WO2024188675A1 - Apparatus for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, in particular a 3D screen printing installation, said apparatus comprising: a printing device for the layer-by-layer production of at least one screen-printed workpiece in a plurality of printing operations; and a drying device which is designed to dry at least one screen-printed workpiece and to simultaneously cool a workpiece carrier that carries the screen-printed workpiece to be dried.

Description

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING THREE-DIMENSIONAL SCREEN PRINTED WORKPIECES AND METHOD THEREFOR

The present invention relates to a device for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces. The present invention also relates to a method for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces.

A system for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces is known from the prior art in the publication WO 2020/212371 A1. In this system design, a drying device designed as a drying section can be provided, in particular a drying device designed for the continuous drying process of screen-printed workpieces and/or workpiece carriers. Workpiece carriers can advantageously be transported automatically in a circuit between a printing device and such a drying device via a transport device. This ensures an overall high utilization of the printing device and thus a high degree of productivity.

However, passing through such a drying device can lead to undesirable or excessive heating of the respective workpiece carrier. In particular, after passing a workpiece carrier through a drying device several times, such a workpiece carrier can heat up relatively strongly. A layered construction of a screen-printed workpiece can require a workpiece carrier to be passed through a drying device several times.

Already printed and previously dried print layers of a screen-printed workpiece can be damaged by an excessively heated workpiece carrier This applies in particular to printing layers of a screen-printed workpiece that are directly adjacent to the respective workpiece carrier. Excessive heating of the respective workpiece carrier can result in a negative impact on the quality or accuracy of the respective screen-printed workpieces.

Against the background outlined above, the object of the present invention was to provide a device for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces that ensures increased production accuracy while at the same time ensuring high productivity. Likewise, the object was to provide a drying device for a device for three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces. Finally, the object was to provide a method for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces.

With regard to the device, this object has been achieved by the subject matter of claim 1. A drying device according to the invention is the subject matter of claim 49 and a method according to the invention is the subject matter of claim 50. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims and are explained below.

According to the invention, a device for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces is provided. The device is in particular a 3D screen printing system, preferably an automated 3D screen printing system.

The device according to the invention has a printing device for the layer-by-layer production of at least one screen-printed workpiece in at least one printing process or in several printing processes and with a drying device which is designed for drying at least one screen-printed workpiece and for simultaneously cooling a workpiece carrier carrying the screen-printed workpiece to be dried. A screen-printed workpiece can therefore be produced layer by layer in at least one printing process or in several printing processes. After any printing processes for a screen-printed workpiece, the respective workpiece carrier can be moved into a drying device in which the last printed layers can be dried. In particular, after a printing layer has been applied, a drying device can be used to reliably dry the last printed layer in order to then apply the next printed layer to the screen-printed workpiece. At the same time as the screen-printed workpiece is being dried, the workpiece carrier carrying the respective screen-printed workpiece can be cooled in accordance with the invention.

Regardless of the heating of the screen-printed workpiece due to the drying process, the respective workpiece carrier can be cooled and kept at a favorable or relatively low temperature level. Undesirable heating of the workpiece carrier and thus excessive heating of already printed and previously dried layers of the respective screen-printed workpiece can be avoided in this way. Process reliability and thus also the accuracy and production quality can be improved overall in this way.

In the present case, three-dimensional screen printing can be understood in a particularly preferred manner as an additive manufacturing process in which a powder-based suspension is transferred to a substrate through a solid printing mask using a squeegee and dried. This procedure can be repeated several times until the desired component height or component shape is achieved. In a final process step, the component produced in this way can be sintered. This can produce a screen-printed workpiece.

Likewise, three-dimensional screen printing can be understood in a particularly preferred manner as an additive manufacturing process in which a powder-based suspension is transferred to a substrate through a solid printing mask using a squeegee and dried, whereby a single The desired component height or component shape is achieved by means of pressure. In a final process step, a component produced in this way can be sintered and a screen-printed workpiece created. If several printing processes are mentioned here, one printing process may be sufficient and suitable instead.

In the present case, a screen-printed workpiece can preferably be understood as a workpiece or a three-dimensional printed product that is to be subjected to a sintering step or has been subjected to it. This particularly applies to workpieces made of a metal, a ceramic, a glass material and/or a plastic material. In particular, alloys made of steel, nickel, copper, titanium and/or ceramic alloys come into consideration.

Printed products made of plastic materials can be excluded or included by the term "three-dimensional screen-printed workpiece". In particular, it is also possible to subject printed workpiece layers made of plastic material to a sintering step.

In the present case, a screen-printed workpiece can also be understood as a workpiece or a three-dimensional printed product that has been produced without a sintering step or that can be completed or is completed without a sintering step. A final curing of printing layers can therefore also take place without sintering steps. The curing of a screen-printed workpiece can also advantageously take place by UV curing and/or by a polymerization reaction and/or by drying, in particular by convection drying. Such curing can be carried out preferably in particular if a final curing of printing layers is to take place without sintering steps. A screen-printed workpiece in the sense of the present invention can also be a pharmaceutical product and/or a biological product. Such screen-printed workpieces can be made from pharmaceutical powder materials and/or powder mixtures and/or granules and/or biological materials, among other things. In particular, pharmaceutical products and/or biological products can be finished without sintering steps or can be sufficiently hardened for the respective application.

Screen-printed workpieces made from pharmaceutical powder materials and/or powder mixtures and/or granules can contain medicinal substances, active ingredients, excipients, in particular fillers and/or binders and/or disintegrants and/or lubricants.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device can be designed and/or configured for production under clean room conditions. In particular, the device can be designed and/or configured for production under clean room conditions in accordance with clean room classes A, B, C and/or D according to EU GMP.

More preferably, a device according to the invention for producing screen-printed workpieces can be designed and/or configured for use in medical technology, in optics and/or laser technology, in aerospace technology, in semiconductor technology, in biotechnology and/or in medical and/or pharmacological research.

Likewise, the device according to the invention can be designed and/or configured for producing screen-printed workpieces for use and/or application as medical and/or pharmaceutical products, implants and/or sterile products and/or medications and/or for use and/or application as tablets for administering active ingredients. According to a preferred embodiment, the device can have a transport device for the automated transport of at least one screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier to and/or away from the printing device. A screen-printed workpiece can therefore be produced layer by layer in at least one printing process or in several printing processes. Before or after any printing processes for a screen-printed workpiece, the respective workpiece carrier can be moved to and/or away from the printing device by the transport device. During operation, the printing device can thus be loaded with different workpiece carriers, so that an overall high utilization of the printing device can be ensured. Downtimes of the printing device can thus be avoided or at least kept to a minimum. Overall, this ensures a further improved overall productivity of the system.

According to an even more preferred embodiment, the transport device can be designed for the automated transport of a screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier to and/or away from the drying device and/or through the drying device. Additionally or alternatively, the transport device can be designed for the transport of a screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier between the printing device and the drying device. In this way, workpiece carriers with screen-printed workpieces can be fed to a drying facility with little effort and then moved away again, for example to carry out further printing steps.

More preferably, the transport device can run through the drying device, so that manual handling of the workpiece carriers can be completely avoided. Additionally or alternatively, the transport device can be designed separately and/or independently of the drying device. This can enable or further promote an overall modular structure. The transport device can be configured independently of the drying device and used to connect the transport device with at least one further device or position within the device.

Despite the transport device being designed separately and/or independently of the drying device, it can be adapted to the drying device, in particular to enable reliable transport of a workpiece carrier and/or a screen-printed workpiece to and/or away from the printing device.

In a further preferred manner, the workpiece carrier can be moved through the drying device by means of the transport device independently of the printing device or the printing table plate, in particular can be moved through the drying device in an automated manner.

The at least one drying device can preferably be designed for the continuous drying process and/or for the stationary drying. The drying device can in particular be designed with a drying section for the continuous drying process of screen-printed workpieces and/or workpiece carriers.

A continuous drying cycle allows an overall continuous production process for a plurality of screen-printed workpieces or with a plurality of workpiece carriers on which screen-printed workpieces can be arranged. Both printing and drying can be carried out essentially without interruption through a continuous drying cycle, whereby the overall productivity of the device can be further increased.

A drying device for stationary drying can be designed to be particularly compact and space-saving. In a stationary drying system, a screen-printed workpiece or a workpiece carrier with a The screen-printed workpiece must be temporarily positioned or stopped in order to carry out a drying step.

In a particularly preferred manner, the drying device can have a drying section for drying screen-printed workpieces and a cooling section for cooling workpiece carriers. The drying device can preferably be divided into a drying section and a cooling section. Such a division can prevent mutual impairment of the drying and cooling functionality or reduce it to a small extent.

Preferably, a subdivision of the drying device into a drying section and a cooling section can be defined by a plane on which a workpiece carrier is arranged when positioned in the drying device and/or when transported through the drying device.

More preferably, at least one nozzle device and/or perforated plate for supplying a cooling air flow, in particular compressed cooling air, can be arranged within the cooling section. In particular, a drying section can be arranged above a nozzle device and/or perforated plate for supplying a cooling air flow. This enables effective cooling with only minimal design effort.

According to an even more preferred embodiment, the drying device can be designed for convection drying of a screen-printed workpiece and/or for blown air cooling of workpiece carriers. In particular, the drying device can be designed for convection drying of a screen-printed workpiece with simultaneous blown air cooling of the workpiece carrier carrying the respective screen-printed workpiece.

Convection drying and simultaneous blown air cooling can be implemented relatively easily and with little construction effort. In particular, simultaneous convection drying of a Screen-printed workpieces and blown air cooling of the respective workpiece carrier ensure improved operational reliability, since, despite the convection drying, undesirable heating of the workpiece carrier and thus also heating of the layers already printed on the workpiece carrier can be safely avoided.

Additionally or alternatively, the drying device can have a contact cooling system for a workpiece carrier, preferably a traveling contact cooling system for a workpiece carrier. Such contact cooling ensures very little impairment of the drying functionality.

In an even more preferred manner, the drying device can be set up to activate and deactivate cooling positions depending on the position of a workpiece carrier within the drying device, in particular to activate cooling positions below the current position of a workpiece carrier. In this way, cooling can only take place in the area of the current position of a workpiece carrier. The energy consumption for cooling and drying can thus be kept low overall, since unfavorable interference between drying and cooling can also be avoided.

Further preferably, a cooling position can be set up for activation by selectively controlling individual or multiple cooling nozzles and/or compressed air openings in and/or on a nozzle device and/or perforated plate.

Accordingly, a cooling position can be set up for deactivation by selectively controlling individual or multiple cooling nozzles and/or compressed air openings in and/or on a nozzle device and/or perforated plate. In particular, deactivation can be carried out by selectively turning off or blocking one or more previously selectively controlled cooling nozzles and/or compressed air openings in and/or on a nozzle device and/or perforated plate. According to a further preferred embodiment, the drying device can have at least one air filter and/or a plurality of nozzles for filtered drying air. The risk of air contamination and thus also of undesirable particle entry into the respective screen-printed workpieces can thus be further reduced.

Additionally or alternatively, the drying device can be designed as a circulating air dryer and/or for continuous and/or periodic supply of fresh air and/or room air. Such a circulating air dryer can be operated with relatively low energy consumption and at the same time ensure effective drying of screen-printed workpieces.

In an even more preferred embodiment, the drying device can be designed to direct a drying air flow onto a screen-printed workpiece, in particular at an angle to a transport axis formed by the transport rail or at an angle to the transport direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or the respective workpiece carrier and/or transversely to its transport direction and/or to the top of the respective screen-printed workpiece.

A transport axis or transport direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or the respective workpiece carrier runs in particular along the longitudinal extension of the transport rail. If a drying air flow is directed at an angle onto a screen-printed workpiece, this can be a direction of the drying air flow that differs from the transport axis or transport direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or the respective workpiece carrier. This can therefore be a direction of the drying air flow that is inclined relative to the transport axis or the transport direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or the respective workpiece carrier, namely by a specific or predefined angle. Angle is inclined. A direction of the drying air flow transversely to the transport axis of the transport rail or transversely to the transport direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or the respective workpiece carrier runs in particular at a right angle or at an angle of 90° relative to the transport axis or relative to the transport direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or the respective workpiece carrier.

Such a design of the drying device can ensure suitable drying by a drying air flow, while at the same time reducing the risk of undesirable relative movements between the screen-printed workpiece and the respective workpiece carrier. In addition, such a drying air flow can advantageously define a division into a cooling section and a drying section by a plane on which a workpiece carrier is arranged when positioned in the drying device and/or during transport through the drying device.

Further preferably, the drying device can be designed to extract air flows in such a way that an extraction air flow is set at an angle to a transport axis formed by the transport rail or at an angle to the transport direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or the respective workpiece carrier, in particular transversely to the transport direction and/or in a horizontal direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or workpiece carrier.

If air flows are extracted in such a way that, due to the extraction, an extraction air flow is created at an angle to a transport axis formed by the transport rail or at an angle to the transport direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or the respective workpiece carrier, this can be a direction that differs from the transport axis or transport direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or the respective workpiece carrier. It can therefore be a direction which is inclined relative to the transport axis formed by the transport rail or relative to the transport direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or the respective workpiece carrier, namely inclined by a specific or predefined angle. A direction of the extraction air flow transverse to the transport axis or transport direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or the respective workpiece carrier runs in particular at a right angle or at an angle of 90° relative to the transport axis or transport direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or the respective workpiece carrier.

Such a design can prevent undesirable interference between a drying air flow directed onto the workpiece carrier and a drying air flow sucked away from or directed away from the workpiece carrier.

Furthermore, the drying device can advantageously be designed to direct extracted drying and/or cooling air again as drying air onto a screen-printed workpiece to be dried. Extracted drying and/or cooling air can be completely or at least partially directed again as drying air onto a screen-printed workpiece to be dried. In the latter case, the drying device can be designed and/or set up for so-called mixed operation. Extracted drying and/or cooling air can be mixed with fresh air or newly supplied air before the mixed air quantities are directed onto a screen-printed workpiece to be dried. Energy-efficient operation can be ensured overall in this way.

Furthermore, the drying device can advantageously have a heat exchanger, in particular for recovering heat from extracted drying and/or cooling air. Extracted drying and/or cooling air can therefore be fed to a heat exchanger in order to use recovered thermal energy to heat up a drying air flow. When using such a Heat exchanger, extracted drying and/or cooling air, after it has been passed past the heat exchanger, can be at least partially or completely led outside or out of the drying device.

