Abstract: A screen-printing apparatus for printing creamy solder paste on a substrate by attaching a screen mask to the substrate. A laser-measuring device mounted in the apparatus measures the top surface of the screen mask at a printing position and the top of the substrate at a substrate-measurement position by three-dimensional measurement, and detects a shape of the substrate or the screen mask, and determines whether or not they are acceptable. After screen printing is completed, the substrate and the screen mask undergo a printing inspection where their shapes are inspected. This provides not only inspection data of the printing results but also data for identifying the causes of print failures. As a result, the screen-printing apparatus, which has high-printing accuracy and can prevent printing failures from occurring, is provided.

Abstract: Pattern holes are completely filled with paste. As a result, occurrence of defects is prevented, and an excellent printing performance is obtained, high speed screen printing is possible, and the printing efficiency is enhanced. By sliding in the running direction above the mask plate having pattern holes, this squeegee for screen print can print the paste supplied on the mask plate to the substrate through the mask plate. It includes a contacting portion for contacting with the surface of the mask plate, a filling portion disposed at the running direction side of the contacting portion, and an agitating portion disposed at the running direction side of the filling portion. The agitating portion has a function of rotating the paste by sliding. The filling portion has a function of filling the pattern holes with the paste along with the sliding motion. The paste applied in the pattern holes can be printed on the substrate.

Abstract: It is possible to obtain a screen printing method that may assure excellent printing qualities since the screen printing method of the present invention includes: (A) sliding a squeegee head with paste stored in the squeegee head on a mask plate, while the past is pressurized, and printing the paste on a substrate through pattern holes of the mask plate, (B) at least one step of (b) separating the squeegee head with the paste stored therein from the mask plate, and (e) sliding the squeegee head on the mask plate for a pre-squeezing purpose before the step (A). The step of separating the squeegee head from the mask plate includes the steps of (1) discontinuing the pressure application to the paste stored in the squeegee head, (2) horizontally moving the squeegee head by a predetermined distance while the bottom end portion of the squeegee head is abutted on the mask plate in a state of the pressure application being discontinued, and (3) moving the squeegee head upward off from the mask plate.

Abstract: It is possible to obtain a screen printing apparatus and a screen printing method wherein a high pressing force is not required to print paste on a substrate thereby assuring reliable printing qualities. In the screen printing apparatus which prints the paste on the substrate through pattern holes, the paste in a storage section is pressurized and forced out of a printing space portion through a transfer passage. The paste is given a rolling motion while it is guided by rolling guide surfaces disposed at the printing space portion, and then, the paste is filled into the pattern holes from a printing aperture formed by two scraping members.