Paste dispensing transfer system and method for a stencil printer
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsJames Lynch, William A. Losiewicz, Kenneth J. King, Patsy A. Mattero, Blake T. Monjar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A paste dispensing transfer system of a stencil printer is configured to print an assembly material on an electronic substrate. The transfer system includes a paste cartridge mechanism coupled to a print head assembly of the stencil printer, and a rotary indexing mechanism coupled to a frame of the stencil printer. The paste dispensing transfer system is configured to transfer a used paste cartridge from the print head assembly to the rotary indexing mechanism supported by the frame and to transfer a new paste cartridge from the rotary indexing mechanism to the print head assembly.
Claims26
A stencil printer for printing an assembly material on an electronic substrate, the stencil printer comprising:
- a frame;
- a stencil coupled to the frame, the stencil having apertures formed therein;
- a support assembly coupled to the frame, the support assembly being configured to support the electronic substrate in a print position beneath the stencil;
- a print head assembly coupled to the frame in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes, the print head assembly including a squeegee blade assembly and at least one paste cartridge to deposit assembly material on the stencil;
- and
- a paste dispensing transfer system including
- a transfer mechanism coupled to the frame,
- wherein the paste dispensing transfer system is configured to transfer a used paste cartridge from the print head assembly to the transfer mechanism supported by the frame and to transfer a new paste cartridge from the transfer mechanism to the print head assembly, and
- wherein the transfer mechanism includes a carousel mount configured to rotate, a paste cartridge tube holder mounted on a top surface of the carousel mount, and several dividers provided to separate paste cartridges supported by the transfer mechanism from each other.
A method of fully automating a changeover and/or a replacement process within a stencil printer, the method comprising:
- identifying a used paste cartridge scheduled for replacement within the stencil printer;
- transferring the used paste cartridge from a print head assembly to a transfer mechanism;
- transferring a new paste cartridge from the transfer mechanism to the print head assembly;
- and
- installing the new paste cartridge within the print head assembly,
- wherein the transfer mechanism includes a carousel mount configured to rotate, a paste cartridge tube holder mounted on a top surface of the carousel mount, and several dividers provided to separate paste cartridges supported by the transfer mechanism from each other, the several dividers defining several open receptacles.
A paste dispensing transfer system of a stencil printer configured to print an assembly material on an electronic substrate, paste dispensing transfer system comprising:
- a transfer mechanism coupled to a frame of the stencil printer,
- wherein a print head assembly of the stencil printer is configured to transfer a used paste cartridge to the transfer mechanism supported by the frame and to transfer a new paste cartridge from the transfer mechanism to the print head assembly, and
- wherein the transfer mechanism includes a carousel mount configured to rotate, a paste cartridge tube holder mounted on a top surface of the carousel mount, and several dividers provided to separate paste cartridges supported by the transfer mechanism from each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.