JP4692047B2 - Cutting method and apparatus for ceramic green block - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cutting method and a cutting apparatus for a ceramic green block, in which the ceramic green block is cut and cut using a cutting blade.

When manufacturing a ceramic electronic component such as a ceramic capacitor, it is necessary to cut a ceramic green block (including a ceramic green sheet or a laminate thereof) to a predetermined size. As a method for cutting such a ceramic green block, there is a method as disclosed in Patent Document 1.

In this method, as shown in FIG. 7, a green block W is placed on a table 20 and held by a method such as suction or adhesion, and a guide 21 that abuts one side or two adjacent sides of the green block W. The green block W is held at a predetermined position by the guide 21. The cutting blade 22 is held by a holder 23, and is a method of pulling (or pushing) the green block W by lowering the holder 23 while moving it parallel to the surface of the green block W. That is, the cutting blade 22 moves in the diagonal direction Y by combining the movement in the horizontal direction A and the movement in the vertical direction B. The guide 21 positioned in the drawing direction of the cutting blade 22 is provided with grooves 21a for escaping the cutting blade 21 at a predetermined cutting pitch interval.

However, in the method of cutting while moving the cutting blade 22 parallel to the surface of the green block W as described above, since the cutting blade 22 enters the green block W at the same speed over the entire area, It is difficult to obtain a ceramic green block with relatively large cutting resistance and excellent dimensional accuracy.
Further, the green block W has a displacement force in the direction (A direction) in which the cutting blade 22 is moved due to friction with the cutting blade 22. A holding member becomes essential. In particular, it is necessary to provide grooves 21a at a predetermined pitch interval in the guide 21 positioned in the direction of pushing the cutting blade 22. Since the interval of the grooves 21a varies depending on the cut width, the guide 21 is also replaced when the cutting interval is changed. There must be.
Further, when the block size is increased, there is a problem that the position shift of the green block W cannot be sufficiently prevented by holding only the end face.
JP 2000-254910 A

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a ceramic green block cutting method and a cutting apparatus capable of reducing a cutting resistance during block cutting and obtaining a green block having excellent dimensional accuracy.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a ceramic green block cutting method and a cutting apparatus capable of suppressing the occurrence of green block displacement due to cutting.

The object can be achieved by the cutting method according to claim 1 and the cutting device according to claim 5 or 7.
The cutting method according to claim 1 is a cutting method of a ceramic green block in which a ceramic green block placed on a table is cut by being cut using a cutting blade. (A) One end side of the cutting blade is downward. A step of inclining and bringing one end side protruding downward of the cutting blade into contact with or contacting the table mounting surface; and (b) rotating the other end side of the cutting blade downward with the one end side of the cutting blade as a fulcrum. Cutting the ceramic green block by bringing the blade portion of the cutting blade into contact with the mounting surface of the table, thereby cutting the ceramic green block.

The cutting device according to claim 5 is a ceramic green block cutting device that cuts and cuts a ceramic green block placed on a table using a cutting blade, wherein one end of the cutting blade is rotated about a horizontal axis as a fulcrum. Supporting fulcrum portion, cutting blade rotating actuator for driving the other end of the cutting blade in the vertical direction, and holding the cutting blade in an oblique direction so that one end of the cutting blade is downward, one end of the cutting blade After the side is brought into contact with the mounting surface of the table, the actuator is operated to rotate the other end side of the cutting blade downward with the fulcrum portion as a fulcrum, and the blade portion of the cutting blade is placed on the table. Control means for controlling the green block to push and cut by bringing the green block into contact with the surface. Block which is a cutting device.

A cutting device according to claim 7 is a cutting device for a ceramic green block that cuts and cuts a ceramic green block placed on a table using a cutting blade, wherein one end of the cutting blade is rotated about a horizontal axis as a fulcrum. A first fulcrum part that supports the first fulcrum part, a first cutting blade rotating actuator that drives the first fulcrum part in the vertical direction, and the other end side of the cutting blade is supported rotatably about a horizontal axis. The second fulcrum part, the second cutting blade rotating actuator for driving the second fulcrum part in the vertical direction, and one end side of the cutting blade is rotated downward by the first actuator, and the one end side is moved to the table. Then, the other end of the cutting blade is rotated downward with the first fulcrum portion as a fulcrum by the second actuator, and the cutting blade The by abutting the mounting surface of the table, a cutting device for a ceramic green block, characterized by comprising a controller that controls so as to cut-away press the green block.

