Dual-function tooling tray with movable central section for stencil printer and method for changing items in stencil printer

Abstract

A dual-function tooling tray having a movable central section 56 comprises a perimeter frame 42 having four sides 44, 46, 48, and 50, a first frame member 52 spaced apart from the first side 44 of the perimeter frame 42, and a second frame member 54 spaced apart from the second side 46 of the perimeter frame 42. The first side 44 and the second side 46 of the perimeter frame 42 are parallel to each other. The tooling tray further comprises a third frame member 56 extending between the first frame member 52 and the second frame member 54 and fixed to the first frame member 52 and the second frame member 54. The third frame member 56 is configured to support at least one squeegee blade 36a, 36b. The third frame member 56 is configured to be moved from a first position relative to the first frame member 52 and the second frame member 54 and to be installed in a second position on the first frame member 52 and the second frame member 54, the second position being separated from the first position. Furthermore, a method for changing items in the stencil printer using the tooling tray described above is also provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates generally to stencil printers and related methods for printing a viscous material, such as solder paste, onto an electronic substrate, such as a printed circuit board (PCB), and more particularly to a system and method for exchanging items within a stencil printer that includes a dual-functional tooling tray configured to move an item within the stencil printer.

Background Art

[0002] When manufacturing a surface mount printed circuit board, a stencil printer can be used to print solder paste onto the circuit board. Typically, a circuit board having a pattern of pads or some other conductive surface, onto which the solder paste will be deposited, is automatically fed into the stencil printer, and one or more small holes or marks (known as "fiducials") on the circuit board are used to properly align the circuit board with the stencil or screen of the stencil printer before printing the solder paste onto the circuit board. In some systems, an optical alignment system embodying an imaging or vision system is used to align the circuit board with the stencil.

[0003] In the above printer, once the circuit board is properly aligned with the stencil, the circuit board is raised to the stencil, and solder paste is dispensed onto the stencil. A wiper blade (i.e., squeegee) traverses the stencil, pushing the solder paste onto the circuit board through the stencil's holes. As the squeegee moves across the stencil, the solder paste tends to spread out in front of the blade. This preferably causes mixing and shearing of the solder paste, resulting in the desired viscosity to facilitate filling the screen, i.e., the holes in the stencil. The solder paste is typically dispensed onto the stencil from a standard cartridge. The stencil is then separated from the circuit board, and the majority of the material remains on the circuit board due to adhesion between the circuit board and the solder paste. The material remaining on the surface of the stencil is removed in a cleaning process before further circuit boards are printed.

[0004] Another process in printing circuit boards involves inspecting the circuit board after the solder paste has been deposited on its surface. Inspecting the circuit board is crucial for determining whether clean electrical connections can be formed. Too much solder paste can cause short circuits, while too little solder paste in the correct locations can impede electrical contact. Generally, imaging inspection systems are further utilized to provide two-dimensional or three-dimensional inspection of the solder paste on the circuit board.

[0005] Modern stencil printers require manual intervention to perform routine operations. For example, during a switchover, the operator must perform numerous manual tasks, such as changing stencils, replacing solder paste cartridges, changing squeegee blades, and replacing support tools. Each of these tasks requires manual operation. For instance, in most stencil printers, the operator must unlock the stencil, remove it, properly insert the replacement stencil, and lock the replacement stencil in place. A switchover can take around 30 minutes, during which time the stencil printer is inoperable, potentially resulting in a downtime for the PCB fabrication line. [Overview of the Initiative]

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a dual-function tooling tray having a movable central section for a stencil printer. In one embodiment, the tooling tray comprises a perimeter frame having four sides, a first frame member spaced apart from a first side of the perimeter frame, and a second frame member spaced apart from a second side of the perimeter frame. The first and second sides of the perimeter frame are parallel to each other. The tooling tray further comprises a third frame member extending between the first and second frame members and fixed to the first and second frame members. The third frame member is configured to support at least one squeegee blade. The third frame member is configured to move from a first position relative to the first and second frame members and to be positioned at a second position on the first and second frame members, the second position being spaced apart from the first position.

