CN100531521C

CN100531521C - Apparatus and method for controlling registration of print steps in a continuous process for the manufacture of electrochemical sensors

Info

Publication number: CN100531521C
Application number: CN 200380108075
Authority: CN
Inventors: O·W·H·达维斯; D·米切尔; L·惠特; T·J·奥赖利
Original assignee: Inverness Medical Ltd
Current assignee: LifeScan Scotland Ltd
Priority date: 2002-10-30
Filing date: 2003-10-30
Publication date: 2009-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2023-10-30
Also published as: CN1826524A; SI1578612T1; CN100489513C; CN100374305C; CN100465634C; CN1732381A; CN1692148A; CN100577810C; CN1732092A; CN100379576C; CN1732093A; CN1732382A; CN1732269A; CN1732724A; CN1732382B

Abstract

In a method according to the present invention, the method includes the printing of a first registration mark at the first print station (e.g. the print station where the carbon electrodes are deposited), the printing of a second registration mark over the first registration mark during printing of the next (e.g. insulation) layer. The second registration mark, being slightly larger than the first registration mark, obliterates the first registration mark and causes registration of the subsequent layers (e.g. enzyme layers) to be triggered slightly earlier. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a two layered mark is used, the second layer being larger than the first so as to 'move' the mark to take account of the variation in screen size for the second (e.g. insulation) and subsequent (e.g. enzyme) layers.

Description

Be used to control the equipment and the method for the aligning of print steps

Technical field

The present invention relates generally to the process that is used for making electrochemical sensor on the continuous width of cloth, more specifically, relate to width of cloth manufacture process, wherein, the electrochemical sensor bar is printed on the continuous width of cloth, and wherein uses unique two-layer alignment mark to control the aligning of the print steps of making the electrochemical sensor bar.

Background technology

Electrochemical sensor is used for diagnostic program widely, comprises the glucose in the blood of measuring the people.The manufacturing of such electrochemical sensor comprises makes millions of little, and each little comprises that being arranged on sample holds electrode in single lattice, and sample holds single lattice and is suitable for containment blood or other body fluid.Body fluid forms complete circuit between the electrode of single lattice.Electrode is coated with at least a reagent usually, analyte (for example, the glucose) reaction in itself and the blood, and forming the intermediate analysis thing, the instrument of the electric charge that this intermediate analysis thing can be by being suitable for measuring electric current or electrode place is measured.Make such electrochemical sensor and need in very little space, deposit which floor electrode material, insulating material and reagent, and the precision of such layer and arrange that the final function for device is important.In addition, in order to reduce cost and to satisfy the demand, it is necessary accurately making electrochemical sensor with the alignment between very high speed and the layer absolute.

Electrochemical sensor can be used for a lot of application.In an application, the electrochemical sensor bar inserts specially suitable instrument, with self-monitoring glucose or other analyte (such as fructosamine, hematocrit etc.) in blood or the tissue fluid for example.According to the design of electrochemical sensor, the layout of electrode, the reagent and the other factors of use, use such electrochemical sensor can test a lot of analytes.A lot of these are used, and in particular for the bar of test glucose, need the sensor placement of specific dimensions and structure, wherein, make in specific tolerance, can predict as far as possible and the electrochemical sensor of characteristic repeatably to obtain having.

Owing to need make a lot of transducers soon, wherein, this transducer has very little single lattice size, therefore has the very little electrode in very tight tolerance, so manufacture process is further complicated.When testing the glucose of blood or tissue fluid, one of principal element that hinders often test is the blood of extraction requirement or the misery that tissue fluid produces.The smaller usually volume of bigger volume needs bigger misery.Therefore, produce the blood or the tissue fluid of a small amount of, therefore use not too misery, promote that the transducer of more frequent dispersion or follow-on test is favourable.Need a kind of method of less analyte to be, production has the electrochemical sensor bar of the very little structure member such as very little sample holds single lattice and the very little electrode in these samples hold single lattice, yet, such widget manufacturing is difficulty more, particularly make, so that produce accurate and reproducible analysis measurement difficulty more in accurate and reproducible mode.

A lot of methods can be used to make electrochemical sensor, comprise the process such as runner notch board and cylinder silk screen printing.In the runner intaglio, cylinder is coated with the covering of the shape of the parts (for example, electrode) that qualification will print.In addition, cylinder can be used to print further film or layer (for example, enzyme or insulating barrier).

Come to form one or more electrode by runner intaglio conductive ink on flexible web and make electrochemical sensor, this flexible web can be a polymer.By using very thin China ink, high-quality print definition is possible.For thicker China ink and the bigger print thickness that need when printing electrochemical sensor, fixing flat screen cloth is generally used for the single platform printing of feeding of electrochemical sensor.Other method comprises the method for using the rotary printing structure to make electrochemical sensor, also has been described.

Be used for the width of cloth manufacture process of electrochemical sensor, the width of cloth of base material is by a series of printing stations.At each printing station, by using for example screen printing process, the new material layer depositions such as electrode material is in the substrate or on the layer that deposits previously.In screen printing process, the width of cloth is positioned under the screen cloth, is used to make the China ink of electrode, conductive ink for example, and the selected part by screen cloth is pushed, and has the layer of predetermined layout with printing on the part of the width of cloth below being positioned at screen cloth.Therefore,, print each layer continuously by substrate is moved to the next one from a printing station, and the single transducer of width of cloth cutting from finishing, can in substrate, constitute electrochemical sensor.

In a manufacture method, transport by at least two printing stations by the continuous width of cloth and to make the electrode layer and at least the first reagent layer substrate.This printing station can be the runner intaglio station or the cylinder silk screen printing station of cylinder.Yet when printing electrochemical sensor on the width of cloth, runner notch board of printing (cylinders of rotation texturing) and cylinder silk screen printing (screen cloth/template of rotating cylindrical) method run into shortcoming.The runner intaglio is given very thin printing height usually.The required thick conductive ink of thickness of electrode of producing the needs of electrochemical sensor (particularly those are used for the electrochemical sensor of blood sugar test) especially may suffer incomplete, inconsistent printing, and the result reduces electrochemical sensor quality, consistency and reliability.(it has high solids content usually with carbon ink, and may want to work as viscous) the runner intaglio of producing carbon electrode is difficulty especially, because the solid phase/liquid phase in the China ink can be separated, cause from the incomplete or inhomogeneous filling of the rag that is printed onto printing or empty.This may cause uneven print thickness, and carbon electrode quality and consistency are descended.The cylinder silk screen printing is well suited for single layout of feeding (arranging relative with the continuous width of cloth).And, because the characteristic of the cylinder of screen cloth has limited the interactional mode of manipulation screen cloth and printed medium, and thus by doing the ability that printing quality is exerted one's influence like this.Equally, the multiple template that can be used for obtaining the correct black thickness of the China ink (carbon, silver/silver chlorate, insulation, enzyme or other reagent layer) for every type is not easy to obtain from the market.

By the usage platform printing machine (such as from Kippax UK, Huddersfield, UK and Registerprint, London, obtainable Thieme of UK or Svecia), and metering is passed through from DEK Machinery, Weymouth, UK and BTPCraftscreen, Coventry, UK obtains is parallel to the China ink of the screen template that the flat substrate card that will print is provided with thereon, also can be used to test the electrochemical sensor of blood or tissue fluid glucose with the production of multistep printing process.The advantage that this process has is, can with accurately repeatably mode produce transducer, make user's comparative result often.The substrate sheet that is used for printing the multirow bar thereon makes row perpendicular to direct of travel by several platform printing stages.In this manufacture process, the thin layer of China ink is screen-printed on the polymeric substrates in proper order, to form large quantities of sensor strips.At first, can put down carbon ink, to form electrode layer.Next, can put down the dielectric ink layer.Next, can put down reagent layer, be generally the enzyme China ink.Next, can put down the second enzyme layer.Next, can put down adhesive phase.Finally, can put down hydrophilic layer.The sheet cutting is being embarked on journey, and row was cut into before single, diaphragm can be placed on the top of sensor chip.Can produce 500 or more sensor strip for single of the substrate of Zhi Zaoing by this way.These sensor strips are arranged to 0 to 9 row on perpendicular to the direct of travel (print direction) of substrate sheet by flatbed press, every row has 50 sensor strips.Each is parallel to print direction bar 1 to 50 in every row.Each sheet can be handled by hand between each stage.Especially after four print steps (printed carbon ink, dielectric ink and two-layer enzyme China ink), each sheet can be handled by hand and enter cutting machine, makes to cut along row, separates delegation's sensor strip and another are capable.Next, can handle each row, make to cut into 50 independently bars.These maneuvering sequences are time-consuming with inefficient.

Therefore, need a kind of improved process make electrochemical sensor, especially, be used for making the electrochemical sensor of the sign (glucose, fructosamine, hematocrit etc.) of the health measurement such as blood or the tissue fluid.Also need a kind of high speed, can predict, reproducible mode makes sensor strip with rational cost.In addition, the sensor strip that also need a kind of high speed, can predict, reproducible mode manufacturing has very little parts, wherein, each bar of finishing can be used for reliably, can predict ground in reproducible mode and accurately measure the analyte of body fluid.

In the continuous web manufacture process that is used for making the electrochemical sensor bar, substrate is by many printing stations, so that print many parts, such as electrode and reagent layer.Correctly align in order to ensure layer, the aligning between the sustaining layer is important.Therefore, under deposition before the layer of material, the alignment mark print steps subsequently that can be used to align.Unfortunately, in high speed processes, wherein, China ink is in the end of each printing station drying, and when each print steps was passed through in substrate, for example, it can be 140 degrees centigrade, but the substrate tensible.As a result, the screen mesh size that is used for next print steps has increased size a little.Therefore, especially when comprising a plurality of printing stations and a plurality of drying steps, make layer subsequently accurately aim at, for example, the enzyme China ink is aimed at the difficulty that becomes on carbon electrode.In the past, be used to aim at each of subsequently print steps (for example, printing is insulated, and two enzyme layers) with each single alignment mark of print together of layer (for example, carbon-coating).Owing to increase for print steps screen mesh size subsequently, use single alignment mark may cause image to be printed a little too late at each layer.

