Traveling-inker Machines Patents (Class 101/123)
  • Patent number: 11627665
    Abstract: A screen printer comprising: a conveyance device configured to convey a board; a board holding device configured to position a conveyed board at a printing position; a stencil holding device configured to attach a stencil above the held board; a squeegee device configured to fill pattern holes of the stencil with solder paste; a board raising and lowering device configured to raise and lower the board positioned by the board holding device; and a control device configured to perform drive control of each the above devices, the control device including a standby printing processing section configured to raise the board from below with respect to the stencil such that the board contacts the stencil, stand by in a state with solder paste filled in the pattern holes, and lower the board to separate the board from the stencil in accordance with a board conveyance signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Torii, Akira Furuichi
  • Patent number: 11491803
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for applying a transfer material onto one or more surfaces of an article are disclosed, including apparatuses and methods of transfer printing on and/or decorating three-dimensional articles, as well as the articles printed and/or decorated thereby. The apparatuses and methods may include providing a deposition device, such as a printing device; providing a transfer component; depositing a material onto a portion of the transfer component with the deposition device; modifying the portion of the transfer component with the transfer material thereon to conform the transfer component to at least a portion of one or more surfaces of the three-dimensional article; and transferring the transfer material onto the one or more surfaces of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Marc Richard Bourgeois, Matthew Richard Allen, Mark Mason Hargett, Benjamin Jacob Clare, Philip Andrew Sawin
  • Patent number: 11345140
    Abstract: A manually-operated collapsible screen printing apparatus is disclosed that is designed to be a lightweight, transportable, and efficiently print any quantity of high quality prints, among other advantages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventors: Brandy Michael Flower, Michael A. Crivello
  • Patent number: 11331901
    Abstract: A printing apparatus including: a squeegee fixing section configured to switch to and from a fixed state in which a squeegee used to print a viscous fluid onto a print target is fixed and a released state in which the squeegee is not fixed; and a squeegee moving section configured to move the squeegee fixed by the squeegee fixing section above a screen mask during printing by moving the squeegee fixing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shoji Fukakusa, Ritsuo Hirukawa, Yoshimune Yokoi, Naoki Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 11285713
    Abstract: A screen printing apparatus includes a squeegee driver that lifts/lowers a first lifting/lowering shaft and a second lifting/lowering shaft; a link mechanism including a swinging member that pivots about a horizontal axis by lifting/lowering operations of the first lifting/lowering shaft and the second lifting/lowering shaft; a squeegee unit installed to the swinging member; and a controller that controls at least a height of the squeegee unit and an orientation of the squeegee unit in a rotating direction by controlling the squeegee driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Isobata, Takaaki Sakaue, Ryo Senoo, Susumu Toyoda, Masahiro Morimoto, Yusuke Sueyasu, Seiya Kuroda
  • Patent number: 11203198
    Abstract: A printing apparatus of the present disclosure is for performing printing of a viscous fluid onto a print target using a screen mask, the printing apparatus including: a moving section configured to perform at least one of moving an exchangeable member to an exchange position or loading and unloading of the exchangeable member, for at least two types of the exchangeable member that, out of a cartridge configured to house the viscous fluid, a squeegee, a screen mask, a cleaning member used to clean the screen mask, and a support member configured to fix the print target, include at least one out of the cartridge, the squeegee, and the cleaning member; and an exchange control section configured to control the moving section to perform exchange processing of exchanging the exchangeable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ritsuo Hirukawa, Takeshi Kondo, Mitsuaki Kato, Atsushi Torii, Jun Iisaka
  • Patent number: 11167544
    Abstract: A screen printer comprising: a board positioning device configured to convey and hold a board to a work position in the screen printer; a mask holding device configured to hold a mask above the work position; a squeegee device configured to spread a cream solder on a mask on the board; a correction device configured to correct a relative position between the board of the board positioning device and the mask of the mask holding device; a control device configured to acquire inspection data of a print state from a print inspection device provided inside or outside the screen printer and perform correction control on the correction device by a correction value corrected according to a deviation amount of printing based on the inspection data; and an input device configured to include an instruction input section that senses an inspection instruction operation of an operator and transmit, to the control device, an inspection data acquisition signal for acquiring the inspection data of the print state from the pr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mitsuaki Kato
