JP2005224726A - Liquid droplet discharge apparatus, maintenance method of liquid droplet discharge apparatus, electrooptical apparatus and electronic appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid droplet discharge apparatus which can be wiped efficiently and a maintenance method of the apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: Wiping is carried out using a usable region 130 which is a region existing in the direction reverse to the moving direction of a wiping sheet 92 from a position 100 opposite to a liquid droplet discharge head and which is parted from a region 110 contacting the liquid droplet discharge head at a length L of the liquid droplet discharge head or wider. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a droplet discharge device, a maintenance method for the droplet discharge device, an electro-optical device, and an electronic apparatus.

  In recent years, with the development of electronic devices such as computer displays and large televisions, the use of liquid crystal display devices, particularly color liquid crystal display devices, has increased. In this type of liquid crystal display device, a color filter is usually used to color a display image. For the color filter, for example, R (red), G (green), and B (blue) inks are ejected in a predetermined pattern onto a glass substrate, and the ink is dried on the substrate to form a colored layer. There is something. As a method for ejecting ink onto such a substrate, for example, an ink jet drawing device (droplet ejection device) is employed.

  When the droplet discharge device is employed, a predetermined amount of ink is discharged from the inkjet head onto the glass substrate and landed. In this case, among the two orthogonal directions (X direction and Y direction), for example, an inkjet head can be moved in the X direction, and an apparatus of a type in which a glass substrate is mounted on a table that is movable in the Y direction is used. it can. In this type of apparatus, after the ink jet head and / or the table are relatively positioned by moving the ink jet head and / or the table, ink is ejected onto the glass substrate while scanning the ink jet head and / or the table. The ink is landed at a predetermined position.

The above-described inkjet head accurately ejects a predetermined amount of droplets to a predetermined position, and needs to be serviced regularly or as needed. Specifically, it is necessary to perform capping of the ink jet head, suction of the nozzle, wiping of the ink discharge surface, and the like. Therefore, the droplet discharge device includes a capping unit, a cleaning unit (wipe unit), and the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
As shown in FIG. 7, the wipe unit 90 includes a wiping sheet 92 made of a woven fabric or the like, and a winding roller 96 for the wiping sheet 92. The ink ejection surface 12a of the head 34 is wiped by bringing the head 34 into contact with the wiping sheet 92 while winding the wiping sheet 92 in a predetermined direction.

FIG. 18 is a development view of the wiping sheet. Note that the winding direction of the wiping sheet 592 is the downward direction in FIG. 18, and the broken line 500 indicates the position of the wiping sheet 592 facing the head. Ink adhering to the ink ejection surface of the head is adsorbed in the contact area 511 with the head in the used portion of the wiping sheet 592 (below the broken line 500). Therefore, when wiping is newly performed, an unused portion of the wiping sheet 592 (above the broken line 500) is used.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-248926

  However, even when wiping a part of the heads determined to be abnormal, the unused portion of the wiping sheet 592 is used. In this case, since only a part of the wiping sheet 592 that is not used in the entire width direction is used as the contact area 513 with the head, there is a problem that the amount of consumption of the wiping sheet increases and the manufacturing cost increases.

  In recent years, large liquid crystal televisions of 30 to 60 inches are being offered to the market. In order to manufacture a large color filter that can be adapted to this, a droplet discharge device including a head unit in which a plurality of heads are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the glass substrate has been developed. By using such a droplet discharge device, it is possible to discharge ink to the entire surface of the glass substrate at a stretch during conveyance of a large glass substrate. Thereby, the tact time required for processing one glass substrate can be shortened.

  However, in order to perform the wiping with respect to a large head unit in which a plurality of heads are arranged and arranged, a large wipe unit is required. In this case, if a wiping sheet that is unused in the entire width direction is used for wiping one head that has been determined to be abnormal, the consumption of the wiping sheet, cleaning liquid, etc. will be extremely large, resulting in a significant increase in manufacturing costs. There is a problem of doing.

SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a droplet discharge device capable of efficient wiping and a maintenance method thereof.
Another object is to provide a low-cost electro-optical device and electronic equipment.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the method for preparing a droplet discharge device of the present invention, the droplet discharge head and the wiping sheet are relatively moved while the wiping sheet is brought into contact with the droplet discharge head of the droplet discharge device. And wiping the droplet discharge head to prepare the droplet discharge device, wherein the wiping sheet has a direction opposite to the moving direction from a position facing the droplet discharge head. The wiping is performed using an unused area which is an existing area where the droplets are not attached.
According to this configuration, even when only a part of the heads is wiped, it is not necessary to use a new wiping sheet that is not used in the entire width direction, so that the consumption of the wiping sheet can be reduced. Therefore, efficient wiping can be performed.

Further, the unused area is preferably an area separated from the area in contact with the droplet discharge head by more than the length of the droplet discharge head.
In general, no droplets are attached to a region that is separated from the region in contact with the droplet discharge head by more than the length of the droplet discharge head. Therefore, it is possible to easily set a region where no droplet is attached.

Further, it is desirable that the wiping is performed by selectively applying a cleaning liquid for the droplet discharge head to a contact area of the wiping sheet with each droplet discharge head.
According to this configuration, it becomes possible to reduce the consumption of the cleaning liquid, and efficient wiping can be performed.