Such a design can, on the one hand, ensure energy-efficient operation. At the same time, however, the risk of particle contamination is reduced, since the drying and/or cooling air that has been extracted and possibly already contaminated with particles due to passing by the respective screen-printed workpieces and/or the workpiece carriers can be led out of the drying device. With such a design, energy recovery does not require any circulation of the drying and/or cooling air as such, but at most the thermal energy of the drying and/or cooling air can be recovered.

In a further preferred embodiment, the transport device can have at least one transport rail and a conveyor vehicle movably arranged on the transport rail for at least one screen-printed workpiece and/or at least one workpiece carrier. By designing the transport device in this way with a transport rail and a conveyor vehicle movably arranged on the transport rail, relative movements of surfaces arranged in contact can be avoided or at least reduced. Operational particle abrasion can therefore be completely avoided or kept to a low level with such a design. Overall, improved cleanliness conditions can thus be created for the individual production steps.

Undesirable contamination of the screen-printed workpieces to be produced due to particles generated by friction can be prevented with a transport device designed in this way. Consequently, screen-printed workpieces with high cleanliness and hygiene requirements can be produced with a device according to the invention. Finally, such a design of the transport device with at least one transport rail and a conveyor vehicle arranged on the transport rail ensures a high degree of flexibility. The layout of the system can be adapted or reconfigured or subsequently reconfigured with little effort. The device layout can be adapted, for example, inline, via switches and/or bypasses. In this way, other devices can be integrated in addition to the printing device or separated from the device again with little effort, depending on the intended use and production requirements.

Even more preferably, the drying device can have an opening at at least one longitudinal end, which is designed at least in sections to be complementary, in particular geometrically complementary, to the cross-sectional shape and/or complementary, in particular geometrically complementary, to a cross-sectional section shape of the conveyor vehicle. The respective opening at the longitudinal end can thus be relatively small. Air escaping from the opening can thus be limited to a small extent and thus energy-efficient operation of the drying device can be ensured.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the transport device can be set up for the automated transport of at least one screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier to and/or away from a printing table of the printing device. Such a printing table can in particular have a printing table plate.

A printing table or a printing table plate can advantageously be brought into contact with the underside of a workpiece carrier in order to carry out a printing process and support it during the printing process. A printing table or a printing table plate is therefore preferably not used for direct printing or as a direct Printing support or for providing a surface to be printed on. Rather, a printing table or a printing table plate can advantageously be designed and/or arranged for temporarily contacting, raising and/or supporting a workpiece carrier.

In a further advantageous manner, according to the present teaching, a workpiece carrier can be provided and/or designed for direct printing. In this case, a workpiece carrier in the sense of the present teaching can also have a coating on which printing layers can be applied. A workpiece carrier or a coating of such a workpiece carrier can therefore be provided as a direct printing base or for providing a surface to be printed and/or can be arranged or arranged within the device.

According to the present invention, a screen-printed workpiece can be a workpiece that is built up on the workpiece carrier by three-dimensional screen printing in one or more printing processes. The screen-printed workpiece is in particular a workpiece that can be detached from the workpiece carrier again after completion of the printing process and/or after completion of a sintering process following the printing process, in particular can be detached non-destructively.

Between any printing processes for a screen-printed workpiece, the respective workpiece carrier can be detached from the printing table or the printing table plate or can be detached from it. The individual layers of a screen-printed workpiece - in the case of a multi-layer structure - can be dried between two consecutive printing processes in a position away from the printing table or the printing table plate.

In a further preferred manner, the transport device can be designed separately and/or independently of the printing device. This can enable or further promote an overall modular construction of the device. The transport device can be configured independently of the printing device and arranged to connect the printing device to at least one other device or position within the device.

In addition, a transport device that is separate from and/or independently designed from the printing device can simplify the addition and/or replacement of the printing device, in particular the addition of further units within the device or the replacement of the printing device with another printing device.

Despite the transport device being designed separately and/or independently of the printing device, it can be adapted to the printing device, in particular to enable reliable transport of a workpiece carrier and/or a screen-printed workpiece to and/or away from the printing device.

The transport device can particularly preferably run through the printing device. In this way, a particularly advantageous and space-saving transport of a workpiece carrier and/or a screen-printed workpiece to and/or away from the printing device can be ensured. The printing device can thus be connected particularly advantageously to other devices or device modules. With an overall modular device structure, a high degree of integration of the respective devices or device modules can be ensured in this way.

According to an even more preferred embodiment, the conveyor vehicle can have at least one drive device that is arranged to travel on the conveyor vehicle and/or that has a drive roller that rolls on the transport rail and/or a drive motor for a drive roller. Such a conveyor vehicle can therefore be moved or driven independently of other conveyor vehicles on the respective transport rail. This allows an individual movement of the conveyor vehicle within the device and thus also an individualized transport of the workpiece carrier arranged on the conveyor vehicle or the screen-printed workpiece arranged on the conveyor vehicle.

According to an even more preferred embodiment, the conveyor vehicle can have at least one support device for support on the transport rail, in particular a support roller that rolls on the transport rail to support the conveyor vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, the conveyor vehicle can be supported on the transport rail via roller contact points, in particular exclusively via roller contact points of a drive roller and/or a support roller or via roller contact points of a plurality of drive rollers and/or support rollers. In this way, a safe and stable guidance of the conveyor vehicle on the transport rail and thus a particularly safe transport of workpiece carriers and/or screen-printed workpieces can be achieved.

The transport rail can preferably be designed as a monorail and/or have a plurality of monorail sections connected to one another, in particular monorail sections connected to one another in the longitudinal direction. The transport rail can even more preferably be composed in a modular manner and/or consist of several rail modules.

A monorail is intended in particular as a so-called single rail or to form a single track for the respective conveyor vehicle. In the case of a design as a monorail, a conveyor vehicle is only supported on a transport rail that forms a single track.

In the case of a monorail, an additional parallel transport rail for simultaneously supporting the respective conveyor vehicle is therefore not provided. Such a monorail ensures a compact and stable structure and by connecting several monorail sections and/or several rail modules, numerous transport configurations and routes can be implemented with little effort and at low cost. Even more preferably, the conveyor vehicle can be arranged along a longitudinal section of the transport rail, encompassing it on multiple sides, in particular encompassing it on three sides. The stability of the conveyor vehicle on the transport rail can thereby be advantageously improved.

In an even more preferred manner, the conveyor vehicle can have at least one position sensor and/or one distance sensor. This allows reliable position monitoring and/or position control of the conveyor vehicle. In particular, such a design can prevent a collision between two conveyor vehicles.

Furthermore, the conveyor vehicle can be designed to communicate with a control module arranged on the transport rail. Communication via such a control module enables the transmission of signals to the conveyor vehicle in order to determine the desired transport route and/or the transport speed or the transport course.

Thus, according to a further preferred embodiment, at least one control module can be arranged on the transport rail. Such a control module can be arranged for communication with a higher-level device control and/or for communication with at least one conveyor vehicle for controlling the transport path and/or the transport speed of the respective conveyor vehicle. The respective conveyor vehicle, in particular a plurality of conveyor vehicles, can be controlled in a particularly advantageous manner via such a control module, namely by a higher-level device control. Transport paths and/or transport speeds of several conveyor vehicles can be coordinated with one another. Likewise, transport paths and/or transport speeds of conveyor vehicles can be adapted to the processing and process times for the respective screen-printed workpieces. Additionally or alternatively, at least one control unit, in particular a control cam, for controlling the speed of a conveyor vehicle can be arranged on the transport rail. Such a control unit can preferably be designed exclusively for controlling the speed of a conveyor vehicle. In this way, the transport speed and/or the transport course of a conveyor vehicle can be influenced with only minimal equipment expenditure.

According to a further preferred embodiment, at least one position sensor and/or one distance sensor can be arranged on the transport rail. Collisions between conveyor vehicles, in particular between adjacent conveyor vehicles or conveyor vehicles arranged one behind the other on the transport rail, can be avoided with high reliability by position and/or distance sensors.

Even more preferably, the transport device can have a collision monitoring system for avoiding collisions between conveyor vehicles. The collision monitoring system can be set up to process signals from distance and/or position sensors and/or from control modules and/or control units of the transport rail. The operational reliability of the device can be further improved in this way and the degree of automation can be further increased.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the conveyor vehicle can have a structure for receiving a workpiece carrier for screen-printed workpieces. The conveyor vehicle can also have a runner device that has the drive device. The structure can preferably be arranged on the runner device of the conveyor vehicle. The drive functionality and the receiving functionality for a workpiece carrier can therefore be provided by different sections or different parts of the conveyor vehicle. In particular, a functional division of the conveyor vehicle can be realized in this way, namely into drive functionality and receiving functionality for a workpiece carrier.

In a further preferred manner, the structure and/or a support section of the structure and/or a frame device of the structure can define a receiving plane for a workpiece carrier, which extends at a distance from the rotor device and/or from the drive device, in particular extends at a vertical distance.

A support section and/or a frame device can in particular be a section of the structure through which a workpiece carrier can be carried or received. During operation of the transport device, such a design can maintain a sufficient distance between the workpiece carrier to be transported and the runner device or the drive device.

If particles are released due to friction by the drive device and/or in the area of the travel direction, this occurs at a distance from the workpiece carrier and thus also from the screen-printed workpieces positioned on the workpiece carrier. The risk of undesirable contamination of the screen-printed workpieces can be further reduced in this way. This results in an even better suitability for use of the device under clean room conditions.

In an even more preferred manner, the structure, in particular with a workpiece carrier accommodated, can cover the runner device and/or the drive device at least in sections in a plan view and/or protrude beyond at least one side end of the runner device. By covering and/or protruding in this way, the risk can be reduced with only a small amount of design effort that at the level of the runner device and/or the drive device Particles released by the drive device rise to a height above the structure and are deposited on the workpiece carrier or on the screen-printed workpieces located on it. The cleanliness conditions for the production of three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces can therefore be further improved.

It can also be advantageous if the structure is C-shaped and/or forms a free space to accommodate a printing table of the printing device. In a cross-section of the structure, the center of the surface can be arranged laterally offset from the center of gravity of the structure. Such a design is structurally simple to implement and at the same time ensures that a workpiece carrier arranged on the structure can be contacted by a printing table with a high degree of safety and stability, in particular for carrying out a printing process.

In an even more preferred manner, the structure can have a base section for fastening to the runner device, a support section for receiving a workpiece carrier and a connecting section for connecting the support section to the base section, wherein a free space for receiving a printing table and/or for contacting a workpiece carrier on the underside can preferably be formed between the base section and the support section and/or can be laterally delimited by the connecting section. This ensures, on the one hand, a stable construction of the structure, while at the same time providing good accessibility to a workpiece carrier positioned on the structure from its underside.

In a further preferred manner, the height of a free space and/or a distance between the base section and the support section can be up to 150 mm, more preferably up to 140 mm, more preferably up to 130 mm, more preferably up to 120 mm, more preferably up to 110 mm, more preferably up to 100 mm, more preferably up to 95 mm, in particular up to 90 mm or about 90 mm. Such a design can ensure a sufficiently compact construction and at the same time advantageously allow for temporary accommodation of Device components must be ensured in the free space between the base section and the support section.

In a further preferred manner, the height of a free space and/or a distance between the base section and the support section can be at least 20 mm, more preferably at least 30 mm, more preferably at least 40 mm, more preferably at least 50 mm, more preferably at least 60 mm, more preferably at least 70 mm, more preferably at least 80 mm, more preferably at least 85 mm, in particular at least 90 mm. As a result, a free space between the base section and the support section can advantageously serve to temporarily accommodate device components, with a reduced risk of collisions.

In a further preferred manner, the height of a free space and/or a distance between the base section and the support section can be between 20 mm and 150 mm, more preferably between 30 mm and 140 mm, more preferably between 40 mm and 130 mm, more preferably between 50 mm and 120 mm, more preferably between 60 mm and 110 mm, more preferably between 70 mm and 100 mm, more preferably between 80 mm and 100 mm, more preferably between 85 mm and 95 mm, in particular approximately 90 mm. Such dimensioning of the free space or the distance between the base section and the support section ensures a compact and robust design with a low risk of collision when arranging device components within the free space.

According to a further preferred embodiment, when positioning a conveyor vehicle within the drying device, the nozzle device and/or perforated plate can protrude at least in sections into a free space of the structure for receiving a printing table and/or between the base section and the support section of the structure and/or at least in sections below a workpiece carrier received by the conveyor vehicle. In this way In this way, a cooling air flow can be directed to the underside of the workpiece carrier with particularly little effort. At the same time, the rotor device can be covered at least in sections by the nozzle device and/or perforated plate.

The risk of contamination of the screen-printed workpieces by particles that are released in the area or at the level of the travel device or are freely suspended there can be reduced by such a design.

It can also be advantageous if the structure and/or the support section of the structure is mounted so that it can move in the height direction relative to the runner device and/or is arranged so that it can be adjusted in height. Additionally or alternatively, the structure and/or the support section of the structure can be arranged so that it can be raised relative to the runner device by a printing table of the printing device.

Such a design allows the structure and/or the support section of the structure to be moved vertically or raised relative to the runner device in order to carry out a printing process. Thus, when carrying out a printing process, the structure and/or the support section of the structure together with the respective workpiece carrier can be raised relative to the runner device and thus positioned with increased stability. Forces occurring when carrying out a printing process can be absorbed in a suitable manner by a printing table in a raised state, whereas force transmission or force absorption by the runner device and/or by the transport rail can be avoided.

A height-adjustable arrangement or mounting of the structure relative to the rotor device can be provided in particular independently of a height adjustability of the structure and/or the support section of the structure relative to the rotor device. The height adjustability of the structure and/or the support section of the structure relative to the runner device can be ensured in particular by at least one adjusting screw, in particular by several adjusting screws. This can ensure a suitable alignment and adjustment of the height of the structure and/or the support section. A lifting process of the structure and/or the support section of the structure by a pressure table can thus take place starting from a correctly set starting height of the structure and/or the support section of the structure.

Preferably, a height adjustability of at least 5 mm, preferably of at least 10 mm, more preferably of at least 15 mm, even more preferably of at least 20 mm, even more preferably of at least 30 mm can be provided. This ensures a sufficiently precise adjustment of the height of the structure and/or the support section of the structure relative to the rotor device, even with relatively large adjustment requirements.

Furthermore, a height adjustment of at most 30 mm, preferably at most 20 mm, more preferably at most 15 mm, even more preferably at most 10 mm can be provided. Such a design can be achieved with only a small installation space and at the same time ensures a high degree of stability.

