Printer

Abstract

To position a mask at a temporary placement position.SOLUTION: A printer 10 includes a mask holder 13 and a mask slider 18 which moves in a first direction with respect to the mask holder 13. The mask holder 13 has a visible mark 20 in correspondence with a temporary placement position of the mask 12. The mask slider 18 abuts on the mask 12 placed at the temporary placement position and slides the mask 12 in a first direction, thereby moving the mask to a printing position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing press. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses that a stopper provided on a support rail is used to position the mask at a mask installation position (temporary placement position). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4858522 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a stopper is used to align the mask to the installation position (temporary placement position), depending on the operator's skill, the mask may come into contact with the stopper with too much force, and the impact may damage the stopper.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to make it possible to temporarily place a mask on a mask holder without using a mechanical positioning structure (stopper). [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) The printing press disclosed in the present invention comprises a mask holder and a mask slider that moves in a first direction relative to the mask holder, the mask holder having a visible mark corresponding to a temporary placement position of the mask, and the mask slider abuts against the mask placed in the temporary placement position and slides the mask in the first direction, thereby moving the mask to a printing position.

[0007] In this configuration, the stopper can be eliminated because the mark is used to align the mask to the temporary placement position.

[0008] (2) In the printing press described in (1) above, the mark may be two lines indicating the range of the leading edge or trailing edge of the mask to be temporarily placed in the first direction.

[0009] In this configuration, the mask can be aligned to the temporary placement position by aligning the leading edge or trailing edge between the two lines.

[0010] (3) In the printing machine described in (1) or (2) above, the mask slider includes a rod that is displaceable between an initial position and a lowered position, and the slide start position of the mask slider may be such that the distance from the mask to the rod in the first direction is greater than or equal to a predetermined value so that the rod does not interfere with the mask when the rod is displaced from the initial position to the lowered position.

[0011] In this configuration, it is possible to prevent the rod from interfering with the temporarily placed mask.

[0012] (4) The printing machine described in (3) above may include an imaging unit and a control unit, and the mask may have a position recognition mark. The imaging unit may capture an image of the position recognition mark of the mask temporarily placed on the mask holder, and the control unit may detect an amount of positional deviation of the temporarily placed mask in a first direction based on an imaging result of the position recognition mark, and correct a slide start position of the mask slider.

[0013] In this configuration, interference of the rod with the mask can be avoided regardless of the misalignment of the mask temporarily placed on the mask holder.

[0014] (5) In the printing press described in (4) above, the imaging unit may capture an image of the position recognition mark of the mask twice at a position offset forward and backward in the first direction from a predetermined reference position, and recognize the position of the position recognition mark based on the results of the two images.

[0015] In this configuration, the imaging range of the imaging unit can be expanded in the first direction, so that the recognition accuracy of the position recognition mark by the imaging unit can be improved.

[0016] (6) In the printing press described in any one of (1) to (5) above, the position of the mark may be common regardless of the size of the mask in the first direction.

[0017] In this configuration, the temporary mask placement position is less likely to be mistaken and workability is improved compared to when the position of the mark is changed depending on the mask size. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the technique disclosed in this specification, the mask can be aligned to the temporary placement position without using a stopper. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] Perspective view of a printing press [Diagram 2] Front view of the printing press [Diagram 3] Cross section of line AA in Figure 2 [Figure 4] Top view of the printing press [Diagram 5] A perspective view of the mask holder and the mask [Figure 6] Side view of the squeegee unit and mask slider [Figure 7] Block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the printing machine [Figure 8] A diagram showing the marks for temporary placement [Figure 9] A diagram showing the temporary placement of the mask [Figure 10] Diagram showing the principle of detecting the amount of deviation [Figure 11] Mask positioning process flowchart [Figure 12] Illustration of mask positioning work [Figure 13] Diagram showing the camera's imaging range [Figure 14] A diagram showing the amount of FID mark positional deviation [Figure 15] Plan view showing the relative positions of the marks and the mask DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] <Embodiment 1> 1. Configuration of the printing machine 10 The structure of the printing machine 10 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 12. In the following description, the transport direction of the substrate P is defined as the X direction (left-right direction in Figure 1), and the movement direction of the squeegee unit 16A (left-right direction in Figure 3) is defined as the Y direction. The Y direction corresponds to the "first direction" of the present invention. Additionally, the front side of the printing machine 10 (front side in Figure 1) is defined as the front side, and the back side (rear side in Figure 1) is defined as the rear side.

