A tensioning frame for tensioning a printing screen comprises struts to reinforce the constituent beams. These may be provided either on a supplementary brace plate or integrally formed with the beam. A shaft may be used to retain engagement bodies within pockets formed in the beam.

A paste dispensing transfer system of a stencil printer is configured to print an assembly material on an electronic substrate. The transfer system includes a paste cartridge mechanism coupled to a print head assembly of the stencil printer, and a rotary indexing mechanism coupled to a frame of the stencil printer. The paste dispensing transfer system is configured to transfer a used paste cartridge from the print head assembly to the rotary indexing mechanism supported by the frame and to transfer a new paste cartridge from the rotary indexing mechanism to the print head assembly.

Disclosed is a printing screen assembly, a frame for a printing screen and method for their construction. The printing screen assembly has a frame (310) with an elongate first frame member (320, 320a) and an elongate second frame member (320, 320b) parallel to the first frame member (320, 320a) and in fixed relation thereto; and a corresponding cantilevered first and second tensioning arrangement (326) extending from each frame member (320) along a length thereof. A predictable pre-tensioning force may be applied by resiliently deflecting the tensioning arrangements (326) into contact with an abutment arrangement (328) and securing a printing screen to an attachment portion (326b) of the first tensioning arrangement (326a), while the first tensioning arrangement (326) is in contact with the first abutment arrangement (326a). The frame may be formed by preselecting the resilience of the tensioning arrangement (326) so as to preselect the tension applied when tensioning a printing screen in use.

A paste dispensing transfer system of a stencil printer is configured to print an assembly material on an electronic substrate. The transfer system includes a paste cartridge mechanism coupled to a print head assembly of the stencil printer, and a rotary indexing mechanism coupled to a frame of the stencil printer. The paste dispensing transfer system is configured to transfer a used paste cartridge from the print head assembly to the rotary indexing mechanism supported by the frame and to transfer a new paste cartridge from the rotary indexing mechanism to the print head assembly.

A paste dispensing transfer system of a stencil printer is configured to print an assembly material on an electronic substrate. The transfer system includes a paste cartridge mechanism coupled to a print head assembly of the stencil printer, and a rotary indexing mechanism coupled to a frame of the stencil printer. The paste dispensing transfer system is configured to transfer a used paste cartridge from the print head assembly to the rotary indexing mechanism supported by the frame and to transfer a new paste cartridge from the rotary indexing mechanism to the print head assembly.

A tensioning frame for tensioning a printing screen comprises struts to reinforce the constituent beams. These may be provided either on a supplementary brace plate or integrally formed with the beam. A shaft may be used to retain engagement bodies within pockets formed in the beam.

A method of removing a magnetic tooling pin from a planar ferromagnetic support surface, comprises providing a pin-placement tool comprising an engagement body and an electrically conductive coil, supplying electrical power to the conductive coil to create a magnetic field which causes the magnetic attraction between the tooling pin and the support surface to be reduced, and moving the engagement body and engaged tooling pin away from the support surface.

A retrofit kit that upgrades an existing inkjet printing mechanism by replacing it with a more efficient and advanced light imaging mechanism. The kit includes a control module, a printhead module, and a retrofit printhead. The control module is operable to communicate with the existing command processor in order to receive a digital image. The retrofit printhead includes a means for emitting light onto an emulsion coated screen and is adapted to attach to and be integrated into an existing XY plotting system within the existing printer. The control module interfaces with the existing command processor to control the XY plotting system and the position of the retrofit printhead. The control module also interfaces with the printhead module to communicate and synchronize the amount of light to be emitted at each position; the printhead module thereafter controls the retrofit printhead to emit the determined amount of light at each position.

A paste dispensing transfer system of a stencil printer is configured to print an assembly material on an electronic substrate. The transfer system includes a paste cartridge mechanism coupled to a print head assembly of the stencil printer, and a rotary indexing mechanism coupled to a frame of the stencil printer. The paste dispensing transfer system is configured to transfer a used paste cartridge from the print head assembly to the rotary indexing mechanism supported by the frame and to transfer a new paste cartridge from the rotary indexing mechanism to the print head assembly.

A movable cart includes a housing configured to move along a horizontal surface and a plurality of shelves supported by the housing Each shelf of the plurality of shelves is configured to move between a retracted in which the shelf is positioned within the housing and an extended position in which the shelf extends from the housing. The movable cart further includes a sensing system configured to determine whether each shelf of the plurality of shelves is in the retracted position and a type of item supported by the shelf. Other aspects of the movable cart are further disclosed.