JP2010214333A - Liquid column of liquid tank, liquid tank and droplet discharge device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid column of a liquid tank which is attached to the liquid tank and is free from wrong detection of a liquid level in the liquid tank by a photosensor, a liquid tank, and a droplet discharge device. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid column (liquid column pipe 53) of the liquid tank (a subtank 33) is attached to a tank body (a subtank body 51) and faced by a photosensor (a liquid level detection mechanism 64) for sensing the liquid level of the tank body, and has translucency, and its inside surface has a lyophilic property. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid column body of a liquid tank, a liquid tank, and a droplet discharge device that are attached to a tank body and face a photosensor for sensing the liquid level of the tank body.

  Conventionally, as a droplet discharge device including this type of liquid column body and liquid tank, a sub tank (liquid tank) storing functional liquid supplied to a functional droplet discharge head, and a liquid level of the functional liquid stored in the sub tank There is known a liquid droplet ejecting apparatus including a liquid column pipe (liquid column body) provided with a liquid level detecting means for detecting the above (see Patent Document 1). The functional liquid from the main tank is pumped into the sub tank, and the functional liquid is supplied to the sub tank by opening a valve provided in front of the sub tank. The liquid level detection means has an upper limit sensor and a lower limit sensor, and maintains the liquid level of the functional liquid in the sub-tank between both sensors, thereby managing the water head value with the functional liquid droplet ejection head. The discharge amount is stabilized.

JP 2008-238125 A

Incidentally, a photosensor is generally used as the liquid level detecting means. The photosensor is composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and senses the liquid surface by utilizing light characteristics (refractive index of light at a sensing position). Specifically, when the sensing position of the photosensor is in the air, the light receiving element receives the light emitted by the light emitting element, but when the sensing position is in the liquid, the light emitted by the light emitting element is emitted into the liquid. Since the refractive index of light changes, the light receiving element does not receive light. The presence or absence of the liquid, that is, the liquid level is sensed by such an output change of the light receiving element.
However, since the inner surface of the liquid column pipe attached to the sub tank in the above-described conventional droplet discharge device has liquid repellency, the attached liquid tends to be in the form of droplets. When this droplet adheres to the sensing position of the photosensor, the contact angle between the inner surface of the liquid column pipe and the adhered droplet is large, causing a change in the refractive index of the light from the light emitting element. There is a risk of sensing incorrectly. As a result, there is a problem that erroneous detection occurs in the liquid level detection.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid column body of a liquid tank, a liquid tank, and a droplet discharge device in which a photosensor does not cause erroneous detection in a liquid column body attached to the liquid tank.

  The liquid column body of the liquid tank of the present invention is a liquid column body of a liquid tank attached to the tank body and facing a photosensor for sensing the liquid level of the tank body, and has a translucency and has an inner surface. Has a lyophilic property.

  In this case, it is preferable that it is made of a lyophilic material, or a lyophilic film is lined on the inner surface. Alternatively, it is preferable that the inner surface is formed by lyophilic treatment.

  According to these configurations, since the inner surface of the liquid column body is lyophilic, the adhering liquid spreads in a thin film shape on the inner surface instead of being in the form of droplets, so light is refracted at the sensing position of the photosensor. Sensing can be performed accurately without changing the rate. Therefore, it is possible to accurately grasp the amount of liquid stored in the liquid tank and appropriately manage the liquid level. The liquid column body may be a so-called liquid column pipe provided outside the tank main body, or may be a window-shaped member formed in the tank main body.

  In addition, a liquid tank according to the present invention includes the liquid column body of the liquid tank, a tank body, and a photo sensor facing the liquid column body.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to accurately sense the liquid level of the liquid in the liquid tank without causing erroneous detection of the photosensor. Thereby, the amount of liquid in the liquid tank can be appropriately maintained.

