JP2012206032A - Discharge inspection method, discharge inspection device, drawing method, and drawing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a discharge inspection method or the like by which the discharge inspection of a droplet discharge head is easily performed by easily detecting a liquid body which is hardly detected.SOLUTION: The discharge inspection method includes: a detecting liquid arrangement step of arranging the detecting liquid body on an inspection drawing medium; a drawing liquid arrangement step of arranging a drawing liquid body on the inspection drawing medium; and a detection step for detecting the drawing liquid body arranged on the inspection drawing medium and the condition of a detecting liquid body, wherein the drawing liquid arrangement step is performed after the detecting liquid body is turned into a non-flowing state, and in the drawing liquid arrangement step, the drawing liquid body is landed at a position where at least a part of the drawing liquid body is superposed on the detecting liquid body.

Description

  The present invention relates to a discharge inspection method and a discharge inspection apparatus in a droplet discharge apparatus including a droplet discharge head that discharges a liquid material as droplets, and a drawing method and a drawing device for drawing by discharging a liquid material as droplets.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a liquid that includes a liquid droplet ejection head, ejects a liquid material as liquid droplets from the liquid droplet ejection head, and landes the liquid material at an arbitrary position, thereby accurately disposing a predetermined amount of the liquid material at the predetermined position. A droplet discharge device is known.
Various liquid materials are handled and various images and films are formed by using a droplet discharge device. A colorless and transparent liquid material is used to draw a marker that is difficult for humans to see, and a transparent film for coating is formed on the drawn image.
In order to accurately arrange a predetermined amount of liquid material at a predetermined position, the discharge amount and discharge direction from the discharge nozzle of the droplet discharge head are accurate, and the accurate discharge amount and discharge direction are maintained. It is necessary to be. In order to verify whether an accurate discharge amount and discharge direction are maintained, a discharge inspection for inspecting a discharge state from the discharge nozzle is performed.
However, it is difficult to visually recognize a colorless and transparent liquid, and it is difficult to detect the liquid. Due to the difficulty in detecting the liquid material, there has been a problem that accurate ejection inspection is difficult.

In Patent Document 1, a droplet is ejected from a nozzle to an intended position, the intended position is illuminated, light is reflected from the intended position, and a change in reflectance of a region including the intended position is detected and detected. Disclosed is a system and method for detecting transparent ink that determines the position of a transparent ink drop from the measured reflectance change.
Patent Document 2 discloses a scanning mechanism that irradiates the surface of glossy paper with detection light generated from a laser light source, a mirror that receives detection light reflected on the surface of glossy paper, a condensing mirror, and a light receiving element group. A main control unit to which a detection signal from the light receiving element group is input, and the main control unit is based on the difference in the degree of light scattering caused by the fine surface state of the glossy paper, and the landing region and the non-landing region of the transparent ink By recognizing the above, a dot dropout detecting device capable of detecting even a liquid that is difficult to visually recognize, such as a transparent liquid, is disclosed.

JP 2003-159783 A JP 2004-314362 A

However, since the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 obtains the position of the transparent ink droplet based on the change in the reflectance, a dedicated software for operating the sensor including the sensor and the system including the sensor is necessary.
Since the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 determines the position of a transparent ink droplet based on the difference in the degree of light scattering, dedicated software for operating a sensor and a system including the sensor that can measure the degree of light scattering is required. is there.
Furthermore, since the reflectance and the degree of light scattering differ depending on the transparent ink and the recording medium, it is necessary to measure the reflectance and the degree of light scattering in advance for each of the transparent ink and the recording medium. There was also.

  When a liquid droplet that can be visually recognized is imaged by an imaging device, the boundary of the liquid material can be clearly identified, and thus a plurality of pieces of information such as the shape, size, and position of the liquid material can be easily obtained. By verifying a plurality of pieces of information, the possibility of erroneous detection can be reduced. However, the apparatuses and methods disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have a problem that the boundary of the liquid material cannot be clearly determined.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the following means are adopted.

A discharge inspection method according to the present invention is a discharge inspection method in a drawing apparatus including a discharge nozzle for discharging a drawing liquid as droplets, and the detection liquid from the detection discharge nozzle toward the inspection drawing medium. A detection liquid disposing step of disposing the liquid material for detection on the inspection drawing medium by discharging droplets and landing on the inspection drawing medium, and from the discharge nozzle toward the inspection drawing medium A drawing liquid placement step for placing the drawing liquid on the inspection drawing medium by discharging droplets of the drawing liquid and landing on the inspection drawing medium; A detection step of detecting the state of the drawing liquid and the detection liquid;
The detection liquid placement step and the drawing liquid placement step are performed in any one of the steps, and then the drawing liquid or the detection liquid placed in the step is in a non-flowing state. After that, the other step was performed, and the detection liquid placement step or the drawing liquid placement step performed after the detection liquid placement step and the drawing liquid placement step was performed first. The drawing liquid or the detection liquid is placed at a position at least partially overlapping the drawing liquid or the detection liquid arranged in the detection liquid arrangement step or the drawing liquid arrangement step. It is characterized by landing.

