JP2002192710A - Ink discharge device, filter plotter, and method for cleaning ink discharge device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink discharge device, a filter plotter and a method for cleaning an ink discharge device whereby a cleaning time for the device can be shortened and, discharging ink can be maintained in a good state. SOLUTION: The ink discharge device 100 is constituted including an ink storage part 120 where ink is stored, an ink discharge part 110 for discharging the ink stored in the ink storage part, an ink transfer part 121 for guiding the ink in the ink storage part to the ink discharge part, an air introduction part 125 for introducing the air, an air transfer part 127 for guiding the air of the air introduction part to the ink transfer part, a cleaning solution storage part 126 for storing a cleaning solution, and a cleaning solution transfer part 128 for guiding the cleaning solution to the ink transfer part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink ejection device for ejecting ink to a filter or the like used in a display device such as a liquid crystal display device, a filter drawing device equipped with such an ink ejection device, and an ink. The present invention relates to a method for cleaning a discharge device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A color filter or the like used for a display device such as a liquid crystal display device is manufactured by arranging ink in each bank which is an ink arranging region formed in large numbers on a substrate. This ink is a red (R), green (G) or blue (B) ink,
These R, G, and B inks are arranged on a substrate in a predetermined pattern. Thus, R, G,
Since the B ink is arranged with high accuracy and different colors for each bank on the substrate, it is necessary to control the ink ejection with high accuracy. Has been adopted.

[0005] FIG. 5 shows such an ink jet type ink ejection apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the ink discharge device 10 includes an ink jet head 11 first. This inkjet head 11
Is an ink jet head main body 11b and a nozzle forming portion 11a in which a number of nozzles for discharging ink are formed.
have. Moreover, in this way to supply ink to the configured inkjet head 11, the ink pack 12 in which ink is accommodated therein via an ink flow path 13 of the tubular shown in Fig. 5 is arranged . Further, the ink flow path 13 is provided with three-way valve 14 as shown in FIG. One of the three-way valves 14 is provided with a tubular cleaning liquid flow path 15 connected to a cleaning liquid tank 16 containing a cleaning liquid.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, a cap 13 is provided on the nozzle forming portion 11a side of the ink jet head 11.
Is provided. The ink ejection device 10 is configured as described above, and operates as follows. That is, when ink is ejected from the ink ejection device 10 to, for example, a filter, liquid ink is ejected from the nozzles arranged in the nozzle forming portion 11a of the inkjet head 11. This ink is supplied from the ink pack 12 of FIG. At this time, the valve on the cleaning liquid flow path 15 side is in a closed state. Then, when the ejection of the ink to the filter ends, the ejection of the ink from the nozzles is stopped. If the nozzles are left in the air in this state, the ink in the nozzles may aggregate and stick, which may cause a discharge failure when the ink is discharged from the next nozzle. 10 has a cap 17.

That is, when the ejection of ink from the nozzles is stopped, the cap 17 approaches the nozzle forming portion 11a of the ink jet head 11 as shown by the arrow in FIG. Move until it covers. By covering the nozzle with the cap 13 in this way, aggregation and fixation of the ink in the nozzle can be prevented beforehand. When the ejection of the ink of a specific color is completed, the ink pack 12 in FIG. 5 is replaced with another color, and the ink is ejected again using the inkjet head 11. However, at this time, if the ink ejected before remains in the ink flow path 13 and the ink jet head 11, the colors are mixed and this causes a defect. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, a cleaning liquid flow path 15 for guiding the cleaning liquid to the ink flow path 13 is connected, and the cleaning liquid is supplied from the cleaning liquid tank 16 to the ink flow path 13 and the inkjet head 1.
One is flowing. Therefore, the previously used ink is discharged from the ink flow path 13 and the ink jet head 11 by the cleaning liquid.

More specifically, when the ink ejection by the ink jet head 11 is completed, the three-way valve 1 shown in FIG.
4 is operated to open the valve on the side of the cleaning liquid flow path 15 to guide the cleaning liquid to the ink flow path 13.

