External Inverter for Dual-Side Substrate Dispensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dispensing systems for viscous materials on printed circuit substrates can only dispense material on one side, making it difficult to apply materials near the edges and limiting the ability to dispense on both sides of the substrate.

Innovation Solution

A dispenser system with an inverter mechanism that rotates the substrate to allow dispensing on both sides, using a belt/roller clamp configuration to accommodate various substrate thicknesses and prevent interference with dispensing units, enabling precise and efficient deposition on both top and bottom surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a substrate support rotates about an axis transverse to the substrate travel direction, then the substrate can be inverted for dispensing on both sides, but the belts interfere with dispensing units when attempting to dispense material near edges of the substrate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to dispense on both sides of substrateVSAvoidinterference with dispensing near edges

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional inverter design by positioning the inverter outside the dispense zone rather than inside. The substrate travels horizontally through the inverter which rotates it 180 degrees about a vertical axis, allowing the dispensing units to access both sides of the substrate without interference from rotation belts. This spatial inversion resolves the conflict between substrate inversion capability and edge dispensing accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the rotation axis from transverse (horizontal) to vertical, rotating the substrate about a vertical axis instead of a horizontal axis. This dimensional change allows the substrate to be inverted without the rotation belts interfering with the dispensing units, as the belts operate in a different spatial plane during vertical axis rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If an inverter is provided inside the dispense zone, then substrate inversion is achieved, but the inverter cannot accommodate substrates of varying thickness without manual adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubstrate inversion capabilityVSAvoidaccommodation of varying substrate thicknesses

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional inverter design by positioning the inverter outside the dispense zone rather than inside. This external positioning allows the inverter to accommodate substrates of varying thicknesses without requiring manual adjustment, as the inversion mechanism operates independently of the dispensing units and substrate support assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent separates the inverter function from the substrate support assembly, placing the inverter in a different location (outside the dispense zone). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the inverter capable of handling various substrate thicknesses without affecting the precision of the substrate support and dispensing units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If belts are used to rotate the substrate in a transverse axis inverter, then substrate inversion is achieved, but the belts interfere with dispensing units when dispensing near edges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubstrate inversion capabilityVSAvoidinterference between belts and dispensing units

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional inverter design by positioning the inverter outside the dispense zone rather than inside. This spatial inversion eliminates the interference between rotation belts and dispensing units, as the belts operate in a separate spatial region during substrate inversion, allowing uninterrupted dispensing operations near substrate edges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP3175689B1External inverter system for variable substrate thickness and method for rotating a substrate

Publication Date: 2020.01.08 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC

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AI summary

A dispenser includes a frame, a gantry system, a dispensing unit, a substrate support assembly, a transport system, and an inverter system coupled to the frame and in communication with the transport system. The inverter system is positioned outside the substrate support assembly and configured to rotate a substrate orientation between a first position in which a top surface of the substrate is in a dispense position and a second position in which a bottom surface of the substrate is in a dispense position. The inverter system includes a first driven assembly configured to engage one edge of the substrate and a second driven assembly configured to engage an opposite edge of the substrate. The first driven assembly and the second driven assembly are configured to drive a linear movement of the substrate.