Screen printing apparatus and method
AssigneeSakurai Graphic Systems Corporation
InventorMitsuji Takai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A screen printing apparatus in which alignment marks are provided on the screen and the printing material. The marks are detected accurately and clearly by an alignment mark detector located between the printing material and the screen.
Claims14
An apparatus for printing on a substrate, comprising:
- first supporting means for supporting the substrate;
- film applying means for applying a film forming on the substrate;
- second supporting means for supporting the film applying means for reciprocation between a vicinal position, where the film applying leans is close to the substrate, and a distant position, where the film applying means is spaced from the substrate;
- film measuring means for measuring thickness of the film forming substance, said film measuring means being selectively positioned in a space between the substrate and said film applying means when said film applying means is in the distant position.
An apparatus for printing a film forming substance on a material mounted on a table using a screen and a squeegee, wherein alignment marks are provided on the material and the screen, the apparatus comprising:
- means for supporting the screen for reciprocation between a vicinal position, where the screen is close to the material, and a distant position, where the screen is spaced from the material;
- means for detecting the alignment marks;
- means for carrying the detecting means into a space between the screen and the material when the screen is located at the distant position;
- means for adjusting the position of the table and that of the screen relative to each other;
- means for applying the film forming substance on the material using the screen;
- means for measuring a thickness of the film forming substance;
- and
- means for carrying the film measuring means into the space between the screen and the material when the screen is located at the distant position.
A method for printing a film forming substance on a substrate, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning the substrate on a table
- applying the film forming substance on the substrate using a film forming substance applying apparatus;
- separating the film forming substance applying apparatus from the substrate forming a space therebetween;
- moving a probe into the space between the film forming substance applying apparatus and the substrate;
- and
- measuring a thickness of the film forming substance using the probe when the probe is positioned between the film forming substance applying apparatus and the substrate.
A method for providing a film forming substance on a substrate comprising the steps of:
- positioning a screen near the substrate;
- applying the film forming substance on the substrate using the screen;
- separating the screen and the substrate so that a predetermined space exists therebetween;
- moving a probe into the space;
- and
- measuring a thickness of the film forming substance using the probe.
A method of printing a film forming substance on a material mounted on a table, wherein alignment marks are provided on the material and the screen, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) locating the material on the table;
- (b) providing the screen over the material;
- (c) detecting the alignment marks provided on the material in a space between the screen and the material;
- (d) detecting the alignment marks provided on the screen in the space between the screen and the material;
- (e) adjusting the position of at least one of the table or the screen based on the detecting results to align the material and the screen;
- (f) applying the film forming substance on the material using the screen;
- (g) moving a probe into the space between the screen and the material;
- and
- (h) measuring a thickness of the film forming substance using the probe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.