Patent Publication Number: US-11027451-B2

Title: Film cutting apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0150051, filed Nov. 28, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Aspects of some example embodiments relate to a film cutting apparatus. 
     2. Discussion 
     In recent years, a film-type semiconductor package of a chip on film (COF) method has been used to reduce the thickness and weight of a flat panel display. 
     The film-type semiconductor package may include a base film, a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) in the form of a chip mounted on the base film, and wirings printed on the base film to be electrically connected to the semiconductor integrated circuit. 
     The film-type semiconductor package may be manufactured in a rolled-up form or configuration, and may be cut in a desired shape according to a user&#39;s demand. 
     The Background section of the present Specification includes information that is intended to provide context to example embodiments, and the information in the present Background section does not necessarily constitute prior art. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of some example embodiments relate to a film cutting apparatus and, for example, to a film cutting apparatus for forming a film-type semiconductor package into a desired shape. 
     One or more example embodiments may include a film cutting apparatus which may reduce the time and cost required for forming a film-type semiconductor package. 
     One or more example embodiments may also include a film cutting apparatus capable of increasing an efficiency of a production process. 
     According to some example embodiments, a film cutting apparatus may include: a punch plate including a first punch protruded on an upper surface and a second punch protruded on a lower surface; a first die plate having a first hole corresponding to the first punch, the first die plate providing a surface on which a film is provided; a second die plate having a second hole corresponding to the second punch, the second die plate providing a surface on which a film is provided; at least two guide bars penetrating the first die plate and the punch plate and fixed to the second die plate; a first elastic member provided between the first die plate and the punch plate; a second elastic member provided between the punch plate and the second die plate; and an elevator configured to press the first die plate. 
     The first punch and the second punch may correspond to each other. 
     Each of the first die plate, the punch plate, and the second die plate may have through holes, and the at least two guide bars may be inserted through the through holes. 
     The first elastic member and the second elastic member may be provided so that the at least two guide bars penetrate an inside thereof. 
     A length of the first elastic member may greater than that of the second elastic member and an elastic modulus of the first elastic member may larger than that of the second elastic member. 
     Each surface of the first and second die plates on which the film is provided may include a guide groove into which the film is inserted. 
     According to some example embodiments, a film cutting apparatus may include a first punch plate including a first punch protruded on an upper surface; a first die plate having a first hole corresponding to the first punch, the first die plate providing a surface on which a film is provided; a second punch plate below the first punch plate and having a second punch protruded on a lower surface; a second die plate having a second hole corresponding to the second punch, the second die plate providing a surface on which a film is provided; at least two guide bars penetrating the first die plate, the first punch plate and the second punch plate and fixed to the second die plate; a first elastic member provided between the first die plate and the first punch plate; a second elastic member provided between the second punch plate and the second die plate; and an elevator configured to press the first die plate. 
     The first punch and the second punch may correspond to each other. 
     Each of the first die plate, the first punch plate, the second punch plate, and the second die plate may have through holes, and the at least two guide bars may be inserted through the through holes. 
     The first elastic member and the second elastic member may be provided so that the at least two guide bars penetrate an inside thereof. 
     A length of the first elastic member may greater than that of the second elastic member and an elastic modulus of the first elastic member may larger than that of the second elastic member. 
     Each surface of the first and second die plates on which the film is provided may include a guide groove into which the film is inserted. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of aspects of the inventive concepts, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate example embodiments of the inventive concepts, and, together with the description, serve to explain principles of the inventive concepts. 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a film cutting apparatus according to some example embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a die plate according to some example embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view for explaining an example of a film-type semiconductor package according to some example embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation of the film cutting apparatus according to some example embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a film cutting apparatus according to some example embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, aspects of some example embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following example embodiments are provided so that those skilled in the art will be able to fully understand the invention. The embodiments can be modified in various ways. The scope of the invention is not limited to the example embodiments described below. 
