Heat sink paste application device and apparatus

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of heat dissipation paste smearing device, equipment and equipment control method, the heat dissipation paste smearing device among it includes heat dissipation paste supplement module being arranged on machine table, workpiece processing area, coating template mechanism, scraping mechanism and residual paste recovery mechanism. Among them, heat dissipation paste supplement module supplies paste to coating template mechanism, coating template mechanism is pressed together workpiece to define smearing area, scraping mechanism scrapes paste body to workpiece surface, residual paste recovery mechanism then cooperates with scraping mechanism, and the excessive heat dissipation paste remaining on scraping mechanism after scraping is scraped off and recycled to heat dissipation paste supplement module, realizes cyclic utilization. The scheme is integrated with automatic coating and residual paste closed-loop recovery structure, reduces artificial cleaning frequency, improves coating continuity and material utilization, effectively improves production efficiency, reduces consumable waste.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of radiator manufacturing technology, and in particular to a heat dissipation paste application device and equipment. Background Technology

[0002] In the production process of electronic devices, especially home appliance controllers, power modules, and power devices, in order to improve heat dissipation performance, it is usually necessary to install metal heat sinks on the surface of heat-generating components and apply a layer of thermally conductive thermal paste between their contact interfaces to fill micro gaps, reduce contact thermal resistance, and thus effectively conduct heat.

[0003] Currently, in radiator production and assembly lines, the application of thermal paste is mostly done semi-automatically or manually. The common process involves operators using a scraper to take a certain amount of thermal paste from a container, applying it to the workpiece or coating template, and then using the scraper to evenly spread the paste onto the area to be coated. Due to the high viscosity and fluidity of the thermal paste, some paste inevitably adheres to the scraper surface and template edges during the application process, leaving residue. To ensure consistent coating quality and prevent residue buildup leading to uneven coating or workpiece contamination, the operation must be paused after each or several coating cycles to manually clean the residual paste from the scraper and template. This repeated cleaning of the scraper and template reduces the effective operating time of the equipment and limits the output per unit time, becoming a key bottleneck restricting the improvement of automated assembly efficiency for heat dissipation components. How to achieve automatic removal and recycling of residual paste after application, avoiding manual intervention, has become a pressing technical challenge in this field. Utility Model Content

[0004] The present invention provides a thermal paste application device and control method, which aims to solve the technical problem of low production efficiency caused by the need to repeatedly clean the residual paste on the thermal paste application scraper and template in the thermal paste application process of the heat sink production assembly line under the prior art.

[0005] In a first aspect, this utility model provides a thermal paste application device comprising: a machine base; a thermal paste replenishment module disposed above the machine base; a workpiece processing area disposed above the thermal paste replenishment module; a coating template mechanism disposed above the workpiece processing area; a scraping mechanism disposed above the coating template mechanism; and a residual paste recovery mechanism disposed above the coating template mechanism on a side away from the scraping mechanism. The thermal paste replenishment module supplies thermal paste to the coating template mechanism, the coating template mechanism covers the workpiece to position the thermal paste application area, the scraping mechanism applies the thermal paste located on the coating template mechanism to the thermal paste application area, and the residual paste recovery mechanism cooperates with the scraping mechanism to recover the thermal paste not applied to the thermal paste application area back to the thermal paste replenishment module.

[0006] In one embodiment of this utility model, the thermal paste replenishment module includes a paste storage tank, an extrusion pusher mechanism, and a discharge pipe. The paste storage tank is disposed on the machine base. The extrusion pusher mechanism is connected to the machine base and disposed on one side of the paste storage tank. The inlet side of the discharge pipe is connected to the side of the paste storage tank away from the extrusion pusher mechanism. The outlet side of the discharge pipe is disposed on the coating template mechanism. The extrusion pusher mechanism is used to compress the space inside the paste storage tank so that the thermal paste is extruded from the discharge pipe.

[0007] In one embodiment of this utility model, the workpiece processing area is located above the paste storage tank.

[0008] In one embodiment of this utility model, the coating template mechanism includes a mold lifting mechanism and a coating mold plate. The coating mold plate is located above the workpiece processing area. The two ends of the mold lifting mechanism are respectively connected to the machine base and the coating mold plate, and drive the coating mold plate to move up and down. The outlet side of the discharge pipe is located above the coating mold plate.

[0009] In one embodiment of this utility model, the coating mechanism includes a coating shovel, a coating drive mechanism, and a coating adjustment and lifting mechanism. The coating shovel is disposed above the coating mold plate. The coating drive mechanism is connected to the coating shovel and drives the coating shovel to move along the length direction of the coating mold plate. The two ends of the coating adjustment and lifting mechanism are respectively connected to the machine base and the coating drive mechanism, and drive the coating drive mechanism to perform lifting and lowering movements.

[0010] In one embodiment of this utility model, the residual paste recycling mechanism includes a residual paste gathering shovel and at least one elastic guide rod. The top of the paste storage box on the side away from the extrusion pusher mechanism is also provided with a return port. The coating mold plate is aligned with the return port and is provided with a discharge port. The elastic guide rod is connected to the residual paste gathering shovel and the machine base. The residual paste gathering shovel is located above the discharge port.

[0011] In one embodiment of this utility model, the thermal paste replenishment module further includes a thermal paste emptying port, which is located on the wall of the paste storage box on the side away from the extrusion pusher mechanism. The thermal paste emptying port is located close to the machine base and is provided with a removable first sealing cap.