On the other hand, the droplet discharge device of the present invention is a droplet for wiping the droplet discharge head by moving the droplet discharge head and the wiping sheet relative to each other while the wiping sheet is in contact with the droplet discharge head. In the discharge device, the wiping sheet is movable in a direction opposite to the moving direction.
According to this configuration, efficient wiping can be performed without using a new wiping sheet that is unused in the entire width direction.

Further, the liquid droplet ejection apparatus wipes the liquid droplet ejection head by causing the liquid droplet ejection head and the wiping sheet to move relative to each other while bringing the wiping sheet into contact with the liquid droplet ejection head, the wiping sheet A region that exists in a direction opposite to the moving direction from a position facing the droplet discharge head in the wiping sheet; A calculation unit that obtains an unused area to which no droplet is attached; and a driving unit that moves the wiping sheet so that an end of the unused area is opposed to the droplet discharge head. To do.
According to this configuration, it is possible to automatically perform wiping using an unused area of the wiping sheet. Therefore, efficient wiping can be performed.

On the other hand, the electro-optical device of the present invention is manufactured using the above-described droplet discharge device.
According to this configuration, since it is manufactured using a droplet discharge device that is efficiently wiped, a low-cost electro-optical device can be provided.

On the other hand, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes the above-described electro-optical device.
According to this configuration, a low-cost electronic device can be provided.

Furthermore, another method for maintaining a droplet discharge device of the present invention is to move the droplet discharge head and the wiping sheet relative to each other while bringing the wiping sheet into contact with the droplet discharge head of the droplet discharge device, A method of servicing the droplet discharge device by wiping the droplet discharge head, wherein an unused region in the vicinity of a use region where the droplets are attached in the wiping sheet is not attached. And performing the wiping.
According to this configuration, since the unused area in the vicinity of the used area in the wiping sheet is used, the consumption of the wiping sheet can be reduced. Therefore, efficient wiping can be performed.

Further, the use area may be a part in the width direction of the wiping sheet facing the droplet discharge head.
According to this configuration, it is possible to use an unused area near the used area in the wiping sheet, and efficient wiping can be performed.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a liquid material coating method and apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing used for the following description, the scale of each member is appropriately changed to make each member a recognizable size.
[First Embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[Color filter manufacturing equipment]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a color filter manufacturing apparatus according to the present embodiment, which is an apparatus for manufacturing a color filter having three colored layers of R, G, and B.
As shown in FIG. 1, the color filter manufacturing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes an ink receiving layer forming apparatus 2, an R colored layer forming apparatus 3, a G colored layer forming apparatus 4, a B colored layer forming apparatus 5, and a book from the upstream side. A firing device 6 (heating device) is arranged, and these devices are connected via an arbitrary conveying device (not shown). The color filter manufacturing apparatus 1 is supplied with a transparent substrate (substrate) made of glass, plastic, or the like on which partition walls (also referred to as banks) for partitioning the patterns of the R, G, and B colored layers are formed. The ink receiving layer forming apparatus 2 is an apparatus for forming an ink receiving layer made of a resin composition as a base layer in a region partitioned by partition walls. The R colored layer forming apparatus 3, the G colored layer forming apparatus 4, and the B colored layer forming apparatus 5 are apparatuses for applying a liquid material composed of R, G, and B inks that will be colored layers later. The main baking apparatus 6 is an apparatus for heating and baking a liquid material composed of R, G, and B inks after coating.

  Here, the R colored layer forming apparatus 3 will be described as an example. In the R colored layer forming apparatus 3, from the upstream side toward the downstream side (from the right side to the left side in FIG. 1), the material supply unit 61, the surface modification unit 62, the drawing unit 63, the inspection unit 64, the temporary baking unit 65, A material removal portion 66 is provided. As a rough flow of processing, a lyophilic process and a liquid repellent process are performed in the surface modification unit 62 on the undrawn substrate supplied from the material supply unit 61, and a predetermined partition partitioned by a partition in the drawing unit 63. R ink is ejected and drawn in this area. Next, the drawing state is inspected by the inspection unit 64, the ink is temporarily baked by the temporary baking unit 65, and then the substrate after drawing is discharged by the material removal unit 66. In the present apparatus, these units are arranged linearly along the flow direction of the substrate.

[Droplet discharge device]
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration perspective view showing only the vicinity of the drawing unit 63. In the drawing unit 63, a droplet discharge device 72 that performs drawing on the substrate S is installed. The droplet discharge device 72 includes a drawing device (droplet discharge device main body) B that performs drawing by discharging droplets (liquid material) onto the substrate S, and a maintenance unit 80 connected to the + Y side of the drawing device. And a drive unit 172 that drives (drives) a droplet discharge head 34, which will be described later, between the drawing apparatus B and the maintenance unit 80.

  FIG. 3 is a left side view of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the drawing apparatus B includes a base 150 that can move in the X direction that is the transport direction, a table 70 that is placed on the base 150 and holds the substrate S to be drawn, and a lower surface side. A head unit that includes a plurality of droplet discharge heads and extends in the Y direction (a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the substrate S) to discharge ink droplets (droplets) from the nozzles of each droplet discharge head to the lower substrate S. 71. On the base 150, a θ driving device 151 that drives the table 70 in the θZ direction (direction around the Z axis), and a flushing unit that is located on the + X side of the table 70 and that performs preliminary discharge (flushing) from the droplet discharge head. 152 is provided. These drawing apparatuses B are installed in an integrated state on the base 170.

  FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the head unit 71. The head unit 71 includes a plurality of (for example, seven) carriages 153 arranged in the Y direction that move independently of each other. Each carriage 153 includes a rectangular plate 74 extending in the X direction, a head carriage (sub-carriage) 73 that holds (supports) a plurality of (predetermined number; here, 12) droplet discharge heads 34, and a head carriage. The head carriage 153 includes a θ driving device 154 (see FIG. 3) that drives the head 73 in the θZ direction with respect to the plate 74, and a lifting device 155 (see FIG. 3) that lifts and lowers the head carriage 73 in the Z direction. Is detachably attached to the plate 74 via a θ drive device 154 and an elevating device 155.

  Each droplet discharge head 34 has a plurality of droplet discharge nozzles (hereinafter simply referred to as nozzles) arranged in an array. Each head 34 is fixed to the head carriage 73 so that the arrangement direction of the nozzle rows is aligned with the Y direction. Further, each head 34 is arranged in a staircase shape in a state of being sequentially shifted in the Y direction. Thereby, the nozzles are arranged at an equal pitch over the entire width of the head unit 71. With this configuration, the head unit 71 can eject ink droplets at a predetermined pitch over, for example, several meters in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the substrate S. Then, by ejecting ink droplets while transporting the substrate S in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the heads 34, R ink can be drawn in a desired pattern shape over the entire surface of the substrate S.

  On the other hand, the drive unit 172 shown in FIG. 3 includes guide rails 157 provided on a base 156 arranged in parallel so as to extend in the Y direction on both sides in the X direction across the maintenance unit 80, and each plate 74 ( That is, it is mainly configured by a shaft type linear motor 158 that drives the carriage 153 along the guide rail 157, and an ink cable connected to the droplet discharge head 34 or a linear motor 158 ( A case 171 for accommodating a power supply line or the like connected to the movable element is installed along the Y direction.

  Linear guides 75, 75 are provided on both sides of the plate 74 in the X direction, and are movable in the Y direction along the guide rails 157. The linear motor 158 is arranged along the Y direction across the cylindrical movable element 159 provided on both sides of each plate 74, the drawing apparatus B, and the maintenance unit 80, and the movable element 159 of each plate 74 is respectively connected to the linear motor 158. And a stator 160 to be inserted. In the present embodiment, a moving coil type linear motor 158 in which the mover 159 is formed of a coil body and the stator 160 is formed of a magnet generator is used, and the current supplied to each mover 159 is adjusted. The position of each carriage 153 can be controlled independently.

  In order to perform drawing in the drawing apparatus B shown in FIG. 3, it is first necessary to adjust the alignment of the drawing unit. In order to adjust the alignment, first, pre-drawing flushing (preliminary droplet discharge) is performed from each nozzle of each head. This pre-drawing flushing is performed on the droplet discharge region on the substrate S before the table 70 on which the substrate S is placed is moved. Next, the droplet discharged onto the substrate S is photographed by the CCD 78, and the discharge position and the discharge diameter are calculated. Based on the calculation result of the ejection position, the alignment of the drawing unit is adjusted. First, alignment in the X direction is performed by adjusting the droplet discharge timing of each nozzle. The alignment in the Y direction is performed by adjusting the position of each plate 74 by the linear guide 75. Here, in the head unit 71 of the present embodiment, since a plurality of heads are mounted on different head carriages 73 for each group, the alignment adjustment of the drawing unit can be easily performed. Note that pre-drawing flushing and drawing flushing other than alignment are performed on the flushing unit 152.

  Further, when replacing a head that has become unusable, the head carriage 73 may be replaced. Specifically, a head carriage 73 in which each head is accurately arranged is prepared for repair in advance. Then, the unusable head is removed from the plate 74 together with the head carriage 73. At that time, the head carriage 73 is moved to the maintenance unit 80 shown in FIG. 2, the cap carriage is lowered to secure a work area, and then the head carriage 73 is removed. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the head carriage 73 prepared in advance is attached to the plate 74. This operation may be performed by a robot, but can also be performed manually if the head carriage is 73 units. Thereafter, the drawing unit may be aligned in the same manner as described above. Thus, in the head unit of this embodiment, since the plurality of heads are mounted on different head carriages for each group, the head 34 that has become unusable can be easily replaced.

[Droplet ejection head]
FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram of the structure of the droplet discharge head, and FIG. 5B is a front sectional view. The head 34 compresses the liquid chamber with, for example, a piezo element and discharges the liquid with the pressure wave. As described above, the head 34 includes the plurality of nozzles 18 arranged in one or a plurality of rows. An example of the structure of the head 34 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5A, the head 34 includes a nozzle plate 12 and a diaphragm 13 made of, for example, stainless steel. Are joined together. A plurality of spaces 15 and a liquid reservoir 16 are formed between the nozzle plate 12 and the diaphragm 13 by the partition member 14. Each space 15 and the liquid reservoir 16 are filled with ink, and each space 15 and the liquid reservoir 16 communicate with each other via a supply port 17. The nozzle plate 12 has nozzles 18 for ejecting ink from the space 15. On the other hand, a hole 19 for supplying ink to the liquid reservoir 16 is formed in the vibration plate 13.