Therefore, a kind of alignment methods that is suitable for use in high-speed and continuous width of cloth process of exploitation is favourable.Develop that a kind of the alignment methods of superior aligning and equipment are provided in high-speed and continuous width of cloth process is further favourable, wherein, one or more in the printing station comprises heating and stretches the drier of substrate, makes and aims at the difficulty that becomes.

In the manufacture process of the continuous web that is used for making electrochemical sensor, when the width of cloth during by machine, the width of cloth may depart to opposite side from a side.The problem that this may cause a print steps to be aimed at next print steps, the result reduces output.A kind of visual quality control QC check also need be provided in the continuous web process, and when substrate was advanced with 10 meters/minute, this was difficult.And, need the QC check of single row.A print steps carries out to the alignment mark that Next aligning control can and be printed on the suprabasil card by automatic use.In platform processes, each card can be before the next stage by the operator as QC check observe separately.Therefore, if the step of front has been distorted, can carry out the adjusting of any necessity fast.

Summary of the invention

In the method according to the invention, during the printing insulating barrier, use second alignment mark to be printed onto on first.This second mark is less times greater than first.Therefore, second mark has been fallen into oblivion first, and makes the aligning of enzyme layer subsequently trigger earlier a little.In the method according to the invention, use two-layer mark, the second layer is greater than ground floor, and feasible " moving " mark is with the variation for second (for example, insulation) and the screen mesh size of (for example enzyme) layer consideration subsequently.

In one embodiment of the invention, first alignment mark during carbon printing in the first printing station printing.Then, substrate moves to second printing station, and by using first alignment mark insulation printing mesh screen that aligns, and insulating barrier is printed on the correct position place on the top of carbon-coating.The insulation printing mesh screen increases a little with respect to the printing mesh screen size that is used to deposit carbon-coating, to consider the stretching, extension of substrate before the insulation printing.In one embodiment of the invention, second alignment mark is printed as the part of insulation printing, because second alignment mark is bigger than first alignment mark, so second alignment mark covers first alignment mark, relative with original carbon alignment mark, the enzyme layer is with respect to the insulation alignment mark now.

Comprise in the continuous process of electrochemical sensor of electrode layer, insulating barrier and at least one reagent layer that in manufacturing the method according to this invention comprises the step of the print electrode layer and first alignment mark.The heating substrate is with the dried electrode China ink.Use first alignment mark that printing mesh screen is alignd with substrate.The printing insulating barrier and second alignment mark, wherein, described second alignment mark is bigger than first alignment mark, and is printed on first alignment mark.The heating substrate is with dry dielectric ink.Use first alignment mark that second printing mesh screen is alignd with substrate.Use second printing mesh screen to print at least one reagent layer.

In one embodiment of the invention, special being marked in first print steps is printed in the substrate, and second is marked in second print steps contiguous first label print in substrate.By below the camera lens time, video camera is observed two marks on being marked at substrate.The operator observes the relative position and the direction of two marks on video camera.The operator can see mark, and the adjusting of carrying out the aligning of two print steps.Usually, be marked at four position printings, one in each bight of blocking.In the embodiment that also has of the present invention, two contiguous every row of special marks (along substrate 0 to 9) printing, each of two adjacent print steps (for example carbon insulate to enzyme to insulation).This makes provides the coupling indication from being printed onto printing to row.Therefore, if necessary, can abandon concrete row, rather than card.

Description of drawings

Illustrate novel features of the present invention by the characteristic in the accompanying Claim book.The following detailed description of illustrating in illustrative embodiment of reference can obtain the better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention, has used principle of the present invention in these illustrative embodiment, and its accompanying drawing is:

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of describing 8 parts of web printing process.

Fig. 2 A is a schematic diagram of describing first and second parts of web printing process.

Fig. 2 B is a schematic diagram of describing the 3rd, the 4th and the 5th part of web printing process.

Fig. 2 C is a schematic diagram of describing the 6th and the 7th part of web printing process.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of describing the moist environment of the 5th and the 6th part that centers on width of cloth printing.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of describing the moist environment of the 5th and the 6th part that centers on width of cloth printing.

Fig. 5 is the perspective view with conduit of perforation.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of describing the cycle that is full of.

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of describing the print cycle.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of describing 2 different squeegee angles.

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of describing 2 different squeegee positions.

Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of describing the screen cloth engagement range.

Figure 11 is the decomposition view of pretreatment zone (211).

Figure 12 is the decomposition view of first arid region (217).

Figure 13 is the decomposition view of second arid region (224).

Figure 14 is the decomposition view of the 3rd arid region (230).

Figure 15 is the decomposition view of the 4th arid region (236).

Figure 16 is the decomposition view of first cleaning unit (204).

Figure 17 A-17D is insulating barrier has suitable aligning to carbon-coating a view.

Figure 18 A-18D is that insulating barrier has the view of inproper alignment to carbon-coating when the figure that produces owing to screen cloth 301 stretches.

Figure 19 A-19D is when the figure from screen cloth 301 does not stretch, and insulating barrier has the view of inproper alignment to carbon-coating.

Figure 20 A-20D is described in initial alignment process manipulate person to be used for first of visual inspection and to observe guiding piece and aim at the schematic diagram of the print result of the width of cloth.

Figure 21 A has first and second width of cloth to observe guiding piece; The first, second, third and the 4th Y alignment mark; And the example of the sensor chip of X alignment mark.

Figure 21 B is the decomposition view with the delegation in the sensor chip of carbon X alignment mark.

Figure 21 C is the decomposition view with the delegation in the sensor chip of insulation X alignment mark of coated carbon X alignment mark.

Figure 22 is the schematic diagram that is used to aim at web printing process parameter X, Y and θ.

Embodiment

Fig. 1 is the schematic diagram of describing according to 8 parts of web printing process of the present invention.Part 1 is unwinder unit 101.Part 2 is preprocessing station 102.Part 3 is carbon printing stations 103.Part 4 is insulation printing stations 104.Part 5 is first enzyme printing stations 105.Part 6 is second enzyme printing stations 106.Part 7 is rewinder unit 107.Part 8 is stamping machines 108.Though those skilled in the art are appreciated that following description and relate to process and the equipment with these 8 part correlations that process of the present invention and equipment can be realized with the part of more or smaller amounts.For example, although imagine 4 printing stations in the present embodiment, under the situation that does not depart from scope of the present invention, can use one or more printing station.In one embodiment, have minimum two printing stations be used to print electrode the layer and reagent layer.

In one embodiment of the invention, part 1 can use base material unwinder unit 101 to realize, for example, and from the available Martin Unwinder/Automatic of the Martin Automatic Inc. Splice of Rockford IL.In an embodiment of the present invention,

part

2,3,4,5 and 6 can use the Kammann Printer of modification to realize, the Kammann Printer that revises is from the Werner KammannMaschinefabrik Gmbh of the Bunde of Germany, and model 4.61.35 can obtain.In an embodiment of the present invention, part 2 can be a pretreatment unit 102.Pretreatment unit 102 can be used for preliminary treatment substrate 242 before printing, and

part

3,4,5 and 6 can be used for silk screen printing carbon, insulation, first enzyme and the second enzyme China ink to substrate 242.Part 7 can comprise rewinder unit 107, for example, from Rockford, the available MartinRewinder of Martin Automatic Inc. of IL.Part 8 can comprise stamping machine 108, for example, from Lenexa, the available Preco stamping machine of the Preco Press of Kansas, model 2024-P-40T XYT CCDCE.Though mentioned the equipment of special type, under the situation that does not depart from scope of the present invention, can change and/or substitute and/or omit the part of these equipment fully, as one of ordinary skill in the art will be understo.

Fig. 2 A, 2B and 2C show the schematic diagram when the passage of the substrate 242 of substrate by according to the part 1-8 of web printing process of the present invention the time.In one embodiment of the invention, the material that is used for substrate 242 can be a polyester material (trade name

ST328), it is made by DuPont Teijin Films.Substrate 242 is supplied with material webs, and it can be 350 for example specified micron thickness, and the wide and approximate 660m of 370mm is long.The size that has been found that these thickness and width is particularly suitable for by silk screen printing electrogenesis in next life chemical sensor flat on the width of cloth of substrate.This is that material is firm to be used for printing because require, but can handle by equipment, and has the transducer that enough width hold suitable quantity, so that this process viable commercial.Substrate 242 can comprise the acrylic acid coatings that is applied on a side or the both sides, adheres to improve China ink.Polyester is a preferable material, because its performance under the temperature of the rising of using during the width of cloth process according to the present invention and tension force is satisfactory.Though polyester, in fact Melinex is preferable material in one embodiment of the invention, and those skilled in the art it is contemplated that from the explanation that provides here and use other material.In fact, wherein, it is contemplated that the variation of material thickness, width and length, bigger width or length provide the extra ability of producing transducer, and the variation of material thickness helps preliminary treatment in some cases, perhaps aim at during printing.In a preferred embodiment of the invention; entering before the carbon printing station 103; substrate 242 is exposed to thermally-stabilised process; by reaching 185 ℃ not making substrate be under the big tension force heating substrate; during web printing process, to attempt and to guarantee the minimum size distortion of substrate 242 experience; wherein, reaching the temperature that can meet with under the tension force of 165N between 140 and 160 ℃.Usually, the tension force that uses just enough drives the width of cloth and passes through heater as minimum.Yet although have been found that this thermally-stabilised process, the variation of the aligning from the print steps to the print steps can occur, and causes sensor fault.Therefore, and then introducing pre-treatment step before the printing.As after this illustrating, in pre-treatment step (part 1), substrate is heated to the temperature bigger than its any temperature that meets with (common 160 ℃) during the print steps of back.In a preferred embodiment, during this pre-treatment step, substrate also remains on (about 165N usually) under the tension force.In fact, in this embodiment, preliminary treatment and the combination that is arranged under the tension force have reduced the variation in the print register widely, and have improved final product yield.In one embodiment of the invention, use splicing tpae, for example, from the PS-1 Splicing Flatback Paper Tape of IntertapePolymer Group, substrate 242 twist in unwinder unit 101 or rewinder 107 is bonded together.

Fig. 2 A is a schematic diagram of describing the part 1 and the part 2 of web printing process according to an embodiment of the invention.In Fig. 2 A, part 1 is unwinder unit 101.Unwinder unit 101 comprises first axle 200, the second axles, 201, the first joint units 202 and the first memory 203.In Fig. 2 A, part 2 is a preprocessing station 102.Preprocessing station 102 comprises first cleaning unit 204, common obsolete second joint unit 205, inbound roll 206, the second cleaning units 207, measuring cell 208, the first print roller, 209, the first driven rollers 210 and first dryer area 211.