[0007]

However, even if the cleaning liquid flows through the ink flow path 13 as described above, the flow of the cleaning liquid in the ink flow path 13 is fast at the center thereof, and the flow of the cleaning liquid near the wall surface of the ink flow path 13 is high. Flow slows down. Therefore, the ink adhering to the wall surface of the ink flow path 13 cannot be easily removed,
There is a problem that it is necessary to keep the cleaning liquid flowing for a long time in order to remove even the ink adhered to the wall surface. Further, when the ink remains on the wall surface of the ink flow path 13, the remaining adhered ink is subsequently removed from the ink flow path 1.
There is also a problem that the ink drops from the wall surface of No. 3 and is mixed with another ink to reach the ink jet head 11, which causes clogging of the ink jet head 11 with a filter and makes it difficult to stably discharge the ink jet head 11.

In view of the above, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and has been made in view of the above circumstances. An ink ejection apparatus, a filter drawing apparatus, and an ink ejection apparatus capable of shortening the cleaning time of the apparatus and maintaining good ink ejection. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for cleaning an apparatus.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems] The object is achieved according to the invention of claim 1, an ink storage portion which ink is accommodated, the ink discharge portion for discharging the ink stored in the ink storage portion An ink transport unit that guides the ink in the ink storage unit to the ink discharge unit, an air introduction unit that introduces air, an air transport unit that guides the air of the air introduction unit to the ink transport unit, and a cleaning liquid. The present invention is attained by an ink ejecting apparatus, comprising: a cleaning liquid storage section to perform the cleaning liquid; and a cleaning liquid transport section that guides the cleaning liquid to the ink transport section. According to the configuration of claim 1, an air introduction unit that introduces air, an air conveyance unit that guides the air of the air introduction unit to the ink conveyance unit, a cleaning liquid storage unit that stores a cleaning liquid, and the cleaning liquid that contains the ink. And a cleaning liquid transport unit that guides to the transport unit, so that not only the cleaning liquid but also air is introduced into the ink transport unit, so that ink that is difficult to remove with the cleaning liquid, such as in the ink transport unit, can be removed by air. . Therefore, it can be completed in a short time to clean the ink-carrying portions such as easily adhered ink.

Preferably, according to the invention of claim 2, in the configuration of claim 1, the air transport section and the cleaning liquid transport section are connected to a common transport section via a valve section, and the common transport section is An ink discharge device is connected to the ink transport unit via a valve unit.
According to the configuration of claim 2, the air transport unit and the cleaning liquid transport unit are connected to a common transport unit via a valve unit, and the common transport unit is connected to the ink transport unit via a valve unit. Therefore, either the air of the air transport unit or the cleaning liquid of the cleaning liquid transport unit is selectively guided to the common transport unit by the valve, and is guided to the ink transport unit via the valve. Therefore, when air or a cleaning liquid is alternately introduced into the ink transport section, the introduction time and the like can be accurately controlled.