     In the example embodiments, the terms first, second, etc. are not used in a limiting sense and are used for the purpose of distinguishing one element from another. Also, an expression representing the singular may include an expression representing a plurality unless it is clearly different in context. 
     Also, when a layer, a region, an element, or the like is referred to as being “connected” in the embodiment, it will be understood that when a layer, a region, or an element is directly connected as well as layers, regions, or elements are indirectly connected to each other. For example, when a layer, a region, an element, or the like is electrically connected, not only when a layer, a region, an element, or the like is directly connected each other, as well as a case where another layer, region, element, or the like is interposed therebetween and indirectly connected thereto. 
     The sizes of the elements shown in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced for convenience of explanation. For example, the size and thickness of each element are arbitrarily shown for convenience of explanation, and thus the invention is not necessarily limited to those shown in the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a film cutting apparatus according to some example embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a die plate according to some example embodiments of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a film cutting apparatus  100  may include one punch plate  10  and two die plates  20  and  30  located at a top and bottom of the punch plate  10 , respectively. The punch plate  10  and the die plates  20  and  30  may be made of a common mold material. 
     The punch plate  10  may be in the form of a flat plate having a thickness (e.g., a predetermined thickness). The punch plate  10  may include a first punch  12  protruding from an upper surface thereof and a second punch  14  protruding from a lower surface thereof. 
     The first punch  12  and the second punch  14  may be arranged to correspond to each other (e.g., overlap when viewed from a plan view) at a center of the punch plate  10  and may have the same size and shape as each other. 
     The first punch  12  and the second punch  14  may be configured as a hexahedron having a cross section of, for example, a square, a rectangle, a polygon, a circle or the like depending on the size and shape of a film-type semiconductor package to be formed. 
     The first punch  12  and the second punch  14  may be integrally formed with the punch plate  10  or may be separately manufactured and then coupled to the punch plate  10 . 
     In addition, the punch plate  10  may include through holes  10   a  located at both sides of the first punch  12  and the second punch  14 . For example, the through holes  10   a  may be arranged adjacent to edges of the punch plate  10 . 
     The first die plate  20  may be located above the punch plate  10  and the second die plate  30  may be located below the punch plate  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first die plate  20  may be in the form of a flat plate having a thickness (e.g., a predetermined thickness) and a film may be provided and seated on a surface  24  facing the first punch  12 . The surface  24  on which the film is provided may include a guide groove such that the film inserted therein is easily aligned and advanced. 
     The first die plate  20  may have a first hole  22  corresponding to the first punch  12 . The first hole  22  may overlap the surface  24  on which the film is provided and may have a size and shape such that the first punch  12  can be inserted within a tolerance range (e.g., a predetermined tolerance range). 
     For example, the first hole  22  may include a portion into which the first punch  12  is inserted and a portion through which a cut film is discharged. A width of the portion where the first punch  12  is inserted may be approximately the same as that of the first punch  12  in order to cut the film but a width of the portion where the film is discharged may be wider so that the cut film can be more easily discharged. 
     In addition, the first die plate  20  may include through holes  20   a  located at both sides of the first holes  22 . For example, the through holes  20   a  may be arranged adjacent to edges of the first die plate  20 . 
     The second die plate  30  may be in the form of a flat plate having a thickness (e.g., a predetermined thickness) and a film may be provided and seated on a surface  34  facing the second punch  14 . The surface  34  on which the film is provided may include a guide groove such that the film inserted therein is more easily aligned and advanced. 
     The second die plate  30  may have a second hole  32  corresponding to the second punch  14 . The second hole  32  may overlap the surface  34  on which the film is provided and may have a size and shape such that the second punch  14  can be inserted within a tolerance range (e.g., a predetermined tolerance range). 
     For example, the second hole  32  may include a portion into which the second punch  14  is inserted and a portion through which a cut film is discharged. A width of the portion where the second punch  14  is inserted may be approximately the same as that of the second punch  14  in order to cut the film. However, the portion where the film is discharged may have a greater width so that the cut film can be more easily discharged. 