  The liquid droplet ejection apparatus according to the present invention includes a drawing unit that performs drawing by ejecting a functional liquid droplet from the functional liquid droplet ejection head while moving the inkjet functional liquid droplet ejection head relative to the workpiece. And the above-mentioned liquid tank for storing the functional liquid and supplying the functional liquid to the functional liquid droplet ejection head with natural water head.

  According to this configuration, the photosensor can be prevented from erroneously detecting the liquid level in the liquid tank, and the liquid level in the liquid tank can be managed at an appropriate height. Thereby, the water head value of the functional liquid droplet ejection head can be maintained stably.

It is a perspective view of the droplet discharge device concerning an embodiment. It is a plane schematic diagram of a head unit. It is an external appearance perspective view of a functional droplet discharge head. It is a piping system diagram of a functional liquid supply device. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the area around a sub tank. It is sectional drawing which represented the liquid column pipe which concerns on embodiment typically.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a liquid droplet ejection apparatus equipped with a liquid tank with a liquid column body of the present invention will be described. This droplet discharge device is incorporated in a flat panel display production line, and uses, for example, a functional droplet discharge head into which a special liquid such as special ink or a light-emitting resin liquid is introduced, and a color filter for a liquid crystal display device And a light emitting element to be each pixel of the organic EL device. Further, the liquid tank serves as a sub tank and supplies the functional liquid to the functional liquid droplet ejection head with natural water head.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a droplet discharge device 1 is disposed on an X-axis support base 2 supported by a stone surface plate, extends in the X-axis direction that is the main scanning direction, and moves a workpiece to an X-axis. Arranged on a pair of Y-axis support bases 5 spanned across the X-axis table 3 via a plurality of columns 4 and an X-axis table 3 that is moved in the direction (main scanning direction). 13 carriage units comprising a Y-axis table 6 extending in the Y-axis direction, which is the scanning direction, and 13 carriage units 7 on which a plurality of functional liquid droplet ejection heads 9 (see FIG. 2) are mounted. 7 is suspended from the Y-axis table 6. Further, the droplet discharge device 1 includes a chamber 8 that accommodates these devices in an atmosphere in which temperature and humidity are controlled, and a functional droplet discharge head 9 that passes from the outside of the chamber 8 to the internal functional droplet discharge head 9. And a functional liquid supply unit 11 having three sets of functional liquid supply devices 30 (see FIG. 4) for supplying the functional liquid. The functional liquid droplet discharge head 9 is driven to discharge in synchronization with the driving of the X-axis table 3 and the Y-axis table 6, thereby discharging the R, G, and B color functional liquid droplets supplied from the functional liquid supply unit 11. A predetermined drawing pattern is drawn on the work.

  The droplet discharge device 1 also includes a maintenance device 10 having a flushing unit 12, a suction unit 13, a wiping unit 14, and a discharge performance inspection unit 15. These units are used for maintenance of the functional droplet discharge head 9. The function of the functional liquid droplet ejection head 9 is maintained and recovered.

  The flushing unit 12 receives waste discharge (flushing) of the functional liquid droplet ejection head 9 that is performed immediately before the ejection of the functional liquid droplet ejection head 9 or when drawing processing is suspended such as when the work is replaced. The wiping unit 14 has a wiping sheet and wipes the nozzle surface 27 of the functional liquid droplet ejection head 9 after suction. The ejection performance inspection unit 15 recognizes an image of the functional liquid droplets ejected from the functional liquid droplet ejection head 9 and inspects the ejection performance (the presence / absence of ejection and flight bending) of the functional liquid droplet ejection head 9. The suction unit 13 includes a plurality of divided suction units 13a, and forcibly sucks the functional liquid from the discharge nozzles 29 of the respective functional liquid droplet discharge heads 9 and performs capping.

