JP2010162800A - Method for adjusting fitting position of inkjet head, and method for controlling head position of inkjet apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide method for adjusting an inkjet head fitting position for optimizing a distance between both ends of a nozzle hole row and a face to be delivered based on an angle between the nozzle hole row and the face to be delivered when a plurality of the nozzle holes are arranged in at least one row on an inkjet head, and to provide method for controlling a head position of an inkjet apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: Distances between displacement sensors 26a and 26b and the surface of a substrate stage are measured in a plurality of regions of the substrate stage by two or more displacement sensors 26a and 26b provided along the nozzle hole row 21<SB>N</SB>of the bottom face of the inkjet head. An angle formed of the nozzle hole row 21<SB>N</SB>and the surface of the substrate stage is calculated. An optimum head fitting angle of the inkjet head 21 fitted rotatably to a rotating shaft 24 is calculated. The fitting angle of the inkjet head is rotatably adjusted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet head having a plurality of nozzle holes for ejecting ink, a substrate stage for holding a substrate as a surface to be ejected, the substrate stage and the inkjet head in a plane parallel to the substrate stage surface, and parallel to the substrate stage surface. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet head mounting position adjusting method for an ink jet apparatus having a transport mechanism that relatively moves in a vertical direction of a plane, and a head position control method for an ink jet apparatus. The present invention relates to a method for optimizing the distance between the substrate and the distance between the nozzle hole array and the maintenance unit.

  In an inkjet apparatus that ejects a liquid material by an inkjet method, in order to eject the liquid material with high landing accuracy, it is necessary to keep the distance between the nozzle hole that ejects the liquid material and the substrate that is the ejection target surface constant.

  In order to cope with this requirement, for example, in the coating / drawing apparatus 100 disclosed in Patent Document 1, an optical displacement measuring device 101 having a light emitting unit 101a and a light receiving unit 101b is provided as shown in FIG. In the displacement measuring device 101, the paste 103 discharged from the nozzle 102 falls from the paste application point 103 a on the substrate 103, and the substrate 103 and the nozzle 102 are perpendicular to each other in two directions within a relatively movable plane. Thus, the point between the tip of the nozzle 102 and the substrate 103 is measured with the point in the oblique direction as the measurement point 103b. Thereby, the swell (flatness) on the surface on which the paste is applied on the substrate 103 is detected, and the nozzle 102 and the substrate 103 are always displaced by, for example, displacing the nozzle 102 in the vertical direction based on the detected swell. Is set to a predetermined set value.

  Further, for example, in the coating / drawing apparatus 200 disclosed in Patent Document 2, as shown in FIG. 8, the surface of the work 201 is partitioned into a plurality of liquid application regions, and prior to the application of the liquid to each liquid application region. The height sensors 203a and 203b measure the height of the liquid application nozzles 202a and 202b from the surface of the workpiece 201 at two points in the liquid application area, and the liquid application nozzles 202a and 202b The height of 202b is corrected, and liquid application is performed in the liquid application area while maintaining the corrected liquid application nozzle height.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-24179 (published February 2, 1993) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-99268 (published on April 15, 1997)

  However, the conventional method for adjusting the mounting posture of the ink-jet head of Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 has the following problems.

  That is, as described above, a technique of measuring the distance between the inkjet head and the drawing surface with a measuring device in advance and adjusting the distance between the inkjet head and the drawing surface to a constant value is widely known.

  Here, in the case of a coating apparatus having a single nozzle typified by a dispenser, the tip of the coating apparatus is thin, and it is sufficient to measure the distance from the drawing surface in only one place. However, since the inkjet head generally has a plurality of nozzle holes and the length of the inkjet head has been increasing in recent years, the distance between the nozzle hole and the substrate that is the ejection surface is not uniquely determined. The influence of the angle formed by the nozzle hole array and the surface to be discharged is large. In this case, it is necessary to measure the distance between the nozzle holes and the discharge target surface at two or more points, and to measure the angular deviation between the nozzle hole array and the discharge target surface.

  However, since the coating / drawing apparatus 100 described in Patent Document 1 is a coating apparatus having a single nozzle 102, the distance to the drawing surface is measured only at one place, and coating with a plurality of nozzles is performed. There is no disclosure of the device.

  In addition, in the coating / drawing apparatus 200 disclosed in Patent Document 2, the distance between the nozzle hole and the surface to be ejected is measured at two or more points. For example, the distance between the two height sensors 203a and 203b is two. The heights of the liquid application nozzles 202a and 202b are merely corrected independently by the Z-axis actuators 204a and 204b so as to be the average values of the two measured values based on the average value of the measured values at the respective locations. The angle deviation between the nozzle hole line and the surface to be ejected is not calculated. As a result, when the surface to be ejected is deviated from the angle, the error is offset by plus or minus by adjusting the position of the liquid application nozzles 202a and 202b to the average height. However, the heights of both the liquid application nozzles 202a and 202b are different from the true height. Therefore, it cannot be said that the distance between the nozzle hole and the surface to be ejected at two or more points is substantially the same.

  In recent years, the substrate to be coated with an ink jet apparatus has also increased in size, and the accuracy of movement of a drive system that transports the ink jet head and the flatness of the stage on which the substrate is mounted also affect the distance between the nozzle hole and the surface to be ejected. . Moreover, if the moving accuracy of the head conveyance and the stage flatness are required with high accuracy in the ink jet device for a large substrate, the cost of the ink jet device is increased. Furthermore, if the distance at two or more points is measured with a single measuring instrument in order to grasp the angular deviation between the nozzle hole array and the surface to be ejected, the angular deviation at the time of ejection is accurately detected because it includes errors in inkjet head conveyance. It cannot be measured.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide both ends of the nozzle hole row and the discharge target surface when a plurality of nozzle holes are arranged in at least one row in the inkjet head. Is optimized based on the angle between the nozzle hole array and the surface to be ejected, and the effects of inkjet head transport errors, substrate stage flatness and parallelism errors are suppressed, and the entire area of the substrate stage is reduced. Ink jet head mounting position adjusting method capable of reducing variation in distance between nozzle hole and surface to be ejected, and thus suppressing variation in landing accuracy even for large substrates, and head position of ink jet apparatus It is to provide a control method.

  In order to solve the above problems, an inkjet head mounting position adjusting method according to the present invention includes an inkjet head having a plurality of nozzle holes for ejecting ink, a substrate stage for holding a substrate as a surface to be ejected, a substrate stage, and an inkjet. In a method for adjusting an ink-jet head mounting position of an ink-jet apparatus having a transport mechanism for moving the head in a plane parallel to the substrate stage surface parallel plane and in a direction perpendicular to the plane parallel to the substrate stage surface, the head is arranged at least on a straight line on the bottom surface of the inkjet head. A plurality of regions within a relatively movable range in the plane parallel to the surface of the substrate stage surface by at least two displacement sensors provided along the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzle holes formed and integrally attached to the ink jet head The displacement sensor and the substrate stage From the surface distance measurement step for measuring the distance to the surface and the measurement results of at least two locations of the distance between the displacement sensor and the substrate stage surface by the two or more displacement sensors, A support member based on an angle calculation step for calculating an angle between a nozzle hole line straight line formed by connecting a plurality of nozzle holes and the substrate stage surface, and an angle calculation result between the nozzle hole line straight line and the substrate stage surface. An optimum angle calculating step for calculating the optimum head attachment angle of the inkjet head rotatably attached to the head, and a head attachment angle for adjusting the inkjet head attachment angle based on the calculated value of the optimum head attachment angle. And an adjusting step.

  According to the above invention, the substrate is provided by at least two or more displacement sensors provided along the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzle holes arranged linearly on the bottom surface of the inkjet head and integrally attached to the inkjet head. The distance between the displacement sensor and the substrate stage surface is measured in a plurality of regions within a relatively movable range within the stage surface parallel plane.

