Print screen unit

Disclosed herein is a print screen unit. The print screen unit has a structure in which the connection member is positioned to be slanted at a predetermined angle when the print screen is fitted to an interface unit, such that, as tensile force is applied to the print screen, the engagement state of engaging apertures of the print screen and engaging protrusions of the connection member moves toward the coupling direction thereof so as to further increase coupling force therebetween. And the print screen unit has a structure in which, when each of corner pieces is fitted into and connected to each of end portions of the interface unit, a connection surface area increases so as to bring three surfaces of the inside of the interface unit into close contact with a first and a second piece member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. National Phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/KR2016/015218 filed on Dec. 23, 2016, which in turn claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 10-2016-0035292, filed on Mar. 24, 2016, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference into the present application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a print screen unit and, more particularly, to a print screen unit, wherein a structure by which a print screen is connected to a support frame is simplified so as to reduce manufacturing costs, and when a tensile force is applied to the print screen by a tension apparatus attached thereto, a coupling force between the print screen and the support frame further increases, which enables an even tensile force to be applied to the print screen without creasing the print screen.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, a print screen is made of thin and stiff metallic materials, and typically, is made of stainless steel or brass, and usually has multiple printing apertures forming patterns used in printing via printing mediums such as solder. The print screen, a flexible punched sheet made of mesh interwoven with polypropylene or stainless steel strand, is attached to a rectangular support frame so as to tension the print screen.

Though the print screen is used while being mounted to the support frame, the print screen is deformed by a squeegee when there is a loosened part on the print screen, and thus the position of a printing pattern is deviated or the printing pattern is deformed. To prevent this in performing screen printing, a predetermined amount of tensile force is continuously applied to the print screen so as to maintain the tension of the print screen.

Since the print screen often adheres to the support frame by use of an adhesive, the print screen is already attached to the support frame when the print screen is required. Accordingly, when the print screen is not used, it is required to keep or carry the print screen attached to the support frame, which is heavy and large.

There is a support frame configured in such a manner that a print screen is attached to the support frame by winding or clamping edges of the print screen. As for the support frame, though when the print screen is not used, the print screen may be removed from the support frame to be kept or carried, the print screen is thin and thus it is difficult to keep or carry the without damaging printing patterns formed precisely thereon.

In consideration of this problem, as shownFIGS. 1 to 3, a conventional print screen unit10disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-0110277 includes a print screen12, which has a rectangular shape, including a pattern of printing apertures20provided by laser cutting or etching so as to form a pattern of printed deposits, and a support frame14including a first and a second pair of interface units16,16,17,17attached to each pair of opposing edges of the print screen12, and a first to a fourth corner piece18a-18dwhich connect each of the interface units16,16,17,17to each other.

The print screen12, to which a tension apparatus (not shown) is attached, includes a plurality of protrusions22provided on each of the edges thereof along a longitudinal direction of the edge, each of the protrusions having a castellated structure and being spaced apart from each other, and the protrusions being bent so as to constitute adhesive materials24.

The protrusions22are bent along each of the edges of the print screen12, and the protrusions22constitute each of the adhesive materials24functioning as a hook, which covers sharp angles of the print screen unit10.

The interface unit16,16,17,17includes an attach slot32extending along a longitudinal direction thereof, and an adhesion part26in which each of the adhesive materials24of the print screen12is positioned.

However, as for the conventional print screen unit10having a configuration mentioned above, the print screen12is configured in such a manner that the protrusions22are normally provided on the edge of the print screen by cutting and bending, and accordingly, when the protrusions22of the print screen12are fitted into and connected to each of the interface units16,16,17,17, an additional connection member is not required. However, since the protrusions22acting as a connection member are manufactured through a first cutting and a second bending, manufacturing the print screen12takes much time and cost, and when fitting the print screen into the interface unit, a worker may be harmed by the sharp edges of the print screen12.

Additionally, since the print screen unit is configured in such a manner that with the protrusions22of the print screen12bent, the protrusions are correspondingly fitted into the attach slot32of the interface unit16,16,17,17, when giving tension to the print screen12by applying the tensile force to the interface unit16,16,17,17, the protrusions22do not stand the tensile force, and the bent shapes are deformed or damaged, which causes the protrusions to break away from the attach slot32.

