Etching device and etching process of flexible circuit board

Abstract

The invention discloses an etching device and an etching process of a flexible circuit board in the technical field of flexible circuit board processing, and the etching device comprises an etching pool, and also comprises a loading frame which is provided with a feeding port for loading the flexible circuit board at the top end and can horizontally move in the etching pool in a self-driven manner; the pushing mechanism is arranged on the loading frame and used for pushing the flexible circuit board in the loading frame to shake and changing the contact position of the flexible circuit board and the loading frame in real time; the etching efficiency of the flexible circuit board can be greatly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of flexible circuit board processing, in particular to an etching device and etching process for a flexible circuit board. Background Art

[0002] Circuit board etching is the process of removing unnecessary conductive areas on the copper clad laminate through a chemical reaction between the etching solution and the copper clad laminate on the circuit board, thereby forming a circuit pattern.

[0003] During the etching process of the existing flexible circuit boards, since the flexible circuit boards have the property of being bendable and are relatively soft, two-point supports cannot be used for transportation. When a flat plate support is used to transport the flexible circuit boards, the side of the flexible circuit boards that contacts the flat plate is difficult to contact the etching solution. Therefore, when both sides of the flexible circuit boards need to be etched, flat plate transportation cannot be used. When double-sided etching of the flexible circuit boards is required, tools such as clamps are usually used to clamp the flexible circuit boards so that they are immersed in the etching solution. Then, the clamping area of ​​the flexible circuit boards will be covered by the clamps and cannot contact the etching solution. The copper in the clamping area cannot be removed, which will result in the need for secondary etching in the future. This will not only affect the processing efficiency of the flexible circuit boards, but also easily lead to over-etching of the flexible circuit boards. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an etching device and an etching process for a flexible circuit board to solve the problems raised in the above background technology.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides the following technical solutions: an etching device for a flexible circuit board, comprising an etching pool, and also comprising: a loading frame, a top of which is provided with a feed port for loading the flexible circuit board, and which can be self-driven and move horizontally in the etching pool; a pushing mechanism, which is arranged on the loading frame and is used to push the flexible circuit board in the loading frame to shake, thereby changing the contact position between the flexible circuit board and the loading frame in real time.

[0006] As a further solution of the present invention, a support base is rotatably mounted on the loading frame, and the support base is slidably connected to the etching pool; a first rotating shaft is rotatably mounted on the support base, a first gear is fixedly connected to the first rotating shaft, the first gear is transmission-connected to a motor for driving it to rotate, a rack rod meshing with the first gear is provided on the side of the first gear, and the rack rod is fixedly connected to the etching pool.

[0007] As a further solution of the present invention, the pushing mechanism includes a first push rod and a second push rod; the first push rod and the second push rod are both elastically slidably connected to the loading frame; a plurality of first push blocks and second push blocks are fixedly connected to the first push rod and the second push rod, respectively; the first push blocks and the second push blocks are arranged at intervals; an incomplete gear is fixedly connected to the first rotating shaft, and two second gears that can mesh with it are arranged on the side of the incomplete gear, and the two second gears are both rotatably connected to the support seat and a winding roller is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft; a torsion spring for resetting the winding roller is mounted on the rotating shaft of the winding roller; a traction rope is wound around the winding roller, and the two traction ropes are respectively wrapped around the rotating shaft of the loading frame at one end away from the winding roller and are fixedly connected to the first push rod and the second push rod, respectively.

[0008] As a further solution of the present invention, the first pushing block and the second pushing block are both configured to have an arc shape at one end close to the inside of the loading frame.

[0009] As a further solution of the present invention, a guide rail is arranged on the side of the etching pool, the guide rail is arranged in a ring shape and one end extends outside the etching pool; the support seat can perform a ring movement on the guide rail.

[0010] As a further solution of the present invention, a feed opening is provided at the bottom of the loading frame, and baffles are elastically slidably installed at both ends of the top and bottom of the loading frame; the two baffles are respectively used to cover the feed opening and the feed opening.

[0011] As a further solution of the present invention, a third push rod is fixedly connected to the side of the baffle, and two driving rods are fixedly connected to the guide rail; the two driving rods are respectively used to drive the two third push rods to move outwards.