  Therefore, the entire area of the substrate stage that holds the substrate, which is the surface to be ejected, is divided into areas of a certain size, and the distance between the displacement sensor and the surface of the substrate stage in each area is measured by at least two displacement sensors. Will do.

  Next, an angle formed by a nozzle hole array straight line formed by connecting a plurality of nozzle holes arranged in a straight line on the bottom surface of the inkjet head and the substrate stage surface is calculated from the above measurement result. As a result, the angle formed between the nozzle hole array straight line and the substrate stage surface in each region is obtained.

  Next, from the calculation result of the angle formed by the nozzle hole row straight line and the substrate stage surface, the optimum head attachment angle of the inkjet head that is rotatably attached to the support member is calculated, and this optimum head attachment angle calculation value Based on the above, the rotation angle of the inkjet head mounting angle is adjusted.

  This makes it possible to adjust the angle of the inkjet head so that the nozzle hole row straight line and the substrate stage surface are parallel.

  Specifically, for example, since the average value of the angle deviation between the nozzle hole line straight line and the substrate stage in all regions can be calculated, the attachment angle of the inkjet head is adjusted so as to cancel out this average angle deviation. The head mounting angle is optimized with respect to the average inclination of the substrate stage.

  Since this adjustment method is performed using at least two displacement sensors integrally attached to the ink jet head, the positioning error of the drive system that transports the ink jet head is also corrected. For this reason, it can be said that it is particularly useful for a large-sized ink jet apparatus in which it is difficult to configure the apparatus with high positioning accuracy.

  As a result, when a plurality of nozzle holes are arranged in at least one row in the inkjet head, the distance between both ends of the nozzle hole row and the discharge surface is determined based on the angle between the nozzle hole row and the discharge surface. By optimizing and suppressing the influence of head transport error of inkjet head, flatness and parallelism error of substrate stage, the variation in distance between nozzle hole and discharge target surface in all areas of substrate stage is reduced, It is possible to provide an inkjet head mounting position adjusting method capable of suppressing landing accuracy variation even for a large substrate.

  In addition, this makes it possible to relax the conditions of the parallelism and flatness of the substrate stage and the head conveyance accuracy that are required to achieve a certain landing accuracy. That is, it can be said that a high-precision inkjet device for a large substrate can be manufactured at low cost.

  When the plurality of nozzle holes are not only arranged in a straight line but are distributed in a plurality of rows on a plane, it is necessary to reduce the angular deviation between the surface where the nozzle holes exist and the surface to be ejected. Therefore, the inclination of the plane is calculated by measuring the distance of three points instead of two points. However, the method for adjusting the mounting angle of the inkjet head so as to cancel out the average angle deviation is the same.

  In the ink jet head mounting position adjusting method of the present invention, the at least two or more displacement sensors measure the distance between the displacement sensor and the substrate stage surface from at least two measurement results on the straight line in the nozzle hole row straight line. A distance calculating step for obtaining a distance between the point 1 and the surface of the substrate stage in a plurality of regions within the relative movable range within the substrate stage surface parallel plane, and a plurality of regions within the relative movable range, Vertical movement for calculating the relative movement distance in the vertical direction of the ink jet head in each region necessary to make the distance between the first point on the nozzle hole row straight line and the surface of the substrate stage constant. And a distance calculating step. As the first point on the straight line, for example, the center of the nozzle holes at both ends in the nozzle hole line straight line can be selected.

  As a result, in each region where the entire area of the substrate stage holding the substrate, which is the surface to be ejected, is set to a certain size, between the first point on the straight line in the nozzle hole line and the surface of the substrate stage. The distance is calculated. Next, in each of the above regions, the relative movement distance in the vertical direction of the inkjet head in each region necessary for making the distance between the first point on the straight line in the nozzle hole row straight line and the surface of the substrate stage constant. calculate.

  As a result, when the substrate stage surface is inclined with respect to the nozzle hole line straight line, when the inkjet head is horizontally moved to a certain area on the substrate stage surface, the first position on the nozzle hole line straight line is determined in that area. It is possible to grasp how much the point differs from the reference position, that is, a certain value in the vertical direction.

  In the ink jet head mounting position adjusting method of the present invention, before ejecting ink from the ink jet head, the ink jet head is relatively moved in each area based on the calculated ink jet head vertical relative movement distance in each area. It is preferable to include a vertical relative movement step.

  Thereby, before ejecting ink from the ink jet head, the ink jet head is relatively moved in each region based on the calculated ink jet head vertical relative movement distance in each region.

  As a result, when ink is actually ejected to the ink jet apparatus, the distance between the ink jet head and the substrate stage can be optimized by controlling the head height so that the distance is constant in each region. .

  In the inkjet head mounting position adjusting method according to the present invention, when a maintenance mechanism for maintaining the inkjet head is provided, the displacement sensor and the maintenance mechanism are adjusted by the two or more displacement sensors after the head mounting angle adjusting step. From the reference surface distance measuring step for measuring the distance to the reference surface, and the measurement results of at least two locations of the distance between the displacement sensor and the reference surface of the maintenance mechanism by the two or more displacement sensors, the nozzle hole line straight line From the calculation result of the angle between the reference surface angle calculation step for calculating the angle between the maintenance mechanism and the reference surface of the maintenance mechanism, and the angle between the reference surface of the maintenance mechanism and the nozzle hole row straight line, the optimum installation angle of the maintenance mechanism is determined. The maintenance mechanism optimal angle calculation process to calculate and the optimal installation of the maintenance mechanism Based on the angle, preferably includes a maintenance mechanism installation angle adjustment step of adjusting the installation angle of the maintenance mechanism.

  Thus, when a maintenance mechanism for maintaining the inkjet head is provided, the displacement sensor is used to determine the angle formed by the reference surface of the inkjet head maintenance mechanism and the nozzle hole array straight line, as described above. An optimum value of the mechanism angle can be calculated, and angle correction can be performed.

  In the inkjet head mounting position adjusting method of the present invention, after the reference surface distance measuring step, a maintenance for calculating a distance between the reference surface of the maintenance mechanism and a second point on the straight line of the nozzle hole array straight line. Maintenance mechanism vertical that calculates the distance to move the inkjet head in the vertical direction during maintenance from the mechanism distance calculation step and the vertical relative distance between the nozzle hole row straight line and the maintenance mechanism required during maintenance of the inkjet head And a direction movement distance calculating step. Note that the second point may coincide with the first point.

  Thereby, the distance in the vertical direction between the maintenance mechanism and the nozzle hole row straight line can also be obtained.

  In the inkjet head mounting position adjusting method according to the present invention, after the maintenance mechanism installation angle adjustment step and the maintenance mechanism vertical movement distance calculation step, the inkjet head is moved based on the distance to be relatively moved in the vertical direction during maintenance of the inkjet head. Relative movement in the vertical direction is preferable.

  As a result, based on the calculated distance in the vertical direction between the maintenance mechanism and the nozzle hole row straight line, the inkjet head or the maintenance mechanism can be controlled to move vertically to a position that is optimal for maintenance, and maintainability is also improved. improves.

  In order to solve the above problems, a head position control method for an ink jet apparatus according to the present invention includes an ink jet head having a plurality of nozzle holes for ejecting ink, a substrate stage for holding a substrate that is a surface to be ejected, a substrate stage, In a head position control method of an ink jet apparatus having a transport mechanism for moving the ink jet head in a plane parallel to the substrate stage surface parallel plane and in a direction perpendicular to the substrate stage surface parallel plane, the ink jet head before the ink ejection And a plurality of nozzle holes arranged at least in a straight line on the bottom surface of the inkjet head at the head ejection position above the substrate in the inkjet head. The angle between the nozzle hole line straight line and the substrate A measurement step for measuring the distance, an angle correction value for calculating the angle correction value of the nozzle hole row straight line and the vertical relative movement distance from the measurement result in the measurement step, and the nozzle hole row straight line in the calculation step And a correction step of correcting the angle of the nozzle hole array straight line and the vertical relative movement of the inkjet head based on the angle correction value and the vertical relative movement distance.

