External electrode formation system

Abstract

To provide an external electrode formation system in which a container containing paste used to form an external electrode of an electronic component is correctly placed in an external electrode formation device, thereby forming an external electrode having the desired shape and characteristics.SOLUTION: An external electrode formation system 101 includes a container 110 that contains paste used to form external electrodes 16, 17 of an electronic component 1, and an external electrode formation device 100 in which the container 110 is placed and which forms the external electrodes 16, 17 by applying the paste contained in the container to the electronic component 10, an RFID tag 120 on which information on the paste is recorded is attached to the container 110, and the external electrode formation device 100 reads the paste information recorded on the RFID tag 120 to determine the operation of the external electrode formation device 100.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an external electrode forming system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes the formation of external electrodes of electronic components by immersion in an electrode paste. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-17374 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Patent Document 1 describes that external electrodes formed using electrode paste can take on a variety of shapes depending on the wettability of the ceramic electronic component base material with the electrode paste, the state of the liquid surface of the electrode paste, and the speed and time of immersion in the electrode paste.

[0005] In light of this, various types of electrode pastes with different viscosities and materials are prepared for each type of electronic component as electrode pastes for external electrodes, and there are many types of electrode pastes. In addition, it is difficult to distinguish the type of electrode paste from its appearance, so workers visually read the identification code printed on the container in which the electrode paste is stored, determine the type of electrode paste, and then set the container in the external electrode forming device to supply the electrode paste.

[0006] Here, if, due to human error by an operator or the like, a container containing an electrode paste different from the electrode paste that should be used is placed in the external electrode forming device and used to form an external electrode, external electrodes with the desired shape and characteristics may not be formed, and electronic components that do not meet product standards may be manufactured.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and aims to provide an external electrode forming system in which a container containing a paste used to form external electrodes of electronic components is correctly placed in an external electrode forming device, and external electrodes having the desired shape and characteristics are formed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The external electrode forming system of the present invention comprises a container for holding a paste used to form an external electrode of an electronic component, and an external electrode forming device in which the container is placed and which forms an external electrode by applying the paste held in the container to an electronic component, wherein an RFID tag on which information about the paste is recorded is attached to the container, and the external electrode forming device reads the information about the paste recorded on the RFID tag to determine the operation of the external electrode forming device. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an external electrode forming system in which a container containing a paste used to form an external electrode of an electronic component is correctly placed in an external electrode forming device, and an external electrode having the desired shape and characteristics can be formed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view that illustrates an example of a laminate as an example of an electronic component. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view that illustrates a typical example of a multilayer ceramic capacitor as an example of an electronic component. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of an external electrode forming system of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a container. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating an example of an RFID tag. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation process of the external electrode forming system. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another example of the operation process of the external electrode forming system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] The external electrode forming system of the present invention will be described below. However, the present invention is not limited to the following configurations, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the present invention. Note that the present invention also includes a combination of two or more of the individual desirable configurations described below.

[0012] Before describing the external electrode forming system, examples of electronic components on which external electrodes are to be formed and pastes used to form the external electrodes will be described. The electronic components and pastes listed below are examples of objects to which the external electrode forming system of the present invention can be applied, and the objects are not limited to the electronic components and pastes described below. Examples of electronic components on which external electrodes are formed include chip components, such as multilayer ceramic capacitors and multilayer coils.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a typical example of a laminate as an example of an electronic component, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a typical example of a multilayer ceramic capacitor as an example of an electronic component. The multilayer ceramic capacitor shown in Fig. 2 is obtained by forming external electrodes on the laminate shown in Fig. 1.

[0014] The laminate 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of laminated dielectric layers 20 and a plurality of internal electrode layers (first internal electrode layer 35 and second internal electrode layer 36), and includes a first main surface 10a and a second main surface 10b facing each other in the stacking direction, a first side surface 10e and a second side surface 10f facing each other in a width direction perpendicular to the stacking direction, and a first end face 10c and a second end face 10d facing each other in a length direction perpendicular to the stacking direction and the width direction. It is preferable that the corners and ridges of the laminate are rounded. A corner is a portion where three surfaces of the laminate intersect, and a ridge is a portion where two surfaces of the laminate intersect.

[0015] The dielectric material constituting the dielectric layer 20 may be, for example, a dielectric ceramic containing a component such as BaTiO3, CaTiO3, SrTiO3, or CaZrO3.