[0021] The printer 10 is a device that prints solder paste on a substrate P. The printer 10 has a box-shaped housing 10A. A front cover 10C is provided in the center of a front wall 10B of the housing 10A. The front cover 10C protects the printer 10 from an operator inserting his or her hands into the inside of the printer (inside the housing) while the printer 10 is in operation. When the printer 10 is stopped, the inside of the printer (inside the housing) can be accessed by opening and closing the front cover 10C.

[0022] Further, an opening through which the substrate P is carried in is formed in the right wall 10D of the housing 10A, and an opening through which the substrate P is carried out is formed in the left wall 10E.

[0023] The printing machine 10 includes a metal base 11, a mask 12, a mask holder 13, a substrate transport unit 14, a printing table 15, a printing unit 16, an inspection unit 17, and a mask slider 18 shown in FIG.

[0024] 5, the mask 12 includes a frame-shaped mask frame 12A and a thin plate-shaped mask body 12B supported on the inside of the mask frame 12A. The mask body 12B is made of, for example, stainless steel, and has openings (not shown) formed therein that correspond to the pattern of the solder paste to be printed on the substrate P.

[0025] 5, at least one FID mark 12C (an example of a "position recognition mark") is formed on the lower surface of the mask body 12B. The FID mark 12C is a mark for recognizing the position of the mask body 12B.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 5, the mask holder 13 is composed of two rail portions 13A and 13B. The two rail portions 13A and 13B are symmetrical. Each of the two rail portions 13A and 13B has a horizontal wall 131 and a vertical wall 132, and has an L-shaped cross section. The two rail portions 13A and 13B extend in the Y direction and face each other at a predetermined interval in the X direction.

[0027] 5, the mask 12 is placed on the mask holder 13 so that its side edges in the X direction overlap the left and right horizontal walls 131. When the mask 12 is placed on the mask holder 13, the two vertical walls 132, 132 restrict displacement in the X direction, and the mask 12 is movable only in the Y direction.

[0028] 2 and 4, the substrate transport section 14 has three conveyors (upstream conveyor 14A, main conveyor 14B, downstream conveyor 14C) lined up in the X direction. The upstream conveyor 14A and downstream conveyor 14C are provided on the base 11, and the main conveyor 14B is provided on the printing table 15. The substrate P is carried into the printing machine 10 from the upstream side (the right side in FIG. 1) by the substrate transport section 14, passes through the inside of the printing machine 10, and is carried out to the downstream side (the left side in FIG. 1).

[0029] 2 and 3, the printing table 15 is provided on the base 11. The printing table 15 includes a flat table 30, a ball screw 31 extending in the vertical direction, a motor for rotating the ball screw 31, a substrate fixing unit 32 for fixing the substrate P, and a backup unit 33 for supporting the substrate P fixed to the substrate fixing unit 32 from below. The table 30 moves up and down as the ball screw 31 rotates.

[0030] 3, the substrate fixing unit 32 is composed of a pair of clamp parts 32A, a motor that drives the clamp parts 32A, etc. The pair of clamp parts 32A are members that clamp and fix the substrate P transported above the backup unit 33 from the Y direction.

[0031] 2 and 3, backup unit 33 includes a plate-shaped lower plate 33A, a plate-shaped upper plate 33B disposed above lower plate 33A, a plurality of backup pins 33C that support substrate P from below, a ball screw 33D extending vertically, and a motor that rotates ball screw 33D. Backup unit 33 moves up and down as ball screw 33D rotates, and brings the supported substrate P into close contact with the lower surface of mask 12 during printing.

