Screen printing with improved ink stop
AssigneeSunPower Corporation
InventorNeil Kaminar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Screen printing to an edge of an object without the flow of print ilk over the edge and to a supporting platen is realized by applying a flow of gas from the platen over the edge of the object and opposing the flow of print ink. The platen can have a support surface including a groove or a plurality of holes arranged to match the edge of the wafer. The wafer can include a semiconductor wafer such as a photovoltaic cell, and the gas can include air, nitrogen, or an inert gas.
Claims16
In a screen printing of a surface of an object, a method for preventing ink flow over an edge of the object comprising the steps of:
- a) placing the object with the edge positioned above a flow of gas,
- b) placing a screen over the object,
- c) applying an ink through the screen onto the object, and
- d) using the flow of gas to prevent ink flow over the edge.
A method of screen printing to the edge of a surface of an object comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a platen having a support surface for the object, the surface including a gas supply line,
- b) placing the object on the platen with the edge overlapping the gas supply line in the platen,
- c) placing a screen over the object,
- d) applying an ink through the screen onto the object, and
- e) applying a flow of gas from the gas supply over the edge of the object during application of a print ink to thereby oppose the flow of ink over the edge and to the platen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.