JP7644909B2 - Printing device and method for adjusting the printing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing device and a method for adjusting the printing device. In particular, the present invention relates to a printing device and a method for adjusting the printing device that are easy to adjust when changing plates.

There was a method of using a transfer roller as a printing device (Patent Documents 1 and 2). Various patterns could be printed without exposure or development.

JP 2010-253770 A JP 2013-22944 A

However, in the methods of Patent Documents 1 and 2, when the plate on the surface of the transfer roller is replaced, it takes time to make an adjustment.
Therefore, an object of the present application is to provide a printing device that uses a transfer roller and that can be easily adjusted when replacing a plate, and a method for adjusting the printing device.

In order to solve the above problem, in a printing device having a roll with ink, a first motor that moves one end of the roll, a second motor that moves the other end of the roll, and a table on which an object to which the ink of the roll is transferred is set, a printing device adjustment method is used that determines the position of the roll from the deviation of the encoder signals of the first motor and the second motor.
The printing device used includes a roll having a transfer sheet having ink, a first motor that moves one end of the roll up and down, a second motor that moves the other end of the roll up and down, a table on which an object to which the ink of the transfer sheet is transferred is set, and a control unit that determines the position of the roll from signals from encoders of the first motor and the second motor.

The printing device and printing device adjustment method of the present invention make it easy to make adjustments when replacing plates.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment; 1 is a cross-sectional view of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of a plate according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a plan view of an object showing a normal printing result according to the first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a front view of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment; Diagram showing the relationship between table movement and motor encoder signal 1A and 1B are diagrams showing the relationship between the standard deviation of the motor encoder signal and the roll position. 1A to 1C are diagrams showing the relationship between the current position indicated by the motor's encoder data and the motor's travel time. A diagram showing the relationship between the standard deviation of the motor's encoder and the roll position.

(Embodiment)
(Printing device)
First, an example printing device 100 will be described.
1 and 2 are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of a printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment.
The printing apparatus 100 has a base 15 which serves as the base for the entire apparatus. Rails 14 are provided on the base 15, and a first table 21 and a second table 22 are provided on the rails 14. A roll 10 is provided above the rails 14.

The X direction is the direction in which the first table 21 and the second table 22 move. The Y direction is perpendicular to the X direction and is the width direction of the first table 21 and the second table 22. The Z direction is the vertical direction (perpendicular to the X and Y directions).
The printing apparatus 100 is a printing apparatus that uses a method (reverse printing method) in which a liquid film on the surface of a roll 10 is partially removed with a plate 12 to form a reverse pattern, and then the reverse pattern is transferred to an object 16 .

In other words, the printing device 100 synchronizes the rotational motion of the roll 10 and the linear motion of the plate 12 to form a reverse pattern on the surface of the roll 10, and synchronizes the rotational motion of the roll 10 and the linear motion of the object 16 to print (transfer) the reverse pattern on the surface of the roll 10 onto the object 16.
The printing apparatus 100 can be used as a printing apparatus, for example, when manufacturing a pattern of an electronic device (such as a printed electronics device). The printing apparatus 100 can also be used as a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus used, for example, when forming a pattern such as a line and space on an object 16 (substrate) in a semiconductor manufacturing process. The line and space can be formed, for example, by printing silver nanoink.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing device 100 includes a roll 10 (roll transfer cylinder, transfer roll, etc.) rotatably supported on a support section 25, and an ink supply section 26 that forms a liquid film (e.g., an ink film) on an intermediate sheet 11 on the surface of the roll 10. The printing device 100 also includes a second table 22 that holds a plate 12 that forms a reverse pattern, and a first table 21 that holds an object 16 to which the reverse pattern is transferred.

The printing device 100 further includes a control unit 23 that controls the operation (rotation, etc.) of the roll 10, and rails 14 that move the second table 22 and the first table 21 below the roll 10 (in the X direction in the figure). Here, the second table 22 and the first table 21 may be configured to be detachable from the rails 14.

The printing device 100 may also be configured to include, downstream of the transport direction of the roll 10, a cleaning unit for cleaning the plate 12, a surface energy adjustment mechanism using organic cleaning of the surface, ionized airflow, a UV irradiator, etc., and a fixing device (heating means) for fixing the pattern printed on the work plate.

