Apparatus and method for the production of three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces

Apparatus (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a positioning and/or handling device (20) is provided, by means of which the workpiece carrier (14) can be positioned on the printing table plate (16) in an automated and/or defined manner, the positioning and/or handling device (20) preferably being designed to detect the position of the workpiece carrier and/or as part of the transport device (18).

Apparatus (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that an alignment device is provided, by means of which the workpiece carrier (14) can be aligned and/or positioned in a defined manner on the printing table plate (16), the alignment device preferably being formed by the positioning and/or handling device (20) and/or by at least one mechanical positioning element and/or by at least one stop and/or being designed as part of the transport device (18) and/or of the printing device (16).

Apparatus (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one drying device (30) for a screen-printed workpiece is provided and/or in that a drying device (30) formed with a drying path (42) is designed for the continuous drying passage of screen-printed workpieces and/or workpiece carriers (14), the drying path (42) preferably being designed as part of the transport device (18).

Apparatus (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an inspection area is provided adjacent to a printing area (24) of the printing device (12), in particular for inspecting a screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier (14) and/or for inspecting a relative position and/or relative alignment of a workpiece carrier (14) on the printing table plate (16) and/or for inspecting a relative position and/or relative alignment of a screen-printed workpiece on a workpiece carrier (14) and/or wherein the inspection area is formed as part of the printing device (12) and/or as part of the transport device (30).

Apparatus (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printing device (12) is configured and/or designed for fine adjustment, in particular for fine adjustment between two successive printing processes for a screen-printed workpiece and/or successive printing layers for a screen-printed workpiece.

Apparatus (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fine adjustment preferably comprises the adjustment of the relative position and/or relative alignment between the printing table plate (16) and the upper printing mechanism (28) and/or between the printing table plate (16) and the printing screen and/or that the fine adjustment preferably comprises the adjustment of the relative position and/or relative alignment between the workpiece carrier (14) and the upper printing mechanism (28) and/or between the workpiece carrier (14) and the printing screen.

Apparatus (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one position detection device is provided for a screen-printed workpiece and/or for a workpiece carrier (14) and/or for the printing table plate (16) and/or in that an adjusting device of the printing table plate (16) and/or an adjusting device of the upper printing mechanism (28) and/or of the printing screen is configured to carry out a positional and/or alignment fine adjustment dependent on a position detection by a position detection device.

Apparatus (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printing table plate (16) is designed for temporary fixing of the workpiece carrier (14), in particular for temporary fixing in a defined and/or aligned position on the printing table plate (16), and/or in that the printing table plate (16) is designed as a perforated plate, in particular as a perforated plate for vacuum fixing of the workpiece carrier (14), and/or in that the printing device (12) has a plurality of printing table plates (16).

Apparatus (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the workpiece carrier (14) is produced from a temperature-resistant material and/or is designed as an aluminum plate, in particular as an aluminum plate anodized on both sides, and/or in that the workpiece carrier (14) is produced at least in sections from a ceramic material and/or in that the workpiece carrier (14) has a thickness of from 1 mm to 4 mm, preferably from 1.5 mm to 3 mm, in particular 2 mm to 2.5 mm.

Method for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, in particular with an apparatus (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least one workpiece carrier (14) for at least one screen-printed workpiece is provided, in which a screen-printed workpiece is produced layer-by-layer in a printing device (12) in a plurality of printing operations on the workpiece carrier (14), in which the workpiece carrier (14), in order to carry out a printing process, is positioned on a printing table plate (16) of the printing device (12), the printing table plate (16) being formed separately from the workpiece carrier (14), and in which the workpiece carrier (14) is, between two successive printing processes for a screen-printed workpiece, removed from the printing table plate (16) in order to dry the screen-printed workpiece.