A screen printing machine for forming a print of paste supplied to a mask plate having pattern holes, includes: a flexible filling squeegee which performs a squeegeeing operation in which the filling squeegee is moved relative to the mask plate in a printing direction; and a scraping squeegee which is held to maintain a given interval from the filling squeegee in the printing direction and to be movable together with the filling squeegee in the printing direction, and which scraps off the paste remaining on the mask plate after passage of the filling squeegee. In the squeegeeing operation, the filling squeegee is pushed up and bent by the paste to provide a clearance between a bottom end of the filling squeegee and the mask plate with the paste interposed therebetween so that the pattern holes are filled with paste with a prescribed filling pressure.

A printing squeegee has multiple profiles formed into the face of the squeegee to combine 45 and 60 degree angles of attack simultaneously. Additional profiles can be added to optimize the blade performance. Wings are integrated into the blade to retain the print medium and to restrict the blade from over flexing. The one-piece blade with integrated wings and multiple face profiles can increase print speed and control the angle of attack of the blade.

A printing squeegee has multiple profiles formed into the face of the squeegee to combine 45 and 60 degree angles of attack simultaneously. Additional profiles can be added to optimize the blade performance. Wings are integrated into the blade to retain the print medium and to restrict the blade from over flexing. The one-piece blade with integrated wings and multiple face profiles can increase print speed and control the angle of attack of the blade.

Disclosed herein are apparatuses for screen printing on a surface of a three-dimensional substrate comprising a substantially rigid, substantially planar frame having a perimeter defining a region within the perimeter having a given surface area; and a screen attached to the frame and extending across at least a portion of the surface area, wherein the screen comprises a first portion through which a liquid printing medium can pass onto a proximate three-dimensional substrate; and a second portion coated with an emulsion substantially preventing the liquid printing medium from passing through the second portion of the screen, wherein the screen has a fixed tension of less than about 20 N/cm. Methods and systems for screen printing on a surface of a three-dimensional substrate are also disclosed herein.

Disclosed herein are apparatuses for screen printing on a surface of a three-dimensional substrate comprising a substantially rigid, substantially planar frame having a perimeter defining a region within the perimeter having a given surface area; and a screen attached to the frame and extending across at least a portion of the surface area, wherein the screen comprises a first portion through which a liquid printing medium can pass onto a proximate three-dimensional substrate; and a second portion coated with an emulsion substantially preventing the liquid printing medium from passing through the second portion of the screen, wherein the screen has a fixed tension of less than about 20 N/cm. Methods and systems for screen printing on a surface of a three-dimensional substrate are also disclosed herein.

Disclosed herein are squeegee apparatuses and methods and systems for screen printing on a surface of a substrate comprising the disclosed squeegee apparatus and a framed screen. Also disclosed herein are methods for screen printing a 3D substrate comprising creating a 2D test framed screen. Methods for predicting the distortion of an image printed on a 3D substrate are also disclosed herein.

Described is an apparatus which comprises: a squeegee head which is operable to drop a material; and a vacuum manifold attachable to the squeegee head, wherein the vacuum manifold is operable to create a vacuum in a space prior to the squeegee head is to drop the material.

Described is an apparatus which comprises: a squeegee head which is operable to drop a material; and a vacuum manifold attachable to the squeegee head, wherein the vacuum manifold is operable to create a vacuum in a space prior to the squeegee head is to drop the material.

A paste supply apparatus includes: a pot holder which holds a paste pot including an inner lid movable in a container; an ejecting member; an annular protruding portion protruding downward from a lower surface of the ejecting member; a suction power generating mechanism which generates suction power in an internal space surrounded by the annular protruding portion; and an ejecting member lifting unit which moves up and down the ejecting member, The ejecting member lifting unit causes the ejecting member to press down the inner lid of the paste pot held by the pot holder to eject the paste from the through hole, and thereafter lifts the ejecting member which holds the inner lid by the suction power generated within the internal space of the annular protruding portion by the suction power generating mechanism.

A paste supply apparatus includes: a pot holder which holds a paste pot including an inner lid movable in a container; an ejecting member; an annular protruding portion protruding downward from a lower surface of the ejecting member; a suction power generating mechanism which generates suction power in an internal space surrounded by the annular protruding portion; and an ejecting member lifting unit which moves up and down the ejecting member, The ejecting member lifting unit causes the ejecting member to press down the inner lid of the paste pot held by the pot holder to eject the paste from the through hole, and thereafter lifts the ejecting member which holds the inner lid by the suction power generated within the internal space of the annular protruding portion by the suction power generating mechanism.