JP2000351524A - Method and device for removing liquid seal from support - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide high reliability of peeling characteristic of an adhesive film in contact with a support and remove a liquid seal from the support quickly with precise reproducibility. SOLUTION: A plurality of liquid seals 36 in which an adhesive film on one face comes into contact with a support 50 and an adhesive film 38 on the other face is covered with a peeling cover 54 are mounted on the support 50. The support 50 is fed into a hole drilling mechanism 70, each liquid seal 36 is positioned in the hole drilling mechanism 70, and the support 50 is fixed in the hole drilling mechanism 70. A set of parallel needles 74 having a pointed end at one end are mounted on a support plate 76, the liquid seals 36 are lifted from the support 50 by moving the support 50 and the set of needles 74, and the liquid seals 36 lifted from the support 50 are supported on the pointed end of the set of needles 74 to feed to a grasping and mounting device mounting at least one liquid seal 36 on a device and prevent the adhesion of the adhesive film 38 on the liquid seal 36 to the pointed end of the set of needles 74.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for removing a liquid seal from a support. A method and apparatus for removing, capturing removed liquid seals, and submitting them to a robotic device that attaches to a device, such as an inkjet cartridge, for example.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In mass assembly of devices each having a liquid seal with adhesive applied to both sides, the process of mounting the liquid seal is complex, especially when a high degree of reliability and precision reproducibility is required. High cost. One way to save costs is to increase productivity, that is, to increase the speed of the process without compromising reliability or reproducibility. The present invention provides such cost savings,
This will increase productivity.

An example of a device using an adhesive-coated double-sided liquid seal is US Pat. No. 5,519,42.
There is a thermal ink jet cartridge as described in US Pat. In this patent, the ink cartridge has an ink supply in a housing to which a printhead assembly for ejecting ink drops is fixedly mounted. The ink flow path is formed by an elongated groove in the bottom wall of the housing. A discharge port connects one end of the groove to an ink supply means in the cartridge housing. A film-like liquid seal with an adhesive coating on both sides is mounted on the bottom wall of the cartridge housing above the elongated groove, which completes the ink flow path. The slot through the liquid seal is the same size as the ink inlet of the printhead and is aligned with the ink inlet when the printhead assembly is permanently mounted on the bottom wall of the cartridge housing. The adhesive coating on both sides of the liquid seal is hardened so that the adhesive applied to the surface of the liquid seal facing the bottom wall of the housing seals the liquid seal in the cartridge and the opposite side of the liquid seal. The applied adhesive bonds the liquid seal to the printhead, thereby forming a leak-proof seal, or gasket, between the printhead and the cartridge. Since the adhesive coating is exposed to the ink, the adhesive must be of a type that is not attacked by the ink. Otherwise, the seal may be damaged and broken, and the ink may be contaminated by the adhesive.

