Printer and solder rolling method

Abstract

In the present invention, a squeegee 61 has side members 7 attached to both ends thereof in a Y-direction (width direction). Each of the side members 7 has formed therein an opening 72 that is open toward the squeegee 61 side in the Y-direction. The opening 72 faces, in the Y-direction, a solder Dr on which rolling is to be performed by the squeegee 61. As the rolling is performed, a solder Ds having flowed outward in the Y-direction beyond each of the ends of the squeegee 61 moves into the inside of the corresponding opening 72. In other words, the solder Ds having flowed out from the end of the squeegee 61 is received in the opening 72 of the corresponding side member 7. As a result, it is possible to avoid accumulation of a large amount of a solder D at the ends of the squeegee 61.

Description

Printing device and solder rolling method

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for rolling solder by moving a squeegee in the direction of the squeegee on the upper surface of a mask on which solder is placed.

[0002] In a conventional solder printing device, a squeegee that contacts the solder placed on the upper surface of a mask is moved in the squeegee direction, thereby appropriately performing rolling, in which the solder is pushed aside by the squeegee and rotated. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a printing device that moves the solder on the upper surface of the stencil by sliding a wiping blade (squeegee) over the stencil (mask). In addition, this printing device has a deflector at the end of the wiping blade to return the solder that flows out from the end of the wiping blade to the stencil side.

[0003] WO03 / 057493A1

[0004] In addition to the deflector, other components that can be attached to the end of the squeegee include plates and the like that prevent solder from overflowing from the end of the squeegee. In this way, side members are appropriately attached to the end of the squeegee to deal with solder overflowing from the end of the squeegee. However, attaching side members to the end of the squeegee can sometimes cause the following problem. That is, when these side members restrict the movement of solder from the end of the squeegee to the outside, a large amount of solder accumulates at the end of the squeegee. As a result, a large amount of solder adheres to the end of the squeegee, hindering the rolling of the solder by the squeegee and making it difficult to properly maintain the solder's properties, such as viscosity.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a technology that can prevent the rolling of solder from being hindered by a large amount of solder adhering to the end of a squeegee when rolling the solder using a squeegee with a side member attached to its end.

[0006] The printing device of the present invention comprises a squeegee that is in contact with the upper surface of the mask and can move in a predetermined squeegee direction, and a side member attached to the end of the squeegee in a width direction perpendicular to the squeegee direction and that can move in the squeegee direction along with the squeegee, the squeegee performs rolling by contacting solder placed on the upper surface of the mask from the upstream side in the squeegee direction and moving in the squeegee direction, thereby moving the solder in the squeegee direction relative to the upper surface of the mask, the side member has an opening that opens on the squeegee side in the width direction, the opening facing the solder being rolled from the width direction, and as the rolling is performed, the solder that flows out from the end of the squeegee to the outside in the width direction moves inside the opening.

[0007] The solder rolling method of the present invention includes a step of rolling solder placed on the upper surface of a mask by moving a squeegee in a predetermined squeegee direction while contacting the upper surface of the mask. During rolling, the squeegee moves in the squeegee direction while contacting the solder from the upstream side of the squeegee direction, thereby moving the solder in the squeegee direction relative to the upper surface of the mask. A side member that can move in the squeegee direction along with the squeegee is attached to the end of the squeegee in the width direction perpendicular to the squeegee direction. The side member has an opening that opens toward the squeegee in the width direction, and the opening faces the solder being rolled from the width direction. As rolling is performed, the solder that flows outward in the width direction from the end of the squeegee moves into the opening.

[0008] In the present invention (printing device and rolling method) configured in this manner, the side member attached to the end of the squeegee has an opening that opens toward the squeegee in the width direction. This opening faces the solder being rolled from the width direction. As rolling is performed, the solder that flows outward from the end of the squeegee in the width direction moves inside the opening. In other words, the opening of the side member receives the solder that flows out from the end of the squeegee. This makes it possible to prevent a large amount of solder from accumulating at the end of the squeegee. As a result, it is possible to prevent rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder adhering to the end of the squeegee.

