Screen Cleaning Head With Vacuum Section For Printing Screens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printing screens used in circuit board and solar cell printing are prone to medium accumulation on the underside and in apertures, reducing performance and potentially causing wafer breakage, and existing under-screen cleaners are inefficient in cycle time and cleaning sheet usage.
Innovation Solution
A screen cleaning apparatus with a head that includes a first section for supporting a dry or wet cleaning sheet, a vacuum section for drawing residue, and a third section for supporting the other type of cleaning sheet, allowing for simultaneous wetting, vacuuming, and drying in a single sweep, reducing cycle time and cleaning sheet usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If existing under-screen cleaners are used, then cleaning function is provided, but cycle time is excessive and cleaning sheet usage is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines wetting, vacuuming, and drying functions into a single integrated cleaning head that performs all three operations simultaneously in one sweep across the printing screen. This merging of multiple cleaning stages into one unified device eliminates the need for separate cleaning operations, thereby reducing cycle time and increasing productivity while maintaining effective cleaning performance.
2Loss of substance
If existing under-screen cleaners are used, then cleaning function is provided, but cleaning sheet usage is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning head is divided into three distinct functional sections: a wetting section that applies cleaning fluid, a vacuum section that removes residue, and a drying section that eliminates moisture. Each section processes a different portion of the cleaning sheet, allowing the sheet to be reused more effectively across multiple passes while maintaining cleaning performance, thereby reducing overall cleaning sheet consumption.
3Reliability
If multiple cleaning passes are performed, then thorough cleaning is achieved, but cycle time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges wetting, vacuuming, and drying operations into a single simultaneous process within one cleaning head sweep. This integration ensures that all necessary cleaning functions are performed in one pass, achieving thorough cleaning effectiveness without requiring multiple sequential cleaning passes, thereby reducing the total duration of the cleaning operation.
4Productivity
If cleaning is delayed, then productivity is maintained, but print material accumulation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is designed to perform immediate cleaning after each printing operation through the integrated cleaning head that can be quickly deployed. The preliminary action of immediate cleaning prevents print material accumulation on the screen, ensuring that cleaning is performed before residue can harden or cause problems, thereby maintaining printing productivity without compromise.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus shortens the cleaning cycle by one-third to two-thirds compared to existing cleaners, allowing for immediate cleaning after each printing operation and reducing cleaning sheet usage, while preventing print material accumulation.
Implementation Method 1
a second, vacuum section, at which a vacuum is provided to draw a vacuum through the cleaning sheet thereabove
Data Source
AI summary
A screen cleaning apparatus (2) and method, wherein: a screen cleaning head (3) is operative to contact a surface of a printing screen (PS), the screen cleaning head (3) includes a screen contact element (17) over which a cleaning sheet (7) is in use disposed, the screen contact element (17) comprises a first section (17a), which is configured to support one of a dry section or a wet section of the cleaning sheet (7) thereabove, a second, vacuum section (17b), at which a vacuum is provided to draw a vacuum therethrough, and a third section (17c), which is configured to support the other of a wet section or a dry section of the cleaning sheet thereabove; and a support (11) to which the cleaning head (3) is supported and which is movable over the surface of the printing screen (PS) to provide for cleaning of the same.