Apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional screen printed workpiece

Abstract

Device for manufacturing a three-dimensional screen-printed workpiece, in particular a 3D screen-printing machine, having a printing screen and having a squeegee device for filling the printing screen with printing substance and / or for pushing the printing substance through the printing screen, wherein the squeegee device has at least one squeegee tool, a sensor device for detecting a squeegee force acting on the squeegee tool, and a control device for evaluating and / or storing sensor data of the sensor device, wherein the control device is configured to determine a screen resilience and / or a screen tension of the printing screen by means of the sensor device and / or from sensor data detected and / or stored by the sensor device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing screen-printed workpieces, particularly three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces. The invention also relates to squeegee devices, particularly squeegee devices for such apparatus. Furthermore, the invention relates to methods for manufacturing screen-printed workpieces, particularly three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces. Background Technology

[0002] German utility model DE 20 2019 101 066 U1 discloses a device for moving a scraper. In this device, the scraper has a scraper carrier on which the scraper is disposed. Furthermore, the scraper is connected to a scraper offset plate via a pivot shaft arranged between the scraper carrier and the scraper offset plate. If a force is applied to the scraper, this force is transmitted from the scraper to the scraper offset plate via the pivot shaft. Moreover, the pivot shaft is arranged such that it is aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and substantially parallel to the scraper's direction of movement during scraper operation.

[0003] The force measuring unit can also be arranged between the squeegee and the squeegee offset plate or on the pivot axis. The latter (the force measuring unit arranged on the pivot axis) measures tension and compressive forces, and thus the pushing force of the squeegee on the screen-printed fabric. Therefore, the force acting on the squeegee can be detected, and thus the force acting on the pivot axis can also be detected. However, the information obtained is of limited significance. Despite this force measurement, incomplete printing or damage to the printing screen and / or the corresponding screen-printed workpiece and / or the corresponding squeegee may occur during the printing process or squeegee movement. High wear on the corresponding equipment components, especially the printing screen, may also occur under adverse squeegee movement or when the squeegee repeatedly and adversely contacts the printing screen. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In light of the above background, the object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, which ensures improved operational reliability while simultaneously enhancing the monitoring and adjustability of the printing and / or squeegee processes. Similarly, the object is to provide a squeegee device and a method for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces.

[0005] Regarding this device, this objective has been achieved by the subject matter of claim 1. This objective is also achieved by the subject matter of claims 111 and 112. The scraper device according to the invention is the subject matter of claim 113. The method according to the invention is the subject matter of claim 114. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims and are described below.

[0006] According to the present invention, an apparatus for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces is provided. This apparatus may be, for example, a 3D screen printing machine, preferably an automated 3D screen printing machine.

[0007] The device according to the invention is equipped with a printing screen and has a squeegee device for filling the printing screen with printing material and / or for pushing the printing material through the printing screen. In this configuration, the squeegee device has at least one squeegee tool, a sensor device for detecting the squeegee force acting on the squeegee tool, and a control device for evaluating and / or storing sensor data from the sensor device, wherein the control device is configured and / or set to determine the screen recovery force and / or screen tension of the printing screen by means of the sensor device and / or based on the sensor data detected and / or stored by the sensor device.

[0008] Therefore, the control device can be particularly advantageously used to infer the mechanical properties of the printing screen, or the wear of the printing screen, or any damage or manufacturing defects of the printing screen.

[0009] Relatively low screen recovery force and / or screen tension, or a squeegee force that increases only slowly after contact with the printing screen, can indicate high screen wear. Based on the determined screen recovery force and / or screen tension, process controls can be appropriately modified to effectively extend the lifespan of the printing screen.

[0010] Furthermore, the determined screen recovery force and / or screen tension can be collected and used to determine and / or set the squeegee force suitable for the corresponding printing process. This can improve overall printing accuracy.

[0011] Therefore, by measuring force or determining screen restoring force and / or screen tension using the sensor device and / or control device according to the invention, particularly advantageous process control can be achieved, thereby improving operational reliability, while improving and making more precise execution of printing or squeegee movement, and extending service life. Thus, improved quality of printing results and improved process control during the execution of the printing or squeegee process can be ensured.

[0012] In this case, three-dimensional screen printing can be understood in a particularly preferred manner as an additive manufacturing method, wherein a powder-based suspension is transferred, with the aid of a squeegee, through a fixed printing mask or printing screen onto a substrate, such as a printing table or a workpiece carrier or a previously applied layer of the screen-printed workpiece, and then dried. This process can be repeated several times until the desired part height or part shape is achieved in each case. Specifically, in the case of three-dimensional screen printing, at least two or at least three printing layers can be manufactured in a manner where one layer is on top of another. In a final process step, the part produced in this way can be sintered. Thus, a screen-printed workpiece can be produced.

[0013] Similarly, in this case, three-dimensional screen printing can be understood in a particularly preferred manner as an additive manufacturing method, wherein a powder-based suspension is transferred to a substrate through a fixed printing mask or screen with the aid of a squeegee and then dried, wherein in each case the desired part height or part shape is achieved through a single print. In a final process step, the part produced in this way can be sintered, and a screen-printed workpiece can be produced. Regarding the multiple printing operations mentioned in this case, a single printing operation may be sufficient and suitable to replace it.

[0014] In this context, screen-printed workpieces can be understood, preferably, as workpieces undergoing or already undergoing a sintering step, or as three-dimensional printed products. This particularly relates to workpieces made of metal, ceramic, glass, and / or plastic materials. In particular, alloys made of steel, nickel, copper, titanium, and / or ceramic alloys are considered for this purpose.

[0015] The term "3D screen-printed workpiece" may include or exclude printed products made of plastic materials. In particular, it is also possible to perform a sintering step on the printed workpiece layers made of plastic materials.

[0016] In this context, screen-printed workpieces can also be understood as workpieces or 3D printed products produced without a sintering step, or workpieces or 3D printed products that can be completed or have already been completed without a sintering step. Therefore, the final curing of the printed layer can also be carried out without a sintering step. The curing of screen-printed workpieces can also advantageously be achieved through UV curing and / or through polymerization and / or through drying, particularly through convection drying. Such curing is particularly preferred if the aim is to achieve the final curing of the printed layer without a sintering step.

[0017] In this case, screen-printed workpieces can be additionally or alternatively understood as workpieces or three-dimensional printed products produced entirely through three-dimensional screen printing.

[0018] In this case, a screen-printed workpiece can also be understood as a workpiece or three-dimensional printed product that is at least partially or segmentally produced by three-dimensional screen printing. Therefore, a screen-printed workpiece can be produced by applying at least one or more printed layers to a substrate provided in another manner, wherein the substrate forms part of the finished workpiece.

[0019] The screen-printed workpieces within the scope of this invention can also be pharmaceutical products and / or biological products. Such screen-printed workpieces can in particular be made from pharmaceutical powder materials and / or powder mixtures and / or granules and / or biological materials. Specifically, pharmaceutical products and / or biological products can be completed without a sintering step, or can be sufficiently cured for their respective applications.

[0020] Screen-printed workpieces made of pharmaceutical powder materials and / or powder mixtures and / or granules may contain pharmaceuticals, active substances, auxiliaries, especially fillers and / or binders and / or disintegrants and / or lubricants.

[0021] According to a preferred improvement of the invention, the equipment for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces can be designed and / or configured for production under cleanroom conditions. In particular, the equipment can be designed and / or configured for production under cleanroom conditions conforming to cleanroom classes A, B, C and / or D according to EU-GMP.

[0022] More preferably, the apparatus according to the invention for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces can be designed and / or constructed for applications in medical technology, optical and / or laser technology, aerospace technology, semiconductor technology, biotechnology and / or medical and / or pharmacological research.

[0023] Similarly, the apparatus for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces according to the present invention can be designed and / or constructed for use as and / or applied as medical products and / or pharmaceutical products, implants and / or sterile products and / or drugs, and / or for use as and / or applied as tablets for the administration of active substances.

[0024] According to the present invention, the screen-printed workpiece can be a workpiece constructed on a workpiece carrier by three-dimensional screen printing in one or more printing operations. In this case, the screen-printed workpiece is particularly one that can be released from the corresponding workpiece carrier after the printing operation is completed and / or after the sintering operation following the printing operation is completed, in particular, it can be released non-destructively.

[0025] Between possible printing operations for screen-printed workpieces, the corresponding workpiece carrier can be released from or be releasable from the printing table or printing plate. In the case of a multi-layer structure, each layer of the screen-printed workpiece can be dried in a location away from the printing table or printing plate between two successive printing operations.

[0026] According to a preferred improvement, the control device can be configured to determine the relative screen recovery force and / or relative screen tension of the printing screen using sensor devices and / or sensor data detected and / or stored by sensor devices. The relative screen recovery force and / or relative screen tension can describe the differences in screen tension and / or screen recovery force at different portions of the corresponding printing screen. Similarly, the difference in screen tension between two different states of the printing screen (particularly a worn state and / or an aged state) can be described by the relative screen tension. The relative screen recovery force can describe the difference in screen recovery force at different portions of the corresponding printing screen and / or the difference in screen recovery force between two different states (particularly a worn state and / or an aged state).

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to determine wire mesh wear and / or wire mesh aging by means of a sensor device and / or based on sensor data detected and / or stored by the sensor device and / or based on wire mesh recovery force and / or wire mesh tension or multiple wire mesh recovery forces and / or multiple wire mesh tensions. This determination can be performed with relatively low computational effort while maintaining a high level of reliability.

[0028] According to a further preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to determine screen recovery force and / or screen tension between printing processes, and / or to periodically repeat the above determinations and / or to periodically repeat the determinations of screen wear and / or screen aging. Therefore, screen wear or screen aging can be determined by the control device according to a predetermined or pre-determined process sequence. Based on the corresponding results, a minimum print quality of the equipment can be ensured with a high level of reliability.

[0029] More preferably, the control device can be configured to determine the screen recovery force and / or screen tension and / or determine the changes in screen recovery force and / or screen tension during the printing operation. This can improve or expand the information density or data foundation to be created.

[0030] According to a further preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to control the height and / or alignment and / or tilt position of the printing screen in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner after the printing operation is completed and / or before the printing operation begins. In this way, the control device can set the spatial alignment of the printing screen to achieve, for example, ensure constant pressure from the squeegee device or its squeegee tool. The orientation of the printing screen can be adapted to the orientation of the squeegee, or open-loop and / or closed-loop control can be performed taking into account both the orientation of the printing screen and the orientation of the squeegee tool. This allows for high-quality printed images across the entire printing layout of the printing screen with a further improved level of reliability.

[0031] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to control the height position and / or alignment and / or tilt position of the printing screen in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner based on the measurement data stored and / or processed by the sensor device and / or the measurement data stored and / or processed by the individual force sensors and / or based on the determined screen tension and / or screen restoring force and / or applied force. Therefore, the spatial orientation of the printing screen can be controlled in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner based on the measurement data from the sensor device, via the height position, alignment, and / or tilt position of the printing screen. For example, the spatial alignment of the printing screen can be adaptively changed via feedback from the sensor device, such that the squeegee force on the printing screen and the squeegee force over the entire printing layout or area of ​​the printing screen are constant, or deviate according to desired process control or desired process parameters.

[0032] According to a further preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to control the height and / or alignment and / or tilt position of the printing screen in a force-based manner, in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner, during the printing operation. In this way, the control device can flexibly and adaptively change or set the spatial alignment of the printing screen based on measured forces (e.g., acting on the squeegee device or squeegee tool) during the printing or squeegee process. Therefore, manufacturing accuracy and flexibility can be further improved.

[0033] According to a further preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to control the height position and / or alignment and / or tilt position of the printing screen in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner, based on measurement data continuously and / or repeatedly detected by the sensor device and / or various force sensors and / or based on the determined screen tension and / or screen restoring force and / or applied force. Therefore, as a result of this embodiment of the control device, adaptive changes and / or open-loop and / or closed-loop control of the spatial position and / or alignment of the printing screen can be made based on the measurement data detected by the sensor device during equipment operation or during the movement of the squeegee device by means of the squeegee moving device. In this way, the accuracy of the printing operation can be further improved.

[0034] According to a further preferred embodiment, the sensor device can be configured to detect the deviation of the squeegee force along the longitudinal range of the squeegee tool. Therefore, the squeegee force acting on the squeegee tool or the difference in squeegee force along the longitudinal range can be detected. Thus, the uniformity or even non-uniformity of the force exerted by the squeegee tool on the printing screen during the printing or squeegee process flows into the process control. In this case, the non-uniformity of the force can be offset by process control or by adaptive changes to the device settings, or the non-uniformity of the force can be intentional or generated in a targeted manner.

[0035] In summary, the result is that proper and uniform contact between the squeegee and the screen-printed fabric or the screen can be made in a particularly advantageous manner. Therefore, it is also possible to achieve process-related and / or wear-related adaptive non-uniform contact, or intentional non-uniform contact, between the squeegee and the screen-printed fabric or the screen.

[0036] The initial non-uniform contact between the squeegee and the screen-printed fabric (e.g., in cases of non-uniform wear of the printing screen) generates a uniform squeegee force during printing or squeegee movement. Therefore, according to the invention, it is advantageously adaptable to major wear conditions and its service life can be increased. Furthermore, using the sensor device according to the invention can advantageously reduce wear on equipment components or slow down the wear process.

[0037] Finally, by utilizing the sensor device according to the invention, relatively reliable and monitorable spatial alignment of the squeegee tool can be achieved during the printing or squeegee process. Therefore, improved quality of the printing results and improved process control during the printing or squeegee process can be ensured.

[0038] According to a preferred improvement, the equipment for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces can have a printing device having at least a printing screen and / or a squeegee device for producing at least one screen-printed workpiece layer by layer in multiple screen-printing operations. Alternatively or additionally, the equipment for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces can have a printing device having at least a printing screen and / or a squeegee device for applying layers to the workpiece in at least one screen-printing operation. Thus, screen-printed workpieces can be produced by means of the printing device, i.e., in a particularly reliable manner and with a high level of productivity. Such screen-printed workpieces can be, for example, parts in vehicle manufacturing or personalized medicines in tablet form.

[0039] In this configuration, the printing apparatus may have at least one printing table for positioning the workpiece carrier and / or positioning the workpiece below the printing screen and / or below the squeegee device. This advantageously ensures a firm and stable positioning of the respective workpiece carrier and / or the respective workpiece, and thus allows for a reliable and accurate printing process.

[0040] More preferably, the printing apparatus may have at least one screen holder for receiving the printing screen, and / or the screen holder may be configured to adjust the height position and / or alignment and / or tilt position of the printing screen. Therefore, secure positioning of the printing screen and simple and reliable adaptive modification of the printing screen position can be ensured.

[0041] Furthermore, according to a further preferred configuration, the sensor device can have at least one force sensor or at least two force sensors, particularly two force sensors connected in parallel. With this improvement, the applied scraper force and / or scraper force deviation along the longitudinal range of the scraper tool can be detected with a high level of reliability. Moreover, this configuration can be implemented cost-effectively and requires only limited design work.

[0042] Furthermore, force sensors can be arranged at intervals along the longitudinal range of the squeegee tool. This embodiment allows force to be detected at points spaced apart from each other on the squeegee tool, or at measuring points spaced apart from each other, by means of force sensors. Therefore, it can be ensured that the force exerted by the squeegee tool on the printing screen and / or on the printing table (e.g., uniform, or depending on the desired process control) can be set in a targeted non-uniform manner.

[0043] This embodiment also helps to produce particularly precise layer thickness or layer application to the workpiece, the workpiece carrier, or the printing substrate. During operation using this sensor device, the corresponding layer thickness can be reproducibly and particularly easily maintained constant across multiple printing operations.

[0044] Furthermore, this configuration allows for the intentional application of non-uniform layers at different printing points within the printing layout defined by the printing screen, for example, to compensate for previous production inaccuracies.

[0045] Finally, by using force sensors, the spatial alignment or orientation of scraper tools can be checked or potentially influenced in a targeted manner by comparing the forces detected by the force sensors.

[0046] In another preferred improvement, the force sensor can be configured to simultaneously measure the absolute scraping force at measurement points spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal range of the scraping tool. Simultaneous measurement of the absolute scraping force at these spaced-apart measurement points allows for direct comparison of the scraping forces detected or measured by the force sensor. This also allows for simultaneous processing of the detected measurement data, and thus enables particularly safe and reliable control circuitry.

[0047] Furthermore, the force sensor can be configured to detect relative squeegee force deviations at measurement points spaced along the longitudinal range of the squeegee tool. This improvement allows for the detection of squeegee force, for example, during printing when the squeegee tool brushes across the printing screen, along the direction of squeegee tool movement or during squeegee tool movement, and enables the determination of relative squeegee force deviations with minimal effort. Therefore, for example, possible printing parameters can be influenced for subsequent printing processes and / or for printing processes still in operation. In particular, it can be ensured that the squeegee tool is positioned on the printing screen within desired parameters, or that the squeegee tool contacts the printing screen within predetermined and / or adaptively modified parameters, thereby allowing for the influence of layer thickness for each printed layer and / or at different points in the printed layout with high precision. This results in high overall print quality.

[0048] Therefore, the absolute squeegee force and / or relative squeegee force deviation can be advantageously detected by a sensor device. For example, the absolute squeegee force can be detected after the squeegee tool has been placed on the printing screen or printing table. In contrast, the relative squeegee force deviation can be detected during the movement of the squeegee tool on the printing screen or printing table.

[0049] Furthermore, in the plan view of the squeegee device, at least one or more force sensors can be arranged above the stand-on line of the squeegee tool. Alternatively, in the plan view of the squeegee device, at least one or more force sensors can be aligned with the stand-on line of the squeegee tool. The stand-on line is the contact line along which the squeegee tool contacts the printing screen or printing table. Therefore, by means of this embodiment, torque acting on the printing screen or squeegee tool that distorts or adversely affects the force measurement through the sensor device can be avoided as much as possible.

[0050] According to another preferred embodiment, the squeegee device can be configured to have an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the tilt of the squeegee tool. The tilt of the squeegee tool can be adjusted by means of this adjustment mechanism. When the tilt of the squeegee tool is adjusted, the force distribution acting on the printing screen or printing table by the squeegee tool (e.g., along its pressure contact line or, for example, along a longitudinal range) can be adjusted simultaneously. Therefore, by means of this adjustment mechanism, a uniform, intentionally non-uniform, or adaptively modified force distribution acting on the printing screen and / or the corresponding printing base can be achieved.

