Screen Printer Mask Suction for Parallel Plate Release
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The reduction in mask thickness due to finer printing patterns on substrates leads to bending during plate releasing, causing paste shape loss and reduced printing accuracy in screen printing processes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating mask suction portions in the clamping members that maintain a vacuum on the mask during substrate movement away from the mask, ensuring the mask remains parallel to the substrate, thus preventing paste shape loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the mask thickness is reduced to enable finer printing patterns, then the printing resolution is improved, but the mask becomes prone to bending during plate releasing which reduces printing accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
A suction mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the mask and the substrate holding unit. The suction holes in the substrate holding unit create a vacuum field that acts as a mediator to hold the mask in a parallel posture during substrate movement, preventing mask bending while maintaining thin mask thickness for fine printing patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies pneumatic principles by using suction (vacuum) holes in the substrate holding unit to generate negative pressure that adheres the mask to the holding unit. This pneumatic field maintains the mask's parallel posture during substrate movement, solving the bending issue without increasing mask thickness.
2Manufacturing precision
If the mask closely contacts the substrate during paste filling, then the paste filling accuracy is improved, but the mask is pulled toward the substrate during plate releasing causing paste shape loss
Solution Approach 1:
The suction mechanism acts as an intermediary force during plate releasing. By maintaining suction on the mask, it counteracts the pulling force that would otherwise cause the mask to bend and distort the paste shape, while allowing close contact during paste filling when suction is not yet applied or is minimal.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the mask-substrate interaction: during paste filling, the mask closely contacts the substrate for accuracy; during plate releasing, the suction mechanism dynamically engages to maintain mask posture and prevent paste distortion. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction between close contact needs and shape preservation.
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
This solution secures good printing accuracy by maintaining the mask's posture parallel to the substrate during plate releasing, preventing paste shape loss and enhancing overall printing precision.
Implementation Method 1
mask suction portions that are provided in the pair of clamping members and that suck the mask being contacted with the substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A screen printer includes a mask, a substrate holding unit that clamps and holds a substrate below the mask by clamping members, a substrate holding unit moving mechanism that moves the substrate holding unit to contact the substrate with a lower surface of the mask, a paste filling unit that fills pattern holes of the mask with a paste, mask suction portions provided in the clamping members which suck the mask contacted with the substrate. The mask suction portions keep sucking the mask when the substrate holding unit moving mechanism moves the substrate in a direction away from the mask to perform plate releasing, and release the suction of the mask in a state in which the mask sucked to the mask suction portions maintains a posture parallel to the substrate after the movement of the substrate is started.