Preferably, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the second aspect, the valve section is a three-way valve. According to the configuration of the third aspect, since the valve portion is a three-way valve, it is possible to more accurately introduce air or a cleaning liquid into the ink transport portion.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink storage section for storing ink, an ink discharge section for discharging ink stored in the ink storage section, An ink transport unit that guides the ink to the ink ejection unit, an air introduction unit that introduces air, an air transport unit that guides the air of the air introduction unit to the ink transport unit, a cleaning liquid storage unit that stores a cleaning liquid, This is attained by a filter drawing apparatus having an ink ejection device having a cleaning liquid transport section for guiding the cleaning liquid to the ink transport section. According to the configuration of claim 4, an air introduction unit that introduces air, an air conveyance unit that guides the air of the air introduction unit to the ink conveyance unit, a cleaning liquid storage unit that stores a cleaning liquid, and the cleaning liquid that contains the ink. And a cleaning liquid transport unit that guides to the transport unit, so that not only the cleaning liquid but also air is introduced into the ink transport unit, so that ink that is difficult to remove with the cleaning liquid, such as in the ink transport unit, can be removed by air. .
Therefore, the filter drawing apparatus can complete the washing of the ink transporting section and the like to which the ink easily adheres in a short time.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the fourth aspect, the air transport section and the cleaning liquid transport section are connected to a common transport section via a valve section, and the common transport section is connected to the ink transport section. And a filter drawing device connected to the section via a valve section. Claim 5
According to the configuration, the air transport unit and the cleaning liquid transport unit are connected to a common transport unit via a valve unit, and the common transport unit is connected to the ink transport unit via a valve unit. Either the air of the air transport unit or the cleaning liquid of the cleaning liquid transport unit is selectively guided to the common transport unit by the valve, and is guided to the ink transport unit via the valve. Therefore, when the air or the cleaning liquid is alternately introduced into the ink transport unit, the filter drawing apparatus can accurately control the introduction time and the like.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the filter drawing apparatus according to the fifth aspect, wherein the valve portion is a three-way valve. According to the configuration of claim 6, since the valve section is a three-way valve, the filter drawing apparatus can introduce air or a cleaning liquid into the ink transport section more accurately.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning liquid supply step of supplying a cleaning liquid to an ink transport section for guiding ink in an ink storage section for storing ink to an ink discharge section, and the ink transport section. And an air supply step of supplying air instead of the cleaning liquid to the ink discharge device. According to the configuration of claim 7, a cleaning liquid supply step of supplying a cleaning liquid to an ink transport unit that guides the ink in the ink storage unit that stores the ink to the ink discharge unit, and replacing the cleaning liquid with the ink transport unit And an air supply step of supplying air to the apparatus, so that not only the cleaning liquid but also the air is introduced, so that it is possible to remove the ink adhered to the inside of the ink transfer section or the like, which is difficult to remove with the cleaning liquid. Therefore, this is a method for cleaning an ink ejection device, which can finish the cleaning of an ink transporting section or the like to which ink easily adheres in a short time.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the seventh aspect, the cleaning liquid supply step and the air supply step are one cycle, and this one cycle is repeated a plurality of times. Is a cleaning method. According to the configuration of claim 8, the cleaning liquid supply step and the air supply step form one cycle, and this one cycle is repeated a plurality of times, so that the adhered ink and the like in the ink transport unit and the like can be more effectively combined with the cleaning liquid. it can be removed by air.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an ink ejection apparatus 100 used in a filter drawing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the ink ejection device 100 includes an inkjet head 110 that is an ink ejection unit. The inkjet head 110 has a nozzle surface 112 a number of nozzles ejecting head main body 111 and the ink. The ink, for example, red (R), green (G), or blue (B) ink ejected from the nozzles of the nozzle forming surface 112 lands on a filter, for example, a color filter substrate (not shown). Become. As this ink, an aqueous ink or a solvent pigment ink is used.

Specifically, the filter drawing apparatus has a table (not shown) on which the color filter substrate is placed.
Is provided. This table is movably formed a predetermined direction, for example, X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the like.
Further, on the surface of the color filter substrate mounted on such a table, a pixel portion partitioned by a number of banks containing ink is formed. By disposing the red (R), green (G), or blue (B) ink in the individual pixel portions, color pixels are formed, and a color filter is formed as a whole. The color filter thus formed is used for a display device such as a liquid crystal display device. By the way, the ink jet head 110 having the nozzle forming surface 112 for discharging the ink contains the ink of the color (red (R), green (G), or blue (B)) to be discharged by the nozzle. ink pack 120 is an ink storage portion there are connected.

[0019] Specifically, the ink pack 120 and the ink jet head 110 are connected by a hollow ink carrier tube 121 is an ink transport. Further, the ink transport pipe 121 has a three-way valve 1 for the ink transport pipe.
22 are provided. As shown in FIG. 1, the three-way valve 122 for the ink transport pipe is connected to an ink transport pipe 121 on the ink jet side, an ink transport pipe 121 on the ink pack side, and a hollow common transport pipe 123 which is a common transport section described later. On the left side of the common transport pipe 123 in the figure, a hollow air transport pipe 127 serving as an air transport section and a hollow cleaning liquid transport pipe 128 serving as a cleaning liquid transport section are connected via a three-way valve 124 for the common transport pipe. I have.
An air introduction section 125 and a cleaning liquid tank 126 serving as a cleaning liquid storage section are connected to the air transport pipe 127 and the cleaning transport pipe 128, respectively. Therefore, the three-way valve 124 for introducing the common transport pipe is provided with the cleaning liquid tank 126.
Alternatively, it functions to guide either the cleaning liquid or the air from the air introduction unit 125 to the common transport pipe 123, and in some cases, fulfills a function of not guiding any of the cleaning liquid or air into the common transport pipe 123.

The above-described three-way valve 122 for the ink transport tube
Functions to guide the cleaning liquid or air introduced into the common transport pipe 123 to the ink transport pipe 121, or to close the flow of the cleaning liquid or air from the common transport pipe 123. In the latter case, the ink flows from the ink pack 120 to the inkjet head 110 in a state where no cleaning liquid or air flows, and the inkjet head 11
0 so that the ink ejection is performed from. The ink pack 120 of the ink ejection apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 is detachable from the apparatus, and the R (red), G (green), and B (blue) ink packs can be appropriately replaced as needed. Will be installed. On the other hand, a suction cap 150 serving as an ink suction unit and a pump (not shown) are arranged at a predetermined distance on the nozzle forming surface 112 side of the inkjet head 110.