  According to the above invention, before the ink is discharged, the angle and the distance between the nozzle hole line straight line and the substrate at the head discharge position above the substrate in the inkjet head are measured, and the angle correction of the nozzle hole line straight line is performed. The value and the vertical relative movement distance are calculated.

  Thereby, when a plurality of nozzle holes are arranged in at least one row in the inkjet head, the distance between the both ends of the nozzle hole row and the discharge surface is determined based on the angle between the nozzle hole row and the discharge surface. By optimizing and suppressing the influence of head transport error of inkjet head, flatness and parallelism error of substrate stage, the variation in distance between nozzle hole and discharge target surface in all areas of substrate stage is reduced, It is possible to provide a head position control method for an inkjet apparatus that can suppress variation in landing accuracy even for a large substrate.

  In the head position control method for an ink jet apparatus according to the present invention, when the maintenance mechanism for maintaining the ink jet head is provided, the maintenance position moving step of relatively moving the ink jet head above the maintenance mechanism before the maintenance of the ink jet head. And a reference surface angle distance measuring step for measuring an angle and a distance between the nozzle hole row straight line and a reference surface of the maintenance mechanism at a position above the maintenance mechanism in the inkjet head, and the reference surface angle distance measuring step. The reference surface angle distance calculation step for calculating the angle correction value of the nozzle hole row straight line and the vertical relative movement distance from the measurement result of the above, and the angle correction value and the vertical direction relative movement distance of the nozzle hole row straight line in the above calculation step Based on the nozzle hole line straight angle correction, Preferably includes the reference surface correction step of performing vertical relative movement of the jet head.

  As a result, when the maintenance mechanism for maintaining the inkjet head is provided, the angle between the reference surface of the maintenance mechanism of the inkjet head and the nozzle hole line straight line and the distance in the vertical direction are used as described above. By obtaining the optimum values of the angle and distance of the maintenance mechanism, the angle correction and distance correction of the inkjet head can be performed.

  As described above, the ink jet head mounting position adjusting method of the present invention is provided along the arrangement direction of a plurality of nozzle holes arranged at least in a straight line on the bottom surface of the ink jet head, and is integrally attached to the ink jet head. A surface distance measuring step of measuring the distance between the displacement sensor and the substrate stage surface in a plurality of regions within a relatively movable range within the plane parallel to the substrate stage surface by at least two displacement sensors; From the measurement results of at least two distances between the displacement sensor and the substrate stage surface by the above displacement sensor, a nozzle hole array straight line and a substrate stage that can connect a plurality of nozzle holes arranged linearly on the bottom surface of the inkjet head. An angle calculating step for calculating an angle formed with the surface, the nozzle hole row straight line and the substrate stage; Based on the calculation result of the angle made with the surface, based on the optimum angle calculation step of calculating the optimum head attachment angle of the inkjet head that is rotatably attached to the support member, and the calculated value of the optimum head attachment angle, And a head mounting angle adjustment step of adjusting the rotation angle of the inkjet head mounting angle.

  As described above, the head position control method of the ink jet apparatus according to the present invention includes a head discharge position moving step of relatively moving the ink jet head above the substrate before ink discharge, and the substrate in the ink jet head. A measuring step for measuring an angle and a distance between a nozzle hole array straight line formed by connecting a plurality of nozzle holes arranged at least in a straight line on the bottom surface of the ink jet head at the upper head discharge position and the substrate; and the above measuring step Based on the angle correction value and the vertical relative movement distance of the nozzle hole line straight line in the above calculation process, and the angle distance calculation step for calculating the vertical correction distance and the vertical direction relative movement distance from the measurement result of And correcting the nozzle hole array straight line and correcting the inkjet head relative to the vertical direction. .

  Therefore, when a plurality of nozzle holes are arranged in at least one row in the inkjet head, the distance between both ends of the nozzle hole row and the discharge surface is determined based on the angle between the nozzle hole row and the discharge surface. By optimizing and suppressing the influence of head transport error of inkjet head, flatness and parallelism error of substrate stage, the variation in distance between nozzle hole and discharge target surface in all areas of substrate stage is reduced, Even if it is with respect to a large sized board | substrate, there exists an effect of providing the inkjet head attachment position adjustment method which can suppress landing accuracy dispersion | variation, and the head position control method of an inkjet apparatus.

(A) shows one Embodiment of the inkjet head attachment position adjustment method in this invention, Comprising: It is a front view which shows the structure of an inkjet unit, (b) is a side view which shows the structure of the said inkjet unit. is there. It is a perspective view which shows the whole structure of the inkjet apparatus provided with the said inkjet unit. (A) is a perspective view which shows the whole structure of the said inkjet unit, (b) is a perspective view which shows the structure of the inkjet head in the said inkjet unit. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the maintenance unit in the said inkjet apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the height adjustment mechanism of the maintenance unit upper part in the said maintenance unit. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the modification of the said maintenance unit. It is a front view which shows the conventional inkjet head attachment position adjustment method. It is a front view which shows the other conventional inkjet head attachment position adjustment method.

[Embodiment 1]
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 as follows.

  In order to explain the ink jet head mounting posture adjusting method of the present embodiment, a large ink jet apparatus as shown in FIG. 2 will be described as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an inkjet apparatus 10 used in the present embodiment includes a fixed large-sized substrate stage 1, an inkjet unit 20, and a biaxial planar driving device that conveys the inkjet unit 20 in a horizontal plane. 2 and a maintenance unit 3 for maintaining an inkjet head 21 described later. The two axes refer to the X axis and the Y axis that are orthogonal to each other.

Inside the ink jet unit 20, as shown in FIG. 3 (a) (b), the inkjet head 21 where the nozzle holes N has a nozzle hole row 21 _N as the nozzle hole row line aligned in a straight line, this An ink jet head 21 is mounted, and the ink jet head 21 is moved along a head vertical direction drive shaft 22 provided in parallel to the vertical direction, that is, the Z axis direction perpendicular to the plane formed by the orthogonal X axis and Y axis. And a vertical driving member 23 as a transport mechanism that is driven in this manner.

  In the present embodiment, the vertical drive member 23 is provided with a head mounting posture adjusting plate 25 that is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft 24 as a support member and can be fixed at an arbitrary rotational position. The inkjet head 21 is fixed to the head mounting posture adjustment plate 25.

In the present embodiment, two displacement sensors 26 a and 26 b are mounted on both end sides of the inkjet head 21 in the head mounting posture adjustment plate 25. That is, the displacement sensor 26a · 26b, as shown in FIG. 1 (a) (b), the head mounting orientation adjusting plate 25 side by side at intervals of a distance W in the direction parallel to the nozzle hole row 21 _N in the vicinity of the inkjet head 21 Is attached. Thus, the two displacement sensors 26a · 26b, since the measuring position with respect to the ejection surface of the nozzle hole row 21 _N, which is preferably installed near the ends of the nozzle holes N in the nozzle hole row 21 _N .

  Each of the displacement sensors 26a and 26b is composed of, for example, a light detection sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element, emits a laser from the light emitting element, and receives light reflected from the substrate stage 1 by the light receiving element. Thus, the distance between each displacement sensor 26a, 26b and the large substrate stage 1 can be measured.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a 4000 mm × 4000 mm area of the substrate stage 1 is determined as an ejection target area, and the area is divided into 50 vertical and horizontal areas. As a result, the size of one region is 80 mm square and is divided into a total of 2500 regions. The dimensions of one region is determined based on the length of the nozzle hole row 21 _N.