Thereby, the arranged drawing liquid can be overlapped with the detection liquid. When the drawing liquid and the detection liquid overlap each other, the state of the drawing liquid or the detection liquid can be changed by visual observation. For example, the color tone of the drawing liquid and the detection liquid can be changed. For example, even if the liquid for drawing is colorless and transparent, even if it is a liquid with a color tone that is difficult to visually recognize, the color tone changes by being superimposed on the liquid for detection (through). It can be made easier.
In the detection step, the presence of the drawing liquid can be detected by detecting a change in state such as a change in color tone. By detecting the presence of the drawing liquid material at the position where the drawing liquid material is to be arranged, it is possible to inspect whether the state of the discharge nozzle that discharges the drawing liquid material is a dischargeable state. .

  In the detection liquid arrangement process or the drawing liquid arrangement process to be performed later in the detection liquid arrangement process and the drawing liquid arrangement process, the detection liquid arrangement process or the drawing liquid arrangement process performed earlier. The drawing liquid or the detection liquid disposed in the step, and the drawing liquid or the detection liquid disposed in the detection liquid placement step or the drawing liquid placement step to be performed later. In both cases, the drawing liquid or the detection liquid is landed at a position where at least part of the drawing liquid does not overlap, and in the detection step, the drawing liquid arranged on the inspection drawing medium A shape formed by the droplet and the droplet of the liquid material for detection is detected.

  In general, the shape of the landed droplet is substantially circular. According to this discharge inspection method, the shape formed by the drawing liquid and the detection liquid is such that a portion of the two circles overlap each other and a portion that does not overlap in each circle exists. The shape is different from the circular shape. In the detection step, the presence or absence of the drawing liquid is detected by detecting the shape formed by the drawing liquid droplet and the detection liquid droplet disposed on the inspection drawing medium. Can do.

  In the detection liquid arrangement step and the drawing liquid arrangement step, the drawing liquid body or the detection liquid body is formed into a predetermined shape with the plurality of drawing liquid bodies and the plurality of detection liquid bodies arranged. It arrange | positions in the position which draws.

  When the discharge nozzle can discharge normally, a predetermined shape is drawn by the discharged drawing liquid and detection liquid. When there is an abnormal discharge nozzle, the predetermined shape is not formed. For this reason, in the detection step, the presence or absence of the drawing liquid is detected by detecting whether or not the shape formed by the drawing liquid droplet and the detection liquid droplet is a predetermined shape. Can be detected. By handling the entire shape in a lump, the required amount of computation can be reduced compared to the case where the presence or absence of a liquid droplet for drawing is inspected for each individual droplet.

  In the detection step, the presence or absence of a change in color tone of the detection liquid or the drawing liquid is detected.

  Although the drawing liquid and the detection liquid are arranged so that at least a part thereof overlaps, the drawing liquid and the detection liquid do not mix. However, the color tone of the overlapping part changes. In the case where the drawing liquid is colorless and transparent, the color tone is changed through the detection liquid so that the liquid can be easily recognized. In the detection step, the presence of the drawing liquid can be detected by detecting a change in color tone.

  The detection liquid is a liquid containing a component that changes color tone by reacting with the drawing liquid, or the drawing liquid reacts with the detection liquid by reacting with the detection liquid. It is a liquid containing a component whose color tone changes.

  When the drawing liquid material is disposed at a predetermined position, the detection liquid material and the drawing liquid material come into contact with each other, and the color tone of the detection liquid material or the drawing liquid material changes. In the detection step, the presence of the drawing liquid can be detected by detecting the presence or absence of a change in the color tone of the detection liquid or the drawing liquid.

  The drawing liquid is a colorless and transparent liquid.

  The colorless and transparent liquid for drawing overlaps the liquid for detection. Since the colorless and transparent drawing liquid overlaps with the detection liquid, the drawing liquid passes through the detection liquid and is no longer colorless and transparent. The body can be easily detected. Since the drawing liquid is no longer colorless and transparent and the outline is clear, the shape formed by the detection liquid and the drawing liquid is easily different from the shape of the detection liquid alone. Can be detected. Since the color of the liquid for detection changes when the liquid for detection overlaps with the colorless and transparent liquid for drawing, the presence of the liquid for drawing is detected by detecting the change in the color of the liquid for detection. can do.

