Adhesive sheet forming apparatus, adhesive sheet forming method, sheet sticking apparatus, and sheet sticking method

Abstract

To provide an adhesive sheet forming apparatus, an adhesive sheet forming method, a sheet sticking apparatus, and a sheet sticking method capable of preventing a decrease in processing capacity per unit time.SOLUTION: An adhesive sheet forming apparatus EA includes feeding means 10 for feeding out a raw roll RS in which a strip-shaped release sheet RL is temporarily attached to a strip-shaped adhesive sheet base material AB, and cutting means 20 for forming a cut CU with a cutting blade 21A in the adhesive sheet base material AB of the raw roll RS fed out by the feeding means 10, and forming an adhesive sheet AS in the area partitioned by the cut CU, and also includes cutting blade replacement means 30 for replacing the cutting blade 21A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an adhesive sheet forming apparatus, an adhesive sheet forming method, a sheet sticking apparatus, and a sheet sticking method. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART An adhesive sheet forming apparatus is known that forms an adhesive sheet on a raw adhesive sheet substrate using a cutting blade (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-204614 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The incision forming unit 10 (adhesive sheet forming device) described in Patent Document 1 does not specifically disclose a technique for someone other than the user to remove the cutting blade 46 (cutting blade) and replace it with another cutting blade, and in recent years there has been a demand for a new method of replacing the cutting blade.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an adhesive sheet forming apparatus and method, as well as a sheet sticking apparatus and method, that allow cutting blades to be replaced by a new method. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention employs the configurations set forth in the claims. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the cutting blade is replaced by the cutting blade replacement means, so that the cutting blade can be replaced by a new method. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1A is an explanatory diagram of a sheet sticking device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 1B and 1C are explanatory diagrams of sheet sticking devices according to modified examples of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are orthogonal to each other, and the X-axis and Y-axis are axes within a predetermined plane, and the Z-axis is an axis orthogonal to the predetermined plane. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when viewed from the front direction of Fig. 1(A) parallel to the Y-axis, "up" is the direction of the arrow of the Z-axis, "down" is the opposite direction, "left" is the direction of the arrow of the X-axis, "right" is the opposite direction, "front" is the direction toward the front of Fig. 1(A) parallel to the Y-axis, and "rear" is the opposite direction.

[0010] The adhesive sheet forming apparatus EA comprises a feeding means 10 which performs a feeding step of feeding out a raw sheet RS having a strip-shaped adhesive sheet base material AB to which a strip-shaped release sheet RL is temporarily attached, a cutting means 20 which performs a cutting step of forming an incision CU with a cutting blade 21A in the adhesive sheet base material AB of the raw sheet RS fed out by the feeding means 10 and forming an adhesive sheet AS in the area partitioned by the incision CU, and a cutting blade replacement means 30 which performs a cutting blade replacement step of replacing the cutting blade 21A. The sheet application device EA1 comprises an adhesive sheet forming device EA, a peeling plate 40 as a peeling means for performing a peeling process in which the peeling sheet RL of the raw sheet RS fed by the feeding means 10 is folded back at the peeling edge 40A and the adhesive sheet AS is peeled off from the peeling sheet RL, and a pressing roller 50 as a pressing means for performing a pressing process in which the adhesive sheet AS peeled off by the peeling plate 40 is pressed onto an adherend WK to apply it, and is arranged near a support means 60 for performing a supporting process in which the adherend WK and a ring frame RF as a frame member are supported.

[0011] The unwinding means 10 includes a support roller 11 that supports the raw roll RS, a guide roller 12 that guides the raw roll RS, a peeling roller 13 as a peeling member that folds back the unnecessary sheet US formed outside the area partitioned by the cutout CU and peels the unnecessary sheet US from the release sheet RL, a recovery roller 14 that is supported by the output shaft of a drive device not shown and that constantly applies a predetermined tension to the unnecessary sheet US present between it and the peeling roller 13 while the sheet application device EA1 is operating automatically, and serves as a recovery means for recovering the unnecessary sheet US, a drive roller 15 that is supported by the output shaft of a rotary motor 15A as a drive device not shown and that pinches the release sheet RL between it and a pinch roller 15B, and a recovery roller 16 that is supported by the output shaft of a drive device not shown and that constantly applies a predetermined tension to the release sheet RL present between it and the pinch roller 15B while the sheet application device EA1 is operating automatically, and serves as a recovery means for recovering the release sheet RL.