[0007] Embodiments of the tooling tray may further include positioning a first position of the third frame member along the midpoint of the first and second frame members. The second position of the third frame member may be spaced apart from the first position toward one of the third and fourth sides of the perimeter frame. The third frame member may have opposing ends, each end having a connector configured to engage with its respective first and second frame members. Each connector may have at least one downward-extending projection configured to receive into an opening in its respective first or second frame member in order to position the third frame member relative to the first and second frame members. Each connector may have a spring-biased retaining assembly configured to releasably secure the connector to its respective first or second frame member. The third frame member may have at least one squeegee blade support structure. The third frame member may further include a drip tray fixed to the bottom surface of the third frame member. The tooling tray may further include a first support fixed to the first frame member and a second support fixed to the second frame member. The first and second support parts together are configured to support the tooling plate. The tooling tray may further include a third support fixed to the first frame member and a fourth support fixed to the second frame member. The third and fourth support parts together are configured to support the tooling plate. The first and second support parts may be positioned adjacent to the third side of the surrounding frame, and the third and fourth support parts may be positioned adjacent to the fourth side of the surrounding frame. The first and second support parts can be separated from each other by a predetermined distance sufficient to support the tooling plate. The third and fourth support parts can be separated from each other by a predetermined distance sufficient to support the tooling plate.The first, second, third, and fourth support portions may each include a shaped portion configured to engage with a mating portion associated with (attached to) the tooling plate for supporting the tooling plate. The shaped portion may be a pin, and the mating portion may be an opening sized to receive the pin.

[0008] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for changing items in a stencil printer. In one embodiment, the method provides a tooling tray, the tooling tray comprising: a perimeter frame having four sides; a first frame member separated from a first side of the perimeter frame; a second frame member separated from a second side of the perimeter frame, wherein the first and second sides of the perimeter frame are parallel to each other; and a third frame member extending between the first and second frame members and fixed to the first and second frame members, configured to support at least one squeegee blade, wherein the third frame member is positioned from a first position where the third frame member is located midway between the first and second frame members to a first The tooling tray is configured to move to a second position which is separated from the first position, and the tooling tray further comprises a first tooling support, a second tooling support, and a squeegee blade support; the tooling tray is configured to move to a second position which is separated from the first position, and first tooling support, a second tooling support, and a squeegee blade support; and the tooling tray is configured to move to a first tooling support, a second tooling support, and a squeegee blade support; and the tooling tray is configured to move to a first tooling support, a second tooling support, and a squeegee blade support; and the tooling tray is configured to move to

[0009] Embodiments of this method may further include moving a third frame member from a second position to a first position when a new tooling plate is installed on the support assembly of the stencil printer. The third frame member may have opposing ends, each end having a connector configured to engage with its respective first and second frame members. Each connector may have at least one downward-extending projection configured to be received within an opening in its respective first or second frame member. The method may further include positioning the third frame member relative to the first and second frame members. Each connector may include a spring-biased retaining assembly configured to releasably secure the connector to its respective first or second frame member. The method may further include releasably securing the third frame member to the first and second frame members. The movement of the third frame member between the first and second positions can be achieved by the tooling member of the printhead assembly of the stencil printer. Each tooling member may include a pin having a head configured to engage releasably with a connector of a third frame member.

[0010] The attached drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, identical or nearly identical components shown in various figures are represented by the same reference numerals. For clarity, not all components may be referenced in all drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a front perspective view of a stencil printer. [Figure 2] This is a front view of the stencil printer. [Figure 3] Figure 2 shows a top view of the stencil printer with some parts removed. [Figure 4]This is a top view of a dual-function tooling tray having a movable central section according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the tooling tray supporting clean tooling. [Figure 4A] This is a top view perspective of the movable central section of the touring tray. [Figure 4B] This is a bottom perspective view of the movable central section of the touring tray. [Figure 4C] This is an exploded perspective view of the connector in the movable central section of the tooling tray. [Figure 5] This is a top view of a tooling tray supporting clean and used tooling, showing the central section located in the center or central position. [Figure 6] This is a top view of a tooling tray showing used tooling that has been moved away from the central section. [Figure 7] This is a top view showing how the clean tooling interferes with the central section during the process of being picked up to be positioned within the stencil printer. [Figure 8] This is a top view showing the central section, which has been moved to create space for picking up clean touring equipment. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view of a printhead having tooling components used to pick up and move items from a tooling tray. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] This disclosure broadly relates to material application machines (hereinafter referred to as "stencil printers," "screen printers," "printing machines," or "printers") and other equipment used in surface mount technology (SMT) process lines to apply assembly materials (e.g., solder paste, conductive ink, or encapsulating materials) onto a substrate (e.g., a printed circuit board, hereinafter referred to as "electronic substrate," "circuit board," "board," "PCB," "PCB substrate," "substrate," or "PCB board") or to perform other operations such as inspection, reworking, or placement of electronic components onto the substrate. Specifically, embodiments of this disclosure are described below with reference to stencil printers used to manufacture printed circuit boards.