[0016] In the multilayer ceramic capacitor 1 shown in Fig. 2, a first external electrode 16 is connected to a first end face 10c of the laminate 10, and a second external electrode 17 is connected to a second end face 10d. The first external electrode 16 and the second external electrode 17 are end face external electrodes. The end face external electrodes are formed on the end faces of the laminate, and further extend from the end faces to the side faces and main faces.

[0017] The external electrodes may include a base electrode layer and a plating layer disposed on the base electrode layer. The base electrode layer may include at least one layer selected from the group consisting of a baked layer and a resin layer. The baking layer is a layer containing glass and metal. The glass contains Si, and the metal preferably contains at least one selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ni, Ag, Pd, Ag-Pd alloy, Au, etc. The baking layer may be a multi-layered layer. The fired layer is a layer formed by applying a conductive paste containing glass and metal to the laminate and firing it, and may be a layer fired simultaneously with the internal electrode layer, or a layer fired after firing the internal electrode layer.

[0018] The resin layer may be a resin layer containing conductive particles and a thermosetting resin. When forming a resin layer, the resin layer may be directly formed on the laminate using a conductive paste containing conductive particles and a thermosetting resin without forming a baked layer. The resin layer may be a multi-layered layer.

[0019] The plating layer preferably contains at least one selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ni, Sn, Ag, Pd, an Ag-Pd alloy, and AuNi. The plating layer may be a multi-layer structure, preferably a two-layer structure of a Ni plating layer and a Sn plating layer.

[0020] Hereinafter, when the term "paste" is used simply in this specification, it means a paste used to form an external electrode of an electronic component. Examples of pastes used to form external electrodes include the conductive paste containing glass and metal used to form the baked layer in the above-mentioned external electrodes, and the conductive paste containing conductive particles and a thermosetting resin used to form the resin layer.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of an external electrode forming system of the present invention. The external electrode forming system 101 shown in FIG. 3 includes an external electrode forming apparatus 100 and a server 200 provided outside the external electrode forming apparatus 100.

[0022] The external electrode forming apparatus 100 includes a container 110 for containing paste, and an RFID tag 120 attached to the bottom surface of the container 110. The container 110 with the RFID tag 120 affixed thereto is placed in the storage section 140 so that the RFID tag 120 comes into contact with the bottom 141 of the storage section 140 . The RFID antenna 130 is provided on the outside of the bottom 141 of the storage section 140, and is configured so that the RFID tag 120 can be read using the RFID antenna 130. The RFID antenna 130 transmits a signal to a transmitting / receiving unit 150 provided in the external electrode forming apparatus 100 . The transmitting / receiving unit 150 transmits and receives signals to and from the server 200 . 3, which is included in the external electrode forming apparatus 100. The transmitting / receiving unit 150 may be included in the computer 160. The server 200 also includes a transmitting / receiving unit 210 , a storage unit 220 , and a calculation unit 230 . The computer 160 is a device that controls the operation of the external electrode forming device.

[0023] The external electrode forming system of the present invention uses a container for storing paste used to form the external electrodes of electronic components. The material and shape of the container are not particularly limited, and a cylindrical container made of resin and having a bottom can be used.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view that illustrates an example of a container, and FIG. 5 is a plan view that illustrates an example of an RFID tag. Container 110 shown in FIG. 4 is a cylindrical container having a lid, and a ring-shaped RFID tag 120 shown in FIG.

[0025] There are no particular limitations on the position at which the RFID tag is attached to the container, but it is preferable that the RFID tag be attached to the bottom surface of the container. It is preferable to use a sticker / label type RFID tag, and information about the paste may be printed by a printer. The shape of the RFID tag is not limited to a circular ring, but may be any shape. In addition, any of passive tags, active tags, and semi-active tags can be used, but passive tags are preferably used. Preferably, a short-range communication type HF band RFID tag can be used.

[0026] The RFID tag can record one or more pieces of information about the paste. Examples of such information include: Paste composition Paste name Paste lot number Paste expiration date - Time elapsed since the paste was placed in the container (date and time it was placed in the container) Date and time the paste was taken out of the refrigerator (storage room) Paste weight -Paste viscosity, specific gravity

[0027] The container is disposed in the storage section. The storage section has an outer wall, and the container is disposed in a space surrounded by the outer wall. The container is preferably cylindrical and has a bottom, and the container is preferably disposed so that the RFID tag provided on the bottom surface of the container is in contact with the bottom of the container. It is preferable that at least a part of the outer wall of the container is made of a material that transmits electromagnetic waves, and it is preferable that the bottom of the container is made of a material that transmits electromagnetic waves. Examples of materials that transmit electromagnetic waves include materials other than metals, such as resins and glass. It is preferable that the bottom of the container is made of glass.

