Viscous Material Dispensing on Substrate Inverter System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing systems struggle to accurately dispense viscous materials on both sides of a substrate, particularly near the edges, due to interference from transport belts, which limits their ability to apply materials uniformly.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser with an inverter system that rotates the substrate about a parallel axis, combined with a clamping system and a roller system, allowing for precise dispensing on both top and bottom surfaces within a few millimeters of the edge, using a combination of pushers and belts to ensure accurate substrate positioning and prevent belt slippage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If transport belts are used to convey substrates through the dispenser, then substrate transport is enabled, but the belts interfere with the dispensing unit when attempting to dispense material near the edges of the substrate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the transport belts from the dispensing area entirely. Instead, a robotic arm with a gripper conveys substrates to and from the dispensing station. This extraction of the belt system eliminates the interference problem that prevented edge dispensing, allowing the dispensing unit to access the entire substrate surface including edges within millimeters of the boundary
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the continuous belt mechanical transport system with a robotic arm gripper system for substrate handling. The robotic arm positions substrates precisely at the dispensing station and removes them after dispensing, eliminating the physical interference that belts caused near substrate edges while maintaining automated substrate conveyance
2Adaptability or versatility
If the substrate is rotated to dispense on both sides, then complete surface coverage is achieved, but the complexity of the dispensing system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the substrate rotation function with the dispensing unit itself. The dispensing unit incorporates a rotation mechanism that rotates the substrate 180 degrees between dispensing operations on opposite sides. This merging of rotation and dispensing functions into a single integrated unit achieves bidirectional dispensing capability without adding separate complex rotation machinery
Solution Approach 2:
The dispensing unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the material deposition device and as the substrate rotation mechanism. This universal design allows the same component to perform multiple functions (dispensing and rotating), reducing overall system complexity while enabling complete surface coverage on both substrate sides
3Productivity
If belts are used for substrate transport, then continuous conveyance is achieved, but belt slippage occurs which compromises positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the belt-based friction-dependent transport system with a robotic arm gripper system. The gripper mechanically grasps the substrate and moves it through precise positional control, eliminating slippage entirely. This substitution maintains continuous conveyance capability while achieving superior positioning accuracy through direct mechanical engagement rather than friction-based belt transport
Data Source
AI summary
A dispenser, which is capable of dispensing viscous material on a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, includes a frame, a gantry system, and a dispensing unit. The gantry system is configured to move the dispensing unit in x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis directions. The dispenser further includes a substrate support assembly configured to support the substrate in a dispense position to dispense material on the top surface of the substrate and on the bottom surface of the substrate. The substrate support assembly includes a clamping system and an inverter system. The inverter system is configured to rotate the clamping system about an axis that is parallel to the y-axis direction between a first position in which the top surface of the substrate is in the dispense position and a second position in which the bottom surface of the substrate is in the dispense position.