A method for adjusting the ink jet head mounting posture of the ink jet apparatus 10 having the above configuration will be described below. In the description, the general display systems of the measured values of the displacement sensors 26a and 26b are referred to as measured values L _A and L _B , respectively.

First, the reference values of the measured values L _A and L _B of the displacement sensors 26a and 26b are determined. When working in the reference setting, as shown in FIG. 1 (a) (b), it is parallel to the discharge plane or the nozzle hole row 21 _N of the inkjet head 21 and the distance is known (L from the ejection surface _H ), and the measured values of the distance to the reference jig 11 by the displacement sensors 26a and 26b are defined as measured values L _A0 and L _B0 . The reference jig 11 may be attached only at the time of reference work, and removed at other work.

For example, if the inkjet head 21 is moved over a certain area and the difference between the measured values L _A and L _B of the two displacement sensors 26a and 26b at that time becomes equal to the difference between the measured value L _A0 and the measured value L _{B0 (L a -L B = L A0} -L B0), so that the region is parallel with the nozzle hole row 21 _N is. The angle deviation between the region and the nozzle hole row 21 _N theta is calculated by equation (1).

θ = arctan (((L _A −L _B ) − (L _A0 −L _B0 )) / W) (Equation 1)
Second, the inkjet head 21 is moved onto a total of 2500 areas on the substrate stage 1, and the measured values L _A and L _B of both displacement sensors 26a and 26b are recorded. As a result, 2500 sets of the measured values L _A and L _B of the displacement sensors 26a and 26b are obtained from (L _A1 , L _B1 ) to (L _A2500 , L _B2500 ). Here, it is assumed that the coordinate value on the head vertical drive shaft 22 when this measurement is performed is (L _Z0 ).

The angle (θ _{1 to} θ ₂₅₀₀ ) between the nozzle hole array 21 _N and each region in the current head mounting posture can be calculated by (Equation 1). These mean values (theta _Ave) is an average angular deviation between the substrate stage 1 and the nozzle hole row 21 _N.

By correcting the head mounting orientation by the average value of the angular displacement of the head mounting position adjustment plate 25 in a direction to offset the (theta _Ave) is rotated around the rotation shaft 24, the posture that match the average inclination of the substrate stage 1 Thus, the inkjet head 21 is attached. That is, in order to optimize the head mounting posture, it is only necessary to adjust the head posture by _−average value (θ _Ave ) from the current mounting posture.

The operation of changing the posture by the calculated angle can be easily performed by using the displacement sensors 26a and 26b. Specifically, by moving the displacement sensor 26a · 26b and the ink jet head 21 above the certain flat plane, to record the difference between the measured value _L A · _{L B} of the displacement sensor 26a · 26b in this state. The mounting posture of the inkjet head 21 may be adjusted so that the difference between the measured values L _A and L _B of the two displacement sensors 26a and 26b changes by an amount corresponding to the above-mentioned average value (θ _Ave ). The inclination of the plane used at that time is not questioned.

In the inkjet head 21 was used this time, the length of the nozzle hole row 21 _N is 70 mm, the value of the measured average angle deviation was about 0.15Deg. In this case, when the nozzle holes N of the center of the nozzle hole row 21 _N and closer from the discharge surface to the position of 0.5 mm, the distance between the nozzle holes N and the ejection surface of the one end 0.59 mm, the other end nozzle The distance between the hole N and the surface to be ejected is 0.41 mm, resulting in variations.

Since the distance from the nozzle hole N to the surface to be ejected greatly affects the landing accuracy, it is preferably constant. Also, the longer the length of the nozzle hole row 21 _N, since the effect of angular misalignment has on the ejection surface distance variation is large, the angle between the ink jet head 21 the ejection surface and the nozzle hole row 21 _N long is There is a great need for optimization.

Further, in the case of measuring the angular deviation in all areas, if greater than a specific value is the maximum value, the nozzle holes N of the center of the nozzle hole row 21 _N when brought close to 0.5mm in the discharge surface It can be determined that the nozzle hole N at one end contacts the surface to be ejected. In the present embodiment, if there is a region where the angle deviation is 0.8 deg or more, it can be determined that the inkjet head 21 cannot be lowered in that region.

Consequently, by matching the angle of the nozzle hole row 21 _N to the average tilt of the substrate stage 1, it is possible to suppress the variation of the distance to the ejection surface between the nozzle holes N during ink ejection, the improvement in impact accuracy Can be realized.

  As described above, the ink jet head mounting position adjusting method according to the present embodiment includes an ink jet head 21 having a plurality of nozzle holes N that eject ink, a substrate stage 1 that holds a substrate that is a surface to be ejected, and a substrate stage 1. And a transport mechanism comprising a plane direction driving device 2, a head vertical direction driving shaft 22 and a vertical direction driving member 23 for relatively moving the inkjet head 21 in a plane parallel to the substrate stage surface parallel plane and in the vertical direction of the substrate stage surface parallel plane. The inkjet head mounting position adjustment method of the inkjet apparatus 10 which has these.

In this ink jet head mounting position adjusting method, at least two or more of the ink jet heads which are provided along the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzle holes N arranged at least in a straight line on the bottom surface of the ink jet head and are integrally attached to the ink jet head 21. A surface distance measuring step of measuring the distance between the displacement sensors 26a and 26b and the surface of the substrate stage in a plurality of regions within a relatively movable range within the plane parallel to the surface of the substrate stage by the displacement sensors 26a and 26b; Nozzle holes formed by connecting a plurality of nozzle holes N arranged linearly on the bottom surface of the ink jet head from the measurement results of the distances between the displacement sensors 26a and 26b and the surface of the substrate stage by the displacement sensors 26a and 26b. Angle calculation for calculating the angle between the row 21 _N and the substrate stage surface Process and optimum for calculating an optimum head mounting angle of the inkjet head 21 from the calculation result, which is mounted rotatably on the rotary shaft 24 or a supporting member of the angle between the nozzle hole row 21 _N and the substrate stage surface An angle calculating step, and a head mounting angle adjusting step of rotating and adjusting the ink jet head mounting angle based on the calculated value of the optimum head mounting angle.

  According to the above configuration, at least two displacement sensors 26 a provided along the arrangement direction of the plurality of nozzle holes N arranged linearly on the bottom surface of the inkjet head and integrally attached to the inkjet head 21. The distance between the displacement sensors 26a and 26b and the substrate stage surface is measured by a plurality of regions within a relatively movable range within the plane parallel to the substrate stage surface by 26b.

  Therefore, the entire area of the substrate stage 1 holding the substrate, which is the surface to be ejected, is divided into regions set to a certain size, and the displacement sensors 26a and 26b in each region and the substrate stage are separated by at least two displacement sensors 26a and 26b. Each distance to the surface will be measured.

Next, an angle formed by the nozzle hole array 21 _N formed by connecting a plurality of nozzle holes N arranged in a straight line on the bottom surface of the inkjet head and the surface of the substrate stage is calculated from the measurement result. As a result, the angle formed between the nozzle hole array _21N and the substrate stage surface in each region is obtained.

Next, from the calculation result of the angle formed between the nozzle hole array _21N and the substrate stage surface, the optimum head attachment angle of the inkjet head 21 rotatably attached to the rotary shaft 24 is calculated, and this optimum head attachment angle. The inkjet head mounting angle is rotated based on the calculated value.

Thereby, the angle of the inkjet head 21 can be adjusted so that the nozzle hole array _21N and the substrate stage surface are parallel to each other.