[0013] For illustrative purposes only and not to limit its universality, the present disclosure is described in detail here with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present disclosure is not limited to the details of configurations and arrangements of components described below or shown in the drawings in terms of its applications. The principles described in the present disclosure are also applicable to other embodiments and can be practiced or implemented in various ways. Furthermore, the expressions and terms used in this application are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered limiting. Any reference in this application to an example, embodiment, component, element or operation of a system or method referred to singularly may also encompass embodiments containing multiple components, and any reference in this application to any embodiment, component, element or operation as plural may also encompass embodiments containing only one component. References in singular or plural form are not intended to limit the systems or methods, their components, operations or elements disclosed in this application. In this specification, the terms “including,” “equipped with,” “having,” “containing,” “accompanying,” and variations thereof are used to include the articles listed before them, their equivalents and additional articles. A reference to “or / or” can be interpreted as comprehensive, such that any term described using “or / or” can refer to any single, two or more, or all of the terms described. In addition, if there is inconsistency in the use of terms between this specification and any document that constitutes part of this application by reference, the use of terms in the document that constitutes this specification is supplementary to the use in this specification, and the use of terms in this specification shall prevail if the inconsistency is contradictory.

[0014] For illustrative purposes, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to a stencil printer used for printing assembly materials, such as solder paste, onto a circuit board. However, those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to stencil printers for printing solder paste onto circuit boards, but can be used in other applications requiring the dispensing of other adhesive assembly materials, such as adhesives and encapsulants. For example, the apparatus can be used to print epoxy used as underfill for chip-scale packages. Furthermore, the stencil printers of embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to those for printing assembly materials onto circuit boards, but include those used for printing other materials onto various substrates, such as semiconductor wafers. Also, the terms screen and stencil can be used interchangeably in this application to describe devices within a printer that define the pattern printed on the substrate. In certain embodiments, the stencil printer may include the Momentum® or Edison® series stencil printer platforms provided by ITW Electronic Assembly Equipment in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. An exemplary stencil printer is generally designated as 5 in Figure 1. In this embodiment, the stencil printer 5 is an Edison® series stencil printer platform provided by ITW Electronic Assembly Equipment in Hopkinton, Massachusetts.

[0015] Referring to Figure 2, the stencil printer of an embodiment of the present disclosure is generally shown as 10. As shown, the stencil printer 10 has a frame 12 that supports the components of the stencil printer. The components of the stencil printer may include, in part, a controller 14, a display 16, a stencil 18, and a print head or print head assembly. The print head or print head assembly is generally shown as 20 and is configured to apply solder paste in the manner described in more detail below.

[0016] As shown in Figure 2 and described below, the stencil and printhead assembly can be connected to the frame 12 as appropriate, or otherwise connected. In one embodiment, the printhead assembly 20 can be mounted on a printhead assembly gantry 22, which can be mounted on the frame 12. The printhead assembly gantry 22 allows the printhead assembly 20 to move in the y-axis direction under the control of the controller 14 and to apply pressure to the printhead assembly by engaging with the stencil 18. In a particular embodiment, the printhead assembly 20 can be placed above the stencil 18 and can descend in the z-axis direction to contact and seal the stencil.

[0017] The stencil printer 10 may also have a conveyor system having rails (not shown) for transporting printed circuit boards (which may be referred to in this application as "printed wiring boards," "boards," or "electronic boards") to the printing position within the stencil printer. The rails may be referred to in this application as a "tractor feed mechanism." The tractor feed mechanism is configured to feed, deliver, or otherwise deliver the circuit boards to the work area of ​​the stencil printer, which may be referred to in this application as a "print nest," and to discharge the circuit boards from the print nest.

[0018] Additionally, referring to FIG. 3, the stencil printer 10 has a support assembly 28 that supports a circuit board 29 (shown in dashed lines). The support assembly 28 raises and secures the circuit board so that the circuit board is stable during the printing operation. In certain embodiments, the substrate support assembly 28 can further include a specific substrate support system, such as a rigid support, a plurality of pins, or a flexible tool, etc. The substrate support system is positioned below the circuit board when the circuit board is in the printing position. The substrate support system can be used, in part, to support the internal region of the circuit board to prevent bending or warping of the circuit board during the printing operation.

[0019] In one embodiment, the print head assembly 20 can be configured to receive solder paste from a source, such as a dispenser, e.g., a solder paste cartridge, etc., that provides the solder paste to the print head assembly during the printing operation. Instead of a cartridge, other methods of supplying solder paste may be utilized. For example, the solder paste can be manually deposited between the blades or from an external source. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the controller 14 can be configured to use a personal computer having a suitable operating system, such as the Microsoft Windows® operating system provided by Microsoft Corporation, and use application-specific software to control the operation of the stencil printer 10. The controller 14 can be network-connected to a master controller used to control a production line for fabricating circuit boards.

