Screen Printing Mask Moving Mechanism and Detection Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing screen printing apparatuses require complex setups and reduce productivity due to the need to suspend printing when exchanging masks, posing safety risks to operators as they must manually handle masks through insertion openings.
Innovation Solution
A screen printing apparatus equipped with a mask moving mechanism, including first and second detecting units to ensure safe and productive mask exchange by automatically moving masks to printing positions and suspending printing when necessary, preventing foreign objects from interfering with the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a stocker and automatic mask removal apparatus are included to enable automatic mask exchange, then mask exchange automation is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of automatic mask exchange from the complex stocker system and implements it through a simplified mechanism where masks are inserted through an opening and automatically moved to the printing position using a mask moving mechanism. This eliminates the need for a large stocker while maintaining automatic exchange capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mask moving mechanism automatically moves masks from the insertion position to the printing position without requiring complex external control systems. The system serves itself by automatically detecting mask presence and executing the moving operation, reducing overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If masks are manually inserted through an insertion opening while printing is suspended, then operator safety is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous printing operation by implementing automatic mask moving functionality. Masks are automatically moved to the printing position during printing operations, eliminating the need to suspend printing for mask changes. This maintains operator safety while preserving productivity through uninterrupted printing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The mask moving mechanism acts as an intermediary between mask insertion and the printing process. It automatically handles mask transportation, allowing the printing process to continue without interruption while still ensuring safe mask handling procedures are followed.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If printing is suspended during mask insertion, then foreign object interference is prevented, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of mask presence at the insertion position before initiating the mask moving operation. This preliminary action ensures that masks are properly positioned and secured before automatic moving begins, preventing foreign object interference while minimizing interruption time to the printing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The mask moving mechanism rapidly transports masks from the insertion position to the printing position, minimizing the time that printing operations are suspended. This rapid transition reduces loss of time while still ensuring safe handling by completing the mask exchange operation quickly and efficiently.
Data Source
AI summary
A screen printing apparatus moves a mask, inserted through an insertion opening, to a printing position at which paste is printed onto a substrate via a mask moving mechanism, and includes: a first detecting unit that detects one of a front frame component and a back frame component of the mask at a first detection position on a path along which the mask inserted through the insertion opening is moved to the printing position; a second detecting unit that detects one of the front frame component and the back frame component at a second detection position closer to the printing position than the first detecting position is; and a print suspension controller that suspends printing when the second detecting unit detects one of the front frame component and the back frame component while the first detecting unit is detecting one of the front frame component and the back frame component.