[0012] An etching process for a flexible circuit board, the process comprising the following steps: Step 1: Add etching liquid into the etching pool, and then the staff will place the flexible circuit board to be etched into the loading frame; Step 2: The loading frame will drive the flexible circuit board to move horizontally in the etching tank. At the same time, the pusher assembly will push the flexible circuit board in the loading frame to shake, changing the contact position between the flexible circuit board and the loading frame; Step 3: After the flexible circuit board is etched, the staff will take it out and send it to the next processing station.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: The present invention arranges a loading frame and a pushing mechanism, and the pushing mechanism drives the flexible circuit board to switch states uninterruptedly. The surface to be etched of the flexible circuit board will not be in contact with the loading frame all the time, and the surface to be etched can be completely immersed in the etching liquid, which can ensure that the copper on the unnecessary conductive area of ​​the flexible circuit board can be completely removed at one time without the need for secondary processing. The wavy flexible circuit board can be better in contact with the etching liquid, which can greatly improve the etching efficiency of the flexible circuit board. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the loading frame and the structure thereon of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the working state of the loading frame of the present invention; Figure 5 It is a process flow chart of the present invention.

[0015] In the accompanying drawings, the reference numerals are annotated as follows: 1-etching pool, 2-loading frame, 3-support seat, 4-first rotating shaft, 5-first gear, 6-rack rod, 7-first push rod, 8-second push rod, 9-first push block, 10-second push block, 11-incomplete gear, 12-second gear, 13-winding roller, 14-traction rope, 15-guide slide rail, 16-baffle, 17-third push rod, 18-driving rod. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0017] See also Figure 1-Figure 5 The present invention provides a technical solution: an etching device for a flexible circuit board, comprising an etching pool 1, and also comprising: a loading frame 2 and a pushing mechanism; a feeding port for loading the flexible circuit board is provided at the top of the loading frame 2, and the loading frame 2 can be self-driven and move horizontally in the etching pool 1; the pushing mechanism is arranged on the loading frame 2 and is used to push the flexible circuit board in the loading frame 2 to shake, thereby changing the contact position between the flexible circuit board and the loading frame 2 in real time.

[0018] The staff places the flexible circuit board to be etched from the feed port into the loading frame 2. Since the flexible circuit board has the characteristic of being bendable, Figure 4As shown, after the flexible circuit board is placed in the loading frame 2, it will be wavy under the action of gravity. Only the wave crest on the left and the wave trough on the right of the flexible circuit board are in contact with the side wall of the loading frame 2. When the loading frame 2 moves horizontally in the etching pool 1, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown, the pusher mechanism will push the crest on the left to move to the right, and then the flexible circuit board will be transformed into the state shown by the dotted line under the extrusion. At this time, the crest on the left is transformed into the trough on the right, and the trough on the right is transformed into the crest on the left; then the pusher mechanism will drive the transformed crest to move to the right again, and the flexible circuit board will be transformed into Figure 4 The state shown in the figure is realized; the pushing mechanism will drive the flexible circuit board to switch back and forth between the states shown by the solid line and the dotted line continuously, and the surface to be etched of the flexible circuit board will not always be in contact with the loading frame 2, and the surface to be etched can be completely immersed in the etching liquid, which can ensure that the copper on the unnecessary conductive area of ​​the flexible circuit board can be completely removed at one time without the need for secondary processing, and the wavy flexible circuit board can better contact with the etching liquid, which can greatly improve the etching efficiency of the flexible circuit board.

[0019] Specifically, a support base 3 is rotatably installed on the loading frame 2, and the support base 3 is slidably connected to the etching pool 1; a first rotating shaft 4 is rotatably installed on the support base 3, and a first gear 5 is fixedly connected to the first rotating shaft 4. The first gear 5 is transmission-connected to a motor for driving it to rotate, and a rack rod 6 meshing with the first gear 5 is arranged on the side of the first gear 5, and the rack rod 6 is fixedly connected to the etching pool 1.

[0020] like Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the motor (not shown) drives the first rotating shaft 4 and the first gear 5 to rotate synchronously. The first gear 5 will drive the first rotating shaft 4 to move from right to left under the meshing action of the rack rod 6, and the first rotating shaft 4 will drive the supporting base 3 to move synchronously, and the supporting base 3 will drive the loading frame 2 to move synchronously.

[0021] Specifically, Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the pushing mechanism includes a first push rod 7 and a second push rod 8; the first push rod 7 and the second push rod 8 are elastically slidably connected to the loading frame 2; a plurality of first push blocks 9 and a second push block 10 are fixedly connected to the first push rod 7 and the second push rod 8 respectively; the first push blocks 9 and the second push blocks 10 are arranged at intervals; an incomplete gear 11 is fixedly connected to the first rotating shaft 4, and two second gears 12 that can mesh with the incomplete gear 11 are arranged on the side, and the two second gears 12 are both rotatably connected to the support seat 3 and a winding roller 13 is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft; a torsion spring for resetting the winding roller 13 is mounted on the rotating shaft; a traction rope 14 is wound around the winding roller 13, and the two traction ropes 14 are bypassed around the rotating shaft of the loading frame 2 at one end away from the winding roller 13 and are fixedly connected to the first push rod 7 and the second push rod 8 respectively.

