Abstract: A screen cleaning apparatus (2) and method, wherein: a screen cleaning head (3) is operative to contact a surface of a printing screen (PS), the screen cleaning head (3) includes a screen contact element (17) over which a cleaning sheet (7) is in use disposed, the screen contact element (17) comprises a first section (17a), which is configured to support one of a dry section or a wet section of the cleaning sheet (7) thereabove, a second, vacuum section (17b), at which a vacuum is provided to draw a vacuum therethrough, and a third section (17c), which is configured to support the other of a wet section or a dry section of the cleaning sheet thereabove; and a support (11) to which the cleaning head (3) is supported and which is movable over the surface of the printing screen (PS) to provide for cleaning of the same.

Abstract: A printing screen for and method of printing elongate structures on substrates (S), the printing screen comprising first and second layers (3, 5) of different material, the first layer (3) providing a surface over which a printing element is in use traversed and including a plurality of elongate first printing apertures (7) across which extend a plurality of bridges (9) at spaced intervals, and the second layer (5) in use overlying the substrate (S) and including a plurality of elongate second printing apertures (15) through which printing medium is in use printed onto the underlying substrate (S), each of the second printing (15) apertures being located in registration with respective ones of the first printing apertures (7) in the first layer (3).

Abstract: An inspection system for and method of inspecting deposits printed on workpieces through a printing screen, the system comprising: a camera unit movable relative to a printing screen, where comprising a body including a plurality of apertures, and a workpiece on which deposits are printed through the apertures of the printing screen; and a control unit operable to control the camera unit such as to capture images of at least one pair of corresponding regions of the printing screen and the workpiece, and process the images to determine, for each of a plurality of points defining the image of the printing screen, whether the point is of aperture, and, only where the point is of aperture, determine whether the corresponding point of the corresponding image of the workpiece, as defined by a corresponding plurality of points, is of deposit, thereby enabling a determination of a print characteristic of deposits printed on the workpiece from a relationship of the points determined to be of deposit to the points dete

Abstract: A print head assembly (119) for printing a print medium (PM) onto a workpiece (W) through a printing screen (105) which includes a screen element having a pattern of printing apertures therein, the assembly comprising: first and second carriages (141) which are in use movably supported on respective ones of first and second guides (117); and first and second print head units (143, 145) which are mounted in adjacent, parallel relation to and between the carriages, wherein the print head units each comprise first and second print head actuators which are mounted on respective ones of the carriages, and a support member (151) which extends between the print head actuators, such as to be movable vertically thereby, and in use supports a printing element.

Abstract: A screen printing machine and method, the screen printing machine comprising: a print head (111) which is operable to drive a material through a printing screen (109) and deposit the material onto a workpiece (w); an imaging unit (121) which comprises a vision camera (123) for imaging at least one of the printing screen (109) and the workpiece (w), and a positioning mechanism (125) which is operable to position the vision camera; and an end effector (141) which is operable to perform an operation on the workpiece and is coupled to the vision camera, such as to be moved commonly therewith by the positioning mechanism, wherein the screen printing machine is operable in one of a first mode in which the print head is operated to print material deposits on the workpiece, and a second, mode in which the end effector is actuated to perform an operation on the workpiece at defined positions.

Abstract: A screen printing head for and method of printing deposits of a print medium onto a workpiece through apertures in a printing screen, the printing head comprising a vibration unit for vibrating a printing blade to condition print medium forward of the printing blade, wherein the printing blade is vibrated at least one frequency in the range of from about 20 kHz to about 200 kHz and with a displacement of at least about 0.4 pm.

Abstract: A frame assembly for supporting a printing screen, the frame assembly comprising: a frame unit to which a printing screen is in use supported; and a screen loading mechanism for loading a printing screen into and unloading a printing screen from the frame unit, wherein the screen loading mechanism comprises a screen loading member which is movably coupled to the frame unit between a screen-receiving position in which a printing screen can be loaded into or removed from the screen loading member and a loaded position in which the printing screen is loaded into the frame unit, and at least one actuator element which is coupled to the screen loading member and actuatable to move the screen loading member between the screen-receiving and loaded positions.

Abstract: A wiper blade holder for holding a wiper blade (103) for use in a screen printing machine and a wiper blade therefor, the wiper blade holder comprising: a body unit (101) comprising a body member (107) which includes a mounting surface (123) to which a wiper blade is mounted; and at least one mounting fixture (105) which is attached to the body unit for mounting the wiper blade holder to a screen printing machine. In one embodiment the wiper blade holder further comprises: at least one magnet (109) which acts to hold the wiper blade to the body unit. In one embodiment the at least one mounting fixture is separable from the body member, such as to allow for use of different mounting fixtures which provide for adjustment of the inclination of the mounting surface of the body member relative to the at least one mounting fixture.