The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 30, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 20, 1999
Robert L. Baan, Wallkill, NY (US);
James O. Goring, Staatsburg, NY (US);
David Scott Graboski, Wappingers Falls, NY (US);
John R. Lankard, Jr., Poughkeepsie, NY (US);
Kurt R. Muller, Hopewell Junction, NY (US);
Raymond H. Turcotte, Hopewell Junction, NY (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A green sheet holding apparatus includes a first member secured to a first edge of the green sheet and a second member moveable relative to the first member, the second member being secured to a second edge of the green sheet. A forcing mechanism, connected to the second member and to the first member, forces the second member away from the first member such that the first edge and the second edge of the green sheet are forced away from each other and the green sheet is flattened. The holding apparatus may be included in a green sheet inspection system, wherein the inspection system further includes a light source directing a light onto the green sheet and a camera detecting light from the green sheet. The invention also includes a method of holding a green sheet, which includes securing the first edge of the green sheet to a first member, securing the second edge of the green sheet to a second member, and forcing the second member away from the first member. This method pulls the first edge and the second edge of the green sheet outwardly, thereby flattening the green sheet. The method may be part of a method of inspecting a screened pattern on a green sheet, which further includes directing a light onto a the green sheet and detecting the light as it emerges from the green sheet.