<Roll 10>
The roll 10 is a rotating body that transfers a reverse pattern to an object 16. The roll 10 is rotatably supported on a rotation shaft. The roll 10 forms a reverse pattern on an intermediate sheet 11 on the surface of the roll 10 by a plate 12.

In this embodiment, the roll 10 is a cylinder with a water-repellent silicone blanket (intermediate sheet 11) wrapped around the outer periphery of the roll 10. The roll 10 may also be configured with a resin sheet (e.g., intermediate sheet 11, which is a silicone resin sheet) wrapped around a metal cylinder (e.g., an elastic body made of polyurethane).

Furthermore, the roll 10 according to this embodiment is controlled asynchronously with the linear movement of the plate 12 and the object 16 using a pinion, clutch, or reducer (not shown). Specifically, the drive and position of the roll 10 are controlled by the control unit 23 based on a correction value (described later) determined from the printing result on the object 16. The roll 10 is rotated about the rotation axis by command of the control unit 23. The rotation speed is determined according to the movement speed of the first table 21 and the second table 22 and the correction value. The roll 10 is also adjusted in the X, Y, and Z directions by the correction value.

<Roll adjustment>
The roll 10 can be moved up and down by a first moving unit 41 and a second moving unit 42 on the left and right. In addition, each of the rolls has a mechanism for moving in the X direction. For example, a vertical moving mechanism and an XY table can be provided on the moving mechanism, so that the roll 10 can be moved in the X direction and the Z direction at each height.

＜Version 12＞
The plate 12 is a plate (such as a master plate) having an uneven surface shape. In this embodiment, a flat plate is used as the plate 12. The plate 12 is placed on a second table 22. Furthermore, the plate 12 is moved in the X direction by rails 14 while being placed on the second table 22.

The plate 12 has raised portions 28 (Figure 3) formed on its surface that correspond to the reverse pattern of the pattern to be printed on the object 16. In addition, by bringing the raised portions 28 into contact with the surface of the roll 10, the plate 12 partially removes liquid (ink) from the liquid film on the surface of the roll 10, forming the reverse pattern.

<Object 16>
The object 16 is an object 16 on which a pattern is to be formed. The object 16 is, for example, a plate-shaped, film-shaped, or sheet-shaped printing material. The object 16 is placed on a first table 21. The object 16 is moved in the X direction by the rails 14 while being placed on the first table 21.

The reverse pattern formed on the surface of the roll 10 is transferred onto the object 16. In other words, the desired pattern is printed onto the object 16.

<Second table 22>
The second table 22 is configured to place the plate 12 thereon and to fix the plate 12. The second table 22 fixes the plate 12 by using, for example, a porous chuck or a vacuum chuck. The second table 22 is moved in the transport direction (X direction in FIG. 1 ) by rails 14 with the plate 12 fixed thereto.

<First Table 21>
The first table 21 is configured to hold the target object 16 thereon and to fix the target object 16. The first table 21 fixes the target object 16 using, for example, a porous chuck or a vacuum chuck, similar to the second table 22. The first table 21 is moved in the transport direction (X direction in FIG. 1 ) by the rails 14 with the target object 16 fixed thereto.

The second table 22 and the first table 21 may be configured to incorporate a mechanism (not shown) that can finely move the plate 12 or object 16 placed on it in the X, Y, and Z directions, as well as in a rotational direction about the X direction, a rotational direction about the Y direction, and a θ direction. This allows the second table 22 and the first table 21 to adjust the positional misalignment of the plate 12 or object 16.

<Detection unit>
A first detection unit 51 and a second detection unit 52 are located above the first table 21 .
The first detector 51 and the second detector 52 are photographing devices such as digital cameras, and detect the position of a pattern on the target object 16 .
The first detector 51 and the second detector 52 are adjustable in position and are installed so as to be able to recognize the position of a pattern.

<Control unit 23>
The control unit 23 is a means for controlling the operation of the roll 10 (rotation position, rotation speed, rotation start time, etc.).
In addition, the controller 41 controls the left-right height and the position in the X direction of the roll 10. That is, the controller 41 controls the first moving unit 41 and the second moving unit 42.

<Rail 14>
The rails 14 are mechanisms for moving the second table 22 and the first table 21 below the roll 10 (in the X direction in FIG. 1 ). In this embodiment, a linear guide is used as the rails 14. Note that the rails 14 may be any known mechanism capable of moving the second table 22, etc.

