Abstract: A screen printing apparatus and method in that in the print parameter setting process for setting print parameters including a squeegee movement speed, a printing pressure, and plate release conditions, a squeegee movement speed at which the squeegee is to be moved is set at the first step, then a printing pressure for realizing a desired cream solder charging state is set at the second step, and then plate release conditions for realizing a desired cream solder transfer state is set at the third step. Therefore, the print parameter setting process can be performed according to an efficient processing procedure and trial-and-error-based backward work can be avoided. Print parameters can be set quickly and properly for a wide range of solder types.

Abstract: A screen printing apparatus prints cream solder through a pattern hole of a mask plate, to which a substrate is brought into contact, by sliding a squeegee head. A three dimensional detector, such as a laser, is used to determine the extent to which the pattern hole is filled with the cream solder. Based on the determination result, the printing operation is modified, with respect to the positioning of the mask plate and substrate, to maintain the printing quality.

Abstract: In a screen printing method of bringing a mask plate into contact with a substrate to print solder cream through a pattern hole on the substrate, a plate separating operation of separating the substrate from the mask plate after a squeegeeing step in which the solder cream is filled into the pattern hole comprises an operation pattern in which acceleration and deceleration pattern in which a descending speed is accelerated up to an upper limit speed and thereafter decelerated up to a lower limit speed is repeated plural times. Further, an initial upper limit speed in start of the plate separating operation is set higher than the succeeding upper limit speeds, whereby viscosity of the solder cream into the pattern hole in start of the plate separating operation is lowered, and the mask plate can be separated with a high accuracy throughout the entire range of the substrate.

Abstract: In a screen printing apparatus which prints solder cream on a substrate by a closed type squeeze head, in print space 35 that houses the solder cream 5 pressurized in a paste storing part and brings the solder cream 5 into contact with a surface of a mask plate, a hollow heat regulating member 37 provided in a horizontal direction orthogonal to a squeezing direction is caused to pass, and a heat regulating medium is circulated inside the heat regulating member 37 by a heat regulator 40, whereby the solder cream 5 in the print space 35 can be always kept at an appropriate temperature and at an appropriate viscosity, so that print quality can be secured.

Abstract: A screen printing apparatus and method in that in the print parameter setting process for setting print parameters including a squeegee movement speed, a printing pressure, and plate release conditions, a squeegee movement speed at which the squeegee is to be moved is set at the first step, then a printing pressure for realizing a desired cream solder charging state is set at the second step, and then plate release conditions for realizing a desired cream solder transfer state is set at the third step. Therefore, the print parameter setting process can be performed according to an efficient processing procedure and trial-and-error-based backward work can be avoided. Print parameters can be set quickly and properly for a wide range of solder types.

Abstract: Cream solder stored in a squeegee head is pressurized by a pressurizing plate, and the squeegee head is slid on a mask plate, so that the cream solder is printed onto a substrate via pattern apertures. This is done by a screen printing apparatus, in which pressurized solder is accommodated, and the solder is brought into contact with a surface of the mask plate via an opening formed on a lower face of the cell. A rectifier is disposed in the cell for blocking the cream solder from flowing into a specific area just above the opening. This structure allows the solder to flow into the opening in a slant direction, and causes the solder to roll. This mechanism prevents the solder from being hardened due to staying stagnant just above the opening, and thus prevents defective printings.

Abstract: In a screen-printing apparatus for printing creamy solder paste on a substrate by attaching a screen mask to the substrate, a predetermined measuring position of the mechanisms in the screen-printing apparatus is measured three-dimensionally by a three-dimensional measuring device. Based on the measured result, a predetermined measuring point on an object to be measured is determined on a position relative to the origin of the mechanical coordinate system in the screen-printing apparatus, and the origin position on a control program can be set. As a result, machine adjusting operation and teaching operation in the screen-printing apparatus can be simplified with high accuracy.

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: Cream solder stored in a squeegee head is pressurized by a pressurizing plate, and the squeegee head is slid on a mask plate, so that the cream solder is printed onto a substrate via pattern apertures. This is done by a screen printing apparatus, in which pressurized solder is accommodated, and the solder is brought into contact with a surface of the mask plate via an opening formed on a lower face of the cell. A rectifier is disposed in the cell for blocking the cream solder from flowing into a specific area just above the opening. This structure allows the solder to flow into the opening in a slant direction, and causes the solder to roll. This mechanism prevents the solder from being hardened due to staying stagnant just above the opening, and thus prevents defective printings.

