Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a mask formed with a pattern hole for printing; a printing mechanism having a squeegee that comes into contact with a front surface of the mask at a predetermined contact angle, the printing mechanism causing the squeegee to slide on the front surface of the mask with a predetermined printing pressure to move a solder on the front surface of the mask while scraping the solder by the squeegee, thereby printing the solder to a substrate via the pattern hole; a detection device executing detection operation for detecting a physical quantity that changes in accordance with an amount of solder on the front surface of the mask; and a control device adjusting at least one of the contact angle and the printing pressure of the squeegee on the basis of the physical quantity detected by the detection device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a print technology in which a solder pool staying on the surface of a mask is driven by means of a squeegee, and solder is applied onto a substrate onto which the lower surface of a mask is placed. A forward print process where solder is applied by driving a squeegee in a predetermined forward direction relative to a mask, and a backward print process where the solder is applied by driving the squeegee in a returning direction opposite to the forward direction are switched alternately. When the squeegee passes through the solder pool on the downstream side in a moving direction before switching in the course of switching from any one of the forward and backward print processes to the other one of these processes, the amount of solder in the solder pool is measured. Based on the amount of solder thus measured, the necessity of replenishing solder is determined. The solder pool is supplemented with solder, based on the result of the decision on whether solder replenishment is required.

Abstract: Disclosed is a print technology in which a solder pool staying on the surface of a mask is driven by means of a squeegee, and solder is applied onto a substrate onto which the lower surface of a mask is placed. A forward print process where solder is applied by driving a squeegee in a predetermined forward direction relative to a mask, and a backward print process where the solder is applied by driving the squeegee in a returning direction opposite to the forward direction are switched alternately. When the squeegee passes through the solder pool on the downstream side in a moving direction before switching in the course of switching from any one of the forward and backward print processes to the other one of these processes, the amount of solder in the solder pool is measured. Based on the amount of solder thus measured, the necessity of replenishing solder is determined The solder pool is supplemented with solder, based on the result of the decision on whether solder replenishment is required.

Abstract: A device for removing runners from intermediate molded products includes a holding assembly for maintaining the products in a desired position, a hammer member, an assembly for vibrating the hammer member to cause repeated striking of the intermediate product so as to separate runner and product portions thereof and a control arrangement for selectively activating and deactivating the vibrating assembly. The control arrangement provides for positioning the vibrating assembly in at least one predetermined position upon deactivation thereof so as to enable the vibrating assembly to be readily restarted. The holding assembly can incorporate a robot arm for transporting and positioning the intermediate molded product for runner removal. In order to protect the robot arm from the effects of vibrational forces, the intermediate molded product is adapted to be resiliently attached to the robot arm.