[0012] The cutting means 20 comprises a cutting roller 21 having a cutting blade 21A, a U-shaped support member 22 arranged side by side in the front-to-rear direction and detachably supporting the rotation shaft of the cutting roller 21, a linear motor 23 as a drive device, a bracket 24 supported on the output shaft 23A of the linear motor 23, a rotary motor 25 as a drive device supported on the bracket 24, and a receiving roller 26 having one end supported on the bracket 24 and the other end supported on the output shaft 25A of the rotary motor 25, and the rotary motor 25 is configured to rotate the cutting roller 21 in conjunction with the rotation of the receiving roller 26 via a mechanism not shown.

[0013] The cutting blade replacement means 30 is composed of multiple arms and includes a so-called articulated robot 31 as a driving device that can displace what is supported by the tip arm 31A, which is the working part, to any position and any angle within its working range, a chuck cylinder 32 as a holding means and driving device that is supported by the tip arm 31A and has a pair of gripping claws 32A, and a storage means 33 such as a box or shelf for storing the cutting roller 21.

[0014] The support means 60 includes a linear motor 61 as a driving device, and a table 62 supported by a slider 61A of the linear motor 61 and having an adherend support surface 62A and a frame support surface 62B, each of which can be adsorbed and held by a pressure reduction means (holding means) such as a pressure reduction pump or a vacuum ejector (not shown).

[0015] The operation of the sheet sticking apparatus EA1 will now be described. First, a user of the sheet applicator EA1 (hereinafter simply referred to as the "user") sets the raw web RS in the sheet applicator EA1, with each component positioned in the initial position indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 1(A). The cutting means 20 then drives the linear motor 23, which moves the receiving roller 26 to the left, as indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1(A), sandwiching the raw web RS between the cutting roller 21 and the cutting means 20. The user then inputs a signal to start automatic operation via an operating means (not shown), such as an operation panel or a personal computer. The feeding means 10 and the cutting means 20 then drive the rotary motors 15A and 25 to feed the raw web RS. A slit CU corresponding to the shape of the cutting blade 21A is formed in the adhesive sheet substrate AB, separating the adhesive sheet AS and the waste sheet US. After the slit CU is formed, the waste sheet US is peeled off from the release sheet RL by the peeling roller 13, and the waste sheet US is collected by the collection roller 14. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1(A), when the leading end of the leading adhesive sheet AS in the payout direction is peeled off from the payout sheet RL by a predetermined length at the folded portion of the payout sheet RL folded back by the peeling edge 40A of the peeling plate 40, the payout means 10 and the cutting means 20 stop driving the rotary motors 15A and 25.

[0016] Next, when a user or a conveying means (not shown), such as an articulated robot or a belt conveyor, places the adherend WK and ring frame RF in predetermined positions on the adherend support surface 62A and frame support surface 62B, the support means 60 drives a pressure-reducing means (not shown) to begin suction-holding the adherend WK and ring frame RF on the adherend support surface 62A and frame support surface 62B. The support means 60 then drives the linear motor 61 to move the table 62 to the left, and when the table 62 reaches a predetermined position, the payout means 10 and the cutting means 20 drive the rotary motors 15A and 25 to form incisions CU in the adhesive sheet base material AB in accordance with the movement speed of the table 62, while paying out the raw web RS. As a result, the adhesive sheet AS is peeled off from the release sheet RL at the folded-back portion of the release sheet RL, and is pressed by the pressure roller 50 onto the ring frame RF and adherend WK, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1(A).

[0017] Next, the entire leading adhesive sheet AS is attached to the ring frame RF and the adherend WK to form an integrated object UP, and when the leading end of the next adhesive sheet AS in the payout direction following the leading adhesive sheet AS is peeled off a predetermined length from the release sheet RL at the folded-back portion of the release sheet RL, the payout means 10 and the cutting means 20 stop driving the rotary motors 15A and 25. Thereafter, when the table 62 reaches a predetermined position to the left of the pressure roller 50, the support means 60 stops driving the linear motor 61 and then stops driving the pressure-reducing means (not shown), releasing the adherend WK and ring frame RF from suction and holding on the adherend support surface 62A and frame support surface 62B. Next, when the user or the transport means (not shown) transports the integrated object UP to the next process, the support means 60 drives the linear motor 61 to return the table 62 to its initial position, and the same operations as above are repeated.