  • Patent number: 11167543
    Abstract: The manual squeegee system applies one or more layers of inks to a targeted screen of a manual screen printing device. The manual squeegee system mechanically adjustably fixes the application pressure and the angle of attack of each of the one or more layers of inks. The manual squeegee system comprises a frame, a jib, a trolley, a plurality of slings, and a blade structure. The blade structure applies the one or more layers of inks at a consistent application pressure and the angle of attack. The plurality of slings attach the blade structure to the trolley. The trolley attaches the plurality of slings and the blade structure to the jib such that the position of the blade structure can be adjusted relative to the jib. The jib attaches the trolley to the frame. The frame attaches the manual squeegee system to the manual screen printing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Inventor: Dagoberto Alonso
  • Patent number: 11155074
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for producing three-dimensional screen-printed articles, comprising a press bed with a printing screen, by means of which at least one printing exploit can be printed multiple times, wherein after each completed printing, the lift-off can be increased by the application thickness of the previous printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Exentis Knowledge GmbH
    Inventor: Jörg Bauer
  • Patent number: 11148410
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for screen printing facilitate the application of colors, patterns, and other indicia onto a curved printing substrate, such as a concave glass surface of an appliance. The apparatus includes a print head assembly that is typically supported by a frame and is movable relative to the frame and the printing substrate. The print head assembly includes biasing elements with movable end portions that support a wiper and apply varying levels of pressure to the wiper as it is moved along the curved surface or surfaces of the substrate during a printing process. The print head assembly and associated screen printing equipment may be automated or computer controlled so as to independently vary the pressure of the biasing elements and, thus, the pressure of different areas of the wiper along the substrate, to accommodate simple or complex curves in the substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Clarion Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Brownlow, Robert Bronsink, Roland R. Dubay, Joseph J. Gilberti
  • Patent number: 11108050
    Abstract: The present invention provides a conductive material dispersed liquid including a conductive material which includes bundle-type carbon nanotubes; a dispersant which includes a hydrogenated nitrile-based rubber; and a dispersion medium, where a complex modulus (|G*| @ 1 Hz) is in a range of 20 to 500 Pa when measured by a rheometer at a frequency of 1 Hz, and a secondary battery manufactured using the same. The conductive material dispersed liquid has a controlled complex modulus to exhibit excellent dispersibility and powder resistance characteristics, and as a result, can greatly improve the output characteristics of batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventors: Ye Lin Kim, Ki Yeon Jo, Jung Keun Yoo, Je Young Kim, Sang Hoon Choy, Jong Heon Seol
  • Patent number: 11084277
    Abstract: An apparel straightener for screen printing comprises a curvilinear unit of plexiglass or similar material having a plurality of fastening apertures and covered edge configured to removably secure to a screen-printing press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Inventor: Randall W. Cook
  • Patent number: 10994527
    Abstract: An alignment system for a workpiece printing machine comprises a stencil support and a workpiece support, and a planarity control mechanism having at least two actuators arranged to effect relative rotation of the stencil support and workpiece support about both the horizontal axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Westlake, George Bareham, Simon Pape, Richard Cockram, David Foggie, Charles Tones
  • Patent number: 10960607
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system is configured to manufacture a component. The additive manufacturing system includes a build platform, a recoater, a monitoring camera, and a controller. The component is disposed on the build platform. The recoater includes a recoater blade configured to spread a powdered build material across the build platform and the component forming a powder bed. The monitoring camera is positioned to image the recoater blade. The monitoring camera is configured to acquire a plurality of images of the recoater blade. The controller is configured to receive the plurality of images from the monitoring camera. The controller is configured to detect defects in the powder bed based on the plurality of images received from the monitoring camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor Petrovich Ostroverkhov, Jason Harris Karp
  • Patent number: 10940683
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a manufacturing method for a bent plate with a printed layer including: holding the bent plate by bringing a second main surface of the bent plate into contact with a surface of a fixing jig in which the surface of the fixing jig has a shape corresponding to the second main surface; disposing a screen having a printing pattern portion above the bent plate; bringing a squeegee into contact with a printing start part of the bent plate via the screen; and causing the squeegee to relatively traverse the bent plate along the first main surface via the screen, in which an angle on a moving direction side of the squeegee is changed when the squeegee is caused to relatively traverse the bent plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: AGC Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Minamidate, Nobuyuki Tanaka, Tomoyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10942447