According to a further preferred embodiment, a stroke and/or a height mobility of the structure and/or the support section of the structure relative to the rotor device can be limited. Such a limitation can be formed in particular by a mechanical stroke limiting device, particularly preferably by a stroke limiting claw. In this way, it can be ensured that the structure or the support section of the structure does not become undesirably detached from the rotor device. This ensures a high degree of operational reliability. In a further preferred manner, a stroke limiting device can limit the stroke of the structure and/or the support section of the structure relative to the rotor device at a stroke distance of at most 20 mm, more preferably of at most 15 mm, even more preferably of at most 10 mm, even more preferably of at most 5 mm.

In a further preferred manner, the stroke limiting device and/or the stroke limiting claw can be arranged on the structure and/or engage behind the runner device in a form-fitting manner. By raising the structure, the stroke limiting device and/or the stroke limiting claw can be brought into form-fitting contact engagement with the runner device. In this way, a suitable transport lock for the structure can be provided with only minimal design effort.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the structure can be attached to the runner device via a multi-point bearing, in particular via a 3-point bearing or via a 4-point bearing, and/or guided in a height-adjustable manner. At least one bearing between the structure and the runner device can be formed by a bearing dome and a dome holder for the bearing dome. In this way, a sufficiently secure positioning of the structure on the runner device can be ensured for transport. In particular, the structure can be positioned in a set-down position or set-down position on the runner device in a horizontal direction with no play relative to the runner device. At the same time, a safe lifting of the structure can be ensured by a height-adjustable guide.

In an even more preferred embodiment, the multi-point bearing and/or at least one bearing between the structure and the runner device can be designed for self-centering and/or self-alignment of the structure relative to the runner device. When setting down or lowering the structure on the runner device, correct positioning can be ensured with a high degree of safety and little effort. In a further advantageous manner, at least one bearing dome can taper and/or at least one dome receptacle can taper. Self-centering of the structure relative to the rotor device can thus be achieved in a structurally simple manner. In an even further advantageous manner, it is possible for at least one dome receptacle to taper complementarily to the bearing dome, whereby a surface contact is realized between the respective tapered and mutually facing surfaces. Likewise, at least one dome receptacle can have a conicity that differs from the respective bearing dome, whereby a particularly small contact surface can result between the dome receptacle and the respective bearing dome.

Further preferably, a dome receptacle can be formed on the underside of an adjusting screw for adjusting the height of the structure relative to the rotor device. Such an adjusting screw can in particular be screwed into a base section of the structure and arranged so that it can be screwed in for height adjustment.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the conveyor vehicle, in particular the structure of the conveyor vehicle and/or the support section of the structure, can be designed for the positive and/or non-positive and/or material-locking reception and/or fixing and/or at least partial enclosing of a workpiece carrier. The transport of a workpiece carrier using such a conveyor vehicle results in a high degree of transport safety. An undesired falling or sliding of the respective workpiece carrier from the conveyor vehicle during transport can thus be reliably avoided.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the conveyor vehicle, in particular the structure of the conveyor vehicle and/or the support section of the structure, can be designed for positive and/or non-positive and/or material-locking reception and/or fixing and/or at least section-wise enclosing a workpiece carrier with a side edge length or several side edge lengths of at least 50 mm, preferably of at least 100 mm, preferably of at least 150 mm, preferably of at least 200 mm, preferably of at least 250 mm, preferably of at least 300 mm, preferably of at least 350 mm, preferably of at least 400 mm, preferably of at least 450 mm, more preferably of at least 475 mm. The reception and/or fixing and/or enclosing of a workpiece carrier dimensioned in this way enables the printing of a relatively large printing substrate or a surface to be printed on with sufficient dimensions.

According to an even more preferred embodiment, the conveyor vehicle, in particular the structure of the conveyor vehicle and/or the support section of the structure, can be designed for the positive and/or non-positive and/or material-locking reception and/or fixing and/or at least partial enclosing of a workpiece carrier with a side edge length or several side edge lengths of up to 1000 mm, preferably of up to 900 mm, preferably of up to 800 mm, preferably of up to 700 mm, preferably of up to 600 mm, preferably of up to 550 mm, more preferably of up to 525 mm, even more preferably of up to 500 mm. The reception and/or fixing and/or enclosing of a workpiece carrier dimensioned in this way enables an overall compact and stable construction as well as good handling of the respective workpiece carriers when positioning in or on the conveyor vehicle and when removing from or from the conveyor vehicle.

According to an even more preferred embodiment, the conveyor vehicle, in particular the structure of the conveyor vehicle and/or the support section of the structure, can be used for the positive and/or non-positive and/or material-locking reception and/or fixing and/or at least section-wise enclosing of a workpiece carrier with a side edge length or several side edge lengths of 50 mm to 1000 mm, preferably from 100 mm to 900 mm, preferably from 150 mm to 850 mm, preferably from 200 mm to 800 mm, preferably from 250 mm to 750 mm, preferably from 300 mm to 700 mm, preferably from 350 mm to 650 mm, preferably from 400 mm to 600 mm, preferably from 450 mm to 550 mm, more preferably from 475 to 525 mm. Such dimensions make it possible to provide a sufficiently dimensioned printing substrate or a sufficiently dimensioned surface to be printed on, while at the same time providing a compact and robust construction of the conveyor vehicle, in particular the structure of the conveyor vehicle.

In particular, the structure of the conveyor vehicle and/or the support section of the structure can be designed to receive and/or fix and/or at least partially enclose a rectangular or square or substantially square workpiece carrier.

Additionally or alternatively, the structure and/or the support section of the structure can be designed for the defined and/or play-free reception and/or enclosing of a workpiece carrier. An enclosing of the workpiece carrier can be provided all the way around or completely around all side edges of the workpiece carrier or also in sections. Such a design can further improve the fastening security for a workpiece carrier.

It can also be advantageous if the conveyor vehicle, in particular the structure of the conveyor vehicle and/or the support section of the structure, has a frame device. Such a frame device can in particular be a frame device for the positive and/or non-positive and/or material-locking reception and/or fixing and/or at least partial enclosing of a workpiece carrier. Such a frame device ensures particularly secure reception and/or fixing of a workpiece carrier while at the same time ensuring good accessibility of the workpiece carrier for handling when arranging it in and/or removing it from the frame device. In a further preferred embodiment, a frame device for receiving and/or fixing and/or enclosing at least in sections or all around a workpiece carrier with one side length or several side lengths of at least 50 mm, preferably of at least 100 mm, preferably of at least 150 mm, preferably of at least 200 mm, preferably of at least 250 mm, preferably of at least 300 mm, preferably of at least 350 mm, preferably of at least 400 mm, preferably of at least 450 mm, more preferably of at least 475 mm can be designed. The receiving and/or fixing and/or enclosing of a workpiece carrier dimensioned in this way enables the printing of a relatively large printing substrate or a surface with sufficiently large dimensions. In one printing process, numerous screen-printed workpieces can thus be produced layer by layer, thus ensuring high economic efficiency.

In an even more preferred embodiment, a frame device can be designed for receiving and/or fixing and/or enclosing at least in sections or all around a workpiece carrier with one side length or several side lengths of up to 1000 mm, preferably up to 900 mm, preferably up to 800 mm, preferably up to 700 mm, preferably up to 600 mm, preferably up to 550 mm, more preferably up to 525 mm, even more preferably up to 500 mm. The receiving and/or fixing and/or enclosing of a workpiece carrier dimensioned in this way enables an overall compact and stable construction of the frame device as well as good handling of the respective workpiece carriers when positioning within the respective frame device.

In a still further preferred embodiment, a frame device for receiving and/or fixing and/or at least partially or all-round enclosing a workpiece carrier with one side length or several side lengths of 50 mm to 1000 mm, preferably from 100 mm to 900 mm, preferably from 150 mm to 850 mm, preferably from 200 mm to 800 mm, preferably from 250 mm to 750 mm, preferably from 300 mm to 700 mm, preferably from 350 mm to 650 mm, preferably from 400 mm to 600 mm, preferably from 450 mm to 550 mm, more preferably from 475 to 525 mm. Such dimensions enable the provision of a sufficiently dimensioned printing substrate or surface to be printed on, while at the same time providing a compact and robust design of the frame device.

Opposite inner edges of a frame device can, in a further preferred manner, have a distance from one another of at least 50 mm, preferably of at least 100 mm, preferably of at least 150 mm, preferably of at least 200 mm, preferably of at least 250 mm, preferably of at least 300 mm, preferably of at least 350 mm, preferably of at least 400 mm, preferably of at least 450 mm, further preferably of at least 475 mm. With such a design, a frame device can accommodate or enclose workpiece carriers of sufficiently large dimensions.

In a further preferred manner, opposite inner edges of such a frame device can have a distance from one another of up to 1000 mm, preferably up to 900 mm, preferably up to 800 mm, preferably up to 700 mm, preferably up to 600 mm, preferably up to 550 mm, more preferably up to 525 mm, even more preferably up to 500 mm. As a result, relatively stable and sufficiently compact workpiece carriers can be accommodated or enclosed within the frame device.

Even more preferably, opposite inner edges of a frame device can have a distance from one another of 50 mm to 1000 mm, preferably from 100 mm to 900 mm, preferably from 150 mm to 850 mm, preferably from 200 mm to 800 mm, preferably from 250 mm to 750 mm, preferably from 300 mm to 700 mm, preferably from 350 mm to 650 mm, preferably from 400 mm to 600 mm, preferably from 450 mm to 550 mm, more preferably from 475 to 525 mm. Such dimensioning allows the accommodation or enclosure of workpiece carriers of a suitable size for printing within a printing device while at the same time providing a sufficiently stable construction and good handling. In particular, a frame device can be designed to accommodate square and/or rectangular or essentially square and/or rectangular workpiece carriers.

In an even more advantageous manner, the frame device can be designed for the defined and/or play-free reception and/or enclosure of a workpiece carrier. The respective position of the workpiece carrier within or on the frame device can thus be determined with high precision and safely maintained for the subsequent process steps within the device.

Additionally or alternatively, the frame device can limit a free space for contacting the underside of a workpiece carrier accommodated and/or enclosed therein. This ensures good accessibility of the underside of the workpiece carrier for contacting and/or holding by a printing table. In this way, direct contact between the printing table of the printing device and the respective workpiece carrier can be established with little effort for the respective printing processes.

In a further preferred manner, the conveyor vehicle, in particular the structure and/or the support section and/or the frame device of the conveyor vehicle, can have a workpiece carrier bearing for fixing and/or clamping and/or for force-fitting and/or form-fitting fastening of a workpiece carrier. The workpiece carrier can be particularly securely fastened to or in the conveyor vehicle by such a workpiece carrier bearing and can remain fastened within the device during transport. The workpiece carrier bearing can particularly preferably be designed as a multi-point bearing, in particular as a 3-point bearing. Such a multi-point bearing or 3-point bearing can achieve a secure fastening with only minimal contact or a small contact area with the workpiece carrier to be stored. The risk of particles being released through abrasion and thus the increase in the concentration of airborne particles can be further reduced in this way. A multi-point bearing or 3-point bearing can prevent particle formation due to abrasion with a high degree of reliability.

The workpiece carrier storage can also preferably be formed by at least one fixed bearing and/or by at least one locking mechanism, in particular by several fixed bearings and a locking mechanism arranged opposite one another. Such a design is simple in construction and enables easy handling or automation with a cost-effective design.

Further preferably, the workpiece carrier storage can be designed for fixing and/or clamping and/or for force-fitting and/or form-fitting fastening of a workpiece carrier with a thickness of at least 0.5 mm, in particular with a thickness of at least 0.8 mm, further preferably with a thickness of at least 1 mm, even more preferably with a thickness of at least 1.5 mm, in particular of at least 2 mm or about 2 mm. Such a workpiece carrier storage enables the use of workpiece carriers with a sufficiently high level of stability and can thus ensure a high degree of operational reliability.

Even more preferably, the workpiece carrier bearing can be used for fixing and/or clamping and/or for force-fitting and/or form-fitting fastening of a workpiece carrier with a thickness of up to 10 mm, in particular with a thickness of up to 8 mm, more preferably with a thickness of up to 6 mm, even more preferably with a thickness of up to 5 mm, even more preferably with a thickness of up to 4 mm, even more preferably with a thickness of up to 3 mm, even more preferably with a thickness of up to 2.5 mm, in particular of up to 2 mm. Such a workpiece carrier storage enables the use of workpiece carriers with a particularly high level of stability and at the same time a relatively low weight.

More preferably, the workpiece carrier storage can be designed for fixing and/or clamping and/or for force-fitting and/or form-fitting fastening of a workpiece carrier with a thickness of 0.5 mm to 10 mm, in particular with a thickness of 0.8 mm to 8 mm, more preferably with a thickness of 1 mm to 6 mm, even more preferably with a thickness of 1 mm to 5 mm, even more preferably with a thickness of 1 mm to 4 mm, even more preferably with a thickness of 1 mm to 3 mm, even more preferably with a thickness of 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm, in particular of approximately 2 mm. A workpiece carrier storage for workpiece carriers dimensioned in this way enables the use of workpiece carriers with a high level of stability and at the same time a relatively low weight and thus good handling.

In a particularly preferred manner, the locking mechanism can be formed by a slide with a bevelled contact surface and/or a contact surface that is inclined to the sliding direction of the slide. A bevelled design or a contact surface that is inclined to the sliding direction of the slide enables a positive fastening of the respective workpiece carrier to be achieved in a particularly simple and advantageous manner. In particular, this allows a pressing force or holding-down force to be exerted on the workpiece carrier when the slide is closed, thus ensuring secure positioning.

Additionally or alternatively, the locking mechanism can be designed by a spring-loaded slider and/or as a snap lock. A spring-loaded slider can be directed in a closing direction of the slider, so that the slider is automatically moved into a closed position. A snap lock can also automatically execute a closing movement, unless a manual or automated countermovement is carried out.

In an even more preferred manner, at least one fixed bearing can be designed with a chamfered contact surface and/or a contact surface inclined to the sliding direction of the slide. A chamfered design of the fixed bearing or a contact surface of the fixed bearing inclined to the sliding direction of the slide enables a positive fastening of the respective workpiece carrier to be achieved in a particularly simple and advantageous manner. In particular, when the slide is closed, the fixed bearing can also exert a pressing force or holding-down force on the workpiece carrier, thus ensuring secure positioning.

According to an even more preferred embodiment, the structure, in particular the support section and/or the frame device, can have support sections or at least one support section for contacting and/or raising the structure by a printing table of the printing device. Such support sections can preferably be formed on an underside of the support section and/or the frame device. By means of such support sections, the structure of the conveyor vehicle, in particular the support section and/or the frame device, can be contacted and raised by a printing table independently of the respective workpiece carrier. The formation on the underside of the support section allows good accessibility for a printing table and thus an overall robust and cost-effective construction.

