Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080250950 | Method and apparatus for calibrating print head pressure and applying an accurate print pressure during production - A stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, a substrate support coupled to the frame to support a substrate in a print position, and a print head, coupled to the frame, to deposit and print viscous material over the stencil. The print head includes a squeegee assembly having at least one squeegee blade and a squeegee blade movement mechanism configured to move the squeegee blade from a raised position in which the squeegee blade is spaced from stencil and a lowered position in which the squeegee blade engages and applies a force on the stencil. The print head further has a device to detect a first reference point associated with a first force of the squeegee blade against the stencil and a second reference point associated with a second force of the squeegee blade against the stencil when moving the squeegee blade to the lowered position in which the squeegee blade engages and applies a force on the stencil. | 10-16-2008 |
20090205518 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING AN ACCURATE PRINT PRESSURE DURING PRODUCTION - A stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, a substrate support coupled to the frame to support a substrate in a print position, and a print head, coupled to the frame, to deposit and print viscous material over the stencil. The print head may include a squeegee blade configured to engage the stencil, a squeegee blade mount configured to house the squeegee blade, a squeegee blade movement mechanism configured to move the squeegee blade mount in a z-axis direction from a raised position in which the squeegee blade is spaced from stencil and a lowered position in which the squeegee blade engages and applies a force on the stencil, and a connector configured to pivotally connect the squeegee blade mount to the squeegee blade movement mechanism. The connector may include a load cell configured to measure force of the squeegee blade against the stencil. Other embodiments and related methods are further disclosed. | 08-20-2009 |
20090255426 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PLACING SUBSTRATE SUPPORT COMPONENTS - An apparatus for depositing viscous material on an electronic substrate includes a frame, a dispensing unit coupled to the frame, and a substrate support assembly coupled to the frame. The substrate support assembly includes a plurality of support elements, a table coupled to the frame. The table has a support surface to support at least one support element of the plurality of support elements, and a marking device coupled to the frame. The apparatus further includes an imaging system coupled to the frame. The imaging system is configured to capture images of the support surface of the table. A controller is coupled to at least the marking device and the imaging system, and configured to manipulate the marking device to mark the support surface of the table on predetermined positions and to manipulate the imaging system to verify whether the marks on the support surface of the table are accurate. Embodiments of the apparatus and related methods are further disclosed. | 10-15-2009 |
20100122633 | VERTICALLY SEPARATED PASS THROUGH CONVEYOR SYSTEM AND METHOD IN SURFACE MOUNT TECHNOLOGY PROCESS EQUIPMENT - Disclosed herein is an apparatus for depositing viscous material on an electronic substrate. The apparatus comprises a frame, an assembly material applicator coupled to the frame and configured to apply assembly material to the electronic substrate, a substrate support assembly, coupled to the frame, configured to support and secure the electronic substrate in a material application position, and a transport system, coupled to the frame, to shuttle electronic substrates to and from the substrate support assembly, the transport system including an upper track and a lower track disposed below the upper track. | 05-20-2010 |
20100122634 | VERTICALLY SEPARATED PASS THROUGH CONVEYOR SYSTEM AND METHOD IN SURFACE MOUNT TECHNOLOGY PROCESS EQUIPMENT - Disclosed herein is an apparatus for depositing viscous material on an electronic substrate. The apparatus comprises a frame, an assembly material applicator coupled to the frame and configured to apply assembly material to the electronic substrate, a substrate support assembly, coupled to the frame, configured to support and secure the electronic substrate in a print position, and a transport system, coupled to the frame, to shuttle electronic substrates to and from the substrate support assembly, the transport system including a first track and a second track, the first track being mounted on a first displacement mechanism and the second track being mounted on a second displacement mechanism configured to laterally move the second track relative to the first track, the second displacement mechanism configured to raise the first track relative to the second track. | 05-20-2010 |
