Patent ID: 7632451

Claim:
Apparatus for enabling printing on ceramic material including low temperature co-fired ceramic material, comprising: screen-printing apparatus for applying a predetermined pattern of metallization to a surface of ceramic material and including a fixture support plate which is movable under a print head having a screen-printing assembly and having a first separation distance between the fixture support plate and the print head during a screen-printing operation; a modification of said screen-printing apparatus whereby the print head is raised above the fixture support plate so as to provide a second separation distance greater than said first separation distance during a printing operation, wherein said modification comprises a set of spacer members located on a frame assembly located in a bottom portion of the screen-printing apparatus for providing said second separation distance, wherein said second separation distance is substantially 3 in. or more; and a fixture located on a surface of the fixture support plate for holding said ceramic material in a selected orientation during a screen-printing operation, wherein the fixture is located on the top surface of the fixture support plate, and wherein said fixture includes a base plate for attachment to said support plate of the screen printing apparatus, an intermediate body member on said base plate, a top plate on said intermediate body member, and a slot in the top plate extending into the body for holding said laminate assembly, wherein said ceramic material comprises a laminate assembly includes top, bottom and side surface and said fixture includes a slot for holding said laminate assembly so as to enable printing of said pattern of metallization on said side surface.