[0032] The printing section 16 includes a squeegee unit 16A shown in Fig. 2, a pair of guide rails 16B supporting the squeegee unit 16A so as to be able to reciprocate in the Y direction, a ball screw 16C shown in Fig. 4, and a motor for rotating the ball screw 16C. As shown in Fig. 4, the ball screw 16C extends in the Y direction on the side of the squeegee unit 16A. The rotation of the ball screw 16C causes the squeegee unit 16A to reciprocate in the Y direction. By reciprocating the squeegee unit 16A in the Y direction, solder paste can be printed on the substrate P on the printing table 15.

[0033] 6A and 6B, a mask slider 18 is attached to the rear of the squeegee unit 16A. The mask slider 18 moves in the Y direction together with the squeegee unit 16A.

[0034] The mask slider 18 has a cylinder 18A and a rod 18B. The rod 18B is a columnar member that extends in the vertical direction and can be displaced in the vertical direction relative to the cylinder 18A.

[0035] Fig. 6(A) shows the initial position of rod 18B. Fig. 6(B) shows the lowered position of rod 18B. When rod 18B is in the initial position, even if rod 18B is displaced in the Y direction, it does not come into contact with mask 12. When rod 18B is in the lowered position, the tip of the rod is lowered to the height of mask 12, so that rod 18B can move in the Y direction by pushing mask 12.

[0036] 2 and 3, an inspection unit 17 is provided between the mask holder 13 and the printing table 15. The inspection unit 17 includes a camera unit 17A, a beam 17B supporting the camera unit 17A so as to be reciprocatable in the X direction, a ball screw 17C fixed to the beam 17B and extending in the X direction, a ball screw 17E shown in FIG. 3, and a motor for rotating the ball screw 17E. As shown in FIG. 3, the ball screw 17E is fixed to the base 11 and extends in the Y direction. The rotation of the ball screw 17E allows the beam 17B supporting the camera unit 17A to reciprocate in the Y direction.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 3, a mask camera 17F and a board camera 17G are attached to the camera unit 17A. The mask camera 17F is fixed to the camera unit 17A with its imaging surface facing upward, and the board camera 17G is fixed with its imaging surface facing downward. The mask camera 17F corresponds to the "imaging section" of the present invention.

[0038] Camera unit 17A moves parallel in a horizontal plane within a predetermined movable range by the rotation of ball screws 17C and 17E. By moving camera unit 17A, mask camera 17F and substrate camera 17G can capture images of any location on the lower surface of mask 12 and the upper surface of substrate P, respectively.

[0039] 2. Electrical configuration of the printing machine 10 The electrical configuration of the printing press 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. The printing press 10 includes a control unit 60, a display unit 61, an input unit 62, and the like.

[0040] The control unit 60 includes a CPU 60A, a RAM 60B, and a storage unit 60C. The storage unit 60C is a storage device having a non-volatile storage medium such as a hard disk. Various programs and data executed by the CPU 60A are stored in the storage unit 60C.

[0041] The control unit 60 is connected to a display unit 61, an input unit 62, the substrate transport unit 14, the printing table 15, the printing unit 16, the inspection unit 17, the mask slider 18, etc. Images captured by the mask camera 17F and the substrate camera 17G of the inspection unit 17 are transmitted to the control unit 60 together with position information of the camera at the time of capturing the images.

[0042] 3.Replacing Mask 12 When replacing the mask 12, the operator of the printing press 10 removes the used mask 12 from the mask holder 13 and then aligns the new mask 12 with the temporary placement position on the mask holder 13. The mask 12 is then moved to and held in the printing position by the mask slider 18. One of the features of the printing press 10 is that the temporary placement of the mask 12 on the mask holder 13 is performed using marks 20.

[0043] 4. About landmark 20 FIG. 8 is a plan view of the vicinity of the front end of the left rail portion 13A constituting the mask holder 13, and the two-dot chain line indicates the outline of the mask 12. As shown in FIG.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 8, the mark 20 is provided in a location visible to an operator performing the mask 12 replacement operation, in this embodiment, near the front end of the upper surface of the left rail portion 13A (more specifically, the upper surface of the horizontal wall 131).