[0051] Furthermore, the adjustment device can be configured to adjust the inclination of the longitudinal axis of the squeegee tool relative to the printing screen and / or relative to the printing table and / or relative to the horizontal plane within the longitudinal range of the squeegee tool. Therefore, the adjustment device can adjust the inclination of the squeegee tool such that the longitudinal axis of the tool extending along the longitudinal range of the squeegee tool is tilted. This tilt can occur relative to the printing screen and / or relative to the printing table and / or relative to the horizontal plane, and in this way, alignment can be achieved with minimal work. Thus, the force distribution existing between the squeegee tool and the printing screen or the corresponding printing base along the longitudinal axis of the squeegee tool can be influenced in a particularly advantageous manner. This can improve the quality of the screen-printed workpiece or the accuracy of the layer to be produced.

[0052] Furthermore, the adjustment device can be configured to adjust the inclination of the lower edge of the squeegee relative to the printing screen and / or relative to the printing table and / or relative to the horizontal plane. Therefore, the adjustment device can align or tilt the lower edge of the squeegee along its longitudinal range relative to the printing screen and / or relative to the printing table and / or relative to the horizontal plane, and the result can influence the resulting process parameters in a targeted manner. Specifically, a uniform or non-uniform force distribution between the lower edge of the squeegee and the printing screen and / or the corresponding printing base can be achieved along the longitudinal axis of the tool. Therefore, the quality of the screen-printed material to be produced can be improved with further increases in reliability. Thus, the squeegee device can also be adaptively modified or set in a targeted manner to address the corresponding wear on the printing screen.

[0053] Furthermore, the adjustment device can be configured to adjust the tilt of the squeegee tool about an inclined axis. In this case, the inclined axis can extend along the squeegee movement direction and / or extend at an angle to a vertical plane passing through the lower edge of the squeegee. This design advantageously ensures a constant force between the squeegee tool and the printing screen or corresponding printing base along the entire length of the squeegee tool, or, depending on desired process control, can generate a non-uniform force or a force that increases or decreases along the length of the squeegee tool. Therefore, inaccuracies or deviations related to screen recovery force and / or screen tension wear along the printing layout can be compensated for in a targeted manner.

[0054] Furthermore, the adjustment device can be configured for the vertical translational adjustment movement of the squeegee tool. Therefore, the distance existing before contact between the squeegee tool and the printing screen can be set in a targeted manner, and the squeegee force generated or occurring on the printing screen during the squeegee tool's downward movement can be influenced. The squeegee force acting on the printing screen or printing base can be adjusted in this way.

[0055] Furthermore, the adjustment device can be configured to have at least one or more adjusting screws for adjusting the tilt. In this case, the at least one adjusting screw can be designed as a micrometer screw. This design allows for fine and precise setting of the tilt of the scraper tool. Moreover, the adjustment made via such a micrometer screw can be maintained particularly reliably and effortlessly. Furthermore, the above design allows for a robust and cost-effective construction and a high level of operational reliability.

[0056] According to a further preferred configuration, the scraper device may have a scraper mounting member. The scraper mounting member allows for tilt adjustment of the scraper tool about an inclined axis and / or translational adjustment of the scraper tool via an adjustment device. Therefore, the scraper tool can be adjusted or positioned independently of and / or relative to other components and / or devices. This allows for tilt adjustment in a controlled and robust manner.

[0057] Furthermore, the scraper mount may have at least one spring mount or multiple spring mounts. Specifically, the scraper mount may have a leaf spring mount or multiple leaf spring mounts. The at least one spring mount may also apply a spring force acting against at least one adjusting screw. This design ensures that, in the case of manual and / or automated tilt adjustment, a permanent spring force is applied to the corresponding adjusting screw, and the tilt adjustment predetermined by setting the corresponding adjusting screw is automatically maintained. Therefore, the risk of undesirable relative movement of components arranged to move relative to each other can be reduced by adjusting the screws. Manual and / or automated adjustability can thus be achieved in a simplified manner.

[0058] Furthermore, the scraper mount may have at least one elongated hole guide, wherein the elongated hole guide may preferably have a play. Therefore, relative movement of the two movable components about each other, adjacent to the at least one spring mount and / or via an adjusting device or adjusting screw, can be achieved in a simple manner.

[0059] According to another preferred embodiment, the scraper device may have at least one fixing device for fixing the tilt position of the scraper tool adjusted by the adjusting device and / or for fixing the translation adjustment position adjusted by the adjusting device. Therefore, the tilt position of the scraper tool, which can be preset or adjusted by means of the adjusting device, can be fixed in a simple and secure manner. Thus, a finely set tilt adjustment position for equipment operation can be fixed, thereby effectively preventing changes in the spatial position of the scraper tool or scraper device. This also applies to the translation adjustment position, where the position of the scraper tool, preset in space by the adjusting device, can also be fixed or securely fixed by means of the fixing device.

[0060] Furthermore, the at least one fixing device may have at least one fixing screw or multiple fixing screws. This configuration allows for a secure fixation in a simple manner, while also achieving a simple and relatively cost-effective structure.

[0061] Furthermore, the fixing screws can be guided in the elongated guide of the squeegee mount, specifically by utilizing the clearance. The elongated guide allows for clearly defined variations in the relative positions of the movable components in various situations. Simultaneously, the guidance of the corresponding fixing screws in the elongated guide ensures a secure fixation of the relative mobility. Therefore, for the fixing device or fixing screws, after the tilt position or spatial orientation of the squeegee tool relative to the printing screen or printing table has been set by the adjustment device, for example, this relative position can be securely and precisely fixed with minimal operation. In this case, the elongated guide allows the squeegee tool to move relative to the support structure of the squeegee assembly in a simple manner. The adaptively changed position can be fixed by the fixing screws, thereby permanently setting the relative position between the squeegee tool and the printing screen or printing table.

[0062] Furthermore, the scraper device may have an adjusting retainer and a support structure connected to the adjusting retainer. In this case, the relative position and / or relative alignment between the adjusting retainer and the support structure can be changed via an adjusting device. Therefore, the adjusting device makes it possible to set the relative position and / or relative alignment between the adjusting retainer and the support structure.

[0063] Furthermore, a scraper mount can be formed between the adjusting retainer and the support structure. Therefore, the adjusting retainer can be arranged on or connected to the support structure via the scraper mount. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one fixing device can be configured to fix the relative position and / or relative alignment between the adjusting retainer and the support structure. Thus, relative movement between the adjusting retainer and the support structure can be prevented, for example, by the fixing device, particularly after the relative position has been set.

[0064] Furthermore, the adjusting device and / or at least one of the aforementioned adjusting screws can be arranged on the adjusting retainer and can be in operative contact with and / or operate in contact with the supporting structure. Therefore, the adjusting device or adjusting screw can continue to act on the supporting structure from the adjusting retainer and can apply the actuating force required for adjustment.

[0065] Additionally or alternatively, the adjusting device and / or the at least one adjusting screw may be configured to generate relative movement between the adjusting retainer and the support structure. Therefore, the adjusting device or the at least one adjusting screw, in the interaction between the adjusting retainer and the support structure, can predetermine a spatial position along which the support structure is aligned.

[0066] According to a further preferred configuration, the at least one spring mount (particularly a leaf spring mount) can be clamped onto the adjusting retainer and / or the support structure. In this way, the at least one spring mount (particularly a leaf spring mount) can be spring-elastically tensioned to the adjusting retainer and / or the support structure, and thus hold them in place or keep the adjusting retainer and the support structure in place relative to each other or adjacent to each other.

[0067] Alternatively or additionally, the at least one spring mount (particularly a leaf spring mount) can generate prestress against the support structure against the adjusting retainer and / or against the adjusting device arranged on the adjusting retainer. This prestress can help to automatically and reliably maintain the spatial alignment or position of the scraper tool relative to the adjusting retainer, the scraper tool being arranged on the support structure, wherein the adjusting device allows (particularly via the support structure) fine setting of the spatial alignment or positioning of the scraper tool.

[0068] In this embodiment, the at least one spring mount can accordingly apply a force permanently to the support structure, pressing the support structure against the adjusting retainer or against the at least one adjusting screw. In this case, the tilt adjustment and / or translation adjustment movement of the scraper tool can be in the opposite direction to or in the direction of the spring force applied by the spring mount, via the adjusting device.

[0069] According to a further preferred configuration, the at least one spring mount (particularly a leaf spring mount) may be arranged within a recess in the support structure and / or may be arranged to extend along the recess in the support structure. Furthermore, the at least one spring mount or leaf spring mount may be clamped onto the support structure at one end of the recess.

[0070] Furthermore, the at least one spring mount (particularly the at least one leaf spring mount) may also be supported on a support pin, which communicates with and / or protrudes relative to the adjusting retainer. Specifically, the support pin may communicate with the adjusting retainer and protrude into a recess in the support structure, thereby enabling the spring mount or leaf spring mount to be supported on the support pin.

[0071] Additionally or alternatively, the spring mount may also have a helical spring and / or a pneumatic spring and / or be designed as a helical spring and / or a pneumatic spring.

[0072] According to a further preferred configuration, the scraper device may have a fastening system for securing and / or tensioning the scraper tool. In this case, the fastening system may preferably be designed as a tensioning system and / or a clamping system and / or a quick-change clamping system and / or a quick-change tensioning system. The above systems are used for uncomplicated, simple, and / or quick-change scraper tools, and for properly and securely securing the scraper tool for performing the corresponding printing or scraping process.

[0073] The fastening system can be tool-less actuated and / or actuated by at least one toggle screw or by multiple toggle screws, particularly for tensioning and / or clamping and / or releasing scraper tools. Therefore, the fastening system is used for quick and easy scraper tool changes, especially with minimal operation.

[0074] Furthermore, the fastening system can be arranged on the support structure and / or can be at least partially formed by the support structure. In this way, functions can be combined, and the configuration of the device can be constructed in a simplified and compact manner.

[0075] According to a further preferred configuration, the squeegee tool may have a squeegee blade and / or the squeegee blade of the squeegee tool may be made at least segmentally of plastic material and / or sheet metal material. By utilizing the configuration of the squeegee tool as a squeegee blade and / or combining it with a design made of plastic material and / or sheet metal material, a high level of operational reliability and high functionality can be ensured. For example, the squeegee blade can be advantageously configured in terms of elasticity, and it can have a high level of resistance to media. Furthermore, the squeegee blade can be accommodated in a limited installation space and allows for the application of force to the corresponding printing screen in a particularly precise manner.

[0076] According to another preferred embodiment, the scraper tool may also be configured to have a scraper retainer, and / or the scraper blade is mounted on and / or clamped in or on the scraper retainer. Therefore, the scraper blade of the scraper tool can be arranged and / or secured on or in the scraper retainer with a high level of reliability.

[0077] Furthermore, the squeegee blade may have at least one squeegee side extending between the side edges of the squeegee blade. In this case, the squeegee angle formed between the squeegee side and the horizontal plane and / or between the squeegee side and the printing screen and / or between the squeegee side and the printing table can be predetermined and / or fixed by the squeegee holder. Therefore, by forming the squeegee blade or by forming the squeegee holder, the squeegee angle can be optimized or selected such that the corresponding printing material can be pushed through the printing screen by the squeegee blade in the best possible manner, while maintaining a low risk of damaging the printing screen (e.g., due to tilting).

[0078] Furthermore, the scraper tool may have at least one connecting portion formed on and / or connected to the scraper retainer for connection to and / or for tensioning or clamping within the fastening system. Thus, the connecting portion allows the scraper tool to be reliably connected to and / or tensioned or clamped within the fastening system. In this case, the connecting portion may be designed, for example, as a groove or shaped portion, for rear engagement via the fastening system in a form-fit manner.

[0079] According to a further preferred configuration, the squeegee tool can be constructed as a changeover tool. Additionally or alternatively, the squeegee angle between the squeegee side and the horizontal plane and / or the printing screen and / or the printing table can be changed by replacing the squeegee tool. By designing the squeegee tool as a changeover tool, it can be easily and quickly changed according to different operating and process requirements. Therefore, the equipment can quickly adapt to different operating and process requirements, and for example, can achieve printing on different materials or using different printing screens and / or printing layouts with very little work. Due to the change in squeegee angle, for example, different materials can be printed using the same equipment, or different printing results or printing thicknesses can be obtained.

[0080] According to yet another preferred embodiment, the squeegee device may have an actuation mechanism for moving the squeegee tool between an elevated starting position and at least one lowered operating position. Thus, the squeegee device can be moved, for example, to or away from the printing table and / or to or away from the printing screen by means of the actuation mechanism, requiring, in particular, very little or no operation from the operator.

[0081] Furthermore, the actuation device may have at least one linear driver or multiple linear drivers. Therefore, the actuation device is able to perform linear motion with a high level of reliability and a relatively high degree of automation.

[0082] Furthermore, the actuator can have multiple linear drives connected in series. In this way, the stroke of the actuator can be increased, or different linear drives can be used to achieve different adjustment functions.

[0083] At least one linear drive of the actuation device can be designed as an electric or electromechanical linear drive and / or as an electric spindle drive and / or as an electric cylinder and / or as a linear actuator. In each case, the required stroke can be reliably provided by such a linear drive, and it can also be arranged in a small installation space. Furthermore, such linear drives can advantageously be combined with each other.

[0084] Furthermore, at least one linear actuator of the actuation device can be designed as a pneumatic linear actuator or a linear cylinder. Therefore, the actuation device can thus perform linear motion by means of pressurized gas. With such a pneumatic linear actuator or linear cylinder, elastic contact between the corresponding squeegee and the printing screen can be advantageously achieved, thereby reducing the risk of damage to equipment components.

[0085] In this configuration, the pneumatic linear actuator can be positioned within the force flow path between the electric or electromechanical linear actuator and the scraper tool. Therefore, the stroke of the actuator can be rapidly changed, increased, or decreased via the actuation of the pneumatic linear actuator. Furthermore, this arrangement advantageously provides flexible behavior between the electric or electromechanical linear actuator and the scraper tool when the pneumatic linear actuator is activated.

[0086] Furthermore, the sensor device can be arranged in the force transmission path between the actuator and the scraper tool. Therefore, the force acting on the scraper tool can be detected near the origin. Additionally, the force generated by the adjustment device is also detected via the sensor device. Thus, accurate measurement results can be obtained, which can be advantageously used for further or subsequent process control.

[0087] Furthermore, the sensor device can be arranged in the force transmission path between the actuating device and the squeegee mount, and / or in the force transmission path between the actuating device and the adjusting device, and / or in the force transmission path between the actuating device and the adjusting retainer. An advantage of this embodiment is that the sensor device detects the force generated by the actuating device during contact between the squeegee tool and the printing screen, close to the actuating device itself. Therefore, particularly accurate measurement results can be obtained.

[0088] Furthermore, the sensor device (especially the force sensor of the sensor device) can be fixedly arranged between the adjusting retainer and the sensor retainer connected to the actuation device. This structure is particularly robust and less sensitive to failure. Therefore, the measurement results obtained by the sensor device arranged in this way are less sensitive to errors in every case.

[0089] According to another preferred embodiment, the apparatus for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces may include a squeegee moving device for moving a squeegee device and / or squeegee tool along a squeegee moving direction extending in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the squeegee tool or squeegee device can be moved along the squeegee moving direction extending in the horizontal direction. Thus, for example, printing material can be distributed on the printing screen by the squeegee device and / or squeegee tool, and the printing material can be pushed through the printing screen to perform the layer-by-layer construction of the desired tool.

[0090] In this configuration, the squeegee moving device can have at least one linear drive for moving the squeegee device and / or squeegee tool. Therefore, the squeegee device and / or squeegee tool can move linearly reciprocating or back-and-forth in one direction. Thus, using equipment for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, multiple successive printing processes can be advantageously achieved. Similarly, in the case of forward movement, the printing screen can be filled by the filling squeegee, and in the case of backward movement, printing can be performed by the printing squeegee.

[0091] According to a further preferred configuration, the squeegee moving device can have a portal system with linear guides and / or transverse members and / or support devices for supporting the transverse members on the linear guides. Therefore, the squeegee tool or squeegee device can be moved (e.g., linearly) above the printing table and / or above the printing screen in a floating manner. Thus, the safe sequence of continuous printing processes can be ensured using equipment for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces. Such a portal system or portal axis system is particularly suitable for the installation space requirements of the printing apparatus (especially with respect to the installation space requirements of the printing apparatus). The corresponding printing screen and / or printing table can be advantageously positioned below the portal system, and as a result of the movement produced in each case, printing of the printing material through the printing screen can be enabled with a high level of operational reliability. This portal system also allows the relatively heavy squeegee system to move with a high level of motion accuracy.

[0092] In this configuration, the linear guides can extend along the scraper's direction of movement. Therefore, the gantry system or scraper assembly and / or scraper tool can move along the scraper's direction of movement. Additionally or alternatively, in the plan view, transverse members can extend between and / or laterally to the linear guides. Therefore, the transverse members can connect to the linear guides and move the scraper assembly together with them. This ensures higher overall stability and, consequently, further improved motion accuracy.

[0093] Furthermore, the scraper device and / or its actuating mechanism can be fastened to the transverse members of the gantry system. Therefore, movement of the transverse members causes movement of the scraper device or scraper tool. The actuating mechanism, in turn, allows relative movement of the scraper tool with respect to the transverse members of the gantry system.

[0094] According to a further preferred configuration, the scraper device can be arranged in a manner that prevents it from moving along the longitudinal range of the transverse member. This mobility is not necessary for performing the scraper movement, and the immobility along the longitudinal range of the transverse member simplifies the overall structure and can improve the stability or rigidity of the gantry system.

[0095] In a further preferred configuration, at least one linear actuator of the scraper moving device can be coupled to the transverse member of the gantry system. Therefore, the movement of the linear actuator causes movement of the transverse member, which in turn is accompanied by movement of, for example, the scraper device or scraper tool. This structure can be implemented in a structurally simple and robust manner.

