A direct to mesh (DtM) screen printer for creating a screen stencil is provided. The DtM screen printer includes a frame to hold a pre-stretched mesh in place during application of a jettable emulsion, a fixture to hold the frame, a platen to hold a release fluid against one side of the pre-stretched mesh, a fluid dispenser for dispensing the release fluid onto the platen or mesh, and a printer carriage supporting a print head for printing the jettable emulsion on a side of the pre-stretched mesh opposite the platen. A process is also provided, the process being for using the DtM screen printer to prepare the screen stencil for screen printing.

A direct to mesh (DtM) screen printer for creating a screen stencil is provided. The DtM screen printer includes a fixture to hold a frame, which holds a pre-stretched mesh in place during application of a jettable emulsion, a platen having a cavity and an array of holes in a top surface of the platen, a non-woven fabric placed on the top surface of the platen and saturated with a release fluid located against one side of the pre-stretched mesh, and a printer carriage supporting a print head for printing the jettable emulsion on a side of the pre-stretched mesh opposite the non-woven fabric.

A direct to mesh (DtM) screen printer for creating a screen stencil is provided. The DtM screen printer includes a fixture to hold a frame, which holds a pre-stretched mesh in place during application of a jettable emulsion, a platen having a cavity and an array of holes in a top surface of the platen, a non-woven fabric placed on the top surface of the platen and saturated with a release fluid located against one side of the pre-stretched mesh, and a printer carriage supporting a print head for printing the jettable emulsion on a side of the pre-stretched mesh opposite the non-woven fabric.

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.

In some examples, a screen printing unit includes a screen printing forme cylinder, an impression cylinder, and at least one further rotational transport body. A fixing element of the impression cylinder includes inner and outer contact surfaces for clamping sheets. The inner contact surface has a base radius as a distance from an axis of rotation of the impression cylinder. A cylinder barrel of the impression cylinder has a supporting surface for sheets that includes an impression portion having a constant barrel radius, which extends over at least 170° about the axis of rotation of the impression cylinder and the barrel radius is larger than the base radius. A fixing element of the further rotational transport body includes an inner and an outer contact surface for clamping sheets. The inner contact surface includes the base radius as a distance from an axis of rotation of the further rotational transport body.

A printing system for rotary screen printing includes a screen-printing cylinder having flexible surface elements. The flexible surface elements give way upon contact with sheet grippers projecting from an impression cylinder, so that it is not necessary to move the screen-printing cylinder out to avoid contact with the sheet grippers. A screen-printing cylinder, a method for producing a screen-printing cylinder, a printing machine and a method for using a screen-printing cylinder, are also provided.

A printing system for rotary screen printing includes a screen-printing cylinder having flexible surface elements. The flexible surface elements give way upon contact with sheet grippers projecting from an impression cylinder, so that it is not necessary to move the screen-printing cylinder out to avoid contact with the sheet grippers. A screen-printing cylinder, a method for producing a screen-printing cylinder, a printing machine and a method for using a screen-printing cylinder, are also provided.

A direct to mesh (DtM) screen printer for creating a screen stencil is provided. The DtM screen printer includes a frame to hold a pre-stretched mesh in place during application of a jettable emulsion, a fixture to hold the frame, a platen to hold a release fluid against one side of the pre-stretched mesh, a fluid dispenser for dispensing the release fluid onto the platen or mesh, and a printer carriage supporting a print head for printing the jettable emulsion on a side of the pre-stretched mesh opposite the platen. A process is also provided, the process being for using the DtM screen printer to prepare the screen stencil for screen printing.

A direct to mesh (DtM) screen printer for creating a screen stencil is provided. The DtM screen printer includes a frame to hold a pre-stretched mesh in place during application of a jettable emulsion, a fixture to hold the frame, a platen to hold a release fluid against one side of the pre-stretched mesh, a fluid dispenser for dispensing the release fluid onto the platen or mesh, and a printer carriage supporting a print head for printing the jettable emulsion on a side of the pre-stretched mesh opposite the platen. A process is also provided, the process being for using the DtM screen printer to prepare the screen stencil for screen printing.

In some examples, a sheet-fed printing unit is configured as a screen printing unit and includes at least one screen printing forme cylinder and at least one impression cylinder cooperating therewith. A cylinder barrel of the impression cylinder includes a supporting surface for sheets, and which includes at least one impression portion having a constant barrel radius that extends over an angle of at least 170 degrees about the axis of rotation of the impression cylinder. The screen printing forme cylinder has an effective screen radius that is smaller than a barrel radius of the impression cylinder, and the effective screen radius is larger than half the barrel radius.