In an even more preferred manner, the support sections can be designed and/or arranged for a stress-free contact by a pressure table for the workpiece carrier storage. The structure can be contacted and/or lifted by a pressure table via the support sections for the workpiece carrier storage. The contacting and lifting of the structure and at the same time of the workpiece carrier by a pressure table of a printing device can thus be stress-free or free of additional Forces are applied to a workpiece carrier bearing of the structure. The secure fixation of the respective workpiece carrier in or on the structure of the conveyor vehicle is not impaired by contact, raising and lowering of the structure together with the workpiece carrier.

According to a still further preferred embodiment, the printing device can have a liftable printing table and/or a printing table designed as a vacuum printing table, in particular a liftable vacuum printing table.

A printing table designed as a vacuum printing table can in particular have grooves and/or openings for generating a vacuum and/or a negative pressure on the underside of a workpiece carrier to be fixed and located on the printing table. With a vacuum printing table, a workpiece carrier can be fixed with little effort and a high level of safety, in particular temporarily and for carrying out a printing process.

According to an even more preferred embodiment, the pressure table of the printing device can be designed for surface contact with a workpiece carrier accommodated in a conveyor vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, the pressure table can be designed for contact with support sections of the structure of the conveyor vehicle. In this way, a particularly safe and reliable lifting of the structure and also of the workpiece carrier positioned on the structure can be achieved.

In a particularly preferred manner, the printing table of the printing device can be designed to lift the structure over the support sections without stress for the workpiece carrier storage, in particular while simultaneously contacting the workpiece carrier. An undesirable detachment of the workpiece carrier from the workpiece carrier storage can thereby be avoided and a high degree of operational safety can thus be ensured. A lifting without stress for the workpiece carrier storage can also prevent undesirable relative movements between see the workpiece carrier storage and the workpiece carrier held therein, so that unwanted abrasion and thus the release of airborne particles can be prevented.

In an even more preferred manner, in a top view of the transport device, the center of gravity of the conveyor vehicle can be arranged offset from the transport rail. In particular, the center of gravity of the conveyor vehicle can be arranged offset from the transport rail in the horizontal direction. In this way, the risk of tipping movements of the conveyor vehicle can be advantageously reduced for predefined curves of the conveyor vehicle, in particular in a predefined curve direction. This is particularly true when the structure and/or the support section of the structure are mounted so that they can move vertically relative to the runner device. A vertically movable mounting of the structure and/or the support section of the structure can lead to tipping movements when cornering, which can be advantageously counteracted by an offset arrangement of the center of gravity of the conveyor vehicle, in particular an offset arrangement in the horizontal direction relative to the transport rail. Any unwanted detachment or falling of the workpiece carrier being carried can thus be completely prevented.

In an even more preferred manner, in a top view of the transport device, the center of gravity of the conveyor vehicle can be offset from the transport rail by at least 10 mm, preferably by at least 15 mm, more preferably by at least 20 mm, even more preferably by at least 25 mm, even more preferably by at least 30 mm, even more preferably by at least 40 mm, even more preferably by at least 50 mm, even more preferably by at least 60 mm, even more preferably by at least 70 mm or at least 80 mm. Tipping movements when cornering can be avoided particularly reliably in this way. In an even more preferred manner, in a plan view of the transport device, the center of gravity of the conveyor vehicle can be arranged offset from the transport rail by up to 80 mm, preferably by up to 70 mm, more preferably by up to 60 mm, even more preferably by up to 50 mm, more preferably by up to 40 mm, more preferably by up to 30 mm, more preferably by up to 25 mm, more preferably by up to 20 mm, more preferably by up to 15 mm, in particular by up to 10 mm. By arranging the center of gravity in this way, sufficient stability on the transport rail can be ensured even when the conveyor vehicle is traveling straight ahead and when it is at rest.

More preferably, in a top view of the conveyor vehicle, the center of gravity of the superstructure can be arranged offset from the center of gravity of the runner device. In particular, the center of gravity of the superstructure can be arranged offset in the horizontal direction from the center of gravity of the runner device. Such a design can reduce the risk of tipping movements of the conveyor vehicle even further. The offset center of gravity of the superstructure can generate a moment in a particularly suitable manner that can counteract any tipping movements of the superstructure when cornering with a high degree of reliability. This again applies in particular when the superstructure and/or the support section of the superstructure are mounted so that they can be moved vertically relative to the runner device. A vertically movable mounting of the superstructure and/or the support section of the superstructure can lead to tipping movements when cornering, which can be counteracted in an advantageous manner by arranging the center of gravity of the superstructure offset in the horizontal direction from the center of gravity of the runner device.

In an even more preferred manner, in a plan view of the conveyor vehicle, the center of gravity of the structure can be increased by at least 10 mm, preferably by at least 15 mm, more preferably by at least 20 mm, even more preferably by at least 25 mm, even more preferably by at least 30 mm, even more preferably by at least 40 mm, even more preferably by at least 50 mm, even more preferably by at least 60 mm, even more preferably by at least 70 mm or at least 80 mm, offset from the center of gravity of the runner device. Tilting movements when cornering can in turn be avoided particularly reliably in this way.

In an even more preferred manner, in a top view of the conveyor vehicle, the center of gravity of the structure can be arranged offset from the center of gravity of the runner device by up to 80 mm, preferably by up to 70 mm, more preferably by up to 60 mm, even more preferably by up to 50 mm, more preferably by up to 40 mm, more preferably by up to 30 mm, more preferably by up to 25 mm, more preferably by up to 20 mm, more preferably by up to 15 mm, in particular by up to 10 mm. By arranging the center of gravity in this way, sufficient stability on the transport rail can be ensured for straight-ahead travel and for a stationary position of the conveyor vehicle.

In an even more preferred manner, the conveyor vehicle and/or the structure of the conveyor vehicle and/or the frame device of the conveyor vehicle can define and/or have a receiving center point for a workpiece carrier. Such a receiving center point for a workpiece carrier can also be defined by a workpiece carrier bearing. In the case of a workpiece carrier arranged and/or fixed on the conveyor vehicle and/or on the structure and/or in the frame device of the structure, the center point of the workpiece carrier can be located in particular on the receiving center point and/or in a plan view of the conveyor vehicle in alignment with the receiving center point.

In a further preferred manner, the receiving center for a workpiece carrier can be arranged offset to the transport rail in a plan view of the conveyor vehicle. In particular, the receiving center for a workpiece carrier can be offset in the horizontal direction to the transport rail in the conveyor vehicle. rail. In this way, particularly good accessibility of the workpiece carrier or contactability of the workpiece carrier by a printing table can be ensured.

In an even more preferred manner, the receiving center for a workpiece carrier can be arranged offset to the runner device in a plan view of the conveyor vehicle. In particular, the receiving center for a workpiece carrier can be arranged offset to the runner device in the horizontal direction in the conveyor vehicle. In this way, particularly good accessibility of the workpiece carrier or contactability of the workpiece carrier by a pressure table can be ensured.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the transport device and/or the rail system can be designed as a transport circuit and/or can be set up for the automated transport of at least one screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier in the circuit between the printing device and a position spaced apart from the printing device. Such a design ensures a high level of productivity. Different devices or stations within the entire device can be advantageously connected to one another with such a transport device. An essentially uninterrupted production process with successive steps in the respective devices or stations can thereby be ensured.

In a further preferred manner, a plurality of printing devices can be provided, between which the transport device runs and/or between which a screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier can be transported by means of the transport device. With several or different printing devices, productivity and also production flexibility can be further increased. In particular, a plurality of printing devices can be provided to print different materials or material compositions and/or to use different printing screens or printing stencils in succession and with little effort when producing a single screen-printed workpiece. With such an arrangement, a complex conversion or adaptation of the respective printing devices can be avoided for the production of differently designed printing layers of a single screen-printed workpiece.

In an even more preferred manner, a plurality of drying devices can be provided. Different drying devices can in particular be assigned to or connected downstream of different printing devices, whereby the productivity of the device can be further improved.

According to an even more preferred embodiment, the device can have a lock device for the introduction and/or removal of conveyor vehicles. The replacement, addition and/or removal of conveyor vehicles, for example for the purpose of maintenance and/or repair work and/or for the purpose of reconfiguring the transport device, can thus be carried out with little handling effort and high operational reliability.

According to an even more preferred embodiment, the device can have at least one detection module for detecting conveyor vehicles that are being fed into and/or discharged from the transport device. Monitoring of the number of conveyor vehicles within the device can thereby be ensured with high reliability and the addition and/or removal of conveyor vehicles can take place depending on the detection of conveyor vehicles that are being fed into or discharged.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the device can comprise at least one positioning and/or removal device for positioning of workpiece carriers on a conveyor vehicle and/or for removing a workpiece carrier from a conveyor vehicle. Manual handling of workpiece carriers can thus be completely avoided or at least reduced to a small extent. Process reliability is thus further improved.

A still further independent aspect of the present invention relates to a drying device for three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, in particular for a device according to one of the preceding aspects, with a drying section for drying at least one screen-printed workpiece and with a cooling section for simultaneously cooling a workpiece carrier carrying the screen-printed workpiece to be dried.

A further independent aspect of the present invention relates to a device for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, in particular a 3D screen-printing system, with a printing device for the layer-by-layer production of at least one screen-printed workpiece in at least one printing process or in several printing processes and with a transport device for the automated transport of at least one screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier to and/or away from the printing device, wherein the transport device has at least one transport rail and a conveyor vehicle movably arranged on the transport rail for at least one screen-printed workpiece and/or at least one workpiece carrier.

A still further independent aspect of the present invention relates to a device for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, in particular a 3D screen-printing system, with a printing device for the layer-by-layer production of at least one screen-printed workpiece in several printing processes and with a transport device for the automated transport of at least one screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier to and/or away from the printing device, wherein the transport device has a support section for at least positively receiving a workpiece carrier. Yet another independent aspect of the present invention relates to a device for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, in particular according to one of the preceding aspects and/or a 3D screen-printing system, with a printing device for the layer-by-layer production of at least one screen-printed workpiece in several printing processes and with a transport device for the automated transport of at least one screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier to and/or away from the printing device, wherein the transport device has a workpiece carrier bearing for fixing and/or clamping a workpiece carrier.

Yet another independent aspect of the present invention relates to a transport device, in particular for transport in a device for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, with a conveyor vehicle for the automated transport of at least one screen-printed workpiece and/or one workpiece carrier, wherein the conveyor vehicle has a support section for at least positively and/or non-positively and/or materially bonded receiving of a workpiece carrier and/or a workpiece carrier bearing for fixing and/or clamping a workpiece carrier.

A still further independent aspect of the present invention relates to a method for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, in particular with a device according to one of the preceding aspects, in which at least one screen-printed workpiece is produced layer by layer in several printing processes using a printing device, in which the screen-printed workpiece is dried using a drying device and at the same time a workpiece carrier carrying the screen-printed workpiece is cooled.

A still further independent aspect of the present invention relates to a method for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, in particular with a device according to one of the preceding aspects, in which at least one screen-printed workpiece is produced layer by layer in a plurality of printing processes in a printing device, and in which at least one screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier with a screen-printed workpiece is automatically transported to and/or away from the printing device by means of a transport device, wherein the transport by the transport device is carried out by means of a conveyor vehicle on a transport rail.

By transporting the parts using a conveyor vehicle on a transport rail, relative movements of surfaces arranged in contact can be avoided or reduced to a minimum. Particle abrasion caused by the conveyor vehicle traveling on the transport rail can therefore be avoided or significantly reduced using such a method. This makes it possible to create improved cleanliness conditions for the individual production steps. Undesirable contamination of the screen-printed workpieces to be produced due to particles created by friction can be prevented using a method according to the invention. Consequently, screen-printed workpieces with high cleanliness and hygiene requirements can be produced using a method according to the invention.

A still further independent aspect of the present invention relates to a method for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, in particular with a device according to one of the preceding aspects, in which at least one screen-printed workpiece is produced layer by layer in several printing processes using a printing device and in which at least one screen-printed workpiece is automatically transported on a workpiece carrier to and/or away from the printing device using a transport device, wherein the workpiece carrier is received at least in a form-fitting manner on and/or in a support section for transport by the transport device.

A still further independent aspect of the present invention relates to a method for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, in particular in particular with a device according to one of the preceding aspects, in which at least one screen-printed workpiece is produced layer by layer in several printing processes using a printing device and in which at least one screen-printed workpiece is automatically transported on a workpiece carrier to and/or away from the printing device using a transport device, wherein the workpiece carrier is fixed and/or clamped in a workpiece carrier storage for transport by the transport device.

The details and independent aspects described above in relation to the device, including the independent aspects relating to a drying device and a transport device, apply equally to the inventive methods described above in accordance with the further independent aspects. Likewise, the details and independent aspects described above in relation to the device also apply equally to the independent aspects described above relating to a drying device and also relating to a transport device.

The invention is described below by way of example using advantageous embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.