  Each carriage unit 7 includes a head unit 17 having twelve functional liquid droplet ejection heads 9 and a carriage plate 16 that supports the twelve functional liquid droplet ejection heads 9 in two groups. (See FIG. 2). Each carriage unit 7 is suspended from a bridge plate 5 a that is stretched over a pair of Y-axis support bases 5. Each carriage unit 7 is configured so that a functional liquid is supplied to each functional liquid droplet ejection head 9 using a natural water head from a sub tank (liquid tank) 33 disposed on the bridge plate 5a. The number of carriage units 7 and the number of functional liquid droplet ejection heads 9 mounted on each carriage unit 7 are arbitrary.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the functional liquid droplet ejection head 9 is a so-called double ink jet head, which is a functional liquid introduction part 22 having two connection needles 21 and 2 connected to the side of the functional liquid introduction part 22. A continuous head substrate 23 and a head main body 24 that is connected to the lower side of the head substrate 23 and is filled with a functional liquid are provided. The connection needle 21 is connected to the functional liquid supply unit 11 and supplies the functional liquid to the functional liquid introduction unit 22. The head body 24 includes a cavity 26 (piezoelectric element) and a nozzle plate 25 having a nozzle surface 27 with a large number of ejection nozzles 29 opened. When the functional liquid droplet ejection head 9 is driven to eject, functional liquid droplets are ejected from the ejection nozzle 29 by the pump action of the cavity 26.

  The functional liquid supply unit 11 includes three sets of functional liquid supply devices 30 corresponding to R, G, and B three colors. As shown in FIG. 4, each functional liquid supply device 30 includes a tank unit 32 having two main tanks 31, 31 constituting a functional liquid supply source, and 13 units (corresponding to each carriage unit 7 ( A plurality of sub-tanks (liquid tanks) 33, a functional liquid flow path 34 connecting the tank unit 32 and 13 sub-tanks 33, and 13 sets of downstream sides connecting each sub-tank 33 and each functional liquid droplet ejection head 9. A functional liquid channel 35. The three sets of functional liquid supply devices 30 are connected to the functional liquid droplet ejection heads 9 corresponding to the R, G, and B colors, respectively. Liquid is supplied.

  The functional liquid in each main tank 31 is pressurized by compressed nitrogen gas from a nitrogen gas supply facility 36 connected thereto, and is selectively supplied to 13 sub-tanks 33 via the functional liquid flow path 34. The At that time, various open / close valves are controlled to open / close by the compressed air of the compressed air supply equipment 37. At the same time, each sub tank 33 is opened to the atmosphere via the gas exhaust facility 38 and receives a required amount of functional liquid. The functional liquid in each sub tank 33 is supplied to the functional liquid droplet ejection head 9 via the downstream functional liquid flow path 35 while maintaining a predetermined hydraulic head pressure by driving the functional liquid droplet ejection head 9 connected thereto. . In the present embodiment, 13 carriage units 7 and 13 sub tanks 33 are mounted correspondingly, but the number of carriage units 7 and sub tanks 33 is arbitrary.

  The tank unit 32 is connected to the pair of main tanks 31, 31 serving as the supply source of the functional liquid and the pair of main tanks 31, 31 and to the functional liquid flow path 34, and is connected to the pair of main tanks 31, 31. And a switching mechanism 39 that performs switching. Each main tank 31 is connected to a nitrogen gas supply facility 36 and a gas exhaust facility 38 so as to be switchable, and pressurization control when the functional liquid is pumped and negative pressure control when the functional liquid is fed back (atmospheric release) Equivalent).