Specifically, for example, since the average value of the angle deviation between the nozzle hole array _21N and the substrate stage 1 in all regions can be calculated, the inkjet head 21 is attached so as to cancel out this average angle deviation. The head mounting angle is optimized with respect to the average inclination of the substrate stage 1 by adjusting the angle.

  Since this adjustment method is performed using at least two displacement sensors 26a and 26b integrally attached to the inkjet head 21, the positioning error of the drive system that transports the inkjet head 21 is also corrected. become. For this reason, it can be said that it is particularly useful for a large-sized ink jet apparatus in which it is difficult to configure the apparatus with high positioning accuracy.

As a result, when the inkjet head 21 are a plurality of nozzle holes N are arranged in at least one row, the distance the nozzle hole row 21 _N and the ejection surfaces of both ends and the ejection surface of the nozzle hole row 21 _N Optimized based on the angle between the nozzle holes N in the entire region of the substrate stage 1 and the discharge surface, while suppressing the effects of the head transport error of the inkjet head 21 and the flatness and parallelism errors of the substrate stage 1. It is possible to provide an ink jet head mounting position adjusting method capable of reducing variation in distance and suppressing variation in landing accuracy even for a large substrate.

  In addition, this makes it possible to relax the conditions of the parallelism and flatness of the substrate stage 1 and the head conveyance accuracy that are required to achieve a certain landing accuracy. That is, it can be said that a high-precision inkjet device for a large substrate can be manufactured at low cost.

  When the plurality of nozzle holes N are not only arranged in a straight line but are distributed in a plurality of rows on the plane, it is necessary to reduce the angular deviation between the surface where the nozzle holes are present and the surface to be ejected. Therefore, the inclination of the plane is calculated by measuring the distance of three points instead of two points. However, the method for adjusting the mounting angle of the inkjet head 21 so as to cancel out the average angle deviation is the same.

[Embodiment 2]
The following will describe another embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. The configurations other than those described in the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those shown in the drawings of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and explanation thereof is omitted.

  In the first embodiment, the mounting posture of the ink jet head 21, that is, the optimization of the mounting angle has been described. In the present embodiment, a method for optimizing the distance between the ejection target surface and the nozzle hole N will be described. The ink jet device 10 used in the present embodiment is the same as the ink jet device 10 used in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  First, the distance between the surface to be ejected and the nozzle hole N greatly affects the landing accuracy of the ink jet. If the distance is too large, the landing accuracy is deteriorated. The possibility of interference with the stage 1 or contamination of the surface to be ejected with the liquid material adhering to the inkjet head 21 increases.

In the inkjet apparatus 10, both the flatness of the transport plane formed by the biaxial planar drive device 2 that transports the inkjet unit 2 in the horizontal plane and the flatness of the stage plane of the substrate stage 1 are both high and the parallelism of both is also high. If there is, as long as the mounting posture of the inkjet head 21 is optimized as in the first embodiment, the inkjet head 21 is fixed in the vertical direction regardless of where the inkjet unit 20 is in the ejection target area. By moving the distance by the distance, it is possible to make the distance between the ejection surface of the inkjet head, that is, the nozzle hole array _21N and the ejection surface constant.

  However, in the inkjet apparatus 10 for processing a large substrate, it is difficult to realize an inkjet conveyance system with high positioning accuracy in a wide area, and if it is realized, the cost will increase.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the distance between the nozzle hole array _21N and the surface to be ejected is controlled from the measurement data of the displacement sensors 26a and 26b obtained in the first embodiment so as to have a certain target value. I am doing so. Thereby, even if the inkjet conveyance system does not have high positioning accuracy in a wide area, it is possible to optimize the distance between the ejection target surface and the nozzle hole N. This method will be described below.

First, in Embodiment 1, it is assumed that 2500 sets of measurement values L _A and L _B of the displacement sensors 26a and 26b are obtained from (L _A1 , L _B1 ) to (L _A2500 , L _B2500 ). It is assumed that the coordinate value of the head vertical drive shaft 22 is (L _Z0 ).

As shown in FIG. 1 (a), when performing the measurement of the displacement sensor 26a · 26b in a first region, the distance L _g1 between the center of the nozzle holes N and the ejection surface of the nozzle hole row 21 _N is , the distance from the displacement sensor 26a · 26b described in the first embodiment the measurement values to the reference jig 11 _{(L A0, L B0),} is known as the measurement surface and the nozzle hole row 21 _N of the reference jig 11 ( it can be represented by the following (equation 2) using the L _H) and.

_{L g1 = (L A1 + L} B1) / 2 + L H - (L A0 + L B0) / 2 ... ( Equation 2)
The As can be seen from equation (2), from the measurement data by the displacement sensor 26a · 26b obtained in the first embodiment, the center of the nozzle holes N of the nozzle hole row 21 _N in the vertical position during measurement of the ink jet head 21 The distance between the surface and the surface to be discharged can be calculated. Furthermore coordinate values of the head vertical driving shaft 22 at that time (L _Z0) is because it is, the head vertically for a distance between the nozzle hole row 21 _N and the ejection surface in this region becomes a desired value L _g The coordinate value L _Z1 of the direction drive shaft 22 is obtained by the following (formula 3).

L _Z1 = L _Z0 + L _g1 −L _g (Formula 3)
Thus, by using the equation (2) and (Equation 3), from the measurement data obtained by the displacement sensor 26a · 26b when measuring the angular deviation, the distance between the nozzle hole row 21 _N and the ejection surface in a region A data table for the coordinate values of the head vertical drive shaft 22 to obtain a desired value is obtained.

In which area in the substrate stage 1 the inkjet unit 20 is present at the time of ejection is determined from the coordinate value of the head vertical drive shaft 22, and the vertical coordinate value corresponding to that area is obtained by referring to the data table. Then, by driving the inkjet head 21 in the vertical direction based on the coordinate value, the distance between the nozzle hole array _21N and the surface to be ejected can be set to a constant value in an arbitrary area of the ejectable area. .

As described above, in the inkjet head mounting position adjusting method according to the present embodiment, from the measurement results of at least two positions of the distance between the displacement sensors 26a and 26b and the substrate stage surface by the at least two displacement sensors 26a and 26b, the distance between the example central point and the substrate stage surface as the first point of the straight line in the nozzle hole row 21 _N, the distance obtaining respectively a plurality of regions in the relative movement range of the substrate stage surface parallel planes a calculation step, in order to a constant value the distance between the example central point and the substrate stage surface as the first point of the straight line of the nozzle hole row 21 _N in a plurality of regions in the relatively movable range And a vertical movement distance calculating step of calculating a relative movement distance in the vertical direction of the ink jet head in each necessary region.

Thus, in each area set to certain size of the entire area of the substrate stage 1 that holds a substrate as an object to be discharge surface, in terms of for example the center of the first point of the straight line in the nozzle hole row 21 _N And a distance between the surface of the substrate stage and the surface of the substrate stage is calculated. Next, in each region, the inkjet head in each region necessary for making the distance between, for example, the center point as the first point on the straight line in the nozzle hole row 21 _N and the substrate stage surface constant. The vertical relative movement distance is calculated.

As a result, when the surface of the substrate stage is inclined with respect to the nozzle hole array _21N , when the inkjet head 21 is horizontally moved to a certain area on the surface of the substrate stage, the area on the nozzle hole array _21N For example, it is possible to grasp how much the central point as the first point is different from the reference position, that is, a certain value in the vertical direction.

  Further, in the inkjet head mounting position adjusting method according to the present embodiment, before ejecting ink from the inkjet head 21, the inkjet head 21 is moved to each area based on the calculated vertical relative movement distance of the inkjet head in each area. And a vertical relative movement step for relative movement.