[0020] In one configuration, the stencil printer 10 operates as follows: The circuit board 29 is transported into the stencil printer 10 using a conveyor rail. A support assembly 28 raises and secures the circuit board 29 to the printing position. The print head assembly 20 is then lowered in the z-axis direction until the blades of the print head assembly contact the stencil 18 with the desired pressure. The print head assembly 20 is then moved in the y-axis direction across the stencil 18 by the print head assembly gantry 22. The print head assembly 20 deposits solder paste onto the circuit board 29 through the holes in the stencil 18. Once the print head assembly has completely traversed the stencil 18 across the holes, the print head assembly is lifted from the stencil, and the circuit board 29 is lowered back onto the conveyor rail. The circuit board 29 is released and transported from the stencil printer 10, thereby allowing a second circuit board to be transported into the stencil printer. To print on the second circuit board 29, the print head assembly is lowered in the z-axis direction to contact the stencil and moved across the stencil 18 in the opposite direction to that used for the first circuit board.

[0021] An imaging system 30 can be provided for the purpose of aligning the stencil 18 with the circuit board 29 before printing and inspecting the circuit board after printing. In one embodiment, the imaging system 30 can be disposed between the stencil 18 and the support assembly 28 on which the circuit board is supported. The imaging system 30 is connected to an imaging gantry 32 for moving the imaging system. In one embodiment, the imaging gantry 32 can be connected to the frame 12, has a beam extending between the side rails of the frame 12, and provides a reciprocating movement to the imaging system 30 above the circuit board 29 in the y-axis direction. The imaging gantry 32 can further have a carriage device for accommodating the imaging system 30 and is configured to move along the length of the beam in the x-axis direction. The structure of the imaging gantry 32 used for moving the imaging system 30 is known in the art of solder paste printing. The imaging system 30 is positioned at an arbitrary position below the stencil 18 and above the circuit board 29 such that images of predetermined regions of the circuit board or the stencil can be taken respectively.

[0022] After the solder paste is applied to the circuit board one or more times, excess solder paste may accumulate at the bottom of the stencil 18, and a stencil wiper assembly generally indicated at 34 can move below the stencil to remove the excess solder paste. In other embodiments, the stencil 18 may move above the stencil wiper assembly.

[0023] As mentioned above, stencil printers traditionally required manual intervention to replace and / or replenish certain parts. For example, a typical stencil needs to be replaced after a certain period, e.g., after 4 hours. Also, stencils need to be replaced for separate production runs. In addition, the solder paste cartridge that supplies temperature-controlled solder paste to the stencil printer needs to be replaced over time, e.g., every 4 hours. Different types of solder paste materials may be required for separate production runs. Another part that requires periodic replacement is the squeegee blade, which wears out with use. And finally, the tools used to support the substrate at the printing position are replaced when changing from one production run to another.

[0024] In one embodiment, a method for replacing stencils and / or items placed on a tooling tray may include providing clean stencils and / or items on a mobile cart when a request for new stencils and / or items on the tooling tray is made for a new production run or due to wear and tear on existing stencils and / or items. On the production line, "unclean" or used stencils and / or items are removed from the stencil printer, and "clean" or new stencils and / or items are inserted from the mobile cart into the stencil printer and secured for use. Unclean stencils and / or items are transported to a washing station where the stencils and / or items are cleaned and prepared for reuse. Once cleaned, the stencils and / or items can be transported back to the stencil printer or storage room, and the stencils and / or can be reused in the same or a different production run.

[0025] A specially designed tooling tray can be provided to accommodate the transport of new and used squeegee blades, as well as new and used tooling, within the stencil printer. Referring to Figure 4, in one embodiment, the tooling tray is generally shown as 40. As shown, the tooling tray 40 has a square-shaped perimeter frame generally shown as 42, having four sides: a first side 44, a second side 46 parallel to the first side, a third side 48 connected to the ends of the first and second sides, and a fourth side 50 connected to the opposing ends of the first and second sides. In one embodiment, the tooling tray 40 is the same size and shape as the stencil 18 of the stencil printer 10. The touring tray 40 further comprises a first frame member 52 that is separated from the first side 44 of the surrounding frame 42 and extends between the third side 48 and the fourth side 50 of the surrounding frame, and a second frame member 54 that is separated from the second side 46 of the surrounding frame and extends between the third side 48 and the fourth side 50 of the surrounding frame. As shown in the figure, the first side 44 of the surrounding frame 42, the first frame member 52, the second frame member 54, and the second side 46 of the surrounding frame are parallel to each other.

[0026] The tooling tray 40 further comprises a third frame member 56 extending between the first frame member 52 and the second frame member 54 and fixed to the first frame member 52 and the second frame member 54. In one embodiment, the third frame member 56 comprises two spaced rails 56a, 56b, each rail configured to support an individual squeegee blade. Specifically, the first rail 56a of the third frame member 56 comprises a first squeegee blade support structure 58 configured to support a squeegee blade 36a. The second rail 56b of the third frame member 56 is spaced apart from the first rail 56a and comprises a squeegee blade support structure 62 configured to support a squeegee blade 36b. As shown in the figure, the tooling tray 40 supports one or more used squeegee blades, for example, two squeegee blades 36a, 36b.