In the embodiments of the invention shown in Fig. 2 A, unwinder unit 101 comprises, for example, Martin Unwinder/Automatic Splice, it is used to promote substrate 242 continuous motion under the tension force of approximate 80N to enter preprocessing station 102.Unwinder unit 101 can comprise the first unwinding axle 200 and the second unwinding axle 201.Notice that axle also can be called main shaft.The first unwinding axle 200 keeps a volume base material 242, and the preprocessing station 102 of continuous feeding substrate 242 entering parts 2.The second unwinding axle 201 keeps a standby volume substrate 242, and it joins the end from the volume of the substrate 242 of the first unwinding axle 200 automatically to, guarantees semi-continuously to supply with substrate 242.This continuous process repeats from the first unwinding axle, 200 to second unwinding axles 201.When first joint unit 202 carries out bonding operation (during this period, the first unwinding axle 200 and the second unwinding axle 201 are all static), the substrate 242 of base material memory 203 storing predetermined length, and the preprocessing station 102 that the substrate 242 of storage is assigned to part 2.The joint that produces is that butt joint engages, and the splicing tpae of certain-length is arranged on the either side of seam crossing at material.In order to ensure quality, can abandon the substrate of printing of approximate 10m of the either side of joint.The first unwinding axle 200 and the second unwinding axle 201 comprise breadths edge guiding piece (not showing), and its guiding substrate 242 enters first joint unit 202.Breadths edge guiding piece is suitable for preventing that substrate 242 from departing from when substrate is fed in first joint unit 202.

Usually, set up machine of the present invention,, be more typically 6 volume substrates to produce 2 to 10 simultaneously.For being connected to those printing stations that continuous China ink is supplied with, the quantity of the volume that use is not problem usually.Yet for two enzyme printing stations of supplying with the China ink of limited quantity, the quantity of the volume that use is important input parameter.In fact, before the beginning printing process, the quantity of the volume that use determines to be placed on the quantity of the China ink on the screen cloth.For example, for 6 volume operations, before each printing of

part

5 and 6 began, the enzyme China ink suitable with 6 (perhaps just more than 6) volume was placed on the screen cloth.Therefore, run through printing operation, need be ready to the enzyme China ink and be used for printing, to guarantee the unanimity printing of enzyme in the whole life-span of printing operation.In the enzyme printing station, place wall, can add screen cloth with the enzyme China ink of guaranteeing q.s, and need not fill screen cloth, and also reduced the enzyme China ink and overflow screen cloth and overflow to a suprabasil risk of below screen cloth, advancing at run duration around screen cloth.

In one embodiment of the invention, run through this process, substrate 242 remains under the tension force of about 165N, so that keep four layers the aligning (usually, the print register tolerance is 300 microns) that will print.During each print steps, 140 ℃ or less all temps are also experienced in substrate 242, so that the China ink of dry printing.Because this tension force and temperature, during this process, substrate 242 has the trend that stretches or expand, and therefore, falls beyond the alignment tolerance.In fact, from the printing stage to the printing stage, printing operation is to printing operation, and the picture size in the printing operation itself to change be unpredictable, and be higher than and can tolerate.

In the embodiments of the invention shown in Fig. 2 A, part 2 is preprocessing station 102.Before being printed onto in the substrate, any image carries out preliminary treatment.Preliminary treatment substrate 242 to reduce the expansion in the part subsequently of width of cloth process and the amount of stretching, extension, also helps to aim at by the substrate 242 of part 3-6.Preprocessing station can be heated to the temperature that is no more than print steps subsequently with substrate 242.Typically, this occur in 150 and 180N between tension force under, more typically, occur in about 165N.Yet in another embodiment, optionally under above-mentioned tension force, preprocessing station 102 can be heated to substrate 242 enough and remove the temperature of irreversible stretching, extension from substrate 242 once more.

In one embodiment of the invention, in pretreatment zone 211 substrate is heated to approximate 160 ℃, this shows in greater detail in Figure 11.As previously mentioned bright, in one embodiment of the invention, during substrate 242 processing subsequently, comprise drying steps subsequently, do not reach or surpass the temperature in preprocessing station 102, substrate 242 is heated to.Printing process subsequently can be by providing bigger a little template screen mesh size (usually on the direct of travel of the width of cloth 750 microns) to compensate because the bigger a little image that the stretching, extension that is caused by the process of preprocessing station 102 produces.Provide new screen cloth to have problem.Therefore, can change other parameter,, adapting to the variation of picture size, and not need to change screen cloth such as the relative velocity of the screen cloth and the width of cloth at each printing station.In any case the amount that the picture size that can adapt to changes is restricted.Therefore, preferably as here describe ground preliminary treatment substrate, reducing the general image size increases, and reduces the variation that described picture size increases.

In one embodiment of the invention, preprocessing station 102 also comprises extra element, and it carries out the function that promotes according to the proper operation of width of cloth manufacture process of the present invention.In pretreatment unit 102, two width of cloth cleaning units are arranged, first cleaning unit 204 and second cleaning unit 207, the top of its clean substrate 242 and bottom side.Before any print steps, first cleaning unit 204 and second cleaning unit 207 make the roller that sticks with glue the adhesive coating to remove particles from substrate 242.First cleaning unit 204 can be for example on the market from Glasgow, the cleaner of the available model WASP400 of KSM Web Cleaners of UnitedKingdom.Second cleaning unit 207 for example is from the available cleaner of Teknek on the market.Preprocessing station 102 also comprises inbound roll 206 and measuring cell 208.Inbound roll 206 is used to control the tension force (the particularly tension force between inbound roll 206 and departures roll 238) of substrate 242.Inbound roll 206 is linked to measuring cell 208 via control system (not showing).Substrate 242 is taken out from the second enzyme printing station 106 part 6 with constant speed by departures roll 238.When substrate moved through according to width of cloth process of the present invention, the measuring cell 208 in part 2 was measured the tension force of substrates 242.Inbound roll 206 is regulated its speed, so that at predetermined set-point control tension force.Typical substrate tension force is for being similar to 150N to 180N in width of cloth manufacture process according to the present invention, and more specifically, for 160N arrives 170N, in the present embodiment, this tension force is approximate 165N.

Fig. 2 B is a schematic diagram of describing part 3, part 4 and part 5 according to web printing process of the present invention.In Fig. 2 B, part 3 is carbon printing stations 103.Before printing, cleaning systems (can obtain from Meech) are installed, these cleaning systems use vacuum and brush system to come the top side (printed side) and the bottom side of clean substrate, and top brush and vacuum station 251 and bottom brush and vacuum station 250 are offset each other.The top brush is right after chill roll 212 with vacuum station 250 and contacts substrate in the past with memory 213, but and is the carbon printing nearest point of arrival in the past.The bottom side brush is right after with vacuum station 251 and contacts substrate after pretreatment unit 102 is left in substrate.Carbon printing station 103 comprises first chill roll 212, second memory 213, the second print roller 214, the first vision sensor 215, the second driven rollers, 216, the first dryer area 217 and second chill rolls 218.In the embodiments of the invention shown in Fig. 2 B, part 4 is insulation printing stations 104.Insulation printing station 104 comprises the 3rd chill roll 219, the three memories 220, the three print roller 221, the second vision sensors 222, the Y alignment system (not showing) at position 237A place, the 3rd driven roller 223 and second dryer area 224.In Fig. 2 B, part 5 is first enzyme printing stations 105.The first enzyme printing station 105 comprises the 4th chill roll 225, the four memories 226, the four print roller 227, the three vision sensors 228, the 2nd Y alignment system (not showing) at position 237B place, 4 wheel driven action roller 229 and the 3rd dryer area 230.

In process according to the present invention, the part 3 of width of cloth manufacture process is for carrying out the place of carbon printing.Certainly, as one of ordinary skill in the art will be understo, the quantity of printing process and type can change, and do not depart from the wideest scope of the present invention.For example, two carbon printings can be set, perhaps the China ink by having metallic particles silver/silver chlorate or can be used to provide the electrode layer of electrochemical sensor based on one or more printing of the carbon of the China ink of gold or palladium.Insulation and reagent layer also can change their composition, sedimentary sequence, deposit thickness and layout, and other parameter that can understand from the embodiments described herein of those skilled in the art.In part 3, the carbon figure that is used for electrochemical sensor constructed in accordance can utilize silk screen printing to print.The basic building block of carbon printing station 103 shows in Fig. 6 and 7.Especially, suitable printing station according to the present invention comprises screen cloth 301, bottom print roller 303, print roller 600, is full of sheet 603, squeegee retainer 605 and squeegee 606.In carbon printing station 103, print roller 600 is second print roller 214.Screen cloth 301 is common flat structure, generally includes mesh, and it is set to provide the negative film of the figure that needs.Carbon ink is applied to mesh, and during printing carbon ink is pushed away mesh.In this stage, flat screen cloth may since the weight of China ink (for the enzyme print steps, especially like this, all China inks that wherein, will use during whole printing operation are deposited on the screen cloth at the place that begins of printing operation usually) and from the pressure of the squeegee that China ink was pushed away the mesh template and a little distortion break away from flat shape.

Be full of in the periodic process according to of the present invention,, be full of sheet 603 by mobile squeegee 606 on the first direction 608 that moves at the width of cloth corresponding to substrate 242, print roller 600 and bottom print roller 303, screen cloth 301 is filled China ink 604.For being full of the cycle, wherein, China ink 604 is filled on the screen cloth 301, and screen cloth 301 moves on the second direction 607 opposite with the first direction 608 of substrate 242.