[0009] The printing device may also be configured so that the opening is provided so that, in a side view from the width direction, the center between the ends of the solder in the squeegee direction is located inside the ends of the opening. With this configuration, the solder that flows out from the ends of the squeegee is reliably received by the opening of the side member, preventing a large amount of solder from accumulating at the ends of the squeegee. As a result, it is possible to prevent the rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder adhering to the ends of the squeegee.

[0010] The printing device may also be configured so that the side members are made of polyurethane, silicone, or polypropylene. Constructing the side members from such resin materials can prevent solder from adhering to the side members, i.e., prevent solder reaching the side members from adhering to and accumulating on the side members. Therefore, solder flowing out from the end of the squeegee can reach the opening of the side members, preventing a large amount of solder from accumulating at the end of the squeegee. As a result, it is possible to prevent a large amount of solder adhering to the end of the squeegee from interfering with rolling. In particular, when a synthetic resin is used as a flux component of the solder, constructing the side members from such materials is preferable.

[0011] The printing device may also be configured so that the side member has an opening periphery that surrounds the opening. In this configuration, the opening periphery that surrounds the opening supports the solder that flows out from the end of the squeegee into the opening, preventing a large amount of solder from accumulating at the end of the squeegee. As a result, it is possible to prevent the rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder adhering to the end of the squeegee.

[0012] The printing device may also be configured so that the opening periphery has a lower periphery that is adjacent to the opening from below and extends along the opening toward the squeegee, contacting the upper surface of the mask. In this configuration, the lower periphery of the opening periphery supports the solder that flows out from the end of the squeegee, preventing a large amount of solder from accumulating at the end of the squeegee. As a result, it is possible to prevent the rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder adhering to the end of the squeegee.

[0013] The printing device may also be configured so that, as rolling is performed, the solder that flows out from the end of the squeegee into the opening is supported by the lower peripheral portion and moves in the direction of the squeegee along with the lower peripheral portion. In this configuration, the solder that flows out from the end of the squeegee and is supported by the lower peripheral portion moves in the direction of the squeegee, following the solder that is being rolled by the squeegee. This prevents the solder supported by the lower peripheral portion from interfering with rolling.

[0014] The printing device may also be configured so that the openings are open on both sides in the width direction. In this configuration, the openings are wide enough to securely receive the solder that flows out from the ends of the squeegee. As a result, it is possible to prevent the rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder adhering to the ends of the squeegee.

[0015] According to the present invention, when rolling solder using a squeegee having a side member attached to its end, it is possible to prevent the rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder adhering to the end of the squeegee.

[0016] The squeegee unit includes a squeegee unit for holding a squeegee and a side member attached to the squeegee, and a side member attached to the squeegee.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing apparatus. In FIG. 1, the horizontal X direction, the horizontal Y direction perpendicular to the X direction, and the vertical Z direction are indicated as appropriate. The printing apparatus 1 includes a mask holding unit 2 that holds a mask M, a substrate holding unit 4 disposed below the mask M, and a squeegee unit 6 disposed above the mask M. The printing apparatus 1 uses the substrate holding unit 4 to position a substrate B facing the mask M from below, while sliding the lower end 611 (tip) of a squeegee 61 of the squeegee unit 6 over the top surface of the mask M in the X direction. As a result, solder D supplied to the top surface of the mask M is printed on the top surface of the substrate B via a pattern that penetrates the mask M.

[0018] The mask holding unit 2 has a clamp member 21, and the mask M is detachably attached to the clamp member 21 via a frame 22 provided on the periphery thereof. This allows the mask M, which has a flat plate shape, to be held horizontally by the mask holding unit 2. This mask M has a rectangular shape in a plan view, and has through holes (mask pattern) shaped according to the printing pattern on the substrate B.