Meanwhile, as shownFIGS. 4 to 6, another conventional print screen unit110disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-1445271 includes a print screen112, which has a rectangular shape, including a pattern of printing apertures120, and a support frame114including a first and a second pair of interface units116,116,117,117attached to each pair of opposing edges of the print screen112, and a first to a fourth corner piece118a-118dwhich connect each of the interface units116,116,117,117to each other.

The print screen112to which a tension apparatus (not shown) is attached includes a plurality of engaging apertures124a,124bprovided on each of the edges of the print screen along longitudinal directions thereof such that the print screen is engaged with each of connection members130so as to be fitted into the interface unit116,116,117,117.

The first to fourth corner piece118a-118dinclude a first and a second connection member166,170provided by protruding therefrom in directions orthogonal to each other such that each of the first to fourth corner piece is fitted into concave parts156of each of end portions of the interface units116,116,117,117neighboring the first to fourth corner piece.

The connection member130includes a long body157, which is a long rectangular shape bar, provided so as to be fitted into a support slot part144of a connection slot142in each of the interface unit116,116,117,117, and first and second row engaging protrusions158a,158bprovided on the long body in longitudinal directions thereof, the first and second row engaging protrusions having protruding engaging structures, which have shapes of protruding studs, so as to be engaged with the first and second row engaging apertures124a,124bof each edge of the print screen112.

The interface unit116,116,117,117includes the concave parts156provided on each of end portions thereof so as to house the first and second protruding connection member166,170of each of the corner pieces118a-118d.

The connection slot142includes a flat support part, and the support slot part144supporting at least one connection member130and having an engaging surface146provided on an edge of an inside of the connection slot, and when a tensile force is applied to the interface unit116,116,117,117against the connection slot, at least one connection member130is fitted into the connection slot.

The connection slot142further includes a second slot part148having at least one concave part150provided by a first and a second parallel slot150a,150bcorresponding to the first and second row engaging apertures124a,124bon each edge of the print screen112.

However, as for the conventional print screen unit110having a configuration mentioned above, since the print screen112is configured in such a manner that while the first and the second row engaging apertures124a,124bof each edge of the print screen are correspondingly engaged with the first and second row engaging protrusions158a,158bprovided on the connection member130, the connection member130is fitted into the support slot part144of each of the interface units116,116,117,117, the edge of the print screen112may be prevented from being damaged or deformed by a tensile force applied to the print screen, but the connection member130is provided in such a manner that an upper layer long body157which has the first and second row engaging protrusions158a,158band a lower layer long body157which does not have the first and second row engaging protrusions158a,158bare manufactured separately and then come into surface contact with each other so as to be integrated with each other, thereby making the mass production of the connection member difficult and materials wasted, and causing much manufacturing costs and time, and accordingly, increasing production costs.

Furthermore, when the connection member130, which is lying and engaged with the edge of the print screen112, is fitted into the support slot part144of the interface unit116,116,117,117, a thickness surface side of the connection member130is in contact with the engaging surface146of the support slot part144with a small difference in height therebetween, and simultaneously, the connection member is arranged to be orthogonal to the direction of the tensile force. Accordingly, when tensioning the print screen112by applying the tensile force to the interface unit116,116,117,117, gaps grow on a part on which the edge of the print screen112is engaged with the connection member130, decreasing a coupling force between the edge of the print screen and the connection member and shortening the life of the print screen unit.