[0028] An RFID antenna for reading information from an RFID tag is preferably provided outside the outer wall of the container. The RFID antenna reads information from the RFID tag attached to the container through the outer wall of the container. The read information from the RFID tag may be sent from the RFID antenna to a transceiver unit of the external electrode forming device. The transceiver unit transmits the information from the RFID tag to a server outside the external electrode forming device.

[0029] From the configurations of the above-mentioned storage section and RFID antenna, in the external electrode formation system of the present invention, it is preferable that the external electrode formation device has a storage section in which a container is placed, an RFID antenna that reads information from the RFID tag is provided on the outside of the outer wall of the storage section, and at least a portion of the outer wall of the storage section is made of a material that is transparent to electromagnetic waves.

[0030] The external electrode forming apparatus is provided with a product input section into which electronic components are input (the product input section is not shown in FIG. 1). The electronic components can be fed into the external electrode forming apparatus either automatically or manually.

[0031] In the case of automatic insertion, electronic components are stored in containers with RFID tags attached, which record information such as the lot number of the electronic components. When electronic components are fed into the external electrode forming device, the information on the RFID tag attached to the container is read by an RFID antenna provided in the product feed section.

[0032] When electronic parts are inserted by workers, they are transported together with a slip with information such as a lot number. When inserting a product, the worker reads the lot number on the slip using a reading means. A barcode or RFID tag is attached to the slip, and the information attached to the slip is read by a barcode reader, RFID antenna, or other method.

[0033] The information about the electronic components read in the product input section is transmitted from the transmitting / receiving section of the external electrode forming apparatus to the server.

[0034] The server has a storage unit in which information such as the name of the paste and information such as the lot number of the electronic component are stored in association with each other. The paste information recorded on the RFID tag attached to the container and the information of the electronic parts to be inserted are transmitted to the server. The server's transceiver receives this information. The server has a calculation unit, which compares the information on the paste product name, etc. and the electronic component lot number, etc. stored in the memory unit with the received information on the paste and the electronic component, and determines whether the received information on the paste product name, etc. and the electronic component lot number, etc. are a correct combination. It is also possible to determine whether the information is a correct combination on a computer provided in the external electrode forming device. The result of the determination made by the calculation unit is transmitted to a transmitting / receiving unit of the external electrode forming apparatus.

[0035] A computer provided in the external electrode forming device is capable of receiving an operation instruction for the coating device if the combination of the paste and the electronic component is correct based on the judgment result, and issues an operation stop instruction to the coating device if the combination of the paste and the electronic component is incorrect.

[0036] The external electrode forming apparatus is provided with an applicator (dispenser) that applies paste to electronic components when forming external electrodes of the electronic components (the applicator is not shown in FIG. 1). The applicator operates in response to operational instructions from a computer within the external electrode forming apparatus, and applies paste to electronic components placed in the external electrode forming apparatus. The paste application conditions (application amount, application speed, etc.) in the application device are also adjusted in response to operational instructions from the computer.

[0037] In the explanation so far, the server has been described as being separate from the external electrode forming apparatus and connected to the external electrode forming apparatus via an electric communication line, but a control unit having functions equivalent to the server may be provided within the external electrode forming apparatus. The control unit may be provided with a memory unit and a calculation unit, and the control unit may compare the paste information with the electronic component information to determine whether the information on the paste product name, etc. and the information on the electronic component lot number, etc. are a correct combination.

[0038] Based on the above-described configuration of the external electrode forming system, an example of operation of the external electrode forming system will be described.

[0039] (1) A worker places paste used to form external electrodes on electronic components in a container with an RFID tag attached and measures the weight of the container. The worker inputs the paste information into a computer. The information excluding the weight of the container, which has been recorded in advance, is stored in a server via the computer as paste information. Note that the weight may include the weight of the RFID tag. The operator may also input the paste information excluding the weight of the container into the computer. Note that after recording the information on the RFID tag, the RFID tag may be affixed to the container. Examples of paste information are as described above, and information such as the paste lot number (container lot number) is recorded.