  Thereby, before discharging the ink of the inkjet head 21, the inkjet head 21 is relatively moved in each area | region based on the inkjet head perpendicular | vertical direction relative movement distance in each area | region calculated.

  As a result, when ink is actually ejected to the ink jet apparatus 10, the distance between the ink jet head 21 and the substrate stage 1 is optimized by controlling the head height so that the distance becomes constant in each region. be able to.

  Further, the head position control method of the ink jet apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes an ink jet head 21 having a plurality of nozzle holes N that eject ink, a substrate stage 1 that holds a substrate that is a surface to be ejected, and a substrate stage 1. And a transport mechanism comprising a plane direction driving device 2, a head vertical direction driving shaft 22 and a vertical direction driving member 23 for relatively moving the inkjet head 21 in a plane parallel to the substrate stage surface parallel plane and in the vertical direction of the substrate stage surface parallel plane. The head position control method of the inkjet apparatus 10 having the following.

In this head position control method, before ejecting ink, a head ejection position moving step for relatively moving the inkjet head 21 above the substrate, and the bottom surface of the inkjet head at the head ejection position above the substrate in the inkjet head 21 at least a step of measuring the angle and distance between the nozzle hole row 21 _N a substrate linearly arranged on a plurality of nozzle holes N may connecting in each other, the nozzle hole row 21 from the measurement result in the measurement step _N to angle correction value, and the angular distance calculation step of calculating a vertical relative movement distance, based on the angle correction value and the vertical relative moving distance of the nozzle hole row 21 _N in the calculation step, the angle of the nozzle hole row 21 _N Correction and a correction step of performing the relative movement of the inkjet head 21 in the vertical direction.

According to this configuration, before the ejection of the ink, at the head ejection position above the substrate in the ink jet head 21, the angle and distance between the nozzle hole row 21 _N and the substrate was measured, the angle of the nozzle hole row 21 _N A correction value and a vertical relative movement distance are calculated.

Thus, when the inkjet head 21 are a plurality of nozzle holes N are arranged in at least one row, the distance the nozzle hole row 21 _N and the ejection surfaces of both ends and the ejection surface of the nozzle hole row 21 _N Optimized based on the angle between the nozzle holes N in the entire region of the substrate stage 1 and the discharge surface, while suppressing the effects of the head transport error of the inkjet head 21 and the flatness and parallelism errors of the substrate stage 1. It is possible to provide a method for controlling the head position of the inkjet apparatus 10 that can reduce the variation in the distance and suppress the variation in the landing accuracy even for a large substrate.

[Embodiment 3]
The following will describe another embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. The configurations other than those described in the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those shown in the drawings of Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 are given the same reference numerals, and explanation thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, a reduction in angular deviation between the inkjet head 21 and the maintenance unit 3 will be described.

  In the ink jet apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 2, the ink jet head 21 has a liquid material to be ejected or other dust adhered to the vicinity of the nozzle holes, or bubbles are included in the liquid material in the flow path inside the ink jet head 21. If this happens, it will not be possible to discharge normally. Therefore, the maintenance unit 3 for maintaining the inkjet head 21 is necessary.

  The maintenance unit 3 maintains the inkjet head 21 by a wiping mechanism for wiping the vicinity of the nozzle hole, a cap mechanism for sucking and removing bubbles, dust, and the like. In the case of a wiping mechanism, the contact pressure of the wiping member needs to be uniform with respect to the nozzle hole row, while in the case of a cap mechanism, the inkjet head 21 is a cap to ensure sealing for sucking. It is necessary to make parallel contact with the mechanism.

  For the above reasons, it is necessary to reduce the angular deviation between the inkjet head 21 and the maintenance unit 3 in order to realize high maintenance performance.

  Here, regarding the angular deviation between the inkjet head 21 and the maintenance unit 3, if the inkjet head 21 is increased in number and length, the distance between the inkjet head 21 and the maintenance unit 3 can be reduced even if the angular deviation is the same. The effect on the variation is large. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the maintenance unit 3 is provided with a maintenance unit angle adjustment mechanism so that the inclination of the maintenance unit 3 can be adjusted in the long head.

  As can be seen from the first embodiment and the second embodiment, in the large-sized ink jet device 10, the magnitude of the angular deviation between the ink jet head 21 and the large substrate stage 1 affects the basic performance of the ink jet device 10. The mounting posture of the inkjet head 21 needs to match the plane of the substrate stage 1 of the inkjet apparatus 10 and the plane of the inkjet unit transport system. In order to correct the angular deviation between the inkjet head 21 and the maintenance unit 3, the maintenance unit 3 The operation | work of adjusting the angle of the maintenance unit 3 to the angle of the inkjet head 21 when the inkjet head 21 is located above is needed.

  For this purpose, a flat reference surface is provided on the maintenance unit 3. Of the maintenance mechanisms mounted on the maintenance unit 3, the mechanism that should be parallel to the inkjet head 21 during maintenance needs to be designed and configured to be parallel to this reference plane.

  Specifically, this can be realized by providing an integrated reference plate on the upper part of the maintenance unit 3 and mounting another maintenance mechanism thereon, and using the upper surface of the reference plate as the reference surface of the maintenance unit 3.

  That is, the maintenance unit 3 of the present embodiment includes a maintenance unit lower part 3a and a maintenance unit upper part 3b as shown in FIG. On the surface of the maintenance unit upper part 3b, reference plates 31 and 31 as reference surfaces are provided on both ends, and between the two reference plates 31 and 31, for example, a cap mechanism and a wipe mechanism are provided. The various maintenance mechanisms 32 are provided.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the maintenance unit 3 also needs a posture adjustment mechanism in order to match the posture of the maintenance unit 3 with the optimized posture of the inkjet head 21. The attitude adjustment mechanism of the maintenance unit 3 does not need to be able to adjust the attitude of the entire maintenance unit 3, and can only adjust the attitude of the maintenance unit upper part 3 b, the maintenance mechanism 32 mounted on the maintenance unit 32, and the reference plates 31 and 31 collectively In addition, the other components may be arranged outside the posture adjustment mechanism.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the plane of the maintenance unit upper part 3b is inclined by three height adjustment mechanisms 33 provided between the maintenance unit lower part 3a and the maintenance unit upper part 3b. It can be adjusted. The height adjustment mechanism 33 changes its height by tightening a screw or the like, for example.

  That is, the height adjusting mechanism 33 adjusts the inclination of the plane of the maintenance unit upper part 3b by adjusting the heights of three points on the plane of the maintenance unit upper part 3b. In the present invention, the height adjusting mechanism 33 is not necessarily limited to this, and other elevating means can be used, and the height adjusting mechanism 33 is not limited to three but can be four or the like.

  A method for adjusting the inclination of the plane of the maintenance unit upper part 3b in the maintenance unit 3 having the above configuration will be described below.

In this embodiment, the nozzle hole row 21 _N in the inkjet head 21 is so disposed in a direction parallel to the Y-axis, first, as the maintenance unit 3 is parallel to the inkjet head 21 in the Y-axis direction Adjust to.

  As an adjustment procedure, first, the inkjet unit 20 is moved to a position where the two displacement sensors 26 a and 26 b mounted on the inkjet unit 20 can measure one location of the one reference plate 31 in the maintenance unit 3.

At this time, the displacement sensors 26a and 26b are installed in the vicinity of the inkjet head 21, and the reference plate 31 is installed in the vicinity of various maintenance mechanisms 32, and the reference plates 31 and 31 are installed by the displacement sensors 26a and 26b. It is preferable that the positional relationship between the inkjet head 21 and the maintenance unit 3 when measuring is close to the positional relationship when the maintenance of the inkjet head 21 is actually performed. The measured values L _Am1 and L _Bm1 of the displacement sensors 26a and 26b at that time are acquired.