  Further, a piezoelectric element (piezo element) 20 is joined to the surface of the diaphragm 13 opposite to the surface facing the space 15 as shown in FIG. The piezoelectric element 20 is configured such that a piezoelectric material is sandwiched between a pair of electrodes 21, and the piezoelectric material contracts when the pair of electrodes 21 are energized. The diaphragm 13 to which the piezoelectric element 20 is bonded in such a configuration is bent integrally with the piezoelectric element 20 at the same time so that the volume of the space 15 is increased. It is going to increase. Therefore, ink corresponding to the increased volume in the space 15 flows from the liquid reservoir 16 through the supply port 17. Further, when energization to the piezoelectric element 20 is released from such a state, both the piezoelectric element 20 and the diaphragm 13 return to their original shapes. Therefore, since the space 15 also returns to the original volume, the pressure of the ink inside the space 15 rises, and the ink droplet L is ejected from the nozzle 18 toward the substrate.

  The ink jet system of the head 34 may be a system other than the piezo jet type using the piezoelectric element 20, for example, a system using an electrothermal transducer as an energy generating element.

[Maintenance unit]
As shown in FIG. 2, a maintenance unit 80 is provided on an extension line in the arrangement direction (Y direction) of the plates 74 in the head unit 71.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the maintenance unit 80. In the maintenance unit 80, a cap unit (capping unit) 81 that covers the ink discharge surface of each head and a wipe unit (wiping unit) 90 that wipes the ink discharge surface of each head are formed adjacent to each other.

  The cap unit 81 includes a plurality of cap carriages 83 arranged in the Y direction corresponding to the head carriage. Each cap carriage 83 is movable in the Z direction (up and down direction). In each cap carriage 83, a plurality of caps 82 are arranged stepwise corresponding to the head. The cap 82 functions as a moisturizing cap that prevents the ink in the nozzles of the head from being dried by covering the ink ejection surface of the head.

  FIG. 7 is a front sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the cap 82 is used with its upper surface in contact with the ink ejection surface 12 a of the head 34. Therefore, a recess 84 is formed on the upper surface of the cap 82. The concave portion 84 is formed to have a size capable of including all the nozzles 18 formed in the head 34. As a result, contact between the nozzles 18 of the head 34 and the upper surface of the cap 82 is avoided, and the ink meniscus formed at the opening of each nozzle 18 is maintained. Further, the upper surface of the cap 82 surrounding the recess 84 is formed with high surface accuracy. Accordingly, each nozzle 18 formed on the ink discharge surface 12a of the head 34 can be hermetically sealed.

  The cap disposed on the cap carriage 83a near the wipe unit 90 functions as a suction cap 82a capable of sucking ink in the nozzles of the head 34. In the suction cap 82 a, a pipe 88 is formed from the recess 84 to the external pump 86. By operating the pump 86, the air in the recess 84 is sucked so that the ink in each nozzle 18 can be sucked.

  On the other hand, a wiping sheet 92 made of, for example, a polyester woven fabric or the like is disposed in the wipe unit 90. As shown in FIG. 4, the wiping sheet 92 is formed with a width equal to or greater than that of the head group mounted on the head carriage 73. As shown in FIG. 7, the wiper unit 80 is provided with a feeding roller 93 and a take-up roller 96 for the wiping sheet 92. The take-up roller 96 is rotationally driven by driving means 148 such as a motor. A tension roller 95 and a guide roller 94 are disposed between the feeding roller 93 and the take-up roller 96. The rollers 93, 95, 94, 96 are arranged in parallel, and the wiping sheet 92 is wound around the take-up roller 96 from the feed roller 93 via the tension roller 95 and the guide roller 94. A wiping sheet 92 disposed at the upper end of the guide roller 94 comes into contact with the ink ejection surface 12a of the head 34.

  A cleaning liquid application device 98 for the wiping sheet 92 is provided between the tension roller 95 and the guide roller 94. The cleaning liquid application device 98 is formed so that the cleaning liquid can be applied over the entire width of the wiping sheet 92. The wipe unit 90 removes the ink 54a adhering to the ink discharge surface 12a by wiping the ink discharge surface 12a of the head 34 with the wiping sheet 92 to which the cleaning liquid is applied. Therefore, it is desirable to use a cleaning liquid that has a good affinity with ink and that easily volatilizes from the ink discharge surface 12a. Specifically, the solvent of the ink ejected by the head 34 can be used as the cleaning liquid.

[Drawer maintenance method]
Next, a method of maintaining the head unit in the above-described maintenance unit will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the pre-drawing flushing described above, since the ejection diameter is calculated in addition to the droplet ejection position, nozzle clogging in each head can be detected. Also, nozzle clogging may be detected in drawing state inspection, periodic flushing, and the like. And when nozzle clogging is detected, it is necessary to eliminate this. The clogging of the nozzle is eliminated by sucking the nozzle after capping the head.

  Specifically, as shown in the center of FIG. 7, the head 34 in which nozzle clogging is detected is moved to above the suction cap 82a. As described above, each head carriage 73 can be independently moved in the Y direction. At this time, if there is another head (carriage 153) closer to the maintenance unit 80 than the head 34 to be sucked, these carriages 153 are also moved together. Next, the cap carriage 83 on which the suction cap 82 a is mounted is raised, and the upper surface of the suction cap 82 a is brought into contact with the ink ejection surface 12 a of the head 34. At that time, both nozzles 18 of the head 34 are positioned in advance so that all the nozzles 18 are included in the recesses 84 of the suction cap 82a. Thereby, all the nozzles 18 of the head 34 are hermetically sealed by the suction cap 82a.