[0019] The substrate holding unit 4 is disposed below the mask M held by the mask holding unit 2, and has the function of aligning the position of the substrate B with respect to the mask M. The substrate holding unit 4 has a pair of conveyors 41 that transport the substrate B, a substrate holding part 42 that holds the substrate B received from the conveyors 41, and a flat movable table 43 that supports the conveyors 41 and the substrate holding part 42.

[0020] The pair of conveyors 41 are arranged parallel to each other in the Y direction with a gap in the X direction, and their upper surfaces support both ends in the X direction of the substrate B from below. Each conveyor 41 transports the substrate B in the Y direction, thereby carrying the substrate B into or out of the printing device 1.

[0021] The substrate holding unit 42 has a flat lift table 421 and a slide support 422 that is slidable in the Z direction relative to the movable table 43, and the lift table 421 is supported on the upper end of the slide support 422. A plurality of backup pins P are erected in the Z direction on the upper surface of the lift table 421 and are arranged at intervals in the X and Y directions, and the lift table 421 functions as a mounting base on which the backup pins P are placed. When the slide support 422 moves up and down, the backup pins P move up and down together with the lift table 421.

[0022] For example, when the conveyor 41 carries in a board B, the upper ends of the backup pins P are positioned below the upper surface of the conveyor 41. Then, when the conveyor 41 carries in a board B directly above the backup pins P, the backup pins P rise, and their upper ends protrude above the upper surface of the conveyor 41. As a result, the upper ends of the backup pins P contact the lower surface of the board B and push up the board B, and the board B is transferred from the upper surface of the conveyor 41 to the upper ends of the backup pins P.

[0023] The substrate holder 42 also has a pair of clamp plates 424 spaced apart in the X direction above the pair of conveyors 41, with at least one of these clamp plates 424 movable in the X direction. The upper surface of each clamp plate 424 is a plane parallel to the X and Y directions and is located at the same height. When the substrate B on the backup pins P rises to a position between the pair of clamp plates 424, one of the clamp plates 424 moves toward the other, and the substrate B is clamped by the clamp plates 424 from the X direction (horizontal direction).

[0024] Furthermore, the substrate holding unit 4 has a table driving mechanism 44 that drives the movable table 43. This table driving mechanism 44 drives the conveyor 41 and substrate holding part 42 arranged on the movable table 43 in the X, Y, Z, and R directions by means of an X-axis table 441, a Y-axis table 442 attached to the upper surface of the X-axis table 441, an R-axis table 443 attached to the upper surface of the Y-axis table 442, and a ball screw 444 that raises and lowers the movable table 43 relative to the R-axis table 443. For example, when positioning the substrate B with respect to the mask M, the position of the substrate B clamped to the clamp plate 424 is adjusted in the X, Y, Z, and R directions so that the upper surfaces of the clamp plate 424 and the substrate B come into contact with the lower surface of the mask M.

[0025] 1 , the squeegee unit 6 moves the squeegee 61 in the X direction with the lower end 611 of the squeegee 61 in contact with the upper surface of the mask M. This causes the lower end 611 of the squeegee 61 to slide in the X direction relative to the upper surface of the mask M. Furthermore, solder D is placed on the upper surface of the mask M, and the squeegee 61 sliding in the X direction prints the solder D on the upper surface of the substrate B via the pattern of the mask M. Next, the configuration related to the squeegee 61 will be described.

[0026] Fig. 2 is a front view showing a squeegee of the squeegee unit and a side member attached to the squeegee, and Fig. 3 is a side view showing a squeegee of the squeegee unit and a side member attached to the squeegee. Fig. 2 shows the Y1 side and the Y2 side in the Y direction. Here, the Y1 side and the Y2 side face in opposite directions.

[0027] The squeegee 61 is a flat plate extending parallel to the Y direction, and a lower end 611 of the squeegee 61 comes into contact with the upper surface of the mask M. The squeegee 61 comes into contact with the upper surface of the mask M while tilting at a predetermined angle (attack angle) relative to the upper surface of the mask M. The squeegee unit 6 rolls the solder D by moving the squeegee 61, which is in contact with the mask M at the attack angle in this manner, in a squeegee direction S parallel to the X direction.