[0045] The mark 20 is two parallel lines (a first line 20A and a second line 20B) that are provided at equal intervals from the temporary placement reference position L0.

[0046] Fig. 8(A) shows a state where the mask 12 is placed with the leading edge 12D overlapping the temporary placement reference position L0, and Fig. 8(B) shows a state where the mask 12 is placed with the leading edge 12D shifted forward from the temporary placement reference position L0. D in Fig. 8 indicates the amount of deviation of the position of the mask 12 in the Y direction from the temporary placement reference position L0.

[0047] As shown in Fig. 9(C), by positioning the mask 12 so that the leading edge 12D of the mask 12 is located within the two lines 20A and 20B, the mask 12 can be temporarily placed on the mask holder 13. In this embodiment, if the leading edge 12D of the mask 12 is not located within the two lines as shown in Figs. 9(A) and (B), it is NG.

[0048] The two lines 20A, 20B may be lines drawn on the surface of the rail portion 13A with a marker, or may be lines obtained by processing the surface with a laser or the like.

[0049] 5. Detecting the amount of misalignment of the mask 12 when it is temporarily placed on the rail portion 13A The printing press 10 detects the amount of deviation D of the position of the mask 12 in the Y direction from the temporary placement reference position L0 by performing image recognition of the FID mark 12C of the mask 12 temporarily placed on the mask holder 13.

[0050] Specifically, after temporarily placing the mask, the printing press 10 moves the mask camera 17F to a predetermined imaging position and captures an image of the FID mark 12C of the temporarily placed mask 12 from below (see FIG. 12(A)). The predetermined imaging position is a position directly below the FID mark 12C when the mask 12 is in the temporary placement reference position L0.

[0051] If the mask 12 is at the temporary placement reference position L0, the FID mark 12C appears at the center in the Y direction in the image capture range (dashed-dotted frame 22A) of the image, as shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 10. If the mask 12 is displaced from the temporary placement reference position L0, the FID mark 12C appears at a position displaced from the center in the Y direction, as shown by the solid line in Fig. 10.

[0052] Therefore, from the image recognition result of the FID mark 12C, it is possible to detect the amount of deviation D of the position of the mask 12 in the Y direction with respect to the temporary placement reference position L0.

[0053] 6. Flowchart The flowchart in FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the process of removing a used mask 12 from inside the printing machine and then positioning a new mask 12 at the printing position.

[0054] The operator first opens the front cover 10C and removes the used mask 12, and then temporarily places the new mask 12 on the mask holder 13 so that the leading edge 12D of the mask 12 is between the first line 20A and the second line 20B (S10).

[0055] Next, the operator closes the front cover 10C. After that, the operator operates the input unit 62 to instruct the printing press 10 to automatically position the mask 12 (S20). When the automatic positioning instruction is given, the control unit 60 moves the mask camera 17F to a predetermined imaging position and captures an image of the FID mark 12C on the underside of the mask.

[0056] Thereafter, the control unit 60 performs image recognition of the FID mark 12C, and detects the amount of deviation D of the position of the mask 12 in the Y direction relative to the temporary placement reference position L0 (S30).

[0057] If the deviation amount D is within the allowable range (S40: YES), as shown in FIG. 12(A), the control unit 60 moves the squeegee unit 16A in the Y direction to move the mask slider 18 to the slide start position S0 (S50).

[0058] The slide start position S0 is a position behind the mask 12, where the distance V in the Y direction from the rear edge 12E of the mask to the rod 18B is a predetermined value, for example, 30 mm.

[0059] Incidentally, the control unit 60 can make the distance V from the trailing edge 12E to the rod 18B constant (a predetermined value) regardless of the magnitude of the deviation D of the mask 12 from the temporary placement reference position L0 by correcting the slide start position S0 based on the deviation D of the mask 12 detected in S30. The distance V (predetermined value) is preferably set so that the distance in the Y direction between the rod 18B in the lowered position and the trailing edge 12E is the shortest while avoiding interference between the rod 18B in the initial position and the trailing edge 12E.