  The drawing apparatus includes the discharge nozzle that discharges any of the drawing liquid materials of different types, and can discharge a plurality of types of drawing liquid materials of different types. In the liquid arranging step, any one of the plurality of types of the drawing liquids is ejected and arranged.

  By using any one of a plurality of types of drawing liquids as the detection liquid, it is possible to carry out a discharge inspection of a discharge nozzle that discharges a drawing liquid other than the drawing liquid used as the detection liquid. At the same time, since it is verified whether or not the drawing liquid used as the detection liquid is appropriately present, the discharge inspection of the discharge nozzle that discharges the drawing liquid used as the detection liquid may be performed in parallel. it can.

  The drawing apparatus includes a detection-dedicated discharge nozzle that discharges the detection liquid, and the detection liquid is discharged from the detection-dedicated discharge nozzle in the detection liquid arrangement step.

  By providing the detection-dedicated discharge nozzle, a dedicated detection liquid material can be freely selected. Therefore, a detection liquid material having characteristics suitable for detection corresponding to the characteristics of the drawing liquid material is obtained. You can choose.

  The detection liquid arrangement step, the drawing liquid arrangement step, and the detection step are performed again.

The reason for determining that the discharge nozzle is defective by performing the detection liquid placement process, the drawing liquid placement process, and the detection process is the detection of discharging the liquid droplet of the detection liquid in the detection liquid placement process. This also includes defects in the discharge nozzle for use. Moreover, the malfunction which appears temporarily and recovers is also included.
By performing the detection liquid arrangement process, the drawing liquid arrangement process, and the detection process again, the discharge nozzle is determined to be defective in the detection liquid arrangement process due to a defect in the detection discharge nozzle. Can be suppressed. Moreover, it can suppress that the discharge nozzle is determined to be defective due to a problem that appears and recovers temporarily.

  The detection liquid placement step, the drawing liquid placement step, and the detection step are performed again with the discharge nozzle in which a defect is detected in the detection step as an inspection target.

The reason for determining that the discharge nozzle is defective by performing the detection liquid placement process, the drawing liquid placement process, and the detection process is the detection of discharging the liquid droplet of the detection liquid in the detection liquid placement process. This also includes defects in the discharge nozzle for use. Moreover, the malfunction which appears temporarily and recovers is also included.
By performing the detection liquid arrangement process, the drawing liquid arrangement process, and the detection process again, it is possible to prevent the discharge nozzle from being determined to be defective due to a defect in the detection discharge nozzle. Moreover, it can suppress that the discharge nozzle is determined to be defective due to a problem that appears and recovers temporarily. By making the discharge nozzles in which a defect is detected in the detection process to be inspected, all the discharge nozzles are also inspected when the detection liquid arrangement process, the drawing liquid arrangement process, and the detection process are performed again. Compared to the case, the time required for the inspection can be suppressed.

  The detection liquid disposing step in which the combination of the discharge nozzle and the detection discharge nozzle for discharging the drawing liquid and the detection liquid that overlap at least partially with each other is performed first, the drawing It is characterized by the difference between the use liquid arrangement process and the detection process, and the detection liquid arrangement process, the drawing liquid arrangement process, and the detection process to be performed again.

  The reason for determining that the discharge nozzle is defective by performing the detection liquid placement process, the drawing liquid placement process, and the detection process is the detection of discharging the liquid droplet of the detection liquid in the detection liquid placement process. This also includes defects in the discharge nozzle for use. Drawing performed by a single discharge nozzle in the detection liquid placement process, the drawing liquid placement process, and the detection process performed first, and the detection liquid placement process, the drawing liquid placement process, and the detection process performed again. By differentiating the detection discharge nozzle corresponding to the position overlapping the liquid material for use, it is possible to suppress the discharge nozzle from being determined to be defective due to a defect in the detection discharge nozzle.

