Substrate Frame Automation for Reflow Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current substrate processing systems require manual monitoring and handling at both ends, leading to increased production costs and space occupancy due to the need for separate feeding and discharging equipment.
Innovation Solution
A temporary storage and reflow frame substrate system that includes a substrate frame, a robotic arm for loading and unloading, and conveying units for automated development and cleaning, allowing for efficient substrate processing within a compact space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate feeding and discharging equipment are set up at two ends of the system, then substrate processing can be performed, but production cost increases and space occupancy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the feeding and discharging functions into a single integrated station. The substrate frame serves dual purposes: it is both the carrier for the substrate during processing and the loading/unloading interface. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate feeding and discharging equipment at opposite ends of the system, thereby reducing production costs and space requirements while maintaining processing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate frame is designed as a multi-functional component that performs multiple roles: it carries the substrate during conveyance through development and cleaning modules, serves as the interface for robotic arm loading and unloading, and acts as the discharge point after processing. This universal design reduces the number of separate components needed in the system.
2Ease of manufacture
If separate feeding and discharging equipment are set up at two ends of the system, then substrate processing can be performed, but space occupied by the overall system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the feeding and discharging functions into a single integrated station. The substrate frame serves dual purposes: it is both the carrier for the substrate during processing and the loading/unloading interface. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate feeding and discharging equipment at opposite ends of the system, thereby reducing production costs and space requirements while maintaining processing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes vertical movement of the substrate frame to enable the robotic arm to access the substrate for loading and unloading operations. By introducing a vertical dimension to the conveyance system, the design allows compact horizontal arrangement of equipment while maintaining operational accessibility.
3Reliability
If manual monitoring and handling are performed at both ends, then substrate processing can be supervised, but manpower requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs automated mechanisms where the robotic arm performs substrate loading and unloading operations autonomously based on control signals. The conveyance system automatically transports substrate frames through development and cleaning modules without requiring manual intervention at intermediate stages. This automation reduces manpower requirements while maintaining process reliability through automated monitoring and control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with automated robotic systems. The robotic arm substitutes for manual handling of substrates during loading and unloading, while automated conveyance mechanisms replace manual transport through processing modules. This substitution maintains process monitoring capability while significantly reducing manpower requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A temporary storage and reflow frame substrate system includes a substrate frame, a substrate loading and unloading station, a first conveying unit, and a second conveying unit. The substrate frame is suitable for loading the substrate. The substrate loading and unloading station includes a robotic arm, a feeding and discharging unit and a returning unit, the substrate frame is suitable for connecting to the feeding and discharging unit and the returning unit, the robotic arm is suitable to place the substrate into or remove the substrate from the substrate frame. The first conveying unit is connected to the feeding and discharging unit and is suitable for conveying the substrate frame. The second conveying unit is connected between the first conveying unit and the returning unit, in order to return the substrate frame to the returning unit, thereby loading and unloading the substrate at the substrate loading and unloading station.