[0028] That is, during rolling, the squeegee 61 moves in the squeegee direction S while contacting the solder D from the upstream side of the squeegee direction S, thereby moving the solder D placed on the upper surface of the mask M in the squeegee direction S. This rolling causes the solder D to rotate on the upper surface of the mask M as shown by the dashed arrow in Fig. 3, thereby maintaining good properties (viscosity, etc.) of the solder D. In the following, of the solder D supplied to the mask M, the solder D rolled by the squeegee 61 will be referred to specifically as solder Dr, and the solder D that flows outward from the squeegee 61 in the Y direction will be referred to specifically as solder Ds.

[0029] The squeegee unit 6 also has side members 7 (side plates) attached to both ends of the squeegee 61 in the Y direction. The side members 7 can be attached to the squeegee 61 by fastening members such as screws. However, the specific configuration for attaching the side members 7 to the squeegee 61 is not limited to fastening members. The side members 7 are provided to receive the solder D that flows outward in the Y direction from the ends of the squeegee 61 as the squeegee 61 rolls.

[0030] The side member 7 has a side member main body 71 and an opening 72 that penetrates the side member main body 71 in the Y direction. In a side view from the Y direction, the opening 72 has a triangular shape with rounded corners. In contrast, the side member main body 71 has an opening peripheral edge portion 73 that surrounds the opening 72. The opening peripheral edge portion 73 has three peripheral edges 731, 732, and 733 that correspond to each side of the triangle of the opening 72. Inner wall surfaces 721, 722, and 723 of the peripheral edges 731, 732, and 733, respectively, define the opening 72 and are arranged parallel to the Y direction.

[0031] Of the inner wall surfaces 721, 722, and 723, a squeegee 61 is provided on the inner wall surface 723, and the inner wall surface 723 and the squeegee 61 are parallel to each other. The squeegee 61 may be provided to protrude from the inner wall surface 723 toward the inside of the opening 72 ( FIG. 3 ), or may be provided to protrude from the inner wall surface 723 toward the outside of the opening 72, or may be provided flush with the inner wall surface 723. During the rolling shown in FIG. 3 , the peripheral edge 731 comes into contact with the upper surface of the mask M, and the inner wall surface 721 is parallel to the upper surface of the mask M, i.e., parallel to the squeegee direction S.

[0032] The opening 72 has a solder inlet 720 at its end on the squeegee 61 side in the Y direction. Specifically, a solder inlet 720 is provided at the Y2-side (squeegee 61-side) end of the opening 72 of the side member 7 provided on the Y1 side of the squeegee 61, and a solder inlet 720 is provided at the Y1-side (squeegee 61-side) end of the opening 72 of the side member 7 provided on the Y2 side of the squeegee 61. This solder inlet 720 faces the solder Dr rolled by the squeegee 61 from the Y direction. In particular, in a side view from the Y direction, the center Lc between the ends Leu and Led of the solder in the squeegee direction S is located inside (i.e., between) the ends Lu and Ld of the solder inlet 720 of the opening 72. Here, in the Y direction, the center Lc is located at the midpoint between both ends Leu and Led, and the distance in the Y direction from the center Lc to the end Leu is equal to the distance in the Y direction from the center Lc to the end Led.

[0033] Thus, in the Y direction, the solder inlet 720 opens toward the squeegee 61, and the solder Ds flowing out from the squeegee 61 toward the side member 7 reaches the inside of the opening 72 through the solder inlet 720 and rests on the inner wall surface 721 of the peripheral portion 731. In contrast, the side member 7 is attached to the squeegee 61 and moves integrally with the squeegee 61 in the squeegee direction S. Therefore, during rolling, the solder Ds that has reached the opening 72 follows the solder Dr being rolled by the squeegee 61 while being supported by the peripheral portion 731 that moves integrally with the squeegee 61.