20100122635 | VERTICALLY SEPARATED PASS THROUGH CONVEYOR SYSTEM AND METHOD IN SURFACE MOUNT TECHNOLOGY PROCESS EQUIPMENT - Disclosed herein is an apparatus for depositing viscous material on an electronic substrate. The apparatus comprises a frame, an assembly material applicator coupled to the frame and configured to apply assembly material to the electronic substrate, a substrate support assembly, coupled to the frame, configured to support and secure the electronic substrate in a material application position, and a transport system, coupled to the frame, to shuttle electronic substrates to and from the substrate support assembly, the transport system including an upper track and a lower track disposed below the upper track. | 05-20-2010 |
20100122636 | VERTICALLY SEPARATED PASS THROUGH CONVEYOR SYSTEM AND METHOD IN SURFACE MOUNT TECHNOLOGY PROCESS EQUIPMENT - Disclosed herein is a modular printing system for printing viscous material on electronic substrates. The modular printing system comprises a first stencil printer including a substrate support assembly including a support configured to support and secure the electronic substrate in a print position, and a first system configured to shuttle electronic substrates to and from the first support of the first substrate support assembly, the first system including an upper track and a lower track disposed below the upper track, and at least one second stencil printer including a second substrate support assembly including a support configured to support and secure the electronic substrate in a print position, and a system configured to shuttle electronic substrates to and from the support of the second substrate support assembly, the system including a at least one upper track and a lower track disposed below the upper track. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125357 | VERTICALLY SEPARATED PASS THROUGH CONVEYOR SYSTEM AND METHOD IN SURFACE MOUNT TECHNOLOGY PROCESS EQUIPMENT - Disclosed herein is a modular system for manufacturing printed circuit boards. The system comprises a plurality of pieces of processing equipment including at least one assembly material applicator, and at least one electronic component placement machine, and a transport system configured to transport circuit boards from the at least one stencil printer to the at least one electronic component placement machine, the system including an upper track and a lower track disposed below the upper track. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125359 | VERTICALLY SEPARATED PASS THROUGH CONVEYOR SYSTEM AND METHOD IN SURFACE MOUNT TECHNOLOGY PROCESS EQUIPMENT - Disclosed herein is method of operating a piece of surface mount technology manufacturing equipment. The method comprises providing a piece of surface mount technology manufacturing equipment having a first substrate transport track disposed in a first position and a second substrate transport track disposed in a second position, moving the first substrate transport track from the first position to a third position, and moving the second substrate transport track from the second position to the first position. | 05-20-2010 |
20110011288 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CALIBRATING PRINT HEAD PRESSURE AND APPLYING AN ACCURATE PRINT PRESSURE DURING PRODUCTION - A stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, a substrate support coupled to the frame to support a substrate in a print position, and a print head, coupled to the frame, to deposit and print viscous material over the stencil. The print head includes a squeegee assembly having at least one squeegee blade and a squeegee blade movement mechanism configured to move the squeegee blade from a raised position in which the squeegee blade is spaced from stencil and a lowered position in which the squeegee blade engages and applies a force on the stencil. The print head further has a device to detect a first reference point associated with a first force of the squeegee blade against the stencil and a second reference point associated with a second force of the squeegee blade against the stencil when moving the squeegee blade to the lowered position in which the squeegee blade engages and applies a force on the stencil. | 01-20-2011 |
20110283512 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING AN ACCURATE PRINT PRESSURE DURING PRODUCTION - A stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, a substrate support coupled to the frame to support a substrate in a print position, and a print head, coupled to the frame, to deposit and print viscous material over the stencil. The print head may include a squeegee blade configured to engage the stencil, a squeegee blade mount configured to house the squeegee blade, a squeegee blade movement mechanism configured to move the squeegee blade mount in a z-axis direction from a raised position in which the squeegee blade is spaced from stencil and a lowered position in which the squeegee blade engages and applies a force on the stencil, and a connector configured to pivotally connect the squeegee blade mount to the squeegee blade movement mechanism. The connector may include a load cell configured to measure force of the squeegee blade against the stencil. Other embodiments and related methods are further disclosed. | 11-24-2011 |