[0018] When replacing the cutting blade 21A, the user inputs a signal requesting replacement of the cutting blade 21A via an operating means (not shown). When a detection means (not shown) detects that the cutting operation by the cutting blade 21A has been completed, the cutting means 20 drives the linear motor 23 to move the receiving roller 26 to the right and return it to its initial position. Next, the feeding means 10 drives the rotary motor 15A to feed out a predetermined amount of the raw web RS. After that, the user removes the adhesive sheet AS formed on the raw web RS. The cutting blade replacement means 30 drives the articulated robot 31 and chuck cylinder 32 to clamp both ends of the cutting roller 21 supported by the support member 22 with the gripping claws 32A, as shown by the two-dot chain lines in FIG. 1(A), and then transports the cutting roller 21 to be stored in the storage means 33. Thereafter, the cutting blade replacement means 30 drives the articulated robot 31 and the chuck cylinder 32, releases the grip of the cutting roller 21 by the gripping jaws 32A, and then grips a replacement cutting roller 21 stored in the storage means 33 with the gripping jaws 32A, transports the replacement cutting roller 21, and supports it on the support member 22. Next, the cutting blade replacement means 30 drives the articulated robot 31 and the chuck cylinder 32, releases the grip of the replacement cutting roller 21 by the gripping jaws 32A, and then returns the chuck cylinder 32 to its initial position. Then, the cutting means 20 drives the linear motor 23, moves the receiving roller 26 to the left, and sandwiches the raw web RS between the cutting roller 21 and the cutting roller 21. After that, the user again inputs a signal to start automatic operation via an operation means (not shown), and the same operations as those described above are repeated.

[0019] According to the embodiment described above, the cutting blade 21A is replaced by the cutting blade replacement means 30, so that the cutting blade 21A can be replaced by a new method.

[0020] Furthermore, since the cutting roller 21 having the cutting blade 21A is replaced by the cutting blade replacement means 30, the process of forming the adhesive sheet AS can be quickly resumed, and a decrease in processing capacity per unit time can be prevented.

[0021] As described above, the best configurations, methods, and the like for implementing the present invention have been disclosed in the above description, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, although the present invention has been particularly illustrated and described mainly with reference to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art can make various modifications to the above-described embodiments in terms of shape, material, quantity, and other detailed configurations without departing from the scope of the technical idea and purpose of the present invention. Furthermore, the above-disclosed descriptions limiting the shape, material, and the like are provided as examples to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Therefore, descriptions using names of components that are free from some or all of the limitations on shape, material, and the like are included in the present invention. The means and steps of the present invention are not limited in any way as long as they can perform the operations, functions, or steps described for those means and steps, and are in no way limited to the components and steps of a single embodiment shown in the above embodiment. For example, the feeding means may be any means that feeds out a raw sheet having a strip-shaped adhesive sheet substrate to which a strip-shaped release sheet is temporarily attached, and is not limited in any way as long as it is within the scope of the common general technical knowledge at the time of filing (the same applies to other means and steps).

[0022] The unwinding means 10 may unwind the raw roll RS from a raw roll RS that has been folded, for example, in a fanfold, without being wound up, or may employ a recovery means that recovers the release sheet RL by folding it, for example, in a fanfold, by shredding it with a shredder, or by piling it up randomly, without being wound up, or it may not employ a recovery means at all.

[0023] The cutting means 20 may move the cutting roller 21 without moving the receiving roller 26 or while moving the receiving roller 26. The cutting blade 21A is formed on the surface of a plate-like member that can follow the outer peripheral surface of the cutting roller 21, and the cutting roller 21 may be configured to have a holding means that holds the plate-like member on which the cutting blade 21A is formed from the back side.For example, as shown in Figures 1(B) and (C), the cutting blade 21A may be formed on the surface of a thin metal plate 21B that serves as a plate-like member, and the cutting roller 21 may be configured to have a magnetic body that serves as a holding means on its outer peripheral surface. The rotation motor 25 may be provided on the cutting roller 21 instead of or in addition to the receiving roller 26.