(Adjustment method)
<Advance arrangements>
Check and adjust the straightness of the rail 14. Check and adjust the horizontality of the roll 10 and the ink supply unit 26. Check and adjust the horizontality of the first table 21 and the second table 22.
Set the positions of the first detector 51 and the second detector 52. In the following example, the first detector 51 and the second detector 52 detect the positions of two patterns in rectangular regions in the printed pattern.

<Printing process>
1: The plate 12 is set on the second table 22.
An example of the plate 12 is shown in Fig. 3. A sheet-like protrusion 28 has depressions 27 at evenly spaced points.
The plate 12 is set so that the arrangement of these points is parallel to the direction of movement of the second table.
2: Ink is applied solidly from the ink supply unit 26 onto the intermediate sheet 11 of the roll 10 .
3: The second table 22 is moved to below the roll 10. The roll 10 is lowered to contact the plate 12 and rotate. As a result, a dot pattern of ink is left on the intermediate sheet 11.

4: The first table 21 is moved below the roll 10.
The roll 10 is moved downward, brought into contact with the object 16 on the first table 21 and rotated.
As a result, a pattern is printed on the object 16. Figure 4 shows an example of the result of printing on the object 16 by the plate 12.

<Modification of the device>
In the above, the plate 12 is set on the second table 22, but the plate 12 may be set on the roll 10, and the intermediate sheet 11 may be set on the second table 22. In this case, ink is supplied solidly onto the intermediate sheet 11 by the ink supply unit 26, and the ink is transferred onto the convex portions of the plate 12, which is then transferred to the target object 16.

In the following, in order to provide an explanation based on the printing apparatus of FIG. 1 and the printing apparatus of the modified example, the plate 12 attached to the roll 10 and the intermediate sheet 11 will be collectively referred to as a transfer sheet 13.
<Adjustment method>
Usually, the printing process cannot be performed immediately after the above pre-adjustment, because the accuracy changes when the transfer sheet 13 is set on the roll 10. Therefore, the following adjustment method is performed every time the transfer sheet 13 is replaced. This will be explained using the front view of the printing apparatus in Figure 5.

The roll 10 is supported by a first moving section 41 and a second moving section 42. The first moving section 41 is moved up and down by a first motor 44. The second moving section 42 is moved up and down by a second motor 45. The parallelism and printing posture of the roll 10 are adjusted above and below the first moving section 41 and the second moving section 42. The roll 10 is rotated by a motor 46.
The adjustment method utilizes a signal from an encoder arranged on the first table 21. Adjustment can be performed without a separate camera, sensor, or the like. The encoder may be an encoder attached to a motor or an independent encoder. Encoders broadly include those that identify a position. The encoder may be installed anywhere as long as it can identify the position of the first table 21.
In the following, the adjustment is performed with both the transfer sheet 13 and the object 16 placed on the transfer sheet 13. However, the adjustment may be performed separately for each of the objects.

(1) Roll tilt correction (parallelism)
The transfer sheet 13 is set on the roll 10, and a dummy object 16 is set on the first table 21. The vertical position of the roll 10 is adjusted by the first motor 44 and the second motor 45 so that the transfer sheet 13 comes into contact with the object 16 on the first table 21. This is done by adjusting the first motor 44 and the second motor 45 so that there is no gap between the transfer sheet 13 and the object 16 when viewed from the front.

<Regarding position deviation and standard deviation of table position>
First, the position deviation and standard deviation of the first table 21 will be described. In the above state, the first table 21 is moved along the rails 14. The roll 10 is also rotated accordingly, so as to print. Attention is focused on the difference (position deviation) between the position of the first table 21 determined by the encoder during this operation (printing operation) and the indicated value (position indicated by control). Changes in this difference are shown in Figure 6.
The horizontal axis is the distance traveled by the first table 21 (elapsed time of travel). The vertical axis is the difference (position deviation) between the position of the first table 21 as determined by the encoder and the position of the indicated value. Initially, in the non-contact region, as shown in FIG. 2, the first table 21 has not yet reached the bottom of the roll 10. At this time, the transfer sheet 13 and the target object 16 are not in contact. After that, in the contact region, the transfer sheet 13 and the target object 16 come into contact, and the amplitude of the difference becomes large. The standard deviation is calculated from the data on this amplitude (position deviation). The position of the roll 10 is determined using this standard deviation.