20120145013 | COMBINATION STENCIL PRINTER AND DISPENSER AND RELATED METHODS - A combination stencil printer and dispenser includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, a substrate support coupled to the frame to support a substrate in a print position, and a print head coupled to the frame to deposit and print viscous material over the stencil. The combination stencil printer and dispenser further includes a dispenser mounted on an independent gantry to dispense viscous material on the substrate when the substrate is in the print position. In other embodiments, the dispenser can be mounted on a stencil wiper assembly or a movable stencil provided within the combination stencil printer and dispenser. | 06-14-2012 |
20120145014 | COMBINATION STENCIL PRINTER AND DISPENSER AND RELATED METHODS - A combination stencil printer and dispenser includes a frame, a movable stencil coupled to the frame, a substrate support coupled to the frame to support a substrate in a print position, and a print head coupled to the frame to deposit and print viscous material over the stencil. The combination stencil printer and dispenser further includes a dispenser mounted on the movable stencil to dispense viscous material on the substrate when the substrate is in the print position. In other embodiments, the dispenser can be mounted on a stencil wiper or on an independent gantry provided within the combination stencil printer and dispenser. | 06-14-2012 |
20120145015 | COMBINATION STENCIL PRINTER AND DISPENSER AND RELATED METHODS - A combination stencil printer and dispenser includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, a substrate support coupled to the frame to support a substrate in a print position, and a print head coupled to the frame to deposit and print viscous material over the stencil. In one embodiment, the combination stencil printer and dispenser further includes a cleaning assembly coupled to the frame to wipe excess viscous material from a bottom surface of the stencil. The combination stencil printer and dispenser further includes a dispenser mounted on the cleaning assembly to dispense viscous material on the substrate when the substrate is in the print position. In other embodiments, the dispenser can be mounted on a movable stencil or on an independent gantry provided within the combination stencil printer and dispenser. | 06-14-2012 |
20120145016 | METHODS FOR DEPOSITING VISCOUS MATERIAL ON A SUBSTRATE WITH A COMBINATION STENCIL PRINTER AND DISPENSER - A method of depositing viscous material on a substrate includes positioning the substrate in a print position, performing a print operation on the substrate with a print head and a stencil to deposit viscous material on the substrate, and inspecting the substrate with a vision system to detect a defect with the deposit of viscous material on the substrate. The method further includes, in the event of a defect, re-working the substrate by depositing viscous material on the substrate with a dispenser attached to a cleaning assembly, the stencil, or an independent gantry to correct the defect. | 06-14-2012 |
20130133574 | MATERIAL DEPOSITION SYSTEM FOR DEPOSITING MATERIALS ON A SUBSTRATE - A material deposition system for depositing materials on an electronic substrate with a material deposition system is disclosed. The deposition system includes a frame, a gantry system coupled to the frame, a deposition head coupled to the gantry system and configured to deposit dots of low viscous and semi-viscous material on the electronic substrate, and a controller configured to control the operation of the material deposition system, including the operation of the gantry system and the deposition head. The system is capable of depositing a line or a pattern of material on the electronic substrate by moving the deposition head along an axis of motion that is substantially non-parallel to a direction of the line or pattern. Other deposition systems and methods are further disclosed. | 05-30-2013 |
20130136850 | METHOD FOR DEPOSITING MATERIALS ON A SUBSTRATE - A method of depositing materials on an electronic substrate with a material deposition system is disclosed. The deposition system includes a frame, a gantry system coupled to the frame, a deposition head coupled to the gantry system and configured to deposit dots of low viscous and semi-viscous material on the electronic substrate, and a controller configured to control the operation of the material deposition system, including the operation of the gantry system and the deposition head. The method includes depositing a line or a pattern of material on the electronic substrate by moving the deposition head along an axis of motion that is substantially non-parallel to a direction of the line or pattern. Other methods and deposition systems are further disclosed. | 05-30-2013 |
