Printer

Abstract

To provide a printer allowing for easily performing connection and separation between a mask cleaner and a movement mechanism in an inexpensive configuration.SOLUTION: A printer 1 includes: a mask cleaner 17 moving relatively to a mask 14 and thereby performing mask cleaning for removing paste adhering on a lower surface of the mask 14; and a camera movement mechanism 41 moving the mask cleaner 17 relatively to the mask 14. The mask cleaner 17 is moved while coupling with the camera movement mechanism 41 by coupling force caused by magnetic force of an electromagnet 61 to perform the mask cleaning, and then, separated from the camera movement mechanism 41 as the coupling force caused by the magnetic force of the electromagnet 61 is released at a retreat position which is set in a cleaner retreat area R3 on an outer side of a cleaning-target area R1 being a mask cleaning target.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a printing apparatus equipped with a mask cleaner that performs mask cleaning by moving relatively to a mask to remove paste adhering to the underside of the mask. [Background technology]

[0002] In a printing apparatus, a mask having pattern openings is placed above a substrate, and paste is applied to the substrate by scraping the paste supplied onto the mask with a squeegee and filling the pattern openings. In such a printing apparatus, after performing a plate separation in which the mask is separated from the substrate, mask cleaning is performed in which the paste adhering to the underside of the mask is wiped off with a mask cleaner through the pattern openings. The mask cleaner, for example, is configured to wipe off the paste adhering to the underside of the mask by bringing a sheet member into contact with the underside of the mask and moving it horizontally.

[0003] Some such mask cleaners do not have a self-propelled mechanism, but are configured to be moved by being connected to a moving mechanism that moves other devices (such as a camera) separate from the mask cleaner (for example, Patent Document 1 listed below). In such a configuration, the mask cleaner is normally located in a cleaner evacuation area below the mask, outside the area to be cleaned, and when mask cleaning is performed, the moving mechanism moves into the cleaner evacuation area and connects to the mask cleaner. Then, after mask cleaning is completed, the moving mechanism returns the mask cleaner to the cleaner evacuation area and then separates the mask cleaner. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-80870 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the printing device described in Patent Document 1, the connection and disconnection between the moving mechanism and the mask cleaner is performed by inserting and removing a rod member inserted between the moving mechanism and the mask cleaner using an actuator, which has the problem of being complex and costly in configuration.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a printing apparatus that can perform connection and disconnection between a mask cleaner and a moving mechanism with a simple and inexpensive configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The printing apparatus disclosed herein includes a mask cleaner that performs mask cleaning by moving relative to a mask to remove paste adhering to the underside of the mask, and a moving mechanism that moves the mask cleaner relative to the mask, and the mask cleaner is moved relative to the mask while connected to the moving mechanism by a connecting force due to the magnetic force of an electromagnet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the printing device of the present disclosure, the mask cleaner and the moving mechanism can be connected and disconnected with a simple and inexpensive configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a side view of a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a mask cleaner provided in a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control system of a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1A and 1B are side views illustrating the operation of a printing job performed by a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1A and 1B are side views illustrating the operation of a printing job performed by a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 1A and 1B are side views illustrating the operation of a printing job performed by a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 1A and 1B are side views illustrating the operation of a printing job performed by a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 1A and 1B are plan views illustrating the operation of a mask cleaning job performed by a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 1A, 1B, and 1C are side views illustrating the operation of a mask cleaning job performed by a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings as appropriate, detailed descriptions of each embodiment that specifically disclose the configuration and operation of a printing device according to the present disclosure will be provided. However, unnecessary detailed descriptions may be omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of well-known matters or redundant descriptions of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy in the following description and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. Note that the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the subject matter recited in the claims.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the printing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing apparatus 1 has the function of carrying in a substrate KB supplied from an upstream process (arrow A1 in FIG. 1) and printing a paste Pst such as solder onto an electrode pattern DK (FIG. 1) provided on the substrate KB. For ease of explanation, in this embodiment, the conveyance direction of the substrate KB in the printing apparatus 1 (leftward as seen from the operator OP) is defined as the X direction, the direction in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the X direction (front-to-back direction as seen from the operator OP) is defined as the Y direction, and the up-to-down direction is defined as the Z direction. Furthermore, within the front-to-back direction (Y direction), the direction facing the operator OP is referred to as the "front," and the direction away from the operator OP is referred to as the "rear" side (deep side).

