Patent Publication Number: US-2006011770-A1

Title: Spacer winding device in electronic parts packaging film carrier tape processing device, and spacer winding method in electronic parts packaging film carrier tape processing device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention relates to a device and method for taking up a spacer fed out together with a film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component when executing a predetermined processing, for example, photo resist coating after polishing, exposure, development, etching, resist stripping, screen printing, plating, electrical inspection or visual inspection over a film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component (a TAB (Tape Automated Bonding) tape, a T-BGA (Tape Ball Grid Array) tape, a CSP (Chip Size Package) tape, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) tape, a COF (Chip on Film) tape, a 2-metal (double-sidedwiring) tape, a tape for multilayer wiring or the like) (which will be hereinafter referred to as “a film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component”).  
     BACKGROUND ART  
      With the development of electronics industries, a demand for a printed circuit board for mounting an electronic component such as an IC (integrated circuit) and a LSI (large scale integrated circuit) has exponentially been increased. However, a reduction in a size, a decrease in a weight and an enhancement in a function in an electronic apparatus have been demanded, and a mounting method using a film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component such as a TAB tape, a T-BGA tape and an ASIC tape has recently been employed as a method for mounting these electronic components. In the electronics industry using a liquid crystal display (LCD) for which an increase in a fineness, a reduction in a thickness, and a decrease in the frame area of a liquid crystal panel are demanded, for example, a personal computer or the like, particularly, an importance thereof has been increased.  
      When executing each processing such as photo resist coating after polishing, exposure, development, etching, resist stripping, screen printing, plating, electrical inspection or visual inspection over the film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component, a film carrier tape  100  for mounting an electronic component which is wound upon a reel  104  through a spacer  102  is fed out toward a processing device body  101  through a feeding device  106  as shown in  FIG. 3 . An electronic component mounting portion housing is formed on the spacer  102  through embossing corresponding to an electronic component mounting portion, which is not shown.  
      Then, the spacer  102  fed out of the feeding device  106  together with the film carrier tape  100  for mounting an electronic component is taken upon a reel  110  by means of a spacer take-up device  108 .  
      Thereafter, the film carrier tape  100  and the spacer  102  are fed out of the feeding device  106  by means of a feed driving roller  112 . The reel  104  side of the feeding device  106  is controlled through brake control by means of a clutch  114  so as not to be slackened with the film carrier tape  100 .  
      While a tension is required to some extent in order to perfectly take the spacer  102  upon the reel  110  in the spacer take-up device  108 , however, the driving shaft of the reel  104  of the feeding device  106  is subjected to the brake control through the clutch  114  as described above. Therefore, a tension cannot be applied to the spacer  102  side.  
      For this reason, conventionally, there has been employed an operating system in which the amount of slack of the spacer  102  is detected by means of a photosensor  116  in the spacer take-up device  108  and an intermittent operation for driving a driving motor  118  of the reel  110  of the spacer take-up device  108  is thus carried out when the amount of slack of the spacer  102  becomes predetermined level. Consequently, the spacer  102  is taken upon the reel  110  of the spacer take-up device  108  as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
      In the case in which the spacer  102  is to be taken upon the reel  110  of the spacer take-up device  108  by the intermittent operation, however, the spacer  102  cannot be taken up with a constant tension. When taking the spacer  102  upon the reel  110  by means of the spacer take-up device  108 , therefore, the spacer  102  is taken upon the reel  110  with an elliptical deviation or in an eccentric state to the transverse direction of the spacer as shown in  FIG. 4 (A) due to the interference of the embossment of the spacer  102 , the deadweight of the spacer  102  or the like. In such an eccentric state, moreover, the spacer  102  cannot be taken upon the reel  110  in some cases.  
      In the case in which the spacer  102  is thus taken upon the reel  110  in an elliptical deviating winding state, furthermore, the spacer  102  is increasingly brought into a deviating state from the reel  110  by the deadweight of the spacer  102  or the like as shown in  FIG. 4 (B) when a slight vibration or the like is applied to the reel.  
      In the case in which the spacer  102  is taken upon the reel  110  in the elliptical deviating winding state or the eccentric state to the transverse direction of the spacer, thus, a fluctuation in a tension is great so that the abrasion, damage, inner lead bending, injury or the like of the film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component which is subjected to a predetermined processing might be generated when the spacer is to be provided and taken upon another reel together with the film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component by using the reel  102  in this state.  