  Next, the pump 86 connected to the suction cap 82a is operated. The pump 86 sucks the air in the recess 84 in each cap 82 and sucks the nozzle 18 of the head 34. Thereby, the ink in the head 34 is introduced into each nozzle 18, and the nozzle clogging is eliminated. Note that when the nozzles 18 of the head 34 are sucked, some ink leaks from the nozzles 18 into the recesses 84. The leaked ink is collected in a waste liquid tank (not shown) by the pump 86 and reused. At this time, other heads that are not suction targets are hermetically sealed with a moisture retention cap 82 to prevent evaporation of the ink solvent and avoid a thickened state.

  When the nozzles 18 of the head 34 are sucked, the ink leaking from the nozzles 18 may adhere to the ink ejection surface 12a of the head 34. If ink is ejected from the head 34 with the ink 54a adhering to the vicinity of the opening of the nozzle 18 on the ink ejection surface 12a, there is a risk that the flight of the ejected ink will be bent. Therefore, after the nozzle 18 of the head 34 is sucked, the ink ejection surface 12a is wiped in order to remove the ink 54a attached to the ink ejection surface 12a.

  Specifically, as shown on the left side of FIG. 7, the sucked head 34 is moved to above the wipe unit 90. Next, the winding roller 96 is rotated by a motor or the like (not shown), and the wiping sheet 92 is moved along each roller. Further, the cleaning liquid is applied to the wiping sheet 92 from the cleaning liquid application device 98. Then, the wipe unit 90 is raised, and the wiping sheet 92 disposed at the upper end of the guide roller 94 is pressed against the ink discharge surface 12a. Then, the ink adhering to the ink discharge surface 12 a is absorbed by the wiping sheet 92 while being dissolved in the cleaning liquid applied to the wiping sheet 92. Further, since the wiping sheet 92 is moved while being in contact with the ink discharge surface 12a, the ink discharge surface 12a is wiped by the fresh wiping sheet 92. The head carriage 73 may be moved in the direction opposite to the wiping sheet 92. As described above, the ink attached to the ink discharge surface 12a is removed.

  FIG. 8 is a development view of the wiping sheet. The winding direction of the wiping sheet 92 is the downward direction in FIG. A broken line 100 indicates a position of the wiping sheet 92 facing the head and the position of the wiping sheet 92 disposed at the upper end of the guide roller 94 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, an area (hereinafter referred to as a head contact area) 110 that is in contact with the head exists in the used portion of the wiping sheet 92 (below the broken line 100). The head contact area 110 is distributed stepwise corresponding to the head arrangement in the head carriage. Ink adhering to the ink ejection surface of the head is adsorbed in these head contact areas 110. Note that the ink adsorbed on the wiping sheet 92 diffuses around the head contact area 110, thereby forming the ink diffusion area 120.

Here, when new wiping is performed using the ink diffusion region 120 in the wiping sheet 92, not only the ink adhering to the head cannot be adsorbed, but also new ink is attached to the head to which no ink is attached. There is a risk that. Therefore, it is necessary to perform new wiping using an area other than the ink diffusion area 120 in the wiping sheet 92.
However, it is inefficient to use only an unused portion of the wiping sheet (the upper side of the broken line 100) to wipe only a part of the head in which nozzle clogging is detected. In this case, since the contact area 13 with the head is set only in a part of the wiping sheet 92 that is not used in the entire width direction, the amount of consumption of the wiping sheet is increased and the manufacturing cost is increased. .
Therefore, the wiping sheet 92 is an area that exists in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the wiping sheet 92 from the position 100 facing the head in the wiping sheet 92 (below the broken line 100 in FIG. 8) and has no ink attached thereto. Wiping is performed using the unused area. That is, an area other than the ink diffusion area 120 that is a used part of the wiping sheet 92 is used.

Note that the area of the ink diffusion region 120 varies greatly, and it is difficult to generally obtain other regions. Further, it is a detour that the area of the ink diffusion region 120 is actually measured and other regions are specifically obtained. Therefore, an unused area that is separated from the head contact area 110 by one head or more is set as an available area of the wiping sheet 92. This is because, in general, ink hardly diffuses from the head contact region 110 to a region separated by one head or more.
This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 8, head contact areas 111 a and 111 b are adjacent to each other in the winding direction of the wiping sheet 92. If the length of the head is L, the lengths of the head contact areas 111a and 111b are also L. Therefore, an area that is separated from the head contact areas 111 a and 111 b by a length L or more is set as the usable area 130 of the wiping sheet 92. It should be noted that the usable area 130 is an area outside the ink diffusion areas 121a and 121b.

  Here, in order to eliminate nozzle clogging in the third head from the end of the head carriage, a case where the head is wiped will be described as an example. In this case, a new head contact area 113 is set inside the usable area 130 in the wiping sheet 92. Specifically, the positions of all the head contact areas in the wiping sheet 92 are stored in advance in the storage unit 142 shown in FIG. Next, the calculation unit 144 reads the position of the head contact area, and calculates the position of the usable area on the wiping sheet 92. Then, the calculation unit 144 has a new position within the usable area 130 shown in FIG. 8 at a position closest to the position facing the head in the wiping sheet 92 (hereinafter referred to as the current position of the wiping sheet 92) 100. The head contact area 113 is set.