[0040] (2) The container with the RFID tag attached is stored in a refrigerator. Pastes are generally stored together in a refrigerator at a low temperature to prevent performance deterioration.

[0041] (3) A container is taken out of the refrigerator according to the type of electronic component to be fed into the external electrode forming device. When taking out the container, an operator may check whether the container contains the correct paste by reading the RFID tag. In addition, the containers may be removed from the refrigerator without the intervention of an operator, and a container containing the required paste may be automatically selected by inputting the lot number of the electronic component and handed over to the operator.

[0042] (4) In order to bring the container containing the paste to room temperature, the container is placed in a room temperature station and the temperature of the container is brought to room temperature.

[0043] (5) The viscosity and specific gravity of the paste are measured, and a solvent is added to dilute it. The viscosity and specific gravity measurement results can be recorded again on the RFID tag at this stage, or can be sent to a server together with the paste lot number (container lot number). After dilution, the paste is transported to the inventory station. In addition, containers that have been placed on the inventory station for a certain period of time or longer may be deemed unsuitable for use, and the lot number of the container may be displayed on a monitor at the inventory station.

[0044] (6) The container containing the paste is placed in the external electrode forming device. The container is placed in the receiving section of the external electrode forming device.

[0045] (7) The information on the RFID tag attached to the container is read by an RFID antenna provided in the external electrode forming device, and the read information is transmitted to a server. Note that it is also possible to read only the paste lot number from the information recorded on the RFID tag and compare it with the information stored in the server.

[0046] (8) The electronic components are fed into the external electrode forming device. Information such as the lot number of the electronic components attached to the container in which the electronic components are housed is read and transmitted to the server. The order of inserting the container (6) and the electronic parts (8) may be reversed.

[0047] (9) The information about the paste read and sent to the server in (7) above is compared with the information about the electronic component read and sent to the server in (8) above in the server. The comparison result is sent to the external electrode forming device and displayed on the display unit (monitor) of the external electrode forming device.

[0048] Up to this point, no judgment is required by the operator in the process of reading the information about the paste, reading the information about the electronic components, and verifying the information, which prevents combination mistakes due to human error.

[0049] Also, if the viscosity or specific gravity of the paste input to the RFID tag is inappropriate compared to the information stored in the server, or if a predetermined amount of time has passed since the container was taken out of the refrigerator and it is determined that the viscosity or specific gravity has changed, the display may display a message that the paste is inappropriate to use, and the worker may adjust the specific gravity or viscosity again. In this way, paste with appropriate viscosity and specific gravity is always used.

[0050] (10) If it is determined that the combination of the paste and the electronic components is correct, the applicator of the external electrode forming apparatus is operated to apply the paste to the electronic components that have been placed in the external electrode forming apparatus.

[0051] The paste may be constantly monitored during application, and if a predetermined time passes and the expiration date of the paste contained in the container has passed, a warning may be displayed on the display to the effect that the paste is unsuitable. For example, information on the time that has elapsed since the paste was placed in the container may be recorded in the RFID tag, and the operating conditions of the external electrode forming device may be set in accordance with the information on the elapsed time. When a warning is displayed, production may be stopped immediately, and only electronic components that have been produced using the appropriate paste up until that point may be sent to downstream processing.

[0052] Furthermore, if the viscosity or specific gravity of the paste is inappropriate, or if a predetermined amount of time has passed since the container was removed from the refrigerator and changes in viscosity or specific gravity are measured by a sensor disposed in the external electrode forming device, and if there is a change, then if appropriate paste can be applied by changing the operating conditions (application conditions) of the external electrode forming device, there is no need to stop production and the application conditions can be changed. In such cases, the determination result in the server is treated as a "change in application conditions," and the changed application conditions are transmitted to a computer in the external electrode forming device, which instructs the applicator to operate under the changed application conditions. In this manner, the operation of the external electrode forming apparatus may be determined by changing the application conditions.