[0034] In the embodiment described above, a side member 7 is attached to the end of the squeegee 61 in the Y direction (width direction). This side member 7 has an opening 72 that opens toward the squeegee 61 in the Y direction. This opening 72 faces the solder Dr that is being rolled by the squeegee 61 from the Y direction. As rolling is performed, the solder Ds that flows out from the end of the squeegee 61 moves into the opening 72. In other words, the opening 72 of the side member 7 receives the solder Ds that flows out from the end of the squeegee 61. This prevents a large amount of solder D from accumulating at the end of the squeegee 61. As a result, it is possible to prevent the rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder D adhering to the end of the squeegee 61.

[0035] Furthermore, the opening 72 is provided so that, in a side view from the Y direction, the center Lc between the ends Leu, Led of the solder D on the squeegee 61 is located inside the ends Lu, Ld of the opening 72. With this configuration, the solder Ds that flows out from the end of the squeegee 61 is reliably received by the opening 72 of the side member 7, preventing a large amount of solder D from remaining at the end of the squeegee 61. As a result, it is possible to prevent the rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder D adhering to the end of the squeegee 61.

[0036] The side member 7 also has an opening periphery 73 that surrounds the opening 72. In this configuration, the opening periphery 73 that surrounds the opening 72 supports the solder Ds that flows out from the end of the squeegee 61 into the opening 72, preventing a large amount of solder D from remaining at the end of the squeegee 61. As a result, it is possible to prevent the rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder D that has adhered to the end of the squeegee 61.

[0037] The opening peripheral portion 73 also has a peripheral portion 731 (lower peripheral portion). This peripheral portion 731 is adjacent to the opening 72 from below and extends along the opening 72 in the squeegee direction S, and comes into contact with the upper surface of the mask M when the solder D is rolled. In this configuration, the peripheral portion 731 of the opening peripheral portion 73 supports the solder Ds that flows out from the end of the squeegee 61, preventing a large amount of solder D from remaining at the end of the squeegee 61. As a result, it is possible to prevent the rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder D adhering to the end of the squeegee 61.

[0038] Furthermore, as rolling is performed, the solder D that flows out from the end of the squeegee 61 into the opening 72 is supported by the peripheral edge 731 and moves in the squeegee direction S along with the peripheral edge 731. In this configuration, the solder Ds that flows out from the end of the squeegee 61 and is supported by the peripheral edge 731 moves in the squeegee direction S, following the solder Dr that is being rolled by the squeegee 61. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the solder Ds supported by the peripheral edge 731 from interfering with the rolling of the solder Dr by the squeegee 61.

[0039] Moreover, the openings 72 are open on both sides in the Y direction. In this configuration, the openings 72 are provided across the entire side member 7 in the Y direction. Therefore, the width of the openings 72 in the Y direction is ensured, and the solder Ds that flows out from the end of the squeegee 61 can be firmly received by the openings 72. As a result, it is possible to prevent the rolling from being hindered by a large amount of solder D adhering to the end of the squeegee 61.

[0040] In the above embodiment, the mask M corresponds to an example of a "mask" of the present invention, the squeegee direction S corresponds to an example of a "squeegee direction" of the present invention, the squeegee 61 corresponds to an example of a "squeegee" of the present invention, the Y direction corresponds to an example of a "width direction" of the present invention, the side member 7 corresponds to an example of a "side member" of the present invention, the opening 72 corresponds to an example of an "opening" of the present invention, the printing device 1 corresponds to an example of a "printing device" of the present invention, the opening periphery 73 corresponds to an example of an "opening periphery" of the present invention, and the periphery 731 corresponds to an example of a "lower periphery" of the present invention.

[0041] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made to the above-described embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, no particular description is given regarding the material of the side member 7. However, the side member 7 can be made of various materials.