In the present invention, in the state where the cutting blade is slanted, first, one end side of the cutting blade first enters the ceramic green block, and the other end side is rotated with the one end side of the cutting blade as a fulcrum, so that the cutting blade is delayed. The other end of the door enters the green block, and pseudo-drawing can be performed. In other words, one end of the green block becomes the starting point of the cut, and the cutting progresses from this part to the other end, so that the cutting resistance at the time of cutting can be reduced, and a green block with excellent dimensional accuracy can be manufactured. Become.
In addition, unlike the conventional drawing method, this method does not generate a force for shifting the green block in the horizontal direction during the cutting process, so that the positional deviation due to the cutting hardly occurs. For this reason, even if there is no holding member for holding the periphery of the green block, the green block can be stably held and cut.

According to a preferred embodiment of the cutting method of the present invention, the cutting blade is lowered relative to the table in an inclined posture so that one end side is downward, and the one end side of the cutting blade is placed on the table mounting surface. You may use the method of making a notch | incision in the one end side of a ceramic green block simultaneously with making it adjoin or contact | abut. As a result, the oblique cutting blade cuts one end side of the green block while moving straight, so that no lateral displacement force is applied to the green block.

According to another aspect, the cutting blade is held almost horizontally above the ceramic green block, and then rotated in an oblique direction so that one end side of the cutting blade is downward, and the one end side of the cutting blade is placed on the table. A method of making a cut on one end side of the ceramic green block may be used. Also in this case, since one end of the cutting blade bites into the green block while rotating, the lateral displacement force is hardly applied to the green block.

After pushing and cutting the green block, it is also possible to use a method in which one end side or the other end side of the cutting blade is used as a fulcrum, the other end side or one end side of the cutting blade is rotated upward, and the cutting blade is pulled up from the ceramic green block. .
That is, after the green block is cut and cut, the cutting blade may be raised in a horizontal state, but at that time, the green block attached to the side surface of the cutting blade may be lifted together with the cutting blade.
On the other hand, if one end side or the other end side of the cutting blade is used as a fulcrum as described above and the other end side or one end side of the cutting blade is rotated upward and the cutting blade is pulled up, the cutting blade is moved relative to the table. Since they are separated at different speeds in the length direction, the problem that the green block easily peels off from the side surface of the cutting blade and the green block turns up can be suppressed.

As a mechanism for rotating the cutting blade, one end side of the cutting blade may be a fulcrum and the other end side may be an actuator portion, or a fulcrum portion and an actuator portion may be provided at both ends of the cutting blade. In the former case, since the actuator is provided only on one side, the structure is simple. On the other hand, in the latter case, since both ends of the cutting blade can be moved up and down individually, the degree of freedom of the cutting method is increased.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the green block is cut while rotating the cutting blade downward, the approach speed of the cutting blade to the green block is different in each part in the length direction of the cutting blade, and the block cutting Cutting resistance at the time can be reduced. Therefore, it becomes possible to manufacture a ceramic green block with excellent dimensional accuracy.
In addition, unlike the conventional drawing, the cutting blade hardly shifts the block in the horizontal direction during the cutting process, so that the positional deviation due to the cutting hardly occurs, and there is no holding member for holding the green block. However, the block can be stably held, and the apparatus can be simplified.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to examples.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a cutting apparatus according to the present invention.
In this embodiment, a case where a ceramic green block W in which a large number of ceramic green sheets are laminated and pressure-bonded is cut in the manufacturing process of the ceramic electronic component will be described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

As shown in FIG. 1, a ceramic green block W is placed on the horizontal upper surface 1a of the table 1, and is held by vacuum suction. In this example, the periphery and the upper surface of the green block W are not held by any guide. The table 1 can be moved in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface by a Y-axis drive mechanism (not shown), and can be horizontally rotated about the shaft 1b by a θ-axis drive mechanism 2.