  Next, the current position 100 of the wiping sheet 92 is moved to the end 110a of the new head contact area 113. Specifically, the calculation unit first calculates the distance from the current position 100 of the wiping sheet 92 to the end 110a of the new head contact area 113. Next, the calculation unit 144 shown in FIG. 7 outputs a rewinding signal of the wiping sheet 92 corresponding to the distance to the driving unit 146 of the feeding roller 93. The driving means 146 such as a motor rotates the feeding roller 93 in the reverse direction in accordance with a signal from the calculation unit 144 and winds the wiping sheet 92 around the feeding roller 93. Thereby, the end 110a of the new head contact area 113 shown in FIG. 8 becomes the current position of the wiping sheet 92. Thereafter, similarly to the above, wiping may be performed by bringing the head contact region 113 into contact with the head.

  Note that it is desirable to provide a plurality of cleaning liquid application devices 98 shown in FIG. 7 corresponding to the head arrangement in the head carriage. In this case, it is configured such that the cleaning liquid is discharged from the cleaning liquid coating apparatus corresponding to the head that performs wiping, and the cleaning liquid is not discharged from other cleaning liquid coating apparatuses. Accordingly, the cleaning liquid can be selectively discharged to the head contact area in the wiping sheet 92, and the consumption of the cleaning liquid can be reduced.

  As described in detail above, in the method for preparing a droplet discharge device according to the present embodiment, ink is attached to an area that exists in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the wiping sheet from the position facing the head in the wiping sheet. Wiping is performed using an unused area of the wiping sheet that has not been performed. According to this configuration, even when wiping only a part of the head in which nozzle clogging is detected, it is not necessary to use a new wiping sheet that is not used in the entire width direction, thereby reducing the consumption of the wiping sheet. It becomes possible. Therefore, efficient wiping can be performed.

  In the above description, since the unused area of the wiping sheet that exists in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the wiping sheet is used, the case where the wiping sheet is wound in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the wiping sheet has been described. When the sheet is an endless sheet, the wiping sheet may be wound in the same direction as the movement direction of the wiping sheet. Even in this case, it is possible to perform wiping using an unused area near the used area of the wiping sheet, and it is possible to reduce the consumption of the wiping sheet, and to perform efficient wiping. Can do.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for wiping in the X direction. Although the case where the droplet discharge surface of the head is wiped in the Y direction has been described above, it is possible to wipe in the X direction. In this case, the wipe unit 90 is arranged on the side in the arrangement direction of the cap units. Then, after the capping of each head is completed, the wiping unit 90 is moved in the X direction together with the cap carriage to perform wiping. Then, as shown in FIG. 9A, when the wipe unit 90 is formed to the same length as the plurality of head carriages 73, or as shown in FIG. Even when the head 34 is arranged, the consumption of the wiping sheet can be reduced by adopting the same configuration as in the first embodiment. Therefore, efficient wiping can be performed.

[Modified example of droplet discharge device]
Next, a modification of the droplet discharge device according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a first modification of the droplet discharge device. In the first modification, a plurality of maintenance units 180 are provided corresponding to each head carriage 173. Each maintenance unit 180 includes a cap unit 181 and a wipe unit 190, respectively. A replacement work area 160 for the head carriage 173 is provided between the maintenance units 180. According to this configuration, it is possible to shorten the maintenance time of each head. Further, the time from capping to wiping of the heads mounted on each head carriage 173 can be unified, and each head can be used in the same state.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a second modification of the droplet discharge device. In the second modification, a maintenance unit 280 is provided for each group of head carriages 273. For example, three cap carriages 283 are arranged in the first maintenance unit 280a, and two cap carriages 283 are arranged in the second maintenance unit 280b and the third maintenance unit 280c, respectively. Each maintenance unit is provided with recesses 260a to 260c as work areas for replacement work (for maintenance work) of the head carriage 273, and a wipe unit 290. Also with this configuration, the maintenance time of each head can be shortened. In addition, the moving distance of the head carriage 273 can be shortened compared to the modification of FIG. 10, and the manufacturing cost of the droplet discharge device can be reduced.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a third modification of the droplet discharge device. In the third modification, the head carriages are arranged in two rows, and the maintenance unit can be shared between the rows. For example, three head carriages 373 are arranged in the first row, and four head carriages 373 are arranged in the second row. Note that the nozzles of each head are arranged at equal pitches in the Y direction by disposing the head carriages in the Y direction. In addition, one cap carriage is disposed at the intersection of the first maintenance unit 380a to the fourth maintenance unit 380d and the first row and the second row. Further, a wipe unit 390 is provided for each maintenance unit. Thereby, the head carriage 373 belonging to each row can share the maintenance unit. Also with this configuration, the maintenance time of each head can be shortened. In addition, the moving distance of the head carriage 373 can be shortened compared to the above modifications, and the manufacturing cost of the droplet discharge device can be reduced.

[Color filter manufacturing method]
Next, an example of a color filter manufacturing method using the color filter manufacturing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of the color filter region 51 in the substrate S. The color filter manufacturing method using the color filter manufacturing apparatus can be applied when a plurality of color filter regions 51 are formed in a matrix on the rectangular substrate S from the viewpoint of increasing productivity. These color filter regions 51 can be used as individual color filters suitable for a liquid crystal display device by cutting the substrate S later. In each color filter region 51, as shown in FIG. 13, the R ink, the G ink, and the B ink are each formed in a predetermined pattern, in this example, a conventionally known stripe type. . In addition to the stripe type, the formation pattern may be a mosaic type, a delta type, or a square type.

  FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a color filter manufacturing method. In order to form such a color filter region 51, first, a black matrix 52 is formed on one surface of a transparent substrate S as shown in FIG. When the black matrix 52 is formed, a non-light-transmitting resin (preferably a black resin) is applied to a predetermined thickness (for example, about 2 μm) by a method such as spin coating, and photolithography technology is used. Pattern. For the minimum display element surrounded by the grid of the black matrix 52, that is, the filter element 53, for example, the width in the X-axis direction is set to 30 μm and the length in the Y-axis direction is set to about 100 μm. This black matrix has a sufficient height and functions as a partition wall during ink ejection.

  Next, from the droplet discharge head of the ink receiving layer forming apparatus in the color filter manufacturing apparatus of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. ) Is discharged and landed on the substrate S. The amount of ink droplets 54 to be ejected is a sufficient amount in consideration of a decrease in ink volume in the heating process. Next, ink droplets are baked in the baking portion of the ink receiving layer forming apparatus to form an ink receiving layer 60 as shown in FIG.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 14D, R ink droplets 54 </ b> R (liquid material) are ejected from the droplet ejection head 34 of the R colored layer forming apparatus, and landed on the substrate S. The amount of ink droplets 54 to be ejected is a sufficient amount in consideration of a decrease in ink volume in the heating process. Next, the ink is temporarily fired in the temporary firing portion of the R colored layer forming apparatus to obtain an R colored layer 34R as shown in FIG. The above steps are repeated in the G colored layer forming apparatus and the B colored layer forming apparatus, and the G colored layer 34G and the B colored layer 34B are sequentially formed as shown in FIG. After all of the R colored layer 34R, the G colored layer 34G, and the B colored layer 34B are formed, these colored layers 34R, 34G, and 34B are collectively baked in the baking apparatus.

  Next, in order to flatten the substrate S and protect the colored layers 34R, 34G, and 34B, as shown in FIG. 14G, an overcoat film (protective film) that covers the colored layers 34R, 34G, and 34B and the black matrix 52 is formed. ) 56 is formed. In forming the overcoat film 56, a spin coating method, a roll coating method, a ripping method, or the like can be employed. However, a droplet discharge device is used as in the case of the colored layers 34R, 34G, and 34B. You can also.

  By the way, the color filter manufacturing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes a drawing unit 63 in the middle of a linear substrate transport line that connects the material supply unit 61 and the material removal unit 66, and includes the transport direction of the substrate S. A pattern having a desired shape is formed by ejecting ink from droplet ejection heads arranged in intersecting directions. That is, since the substrate S before drawing is supplied from one end of the drawing unit 63 and the substrate S after drawing is discharged from the other end of the drawing unit 63, the substrate S is continuously flowed into the drawing unit 63. It is possible to perform drawing at once using a plurality of droplet discharge heads 34 during conveyance in only one direction. Therefore, the tact time required for processing one substrate can be shortened, and an apparatus with excellent productivity can be realized. In addition, since the material supply unit 61, the drawing unit 63, and the material removal unit 66 are arranged in a straight line, the space occupied by the apparatus can be reduced. Furthermore, since a transport device having a function of changing the transport direction of the substrate is not necessary, the device configuration can be simplified.

[Liquid Crystal Device]
Next, an embodiment of a liquid crystal device (electro-optical device) including the color filter will be described. FIG. 15 is a side cross-sectional view of a passive matrix liquid crystal device. Reference numeral 30 in FIG. 15 denotes a liquid crystal device. The liquid crystal device 30 is of a transmissive type, and a liquid crystal layer 33 made of STN (Super Twisted Nematic) liquid crystal or the like is sandwiched between a pair of glass substrates 31 and 32.

  One glass substrate 31 has the color filter 55 formed on the inner surface thereof. The color filter 55 is configured by regularly arranging colored layers 34R, 34G, and 34B made of R, G, and B colors. A black matrix 52 is formed between the dye layers 34R (34G, 34B). An overcoat film (protective film) 56 is formed on the color filter 55 and the black matrix 52 in order to eliminate the step formed by the color filter 55 and the black matrix 52 and to flatten the same. . A plurality of electrodes 37 are formed in a stripe shape on the overcoat film 56, and an alignment film 38 is further formed thereon.

  On the other glass substrate 32, a plurality of electrodes 39 are formed in stripes on the inner surface so as to be orthogonal to the electrodes 37 on the color filter 55 side. On these electrodes 39, an alignment film 40 is formed. Is formed. The colored layers 34R, 34G, and 34B of the color filter 55 are disposed at positions where the electrodes 39 and 37 intersect on the glass substrates 32, respectively. The electrodes 37 and 39 are made of a transparent conductive material such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide). Further, polarizing plates (not shown) are provided on the outer surface sides of the glass substrate 32 and the color filter 55, respectively, and the space (cell gap) between the substrates 31, 32 is kept constant between the glass substrates 31, 32. For this purpose, a spacer 41 is provided. Further, a sealing material 42 for enclosing the liquid crystal 33 is provided between the glass substrates 31 and 32.