[0012] 1, the printing apparatus 1 has a base 11 inside a housing 10 and two gate-shaped stands 12 installed on top of it, and a substrate holding and moving mechanism 13 is provided on the base 11. A part of the housing 10 on the operator OP side is a door section 10C, and this door section 10C can be opened upward around a hinge 10H.

[0013] 1 and 2, a mask 14 is installed above the substrate holding and moving mechanism 13, and a print head 15 is disposed above the mask 14. A camera 16 serving as an imaging means and a mask cleaner 17 serving as a cleaning device for the mask 14 are disposed below the mask 14. A control unit 18 that controls the operation of the printing apparatus 1 is provided within the base 11 (FIG. 1).

[0014] Figure 2 is a side view of a printing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 2, the substrate holding and moving mechanism 13 is made up of a substrate holding unit 21 and a unit moving mechanism 22. The substrate holding unit 21 loads, holds, and moves the substrate KB. The unit moving mechanism 22 moves the entire substrate holding unit 21 in a horizontal plane (XY plane) and up and down (Z direction).

[0015] 2, the substrate holding unit 21 includes a lifting plate 31 that is moved by a unit moving mechanism 22. On the upper surface of the lifting plate 31, a pair of conveyor support members 32 are provided that are arranged opposite each other in the Y direction (front-rear direction) and extend upward.

[0016] A pair of conveyors 33 are attached to the inner surfaces of the pair of conveyor support members 32 (the surfaces on which the pair of conveyor support members 32 face each other) (see FIG. 1). The conveyors 33 extend in the X direction and are arranged parallel to each other in the Y direction. The pair of conveyors 33 carry in and hold the board KB in the X direction, and carry out the board KB after the printing operation has been performed on the board KB (arrow A2 shown in FIG. 1).

[0017] 2, a support unit 34 is disposed above the lift plate 31. The support unit 34 is composed of a base table 34a that is raised and lowered by a lifter 35, and a plurality of support pins 34b provided on the upper surface of the base table 34a. A pair of clamp members 36 that open and close in the Y direction are provided on the upper ends of the pair of conveyor support members 32.

[0018] 1 and 3, the mask 14 has a rectangular shape extending along the XY plane, and its four sides are supported by a rectangular mask frame 14W. The mask 14 is made of a metal plate, and has a pattern opening 14K in its center, which is arranged in accordance with the electrode pattern DK of the substrate KB.

[0019] In Figure 1, print head 15 has a shape that extends in the X direction. Both ends of print head 15 in the X direction are supported by two mounts 12 so that it can move freely in the Y direction. Print head 15 is moved in the Y direction by a head movement mechanism 15M (Figure 2) that is composed of a ball screw mechanism or the like.

[0020] 1 and 2, two squeegees 15S are arranged below the print head 15. The two squeegees 15S are arranged with spatula-shaped members extending in the X direction facing each other in the Y direction. The two squeegees 15S are raised and lowered individually by two squeegee raising and lowering units 15B provided on the top surface of the print head 15.

[0021] Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of a printing device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 3, a camera 16 is moved in an XY plane (horizontal plane) by a camera movement mechanism 41. The camera 16 has an upper imaging section with an upwardly facing field of view and a lower imaging section with a downwardly facing field of view. As shown in Fig. 3, the camera movement mechanism 41 is composed of an X beam 41a extending in the X direction and a ball screw mechanism 41b that moves the X beam 41a in the Y direction.

[0022] Camera 16 is provided in front of X beam 41a and is movable in the X direction along X beam 41a. Therefore, camera 16 is movable in a direction along the XY plane below mask 14 by movement of X beam 41a in the Y direction and movement of camera 16 itself in the X direction along X beam 41a. The camera uses its upper imaging unit to capture images of multiple mask marks 14M (FIG. 1) provided on mask 14, and its lower imaging unit to capture images of multiple board marks KM (FIG. 1) provided on board KB.