[0024] The cutting blade replacement means 30 may replace a cutting roller having a cutting blade with a shape different from that of the cutting blade 21A. Alternatively, if the cutting blade 21A is configured to be detachable from the cutting roller 21, as in the case of the cutting blade 21A and cutting roller 21 shown in FIGS. 1(B) and 1(C), only the cutting blade 21A may be replaced with another cutting blade without replacing the entire cutting roller 21. In FIGS. 1(B) and 1(C), the cutting roller 21 is supported by an output shaft 34A of a rotary motor 34, and the rotation angle of the cutting roller 21 is detected by a detection means (not shown), such as a roller encoder or rotary encoder. When replacing the cutting blade 21A, the cutting blade replacement means 30 rotates the cutting roller 21 to a predetermined replacement position, as shown in FIG. 1(B), based on the detection result of the detection means. Next, the cutting blade replacement means 30 drives the articulated robot 31 and the chuck cylinder 35 supported by the distal arm 31A to grip the end of the metal plate 21B on which the cutting blade 21A is formed, and then drives the rotary motor 34 to rotate the cutting roller 21 counterclockwise while moving the chuck cylinder 35 leftward, thereby removing the cutting blade 21A from the cutting roller 21. Thereafter, the cutting blade replacement means 30 transports the removed cutting blade 21A and stores it in the storage means 33, and then drives the articulated robot 31 and the chuck cylinder 35 to remove the replacement cutting blade 21A from the storage means 33 and transport it above the cutting roller 21. Next, the cutting blade replacement means 30 drives the articulated robot 31, and as shown in Figure 1 (C), brings the metal plate 21B of the replacement cutting blade 21A into contact with the cutting roller 21, and then drives the rotary motor 34 and chuck cylinder 35 to release the grip on the metal plate 21B and rotate the cutting roller 21 clockwise, thereby attaching the cutting blade 21A to the cutting roller 21. The cutting blade replacement means 30 may be equipped with an identification means capable of identifying the cutting roller 21 and the cutting blade 21A. The identification means may include an imaging means such as a camera or a projector, or an image recognition means made up of various sensors such as an image sensor or a photoelectric sensor, and may capture an image of the external shape of the cutting roller 21 or the cutting blade 21A to identify them. Alternatively, a predetermined image converted from information about the cutting roller 21 or the cutting blade 21A may be provided on the cutting roller 21 or the cutting blade 21A, and the predetermined image may be read by the image recognition means to identify the cutting roller 21 or the cutting blade 21A. The predetermined image may be, for example, a one-dimensional code such as a barcode, a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark) or a data matrix, any symbol, character, figure, logo, or a combination of these, or two or more of them may be displayed on the adhesive sheet AS, or may be printed, written, or engraved on the adhesive sheet AS, and is not limited in any way. The storage means 33 may be configured to include a first storage means such as a box or shelf for storing cutting rollers and cutting blades before replacement, and a second storage means such as a box or shelf for storing cutting rollers and cutting blades after replacement, or may store multiple cutting rollers and cutting blades in one storage means 33, or may store only cutting blades, and may or may not be provided in the adhesive sheet forming apparatus EA and sheet application apparatus EA1 of the present invention.

[0025] The support means 60 may or may not be provided in the adhesive sheet forming apparatus EA or the sheet sticking apparatus EA1 of the present invention.

[0026] The sheet application device EA1 may be configured to be placed upside down or horizontally to apply the adhesive sheet AS to the underside or side of the adherend WK, or the support means 60 may move the payout means 10, cutting means 20, peeling plate 40, and pressure roller 50 to apply the adhesive sheet AS to the ring frame RF and the adherend WK, either without moving the table 62 or while moving it, or instead of the pressure roller 50, a pressing means may be used that is supported by the output shaft of a linear motor as a driving device and that holds the adhesive sheet AS with a holding member that can be adsorbed and held by a pressure reducing means (not shown) such as a pressure reducing pump or vacuum ejector, and that presses the adhesive sheet AS held by the holding member onto the adherend WK to apply it, or a driving device may be used as a pressing member contact means that moves the pressure roller 50 towards and away from the adherend WK to prevent stress or damage to the adherend WK.

[0027] The one-piece UP does not need to have a ring frame RF. The frame member may be a ring frame, but may also be non-annular (not connected at the outer periphery), circular, elliptical, polygonal, or other shape.

[0028] The adhesive sheet AS and adherend WK of the present invention are not particularly limited in terms of material, type, shape, etc. For example, the adhesive sheet AS and adherend WK may be circular, oval, polygonal (e.g., triangular, rectangular), or other shapes. The adhesive sheet AS may be pressure-sensitive, heat-sensitive, or other adhesive. If a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet AS is used, the adhesive sheet AS may be adhered by an appropriate method, such as providing a heating means such as a coil heater or the heated side of a heat pipe. Furthermore, such adhesive sheets AS may be of any type, such as a single-layer adhesive sheet; a two-layer structure consisting of a substrate and an adhesive layer; a three-layer structure consisting of a substrate and an adhesive layer with one or more intermediate layers between them; a three-layer structure consisting of a substrate with one or more cover layers laminated on top; a structure in which the substrate, intermediate layer, or cover layer are releasably provided; a double-sided adhesive sheet consisting of a single layer consisting of an adhesive layer; or a double-sided adhesive sheet with adhesive layers laminated on both outermost surfaces of one or more intermediate layers. Furthermore, the adherend WK may be, for example, a single object such as food, a resin container, a semiconductor wafer such as a silicon semiconductor wafer or a compound semiconductor wafer, a circuit board, an information recording substrate such as an optical disk, a glass plate, a steel plate, a ceramic plate, a wooden board, or a resin, or may be a composite formed from two or more of these, and any type of member or article may be targeted.The adhesive sheet AS may be, for example, any sheet, film, tape, etc., such as an information label, a decorative label, a protective sheet, a dicing tape, a die attach film, a die bonding tape, or a recording layer-forming resin sheet.