[0096] Furthermore, the equipment for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces can have two squeegee devices. In this case, one squeegee device can be configured as a filling squeegee device, while the other can be configured as a printing squeegee device. Alternatively or additionally, both squeegee devices can be arranged on a squeegee moving device, particularly on the transverse member of the squeegee moving device. Accordingly, movement of the squeegee moving device causes movement of the corresponding squeegee device or the corresponding squeegee tool. Thus, it is advantageous to ensure that the two squeegee devices move jointly via the squeegee moving device.

[0097] According to a further preferred configuration, the squeegee device or the squeegee device and the squeegee moving device can form a squeegee system. This squeegee system can be arranged as an integral component above the printing screen or printing table, and can provide squeegee movement with high horizontal motion accuracy.

[0098] According to a further preferred configuration, the scraper device can be configured for printing in a position mode. In the position mode, the pneumatic linear actuator of the actuation device can retract, and / or the electric or electromechanical linear actuator of the actuation device can at least partially extend or lower. In other words, the pneumatic linear actuator can be deactivated, while the electric or electromechanical linear actuator can be in operation. With the electric or electromechanical linear actuator, a specific position can be approached very precisely. In this case, the spring-loaded return motion can be avoided or reduced by deactivating the pneumatic linear actuator, thereby maintaining the desired stroke position very precisely.

[0099] According to a further preferred configuration, the scraper device can be configured for printing in force mode. In force mode, the pneumatic linear actuator of the actuation device can be partially or fully extended and / or lowered. Therefore, in force mode, a large force and a large stroke can be generated quickly or in a short time in a simple manner by means of the pneumatic linear actuator. At the same time, in force mode, the spring-elastic behavior of the pneumatic linear actuator can help maintain the desired scraper force relatively accurately. In this force mode, abrupt changes in scraper force can be avoided.

[0100] According to yet another preferred embodiment, in force control mode, the electric or electromechanical linear actuator of the actuation device can retract or extend or lower only at least partially. Therefore, the electric or electromechanical linear actuator can also be used to generate stroke in force control mode. The electric or electromechanical linear actuator can also remain deactivated in force control mode.

[0101] According to yet another preferred embodiment, in force control mode, the pneumatic linear actuator of the actuation device can operate as a gas spring. This is a simple and cost-effective construction of the linear actuator, thus ensuring that the desired scraping force is maintained precisely even when the scraper tool resumes its movement due to fluctuations.

[0102] According to another preferred embodiment, the pneumatic linear actuator of the actuation device can have a proportional valve for operation as a gas spring. The proportional valve can be electromagnetic or media-controlled, and can present any desired intermediate position between the open and closed positions. Therefore, the gas flow rate can be controlled by the proportional valve in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner. This further improves the precise adjustability and maintainability of the required scraper force.

[0103] According to another preferred embodiment, the equipment for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces may include a control device for controlling the actuator and / or squeegee movement device and / or adjustment device in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner, and / or for processing and / or evaluating and / or storing and / or comparing sensor data from the sensor device. Therefore, the control device can control and / or process the aforementioned devices and their data in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner. This ensures high productivity, repeatability, and operational reliability, and also generates a high level of information and data density associated with the corresponding production process.

[0104] According to a further preferred configuration, the control device can be configured to detect and / or evaluate the squeegee force via a sensor device when the squeegee tool acts directly on the printing table and / or in a screenless arrangement. Therefore, the influence of the printing screen (especially its restoring force) on the squeegee force can be eliminated. Consequently, conclusions regarding the elasticity of the squeegee tool and / or the actuation device and / or the overall squeegee assembly can be advantageously drawn, and the squeegee force determined in this way can be considered for use in subsequent printing processes. In this arrangement, since the printing table typically has a high level of rigidity or low elasticity, the squeegee force is explicitly caused by the elasticity of the squeegee tool and / or the actuation device and / or the overall squeegee assembly.

[0105] According to a further preferred configuration, the control device can be configured to detect and / or evaluate the squeegee force via a sensor device when the squeegee tool acts on the printing screen, and the printing screen is placed on the printing table and / or a fixed printing base in an operating position. Specifically, in this position, the printing screen can be placed completely and / or flatly on the corresponding printing table and / or the corresponding printing base. Therefore, in this position, planar contact already exists between the printing screen and the printing table or printing base, thus eliminating the need to first generate this contact through the downward movement of the squeegee tool. Therefore, when the squeegee tool acts on the printing screen, the printing screen undergoes no elastic deformation or only negligible elastic deformation in this case. Therefore, the influence of the printing screen (especially the influence of the restoring force of the printing screen due to significant elastic deformation) is largely eliminated. Therefore, conclusions can be drawn regarding the elasticity of the squeegee tool and / or the elasticity of the actuation device and / or the elasticity of the entire squeegee assembly, and the squeegee force determined in this way can be considered for use in subsequent printing and / or measurement processes. Simultaneously, complete removal of the printing screen from the printing area can be avoided.

[0106] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to detect and / or evaluate the squeegee force via a sensor device when the squeegee tool acts on the printing screen, without contact between the printing screen and the printing table and / or printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece. Under such applied force, the squeegee force corresponds to the restoring force of the printing screen, which arises due to the elastic deformation of the printing screen. Therefore, conclusions can be drawn regarding the mechanical behavior of the printing screen, its state, or the squeegee force in the interaction between the squeegee device and the printing screen. Thus, conclusions can be drawn regarding the elasticity of the printing screen, and the squeegee force determined in this way can be considered for use in subsequent printing and / or measurement processes.

[0107] According to a further preferred configuration, the control device can be configured to detect and / or evaluate the squeegee force via a sensor device when the squeegee tool acts on the printing screen, and when the printing table and / or printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece comes into contact with the printing screen due to the force acting on the printing screen (particularly when the printing screen elastically deforms). Thus, in this operating position, the application of the squeegee tool force can first occur on the printing screen, and due to this force application, elastic deformation of the printing screen can occur, thereby bringing the printing screen into contact with the printing table and / or printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece located below it. The squeegee force generated in this case is caused by both the restoring force of the printing screen and the restoring force of the printing table and / or printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece, the restoring force of the printing screen arising from the elastic deformation occurring in each case. The squeegee force in the interaction between the squeegee device, the printing screen, and the printing table or printing base and / or the screen-printed workpiece produced in each case below the printing screen can be determined in this way.

[0108] According to yet another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to detect and / or evaluate an increase in scraper force via a sensor device during the scraper tool's descent movement via the actuation device. Therefore, the control device can thus be able to detect and / or evaluate the increase in scraper force by means of the sensor device. This advantageously allows the descent movement to be influenced based on the detected scraper force, and / or allows the scraper force generated during the descent movement to be detected, and / or allows it to be stored for subsequent evaluation processes.

[0109] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to detect and / or evaluate an increase in squeegee force via a sensor device during the descent movement of the squeegee tool performed solely on the printing screen by the actuation device, particularly when there is no contact between the printing table and / or the printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece and the printing screen. Therefore, the effect of the elastic deformation of the printing screen on the increase in squeegee force during the descent movement of the squeegee tool can be detected in an isolated manner.

[0110] According to a further preferred configuration, the control device can be configured to detect and / or evaluate the increase in squeegee force via a sensor device during the descent movement of the squeegee tool on the printing screen via the actuation device, when the printing screen is placed in the operating position on the printing table. Therefore, the influence of the elastic deformation of the squeegee tool and / or the elastic deformation of the actuation device and / or the overall elastic deformation of the squeegee device on the increase in squeegee force during the descent movement of the squeegee tool can be detected in a separate manner.

[0111] According to yet another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to detect and / or evaluate an increase in squeegee force via a sensor device during a downward movement of the squeegee tool on the printing table and / or printing base via the actuation device (particularly in the case of a screenless arrangement). Therefore, the effect of the elastic deformation of the squeegee tool and / or the elastic deformation of the actuation device and / or the overall elastic deformation of the squeegee device on the increase in squeegee force during the downward movement of the squeegee tool can also be detected separately.

[0112] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to detect and / or evaluate an increase in squeegee force via a sensor device during the descent movement of the squeegee tool on the printing screen via an actuation device, and when the printing table and / or printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece comes into contact with the printing screen due to forces acting on the printing screen (particularly when the printing screen elastically deforms). Therefore, the effect of the increase in squeegee force on the printing table and / or printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece below the printing screen during the descent movement of the squeegee tool can be detected.

[0113] According to a further preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to terminate the descent motion via an actuation device when an increase in squeegee force is detected by a sensor device during the descent of the squeegee tool. Therefore, during the descent of the squeegee tool, the control device can be used to precisely terminate this descent when a specific or predetermined squeegee force is reached. This serves to protect both the squeegee tool or squeegee assembly, as well as the printing screen and / or printing table.

[0114] According to a further preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to automatically or partially automatically use the scraper height as a reference when an increase in scraper force is detected by the sensor device during the descent of the scraper tool. This may mean that the control device, during the descent of the scraper tool, fixes a possible scraper height (e.g., the desired height or desired position of the scraper tool) as a reference based on the initial increase in scraper force, which can then be used as a reference for subsequent processes. Therefore, the reproducibility of the corresponding process can be further improved.

[0115] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to detect and / or evaluate the squeegee force deviation along the longitudinal range of the squeegee tool via a sensor device during the squeegee tool's downward movement via the actuation device. Accordingly, the control device can detect, compare, and / or evaluate the squeegee force along the longitudinal range of the squeegee tool. Thus, for example, a uniform force distribution along the longitudinal range of the squeegee tool can be achieved by means of the control device, allowing the pressure or force of the squeegee tool on the printing screen to be set and / or maintained constant along the longitudinal range of the squeegee tool. Similarly, a desired squeegee force deviation along the longitudinal range can be set and / or maintained.

[0116] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to automatically or partially automatically perform tilt adjustment via an adjustment device when a scraping force deviation along the longitudinal range of the scraping tool is detected by a sensor device. In this way, by means of the adjustment device and the sensor device, the spatial alignment of the scraping tool can be set and / or corrected in a targeted manner with minimal manual operation, allowing the desired scraping force or scraping force distribution to be set along the longitudinal range and / or along the entire length of the scraping tool. Since this setting or tilt adjustment and / or correction can be performed automatically or partially automatically, manual operation can be avoided, and productivity can be improved.

[0117] According to a further preferred configuration, the control device can be configured to use the tilt position of the squeegee tool as a reference when it is detected that the squeegee force distribution along the longitudinal range of the squeegee tool is uniform and / or within permissible deviations. Therefore, the control device can use this reference for subsequent printing or squeegee processes. In particular, continuing from the referenced tilt position, since the desired squeegee force distribution already exists or can be achieved with minimal setup work, no further setup work is required or only reduced setup work is needed.

[0118] Furthermore, the control device can be configured to automatically or partially automatically fix the tilt position of the scraper tool when it is detected that the scraper force distribution along the longitudinal range of the scraper tool is uniform and / or within permissible deviation range. Therefore, the control device can be configured to activate and / or actuate at least one fixing device, such as a scraper assembly, for fixing the tilt position of the scraper tool adjusted by the adjusting device and / or for adjusting the translation adjustment position adjusted by the adjusting device, such that the at least one fixing device locks or fixes the tilt position or translation adjustment position of the scraper tool. Since this fixing can be performed automatically or partially automatically, human error can be reduced at least, and any operational workload can be kept low.

[0119] Furthermore, the control device can be configured to detect and / or evaluate the squeegee force and / or squeegee force deviation in the longitudinal direction of the squeegee tool via a sensor device during the movement of the squeegee device along the squeegee movement direction extending in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the control device can detect the squeegee force and / or squeegee force deviation in the longitudinal direction of the squeegee tool by means of a sensor device during the movement of the squeegee device, and the information and / or data obtained thereby can flow into further or subsequent process control, or can be used as influence parameters for any open-loop and / or closed-loop control performed by the control device. Overall, this can ensure improved printing results.

[0120] When the squeegee tool acts only on the printing screen, and / or when the printing table and / or printing base and / or at least one workpiece being printed comes into contact with the printing screen due to the force exerted by the squeegee tool on the printing screen, the detection and / or evaluation described above and below can be performed by the control device.

[0121] Furthermore, the control device can be configured to detect and / or evaluate changes in the squeegee force based on the squeegee position along the horizontally extending squeegee movement direction via a squeegee moving device. Therefore, during the displacement and / or movement of the squeegee device, or during the displacement and / or movement of the squeegee tool, the control device can detect and / or evaluate changes in the squeegee force based on the squeegee position above the printing screen or printing table. The information and / or data obtained in this way can flow into further or subsequent process control, or can be used as influence parameters for any open-loop and / or closed-loop control performed by the control device. Therefore, changes in the squeegee force during the displacement and / or movement of the squeegee tool above the printing screen or printing table can be appropriately considered, and printing results can be improved.

[0122] According to a further preferred configuration, the control device can be configured to detect and / or evaluate changes in the scraper force deviation in the longitudinal direction of the scraper tool based on the scraper position along the scraper movement direction during the movement of the scraper device via the scraper moving device along the horizontally extending scraper movement direction. Therefore, the control device can detect and / or evaluate changes in the scraper force deviation in the longitudinal direction of the scraper tool based on the scraper position during the movement of the scraper device. For example, during scraper movement along the horizontally extending scraper movement direction, an increasing and / or decreasing and / or constant scraper force deviation in the longitudinal direction of the scraper tool can be detected in a suitable manner. The resulting information and / or data can be fed into further or subsequent process control, or can be used as influence parameters for any open-loop and / or closed-loop control performed by the control device. Therefore, changes in the scraper force distribution along the longitudinal range of the scraper tool during the displacement and / or movement of the scraper tool can be taken into account in a particularly advantageous manner. Therefore, printing results can be further improved.

[0123] According to a further preferred configuration, the control device can be configured to perform continuous and / or repetitive detection of the squeegee force and / or the squeegee force deviation in the longitudinal direction of the squeegee tool during the movement of the squeegee device along the squeegee movement direction via the squeegee moving device and / or during the screen printing operation. Therefore, continuous monitoring of the squeegee force and / or squeegee force deviation can be achieved by means of the control device during the movement of the squeegee device, and a further improved data basis can be created for subsequent process control, further screen printing operations, and / or subsequent adjustments to the alignment and / or tilt position of the squeegee tool.

[0124] According to a further preferred configuration, the control device can be configured to store and / or evaluate measurement data from continuous and / or repeated detections during the movement of the squeegee assembly along the squeegee movement direction via the squeegee moving device and / or during the printing operation. The control device can thus store the measurement data for further processing and / or evaluation. In particular, in the case of measurement data from continuous and / or repeated detections, other findings can be determined, such as wear of the printing screen and / or wear of the squeegee tool or the squeegee assembly. To improve or maintain print quality, appropriate measures for subsequent printing processes can be triggered based on this data.

[0125] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to detect and / or evaluate a profile of the increase in squeegee force during the descent of the squeegee tool via an actuation device, in a screenless arrangement and / or when the squeegee tool acts directly on the printing table and / or in an arrangement where the printing screen is placed on the printing table. With this configuration, the force increase or behavior of the squeegee tool during the increase in squeegee force can be determined without the influence of the printing screen. The resulting knowledge and information can be advantageously used to set the tilt position of the squeegee tool and / or to control the descent movement in the presence of the printing screen and / or for the printing process or squeegee movement.

[0126] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to detect and / or evaluate a characteristic curve of the increase in squeegee force due to the downward movement of the squeegee tool on the printing screen via the actuation device, when there is no contact between the printing table and / or the printing base and / or the screen-printed workpiece and the printing screen. This allows the detection of the characteristic curve of the increase in squeegee force due to the elastic deformation of the printing screen during the downward movement of the squeegee tool.

[0127] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to detect the onset of an increase in squeegee force during the descent of the squeegee tool via the actuation device, and / or configured to define the descent stroke of the squeegee tool at the onset of the increase in squeegee force as a measurement reference starting point, which is used to detect further increases in squeegee force and / or to detect screen recovery force and / or screen tension and / or reference screen recovery force and / or reference screen tension and / or screen aging. Therefore, the first contact with the printing screen or with the printing table can be inferred by detecting the onset of the increase in squeegee force. This contact point can advantageously be used as a measurement reference starting point, and in this way, particularly precise reference measurements or monitoring measurements can be performed. For example, the location where the increase in squeegee force begins can be defined as a measurement reference starting point for detecting reference screen tension and / or reference screen recovery force, and / or can be defined as a measurement reference starting point for measuring screen tension and / or screen recovery force during the lifespan of the printing screen.

[0128] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to, starting from a measurement reference starting point, further lower the squeegee tool via an actuation device, and to detect a further increase in squeegee force based on the descent stroke, and to determine the screen recovery force and / or screen tension and / or reference screen recovery force and / or reference screen tension and / or screen aging based on this further increase in squeegee force. Therefore, the control device can determine the screen recovery force and / or screen tension and / or elasticity of the printing screen based on the increase in squeegee force, starting from the measurement reference starting point and during the further descent of the actuation device.

[0129] The detection of screen resilience and / or screen tension, or the detection of the increase in squeegee force based on further descent of the squeegee stroke—this detection, in the case of an intact printing screen, begins from a measurement reference starting point, which can be used as a reference detection and can be used for subsequent evaluation and / or comparison with updated screen resilience and / or screen tension measurements. Therefore, wear or aging of the printing screen can be advantageously monitored during its service life.

[0130] According to a further preferred configuration, the control device can be configured to determine the screen recovery force and / or screen tension of the printing screen at multiple locations along the squeegee movement direction extending in the horizontal direction (particularly in the center or central region of the printing screen and / or adjacent to the edges of the printing screen or adjacent to multiple printing screen edges). Accordingly, wear of the printing screen can be detected over the entire area of ​​the printing screen or at relatively widely distributed points on the printing screen. Therefore, multiple measurement points for the screen recovery force and / or screen tension of the printing screen can be determined or used, and based on these screen recovery forces and / or screen tensions, conclusions can be drawn about the state of the printing screen, specifically about the wear of the printing screen. Therefore, the reliability and accuracy of the detection can be further improved.

[0131] According to a further preferred configuration, the control device can be configured to determine the detection of screen restoring force and / or screen tension by means of a sensor device, taking into account the lift-off height between the screen and the printing table and / or the printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece, and / or the descent distance of the actuator and / or the descent distance of the squeegee tool of the actuator. The detection accuracy of screen restoring force and / or screen tension can be further specified in this way, or can be specified in a suitable manner according to different operating positions.