In print cycle process subsequently according to the present invention, as shown in Figure 7, squeegee 606 transmits China ink 604 by in screen cloth 301 and the arrival substrate 242.During the print cycle, squeegee 606 is full of sheet 603, and print roller 600 and bottom print roller 303 all move on the second direction 607 opposite with the width of cloth direction of motion of substrate 242.For the print cycle, wherein, China ink 604 is pushed over screen cloth 301 and is deposited in the substrate 242, and screen cloth 301 moves on the first direction 608 that the width of cloth corresponding to substrate 242 moves.Therefore, during the print cycle, screen cloth 301 moves with identical with substrate or very approaching identical speed on the direction identical with width of cloth substrate.When static, screen cloth 301 is roughly flat, although in use, it is promoted towards the width of cloth by squeegee 606, and when this happens, screen cloth is out of shape a little, and in case when removing squeegee 606, screen cloth roughly returns to its original shape.Then, be ready for the next one during print cycle when screen cloth 301 is reloaded China ink 604, it moves on the direction opposite with substrate.When China ink was loaded on the screen cloth 301, the weight of China ink may crooked very slightly screen cloth.When the width of cloth left printing station, the direct of travel 608 of the screen cloth 301 and the width of cloth at an angle.This layout (about usually 10 to 30 degree of angle, more specifically, about 15 spend) has been improved China ink and has been discharged in the substrate from screen cloth, has improved print distinctness and reproducibility.Screen cloth is with respect to the angle of substrate, the squeegee angle, screen cloth is with respect to the distance of squeegee, squeegee is with respect to the position of print roller, engagement range, the relative velocity of substrate and screen cloth, and squeegee pressure, the consistency (embodiment of silk screen printing mechanism describes in the United States Patent (USP) of issuing 4245554 in further detail, its by with reference to being incorporated herein) that may be used to control and optimize the print distinctness that finally obtains and cross card.

Especially, in carbon printing station 103, described China ink is a carbon ink.The example of suitable carbon ink is set forth below at this.In an embodiment of the present invention, before use squeegee 606 passed through China ink 604 transmission screen cloth and arrives in the substrate 242, screen cloth 301 was full of China ink 604.For example using then, 140 ℃ hot-air comes drying to be deposited on the carbon figure of the printing in the substrate 242, this hot-air uses in first dryer area 217 four independently dry groups to be directed on the surface of printing of substrate, and this shows in greater detail in as Figure 12.

The suitable China ink that is used for the carbon printing station includes, but not limited to have metallic particles, and silver/silver chlorate is based on gold, based on the printable China ink of conduction of the carbon of palladium.

In one embodiment of the invention, before the carbon printing process, be right after after the drying, substrate 242 is by first chill roll 212, and it is designed to cool off fast substrate 242 to predetermined temperature, is generally room temperature (approximately 18-21 ℃, common 19.5 ℃+/-0.5 ℃).In an embodiment of width of cloth manufacture process according to the present invention, the surface of first chill roll 212 is approximate 18 ℃.First chill roll 212 can for example use about 7 ℃ factory's cooling water to be cooled to suitable temperature.Flow rate by control factory cooling water and/or temperature can control roll temperature.After the carbon pattern of printing deposited in printing process, substrate 242 was by second chill roll 218.Reduce the temperature of substrate, and the temperature of keeping substrate 242 is favourable, dry and in mesh, produce the possibility of blocking because colder temperature has reduced during printing at China ink on the screen cloth.It also is favourable using chill roll in width of cloth manufacture process according to the present invention, because it has reduced the span of substrate 242, has reduced alignment issues, and has revised the needs that ongoing process remedies such problem.

In one embodiment, the feedback loop of the temperature by measuring chill roll and controlled water flow/temperature is dynamically controlled the temperature of chill roll.Those skilled in the art it is contemplated that other method of cooling off this roller from the embodiments described herein, for example, and electronic refrigeration unit.

In process according to the present invention, the part 4 of width of cloth manufacture process is the place of insulating and printing.In part 4, utilize the silk screen printing of using common flat screen cloth to print the insulation patterns of electrochemical sensor constructed in accordance.The basic building block of insulation printing station 104 shows in Fig. 6 and 7.Especially, suitable printing station according to the present invention comprises screen cloth 301, bottom print roller 303, print roller 600, is full of sheet 603, squeegee retainer 605 and squeegee 606.In insulation printing station 104, print roller 600 is the 3rd print roller 221.

In print cycle process subsequently according to the present invention, as shown in Figure 7, squeegee 606 transmits China ink 604 by in screen cloth 301 and the arrival substrate 242.During the print cycle, squeegee 606 is full of sheet 603, and print roller 600 and bottom print roller 303 all move on the second direction 607 opposite with the width of cloth direction of motion of substrate 242.For the print cycle, wherein, China ink 604 is pushed over screen cloth 301 and is deposited in the substrate 242, and screen cloth 301 moves on the first direction 608 that the width of cloth corresponding to substrate 242 moves.An embodiment of silk screen printing mechanism describes in the United States Patent (USP) of issuing 4245554 in further detail, and it is incorporated herein by reference.

In movably flat silk screen printing, during printing, usually flat screen cloth have its motion on the direction identical with substrate and for with the component of the approximately uniform speed of substrate.Usually, in each of printing station, when screen cloth and substrate from the printing position (print roller 200 the neighborhood graph 6) when moving away, generally flat screen cloth acutangulates (being A among Fig. 6) with respect to substrate.The relative velocity of change substrate and screen cloth has changed the image of printing at the substrate direct of travel, that is, and and the size on the directions X.

Each the stencil screen Netcom that is used for printing station often comprises polyester or the steel mesh eye that stretches and be attached to the elastically deformable of rigid frame.An embodiment uses by Weymouth, the polyester screen of the DEK Machinery of UK supply.Mesh is coated with the coating of UV sensitivity, and binding film positive, screen cloth are exposed to the UV light source, develop, and dry, make coating dry on screen cloth, to form the negative film of the graph image that needs.Under the help of squeegee, China ink by template the open area and the arrival substrate on (the given positive picture that in substrate, forms by China ink).Framework provides the device that mesh is installed, and bears the power that is applied by the mesh that stretches, and has minimum distortion, and bears the extra power that produces during printing.

Especially, in insulation printing station 104, described China ink is a dielectric ink.The example of suitable insulation China ink is set forth below at this.In an embodiment of the present invention, before use squeegee 606 passed through China ink 604 transmission screen cloth and arrives in the substrate 242, screen cloth 301 was full of China ink 604.For example using then, 140 ℃ hot-air comes drying to be deposited on the insulation patterns of the printing in the substrate 242, this hot-air uses in second dryer area 224 four independently dry groups to be directed on the surface of printing of substrate, and this shows in greater detail in as Figure 13.The example that is used for according to the suitable China ink of the insulation printing station of width of cloth manufacture process of the present invention is ErconE6110-116 Jet Black Insulayer Ink, and it can be from Ercon, and Inc. buys.In one embodiment of the invention, use technology described herein, insulation patterns is registered to the carbon figure on directions X (along machine) and Y direction (cross-machine).Can use other type of dielectric ink, understandable as those skilled in the art from the description here.And, can use different layers, the order of perhaps different layers provides the order of different layer, and therefore the different structure of the electrochemical sensor of production is provided.

In one embodiment of the invention, before the insulation printing process, be right after after the drying, substrate 242, the carbon and the insulating pattern that comprise printing, by the 3rd chill roll 219, it is designed to cool off fast substrate 242 to predetermined temperature, be generally room temperature (approximately 17-21 ℃, common 19.5 ℃+/-0.5 ℃).In an embodiment of width of cloth manufacture process according to the present invention, the surface temperature of the 3rd chill roll is approximate 18 ℃.The 3rd chill roll 219 can for example use about 7 ℃ factory's cooling water to be cooled to suitable temperature.Reduce the temperature of substrate 242, and the temperature of keeping substrate 242 is favourable, dry and in mesh, produce the possibility of blocking because colder temperature has reduced at China ink on the screen cloth.It also is favourable using chill roll in width of cloth manufacture process according to the present invention, because it has reduced the span of substrate 242, has reduced alignment issues, and has revised the needs that ongoing process remedies such problem.

In process according to the present invention, the part 5 of width of cloth manufacture process is the place of carrying out the printing of first enzyme.In part 5, utilize silk screen printing and foregoing movably common flat screen cloth to print the enzyme China ink figure of electrochemical sensor constructed in accordance.The basic building block of the first enzyme printing station 105 shows in Fig. 6 and 7.Especially, suitable printing station according to the present invention comprises screen cloth 301, bottom print roller 303, print roller 600, is full of sheet 603, squeegee retainer 605 and squeegee 606.In the first enzyme printing station 105, print roller 600 is the 4th print roller 227.

Especially, in the first enzyme printing station 105, described China ink is the enzyme China ink.The example of suitable enzyme China ink is set forth below at this.In an embodiment of the present invention, before use squeegee 606 passed through China ink 604 transmission screen cloth and arrives in the substrate 242, screen cloth 301 was full of China ink 604.For example using then, 50 ℃ hot-air comes drying to be deposited on the enzyme figure of the printing in the substrate 242, this hot-air uses in the 3rd dryer area 230 two independently dry groups to be directed on the surface of printing of substrate, and this shows in greater detail in as Figure 14.Be used in form 2, summing up according to the example of the suitable China ink of the first enzyme printing station 105 of width of cloth manufacture process of the present invention.

Form 2

Composition	Supplier
Composition	Supplier	Glucose oxidase	Biozyme Laboratories
Citrate three sodium	Fisher Scientific	Glucose oxidase	Biozyme Laboratories
Citrate three sodium	Fisher Scientific	Citric acid	Fisher Scientific
Polyvinyl alcohol	Sigma Aldrich	Citric acid	Fisher Scientific
Polyvinyl alcohol	Sigma Aldrich	Hydroxyethylcellulose (Nat 250G)	Honeywell and Stein BDH/Merck LTD Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Co.，UK
Six cyanogen close the sour potassium of iron (III)	Norlab Instruments Ltd.UK	Hydroxyethylcellulose (Nat 250G)
Six cyanogen close the sour potassium of iron (III)	Norlab Instruments Ltd.UK	The DC1500 antifoaming agent	BDH/Merck Ltd
Cabosil	Ellis and Everard Ltd	The DC1500 antifoaming agent	BDH/Merck Ltd
Cabosil	Ellis and Everard Ltd	PVPVA	ISP Company Ltd
Analytically pure water	BDH/Merck Ltd	PVPVA	ISP Company Ltd

In one embodiment of the invention, after the insulation printing process, be right after after the drying, substrate 242, the carbon and the insulating pattern that comprise printing, by the 4th chill roll 225, it is designed to cool off fast substrate 242 to predetermined temperature, be generally room temperature (approximately 17-21 ℃, common 19.5 ℃+/-0.5 ℃).In an embodiment of width of cloth manufacture process according to the present invention, the surface of the 4th chill roll 225 is approximate 18 ℃.The 4th chill roll 225 can for example use about 7 ℃ factory's cooling water to be cooled to suitable temperature.Reduce the temperature of substrate 242, and the temperature of keeping substrate 242 is favourable, dry and in mesh, produce the possibility of blocking because colder temperature has reduced at China ink on the screen cloth.It also is favourable using chill roll in width of cloth manufacture process according to the present invention, because it has reduced the span of substrate 242, has reduced alignment issues, and has revised the needs that ongoing process remedies such problem.