[0012] In one embodiment of this utility model, the thermal paste replenishment module further includes a thermal paste inlet, which is located on the wall of the paste storage tank near the extrusion pusher mechanism. The thermal paste inlet is located near the inlet side of the discharge pipe, and a removable second sealing cap is provided on the thermal paste inlet.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, a workpiece alignment mechanism is also included, which is located on the side of the workpiece processing area near the residual paste recovery mechanism.

[0014] Secondly, this utility model provides a thermal paste application device, comprising: a thermal paste application apparatus as described above; a workpiece loading mechanism and a workpiece unloading mechanism, respectively disposed on opposite sides of the thermal paste application apparatus, wherein the workpiece loading mechanism is used to place the workpiece into the workpiece processing area, and the workpiece unloading mechanism is used to remove the workpiece from the workpiece processing area.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are: In the technical solution of this utility model, the thermal paste application device includes a thermal paste replenishment module mounted on the machine base, a workpiece processing area, a coating template mechanism, a scraping mechanism, and a residual paste recovery mechanism. The thermal paste replenishment module supplies paste to the coating template mechanism, which presses the workpiece to define the application area. The scraping mechanism applies the paste to the workpiece surface. The residual paste recovery mechanism works in conjunction with the scraping mechanism to scrape off excess thermal paste remaining on the scraping mechanism and recover it to the thermal paste replenishment module, achieving recycling. This solution, by integrating automated coating and a closed-loop residual paste recovery structure, reduces the frequency of manual cleaning, improves coating continuity and material utilization, effectively enhances production efficiency, and reduces material waste. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the heat dissipation paste application device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a partial enlarged view A of the structural schematic diagram of the heat dissipation paste application device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a left view of the heat dissipation paste application device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a sectional view B of the left view of the heat dissipation paste application device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view B and a partial enlarged view C of the left view of the heat dissipation paste application device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a front view of the heat dissipation paste application device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a partial enlarged view D of the front view of the heat dissipation paste application device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the contact between the scraper and the residual paste collection scraper of the thermal paste application device in an embodiment of this utility model. Figure 9 These are two side views, one from the front and one from the side, representing an embodiment of the thermal paste application device of this utility model. Figure 10 These are two oblique side views of the thermal paste application device according to an embodiment of this utility model; Figure 11 This is a top view of the thermal paste application device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 This is a flowchart of the cross-flow fan blade detection and control method according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure label explanation: 10. Machine base; 11. Workpiece loading mechanism; 12. Workpiece unloading mechanism; 20. Thermal paste replenishment module; 21. Thermal paste storage tank; 22. Extrusion pusher mechanism; 23. Discharge pipeline; 231. Inlet side; 232. Outlet side; 24. Return port; 251. Thermal paste emptying port; 252. First sealing cover; 261. Thermal paste inlet; 262. Second sealing cover; 30. Workpiece processing area; 31. Radiator material box; 40. Coating template mechanism; 41. Mold lifting mechanism; 42. Coating mold plate; 43. Support frame; 44. Edge guard; 45. Material drop port; 50. Scraping mechanism; 51. Scraping shovel; 52. Scraping drive mechanism; 53. Scraping adjustment and lifting mechanism; 60. Residual paste recovery mechanism; 61. Residual paste collection shovel; 62. Flexible guide rod; 70. Workpiece alignment mechanism; 71. First positioning plate; 72. Second positioning plate; 73. Positioning plate lifting mechanism; 74. Positioning horizontal push mechanism. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0019] It should be noted that all directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in this utility model embodiment are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicator will also change accordingly.

[0020] This invention addresses the technical problem of low production efficiency caused by the need for repeated cleaning of residual thermal paste on the scraper and template during the thermal paste application process in existing radiator production and assembly lines. A thermal paste application device is proposed. (Refer to...) Figures 1 to 8The thermal paste application device includes: a machine base 10; a thermal paste replenishment module 20, disposed above the machine base 10; a workpiece processing area 30, disposed above the thermal paste replenishment module 20; a coating template mechanism 40, disposed above the workpiece processing area 30; a scraping mechanism 50, disposed above the coating template mechanism 40; and a residual paste recovery mechanism 60, disposed above the coating template mechanism 40 on the side away from the scraping mechanism 50. The thermal paste replenishment module 20 supplies thermal paste to the coating template mechanism 40, the coating template mechanism 40 covers the workpiece to position the thermal paste application area, the scraping mechanism 50 applies the thermal paste located on the coating template mechanism 40 to the thermal paste application area, and the residual paste recovery mechanism 60 cooperates with the scraping mechanism 50 to recover the thermal paste not applied to the thermal paste application area back to the thermal paste replenishment module 20. The machine base 10 adopts a sheet metal welded frame structure, possessing sufficient rigidity and mounting surface to support the various functional modules and ensure stability during operation. A thermal paste replenishment module 20 is installed above the machine base 10. This module stores and quantitatively supplies thermal paste, and is fixed to the surface of the machine base 10. It can transport the stored thermal paste to the area where the coating template mechanism 40 is located. The workpiece processing area 30 is located in the space above the thermal paste replenishment module 20. Specifically, it is the positioning area that supports the heat sink to be coated and its special material box, ensuring the workpiece remains stable during the coating process. Above the workpiece processing area 30 is the coating template mechanism 40. This mechanism is movable up and down and its function is to cover the workpiece surface. The opening structure on the template precisely defines the application area of ​​the thermal paste, preventing coating deviation or overflow. The scraping mechanism 50 is located above the coating template mechanism 40 and can move horizontally. It pushes the thermal paste supplied by the thermal paste replenishment module 20 to the template surface and fills the corresponding area of ​​the template opening, completing the uniform coating of the workpiece surface. The residual thermal paste recovery mechanism 60 is also located above the coating template mechanism 40 and is arranged opposite to the scraping mechanism 50. Its function is to work in conjunction with the scraping mechanism 50 when the scraping action is completed and the scraping mechanism 50 returns, scraping off the excess thermal paste that was not coated on the surface of the scraped part and guiding it into the thermal paste replenishment module 20 for recycling. Specifically, the residual paste is returned to the replenishment module through the discharge port 45 on the coating template mechanism 40 and the return port 24 on the top of the paste storage box 21, forming a closed-loop feeding system. Through the coordinated operation of various mechanisms, this device realizes automatic supply of thermal paste, precise positioning and coating, and automatic cleaning and recovery of residual paste after scraping, effectively reducing the frequency of manual intervention, improving coating consistency and production continuity, and is suitable for automated assembly lines of electronic components such as home appliance controllers and power modules.