[0132] According to yet another preferred embodiment, the control device may be configured to determine the applied force via a sensor device and / or based on sensor data detected and / or stored by the sensor device, the applied force being effectively transmitted from the squeegee tool to the printing table and / or printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece via the printing screen.

[0133] Therefore, the applied force can be a force originating from the squeegee tool, acting through the printing screen, or transmitted to the printing table and / or the corresponding printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece below the printing screen. The supporting force of the printing table and / or the corresponding printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece points in the opposite direction to the applied force.

[0134] The applied force can significantly affect the quality and / or controllability of the corresponding printing process. In particular, the applied force, as a process parameter, can affect the amount of printing material applied via the printing screen to the printing table and / or printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece. Simultaneously, the applied force has a substantial impact on the mechanical load of the already printed screen-printed workpiece or the mechanical load of the already constructed printed layer of the screen-printed workpiece.

[0135] If the applied force is too low, it cannot be ensured that the printing material is properly extruded through the screen or properly applied to the printing substrate and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece. If the applied force is too high, the already printed workpiece or the already constructed printed layer of the screen-printed workpiece will be damaged. Therefore, precise adjustability and / or controllability of the applied force can substantially help ensure process control.

[0136] According to yet another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to determine the applied force based on the difference between the squeegee force detected by the sensor device and the previously known and / or determined screen recovery force of the printing screen. The screen recovery force, or the screen recovery force generated by the screen tension, points in the opposite direction to the action of the actuating device during the squeegee tool's downward movement. Therefore, the effective applied force can advantageously be determined as the difference between the squeegee force and the screen recovery force, or the screen recovery force generated by the screen tension.

[0137] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to determine the applied force based on the difference between the squeegee force detected by the sensor device and the previously known and / or determined screen recovery force of the printing screen, as well as the print material recovery force generated by the pressure of the printing screen on the print material. Therefore, the screen recovery force can be added to the print material recovery force, and this sum can be subtracted from the squeegee force. Thus, the effective applied force can be determined advantageously and with further improved accuracy.

[0138] The restoring force of the printed material can be determined by performing squeegee movements on the printing screen with and without printed material, and by comparing the squeegee forces detected separately.

[0139] According to yet another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to maintain a constant applied force during the printing operation. In this way, particularly uniform layer application can be ensured during the printing operation.

[0140] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to perform multiple printing operations with the same applied force and / or configured to keep the deviation of the applied force between multiple printing operations below a predetermined limit value. Therefore, different printed layers or printed layers built on top of one layer can have the same or substantially the same layer thickness, thereby further improving workpiece quality.

[0141] According to yet another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to detect and / or evaluate deviations in the applied force along the longitudinal range of the scraper tool. In this way, non-uniformity of the applied force can be detected and compensated for, for example, by adjusting the tilt of the scraper tool and / or by adjusting the position of the wire mesh.

[0142] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to determine the applied force by means of a sensor device and by taking into account the lift-off height between the printing screen and the printing table and / or the printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece and / or the descent distance of the actuator and / or the descent distance of the squeegee tool of the actuator.

[0143] The lift-off height between the printing screen on one side and the printing table and / or printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece on the other side is defined to the extent that the printing screen is pressed down by the squeegee tool under applied force, particularly due to linear contact. Using knowledge of the screen's restoring force characteristic curve, which can be determined in advance and / or stored, conclusions regarding the corresponding screen restoring force can be drawn from the lift-off height. The descent stroke of the actuator and / or the descent stroke of the squeegee tool via the actuator can provide conclusions regarding the elastic deformation of the squeegee tool or the elastic deformation of the actuator and / or the overall elastic deformation of the squeegee assembly. This allows for the determination of the applied force with an overall improved level of accuracy.

[0144] According to yet another preferred embodiment, the control device and / or actuation device can be configured to hold the squeegee tool at a fixed height position during the printing operation. By maintaining a fixed height position, continuous, constant, or uniform printed images can be ensured.

[0145] Alternatively or additionally, the fixed height position can be fixed and / or kept constant during the printing operation by means of an actuation device and / or a control device. This ensures a continuous, constant, or uniform printed image throughout the entire printing layout of the printing screen with an improved level of reliability.

[0146] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to control the height position of the squeegee tool in a force-based manner, in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner, during the printing operation. Force-based open-loop control and / or closed-loop control ensures the advantage that the printing material can be pushed through the printing screen with a constant force or pressure along the squeegee direction. Fluctuations in force can be compensated for. Therefore, it is possible to avoid, for example, pushing excessive or even insufficient amounts of printing material through the printing screen in localized areas.

[0147] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device and / or actuation device can be configured to maintain a constant squeegee force and / or a fixed and effective applied force during the printing operation. This has the advantage that, with a further increase in reliability, a constant force can be applied across the entire printing layout of the printing screen, thereby producing a particularly uniform printed image. Therefore, fluctuations in the squeegee force can be compensated for in a particularly advantageous manner. This ensures exceptionally high print quality.

[0148] According to yet another preferred embodiment, the control device and / or actuation device can be configured to maintain a fixed and / or predetermined screen restoring force and / or screen tension during the printing operation. Therefore, any potential non-uniformity of the printing screen can be compensated for in a suitable manner.

[0149] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to convert continuously and / or repeatedly detected measurement data from the sensor device into an average value and / or store and / or process the measurement data during the movement of the squeegee device along the squeegee movement direction by the squeegee moving device and / or during the printing operation. By converting the detected measurement data into an average value and / or storing and / or processing the detected measurement data, a suitable data basis for subsequent open-loop and closed-loop control processes can be advantageously created, and overall computational workload can be ensured. Therefore, intensive computational operations of the control device can be reduced, and on the other hand, particularly uniform printed images can be further promoted. Furthermore, storage space for measurement values ​​and measurement data can be saved in this manner.

[0150] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to convert continuously and / or repeatedly detected measurement data from each force sensor into an average value and / or store and / or process the measurement data during the movement of the squeegee device along the squeegee movement direction via the squeegee moving device and / or during the printing operation. By distinguishing the data from each force sensor, information quality can be improved in this way. Simultaneously, the amount of data to be processed can be reduced, and the processing, storage, and conversion of data or measurement values ​​can be accelerated.

[0151] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to set the squeegee force and / or applied force via an actuation device based on the component height and / or the number of printed component layers. The height of the printed build-up or workpiece and / or the number of printed component layers can advantageously be used in this way for further process management. If the height of the built-up component has a substantial impact on the pressure of further printed layers or on the application of printing material through the printing screen, this can be compensated for appropriately by setting the squeegee force and / or applied force via the actuation device. Therefore, damage to the printed component layers can be effectively avoided.

[0152] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to progressively and proportionally reduce the squeegee force and / or applied force from the initial squeegee force and / or initial applied force up to the boundary layer, and / or be configured to maintain the squeegee force and / or applied force constant upon reaching the boundary layer for printing additional printing layers. This ensures that the screen-printed parts have a substantially constant layer thickness along their entire height. This approach further improves printing accuracy. Furthermore, this approach advantageously takes into account the elasticity of the already printed part layers.

[0153] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to determine the applied force on the screen-printed workpiece located below the screen, specifically configured to be determined as linear pressure, based on the determined screen restoring force curve and / or screen tension curve, the determined squeegee blade flexibility, the determined squeegee force during the printing process in the squeegee movement direction, the lift-off height between the printing screen and the printing table or component surface, and / or the height of the printing screen. This determination can be advantageously used to manufacture high-quality screen-printed parts, ensuring continuous or constant printed layer thickness between different layers. Ensuring a constant printed layer thickness can improve component accuracy.

[0154] According to another preferred embodiment, the control device can be configured to make open-loop and / or closed-loop controlled adaptive changes to the applied force and / or squeegee force and / or squeegee speed along the squeegee movement direction and / or lift-off height and / or screen lifting functionality based on the actual force progression detected by the sensor device during the screen printing operation. The adaptive changes to the squeegee force and / or squeegee speed based on the detected actual force progression are used to adaptively change process parameters suitable for the ongoing printing process and / or suitable for at least one subsequent printing process. In this way, high-precision screen-printed parts can be produced with further improved reliability. The possible printed layers can have particularly precise thicknesses. Especially in the case of detected actual force progression, the corresponding printing operation can be intervened in real time, resulting in the execution of settings to produce the screen-printed parts to be produced with improved precision.

[0155] Furthermore, the control device can be configured to make open-loop and / or closed-loop controlled adaptive changes to the screen alignment and / or screen height alignment based on the actual force progression and / or the applied force and / or screen recovery force and / or screen tension detected by sensor devices during screen printing operation. Therefore, during operation or while the equipment is in operation, the control device can ensure that the squeegee force of the squeegee tool is adapted to the screen at least segmentally or according to position by, for example, changes in the spatial position of the printing screen. This can improve production accuracy and ensure compensation for inaccuracies in previous printing processes. Thus, screen-printed workpieces can be produced with a further improved level of accuracy.

[0156] Another independent aspect of the invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, particularly a 3D screen printing machine, the apparatus having a printing screen and a squeegee device for filling the printing screen with printing material and / or for pushing the printing material through the printing screen, wherein the squeegee device has at least one squeegee tool, a sensor device for detecting the squeegee force acting on the squeegee tool, and a control device for evaluating and / or storing sensor data of the sensor device, wherein the control device is configured to determine an applied force using the sensor device and / or based on the sensor data detected and / or stored by the sensor device, the applied force being effectively transmitted via the squeegee tool through the printing screen to the printing table and / or printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece.

[0157] Therefore, the applied force can be a force acting on or transferred from the squeegee tool through the printing screen to the printing table and / or the corresponding printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece below the printing screen. The direction of the supporting force of the printing table and / or the corresponding printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece is opposite to the applied force.

[0158] Therefore, the applied force significantly affects the quality and / or controllability of the corresponding printing process. As a process parameter, the applied force affects the amount of printing material applied via the printing screen to the printing table and / or printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece. Simultaneously, the applied force also significantly influences the mechanical load on the printed workpiece or the printed layer already formed on it.

[0159] If the applied force is too low, it cannot be ensured that the printing material is properly extruded through the screen or properly applied to the printing substrate and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece. If the applied force is too high, the already printed workpiece or the already constructed printed layer of the screen-printed workpiece will be damaged. Therefore, precise adjustability and / or controllability of the applied force can substantially help ensure process control.

[0160] Another independent aspect of the invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, particularly 3D screen printing machines and / or automated 3D screen printing machines, the apparatus having a printing screen and a squeegee device for filling the printing screen with printing material and / or for pushing the printing material through the printing screen, wherein the squeegee device has at least one squeegee tool and a sensor device for detecting the squeegee force acting on the squeegee tool, wherein the sensor device is configured to detect a deviation of the squeegee force along a longitudinal range of the squeegee tool.

[0161] Therefore, the squeegee force acting on the squeegee tool can be detected along its longitudinal range, or the difference in squeegee force along its longitudinal range can be detected. Thus, the uniformity or even non-uniformity of the force exerted by the squeegee tool on the printing screen during the printing or squeegee process flows into process control. In this case, the non-uniformity of the force can be offset by process control or by adaptive changes to the device settings, or the non-uniformity of the force can be intentional or generated in a targeted manner.

[0162] Another independent aspect of the invention also relates to apparatus for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, particularly 3D screen printing machines and / or automated 3D screen printing machines, the apparatus having a printing screen and a squeegee device for filling the printing screen with printing material and / or for pushing the printing material through the printing screen, wherein the squeegee device has at least one squeegee tool, an adjustment device for adjusting the inclination of the squeegee tool, and a squeegee mounting member, the squeegee mounting member allowing adjustment of the inclination of the squeegee tool about an inclination axis by means of the adjustment device, wherein the squeegee mounting member has at least one spring mounting member. Preferably, the squeegee mounting member also allows for translational adjustment movement of the squeegee tool by means of the adjustment device. Preferably, the squeegee mounting member also allows for translational adjustment movement of the squeegee tool by means of the adjustment device.

[0163] It should be noted that the features of the above-described apparatus for manufacturing screen-printed workpieces, as further described above, can be used individually or in combination with each other in the apparatus for manufacturing screen-printed workpieces according to other independent aspects of the present invention as described above.

[0164] Another independent aspect of the invention relates to a squeegee device. According to the invention, the squeegee device can be configured for use in equipment for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces as further described above and / or for use in a 3D screen printing machine. The squeegee device according to the invention can be equipped with at least one squeegee tool for filling the printing screen with printing material and / or for pushing the printing material through the printing screen, and the squeegee device is equipped with a sensor device for detecting the force acting on the squeegee tool. In this case, the sensor device can be configured to detect screen recovery force and / or screen tension and / or screen aging.

[0165] Another independent aspect of the invention relates to a squeegee device. According to the invention, the squeegee device can be configured for use in equipment for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces as further described above and / or for use in a 3D screen printing machine. The squeegee device according to the invention can be equipped with at least one squeegee tool for filling the printing screen with printing material and / or for pushing the printing material through the printing screen, and the squeegee device is equipped with a sensor device for detecting the force acting on the squeegee tool. In this case, the sensor device can be configured to detect the applied force, which is effectively transmitted via the printing screen from the squeegee tool to the printing table and / or printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece.

[0166] Another independent aspect of the invention also relates to a squeegee device. According to the invention, the squeegee device can be configured for use in equipment for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces as further described above and / or for use in a 3D screen printing machine. The squeegee device according to the invention can be equipped with at least one squeegee tool for filling the printing screen with printing material and / or for pushing the printing material through the printing screen, and the squeegee device is equipped with a sensor device for detecting the force acting on the squeegee tool. In this case, the sensor device can be configured to detect squeegee force deviation along the longitudinal range of the squeegee tool.

[0167] It should be noted that the features of the above-described equipment for manufacturing screen-printed workpieces, as further described above, can be used individually or in combination with each other in the squeegee device according to other independent aspects of the invention as described above.

[0168] Another independent aspect of the invention relates to a method for manufacturing screen-printed workpieces, particularly utilizing the aforementioned equipment and / or 3D screen printing machine for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces and / or utilizing the aforementioned squeegee device. In the method for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, the method, particularly utilizing the equipment and / or 3D screen printing machine for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, involves filling a printing screen with printing material via a squeegee device and / or pushing the printing material through the printing screen via a squeegee device. A squeegee force acting on the squeegee tool of the squeegee device is detected by a sensor device. Finally, a control device determines the screen recovery force and / or screen tension of the printing screen based on the sensor data detected and / or stored by the sensor device.

[0169] Another independent aspect of the invention also relates to a method for manufacturing screen-printed workpieces, particularly utilizing the aforementioned equipment and / or 3D screen printing machine for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces and / or utilizing the aforementioned squeegee device. In the method for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, the method particularly utilizes the equipment and / or 3D screen printing machine for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, filling the printing screen with printing material via the squeegee device, and / or pushing the printing material through the printing screen via the squeegee device. The squeegee force acting on the squeegee tool of the squeegee device is detected by a sensor device. Finally, the squeegee force deviation along the longitudinal range of the squeegee tool is detected by the sensor device.

[0170] The details and individual aspects of the apparatus described above, including similar aspects related to the apparatus and the advantages described separately, apply in the same manner to the method according to the invention described above according to other individual aspects. Attached Figure Description

[0171] The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings and based on advantageous embodiments.

[0172] In each case, the following is illustrated schematically: Figure 1 A perspective view of an apparatus for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 Figure 1 Side view of the device in the open state; Figure 3 Figure 1 Perspective detail of the printing unit in the equipment; Figure 4 Figure 1 Perspective view of the scraper device and scraper moving device of the equipment; Figure 5 Show Figure 4 Partial front view of the scraper assembly; Figure 6 Figure 5 Cross-sectional view of the scraper device; Figure 7 Figure 6 Enlarged detail of the scraper device; Figure 8 Figure 5 Front view of the scraper assembly without scraper tools; Figure 9 Figure 8 Side view of the scraper assembly; Figure 10 along Figure 9 Cross-sectional view of the EE line; Figure 11 Show Figure 10 Enlarged partial sectional view of the scraper device; Figure 12 along Figure 9 Cross-sectional view of the middle BB line; Figure 13 along Figure 9 Cross-sectional view of the CC line; Figure 14 along Figure 9 Cross-sectional view of the DD line; Figure 15 Figure 4 Front view of the scraper moving device; Figure 16 Figure 15 Cross-sectional view of the scraper moving device; Figure 17 Figure 15 Plan view of the middle scraper moving device; Figure 18 along Figure 15 Cross-sectional view of line AA; and Figure 19 Figure 18 A perspective view of the scraper tool of the scraper device. Detailed Implementation

[0173] Figure 1 A perspective view of an apparatus 10 for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces is shown, in which... Figure 2 Showing the open state, especially the unsealed state. Figure 1 Side view of device 10.

[0174] Figure 3 Show Figure 1 A perspective view of the printing apparatus 20 of the middle device 10, wherein Figure 4 Show Figure 1 A perspective view of the scraper moving device 72 of the middle device 10.

[0175] The above Figures 1 to 4An apparatus 10 for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces is shown, particularly a 3D screen printing machine. The apparatus 10 may preferably be a 3D screen printing machine. In particular, the apparatus 10 may be a 3D screen printing machine for manufacturing pharmaceuticals.

[0176] In this configuration, the device 10 may be equipped with a printing screen 12 and a squeegee device 14, the squeegee device 14 being used to fill the printing screen 12 with printing material and / or to push the printing material through the printing screen 12, such as... Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown in more detail in the text.

[0177] The scraper assembly 14 also includes a scraper tool 16 and a sensor device 18 for detecting the scraper force acting on the scraper tool 16. In this case, the sensor device 18 can be configured to detect the scraper force deviation along a longitudinal range L of the scraper tool 16. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The longitudinal range L of the scraper tool 16 is drawn in more detail. This sensor device 18, for example, can ensure that the scraper device applies a uniform force along the longitudinal range L of the scraper tool 16.

[0178] Therefore, the squeegee force acting on the squeegee tool 16 can be detected along the longitudinal range L of the squeegee tool 16. Specifically, this ensures a uniform or targeted non-uniform force application from the squeegee tool 16 to the printing screen 12. Furthermore, it enables robust and monitorable spatial alignment of the squeegee tool 16.