      In consideration of such an actual condition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device and method for taking up a spacer in an apparatus for processing a film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component which can accurately take a spacer upon a reel in an almost circular winding shape without winding the spacer with an elliptical deviation or in an eccentric state to the transverse direction of the spacer when taking up the spacer fed out together with the film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component, and furthermore, can prevent a great tension from being applied to the film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component and can inhibit a deformation, for example, the generation of a scratch on the surface of the film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component, the bending of an inner lead, a damage, a fold caused by bending the film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component, or the like.  
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems and to attain the object in the conventional art described above, and provides a spacer take-up device in an apparatus for processing a film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component comprising:  
      a feeding device for feeding a film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component which is wound upon a reel through a spacer to a predetermined apparatus for processing a film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component; and  
      a spacer take-up device for winding the spacer fed out of the feeding device upon a reel,  
      wherein a feed driving shaft of the reel of the feeding device is coupled to a driving motor, and  
      a take-up driving shaft of the spacer take-up device is coupled to a motor through a clutch, thereby taking up the spacer at a constant tension.  
      Moreover, the present invention provides a spacer take-up method in an apparatus for processing a film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component comprising:  
      a feeding device for feeding a film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component which is wound upon a reel through a spacer to a predetermined apparatus for processing a film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component; and  
      a spacer take-up device for winding the spacer fed out of the feeding device upon a reel,  
      wherein a feed driving shaft of the reel of the feeding device is coupled to a driving motor, and  
      a take-up driving shaft of the spacer take-up device is coupled to a motor through a clutch, thereby taking up the spacer at a constant tension.  
      Thus, the feed driving shaft of the reel of the feeding device is coupled to the driving motor. Therefore, the take-up tension of the spacer can be set to be great.  
      In this case, it is possible to take up the spacer at a constant tension by setting an amount of take-up of the spacer take-up device to be greater than that of the feeding device.  
      In addition, the take-up driving shaft of the spacer take-up device is coupled to the motor through the clutch, and the clutch is always set in a slip state in such a manner that the motor for the take-up driving shaft is always rotated at a higher speed than a predetermined speed, and the tension to be applied to the spacer is thus set within a predetermined tension.  
      When taking the spacer upon the reel of the spacer take-up device, accordingly, it is possible to accurately take the spacer upon the reel in an almost circular winding shape without winding the spacer with an elliptical deviation or in an eccentric state to the transverse direction of the spacer.  
      Furthermore, a great tension can be prevented from being applied to the film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component which is wound upon the reel and is to be fed out together with the spacer by the feeding device. Consequently, it is possible to prevent a deformation such as the generation of a scratch on the surface of the film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component, the bending of an inner lead, a damage or a fold caused by bending the film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing an apparatus for processing a film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component which comprises a spacer take-up device according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing the state of a reel subjected to take-up by the spacer take-up device according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view showing a conventional spacer take-up device.  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic view showing the state of a reel subjected to take-up by the conventional spacer take-up device. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION  
      An embodiment (example) of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing an apparatus for processing a film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component which comprises a spacer take-up device according to the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing the state of a reel subjected to take-up by the spacer take-up device according to the present invention.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1, 10  denotes an apparatus for processing a film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component according to the present invention as a whole.  
      The apparatus  10  for processing a film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component (which will be hereinafter referred to as a “processing apparatus  10 ”) comprises a delivery device  12 , a processing portion  14  and a take-up device  16  as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
      The processing portion  14  executes a predetermined processing, for example, photo resist coating after polishing, exposure, development, etching, resist stripping, screen printing, plating, electrical inspection, visual inspection or the like over a film carrier tape T for mounting an electronic component.  
      The delivery device  12  includes a feeding device  18  and a spacer take-up device  20 .  
      In the feeding device  18 , for example, the film carrier tape T for mounting an electronic component of a type of CSP or BGA (which will be hereinafter referred to as a “TAB tape”) is wound upon a reel  24  through a spacer  28  and is thus attached to a feed driving shaft  26 .  