They show schematically:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention according to an embodiment,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 1 with an open view of the transport device without housing,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention with an open view of the printing and drying devices without a housing,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a transport device of the device according to Figs. 1 to 6,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a transport device of the device according to Figs. 1 to 6,

Fig. 9 is an upper perspective view of a transport device with a conveyor vehicle and a transport rail shown in sections,

Fig. 10 is a lower perspective view of a transport device with a conveyor vehicle and a transport rail shown in sections,

Fig. 11 is a side view of the transport device according to Figs. 9 and 10 along a longitudinal direction of the transport rail,

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the transport device according to Figs. 9 and 10,

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a conveyor vehicle according to a

Design with workpiece carrier accommodated therein,

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a conveyor vehicle according to Fig. 13, Fig. 15 is a side view of a conveyor vehicle according to Fig. 13 and 14 in a direction transverse to the transport direction,

Fig. 16 is a side view of a conveyor vehicle according to Fig. 13 and 14 in the transport direction,

Fig. 17 is a sectional view of the conveyor vehicle along the section line A-A from Fig. 14,

Fig. 18 is a sectional view of the conveyor vehicle along the section line B-B from Fig. 14,

Fig. 19 is an upper perspective view of a conveyor vehicle according to an embodiment without a workpiece carrier accommodated therein,

Fig. 20 is a bottom perspective view of a conveyor vehicle according to an embodiment without a workpiece carrier accommodated therein,

Fig. 21 is a plan view of the conveyor vehicle according to Fig. 19 and 20 without the workpiece carrier accommodated therein,

Fig. 22 is a perspective detailed view of a locking mechanism of a workpiece carrier storage according to an embodiment,

Fig. 23 is a perspective detailed view of a fixed bearing of a workpiece carrier bearing from a bottom side according to an embodiment,

Fig. 24 a sectional view of a locking mechanism of a workpiece carrier storage according to Fig. 22,

Fig. 25 is a perspective detailed view of a fixed bearing of a workpiece carrier bearing from a top side according to Fig. 23, Fig. 26 is a top perspective view of a rotor device according to an embodiment,

Fig. 27 is a bottom perspective view of a rotor device according to an embodiment,

Fig. 28 is a side view of a liftable printing table and a conveyor vehicle according to an embodiment,

Fig. 29 a detailed view of the liftable printing table and the conveyor vehicle according to Fig. 28,

Fig. 30 is a perspective sectional view of a multi-point bearing between the body and the runner device of a conveyor vehicle according to an embodiment,

Fig. 31 is a perspective view of a drying device and a sectional view of a transport device according to an embodiment,

Fig. 32 is a side view of the drying device according to Fig. 31 in a longitudinal direction,

Fig. 33 is a sectional view of the drying device along the section lines C-C of Fig. 33,

Fig. 34 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the drying device according to an embodiment with air flows shown, Fig. 35 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the drying device according to an embodiment with air flows shown,

Fig. 36 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the drying device according to an embodiment,

Fig. 37 is a perspective longitudinal sectional view of the drying device according to an embodiment,

Fig. 38 is a detailed view of the drying device along a longitudinal section according to an embodiment,

Fig. 39 a detailed view of the drying device in a perspective longitudinal section according to an embodiment,

Fig. 40 is a perspective view of a conveyor vehicle and a positioning and/or removal device for a workpiece carrier according to an embodiment,

Fig. 41 shows a further perspective view of a conveyor vehicle and a positioning and/or removal device for a workpiece carrier according to an embodiment,

Fig. 42 is a plan view of a conveyor vehicle and a positioning and/or removal device for a workpiece carrier according to Fig. 41 and 42,

Fig. 43 a side view of a conveyor vehicle and a positioning and/or removal device for a workpiece carrier along a transport direction of the conveyor vehicle. Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a device 10 for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the device 10 of Fig. 1. The device 10 can in particular be a 3D screen printing system, particularly preferably a 3D screen printing system for the production of pharmaceuticals.

The device 10 has at least one printing device 12 for the layer-by-layer production of at least one screen-printed workpiece (not shown in detail here) in at least one or more printing processes. In the embodiment according to Figs. 1 and 2, the device 10 has two printing devices 12. Furthermore, the device 10 has at least one transport device 14 for the automated transport of at least one screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier to and/or away from the printing device 12.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the device 10 according to Fig. 1, wherein for better clarity and illustration the transport device 14 is shown in the open state, in particular without housings and without frames. Fig. 4 shows a plan view of the device 10 according to Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the device 10 according to Figs. 1 to 4, wherein the pressure devices 12 are shown in the open state, in particular without housings, for better clarity and illustration. Fig. 6 shows a top view of the device 10 according to Fig. 5.

Figs. 7 and 8 each show a perspective view of the transport device 14 of the device 10 according to Figs. 1 to 6.

The transport device 14 can have at least one transport rail 16 and a conveyor vehicle 18 movably arranged on the transport rail 16 for at least one screen-printed workpiece (not shown in detail here) and/or at least one workpiece carrier 20. The transport device 14 can be equipped with a housing 22 or with a housing 22 running along the transport device 14, as shown in more detail in Figs. 1 and 2. The housing 22 can have a top cover and/or a side cover or panel. Such a housing 22 can reduce the risk of particle contamination on screen printing workpieces that are moved by means of the transport device 14.

The transport device 14 can further preferably be set up for the automated transport of at least one screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier 20 to and/or away from a printing table 24 of the printing device 12. The transport device 14 can also be designed separately from the printing device 12 and/or run through the printing device 12.

A separate design of the transport device 14 can be seen in particular in Figs. 7 and 8. The transport device 14 can therefore form a device that functions independently of the printing device 12, but which, despite its independent design, interacts with the printing device 12 or is arranged to interact with the printing device 12, in particular to transport screen-printed workpieces and/or workpiece carriers 20 to and/or away from a printing table 24 of the printing device 12.

9 to 25 show more detailed views and details of the transport device 14 or of a conveyor vehicle 18 of the transport device 14 according to an embodiment of an invention.

Fig. 9 shows an upper perspective view of a conveyor vehicle 18 on a section of a transport rail 16 and Fig. 10 shows a lower perspective view of a conveyor vehicle 18 on a section of a transport rail 16. Fig. 11 shows a side view of the conveyor vehicle 18 according to Figs. 9 and 10 along a longitudinal extension of the transport rail 16 and Fig. 12 shows a top view on the conveyor vehicle 18 according to Fig. 9 to 11. Fig. 13 to 18 show further views of the conveyor vehicle 18 without showing the transport rail 16.

In Fig. 9 to 18, the respective conveyor vehicle 18 is shown with the workpiece carrier 20 accommodated therein. Further views of the conveyor vehicle 18 without the workpiece carrier 20 accommodated therein are shown in Fig. 19 to 21.

A conveyor vehicle 18 according to the embodiments shown in Fig. 9 to 21 can have at least one drive device 26, which is arranged to travel on the conveyor vehicle 18. The drive device 26 can in particular have a drive roller 28 rolling on the transport rail 16 and/or a drive motor (not shown in detail here) for a drive roller 28. Furthermore, the drive device 26 can have at least one current-carrying contact roller 29, in particular a plurality of current-carrying contact rollers 29, via which an electrical current can be conducted from the transport rail 16 to the drive device 26, in particular for the purpose of supplying power to a drive motor.

Furthermore, the conveyor vehicle 18 can have at least one support device 30 for support on the transport rail. The support device 30 can in particular be a support roller 32 rolling on the transport rail 16 to support the conveyor vehicle 18. In particular, a conveyor vehicle 18 can be equipped with support rollers 32 on both sides of the respective transport rail 16. It is also possible to arrange sliding elements on one side or both sides of the transport rail to provide a support function instead of support rollers 32.

The conveyor vehicle 18 can be supported on the transport rail 16 via roller contact points, in particular exclusively via roller contact points of a drive roller 28 and/or a support roller 32 or via roller contact points of a plurality of drive rollers 28 and/or support rollers 32. The transport rail 16 can also be designed as a monorail, as can be seen from Figs. 8 to 12. In particular, the transport rail 16 can have a plurality of monorail sections connected to one another, preferably monorail sections connected to one another in the longitudinal direction. Such monorail sections can be assembled to form a transport or rail layout, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

The transport rail 16 can be modular or have several rail modules.

A conveyor vehicle 18 according to the present invention can preferably be arranged along a longitudinal section of the transport rail 16, encompassing it on several sides, in particular encompassing it on three sides, as can be seen for example from the illustration in Fig. 11.

Furthermore, the conveyor vehicle 18 can have at least one position sensor (not shown in detail here) and/or a distance sensor (not shown in detail here). The conveyor vehicle 18 can be designed to communicate with a control module 33 arranged on the transport rail 16.

A control module 33 arranged on the transport rail 16 can be designed in particular for communication with a higher-level device control 34 and/or for communication with at least one conveyor vehicle 18 for controlling the transport path and/or the transport speed and/or for stopping the respective conveyor vehicle 18.

In particular, several control modules 33 can be arranged at fixed positions on the transport rail 16. Such a control module 33 can be designed as an optoelectronic communication module for data exchange for communication between the conveyor vehicle 18 and the device control 34. The device control 34, in particular in the form of a so-called Line Controllers can be designed to control and/or regulate all processes and/or sequences within the device 10.

At least one control unit 35, in particular a control unit 35 designed as a control cam, for controlling the speed of a conveyor vehicle 18 can be arranged on the transport rail 16. Furthermore, at least one position sensor and/or distance sensor (not shown in detail here) can be arranged on the transport rail 18 and/or adjacent or adjacent to the transport rail 18.

In particular, a plurality of control units 35, preferably in the form of control cams, can be arranged at fixed positions on the transport rail 16. The control units 35, in particular control cams, can preferably be designed as different control unit types or cam types.

A first control unit type or cam type can be designed to decelerate and/or stop a conveyor vehicle 18 when it drives past and/or when it comes into contact with a conveyor vehicle 18, in particular to decelerate on a positive flank when it drives past and/or when it comes into contact with a conveyor vehicle 18 and/or to stop on a negative flank when it drives past and/or when it comes into contact with a conveyor vehicle 18. Deceleration can in particular be carried out to a speed of less than 5 m/min, less than 4 m/min, less than 3 m/min, less than 2.5 m/min, less than 2 m/min. Deceleration to such a low speed ensures that the conveyor vehicle 18 can continue to move with a reduced risk of collision. Likewise, this can safely result in further deceleration until the conveyor vehicle 18 comes to a standstill.

A second control unit type or cam type can be designed to control a conveyor vehicle 18 when passing by and/or when contacting to accelerate a conveyor vehicle 18 to a first predetermined speed if the conveyor vehicle 18 approaches and/or passes at a second predetermined speed that is lower than the first predetermined speed. In this way, the conveyor vehicle 18 can be accelerated to a desired first predetermined speed with little effort and high operational reliability.

Such a second control unit type or cam type can also be designed to accelerate and/or decelerate a conveyor vehicle 18 to a second predetermined speed when it passes and/or when it is contacted by a conveyor vehicle 18, provided that the conveyor vehicle 18 does not approach and/or pass at this second predetermined speed. In this way, the conveyor vehicle 18 can be accelerated and/or decelerated to a desired second predetermined speed with little effort and high operational reliability.

The first predetermined speed can in particular be a speed of at least 10 m/min, preferably at least 15 m/min, preferably at least 20 m/min, preferably at least 25 m/min, preferably at least 30 m/min, preferably at least 35 m/min, preferably at least 40 m/min, preferably at least 45 m/min, more preferably at least 50 m/min, even more preferably at least 55 m/min or about 55 m/min. This allows screen-printed workpieces and/or workpiece carriers to be transported between different positions or different devices within the device with only a short expenditure of time.

Furthermore, the first predetermined speed can in particular be a speed of up to 100 m/min, preferably up to 90 m/min, preferably up to 80 m/min, preferably up to 70 m/min, preferably up to 65 m/min, more preferably up to 60 m/min, even more preferably up to up to 55 m/min. This ensures a high level of transport safety for screen-printed workpieces and/or workpiece carriers. In particular, this can reduce the risk of a screen-printed workpiece and/or workpiece carrier falling off the conveyor vehicle due to excessive transport speeds.

The first predetermined speed can even more preferably be a speed between 10 m/min and 100 m/min, preferably between 20 m/min and 90 m/min, preferably between 30 m/min and 80 m/min, preferably between 35 m/min and 75 m/min, preferably between 40 m/min and 75 m/min, preferably between 40 m/min and 70 m/min, preferably between 45 m/min and 65 m/min, more preferably between 50 m/min and 60 m/min, even more preferably a speed of 55 m/min. With such a speed, a sufficiently high productivity of the device can be ensured while at the same time maintaining a high level of operational reliability.

The second predetermined speed can in particular be a speed of at least 5 m/min, preferably at least 10 m/min, preferably at least 15 m/min, preferably at least 20 m/min, more preferably at least 25 m/min, even more preferably at least 30 m/min or about 30 m/min. Such a speed ensures relatively time-saving transport within the device. At the same time, this can achieve a transport speed that is reduced compared to a first predetermined speed, for example for the purpose of further controlled deceleration.

More preferably, the second predetermined speed can be a speed of up to 70 m/min, preferably up to 65 m/min, preferably up to 60 m/min, preferably up to 55 m/min, preferably up to 50 m/min, preferably up to 45 m/min, preferably up to 40 m/min, more preferably up to 35 m/min, even more preferably up to 30 m/min. Such a speed enables a particularly well-controlled deceleration to a lower speed or a particularly well-controlled acceleration to a higher speed.

The second predetermined speed can further be a speed between 5 m/min and 70 m/min, preferably between 10 m/min and 65 m/min, preferably between 15 m/min and 60 m/min, preferably between 15 m/min and 55 m/min, preferably between 15 m/min and 50 m/min, preferably between 15 m/min and 45 m/min, preferably between 20 m/min and 40 m/min, more preferably between 25 m/min and 35 m/min, even more preferably a speed of 30 m/min. Such a speed can, on the one hand, ensure sufficiently high productivity within the device and, in addition, ensure an easily controllable speed change to a higher and/or lower speed.

A third type of control unit or cam type can be designed to accelerate and/or decelerate a conveyor vehicle 18 to a third predetermined speed when driving past and/or making contact, regardless of the speed at which the conveyor vehicle 18 approaches and/or drives past. This makes it possible to bring about a change in speed, namely to a third predetermined speed, with little effort and a high degree of safety.

The third predetermined speed can in particular be a speed of at least 3 m/min, preferably of at least 5 m/min, preferably of at least 6 m/min, preferably of at least 7 m/min, preferably of at least 8 m/min, preferably of at least 10 m/min, even more preferably of at least 12 m/min or about 12 m/min. Such a minimum speed ensures a suitable starting speed for deceleration to a complete standstill and/or for acceleration to a higher speed. The third predetermined speed can further be a speed of up to 30 m/min, preferably up to 25 m/min, preferably up to 22 m/min, preferably up to 20 m/min, preferably up to 18 m/min, preferably up to 16 m/min, preferably up to 14 m/min, even more preferably up to 12 m/min. Such a maximum speed ensures a suitable starting speed for deceleration and/or for acceleration to a higher speed with a high degree of safety.

The third predetermined speed can more preferably be a speed between 3 m/min and 30 m/min, preferably between 5 m/min and 25 m/min, preferably between 7 m/min and 22 m/min, preferably between 8 m/min and 20 m/min, preferably between 8 m/min and 18 m/min, preferably between 8 m/min and 16 m/min, preferably between 10 m/min and 14 m/min, even more preferably a speed of 12 m/min. Such a speed is particularly suitable as an initial speed for a complete deceleration to a standstill of the conveyor vehicle and also for an acceleration to a higher speed, with at the same time a low risk of collisions or of a screen-printed workpiece or a workpiece carrier falling off the conveyor vehicle.

The control units 35 and/or control cams can be designed in switchable and non-switchable versions. Switchable control units 35 and/or control cams can be operated without current - free of electrical current.