In US Pat. No. 5,519,425, the liquid seal is peeled from the strip of the support by a robotic vacuum gripping and mounting mechanism and mounted on the bottom wall of the cartridge. However, when the vacuum-type gripping mechanism tries to separate the liquid seal from the support strip, the peeling characteristics of the adhesive film on the liquid seal surface in contact with the support strip are not uniform. The process of removing the seal was unreliable and slow.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for quickly removing a liquid seal from a support with high reliability and precise reproducibility by using a peeling property for removing an adhesive coating of the liquid seal from the support. Is not uniform.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect of the invention, a liquid seal having an adhesive coating on both opposing surfaces is removed from the support so that the release characteristics of the adhesive coating in contact with the support are not mixed. Thereby providing a liquid seal quickly and securely for easy attachment to a device, wherein the liquid seal has opposing sides and each side of the liquid seal includes an adhesive coating. A plurality of liquid seals of the type in which the adhesive coating on one side of the liquid seal is in contact with the support and the adhesive coating on the opposite side of the liquid seal is covered with a release cover , Feeding the support to the piercing mechanism, aligning each liquid seal with a fixed position in the piercing mechanism, and fixing the support to a fixed position in the piercing mechanism. Mounting a set of parallel needles having a point at one end on a support plate, and relative to the support and the set of needles, and the set of needles approaching the support and Lifting the at least one liquid seal from the support by moving in a direction such that it penetrates; and supporting the at least one liquid seal lifted from the support on the tip of a set of needles, at least A single liquid seal is presented to a grasping and mounting device that mounts on the device, and the point of the set of needles prevents the adhesive coating on the liquid seal in contact with the point from adhering to the point. And a step.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for removing a liquid seal having an adhesive coating on opposite sides thereof from the support such that the release characteristics of the adhesive coating in contact with the support are not mixed, The support includes a plurality of liquid seals, each liquid seal having an adhesive coating on an opposing surface thereof, the adhesive coating on one side of the liquid seal contacting the support, and Means for feeding a support of the type in which the adhesive coating on the opposing surface is covered by a release cover to the piercing mechanism; means for aligning each liquid seal with a fixed position within said piercing mechanism; A clamp for gripping the support while the liquid seals are aligned with the fixed position, one end is fixedly mounted on the support structure plate, and the opposite end has a point Set of parallel needles If, relatively a set of support and the needle, and, by the needle set of approaches to the support, is moved in a direction to penetrate thereto, at least one
Means for lifting the one or more liquid seals from the support, wherein at least one of the liquid seals lifted from the support is supported on the tip of a set of needles and includes at least one liquid seal.
A device is provided that inserts a sheet of liquid seal into a capture and mounting device that mounts on the device such that the point of the set of needles prevents the adhesive coating on the liquid seal in contact with the point from adhering to the point. To provide.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

While liquid seals having adhesive coatings on opposing sides can be used for many different devices, the liquid seal of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 and is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,519,425. It will be described as used in a standard ink jet cartridge as described. FIG. 1 shows a schematic front sectional view of a standard ink jet cartridge 10 having a liquid seal 36 therein. Cartridge 12
And a printhead assembly 46 secured to the housing by strut pins 40. The housing is generally made of lightweight but durable plastic and has an inner chamber 11 containing an absorbent material 18 for storing liquid ink therein. The housing has a bottom wall 25 provided with a vent 23 which is open to the atmosphere and the outlet 16. Elongated grooves 30 of varying depth
Is formed in the outer surface 26 of the wall thickness 52 of the bottom wall 25 so that the wall thickness forms a step 52 'with the outer surface of the bottom wall. Groove 30 may be integrally molded into the wall thickness of the bottom wall during the manufacturing process of housing 12. Elongated groove 30
Is connected to the discharge port 16 and the other end is connected to the print head.
When the print head 14 is mounted on the bottom wall 25 of the housing 12 as part of the assembly 46, it terminates at a position that is aligned with the inlet 34 of the print head 14.

The nozzle 37 in the front face 42 of the print head is about 20 mils, or 0.5 m, from the recording medium (not shown).
Since there must be a close separation of a distance of m, a separation distance "X" between the outlet 16 and the inlet of the print head of about 10 mm is required. This gap exceeds the wrinkle size of the recording medium, which is a common response to liquid ink on the surface of a recording medium such as paper. Thus, since the front of the print head should project beyond the cartridge housing 12, it is impossible for the housing to contact the recording medium recently printed with liquid ink, i.e., to rub the recording medium. . As described above, since the suction port 34 of the print head is located beyond the housing of the cartridge, the elongated groove 30 is formed in the chamber 11.
It is necessary to provide an interconnected ink flow path between the print head and the suction port of the print head. In addition, the geometrical shape of the groove 30 is such that the cross-sectional area of the flow path seen from the front view increases from the suction port 34 of the print head toward the discharge port 16 of the chamber 11 so that the flow path is formed. The flow rate of the ink passing therethrough is sufficient, and air bubbles that obstruct the flow in the groove can be ventilated into the chamber 11.