In addition because the high water content of enzyme China ink and because the air-flow of screen movement, guarantee the enzyme China ink moist in screen cloth, be crucial.The relative current of the air that is run into by the motion screen cloth is with the online China ink of uncommon mode dry sieve in flat-bed screen printing machine (such as the Thieme flatbed press), because unlike the present invention, itself does not move screen cloth in machine.Not only chill roll is by guaranteeing that substrate is cooled to about 18 ℃ and alleviates such situation before substrate runs into enzyme silk screen printing step, and humidification is loaded with the screen cloth of enzyme China ink during printing.In one embodiment, humidification roughly is continuous.Can be top side, bottom side and/or sidepiece screen cloth humidification, in fact all three kinds of humidifications can be provided.The layout of conduit provides the humidification air of constant to flow on the screen cloth from upper and lower and side respectively, guarantees that the water content of China ink maintains constant level.Be used for providing suitable arrangement to show at Fig. 3,4 and 5 according to top side of the present invention, bottom side and/or side screen cloth humidification.The quantity of humidifying device (being generally the conduit that transports the humidification air) and arrange wherein depends on the humidity of water content, surrounding air of the amount that needs humidification, China ink and temperature, the temperature when the substrate of substrate during near the enzyme printing station, the temperature of print roller, the size of screen cloth, and screen cloth is to the exposure of surrounding environment (the not air of humidification).In one embodiment, back and forth during the one stroke, comprise that the conduit 304 in delegation or multirow hole 400 transported the air of humidification the whole bottom side of screen cloth at screen cloth.Top 300 and 304 (as shown in Figure 4) of air stream of carrying humidification with the conduit (not having to show) of operator's side machine.

Usually, when printing operation begins or before printing operation begins, all enzyme China inks that printing operation needs are placed on the screen cloth.Because the enzyme China ink comprises most of water (typically percentage by weight is between 55 and 65%, and more typically percentage by weight is approximately 60%), so China ink trends towards becoming dry during service life.By providing humidification to alleviate this risk around the screen cloth that is loaded with the enzyme China ink.Alternatively, perhaps, cool off substrate by using chill roll described herein more typically in addition running into before enzyme (the perhaps in fact any) printing station.Typically, the temperature of substrate is controlled to be and is less than or equal to room temperature.Yet the temperature of substrate remains on the dew point of the atmosphere in the room.If the room is in 60% humidity, dew point may be 15 ℃ so.If the temperature of substrate is lower than this temperature, in substrate condensation can appear so, may damage any printing operation subsequently, particularly by such as the enzyme China ink can be water-soluble any printing operation subsequently of China ink.Therefore, the control of base reservoir temperature for example, between the restriction of room temperature and dew point, is important for the printing operation of success.The control of chill roll 212,219,225 and 231 temperature and/or the time by chill roll 212,219,225 and 231 is important for the control base reservoir temperature.Can use feedback control loop to come for example to measure base reservoir temperature, with the temperature and the base reservoir temperature when roller and approaching next printing station are left in substrate of control chill roll with respect to room temperature and/or dew point (given room humidity).

Fig. 2 C is the schematic diagram of describing according to the part 6 and the part 7 of web printing process of the present invention.In Fig. 2 C, part 6 is second enzyme printing stations 106.The second enzyme printing station 106 comprises the 5th chill roll 231, the five memories 232, the five print roller 233, the four vision sensors 234, the five driven rollers 235, the five dryer area 236, Y alignment system 237 and departures roll 238.In the embodiments of the invention shown in Fig. 2 C, part 7 is rewinder unit 107.Rewinder unit 107 comprises steering mechanism's 239, the first recoil axles 240 and the second recoil axle 241.

In process according to the present invention, the part 6 of width of cloth manufacture process is the place of carrying out the printing of second enzyme.In part 6, utilize silk screen printing to print the enzyme China ink figure of electrochemical sensor constructed in accordance.The purpose that applies 2 enzyme China ink coatings makes electrode roughly evenly not have the space for guaranteeing complete coated carbon electrode.The basic building block of the second enzyme printing station 106 shows in Fig. 6 and 7.Especially, suitable printing station according to the present invention comprises screen cloth 301, bottom print roller 303, print roller 600, is full of sheet 603, squeegee retainer 605 and squeegee 606.In the second enzyme printing station 106, print roller 600 is the 5th print roller 233.

Especially, in the second enzyme printing station 106, described China ink is the enzyme China ink.In an embodiment of the present invention, before use squeegee 606 passed through China ink 604 transmission screen cloth and arrives in the substrate 242, screen cloth 301 was full of China ink 604.For example using then, 50 ℃ hot-air comes drying to be deposited on the enzyme figure of the printing in the substrate 242, this hot-air uses in the 4th dryer area 236 two independently dry groups to be directed on the surface of printing of substrate, and this shows in greater detail in as Figure 15.The example of suitable China ink that is used for the second enzyme printing station 106 is identical with the enzyme China ink that is used for the first enzyme printing station, and it is described in aforesaid form 2.

In one embodiment of the invention, after the second enzyme printing process, be right after after the drying, substrate 242 comprises the carbon of printing, insulation and enzyme China ink pattern, and by the 5th chill roll 231, it is designed to cool off fast substrate 242 to predetermined temperature.In an embodiment of width of cloth manufacture process according to the present invention, the surface of the 5th chill roll 231 is approximate 18 ℃.The 5th chill roll 231 can for example use about 7 ℃ factory's cooling water to be cooled to suitable temperature.Reduce the temperature of substrate 242, and the temperature of keeping substrate 242 is favourable, dry and in mesh, produce the possibility of blocking because colder temperature has reduced at China ink on the screen cloth.It also is favourable using chill roll in width of cloth manufacture process according to the present invention, because it has reduced the span of substrate 242, has reduced alignment issues, and has revised the needs that ongoing process remedies such problem.

In addition because the high water content of enzyme China ink and because the air-flow of screen movement, guarantee the enzyme China ink moist in screen cloth, be crucial.Not only before substrate runs into enzyme silk screen printing step chill roll by guaranteeing that substrate is cooled to 18 ℃ and alleviates such situation; and can be provided in addition on the screen cloth and under top side and/or the bottom side and/or the side screen cloth humidification of humidification air stream, guarantee that the water content of China ink maintains constant level.Typically, the humidification air flows on screen cloth consistently.Be used for providing suitable arrangement to show at Fig. 3 according to top side of the present invention and bottom side screen cloth humidification.

The second enzyme printing station 106 can comprise departures roll 238, is used to check the check system 237 of aligning, at 237C (not showing) the 3rd Y alignment system, and bar code station (not showing).Departures roll 238 helps to control the tension force (the particularly tension force between inbound roll 206 and departures roll 238) of substrate 242.By departures roll 238, substrate 242 is taken out from the second enzyme printing station 106 with constant speed.Y by each print cycle during utilizing a Y alignment mark 2101, the 2nd Y alignment mark 2102, the 3rd Y alignment mark 2103, the 4th Y alignment mark 2104 to control printing aims at (promptly at the Y alignment system at position 237A, 237B and 237C place (not having to show), stride across the width of cloth), these alignment marks show in Figure 21 A.In one embodiment of the invention, a Y alignment mark 2101, the 2nd Y alignment mark 2102, the 3rd Y alignment mark 2103 and the 4th Y alignment mark 2104 can be respectively aimed at corresponding to the Y of carbon printing station 103, insulation printing station 104, the first enzyme printing station 105 and the second enzyme printing station 106.Each Y alignment mark comprises 2 triangles, and it is with approximate rectangular orientation and put.In one embodiment, the Y alignment system that is positioned at position 237A, 237B and 237C place can be realized by the Eltromat DGC650 from the Eltromat Gmbh of the Leopoldshohe of Germany.

In one embodiment of the invention, check system 237 can use on the market EltromatInspection System of the model PC3100HD that obtains from the Eltromat Gmbh of the Leopoldshohe of Germany to realize.Check system 237 has vision member, it is checked at Figure 17 A to the alignment mark shown in 19D and/or Figure 20 D, and the instrument that can whether should be dropped as evaluation sensor sheet 2106 (for example, by with respect to the bar code record check result in the database).

Alignment issues on Y yardstick (it can change by the alignment system (not having to show) that is positioned at 237A, 237B and 237C place during printing and/or finish all printing stages and checking by check system 237 later) can belong to the variation of width of cloth tension force or the uneven distortion of substrate 242.In an embodiment of the present invention, the bar code station comprises on the following market can obtain member, bar-code printer is (from Cambridge, the model A400 of the Domino UK Ltd. of United Kingdom), bar code traverse apparatus (Perthshire, and barcode reader (Canton, the RVSI Acuity CiMatrix of MA) the Scottish Robotic Systems of Scotland).Bar code station (not showing) labels for every line sensor sheet 2106 with 2 dimension bar codes.This provides unique marker symbol, lot number/lot number identification, sensor chip number and row number for every line sensor.Bar code is also read after the printing in the bar code station and then, is correctly printed with definite bar code, and visual identifier is provided for machine operation person.Bar code and be stored in the database from the procedural information of part 2 to 6 is used to later on discern and abandons/accepts the process that card is used for future subsequently.

Rewinder unit 107 comprises for example Martin Automatic Rewind System.This is the last part of machine, and the continuous recoil that allows substrate 242.Rewinder unit 107 comprises that first recoils the axle 240 and the second recoil axle 241.First recoils the volume that axle 240 keeps base material 242, and draws material continuously from the second enzyme printing station 106.Second recoils axle 241 keeps standby material webs, and when finishing when recoiling the volume of substrate 242 of axle 240 from first, second recoils axle joins the first volume of substrate 242 to second volume automatically.This continuous process is recoiled axle 240 to second from first and is recoiled axle 241 repetitions.The quick joint that still occurs in when motion in substrate 242 is used for carrying out the continuous recoil of substrate 242.Engage and directly be placed on the volume of the new base material 242 that scribbles the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive agent.

