Solder paste dispensing feedback system and circuit board printer using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12544847-B2
Application number	US-202318839927-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2023
Priority date	Mar 17, 2022
Publication date	Feb 10, 2026
Grant date	Feb 10, 2026

Abstract

The present application provides a solder paste dispensing feedback system ( 10 ) for a circuit board printer. The system ( 10 ) comprises a solder paste container ( 101 ), a solder paste extruding device, a first sensor, a second sensor and a control device. The solder paste container ( 101 ) is used to contain solder paste and has an outlet. The solder paste extruding device is used to extrude the solder paste from the outlet of the solder paste container ( 101 ). The first sensor is used to detect solder paste in the solder paste container ( 101 ), and generate a first signal to indicate whether the solder paste container ( 101 ) still contains solder paste. The second sensor is used to detect an operating state of the solder paste container ( 101 ), and generate a second signal to indicate whether solder paste is extruded from the outlet of the solder paste container ( 101 ). The control device is used to receive the first signal and the second signal, and control the operation of the circuit board printer according to the indications of the first signal and the second signal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A solder paste dispensing feedback system for a circuit board printer, characterized by comprising:
a solder paste container ( 101 ), the solder paste container ( 101 ) being used to contain solder paste, and the solder paste container having an outlet ( 102 ); a solder paste extruding device ( 201 ), the solder paste extruding device ( 201 ) being used to extrude the solder paste from the outlet ( 102 ) of the solder paste container ( 101 ); a first sensor ( 301 ), the first sensor ( 301 ) being configured to detect solder paste in the solder paste container ( 101 ) and generate a first signal, the first signal being used to indicate whether the solder paste container ( 101 ) still contains solder paste; a second sensor ( 302 ), the second sensor ( 302 ) being configured to detect an operating state of the solder paste container ( 101 ) and generate a second signal, the second signal being used to indicate whether solder paste is extruded from the outlet ( 102 ) of the solder paste container ( 101 ); a control device ( 401 ), the control device ( 401 ) being configured to receive the first signal and the second signal, and control the operation of the circuit board printer according to the indications of the first signal and the second signal, characterized in that: the solder paste dispensing feedback system comprises a mounting support ( 501 ) for fixing the solder paste container ( 101 ); the solder paste container ( 101 ) has a tail portion ( 103 ) positioned toward the outlet ( 102 ); the first sensor ( 301 ) is arranged on the mounting support ( 501 ) proximate to the tail portion ( 103 ) of the solder paste container ( 101 ); and the first sensor ( 301 ) is an eddy current proximity switch.

2 . A solder paste dispensing feedback system for a circuit board printer, characterized by comprising:
a solder paste container ( 101 ), the solder paste container ( 101 ) being used to contain solder paste, and the solder paste container having an outlet ( 102 ); a solder paste extruding device ( 201 ), the solder paste extruding device ( 201 ) being used to extrude the solder paste from the outlet ( 102 ) of the solder paste container ( 101 ); a first sensor ( 301 ), the first sensor ( 301 ) being configured to detect solder paste in the solder paste container ( 101 ) and generate a first signal, the first signal being used to indicate whether the solder paste container ( 101 ) still contains solder paste; a second sensor ( 302 ), the second sensor ( 302 ) being configured to detect an operating state of the solder paste container ( 101 ) and generate a second signal, the second signal being used to indicate whether solder paste is extruded from the outlet ( 102 ) of the solder paste container ( 101 ); a control device ( 401 ), the control device ( 401 ) being configured to receive the first signal and the second signal, and control the operation of the circuit board printer according to the indications of the first signal and the second signal, characterized in that: the control device ( 401 ) is configured such that: when the first signal of the first sensor ( 301 ) indicates that there is solder paste in the solder paste container ( 101 ), and the second signal of the second sensor ( 302 ) indicates that solder paste is extruded from the outlet ( 102 ) of the solder paste container ( 101 ), the control device ( 401 ) controls the circuit board printer to continue operating; when the first signal of the first sensor ( 301 ) indicates that there is solder paste in the solder paste container ( 101 ), and the second signal of the second sensor ( 302 ) indicates that no solder paste is extruded from the outlet ( 102 ) of the solder paste container ( 101 ) within a predetermined period of time, the control device ( 401 ) controls the circuit board printer to issue a confirmation prompt, so as to prompt an operator to confirm by observation whether the solder paste in the solder paste container ( 101 ) has been used up; when the first signal of the first sensor ( 301 ) indicates that there is no solder paste in the solder paste container ( 101 ), and the second signal of the second sensor ( 302 ) indicates that solder paste is extruded from the outlet ( 102 ) of the solder paste container ( 101 ), the control device ( 401 ) controls the circuit board printer to continue operating; or when the first signal of the first sensor ( 301 ) indicates that there is no solder paste in the solder paste container ( 101 ), and the second signal of the second sensor ( 302 ) indicates that no solder paste is extruded from the outlet ( 102 ) of the solder paste container ( 101 ) within a predetermined period of time, the control device ( 401 ) controls the circuit board printer to issue a replacement prompt, to prompt the operator to replace the solder paste container ( 101 ).

