A printing apparatus for printing workpieces comprises a rotary table supporting first and second platens rotatable between a loading position located in-line between input and output lines. The transfer apparatus is operable to cyclically perform first and second movement operations, in which the rotary table rotates to move the first platen from a loading position to a printing position and vice versa. The platens may be rotatable relative to each other.

A printing apparatus for printing workpieces comprises a rotary table supporting first and second platens rotatable between a loading position located in-line between input and output lines. The transfer apparatus is operable to cyclically perform first and second movement operations, in which the rotary table rotates to move the first platen from a loading position to a printing position and vice versa. The platens may be rotatable relative to each other.

A screen printing machine configured to print solder onto a surface of a circuit board using a screen mask. The screen printing machine is provided with: a screen mask arranged at a top side of the circuit board; a box member arranged at an underside of the circuit board including a space that is closed by the circuit board; a negative pressure generator connected to the space of the box member and configured to create negative pressure inside the space; a sensor configured to detect a pressure inside the space; and a control device configured to control the negative pressure generator based on the pressure detected by the sensor.

An alignment system for a workpiece printing machine comprises a stencil support and a workpiece support, and a planarity control mechanism having at least two actuators arranged to effect relative rotation of the stencil support and workpiece support about both the horizontal axes.

An alignment system for a workpiece printing machine comprises a stencil support and a workpiece support, and a planarity control mechanism having at least two actuators arranged to effect relative rotation of the stencil support and workpiece support about both the horizontal axes.

Tooling for supporting workpieces during a printing operation, comprises a support tower comprising a base and a head, the head being positioned vertically above the base in use, the head being relatively moveable with respect to the base in a horizontal plane in use, the head having first and second support surfaces located at an upper end thereof, each of the first and second support surfaces being adapted to support a respective workpiece thereon, wherein the first support surface is relatively moveable with respect to the second support surface in a vertical direction in use between a printing configuration in which the first and second support surfaces are substantially coplanar in the horizontal plane, and a pre-printing configuration in which the first and second support surfaces are spaced in the vertical direction.

Tooling for supporting workpieces during a printing operation, comprises a support tower comprising a base and a head, the head being positioned vertically above the base in use, the head being relatively moveable with respect to the base in a horizontal plane in use, the head having first and second support surfaces located at an upper end thereof, each of the first and second support surfaces being adapted to support a respective workpiece thereon, wherein the first support surface is relatively moveable with respect to the second support surface in a vertical direction in use between a printing configuration in which the first and second support surfaces are substantially coplanar in the horizontal plane, and a pre-printing configuration in which the first and second support surfaces are spaced in the vertical direction.

There is provided a screen printer including: a squeegee device for spreading a cream solder over a mask having formed thereon a printing pattern configured of a plurality of through holes to force the cream solder through the printing pattern; a clamping device for holding a board that is conveyed to be placed under the mask; and a lift device for disposing the board with respect to the mask in relation to a vertical direction, wherein the clamping device includes a pair of clamping portions for holding the board therebetween from a width direction, wherein the pair of clamping portions includes individually detachable clamping members that are brought into abutment with lateral end faces of the board, and wherein the clamping members individually have two or more clamping surfaces that are brought into abutment with the board in such a way that the clamping surfaces can be converted.

There is provided a screen printer including: a squeegee device for spreading a cream solder over a mask having formed thereon a printing pattern configured of a plurality of through holes to force the cream solder through the printing pattern; a clamping device for holding a board that is conveyed to be placed under the mask; and a lift device for disposing the board with respect to the mask in relation to a vertical direction, wherein the clamping device includes a pair of clamping portions for holding the board therebetween from a width direction, wherein the pair of clamping portions includes individually detachable clamping members that are brought into abutment with lateral end faces of the board, and wherein the clamping members individually have two or more clamping surfaces that are brought into abutment with the board in such a way that the clamping surfaces can be converted.

Screen printer 10 is for screen printing solder paste 13 loaded on an upper surface of stencil 12 onto board S using one of first and second squeegees 71 and 72. Screen printer 10 is provided with a stencil frame holding rail that holds stencil frame 12a of stencil 12, pair of board holding members 36 and 38 that hold board S, raising and lowering table 16 that raises and lowers board holding members 36 and 38, and pair of stencil supporting members 50 and 52 that support stencil 12 from below at a portion outside a printing region of stencil 12 used for screen printing. Stencil supporting members 50 and 52 are provided independently from raising and lowering table 16. Therefore, the load applied to raising and lowering table 16 is reduced. Also, there is increased design freedom with respect to members and the like loaded on raising and lowering table 16.