[0023] 2 and 3, magnetic bodies 43 are provided via spacer members 42 extending forward at both ends in the Y direction on the front surface of X beam 41a of camera movement mechanism 41. Magnetic bodies 43 are attached to the front end of spacer member 42 and are located forward of camera 16 (FIG. 3).

[0024] A guide mechanism (not shown) allows the mask cleaner 17 to move freely in the Y direction at approximately the same height as the camera 16. The mask cleaner 17 does not have a self-propelled mechanism, but is connected to a camera moving mechanism 41, as will be described later, and is moved in the Y direction together with the camera 16 by the camera moving mechanism 41.

[0025] FIG. 4(a) is a perspective view of a mask cleaner 17 provided in a printing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4(b) is a partial side cross-sectional view of the mask cleaner 17 provided in a printing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the mask cleaner 17 includes a payout roller 52 and a take-up roller 53 in a casing 51. The payout roller 52 and the take-up roller 53 are each rotatable around an axis (X axis) extending parallel to the X direction. A sheet member 54 is stretched between the payout roller 52 and the take-up roller 53.

[0026] A nozzle 55 is provided in a portion between the payout roller 52 and the take-up roller 53 inside the casing 51. The nozzle 55 is connected to a vacuum suction path 56 to which vacuum pressure is supplied from a vacuum source. A control valve 57 is provided in the vacuum suction path 56 to supply vacuum pressure to the nozzle 55 through the vacuum suction path 56. When operated, the control valve 57 generates a suction force in a suction opening 55K formed in an upper surface 55M of the nozzle 55, thereby sucking the mask 14 through the sheet member 54.

[0027] The nozzle 55 is configured to be able to move up and down relative to the casing 51, and has the function of pushing upward the sheet material 54 located between the pay-out roller 52 and the take-up roller 53. A sheet feeding unit 58 is provided outside the casing 51. The sheet feeding unit 58 drives the pay-out roller 52 and the take-up roller 53 to rotate in the same direction, and feeds the sheet material 54 toward the pay-out roller 52 or the take-up roller 53 relative to the upper surface 55M of the nozzle 55 in the direction (arrow B shown in FIG. 4(a)) toward the upper surface 55M of the nozzle 55, thereby refreshing the sheet material 54 located on the upper surface 55M of the nozzle 55.

[0028] The mask cleaner 17 pushes up the sheet member 54 located between the payout roller 52 and the take-up roller 53 with the nozzle 55 to bring it into contact with the underside of the mask 14, and moves in a direction parallel to the mask 14 (Y direction) while generating a suction force at the suction opening 55K of the nozzle 55. As a result, the paste Pst adhering to the underside of the mask 14 is sucked up by the nozzle 55 through the sheet member 54 and wiped off by the sheet member 54, and is removed from the underside of the mask 14.

[0029] In Fig. 3, the area along the Y direction in a plan view and including the mask 14 is the area targeted for cleaning of the mask 14 (mask cleaning), and will be referred to below as the "area to be cleaned R1." The area behind the area to be cleaned R1 is an area where the camera 16 waits, and will be referred to below as the "camera waiting area R2." The area in front of the area to be cleaned R1 (the area on the operator OP side) is an area where the mask cleaner 17 is retracted, and will be referred to below as the "cleaner retract area R3" (Fig. 3).

[0030] 3, electromagnets 61 are provided at both ends in the X direction of the rear surface of casing 51 of mask cleaner 17. These two electromagnets 61 are provided at positions facing in the Y direction the two magnetic bodies 43 provided on X beam 41a of camera movement mechanism 41, respectively.

[0031] 2 and 3, permanent magnets 63 are provided via permanent magnet holding spacers 62 at both ends in the X direction of the front surface of the casing of the mask cleaner 17. As shown in Fig. 1, a retracted position abutment member 71 is provided at the front of the stand 12 on the base 11, extending in the X direction and including an area at the same height as the mask cleaner 17. In this embodiment, the retracted position abutment member 71 is entirely made of a magnetic material.