[0021] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figures 1 to 8The thermal paste replenishment module 20 includes a paste storage tank 21, an extrusion pusher mechanism 22, and a discharge pipe 23. The paste storage tank 21 is mounted on the machine base 10. The extrusion pusher mechanism 22 is connected to the machine base 10 and located on one side of the paste storage tank 21. The inlet side 231 of the discharge pipe 23 is connected to the side of the paste storage tank 21 away from the extrusion pusher mechanism 22, and the outlet side 232 of the discharge pipe 23 is located on the coating template mechanism 40. The extrusion pusher mechanism 22 is used to compress the space inside the paste storage tank 21 to extrude the thermal paste from the discharge pipe 23. The specific structure of the thermal paste replenishment module 20 includes the paste storage tank 21, the extrusion pusher mechanism 22, and the discharge pipe 23. The heat dissipation condenser 21 is fixedly mounted on the machine base 10 and is used to hold a certain amount of heat dissipation condenser. Its body is made of opaque PC material to prevent light exposure from altering the condenser's properties. A viewing window on one side allows for easy observation of the remaining condenser. The extrusion pusher mechanism 22 is connected to the machine base 10 and located on one side of the condenser 21. It includes a servo cylinder and a linked heat dissipation condenser piston plate. The piston plate extends into the condenser 21 and slides in a sealed manner against the inner wall. When the servo cylinder is activated, it pushes the piston plate forward into the condenser 21, gradually compressing its internal volume and applying stable pressure to the heat dissipation condenser. The inlet side 231 of the discharge pipe 23 is connected to the side of the condenser 21 away from the extrusion pusher mechanism 22, i.e., the end opposite to the piston's thrust direction, ensuring that the condenser effectively flows to the outlet during the pushing process and avoiding accumulation in dead zones. The outlet side 232 of the discharge pipe 23 extends above the coating template mechanism 40, specifically located in the feeding area of ​​the coating mold plate 42, allowing the extruded thermal paste to fall directly onto a designated position on the template surface. By controlling the stroke and speed of the extrusion pusher mechanism 22, the amount of paste dispensed each time can be precisely adjusted to achieve quantitative feeding. This structure not only ensures the continuity and controllability of the paste supply process but also provides a stable prerequisite for subsequent automatic scraping. In addition, the discharge pipe 23 can use a flexible corrosion-resistant hose or a rigid metal conduit, which can be bent or fixed according to the equipment layout to improve installation adaptability. The entire feeding process is automatically triggered by the control system and linked with the pressing action of the coating template to ensure timing coordination and improve the overall automation level of the machine.

[0022] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figures 1 to 8The workpiece processing area 30 is located above the paste storage tank 21. The workpiece processing area 30 is used to support the heat sink to be coated and its matching material box. The material box has multiple positioning grooves, which can stably hold multiple workpieces, and the limiting structure ensures their positional accuracy during processing. The paste storage tank 21, as the main component of the heat sink replenishment module 20, directly forms the supporting foundation for the workpiece processing area 30 at its top, or a support platform can be added to ensure stable placement of the workpiece material box. This positional relationship ensures that the workpiece is located between the outlet of the discharge pipe 23 and the coating template mechanism 40 during the coating process, ensuring that the heat sink paste, after being extruded from the discharge pipe 23, accurately falls into the coating area formed by the coating mold plate 42 and the workpiece. Meanwhile, since the workpiece processing area 30 is located above the paste storage tank 21, the residual paste recovery path can also be designed to run vertically through the workpiece. This allows the residual paste discharge port 45 on the coating template mechanism 40 and the residual paste return port 24 on the top of the paste storage tank 21 to be spatially aligned. This facilitates the direct return of excess heat dissipation paste and residual paste cleaned by the scraper to the paste storage tank 21 via the discharge channel, achieving closed-loop recycling. This structure not only simplifies the material transfer path but also reduces the complexity of external connection pipelines, improving the cleanliness and ease of maintenance of the equipment. In addition, a sealing gasket or an openable and closable protective cover can be installed on the top of the paste storage tank 21 to prevent dust from falling into the workpiece processing area 30 or contaminating the paste when not in operation, ensuring coating cleanliness. This layout is suitable for continuous automated production scenarios and can effectively support the coordinated operation of the loading and unloading mechanism and the coating action.