A cutting blade holding device 4 is provided above the table 1. The cutting blade holding device 4 includes a base 5 supported so as to be movable only in the vertical direction by a slide mechanism (not shown). The base 5 includes a cutting blade 6, a holder 7 that holds the cutting blade 6, a fulcrum 8 that rotatably connects one end of the holder 7 to the base 5 with a horizontal axis as a fulcrum, A rotating actuator 9 is provided for moving the other end side in the vertical direction and rotating the cutting blade 6. The cutting blade rotating actuator 9 of this embodiment is composed of a hydraulic / pneumatic cylinder, but can be arbitrarily selected such as a combination of a motor and a ball screw or a combination of a motor and a cam. The upper end portion of the cylinder 9 is connected to the base 5 by a rotatable connecting portion 10, and the piston 9 a of the cylinder 9 and the holder 7 are also connected by a rotatable connecting portion 11. The fulcrum part 8 and the connecting parts 10 and 11 may have the same shaft structure, and a structure that can regulate the inclination of the cutting blade 6 in the thickness direction when the cutting blade 6 cuts the green block W is desirable. The cutting blade 6 is a flat blade whose lower edge is a continuous blade portion 6 a, and its upper edge portion is held by a holder 7. By driving the cylinder 9 and moving the piston 9a forward and backward, the holder 7, that is, the cutting blade 6, can be turned up and down with one end side as a fulcrum.

On the upper part of the base 5, an elevating actuator 12 is provided for elevating the entire cutting blade holding device 4 up and down. The actuator 12 of this embodiment includes an electric motor 13 fixed to a fixing portion (not shown), a screw shaft 14 rotated by the motor 13, and a nut portion (not shown) of the base 5 screwed with the screw shaft 14. It consists of The lifting actuator 12 is not limited to the combination of the motor 13 and the ball screw 14, but may be a combination of a motor and a cam, an hydraulic / pneumatic cylinder, or the like, and can move the entire base 5 up and down. I just need it.

Apart from the above devices, there is provided a control device 3 for controlling the Y-axis drive mechanism and θ-axis drive mechanism 2 of the table 1, the cutting blade rotating actuator 9, and the lifting actuator 12. The control device 3 controls the table 1 and the actuators 9 and 12 according to a pre-programmed order, and cuts the green block W described later.

Here, operation | movement of the cutting device which consists of the said structure is demonstrated according to FIGS. 1-3.
In the initial state, the cylinder 9 is in a position where the piston 9a is retracted, and the cutting blade 6 is held in an oblique posture with one end side (fulcrum portion 8 side) downward. The base 5 is in a position retracted above the table 1. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the table 1 on which the green block W is placed is moved below the cutting blade holding device 4 and positioned at a predetermined position.

Next, with the cutting blade 6 held in an oblique posture, the motor 13 is driven to lower the base 5 toward the table 1, and one end side inclined below the cutting blade 6 is the green block mounting surface 1 a of the table 1. Stop at a position that touches or is close to. At this time, one end side of the cutting blade 6 enters one end side of the green block W and makes a cut. This state is shown in FIG.

Next, the cylinder 9 is driven, and the piston 9a is protruded, whereby the other end side of the cutting blade 6 is rotated downward with the fulcrum portion 8 as a fulcrum. By rotating the cutting blade 6 until almost the entire area of the blade portion 6a of the cutting blade 6 comes into contact with the green block placement surface 1a of the table 1, the green block W is cut and cut. This state is shown in FIG. While the cutting blade 6 rotates, the cutting progresses from one end side to the other end side of the green block W and is cut with a time difference, so that the cutting resistance at the time of cutting can be reduced, and a green block with excellent dimensional accuracy is obtained. Can be manufactured.

After the push cut is completed as described above, the cylinder 9 is driven to retract the piston 9a, and the other end side is lifted with the one end side of the cut blade 6 as a fulcrum, thereby returning the cut blade 6 to an oblique state. Thereafter, the motor 13 is reversely driven and the base 5 is lifted from the table 1, whereby the cutting blade 6 is pulled away from the green block W. When the cutting blade 6 rises to the top dead center, it returns to the initial position (see FIG. 1).

After one push cut is completed, the green block W can be cut at a constant width by moving the table 1 in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface by the cut width and performing the same operation again.
After the green block W has been cut in one direction, the green block W can be cut vertically and horizontally by rotating the table 1 by 90 ° by the θ-axis drive mechanism 2 and performing the same operation as above again.