[0032] The mask cleaner 17 moves in the Y direction within the cleaning target area R1 when performing mask cleaning, but is positioned at a retracted position set within the cleaner retraction area R3 when not performing mask cleaning. When the mask cleaner 17 is positioned at the retracted position, the two permanent magnets 63 provided on the front surface of the mask cleaner 17 abut against the retracted position abutment members 71, and the mask cleaner 17 is held at the retracted position by a connecting force due to the magnetic force of the permanent magnets 63 (magnetic force acting between the permanent magnets 63 and the retracted position abutment members 71 made of a magnetic material).

[0033] Thus, in this embodiment, the mask cleaner 17 located at the retracted position is held at the retracted position by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 63. More specifically, the printing device 1 in this embodiment has a retracted position abutment member 71 that abuts against the mask cleaner 17 located at the retracted position, one of the mask cleaner 17 and the retracted position abutment member 71 (here, the mask cleaner 17) has the permanent magnet 63 and the other (here, the retracted position abutment member 71) has a magnetic material, and the mask cleaner 17 located at the retracted position is held at the retracted position by the magnetic force acting between the permanent magnet 63 and the magnetic material (the retracted position abutment member 71).

[0034] 3, a plurality of (two in this example) elastic members 72 are provided on the rear surface of the retracted position abutment member 71. In this embodiment, the elastic members 72 are spring members (helical springs), with their base ends fixed to the rear surface of the retracted position abutment member 71 and the other ends extending rearward (toward the mask cleaner 17). The Y-direction dimension of each of the plurality of elastic members 72 is set to be greater than the Y-direction dimension between the front surface of the mask cleaner 17 and the front surface of the permanent magnet 63. As a result, when the mask cleaner 17 approaches the retracted position abutment member 71 from behind, as will be described later, the elastic members 72 come into contact with the mask cleaner 17 before the two permanent magnets 63 provided on the mask cleaner 17 come into contact with the retracted position abutment member 71.

[0035] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control system for a printing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, a control unit 18 controls the transport of the substrate KB by the pair of conveyors 33 provided in the substrate holding unit 21, the raising and lowering of the support unit 34 by the lifter 35, the clamping of the substrate KB by the clamp member 36, and the movement of the substrate holding unit 21 by the unit movement mechanism 22. The control unit 18 also controls the raising and lowering of the squeegee 15S by the squeegee raising and lowering unit 15B provided in the print head 15, the movement of the print head 15 in the Y direction by the head movement mechanism 15M, the image capture by the camera 16, and the movement of the camera 16 by the camera movement mechanism 41. The control unit 18 also controls the raising and lowering of the nozzle 55 provided in the mask cleaner 17, the feeding of the sheet member 54 by the sheet feed unit 58, and the operation of the control valve 57 (the operation for generating a suction force at the suction opening 55K of the nozzle 55). The control unit 18 also controls the energization and deenergization of the electromagnet 61 provided in the mask cleaner 17.

[0036] 6(a) and 6(b) are side views illustrating the operation of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. When the printing apparatus 1 performs a printing operation, the conveyor 33 first receives and carries in the board KB sent from the upstream process side of the printing apparatus 1 (arrow A1 shown in FIG. 1) and positions it in a predetermined position (FIG. 6(a)). Once the board KB is positioned, the lifter 35 operates to raise the support unit 34 (arrow C1 shown in FIG. 6(b)), which then lifts the board KB. As a result, the board KB moves away from the conveyor 33. When the top surface of the board KB is flush with the top surfaces of the clamp members 36, the lifter 35 stops the lifting of the support unit 34, and the pair of clamp members 36 move toward each other to clamp the board KB (arrow D1 shown in FIG. 6(b)).

[0037] 7(a) and 7(b) are side views illustrating the operation of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention during printing. After the clamp members 36 clamp the substrate KB, the camera movement mechanism 41 moves the camera 16 between the substrate KB and the mask 14 (arrow E in FIG. 7(a)). The camera 16 moves in a direction along the XY plane to capture images of the substrate marks KM and the corresponding mask marks 14M (FIG. 7(a)).

[0038] Once the camera 16 has captured images of the multiple board marks KM and the multiple mask marks 14M, the camera moving mechanism 41 returns the camera 16 to the camera standby area R2 (arrow F shown in FIG. 7(b)). Once the camera 16 has returned to the camera standby area R2, the unit moving mechanism 22 moves the entire substrate holding unit 21 (i.e., the substrate KB) within the XY plane so that the positions of the corresponding board marks KM and mask marks 14M coincide in a planar view.

