MEDWAY, MA – The US PTO has issued a patent to Quick Tensioning Systems for its stencil foil adapter.

The patent covers a stencil assembly with a stencil foil, having a stencil pattern thereon and of a planar configuration, with a peripheral edge, which is a captured by rigid frame. The rigid frame includes a base and a cover attached thereto. The assembly adapts a standard stencil foil for use in a stretch frame that requires an elongated groove. The assembly thereby facilitates mounting the stencil to a stretching machine during printing. Also, the stencil assembly protects a user from injury by preventing contact with the sharp outer edges of the stencil foil. Further, the assembly protects the stencil foil portion from damage and greatly facilitates handling thereof.

QTS says the invention, named Apshen, was developed to give users of DEK's VectorGuard stencil frame the ability to choose their stencil foil provider.

“Until Apshen, VectorGuard users could only buy the specially formed stencil foils that fit VectorGuard through DEK,” said CEO Thomas G. Erdmann and developer of Apshen. “Now, they can purchase them from whomever they choose.”

He said the patented Apshen won’t compromise the VectorGuard system and does not infringe on any existing patents.

Apshen won a CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY NPI Award in 2015.

The patent number is 9,351,406.

• Prev
• Next