Patent ID: 6289804
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: B05C,B41F,H05K

Abstract:
An apparatus for supporting and tensioning a stencil to enable solder printing of circuit boards and other electronic substrates, comprising:a support frame;at least one pair of opposed mounting members engaged with the support frame, with at least one of the mounting members being reciprocally displaceable toward the other member of the pair, and with each mounting member including at least one projection positioned to engage an aperture in a stencil to thereby mount the stencil;a first mechanism positioned to apply a permanent bias to at least one of the mounting members in a direction away from the other member of the pair such that the members can maintain a stencil under tension; anda second mechanism configured to apply a second bias counter to the permanent bias to overcome the permanent bias and displace at least one member of the pair toward the other member.