[0023] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figures 1 to 8The coating template mechanism 40 includes a mold lifting mechanism 41 and a coating mold plate 42. The coating mold plate 42 is located above the workpiece processing area 30. The two ends of the mold lifting mechanism 41 are respectively connected to the machine base 10 and the coating mold plate 42, and drive the coating mold plate 42 to move up and down. The outlet side 232 of the discharge pipe 23 is located above the coating mold plate 42. The coating mold plate 42 is located above the workpiece processing area 30 and is used to cover the surface of the workpiece to be coated to precisely define the application area of ​​the thermal paste. The coating mold plate 42 is a metal plate structure with a through hole in its middle that matches the shape of the workpiece. This through hole corresponds to the top surface area of ​​the heat sink. When the mold plate is pressed down, its lower surface fits against the edge of the workpiece to form a closed coating cavity, preventing the thermal paste from overflowing during the scraping process. One end of the mold lifting mechanism 41 is connected to the machine base 10 via a support frame 43, and the other end is connected to the coating mold plate 42. It drives the coating mold plate 42 to achieve lifting and lowering movements. Specifically, it can be in the form of a cylinder, electric push rod, or servo linear module, preferably two symmetrically arranged cylinders to ensure uniform force during the pressing process and avoid tilting that could lead to poor sealing. When the mold lifting mechanism 41 operates, it drives the coating mold plate 42 to descend vertically until it is in close contact with the workpiece, providing a stable reference surface for subsequent coating. The outlet side 232 of the discharge pipe 23 is located above the coating mold plate 42, allowing the thermal paste extruded by the thermal paste replenishment module 20 to fall directly onto the surface of the coating mold plate 42 and within the initial stroke range of the scraper 51. In actual operation, the mold lifting mechanism 41 first drives the coating mold plate 42 to press the workpiece, then the discharge pipe 23 supplies the paste. After the paste falls onto the surface of the mold plate, the scraper 51 advances along the length of the mold plate, pushing the paste into the through-hole area to complete the coating. This structure enables precise positioning and sealing of the coating area, improving coating consistency and coverage. Furthermore, the coating mold plate 42 is detachable, facilitating the replacement of corresponding molds for different heat sink models, thus enhancing equipment versatility. The timing of the mold lifting mechanism 41's actions is uniformly coordinated by the control system, linking with the extrusion, scraping, and residual paste recovery actions to ensure orderly connection of each process and improve overall machine operating efficiency.

[0024] Furthermore, referring to Figures 1 to 8The coating mechanism 50 includes a coating shovel 51, a coating drive mechanism 52, and a coating adjustment and lifting mechanism 53. The coating shovel 51 is positioned above the coating mold plate 42. The coating drive mechanism 52 is connected to the coating shovel 51 and drives the coating shovel 51 to move along the length of the coating mold plate 42. The two ends of the coating adjustment and lifting mechanism 53 are respectively connected to the machine base 10 and the coating drive mechanism 52, and drive the coating drive mechanism 52 to perform lifting and lowering movements. The coating mechanism 50, including the coating shovel 51, coating drive mechanism 52, and coating adjustment and lifting mechanism 53, is used to realize the automatic coating action of thermal paste on the surface of the coating mold plate 42. The coating shovel 51 is positioned above the coating mold plate 42, and its bottom edge is parallel to the surface of the mold plate and has a fitting gap to ensure that the thermal paste falling on the mold plate can be effectively pushed to the through-hole area in the middle of the mold plate, completing the uniform coating of the workpiece surface. The main body of the scraper 51 is a metal plate with a beveled edge at the front end, which slopes towards the scraping direction to facilitate smooth flow of the paste and reduce accumulation. Flexible rubber sealing strips can be added to both sides of the scraper 51 to ensure a tight fit with the side guards 44 of the coating mold plate 42, preventing paste leakage during scraping. The scraper drive mechanism 52, connected to the scraper 51, can be a cylinder, screw and nut pair, or synchronous belt drive structure, and is mounted on the scraper adjustment and lifting mechanism 53. It drives the scraper 51 to reciprocate along the length of the coating mold plate 42. In operation, after the coating mold plate 42 presses the workpiece and the thermal paste falls from the discharge pipe 23 onto the mold plate surface, the scraper adjustment and lifting mechanism 53 first drives the entire scraper drive mechanism 52 downward, bringing the scraper 51 close to or lightly touching the mold plate surface. Then, the scraper drive mechanism 52 activates, pushing the scraper 51 forward to push the paste into the mold through-hole for precise filling. After the coating is completed, the coating drive mechanism 52 drives the coating shovel 51 back to its original position, while the coating adjustment and lifting mechanism 53 slightly raises it to reduce the movement resistance when interacting with the residual paste recovery mechanism 60. The two ends of the coating adjustment and lifting mechanism 53 are connected to the machine base 10 and the coating drive mechanism 52, respectively. It can be composed of a small cylinder or an electric slide table and is used to adjust the vertical position of the coating shovel 51, ensuring good contact with the mold plate during coating, and providing sufficient movement space when not in operation or when cooperating with the residual paste recovery mechanism 60. This layered control structure makes the coating action more flexible and reliable, adapting to different coating thicknesses and process requirements. The entire coating process is automatically executed by the control system according to a preset program, coordinating with mold lifting, paste supply, and residual paste recovery actions to ensure the continuity and stability of the coating operation. Furthermore, the mounting structure of the coating shovel 51 is designed for quick disassembly, facilitating cleaning, maintenance, or replacement with different shovel sizes to adapt to various process requirements.