[0027] As shown in the figure, the third frame member 56 is perpendicular to the first frame member 52 and the second frame member 54. Furthermore, the third frame member 56 may be equipped with a drip tray 64 for collecting solder paste that may drip from the used squeegee blade. In one embodiment, the drip tray 64 may extend between the first rail 56a and the second rail 56b of the third frame member 56. A used squeegee blade may have excess solder paste on it, and it is known that if the excess solder paste drips from the squeegee blade, it may drip onto the operating components or operating components of the stencil printer 10, or onto a printed circuit board supported by the stencil printer, such as the circuit board 29. This is undesirable. In one embodiment, the drip tray 64 may be fixed to the bottom surface of the third frame member 56 below the squeegee blade support structures 58, 62.

[0028] The tooling tray 40 further comprises a first support portion 66 fixed to a first frame member 52 adjacent to a third side portion 48 of the perimeter frame 42, and a second support portion 68 fixed to a second frame member 54. The first support portion 66 and the second support portion 68 are configured together to support tooling. Specifically, both the first support portion 66 and the second support portion 68 extend inward relative to their respective frame members 52 and 54. In the illustrated embodiment, the first support portion 66 and the second support portion 68 are positioned adjacent to the third side portion 48 of the perimeter frame 42. Depending on the size of the tooling, the first support portion 66 and the second support portion 68 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance sufficient to support the tooling. In the illustrated embodiment, the first support portion 66 and the second support portion 68 are configured to support used tooling.

[0029] The first support portion 66 comprises a support tab 70, the support tab 70 having a shaped portion extending upward (along the z-axis) from the support tab. The shaped portion is configured to engage with a mating shaped portion provided on one side of the tooling to support the tooling. In one embodiment, the shaped portion is embodied as a pin 72, and the mating shaped portion is embodied as an opening formed in the bottom surface of the support tab provided on one side of the tooling.

[0030] Similarly, the second support portion 68 includes a support tab 76, the support tab 76 having a shaped portion extending upward (along the z-axis) from the support tab. The shaped portion is configured to engage with a mating shaped portion provided on the opposite side of the tooling to support the tooling. In one embodiment, the shaped portion is embodied as a pin 78, and the mating shaped portion is embodied as an opening formed in the bottom surface of the support tab provided on the opposite side of the tooling. This configuration ensures that the support tab 70 of the first support portion 66 and the support tab 76 of the second support portion 68 each hold the tooling in the correct position for transfer from the tooling tray 40 to the stencil printer 10.

[0031] The tooling tray 40 further comprises a third support portion 82 fixed to the first frame member 52 adjacent to the fourth side portion 50 of the perimeter frame 42, and a fourth support portion 84 fixed to the second frame member 54. The third support portion 82 and the fourth support portion 84 are configured together to support tooling. Specifically, both the third support portion 82 and the fourth support portion 84 extend inward relative to their respective frame members 52 and 54. In the illustrated embodiment, the third support portion 82 and the fourth support portion 84 are positioned adjacent to the fourth side portion 50 of the perimeter frame 42. Depending on the size of the tooling, the third support portion 82 and the fourth support portion 84 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance sufficient to support the tooling. In the illustrated embodiment, the third support portion 82 and the fourth support portion 84 are configured to support new, i.e., clean tooling.

[0032] The third support portion 82 and the fourth support portion 84 are constructed in a manner similar to that of the first support portion 66 and the second support portion 68, respectively. The third support portion 82 includes a support tab 86, the support tab 86 having a shaped portion extending upward (along the z-axis) from the support tab. The shaped portion is configured to engage with a mating shaped portion provided on one side of the tooling to support the tooling. In one embodiment, the shaped portion is embodied as a pin 88, and the mating shaped portion is embodied as an opening formed in the bottom surface of the support tab provided on one side of the tooling. Similarly, the fourth support portion 84 includes a support tab 92, the support tab 92 having a shaped portion extending upward (along the z-axis) from the support tab. The shaped portion is configured to engage with a mating shaped portion provided on the opposite side of the tooling to support the tooling. In one embodiment, the shaped portion is embodied as a pin 94, and the mating shaped portion is embodied as an opening formed in the bottom surface of a support tab provided on the opposite side of the tooling. This configuration ensures that the support tab 86 of the third support 82 and the support tab 92 of the fourth support 84 each hold the tooling in the correct position for transfer from the stencil printer 10 to the tooling tray 40. In the illustrated embodiment, the third support 82 and the fourth support 84 support a new, or clean, tooling 96.

[0033] Referring further to Figures 4A, 4B, and 4C, the third frame member 56, sometimes referred to as the central section of the tooling tray 40, is movable relative to the first frame member 52 and the second frame member 54. Specifically, the ends of the first rail 56a and the second rail 56b of the third frame member 56 are provided with a first connector 100 configured to be releasably connected to the first frame member 52. Similarly, the opposing ends of the first rail 56a and the second rail 56b of the third frame member 56 are provided with a second connector 102 configured to be releasably connected to the second frame member 54.