     In addition, the second die plate  30  may include through holes  30   a  located at both sides of the second holes  32 . For example, the through holes  30   a  may be arranged adjacent to edges of the second die plate  30 . 
     The first die plate  20 , the punch plate  10  and the second die plate  30  may be aligned with each other by guide bars  40  inserted through the through holes  10   a,    20   a  and  30   a.  At this time, the guide bars  40  may be fixed while being inserted into the through holes  30   a  of the second die plate  30 . In this state, the first die plate  20  and the punch plate  10  may move downward and upward along the guide bars  40 . 
     For a stable operation of the film cutting apparatus  100 , a bottom surface of the second die plate  30  may be fixed on a flat bottom. 
     The film cutting apparatus  100  according to some example embodiments of the present invention may further include a first elastic member  50  provided between the first die plate  20  and the punch plate  10 , a second elastic member  60  provided between the punch plate  10  and the second die plate  30 , and an elevator (or elevating means)  70  for pressing the first die plate  20 . 
     The first elastic member  50  and the second elastic member  60  may be, for example, in the form of a spring, and the guide bars  40  may be inserted to penetrate the inside thereof. 
     The first elastic member  50  and the second elastic member  60  may have a length and/or elastic modulus (e.g., a predetermined length and/or elastic modulus). The length and elastic modulus of the first elastic member  50  may be different from those of the second elastic member  60 . 
     A distance between the first die plate  20  and the punch plate  10  may be determined by the length and/or elastic modulus of the first elastic member  50  and a distance between the punch plate  10  and the second die plate  30  may be determined by the length and/or elastic modulus of the second elastic member  60 . 
     The elevator (or elevating means)  70  may be provided above the first die plate  20 . 
     Although not shown in  FIG. 1 , the elevator (or elevating means)  70  may be mechanically coupled to a driver (or driving means) that provides a driving force for moving the first die plate  20  up and down. 
     Aspects of some example embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view for explaining an example of a film-type semiconductor package applied to the invention.  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation of the film cutting apparatus according to some example embodiments of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a film-type semiconductor packages  220  may be continuously formed on a base film  200  in the form of a tape at intervals (e.g., predetermined intervals). 
     Each of the film-type semiconductor packages  220  may include the base film  200  made of, for example, polyamide or polyimide, a semiconductor integrated circuit  222  mounted on the base film  200  in a chip form and wirings  224  printed on the base film  200  to be electrically connected to the semiconductor integrated circuit  222 . 
     The film-type semiconductor packages  220  may be separated from each other by cutting the base film  200 . 
     The film cutting apparatus  100  according to some example embodiments of the present invention can be used to separate the film-type semiconductor packages  220  from each other. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in the film cutting apparatus  100 , the first die plate  20  and the punch plate  10  may be spaced apart from each other by the first elastic member  50 , and the punch plate  10  and the second die plate  30  may be spaced apart from each other by the second elastic member  60 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in this state, a film  200  may be provided in a guide groove  24  of the first die plate  20  and the film  200  may be provided in a guide groove  34  of the second die plate  30 .  FIG. 4  shows a state in which the film  200  advances from the front to the rear. 
     The film  200  may be unwound from the rolled-up configuration in which the film  200  is wound on a reel, and may then be provided to the guide groove  24  or  34  via a plurality of rollers as required. 
     In another embodiment, protrusions are provided along both side edges of the guide grooves  24  and  34  so that the film  200  can be easily aligned and fixed, and sprocket holes  210  formed along both side edges of the film  200  may be inserted into the protrusions. 
     A driving force is supplied from the driver (or driving means) to the elevator (or elevating means)  70  and the elevator (or elevating means)  70  transmits the driving force to the first die plate  20  so that the first die plate  20  can move downward. 
     The first die plate  20  is lowered along the guide bars  40  while the second die plate  30  is fixed so that the first and second elastic members  50  and  60  are compressed and the first die plate  20 , the punch plate  10 , and the second die plate  30  can be pressed against each other. 