    Abstract: A film frame, a system for manufacturing a display substrate, and a method of manufacturing a display substrate, the film frame including a pair of frame edges extending lengthwise in a first direction and arranged opposite to each other; a fixed end clamp connected to the pair of frame edges and extending lengthwise in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a free end clamp between the pair of frame edges, the free end clamp extending lengthwise in the second direction and configured to be detachably coupled with the pair of frame edges, wherein the fixed end clamp includes a first magnetic fixer extending lengthwise in the second direction and a second magnetic fixer on the first magnetic fixer, and the free end clamp includes a third magnetic fixer extending lengthwise in the second direction and a fourth magnetic fixer on the third magnetic fixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong-wook Kim, Ju-hyun Lee, Byeong-sang Kim, Kyung-bin Park, Ki-ju Sohn, Ho Yu
  • Patent number: 10933483
    Abstract: A dispensing system includes an optional pre-heat station configured to receive an electronic substrate, a dispense station configured to dispense material on the electronic substrate received from the optional pre-heat station, an optional post-heat station configured to receive the electronic substrate from the dispense station, and a non-contact sensor positioned above the electronic substrate on at least one of the optional pre-heat station, the dispense station, and the optional post-heat station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, Scott A. Reid, Patsy A. Mattero, Fernando J. Aguiar
  • Patent number: 10926530
    Abstract: A printing object surface has a cross-sectional shape curving along a printing advancing direction. The printing advancing direction is defined as a Y-axis, a direction orthogonal to the Y-axis and belonging to the cross-section is defined as a Z-axis, and a direction around an axis orthogonal to a Y-Z plane is defined as a ?-axis. A squeegee is disposed so as to be movable in the respective Y-, Z- and ?-axis directions. Information indicating a mutual relationship among respective Y-, Z- and ?-axis positions is obtained. The relationship is a relationship that enables performing printing while maintaining or substantially maintaining an angle formed by a direction tangent to a printing position in the printing object surface in the Y-Z plane and the squeegee. Printing is executed while the respective Y-, Z-, ?-axis positions of the squeegee relative to the printing object surface are controlled according to the obtained information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiko Fukazawa, Yoshihito Homma
  • Patent number: 10914565
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a blade inspection device, a method and a printing modification device, and belongs to the technical field of screen printing. The blade inspection device includes a telescopic component, a driving component and a parameter obtaining module. The driving component is configured to drive the telescopic component to move in a direction parallel to the line where the blade is located. The parameter obtaining module is configured to obtain a first parameter to inspect the blade according to the first parameter. The first parameter is related to a displacement of the first end of the telescopic component in a direction perpendicular to the line where the blade is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignees: ORDOS YUANSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lina Wang, Dawei Ma, Chunchieh Huang, Zifeng Wang
  • Patent number: 10882305
    Abstract: A printing machine includes an isolated chamber for the print medium cartridge, which chamber can be opened and accessed without interrupting the print process. In order to enable such a configuration, the cartridge and its cradle are also separated from the print carriage and carried on a shuttle movably mounted on a static rail. The shuttle includes a wall section which acts to isolate the chamber when the shuttle is located in a home position within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: ASM ASSEMBLY SYSTEMS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: George Bareham, Grant Wright, Simon Stuart Pape
  • Patent number: 10827661
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an inspection apparatus and method, and a system and a method for mounting components including the same. In the system for mounting components according to the present invention, solder paste inspection equipment receives mounting tolerance information from component mounting equipment, generates warp information of a flexible array board by measuring the flexible array board, generates mount-impossible information on a region where mounting of components is impossible by comparing the mounting tolerance information and the warp information, and transmits the mount-impossible information to the component mounting equipment. The component mounting equipment mounts components on remaining regions except for the region where mounting of components is impossible based on the mount-impossible information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: KOH YOUNG TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Woo Young Lim
  • Patent number: 10781553
