Abstract: A stencil printer for printing viscous material on a substrate includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, and a print head, coupled for the frame, to deposit and print viscous material over the stencil. The stencil printer further includes a substrate supporting and clamping assembly to support and clamp a substrate in a print position. The substrate supporting and clamping assembly includes at least one support member to support the substrate in a print position, a pair of rail members, coupled to the frame, adapted to engage opposite edges of the substrate, and a clamping mechanism, coupled to the frame, to move at least one of the rail members against the substrate to clamp the substrate.

Abstract: A vacuum plenum module of a stencil wiper assembly for wiping and removing excess material from a stencil of a stencil printer includes a wiper blade to wipe the stencil, a plenum chamber in fluid communication with the wiper blade, and a vacuum generator attached to and in fluid communication with the plenum chamber to create a vacuum within the plenum chamber. The vacuum plenum module further includes a fluid supply to introduce pressurized fluid into the vacuum generator, and an exhaust to exhaust fluid from the vacuum generator. The vacuum generator includes at least one vacuum ejector adapted to create the vacuum. The vacuum plenum module is further configured to move between a first position in which the vacuum plenum is spaced away from the stencil and a second position in which the vacuum plenum engages the stencil. A method of cleaning a stencil is further disclosed.

Abstract: A quick-change material module of a stencil wiper assembly for wiping a stencil of a stencil printer includes a supply roller to receive a roll of material, a take-up roller to receive used material, and a drive to move the material across the stencil between the supply roller and the take-up roller. The supply roller is designed to move between an operating position in which the module functions to wipe the stencil and a changing position in which the supply roller is accessible to change the roll of material. A pivot mechanism is further disclosed for pivoting the supply roller between the operating and changing positions. A frame supports the supply roller, the take-up roller, and the drive. The pivot mechanism includes at least one pivot arm having one end rotatably attached to the supply roller and an opposite end pivotably attached to the frame.

Abstract: A stencil wiper apparatus for wiping a stencil of a stencil printer includes a material supply assembly having a supply roller to deliver a roll of material, a take-up roller to receive the material, and a drive to move the material across the stencil between the supply roller and the take-up roller. The apparatus further includes a fluid delivery assembly to wet the material. The fluid delivery assembly includes an outer tube, an inner tube and a fluid delivery source. The outer tube is designed to engage the material and to deliver fluid to the material. The inner tube is positioned within the outer tube, and designed to deliver fluid to the outer tube. The fluid delivery source delivers fluid to the inner tube. A method for wiping a stencil of a printing machine is further disclosed.