The suction cap 150 is movable in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 and is in close contact with the nozzle forming surface 112 so as to surround the nozzle body formed on the nozzle forming surface 112. The closed space is formed so that the nozzle can be shielded from the outside air. Ink ejection device 10 of filter drawing apparatus according to the present embodiment
0 is configured as described above. The operation and the like will be described below together with the method of cleaning the ink ejection device 100. First, a color filter substrate on which ink is to be placed is arranged in the ink ejection device 100 of the filter drawing apparatus, and for example, first, a blue solvent ink is ejected to the color filter substrate in a predetermined pattern. In this case, the ink pack of the blue ink is mounted as an ink pack 120 of FIG. Then, after the predetermined ink discharge is completed, cleaning of the ink transport pipe 121 and the like of the ink discharge device 100 is started.

That is, as shown in ST1 of FIG. 2, the blue ink in the ink transport pipe 121 is discharged by a predetermined method. Next, as shown in ST2, after confirming the completion of the discharge of the blue ink from the ink transport pipe 121, the cleaning liquid transport pipe 128 side and the common transport pipe 123 side of the common transport pipe introduction three-way valve 124 in FIG. State, and conversely, the air transport pipe 1
The 27 side is closed (ST3). By using the three-way valve in this way, it is possible to effectively control the flow of air from the air transport pipe 127 into the common transport pipe 123. After the cleaning liquid is introduced to the common transport pipe 123 in this manner or simultaneously, as shown in ST4, the common transport pipe 123 side of the three-way valve 122 for the ink transport pipe is opened, and the cleaning liquid is introduced into the ink transport pipe 121. Ink transport tube 121
The cleaning liquid guided inside flows as shown by the arrow C in FIG. 1, reaches the inkjet head 110, and is discharged from the nozzle forming surface 112.

At this time, the cleaning liquid flows out together with the blue ink staying inside the ink transport pipe 121 and the attached ink. The time for flowing the cleaning liquid is between t1 and t2 in the timing chart of FIG.
It is from about seconds to about 60 seconds. Here, the description is made on the assumption that the time is 60 seconds. After confirming that 60 seconds have elapsed as shown in ST5 of FIG. 2, the three-way valve 124 for introducing the common transfer pipe is operated to change the cleaning liquid transfer pipe 126 side to the closed state as shown in ST6 of FIG. , the air transport pipe 127 side in an open state instead. Thereby, the air or the pressurized air introduced by the air introduction unit 125 passes through the air transport pipe 127 and is guided into the ink transport pipe 121 via the common transport pipe 123. The air in the ink transport pipe 127 flows toward the inkjet head 110 like the cleaning liquid.

By the way, the cleaning liquid flowing in the ink transport pipe 127 has the largest flow rate in the central part inside the ink transport pipe 127. Therefore, the ink and the like in the central part are easily flowed together with the cleaning liquid. In the vicinity of the wall surface of the pipe 127, the flow rate was small, and the ink adhered to the wall surface remained without flowing along with the cleaning liquid. However, if air flows into the ink transport pipe 121 after the cleaning liquid as in the present embodiment, the ink adhering to the wall is separated from the wall by the force of the air and removed from the ink transport pipe 121. Can be. The timing at which air is introduced into the ink transport pipe 121 is between t2 and t3 in FIG.
For example, about 10 seconds to 60 seconds. Here, the description is made on the assumption that the time is 60 seconds. It is confirmed whether or not the air introduction time has ended as shown in ST7 of FIG. When the cleaning liquid is supplied for 60 seconds and then the air is supplied for 60 seconds, one cycle is performed as shown in FIG. 4. In the present embodiment, this cycle is performed a desired number of times (N times).