      The feed driving shaft  26  is coupled to a driving motor  21 . By the driving operation of the driving motor  21 , the feed driving shaft  26  is rotated. As a result, the TAB tape T is fed out of the reel  24  together with the spacer  28  and is supplied to the processing portion  14  through a guide roller  30 , a dancer roller  32 , a guide roller  34  and the like.  
      After the predetermined processing is carried out over the TAB tape Tin the processing portion  14 , the TAB tape T passes through a driving roller  36 , a dancer roller  38  and a guide roller  40  and is thus supplied to the next take-up device  16 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , the TAB tape T supplied to the take-up device  16  is taken upon a reel  44  attached to a take-up driving shaft  42  by the rotation of the take-up driving shaft  42  through the driving operation of a driving motor  41  coupled to the take-up driving shaft  42 .  
      At this time, a spacer  50  fed out of a reel  48  of a spacer feeding device  46  is provided through the TAB tape T to be supplied to the reel  44  of the take-up device  16 . Consequently, the TAP tape T can be protected from a damage caused by the contact of the TAB tapes.  
      In this case, a driving motor  47  is coupled through a powder clutch  45  to a feed driving shaft  43  of the reel  48  in the spacer feeding device  46 , and a constant tension is applied to the spacer  50  in a reverse direction to a feeding direction as shown in an arrow.  
      In this case, moreover, the speed of the driving motor  41  for the take-up driving shaft  42  of the take-up device  16  is controlled by a control device based on the result of the detection of a potentiometer  31  provided additionally on the fulcrum of the arm of the dancer roller  38  in such a manner that the position of the dancer roller  38  is held in a neutral position.  
      On the other hand, the spacer  28  fed out of the reel  24  of the feeding device  18  together with the TAB tape T is taken upon a reel  56  attached to a take-up driving shaft  54  of the spacer take-up device  20  by the rotation of the take-up driving shaft  54  through the driving operation of a driving motor  23  coupled through a powder clutch  29  as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
      In the drawing, PH denotes a photosensor for detecting the number of rotations of the reel  56  in the spacer take-up device  20  and a photosensor for detecting the number of rotations of the reel  48  in the spacer feeding device  46 .  
      The spacer take-up device in the processing apparatus  10  according to the present invention which has such a structure is constituted to carry out an operation in the following manner.  
      The feeding device  18  operates the driving motor  21  for the take-up driving shaft  26  based on the control of a control device which is not shown. As a result, the feed driving shaft  26  is rotated at a constant speed and torque and the TAB tape T is thus fed out of the reel  24  together with the spacer  28  at a constant speed and a constant tension and is supplied to the processing portion  14 .  
      In this case, the speed of the driving motor  21  for the feed driving shaft  26  is controlled by a control device based on the result of the detection of a potentiometer  25  provided additionally on the fulcrum of the arm of the dancer roller  32  in such a manner that the position of the dancer roller  32  is held in a neutral position. Moreover, the speed of the TAB tape T in the processing portion  14  is finally controlled by means of a driving motor  43  for the driving roller  36  by the control of the control device.  
      Moreover, a torque is applied to the fulcrum of the arm of the dancer roller  32  by a powder clutch and a driving motor (not shown) for the dancer roller  32 . As a result, the tension described above is applied to the TAB tape T by the control of the control device.  
      Then, the spacer  28  fed out of the feeding device  18  is delivered to the spacer take-up device  20 .  
      In the spacer take-up device  20 , thereafter, the driving motor  23  and the powder clutch  29  for the take-up driving shaft  54  of the reel  56  in the spacer take-up device  20  are operated based on the control of the control device. As a result, the take-up driving shaft  54  is rotated at a constant speed and torque. Consequently, the spacer  28  is controlled to be taken upon the reel  56  at a constant speed of 0.5 to 10 m/minute, and preferably, a tension of 50 to 5000 gf, for example.  
      It is desirable that the tension to be applied to the spacer  28  by the powder clutch  29  should be set to be 50 to 5000 gf.  
      By such a structure, the feed driving shaft  26  of the reel  24  in the feeding device  18  is coupled to the driving motor  21 . Therefore, the take-up tension of the spacer  28  can be set to be great.  
      In this case, setting the amount of take-up of the spacer take-up device  20  is set to be greater than that of the feeding device  18 . As a result, the spacer  28  can be taken up at a constant tension by the action of the powder clutch  29 , which is provided between the driving motor  23  and the take-up driving shaft  54 .  