     When the first punch  12  of the punch plate  10  is inserted into the first hole  22  of the first die plate  20  and the second punch  14  of the punch plate  10  is inserted into the second die plate  20 , portions (e.g., predetermined portions) of the films  200  can be cut and the film-type semiconductor packages  220  can be separated from the films  200 , respectively. Each of the film-type semiconductor packages  220  can be discharged on opposite sides of the first hole  22  and the second hole  32 . 
     For example, when the length and/or elastic modulus of the first elastic member  50  is greater than the those of the second elastic member  60 , the second punch  14  of the punch plate  10  is first inserted into the second hole  32  of the second die plate  30  and then the first punch  12  of the punch plate  10  is inserted into the first hole  22  of the first die plate  20 . Therefore, the film-type semiconductor packages  220  may be separated at different times from each other. 
     Thereafter, a driving force is supplied from the driver (or driving means) to the elevator (or elevating means)  70  and the elevator (or elevating means)  70  transmits the driving force to the first die plate  20  so that the first die plate  20  can move upward. 
     The first die plate  20  and the punch plate  10  are returned to their original positions while the first and second elastic members  50  and  60  are restored by elasticity, and the first die plate  20 , the punch plate  10  and the second die plate  30  may be spaced apart from each other at a distance (e.g., a predetermined distance). 
     As described above, the film cutting apparatus  100  according to some example embodiments of the present invention can produce two film-type semiconductor packages  220  by a single cutting operation. When the length and/or elastic modulus of each of the first elastic member  50  and the second elastic member  60  are adjusted as needed, production time points of the two film-type semiconductor packages  220  can be controlled differently. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a film cutting apparatus according to some example embodiments of the present invention. 
     A film cutting apparatus  100   a  of  FIG. 5  differs from the film cutting apparatus  100  of  FIG. 1  in terms of a structure of the punch plate  10 . Therefore, only different configurations will be described. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a punch plate may include a first punch plate  11  having a first punch  12  protruding upward and a second punch plate  13  having a second punch  14  protruding downward. 
     The first punch  12  may be integrally formed with the first punch plate  11  or may be separately manufactured and then coupled to the first punch plate  11 . In addition, the second punch  14  may be integrally formed with the second punch plate  13 , or may be separately manufactured and then coupled to the second punch plate  13 . 
     The first punch plate  11  may include through holes  11   a  located at both sides of the first punch  12  and the second punch plate  13  may include through holes  13   a  located at both sides of the second punch  14 . For example, the through holes  11   a  and  13   a  may be arranged adjacent to edges of the first and second punch plates  11  and  13 . 
     A large pressure may be repeatedly applied to the first and second punch plates  11  and  13  during an operation of the film cutting apparatus  100   a.  For example, the first and second punches  12  and  14  must have precise dimensions, but repeated pressure applied to the first and second punches  12  and  14  may cause deformation that deviates from the tolerance range. 
     The film cutting apparatus  100   a  according to the embodiment includes the first and second punch plates  11  and  13  separated from each other. Because the first and second punch plates  11  and  13  can be manufactured separately from each other and the first and second punches  12  and  14  can also be manufactured separately from each other, an amount of deformation of the first and second punches  12  and  14  due to pressure repeatedly applied to the first and second punches  12  can be reduced as compared with the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . In addition, when deformation occurs in any one of the first and second punches  12  and  14 , damage can be reduced or only a deformed one of the first and second punches  12  and  14  can be easily exchanged. 
     The film cutting apparatus according to some example embodiments of the present invention can produce two film-type semiconductor packages by a single cutting operation, so that the production time and cost can be reduced. In addition, times at which the two film-type semiconductor packages are produced can be adjusted differently as needed, thereby increasing efficiency of the production process. 
     As described above, aspects of some example embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed through the detailed description and the drawings. It is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing the invention only and is not used to limit the scope of the invention described in the claims. Therefore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the true scope of the invention should be determined by the technical idea of the appended claims, and their equivalents.