  A discharge inspection apparatus according to the present invention is a discharge inspection apparatus provided in a drawing apparatus including a discharge nozzle for discharging a drawing liquid as droplets, and discharges a liquid droplet for detection toward an inspection drawing medium. And a detection liquid disposing means comprising a detection discharge nozzle for disposing the detection liquid material on the inspection drawing medium by landing on the inspection drawing medium, and from the discharge nozzle toward the inspection drawing medium The drawing liquid material discharged as droplets and landed on the inspection drawing medium, and the state of the detection liquid material arranged on the inspection drawing medium by the detection liquid arrangement means Detecting means for detecting the liquid, and after landing the liquid for detection or the liquid for drawing on the inspection drawing medium using either one of the liquid arrangement means for detection or the discharge nozzle, The drawn liquid material or the detection liquid material is brought into a non-flowing state, and then the detection liquid material or the drawing liquid material is removed using the other of the detection liquid arranging means or the discharge nozzle. The detection liquid or the drawing liquid that is landed on the inspection drawing medium and subsequently landed at a position at least partially overlapping with the drawing liquid or the detection liquid previously landed. It is characterized by landing.

Thereby, the arranged drawing liquid can be overlapped with the detection liquid. When the drawing liquid and the detection liquid overlap each other, the state of the drawing liquid or the detection liquid can be changed by visual observation. For example, the color tone of the drawing liquid and the detection liquid can be changed. For example, even if the liquid for drawing is colorless and transparent, even if it is a liquid with a color tone that is difficult to visually recognize, the color tone changes by being superimposed on the liquid for detection (through). It can be made easier.
In the detection step, the presence of the drawing liquid can be detected by detecting a change in state such as a change in color tone. By detecting the presence of the drawing liquid material at the position where the drawing liquid material is to be arranged, it is possible to inspect whether the state of the discharge nozzle that discharges the drawing liquid material is a dischargeable state. .

  The drawing apparatus includes the discharge nozzle that discharges any of the drawing liquid materials of different types, and can discharge a plurality of types of drawing liquid materials of different types. The detection discharge nozzle provided in the liquid arranging means is the discharge nozzle that discharges any one of the plurality of types of the drawing liquid material.

  By using any one of a plurality of types of drawing liquids as the detection liquid, it is possible to carry out a discharge inspection of a discharge nozzle that discharges a drawing liquid other than the drawing liquid used as the detection liquid. At the same time, since it is verified whether or not the drawing liquid used as the detection liquid is appropriately present, the discharge inspection of the discharge nozzle that discharges the drawing liquid used as the detection liquid may be performed in parallel. it can.

  The detection discharge nozzle provided in the detection liquid arrangement means is a detection-dedicated discharge nozzle that discharges the detection liquid material.

  By providing the detection-dedicated discharge nozzle, a dedicated detection liquid material can be freely selected. Therefore, a detection liquid material having characteristics suitable for detection corresponding to the characteristics of the drawing liquid material is obtained. You can choose.

  In the drawing method according to the present invention, the drawing liquid material discharged from a discharge nozzle that discharges the drawing liquid material as droplets is landed on the drawing medium, and the drawing liquid is drawn on the drawing medium. A drawing method for arranging a liquid material, wherein a liquid droplet for detection is discharged from a discharge nozzle for detection toward an inspection drawing medium and landed on the inspection drawing medium. A detection liquid disposing step for disposing the liquid for detection on the liquid, and discharging droplets of the liquid for drawing from the discharge nozzle toward the inspection drawing medium, and landing on the inspection drawing medium, A drawing liquid arranging step of arranging the drawing liquid on the inspection drawing medium, and a detecting step of detecting states of the drawing liquid and the detecting liquid arranged on the inspection drawing medium. Having the detection liquid arrangement step and In the drawing liquid placement step, after performing one of the steps, the drawing liquid or the detection liquid placed in the step is brought into a non-flowing state, and then the other step is carried out. In the detection liquid placement step or the drawing liquid placement step performed after the detection liquid placement step and the drawing liquid placement step, the detection liquid placement step or the drawing liquid placement performed earlier in the drawing liquid placement step. The drawing liquid material or the detection liquid material is landed at a position at least partially overlapping with the drawing liquid material or the detection liquid material arranged in the process.

Thereby, the arranged drawing liquid can be overlapped with the detection liquid. When the drawing liquid and the detection liquid overlap each other, the state of the drawing liquid or the detection liquid can be changed by visual observation. For example, the color tone of the drawing liquid and the detection liquid can be changed. For example, even if the liquid for drawing is colorless and transparent, even if it is a liquid with a color tone that is difficult to visually recognize, the color tone changes by being superimposed on the liquid for detection (through). It can be made easier.
In the detection step, the presence of the drawing liquid can be detected by detecting a change in state such as a change in color tone. By detecting the presence of the drawing liquid material at the position where the drawing liquid material is to be arranged, it is possible to inspect whether the state of the discharge nozzle that discharges the drawing liquid material is a dischargeable state. .

