Method for replacing items in a stencil printer using a dual function tooling tray

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12251925-B2
Application number	US-202318383578-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 25, 2023
Priority date	Aug 17, 2022
Publication date	Mar 18, 2025
Grant date	Mar 18, 2025

Abstract

A dual function tooling tray for a stencil printer includes a perimeter frame, a first frame member spaced from a first side of the perimeter frame, a second frame member spaced from a second side of the perimeter frame, and a third frame member extending between and secured to the first frame member and the second frame member. The third frame member is configured to support at least one squeegee blade assembly. The tooling tray further includes a first support secured to the first frame member and a second support secured to the second frame member. The first support and the second support are configured to support a tooling plate. The tooling tray further includes a third support secured to the first frame member and a fourth support secured to the second frame member. The third support and the fourth support are configured to support a tooling plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for replacing items in a stencil printer, the method comprising:
providing a tooling tray including a new tooling support and a new squeegee blade assembly support and a used tooling support and a used squeegee blade assembly support, the tooling tray including a new tooling plate on the new tooling support and a new squeegee blade assembly on the new squeegee blade assembly support;
removing a used squeegee blade assembly from a print head of the stencil printer;
positioning the used squeegee blade assembly on the used squeegee blade assembly support of the tooling tray;
removing a used tooling plate from a support assembly of the stencil printer;
positioning the used tooling plate on the used tooling support of the tooling tray;
removing the new squeegee blade assembly from the tooling tray;
installing the new squeegee blade assembly on the print head of the stencil printer;
removing the new tooling plate from the tooling tray; and
installing the new tooling plate on the support assembly of the stencil printer,
wherein the tooling tray includes
a perimeter frame having four sides,
a first frame member spaced from a first side of the perimeter frame,
a second frame member spaced from a second side of the perimeter frame, the first side and the second side of the perimeter frame being parallel with one another,
a third frame member extending between and secured to the first frame member and the second frame member, the third frame member being configured to support at least one squeegee blade assembly,
a first support secured to the first frame member and a second support secured to the second frame member, the first support and the second support together being configured to support a first tooling plate, and
a third support secured to the first frame member and a fourth support secured to the second frame member, the third support and the fourth support together being configured to support a second tooling plate.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising presenting the tooling tray to the stencil printer and moving the tooling tray within the stencil printer.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein moving the tooling tray is achieved by a gripper mechanism associated with the print head of the stencil printer.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein presenting the tooling tray to the stencil printer includes moving the tooling tray with a movable cart, which is employed to present and remove stencils and tooling trays from the stencil printer.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising verifying a position of the tooling tray.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein verifying the position of the tooling tray includes capturing an image of the tooling tray with a fiducial provided on the tooling tray.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first support and the second support are positioned adjacent a third side of the perimeter frame and the third support and the fourth support are positioned adjacent a fourth side of the perimeter frame.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first support and the second support are spaced apart from one another a predetermined distance sufficient to support the first tooling plate.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the third support and the fourth support are spaced apart from one another a predetermined distance sufficient to support the second tooling plate.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a first support member connected at one end thereof to the first side of the perimeter frame and at an opposite end to the first frame member.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising a second support member connected at one end thereof to the second side of the perimeter frame and at an opposite end to the second frame member.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first support, the second support, the third support, and the fourth support each include a feature configured to engage a mating feature associated with its respective tooling plate to support its respective tooling plate.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the feature is a pin and the mating feature is an opening sized to receive the pin.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one of the first support and the second support and at least one of the third support and the fourth support each include a fiducial configured to be detected by an imaging system.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the third frame member is perpendicular to the first frame member and the second frame member.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the third frame member includes at least one squeegee blade assembly support structure.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the third frame member further includes a drip tray.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the drip tray is secured to a bottom surface of the third frame member.

19. The method of claim 10 , wherein the perimeter frame is configured to be engaged by a gripper associated with the print head of the stencil printer.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Losiewicz William A

Classifications

• H05K3/1233

  Methods or means for supplying the conductive material and for forcing it through the screen or stencil · CPC title

• B41L13/02

  with flat stencil carriers · CPC title

• B41F15/12 Primary

  with auxiliary equipment, e.g. for drying printed articles · CPC title

• B41F15/40

  Inking units · CPC title

• B41F15/44

  Squeegees or doctors · CPC title