[0034] As shown in Figures 4B and 4C, the connector 100 includes projections 100a that enter into respective openings 104a or 104b formed in the first frame member 52. In the illustrated embodiment, the openings 104a and 104b are formed in the first frame member 52 as elongated slots, and the projections 100a have a relatively small diameter so that the projections can be seated at any position along the length of the openings. Similarly, the connector 102 includes projections 102a that enter into respective openings 106a and 106b formed in the second frame member 54. The openings 106a and 106b are formed in the second frame member as elongated slots, and the projections 102a have a relatively small diameter so that the projections can be seated at any position along the length of the openings.

[0035] Referring to Figure 4C showing connector 102, it should be understood that since connectors 100 and 102 have the same configuration, the description of connector 102 applies to connector 100. A spring biasing retaining assembly, generally indicated as 108, is provided to secure connector 102 in place. The spring biasing retaining assembly 108 includes a retaining element 108a configured to enter into an opening formed on the side of the second frame member 54 in order to secure connector 102 to the second frame member. The spring biasing retaining assembly 108 is moved laterally by the tooling member when securing the tooling member to the third frame member 56 in order to move the third frame member. Specifically, the spring biasing retaining assembly 108 includes a member 108b coupled to the retaining element 108a so as to move the retaining element inward relative to the second frame member 54.

[0036] This configuration allows the third frame member 56 to be positioned relative to the first frame member 52 and the second frame member 54 at a position other than the illustrated midpoint of the first frame member and the second frame member 54. For example, the third frame member 56 can be positioned toward the side 48 of the perimeter frame 42 or toward the side 50 of the perimeter frame. The lengths of the elongated openings 104a, 104b and 106a, 106b allow the projections 100, 102 to slide within their respective openings, thereby changing the position of the third frame member 56 relative to the first frame member 52 and the second frame member 54. When released by the tooling member, the retainers of the spring biasing retainer assembly enter the respective openings and fix the third frame member 56 in place relative to the first frame member 52 and the second frame member 54. The purpose of the functional movement of the third frame member 56 relative to the first frame member 52 and the second frame member 54 will be explained as the description of the tooling tray 40 progresses.

[0037] Referring to Figure 5, the tooling tray 40 is shown supporting the new tooling 96 and used squeegee blades (squeegee blades 36a, 36b) as shown in Figure 4. As will be described in more detail below with reference to Figure 9, a tooling member provided on the print head assembly 20 is used to lift the used tooling 98 from the support assembly 28 of the stencil printer 10. The method by which the used tooling 98 is secured to the support assembly 28 and lifted will be described in more detail below.

[0038] As shown in the figure, each tooling, for example, tooling 98, comprises a rectangular tooling plate 110 configured to support an electronic circuit board during printing. Tooling 98 comprises two outward-extending support tabs 112, 114 provided on opposing edges of the tooling plate. Each support tab 112, 114 comprises an opening, which in this application is also referred to as a receiving shape, and is sized to receive a tooling member in order to releasably fix the tooling member to the support tab.

[0039] Referring to Figure 6, the tooling member is configured to engage with support tabs 112, 114 to lift the used tooling 98 from the support assembly 28 of the stencil printer 10 and place the tooling on the support portions 66, 68 of the tooling tray 40. As shown in the figure, a space 120 exists between the upper edge of the used tooling 98, the lower edge of the first rail 56a, and the squeegee blade support structure 58 of the third frame member 56.

[0040] Referring to Figure 7, if it is desirable to engage with a new, clean tooling 96 and lift it from the tooling tray 40, the third frame member 56 interferes with the downward movement of the new tooling by the tooling member. This interference is indicated by the ellipse 122. As described above, the third frame member 56 is configured to move to create additional space for removing the new tooling 96 from the tooling tray 40. Specifically, the third frame member 56 can be moved downward toward the side 48 of the perimeter frame 42 of the tooling tray 40 so as to occupy the space 120 shown in Figure 6.

[0041] Referring to Figure 8, the third frame member 56 is picked up by the tooling member and moved toward the used tooling 98 as indicated by arrow A, so that the lower edge of the first rail 56a and the squeegee blade support structure 58 of the third frame member are adjacent to the upper end of the used tooling provided on the support parts 66, 68 of the tooling tray 40. As shown in the figure, the third frame member 56 is positioned on the first frame member 52 and the second frame member 54 just below the centerlines of the lengths of the first and second frame members. The space created by the movement of the third frame member 56 toward the used tooling 98 allows the tooling member to lift a new tooling 96 from the tooling tray 40 and place the new tooling on the support assembly 28 of the stencil printer 10. Once the tooling member positions the new tooling on the support assembly 28, the tooling member can be used to reposition the third frame member 56 to its center position on the first frame member 52 and the second frame member 54.