[0022] When the first gear 5 rotates to drive the loading frame 2 to move from right to left in the etching pool, the first rotating shaft 4 will drive the incomplete gear 11 to rotate; it should be noted that the incomplete gear 11 is intermittently meshed with the two second gears 12, that is, the incomplete gear 11 will not be meshed with the two second gears 12 at the same time. When the incomplete gear 11 is meshed with one of the second gears 12, the other second gear 12 is in a stationary state. When the incomplete gear 11 is disengaged from one of the second gears 12, it will then mesh with the other second gear 12; the two winding rollers 13 work intermittently, and when the two winding rollers 13 work, they will respectively wind up two traction ropes 14, and the ends of the two traction ropes 14 away from the winding rollers 13 will respectively drive the first push rod 7 and the second push rod 8 to move; when the first push rod 7 moves, it will drive the first push block 9 to push the wave crest on the left side of the flexible circuit board to move to the right; when the second push rod 8 moves, it will drive the second push block 10 to push the variable The wave crest on the left side of the replaced flexible circuit board moves to the right; the flexible circuit board can be intermittently changed in the loading frame 2; when the first push block 9 and the second push block 10 move to the farthest position to the right, the incomplete gear 11 will drive the winding roller 13 to continue to rotate a certain angle through the second gear 12. At this time, the end of the traction rope 14 away from the winding roller 13 will drive the loading frame 2 to rotate around the rotating shaft, and the loading frame 2 will drive the flexible circuit board to rotate synchronously; the rotation of the loading frame 2 can drive the etching liquid in the etching pool 1 to flow, and the etching liquid can fully contact with the flexible circuit board, thereby improving the etching efficiency of the flexible circuit board; when the incomplete gear 11 is disengaged from the second gear 12, the winding roller 13 will be quickly reset under the action of the torsion spring, and the first push rod 7 and the second push rod 8 will also be quickly reset under the action of the spring, and the first push block 9 and the second push block 10 can quickly disengage from the flexible circuit board, so that the flexible circuit board can be better in contact with the etching liquid.

[0023] Specifically, Figure 4 As shown, the first push block 9 and the second push block 10 are both set to an arc shape at one end close to the inside of the loading frame 2; setting the end of the first push block 9 and the second push block 10 that contacts the flexible circuit board to an arc shape can greatly reduce the area of ​​the first push block 9 and the second push block 10 acting on the flexible circuit board, so that the flexible circuit board can be etched better and faster.

[0024] Specifically, Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, a guide rail 15 is arranged on the side of the etching pool 1, and the guide rail 15 is arranged in a ring shape and one end extends to the outside of the etching pool 1; the support seat 3 can make a ring motion on the guide rail 15; the loading frame 2 can make a clockwise ring motion in the guide rail 15, and the loading frame 2 can be spread over the entire guide rail 15, which can greatly improve the etching processing efficiency of the flexible circuit board; the flexible circuit board enters from the right end of the etching pool 1, and starts to move upward after moving to the left end of the etching pool 1; and then moves to the right from the top of the guide rail 15. During the process of the flexible circuit board moving to the right again, a small amount of etching liquid attached to the loading frame 2 and the flexible circuit board can fall into the etching pool again, and the possibility of subsequent staff contacting with the etching liquid when taking the flexible circuit board will be greatly reduced, which can better protect the staff.

[0025] Specifically, Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, a feed opening is provided at the bottom of the loading frame 2, and baffles 16 are elastically slidably installed at both ends of the top and bottom of the loading frame 2; the two baffles 16 are used to cover the feed opening and the feed opening respectively; when the two baffles 16 cover the feed opening and the feed opening, the top ends of the flexible circuit board will respectively abut against the two files 16, and the pushing mechanism can be more stable when driving the flexible circuit board to change its state; after the etching is completed, the staff can open the baffle 16 below, and then the etched flexible circuit board can directly fall from the feed opening, which can facilitate the feeding of the flexible circuit board.

[0026] Specifically, Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, a third push rod 17 is fixedly connected to the side of the baffle 16, and two driving rods 18 are fixedly connected to the guide rail 15; the two driving rods 18 are respectively used to drive the two third push rods 17 to move outward; when the loading frame 2 moves from the left side to the rightmost side at the top of the guide rail 15, the loading frame 2 will move downward, and then the third push rods 17 on the two baffles 16 will contact the upper and lower driving rods 18 respectively; the wedge-shaped surface on the driving rod 18 will drive the third push rod 17 to drive the baffle 16 to move to the left, open the feed port and the discharge port, and then the etched flexible circuit board can automatically fall out of the loading frame 2; as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown, the length of the lower driving rod 18 is smaller than the length of the upper driving rod 18. After the etched flexible circuit board falls, the lower baffle 16 will close the discharge port under the elastic force of the spring. At this time, the upper baffle 16 is still in an open state, which can facilitate the staff to place the flexible circuit board to be etched into the loading frame 2.