    Abstract: A method for creating an image on a fabric includes providing a stretch fabric; stretching the stretched fabric; creating an image on the stretch fabric while the stretch fabric is in a stretched position by imparting a first color to create the image and imparting a second color as a background color, thereby imparting color to inner fibers of the stretch fabric; allowing the stretch fabric to relax; imparting color to only surface fibers of the stretch fabric while the stretch fabric is in the relaxed state; and stretching the stretch fabric to reveal the image, the image created by stretching the stretch fabric such that the inner fibers are visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Inventor: Adam Conard
  • Patent number: 10773513
    Abstract: Deflector units for use with a printing blade in printing a print medium through a printing screen, which are self-adjustable in a vertical direction for controlling production of rolls of print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: ASM ASSEMBLY SYSEMS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: Ashley Roy Chalker
  • Patent number: 10773326
    Abstract: A printing device includes a storage that stores allowable time for which use of solder supplied to a screen mask can be allowed, a timer that measures time for which the solder is supplied to the screen mask, a determination unit that determines whether or not the solder supplied to the screen mask has exceeded the allowable time based on time measured by the timer, and a notifier that notifies a worker in a case where the determination unit determines that the solder supplied to the screen mask has exceeded the allowable time. The timer measures time by weighting a measurement interval of time for which the solder is moved on the screen mask by a squeegee so as to become greater than a measurement interval of time for which the solder does not move on the screen mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10592726
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for object detection, including manufacturing part detection, are disclosed. A method for identifying a manufacturing part includes receiving an image comprising a manufacturing part from an augmented reality device and determining a bounding perimeter encapsulating the manufacturing part. The method includes receiving a prediction label and a confidence value for the manufacturing part from a neural network. The method includes generating a message comprising the image, the prediction label, and the confidence value, and providing the message to the augmented reality device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Alberto Rivera, Kiril Spasovski, Shounak Athavale, Randy Nunez
  • Patent number: 10569529
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a screen printing system and a cleaning method thereof. The screen printing system has a scraper cleaning region and a working region, and the screen printing system includes a scraper and a scraper cleaning unit. The scraper operates within the working region, and the scraper cleaning unit is configured to clean the scraper. The scraper and the scraper cleaning unit are configured as follows: the scraper stays in the working region, and the scraper cleaning unit moves to a position where the scraper stays to clean the scraper; or the scraper cleaning unit is positioned in the scraper cleaning region, and the scraper moves to the scraper cleaning region, so that the scraper cleaning unit cleans the scraper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Guangfei Chen, Qingfeng Jiang, Dagang Liu
  • Patent number: 10543564
    Abstract: Wafer alignment with restricted visual access has been disclosed. In an example, a method of processing a substrate for fabricating a solar cell involves supporting the substrate over a stage. The method involves forming a substantially opaque layer over the substrate. The substantially opaque layer at least partially covers edges of the substrate. The method involves performing fit-up of the substantially opaque layer to the substrate. The method involves illuminating the covered edges of the substrate with light transmitted through the stage, and capturing a first image of the covered edges of the substrate based on the light transmitted through the stage. The method further includes determining a first position of the substrate relative to the stage based on the first image of the covered edges. The substrate may be further processed based on the determined first position of the substrate under the substantially opaque layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Pass
  • Patent number: 10513822
    Abstract: Vacuum printing a fabric involves forming a fabric having a top face and a bottom face and placing a barrier layer below the top face. A plurality of holes is established in the barrier layer, and dye is applied to at least a portion of the top face of the fabric. Vacuum applied to the bottom face pulls the dye through the fabric and the plurality of holes in the barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: ENGINEERED FLOORS LLC
    Inventors: John Joseph Matthews Rees, Stephen Tsiarkezos, Dimitri Zafiroglu
  • Patent number: 10495988
    Abstract: Provided is a printing device prints a transfer material onto a substrate via a mask. The printing device includes a placement portion, a moving portion, a cleaning unit, and a control unit. The placement portion is where the mask is movably placed. The moving portion moves the mask placed on the placement portion. The cleaning unit removes the transfer material remaining on the back side of the mask. The control unit controls the moving portion. Upon maintenance of the cleaning unit, the control unit controls the moving portion to move the mask placed on the placement portion to a retract position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Okawa, Yuusuke Morita, Susumu Toyoda