[0025] Furthermore, referring to Figures 1 to 8The residual grease recovery mechanism 60 includes a residual grease gathering shovel 61 and at least one elastic guide rod 62. The top of the grease storage tank 21, near the extrusion pusher mechanism 22, is also provided with a return port 24. The coating mold plate 42 is aligned with the return port 24 and has a discharge port 45. The elastic guide rod 62 is connected to the residual grease gathering shovel 61 and the machine base 10. The residual grease gathering shovel 61 is located above the discharge port 45. The residual grease recovery mechanism 60, including the residual grease gathering shovel 61 and at least one elastic guide rod 62, is used to automatically remove and recover the residual thermal paste on the surface of the scraping shovel 51 after the scraping action is completed. The residual grease return port 24, located at the top of the grease storage tank 21 near the extrusion pusher mechanism 22, penetrates the top wall of the grease storage tank 21 and communicates with the internal cavity to receive excess thermal paste flowing back from above. Correspondingly, a residual paste discharge port 45 is provided at a corresponding position on the coating mold plate 42. Its position is vertically aligned with the return port 24 at the top of the paste storage tank 21, forming a continuous paste recovery channel. A residual paste collection shovel 61 is positioned above the residual paste discharge port 45 on the coating mold plate 42. Its main body is a metal plate structure with a smooth surface, facilitating paste slippage. One end of the elastic guide rod 62 is connected to the residual paste collection shovel 61, and the other end is fixedly connected to the machine base 10 or a support component on the machine base 10. Through the elastic deformation capability of the elastic guide rod 62, the residual paste collection shovel 61 can undergo elastic displacement in the vertical direction when subjected to external force. In specific implementation, the elastic guide rod 62 consists of a guide rod, a spring, and a bushing. The guide rod passes through the mounting base of the residual paste collection shovel 61 and extends into the bushing. The spring is sleeved outside the guide rod, with one end abutting against the residual paste collection shovel 61 and the other end abutting against the support plate fixed on the machine base 10, thereby providing pre-tightening force. As the scraper 51 completes its forward coating action and begins its return stroke, its beveled tip gradually contacts the lower edge of the residual paste collection shovel 61. During this relative movement, the beveled surface of the scraper 51 forces the residual paste collection shovel 61 to overcome the spring force and move downwards, ensuring that the inner surface of the residual paste collection shovel 61 remains in close contact with the bottom surface and beveled area of ​​the scraper 51, thereby scraping off excess thermal paste. The scraped paste then falls into the residual paste discharge port 45 below and flows directly back into the storage tank 21 through the corresponding return port 24 at the top, achieving closed-loop recycling and reuse. This structure requires no additional power drive; it relies on mechanical contact and elastic reset to complete automatic scraping, resulting in a simple structure and reliable operation. The number of elastic guide rods 62 can be set to two or more depending on the width of the scraper 51 to ensure uniform force distribution and prevent jamming. Furthermore, the installation angle and initial height of the residual paste collection shovel 61 are adjustable. By adjusting the pre-compression of the elastic guide rod 62 or replacing the spring with one of different stiffness, it can adapt to cleaning needs under different viscosities of thermal paste or different scraping pressures. This recycling mechanism effectively reduces the frequency of manual cleaning, reduces material waste, and improves the automation level and operational continuity of the equipment.

[0026] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figures 1 to 8 The thermal paste replenishment module 20 also includes a thermal paste emptying port 251. The thermal paste emptying port 251 is located on the wall of the storage tank 21 on the side away from the extrusion pusher mechanism 22, and is positioned away from the machine base 10. A removable first sealing cap 252 is provided on the thermal paste emptying port 251. The thermal paste replenishment module 20 also includes a thermal paste emptying port 251, which is located on the lower part of the side wall of the storage tank 21 away from the extrusion pusher mechanism 22, and is close to the machine base 10, facilitating the complete discharge of any remaining thermal paste inside the storage tank 21 when the equipment is not in use or for maintenance. Specifically, when the equipment needs to be cleaned of residual thermal paste due to prolonged shutdown, changing the type of thermal paste, or regular maintenance, the operator can remove the first sealing cap 252 from the thermal paste emptying port 251. At this time, any unused thermal paste in the storage tank 21 can be completely squeezed out through the emptying port under the continuous push of the extrusion pusher mechanism 22. This arrangement positions the vent at the end of the pushing direction of the extrusion pusher mechanism 22, ensuring that the piston plate can fully discharge the thermal paste from the innermost part of the housing to the outside during its forward movement, avoiding accumulation in dead corners. The first sealing cover 252 uses a threaded connection or quick-release snap-fit ​​structure to form a reliable seal with the vent, effectively preventing dust, foreign objects from entering or thermal paste leakage under normal operating conditions. The sealing cover body can be made of corrosion-resistant metal or engineering plastic, with a sealing ring on the inner side to enhance sealing performance. This vent structure not only facilitates the recycling and storage of thermal paste, reducing material waste, but also helps maintain the cleanliness of the equipment's interior, preventing performance changes caused by mixing different batches or models of thermal paste. In practical applications, a hose can be connected to the vent to temporarily store the discharged thermal paste in a dedicated sealed container for later reuse. This design fully considers the maintainability and ease of operation of the equipment in actual production environments, and is especially suitable for automated production line scenarios that require periodic downtime for maintenance or product changeovers.