While the state in which the difference between _L Am1 _{-L Bm1} of the measurement value becomes equal to the reference value _L A0 _{-L B0} described in Embodiment 1 and the reference plate 31 of the nozzle hole row 21 _N and maintenance unit 3 is parallel some _because, to adjust the column direction of inclination of the nozzle hole row 21 _N in the maintenance unit 3 such that _{L Am1 -L Bm1 = L A0 -L} B0. The measured value of the displacement sensor 26a · 26b at this position after adjustment _{L Am1 ', L Bm1'} and.

  Next, the inkjet unit 20 is moved to a position where the two displacement sensors 26 a and 26 b mounted on the inkjet unit 20 can measure a location different from the measurement position of the reference plate 31 of the maintenance unit 3.

  Specifically, the inkjet head 21 is moved in the X-axis direction, measured again with another reference plate 31, and the maintenance unit 3 is adjusted in parallel to the inkjet head 21 in the X-axis direction.

Measurement position at this time, it is necessary that the displacement in the direction perpendicular to the measuring position as compared to the direction in which are arranged the displacement sensor 26a · 26b (nozzle hole row 21 _N parallel direction). The measurement values L _Am2 and L _Bm2 of the displacement sensors 26a and 26b at that time are acquired. At this time, the vertical position of the inkjet head 21 (the coordinate value of the vertical drive shaft) is set equal to that at the time of the first measurement.

Then, since the column direction inclination adjustment of the nozzle hole row 21 _N of the maintenance unit 3 is completed in the previous stage, the difference _L Am2 _{-L Bm2} of the two measurements is close enough to the reference value _L A0 _{-L B0} It should be a value.

Since the vertical position of the inkjet head 21 at the time of measurement is the same, the difference in the distance between the inkjet head 21 and the maintenance unit 3 at the first measurement position and the current measurement position is the average value of the measurement values of the displacement sensors 26a and 26b. It is given by the difference _{L d} (equation 4).

L _d = (L _{Am1 ′} + L _{Bm1 ′} ) / 2− (L _Am2 + L _Bm2 ) / 2 (Formula 4)
Then, as the distance between the inkjet head 21 and the maintenance unit 3 in the first measurement position and the current measurement position is equal (L d _{= 0),} the direction of inclination perpendicular to the nozzle hole row 21 _N of the maintenance unit 3 adjust.

These series of operations, the maintenance unit 3 of the posture plane of the nozzle hole row 21 _N of the inkjet head 21 in the two directions of a direction perpendicular to the row direction and the nozzle hole row 21 _N of the nozzle hole row 21 _N of the inkjet head 21 It has been optimized to meet.

Further, the distance L _gm between the nozzle hole array 21 _N and the reference plates 31 and 31 in a state where the measurement values L _A and L _B of the displacement sensors 26 a and 26 _b are acquired is given by the following (formula 5).

_{L gm = (L Am1 '+} L Bm1') / 2 + L H - (L A0 + L B0) / 2 ... ( Equation 5)
If the vertical distance from the reference plates 31 and 31 to the tip of the wipe mechanism, for example, and the vertical distance from the reference plates 31 and 31 to the upper surface of the cap mechanism are known from design values, for example, in the above state the distance between the upper surface and the nozzle hole row 21 _N of the plane of the cap mechanism can be calculated. Therefore, so that the relative movement should be moved in order to abut against the plane of the top surface and the nozzle hole row 21 _N cap mechanism can be obtained.

  As described above, by using the displacement sensors 26a and 26b provided in the vicinity of the inkjet head 21, not only the inclination of the maintenance unit 3 is optimized, but also the value of the distance at which the inkjet head 21 should be lowered during maintenance is obtained. Can do. Accordingly, it is possible to shorten the time required for adjustment and parameter optimization when the ink jet apparatus 10 is started up.

  In the present embodiment, the inclination of the maintenance unit upper part 3b in the X-axis direction is measured using the two displacement sensors 26a and 26b. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. It is also possible to measure using.

  For example, when three displacement sensors 26a, 26b, and 26c are used, as shown in FIG. 6, the displacement sensors 26a and 26b provided on both sides of the inkjet head 21 are displaced to positions that form a planar triangle. A sensor 26c is provided. The maintenance unit upper portion 3b is provided with a reference plate 41 as a reference surface having a width that can be measured simultaneously by the three displacement sensors 26a, 26b, and 26c.

  Thereby, it is possible to immediately calculate the inclination in the X-axis direction and the inclination in the Y-axis direction of the maintenance unit upper part 3b.

As described above, in the inkjet head mounting position adjusting method of the present embodiment, when the maintenance mechanism 32 for maintaining the inkjet head 21 is provided, after the head mounting angle adjusting step, the two or more displacement sensors 26a and 26b are used. A reference surface distance measuring step for measuring distances between the displacement sensors 26a and 26b and the reference plates 31 and 31 of the maintenance mechanism 32, and the displacement sensors 26a and 26b and the maintenance mechanism using two or more displacement sensors 26a and 26b. A reference surface angle calculation step for calculating an angle formed by the nozzle hole array _21N and the reference plates 31 and 31 of the maintenance mechanism 32 from at least two measurement results of the distance from the 32 reference plates 31 and 31, and a maintenance mechanism reference plate 31, 31 of 32 and the nozzle hole row 21 Maintenance from the angle calculation results, and maintenance mechanism optimal angle calculating step of calculating an optimum setting angle of the maintenance mechanism 32, based on the optimal setting angle of the maintenance mechanism 32 to adjust the installation angle of the maintenance mechanism 32 of the Mechanism installation angle adjustment process.

Accordingly, when the maintenance mechanism 32 for maintaining the inkjet head 21 is provided, the reference plates 31 and 31 of the maintenance mechanism 32 of the inkjet head 21 and the nozzle hole array 21 _N are used by using the displacement sensors 26a and 26b as described above. The optimum value of the angle of the maintenance mechanism 32 can be calculated and angle correction can be performed.

Further, in the ink jet head mounting position adjustment method of this embodiment, after the reference plane distance measuring step, for example, as a second point on the straight line of the reference plate 31, 31 and the nozzle hole row 21 _N of the maintenance mechanism 32 From the maintenance mechanism distance calculating step for calculating the distance between the center point and the relative distance in the vertical direction between the nozzle hole array _21N and the maintenance mechanism 32 required during maintenance of the inkjet head 21, the inkjet head 21 during maintenance. And a maintenance mechanism vertical direction moving distance calculating step for calculating a distance to be relatively moved in the vertical direction.

This makes it possible to obtain also the vertical distance between the maintenance mechanism 32 and the nozzle hole row 21 _N.

  Further, in the inkjet head mounting position adjustment method of the present embodiment, after the maintenance mechanism installation angle adjustment step and the maintenance mechanism vertical movement distance calculation step, the maintenance is performed on the inkjet head 21 based on the distance to be relatively moved in the vertical direction. The inkjet head is relatively moved in the vertical direction.

Thus, based on the vertical direction of the calculated distance between the maintenance mechanism 32 and the nozzle hole row 21 _N, it can be controlled to vertically move the ink jet head 21 or the maintenance mechanism 32 in a position optimal distance maintenance , Maintenance is also improved.