[0060] Then, when the mask slider 18 moves to the slide start position S0, the control unit 60 causes the rod 18B to protrude from the initial position to a lowered position (S50), as shown in FIG. 12(B), and then moves the squeegee unit 16A in the Y direction to displace the mask slider 18 forward (S60).

[0061] As a result, the rod 18B comes into contact with the rear edge 12E of the mask, and as shown in FIG. 12(C), the mask 12 can be slid to a predetermined printing position W0.

[0062] When the mask 12 reaches the printing position W0, the mask 12 is fixed by a mask clamp, so that the mask 12 can be held and positioned at the printing position W0.

[0063] In S40, if the amount of displacement D of the position of the mask 12 is outside the allowable range (S40: NO), an error message requesting confirmation of the temporary placement position is displayed on the display unit 61 (S70). After that, when the operator corrects the temporary placement position of the mask 12, the process returns to S30 and the FID mark 12C is recognized again.

[0064] 7.Effects The printing machine 10 uses the visible mark 20 to temporarily place the mask 12 on the mask holder 13. Therefore, a mechanical positioning structure is not required for the temporary placement of the mask 12, and damage to the positioning structure (conventional stopper) due to collision can be prevented.

[0065] In addition, with this configuration, the work of removing the used mask 12 and the work of temporarily placing a new mask 12 can both be done manually with the machine (printing machine 10) stopped. Therefore, these operations can be done with the front cover 10C open, and the number of times the front cover 10C is opened and closed during the mask replacement operation can be reduced (in this example, once). As a result, the mask replacement operation can be completed in a short time.

[0066] <Embodiment 2> In Fig. 13, a thick dashed dotted frame 22B indicates the imaging range of the mask camera 17F, and O indicates the center of the field of view. In a temporarily placed state, the mask 12 is movable in the Y direction and may be displaced. As shown in Fig. 13, if the FID mark 12C is positioned on the boundary of the imaging range in the Y direction due to a displacement of the mask 12, the FID mark 12C may not be recognized accurately due to a portion of the mark being missing, etc.

[0067] In the second embodiment, the position of the mask camera 17F is offset forward and backward in the Y direction and imaging is performed twice to widen the imaging range of the mask camera 17F in the Y direction and improve the recognition accuracy of the FID mark 12C.

[0068] More specifically, the position of the mask camera 17F is offset by 2.5 mm forward and backward in the Y direction from a predetermined reference position, and the FID mark 12C is imaged twice. The dashed-dotted frame 22C shown in Fig. 13 is the imaging range when the mask camera 17F is offset by 2.5 mm forward (offset amount A = -2.5 mm), and the dashed-dotted frame 22D is the imaging range when the mask camera 17F is offset by 2.5 mm backward (offset amount A = +2.5 mm).

[0069] By capturing images twice, the imaging range of mask camera 17F is expanded by 2.5 mm in both the front and rear directions, and the total imaging range of the two images is 15 mm. In other words, by combining the two captured images, the range in the Y direction that can be recognized by mask camera 17F becomes 10 mm to 15 mm. Therefore, it becomes possible to recognize marks located on the boundary of the imaging range, which was difficult to recognize accurately when the imaging range was 10 mm. This makes it possible to improve the recognition accuracy of FID mark 12C.

[0070] Furthermore, when calculating the Y-direction shift amount D of the FID mark 12C, the shift amount α of the mark 12C is calculated based on the center O of the field of view after the offset, as shown in equation (1), and the offset amount A of the center O of the field of view (in this example, A = 2.5 mm) is subtracted from that value (see Figure 14).

[0071] D = α -2.5 (1)

[0072] Incidentally, Y0 shown in FIG. 14 is the original Y coordinate position of the center of the field of view (before offset), and Y1 is the Y coordinate position of the center of the field of view after offset.

