Abstract: A screen-printing method, including the steps of filling, in a state in which a screen having through-holes is contacted with a print surface of a substrate, the through-holes with a print material, and thereby applying the print material to the print surface of the substrate, moving, after the filling step, one of the screen and the substrate relative to the other of the screen and the substrate, in one or more cycles, on a plane parallel to the print surface of the substrate, in one or more directions parallel to one or more straight lines, and separating, after the moving step, the screen and the substrate from each other.

Abstract: A method of changing a width of a variable-width substrate conveyor including a feeding device for feeding a circuit substrate along the guide rails, a pair of guide rails having guide surfaces for guiding the circuit substrate being fed by the feeding device, in a longitudinal direction of the guide rails, and a width changing device for moving the guide rails relative to each other toward or away from each other, to change a distance between the guide rails, wherein an image-taking device is operated to take an image of a portion of at least one of the guide rails, and the width changing device is controlled on the basis of the image taken by the image-taking device.

Abstract: A squeegee for forcing a print material into apertures of a mask screen which is disposed on an object, so as to print the print material on the object. The squeegee includes: (a) a plate body movable relative to the mask screen in sliding contact thereof with one of opposite surfaces of the mask screen which is remote from the object, while taking a rearward inclined posture in which the plate body is inclined such that a distal end portion of the plate body is positioned on a forward side of a proximal end portion of the plate body as viewed in a squeegee moving direction in which the plate body is moved relative to the mask screen; and (b) a bank portion provided on one of opposite surfaces of the plate body which is remote from the mask screen, and having a blocking surface which projects from the distal end portion of the plate body in a direction away from the mask screen. The bank portion is made of a material softer than a material of the plate body.

Abstract: A printing-agent replenishing device including a replenisher which has a container for accommodating a printing agent and a delivery nozzle disposed at one end of the container and which is operable to delivery the printing agent from the delivery nozzle, for replenishing a printing-agent replenishment object in a screen printer, the device further including a cutting wire for cutting off a mass of the printing agent which extends from a free end of the delivery nozzle, and a cutting-wire holding device which holds the cutting wire such that the cutting wire is held in contact with or in close proximity to the free end face of the delivery nozzle, so as to traverse an opening in the free end face, and such that the cutting wire is rotatable about an axis substantially aligned with an axis of the delivery nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a screen of a screen printing machine, including the steps of taking, with an image taking device, an image of at least one opening of the screen, and judging, based on image data representing the taken image, whether the opening of the screen is clogged.

Abstract: A screen-printing method, including the steps of filling, in a state in which a screen having through-holes is contacted with a print surface of a substrate, the through-holes with a print material, and thereby applying the print material to the print surface of the substrate, moving, after the filling step, one of the screen and the substrate relative to the other of the screen and the substrate, in one or more cycles, on a plane parallel to the print surface of the substrate, in one or more directions parallel to one or more straight lines, and separating, after the moving step, the screen and the substrate from each other.

Abstract: Suction is applied to a pipe of an article. Then, the interior of the pipe is maintained under vacuum conditions for a period of several seconds. This is checked or monitored by a pressure switch. If the pressure in the pipe is raised from the predetermined level, then a pinhole is formed at a welded portion of the pipe to be examined.