Further, in the head position control method of the inkjet apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, when the maintenance mechanism 32 for maintaining the inkjet head 21 is provided, the inkjet head 21 is placed above the maintenance mechanism 32 before the maintenance of the inkjet head 21. A reference plane for measuring the angle and the distance between the nozzle hole array _21N and the reference plates 31 and 31 of the maintenance mechanism 32 at the maintenance position moving step of moving relatively and the position above the maintenance mechanism 32 of the inkjet head 21. An angle distance measurement step, a reference surface angle distance calculation step for calculating an angle correction value of the nozzle hole array 21 _N and a vertical relative movement distance from the measurement results in the reference surface angle distance measurement step, and a nozzle hole in the calculation step angle correction value columns 21 _N and vertically relative shift Distance based, including the angle correction of the nozzle hole row 21 _N, and a reference surface correction step of performing vertical relative movement of the ink jet head 21.

Accordingly, when the maintenance mechanism 32 for maintaining the inkjet head 21 is provided, the reference plates 31 and 31 of the maintenance mechanism 32 of the inkjet head 21 and the nozzle hole array 21 _N are used by using the displacement sensors 26a and 26b as described above. By calculating the angle formed by and the distance in the vertical direction, the optimum value of the angle and distance of the maintenance mechanism 32 can be calculated, and the angle correction and distance correction of the inkjet head 21 can be performed.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and the technical means disclosed in different embodiments can be appropriately combined. Such embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The present invention relates to an inkjet head having a plurality of nozzle holes for discharging a liquid material, a substrate stage for holding a substrate that is a discharge target surface, and relative to the substrate stage surface parallel plane and the substrate stage surface parallel plane in the vertical direction. It can utilize for the inkjet head mounting attitude | position adjustment method of the inkjet apparatus which has a conveyance mechanism to move to.

1 Substrate stage 2 Planar direction drive device (conveyance mechanism)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Maintenance unit 3a Maintenance unit lower part 3b Maintenance unit upper part 10 Inkjet device 11 Reference jig 20 Inkjet unit 21 Inkjet head 21 _N nozzle hole row (nozzle hole row straight line)
22 Head vertical drive shaft (conveyance mechanism)
23 Vertical drive member (conveyance mechanism)
24 Rotating shaft (support member)
25 Head mounting posture adjustment plate 26a Displacement sensor 26b Displacement sensor 26c Displacement sensor 31 Reference plate (reference surface)
32 Maintenance mechanism 33 Height adjustment mechanism 41 Reference plate (reference surface)

Claims (8)

An inkjet head having a plurality of nozzle holes for ejecting ink, a substrate stage for holding a substrate that is an ejection surface, the substrate stage and the inkjet head in a plane parallel to the substrate stage surface, and a vertical direction of the substrate stage surface parallel plane In the inkjet head mounting position adjustment method of an inkjet apparatus having a transport mechanism that moves relative to the inkjet mechanism,
The substrate stage surface parallel plane is formed by at least two or more displacement sensors provided along the arrangement direction of a plurality of nozzle holes arranged at least in a straight line on the bottom surface of the inkjet head and integrally attached to the inkjet head. A surface distance measuring step for measuring the distance between the displacement sensor and the surface of the substrate stage in a plurality of regions within the relative movable range,
A nozzle hole line straight line formed by connecting a plurality of nozzle holes arranged in a straight line on the bottom surface of the inkjet head from the measurement results of at least two positions of the distance between the displacement sensor and the substrate stage surface by the two or more displacement sensors. An angle calculation step for calculating the angle formed between the substrate stage surface and the substrate stage surface;
An optimum angle calculating step of calculating an optimum head mounting angle of the inkjet head rotatably attached to the support member from the calculation result of the angle formed by the nozzle hole row straight line and the substrate stage surface;
And a head mounting angle adjusting step for adjusting the ink jet head mounting angle based on the calculated value of the optimum head mounting angle. From at least two measurement results of the distance between the displacement sensor and the substrate stage surface by the at least two displacement sensors, the first point on the straight line in the nozzle hole row straight line and the substrate stage surface A distance calculation step for obtaining a distance in each of a plurality of regions within the relative movable range in the substrate stage surface parallel plane;
In the plurality of regions within the relative movable range, the inkjet head in each region necessary for making the distance between the first point on the straight line in the nozzle hole row straight line and the surface of the substrate stage constant. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a vertical direction movement distance calculating step of calculating a vertical direction relative movement distance.   Before ejecting the ink of the inkjet head, it includes a vertical relative movement step in which the inkjet head is relatively moved in each area based on the calculated inkjet head vertical relative movement distance in each area. The method of adjusting an ink-jet head mounting position according to claim 2. When having a maintenance mechanism for maintaining the inkjet head, after the head mounting angle adjustment step,
A reference surface distance measuring step of measuring a distance between the displacement sensor and a reference surface of the maintenance mechanism by the two or more displacement sensors,
A reference surface angle for calculating an angle formed by the nozzle hole row straight line and the reference surface of the maintenance mechanism from at least two measurement results of the distance between the displacement sensor and the reference surface of the maintenance mechanism by the two or more displacement sensors. A calculation process;
A maintenance mechanism optimum angle calculation step of calculating an optimum installation angle of the maintenance mechanism from a calculation result of an angle formed by the reference plane of the maintenance mechanism and the nozzle hole row straight line;
4. The ink jet head mounting position adjusting method according to claim 1, further comprising a maintenance mechanism installation angle adjusting step of adjusting an installation angle of the maintenance mechanism based on an optimum installation angle of the maintenance mechanism. After the reference surface distance measurement step, a maintenance mechanism distance calculation step for calculating a distance between the reference surface of the maintenance mechanism and a second point on the straight line of the nozzle hole row straight line;
A maintenance mechanism vertical movement distance calculating step for calculating a distance to move the inkjet head in the vertical direction at the time of maintenance from a vertical relative distance between the nozzle hole line straight line and the maintenance mechanism required during maintenance of the inkjet head; and The inkjet head mounting position adjusting method according to claim 4, further comprising:   After the maintenance mechanism installation angle adjustment step and the maintenance mechanism vertical movement distance calculation step, the inkjet head is relatively moved in the vertical direction based on the distance to be relatively moved in the vertical direction during maintenance of the inkjet head. The method of adjusting an ink jet head mounting position according to claim 5. An inkjet head having a plurality of nozzle holes for ejecting ink, a substrate stage for holding a substrate that is an ejection surface, the substrate stage and the inkjet head in a plane parallel to the substrate stage surface, and a vertical direction of the substrate stage surface parallel plane In a head position control method of an ink jet apparatus having a transport mechanism that moves relative to the head,
A head discharge position moving step of moving the inkjet head relatively above the substrate before discharging the ink;
Measurement for measuring an angle and a distance between a nozzle hole array straight line formed by connecting a plurality of nozzle holes arranged at least on the straight line on the bottom surface of the ink jet head at the head discharge position above the substrate in the ink jet head and the substrate. Process,
An angle distance calculation step for calculating an angle correction value of the nozzle hole row straight line and a vertical relative movement distance from the measurement result in the measurement step, and
A correction step of performing an angle correction of the nozzle hole line straight line and a vertical relative movement of the inkjet head based on the angle correction value and the vertical relative movement distance of the nozzle hole line straight line in the calculation step. A head position control method for an inkjet apparatus. When having a maintenance mechanism for maintaining the inkjet head, before maintenance of the inkjet head,
A maintenance position moving step of moving the inkjet head relatively above the maintenance mechanism;
A reference surface angle distance measuring step for measuring an angle and a distance between the nozzle hole row straight line and a reference surface of the maintenance mechanism at a position above the maintenance mechanism in the inkjet head;
A reference surface angle distance calculation step of calculating an angle correction value of the nozzle hole row straight line and a vertical relative movement distance from the measurement result in the reference surface angle distance measurement step;
And a reference plane correction step of performing an angle correction of the nozzle hole line straight line and a vertical relative movement of the inkjet head based on the angle correction value of the nozzle hole line straight line and the vertical relative movement distance in the calculation step. The head position control method of an ink jet apparatus according to claim 7.

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