<Roll tilt adjustment (parallelism)>
The vertical position of the roll 10 was changed, and the above printing operation (the first table 21 was moved and the roll 10 was rotated accordingly) was performed, and the standard deviation of the above difference (the difference between the position of the first table 21 measured by the encoder and the indicated value) was measured.
The results are shown in Figures 7(a) and 7(b). The vertical axis is the standard deviation of the position deviation of the first table 21, and the horizontal axis is the vertical position of the roll 10, with the scale pointing downward. When the roll 10 is at position 0, it is the position where there is no gap between the transfer sheet 13 and the target object 16 when the printing device 100 is viewed from the front. Note that a value expressing the variation may be used instead of the standard deviation. The average value, deviation, coefficient of variation, or variance of the variation may also be used.

Figure 7(b) shows a case where the difference in the vertical positions (heights) of the left and right sides of the roll is changed (changing the vertical inclination of the roll 10) and tilted compared to Figure 7(a). For example, in Figure 7(a), the left first moving part 41 is at position 10 and the right second moving part 42 is at position 10, while in Figure 7(b), the left first moving part 41 is at position 10 and the right second moving part 42 is at position 5. One is fixed and the vertical position of the other is changed.

Comparing Fig. 7(a) and Fig. 7(b), Fig. 7(b) shows less change. That is, in Fig. 7(b), the transfer sheet 13 and the object 16 gradually come into contact. On the other hand, in Fig. 7(a), the transfer sheet 13 and the object 16 come into contact at a certain point. That is, in Fig. 7(a), the transfer sheet 13 and the object 16 are parallel, so they suddenly come into contact at a certain point. In Fig. 7(b), the transfer sheet 13 and the object 16 are not parallel, so the two come into contact gradually. This can be seen from Figs. 7(a) and 7(b).
The difference in the vertical positions of one end of the roller 10 and the other end is changed, and data is measured as described above. From the inclination, the parallel position and contact position of the roller 10 can be found.
Furthermore, it is more preferable to adjust the inclination of the roll 10 and measure and adjust it again.

(2) Determining the Contact Position Since the parallel position of the roll 10 has been determined in (1), the contact position (vertical position during printing) between the roll 10 and the first table 21 is determined. The first table 21 is positioned below the roll 10. After that, the roll 10 in the parallel state determined in (1) is lowered, and the encoder values of the first motor 44 and the second motor 45 are measured.
The results are shown in Figures 8(a) to 8(c). The horizontal axis indicates the time of downward movement of the roll 10, and the vertical axis indicates the current positions indicated by the encoder data of the first motor 44 and the second motor 45. The solid line indicates the change in the encoder of the first motor 44, and the dotted line indicates the change in the encoder of the second motor 45.

Figure 8(a) shows a case where the roll 10 is stopped just before contacting the first table 21, Figure 8(b) shows a case where the roll 10 is stopped after only slight contact with the first table 21, and Figure 8(c) shows a case where the roll 10 is stopped after coming into closer contact with the first table 21 than in Figure 8(b).
When the roll 10 descends and the transfer sheet 13 comes into contact with the object 16, the signals of the encoders of the first motor 44 and the second motor 45 suddenly increase.

Then, it becomes smaller. The dotted line, that is, the roll 10 on the second motor 45 side, comes into contact with the first table 21 first and becomes constant. When it becomes constant, the movement of the roll 10 is stopped. Then, the position on the second motor 45 side is adjusted and fixed so that it is parallel. Therefore, the dotted line drops suddenly and then recovers. Finally, both data become constant values.
In Fig. 8(c), the signal is maintained for a longer time than in Fig. 8(a) and Fig. 8(b). For comparison, the difference between the dotted lines is indicated by S. Even if the roll 10 is lowered from the case of Fig. 8(c), it is the same as Fig. 8(c). Fig. 8(c) shows the contact position (position during printing) between the transfer sheet 13 and the object 16. Also, Fig. 8(c) is more suitable than Figs. 8(a) and 8(b) because the difference between the solid line and the dotted line is smaller.
As a result, the position of the roll 10 during printing is known.
The encoders for the first motor 44 and the second motor 45 are attached to the first motor 44 and the second motor 45. However, they may be provided independently of the first motor 44 and the second motor 45. The encoders are encoders related to the left and right positions of the roll 10.