[0042] For example, the material of the side member 7 may be polyurethane, silicone, or polypropylene. Constructing the side member 7 from such a resin material can suppress adhesion of solder Ds to the side member 7, i.e., suppress the solder Ds that reaches the side member 7 from the squeegee 61 from adhering to and accumulating on the end of the side member 7 on the squeegee 61 side (in other words, near the solder inlet 720). Therefore, the solder Ds flowing out from the end of the squeegee 61 can reach the opening 72 of the side member 7, preventing a large amount of solder D from accumulating on the end of the squeegee 61. As a result, it is possible to suppress the obstruction of rolling due to a large amount of solder D adhering to the end of the squeegee 61. In particular, when a synthetic resin is used as a flux component of the solder D, constructing the side member 7 from such a material is preferable because it can suppress adhesion of the solder Ds to the side member 7.

[0043] Furthermore, the opening 72 does not need to be open on both sides in the Y direction. Therefore, the opening 72 may be closed on the side opposite to the squeegee 61.

[0044] Furthermore, the squeegee 61 can be moved back and forth in the X direction to roll the solder D. In this case, the orientation of the squeegee 61 is reversed from the state shown in Fig. 3. Accordingly, rolling is performed in a state in which the peripheral edge 732 of the side member 7, rather than the peripheral edge 731, is in contact with the upper surface of the mask M.

[0045] Furthermore, the shape and dimensions of the side member 7 can be changed as appropriate. Therefore, the shape of the opening 72 is not limited to a triangle, and may be other shapes such as a rectangle or an oval.

[0046] M: Mask S: Squeegee direction 61: Squeegee Y: Y direction (width direction) 7: Side member 72: Opening 1: Printing device 73: Opening periphery 731: Periphery (lower periphery)

Claims

1. a squeegee that is in contact with the upper surface of the mask and is movable in a predetermined squeegee direction; a side member attached to an end of the squeegee in a width direction perpendicular to the squeegee direction and movable in the squeegee direction along with the squeegee; Equipped with the squeegee moves in the squeegee direction while contacting the solder placed on the upper surface of the mask from the upstream side in the squeegee direction, thereby performing rolling to move the solder in the squeegee direction relative to the upper surface of the mask; the side member has an opening that opens toward the squeegee in the width direction, the opening faces the solder on which the rolling is performed in the width direction, A printing device in which, as the rolling is performed, the solder that flows outward from the end of the squeegee in the width direction moves into the interior of the opening.

2. The printing device according to claim 1 , wherein the opening is provided so that, in a side view from the width direction, the center between both ends of the solder in the squeegee direction is located inside both ends of the opening.

3. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the side members are made of polyurethane, silicone, or polypropylene.

4. The printing device according to claim 1 , wherein the side member has an opening periphery that surrounds the opening.

5. The printing device according to claim 4 , wherein the opening periphery has a lower periphery that is adjacent to the opening from below, extends along the opening toward the squeegee, and contacts an upper surface of the mask.

6. The printing device according to claim 5 , wherein the solder that flows out from the end of the squeegee into the opening as the rolling is carried out is supported by the lower peripheral edge portion and moves in the direction of the squeegee along with the lower peripheral edge portion.

7. 7. The printing device according to claim 4, wherein the opening is open on both sides in the width direction.

8. a step of rolling the solder placed on the upper surface of the mask by moving a squeegee in contact with the upper surface of the mask in a predetermined squeegee direction; In the rolling, the squeegee moves in the squeegee direction while contacting the solder from the upstream side in the squeegee direction, thereby moving the solder in the squeegee direction relative to the upper surface of the mask, a side member that is movable in the squeegee direction along with the squeegee is attached to an end of the squeegee in a width direction perpendicular to the squeegee direction; the side member has an opening that opens toward the squeegee in the width direction, the opening faces the solder on which the rolling is performed in the width direction, A solder rolling method in which, as the rolling is performed, the solder that has flowed outward from the end of the squeegee in the width direction moves into the interior of the opening.

9. The printing device according to claim 1 , wherein the opening receives the solder that has flowed outward in the width direction from an end of the squeegee.