Pattern forming apparatus and method

A pattern forming apparatus comprising:

• a pattern forming unit for sequentially forming a pattern on a board passing a pattern forming region according to pattern data;
• a moving unit, having a transport path extending to pass said pattern forming region for said board, for transporting first and second boards back and forth in a first direction relative to said pattern forming region and a second direction reverse to said first direction in an alternate manner, said first board being set at one end of a transport path, said second board being set at a remaining end of said transport path;
• a controller for controlling said pattern forming unit and said moving unit, for forming said pattern on said first board in a first period of transport in said first direction to pass said pattern forming region, and for forming said pattern on said second board in a second period of transport in said second direction to pass said pattern forming region;
• and
• a pattern data setter for setting said pattern data different between said first and second periods.

A pattern forming method of forming a pattern on a moving board according to pattern data, comprising steps of:

• setting a first board at one end of a transport path and a second board at a remaining end of said transport path which extends to pass a pattern forming region, said first and second boards being movable back and forth in a first direction relative to said pattern forming region and a second direction reverse to said first direction in an alternate manner;
• forming said pattern on said first board in a first period of transport in said first direction to pass said pattern forming region;
• forming said pattern on said second board in a second period of transport in said second direction to pass said pattern forming region;
• wherein said pattern data is set different between said first and second periods.