Deflector units for use with a printing blade in printing a print medium through a printing screen, which are self-adjustable in a vertical direction for controlling production of rolls of print medium.

A screen printing apparatus for printing paste on a printed pattern of a print target constituted of a substrate or a plurality of aligned substrates includes a mask having a plurality of opening patterns different in size from one another. The screen printing apparatus images the substrate or one of the aligned substrates constituting the print target, and calculates a level of deformation by expansion and contraction of the print target, based on a result of the imaging. The screen printing apparatus then selects an opening pattern from among the opening patterns, based on the calculated level of deformation by expansion and contraction of the print target, brings the print target into contact with the mask to superimpose the selected opening pattern on the printed pattern, and deposits the paste on the printed pattern.

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.

A clamping system for clamping a printing screen frame within a printing machine that uses at least one inflatable bladder to effect clamping. The system may be modular, so that bladders and/or extending inserts may be exchanged, replaced or incorporated as required.

A screen printing device has a screen printing stencil. At least two doctor blade systems, each acting on the screen printing stencil are provided. The at least two doctor blade systems are arranged to each apply printing ink to an object to be printed in the same printing process. Each of the doctor blade systems has at least one doctor blade. Each of the doctor blades is arranged to sweep over the screen printing stencil. Each of the doctor blade systems is individually controlled by a control unit. The at least one doctor blade of each of the doctor blade systems is moved by a robot. At least respective two-dimensional motion paths of the doctor blades of each doctor blade system are each freely programmed and are established by control of the robot.

A screen printing apparatus includes a squeegee driver that lifts/lowers a first lifting/lowering shaft and a second lifting/lowering shaft; a link mechanism including a swinging member that pivots about a horizontal axis by lifting/lowering operations of the first lifting/lowering shaft and the second lifting/lowering shaft; a squeegee unit installed to the swinging member; and a controller that controls at least a height of the squeegee unit and an orientation of the squeegee unit in a rotating direction by controlling the squeegee driver.

A screen printing press includes a base and a clamping mechanism which is connected to the base. The clamping mechanism has a first member, a second member disposed perpendicular to the first member, and an edge. The clamping mechanism has X, Y, and Z axes, The screen has a first surface and a second surface perpendicular to the first surface. A protruding stop is disposed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface. The screen is positioned in the clamping mechanism so that the first surface abuts the first member, the second surface abuts the second member, and the protruding stop abuts the edge. The base includes an open frame which defines a volume which is shaped and dimensioned to receive a burn unit, so that when the burn unit is placed within the volume the burn unit is visible.

A screen printing device has a screen printing stencil. At least two doctor blade systems, each acting on the screen printing stencil are provided. The at least two doctor blade systems are arranged to each apply printing ink to an object to be printed in the same printing process. Each of the doctor blade systems has at least one doctor blade. Each of the doctor blades is arranged to sweep over the screen printing stencil. Each of the doctor blade systems is individually controlled by a control unit. The at least one doctor blade of each of the doctor blade systems is moved by a robot. At least respective two-dimensional motion paths of the doctor blades of each doctor blade system are each freely programmed and are established by control of the robot.

A screen printing apparatus includes a squeegee driver that lifts/lowers a first lifting/lowering shaft and a second lifting/lowering shaft; a link mechanism including a swinging member that pivots about a horizontal axis by lifting/lowering operations of the first lifting/lowering shaft and the second lifting/lowering shaft; a squeegee unit installed to the swinging member; and a controller that controls at least a height of the squeegee unit and an orientation of the squeegee unit in a rotating direction by controlling the squeegee driver.

A method for screen printing of a material on a substrate is provided. The method includes moving a process head assembly having at least one deposition device from a first position to a second position to perform a stroke, wherein the stroke includes at least a first phase for material processing of a material on a screen device using the at least one deposition device and a second phase for a material transfer from the screen device to the substrate. The at least one deposition device moves in a first direction in the first phase. At least one device moves in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in the first phase. The at least one deposition device and the at least one device simultaneously move during at least a part of the first phase. The at least one device is selected from the group including the at least one deposition device, a material processing device, the screen device, and a substrate support.