embodiment should generally be considered applicable to other similar features or aspects in other embodiments. Although one or more embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes in form and detail may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1.A roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus comprising: a material that moves when unwound and wound by an unwinder and a winder; and a clamp disposed so that a width direction of the material matches a longitudinal direction of the material and configured to fix the material, wherein the clamp comprises: a first clamp and a second clamp formed on opposite ends of the clamp; and a first and second clamp link formed between the first clamp and the second clamp, wherein the first and second clamp link has an elastic body or a magnet portion that provides tension between the first clamp and the second clamp. 2.The roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamp includes a plurality of clamps disposed at constant intervals in a direction in which the material travels. 3.The roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamp includes a clamp arm connected to the clamp for fixing the clamp, and the clamp arm is attachable to and / or detachable from the clamp. 4.The roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the clamp arm is attachable / detachable when moved in a direction perpendicular to the clamp. 5.The roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the clamp arm includes a first clamp arm connected to the first clamp; and a second clamp arm connected to the second clamp, and the first clamp arm and the second clamp arm are attached / detached separately from each other. 6.The roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the clamp arm has a variable length. 7.The roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a clamp support formed in a direction in which the material travels, wherein the clamp is connected to the clamp support. 8.The roll-to-roll circuit board manufacturing apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a rail portion formed on the clamp support in a direction in which the material travels, wherein the clamp is connected to the rail portion, and the clamp moves along the rail portion.

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