Method and apparatus for pressure type stencil printing

A stencil printing apparatus which comprises:

• a pressure chamber the wall of which is partly constituted by a flexible sheet member,
• a mount which is disposed in said pressure chamber opposite to said flexible sheet member and on which an article to be printed is placed,
• means for supporting a stencil between said flexible sheet member and said mount, and
• means for reducing pressure in the pressure chamber,
• in which said means for reducing pressure is an air pump which comprises a cylinder connected to said pressure chamber and a piston slidably disposed in said cylinder,
• said piston of the air pump having a piston rod extending outwardly of said cylinder, and pressure in the pressure chamber is reduced by operating said piston rod, said air pump having a sealed chamber of variable volume which is defined by said cylinder and said piston and is connected to said pressure chamber.

A stencil printing apparatus which comprises a pressure chamber and a means for reducing pressure in said pressure chamber,

• said pressure chamber comprising
• a platform having a central portion on which a sheet to be printed is placed and a plane portion which surrounds said central portion,
• a frame member which is a plate laid on said plane portion of said platform and having an opening that faces said central portion of said platform, and
• a flexible sheet member which is laid on said frame member to cover said opening,
• said flexible sheet member being hinged at an end thereof to said platform so as to be turned up and down, and
• said frame member being hinged at an end thereof to said platform so as to be turned up and down,
• in which said stencil printing apparatus further comprises a stencil supporting means which comprises a shoulder portion formed by extending an inner edge portion of said frame member inwardly of said opening on a side of the platform.