[0029] The driving equipment in the above embodiments may be electric equipment such as rotary motors, linear motors, single-axis robots, so-called articulated robots with joints on two or three or more axes, actuators such as air cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, rodless cylinders and rotary cylinders, which may be used alone, or may be a direct or indirect combination of such electric equipment and actuators, or may be electric equipment, actuators, etc. that are capable of torque control, speed control, etc. for the output parts of such electric equipment, actuators, etc., or may not be capable of torque control, speed control, etc.

[0030] In the above embodiment, some object (hereinafter referred to as "object A") and an object (hereinafter referred to as "object B") that moves relative to object A, i.e., object A and object B that move relatively, object B may move relative to object A that does not move, object A may move relative to object B that does not move, or both object A and object B may move, and as long as the result achieved by the movement is the same, either object A or object B may move, and when a rotating member such as a roller is used, a driving device that rotates the rotating member may be provided, the surface of the rotating member or the rotating member itself may be made of a deformable member such as rubber or resin, or the surface of the rotating member or the rotating member itself may be made of a non-deformable member, other members such as a rotating or non-rotating shaft or blade may be used instead of the roller, and when a pressing means or pressing member such as a pressing roller or a pressing head that presses the pressed object is used, the above-mentioned examples may be used. In place of or in combination with the above, rollers, round rods, blade materials, brush-like members, and members that spray air, gas, or other gases may be used; the pressing member may be made of a deformable member such as rubber, resin, sponge, or an indeformable member such as metal or glass; when a peeling means or peeling member such as a peeling plate or peeling roller that peels the object to be peeled is used, members such as a plate-like member, round rod, or roller may be used in place of or in combination with the above examples; the peeling member may be made of a deformable member such as rubber or resin, or an indeformable member; and when a supporting (holding) means or supporting (holding) member that supports (holds) the supported member (held member), a gripping means such as a mechanical chuck or chuck cylinder, Coulomb force, adhesive (adhesive sheet, adhesive tape), pressure-sensitive adhesive (adhesive sheet, adhesive tape), magnetic force, Bernoulli adsorption, suction adsorption, driving equipment, or the like may be used to support (hold) the supported member. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] EA...Adhesive sheet forming device EA1...Sheet application device 10... Feeding means 20...Cutting means 21A…cutting blade 30...Cutting blade replacement means 40...Removal plate (removal means) 40A...peeled edge 50...Pressing roller (pressing means) AB...Adhesive sheet base material AS...Adhesive sheet CU...cut RL...Release sheet RS…Raw fabric WK...Adherent

Claims

1. a feeding means for feeding out a raw sheet in which a strip-shaped release sheet is temporarily attached to a strip-shaped adhesive sheet substrate; a cutting means for forming incisions with a cutting blade in the adhesive sheet base material of the raw web fed by the feeding means, and forming an adhesive sheet in an area partitioned by the incisions, The adhesive sheet forming apparatus is characterized by comprising a cutting blade replacement means for replacing the cutting blade.

2. The adhesive sheet forming apparatus according to claim 1 ; a peeling means for folding back the release sheet of the original roll fed out by the feeding means at a peeling edge to peel off the adhesive sheet from the release sheet; A sheet sticking device comprising a pressing means for pressing the adhesive sheet peeled off by the peeling means onto an adherend to stick it thereto.

3. a feeding step of feeding out a raw sheet in which a strip-shaped release sheet is temporarily attached to a strip-shaped adhesive sheet base material; a cutting step of forming incisions with a cutting blade in the adhesive sheet base material of the raw web fed in the feeding step, and forming an adhesive sheet in an area partitioned by the incisions, The adhesive sheet forming method includes a cutting blade replacement step of replacing the cutting blade with a cutting blade replacement means.

4. a feeding step, a cutting step, and a cutting blade replacement step, which are carried out in the adhesive sheet forming method according to claim 3; a peeling step of folding back the release sheet of the original roll fed in the feeding step at a peeling edge and peeling the adhesive sheet from the release sheet; a pressing step of pressing the adhesive sheet peeled off in the peeling step onto an adherend to adhere it thereto.

Images