[0039] When the positions of the corresponding substrate mark KM and mask mark 14M are aligned in a plan view, the unit moving mechanism 22 raises the entire substrate holding unit 21 (i.e., the substrate KB) (arrow G1 shown in FIG. 8(a)) so that the upper surface of the substrate KB comes into contact with the lower surface of the mask 14. This brings the electrode pattern DK of the substrate KB into alignment with the pattern opening 14K of the mask 14.

[0040] 8(a) and 8(b) are side views illustrating the printing operation performed by a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. When the upper surface of the substrate KB comes into contact with the lower surface of the mask 14, the squeegee lifting unit 15B is actuated to lower one of the two squeegees 15S provided on the print head 15 so that its lower end abuts on the upper surface of the mask 14 (arrow H in FIG. 8(a)). When the lower end of the squeegee 15S abuts on the upper surface of the mask 14, the head moving mechanism 15M moves the print head 15 in the Y direction (arrow J in FIG. 8(b)) so that the paste Pst on the mask 14 is scraped by the squeegee 15S. This causes the paste Pst on the mask 14 to fill the pattern openings 14K of the mask 14 and apply the paste Pst to the electrode pattern DK on the substrate KB.

[0041] 9(a) and 9(b) are side views illustrating the operation of a printing operation performed by a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. After the paste Pst has been applied to the substrate KB, the unit movement mechanism 22 lowers the entire substrate holding unit 21 (i.e., the substrate KB) (arrow G2 shown in FIG. 9(a)). As a result, the substrate KB is separated from the mask 14 (plate separation), and the pair of clamp members 36 move in directions away from each other (arrow D2 shown in FIG. 9(a)), releasing the clamp on the substrate KB.

[0042] Once the clamp on the board KB has been released, the lifter 35 lowers the support unit 34 (arrow C2 shown in FIG. 9(b)), and the board KB is lowered onto the conveyor 33. Once the board KB has been lowered onto the conveyor 33, the conveyor 33 operates to transport the board KB to the downstream process side of the printing device 1 (arrow A2 shown in FIG. 1). This completes the printing operation for one board KB.

[0043] The control unit 18 of the printing apparatus 1 executes a mask cleaning operation each time the above printing operation is performed on one or more substrates KB. The mask cleaning operation is an operation of wiping off and removing the paste Pst adhering to the underside of the mask 14 using a mask cleaner 17.

[0044] 10(a) and 10(b) are plan views illustrating the operation of a mask cleaning operation performed by a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. When performing mask cleaning, the control unit 18 first activates the ball screw mechanism 41b of the camera movement mechanism 41, causing the X beam 41a of the camera movement mechanism 41 to move forward. The X beam 41a is then moved from behind toward the mask cleaner 17, which is held in the retracted position (arrow L1 shown in FIGS. 9(b) and 10(a)), and two magnetic bodies 43 provided on the front side of the X beam 41a come into contact with two electromagnets 61 provided on the rear side of the mask cleaner 17 (FIGS. 9(b) and 10(a)).

[0045] When the two magnetic bodies 43 come into contact with the two electromagnets 61, the control unit 18 energizes each of the two electromagnets 61 to generate a magnetic force, which causes the two electromagnets 61 to attract the two corresponding magnetic bodies 43, and the mask cleaner 17 is connected to the camera moving mechanism 41 (specifically, to the X-beam 41a).

[0046] Once the mask cleaner 17 is connected to the camera movement mechanism 41 (X beam 41a), the control unit 18 activates the ball screw mechanism 41b to move the X beam 41a backward. At this time, the magnetic force with which the two electromagnets 61 attract the two magnetic bodies 43 is set to be stronger than the magnetic force with which the two permanent magnets 63 attract the retracted position abutment member 71. When the magnetic force is generated in the two electromagnets 61 to move the X beam 41a backward, the mask cleaner 17 moves backward from the retracted position while remaining connected to the X beam 41a.