The liquid seal 36 covers the groove 30 to complete the ink path from the chamber outlet 16 to the printhead inlet 34 and is aligned with the printhead inlet and has a size corresponding to it. It has a matching opening 35. FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view of a cartridge, each showing a liquid seal in a plan view, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a liquid seal.
Referring also to FIGS. 5 and 5, the Mylar® seal has a thickness of about 4 to 10 mils, or 0.1 to 0.25 mm, and preferably about 7 mils, or 0.175 mm. ) Is a relatively thin film of polyester material. The liquid seal 36 has a predetermined flat shape so as to avoid the strut pins 40 and appropriately cover the grooves 30. The liquid seal has a slot-shaped opening 35 therein that matches the shape and size of the elongated printhead inlet 34. Thus, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 2, the groove 30 is funnel-shaped, with the wider end located above the liquid seal opening 35. The liquid seal is adhered to the surface 26 of the wall thickness 52 of the bottom wall 25 of the housing and covers the groove 30. The liquid seal has opposing surfaces 31, 33 as shown in FIG. 5, and each surface has, for example, a thickness of about 0.01.
A suitable thermosetting adhesive 38, such as a phenolic-nitride adhesive of .about.0.05 mm, is applied. One side of the adhesive coating adheres the liquid seal to the wall thickness of the housing bottom wall including the groove, and the other side of the adhesive coating is adhered to the print head 14, which includes a heat sink 24 and a print head. Assembled with circuit board 44 to form printhead assembly 46. After the printhead assembly is mounted in the cartridge housing via the post pins 40, the liquid seal seals the elongated grooves in a liquid-tight manner and the printhead nozzle 3
7 to form a sealed ink passage. Adhesive 3
Since 8 is in direct contact with the ink flowing through the passageway formed by groove 30 and liquid seal 36, the adhesive must be insoluble in the components used in the ink.

The liquid seal is made by applying the desired adhesive to both sides of a polyester film, such as Mylar®, which can be of any shape or size, but is not a preferred embodiment. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the strip 36 'has a width of about 40 mm. The adhesive-coated strip is then 2 to 6 mils thick, ie 0.05 to 0.15 mm, preferably 0,1 to 0,5 mm thick.
Support for peeling polyester thin film 5 until it reaches 075 mm
0, which in the preferred embodiment also has the shape of a strip of the same width as the liquid sealing strip. Subsequently adhered to the raised surface 26 of the bottom wall 25 of the cartridge,
(Thus the liquid seal 36 is formed) Strip 3
The adhesive coating 6 'on one side is the side of the adhesive that contacts the support 50. The adhesive coating on the other side of the liquid seal strip is covered by a relatively thin polyester release paper cover 54 having a thickness of about 0.025 mm. Utilizing the progressive drilling operation, first through the entire three-layer stack 60,
The ink opening of each liquid seal flush with the print head 42 (i.e., the boundary between the slot 35 and the leading edge 39), the tractor feed hole 62, and the spaced square timing. An opening 64 is drilled. Next, the remaining profile of the liquid seal is pierced through the cover member 54 and the liquid seal strip 36 ', but the support 50 is only pierced to a depth of just 0.025 mm.
The progressively perforated three-layer stack 60 is then wound onto a sleeve or spool (not shown) and attached to a perforation mechanism 70 (partially shown in FIGS. 6 and 7). The liquid seals 36 are peeled off one at a time, which is a vacuum capture and mounting end effector (not shown) that mounts the liquid seals 36 on the cartridge 10.
Into a robot-type assembly fixture with When the support is progressively advanced by a tractor wheel (not shown) which fits into a tractor perforation 62 in the support together with the liquid seal thereon, the liquid seal strip 36 'and the cover layer 54 are disengaged. The portion of the first two layers of waste material except for the liquid seal 36 having the cover layer 54 remaining on the support is peeled off from the support 50.
The tractor vehicle is driven by a step motor (not shown). In a preferred embodiment, the spacing between the liquid seals is about 5 cm along a 100,000 cm long support strip.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of a portion of the support 50 with the liquid seal 36 spaced along the support 50, one of which is a perforating mechanism 70.
In accordance with the present invention, the liquid seals are removed one at a time from the support at said position. The stepper motor rotates a tractor wheel (neither shown), which engages the support through the tractor perforations 62 so that the liquid seal is aligned with the fixed position 77 in the drilling mechanism. The support is advanced until an optical sensor (not shown) detects one of the timing openings 64 indicating that the operation is being performed. When the optical sensor detects the timing opening, a signal is generated to stop the support at the desired fixed position. Referring also to FIG. 6, a piercing mechanism 70, partially shown, has a pair of clamps 72, and a set of parallel needles 74 mounted on a support plate 76 is provided within the piercing mechanism. It is arranged at the fixed position. While the support 50 is substantially aligned in this fixed position, the clamp on the opposite side of the support is actuated to grip both sides of the support as shown by arrows 78.