  The functional liquid flow path 34 includes a main functional liquid flow path 41 having an upstream end connected to the tank unit 32, a 13 branch flow path 42 connected to the downstream end of the main functional liquid flow path 41 and connected to each sub tank 33, It is composed of Further, the downstream functional liquid flow path 35 is configured by an individual functional liquid flow path 43 having an upstream end connected to each sub tank 33 and a downstream end connected to each functional liquid droplet ejection head 9. Each 13 branch flow path 42 is provided with a third on-off valve 45 located in the vicinity of each sub tank 33.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 5, the sub tank (liquid tank) 33 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated in detail. The sub-tank 33 includes a sub-tank main body (tank main body) 51 that stores functional liquid, a lid float 52 that is dropped on the sub-tank main body 51 and floats like a lid, and a liquid column pipe (liquid column) disposed on the side of the sub-tank main body 51. Body) 53 (details will be described later), and a liquid level detection mechanism 64 that faces the liquid column pipe 53 and detects the liquid level of the stored functional liquid. Further, an inflow joint 54 connected to the 13 branch flow path 42 and an outflow joint 55 connected to the individual functional liquid flow path 43 are provided below the sub tank 33, and the functional liquid is supplied from below the sub tank main body 51. It is configured to flow in and flow out from below. Further, a nitrogen gas supply facility 36 and a gas exhaust facility 38 are connected to the upper portion of the sub tank body 51 (see FIG. 4), and the inside of the sub tank body 51 is opened to the atmosphere when liquid is fed from the main tank 31. And it is comprised so that pressurization control to the main tank 31 is possible.

  The liquid level detection mechanism 64 faces a liquid column pipe 53, which will be described later, and is disposed at an upper and lower intermediate position for detecting the liquid level of the upper limit functional liquid and the liquid of the functional liquid during replenishment. A liquid level detection sensor 57 for detecting the position and a lower limit detection sensor 58 for detecting the liquid level of the functional liquid serving as the lower limit. The upper limit detection sensor 56 is provided to prevent the sub tank 33 from overflowing. When the upper limit detection sensor 56 detects the upper limit liquid level, the liquid supply from the main tank 31 is stopped. On the other hand, the lower limit detection sensor 58 is provided to prevent the sub-tank 33 from becoming empty. When the lower limit detection sensor 58 detects the lower limit liquid level, the liquid droplet is discharged when drawing of the current work is completed. Discharge device 1 is stopped.

  The liquid level detection sensor 57 detects the liquid level in consideration of the ideal water head value of the functional liquid droplet ejection head 9. When the liquid level detection sensor 57 detects the liquid level of the functional liquid, the control unit ( In cooperation with (not shown), it is determined that the liquid is full or low. That is, from the state where the liquid level is above the liquid level detection sensor 57, the functional liquid is reduced by the discharge operation, and the liquid level is detected by the liquid level detection sensor 57, so that it is determined that the liquid level is low. Further, from the state where the liquid level is below the liquid level detection sensor 57, the functional liquid is increased by the replenishment operation, and after the liquid level is detected by the liquid level detection sensor 57, it is determined that the liquid is full. By such a liquid level detection sensor 57, the liquid level of the functional liquid in the sub tank 33 is controlled to the upper and lower intermediate position.

  Here, the replenishment operation of the functional liquid from the main tank 31 serving as the functional liquid supply source to the sub tank 33 will be described. When the functional liquid in the sub-tank 33 is reduced by a certain amount and the liquid level detection mechanism 64 determines that the liquid level is reduced, the third on-off valve 45 is opened and the gas exhaust equipment 38 is driven to drive the main The functional liquid is supplied from the tank 31 to the sub tank 33. Since the main tank 31 is pressurized, the functional fluid in the main tank 31 is automatically sent to the sub tank 33 by opening the third on-off valve 45 and releasing the atmosphere in the sub tank 33. When a certain amount of functional liquid is stored in the sub tank 33 and the liquid level detection mechanism 64 determines that the sub tank 33 is full, the third on-off valve 45 is closed and the replenishment operation is terminated.

  As described above, the liquid level of the functional liquid in the sub tank 33 is controlled to the upper and lower intermediate position by the liquid level detection sensor 57 and the control unit. By controlling the liquid level of the functional liquid to the upper and lower middle position of the sub tank main body 51, the sub tank 33 has a sufficient gas capacity in its substantially upper half. The pulsation of the functional liquid generated on the upstream side is absorbed by the gas space having approximately half the capacity of the sub tank main body 51. That is, the gas space becomes a so-called air damper and can absorb the pulsation of the functional liquid. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the pulsation from being transmitted to the downstream side of the sub-tank 33, particularly to the functional liquid droplet ejection head 9, and to suppress the ejection failure of the functional liquid droplet ejection head 9.

