Apparatus and method for the production of three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces

1 . An apparatus ( 10 ) for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces with at least one printing device ( 12 ) for the layer-by-layer production of at least one screen-printed workpiece in a plurality of printing operations by transferring a powder-based suspension to a substrate through a fixed printing mask with the aid of a squeegee, and with at least one drying device ( 30 ) for the at least one screen-printed workpiece, wherein the at least one drying device ( 30 ) is designed as a drying path ( 42 ) for the continuous drying passage of the at least one screen-printed workpiece such that the at least one screen-printed workpiece is dried while continuously moving through the drying device, which allows individual layers of the at least one screen-printed workpiece to be dried between two successive printing processes.

2 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a workpiece carrier ( 14 ) for at least one screen-printed workpiece, wherein the at least one printing device ( 12 ) comprises at least one printing table plate ( 16 ) being formed separately from the workpiece carrier ( 14 ) and on which the workpiece carrier ( 14 ) can be positioned for carrying out a printing process, and wherein the workpiece carrier ( 14 ) is, between two successive printing processes for the at least one screen-printed workpiece, detachable from the at least one printing table plate ( 16 ) for drying the at least one screen-printed workpiece.

3 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , further comprising a transport device ( 18 ) for the automated transport of the workpiece carrier ( 14 ), the transport device ( 18 ) having a transport circuit for the automated transport of the workpiece carrier ( 14 ) and/or being designed as a transport circuit and/or wherein the transport device ( 18 ) is configured for the automated transport in a circuit between the at least one printing device ( 12 ) and at least one position spaced apart from the at least one printing device ( 12 ) and/or the at least one printing table plate ( 16 ).

4 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the transport device ( 18 ) and/or the transport circuit is designed to be multi-lane at least in sections and/or single-lane at least in sections and/or in that the transport device ( 18 ) is formed at least in sections by a conveying means, and/or in that the transport device ( 18 ) has a plurality of conveyor belt sections ( 36 ) running at an angle to one another and/or in that the transport device ( 18 ) has at least one corner converter ( 38 ) with conveyor belts running transversely to one another.

5 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , further comprising a positioning and/or handling device ( 20 ) for pre-positioning the workpiece carrier ( 14 ) on the at least one printing table plate ( 16 ) with an accuracy tolerance of +/−500 μm with respect to the position and/or of up to +/−5° with respect to the orientation of the workpiece carrier ( 14 ).

6 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the transport device ( 18 ) runs at least in sections along at least two planes and/or a lifting device ( 44 ) is provided between two planes of the transport device ( 18 ), and/or the transport device ( 18 ) is formed at least in sections with a height gradient running between two planes of the transport device ( 18 ), the height gradient being formed on a return path to the printing device ( 12 ).

7 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the drying path ( 42 ) is designed as part of a transport device ( 18 ).

8 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the workpiece carrier ( 14 ) can be moved through the at least one drying device ( 30 ) independently of the at least one printing table plate ( 16 ), and the workpiece carrier ( 14 ) can be moved through the at least one drying device ( 30 ) automatically and/or can be moved through the at least one drying device ( 30 ) at a variably adjustable speed.

9 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one drying device ( 30 ) is configured for drying of the at least one screen-printed workpiece by means of convection and/or thermal radiation, and/or in that the at least one drying device ( 30 ) has a plurality of convection and/or thermal radiation units and/or in that the active length of the at least one drying device ( 30 ) is variably adjustable by activating and/or deactivating at least one convection and/or thermal radiation unit.

10 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein a number of drying devices ( 30 ) is equal to or less than a number of printing devices ( 12 ), or in that a number of drying devices ( 30 ) is greater than a number of printing devices ( 12 ), and/or in that a plurality of printing devices ( 12 ) is provided, each printing device ( 12 ) being assigned at least one drying device ( 30 ) and/or each drying device ( 30 ) being assigned at least one printing device ( 12 ).

11 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of workpiece carriers ( 14 ), wherein the plurality of workpiece carriers can be positioned within the at least one printing device ( 12 ) for carrying out a printing process, and/or are each marked individually and/or traceably, and/or are each provided with at least one marking, the marking being electronically identifiable by RFID, optically and/or by camera, and/or are each provided with at least one marking for individual identification and/or individual tracking of the plurality workpiece carriers.

12 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the transport device ( 18 ) leads through the at least one drying device ( 30 ) in multiple lanes and/or in the transport circuit the return from the at least one drying device ( 30 ) to the at least one printing device ( 12 ) is designed as single lane or has fewer lanes than the transport section leading through the at least one drying device ( 30 ).

13 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the transport device ( 18 ) is designed to bridge the at least one printing device ( 12 ) and/or that the transport device ( 18 ) is designed to pass the workpiece carrier ( 14 ) through the at least one drying device ( 30 ) several times without passing through the at least one printing device ( 12 ).

14 . The apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of devices which can be connected modularly to form an apparatus system are provided and/or in that a plurality of printing devices ( 12 ) and/or a plurality of drying devices ( 30 ) and/or a plurality of storage devices ( 34 ) are provided, which are designed for modular arrangement and/or in that the at least one printing device ( 12 ) and/or the at least one drying device ( 30 ) and/or at least one storage device ( 34 ) can be connected modularly to form an apparatus system.

15 . A method for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces with the apparatus ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , in which the at least one screen-printed workpiece is produced layer by layer in the at least one printing device ( 12 ) in a plurality of printing operations by transferring a powder-based suspension to a substrate through a fixed printing mask with the aid of a squeegee, and in which the at least one screen-printed workpiece is, between two successive printing operations, guided for drying through at least one drying device ( 18 ) that is designed as a drying path ( 42 ) for the continuous drying passage.

16 . An apparatus ( 10 ) for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, comprising:

at least one printing device ( 12 ) for the layer-by-layer production of at least one screen-printed workpiece in a plurality of printing operations by transferring a powder-based suspension to a substrate through a fixed printing mask with the aid of a squeegee; and at least one drying device ( 30 ) for drying the at least one screen-printed workpiece, wherein the at least one drying device ( 30 ) is designed such that the at least one screen-printed workpiece is dried while moving continuously through the at least one drying device and a speed of moving of the at least one screen-printed workpiece and/or a length of the at least one drying device traversed by the at least one screen-printed workpiece is adapted to be variable to adjust a drying intensity for the at least one screen-printed workpiece between two successive printing processes.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the at least one screen-printed workpiece is carried on at least one workpiece carrier, and the at least one printing device comprises at least one printing table plate, which is formed separately from the workpiece carrier such that the workpiece carrier is detachable from the printing table plate and movable with the at least one screen-printed workpiece carrier through the at least one drying device separate from the printing table plate.