[0027] Furthermore, referring to Figures 1 to 8The thermal paste replenishment module 20 also includes a thermal paste inlet 261, which is located on the wall of the storage tank 21 away from the extrusion pusher mechanism 22. The thermal paste inlet 261 is located near the inlet side 231 of the discharge pipe 23, and is equipped with a removable second sealing cap 262. The thermal paste replenishment module 20 also includes a thermal paste inlet 261, which is used to replenish thermal paste into the storage tank 21 before equipment operation or during production to maintain continuous operation capability. The thermal paste inlet 261 is located on the top or upper side wall of the storage tank 21 near the inlet side 231 of the discharge pipe 23. This location, near the far end of the storage tank 21 (i.e., away from the extrusion pusher mechanism 22), helps the newly added thermal paste to flow smoothly to the inlet of the discharge pipe 23 under gravity and subsequent propulsion, avoiding air resistance or uneven filling. The inlet is equipped with a removable second sealing cover 262. This cover uses a threaded, snap-lock, or quick-release flange structure to ensure a seal when not in use, preventing external dust and impurities from entering the thermal paste storage tank 21 and contaminating the thermal paste. It also prevents the paste inside the tank from absorbing moisture or oxidizing and deteriorating due to exposure to air. The inner side of the second sealing cover 262 has an elastic sealing gasket, typically made of silicone or rubber, to enhance sealing reliability. In actual operation, when the control system determines that the paste level is insufficient based on the preset number of coatings or through liquid level detection, it will issue a replenishment signal. The operator can then manually open the second sealing cover 262 and pour the pre-prepared thermal paste into the inlet through a funnel or a dedicated feeding device. After replenishment, the seal is tightened again. To facilitate observation of the feeding process, scale markings can be installed around the inlet or aligned with the viewing window to assist in judging the amount of paste added. The feed inlet and the aforementioned thermal paste emptying port 251 are located at opposite ends of the paste storage tank 21: the emptying port is located on the lower part near the extrusion pusher mechanism 22 for venting and maintenance; the feed inlet is located on the upper part away from the extrusion pusher for daily replenishment. Their functions complement each other, forming a complete closed loop for paste management. Furthermore, the feed inlet's diameter is appropriately designed to ensure efficient feeding while preventing overflow. Its inner edge is rounded to avoid scratching operators or accumulating residual paste. This structural design fully considers the equipment's practicality, ease of maintenance, and continuous operation in industrial environments, supporting long-term stable operation. It is suitable for automated assembly scenarios where consistent thermal paste application is required, such as in home appliance controllers and power modules.

[0028] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figures 1 to 8The thermal paste application device also includes a workpiece alignment mechanism 70, which is located on the side of the workpiece processing area 30 near the residual paste recovery mechanism 60. This mechanism is used to precisely position the radiator material box 31 placed in the workpiece processing area 30 before the coating process, ensuring its accurate position on the horizontal plane, thereby guaranteeing that the subsequent coating area is aligned with the mold opening. The workpiece alignment mechanism 70 includes a positioning horizontal pushing mechanism 74, a first positioning plate 71, a second positioning plate 72, and a positioning plate lifting mechanism 73. The first positioning plate 71 is fixed to the upper surface of the paste storage box 21 and extends longitudinally, serving as the positioning reference surface of the workpiece material box in the first direction. The second positioning plate 72 is arranged perpendicularly to the first positioning plate 71 at a 90-degree angle on the plane, forming an L-shaped positioning structure for limiting the position in the second direction. The first and second directions refer to two directions on the horizontal coordinate system. The second direction points from the loading direction to the unloading direction, while the first and second directions are perpendicular. The second positioning plate 72 is located on one side of the workpiece unloading mechanism 12, and a positioning plate lifting mechanism 73 is connected below it. This lifting mechanism can be a cylinder or a small electric push rod, fixed to the machine base 10, and can drive the second positioning plate 72 to move vertically up and down. During normal loading and coating processes, the second positioning plate 72 is in an upward state, with its upper surface slightly higher than the bearing surface of the workpiece processing area 30. When the loading mechanism pushes the radiator material box 31 to the workpiece processing area 30, the positioning horizontal push mechanism 74 is activated, pushing the material box along the first direction so that one side of it is in close contact with the first positioning plate 71 to complete the first direction positioning. Simultaneously, the front edge of the material box contacts the upward-positioned second positioning plate 72, achieving the second direction positioning, thus completing precise biaxial positioning. When the coating process is completed and the unloading stage begins, the positioning plate lifting mechanism 73 activates, driving the second positioning plate 72 to descend below the bearing surface of the workpiece processing area 30, thus clearing the workpiece unloading path and preventing interference with the grippers or push rods of the unloading mechanism. At this time, the workpiece unloading mechanism 12 can smoothly remove the coated radiator material box 31 from the workpiece processing area 30. This alignment mechanism achieves fast and reliable positioning through mechanical limiting, ensuring repeatability without additional sensors, and features a simple structure and high stability. The first positioning plate 71 remains fixed as a reference surface for long-term use, while the lifting design of the second positioning plate 72 balances positioning functionality with unloading clearance requirements, improving the coordination of equipment movements. In addition, the thrust of the positioning horizontal push mechanism 74 is adjustable to prevent workpiece displacement or damage due to excessive thrust. The entire workpiece alignment process is automatically controlled by the control system, linked to the loading, coating, and unloading sequences to ensure orderly connection of each action. This structure is particularly suitable for production scenarios where multiple models of heat sinks are produced on the same line. With the replaceable coating mold plate 42, product changeover adjustments can be quickly achieved, improving equipment versatility and production line flexibility.