[0042] Referring to Figure 9, the support tooling movement mechanism is generally shown as 130 and is configured to move tooling, for example tooling 96 or 98, from the tooling tray 40 to the stencil printer 10. The support tooling movement mechanism 130 is further configured to move a third frame member 56 relative to the first frame member 52 and the second frame member 54, positioning the third frame member in a desired position, for example, between the center position and an offset or out-of-center position.

[0043] As shown in the figure, the support tooling movement mechanism 130 comprises a plate 132 attached to the print head assembly 20. The plate 132 has four linear bearings, indicated as 134a, 134b, 136a, and 136b, where a first set of linear bearings 134a and 134b are positioned vertically relative to each other on one side of the plate, and a second set of linear bearings 136a and 136b are positioned vertically relative to each other on the other side of the plate. As shown in the figure, the movement mechanism 130 further comprises a tooling member 138 mounted on the first set of linear bearings 134a and 134b, and a second tooling member 140 mounted on the second set of linear bearings 136a and 136b. The tooling members 138 and 140 are configured to move laterally relative to each other on their respective linear bearings. Any suitable drive mechanism can be employed to move the tooling members 138 and 140. For example, a ball screw drive assembly can be provided to move the tooling member 138 or 140 along its respective linear bearing. In one embodiment, the mechanism can be powered by a drive assembly that powers the vertical movement of the print head assembly 20 in the z-axis direction. Furthermore, each tooling member 138, 140 includes downward-extending pins 142, 144, respectively, and the pins 142, 144 have a head configured to be received in a receiving shape associated with a third frame member 56 of the squeegee blade, tooling, and tooling tray 40.

[0044] Specifically, as shown above with reference to Figure 4C, the third frame member 56 includes a member 108b of a spring biasing retainer assembly 108, which is configured to engage with the heads of pins (pin 142 or pin 144) of the tooling members (each, tooling member 138 or tooling member 140). The spring biasing retainer assembly functions as a receiving shape associated with the third frame member 56, each configured to secure the heads of the pins of the tooling members in order to allow the tooling members to engage, lock, and lift the third frame member 56. Similarly, the support tabs 112, 114 of the tooling are configured to engage with the heads of the pins of the tooling members.

[0045] In one embodiment, when moving a tooling, for example, tooling 96, the pins 142 and 144 of the tooling members 138 and 140 extend to a width wider than the spring biasing retaining assembly 108 of the third frame member 56, and move toward each other so that the third frame member can be captured between the pins via the spring biasing retaining assembly. Similarly, when moving a tooling, for example, tooling 96, the pins 142 and 144 of the tooling members 138 and 140 extend to a width wider than the support tabs 112 and 114 of the tooling, and move toward each other so that the tooling can be captured between the pins via the support tabs. This configuration allows the print head assembly 20 to be raised in the z-axis direction to pick up the third frame member 56 or the tooling 96 or 98. A mechanism used to pick up and drop the third frame member 56 or tooling 96 or 98 may be configured to engage with and secure the third frame member, or the tooling may be equipped with magnets to facilitate the attachment and detachment of the third frame member or tooling to the tooling member.

[0046] Various controllers, such as controller 14, can perform the various operations discussed above. Using data stored in associated memory and / or storage, controller 14 can execute one or more instructions stored in one or more non-temporary computer-readable media provided with and / or combined with controller 14, thereby manipulating the data. In some examples, controller 14 may include one or more processors or other types of controllers. In one example, controller 14 is or includes at least one processor. In another example, controller 14 performs at least some of the operations discussed above using, in addition to or instead of a general-purpose processor, an application-specific integrated circuit tuned to perform a particular operation. As these examples illustrate, the examples provided herein can perform the operations described herein using many specific combinations of hardware and software, and the disclosure is not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software components. Examples of the disclosure may include computer program products configured to perform the methods, processes, and / or operations discussed above. A computer program product may be, or may include, one or more controllers and / or processors configured to execute instructions for performing the methods, processes, and / or actions discussed above.

[0047] As used in this application, "transport" or "transporting" describes moving an item from one location to another, either manually or by machine.

[0048] As used in this application, "install" or "installing" describes the process of placing an item in a position where it is ready for use.

[0049] The concepts disclosed herein may be applied to other types of equipment used to manufacture electronic circuit boards, including dispensers, pick-and-place machines, reflow ovens, wave soldering machines, selective soldering machines, and inspection stations. For example, a concept directed towards paste cartridge replacement can be applied to a dispenser used to dispense viscous materials. In another example, a concept directed towards tool replacement can be applied to a dispenser and a pick-and-place machine used to mount electronic components onto an electronic circuit board. In yet another example, a concept directed towards item replacement can be applied to solder replacement in wave soldering machines and selective soldering machines, and to product cleaning in a cleaning station.