  • Patent number: 10410900
    Abstract: Precision screen printing is described that is capable of sub-micron uniformity of the metallization materials that are printed on green sheet ceramic. In some examples, puck is formed with electrical traces by screen printing a paste that contains metal on a ceramic green sheet in a pattern of electrical traces and processing the printed green sheet to form a puck of a workpiece carrier. In some example, the printing includes applying a squeegee of a screen printer to the printed green sheet in a squeegeeing direction while the green sheet is on a printer bed of the screen printer. The method further includes mapping the printer bed at multiple locations along the squeegeeing direction, identifying non-uniformities in the printer bed mapping, and modifying a printer controller of the screen printer to compensate for mapped non-uniformities in the printer bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shih-Ying Huang, Steven E. Babayan, Phillip Criminale, Stephen Prouty, Anthony Huang
  • Patent number: 10410599
    Abstract: A source driver integrated circuit (IC) for driving a flat panel display is provided. The source driver IC includes a first control logic circuit configured to generate first output signals for driving first source lines arranged in a first region of the flat panel display and a second control logic circuit configured to generate second output signals for driving second source lines arranged in a second region of the flat panel display. A first output delay between two adjacent output signals among the first output signals is different from a second output delay between two adjacent output signals among the second output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ha Joon Shin, Jin-Soo Kim, Seung Hwan Baek, Kyung-Gyu Park, Ji-Yong Jeong
  • Patent number: 10369779
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for producing three-dimensional screen-printed articles, comprising a press bed with a printing screen, by means of which at least one printing object can be printed multiple times, wherein after each completed printing, the height can be increased by the application thickness of the previous printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Exentis Knowledge GmbH
    Inventor: Jörg Bauer
  • Patent number: 10350879
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatuses for screen printing on a surface of a three-dimensional substrate comprising a substantially rigid, substantially planar frame having a perimeter defining a region within the perimeter having a given surface area; and a screen attached to the frame and extending across at least a portion of the surface area, wherein the screen comprises a first portion through which a liquid printing medium can pass onto a proximate three-dimensional substrate; and a second portion coated with an emulsion substantially preventing the liquid printing medium from passing through the second portion of the screen, wherein the screen has a fixed tension of less than about 20 N/cm. Methods and systems for screen printing on a surface of a three-dimensional substrate are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Thomas Cutcher, Jr., Christopher Paul Daigler, Christina Marie Laskowski, Kevin Ray Maslin
  • Patent number: 10201567
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an article of apparel configured to deliver a bioabsorbable alloy to the skin of a wearer. In an embodiment, the apparel is a textile base layer and a delivery layer oriented to contact the skin of the wearer. The delivery layer is formed from a composition including a magnesium alloy. In another embodiment, the textile is formed of strands coated with the magnesium alloy composition. In still further embodiments, the strands are formed of the alloy. The apparel may be configured to release a therapeutically effective amount to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventor: Amelia Helmick
  • Patent number: 10143089
    Abstract: A printing system for printing substrates, in particular printed circuit boards, includes a printing device having at least one printing table and a printing template assigned to the printing table. The printing system further includes a first pair of first slide elements and a second pair of second slide elements for aligning a substrate on the printing table. The first pair of first slide elements can be displaced counter to one another along a first axis. The second pair of second slide elements can be displaced counter to one another along a second axis, which differs from the first axis. A drive device is assigned to each pair for simultaneously displacing the slide elements thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: EKRA AUTOMATISIERUNGSSYSTEME GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf Brosi, Gerd Krause, Klaus Mang
  • Patent number: 10112269
    Abstract: A screen printer includes: a substrate holder that holds a substrate; a mask to be contacted with the substrate; an imaging device that images the substrate; an elevation mechanism that moves up the substrate holder at a below-mask-position below the mask based on a result of the imaging to contact the substrate with the mask; a horizontal moving mechanism that moves the substrate holder between the below-mask-position and a retreat position retreated in a horizontal direction from the below-mask-position; a printing head that moves on the mask contacted with the substrate and prints a paste on the substrate via the mask; and a mask cleaner that cleans a lower surface of the mask with the substrate separated from the mask by the elevation mechanism. The imaging of the substrate and the cleaning of the mask are performed with the substrate holder positioned at the retreat position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Mantani, Toshiyuki Murakami
