Squeegee Blade Holder With Integrated Cleaning Wires
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Solder paste tends to become distorted and depleted during printing, leading to quality and reliability issues due to inadequate retention in printing machines, resulting in surface exposure and contact with machine elements.
Innovation Solution
A squeegee holder and blade assembly with articulating side retainers and cross wires that pivot synchronously to remove solder paste from the squeegee blade after each print stroke, utilizing heated wires for enhanced shearing and cleaning, and controlled motion to maintain paste integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional squeegee blades are used without cleaning apparatus, then the structure is simple, but solder paste adheres to the blade causing distortion and depletion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the squeegee blade holder with an integrated cleaning apparatus, merging two separate functions (squeegeeing and cleaning) into a single unified assembly. The cross wires and retainers are incorporated directly into the blade holder structure, eliminating the need for separate cleaning mechanisms while maintaining printing quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cross wires as intermediary elements between the squeegee blade and the articulating side retainers. These wires act as mediators to transfer the wiping motion from the retainers to the blade surface, enabling effective cleaning without direct contact between the retainers and the blade.
2Productivity
If solder paste is transferred back and forth across the stencil, then printing is performed, but the paste becomes distorted and stretched out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary cleaning action by removing excess solder paste from the squeegee blade immediately after each printing stroke. The articulating side retainers with cross wires wipe the blade surface before the next printing operation, preventing paste distortion and maintaining proper geometry for the subsequent stroke.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous printing operation by implementing immediate cleaning between strokes. The articulating retainers are positioned to clean the blade during the return stroke, maintaining continuous productivity without interrupting the printing cycle or allowing paste to dry on the blade.
3Quantity of substance
If the squeegee blade holds solder paste, then printing is enabled, but the paste adheres to the blade and depletes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts excess solder paste from the squeegee blade surface using the cross wires and articulating side retainers. This removal action prevents paste depletion by taking out only the excess material that would otherwise adhere and be lost, while maintaining sufficient paste for the next printing operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The squeegee assembly performs self-service cleaning through the integrated articulating side retainers that automatically wipe the blade during the return stroke. The system cleans itself without external intervention, maintaining paste quantity and preventing adhesion issues through continuous self-maintenance.
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 solution effectively maintains solder paste in a preferred cylindrical shape, reducing surface exposure and contamination, enhancing printing quality and reliability by ensuring consistent paste availability and minimizing machine contact.
Implementation Method 1
The wires may alternatively be heated, to improve the shearing and cleaning action
Data Source
AI summary
A printing system including a squeegee and a blade assembly. The system further includes moving paste retainers and at least one cross elements. The cross elements include one or more cross wires to affect a wiping action of the blade during a printing cycle of the squeegee. The motion of the paste retainers and cross elements created by pivoting paste retainers. The wire motion is set on an arc at a fixed radius from a pivot point, and arc traversing a significant part of a front face of the squeegee inside of solder paste or viscous material mass. The cross elements include multiple cross wires or thin blades to affect more shearing action with less motion.