[0050] Thus, while several aspects of at least one embodiment have been described, it will be understood that various variations, modifications, and improvements will be readily conceivable to those skilled in the art. Such variations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of and within the scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are merely illustrative.

Claims

1. A tooling tray for a stencil printer, A perimeter frame having four sides, A first frame member separated from the first side of the surrounding frame, A second frame member spaced apart from the second side of the surrounding frame, wherein the first side and the second side of the surrounding frame are parallel to each other; A third frame member extending between the first frame member and the second frame member and fixed to the first frame member and the second frame member, the third frame member configured to support at least one squeegee blade, Equipped with, The third frame member is configured to be moved from a first position relative to the first and second frame members to a second position on the first and second frame members, the second position being spaced apart from the first position. Touring tray.

2. The tooling tray according to claim 1, wherein the first position of the third frame member is located along the midpoint of the first frame member and the second frame member.

3. The tooling tray according to claim 2, wherein the second position of the third frame member is spaced apart from the first position toward one of the third and fourth sides of the surrounding frame.

4. The tooling tray according to claim 1, wherein the third frame member has ends facing each other, and each end has a connector configured to fit into the respective first frame member and second frame member.

5. The tooling tray according to claim 4, wherein each connector is provided with at least one downward-extending projection configured to be received within an opening in the first frame member or the second frame member, respectively, for positioning the third frame member relative to the first frame member and the second frame member.

6. The tooling tray according to claim 1, wherein each connector comprises a spring-biased retaining assembly configured to releasably secure the connector to its respective first or second frame member.

7. The tooling tray according to claim 1, wherein the third frame member comprises at least one squeegee blade support structure.

8. The tooling tray according to claim 7, wherein the third frame member further comprises a drip tray fixed to the bottom surface of the third frame member.

9. Furthermore, A first support portion fixed to the first frame member and a second support portion fixed to the second frame member, both of which are configured to support a tooling plate, the first support portion and the second support portion, A third support portion fixed to the first frame member and a fourth support portion fixed to the second frame member, wherein both the third support portion and the fourth support portion are configured to support a tooling plate, A tooling tray according to claim 1, comprising:

10. The tooling tray according to claim 9, wherein the first support portion and the second support portion are positioned adjacent to the third side portion of the surrounding frame, and the third support portion and the fourth support portion are positioned adjacent to the fourth side portion of the surrounding frame.

11. The tooling tray according to claim 10, wherein the first support portion and the second support portion are separated from each other by a predetermined distance sufficient to support the tooling plate.

12. The tooling tray according to claim 11, wherein the third support portion and the fourth support portion are separated from each other by a predetermined distance sufficient to support the tooling plate.

13. The tooling tray according to claim 9, wherein the first support portion, the second support portion, the third support portion, and the fourth support portion each have a shaped portion configured to engage with a fitting shaped portion associated with the tooling plate in order to support the tooling plate.

14. The tooling tray according to claim 13, wherein the shaped portion is a pin, and the fitting shaped portion is an opening sized to receive the pin.

15. A method for replacing items in a stencil printer, The tooling tray comprises a perimeter frame having four sides, a first frame member spaced apart from a first side of the perimeter frame, a second frame member spaced apart from a second side of the perimeter frame, wherein the first and second sides of the perimeter frame are parallel to each other, and a third frame member extending between the first and second frame members and fixed to the first and second frame members, configured to support at least one squeegee blade, wherein the third frame member is configured to move from a first position located at the midpoint of the first and second frame members to a second position spaced apart from the first position, the second position being spaced apart from the first position, and the tooling tray further comprises a first tooling support, a second tooling support, and a squeegee blade support. A new tooling plate is provided on the first tooling support portion of the tooling tray, Removing the used tooling plate from the stencil printer's support assembly, Positioning the used tooling plate on the second tooling support portion of the tooling tray, Moving the third frame member from the first position to the second position, Removing the new touring plate from the touring tray, The new tooling plate is placed on the support assembly of the stencil printer, Methods that include...

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising moving the third frame member from the second position to the first position when the new tooling plate is placed on the support assembly of the stencil printer.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the third frame member has ends facing each other, and each end has a connector configured to fit into the respective first frame member and second frame member.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein each connector has at least one downward-extending projection configured to be received in an opening in the respective first or second frame member, and the method further comprises positioning the third frame member relative to the first and second frame members.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein each connector comprises a spring biasing retainer assembly configured to releasably secure the connector to the respective first frame member or second frame member, and the method further comprises releasably securing the third frame member to the first frame member and the second frame member.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the movement of the third frame member between the first and second positions is achieved by a plurality of tooling members of the print head assembly of a stencil printer, each tooling member comprising a pin having a head configured to be releasably engaged with the connector of the third frame member.

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