The transport rail 16 can have predefined stopping points for a conveyor vehicle 18, at which preferably at least one control module 33 and/or one control unit 35 is provided. At least one control module 33 and/or at least one control unit 35 and/or the device control 34 can be designed to stop a conveyor vehicle 18 at a predefined stopping point only when required. Furthermore, at least A sensor can be provided which detects when a conveyor vehicle has driven to a control module 33, regardless of whether the conveyor vehicle 18 has stopped at this control module 33 or not. Such a sensor can be designed as a control module 33 or as part of a control module 33.

The transport device 14 can further comprise a collision monitoring system for avoiding collisions between conveyor vehicles 18, wherein the collision monitoring system is preferably configured for signal processing from distance and/or position sensors and/or from control modules 33 and/or from control units 35 of the transport rail 16.

As can also be seen from Figs. 9 to 21, the conveyor vehicle 18 can have a structure 36 for receiving a workpiece carrier 20 for screen-printed workpieces. The conveyor vehicle 18 can also have a runner device 38 having the drive device 26, wherein the structure 36 is preferably arranged on the runner device 38 of the conveyor vehicle 18. Separate views of the runner device 38 can be seen in Figs. 26 and 27.

The structure 36 and/or a support section 40 of the structure 36 can preferably define a receiving plane for a workpiece carrier 20, which extends at a distance from the rotor device 38 and/or from the drive device 26, in particular extends at a vertical distance.

The structure 36, in particular with a workpiece carrier 20 accommodated therein, can, in a plan view as shown in Fig. 12, cover the rotor device 38 and/or the drive device 26 at least in sections and/or protrude beyond at least one side end 42 of the rotor device 38.

Overall, the structure 36 can be C-shaped. The C-shaped design can be seen, for example, in the illustration in Fig. 11. Furthermore, the structure 36 can form or delimit a free space 44 for receiving a printing table 24 of the printing device 12. In a cross section of the structure 36, the center of the surface of the structure 36 can be arranged laterally offset from the center of gravity of the structure 36. The center of the surface of the cross section of the structure 36 can in particular be formed from the averaging of the points of the cross-sectional areas of the base section 46, the connecting section 48 and the support section 40. In a cross section of the structure 36, the center of the surface of the structure 36 can in particular be arranged laterally offset or offset in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension of the transport rail 16. Such a cross section of the structure 36 can be taken in particular from Figs. 17 and 18 and advantageously enables the arrangement of a printing table 24 of a printing device 12 within the free space 44 for the purpose of contacting the workpiece carrier 20 held on the underside.

The structure 36 can have a base section 46 for fastening to the runner device 38, a support section 40 for receiving a workpiece carrier 20 and a connecting section 48 for connecting the support section 40 to the base section 46. The free space 44 for receiving a printing table 24 and/or for contacting a workpiece carrier 20 on the underside can preferably be formed between the base section 46 and the support section 40 and/or can be delimited laterally by the connecting section 48.

The structure 36 and/or the support section 40 of the structure 36 can be mounted so as to be movable in the height direction relative to the runner device 38 and/or arranged so as to be height-adjustable, as shown in detail in Figs. 28 to 30. The structure 36 and/or the support section 40 of the structure 36 can in particular be arranged so as to be liftable relative to the runner device 38 by a printing table 24 of the printing device 12.

A stroke and/or a height mobility of the structure 36 and/or the support section 40 of the structure 36 relative to the rotor device 38 can be limited, preferably by a mechanical stroke limiting device 50. Such Stroke limiting device 50 can in particular be designed as a stroke limiting claw 52, as shown by way of example in Fig. 10.

The stroke limiting device 50 and/or the stroke limiting claw 52 can preferably be arranged on the structure 36 and/or engage positively behind the rotor device 38. By lifting the structure 36, the stroke limiting device 50 and/or the stroke limiting claw 52 can be brought into positive contact engagement with the rotor device 38.

The structure 36 can also be attached to the runner device 38 via a multi-point bearing 54, in particular via a 4-point bearing, and/or guided in a height-adjustable manner. Such height-adjustable movement can enable lifting without operating adjusting screws or without releasing a lock. It can be a free height-adjustable movement - within predefined limits. The multi-point bearing 54 can in particular be formed by a plurality of bearings 56. A bearing 56 between the structure 36 and the runner device 38 can be formed by a bearing dome 58 and a dome holder 60 for the bearing dome 58.

The multi-point bearing 54 and/or at least one bearing 56 between the structure 36 and the rotor device 38 can also be designed for self-centering and/or self-alignment of the structure 36 relative to the rotor device 38. For this purpose, at least one bearing dome 58 can taper and/or at least one dome receptacle 60 can taper. The dome receptacle 60 can be designed to be complementary to the bearing dome 58 or with a conicity that differs from the bearing dome 58. Such a design can ensure reliable self-centering of the structure 36 relative to the rotor device 38 with only little effort.

A bearing 56 between the structure 36 and the rotor device 38 can also be equipped with an adjusting screw 61. Such an adjusting screw 61 can be screwed into a thread 63 of the base section 46. The dome receptacle 60 can be formed on the adjusting screw 61, in particular on the lower end of the adjusting screw 61. By screwing in or unscrewing the adjusting screw 61, the height of the structure 36 can be adjusted relative to the runner device. In this way, a correct starting height can be set for raising the structure 36 by a pressure table 24.

The conveyor vehicle 18, in particular the structure 36 of the conveyor vehicle 18 and/or the support section 40 of the structure 36, can be designed, as shown by way of example in Figs. 9 to 25, for the positive and/or non-positive and/or material-locking reception and/or fixing and/or at least partial enclosing of a workpiece carrier 20. Additionally or alternatively, the structure 36 and/or the support section 40 of the structure 36 can be designed for the defined and/or play-free reception and/or enclosing of a workpiece carrier 20.

Further preferably, the conveyor vehicle 18, in particular the structure 36 of the conveyor vehicle 18 and/or the support section 40 of the structure 36, as shown by way of example in Figs. 9 to 25, can have a frame device 62, in particular a frame device 62 for the positive and/or non-positive and/or material-locking reception and/or fixing and/or at least partial enclosing of a workpiece carrier 20.

It is also possible for the conveyor vehicle 18, in particular the structure 36 of the conveyor vehicle 18 and/or the support section 40 of the structure 36, to have a support plate (not shown in detail here) instead of a frame device 62, in particular a support plate for the positive and/or non-positive and/or material-locking reception and/or fixing and/or at least section-wise enclosing of a workpiece carrier 20. Such a support plate can be designed, for example, with a recess for the arrangement of a workpiece carrier 20. The frame device 62 can preferably be designed for the defined and/or play-free reception and/or enclosing of a workpiece carrier 20. Likewise, the frame device 62 can preferably delimit a free space 44 for the underside contacting of a workpiece carrier 20 received and/or enclosed therein.

As shown in detail in Figs. 19 to 25, the conveyor vehicle 18, in particular the structure 36 and/or the support section 40 and/or the frame device 62, can have a workpiece carrier bearing 64 for fixing and/or clamping and/or for force-fitting and/or form-fitting fastening of a workpiece carrier 20. The workpiece carrier bearing 64 can preferably be designed as a multi-point bearing, in particular as a 3-point bearing.

The workpiece carrier bearing 64 can be formed in a particularly preferred manner by at least one fixed bearing 66 and/or by at least one locking mechanism 68, in particular several fixed bearings 66 and a locking mechanism 68 arranged opposite one another, as can be seen from Figs. 19 to 25.

The locking mechanism 68 can preferably be formed by a slide 70 with a bevelled contact surface 72 that is/or inclined to the sliding direction of the slide 70. The locking mechanism 68 can particularly preferably be formed by a spring-loaded slide 70 and/or as a snap lock. Furthermore, a fixed bearing 66 can also be formed with a bevelled contact surface 74 that is/or inclined to the sliding direction of the slide 70; in particular, several fixed bearings 66 can each be formed with an inclined contact surface 74.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the structure 36, in particular the support section 40 and/or the frame device 62, can have support sections 76 for contacting and/or raising the structure 36 by a printing table 24 of the printing device 12. The support sections 76 can preferably be formed on an underside of the support section 40 and/or the frame device 62. In particular, the support sections 76 can be formed on shaped elements 78 that are formed and/or arranged on an inner side of the frame device 62. The support sections 76 can be formed on the undersides of the shaped elements 78. In contrast, a fixed bearing 66 and/or an inclined contact surface 74 can be formed on an upper side of the respective shaped element 78.

The support sections 76 can be designed and/or arranged for a stress-free contact for the workpiece carrier storage 64 by a pressure table 24. The structure 36 can be contacted and/or lifted via the support sections 76 by a pressure table 24 for the workpiece carrier storage 64 in a stress-free manner. Such a stress-free contact for the workpiece carrier storage 64 can be ensured in particular if the support sections 76 are contacted by a pressure table 24 before or at the same time as the contacting of the respective workpiece carrier 20 by the pressure table 24.

The printing device 12 can further comprise a liftable printing table 24, preferably a liftable vacuum printing table. A liftable printing table 24 is shown as an example in Fig. 28.

The pressure table 24 of the printing device 12 can be designed for the surface contact of a workpiece carrier 20 accommodated in a conveyor vehicle 18 and/or for the contact of the support sections 76 of the structure 36 of the conveyor vehicle 18. Furthermore, the pressure table 24 of the printing device 12 can be designed to lift the structure 36 over the support sections 76, without stress, for the workpiece carrier storage, in particular with simultaneous and/or sequential contact of the support sections 76 and the workpiece carrier 20. In a plan view of the transport device 14, for example according to Fig. 12, and/or in a cross-section of the transport device 14, the center of gravity of the conveyor vehicle 18 can be arranged offset to the transport rail 16. The center of gravity of the conveyor vehicle 18 can be arranged laterally offset to the transport rail 16 or laterally offset to a center of gravity of the transport rail 16. In particular, the center of gravity of the conveyor vehicle 18 can be arranged laterally offset to the transport rail 16 in a horizontal direction and transversely to a longitudinal extension of the transport rail 16. A longitudinal extension of the transport rail 16 can specify the transport direction of a conveyor vehicle 18 on the respective transport rail 16.

More preferably, in a plan view of the conveyor vehicle 18, as shown in Fig. 12 and Fig. 18, for example, the center of gravity of the structure 36 can be arranged offset from the center of gravity of the runner device 38. The center of gravity of the structure 36 can be arranged laterally offset from the center of gravity of the runner device 38. In particular, the center of gravity of the structure 36 can be arranged laterally offset relative to the center of gravity of the runner device 38 in a horizontal direction and transversely to a longitudinal extension of the transport rail 16 and/or in a horizontal direction and transversely to a longitudinal extension of the conveyor vehicle 18. A longitudinal extension of the transport rail 16 can in turn specify the transport direction of a conveyor vehicle 18 on the respective transport rail 16. A longitudinal extension of the conveyor vehicle 18 can run along the transport direction of the conveyor vehicle 18 on the respective transport rail 16.

Such a weight distribution can result in advantageous driving behavior in curve situations of the conveyor vehicle 18, whereby in particular an undesirable tipping of the conveyor vehicle 18 or the structure 36 relative to the runner device 28 can be avoided. The transport device 14 and/or the rail system of the transport device 14 can preferably be designed as a transport circuit, as shown in more detail in Figs. 7 and 8. The rail system of the transport device 14 can have a bypass route 80. On such a bypass route 80, conveyor vehicles 18 can be temporarily positioned or stopped before they are threaded back into a main route 82 of the rail system of the transport device 14 or drive into such a main route 82.

The transport device 14 can be set up in particular for the automated transport of at least one screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier 20 in the circuit between a printing device 12 and a position spaced apart from the printing device 12. A position spaced apart from the printing device 12 can be any position outside the printing device 12 and along the rail system. Positions outside the printing device 12 can be arranged along the main route 82 or along the bypass route 80.

As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the device 10 can have a plurality of printing devices 12. The transport device 14 can run between the printing devices 12. Accordingly, a screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier 20 can be transported between the printing devices 12 by means of the transport device 14.

The device 10 can also be equipped with at least one drying device 84 for at least one screen-printed workpiece, in particular with a plurality of drying devices 84, as shown in Figs. 1 to 6. Preferably, each printing device 12 can be assigned a drying device 84 and/or can be connected downstream of the transport device 14. The at least one drying device 84 can further preferably be designed for continuous drying and/or for stationary drying. The transport device 14 can further preferably run for the transport of a screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier 20 towards and/or away from the drying device 84 and/or through the drying device 84. The transport device 14 can also be designed for the transport of a screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier 20 between the printing device 12 and the drying device 84.

In particular, the transport device 14 can run at least partially through the drying device 84 and/or the transport device 14 can be designed separately from the drying device 84. This can enable or further promote an overall modular structure of the device 10. The transport device 14 can be configured independently of the drying device 84 and can be arranged to connect the drying device 84 to at least one other device or position within the device 10.

Furthermore, a transport device 14 that is separate from and/or independently designed from the drying device 84 can simplify the addition and/or replacement of the respective drying device 84, in particular the addition of further units within the device or the replacement of the drying device 84 with another drying device 84.

Despite the transport device 14 being designed separately and/or independently of the drying device 84, it can be adapted to the drying device 84, in particular to enable reliable transport of a workpiece carrier 20 and/or a screen-printed workpiece to and/or away from the drying device 84.

Details of such a drying device 84 are shown in Fig. 31 to 39. The drying device 84 can be particularly preferably for drying at least one screen-printed workpiece and for simultaneously cooling a workpiece carrier 20 carrying the screen-printed workpiece to be dried.

The interior of the drying device 84 is shown in the longitudinal sectional views in Figs. 33, 34 and 37 as well as in the cross-sectional views in Figs. 35 and 36. The drying device 84 can in particular have a drying section 86 for drying screen-printed workpieces and a cooling section 88 for cooling workpiece carriers 20.

For this purpose, the drying device 84 can be divided in particular into a drying section 86 and a cooling section 88, wherein preferably at least one nozzle device 90 and/or perforated plate 92 for supplying a cooling air flow, in particular compressed cooling air, can be arranged within the cooling section 88.

By dividing the drying device 84 into a drying section 86 and a cooling section 88, the risk of a warm drying air flow reaching the underside of the workpiece carrier 20 to be cooled can be avoided or reduced. Undesirable heating of the workpiece carrier 20 can thus be prevented.