[0029] This utility model also provides a thermal paste application device, as described above. Figures 9 to 11 The thermal paste application equipment includes: a thermal paste application device as described in the above embodiments; a workpiece loading mechanism 11 and a workpiece unloading mechanism 12, respectively disposed on opposite sides of the thermal paste application device. The workpiece loading mechanism 11 is used to place the workpiece into the workpiece processing area 30, and the workpiece unloading mechanism 12 is used to remove the workpiece from the workpiece processing area 30. The thermal paste application device, as the core functional unit, is responsible for the quantitative supply, precise application, and residual paste recovery of the thermal paste. Its structure and workflow are as described above. The workpiece loading mechanism 11 is used to automatically feed the radiator material box 31 containing the heatsink blocks to be coated into the workpiece processing area 30. The feeding mechanism can employ a pneumatic pusher or a servo module-driven conveyor, including a feeding pusher mechanism and a material box feeding bin. The feeding bin has a multi-layer or single-layer structure and can store multiple material boxes to be processed at once. After the equipment completes one cycle, the feeding pusher mechanism operates under the drive of a control signal, horizontally pushing the foremost heat sink material box 31 to a designated position in the workpiece processing area 30, i.e., above the paste storage tank 21, thus achieving automatic workpiece feeding. The workpiece unloading mechanism 12 is arranged opposite to the feeding mechanism, located at the discharge end of the workpiece processing area 30, and is used to remove the material boxes with completed heat dissipation paste coating from the processing area and transfer them to the receiving bin. The unloading mechanism can employ a pneumatic gripper, an electric clamp, or a suction cup-type conveying device, combined with a lifting and telescopic motion mechanism, to accurately grip the coated material boxes and transfer them to the unloading conveyor belt or stacking bin. In actual operation, after the coating action is completed, the second positioning plate 72 in the workpiece alignment mechanism 70 is driven down by the positioning plate lifting mechanism 73 to make room for the unloading path; then the unloading mechanism moves into the workpiece processing area 30 to complete the clamping and removal operations. The timing of the actions of the loading and unloading mechanisms is uniformly coordinated by the central control system of the equipment, forming a linkage logic with processes such as coating template pressing, paste supply, scraping and residual paste recovery, to ensure that each step is connected in an orderly manner and avoid action conflicts.

[0030] This utility model also provides a control method for a thermal paste application device, applied to the thermal paste application device described in the above embodiments, with reference to... Figure 12 The method includes: S110. The workpiece to be coated is transported to the workpiece processing area by the workpiece feeding mechanism; S120. Control the coating template mechanism to descend and press against the surface of the workpiece to be coated, so as to define the application area of ​​the thermal paste; S130. A measured amount of heat dissipation paste is supplied to the top of the coating template mechanism through the heat dissipation paste replenishment module; S140. The thermal paste is pushed into the coating area by the scraping mechanism to complete the coating process; S150. Through the cooperation of the residual paste recovery mechanism and the scraping mechanism, the residual heat dissipation paste adhering to the scraping component is scraped off, and the residual heat dissipation paste is recycled to the heat dissipation paste replenishment module. S160, Control the coating template mechanism to rise and return to the initial position; S170. The workpiece with the thermal paste applied is taken out and collected from the workpiece processing area by the workpiece unloading mechanism.

[0031] The control process of this method is uniformly scheduled and executed by a control system integrated into the thermal paste application equipment, such as a PLC or industrial controller. First, the workpiece loading mechanism 11 is activated, and the heat sink material box 31, which is loaded with heat sink blocks to be coated, is horizontally pushed from the material supply bin to the workpiece processing area 30 via the feeding pusher mechanism. This area is located above the paste storage box 21. After the material box is in place, the position sensor feedback signal is triggered to confirm that the workpiece is in place. Subsequently, the workpiece alignment mechanism 70 is activated, and the positioning horizontal push mechanism 74 pushes the material box so that one side of it is tightly attached to the fixed first positioning plate 71. At the same time, the second positioning plate 72 is in an upward state and contacts the front edge of the material box, realizing precise positioning in the first and second directions, ensuring that the subsequent coating area is accurately aligned with the mold opening. After positioning is completed, the mold lifting mechanism 41 in the coating template mechanism 40 drives the coating mold plate 42 to descend vertically, so that its lower surface is tightly pressed against the workpiece surface. The through holes on the mold plate correspond to the heat sink block area, forming a closed coating cavity, effectively preventing paste overflow. Next, the thermal paste replenishment module 20 starts working. The extrusion pusher mechanism 22 pushes the piston plate in the paste storage tank 21 forward, squeezing out a measured amount of thermal paste from the outlet side 232 of the discharge pipe 23 and onto the surface of the coating mold plate 42, within the initial stroke range of the scraper 51. Subsequently, the scraper positioning and lifting mechanism 53 drives the scraper drive mechanism 52 to descend, bringing the scraper 51 close to the surface of the mold plate. The scraper drive mechanism 52 starts, pushing the scraper 51 forward along the length of the mold plate, pushing the thermal paste into the through hole, completing the uniform coating of the workpiece surface. During the return stroke of the scraper 51, its front beveled edge contacts the residual paste collection shovel 61. Under the pre-pressure of the elastic guide rod 62, the residual paste collection shovel 61 moves downward close to the surface of the scraper 51, scraping off the attached residual heat dissipation paste. The scraped residual paste flows directly back into the heat dissipation tank 21 through the residual paste discharge port 45 on the coating mold plate 42 and the corresponding return port 24 at the top of the heat dissipation tank 21, achieving closed-loop recycling. After the scraping is completed, the scraping mechanism 50 and the residual paste recycling mechanism 60 are reset, and the coating template mechanism 40 rises and detaches from the workpiece surface. At this time, the positioning plate lifting mechanism 73 drives the second positioning plate 72 to descend, clearing the unloading path. The workpiece unloading mechanism 12 is activated, extending into the workpiece processing area 30 through a gripper or conveying device to pick up the coated radiator material box 31 and transfer it to the unloading conveyor belt or the receiving bin for collection. The entire control process is automatically run by the preset timing program, and the actions of each mechanism are coordinated and orderly, supporting continuous cyclic operation. The control system can also trigger replenishment prompts or maintenance reminders based on the cumulative number of coatings or external input signals, further enhancing the intelligence level of the equipment. This control method achieves automation, closed-loop control, and traceability of the entire thermal paste coating process, significantly improving production efficiency, coating consistency, and material utilization, and is suitable for high-cycle electronic assembly production lines.