[0179] As in Figure 2 and Figure 3 As further shown, the apparatus 10 may additionally include a printing device 20, which has at least a printing screen 12 and / or a squeegee device 14 for producing at least one screen-printed workpiece layer by layer in a plurality of screen-printing operations and / or for applying layers to a workpiece in at least one screen-printing operation (not shown in more detail). The printing device 20 may be arranged, for example, adjacent to other functional areas of the apparatus 10, such as an inspection area adjacent to the screen-printed workpiece and / or a drying area adjacent to the screen-printed workpiece. The size of the printing device 20 may be substantially determined by the printing screen 16 and / or by the frame mount and / or frame suspension of the printing screen 16, and / or may be limited by the printing table 22.

[0180] The printing apparatus 20 may have at least one printing table 22 for positioning the workpiece carrier and / or the workpiece below the printing screen 12 and / or the squeegee device 14, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 See below for more details.

[0181] Figure 5 Showing according to Figures 1 to 4 A partial front view of the scraper device 14 of an exemplary embodiment, wherein Figure 6 Show Figure 5 A sectional view. Finally, in Figure 7 Show Figure 6 A magnified detailed view of a local area.

[0182] Figure 8 Show Figure 5 Front view of the middle scraper device 14, in which Figure 9 Show Figure 8 Side view of the scraper device 14. Furthermore, in Figure 10 The middle shows along Figure 9 Cross-sectional view of the EE line, and in Figure 11 The middle shows Figure 10 A magnified view of a local area.

[0183] also, Figure 12 Show along Figure 9 Cross-sectional view of the middle BB line. Figure 13 Show along Figure 9 A cross-sectional view of the CC line, and Figure 14 Show along Figure 9 Cross-sectional view of the DD line.

[0184] Figures 5 to 11 The squeegee device 14 of the apparatus 10 for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces is shown, as described at the beginning. It can be further inferred from the above figures that the sensor device 18 may have at least two force sensors 24, 26, wherein they may be two force sensors 24, 26 connected in parallel.

[0185] Force sensors 24 and 26 are arranged spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal range L of the squeegee tool 16. Therefore, they can detect whether the force applied by the squeegee tool 16 on the printing screen 12 and / or on the printing table 22 is uniform.

[0186] Therefore, the layer thickness or layer application on the workpiece (not shown in detail here) or workpiece carrier (not shown in detail here) can be maintained repeatedly and consistently and / or particularly uniformly on the printing layout of the printing screen during multiple printing operations. Furthermore, by means of force sensors 25, 26, the spatial alignment or orientation of the squeegee tool 16 can be checked by comparing the forces detected by the force sensors 25, 26.

[0187] Furthermore, the force sensors 24 and 26 can be configured to simultaneously measure the absolute squeegee force at measurement points spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal range L of the squeegee tool 16. This allows the detected or measured squeegee forces of the force sensors 24 and 26 to be directly compared with each other, and thus creates an information and data basis for further improvements to the subsequent and / or ongoing printing process.

[0188] Alternatively or additionally, force sensors 24, 26 can be configured to detect relative squeegee force deviations at measurement points spaced L along the longitudinal range of the squeegee tool 16. The detected squeegee force differences or deviations along the longitudinal range L of the squeegee tool 16 can be advantageously used in this way for open-loop and / or closed-loop control of subsequent and / or ongoing printing processes. Therefore, it can be ensured that the squeegee tool 16 is positioned against or in contact with the corresponding printing screen 12 with one or more squeegee forces within desired parameters.

[0189] In addition, from Figures 5 to 11 As can be seen in the plan view of the scraper device 14, the force sensors 24 and 26 can be arranged above and / or aligned with the pressure-bearing contact line of the scraper tool 16. Therefore, unfavorable torques on the scraper device 14 can be reduced, and the measurement results of the force sensors 24 and 26 may be improved.

[0190] In addition, Figures 5 to 11 As shown, the squeegee device 14 may have an adjustment device 28 for adjusting the inclination of the squeegee tool 16. In this case, the adjustment device 28 may be configured to adjust the inclination of the longitudinal axis of the tool extending along the longitudinal range L of the squeegee tool 16 relative to the printing screen 12 and / or relative to the printing table 22 and / or relative to the horizontal plane.

[0191] Finally, the adjustment device 28 can be designed to adjust the tilt of the lower edge of the squeegee relative to the printing screen 12 and / or relative to the printing table 22 and / or relative to the horizontal plane.

[0192] After adjusting the tilt of the squeegee tool 16 and / or the corresponding tilt of its lower edge, the force distribution of the squeegee tool 16 or its lower edge acting on the printing screen 12 or the printing table 22 along its pressure contact line and along the longitudinal range L can be adjusted in a suitable manner. Therefore, by means of the adjustment device 28, a uniform or intentionally non-uniform force distribution of the squeegee device on the printing screen 12 and / or on the printing table 22 can be achieved.

[0193] also, Figures 5 to 11The adjustment device 28 is shown to be configured to adjust the tilt of the squeegee tool 16 about the tilt axis N. The tilt axis N extends at an angle to the squeegee movement direction R and / or to a vertical plane extending through the lower edge of the squeegee. This design allows for precise alignment between the squeegee tool 16 and the printing screen 12 and / or the printing table 22 along its entire length. In this way, the squeegee force exerted by the squeegee tool 16 on the corresponding printing screen 12 can also be set in a targeted manner, particularly at different points in the printing layout of the printing screen 12.

[0194] Furthermore, the adjusting device 28 can be configured for the vertical translational adjustment movement of the scraper tool 16. For adjusting the tilt, the adjusting device 28 can have two adjusting screws 30, 32. Each adjusting screw 30, 32, or at least one of the adjusting screws 30, 32, can be designed as a micrometer screw. This allows for fine and precise setting of the tilt of the scraper tool 16 and precise maintenance of the set tilt of the scraper tool 16.

[0195] In particular, Figure 10 and Figure 11 As can be seen, the scraper device 14 may have a scraper mounting member 34. This, together with the adjustment device 28, allows for the adjustment of the tilt of the scraper tool 16 about the tilt axis N and / or the translational adjustment movement of the scraper tool 16, particularly the translational adjustment movement along the vertical plane.

[0196] In this configuration, the scraper mount 34 may have multiple spring mounts 36, 38, particularly multiple leaf spring mounts. Each spring mount 36, 38 applies a spring force against the correspondingly associated adjusting screws 30, 32 in each case. Thus, the scraper tool 16 is pressed against the adjusting screws 30, 32 via the scraper mount 34, resulting in the spatial orientation of the scraper tool 16 being kept defined.

[0197] also, Figure 11 The scraper mount 34 is shown to have two elongated orifice guides 40, 42, which preferably have a gap. In particular, the two fixing devices 44, 46, described in more detail below, can be guided in the elongated orifice guides 40, 42 using the gap. The scraper tool 16 can move relative to the adjusting device 28 in a predetermined or restricted movement path or in a predetermined area (i.e., along the entire length of the respective elongated orifice guides 40, 42).

[0198] Figures 10 to 12The scraper assembly 14 may have two fixing devices 44, 46 for fixing the tilt position of the scraper tool 16 adjusted by the adjusting device 28 and / or for fixing the translation adjustment position adjusted by the adjusting device 28. In this case, the corresponding fixing devices 44, 46 may have fixing screws 45, 47. Each fixing screw 45, 47 can be guided in the elongated hole guides 40, 42 of the scraper mount 34, particularly by utilizing the gap.

[0199] The tilt position of the squeegee tool 16 can be preset or adjusted by means of the adjustment device 28, and the tilt position of the squeegee tool 16 can be fixed by the fixing devices 44, 46 or by the fixing screws 45, 47. In addition, after the tilt position or spatial orientation of the squeegee tool 16 relative to the printing screen 12 or relative to the printing table 22 has been set by the adjustment device 28, the fixing devices 44, 46 or the fixing screws 45, 47 can reliably fix the relative position.

[0200] In addition, from Figures 10 to 12 It can be seen that the scraper device 14 may have an adjusting retainer 48 and a support structure 50 connected to the adjusting retainer 48. In this case, the scraper tool 16 may be arranged on the support structure 50, for example as... Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, and this will be described below.

[0201] The elongated hole guides 40 and 42 can also be provided on the support structure. The fixing screws 45 and 47 can be guided through the elongated hole guides 40 and 42 in the support structure 50 and screwed into and fixed to the threaded holes of the adjusting retainer 48, or can be fixed by screwing into the adjusting retainer 48.

[0202] Therefore, the elongated guide members 40, 42 allow the squeegee tool 16, fastened to the support structure 50, to move relative to the adjusting retainer 48, thereby setting the relative position between the squeegee tool 16 and the printing screen 12 or the corresponding printing table 22. In this case, the relative position and / or relative alignment between the adjusting retainer 48 and the support structure 50 can be changed via the adjusting device 28. In particular, by using the adjusting device 28, the inclination of the support structure 50 relative to the adjusting retainer 48 can be changed or set, and therefore the inclination of the squeegee tool 16 relative to the adjusting retainer 48 about the tilt axis N can also be changed or set.

[0203] Figures 10 to 12 It is also shown that the scraper mount 34 is formed between the adjustment retainer 48 and the support structure 50, and the fixing devices 44, 46 or fixing screws 45, 47 can be formed for fixing the relative position and / or relative alignment between the adjustment retainer 48 and the support structure 50.

[0204] The adjusting device 28 or its adjusting screws 30, 32 can be fixedly arranged on the adjusting retainer 48 and can simultaneously be in operative contact with the support structure 50 and / or be in operative contact with the support structure 50. Furthermore, the adjusting device 28 or its adjusting screws 30, 32 can be configured to generate relative movement between the adjusting retainer 48 and the support structure 50. Therefore, the scraper tool 1 can be set or positioned in a suitable manner regarding its spatial orientation.

[0205] In this case, the fixing screws 45 and 47 can be released first to allow for adjustment via the adjusting device 28, thereby releasing the relative movement between the adjusting retainer 48 and the support structure 50. The desired adjustment or spatial alignment can then be performed via the adjusting screws 30 and 32 of the adjusting device 28 before the set relative position between the adjusting retainer 48 and the support structure 50 is fixed again by the fixing screws 45 and 47.

[0206] also, Figures 10 to 12 The spring mounts 36, 38 or leaf spring mounts are shown to be clamped onto the support structure 50 and / or to be spring-supported onto the adjustment retainer 48 and / or the support structure 50.

[0207] like Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown in more detail below, spring mounts 36, 38, or leaf spring mounts can in each case be arranged within the recess 51 of the support structure 50, and / or can be arranged to extend along the recess 51 of the support structure 50. In this case, spring mounts 36, 38, or leaf spring mounts can in each case be clamped onto the support structure 50 at one end of the respective recess 51.

[0208] Furthermore, the spring mounts 36, 38, or leaf spring mounts may also be supported on the support pin 53, which communicates with and / or protrudes relative to the adjusting retainer 48. Specifically, the support pin 53 may communicate with the adjusting retainer 48 and protrude into the recess 51 of the support structure, thereby enabling the spring mounts 36, 38, or leaf spring mounts to be supported on the support pin 53.

[0209] Each spring mount 36, 38 can generate prestress between the support structure 50 and the adjusting retainer 48 and / or the adjusting device 28 arranged on the adjusting retainer 48. This prestress can predefine the spatial alignment of the scraper tool 16 arranged on the support structure 50, even when the fixing screws 45, 47 are released. Therefore, the adjustment work can be significantly simplified.

[0210] In addition, Figures 10 to 12 As shown, the scraper assembly 14 may have a fastening system 52 for securing and / or tensioning the scraper tool 16. In this case, the fastening system 52 is preferably designed as a tensioning system and / or a clamping system and / or a quick-change clamping system and / or a quick-change tensioning system. The above systems are used for uncomplicated, simple, and / or quick replacement and proper placement of the scraper tool 16.

[0211] According to the above figures, the fastening system 52 can be actuated without tools or by means of multiple switching screws 54, 56, particularly for tensioning and / or clamping and / or releasing the scraper tool 16. Therefore, the corresponding scraper tool 16 can be quickly and easily replaced by the user through manual actuation, thereby reducing setup times for scraper tool replacement.

[0212] The fastening system 52 may be arranged on the support structure 50 and / or may be at least partially formed by the support structure 50. In this case, the support structure 50 may have, for example, internal threads that can engage with the external threads of the switching screws 54, 56.

[0213] from Figures 2 to 12 It can also be inferred that the scraper device 14 may have an actuation device 66 for moving the scraper tool 16 between an elevated initial position and at least one lowered operating position. In this case, the actuation device 66 may have multiple linear actuators 68, 70, such as... Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown. Therefore, the actuation device 66 may have a plurality of linear drivers 68, 70 connected in series. Thus, by means of the actuation device 66, the squeegee device 14 may be moved, for example, to or away from the printing table 22 and / or to or away from the printing screen 12.

[0214] The linear actuator 68 of the actuation device 66 can be designed as an electric or electromechanical linear actuator and / or as an electric spindle drive and / or as an electric cylinder and / or as a linear actuator. Furthermore, the linear actuator 70 of the actuation device 66 can be designed as a pneumatic linear actuator or a linear cylinder. Therefore, the actuation device 66 can thus perform linear motion via pressurized gas through the linear actuator 70. Figure 10 and Figure 11 The pneumatic linear actuator 70 can be arranged in the force transmission path between the electric or electromechanical linear actuator 68 and the scraper tool 16, for example... Figure 6 and Figure 10 As shown. For example, the stroke of the actuator 66 can therefore change, increase, or decrease rapidly.

[0215] also, Figures 5 to 7The sensor device 18 is shown to be arranged in the force transmission path between the actuator 66 and the scraper tool 16. In particular, the sensor device 18 may be arranged in the force transmission path between the actuator 66 and the scraper mount 34 and / or in the force transmission path between the actuator 66 and the adjustment device 28 and / or in the force transmission path between the actuator 66 and the adjustment retainer 48.

[0216] In addition, from Figure 6 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Figure 10 It can be inferred that the sensor device 18 (in particular the force sensors 24, 26 of the sensor device 18) can be fixedly arranged between the adjusting retainer 48 and the sensor retainer 84 connected to the actuation device 66.

[0217] Figures 15 to 17 The device 10 is also shown to have a scraper moving device 72 for moving the scraper device 14 and / or the scraper tool 16 along a scraper moving direction R extending in the horizontal direction. In this case, Figure 15 Show Figure 1 Front view of the scraper moving device 72 of the middle device 10, wherein Figure 16 Show Figure 15 The cross-sectional view, and Figure 17 Show Figure 15 Plan view of the scraper moving device 72.

[0218] Therefore, by moving the scraper moving device 72 along the scraper moving direction R that extends in the horizontal direction, the scraper tool 16 or the scraper device 14 can be moved.

[0219] The scraper moving device 72 may have at least one linear drive or multiple linear drives for moving the scraper device 14 and / or the scraper tool 16. Therefore, the scraper device 14 and / or the scraper tool 16 can move linearly reciprocating in one direction.

[0220] In addition, Figures 15 to 17The squeegee moving device 72 shown can have a gantry system with linear guides 74, 76 and a transverse member 78, as well as support devices 80, 82 for supporting the transverse member 78 on the linear guides 74, 76. In this case, the linear guides 74, 76 extend along the squeegee movement direction R, wherein the transverse member 78 can extend between and transversely to the linear guides 74, 76 in a plan view. Therefore, the squeegee tool 16 or squeegee device 14 can be held and moved linearly above the printing table 22 and / or above the printing screen 12 in a floating manner. Thus, using the equipment 10 for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, a secure sequence of successive printing passes can be ensured in the continuous printing process.

[0221] In addition, from Figures 15 to 17 As can be seen, the scraper device 14 and its actuating device 66 can be fastened to the transverse member 78 of the gantry system. Therefore, movement of the transverse member 78 causes movement of the scraper device 14 or the scraper tool 16. Furthermore, the scraper device 14 is arranged in a manner that prevents it from moving along the longitudinal range L of the transverse member 78. Therefore, undesirable movement along the transverse member 78 can be avoided, and an overall stable structure is obtained.

[0222] Furthermore, the scraper device 14 can be configured for printing in a position mode, in which the pneumatic linear actuator 70 of the actuator 66 can retract, and the electric or electromechanical linear actuator 68 of the actuator 66 can extend or lower at least partially. In position mode, the pneumatic linear actuator 70 can thus be deactivated, while the electric or electromechanical linear actuator 68 can be operational. The electric or electromechanical linear actuator 68 allows for high-precision approach to specific positions.

[0223] Furthermore, the scraper device 14 can be configured for printing in force-controlled mode, in which the pneumatic linear actuator 70 of the actuator 66 can be partially or fully extended and / or lowered. Additionally, in force-controlled mode, the electric or electromechanical linear actuator 68 of the actuator 66 can retract or be extended or lowered only at least partially. The electric or electromechanical linear actuator 68 of the actuator 66 can also be fully extended in force-controlled mode. In this case, the pneumatic linear actuator 70 of the actuator 66 can operate as a gas spring in force-controlled mode. In force-controlled mode, it is possible to control the position of the scraper tool 16 in a force-based manner, with open-loop control and / or closed-loop control. A sharp increase in scraper force can advantageously be compensated for in force-controlled mode. For operation as a gas spring, the pneumatic linear actuator 70 of the actuator 66 can have a proportional valve, not shown in detail here, which can control the flow rate of the corresponding gas in both open-loop and / or closed-loop modes.

[0224] Figure 18 Show along Figure 15 Cross-sectional view of line AA in the middle. Figure 19 It also shows Figure 18 Perspective view of the scraper tool 16 of the scraper device 14.

[0225] about Figure 18 and Figure 19 As can be seen, the scraper tool 16 may have a scraper blade 58. In this case, the scraper blade 58 of the scraper tool 16 may be made at least segmentally of plastic material and / or sheet metal material. Furthermore, the scraper tool 16 may have a scraper holder 60. The scraper blade 58 is mounted on and held in or on the scraper holder 60. Therefore, the scraper blade 58 of the scraper tool 16 can be fixedly arranged on the scraper holder 60.

[0226] also, Figure 19 The scraper tool 16 is shown to have a connecting portion 64 formed on and / or connected to the scraper holder 60 for connection to and / or for tensioning or clamping in the fastening system 52. In this case, the scraper tool 16 can be designed as a conversion tool. Therefore, the scraper angle β between the scraper side 62 and the vertical plane—such as Figure 18 The depicted angle can be changed by replacing the squeegee tool 16. Therefore, the squeegee angle between the squeegee side 62 and the horizontal plane and / or the printing screen 12 and / or the printing table 22 can also be changed.