[0047] In this way, in the printing device 1 of this embodiment, one of the mask cleaner 17 and the camera moving mechanism 41 (here, the mask cleaner 17) has an electromagnet 61 and the other (here, the camera moving mechanism 41) has a magnetic body 43, and the mask cleaner 17 is moved relative to the mask 14 while connected to the camera moving mechanism 41 by the magnetic force acting between the electromagnet 61 and the magnetic body 43.

[0048] After moving the X beam 41a rearward, the control unit 18 causes the X beam 41a to enter the area to be cleaned R1. As a result, the mask cleaner 17 also enters the area to be cleaned R1. Once the mask cleaner 17 has entered the area to be cleaned R1, the control unit 18 raises the nozzle 55 relative to the casing 51, thereby pushing up a portion of the sheet member 54 with the upper surface 55M of the nozzle 55 and bringing the pushed-up sheet member 54 into contact with the lower surface of the mask 14. In addition, at the same time, the control valve 57 is operated to generate a suction force at the suction opening 55K of the nozzle 55.

[0049] The control unit 18 brings the sheet member 54, which has been pushed up by the upper surface 55M of the nozzle 55, into contact with the lower surface of the mask 14 and generates a suction force at the suction opening 55K of the nozzle 55, and then, while maintaining this state, causes the camera movement mechanism 41 to move the mask cleaner 17 backward (arrow L2 shown in FIG. 10(b)). As a result, the paste Pst adhering to the lower surface of the mask 14 is sucked by the nozzle 55 and wiped off by the sheet member 54, and is removed from the lower surface of the mask 14.

[0050] 11(a), 11(b), and 11(c) are side views illustrating the mask cleaning operation performed by a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. When the mask cleaner 17 moves rearward through the cleaning target area R1 and the paste Pst adhering to the underside of the mask 14 is wiped off by the sheet member 54 of the mask cleaner 17, the control unit 18 stops the movement of the mask cleaner 17 by the camera movement mechanism 41 (FIGS. 10(b) and 11(a)). The nozzle 55 is then lowered relative to the casing 51, thereby separating the sheet member 54 from the underside of the mask 14. The control valve 57 is also actuated to stop the suction operation of the nozzle 55.

[0051] After separating the sheet member 54 from the mask 14 and stopping the suction operation by the nozzle 55, the control unit 18 moves the X beam 41a forward (arrow L3 shown in FIG. 11(b)). Then, the X beam 41a enters the cleaner retraction area R3, and the two permanent magnets 63 provided on the front surface of the mask cleaner 17 come into contact with the retraction position abutment member 71 from behind (FIG. 11(b)).

[0052] At this time, the front surface of the mask cleaner 17 comes into contact with each of the multiple elastic members 72 provided on the rear side of the retracted position abutment member 71 and then presses these members forward, so that the elastic forces of the elastic members 72 try to push the mask cleaner 17 backward. The pressing force of the multiple elastic members 72 trying to push the mask cleaner 17 backward reduces the impact that the mask cleaner 17 receives from the retracted position abutment member 71 when it abuts against the retracted position abutment member 71 via the permanent magnet 63 (and the permanent magnet holding spacer 62 that supports it).

[0053] In this way, the printing device 1 in this embodiment is configured to include an elastic member 72 that uses elastic force to absorb the impact received from the retracted position abutment member 71 when the mask cleaner 17 abuts against the retracted position abutment member 71.

[0054] After the rear surface of the mask cleaner 17 comes into contact with the multiple elastic members 72, the control unit 18 causes the camera movement mechanism 41 to move the mask cleaner 17 forward while compressing the multiple elastic members 72. Then, when the two permanent magnets 63 provided on the mask cleaner 17 come into contact with the retracted position abutment member 71 and the two permanent magnets 63 and the retracted position abutment member 71 begin to attract each other by magnetic force (i.e., when the mask cleaner 17 is positioned at the retracted position), the control unit 18 stops powering the two electromagnets 61. This releases the connection between the camera movement mechanism 41 (X beam 41a) and the mask cleaner 17 by the magnetic force of the electromagnets 61.