Fig. 3 is the schematic diagram of describing around the moist environment of the 5th and the 6th part of width of cloth printing.Be used for providing the basic building block of the device of humidification width of cloth printing environment to show that at Fig. 3 it comprises top wet air 300, screen cloth 301, bottom wet air 302, bottom print roller 303, the conduit 304 that comprises a plurality of perforation 400, substrate 242 and the 4th print roller 227 or the 5th print roller 233.Humidification and temperature be set to be full of with the print cycle during, and the whole life period that is preferably in printing operation, attempt and the character of guaranteeing the enzyme China ink not along with the time changes any level of materiality.Especially, need the viscosity of enzyme China ink and water content be full of with the print cycle during, and the whole life period that is preferably in printing operation is along with the time changes.The enzyme China ink is approximate 63% water.The amount that constant water content guarantees to be lowered into the China ink in the substrate 242 is for consistent.If the water content of China ink changes during printing process, this can cause the variation of enzyme layer thickness.In addition, drying out from the enzyme China ink to cause enzyme dry on screen cloth 301, causes the print distinctness of difference and is placed on the reducing of amount of the China ink in the substrate 242.Wet air in the first enzyme printing station 105 or the second enzyme printing station 106 maintains the relative humidity between 85 to 95%.Top wet air 300 and bottom wet air 302 are pumped on the both sides of screen cloth 301, to keep the relative humidity that needs.Side conduit 305 is set to a side of the width of cloth, and on a side of next-door neighbour's enzyme printing station the humidification air is incorporated on the width of cloth.Kind and type that humidification is arranged can change, with the size and dimension of suitable printing station, and the humidification requirement of the China ink of the type at this printing station place in this environment.Usually, top and/or the lower side that can use cover to seal screen cloth make the humidification air can be transported in the cover of direct contiguous screen cloth, and near the existence maintenance screen cloth that passes through to cover.If cover is installed on the upper screen framework, this is typical situation, and cover can have the groove on x direction (print direction), with allow squeegee be full of normally/during the print cycle with respect to screen movement.

Fig. 4 is the bottom view of describing around the moist environment of the 5th and the 6th part of width of cloth printing.The basic building block of device that is used for being provided for the humidification of width of cloth printing environment also shows at Fig. 4, it comprises top wet air 300, screen cloth 310, bottom wet air 302, has the conduit 304 of perforation, and bore a hole 400, side conduit (not showing) at 305 places.Conduit 304 with several perforation 400 is positioned at below the screen cloth 301, as being used to blow the device that bottom wet air 302 is kept the viscosity of the enzyme China ink on the screen cloth 301.Fig. 5 has the perspective view that the conduit 304 of bottom wet air 302 is blown in perforation 400.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of describing 2 different squeegee angles, and it comprises substrate 242, print roller 600 and squeegee 606.The angle 800 of squeegee can change, to optimize the definition of printing zone.In one embodiment of the invention, the angle of squeegee can be 15+/-5, is preferably+/-1 to 2 degree.Notice that squeegee 606 is identical with the contact point of print roller 600 for each squeegee angle 800.

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of describing 2 different squeegee positions, and it comprises substrate 242, print roller 600, bottom print roller 303, squeegee 606, the first squeegee position 900 and the second squeegee position 901.The squeegee position is the position of squeegee with respect to the center of print roller 600.The squeegee position has main influence to the thickness of the China ink of printing.The position of squeegee can change, to optimize the definition of printing zone.

Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of describing screen cloth engagement range (1000), and it comprises substrate 242, print roller 600, bottom print roller 303 and screen cloth 301.In one embodiment of the invention, screen cloth engagement range (1000) is the immediate distance between screen cloth 301 and the substrate 242.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, screen cloth is caught setting (1000) and can be similar to 0.7mm.Setting is too high if screen cloth is caught setting (1000), and squeegee 606 fully deflection screen cloth 301 is delivered to China ink 604 in the substrate 242 with sufficient print distinctness.Be provided with too lowly if screen cloth is caught setting (1000), screen cloth 301 will cause inadequate print distinctness from the print cycle of the front China ink 604 of erasing.

Figure 11 shows the decomposition view of pretreatment zone 211, and it comprises first driven roller 210, hot plate 1100, primary heater group 1101, secondary heater group 1102 and the 3rd Heater group 1103.In an embodiment of the present invention, the not side of printing of hot plate 1100 contact substrates 242.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, hot plate 1100 can be coated with the Teflon, and can be heated to approximate 160 ℃.In an embodiment of the present invention, primary heater group 1101, secondary heater group 1102 and the 3rd Heater group 1103 are blown approximate 160 ℃ hot-air.This can change, with the temperature that is fit to base type and/or thickness and/or any preliminary treatment and/or runs in this process later, as one of ordinary skill in the art will be understo.

Figure 12 shows the decomposition view of first arid region 217, and it comprises second chill roll 218, second driven roller 216, the first dryer group 1200A, the second dryer group 1101A, the 3rd dryer group 1102A and the 4th dryer group 1103A.In an embodiment of the present invention, the first dryer group 1200A, the second dryer group 1101A, the 3rd dryer group 1102A and the 4th dryer group 1103A blow approximate 140 ℃ hot-air, although it is this can change, understandable from the description here as those skilled in the art.

Figure 13 shows the decomposition view of second arid region 224, and it comprises the 3rd driven roller 223, the first dryer group 1200B, the second dryer group 1101B, the 3rd dryer group 1102B and the 4th dryer group 1103B.In an embodiment of the present invention, the first dryer group 1200B, second blows approximate 140 ℃ hot-air in dry device group 1101B, the 3rd dryer group 1102B and the 4th dryer group 1103B, although it is this can change, understandable from the description here as those skilled in the art.

Figure 14 shows the decomposition view of the 3rd arid region 230, and it comprises 4 wheel driven action roller 229, the first dryer group 1200C and the second dryer group 1101C.In an embodiment of the present invention, the first dryer group 1200C and the second dryer group 1101C blow approximate 50 ℃ hot-air, and be although this can change, understandable from the description here as those skilled in the art.

Figure 15 shows the decomposition view of the 4th arid region 236, and it comprises the 5th driven roller 235, the first dryer group 1200D and the second dryer group 1101D.In an embodiment of the present invention, the first dryer group 1200D and the second dryer group 1101D blow approximate 50 ℃ hot-air, and be although this can change, understandable from the description here as those skilled in the art.

Figure 16 shows the decomposition view of first cleaning unit 204, and it comprises gluing roller 1600, blue polymer roller 1601.In an embodiment of the present invention, blue polymer roller 1601 contacts the top side and the bottom side of substrates 242, and particle/foreign substance is delivered to gluing roller 1600.

Figure 17 A shows the view of the insulating barrier with correct aligning of embodiments of the invention to carbon-coating to 17D.Notice that Figure 17 A represents the upper left quarter of sensor chip 2106, Figure 17 B represents the upper right quarter of sensor chip 2106, and Figure 17 C represents the lower left quarter of sensor chip 2106, and Figure 17 D represents the right lower quadrant of sensor chip 2106.These marks do not show on the sensor chip shown in Figure 21 A.In one embodiment of the invention, carbon printing station 103 will comprise that the carbon-coating of the solid carbon rectangle 1700 that is centered on by rectangle carbon line 1703 is printed onto in the substrate 242.In the print cycle subsequently, insulation printing station 104 is printed onto rectangle insulated wire 1701 in the substrate 242, and this rectangle insulated wire is positioned between solid carbon rectangle 1700 and the rectangle carbon line 1703.When insulating barrier to carbon-coating be aligned in all four bights when all correct, between rectangle insulated wire 1701 and solid carbon rectangle 1700, do not have uncoated substrate 242 to show usually.Insulating barrier can manually be checked by the operator to the aligning of carbon-coating, perhaps can use second vision sensor 222 to check, and in one embodiment, second vision sensor comprises the video camera in each bight of pointing to substrate.Usually, this has formed the initialized part when printing operation begins.The operator can observe all four bights of contiguous mutually substrate on the TV screen.Then, the operator can aim at carbon-coating by (in fact, during the remainder of printing operation) visual inspection insulating barrier during this initialization procedure, and can carry out any necessary adjusting and make insulation printing and carbon print register.Should be appreciated that width of cloth viewer 222 (4 video cameras that for example comprise the position on four bights pointing to the substrate card) is observed and sent, with each the snapshot in four bights showing each card.Like this, the bight of only having observed each card on display is time in an instant, because when the width of cloth is advanced by equipment, the substrate below observing video camera is constantly replaced.The effect that any adjusting that this system makes the operator can see immediately that he carries out is aimed to carbon-coating insulating barrier.The adjusting that the operator may carry out includes, but not limited to the silk screen printing stroke, catches height, squeegee pressure, with respect to the screen cloth position of " Y " direction, with respect to the screen cloth position of θ (Theta).Aim at (using viewer 228 and 234) in case on this and other printing station, set up viewer, (for example allow automatic inner X alignment system (usage flag 2107 and 2108) and automatic Y alignment system, be positioned at the alignment system usage flag 2101 to 2104 at position 237A, 237B and 237C place) during printing, take over and monitoring, and automatic corrected X and Y aligning.Automatic X and Y aim at during Figure 17 A can be used for printing to the mark shown in the 20D 1700 to 1703, select or replenish as the another kind of usage flag 2101 to 2104 and 2107 and 2108, understandable as those skilled in the art from the description here.

Figure 18 shows when insulation patterns is longer than carbon figure on print direction, and the insulating barrier with incorrect aligning of embodiments of the invention is to the view of carbon-coating.Even carbon has identical size with insulated screens on this yardstick, also such situation can take place, but because the substrate tensible, perhaps the screen cloth stroke may different in each stage (slower screen cloth stroke be along the given relatively long graphic printing of direct of travel of the substrate width of cloth).Notice that Figure 18 A represents the upper left quarter of sensor chip 2106, Figure 18 B represents the upper right quarter of sensor chip 2106, and Figure 18 C represents the lower left quarter of sensor chip 2106, and Figure 18 D represents the right lower quadrant of sensor chip 2106.When the insulating barrier of locating in one of four bights is incorrect to the aligning of carbon-coating, between rectangle insulated wire 1701 and solid carbon rectangle 1700, can observe uncoated substrate 242.Insulating barrier can use second vision sensor 222 manually to check by the operator to the aligning of carbon-coating.

