A doctor blade band is disclosed. The doctor blade may be used for cutting individual doctor blades for printing technology, in particular for gravure printing, flexographic printing and/or screen printing. The doctor blade band includes a flat and elongate base body with a working edge region formed in a longitudinal direction. The doctor blade band has continuous predetermined breaking points running at defined intervals along the longitudinal direction transversely to the longitudinal direction.

A doctor blade band is disclosed. The doctor blade may be used for cutting individual doctor blades for printing technology, in particular for gravure printing, flexographic printing and/or screen printing. The doctor blade band includes a flat and elongate base body with a working edge region formed in a longitudinal direction. The doctor blade band has continuous predetermined breaking points running at defined intervals along the longitudinal direction transversely to the longitudinal direction.

A squeegee assembly is disclosed for use in a solder paste printing system. The squeegee assembly includes an elongated primary blade holder holding a primary blade adapted for movement in a first direction, and one or more secondary blades mounted to the primary blade holder in a following position with respect to the first direction of movement of the primary blade.

A squeegee assembly is disclosed for use in a solder paste printing system. The squeegee assembly includes an elongated primary blade holder holding a primary blade adapted for movement in a first direction, and one or more secondary blades mounted to the primary blade holder in a following position with respect to the first direction of movement of the primary blade.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a squeegee blade holder is provided. The holder includes a first side member, a second side member, and a pivot portion between the first and second side members. The holder also includes a separator between the first and second side members for maintaining compression of the side members against the squeegee blade.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of holding a squeegee blade in a holder is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a first holder side, and providing a second holder side. The method further includes compressing the first and second holder sides against the squeegee blade, and maintaining compression of the first and second holder sides against the squeegee blade.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a squeegee blade holder is provided. The holder includes a first side member, a second side member, and a pivot portion between the first and second side members. The holder also includes a separator between the first and second side members for maintaining compression of the side members against the squeegee blade.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of holding a squeegee blade in a holder is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a first holder side, and providing a second holder side. The method further includes compressing the first and second holder sides against the squeegee blade, and maintaining compression of the first and second holder sides against the squeegee blade.

A metal mask is used in applying a printing material to an object to be printed by the sliding of a squeegee across a first surface of the metal mask. The metal mask has a plurality of openings extending from the first surface to a second surface facing the object. The metal mask has a bridge section and a filling section. The bridge section is disposed between first and second openings, and is recessed from the second surface. The filling section is provided on the second surface-side of the bridge section for being filled with printing material. The filling section communicates with the respective ends of the first and second openings. When viewed from the second surface, the filling section has a width that is larger than a width of the openings in a direction that intersects with a direction extending between the first and second openings.

A metal mask is used in applying a printing material to an object to be printed by the sliding of a squeegee across a first surface of the metal mask. The metal mask has a plurality of openings extending from the first surface to a second surface facing the object. The metal mask has a bridge section and a filling section. The bridge section is disposed between first and second openings, and is recessed from the second surface. The filling section is provided on the second surface-side of the bridge section for being filled with printing material. The filling section communicates with the respective ends of the first and second openings. When viewed from the second surface, the filling section has a width that is larger than a width of the openings in a direction that intersects with a direction extending between the first and second openings.

A printing apparatus includes a screen, a scraper, and a squeegee. The screen has a screen surface which has a width direction and which is placed on a workpiece. The scraper is movable along the screen surface in a first direction perpendicular to the width direction so as to coat the screen surface with a paste. The scraper includes an upper portion and a curved portion. The upper portion extends from an upper end to a lower end of the upper portion toward the screen surface. The curved portion is connected to the lower end of the upper portion. The curved portion has a curved shape projecting toward a second direction opposite to the first direction. The curved portion has an opening extending in the width direction. The squeegee is movable along the screen surface so as to transfer the paste to the workpiece.

A screen printing apparatus includes a mask and a printing head. The mask has a first opening provided in a first region, and a second opening provided in a second region which is thicker than the first region. The printing head fills the first opening with a paste in a state where a substrate is in contact with the first region, and fills the second opening with the paste in a state where the substrate is in contact with the second region.