Method for manufacturing multilayer ceramic electronic element

A method for manufacturing a multilayer ceramic electronic element, comprising the steps of:

• preparing a composite sheet by sequential performance of the following steps in that order;
• a first step of applying ceramic slurry to a long base film using a die coater for forming a ceramic green sheet;
• a second step of applying conductive paste to an upper surface of the ceramic green sheet by gravure printing using a plurality of conveying rollers, a pressure roller, and a gravure roller, for forming internal electrodes;
• a third step of drying or semi-drying the internal electrodes
• a fourth step of applying a step-smoothing ceramic paste to the upper surface of the ceramic green sheet in a region in which the internal electrodes are not formed by gravure printing using a plurality of conveying rollers, a pressure roller, and a gravure roller;
• and
• a fifth step of drying the step-smoothing ceramic paste;
• a sixth step of applying ceramic slurry to the internal electrodes and the dried ceramic paste using a die coater for forming another ceramic green sheet;
• a seventh step of applying conductive paste to an upper surface of the another ceramic green sheet by gravure printing using a plurality of conveying rollers, a pressure roller, and a gravure roller, for forming the internal electrodes;
• an eighth step of drying or semi-drying the internal electrodes
• a ninth step of applying the step-smoothing ceramic paste to the upper surface of the another ceramic green sheet in a region in which the internal electrodes are not formed by gravure printing using a plurality of conveying rollers, a pressure roller, and a gravure roller;
• and
• a tenth step of drying the step-smoothing ceramic paste;
• the sixth to tenth steps being performed at least once;
• forming a laminate body by laminating a plurality of the composite sheets to each other;
• sintering the laminate body to form a sintered body;
• and
• forming external electrodes electrically connected to the respective internal electrodes on an external surface of the sintered body.