      More specifically, the take-up driving shaft  54  of the spacer take-up device  20  is coupled to the driving motor  23  through the powder clutch  29 . In addition, the clutch  29  is always set in a slip state in such a manner that the driving motor  23  for the take-up driving shaft  54  is always rotated at a higher speed than a predetermined speed. Consequently, the tension to be applied to the spacer  28  is set within a predetermined tension.  
      When the tension to be applied to the spacer  28  exceeds a predetermined tension, the powder clutch  29  slips so that the tension to be applied to the spacer  28  is set within a predetermined tension.  
      If the tension of the spacer  28  in the spacer take-up device  20  is set within such a range, thus, it is possible to accurately take the spacer  28  upon the reel in an almost circular winding shape as shown in  FIG. 2 , without winding the spacer  28  with an elliptical deviation or in an eccentric state to the transverse direction of the spacer  28  when taking the spacer  28  upon the reel  56  of the spacer take-up device  20 .  
      In addition, a great tension can be prevented from being applied to the TAB tape T wound upon the reel  24  which is to be fed together with the spacer  28  by the feeding device  18  within such a range. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a deformation such as the generation of a scratch on the surface of the film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component, the bending of an inner lead, a damage or a fold caused by bending the film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component.  
      It is desirable that a clutch of a type capable of controlling a torque in a very low current should be used for the powder clutch in order to easily execute the control of the torque, and furthermore, to carry out an installation in a small place. For example, it is possible to use a hysteresis clutch, a powder clutch or the like.  
      The powder clutch can generate a torque which is almost proportional to an exciting current by an electromagnetic powder method, can be used in a continuous slip within an allowable slip rate, rarely has a change in a torque caused by the number of rotations, and has an excellent repeatability. Furthermore, the powder clutch employs an integral structure of a coil resting type, can easily be attached and does not require a maintenance, uses powder, and has a long lifetime. For such a powder clutch, it is possible to use “Micropowder Clutch Brake OP Series” (manufactured by Ogura Clutch Co., Ltd.), for example.  
      Moreover, the hysteresis clutch generates a torque which is proportional to an exciting current, can accurately control a torque, can be used in a continuous slip within an allowable slip rate, can generate a semipermanently stable torque because of no presence of a mechanical contact portion in an electromagnetic torque transmission. In addition, the hysteresis clutch is of a coil resting type and is incorporated in a shaft, can easily be attached to a machine, and does not require a maintenance. For example, it is possible to use a “Hysteresis Clutch Brake H Series” (manufactured by Ogura Clutch Co., Ltd.).  
      While the preferred example according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not restricted thereto but can also be applied to the case of an ordinary film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component which has a width of 35 mm to 165 mm, for example, and furthermore, a multi-line film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component in which a film carrier tape is formed in a plurality of lines (a plurality of rows) over the same wide film. Thus, various changes can be made without departing from the object of the present invention.  
     EFFECT OF THE INVENTION  
      According to the present invention, the feed driving shaft of the reel of the feeding device is coupled to the driving motor. Therefore, the take-up tension of the spacer can be set to be great.  
      In this case, it is possible to take up the spacer at a constant tension by setting an amount of take-up of the spacer take-up device to be greater than that of the feeding device.  
      In addition, the take-up driving shaft of the spacer take-up device is coupled to the motor through the clutch, and the clutch is always set in a slip state in such a manner that the motor for the take-up driving shaft is always rotated at a higher speed than a predetermined speed, and the tension to be applied to the spacer is thus set within a predetermined tension.  
      When taking the spacer upon the reel of the spacer take-up device, accordingly, it is possible to accurately take the spacer upon the reel in an almost circular winding shape without winding the spacer with an elliptical deviation or in an eccentric state to the transverse direction of the spacer.  
      Furthermore, a great tension can be prevented from being applied to the film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component which is wound upon the reel and is to be fed out together with the spacer by the feeding device. Consequently, it is possible to prevent a deformation such as the generation of a scratch on the surface of the film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component, the bending of an inner lead, a damage or a fold caused by bending the film carrier tape for mounting an electronic component. Thus, the present invention can produce many functions and advantages, which is very excellent.