[0073] <Embodiment 3> The size of the mask 12 may differ depending on the size of the substrate. The printing machine 10 has an adjustment unit (not shown) that adjusts the distance in the X direction of the mask holders 13, and allows the use of masks 12 of different sizes.

[0074] 15(A) and 15(B), the printing machine 10 of the third embodiment has a common setting for the temporary placement reference position L0 and the mark 20 of the mask 12, regardless of the size in the Y direction of the mask 12. In addition, in Fig. 15, the reference symbol 12G indicates the outline of a large mask, and the reference symbol 12H indicates the outline of a medium-sized mask.

[0075] By making the temporary placement reference position L0 and the mark 20 common regardless of the size of the mask 12, it becomes less likely that the temporary placement position of the mask 12 will be mistaken, compared to a case in which the mark 20 is set individually for each size of the mask 12.

[0076] <Other embodiments> (1) In the above embodiment, the mark 20 is two lines 20A and 20B. The mark 20 may be a single thick line or a mark or the like.

[0077] (2) In the above embodiment, the amount of deviation D of the position of the temporarily placed mask 12 in the Y direction is detected and the slide start position S0 is corrected. However, the detection and correction of the amount of deviation D may be omitted.

[0078] (3) In the above embodiment, the mark 20 is provided on the left rail portion 13A of the two rail portions 13A and 13B. The mark 20 may be provided on both rail portions 13A and 13B. In the above embodiment, the mark 20 is provided corresponding to the mask leading edge 12D, but the mark 20 may be provided corresponding to the mask trailing edge 12E.

[0079] (4) In the above embodiment, the offset amount A is −2.5 mm and +2.5 mm, but the offset amount A is not limited to these values.

[0080] (5) In the above embodiment, the mask 12 is pushed by the rod 18B to move it from the temporary placement position to the printing position W0. However, the mask 12 may be pulled by the rod 18B to move it from the temporary placement position to the printing position W0.

[0081] (6) In the above embodiment, at the slide start position S0, the distance in the Y direction from the mask rear edge 12E to the rod 18B is V=30 mm (predetermined value), but the distance in the Y direction may be 30 mm or more (predetermined value or more). [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 10:Printing machine 12: Mask 12C: FID mark 13: Mask holder 13A: Rail section 17F: Mask Camera 18: Mask slider 20: Landmark 20A, 20B: Line 60: Control unit D: Displacement amount L0: Temporary reference position S0: Slide start position W0:Print position

Claims

1. 1. A printing press comprising: A mask holder; a mask slider that moves in a first direction relative to the mask holder, the mask holder has a visible mark corresponding to a temporary placement position of the mask; The mask slider abuts against the mask placed at a temporary placement position and slides the mask in the first direction, thereby moving the mask to a printing position.

2. 2. The printing press according to claim 1, A printing press, wherein the markings are two lines indicating the extent of the leading edge or trailing edge in the first direction of the mask to be temporarily placed.

3. The printing press according to claim 1 or 2, The mask slider includes: a rod displaceable between an initial position and a lowered position; The slide start position of the mask slider is A printing press, wherein the distance from the mask to the rod in the first direction is greater than or equal to a predetermined value so that the rod does not interfere with the mask when the rod is displaced from an initial position to a lowered position.

4. 4. The printing press according to claim 3, An imaging unit; A control unit, the mask has a position recognition mark; the imaging unit images a position recognition mark of the mask temporarily placed on the mask holder; The control unit detects an amount of deviation of the temporarily placed mask in the first direction based on an image of the position recognition mark, and corrects a slide start position of the mask slider.

5. 5. The printing press according to claim 4, The imaging unit captures an image of the position recognition mark of the mask twice at a position offset forward and backward in the first direction from a predetermined reference position, and recognizes the position of the position recognition mark based on the results of the two images.

6. The printing press according to claim 1 or 2, A printing machine, wherein the position of the mark is common regardless of the size of the mask in the first direction.

Images