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: A screen printing apparatus prints cream solder through a pattern hole of a mask plate, to which a substrate is brought into contact, by sliding a squeegee head. The mask plate, to which the substrate is positioned, is three-dimensionally measured from its above, thereby detecting a positioned status. Based on the detection result, the positioned status is corrected by driving a substrate-positioning-section. As a result, the substrate is always exactly positioned to the mask plate, and quality print is thus maintainable.

Abstract: A screen printing method and apparatus are capable of maintaining a constant attack angle between a squeegee and a mask plate, regardless of the surface condition of the mask plate. A squeegee head, including a pair of squeegees, is rotatably supported by a retainer with respect to a horizontal axis that is at a right angle to a squeegeeing direction. The rotatably supported squeegee head is pushed by a cylinder against the mask plate. Accordingly, the attack angle is kept constant to improve the printing quality even if a substrate has a curved portion.

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: A screen printing apparatus in which a squeegee head 13 is moved on a mask plate 12 thereby to print paste on a substrate through pattern holes 12a, slide contact portions 37A and 37B form respectively front and rear walls in the squeegeeing direction of a printing space 35 which reserves cream solder 5 therein and makes the cream solder contact with the surface of the mask plate 12 through an opening portion formed at the lower surface thereof. Each of the slide-contact portions is configured by a partition plate 39 for partitioning between the printing space 35 and the outside and a filling block 38 having a filling surface 38a which forms an acute angle with respect to the surface of the mask plate 12. In the squeegeeing operation, the filling surface 38a rolls the cream solder 5. Thus, the cream solder 5 can be filled into the pattern holes 12a without pressurizing the cream solder, and a problem caused by the leakage of the cream solder can be eliminated.

Abstract: In a screen printing method of bringing a mask plate into contact with a substrate to print solder cream through a pattern hole on the substrate, a plate separating operation of separating the substrate from the mask plate after a squeegeeing step in which the solder cream is filled into the pattern hole comprises an operation pattern in which acceleration and deceleration pattern in which a descending speed is accelerated up to an upper limit speed and thereafter decelerated up to a lower limit speed is repeated plural times. Further, an initial upper limit speed in start of the plate separating operation is set higher than the succeeding upper limit speeds, whereby viscosity of the solder cream into the pattern hole in start of the plate separating operation is lowered, and the mask plate can be separated with a high accuracy throughout the entire range of the substrate.

Abstract: Cream solder stored in a squeegee head is pressurized by a pressurizing plate, and the squeegee head is slid on a mask plate, so that the cream solder is printed onto a substrate via pattern apertures. This is done by a screen printing apparatus, in which pressurized solder is accommodated, and the solder is brought into contact with a surface of the mask plate via an opening formed on a lower face of the cell. A rectifier is disposed in the cell for blocking the cream solder from flowing into a specific area just above the opening. This structure allows the solder to flow into the opening in a slant direction, and causes the solder to roll. This mechanism prevents the solder from being hardened due to staying stagnant just above the opening, and thus prevents defective printings.

Abstract: A cream solder cartridge used in a screen printing apparatus which prints cream solder on a board through pattern holes by sliding, on a mask plate, a closed squeegee that is stored with cream solder inside is composed of a long and narrow concave portion made of a flexible film-like material, a brim portion projecting from the outer periphery of the concave portion, and a film-like cover sheet that is stuck to the brim portion and thereby closes the opening of the concave portion. This configuration makes it possible to supply paste at a low cost and to perform a viscosity adjustment easily by externally stirring the paste accommodated inside.

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: A squeegee head having a volume-variable container and a printing space is used. The volume-variable container is variable in capacity with pressures applied thereto. The volume-variable container includes a projecting portion having a plurality of projections, a push-plate with a plurality of through-holes formed therein, and a side wall. A paste is stored in the volume-variable container. The projecting portion is pressurized to move and the paste is pushed out into the printing space from the through-holes, and then, the projections are fitted into the through-holes. In this way, the paste being stable in viscosity is completely pushed out into the printing space without wasting at all.

Abstract: A screen printer for printing paste on a board by sliding a squeegee head on a mask plate. A pushing plate pressurizes solder paste in the squeegee head, and pressurized paste is led to a paste container from both outer parts in a printing width direction inward towards a printing center through a solder dispensing hole provided on both ends of the paste container. This configuration allows to print in accordance with the time-line supply sequence, regardless of the printing width of the board to be printed. This screen printer thus prevents the degradation and the consequent need for disposal of solder paste due to its retention in the squeegee head for long periods.