After the support is gripped by the clamp 72, the clamp holding the support is lowered,
A set of needles 74 penetrates the support 50 and the needle tips 75 remove the liquid seal 36 from the support and support the liquid seal over the tips. Alternatively, the needle may penetrate the support and remove the liquid seal by raising the support plate 76 and holding the support fixed by the clamp 72. Although only three needles are shown on the support plate in FIGS. 6 and 7, any number of needles can be used, and in the preferred embodiment a set of ten needles is used. The needles are of the same length of about 0.5 to 2 cm, preferably about 1 cm, and have a diameter of about 0.05 to 0.1 mm. The needles are fixedly mounted on the support plate 76 and perpendicular to the support plate, the support plate being oriented substantially parallel to the support fixed at a fixed position in the drilling mechanism. The needle tip 75 may substantially penetrate into the adhesive 38 (after penetrating the support), but does not penetrate the liquid seal itself, so that a relatively thin layer of adhesive is in surface contact with the needle. Since the degree is small, the surface tension of the adhesive,
Alternatively, no adhesive force is generated due to tackiness.
Thus, the removed liquid seal is supported on the needle tip at a distance from the support and is thus easily facilitated by the vacuum capture and mounting end effector (neither shown) of the automated robotic mechanism. Provided for access.

The liquid seal 36 is vacuum removed from the needle tip 75 by a robotic mechanism and utilizes a visual system (not shown) to provide a cartridge bottom wall 25 over the groove 30.
Is mounted on the surface 26 of the ridge 52. In a preferred embodiment, a certain slight pressure is utilized to prevent the vacuum seal from pulling the liquid seal when the end effector peels off the liquid seal and causing misalignment thereof.
The release cover is then removed by a more adhesive tape or, in a preferred embodiment, by a mechanical catch (not shown) which grips and releases the edge of the release cover. Next, with the print head suction port 34 aligned with the liquid seal opening 35, the opening in the heat sink is positioned so that the print head 14 is positioned on the standby adhesive coating of the liquid seal 36. The printhead assembly is mounted on the cartridge by inserting strut pins 40 through the printhead assembly. The strut pins are ultrasonically driven into (sta) to permanently secure the printhead assembly 46 to the cartridge housing 12.
king), the adhesive coating on the liquid seal is partially cured by heating the cartridge to about 125 ° C. with a force of 8-14 lbs for only about 8 seconds. The liquid seal adhesive 38 is then cooled to room temperature so that the liquid seal is firmly adhered to the cartridge and printhead.
By heating the entire assembled cartridge 10 in a furnace at a temperature of about 150 ° C. for about 60 minutes without pressure,
The adhesive is completely cured.

After each liquid seal has been removed from the tip of the needle, the set of needles is lowered, withdrawn from the support 50, the clamp 72 is released, and the support is opened for the next timing opening 64 in the support. Until detected, it is stepped forward through the piercing mechanism by the tractor vehicle, thereby stopping another liquid seal in a fixed position within the piercing mechanism. The support is then gripped by the clamp 72 and lowered to a set of needles 74, which pierce the support and remove the liquid seal therefrom. The liquid seal sits on the tip of the needle and is protruded to a robotic mechanism for capturing and attaching the liquid seal to another cartridge housing. Each liquid seal is removed in about 0.5 seconds. This process is repeated until the desired amount of cartridge has been manufactured.