Figure 19 show when the insulation patterns of printing than the figure of carbon printing in short-term (for example, the screen cloth stroke of insulation printing may be longer than the stroke of carbon printing, perhaps insulated screens may be shorter than the screen cloth of carbon printing station), the insulating barrier with incorrect aligning of embodiments of the invention is to the view of carbon-coating.Notice that Figure 19 A represents the upper left quarter of sensor chip 2106, Figure 19 B represents the upper right quarter of sensor chip 2106, and Figure 19 C represents the lower left quarter of sensor chip 2106, and Figure 19 D represents the right lower quadrant of sensor chip 2106.When the insulating barrier of locating in one of four bights is incorrect to the aligning of carbon-coating, between rectangle insulated wire 1701 and solid carbon rectangle 1700, can observe uncoated substrate 242.Insulating barrier can use second vision sensor 222 manually to check by the operator to the aligning of carbon-coating.

Figure 20 A is to have described printing second to observe guiding piece 2002 (as Figure 21 A visible result's of) process schematic diagram, it comprises solid carbon rectangle 1700, hollow insulating rectangular line 1701, hollow carbon rectangle 1703, from the Filled Rectangle of the first enzyme layer 2000, from the Filled Rectangle of the second enzyme layer 2001 and uncoated substrate 242 to 20D.Optionally, by automatic ongoing check system,, also can use such printing during manufacture such as the check system in part 6 237 (after the printing of second enzyme).Ongoing aligning is typically in addition by at the alignment system at position 237A, 237B on " Y " direction and 237C place (not having to show) and (as Figure 21 A as seen) track control system carries out to check mark 2105 on " X " direction.

Figure 21 A has first to observe the guiding piece 2100 and the second observation guiding piece 2002; The one Y alignment mark 2101, the 2nd Y alignment mark 2102, the 3rd Y alignment mark 2103 and the 4th Y alignment mark 2104; And the example of the sensor chip of X alignment mark 2105.Notice that X alignment mark 2105 comprises carbon X alignment mark 2107 and insulation X alignment mark 2108.Figure 21 B has the decomposition view that carbon X alignment mark 2107 and second is observed the delegation in the sensor chip 2106 of guiding piece 2002.Figure 21 C has the decomposition view that insulation X alignment mark 2108 and second is observed the delegation in the sensor chip 2106 of guiding piece 2002.Insulation X mark 2108 complete carbon coating X alignment marks 2107 shown in Figure 21 C, like this, provide the trigger point before the trigger point of original carbon markings 2107 (the left hand edge of described mark 2108).This means that any layer subsequently prints with respect to the layer (being insulating barrier in this case) rather than the carbon-coating of second printing.If second and screen cloth dimension of picture subsequently longer at (along the width of cloth) on the directions X than the first screen cloth dimension of picture on directions X, this is useful so.

The order that is printed with them in Figure 20 A-D has shown the decomposition view in a bight of printing guiding piece.At part 3 places of carbon printing station 103, solid carbon rectangle 1700 is together with 1703 printings of rectangle carbon line, and this rectangle carbon line is around solid carbon rectangle 1700.At part 4 places of insulation printing station 104, rectangle insulated wire 1701 is printed between solid carbon rectangle 1700 and the rectangle carbon line 1703.When insulating in all four bights to the aligning of carbon when correct, between solid carbon rectangle 1700 and rectangle insulated wire 1701, there is not uncoated substrate 242 to show usually.In addition, part 4 places at insulation printing station 104 have two more rectangle insulated wires 1701 directly to be printed on the solid carbon rectangle 1700.These two other insulated wires are used for the aligning of the visual evaluation first enzyme layer 2000 to insulating barrier and the second enzyme layer 2001 to insulating barrier, and this Filled Rectangle by printing enzyme China ink in the rectangle insulated wire carries out, shown in Figure 20 C and 20D.Like this, the layer of third and fourth printing can be registered to the layer of second rather than first printing.This has such advantage, promptly, can adapt to variation (for example because the heat and the tension force that in first arid region 217, run at the dimension of picture between first and second layers, if substrate is stretched after first printing station, may need such situation), and print register is not had reaction (300 microns tolerance is typical on directions X).

As illustrated in fig. 1 and 2, at the end of process, comprise that the substrate 242 of the transducer that is printed thereon is recoiled by rewinder unit 107, be fed into stamping machine 108 then, this stamping machine for example can be the Preco stamping machine, and it is positioned at the environment of low humidity.This Preco Punch is CCD X, Y, Theta, Floating Bolster Punch.This Preco Punch alignment system uses the CCD vision system to check " Preco point ", and it prints on the carbon printing station, and this allows stamping machine to regulate with respect to the carbon printing, makes stamping machine card " punching press " can be gone out square.Stamping machine 108 is output as the card of one group of punching press, such as shown in Figure 21 A.The card of punching press is discharged on the conveyer belt from stamping machine 108, and this conveyer belt transports card under barcode reader, and this reader reads two in each bar code that blocks, and accepts still to abandon with respect to width of cloth database to determine this card.Taking out automatically or manually of the card that can abandon.Then, a folded ground stack cards is thought following manufacturing step preparation.

At carbon printing station 103, insulation printing station 104, the first enzyme printing station 105 and the second enzyme printing station, 106 places, and then use after the printing process step of first vision sensor 215, second vision sensor 222, the 3rd vision sensor 228, the 4th vision sensor 234, all have the device that is used for the visual inspection aligning respectively.There is width of cloth viewer camera chain to be positioned at and then after the printing process step for each part---part 3,4,5 and 6---in width of cloth printing manufacture process.As the visible width of cloth viewer of Fig. 2 A-2C position.In part 3 two video cameras are arranged, four video cameras are arranged in each of part 4,5 and 6.Width of cloth viewer video camera is the part of the manual setting up procedure that uses of the operator of width of cloth machine between the elementary period of printing operation.Video camera is used to observe the mark of printing, and it helps carbon to snap to the initial setting up of substrate 242, and insulating barrier is to carbon-coating, the first enzyme layer to insulating barrier and the second enzyme layer to the aligning between the insulating barrier.The printing guiding piece shows that indication is on Figure 21 A.For carbon printing alignment, use second to observe guiding piece 2100 and indicate, with respect to the carbon printing position at the edge of substrate 242 when substrate 242 operations during by carbon printing station 103.Costa and trailing edge line are arranged, shown in Figure 21 A.The printing of adjusting carbon, vertical up to these line indication printings with basal edge.The aligning that on directions X (along the length of machine) and Y direction (striding across the width of machine), needs the layer of each printing, as Figure 21 A as seen.Internal alignment system control directions X by machine is aimed at.This has utilized the zone of the printing of indicating on Figure 21 A, B and C.During the print cycle, carbon X alignment mark 2107 is printed on this zone at carbon.Use transducer that the insulation print cycle is registered to the carbon printing, this transducer uses carbon X alignment mark 2107 to allow insulated screens to regulate, so that in correct position printing dielectric ink.Then, the carbon X alignment mark 2107 that is used for this purpose is insulated X alignment mark 2108 and covers printing, and is used in an identical manner correctly with the first enzyme layer 2000 and the second enzyme layer 2001 and insulation print register.The Y direction is aimed at by the Y alignment system that is positioned at position 237A, 237B and 237C place (not showing) and is controlled, in an embodiment of the present invention, this Y alignment system can be that the model from the Leopoldshohe of Germany is the Eltromat alignment system of DGC650.This has utilized the zone 2101 to 2104 of the printing of indicating in Figure 21 A.The order printing that---carbon, insulation, enzyme 1 and enzyme 2---these marks are aimed on the Y direction via transducer with printing subsequently in each print cycle.Width of cloth database is recording process information during printing.The information that writes down in database can be traced back to each single card via bar code, in one embodiment, uses the 2D bar code.The typical information of collecting in width of cloth database outlines in form 3.Whether width of cloth database can the evaluation procedure parameter can be accepted or unacceptable, and---whether parameter operates in the tolerance limit---is used to abandon card in view of the above.Unacceptable card can manually or automatically be removed in process in the future.

Form 3

Figure 22 is the schematic diagram of the parameter X, Y, Z and the θ that are used to aim at web printing process.Parameter Y represents the direction (level usually) of the machine side from the operator to width of cloth printing press.Parameter X is represented the direction (level usually) from unwinding unit 101 to rewinder unit 107.Parameter Z is represented perpendicular to the direction of X and Y direction (vertical usually).Parameter θ represents the angle around the Z axle.In an embodiment of the present invention, following parameter is used to aim at following printing process, for example, and carbon printing station 103, insulation printing station 104, the first enzyme printing station 105 and the second enzyme printing station 106.

In one embodiment of the invention, the product of width of cloth manufacture process is the card that is printed with figure, carbon, insulation and two same enzyme layers of comprising the printing of mutual aligning to form the bar that each comprises electrochemical sensor and relevant contact electrode, are used for detecting the glucose of blood sample.These are used for self-monitoring blood sugar in conjunction with instrument.It is contemplated that the production of these several designs.Current, the width of cloth is designed to produce " One Touch Ultra " bar, to be used for from LifeScan the available One Touch of Inc. Ultra instrument.

The schematic diagram sample of the figure of producing is presented among Figure 21 A.This shows the card of a complete printing, and it comprises 10 " OK " 50 " bar ".Each card has 500 " bars " altogether.Also indicated the printing orientation.Be parallel to the row 0 to 9 (50 of every row) of print direction by printing, this process can easily be extended to and comprise and row is separated from each other cutting step.And, this means, can easily determine any defective row that causes by the variation that strides across the width of cloth (perpendicular to print direction) in the printing quality.Give every capable assignment numbers (determining), therefore can determine in the comparable data storehouse after the special row from the special sheet on the width of cloth, and do not need to abandon whole and remove by bar code.This has increased the output from the useful product of this process, and makes that whole process is more effective.

