In a mask printing machine, a target through hole, which is at least one of multiple through holes formed on the mask, is imaged by an imaging device when the board is below the mask and is at a separated position that is separated from the mask, and when the board is at a contact position in which an upper surface of the board contacts a lower surface of the mask, respectively. Based on a captured image, when the board is at the separated position, and a captured image when the board is at the contact position, it is possible to acquire the movement state of at least one target through hole when the board is lifted from the separated position to the contact position.

The supply unit is used in a printing device to perform a print process of a viscous fluid on a printing target to supply the viscous fluid. The supply unit includes an attachment section to and from which a cartridge accommodating the viscous fluid is attachable or detachable, a restricting wall section configured to cover the cartridge and restrict access to an inside of the printing device, and a driving section configured to move the cartridge attached to the attachment section and the restricting wall section in a supply operation direction.

A printing device includes a cleaning head configured to contact a cleaning member with the screen mask to perform a cleaning process on the screen mask, a moving section connectable and disconnectable to the cleaning head to move the cleaning head between a cleaning area and a standby area, a door member configured to open and close an opening portion through which the cleaning member passes when the cleaning member is moved from the standby area to an outside of the printing device and be lockable in a closed state, and a control section configured to unlock the door member in a state where the moving section is disconnected to the cleaning head and the cleaning head is located in the standby area.

Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a method for stencil printing a layer on or onto a printing surface with a stencil comprising applying a stencil with a first part and a second part to the printing surface and applying a layer of material to the printing surface through the stencil. The first part and the second part cover a non-continuous region of the printing surface.

A storage device is used in a printing device includes a storage section having a transfer stage for loading and unloading the exchange target object to and from the printing section, the storage section being configured to accommodate multiple placement sections, each for placing the exchange target object, and to store the exchange target object, a placement section moving section configured to move any one of the placement sections to the transfer stage, and a target object moving section disposed on the transfer stage, the target object moving section being configured to move between a retracted position allowing the placement section to pass and an abutting position abutting against the exchange target object on the placement section and to move the exchange target object in a loading/unloading direction while abutting against the exchange target object at the abutting position.

A method of gripping a substantially planar workpiece while providing compensation for variations in thickness is described. During the process, the workpiece is overdriven into a clamping member before clamping force is applied, and the positions of the clamping member before and after application of the clamping force are measured. These measurements are then used to control a compensating movement of the tooling table and optionally a final lift of the conveyance rails.

A squeegee for spreading a conductive paste across a stencil during a stencil printing process is provided. The stencil covers an underlying base such that the conductive paste is spread across the stencil and into openings in the stencil to contact the underlying base. The squeegee has a leading surface at the front of the squeegee, a trailing surface at the rear of the squeegee, and a bottom surface. The bottom surface is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the leading surface and the trailing surface. In some embodiments, a rear corner or edge of the squeegee is the contact point between the squeegee and the stencil. Some of the paste can be collected beneath the bottom surface and scraped along with the squeegee.

The present application provides an automatic solder paste addition apparatus and system for a solder paste printer, the apparatus comprising: a push rod, a pressure plate, a support plate, a movable plate and a working platform; the pressure plate moves up and down as the push rod moves up and down, the support plate is fixed in relation to movement of the push rod, an outer side of the movable plate is disposed on the support plate so as to be capable of sliding up and down, the pressure plate is disposed on an inner side of the movable plate so as to be capable of sliding up and down, and the working platform is fixed to the movable plate and used for bearing a solder paste tub, wherein a lower one-way locking mechanism is provided between the movable plate and the support plate, the lower one-way locking mechanism being configured to lock the movable plate when the movable plate is in the working position, so that the movable plate cannot move downward; and wherein an upper locking mechanism is provided between the movable plate and the pressure plate, the upper locking mechanism being configured so that the pressure plate can move relative to the movable plate when the movable plate is not moving, and can also move together with the movable plate when the movable plate is moving.

A printing form for producing a structure of an electronic component, in particular a photovoltaic solar cell, having a screen frame and a screen, which is in the form of a sheet-like textile and has a multiplicity of elongate screen elements. The screen is arranged in the screen frame and the screen has at least one printing region which a printing paste can permeate and at least one barrier region which the printing paste cannot permeate. The elongate screen elements are made from glass fiber, carbon fiber and/or carbon nanotubes.

A stencil printer for printing an assembly material on an electronic substrate includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, the stencil having apertures formed therein, a support assembly coupled to the frame, the support assembly being configured to support the electronic substrate, a print head gantry coupled to the frame, and a print head assembly supported by the print head gantry in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes. The stencil printer further comprises a verification system to determine whether an item placed within the stencil printer is properly installed within the stencil printer.