In addition, since the first and the second connection members166,170protruding from each of the first to fourth corner piece118a-118din directions orthogonal to each other are configured to have thin plates so as to be correspondingly fitted only into the concave parts156of each of the end portions of the interface units116,116,117,117neighboring the first and the second connection member, each of the first and the second connection members is not in contact with an engaging surface154of the tension apparatus, the engaging surface154being provided under the concave parts156, thereby causing a considerable gap between the end portion of the interface unit116,116,117,117and the corner piece118a-118dand horizontal and vertical shaking, which lowers a coupling force therebetween considerably.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a print screen unit, wherein the mass-production of the connection member is enabled so as to minimize the loss of materials and decrease manufacturing costs and time, which lowers production costs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a print screen unit, wherein as a tensile force is applied to a print screen, the engagement state of the edges of the print screen and the connection member moves toward the coupling direction thereof so as to further increase coupling force therebetween.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a print screen unit, wherein when the end portions of the interface unit are connected to the corner pieces, gaps therebetween are minimized, and the end portions of the interface unit are firmly coupled to the corner pieces so as to prevent horizontal and vertical shaking.

Technical Solution

In order to accomplish the above object, according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a print screen unit, including: a print screen, which has a rectangular shape, including a pattern of printing apertures, and a support frame including a first and a second pair of interface units to which the print screen is fitted and attached by a connection member engaged correspondingly with each pair of edges of the print screen, and a first to a fourth corner piece which connect each of the interface units to each other,

wherein the print screen and the connection member include engaging apertures provided on the edge of the print screen and engaging protrusions provided on a lower part of the connection member respectively, which have rectangular shapes, at predetermined intervals along longitudinal directions thereof such that the edge of the print screen is fitted into the interface unit by the engaging apertures and the engaging protrusions being correspondingly engaged with each other,

wherein the interface unit is provided with a lower side body part including a first connection slot to which each edge of the print screen is horizontally fitted, and provided with an upper side body part including a second connection slot to which the connection member standing vertically is fitted.

In an embodiment, an end of the lower side body part of the present invention may be configured in such a manner that without blocking a lower side opening of the second connection slot, the end of the lower side body part does not interfere with the connection member when the connection member is fitted into the second connection slot.

In an embodiment, the second connection slot of the present invention may be configured to be slanted at an angle of 7˜15° in a direction in which tension is applied to the interface unit as the connection member moves from an upper part of the second connection slot to a lower part thereof when the connection member standing vertically is fitted into the second connection slot.

In an embodiment, each of the corner pieces of the present invention may be provided with a first and a second piece member connected orthogonally to each other such that the first and the second piece member are correspondingly and simultaneously fitted into concave parts of each of end portions of the interface units and an engaging surface.

In an embodiment, the first piece member of the present invention may include: a body, which has a rectangular shape, positioned at a corner at which the end portions of the interface units are orthogonal to each other; a slot provided on a first side surface of the body in a first direction thereof such that the second piece member passes through the first side surface of the body and is correspondingly fitted into and connected to the concave parts of the end portion of the interface unit; and a protruding part provided on a second side surface of the body by protruding therefrom in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction of the slot such that the protruding part is correspondingly fitted into the concave parts of the end portion of the interface unit,

wherein the protruding part of the first piece member and the second piece member include engaging surfaces provided on middle parts of one side flat surfaces of the protruding part and the second piece member respectively by protruding along longitudinal directions thereof such that each of the engaging surfaces is correspondingly engaged with the engaging surface of the end portion of the interface unit, and the slot of the first piece member includes an engaging surface, which has a concave shape, provided on one inside flat surface of the slot such that the engaging surface is correspondingly engaged with the engaging surface of the second piece member. In an embodiment, the second piece member of the present invention may include a stop jaw provided on one side end thereof such that when the second piece member is fitted into the slot so that the first and the second piece member are orthogonal to each other, the second piece member is fitted into an area corresponding to an end portion of the slot while stopping by being in contact with a side surface of the engaging surface of the slot.

Advantageous Effects

As described above, the print screen unit of the present invention can minimize the loss of the materials and, simultaneously, reduce manufacturing costs and time so as to lower production costs since the upper side long body and the lower side engaging protrusions of the connection member are cut at the same time by pressing and can be continuously mass-produced.

The print screen unit of the present invention has a structure in which the connection member is positioned to be slanted at a predetermined angle when the print screen is fitted to the interface unit after the engaging apertures of each edge of the print screen are caught on the engaging protrusions of the connection member, such that, as tensile force is applied to the print screen, the engagement state of the engaging apertures of the print screen and the engaging protrusions of the connection member moves toward the coupling direction thereof so as to further increase coupling force therebetween.