[0017]

The liquid seal used for devices such as ink refill cartridges for ink jet printers is dispensed by removing the liquid seal with a set of needles that pierce and lift an adhesive coated liquid seal on both sides. An extremely fast, reliable and damage-free technology is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front cross-sectional view of a standard ink jet cartridge having a liquid seal.

FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view taken along line 2-2 of the cartridge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a roll of a support strip including a plurality of liquid seals releasably held.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of the support strip of FIG. 3 with the liquid seal aligned with the fixed position of the piercing mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of one liquid seal taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the piercing mechanism with the liquid seal on the support mounted, showing the needle set of the piercing mechanism near the support, and the clamp.

FIG. 7: the clamp grips the support, the needle set is moved relative to the support, the needle set pierces the support,
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, holding the removed liquid seal at a distance from the support.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 inkjet cartridge 11 inner chamber 12 housing 14 print head 16 discharge port 18 absorbent material 23 vent 24 heat sink 25 bottom wall 26 outer surface 30 groove 31 facing surface 33 facing surface 34 suction opening 35 opening 36 liquid seal 37 nozzle 38 Adhesive 39 Front edge 40 Post pin 42 Printhead front 44 Printed circuit board 46 Printhead assembly 50 Support 52 Thick wall 52 'Step 54 Paper cover 62 Tractor feed hole 64 Timing opening 70 Drilling mechanism 72 Clamp 74 Needle 75 Pointed end 76 Support plate 77 Fixed position 78 Arrow

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3E049 AA02 AB03 BA01 CA10 DB06 EA02 EA07 EB02 EC02 3F108 JA03 3J040 BA01 EA26 EA27 EA46 FA06 HA03

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A method of removing a liquid seal having an adhesive coating on opposing surfaces from a support, wherein the liquid seal has opposing surfaces and each surface of the liquid seal includes an adhesive coating. A plurality of liquid seals of the type in which the adhesive coating on one side of the liquid seal is in contact with the support and the adhesive coating on the opposite side of the liquid seal is covered with a release cover member Feeding the support to the piercing mechanism; aligning each liquid seal with a fixed position in the piercing mechanism; fixing the support to a fixed position in the piercing mechanism; Mounting one end of a set of parallel needles having a point at the end opposite to the end to be mounted on the support plate; and setting the support and the needle relative to each other and setting the needles. Approaches the support Moving the at least one liquid seal from the support at the needle tip; and moving the at least one liquid seal lifted from the support onto the tip of the set of needles. To support at least one of the liquid seals and to provide easy access to equipment for mounting the same on the device, wherein the tips of the set of needles have an adhesive coating on the liquid seal in contact with said tips. Preventing sticking to the pointed tip. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the support is a continuous strip of the first polyester film, a plurality of liquid seals are formed from the continuous strip of the second polyester film, and a release cover over each liquid seal is formed. The method of claim 1 wherein the third polyester film is formed from a continuous strip. 3. An apparatus for removing a liquid seal from a surface of a support so that a mounting mechanism for applying the liquid seal to the device can be quickly and reliably accessed, wherein the support has a plurality of liquid seals on one surface. Wherein each liquid seal has an adhesive coating on its opposing surface, the adhesive coating on one side of the liquid seal is in contact with the support, and the adhesive coating on the opposing surface of the liquid seal is Means for feeding a support of the type covered by the release cover member to the piercing mechanism; means for advancing a continuous strip of each liquid seal and aligning it with a fixed position in the piercing mechanism; A clamp for gripping the support while one liquid seal is aligned with the fixed position; a support having one end fixedly mounted on the support plate and an opposite end including the liquid seal; Face and A set of parallel needles having a pointed end facing the opposite side of the support and oriented perpendicular to the support; a set of needles and a fixed portion of the support; Means for moving the liquid seal relative to the support and away from the support, wherein the tip of the needle penetrates the support when the liquid seal is aligned in the fixed position, and the liquid seal moves away from the support. Removing said liquid seal so that the liquid seal sits on top of the needle so that a mounting mechanism that captures the liquid seal and mounts it on the device can easily access the liquid seal. An apparatus characterized in that: