METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING MATERIAL IN A PRINTER

摘要

A printer (10) for printing a viscous material at predetermined positions forming a pattern on a substrate. The printer (10) includes a frame (12), a device, mounted to the frame (12), having a number of perforations arranged to form the pattern, a support apparatus, coupled to the frame, that supports the substrate in a printing position beneath the device, and a material dispenser. The material dispenser has a chamber (110) to contain the viscous material to be printed on the substrate. The chamber (110) has an opening through which the viscous material is dispensed. The material dispenser is coupled to the frame (12), positioned over the device, and constructed and arranged to dispense the viscous material through the perforations in the device and onto the substrate. The material dispenser has a retraction device that prevents leakage of the viscous material from the opening after dispensing is complete.