[0032] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this utility model, but the protection scope of this utility model is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various equivalent modifications or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this utility model, and these modifications or substitutions should all be covered within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A device for applying thermal paste, characterized in that, include: Machine tool; A thermal paste refill module is located above the machine platform; The workpiece processing area is located above the thermal paste refill module; A coating template mechanism is located above the workpiece processing area; A scraping mechanism is located above the coating template mechanism; The residual paste recovery mechanism is located above the coating template mechanism on the side away from the scraping mechanism; The thermal paste replenishment module is used to supply thermal paste to the coating template mechanism. The coating template mechanism is used to cover the workpiece to position the thermal paste application area. The scraping mechanism is used to apply the thermal paste located on the coating template mechanism to the thermal paste application area. The residual paste recovery mechanism is used in cooperation with the scraping mechanism to recover the thermal paste that has not been applied to the thermal paste application area to the thermal paste replenishment module.

2. The thermal paste application device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thermal paste replenishment module includes a paste storage tank, an extrusion pusher mechanism, and a discharge pipe. The paste storage tank is located on the machine base. The extrusion pusher mechanism is connected to the machine base and located on one side of the paste storage tank. The inlet side of the discharge pipe is connected to the side of the paste storage tank away from the extrusion pusher mechanism. The outlet side of the discharge pipe is located on the coating template mechanism. The extrusion pusher mechanism is used to compress the space inside the paste storage tank to extrude the thermal paste from the discharge pipe.

3. The heat dissipation paste application device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The workpiece processing area is located above the paste storage tank.

4. The heat dissipation paste application device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The coating template mechanism includes a mold lifting mechanism and a coating mold plate. The coating mold plate is located above the workpiece processing area. The two ends of the mold lifting mechanism are respectively connected to the machine base and the coating mold plate, and drive the coating mold plate to move up and down. The outlet side of the discharge pipe is located above the coating mold plate.

5. The heat dissipation paste application device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The coating mechanism includes a coating shovel, a coating drive mechanism, and a coating adjustment and lifting mechanism. The coating shovel is located above the coating mold plate. The coating drive mechanism is connected to the coating shovel and drives the coating shovel to move along the length of the coating mold plate. The two ends of the coating adjustment and lifting mechanism are respectively connected to the machine base and the coating drive mechanism, and drive the coating drive mechanism to perform lifting and lowering movements.

6. The thermal paste application device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The residual paste recovery mechanism includes a residual paste gathering shovel and at least one elastic guide rod. The top of the paste storage box near the side of the extrusion pusher mechanism is also provided with a return port. The coating mold plate is aligned with the return port and is provided with a discharge port. The elastic guide rod is connected to the residual paste gathering shovel and the machine base. The residual paste gathering shovel is located above the discharge port.

7. The heat dissipation paste application device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The thermal paste replenishment module also includes a thermal paste emptying port, which is located on the wall of the storage tank away from the extrusion pusher mechanism. The thermal paste emptying port is located close to the machine base and is provided with a removable first sealing cover.

8. The thermal paste application device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The thermal paste replenishment module also includes a thermal paste inlet, which is located on the wall of the storage tank away from the extrusion pusher mechanism. The thermal paste inlet is located near the inlet side of the discharge pipe, and a removable second sealing cap is provided on the thermal paste inlet.

9. The thermal paste application device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a workpiece alignment mechanism, which is located on the side of the workpiece processing area near the residual paste recovery mechanism.

10. A thermal paste application device, characterized in that, include: The heat dissipation paste application device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9; The workpiece loading mechanism and the workpiece unloading mechanism are respectively located on both sides of the thermal paste application device. The workpiece loading mechanism is used to place the workpiece into the workpiece processing area, and the workpiece unloading mechanism is used to remove the workpiece from the workpiece processing area.

Images