Fluid supply apparatus, fluid applying apparatus, and fluid supply method

Abstract

A fluid supply apparatus includes a piston, a piston support portion to support the piston, a container support portion capable of supporting a container in which a fluid is contained, and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism drives at least one of the container support portion and the piston support portion in a direction in which the piston is inserted into the container at a time when supply of the fluid is performed and drives at least one of the container support portion and the piston support portion in a direction in which the piston is relatively removed from the container at a time when the supply of the fluid is stopped.

1 . A fluid supply apparatus, comprising:
 a piston;   a piston support portion to support the piston;   a container support portion capable of supporting a container in which a fluid is contained; and   a drive mechanism to drive at least one of the container support portion and the piston support portion in a direction in which the piston is inserted into the container at a time when supply of the fluid is performed and to drive at least one of the container support portion and the piston support portion in a direction in which the piston is relatively removed from the container at a time when the supply of the fluid is stopped.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid supply apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the piston includes a seal member provided at an end portion of the piston, the seal member having a tapered outer circumferential surface whose outer circumference is increased in diameter in a direction in which the piston is inserted.   
     
     
         3 . The fluid supply apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the fluid is solder.   
     
     
         4 . A fluid supply method, comprising:
 discharging, with a use of a fluid supply apparatus including a piston, a piston support portion, a container support portion, and a drive mechanism, a fluid by relatively inserting the piston into a container with the drive mechanism so that an insertion distance of the piston into the container is longer than a set insertion distance that is an insertion distance corresponding to a preset amount of supply of the fluid, the piston having a through hole, the piston support portion supporting the piston, the container support portion being capable of supporting the container in which the fluid is contained, the drive mechanism being capable of driving at least one of the container support portion and the piston support portion so that the piston is inserted into the container to discharge the fluid from the container through the through hole of the piston; and   driving at least one of the container support portion and the piston support portion by using the fluid supply apparatus in a direction in which the piston is relatively removed from the container with the drive mechanism prior to stop of discharge of the fluid so that the discharge of the fluid is stopped when an amount of supply corresponding to the set insertion distance is obtained.   
     
     
         5 . A fluid supply method, comprising:
 discharging, with a use of a fluid supply apparatus including a piston having a through hole, a piston support portion, a container support portion, and a drive mechanism, a fluid from the container through the through hole of the piston by driving at least one of the container support portion and the piston support portion in a direction in which the piston is inserted into the container, the piston support portion supporting the piston, the container support portion being capable of supporting the container in which the fluid is contained, the drive mechanism being capable of driving at least one of the container support portion and the piston support portion to discharge the fluid from the container; and   driving at least one of the container support portion and the piston support portion in a direction in which the piston is relatively removed from the container prior to stop of discharge of the fluid.   
     
     
         6 . The fluid supply method according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the fluid is solder.   
     
     
         7 . A fluid supply apparatus, comprising:
 a piston having a through hole;   a piston support portion to support the piston;   a container support portion capable of supporting a container in which a fluid is contained; and   a drive mechanism to drive at least one of the container support portion and the piston support portion so that the piston is inserted into the container while the container and the piston are relatively rotated to discharge the fluid from the container through the through hole of the piston.   
     
     
         8 . The fluid supply apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a nozzle having an inside flow path that is communicated with the through hole; and   an opening and closing mechanism capable of opening and closing the inside flow path.   
     
     
         9 . The fluid supply apparatus according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the nozzle includes a discharge end portion including a tapered surface whose outer circumference is decreased in diameter in a direction in which the fluid is discharged, and   wherein the opening and closing mechanism closes the inside flow path by pressing the discharge end portion.   
     
     
         10 . The fluid supply apparatus according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the opening and closing mechanism includes a pair of opening and closing members that presses the nozzle with the nozzle being sandwiched therebetween, the pair of opening and closing members each having a pressing end portion and a cutout, the pressing end portion pressing the nozzle, the cutout being formed at the pressing end portion.   
     
     
         11 . The fluid supply apparatus according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the drive mechanism drives at least one of the container support portion and the piston support portion so that the piston is relatively moved in a direction in which the piston is removed from the container to adjust a discharge amount of the fluid.   
     
     
         12 . The fluid supply apparatus according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the piston includes a seal member provided at an end portion of the piston, the seal member having a tapered outer circumferential surface whose outer circumference is increased in diameter in a direction in which the piston is inserted.   
     
     
         13 . A fluid applying apparatus, comprising:
 a fluid supply apparatus including a piston having a through hole, a piston support portion to support the piston, a container support portion capable of supporting a container in which a fluid is contained, and a drive mechanism to drive at least one of the container support portion and the piston support portion so that the piston is inserted into the container while the container and the piston are relatively rotated to discharge the fluid from the container through the through hole of the piston; and   a squeegee mechanism capable of applying, to a supply target, the fluid supplied on the supply target by the fluid supply apparatus.   
     
     
         14 . The fluid applying apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a movement mechanism to cause the fluid supply apparatus and the squeegee mechanism to integrally move.   
     
     
         15 . A fluid supply method, comprising:
 supporting a piston and a container by a piston support portion and a container support portion, respectively, the piston having a through hole, the container containing a fluid; and   discharging the fluid from the container through the through hole by driving at least one of the container support portion and the piston support portion so that the piston is inserted into the container while the container and the piston are relatively rotated.