[0055] In this embodiment, the mask cleaner 17 is moved relative to the mask 14 while connected to the camera moving mechanism 41 by the magnetic connecting force of the electromagnet 61 to perform mask cleaning, and then the magnetic connecting force of the electromagnet 61 is released and the mask cleaner 17 is separated from the camera moving mechanism 41 at a retracted position set outside the area to be cleaned (cleaning target area R1).

[0056] Here, the mask cleaner 17 positioned at the retracted position receives a pressing force in a direction pushing it back backward from the two elastic members 72 that were compressed in the process of reaching the retracted position, but the magnetic force acting between the two permanent magnets 63 and the retracted position abutment member 71 is set to be much greater than the pressing force received from the two elastic members 72. Therefore, the mask cleaner 17 is not moved backward from the retracted position by the pressing force received from the two elastic members 72, and the mask cleaner 17 positioned at the retracted position is still held in the retracted position by the magnetic force of the permanent magnets 63.

[0057] After releasing the magnetic connection between the camera moving mechanism 41 (X beam 41a) and the mask cleaner 17, the control unit 18 moves the X beam 41a backward (arrow L4 shown in FIG. 11(c)). Then, when the X beam 41a passes backward through the cleaning target area R1 and returns to the camera standby area R2 (FIG. 11(c)), the control unit 18 stops the movement of the X beam 41a. This completes the mask cleaning operation by the mask cleaner 17.

[0058] In this embodiment, as described above, the cleaner evacuation area R3 in which the evacuation position of the mask cleaner 17 is set is the area closer to the operator OP. Therefore, after the mask cleaning work by the mask cleaner 17 is completed, the operator OP can perform the work of replacing a replacement part (e.g., sheet member 54) mounted on the mask cleaner 17 by opening the door portion 10C on the operator OP side of the housing 10 upward (FIG. 1), with the mask cleaner 17 positioned in the evacuation position.

[0059] Furthermore, when the mask cleaner 17 is not connected to the camera moving mechanism 41 by the magnetic force of the electromagnet 61, the operator OP can easily manually separate the mask cleaner 17 from the retracted position abutment member 71. Therefore, it is also possible to perform maintenance work with the mask cleaner 17 moved within the cleaner retracted area R3 and the cleaning target area R1 as needed.

[0060] As described above, in the printing device 1 of this embodiment, the mask cleaner 17 is moved relative to the mask 14 while connected to the camera movement mechanism 41 by the connecting force of the magnetic force of the electromagnet 61, and the connection and disconnection between the mask cleaner 17 and the camera movement mechanism 41 can be achieved by applying and disconnecting current to the electromagnet 61, thereby simplifying the configuration and reducing costs.

[0061] Furthermore, in conventional configurations in which the mask cleaner and the moving mechanism are connected and disconnected by inserting and removing a rod member between them, it was necessary to precisely align the mask cleaner and the moving mechanism when inserting the rod. However, in the printing device 1 of this embodiment, such precise alignment is not required when connecting the mask cleaner 17 and the moving mechanism (camera moving mechanism 41). This also simplifies the configuration and reduces costs. Thus, with the printing device 1 of this embodiment, the mask cleaner 17 and its moving mechanism (camera moving mechanism 41) can be connected and disconnected with a simple and inexpensive configuration.

[0062] While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above-described embodiments, the retracted position abutment member 71 provided on the gantry 12 is entirely made of a magnetic material, but it does not have to be entirely made of a magnetic material as long as at least the area facing the two electromagnets 61 provided on the mask cleaner 17 in the Y direction is made of a magnetic material. Also, in the above-described embodiments, the elastic member 72 provided on the retracted position abutment member 71 is a spring member, but the elastic member 72 may be a member other than a spring member (e.g., a rubber member) as long as it has the function of absorbing the impact received from the retracted position abutment member 71 when the mask cleaner 17 comes into contact with the retracted position abutment member 71.

[0063] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the mask cleaner 17 has the electromagnet 61 and the moving mechanism (camera moving mechanism 41) has the magnetic body 43, but the opposite configuration may be adopted, where the mask cleaner 17 has the magnetic body and the moving mechanism has the electromagnet 61. In other words, it is sufficient that one of the mask cleaner 17 and the moving mechanism has the electromagnet and the other has the magnetic body.

