Substrate Transport Hold-Down Mechanism for Precise Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing substrate transport systems face challenges in ensuring accurate positioning due to substrate manufacturing tolerances, elasticity of transport belts, and slippage, leading to reduced print quality and increased error risks.
Innovation Solution
A transport device with movable hold-down devices that transition from a depositing to a hold-down position, securing substrates on guides to prevent lifting, using a frame with guides and a drive mechanism for precise movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If round belts are used for substrate transport, then the transport device can be simple in structure, but the substrate positioning accuracy deteriorates due to belt elasticity and slippage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary transport mechanism consisting of a support arm with a transport pin that inserts into a transport hole in the substrate. This intermediary system replaces the direct belt-substrate contact, eliminating slippage and elasticity issues while maintaining simple overall structure. The transport pin acts as a mediator between the drive mechanism and the substrate, ensuring precise positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the elastic round belt mechanical system with a rigid transport pin and support arm mechanism. This substitution eliminates the harmful elasticity and slippage characteristics of the belt system, providing a more reliable mechanical connection that ensures accurate substrate positioning while keeping the device structure simple.
2Manufacturing precision
If transport pins with support arms are used, then substrate positioning accuracy can be improved, but the device complexity increases due to alignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the transport pin on the support arm and pre-aligning it with the transport hole in the substrate before the transport cycle begins. The support arm is designed to automatically guide the transport pin into the correct position, eliminating the need for complex real-time alignment mechanisms during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport device performs self-service through the automatic alignment mechanism where the support arm and transport pin self-position relative to the substrate's transport hole. The structure is designed so that the transport pin automatically finds and engages with the transport hole without requiring external alignment adjustments, simplifying the overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A transport device for transporting substrates along at least one guide includes: a frame; and at least one hold-down device movable relative to the frame from a depositing position, in which a passage region is exposed, such that a substrate is depositable along a depositing direction through the passage region on the at least one guide, into a hold-down position, in which the at least one hold-down device is arranged in the passage region so as to block a movement of a deposited substrate on the at least one guide against the depositing direction.