Method and apparatus for performing operations within a stencil printer
AssigneeSpeedline Technologies, Inc.
InventorFrank Marszalkowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for performing operations on a surface of an electronic substrate comprises a frame, a dispenser, coupled to the frame, to dispense a material onto the electronic substrate, a stencil moveable on a gantry system having at least one aperture to receive the material as the material is dispensed on the substrate, a controller that controls dispensing of the material on the substrate, and a wiper to remove material from the stencil as the stencil is translated away from the electronic substrate by the gantry system.
Claims19
1-15. (canceled)
A stencil printer for performing a print operation on a surface of an electronic substrate at a print position, the stencil printer comprising:
- a frame;
- a feed mechanism to deliver the electronic substrate to the print position and to remove the electronic substrate from the print position, wherein the feed mechanism delivers and removes the electronic substrate along a first direction;
- and
- a stencil, coupled to the frame, the stencil having at least one aperture through which material is dispensed on the electronic substrate, the stencil being positionable between a first position in which the stencil is disposed over the electronic substrate and a second position in which the stencil is moved away from the electronic substrate along a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction.
A method for performing a printing operation on a surface of an electronic substrate, the method comprising:
- transporting a first electronic substrate to a print position;
- depositing material through a stencil and onto the first electronic substrate;
- moving the stencil from a position over the first electronic substrate, to a position over a wiper to remove a residual material from a surface of the stencil as the stencil is moved;
- transporting the first electronic substrate away from the print position;
- and
- transporting a second electronic substrate to the print position while moving the stencil over the wiper.
A method for loading an electronic substrate on a support mechanism and cleaning a stencil in a stencil printer, the method comprising:
- loading a first electronic substrate on the support mechanism;
- positioning the stencil above the first electronic substrate;
- depositing a material on the first electronic substrate;
- separating the stencil and the first electronic substrate;
- moving the stencil to a position removed from the support mechanism;
- unloading the first electronic substrate from the support mechanism;
- and
- loading a second electronic substrate on the support mechanism while moving the stencil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.