Next, the liquid column pipe 53 attached to the sub tank 33, which is a characteristic part of the present embodiment, will be described with reference to FIG.
In the liquid column pipe 53, a pipe body 59 attached to the sub tank body 51 communicates with the sub tank body 51 at the upper communication portion 61 and the lower communication portion 62. The pipe body 59 includes the above-described liquid level detection mechanism. 64 is installed. Since the liquid level detecting mechanism 64 senses the liquid level of the sub-tank main body 51 with a photosensor, the pipe main body 59 is translucent and at least the inner surface is made of a lyophilic material. As a result, the functional liquid adhering to the inner surface by raising and lowering the liquid level spreads in a thin film shape on the inner surface without forming droplets. In addition, the inner surface of the liquid column pipe 53 may be made lyophilic by lining a lyophilic film on the inner surface or treating the inner surface with lyophilicity.

Here, the liquid level sensing of the sub tank main body 51 by the liquid level detection mechanism 64 installed facing the liquid column pipe 53 will be described.
As described above, the liquid level detection mechanism 64 is provided at the upper and lower intermediate positions for detecting the liquid level of the functional liquid that is the upper limit, and the liquid level that detects the liquid level of the functional liquid during replenishment. A detection sensor 57 and a lower limit detection sensor 58 that detects the liquid level of the functional liquid serving as the lower limit are configured. These are photosensors that detect the liquid level based on the refractive index of light in the detection unit. A photosensor composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element receives light emitted from the light emitting element when the sensing position is in the air, while the light emitting element emits light when the sensing position is in the liquid. The received light is emitted into the liquid and the refractive index of the light changes, so that the light receiving element does not receive the light. The liquid level is sensed by the output change of the light receiving element. As described above, the photosensor senses the liquid level in the sub tank 33 using the characteristics of light. At this time, when the functional liquid in the form of droplets on the inner surface of the liquid column pipe 53 adheres to the sensing position, light is emitted into the droplets, and the output of the light receiving element is output in the same manner as when detecting the liquid level. A change may occur and it may be detected as a liquid level by mistake. Therefore, the liquid column pipe 53 of the present embodiment is configured such that the inner surface of the liquid column pipe 53 is made of a lyophilic material so that the functional liquid spreads in a thin film shape on the inner surface without being in the form of droplets (see FIG. 6). did. Therefore, since the refractive index of the light emitted from the light emitting element does not change at the sensing position of the photosensor, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection.

  According to the above configuration, since the inner surface of the liquid column pipe 53 is lyophilic, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of the liquid level of the functional liquid. As a result, the amount of the functional liquid in the sub tank 33 can be accurately recognized, and an appropriate liquid level can be maintained.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Droplet discharge apparatus 9 ... Functional droplet discharge head 33 ... Sub tank 51 ... Sub tank main body 53 ... Liquid column pipe 64 ... Liquid level detection mechanism

Claims (6)

A liquid column body of a liquid tank attached to the tank body and facing a photosensor for sensing the liquid level of the tank body,
A liquid column body for a liquid tank, having translucency and having an lyophilic inner surface.   The liquid column body of the liquid tank according to claim 1, wherein the liquid column body is made of a lyophilic material.   The liquid column body of the liquid tank according to claim 1, wherein a lyophilic film is lined on the inner surface.   The liquid column body of the liquid tank according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface is formed by lyophilic treatment. A liquid column body of the liquid tank according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The tank body;
A liquid tank comprising: a photosensor facing the liquid column body. A drawing means for performing drawing by discharging the functional liquid droplets from the functional liquid droplet discharge head while moving the inkjet functional liquid droplet discharge head relative to the workpiece;
A liquid discharge apparatus comprising: the liquid tank according to claim 5, wherein the liquid storage tank stores functional liquid and supplies the functional liquid to the functional liquid droplet discharge head with natural head.

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