  In the liquid crystal device 30 according to the present embodiment, the color filter 55 manufactured using the color filter manufacturing apparatus is applied, so that a color liquid crystal display device with low cost and high quality can be realized.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a schematic configuration diagram of a color filter manufacturing apparatus according to the second embodiment. Note that detailed description of portions having the same configuration as in the first embodiment is omitted.

The color filter manufacturing apparatus of the second embodiment has a drawing unit 63 on the side of the substrate S conveyance line, and draws the substrate S conveyed from the front process side to the rear process side from the main conveyance line 460. The drawing is performed, and the drawing is returned to the main transport line 460 after the drawing. Therefore, a transfer device P that switches the substrate transfer direction by 90 ° is provided at a branch point from the main transfer line 460 to the drawing unit 63. A surface modification unit 62 is provided between the transport device P and the drawing unit 63. With the configuration of the present embodiment, it is possible to perform color filter drawing in the process of drawing the substrate S from the main transport line 460 and repair the drawing defect in the process of returning the substrate S to the main transport line 460 again.
The drawing unit 63 in the color filter manufacturing apparatus of the second embodiment can employ the same droplet discharge device as that of the first embodiment, and can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment. it can.

[Electronics]
Next, a specific example of an electronic apparatus provided with display means including the liquid crystal device will be described.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing an example of a liquid crystal television. In FIG. 17, reference numeral 500 denotes a liquid crystal television main body, and reference numeral 501 denotes a liquid crystal display unit including the liquid crystal device of the above embodiment. As described above, since the electronic apparatus shown in FIG. 17 includes the liquid crystal device of the above embodiment, an electronic apparatus having a color liquid crystal display that is inexpensive and excellent in display quality can be realized.

  The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the specific configuration of details of the color filter manufacturing apparatus of the above embodiment can be changed as appropriate. Moreover, although the example which applies the drawing apparatus of this invention to manufacture of a color filter was given in the said embodiment, it can apply not only to a color filter but to device formation techniques, such as an organic EL element, or various wiring formation techniques. Is possible.

It is a schematic block diagram of the color filter manufacturing apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic structure perspective view which shows only the vicinity of a drawing part. It is side surface sectional drawing of a drawing part. It is a bottom view of a head unit. It is explanatory drawing of a droplet discharge head. It is a top view of a maintenance unit. It is front sectional drawing of a maintenance unit. It is side surface sectional drawing of a wipe unit. It is explanatory drawing in the case of wiping in the X direction. It is explanatory drawing of the 1st modification of the droplet discharge apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the 2nd modification of the droplet discharge apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the 3rd modification of the droplet discharge apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the color filter area | region in a board | substrate. It is explanatory drawing of the manufacturing method of a color filter. It is side surface sectional drawing of a passive matrix type liquid crystal device. It is the perspective view which showed an example of the liquid crystal television. It is a schematic block diagram of the color filter manufacturing apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the wiping method which concerns on a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

  L droplet discharge head length 92 wiping sheet 100 facing position 110 head contact area 130 usable area

Claims (9)

The liquid droplet ejection device is configured to wipe the liquid droplet ejection head by relatively moving the liquid droplet ejection head and the wiping sheet while bringing a wiping sheet into contact with the liquid droplet ejection head of the liquid droplet ejection device. A method of maintaining
The wiping is performed using an unused area in the wiping sheet that is present in a direction opposite to the moving direction from the position facing the liquid droplet ejection head, and in which the liquid droplets are not attached. A method of maintaining a characteristic droplet discharge device. 2. The method of maintaining a droplet discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the unused region is a region separated from a region in contact with the droplet discharge head by a length longer than the length of the droplet discharge head. . The wiping is performed by selectively applying a cleaning liquid of the droplet discharge head to a contact area of the wiping sheet with each droplet discharge head. 3. A droplet discharge device according to 2. A liquid droplet ejection apparatus for wiping the liquid droplet ejection head by relatively moving the liquid droplet ejection head and the wiping sheet while bringing a wiping sheet into contact with the liquid droplet ejection head,
The liquid droplet ejection apparatus, wherein the wiping sheet is movable in a direction opposite to a moving direction. A liquid droplet ejection apparatus for wiping the liquid droplet ejection head by relatively moving the liquid droplet ejection head and the wiping sheet while bringing a wiping sheet into contact with the liquid droplet ejection head,
A storage unit for storing a contact area with each droplet discharge head in the wiping sheet;
A calculation unit that obtains an unused area in which the liquid droplets are not adhered to an area that exists in a direction opposite to the moving direction from a position facing the liquid droplet ejection head in the wiping sheet;
Driving means for moving the wiping sheet so that the end of the unused area faces the droplet discharge head;
A droplet discharge apparatus comprising: An electro-optical device manufactured using the droplet discharge device according to claim 4. An electronic apparatus comprising the electro-optical device according to claim 6. The liquid droplet ejection device is configured to wipe the liquid droplet ejection head by relatively moving the liquid droplet ejection head and the wiping sheet while bringing a wiping sheet into contact with the liquid droplet ejection head of the liquid droplet ejection device. A method of maintaining
A maintenance method of a droplet discharge device, wherein the wiping is performed using an unused region where the droplets are not attached in the vicinity of a use region where the droplets are attached on the wiping sheet. The method for maintaining a droplet discharge device according to claim 8, wherein the use area is a part of a width direction of the wiping sheet facing the droplet discharge head.

Images