When the method of pulling up the cutting blade 6 from the green block W after returning the cutting blade 6 to the oblique state as described above is used, the cutting blade 6 does not leave the entire length of the green block W after cutting, and the rear end. Since it is gradually separated from the side, there is an effect of preventing the green block W attached to the cutting blade 6 from being lifted.

The cutting blade 6 is not limited to being pulled up in an inclined state, but can be pulled up in a horizontal state. That is, after the push-off cut, first, the motor 13 is reversely driven, and the base 5 is lifted from the table 1 to separate the cut blade 6 from the green block W. Thereafter, the cylinder 9 moves the piston 9a backward to return to the initial position (FIG. 1).
Thus, even when the cutting blade 6 is pulled up in a horizontal state, the green block W can be prevented from being lifted by lowering the rising speed of the cutting blade 6 or arranging a presser plate on both sides of the cutting blade 6. Is also possible.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the cutting device according to the present invention. Parts that are the same as or similar to those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.
In this embodiment, the structure of the cutting blade holding device 4 itself is the same as that of the first embodiment, but the base 5 is fixed at a fixed position and no lifting actuator is provided.

The cutting blade 6 is formed to be sufficiently longer than the length in the cutting direction of the green block W, and the cutting blade 6 is in the state where one end side of the cutting blade 6 is brought close to the green block mounting surface 1a of the table 1. Away from. In this state, the cylinder 9 is driven, and the other end side of the cutting blade 6 is rotated downward to perform push-cut cutting. After the push-cutting, the cylinder 9 is reversely driven and the other end side of the cutting blade 6 is rotated upward, whereby the cutting blade 6 is pulled away from the green block W.

After one push cut is completed, the table 1 is moved in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface by the cut width, and the green block W is cut at a constant width by performing the same operation again. When the table 1 is moved horizontally, it is preferable to leave a slight gap between one end side inclined downward of the cutting blade 6 and the mounting surface 1 a of the table 1.
In this embodiment, since it is not necessary to raise and lower the base 5 every time one push cut is completed, the processing time can be shortened and the apparatus can be configured simply. This embodiment is suitable for cutting a relatively thin green block W.

5 and 6 show a third embodiment of the cutting device according to the present invention. Parts that are the same as or similar to those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.
In this embodiment, the actuator 9 for turning the cutting blade 6 in the first embodiment is provided at both ends of the cutting blade 6. That is, the cutting blade holding device 4 is provided with two cylinders 9A and 9B, and each cylinder is connected to the base 5 via rotatable connecting portions 10A and 10B, and the pistons 9a and 9b of the cylinders 9A and 9B are respectively connected to the base 5. The holder 7 is connected to both end portions via rotatable connecting portions 11A and 11B. In addition, each connection part is rotatable with a horizontal axis as a fulcrum, and the structure which can regulate the inclination of the thickness direction of the cutting blade 6 is desirable. The connecting portions 11A and 11B not only rotatably connect the pistons 9a and 9b and the holder 7, but also function as fulcrum portions.

In this case, it is possible to perform the same movement as in the first embodiment, but it is also possible to perform the following operation.
(1) The cutting blade 6 is lowered to the vicinity of the green block W in a horizontal state, and then one cylinder 9A is operated to rotate one end side of the cutting blade 6 downward. The one end side of the cutting blade 6 enters the green block W (see FIG. 5). Thereafter, the other cylinder 9B is actuated to rotate the other end of the cutting blade 6 downward to push and cut the green block (see FIG. 6).
(2) After the push cut, one end side of the cutting blade 6 is lifted and inclined, and then the other end side is lifted to a substantially horizontal state, whereby both ends of the cutting blade 6 are alternately separated from the green block W. In this case, the cutting blade 6 can be pulled away from the green block W without using the lifting / lowering actuator 12.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.
In the first embodiment, an example in which one end side of the cutting blade 6 enters the green block W and the cutting blade holding device 4 is moved up and down by the lifting actuator 12 to separate the cutting blade 6 from the green block W is shown. However, the table 1 may be raised and lowered.
Further, in the cutting device of the first embodiment, the cutting blade 6 is rotated up and down by the cutting blade rotating cylinder 9, but the piston 9a of the cylinder 9 and the holder 7 are brought into contact with each other, and the cutting blade 6 is moved. The cylinder 9 may be driven only when rotating downward, and the upward rotation may be performed by a spring force.