3 . A solder paste dispensing feedback system for a circuit board printer, characterized by comprising:
a solder paste container ( 101 ), the solder paste container ( 101 ) being used to contain solder paste, and the solder paste container having an outlet ( 102 ); a solder paste extruding device ( 201 ), the solder paste extruding device ( 201 ) being used to extrude the solder paste from the outlet ( 102 ) of the solder paste container ( 101 ); a first sensor ( 301 ), the first sensor ( 301 ) being configured to detect solder paste in the solder paste container ( 101 ) and generate a first signal, the first signal being used to indicate whether the solder paste container ( 101 ) still contains solder paste; a second sensor ( 302 ), the second sensor ( 302 ) being configured to detect an operating state of the solder paste container ( 101 ) and generate a second signal, the second signal being used to indicate whether solder paste is extruded from the outlet ( 102 ) of the solder paste container ( 101 ); a control device ( 401 ), the control device ( 401 ) being configured to receive the first signal and the second signal, and control the operation of the circuit board printer according to the indications of the first signal and the second signal, characterized in that: the solder paste has an extrusion path from the outlet ( 102 ) of the solder paste container ( 101 ), and the second sensor ( 302 ) is located downstream of the outlet ( 102 ) of the solder paste container ( 101 ) in the direction of the extrusion path of the solder paste, and to the outlet ( 102 ) of the solder paste container ( 101 ); the second sensor ( 302 ) is a photoelectric sensor; and the photoelectric sensor defines an opening region ( 303 a , 303 b ), and the extrusion path of the solder paste passes through the opening region ( 303 a , 303 b ).

4 . The solder paste dispensing feedback system as claimed in claim 3 , characterized in that:
the photoelectric sensor is a slot-type photoelectric sensor ( 302 a ) or a frame-type photoelectric sensor ( 302 b ).

5 . The solder paste dispensing feedback system as claimed in claim 2 , characterized in that:
the solder paste extruding device ( 201 ) is a gas input device ( 201 ); the solder paste container ( 101 ) has a gas inlet ( 104 ) and a piston ( 105 ), the gas inlet ( 104 ) being arranged at one end of the solder paste container ( 101 ) opposite the outlet ( 102 ), and the piston ( 105 ) being contained in the solder paste container ( 101 ); wherein the solder paste container ( 101 ) receives gas through the gas inlet ( 104 ) from the gas input device ( 201 ), and the piston ( 105 ) is configured to be pushed in the direction of the outlet ( 102 ) of the solder paste container ( 101 ) by the gas inputted through the gas inlet ( 104 ), to extrude the solder paste from the solder paste container ( 101 ).

6 . A circuit board printer, character

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Chen Yuexin
• Liu Zhixue

Classifications

• H05K3/3485

  Application of solder paste, slurry or powder (using printing techniques to form the desired conductive pattern of the printed circuit by applying conductive material H05K3/12) · CPC title

• B23K2101/42

  Printed circuits · CPC title

• B41P2233/30

  Measuring or controlling the consumption of ink · CPC title

• B41F33/02

  Arrangements of indicating devices, e.g. counters · CPC title

• B41F31/022

  Ink level control devices · CPC title