20130180829 | VERTICALLY SEPARATED PASS THROUGH CONVEYOR SYSTEM AND METHOD IN SURFACE MOUNT TECHNOLOGY PROCESS EQUIPMENT - Disclosed herein is an apparatus for depositing viscous material on an electronic substrate. The apparatus comprises a frame, an assembly material applicator coupled to the frame and configured to apply assembly material to the electronic substrate, a substrate support assembly, coupled to the frame, configured to support and secure the electronic substrate in a print position, and a transport system, coupled to the frame, to shuttle electronic substrates to and from the substrate support assembly, the transport system including a first track and a second track, the first track being mounted on a first displacement mechanism and the second track being mounted on a second displacement mechanism configured to laterally move the second track relative to the first track, the second displacement mechanism configured to raise the first track relative to the second track. | 07-18-2013 |
20130199386 | PRINT HEAD FOR STENCIL PRINTER - A stencil printer for printing viscous material on an electronic substrate includes a stencil having apertures formed therein, and a print head positioned over the stencil and configured to deposit viscous material within the apertures of the stencil. The print head includes a housing defining an elongate chamber, a source port defining a passage having an inlet positioned to allow viscous material to flow into the elongate chamber, a pair of blades defining a slot that provides an outlet from which viscous material can flow out of the elongate chamber, an elongate plunger movable in the elongate chamber to reduce a volume of viscous material within the elongate chamber, and at least one sensor to detect pressure of the viscous material within the elongate chamber. | 08-08-2013 |
20130206025 | COMBINATION STENCIL PRINTER AND DISPENSER INCLUDING A CLEANING ASSEMBLY - A combination stencil printer and dispenser includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, a substrate support coupled to the frame to support a substrate in a print position, and a print head coupled to the frame to deposit and print viscous material over the stencil. In one embodiment, the combination stencil printer and dispenser further includes a cleaning assembly coupled to the frame to wipe excess viscous material from a bottom surface of the stencil. The combination stencil printer and dispenser further includes a dispenser mounted on the cleaning assembly to dispense viscous material on the substrate when the substrate is in the print position. In other embodiments, the dispenser can be mounted on a movable stencil or on an independent gantry provided within the combination stencil printer and dispenser. | 08-15-2013 |
20130333206 | VERTICALLY SEPARATED PASS THROUGH CONVEYOR SYSTEM AND METHOD IN SURFACE MOUNT TECHNOLOGY PROCESS EQUIPMENT - Disclosed herein is an apparatus for depositing viscous material on an electronic substrate. The apparatus comprises a frame, an assembly material applicator coupled to the frame and configured to apply assembly material to the electronic substrate, a substrate support assembly, coupled to the frame, configured to support and secure the electronic substrate in a material application position, and a transport system, coupled to the frame, to shuttle electronic substrates to and from the substrate support assembly, the transport system including an upper track and a lower track disposed below the upper track. | 12-19-2013 |
20140263688 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING A VISCOUS MATERIAL ON A SUBSTRATE - A dispenser, configured to dispense material on a substrate, includes a dispensing unit having a housing with a chamber, a piston disposed in the chamber and axially movable within the chamber, and a nozzle coupled to the housing. The nozzle has an orifice co-axial with the chamber of the housing. The dispenser further includes an actuator coupled to the dispensing unit and configured to drive the up- and down movement of the piston, and a compliant assembly coupled to the actuator and the piston. The compliant assembly is configured to permit limited relative travel between the actuator and the piston. A method of dispensing is further disclosed. | 09-18-2014 |
20150014396 | PRINT HEAD FOR STENCIL PRINTER - A stencil printer for printing viscous material on an electronic substrate includes a stencil having apertures formed therein, and a print head positioned over the stencil and configured to deposit viscous material within the apertures of the stencil. The print head includes a housing defining an elongate chamber, a source port defining a passage having an inlet positioned to allow viscous material to flow into the elongate chamber, a pair of blades defining a slot that provides an outlet from which viscous material can flow out of the elongate chamber, an elongate plunger movable in the elongate chamber to reduce a volume of viscous material within the elongate chamber, and at least one sensor to detect pressure of the viscous material within the elongate chamber. | 01-15-2015 |