The print screen unit of the present invention has a structure in which, when each of the corner pieces is fitted into and connected to each of end portions of the interface unit, a connection surface area increases so as to bring the three surfaces of the inside of the interface unit into close contact with the first and second piece member, thereby enabling a gap between the end portion of the interface unit and the corner piece to be minimized and, simultaneously, enabling the end portion of the interface and the corner piece to be firmly coupled to each other such that horizontal and vertical shaking is prevented.

* Description of the Reference Numerals in the Drawings*210: Print screen unit212: Print screen214: Support frame216: First interface unit217: Second interface unit218a-218d: First to fourth corner piece220: Printing aperture224: Engaging aperture230: Connection member238: Lower side body part240: Upper side body part242: First connection slot244: Second connection slot254: Engaging surface256: Concave parts257: Long body258: Engaging protrusion262: Body264: Slot264a: Engaging surface266: Protruding part266a: Engaging surface268: First piece member270: Second piece member270a: Engaging surface270b: Stop jaw

MODE FOR INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 7 to 10.

A print screen unit210of the present invention includes: a print screen212, which has a rectangular shape, including a pattern of printing apertures220, and a support frame214including a first and a second pair of interface units216,216,217,217to which the print screen is fitted and attached by a connection member230engaged correspondingly with each pair of edges of the print screen212, and a first to a fourth corner piece218a-218dwhich connect each of the interface units216,216,217,217to each other.

The print screen212includes engaging apertures224provided on the edge thereof at a predetermined interval along a longitudinal direction thereof such that the edge of the print screen is engaged with a lower part of the connection member230so as to correspond to the lower part thereof and is fitted into the interface unit216,216,217,217.

The interface unit216,216,217,217is provided with a lower side body part238including a first connection slot242to which each edge of the print screen212is horizontally fitted, and provided with an upper side body part240including a second connection slot244to which the connection member230standing vertically is fitted.

An end of the lower side body part238is configured in such a manner that without blocking a lower side opening of the second connection slot244, the end of the lower side body part does not interfere with the connection member when the connection member230is fitted into the second connection slot244.

The second connection slot244is configured to be slanted at an angle of 7˜15° in a direction in which tension is applied to the interface unit216,216,217,217as the connection member230moves from an upper part of the second connection slot to a lower part thereof when the connection member230standing vertically is fitted into the second connection slot.

The upper side body part240includes an engaging surface254provided on an inside lower end thereof by extending along a longitudinal direction of the interface unit216,216,217,217so as to give engagement to a tension apparatus (not shown), and concave parts256provided on opposite ends of an inside upper end thereof by extending along longitudinal directions of the interface unit216,216,217,217so as to house both end parts of each of the corner pieces218a-218d, the both end parts being orthogonal to each other.

The connection member230, which is a long rectangular shape bar, includes a long body257provided such that the long body is fitted into the second connection slot244by standing vertically in the second connection slot provided in the upper side body part240of the interface unit216,216,217,217, and engaging protrusions258provided on a lower part of the long body257at predetermined intervals in series along a longitudinal direction thereof such that the engaging protrusions are correspondingly engaged with the engaging apertures224.

The corner piece218a-218dis provided with a first and a second piece member268,270connected orthogonally to each other such that the first and the second piece member are simultaneously fitted correspondingly into concave parts256of each of end portions of the interface units216,216,217,217and the engaging surface254.

The first piece member268includes: a body262, which has a rectangular shape, positioned at a corner at which the end portions of the interface units216,216,217,217are orthogonal to each other; a slot264provided on a first side surface of the body262in a first direction thereof such that the second piece member270passes through the first side surface of the body262and is correspondingly fitted into and connected to the concave parts256of the end portion of the interface unit216,216,217,217; and a protruding part266provided on a second side surface of the body262by protruding therefrom in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction of the slot264such that the protruding part is correspondingly fitted into the concave parts256of the end portion of the interface unit216,216,217,217.