[0064] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the mask cleaner 17 has the permanent magnet 63 and the retracted position abutment member 71 has a magnetic material (is made of a magnetic material), but the mask cleaner 17 may have a magnetic material and the retracted position abutment member 71 may have a permanent magnet. In other words, it is sufficient that one of the mask cleaner 17 and the retracted position abutment member 71 has the permanent magnet 63 and the other has a magnetic material.

[0065] In the above-described embodiment, the mask cleaner 17 is held in the retracted position within the cleaner retraction area R3 by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 63 (magnetic force acting between the permanent magnet 63 of the mask cleaner 17 and the retracted position abutment member 71 made of a magnetic material). However, instead of this configuration, the mask cleaner 17 may be held in the retracted position by another mechanical configuration. Alternatively, a shallow recess may be provided at a position corresponding to the retracted position on the movement path of the mask cleaner 17 (the aforementioned guide mechanism, not shown), and the mask cleaner 17 may be held in the retracted position by falling into the recess under its own weight. In this case, when the mask cleaner 17 is moved backward from the retracted position, the camera movement mechanism 41, which is connected by the magnetic force of the electromagnet 61, lifts the mask cleaner 17 out of the recess. When these configurations are adopted, the permanent magnet 63 and the retracted position abutment member 71 are not necessary.

[0066] Although various embodiments have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is clear that those skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications, alterations, substitutions, additions, deletions, and equivalents within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the components of the various embodiments described above may be combined in any manner without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0067] A printing device is provided that can perform connection and disconnection between a mask cleaner and a moving mechanism with a simple and inexpensive configuration. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1 Printing device 14 Mask 16 Camera 17 Mask cleaner 41 Camera movement mechanism (movement mechanism) 41a X-Beam 43 Magnetic material 54 Seat material (replacement part) 61 Electromagnet 63 Permanent Magnets 71 Retraction position abutment member 72 Spring members (elastic members) R1 Cleaning area R2 Camera Waiting Area R3 Cleaner Evacuation Area KB board KM PCB mark (mark) PST Paste

Claims

1. a mask cleaner that performs mask cleaning by moving relatively to the mask to remove paste adhering to the lower surface of the mask; a moving mechanism that moves the mask cleaner relative to the mask, The mask cleaner is moved relative to the mask while being connected to the moving mechanism by a connecting force due to the magnetic force of an electromagnet. Printing device.

2. one of the mask cleaner and the moving mechanism has the electromagnet and the other has a magnetic body, and the mask cleaner is moved relative to the mask while being connected to the moving mechanism by a magnetic force acting between the electromagnet and the magnetic body; The printing device of claim 1 .

3. the mask cleaner is moved relative to the mask while being coupled to the moving mechanism by the coupling force due to the magnetic force of the electromagnet to perform the mask cleaning, and then the mask cleaner is separated from the moving mechanism by releasing the coupling force due to the magnetic force of the electromagnet at a retracted position set in a cleaner retracted area outside a cleaning target area that is a target of the mask cleaning. The printing device of claim 1 .

4. The mask cleaner positioned at the retracted position is held at the retracted position by the magnetic force of a permanent magnet. The printing device according to claim 3 .

5. a retracted position contact member that comes into contact with the mask cleaner positioned at the retracted position, one of the mask cleaner and the retracted position contact member having the permanent magnet and the other having a magnetic material, and the mask cleaner positioned at the retracted position is held at the retracted position by a magnetic force acting between the permanent magnet and the magnetic material; The printing device according to claim 4 .

6. the moving mechanism moves the mask cleaner from the retracted position by connecting the mask cleaner with the electromagnet using a magnetic force stronger than a magnetic force of the permanent magnet; The printing device according to claim 5 .

7. an elastic member that uses elastic force to absorb impact from the retracted position abutment member when the mask cleaner abuts against the retracted position abutment member; The printing device according to claim 5 .

8. It is possible to perform replacement work of replacement parts mounted on the mask cleaner while the mask cleaner is positioned at the retracted position. The printing device according to claim 3 .

9. the moving mechanism comprises a camera moving mechanism that moves a camera that captures an image of a mark on the underside of the mask; The printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

Images