[0027] An etching process for a flexible circuit board, the process comprising the following steps: Step 1: first add etching liquid into the etching pool 1, and then the staff places the flexible circuit board to be etched into the loading frame 2; Step 2: The loading frame 2 drives the flexible circuit board to move horizontally in the etching tank 1. At the same time, the pushing assembly pushes the flexible circuit board in the loading frame 2 to shake, thereby changing the contact position between the flexible circuit board and the loading frame 2. Step 3: After the flexible circuit board is etched, the staff will take it out and send it to the next processing station.

[0028] It should be noted that, in this article, relational terms such as first and second, etc. are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "include", "comprise" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device.

[0029] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and that the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An etching device for a flexible circuit board, comprising an etching pool (1), characterized in that: Also includes: A loading frame (2) has a feeding port at the top for loading the flexible circuit board and is capable of self-propelled horizontal movement in the etching pool (1); The pushing mechanism is arranged on the loading frame (2) and is used to push the flexible circuit board in the loading frame (2) to shake, thereby changing the contact position between the flexible circuit board and the loading frame (2) in real time.

2. The etching device for a flexible circuit board according to claim 1, characterized in that: A support base (3) is rotatably mounted on the loading frame (2), and the support base (3) is slidably connected to the etching pool (1); a first rotating shaft (4) is rotatably mounted on the support base (3), a first gear (5) is fixedly connected to the first rotating shaft (4), the first gear (5) is transmission-connected to a motor for driving the first gear (5) to rotate, a rack rod (6) meshing with the first gear (5) is provided on the side of the first gear (5), and the rack rod (6) is fixedly connected to the etching pool (1).

3. The etching device for a flexible circuit board according to claim 2, characterized in that: The pushing mechanism comprises a first push rod (7) and a second push rod (8); the first push rod (7) and the second push rod (8) are elastically slidably connected to the loading frame (2); a plurality of first push blocks (9) and a second push block (10) are fixedly connected to the first push rod (7) and the second push rod (8), respectively; the first push blocks (9) and the second push blocks (10) are arranged at intervals; an incomplete gear (11) is fixedly connected to the first rotating shaft (4); two second gears (12) capable of meshing with the incomplete gear (11) are arranged on the side of the incomplete gear (11); the two second gears (12) are rotatably connected to the support seat (3) and a winding roller (13) is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft; a torsion spring for resetting the winding roller (13) is sleeved on the rotating shaft; a traction rope (14) is wound around the winding roller (13); the ends of the two traction ropes (14) away from the winding roller (13) are bypassed around the rotating shaft of the loading frame (2) and are fixedly connected to the first push rod (7) and the second push rod (8), respectively.

4. The etching device for a flexible printed circuit board according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first push block (9) and the second push block (10) are both arranged in an arc shape at one end close to the inside of the loading frame (2).

5. The etching device for a flexible circuit board according to claim 3, characterized in that: A guide rail (15) is arranged on the side of the etching pool (1); the guide rail (15) is arranged in a ring shape and one end of the guide rail extends outside the etching pool (1); the support seat (3) can perform a ring-shaped movement on the guide rail (15).

6. The etching device for a flexible circuit board according to claim 5, characterized in that: A material discharge opening is provided at the bottom end of the loading frame (2), and baffles (16) are elastically slidably mounted on both ends of the top and bottom of the loading frame (2); the two baffles (16) are used to shield the material feed opening and the material discharge opening, respectively.

7. The etching device for a flexible printed circuit board according to claim 6, characterized in that: A third push rod (17) is fixedly connected to the side of the baffle (16), and two driving rods (18) are fixedly connected to the guide rail (15); the two driving rods (18) are respectively used to drive the two third push rods (17) to move outwards.

8. An etching process for a flexible circuit board, applicable to the etching device for a flexible circuit board according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The process includes the following steps: Step 1: first, add etching liquid into the etching pool (1), and then the staff will place the flexible circuit board to be etched into the loading frame (2); Step 2: The loading frame (2) drives the flexible circuit board to move horizontally in the etching pool (1), and at the same time, the pushing component pushes the flexible circuit board in the loading frame (2) to shake, thereby changing the contact position between the flexible circuit board and the loading frame (2); Step 3: After the flexible circuit board is etched, the staff will take it out and send it to the next processing station.

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