  • Patent number: 10086600
    Abstract: A screen printing apparatus moves a mask, inserted through an insertion opening, to a printing position at which paste is printed onto a substrate via a mask moving mechanism, and includes: a first detecting unit that detects one of a front frame component and a back frame component of the mask at a first detection position on a path along which the mask inserted through the insertion opening is moved to the printing position; a second detecting unit that detects one of the front frame component and the back frame component at a second detection position closer to the printing position than the first detecting position is; and a print suspension controller that suspends printing when the second detecting unit detects one of the front frame component and the back frame component while the first detecting unit is detecting one of the front frame component and the back frame component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Mantani, Takaaki Sakaue
  • Patent number: 10000056
    Abstract: A screen printing apparatus includes a pair of clampers that clamp a substrate, a mask plate contacted to the substrate, a pair of squeegees provided above the mask plate vertically, and a squeegee controller that selectively controls one of the pair of squeegees to move in the horizontal direction in abutment against the mask plate so that the selected one of the pair of squeegees slides on the mask plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiya Kuroda, Masayuki Mantani
  • Patent number: 10000072
    Abstract: A printer includes a table, a print head, a detector, and a controller. The controller includes a storage to store initial print data including information of reference position marks, a reader to acquire, using the detector, positional information of position detection marks, a print data generator to modify the initial print data such that the reference position marks each coincide with an associated one of the position detection marks acquired by the reader, thus generating actual print data; and a printing controller to perform printing in accordance with the actual print data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: ROLAND DG CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Akao, Kenji Matsushime, Takeomi Ohta, Akira Fujita, Tetsuhiro Kunifuji
  • Patent number: 9956788
    Abstract: A device of the present disclosure has a board reception plate coupled on a first side to a first side plate and coupled on a second side to a second side plate, and the board reception plate is adapted for supporting a board. The apparatus further has a first spring-loaded sliding bar coupled to the first side plate that has a first channel for receiving a first edge of the board and a second spring-loaded sliding bar coupled to the second side plate that has a second channel for receiving a second edge of the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Stitch City Industries
    Inventor: Fernando Padilla
  • Patent number: 9940555
    Abstract: An RFID label processing system for processing base webs comprises a conveyor device configured to feed a base web along a predetermined conveyor path. The base web includes a sequence of processing segments, with each processing segment forming an RFID label. The processing system further comprises at least two processing modules which are arranged adjacent to the conveyor path, wherein the processing modules are spaced apart by a variable distance. At least one sensor module is configured to determine the position of the processing segments on the base web along the predetermined conveyor path and to output a segment position signal, so that a positioning module that is coupled to at least one of the processing modules and the sensor module may be configured to displace the at least one of the processing modules along the predetermined conveyor path depending on the value of the segment position signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: TEXTILMA AG
    Inventor: Beat Kofel
  • Patent number: 9908320
    Abstract: A screen printer in which a squeegee is lowered towards a screen when the internal pressure of a second air chamber of a pressing force adjusting air cylinder is decreased. A control section performs control of an air regulator based on response times from starting control of the air regulator to decrease or increase the internal pressure of the second air chamber until a value detected by a pressure sensor reaches a target value of the internal pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI MACHINE MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Mizukoshi
  • Patent number: 9789681
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a screen, a scraper, and a squeegee. The screen has a screen surface which has a width direction and which is placed on a workpiece. The scraper is movable along the screen surface in a first direction perpendicular to the width direction so as to coat the screen surface with a paste. The scraper includes an upper portion and a curved portion. The upper portion extends from an upper end to a lower end of the upper portion toward the screen surface. The curved portion is connected to the lower end of the upper portion. The curved portion has a curved shape projecting toward a second direction opposite to the first direction. The curved portion has an opening extending in the width direction. The squeegee is movable along the screen surface so as to transfer the paste to the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9743527
