Screen Printing Apparatus and Screen Printing Method

Abstract

To provide a screen printing apparatus and a screen printing method which can enhance a plate separating property after a printing operation regardless of a type of a mask, thereby suppressing occurrence of printing failure. A screen printing apparatus includes mask supporting means 6 for supporting a mask 2 from the rear surface thereof, holding means 20 for holding a printing medium 3 , posture changing means 30 for changing a posture of the printing medium 3 held by the holding means 20 between a parallel posture parallel to the mask 2 and a tilted posture tilted about the mask 2 , and lifting means for lifting the holding means 20 so as to contact and separate the surface of the printing medium 3 with or from the rear surface of the mask 2 . Here, the printing medium 3 having been subjected to a pattern printing operation is separated from the mask 2 from one end of the printing medium to the other end thereof. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance a separating property between the printing medium 3 and the mask 2 , thereby suppressing occurrence of printing failure.

1 . A screen printing apparatus for printing a pattern of paste on the surface of a printing medium which is positioned with respect to a mask having predetermined pattern holes, the screen printing apparatus comprising:
 mask supporting means for supporting the mask from the rear surface thereof;   holding means for holding the printing medium;   posture changing means for changing a posture of the printing medium held by the holding means between a parallel posture parallel to the mask and a tilted posture tilted about the mask, and   lifting means for lifting the holding means so as to contact and separate the surface of the printing medium with or from the rear surface of the mask.   
     
     
         2 . The screen printing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the posture changing means changes the posture of the printing medium between the parallel posture and the tilted posture by lifting one end in a transport direction of the printing medium. 
     
     
         3 . The screen printing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the posture changing means includes a support portion disposed at an end in the transport direction of the printing medium and lifting means disposed at an end opposite to the end at which the support portion is disposed, and
 wherein the posture changing means lifts an end of the holding means by the use of a cam mechanism, which converts a horizontal movement of a lifting means driving unit into a vertical movement, and rotates the holding means about the support portion.   
     
     
         4 . The screen printing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the posture changing means includes a support portion disposed at an end in the transport direction of the printing medium and lifting means disposed at an end opposite to the end at which the support portion is disposed, and
 wherein the posture changing means lifts an end of the holding means by the use of a link mechanism, which converts a horizontal movement of a lifting means driving unit into a vertical movement, and rotates the holding means about the support portion.   
     
     
         5 . The screen printing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the posture changing means includes a support portion disposed at an end in the transport direction of the printing medium and lifting means disposed at an end opposite to the end at which the support portion is disposed, and
 wherein the posture changing means lifts an end of the holding means and rotates the holding means about the support portion, by converting a rotational movement of a lifting means driving unit about the vertical direction of the lifting means driving unit into a vertical movement.   
     
     
         6 . The screen printing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the posture changing means changes the posture of the printing medium between the parallel posture and the tilted posture with respect to the mask by lifting an end in a direction perpendicular to a transport direction of the printing medium in a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         7 . The screen printing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the posture changing means includes a support portion disposed at an end in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the printing medium in a horizontal plane and lifting means disposed at an end opposite to the end at which the support portion is disposed, and
 wherein the posture changing means lifts an end of the holding means by the use of a cam mechanism, which converts a horizontal movement of a lifting means driving unit into a vertical movement, and rotates the holding means about the support portion.   
     
     
         8 . The screen printing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the posture changing means includes a support portion disposed at an end in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the printing medium in a horizontal plane and lifting means disposed at an end opposite to the end at which the support portion is disposed, and
 wherein the posture changing means lifts an end of the holding means by the use of a link mechanism, which converts a horizontal movement of a lifting means driving unit into a vertical movement, and rotates the holding means about the support portion.   
     
     
         9 . The screen printing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the posture changing means includes a support portion disposed at an end in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the printing medium in a horizontal plane and lifting means disposed at an end opposite to the end at which the support portion is disposed, and
 wherein the posture changing means lifts an end of the holding means and rotates the holding means about the support portion, by converting a rotational movement of a lifting means driving unit about the vertical direction of the lifting means driving unit into a vertical movement.   
     
     
         10 . A screen printing method of printing a pattern of paste on the surface of a printing medium which is positioned with respect to a mask having predetermined pattern holes therein, the screen printing apparatus comprising the steps of:
 bringing the surface of the printing medium into contact with the rear surface of the mask;   printing a pattern on the surface of the printing medium; and   separating the printing medium from the mask,   wherein the step of separating the printing medium from the mask includes a step of tilting the printing medium about the mask.   
     
     
         11 . The screen printing method according to  claim 10 , wherein the step of tilting the printing medium about the mask includes lifting an end in a transport direction of the printing medium and rotating the printing medium. 
     
     
         12 . The screen printing method according to  claim 10 , wherein the step of tilting the printing medium about the mask includes lifting an end in a direction perpendicular to a transport direction of the printing medium in a horizontal plane and rotating the printing medium.