[0227] according to Figure 18The squeegee blade 58 may have two squeegee sides 62 extending between the side edges of the squeegee blade 58, wherein the squeegee angle β formed between the squeegee side 62 and the vertical plane and / or between the squeegee side 62 and the horizontal plane and / or between the squeegee side 62 and the printing screen 12 and / or between the squeegee side 62 and the printing table 22 is predetermined or fixed by the squeegee holder 60. Therefore, by the formation of the squeegee blade 58 or by the formation of the squeegee holder 60, possible squeegee angles β can be selected or set to achieve the effect of filling and / or pushing the printing screen 12 through the printing screen 12 in a suitable manner by the corresponding squeegee blade 58.

[0228] at last, Figure 18 The device 10 shown can have two squeegee devices 14, 15. In this case, one squeegee device 14 can be configured as a flood (ink return) squeegee device, while the other squeegee device 15 can be configured as a printing squeegee device. Similarly, both squeegee devices 14, 15 can be configured as printing squeegee devices and / or both can operate as printing squeegee devices. Furthermore, both squeegee devices 14, 15 can be arranged on the squeegee moving device 72, particularly on the transverse member 78 of the squeegee moving device 72. Squeegee devices 14 or 15 and squeegee moving device 72 can thus form a squeegee system. Each of the squeegee devices 14, 15 can be constructed according to the above description or according to the above details.

[0229] The operating mode of the above-mentioned equipment 10 (especially the 3D screen printing machine) for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces is described in more detail below.

[0230] If passed Figure 10 As illustrated in the example, device 10 may have a control device 100 for controlling actuator 66 and / or scraper moving device 72 and / or adjusting device 28 in open-loop and / or closed-loop configurations, and / or for processing and / or evaluating and / or storing and / or comparing sensor data from sensor device 18. Therefore, control device 100 is thus capable of controlling or processing the aforementioned devices and their data in open-loop or closed-loop configurations. Control device 100 may be a so-called open-loop machine controller and / or closed-loop machine controller. Such control device 100 may be additionally equipped with an operating unit (not shown in detail here) for operation by an operator, and / or such control device 100 may be additionally connected to such an operating unit.

[0231] In addition, the control device 100 may be configured to detect and / or evaluate the squeegee force via the sensor device 18 when the squeegee tool 16 acts directly on the printing table 22 and / or in a screenless arrangement.

[0232] In addition, the control device 100 can be configured to detect and / or evaluate the squeegee force by the sensor device 18 when the squeegee tool 16 acts on the printing screen 12 in the operating position where the printing screen 12 is placed on the printing table 22.

[0233] Furthermore, the control device 100 may be configured to detect and / or evaluate the squeegee force by the sensor device 18 when the squeegee tool 16 acts on the printing screen 12 and there is no contact between the printing screen 12 and the printing table 22 and / or between the printing screen 12 and the printing base and / or between the printing screen 12 and at least one screen-printed workpiece.

[0234] Furthermore, the control device 100 may be configured to detect and / or evaluate the squeegee force by the sensor device 18 when the squeegee tool 16 acts on the printing screen 12, and when the printing screen 12 comes into contact with the printing table 22 and / or the printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece due to the force acting on the printing screen 12 (especially when the printing screen 12 is elastically deformed).

[0235] The control device 100 can be configured to detect and / or evaluate an increase in scraper force via the sensor device 18 during the downward movement of the scraper tool 16 via the actuation device 66. Accordingly, the control device 100 is thus able to reliably detect and / or evaluate the increase in scraper force by means of the sensor device 18.

[0236] Furthermore, the control device 100 may be configured to detect and / or assess an increase in squeegee force via the sensor device 18 during the descent movement of the squeegee tool 16 performed solely on the printing screen 12 via the actuation device 66 (particularly when there is no contact between the printing table 22 and / or the printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece and the printing screen 12).

[0237] Furthermore, the control device 100 may be configured to detect and / or assess an increase in squeegee force via the sensor device 18 during the descent movement of the squeegee tool 16 on the printing screen 12 via the adjustment device 66, in the operating position where the printing screen 12 is placed on the printing table 22.

[0238] Furthermore, the control device 100 may be configured to detect and / or assess an increase in squeegee force via the sensor device 18 during a downward movement on the printing table 22 and / or on the printing base via the actuation device 66 (particularly in screenless arrangements).

[0239] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to terminate the descent motion via the actuation device 66 when an increase in squeegee force is detected by the sensor device 18 during the descent of the squeegee tool 16. Therefore, the control device 100 can be used to precisely terminate the descent of the squeegee tool 16 when a specific or predetermined squeegee force is reached during its descent. This can be used to protect the squeegee tool 16 or the squeegee device 14, as well as the printing screen 12 and / or the printing table 22.

[0240] Furthermore, the control device 100 may be configured to automatically or partially automatically use the scraper height as a reference when the increase in scraper force is detected by the sensor device 18 during the descent of the scraper tool 16. This may mean that the control device 100 fixes a possible scraper height (e.g., the desired height or desired position of the scraper tool 16) as a reference during the descent of the scraper tool 16, based on the initial increase in scraper force or the initial increase in scraper force, which can then be used as a reference for subsequent processes.

[0241] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to detect and / or evaluate the squeegee force deviation along the longitudinal range L of the squeegee tool 16 during the descent movement of the squeegee tool 16 via the actuation device 66, using the sensor device 18. Accordingly, the control device 100 can detect, compare, and / or evaluate the squeegee force along the longitudinal range L of the squeegee tool 16. Thus, for example, a uniform force distribution along the longitudinal range L of the squeegee tool 16 can be promoted by means of the control device 100, thereby ensuring that the force of the squeegee tool 16 on the printing screen 12 and / or on the printing table 22 and / or on the corresponding workpiece is constant, or that the force along the longitudinal range L of the squeegee tool 16 is constant.

[0242] The control device 100 can also be configured to automatically or partially automatically adjust the tilt via the adjustment device 28 when a scraping force deviation along the longitudinal range L of the scraping tool 16 is detected by the sensor device 18. In this way, by means of the adjustment device 28 and the sensor device 18, the spatial alignment of the scraping tool 16 can be set and / or corrected in a targeted manner with minimal operation, allowing the desired scraping force or scraping force distribution to be set along the longitudinal range L of the scraping tool 16 and / or along the entire length of the scraping tool 16. Automatic or partially automatic setting or tilt adjustment and / or correction can be performed with minimal operation.

[0243] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to use the tilt position of the squeegee tool 16 as a reference when it is detected that the squeegee force distribution along the longitudinal range L of the squeegee tool 16 is uniform and / or within permissible deviations. Therefore, the control device 100 can use this reference for subsequent printing or squeegee processes via the squeegee tool 16. Specifically, continuing from the referenced tilt position of the squeegee tool 16, since the required squeegee force distribution already exists or can be achieved with minimal setup work, no further setup work is required, or only reduced setup work is required.

[0244] Furthermore, the control device 100 may be configured to automatically or partially automatically fix the tilt position of the scraper tool 16 when it is detected that the scraper force distribution along the longitudinal range L of the scraper tool 16 is uniform and / or within the allowable deviation range.

[0245] Therefore, the control device 100 can be configured to activate and / or actuate at least one fixing device 44, 46, such as the scraper device 14, for fixing the tilt position of the scraper tool 16 adjusted by the adjusting device 28 and / or for adjusting the translational adjustment position adjusted by the adjusting device 28, such that the at least one fixing device 44, 46 locks or fixes the tilt position or translational adjustment position of the scraper tool 16. Since this fixing can be performed automatically or partially automatically, human error can be reduced at least, and a lower level of operational workload can be maintained.

[0246] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to detect and / or evaluate the scraper force and / or the scraper force deviation in the longitudinal direction L of the scraper tool 16 via the sensor device 18 during the movement of the scraper device 14 by the scraper moving device 72 along the scraper moving direction R extending in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the control device 100 can detect the scraper force and / or the scraper force deviation in the longitudinal direction L of the scraper tool 16 by means of the sensor device 18 during the movement of the scraper device 14, and the information and / or data obtained thereby can flow into further or subsequent process control, or can be used as influence parameters for any open-loop and / or closed-loop control performed by the control device 100. Therefore, the printing results during the operation of the scraper device 14 can be improved.

[0247] When the squeegee tool 16 acts only on the printing screen 12, and / or when the printing table 22 and / or the printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece comes into contact with the printing screen 12 due to the force exerted by the squeegee tool 16 on the printing screen 12, the control device 100 can perform the detection and / or evaluation described above and below in a preferred manner.

[0248] In another embodiment, the control device 100 may be configured to detect and / or evaluate changes in squeegee force based on the squeegee position along the squeegee movement direction R during movement of the squeegee device 14 via the squeegee moving device 72 extending in the horizontal direction, using the sensor device 18. Therefore, changes in squeegee force can be detected and / or evaluated during displacement or movement of the squeegee tool 16 above the printing screen 12 or printing table 22. Thus, during displacement and / or movement of the squeegee device 14 or during displacement and / or movement of the squeegee tool 16, the control device can detect and / or evaluate changes in squeegee force based on the squeegee position above the printing screen 12 or printing table 22. Information and / or data obtained in this way can flow into further or subsequent process control, or can be used as influence parameters for open-loop and / or closed-loop control performed by the control device 100. Therefore, the variation in squeegee force during the displacement and / or movement of the squeegee tool 16 above the printing screen 12 or printing table 22 can be taken into account in an appropriate manner, and the corresponding printing results can be improved.

[0249] Similarly, the control device 100 can be configured to detect and / or evaluate, via the sensor device 18, changes in the scraper force deviation in the longitudinal direction L of the scraper tool 16 based on the scraper position along the scraper movement direction R during the movement of the scraper device 14 via the scraper moving device 72. Therefore, the control device 100 can detect and / or evaluate changes in the scraper force deviation in the longitudinal direction L of the scraper tool 16 based on the scraper position during the movement of the scraper device 14. For example, during scraper movement along the horizontally extending scraper movement direction R, an increased and / or decreased and / or constant scraper force deviation in the longitudinal direction L of the scraper tool 16 can be detected in a suitable manner. The resulting information and / or data can then flow into further or subsequent process control, or can be used as influence parameters for any open-loop and / or closed-loop control performed by the control device 100. Therefore, printing results can be further improved.

[0250] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to continuously and / or repeatedly detect the squeegee force and / or the squeegee force deviation in the longitudinal direction L of the squeegee tool 16 during the movement of the squeegee device 14 along the squeegee movement direction R via the squeegee moving device 72 and / or during the screen printing operation. Therefore, by means of the control device 100, continuous monitoring of the squeegee force and / or squeegee force deviation can be achieved during the movement of the squeegee device 14, and an improved data basis can be created for further process control, further screen printing operations, and / or subsequent adjustments to the alignment and / or tilt position of the squeegee tool 16.

[0251] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to store and / or evaluate measurement data from continuous and / or repeated inspections during the movement of the squeegee device 14 along the squeegee movement direction R via the squeegee moving device 72 and / or during the printing operation. Accordingly, the control device 100 can store the measurement data for further processing and / or evaluation. In particular, in the case of measurement data from continuous and / or repeated inspections, other knowledge can be determined, such as wear of the printing screen 12 and / or wear of the squeegee tool 16 or wear of the squeegee device 14. To improve or maintain print quality, appropriate measures for subsequent printing processes can be initiated based on this data.

[0252] The control device 100 can also be configured to, in a screenless arrangement and / or when the squeegee tool 16 acts directly on the printing table 22 and / or in an arrangement where the printing screen 12 is placed on the printing table 22, detect and / or evaluate the characteristic curve of the increase in squeegee force as a function of the descending movement of the squeegee tool 16, as performed by the actuation device 66. With this configuration, the force increase or behavior of the squeegee tool can be determined during the increase in squeegee force without the influence of the printing screen 12. The resulting knowledge and information can be advantageously used to set the tilt position of the squeegee tool 16 and / or to control the descending movement in the presence of the printing screen 12 and / or to perform the printing process or the squeegee movement via the squeegee moving device 72.

[0253] Furthermore, the control device 100 may be configured to detect and / or evaluate the characteristic curve of the increase in squeegee force as a function of the squeegee tool 16 descending on the printing screen 12 via the actuation device 66, without contact between the printing table 22 and / or the printing base and / or the screen printing workpiece and the printing screen 12, via the sensor device 18.

[0254] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to determine the screen recovery force and / or screen tension of the printing screen 12, particularly the relative screen recovery force and / or relative screen tension, by means of the sensor device 18 and / or based on sensor data detected and / or stored by the sensor device 18. Therefore, wear or aging of the printing screen 12, or any damage or manufacturing defect of the printing screen 12, can be inferred by the control device 100. When the screen recovery force and / or screen tension are relatively low, or when the squeegee force only increases slowly after contact with the printing screen 12, higher wear of the printing screen 12 can be inferred.

[0255] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to detect the start of an increase in squeegee force during the descent of the squeegee tool 16 via the actuation device 66, and / or define the descent stroke of the squeegee tool 16 at the start of the increase in squeegee force as a measurement reference starting point, which is used to detect further increases in squeegee force and / or to detect screen recovery force and / or screen tension and / or reference screen recovery force and / or reference screen tension and / or screen aging. Therefore, the first contact with the printing screen 12 or with the printing table 22 can thus be inferred by detecting the start of an increase in squeegee force. This contact point can advantageously be used as a measurement reference starting point, and in this way, particularly precise reference measurements or monitoring measurements can be performed. For example, the position where the squeegee force begins to increase can be defined as a measurement reference starting point for detecting reference screen recovery force and / or reference screen tension, and / or can be defined as a measurement reference starting point for measuring screen recovery force and / or screen tension during the service life of the printing screen 12.

[0256] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to, starting from a measurement reference starting point, further lower the squeegee tool 16 via the actuation device 66, and to detect a further increase in squeegee force based on the descent stroke, and to determine the screen recovery force and / or screen tension and / or reference screen recovery force and / or reference screen tension and / or screen aging based on this further increase in squeegee force. Therefore, the control device 100 can determine the screen recovery force and / or screen tension and / or elasticity of the printing screen 12 based on the increase in squeegee force, starting from the measurement reference starting point and during the further descent of the actuation device 66. The detection of the screen recovery force and / or screen tension, or the detection of the increase in squeegee force based on the further descent stroke—this detection, in the case of an intact printing screen 12, starts from the measurement reference starting point, in which case it can be used as a reference detection, and can be used for later evaluation and / or comparison with updated screen recovery force and / or screen tension measurements. Therefore, during the service life of the corresponding printing screen 12, the wear or aging of the printing screen 12 can be advantageously monitored.

[0257] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to determine the screen recovery force and / or screen tension of the printing screen 12 at multiple locations along the squeegee movement direction R extending in the horizontal direction (particularly at the center or central region of the printing screen 12 and / or adjacent to the edges of the printing screen or adjacent to multiple printing screen edges). Accordingly, wear of the printing screen 12 can be detected over the entire area of ​​the printing screen 12 or over the entire printing layout. Therefore, multiple measurement points for the screen recovery force and / or screen tension of the printing screen 12 can be determined or used, and based on these screen recovery forces and / or screen tensions, conclusions can be drawn about the state of the printing screen 12, specifically about the wear of the printing screen 12. Therefore, detection reliability and detection accuracy can be further improved.

[0258] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to determine screen recovery force and / or screen tension between printing processes, and / or to periodically repeat the above determinations to determine screen wear and / or screen aging. Therefore, screen wear or screen aging can be determined by the control device 100 according to a predetermined or pre-determined process sequence. Based on the corresponding results, a minimum print quality of the equipment 10 can be ensured with a high level of reliability.

[0259] Furthermore, the control device 100 may be configured to determine the detection of screen tension and / or screen restoring force by means of the sensor device 18 and taking into account the lift-off height between the printing screen 12 and the printing table 22 and / or the printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece and / or the descent distance of the actuator 66.

[0260] Furthermore, the control device 100 may be configured to determine the applied force via the sensor device 18 and / or based on the sensor data detected and / or stored by the sensor device 18, which is effectively transmitted from the squeegee tool 16 to the printing table 22 and / or the printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece via the printing screen 12.

[0261] Furthermore, the control device 100 may be configured to determine the applied force based on the difference between the squeegee force detected by the sensor device 18 and the previously known and / or determined screen recovery force of the printing screen 12.

[0262] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to maintain a constant applied force during the printing operation.

[0263] Furthermore, the control device 100 may be configured to perform multiple printing operations with the same applied force and / or to keep the applied force deviation between multiple printing operations below a predetermined limit value.

[0264] In addition, the control device 100 can be configured to detect and / or evaluate the deviation of the applied force along the longitudinal range L of the scraper tool 16.

[0265] Furthermore, the control device 100 may be configured to determine the detection of the applied force by means of the sensor device 18 and by taking into account the lift-off height between the printing screen 12 and the printing table 22 and / or the printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece and / or the descent distance of the actuator 66.

[0266] Furthermore, the control device 100 and / or the actuation device 66 can be configured to hold the squeegee tool 16 at a fixed height position during the printing operation. By maintaining a fixed height position, continuous, constant, or uniform printed images can be ensured.

[0267] Furthermore, during the printing operation, the fixed height position can be fixed and / or remain unchanged by the actuation device 66 and / or the control device 100. In this way, continuous, constant, or uniform printed images can be ensured with an improved level of reliability throughout the printing layout of the printing screen 12.

[0268] The control device 100 can also be configured to control the height position of the squeegee tool 16 in a force-based manner, in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner, during the printing operation. The advantage of force-based open-loop and / or closed-loop control is that the printing material can be pushed through the printing screen 12 with a constant force or pressure along the squeegee direction R. This advantageously compensates for force fluctuations. Therefore, it is possible to avoid, for example, pushing excessive or even insufficient amounts of printing material through the printing screen 12 in localized areas, or the occurrence of localized force or stress peaks (which result in damage).