With a suitable division of the drying device 84 into a drying section 86 and a cooling section 88, in particular a mixing of drying air flows and cooling air flows can be prevented or reduced, in particular temporarily prevented or reduced. Such a mixing of drying air flows and cooling air flows can be prevented or kept to a minimum in a particularly preferred manner until the respective function of the drying air flows and cooling air flows has been fulfilled, namely until the respective screen-printed workpieces have been dried and cooling of the workpiece carrier has been ensured at the same time as the drying or at least temporarily during the drying. A division of the drying device 84 into a drying section 86 and a cooling section 88 can be particularly facilitated by positioning a conveyor vehicle 18, preferably with a workpiece carrier 20 positioned thereon, within the drying device 84. The conveyor vehicle 18 or a workpiece carrier 20 positioned thereon can itself advantageously contribute to the division of the drying device 84 into a drying section 86 and a cooling section 88. This applies in particular to a plurality of conveyor vehicles 18 positioned one behind the other within the drying device 84.

A drying section 86 can be arranged in particular above a nozzle device 90 and/or perforated plate 92 for supplying a cooling air flow.

The drying device 84 can advantageously be designed for convection drying of a screen-printed workpiece and/or for blown air cooling of workpiece carriers 20, in particular for convection drying of a screen-printed workpiece with simultaneous blown air cooling of the workpiece carrier 20 carrying the respective screen-printed workpiece.

Blown air cooling can be carried out via the nozzle device 90 and/or perforated plate 92 for supplying a cooling air flow. Convection drying of screen-printed workpieces can be carried out via a drying air supply 94.

In particular, the drying device 84 can be designed to direct a drying air flow 95 onto a screen-printed workpiece or simultaneously onto several screen-printed workpieces, preferably at an angle to a transport axis formed by the transport rail 16 and/or at an angle relative to a transport line by which a transport direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or the respective workpiece carrier 20 is defined and/or transversely to its transport direction and/or to direct it onto the respective screen-printed workpiece from above. If a drying air flow 95 is directed at an angle onto a screen-printed workpiece, the direction of the drying air flow 95 may be different from a transport axis formed by the transport rail 16 or from the transport direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or the respective workpiece carrier 20. The direction of the drying air flow 95 may be inclined relative to the transport direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or the respective workpiece carrier 20, namely inclined at a specific or predefined angle. A direction of the drying air flow 95 transverse to the transport direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or the respective workpiece carrier 20 runs in particular at a right angle or at an angle of 90° relative to a transport axis or relative to a transport line by which a transport direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or the respective workpiece carrier 20 is defined.

A top-side supply of a drying air stream 95 to a screen-printed workpiece or to a workpiece carrier 20 can be seen from the schematic representations in Fig. 34 and 35. The downward-pointing arrows indicate a top-side supply of a drying air stream 95 to a screen-printed workpiece or to a workpiece carrier 20.

Furthermore, the drying device 84 can be designed to extract air flows in such a way that an extraction air flow 97 is set at an angle to a transport axis formed by the transport rail 16 and/or relative to a transport line, by which a transport direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or the respective workpiece carrier 20 is defined, in particular transversely to the transport axis and/or transport direction and/or in a horizontal direction and/or in a substantially horizontal direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or workpiece carrier 20. Such extraction of a drying air flow 95 can also be seen from the schematic representations in Fig. 34 and 35. The sideways and upward-pointing arrows indicate such an extraction air flow 97 from a screen-printed workpiece or from a workpiece carrier 20.

Furthermore, the drying device 84 can be designed to redirect extracted drying and/or cooling air in the form of an extraction air stream 97 as drying air onto a screen-printed workpiece to be dried, in particular as a re-supplied drying air stream 95.

Such an air flow within the drying device 84 can be seen from the schematic representations in Fig. 34 and 35 or the arrow representations contained therein. The drying device 84 can therefore be designed and/or configured as a circulating air dryer.

The drying device 84 can also be designed and/or configured for mixed operation, according to which a partial return of extracted drying air streams 95 and/or cooling air streams takes place. In mixed operation, extracted drying and/or cooling air can be mixed with fresh air after the return before it is again directed onto a screen-printed workpiece for drying.

The drying device 84 can also be designed and/or equipped with a heat exchanger (not shown in detail here) for heat recovery. With such a design, the drying device 84 can only direct fresh air onto the screen-printed workpieces to be dried and use recovered thermal energy to heat the fresh air.

Heating elements 96 can be provided, in particular above the heating air supply 94, for heating a drying air flow 95 for convection drying or for a drying air flow 95 to be conducted through the drying air supply 94 to the respective screen-printed workpieces. A drying air flow 95 guided past the heating elements 96 can thus be suitably heated and then fed via the drying air supply 94 to the screen-printed workpieces to be dried on the respective workpiece carrier 20.

The drying air supply 94 can advantageously have a plurality of nozzles 98, via which a drying air flow 95 can be directed to the respective screen-printed workpieces for convection drying. The nozzles 98 can in particular be designed as slot nozzles.

A distance of the nozzles 98 relative to a conveyor vehicle 18 positionable in the drying device 84 can preferably be adjustable.

A distance of the nozzles 98 relative to a workpiece carrier 20 arranged or fixed in the conveyor vehicle 18 can be adjustable by at least 30 mm, in particular by at least 35 mm, preferably by at least 40 mm or by at least 45 mm. This allows a relatively extensive adjustment of the distance of the nozzles 98 to a workpiece carrier 20 during operation and thus a large number of adjustment options for different applications.

Further preferably, a distance of the nozzles 98 relative to a workpiece carrier 20 arranged or fixed in the conveyor vehicle 18 can be adjustable by up to 90 mm, in particular by up to 80 mm, preferably by up to 70 mm or by up to 60 mm. Despite the adjustability, this ensures an overall compact and robust structure.

In a further preferred manner, a distance of the nozzles 98 relative to a workpiece carrier 20 arranged or fixed in the conveyor vehicle 18 can be between 90 mm and 30 mm, in particular between 90 mm and 35 mm, in particular between 90 mm and 40 mm, preferably between 80 mm and 30 mm, preferably between 80 mm and 40 mm, adjustable. Such adjustability ensures a large number of different setting options while maintaining a robust and compact design.

In a further preferred manner, the drying device 84 can be set up to activate and/or deactivate cooling positions 100 depending on the position of a workpiece carrier 20 within the drying device 84, in particular to activate cooling positions 100 below the respective current position of a workpiece carrier 20. A cooling position 100 can be set up for activation by selectively controlling individual or multiple cooling nozzles 102 and/or compressed air openings 104 in and/or on a nozzle device 90 and/or perforated plate 92.

The cooling nozzles 102 and/or compressed air openings 104 can be designed as point openings or also as elongated openings, in particular openings with a longitudinal extension at an angle to a transport axis formed by the transport rail 16, through which a transport direction of the conveyor vehicle 18 is defined, and/or at an angle to the longitudinal extension of the transport rail 16. In particular, an elongated opening of a cooling nozzle 102 and/or compressed air opening 104 can have a longitudinal extension that encloses an angle with the transport axis and/or transport direction of the conveyor vehicle 18 and/or with a longitudinal extension of the transport rail 16 in a plan view of the drying device 84, in particular encloses an angle of 90° or approximately 90°.

A cooling position 100 can be formed by one or more cooling nozzles 102 and/or compressed air openings 104, which are arranged within the drying device 84 at a position along the transport rail 16 and/or along the transport direction of the conveyor vehicle 18. The cooling nozzles 102 and/or compressed air openings 104 can, for example, be formed at regular intervals on a feed line 105, in particular on the top side of a feed line 105. A cooling position 100 can also be formed by an elongated opening. A plurality of cooling nozzles 102 and/or compressed air openings 104 of a cooling position can be arranged distributed at an angle or transversely to a transport axis formed by the transport rail 16 or transversely to the transport direction of the conveyor vehicle 18 and/or at an angle to the longitudinal extension of the transport rail 16. In particular, a plurality of cooling nozzles 102 and/or compressed air openings 104 of a cooling position can be arranged distributed along a direction that encloses an angle with the transport direction of the conveyor vehicle 18 and/or with a longitudinal extension of the transport rail 16 in a plan view of the drying device 84, in particular encloses an angle of 90° or approximately 90°.

A cooling nozzle 102 and/or compressed air opening 104 of a cooling position designed as an elongated opening can extend at an angle or transversely to a transport axis formed by the transport rail 16 or transversely to the transport direction of the conveyor vehicle 18 and/or at an angle to the longitudinal extent of the transport rail 16. In particular, a cooling nozzle 102 and/or compressed air opening 104 of a cooling position designed as an elongated opening can extend along a direction that encloses an angle with a transport axis formed by the transport rail 16 or with the transport direction of the conveyor vehicle 18 and/or with a longitudinal extent of the transport rail 16 in a plan view of the drying device 84, in particular encloses an angle of 90° or approximately 90°.

In an even more preferred manner, the drying device 84 can have at least one air filter 106 for filtering a drying air stream 95. The air filter 106 can in particular be designed as a HEPA air filter. The nozzles 98 of the drying air supply 94 can therefore be provided and/or arranged for the passage or supply of filtered drying air or an already filtered drying air stream 95. Finally, the drying device 84 can also be designed for the continuous and/or periodic supply of fresh air and/or room air.

When positioning a conveyor vehicle 18 within the drying device 84, the nozzle device 90 and/or perforated plate 92 can protrude at least in sections into the free space 44 of the structure 36 for receiving a printing table and/or between the base section 46 and the support section 40 of the structure 36. In such a position, the nozzle device 90 and/or perforated plate 92 can protrude at least in sections below a workpiece carrier 20 received by the respective conveyor vehicle 18. In this way, a cooling air flow can be fed directly to the underside of the respective workpiece carrier 20 and thus suitable cooling can be ensured.

The nozzle device 90 and/or perforated plate 92 can, in a position that protrudes at least partially into the free space 44 of the structure 36 for receiving a printing table, serve in a further preferred manner as an insulating device between different sections of the drying device 84. In particular, the nozzle device 90 and/or perforated plate 92 can serve as an insulating device between a drying section 86 and a cooling section 88. The nozzle device 90 and/or perforated plate 92 can extend along a horizontal plane or substantially along a horizontal plane.

The nozzle device 90 and/or perforated plate 92 can itself be part of a cooling section 88 of the drying device 84, but can promote insulation between a drying section 86 and a cooling section 88. This applies in particular to a position in which the nozzle device 90 and/or perforated plate 92 protrudes into the free space 44 of the structure 36 for receiving a printing table. In this case, the nozzle device 90 and/or perforated plate 92 can direct cooling air only to the underside of a workpiece carrier 20 received in the respective structure 36 and prevent undesired mixing with at least temporarily avoid drying air directed onto the respective workpiece carrier 20 from above or at least reduce such mixing.

Furthermore, a nozzle device 90 and/or perforated plate 92 can prevent a warm drying air flow from reaching areas below the nozzle device 90 and/or perforated plate 92 and causing undesirable heating there. Overall, the nozzle device 90 and/or perforated plate 92 can provide an advantageous insulating function.

The drying device 84 can have an opening 108 at at least one longitudinal end, which is designed at least in sections to be complementary, in particular geometrically complementary, to the cross-sectional shape and/or complementary, in particular geometrically complementary, to a cross-sectional section shape of the conveyor vehicle 18. The escape of air quantities from the drying device 84 can thereby be reduced to a small extent.

The device 10 can further be equipped with a positioning and/or removal device 110 for positioning workpiece carriers 20 on a conveyor vehicle 18 and/or for removing a workpiece carrier 20 from a conveyor vehicle 18. Such a positioning and/or removal device 110 is shown schematically in Figs. 40 to 43.

A positioning and/or removal device 110 can be designed in particular to actuate a slide 70 of the locking mechanism 68 in order to thereby unlock a workpiece carrier 20 accommodated in a conveyor vehicle 18. The slide 70 can preferably be actuated automatically by the positioning and/or removal device 110, in particular by a claw 112 for gripping behind the slide 70.

Furthermore, the positioning and/or removal device 110 can be designed to enable automated handling of a workpiece carrier 20 for the purpose of removal. from the conveyor vehicle 20 after unlocking the lock 68 and/or for positioning within the conveyor vehicle 18 after opening the slide 70. For this purpose, for example, a pressing device 114 can be provided, by means of which a workpiece carrier 20 can be lifted out of the conveyor vehicle 18 at least on one side or transferred into an inclined position. From such an inclined position of the workpiece carrier 20, a manual removal of the workpiece carrier 20 or a further automated removal can take place.

After another or new workpiece carrier 20 has been arranged in the respective conveyor vehicle 18, a pressing device 114 can be lowered again so that the workpiece carrier 20 is in a level position resting on the conveyor vehicle 18. The positioning and/or removal device 110, in particular the claw 112, can then release the slide 70 of the locking mechanism 68 and/or guide it in a controlled manner into a locking position in order to fix the respective workpiece carrier 20.

Furthermore, a positioning and/or removal device 110 can be equipped with a detection device 116 with which workpiece carriers 20 to be removed and/or newly positioned on the respective conveyor vehicle 18 can be detected.