[0025] The number of times of this cycle is, for example, 2 times. During this one cycle, as shown in FIG. 4, the cleaning liquid and the air are alternately flowed. After confirming that this cycle has been performed the required number of times, as shown in ST8 of FIG.
The cleaning step is completed with the common transfer pipe 123 side of the three-way valve 122 for the ink transfer pipe closed (ST9). After that, the ink pack 120 in FIG. 1 is changed to, for example, green (G) ink, and the green ink is discharged to the above-described color filter in a predetermined pattern. When the discharge is completed,
Again, the above-described washing step. As described above, the cleaning process according to the present embodiment is performed every time the color of the ink pack 120 changes. Then, unlike the related art, the cleaning liquid and the air alternately flow through the ink transport pipe 121, so that the attached ink and the like can be removed in a short time. Further, since the ink to the wall surface of the ink-carrying pipe 121 does not adhere,
Deposited ink is equal fixed, then, it does not clog the filter or the like of the inkjet head 110 and fall off.

Accordingly, since sufficient cleaning can be performed in a short time, the filter drawing apparatus can also efficiently discharge ink to the color filters. By the way, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. The configuration of the above embodiment can be partially omitted or changed to another arbitrary combination not described above. For example, the present invention can be applied to the manufacture of an EL (electroluminescence) display element.
An EL display element has a configuration in which a thin film containing a fluorescent inorganic or organic compound is sandwiched between a cathode and an anode, and electrons and holes are injected into the thin film and recombined to form excitons. (Exciton), and emits light using light emission (fluorescence / phosphorescence) when the exciton is deactivated.

[0027] Among the fluorescent materials used in these EL display devices, red, materials exhibiting green and blue luminous colors,
By inkjet patterning on the element substrate such as a TFT by using the present invention, it is possible to produce a self-luminous full color EL display device. E manufactured using the present invention
The L display element can be used for the segment display or the simultaneous image display of the entire surface simultaneously, for example, in the low information field such as pictures, characters, and labels, or as a light source having a point, line, or surface shape. it can. Further, by using an active element such as a TFT, such as a passively driven display element, for driving, a full-color display element having high luminance and excellent responsiveness can be obtained.

[0028]

According to the present invention, an ink ejection apparatus, a filter drawing apparatus, and a method of cleaning an ink ejection apparatus, which can reduce the cleaning time of the apparatus and maintain good ink ejection, can be achieved. Can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an ink ejection device used in a filter drawing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation and the like of the filter drawing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another flowchart showing the operation and the like of the filter drawing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing an operation and the like of the filter drawing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing a conventional ink ejection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100: Ink ejection device 110: Inkjet head 111: Head body 112: Nozzle forming surface 120: Ink pack 121: Ink transport tube 122: Three-way valve for ink transport tube 123 ··· Common transfer pipe 124 ··· Three-way valve for introducing common transfer pipe 125 ··· Air introduction unit 126 ··· Cleaning liquid tank 127 ··· Air transfer pipe 128 ··· Cleaning liquid transfer pipe 150 ··· Suction cap P ···pump

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An ink container for storing ink, an ink discharging unit for discharging the ink stored in the ink storing unit, and an ink transport for guiding the ink in the ink storing unit to the ink discharging unit Unit, an air introduction unit that introduces air, an air conveyance unit that guides the air of the air introduction unit to the ink conveyance unit, a cleaning liquid storage unit that stores the cleaning liquid, and a cleaning liquid conveyance that guides the cleaning liquid to the ink conveyance unit. And an ink discharge device. 2. The air transport section and the cleaning liquid transport section are connected to a common transport section via a valve section, and the common transport section is connected to the ink transport section via a valve section. The ink ejection device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The ink ejection device according to claim 2, wherein the valve section is a three-way valve. 4. An ink storage section for storing ink, an ink discharge section for discharging the ink stored in the ink storage section, and an ink transport for guiding the ink in the ink storage section to the ink discharge section. Unit, an air introduction unit that introduces air, an air conveyance unit that guides the air of the air introduction unit to the ink conveyance unit, a cleaning liquid storage unit that stores the cleaning liquid, and a cleaning liquid conveyance that guides the cleaning liquid to the ink conveyance unit. A filter drawing device, comprising: an ink ejection device having: 5. The air transport section and the cleaning liquid transport section are connected to a common transport section via a valve section, and the common transport section is connected to the ink transport section via a valve section. The filter drawing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein 6. The filter drawing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the valve section is a three-way valve. 7. A cleaning liquid supply step of supplying a cleaning liquid to an ink transport unit that guides ink in an ink storage unit that stores ink to an ink discharge unit, and supplies air instead of the cleaning liquid to the ink transport unit. And a method of cleaning an ink discharge device. 8. as one cycle in the cleaning solution supplying step and said air supplying step, the cleaning method of the ink ejection device according to claim 7, characterized in that the one cycle a plurality of times, is repeated.