Support Tower Alignment for Small-Pitch Singulated Substrates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for aligning and printing multiple small workpieces simultaneously face challenges, particularly when the pitch between workpieces is smaller than the spacing of individual support towers, leading to inefficiencies and complications in alignment and printing processes.
Innovation Solution
The use of support towers with multiple support surfaces at differential heights, allowing for staggered alignment of workpieces by moving them into a coplanar position for precise alignment before printing, using a system like 'MASS-type' tooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple screens are used to print multiple boards simultaneously, then printing efficiency is improved, but device complexity and alignment difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the support structure into multiple independent support towers, each capable of supporting individual boards at different positions. This segmentation allows each tower to be independently aligned and adjusted, simplifying the overall alignment process while maintaining the ability to print multiple boards simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces vertical positioning capability to support towers, allowing boards to be supported at different heights. This adds a vertical dimension to the alignment process, enabling complex multi-board arrangements to be achieved through vertical adjustment rather than requiring complex horizontal alignment mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If sequential printing of individual boards is used, then alignment simplicity is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple support towers into a single integrated printing apparatus, allowing multiple boards to be printed in one operation. The towers work together as a unified system, merging the simplicity of individual board support with the efficiency of simultaneous multi-board printing.
Solution Approach 2:
Each support tower is designed with universal functionality to support individual boards, panels, or arrays of boards. The towers can be independently positioned and adjusted, allowing the same basic structure to handle various printing configurations without requiring specialized apparatus for each case.
3Manufacturing precision
If support towers are used for singulated boards, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment system is segmented into multiple independent support towers, each with its own positioning and alignment capabilities. This segmentation distributes the complexity across multiple simple, identical units rather than requiring one complex centralized alignment mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The support towers incorporate dynamic positioning capabilities, allowing them to be moved and adjusted during operation. This dynamic adjustment enables precise alignment to be achieved through simple mechanical movement rather than complex fixed alignment mechanisms.
4Adaptability or versatility
If standard carrier trays are used with support tower systems, then adaptability is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates due to small pitch arrays
Solution Approach 1:
Each support tower provides localized support and alignment for specific regions of the carrier tray. This local quality approach allows precise alignment to be achieved at each support point independently, accommodating small pitch arrays while maintaining overall system adaptability to various carrier tray formats.
Data Source
AI summary
Tooling for supporting workpieces during a printing operation, comprises a support tower comprising a base and a head, the head being positioned vertically above the base in use, the head being relatively moveable with respect to the base in a horizontal plane in use, the head having first and second support surfaces located at an upper end thereof, each of the first and second support surfaces being adapted to support a respective workpiece thereon, wherein the first support surface is relatively moveable with respect to the second support surface in a vertical direction in use between a printing configuration in which the first and second support surfaces are substantially coplanar in the horizontal plane, and a pre-printing configuration in which the first and second support surfaces are spaced in the vertical direction.