Screen printing apparatus, screen printing method, and paste storage container for screen printing apparatus

A screen printing apparatus to print a paste on a substrate, comprising:

• (a) a positioning section which holds said substrate;
• (b) a mask plate having pattern holes, said mask plate being disposed above said substrate;
• (c) a squeegee head to store the paste and supply the paste onto said mask plate;
• and
• (d) a pressure mechanism to pressurize the paste in said squeegee head,
• wherein said squeegee head includes a paste storage container to store the paste and a printing space to accommodate the paste supplied from said paste storage container;
• said paste storage container has a volume-variable container which varies in volume according to an operation of said pressure mechanism;
• said volume-variable container has a plurality of through-holes, a push-out plate which forms the bottom of said volume-variable container and a free-to-move projecting portion,
• said volume-variable container is reduced in volume according to the operation of said pressure mechanism, and the paste filled in said volume-variable container is pushed out into said printing space through said through-holes, and thereby, the paste is supplied onto said mask plate,
• said plurality of through-holes are formed at said push-out plate,
• the paste is pushed out into said printing space through said plurality of through-holes, and
• said projecting portion has a plurality of projections which may fit into said plurality of through-holes, and according to the operation of said pressure mechanism, said projecting portion moves to push out the paste in said volume-variable container into said printing space through said plurality of through-holes, and then said projections fit into said plurality of through-holes to push out the paste remaining in said plurality of through-holes into said printing space,
• wherein said volume-variable container further includes an elastic bag member having an opening;
• said push-out plate is located at the opening;
• said elastic bag member is flexible;
• and
• with the paste filled into said elastic bag member, when said projecting portion moves downward while compressing said elastic bag member, the paste in said elastic bag member is pushed out into said printing space through said plurality of through-holes, and then said projections fit into said plurality of through-holes via said elastic bag member.

A screen printing method comprising the steps of:

• (a) preparing a squeegee head having a volume-variable container and a printing space,
• where said volume-variable container includes a projecting portion with projections, side wall, and push-out plate with through-holes, and
• said printing space is communicated to said push-out plate;
• (b) storing a paste in said volume-variable container;
• (c) pressurizing said projecting portion and also pushing out the paste into said printing space through said through-holes while compressing the interior of said volume-variable container;
• (d) continuously pressurizing said projecting portion so that said projections fit into said through-holes, thereby pushing out the paste remaining in said through-holes into said printing space;
• (e) supplying the paste pushed out into said printing space onto a mask plate to print the paste on a substrate via said mask plate,
• wherein said side wall has a flexible side wall member;
• said projecting portion moves downward while compressing said side wall member;
• and
• thereby, the paste stored in said volume-variable container is pushed out into said printing space.

A screen printing method comprising the steps of:

• (a) preparing a squeegee head having a volume-variable container and a printing space,
• where said volume-variable container includes a projecting portion with projections, side wall, and push-out plate with through-holes, and
• said printing space is communicated to said push-out plate;
• (b) storing a paste in said volume-variable container;
• (c) pressurizing said projecting portion and also pushing out the paste into said printing space through said through-holes while compressing the interior of said volume-variable container;
• (d) continuously pressurizing said projecting portion so that said projections fit into said through-holes, thereby pushing out the paste remaining in said through-holes into said printing space;
• (e) supplying the paste pushed out into said printing space onto a mask plate to print the paste on a substrate via said mask plate,
• wherein said volume-variable container further includes an elastic bag member having an opening;
• said push-out plate is located at the opening;
• said elastic bag member is flexible;
• the paste is filled into said elastic bag member;
• when said projecting portion moves downward while compressing said elastic bag member, the paste in said elastic bag member is pushed out into said printing space through said through-holes, and then said projections are fitted into the through-holes via said elastic bag member;
• and
• said elastic bag member pushes out the paste remaining in said through-holes.

A paste storage container used for a screen printing apparatus to print a paste on a substrate, comprising:

• a projecting portion;
• a push-out plate disposed in a position opposing to said projecting portion;
• and
• a side wall disposed between said projecting portion and said push-out plate,
• wherein a volume-variable container is formed by said projecting portion, said push-out plate, and said side wall;
• the paste is stored in said volume-variable container;
• said projecting portion has a plurality of projections;
• said push-out plate has a plurality of through-holes, and
• each of said projections is thrust into each of the through-holes respectively,
• said projecting portion is able to move toward said push-out plate;
• and
• when said projecting portion moves toward said push-out plate, the paste stored in said volume-variable container is pushed out through said through-holes, and then said projections are thrust into said through-holes,
• wherein said side wall has a flexible side member, and
• said projecting portion moves while pushing said side member.

A paste storage container used for a screen printing apparatus to print a paste on a substrate, comprising:

• a projecting portion;
• a push-out plate disposed in a position opposing to said projecting portion;
• and
• a side wall disposed between said projecting portion and said push-out plate,
• wherein a volume-variable container is formed by said projecting portion, said push-out plate, and said side wall;
• the paste is stored in said volume-variable container;
• said projecting portion has a plurality of projections;
• said push-out plate has a plurality of through-holes and
• each of said projections is thrust into each of the through-holes respectively,
• said projecting portion is able to move toward said push-out plate;
• and
• when said projecting portion moves toward said push-out plate, the paste stored in said volume-variable container is pushed out through said through-holes, and then said projections are thrust into said through-holes,
• wherein said side wall includes an elastic bag member having an opening;
• said push-out plate is located at the opening;
• said elastic bag member is flexible;
• the paste is filled into said elastic bag member;
• and
• when said projecting portion moves while compressing said elastic bag member, the paste in said elastic bag member is pushed out into said printing space through said through-holes, and then said projections are thrust into said through-holes via said elastic bag member, and said elastic bag member pushes out the paste remaining in said through-holes.