[0269] Furthermore, the control device 100 and / or the actuation device 66 can be configured to maintain a constant squeegee force and / or a fixed and effective applied force during the printing operation. The advantage of this is that, with further improvements in reliability, a constant force can be applied across the entire printing layout of the printing screen 12, thereby producing a particularly uniform printed image. Therefore, fluctuations in the squeegee force can be compensated for in a particularly advantageous manner. This ensures exceptionally high print quality.

[0270] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to convert, store, and / or process the measurement data continuously and / or repeatedly detected by the sensor device 18 during the movement of the squeegee device 14 along the squeegee movement direction R via the squeegee moving device 72 and / or during the printing operation. By converting the detected measurement data into an average value and / or storing and / or processing the detected measurement data, the control device 100 can advantageously create a suitable data basis for subsequent open-loop and closed-loop control processes and ensure a lower overall computational workload. Therefore, the intensive computational operations of the control device 100 can be reduced, and on the other hand, a particularly uniform printed image can be further promoted. Furthermore, storage space for measurement values ​​and measurement data can be saved in this way.

[0271] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to convert the measurement data continuously and / or repeatedly detected by the respective force sensors 24, 26 into an average value and / or store and / or process the measurement data during the movement of the squeegee device 16 along the squeegee movement direction R via the squeegee moving device 72 and / or during the printing operation. By distinguishing the data from the respective force sensors 24, 26, the quality of information can be improved in this way. At the same time, the amount of data to be processed can be reduced, and the processing, storage, and conversion of data or measurement values ​​can be accelerated.

[0272] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to control the height and / or alignment and / or tilt position of the printing screen 12 in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner after the printing operation is completed and / or before the printing operation begins. In this way, the control device 100 can set the spatial alignment of the printing screen 12 to achieve, for example, the effect of ensuring constant pressure of the squeegee device 14 or its squeegee tool 16. The orientation of the printing screen 12 can be adapted to the orientation of the squeegee tool 16, or open-loop and / or closed-loop control can be performed taking into account both the orientation of the printing screen 12 and the orientation of the squeegee tool 16. This allows for high-quality printed images across the entire printing layout of the printing screen 12 with a further improved level of reliability.

[0273] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to control the height position and / or alignment and / or tilt position of the printing screen 12 in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner based on the stored and / or processed measurement data of the sensor device 18 and / or the stored and / or processed measurement data of the respective force sensors 24, 26 and / or based on the determined screen tension and / or screen restoring force and / or applied force. Therefore, the spatial orientation of the printing screen 12 can be controlled in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner based on the measurement data from the sensor device 18 via the height position, alignment, and / or tilt position of the printing screen 12. For example, the spatial alignment of the printing screen 12 can be adaptively changed via feedback from the sensor device 18, such that the squeegee force on the printing screen 12 and the squeegee force over the entire printing layout or entire area of ​​the printing screen 12 are constant, or deviate according to desired process control or desired process parameters.

[0274] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to control the height and / or alignment and / or tilt position of the printing screen 12 in a force-based manner, in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner, during the printing operation. In this way, the control device 100 can flexibly and adaptively change or set the spatial alignment of the printing screen 12 based on measured forces (e.g., acting on the squeegee device 14 or squeegee tool 16) during the printing or squeegee process. Therefore, manufacturing accuracy and flexibility can be further improved.

[0275] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to control the height position and / or alignment and / or tilt position of the printing screen 12 in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner, based on measurement data continuously and / or repeatedly detected by the sensor device 18 and / or measurement data continuously and / or repeatedly detected by the respective force sensors 24, 26 and / or based on the determined screen tension and / or screen recovery force and / or applied force. As a result of this embodiment of the control device 100, the spatial position and / or alignment of the printing screen 12 can therefore be adaptively changed and / or controlled in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner based on the measurement data detected by the sensor device 18 during the operation of the equipment 10 or during the movement of the squeegee device 14 by the squeegee moving device 72. In this way, the accuracy of the printing operation can be further improved.

[0276] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to set the squeegee force and / or applied force via the actuation device 66 based on the component height and / or the number of printed component layers. The height of the printed build-up or workpiece and / or the number of printed component layers can advantageously be used in this way for further process control or further open-loop and / or closed-loop control via the control device 100. If the height of the built-up component has a significant impact on the pressure of the further printed layers or on the application of printing material through the printing screen 12, this can be compensated for in a suitable manner by setting the squeegee force and / or applied force via the actuation device 66.

[0277] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to progressively and proportionally reduce the squeegee force layer by layer from the initial squeegee force and / or the initial applied force up to the boundary layer, and / or to maintain the squeegee force and / or applied force constant upon reaching the boundary layer for printing additional printing layers. This ensures that the screen-printed part has a substantially constant layer thickness along its entire height. This approach further improves printing accuracy and reduces the risk of damaging already printed layers.

[0278] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to determine the applied force on the screen-printed workpiece located below the screen 12 based on the determined screen restoring force curve and / or screen tension curve, the determined squeegee blade flexibility, the determined squeegee force during the printing process in the squeegee movement direction R, the lift-off height between the printing screen 12 and the printing table 22 or the component surface, and / or the height of the printing screen 12. In particular, it can be configured to determine this force as a linear pressure. This determination can be advantageously used to manufacture high-quality screen-printed parts, ensuring continuous or constant printed layer thickness between layers. Ensuring a constant printed layer thickness can improve component accuracy.

[0279] Furthermore, the control device 100 can be configured to adaptively change the applied force and / or squeegee force and / or squeegee speed along the squeegee movement direction R and / or lift-off height and / or screen lifting functionality based on the actual force progression detected by the sensor device 18 during the screen printing operation, using both open-loop and / or closed-loop control. This adaptive change in squeegee force and / or squeegee speed based on the detected actual force progression is used to adaptively change process parameters suitable for the ongoing printing process and / or suitable for at least one subsequent printing process. In this way, high-precision screen-printed parts can be produced with a further improved level of reliability. Possible printed layers can have particularly precise thicknesses. In particular, in the case of detected actual force progression, the corresponding printing operation can be intervened in real time, resulting in settings for producing the screen-printed parts to be manufactured with improved precision.

[0280] The control device 100 can also be configured to make open-loop and / or controlled adaptive changes to the screen position alignment and / or screen height alignment based on the actual force progression and / or the applied force and / or screen recovery force and / or screen tension detected by the sensor device 18 during the screen printing operation. Therefore, during operation or during operation of the equipment 10, by means of, for example, changes in the spatial position of the printing screen 12, the control device 100 can ensure that the squeegee force of the squeegee tool 16 is adapted to the printing screen 12 at least segmentally or according to position. This can thus improve production accuracy and ensure compensation for inaccuracies in previous printing processes. Therefore, screen-printed workpieces can be produced with a further improved level of accuracy.

[0281] As described above, the apparatus 10 (particularly a 3D screen printing machine) for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces according to the present invention may have a printing screen 12 and a squeegee device 14 for filling the printing screen 12 with printing material and / or for pushing the printing material through the printing screen 12. In this case, the squeegee device 14 may have at least one squeegee tool 16, a sensor device 18 for detecting the squeegee force acting on the squeegee tool 16, and a control device 100 for evaluating and / or storing the sensor data of the sensor device 18. The control device 100 may be configured to determine the screen restoring force and / or screen tension of the printing screen 12 by means of the sensor device 18 and / or based on the sensor data detected and / or stored by the sensor device 18.

[0282] By determining the screen recovery force and / or screen tension of the printing screen 12, screen aging or wear can be specifically detected, and the squeegee device 14 can be adjusted according to the determined screen recovery force and / or screen tension to specifically compensate for the detected screen aging or wear. Therefore, the service life of components, manufacturing accuracy, and productivity can be improved.

[0283] The squeegee devices 14 and 15 according to the invention, particularly for the apparatus 10 for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces as described above and / or for 3D screen printing machines, may have at least one squeegee tool 16 for filling the printing screen 12 with printing material and / or for pushing the printing material through the printing screen 12. Furthermore, the squeegee devices 14 and 15 may be equipped with a sensor device 18 for detecting the squeegee force acting on the squeegee tool 16, wherein the sensor device 18 may be configured to detect the squeegee force deviation along the longitudinal range L of the squeegee tool 16.

[0284] In the method for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces according to the present invention, particularly in the method utilizing the aforementioned apparatus 10 for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, the apparatus 10 can be specifically configured as a 3D screen printing machine, in which printing material is filled into the printing screen 12 by a squeegee device 14, and / or the printing material is pushed through the printing screen 12 by the squeegee device 14. Furthermore, the squeegee force acting on the squeegee tool 16 of the squeegee device 14 can be detected by a sensor device 18. Finally, the squeegee force deviation along the longitudinal range L of the squeegee tool 16 can be detected by the sensor device 18.

[0285] The device 10 can be designed and / or constructed in a particularly advantageous manner for the development and / or production of large quantities of drugs. The methods described above for manufacturing large quantities of drugs can also be implemented.

[0286] List of reference numerals 10 devices 12 printing screens 14 Scraper Device 15 Scraper Device 16 scraper tools 18 sensor devices 20 printing units 22 printing tables 24 force sensors 26 force sensors 28 Adjustment device 30 Adjusting Screw 32 Adjusting Screw 34 Scraper Mounting Part 36 Spring Mount 38 Spring Mount 40 Long Hole Guide 42 Long Hole Guide 44 Fixing devices 45 fixing screws 46 Fixing devices 47 fixing screws 48 Adjustment retainer 50 Support Structure 51 recess 52 Fastening System 53 support pins 54 Switching Screw 56 Switching Screw 58 scraper blades 60 scraper retainer 62 scraper side 64 Connection Part 66 Actuating Device 68 electric or electromechanical linear drives 70 pneumatic linear actuator 72 Scraper Moving Device 74 Linear Guide 76 Linear Guide 78 Horizontal Members 80 support device 82 support device 84 Sensor Holder L Longitudinal range N-tilted axis R scraper moving direction

Claims

1. An apparatus (10) for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, particularly a 3D screen printing machine, said apparatus (10) having a printing screen (12) and a squeegee device (15) for filling the printing screen (12) with printing material and / or for pushing the printing material through the printing screen (12), wherein, The scraper device (15) has at least one scraper tool (16), a sensor device (18) for detecting the scraper force acting on the scraper tool (16), and a control device (100) for evaluating and / or storing sensor data of the sensor device (18), wherein the control device (100) is configured to determine the screen recovery force and / or screen tension of the printing screen (12) by means of the sensor device (18) and / or based on the sensor data detected and / or stored by the sensor device (18).

2. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to determine the relative screen restoring force and / or relative screen tension of the printing screen (12) by means of the sensor device (18) and / or by means of sensor data detected and / or stored by the sensor device (18).

3. The device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to determine wire mesh wear and / or wire mesh aging by means of the sensor device (18) and / or by sensor data detected and / or stored by the sensor device (18) and / or by means of wire mesh recovery force and / or wire mesh tension or multiple wire mesh recovery forces and / or multiple wire mesh tensions.

4. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to determine the screen recovery force and / or screen tension between printing processes and / or to periodically repeat the determination of the screen recovery force and / or screen tension between printing processes.

5. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to determine screen wear and / or screen aging between printing processes and / or to periodically repeat the determination of screen wear and / or screen aging between printing processes.

6. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to determine the screen recovery force and / or screen tension, and / or to determine the changes in screen recovery force and / or screen tension during the execution of a printing operation.

7. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to control the height position and / or alignment and / or tilt position of the printing screen (12) in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner after the printing operation is completed and / or before the printing operation begins.

8. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to control the height position and / or alignment and / or tilt position of the printing screen (12) in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner based on the measurement data stored and / or processed by the sensor device (18) and / or the respective force sensors (24, 26) and / or based on the determined screen recovery force and / or screen tension and / or applied force and / or screen aging.

9. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to control the height position and / or alignment and / or tilt position of the printing screen (12) in a force-based manner, in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner, during the execution of the printing operation.

10. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to control the height position and / or alignment and / or tilt position of the printing screen (12) in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner, based on measurement data continuously and / or repeatedly detected by the sensor device (18) and / or the respective force sensors (24, 26), and / or based on the determined screen restoring force and / or screen tension and / or applied force.

11. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The sensor device (18) is configured to detect scraper force deviation along the longitudinal range (L) of the scraper tool (16).

12. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Includes a printing apparatus (20), which has at least a printing screen (12) and / or a squeegee device (14) for producing at least one screen-printed workpiece layer by layer in a plurality of screen printing operations and / or for applying a layer to a workpiece in at least one screen printing operation.

13. The device (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that, The printing apparatus (20) has at least one printing table (22) for positioning the workpiece carrier and / or the workpiece below the printing screen (12) and / or below the scraper device (15).

14. The device (10) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, The printing apparatus (20) has at least one screen holder for receiving the printing screen (12); and / or the screen holder is configured to adjust the height position and / or alignment and / or tilt position of the printing screen (12).

15. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The sensor device (18) has at least one force sensor (24, 26) or at least two force sensors (24, 26), particularly two force sensors (24, 26) connected in parallel.

16. The device (10) according to claim 15, characterized in that, The force sensors (24, 26) are arranged at intervals along the longitudinal range (L) of the scraper tool (16).

17. The device (10) according to any one of claims 15 or 16, characterized in that, The force sensors (24, 26) are configured to simultaneously measure the absolute scraping force at measurement points spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal range (L) of the scraper tool (16).

18. The device (10) according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that, The force sensors (24, 26) are configured to detect relative scraper force deviations at measurement points spaced along the longitudinal range (L) of the scraper tool (16).

19. The device (10) according to any one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that, In the plan view of the scraper device (14), at least one force sensor (24, 26) or multiple force sensors (24, 26) are arranged above and / or aligned with the pressure contact line of the scraper tool (16).

20. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The scraper device (14) has an adjustment device (28) for adjusting the tilt of the scraper tool (16).

21. The device (10) according to claim 20, characterized in that, The adjustment device (28) is configured to adjust the inclination of the longitudinal axis of the tool (16) extending along the longitudinal range (L) relative to the printing screen (12) and / or relative to the printing table (22) and / or relative to the horizontal plane.

22. The device (10) according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that, The adjustment device (28) is configured to adjust the inclination of the lower edge of the squeegee relative to the printing screen (12) and / or relative to the printing table (22) and / or relative to the horizontal plane.

23. The device (10) according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that, The adjustment device (28) is configured to adjust the inclination of the scraper tool (16) about an inclined axis (N) that extends along the scraper movement direction (R) and / or at an angle to a vertical plane passing through the lower edge of the scraper.

24. The device (10) according to any one of claims 20 to 23, characterized in that, The adjustment device (28) is configured for the vertical translational adjustment movement of the scraper tool (16).

25. The device (10) according to any one of claims 20 to 24, characterized in that, The adjustment device (28) has at least one or more adjustment screws (30, 32) for adjusting the tilt, wherein at least one adjustment screw is preferably designed as a micrometer screw.

26. The device (10) according to any one of claims 20 to 25, characterized in that, The scraper device (14) has a scraper mounting member (34) that allows for tilt adjustment of the scraper tool (16) about the tilt axis (N) by the adjustment device (28) and / or translational adjustment of the scraper tool (16) by the adjustment device (28).

27. The device (10) according to claim 26, characterized in that, The scraper mount (34) has at least one spring mount (36, 38) or multiple spring mounts (36, 38), particularly leaf spring mounts or multiple leaf spring mounts.

28. The device (10) according to claim 27, characterized in that, The at least one spring mounting member (36, 38) applies a spring force that abuts against the at least one adjusting screw (30, 32).

29. The device (10) according to any one of claims 26 to 28, characterized in that, The scraper mounting component (34) has at least one elongated hole guide (40, 42), wherein the elongated hole guide (40, 42) preferably has a gap.

30. The device (10) according to any one of claims 20 to 29, characterized in that, The scraper device (14) has at least one fixing device (44, 46) for fixing the tilt position of the scraper tool (16) adjusted by the adjusting device (28) and / or for fixing the translation adjustment position adjusted by the adjusting device (28).

31. The device (10) according to claim 30, characterized in that, The at least one fixing device (44, 46) has at least one fixing screw (45, 47) or multiple fixing screws (45, 47).

32. The device (10) according to claim 31, characterized in that, The fixing screws (45, 47) are guided in the elongated hole guides (40, 42) of the scraper mount (34), particularly by means of the gap.

33. The device (10) according to any one of claims 20 to 32, characterized in that, The scraper device (14) has an adjustment retainer (48) and a support structure (50) connected to the adjustment retainer (48), wherein the relative position and / or relative alignment between the adjustment retainer (48) and the support structure (50) can be changed via the adjustment device (28).

34. The device (10) according to claim 33, characterized in that, The scraper mount (34) is formed between the adjustment retainer (48) and the support structure (50); and / or the fixing device (44) is configured to fix the relative position and / or relative alignment between the adjustment retainer (48) and the support structure (50).

35. The device (10) according to any one of claims 33 and 34, characterized in that, The adjusting device (28) and / or the at least one adjusting screw (30, 32) are arranged on the adjusting retainer (48) and are in operative contact with the support structure (50) and / or are operatively contactable with the support structure (50); and / or the adjusting device (28) and / or the at least one adjusting screw (30, 32) are configured to generate relative movement between the adjusting retainer (48) and the support structure (50).

36. The device (10) according to any one of claims 27 to 35, characterized in that, The spring mounts (36, 38), particularly the leaf spring mounts, are clamped on the adjusting retainer (48) and / or on the support structure (50); and / or the spring mounts (36, 38), particularly the leaf spring mounts, generate prestress on the support structure (50) against the adjusting retainer (48) and / or against the adjusting device (28) arranged on the adjusting retainer (48).

37. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The scraper device (14) has a fastening system (52) for fastening and / or clamping the scraper tool (16), wherein the fastening system (52) is preferably designed as a tensioning system and / or a clamping system, and / or as a quick-change clamping system, and / or as a quick-change tensioning system.

38. The device (10) according to claim 37, characterized in that, The fastening system (52) is tool-free actuated and / or actuated by at least one switching screw (54, 56) or by multiple switching screws (54, 56), particularly for tensioning and / or clamping and / or releasing the scraper tool (16).

39. The device (10) according to any one of claims 37 or 38, characterized in that, The fastening system (52) is arranged on the support structure (50) and / or is at least partially formed by the support structure (50).

40. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The scraper tool (16) has scraper blades (58); and / or the scraper blades (58) of the scraper tool (16) are made of plastic material and / or sheet metal material in at least segments.