Movable generally flat screen cloth is handled the type (solid/liquid combination) of the China ink of the printing that is used for electrochemical sensor well.With comparing that runner notch board or cylinder silk screen printing can allow, the use of movable flat screen cloth can be controlled print distinctness better, and needs to deposit thicker China ink layer in electrochemical sensor.Polytype screen cloth (having different meshes, the diameter of mesh center line, line gap, thickness, mesh quantity) obtains easily from the market, to deal with the different requirements of China inks dissimilar in continuous web printing process (carbon, insulation, enzyme).

Because flat screen cloth, print roller, substrate and promote the layout of the squeegee of screen cloth towards substrate, many parameters can be handled, and (screen cloth is with respect to the angle of substrate, the squeegee angle, screen cloth is with respect to the position of squeegee, screen cloth is with respect to the position of print roller, engagement range, the relative velocity of substrate and screen cloth and squeegee etc.), to optimize the printing process of electrochemical sensor.

Simplified summary is used to make the width of cloth manufacture process of electrochemical sensor, and when the width of cloth during this process is heated and is placed on tension force following time, the width of cloth expands or stretches.Printing station (for example, carbon, insulation, two enzymes) each back usually is dry station.For dry black effectively, drier stands in operation under the quite high temperature (50-140 degree centigrade).And, passing through the aligning of each printing station in order to help the width of cloth, the width of cloth is placed under the tension force.

Substrate must remain under the tension force, with the aligning in the control procedure, and the result, no matter when substrate is heated, and for example the drying after the printing is black, and the substrate meeting is stretched unpredictablely, causes that the picture size in printing subsequently changes.

Size of images in the printing of each printing station place determined by Several Factors, template size, black viscosity, the relative width of cloth and template/screen cloth speed and stretch (reversible and irreversible stretching, extension) etc. in the substrate of this point.When the process end is seen, find that picture size changes (between different print steps) and changes.This is unpredictable, and than the height of expecting, has greatly reduced output.If greater than 300 microns, product is of no use so along the width of cloth (x direction) for the mispairing between the picture size between the layer.Excessive picture size changes the excessive and unpredictable stretching, extension (because heating and tension force) that is considered to owing to width of cloth substrate and shrinks.

Stretch and in the platform printing, do not cause identical problem with the problem of tension force.In order to solve the problem in the width of cloth printing, attempt pre-shrunk substrate.Before in being used to width of cloth process, this substrate is heated to about 185 degrees centigrade.Yet the variation in the picture size leaves a problem, causes that output reduces.

For the current suggestion of width of cloth process in first drier, using high temperature, perhaps would rather preliminary treatment under sufficiently high temperature, make in an example, before image is printed in the substrate, roughly remove irreversible stretching, extension from substrate.

In first treating stations in width of cloth machine, dryer group reaches 160 degrees centigrade with the substrate heating.The temperature that runs in this process after the substrate is no more than 140 degree usually.

In Fig. 2 A, the primary heater group that runs into of Yin Shua substrate is not a hot plate.This is the plate that the Teflon applies, and it raises between moving period and contact substrate at the width of cloth.Heat is introduced in the back side of substrate.This is currently operating at has+160 ℃ set-point of/-4 ℃ specification.Provide best size Control on this set-point statistics of 160 ℃.The average of calculating is 160.9 ℃.In group 2, hot-air has+be incorporated into the front of substrate under 160 ℃ the set-point of/-4 ℃ specification.The average of calculating is 161.29 ℃.In group 3, hot-air has+be incorporated into the front of substrate under 160 ℃ the set-point of/-4 ℃ specification.The average of calculating is 161.18 ℃.In group 4, hot-air has+be incorporated into the front of substrate under 160 ℃ the set-point of/-4 ℃ specification.The average of calculating is 160.70 ℃.

Because width of cloth tension force and the heat of introducing in drier, each figure of width of cloth substrate stretch approximate 0.7mm repeatedly.This is to utilize station 1 to come the one of the main reasons of stabilized baseplate before printing station subsequently as pretreatment unit.Use station 1 to come the preliminary treatment substrate to improve the stability of carbon and insulation line length, stretch because before printing, removed a lot of materials from substrate.

In the method according to the invention, this method is included in first printing station (for example, the printing station of deposit carbon electrode) printing, first alignment mark, during next (for example, insulation) layer of printing, and printing second alignment mark on first alignment mark.Second alignment mark less times greater than first alignment mark has been fallen into oblivion first alignment mark, and makes the aligning of layer (for example, enzyme layer) subsequently a little earlier trigger.According to one embodiment of present invention, use two-layer mark, the second layer makes to be used for second (for example, insulation) and the variation of the screen mesh size of (for example, enzyme) layer subsequently with consideration by " moving " mark greater than ground floor.

In one embodiment of the invention, during the carbon printing, print first alignment mark at first printing station.Then, substrate moves to second printing station, and uses first alignment mark insulation printing mesh screen that aligns, insulating barrier to be printed on suitable position on the top of carbon-coating.The stretching, extension of consideration substrate before insulation printing, insulating printing mesh screen increases a little with respect to the printing mesh screen size that is used to deposit carbon-coating.In one embodiment of the invention, second alignment mark is printed as the part of insulation printing, and because second alignment mark greater than first alignment mark, so second alignment mark covers first alignment mark, relative with original carbon alignment mark, the enzyme layer is now with respect to the insulation alignment mark.

In one embodiment of the invention, in first print steps, special label print is in substrate, and in second print steps, contiguous first label print of second mark is in substrate.When mark was below the camera lens of video camera, video camera was observed suprabasil two marks.The operator observes the relative position and the orientation of two marks on video camera.The operator can see mark, and regulates, to aim at two print steps.Usually, label print is four positions, one in each bight of card.In the embodiment that also has of the present invention, two contiguous every row of special mark (along substrate 0 to 9) printing, one from each of two adjacent print steps (for example, carbon insulate to enzyme to insulation).This has provided from the indication of the row of the coupling that is printed onto printing.Like this, if desired, can abandon concrete row, rather than card.

In one embodiment of the invention, four typographic(al) marks of each card are printed in the width of cloth substrate, and shaped as frame is printed on the place, bight of each printing, and constitute the part of carbon and insulated screens figure.Carbon ink is 2 printings at the station, dielectric ink 3 printings at the station then.Dielectric ink is printed around the solid carbon rectangle, and in the carbon frame, so that obtain carbon to the correct aligning that insulate and print for width of cloth operator provides to guide/assist.By width of cloth observer system, when on the top of frame indication insulated screens figure at carbon when " stretching, extension ", can reduce the insulated screens dimension of picture by the operator, align on the top at the figure of carbon printing fully up to it.

In the embodiment that also has of the present invention, frame indication insulated screens dimension of picture equals the figure of carbon printing, but does not aim at.By width of cloth observing system, can regulate insulation patterns/screen cloth, align on the top at the figure of carbon printing fully up to it.

In one embodiment of the invention, four television cameras are observed each card, during each of printing station, and one in each bight.Image from a print steps can individually or with two (for example, along the width of cloth, perhaps striding across the width of cloth) or with four (whole four bights that shown card at once) overlap on another on the TV screen.For each row, can use to reach 6 mark positions (for carbon to insulation, two, one at every end of being expert at, and) for insulating to enzyme 1 and insulating to 2, four of enzymes two at every end of being expert at.

In the present invention, by in the special typographic(al) mark of using during the web printing process in printed pattern, and use the TV video camera to observe the aligning that mark promotes print steps.The row special marking allows (to be observed by video camera as figure) during the process and to estimate QC at the interior dress of the good product quality of end in each row of process.

Be appreciated that structure of equal value can substitute here shown in and the structure described, and the embodiment of description of the invention can be used to realize of the present invention unique structure of requiring.In addition, should be appreciated that above-mentioned each structure all has function, and such structure can be called the device that is used to carry out this function.

Though show here and described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art understand that such embodiment just provides by way of example.Do not departing under the situation of the present invention, those skilled in the art expect multiple variation, change now and substitute.Should be appreciated that the various selections of embodiments of the invention described herein can be used to realize the present invention.Trend towards limiting scope of the present invention by following claims, method and structure in the scope of these claims and equivalent thereof are all by its covering.

Claims

1. method is used to make the continuous process of the electrochemical sensor that comprises electrode layer, insulating barrier and at least one reagent layer, and this method comprises:

The layer and first alignment mark print electrode;

The heating substrate is with the dried electrode China ink;

Use first alignment mark that printing mesh screen is alignd with substrate;

Printing insulating barrier and second alignment mark, wherein, described second alignment mark is greater than first alignment mark, and is printed on first alignment mark;

The heating substrate is with dry dielectric ink;

Use second alignment mark that second printing mesh screen is alignd with substrate;

Use second printing mesh screen to print at least one reagent layer.

2. method of making electrochemical sensor, it comprises the width of cloth that transports substrate from first volume base material by a plurality of printing stations, and prints a plurality of functional layers at a plurality of printing stations by silk screen printing in substrate, the method according to this invention comprises:

Print first functional layer and first alignment mark;

The heating substrate is with dry first functional layer;

Use first alignment mark that printing mesh screen is alignd with substrate;

Print second functional layer and second alignment mark, wherein, described second alignment mark is greater than first alignment mark, and is printed on first alignment mark;

The heating substrate is with dry dielectric ink;

Use second printing mesh screen to print the 3rd functional layer.

3. method according to claim 2, wherein, first functional layer comes screen printed conductive ink to be printed in the substrate at printing station by using flat silk screen printing.

4. method according to claim 3, wherein, first functional layer is an electrode layer.

5. method according to claim 2, wherein, second functional layer comes the silk screen printing dielectric ink to be printed in the substrate at printing station by using flat silk screen printing.

6. method according to claim 5, wherein, second functional layer is an insulating barrier.

7. method according to claim 2, wherein, the 3rd functional layer comes silk screen printing reagent China ink to be printed in the substrate at printing station by using flat silk screen printing.

8. method according to claim 7, wherein, the 3rd functional layer is a reagent layer.

9. method according to claim 3, wherein, one or more electrode comes screen printed conductive ink to be printed in the substrate at first printing station by using flat silk screen printing; First insulating barrier comes the silk screen printing dielectric ink to be printed in the substrate at second printing station by using flat silk screen printing; First reagent layer comes the silk screen printing first reagent China ink to be printed in the substrate at the 3rd printing station by using flat silk screen printing; And these layers are with the said sequence printing.