[0053] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation process of the external electrode forming system. The external electrode formation system can be operated according to the procedure of the flowchart shown in FIG. An RFID tag is attached to the container (step S1). The paste information is recorded on an RFID tag (step S2). The container is placed in an external electrode forming device (step S3). The RFID tag attached to the container is read (step S4). The read information is then sent to the server. The server checks against information on the electronic component on which the external electrodes are to be formed to determine whether the paste information is correct (step S5). If the paste information is correct (branch YES), the external electrode forming step is carried out (step S6). If the paste information is not correct (branch NO), the external electrode forming step is stopped (step S7). In addition, the judgment in step S5 can be made using one or more pieces of information such as the paste's lot number, viscosity, specific gravity, the elapsed time since it was placed in the container, the time since it was removed from the refrigerator, etc. For example, even if it is determined that the paste lot number is correct, if the time that has elapsed since the paste was taken out of the refrigerator is equal to or longer than a predetermined period of time, it may be determined that the paste information is incorrect and the external electrode forming process is to be stopped.In addition, it may be determined that the application conditions should be changed (changing the application conditions is not shown in the flowchart).

[0054] It should be noted that the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 does not mention reading the information of the electronic component on which the external electrode is to be formed, but assumes that the information of the target electronic component is stored in a server that determines whether the paste information is correct, and that the electronic component is correctly fed into the external electrode forming apparatus.

[0055] The external electrode forming system of the present invention may read information on electronic components. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another example of the operation process of the external electrode forming system. FIG. 7 shows a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation process of the external electrode forming system, including reading information about electronic components. FIG. 7 shows the process of reading information from an electronic component in the following steps: An RFID tag is attached to the container in which the electronic components are accommodated (step S11). Information about the electronic component is recorded on the RFID tag (step S12). The container is placed in an external electrode forming device (step S13). The RFID tag attached to the container is read (step S14). The read information is then transmitted to the server. Thereafter, in the judgment in step S5, the electronic component information read in step S14 is used together with the paste information read in step S4. The rest of the process can be the same as that shown in the flowchart of FIG.

[0056] The present specification discloses the following:

[0057] <1> An external electrode forming system comprising: a container for storing a paste used to form an external electrode of an electronic component; and an external electrode forming device in which the container is disposed and which forms an external electrode by applying the paste stored in the container to an electronic component, wherein an RFID tag having information about the paste recorded thereon is attached to the container, and the external electrode forming device reads the information about the paste recorded on the RFID tag and determines the operation of the external electrode forming device.

[0058] <2> The external electrode forming device includes a container in which the container is placed, an RFID antenna for reading information from the RFID tag is provided on the outside of an outer wall of the container, and at least a part of the outer wall of the container is made of a material that transmits electromagnetic waves. <1> The external electrode forming system according to claim 1 .

[0059] <3> The container is cylindrical and has a bottom, the RFID tag is attached to the bottom surface of the container, the container is placed in the container, and the bottom of the container is made of glass. <2> The external electrode forming system according to claim 1 .

[0060] <4> information about an elapsed time since the paste was placed in the container is recorded in the RFID tag, and operating conditions of the external electrode forming device are set in accordance with the information about the elapsed time. <1> ~ <3> 2. An external electrode forming system according to claim 1 . [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1. Multilayer ceramic capacitors (electronic components) 10 Laminates (electronic components) 10a First main surface 10b Second main surface 10c 1st end face 10d 2nd end face 10e First Side 10f 2nd side 16 1st external electrode 17 2nd external electrode 20 Dielectric layer 35 1st internal electrode layer 36 Second internal electrode layer 100 External electrode forming device 101 External electrode formation system 110 Container 120 RFID tags 130 RFID Antenna 140 Storage unit 141 Bottom of storage area 150 Transmitter / Receiver 160 Computers 200 Servers 210 Transmitter / receiver 220 Storage section 230 Arithmetic section

Claims

1. a container for containing a paste used to form an external electrode of an electronic component; an external electrode forming device in which the container is disposed and which applies the paste contained in the container to an electronic component to form an external electrode, An RFID tag on which information about the paste is recorded is attached to the container, An external electrode forming system, in which the external electrode forming apparatus reads the paste information recorded in the RFID tag and determines an operation of the external electrode forming apparatus.

2. the external electrode forming device includes a container in which the container is placed, an RFID antenna for reading information from the RFID tag is provided on the outside of the outer wall of the storage section; The external electrode forming system according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the outer wall of the container is made of a material that transmits electromagnetic waves.

3. 3. The external electrode forming system according to claim 2, wherein the container is cylindrical and has a bottom, the RFID tag is provided on a bottom surface of the container, the container is placed in the container, and the bottom of the container is made of glass.

4. Information about the elapsed time since the paste was placed in the container is recorded in the RFID tag; 3. The external electrode forming system according to claim 1, wherein an operating condition of said external electrode forming device is set in accordance with said information on the elapsed time.

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