Substrate Support Handling for High-Throughput Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing systems for substrates like circuit boards and solar cells face challenges in simplifying handleability and increasing throughput, with downtime and manual handling being significant limitations.
Innovation Solution
A printing system design that includes a feed device to collect and convey multiple substrate supports in a collected manner, a printing device to print on these supports, and a discharge device to separate and discharge them, minimizing downtime by allowing simultaneous processing and optimizing throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple substrates are conveyed and printed simultaneously on one substrate support, then throughput is increased, but handleability becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the handling process by introducing a feed device that collects multiple substrate supports and feeds them to the printing device in a coordinated manner, while a discharge device separates and discharges them after printing. This segmentation allows simultaneous processing of multiple substrates while maintaining simplified individual handling through automated collection and separation mechanisms.
2Extent of automation
If automated feed and discharge devices are connected to the printing device, then manual handling is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feed device and discharge device are merged into an integrated system that works in conjunction with the printing device. The feed device collects multiple substrate supports and feeds them to the printing device, while the discharge device separates and discharges them after printing. This merging automates the handling process while maintaining a cohesive system architecture that reduces overall operational complexity.
3Productivity
If the printing device processes substrates one at a time, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous useful action by enabling the printing device to process multiple substrate supports simultaneously. The feed device continuously supplies multiple substrate supports to the printing device, and the discharge device continuously removes them after printing. This continuity allows parallel processing of multiple substrates while maintaining streamlined operations through coordinated feed and discharge mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing system for printing substrates, in particular circuit boards, such as wafer and solar cells, has a printing device, with a printing table on which the substrate can be positioned and a print head associated with the printing table for printing the substrates positioned on the printing table, has a feed device for feeding the substrates to be printed to the printing device, a discharge device for discharging the printed substrates from the printing device, and a plurality of substrate supports on which each of the plurality of substrates can be supported. The feed device, printing device and discharge device convey the substrate supports with the substrates located thereon. The feed device collects plurality of substrate supports and feeds them to the printing device. The printing device prints the substrates on the collected substrate supports, and the discharge device separates and discharges these collected substrate supports.