(3) Speed Adjustment The vertical positions of the rolls 10 when printing are determined by steps (1) and (2). The speeds of the transfer sheet 13 and the object 16 are adjusted using these positions.
The moving speed of the first table 21 is kept constant, and the rotation speed of the surface of the roll 10 is changed in stages. At this time, the above-mentioned printing operation is performed, and the standard deviation of the position deviation of the first table 21 is obtained. The results are shown in Figure 9. By changing the rotation speed of the roll 10, the surface speed of the roll 10 changes.
9, the vertical axis represents the standard deviation of the position deviation of the first table 21. The horizontal axis represents the surface speed of the roll 10.
When the moving speed of the first table 21 and the surface speed of the roll 10 match, the speeds of the first table 21 and the surface of the roll 10 become the same, which is suitable for printing. At this time, the standard deviation of the position deviation of the first table 21 becomes the smallest. In Figure 9, the memory time of 0 is the appropriate rotation speed of the roll 10.
In the above, the moving speed of the first table 21 is kept constant and the rotational speed of the roll 10 is changed. However, the moving speed of the first table 21 may be changed while keeping the rotational speed of the roll 10 constant. It is only necessary to change the relative speed between the upper surface of the first table 21 and the surface of the roll 10.

(summary)
It is preferable to implement all of the above (1) to (3), but it is also effective to implement one or more of them.
Since the rotation speed of the roll 10 has a large effect, it is preferable to carry out (1) and (3) or (2) and (3). It is preferable to adjust the posture of the roll 10 and the relative speed between the roll 10 and the first table 21 in (1) or (2).

＜Effects＞
1: Conventionally, adjustments after replacing the transfer sheet were made by the operator's intuition or by repeated test printing, which took time. The printing device and printing device adjustment method of this embodiment use the motor encoder, making it easy to make adjustments when replacing the transfer sheet.
2: The above adjustment does not require the installation of a separate camera or sensor.
3: The number of test prints required for adjustments can be reduced.

(Overall)
The above embodiments can be combined with each other.
Although the adjustment method has been described using the printing apparatus 100, it is similar to the other printing apparatuses. If the printing apparatus transfers ink to an object via the roll 10, the above adjustment method can be used in the same manner.

The printing device of the present invention can be used to manufacture various devices, such as forming electrodes. It can be used for letterpress printing, flexographic printing, adhesion contrast printing, reverse offset printing, and grating printing.

10 Roll 11 Intermediate sheet 12 Plate 13 Transfer sheet 14 Rail 15 Base 16 Object 21 First table 22 Second table 23 Control unit 25 Support unit 26 Ink supply roll 27 Depression 28 Convex portion 31 First rotating unit 32 Second rotating unit 41 First moving unit 42 Second moving unit 44 First motor 45 Second motor 51 First detector 52 Second detector 71 First imaging range 72 Second imaging range 90 Kiss-touch position 91 Reference mark 92 Printing mark 93 Directionality 94a X direction 94b Y direction 100 Printing device

Claims (4)

a roll having ink;
A first motor that moves one end of the roll;
A second motor that moves the other end of the roll;
a table on which an object to which the ink from the roll is transferred is set,
A method for adjusting a printing apparatus, comprising: determining an inclination of the roll and a relative speed between the roll and the table from a position deviation of an encoder of a table and a standard deviation of the position deviation;
The method for adjusting a printing device, wherein the position deviation is a difference between the position of the encoder and a position commanded by control. The method for adjusting a printing device according to claim 1 includes a step of determining the parallelism between the roll and the table from the position deviation of the encoder of the table. The method for adjusting a printing device according to claim 2, in which the inclination of the roll is changed multiple times and the position deviation is measured and determined. a roll having a transfer sheet with ink;
A first motor that moves one end of the roll up and down;
A second motor that moves the other end of the roll up and down;
a table on which an object to which the ink of the transfer sheet is to be transferred is set;
a control unit that determines the inclination of the roll from the position deviation of the encoder of the table and the standard deviation of the position deviation,
A printing device in which the position deviation is the difference between the position of the encoder and the position commanded by control.