A device 10 described above is particularly suitable for carrying out a method for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces. In such a method, at least one screen-printed workpiece is produced layer by layer in a plurality of printing processes in the printing device 12. At least one screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier 20 with a screen-printed workpiece is automatically transported to and/or away from the printing device 12 using the transport device 14, wherein the transport by the transport device 14 can be carried out by means of the conveyor vehicle 18 on the transport rail 16. The device 10 can be designed and/or configured in particular for the development and/or production of large quantities of pharmaceuticals.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

10 Device for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces

12 Printing device

14 Transport device

16 Transport rail

18 conveyor vehicle

20 workpiece carriers

22 Enclosure

24 Printing table

26 Drive system

28 Drive roller

29 current-carrying contact roller

30 Support device

32 Support roller

33 Control module

34 Device control

35 Control unit

36 Structure

38 Runner device

40 supporting section

42 End of page

44 Free space

46 Basic section

48 Connecting section

50 Stroke limiting device

52 Stroke limiting claw

54 Multi-point bearing

56 warehouses

58 Bearing mandrel

60 Dome shot

61 Adjusting screw 62 Frame device

63 threads

64 Workpiece carrier storage

66 fixed bearings

68 Locking

70 sliders

72 Contact surface

74 Contact surface

76 Support section

78 Form element

80 Bypass route

82 Main line

84 Drying device

86 Drying section

88 Cooling section

90 Nozzle device

92 Perforated plate

94 Drying air supply

95 Drying air flow

96 Heating element

97 Extraction air flow

98 Nozzle

100 cooling position

102 Cooling nozzle

104 Compressed air opening

106 Air filter

108 Opening at the longitudinal end of the drying device

110 Positioning and/or removal device

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Device (10) for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, in particular a 3D screen-printing system, with a printing device (12) for the layer-by-layer production of at least one screen-printed workpiece in several printing processes and with a drying device (84) which is designed to dry at least one screen-printed workpiece and to simultaneously cool a workpiece carrier (20) carrying the screen-printed workpiece to be dried. 2. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by a transport device (14) for the automated transport of at least one screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier (20) towards and/or away from the printing device and/or for the automated transport of at least one screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier (20) towards and/or away from the drying device (84) and/or for the automated transport of at least one screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier (20) between the printing device (12) and the drying device (84). 3. Device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the drying device (84) is designed for continuous drying and/or for stationary drying. 4. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drying device (84) has a drying section (86) for drying screen-printed workpieces and a cooling section (88) for cooling workpiece carriers (20) and/or that the drying device (84) is divided into a drying section (86) and a cooling section (88). 5. Device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one nozzle device (90) and/or perforated plate (92) for supplying a cooling air flow, in particular compressed cooling air, is arranged within the cooling section (88) and/or that a drying section (86) is arranged above a nozzle device (90) and/or perforated plate (92) for supplying a cooling air flow. 6. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drying device (84) is designed for convection drying of a screen-printed workpiece and/or for blown air cooling of workpiece carriers (20), in particular for convection drying of a screen-printed workpiece with simultaneous blown air cooling of the workpiece carrier (20) carrying the respective screen-printed workpiece. 7. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drying device (84) has a contact cooling system for a workpiece carrier (20), preferably a traveling contact cooling system for a workpiece carrier (20). 8. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drying device (84) is designed to activate and deactivate cooling positions (100) depending on the position of a workpiece carrier (20) within the drying device (84), in particular to activate cooling positions (100) below the respective current position of a workpiece carrier (20). 9. Device (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that a cooling position (100) for activation by selective control of individual or several cooling nozzles (102) and/or compressed air openings (104) in and/or on a nozzle device (90) and/or perforated plate (92). 10. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drying device (84) has at least one air filter (106) and/or a plurality of nozzles (98) for filtered drying air and/or that the drying device (84) is designed as a circulating air dryer and/or for the continuous and/or periodic supply of fresh air and/or room air. 11. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drying device (84) is designed to direct a drying air flow (95) onto a screen-printed workpiece, in particular at an angle and/or transversely to a transport direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or the respective workpiece carrier (20) within the drying device (84) and/or on the top side onto the respective screen-printed workpiece. 12. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drying device (84) is designed to suck air streams in such a way that a suction air stream (97) is established at an angle and/or transversely to a transport direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or the respective workpiece carrier (20) within the drying device (84), in particular in a horizontal direction of the respective screen-printed workpiece and/or workpiece carrier (20). 13. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drying device (84) is designed to redirect extracted drying and/or cooling air as drying air onto a screen-printed workpiece to be dried. 14. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport device (14) has at least one transport rail (16) and a conveyor vehicle (18) movably arranged on the transport rail (16) for at least one screen-printed workpiece and/or at least one workpiece carrier (20). 15. Device (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that the drying device (84) has an opening (108) at at least one longitudinal end, which is formed at least in sections complementary to the cross-sectional shape and/or complementary to a cross-sectional section shape of the conveyor vehicle (18). 16. Device (10) according to one of claims 2 to 15, characterized in that the transport device (14) is set up for the automated transport of at least one screen printing workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier (20) towards and/or away from a printing table (24) of the printing device (12). 17. Device (10) according to one of claims 2 to 16, characterized in that the transport device (14) is designed separately from the printing device (12) and/or separately from the drying device (84) and/or that the transport device (14) runs through the printing device (12) and/or through the drying device (84). 18. Device (10) according to one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that the conveyor vehicle (18) has at least one drive device (26) which is arranged to travel on the conveyor vehicle (18) and/or which has a drive roller (28) rolling on the transport rail (16) and/or a drive motor for a drive roller (28). 19. Device (10) according to one of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that the conveyor vehicle (18) has at least one support device (30) for support on the transport rail (16), in particular a support roller (32) rolling on the transport rail (16) to support the conveyor vehicle (18), and/or that the conveyor vehicle (18) is supported on the transport rail (16) via roller contact points, in particular exclusively via roller contact points of a drive roller (28) and/or a support roller (32) or via roller contact points of a plurality of drive rollers (28) and/or support rollers (32). 20. Device (10) according to one of claims 14 to 19, characterized in that the transport rail (16) is designed as a monorail and/or has a plurality of interconnected monorail sections, in particular monorail sections interconnected in the longitudinal direction, and/or that the transport rail (16) is modularly assembled and/or consists of several rail modules and/or that the conveyor vehicle (18) is arranged along a longitudinal section of the transport rail (16) so as to encompass it on multiple sides, in particular so as to encompass it on three sides. 21. Device (10) according to one of claims 14 to 20, characterized in that the conveyor vehicle (18) has at least one position sensor and/or one distance sensor and/or that the conveyor vehicle (18) is designed for communication with a control module (33) arranged on the transport rail (16). 22. Device (10) according to one of claims 14 to 21, characterized in that on the transport rail (16) at least one control module (33) for communication with a higher-level device control (34) and/or for communication with at least one conveyor vehicle (18) for controlling the transport path and/or the transport speed of the respective conveyor vehicle (18) and/or that at least one control unit (35), in particular a control cam, for controlling the speed of a conveyor vehicle (18) is arranged on the transport rail (16) and/or that at least one position sensor and/or one distance sensor is arranged on the transport rail (16). 23. Device (10) according to one of claims 2 to 22, characterized in that the transport device (14) has a collision monitoring system for collision avoidance between conveyor vehicles (18), wherein the collision monitoring system is preferably set up for signal processing from distance and/or position sensors and/or from control modules (33) and/or control units (35) of the transport rail (16). 24. Device (10) according to one of claims 14 to 23, characterized in that the conveyor vehicle (18) has a structure (36) for receiving a workpiece carrier (20) for screen-printed workpieces and/or a runner device (38) having the drive device (26), wherein the structure (36) is preferably arranged on the runner device (38) of the conveyor vehicle (18). 25. Device (10) according to claim 24, characterized in that the structure (36) and/or a frame device (62) of the structure (36) defines a receiving plane for a workpiece carrier (20) which runs at a distance from the rotor device (38) and/or from the drive device (26), in particular runs at a vertical distance. 26. Device (10) according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that the structure (36), in particular with a received workpiece carrier (20), in a plan view, covers the rotor device (38) and/or the drive device (26) at least in sections and/or projects beyond at least one side end of the rotor device (38). 27. Device (10) according to one of claims 24 to 26, characterized in that the structure (36) is C-shaped and/or forms a free space (44) for receiving a printing table (24) of the printing device (12) and/or that in a cross section of the structure (36) the center of the surface is arranged laterally offset from the center of gravity of the structure (36). 28. Device (10) according to one of claims 24 to 27, characterized in that the structure (36) has a base section (46) for fastening to the rotor device (38), a support section (40) for receiving and/or enclosing a workpiece carrier (20) and a connecting section (48) for connecting the support section (40) to the base section (46), wherein a free space (44) for receiving a printing table (24) and/or for contacting a workpiece carrier (20) on the underside is preferably formed between the base section (46) and the support section (40) and/or is laterally delimited by the connecting section (48). 29. Device (10) according to one of claims 14 to 28, characterized in that when positioning a conveyor vehicle (18) within the drying device (84), a nozzle device (90) and/or perforated plate (92) of the drying device (84) protrudes at least in sections into the free space (44) of the structure (36) for receiving a printing table (24) and/or between the base section (46) and the support section (40) of the structure (36) and/or protrudes at least in sections below a workpiece carrier (20) received by the conveyor vehicle (18). 30. Device (10) according to one of claims 24 to 29, characterized in that the structure (36) and/or the support section (40) of the structure (36) is mounted so as to be movable in the height direction relative to the rotor device (38) and/or is arranged so as to be height-adjustable and/or that the structure (36) and/or the support section (40) of the structure (36) is arranged to be liftable relative to the rotor device (38) by a printing table (24) of the printing device (12). 31. Device (10) according to one of claims 24 to 30, characterized in that a stroke and/or a height mobility of the structure (36) and/or the support section (40) of the structure (36) relative to the rotor device (38) is limited, preferably by a mechanical stroke limiting device (50), in particular by a stroke limiting claw (52). 32. Device (10) according to claim 31, characterized in that the stroke limiting device (50) and/or the stroke limiting claw (52) is arranged on the structure (36) and/or engages behind the rotor device (38) in a form-fitting manner and/or can be brought into form-fitting contact engagement with the rotor device (38) by raising the structure (36). 33. Device (10) according to one of claims 24 to 32, characterized in that the structure (36) is fastened to the rotor device (38) via a multi-point bearing (54), in particular via a 4-point bearing, and/or is guided so as to be vertically movable and/or that at least one bearing (56) between the structure (36) and the rotor device (38) is formed by a bearing dome (58) and a mandrel holder (60) for the bearing dome (58). 34. Device (10) according to claim 33, characterized in that the multi-point bearing (54) and/or at least one bearing (56) between the structure (36) and the rotor device (38) is designed for self-centering and/or self-alignment of the structure (36) relative to the rotor device (38) and/or that at least one bearing dome (58) tapers conically and/or that at least one mandrel receptacle (60) tapers conically, in particular complementary to the bearing mandrel (58) or with a conicity that differs from the bearing mandrel (58). 35. Device (10) according to one of claims 14 to 34, characterized in that the conveyor vehicle (18), in particular the structure (36) of the conveyor vehicle (18) and/or the support section (40) of the structure (36), is designed for the positive and/or non-positive and/or material-locking reception and/or fixing and/or at least partial enclosing of a workpiece carrier (20) and/or that the structure (36) and/or the support section (40) of the structure (36) is designed for the defined and/or play-free reception and/or enclosing of a workpiece carrier (20). 36. Device (10) according to one of claims 14 to 35, characterized in that the conveyor vehicle (18), in particular the structure (36) of the conveyor vehicle (18) and/or the support section (40) of the structure (36), has a frame device (62), in particular a frame device (62) for the positive and/or non-positive and/or material-locking reception and/or fixing and/or at least partial enclosing of a workpiece carrier (20), wherein the frame device (62) is preferably designed for the defined and/or play-free reception and/or enclosing of a workpiece carrier (20) and/or wherein the frame device (62) preferably delimits a free space (44) for the underside contacting of a workpiece carrier (20) received and/or enclosed therein. 37. Device (10) according to one of claims 14 to 36, characterized in that the conveyor vehicle (18), in particular the structure (36) and/or the support section (40) and/or the frame device (62), a workpiece carrier bearing (64) for fixing and/or clamping and/or for the force-fitting and/or form-fitting fastening of a workpiece carrier (20), wherein the workpiece carrier bearing (64) is preferably designed as a multi-point bearing, in particular as a 3-point bearing. 38. Device (10) according to claim 37, characterized in that the workpiece carrier bearing (64) is formed by at least one fixed bearing (66) and/or by at least one locking mechanism (68), in particular a plurality of fixed bearings (66) and a locking mechanism (68) arranged opposite one another. 39. Device (10) according to claim 38, characterized in that the locking mechanism (68) is preferably formed by a slide (70) with a bevelled contact surface (72) and/or inclined to the sliding direction of the slide (70) and/or that the locking mechanism (68) is formed by a spring-loaded slide (70) and/or as a snap closure and/or that at least one fixed bearing (66) is formed with a bevelled contact surface (74) and/or inclined to the sliding direction of the slide (70). 40. Device (10) according to one of claims 14 to 39, characterized in that the structure (36), in particular the support section (40) and/or the frame device (62), has support sections (76) for contacting and/or raising the structure (36) by a printing table (24) of the printing device (12), wherein the support sections (76) are preferably formed on an underside of the support section (40) and/or the frame device (62). 41. Device (10) according to claim 40, characterized in that the support sections (76) are designed and/or arranged for a stress-free contact for the workpiece carrier storage (64) by a pressure table (24) and/or that the structure (36) can be contacted and/or lifted in a stress-free manner via the support sections (76) by a pressure table (24) for the workpiece carrier storage (64). 42. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printing device (12) has a liftable printing table (24), preferably a liftable vacuum printing table, and/or that the printing table (24) of the printing device (12) is designed for surface contacting of a workpiece carrier (20) accommodated in a conveyor vehicle (18) and/or for contacting the support sections (76) of the structure (36) of the conveyor vehicle (18). 43. Device (10) according to claim 42, characterized in that the printing table (24) of the printing device (12) is designed to lift the structure (36) over the support sections (76) for the workpiece carrier storage (64) without stress, in particular while simultaneously contacting the workpiece carrier (20). 44. Device (10) according to one of claims 14 to 43, characterized in that in a plan view of the transport device (14) the center of gravity of the conveyor vehicle (18) is arranged offset to the transport rail (16) and/or that the center of gravity of the conveyor vehicle (18) is arranged offset in the horizontal direction to the transport rail (16). 45. Device (10) according to one of claims 14 to 44, characterized in that in a plan view of the conveyor vehicle (18) the center of gravity of the structure (36) is arranged offset to the center of gravity of the runner device (38) and/or that the center of gravity of the structure (36) is arranged offset in the horizontal direction to the center of gravity of the runner device (38). 46. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport device (14) and/or the rail system is designed as a transport circuit and/or is set up for the automated transport of at least one screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier (20) in the circuit between the printing device (12) and a position spaced apart from the printing device (12) and/or is set up for the automated transport of at least one screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier (20) in the circuit between the drying device (84) and a position spaced apart from the drying device (84). 47. Device (10) according to one of claims 2 to 46, characterized by a plurality of printing devices (12) and/or by a plurality of drying devices (84), between which the transport device (14) runs and/or between which a screen-printed workpiece and/or a workpiece carrier (20) can be transported by means of the transport device (14), in particular can be transported in a circuit. 48. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a lock device for the infeed and/or outfeed of conveyor vehicles and/or by at least one detection module for the detection of conveyor vehicles (18) that have been infeed and/or are to be outfeed of the transport device (14). 49. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one positioning and/or removal device (110) for positioning workpiece carriers (20) on a conveyor vehicle (18) and/or for removing a workpiece carrier (20) from a conveyor vehicle (18). 50. Drying device (84) for three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, in particular for a device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, with a drying section (86) for drying at least one screen-printed workpiece and with a cooling section (88) for simultaneous Cooling of a workpiece carrier (20) carrying the screen printing workpiece to be dried. 51. Method for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, in particular with a device (10) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 49, in which at least one screen-printed workpiece is produced layer by layer in several printing processes using a printing device (12), in which the screen-printed workpiece is dried using a drying device (84) and at the same time a workpiece carrier (20) carrying the screen-printed workpiece is cooled.