The protruding part266of the first piece member268and the second piece member270include engaging surfaces266a,270aprovided on middle parts of one side flat surfaces of the protruding part and the second piece member respectively by protruding along longitudinal directions thereof such that each of the engaging surfaces266a,270ais correspondingly fitted into the engaging surface254of the end portion of the interface unit216,216,217,217, and the slot264of the first piece member268includes an engaging surface264a, which has a concave shape, provided on one inside flat surface of the slot such that the engaging surface264ais correspondingly engaged with the engaging surface270aof the second piece member270, and the second piece member270includes a stop jaw270bprovided on one side end thereof such that when the second piece member is fitted into the slot so that the first and the second piece member268,270are orthogonal to each other, the second piece member is fitted into an area corresponding to an end portion of the slot264while stopping by being in contact with a side surface of the engaging surface264aof the slot264.

Next, the operation and effect of the print screen unit of the present invention having a configuration mentioned above will be described.

To assemble the print screen unit210of the present invention, when the support frame214is fitted over the print screen212, each of the interface units216,216,217,217is fitted over each edge of the print screen212, and the end portions of the interface units216,216,217,217are connected to each other by the corner pieces218a-218d.

In addition, when the interface unit216,216,217,217is fitted over the print screen212, while the engaging protrusions258provided on the lower part of the connection member230are inserted into the engaging apertures224of the print screen212so as to be engaged with the engaging apertures224, an upper side long body257of the connection member230is fitted into the second connection slot244provided in the upper side body part240of the interface unit216,216,217,217, and each of the edges of the print screen212is fitted into the first connection slot242provided in the lower side body part238of the interface unit216,216,217,217.

In this case, as shown inFIG. 9, the interface unit is configured in such a manner that the connection member is fitted into the second connection slot244slanting at an angle of 7˜15° such that with the connection member230standing vertically, the upper side long body257is positioned in a direction opposite to a direction to which a tensile force is applied, and the lower side engaging protrusions258are positioned in a direction to which the tensile force is applied. Accordingly, when the tensile force is applied to the interface unit216,216,217,217so as to tension the print screen212, the engaging apertures224of the print screen212, which are loosely engaged with the engaging protrusions258of the connection member230, slide over a slanting surface of the connection member230, and reach uppermost ends of the engaging protrusions258so as to couple the print screen securely to the interface unit, thereby applying an even tensile force to the print screen212, and further increasing a coupling force between the print screen and the interface unit so as to prevent the engaging apertures224from being disengaged from the engaging protrusions.

That is, since the print screen unit has a structure in which the connection member230is positioned to be slanted at an angle of 7˜15° when the print screen is fitted into the interface unit216,216,217,217after the engaging apertures224of each edge of the print screen212are caught on the engaging protrusions258of the connection member230, as tensile force is applied to the print screen, the engagement state of the engaging apertures224of the print screen212and the engaging protrusions258of the connection member230moves toward the coupling direction thereof, and the print screen comes into close contact with a lower surface of the upper side body part240so as to further increase a coupling force therebetween.

In addition, since the upper side long body257and the lower side engaging protrusions258of the connection member230are cut at the same time by pressing and can be continuously mass-produced, the loss of the materials can be minimized, and manufacturing costs and time are reduced, which lowers production costs.

Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 9, the print screen unit is configured in such a manner that when the corner piece218a-218dis fitted into and connected to each of the end portions of the interface unit216,216,217,217, the first and the second piece member268,270of the corner piece218a-218dare correspondingly fitted into the concave parts256of the end portion of the interface unit216,216,217,217so as to bring secure connection therebetween on the opposite sides of the concave parts, and each of the engaging surfaces266a,270aprovided on middle parts of one side flat surfaces of the first and the second piece member268,270by protruding therefrom are correspondingly and securely engaged with the engaging surface254provided under the concave parts256of the interface unit216,216,217,217so as to bring the three surfaces of the inside of the interface unit into close contact with the first and the second piece member, thereby increasing a connection surface area and minimizing a gap between the end portion of the interface unit216,216,217,217and each of the corner pieces218a-218d, and coupling the end portion of the interface and the corner piece firmly to each other so as to prevent horizontal and vertical shaking.