41. The device (10) according to claim 40, characterized in that, The scraper tool (16) has a scraper retainer (60); and / or the scraper blade (58) is mounted on the scraper retainer (60) of the scraper tool (16), and / or is clamped in or on the scraper retainer (60).

42. The device (10) according to any one of claims 40 or 41, characterized in that, The squeegee blade (58) has at least one squeegee side (62) extending between the side edges of the squeegee blade (58), wherein the squeegee angle formed between the squeegee side (62) and the horizontal plane and / or between the squeegee side (62) and the printing screen (12) and / or between the squeegee side (62) and the printing table (22) is predetermined and / or fixed by the squeegee holder (60).

43. The device (10) according to any one of claims 41 or 42, characterized in that, The scraper tool (16) has at least one connecting portion (64) formed on and / or connected to the scraper retainer (60) for connection to the fastening system (52) and / or for tensioning or clamping in the fastening system (52).

44. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The squeegee tool (16) is configured as a conversion tool; and / or the squeegee angle between the squeegee side (62) and the horizontal plane and / or with the printing screen (12) and / or with the printing table (22) can be changed by replacing the squeegee tool (16).

45. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The scraper device (14) has an actuation device (66) for moving the scraper tool (16) between an elevated starting position and at least one lowered operating position.

46. ​​The device (10) according to claim 45, characterized in that, The actuation device (66) has at least one linear driver (68, 70) or multiple linear drivers (68, 70).

47. The device (10) according to claim 45 or 46, characterized in that, The actuation device (66) has a plurality of linear drivers (68, 70) connected in series.

48. The device (10) according to any one of claims 45 to 47, characterized in that, At least one linear drive of the actuation device (66) is configured as an electric or electromechanical linear drive (68) and / or as an electric spindle drive and / or as an electric cylinder and / or as a linear actuator.

49. The device (10) according to any one of claims 45 to 48, characterized in that, At least one linear actuator of the actuation device (66) is designed as a pneumatic linear actuator or a linear cylinder (70).

50. The device (10) according to claim 48 or 49, characterized in that, The pneumatic linear actuator (70) is arranged in the force transmission path between the electric or electromechanical linear actuator (68) and the scraper tool (16).

51. The device (10) according to any one of claims 45 to 50, characterized in that, The sensor device (18) is arranged in the force transmission path between the actuation device (66) and the scraper tool (16).

52. The device (10) according to any one of claims 45 to 51, characterized in that, The sensor device (18) is arranged in the force transmission path between the actuating device (66) and the scraper mounting member (34) and / or in the force transmission path between the actuating device (66) and the adjusting device (28) and / or in the force transmission path between the actuating device (66) and the adjusting retainer (48).

53. The device (10) according to any one of claims 45 to 52, characterized in that, The sensor device (18), particularly the force sensors (24, 26), is fixedly arranged between the adjustment retainer (48) and the sensor retainer (84) connected to the actuation device (66).

54. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Includes a scraper moving device (72) for moving the scraper device (14) and / or the scraper tool (16) along a scraper moving direction (R) extending in the horizontal direction.

55. The device (10) according to claim 54, characterized in that, The scraper moving device (72) has at least one linear drive for moving the scraper device (14) and / or the scraper tool (16).

56. The device (10) according to any one of claims 54 or 55, characterized in that, The scraper moving device (72) has a gantry system with linear guides (74, 76) and / or transverse members (78) and / or support devices (80, 82) for supporting the transverse members on the linear guides (74, 76).

57. The device (10) according to claim 56, characterized in that, The linear guides (74, 76) extend along the scraper movement direction (R); and / or in a plan view, the transverse member (78) extends between the linear guides (74, 76) and / or extends transversely to the linear guides (74, 76).

58. The device (10) according to any one of claims 56 or 57, characterized in that, The scraper device (14) and / or the actuation device (66) of the scraper device (14) are fastened to the transverse member (78) of the gantry system.

59. The device (10) according to any one of claims 56 to 58, characterized in that, The scraper device (14) is arranged immovably along the longitudinal range (L) of the transverse member (78).

60. The device (10) according to any one of claims 56 to 59, characterized in that, The linear drive of the scraper moving device (72) is connected to the transverse member (78) of the gantry system.

61. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, It includes two scraper devices (14, 15), one of which is configured as a filling scraper device and the other is configured as a printing scraper device, and / or both of the scraper devices (14, 15) are arranged on the scraper moving device (72), particularly on the transverse member (78) of the scraper moving device (72).

62. The device (10) according to any one of claims 54 to 61, characterized in that, The scraper device (14) or multiple scraper devices (14, 15) and the scraper moving device (72) form a scraper system.

63. The device (10) according to any one of claims 45 to 62, characterized in that, The scraper device (14) is configured to print in a position mode in which the pneumatic linear actuator (70) of the actuator (66) is retracted and the electric or electromechanical linear actuator (68) of the actuator (66) is at least partially extended or lowered.

64. The device (10) according to any one of claims 45 to 63, characterized in that, The scraper device (15) is configured for printing in a force control mode, in which the pneumatic linear actuator (70) of the actuation device (66) is partially or fully extended and / or lowered.

65. The device (10) according to any one of claims 45 to 64, characterized in that, In force control mode, the electric or electromechanical linear actuator (68) of the actuation device (66) retracts or extends or lowers only at least partially.

66. The device (10) according to any one of claims 45 to 65, characterized in that, In force control mode, the pneumatic linear actuator (70) of the actuation device (66) operates as a gas spring.

67. The device (10) according to claim 66, characterized in that, The pneumatic linear actuator (70) of the actuation device (66) has a proportional valve so as to operate as a gas spring.

68. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to control the actuation device (66) and / or the scraper moving device (72) and / or the adjustment device (28) in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner, and / or to process and / or to evaluate and / or to store and / or to compare sensor data of the sensor device (18).

69. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to detect and / or evaluate the scraper force by the sensor device (18) when the scraper tool (16) acts directly on the printing table (22) and / or in a screenless arrangement.

70. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to detect and / or evaluate the squeegee force by means of the sensor device (18) when the squeegee tool (16) acts on the printing screen (12) in an operating position on the printing table (22).

71. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to detect and / or evaluate the squeegee force by the sensor device (18) when the squeegee tool (16) acts on the printing screen (12) without contact between the printing screen (12) and the printing table (22) and / or the printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece.

72. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to detect and / or evaluate the squeegee force by the sensor device (18) when the squeegee tool (16) acts on the printing screen (12), and when the printing table (22) and / or the printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece comes into contact with the printing screen (12) due to the force acting on the printing screen (12), especially when the printing screen (12) is elastically deformed.

73. The device (10) according to any one of claims 45 to 72, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to detect and / or assess an increase in scraper force via the sensor device (18) during the descent movement of the scraper tool (16) via the actuation device (66).

74. The device (10) according to any one of claims 45 to 73, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to detect and / or assess an increase in squeegee force via the sensor device (18) during the descent movement of the squeegee tool (16) performed solely on the printing screen (12) by the actuation device (66), particularly when there is no contact between the printing table (22) and / or the printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece and the printing screen (12).

75. The device (10) according to any one of claims 45 to 74, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to detect and / or evaluate an increase in squeegee force by means of the sensor device (18) during the descent movement of the squeegee tool (16) on the printing screen (12) via the actuation device (66), in the operating position where the printing screen (12) is placed on the printing table (22).

76. The device (10) according to any one of claims 45 to 75, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to detect and / or assess an increase in squeegee force via the sensor device (18) during the descending movement of the actuator (66) on the printing table (22) and / or on the printing base, particularly in screenless arrangements.

77. The device (10) according to any one of claims 45 to 76, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to terminate the descent motion via the actuation device (66) when the sensor device (18) begins to detect an increase in scraper force during the descent of the scraper tool (16).

78. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to automatically or partially automatically use the scraper height as a reference when the increase in scraper force is detected by the sensor device (18) during the descent of the scraper tool (16).

79. The device (10) according to any one of claims 45 to 78, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to detect and / or evaluate scraper force deviation along the longitudinal range (L) of the scraper tool (16) by means of the sensor device (18) during the descent movement of the scraper tool (16) by means of the actuation device (66).

80. The device (10) according to any one of claims 20 to 79, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to automatically or partially automatically perform tilt adjustment via the adjustment device (28) when a scraper force deviation along the longitudinal range (L) of the scraper tool (16) is detected by the sensor device (18).

81. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to use the tilt position of the scraper tool (16) as a reference when it is detected that the scraper force distribution along the longitudinal range (L) of the scraper tool (16) is uniform and / or within the allowable deviation range.

82. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to automatically or partially automatically fix the tilt position of the scraper tool (16) when it is detected that the scraper force distribution along the longitudinal range (L) of the scraper tool (16) is uniform and / or within the allowable deviation range.

83. The device (10) according to any one of claims 54 to 82, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to detect and / or evaluate the squeegee force and / or the squeegee force deviation in the longitudinal direction (L) of the squeegee tool (16) during the movement of the squeegee device (15) along the squeegee movement direction (R) extending in the horizontal direction by the squeegee moving device (72), particularly when the squeegee tool (16) acts only on the printing screen (12) and / or when the printing table (22) and / or the printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece comes into contact with the printing screen (12) due to the force exerted by the squeegee tool (16) on the printing screen (12).

84. The device (10) according to any one of claims 54 to 83, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to detect and / or evaluate, via the sensor device (18) changes in scraper force based on the scraper position along the scraper movement direction (R) during the movement of the scraper device (14) by the scraper moving device (72) along the scraper movement direction (R) extending in the horizontal direction.

85. The device (10) according to any one of claims 54 to 84, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to detect and / or evaluate, via the sensor device (18) changes in scraper force deviation in the longitudinal direction of the scraper tool (16) based on the scraper position along the scraper movement direction (R) during the movement of the scraper device (14) by the scraper moving device (72) along the scraper movement direction (R) in the horizontal direction.

86. The device (10) according to any one of claims 54 to 85, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to perform continuous and / or repeated detection of the squeegee force and / or the deviation of the squeegee force in the longitudinal direction of the squeegee tool (16) during the movement of the squeegee device (15) along the squeegee movement direction (R) by the squeegee moving device (72) and / or during the screen printing operation.

87. The device (10) according to any one of claims 54 to 86, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to store and / or evaluate measurement data of continuous and / or repeated detections during the movement of the scraper device (15) along the scraper movement direction (R) by the scraper moving device (72) and / or during the printing operation.

88. The device (10) according to any one of claims 45 to 87, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to detect and / or evaluate the characteristic curve of the increase in squeegee force according to the downward movement of the squeegee tool (16) during the downward movement of the squeegee tool (16) via the actuation device (66), in a screenless arrangement and / or when the squeegee tool (16) acts directly on the printing table (22) and / or when the printing screen (12) is placed on the printing table (22), via the sensor device (18).

89. The device (10) according to any one of claims 45 to 88, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to detect and / or evaluate the characteristic curve of the increase in squeegee force according to the downward movement of the squeegee tool (16) onto the printing screen (12) by the sensor device (18) during the downward movement of the squeegee tool (16) onto the printing screen (12) by the actuation device (66), when there is no contact between the printing table (22) and / or the printing base and / or the screen printing workpiece and the printing screen (12).

90. The device (10) according to any one of claims 45 to 89, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to detect the start of an increase in scraper force during the descent movement of the scraper tool (16) via the actuation device (66), and / or to define the descent stroke of the scraper tool (16) present at the start of the increase in scraper force as a measurement reference starting point for detecting mesh recovery force and / or mesh tension and / or referencing mesh recovery force and / or referencing mesh tension and / or mesh aging.

91. The device (10) according to any one of claims 45 to 82, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to further lower the scraper tool (16) via the actuation device (66) starting from the measurement reference starting point, and is configured to detect a further increase in scraper force based on the lowering stroke, and is configured to determine the mesh recovery force and / or mesh tension and / or reference mesh recovery force and / or reference mesh tension and / or mesh aging based on the further increase in scraper force.

92. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to determine the screen recovery force and / or screen tension of the printing screen (12) at multiple locations extending in the horizontal direction along the squeegee movement direction (R), particularly at the center or central region of the printing screen (12) and / or at locations adjacent to the edges of the printing screen or adjacent to multiple printing screen edges.

93. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to determine the detection of screen restoring force and / or screen tension by means of the sensor device (18) and taking into account the lift-off height between the printing screen (12) and the printing table (22) and / or the printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece and / or taking into account the descent distance of the actuator (66) and / or the descent distance of the squeegee tool (16) of the actuator (66).

94. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to determine the applied force by means of the sensor device (18) and / or based on the sensor data detected and / or stored by the sensor device (18), the applied force being effectively transmitted from the squeegee tool (16) via the printing screen (12) to the printing table (22) and / or the printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece.

95. The device (10) according to claim 94, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to determine the applied force based on the difference between the squeegee force detected by the sensor device (18) and the previously known and / or determined screen recovery force of the printing screen (12).

96. The device (10) according to any one of claims 94 and 95, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to maintain the applied force constant during the printing operation.

97. The device (10) according to any one of claims 94 to 96, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to perform multiple printing operations with the same applied force and / or to keep the applied force deviation between multiple printing operations below a predetermined limit value.

98. The device (10) according to any one of claims 94 to 97, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to detect and / or evaluate the applied force deviation along the longitudinal range (L) of the scraper tool (16).

99. The device (10) according to any one of claims 94 to 98, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to determine the applied force by means of the sensor device (18) and by taking into account the lift-off height between the printing screen (12) and the printing table (22) and / or the printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece and / or the descent distance of the actuation device (66).

100. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) and / or the actuation device (66) are configured to hold the squeegee tool (16) at a fixed height position during the printing operation; and / or the fixed height position is fixed and / or remains unchanged by the actuation device (66) and / or the control device (100) during the printing operation.

101. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to control the height position of the squeegee tool (16) in a force-based manner, in an open-loop and / or closed-loop manner, during the execution of a printing operation.

102. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) and / or the actuation device (66) are configured to maintain a fixed squeegee force and / or a fixed and effective applied force during the printing operation.

103. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) and / or the actuation device (66) are configured to maintain a fixed and / or predetermined screen restoring force and / or screen tension during the printing process.

104. The device (10) according to any one of claims 54 to 103, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to convert continuous and / or repeated detection measurement data of the sensor device (18) into an average value and / or store and / or process the measurement data during the movement of the scraper device (14) along the scraper movement direction (R) by the scraper moving device (72) and / or during the printing operation.

105. The device (10) according to any one of claims 54 to 104, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to convert continuous and / or repeated detection measurement data from the respective force sensors (24, 26) into an average value and / or store and / or process the measurement data during the movement of the scraper device (16) along the scraper movement direction (R) by the scraper moving device (72) and / or during the printing operation.

106. The device (10) according to any one of claims 45 to 105, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to set the scraper force and / or apply force via the actuation device (66) according to the component height and / or the number of layers of the component that have been printed.

107. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to progressively and proportionally reduce the squeegee force and / or applied force from the initial squeegee force and / or the initial applied force up to the boundary layer, and / or to maintain the squeegee force constant upon reaching the boundary layer for printing additional printing layers.

108. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to determine the applied force on the screen-printed workpiece located below the screen-printed workpiece based on the determined screen recovery force curve and / or screen tension curve, the determined squeegee blade flexibility, the determined squeegee force during the printing process in the squeegee movement direction (72), the lift-off height between the printing screen (12) and the printing table (22) or the surface of the component, and / or the height of the printing screen (12). In particular, it is configured to determine the applied force as a linear pressure.

109. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to adaptively change the applied force and / or squeegee force and / or squeegee speed and / or lift-off height and / or screen lifting functionality in an open-loop and / or closed-loop controlled manner based on the actual force progression detected by the sensor device (18) during the screen printing operation.

110. The device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The control device (100) is configured to make open-loop and / or closed-loop controlled adaptive changes to the screen position alignment and / or screen height alignment based on the actual force progression and / or the applied force and / or the screen tension and / or the screen recovery force detected by the sensor device (18) during the screen printing operation.

111. An apparatus (10) for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, particularly a 3D screen printing machine, said apparatus (10) having a printing screen (12) and a squeegee device (14) for filling the printing screen (12) with printing material and / or pushing the printing material through the printing screen (12), wherein, The squeegee device (14) has at least one squeegee tool (16), a sensor device (18) for detecting the squeegee force acting on the squeegee tool (16), and a control device (100) for evaluating and / or storing sensor data of the sensor device (18), wherein the control device (100) is configured to determine the applied force by the sensor device (18) and / or based on the sensor data detected and / or stored by the sensor device (18), the applied force being effectively transmitted from the squeegee tool (16) via the printing screen (12) to the printing table (22) and / or the printing base and / or at least one screen-printed workpiece.

112. An apparatus (10) for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, particularly a 3D screen printing machine, said apparatus (10) having a printing screen (12) and a squeegee device (14) for filling the printing screen (12) with printing material and / or pushing the printing material through the printing screen (12), wherein, The scraper device (14) has at least one scraper tool (16), an adjustment device (28) for adjusting the inclination of the scraper tool (16), and a scraper mounting member (34) that allows adjustment of the inclination of the scraper tool (16) about the inclination axis (N) by the adjustment device (28), wherein the scraper mounting member (34) has at least one spring mounting member (36, 38).

113. A squeegee device (15), particularly for an apparatus (10) for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces according to any one of the preceding claims and / or a 3D screen printing machine, said squeegee device (15) having a sensor device (18) and at least one squeegee tool (16), said squeegee tool (16) for filling a printing screen (12) with printing material and / or for pushing the printing material through the printing screen (12), and said sensor device (18) for detecting a squeegee force acting on said squeegee tool (16), wherein, The sensor device (18) is configured to detect the recovery force and / or tension and / or aging of the wire mesh.

114. A method for manufacturing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, particularly utilizing equipment (10) for manufacturing screen-printed workpieces and / or a 3D screen printing machine, wherein in the method, printing material is filled into a printing screen (12) by a squeegee device (15), and / or in the method, printing material is pushed through the printing screen (12) by a squeegee device (15), wherein, The scraping force acting on the scraper tool (16) of the scraper device (15) is detected by the sensor device (18), and wherein the screen recovery force and / or screen tension of the printing screen (12) are determined by the control device (100) based on the sensor data detected and / or stored by the sensor device (18).

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