    Abstract: A system for generating a program used to direct the operation of a solder paste inspection machine is provided. The system includes a solder paste inspection system having a stencil mounting bracket located therein and configured to hold a solder paste printing stencil in position within an inspection region of the solder paste inspection system. An image sensor is mounted in the solder paste inspection system and is configured to acquire images of a stencil mounted on the stencil mounting bracket. A controller is coupled to the image sensor and is configured to generate a solder paste inspection program using the acquired images of the stencil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: CyberOptics Corporaiton
    Inventors: Paul R. Haugen, Brendan R. Hinnenkamp
  • Patent number: 9724911
    Abstract: A screen printing apparatus includes a mask and a printing head. The mask has a first opening provided in a first region, and a second opening provided in a second region which is thicker than the first region. The printing head fills the first opening with a paste in a state where a substrate is in contact with the first region, and fills the second opening with the paste in a state where the substrate is in contact with the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki Mantani
  • Patent number: 9701141
    Abstract: Provided are recording sections which record onto recording media which are supported on pallets, a first transport section which transports the recording media by moving the pallets in a first region which does not include recording positions according to the recording sections, and second transport section which transports the recording media with higher precision than the first transport section in a second region which includes the recording positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kunihiko Matsuhashi
  • Patent number: 9688064
    Abstract: A screen printing apparatus comprises print executing parts 20A, 20B, first and second substrate loading parts En1, En2 and a substrate unloading part Ex, and first and second substrate support tables 10A, 10B for supporting a substrate W to enable printing thereon by the print executing parts 20A, 20B. The first substrate support table 10A moves between a first receiving position where the substrate W loaded from the first substrate loading part En1 is received, and a sending position where the substrate W is unloaded from the substrate unloading part Ex. The second substrate support table 10B moves between a second receiving position where the substrate W loaded from the second substrate loading part En2 is received, and the sending position. The print executing parts 20A, 20B are respectively placed at positions on the substrate support tables 10A, 10B where printing on the substrate W is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshimichi Satou
  • Patent number: 9656454
    Abstract: A screen printing method includes performing a destaticizing action that removes static electricity with which a screen mask is charged, through a mask support member, which is positioned on a lateral side of a circuit board, before bringing the circuit board into contact with a lower surface of the screen mask, by bringing the conductive mask support member into contact with a lower surface of the screen mask as a result of raising the mask support member. The method includes subsequently performing screen printing by bringing the circuit board into contact with the lower surface of the screen mask as a result of raising the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI MACHINE MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Mizukoshi
  • Patent number: 9649836
    Abstract: A screen printing system includes a first substrate supply apparatus, a second substrate supply apparatus arranged in an upstream process side of the first substrate supply apparatus, and a screen printing apparatus that prints paste on a first substrate supplied from the first substrate supply apparatus and a second substrate supplied from the second substrate supply apparatus. In response to a request from the screen printing apparatus, the first substrate supply part supplies the first substrate and the second substrate supply part supplies the second substrate. The second substrate is carried in the screen printing apparatus by a conveyance mechanism included in the first substrate supply apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Mantani, Nobuo Komiya
  • Patent number: 9604444
    Abstract: A screen printing machine includes a printing execution unit which fills a pattern hole of a mask with solder by sliding a squeegee on the mask contacting a board and thereafter separates the board from the mask. The screen printing machine further includes: a library which stores printing conditions, each of which includes operation parameters of the printing execution unit and corresponds to a combination of options of selection items which include aboard type, a solder type, and a squeegee type; an option display unit which displays the options of each selection item in an image display area; and a printing condition setting unit which reads out, from the library, a printing condition corresponding to a combination of selected options, and which sets the read-out printing condition to a printing control unit which operates the printing execution unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Mantani, Mitsuru Kouchi, Takashi Ono