It is a front view in the initial state of 1st Example of the cutting device concerning this invention. It is a front view in the middle of the cutting of the cutting device shown in FIG. It is a front view of the cutting end state of the cutting device shown in FIG. It is a front view of 2nd Example of the cutting device concerning this invention. It is a front view in the middle of cutting of the 3rd example of the cutting device concerning the present invention. It is a front view of the cutting end state of the cutting device shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of the conventional cutting device.

Explanation of symbols

W Ceramic green block 1 Table 1a Placement surface 2 θ-axis drive mechanism 3 Control device 4 Cutting blade holding device 5 Base 6 Cut blade 7 Holder 8 Support point 9 Actuator for rotation (cylinder)
12 Lifting actuator

Claims (9)

In the cutting method of the ceramic green block that cuts and cuts the ceramic green block placed on the table using a cutting blade,
(A) tilting the cut blade so that one end side is downward, and bringing the one end side protruding downward of the cut blade into proximity to or in contact with the mounting surface of the table;
(B) The ceramic green block is pushed and cut by rotating the other end side of the cutting blade downward with the one end side of the cutting blade as a fulcrum and bringing the blade portion of the cutting blade into contact with the mounting surface of the table. Cutting the ceramic green block. In the step (a),
The cutting blade is lowered relative to the table in an inclined posture so that one end side is downward, and the one end side of the cutting blade is brought close to or in contact with the mounting surface of the table, and at the same time, the ceramic green block The cutting method according to claim 1, wherein an incision is made on one end side. The step (a)
Holding the cutting blade substantially horizontally above the ceramic green block;
A step of cutting the one end side of the ceramic green block by rotating in an oblique direction so that one end side of the cutting blade is downward and bringing the one end side of the cutting blade into contact with the mounting surface of the table; The cutting method according to claim 1, further comprising: After the step (b)
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of rotating the other end side or one end side of the cutting blade upward by using one end side or the other end side of the cutting blade as a fulcrum and lifting the cutting blade from the ceramic green block. 4. The cutting method according to any one of 3 above. In the ceramic green block cutting device that cuts and cuts the ceramic green block placed on the table using a cutting blade,
A fulcrum portion that rotatably supports one end side of the cutting blade around a horizontal axis;
An actuator for rotating the cutting blade for driving the other end of the cutting blade in the vertical direction;
The cutting blade is held in an oblique direction so that one end side thereof is downward, the one end side of the cutting blade is brought into contact with the mounting surface of the table, and then the actuator is operated to move the other end side of the cutting blade. And a control means for controlling the green block to push and cut by rotating the fulcrum portion downward as a fulcrum and bringing the blade portion of the cutting blade into contact with the mounting surface of the table. A ceramic green block cutting device. The cutting blade, the fulcrum part and the cutting blade rotating actuator are provided in the cutting blade holding means,
6. The cutting device according to claim 5, further comprising an elevating actuator for elevating and lowering the cutting blade holding means. In the ceramic green block cutting device that cuts and cuts the ceramic green block placed on the table using a cutting blade,
A first fulcrum portion that rotatably supports one end side of the cutting blade around a horizontal axis;
A first cutting blade rotating actuator that drives the first fulcrum in the vertical direction;
A second fulcrum portion that rotatably supports the other end side of the cutting blade around a horizontal axis;
A second cutting blade rotating actuator for driving the second fulcrum portion in the vertical direction;
After rotating one end side of the cutting blade downward by the first actuator and bringing the one end side into contact with the mounting surface of the table, the other end side of the cutting blade is moved to the first side by the second actuator. And a control means for controlling the green block to push and cut by rotating the fulcrum part downward as a fulcrum and bringing the blade part of the cutting blade into contact with the mounting surface of the table. Cutting device for ceramic green block. The cutting blade, the first fulcrum part, the first actuator, the second fulcrum part and the second actuator are provided in the cutting blade holding means,
8. The cutting apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an elevating actuator for elevating and lowering the cutting blade holding means. 9. The cutting apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a θ-axis rotation mechanism that horizontally rotates the table.

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