  In the detection liquid arrangement process or the drawing liquid arrangement process to be performed later in the detection liquid arrangement process and the drawing liquid arrangement process, the detection liquid arrangement process or the drawing liquid arrangement process performed earlier. The drawing liquid or the detection liquid disposed in the step, and the drawing liquid or the detection liquid disposed in the detection liquid placement step or the drawing liquid placement step to be performed later. In both cases, the drawing liquid or the detection liquid is landed at a position where at least part of the drawing liquid does not overlap, and in the detection step, the drawing liquid arranged on the inspection drawing medium A shape formed by the droplet and the droplet of the liquid material for detection is detected.

  In general, the shape of the landed droplet is substantially circular. According to this discharge inspection method, the shape formed by the drawing liquid and the detection liquid is such that a portion of the two circles overlap each other and a portion that does not overlap in each circle exists. The shape is different from the circular shape. In the detection step, the presence or absence of the drawing liquid is detected by detecting the shape formed by the drawing liquid droplet and the detection liquid droplet disposed on the inspection drawing medium. Can do.

  In the detection step, the presence or absence of a change in color tone of the detection liquid or the drawing liquid is detected.

  Although the drawing liquid and the detection liquid are arranged so that at least a part thereof overlaps, the drawing liquid and the detection liquid do not mix. However, the color tone of the overlapping part changes. In the case where the drawing liquid is colorless and transparent, the color tone is changed through the detection liquid so that the liquid can be easily recognized. In the detection step, the presence of the drawing liquid can be detected by detecting a change in color tone.

  The detection liquid is a liquid containing a component that changes color tone by reacting with the drawing liquid, or the drawing liquid reacts with the detection liquid by reacting with the detection liquid. It is a liquid containing a component whose color tone changes.

  When the drawing liquid material is disposed at a predetermined position, the detection liquid material and the drawing liquid material come into contact with each other, and the color tone of the detection liquid material or the drawing liquid material changes. In the detection step, the presence of the drawing liquid can be detected by detecting the presence or absence of a change in the color tone of the detection liquid or the drawing liquid.

  The drawing apparatus according to the present invention includes a discharge nozzle that discharges the drawing liquid as droplets, the droplets of the drawing liquid discharged from the discharge nozzles land on the drawing medium, and the drawing target A drawing apparatus for disposing the drawing liquid on a medium, wherein the inspection drawing medium is ejected by droplets of the liquid for detection toward the inspection drawing medium and landed on the inspection drawing medium. A detection liquid disposing means having a detection discharge nozzle for disposing the detection liquid material thereon, and a liquid droplet discharged from the discharge nozzle toward the inspection drawing medium and landed on the inspection drawing medium; And the detecting liquid disposing means or the detecting liquid disposing means or the detecting liquid disposing means for detecting the state of the detecting liquid disposed on the inspection drawing medium by the detecting liquid disposing means. Discharge nose After the landing liquid or the drawing liquid is landed on the inspection drawing medium using any one of the above, the landed drawing liquid or the detecting liquid is brought into a non-flowing state. Later, the detection liquid or the drawing liquid is made to land on the inspection drawing medium by landing the detection liquid or the drawing liquid on the inspection drawing medium by using the other of the detection liquid arranging means or the other of the discharge nozzles. The liquid material is landed at a position at least partially overlapping with the drawing liquid material or the detection liquid material previously landed.

Thereby, the arranged drawing liquid can be overlapped with the detection liquid. When the drawing liquid and the detection liquid overlap each other, the state of the drawing liquid or the detection liquid can be changed by visual observation. For example, the color tone of the drawing liquid and the detection liquid can be changed. For example, even if the liquid for drawing is colorless and transparent, even if it is a liquid with a color tone that is difficult to visually recognize, the color tone changes by being superimposed on the liquid for detection (through). It can be made easier.
In the detection step, the presence of the drawing liquid can be detected by detecting a change in state such as a change in color tone. By detecting the presence of the drawing liquid material at the position where the drawing liquid material is to be arranged, it is possible to inspect whether the state of the discharge nozzle that discharges the drawing liquid material is a dischargeable state. .

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a droplet discharge device. FIG. 3A is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a droplet discharge head. (B) is a perspective sectional view showing the structure of a droplet discharge head. FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the discharge nozzle portion of the droplet discharge head. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a head unit. Explanatory drawing which shows the electrical structure and signal flow of a droplet discharge head. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the arrangement position of a discharge nozzle. (B) is explanatory drawing which shows the state which made the droplet land linearly in the extension direction of a nozzle row. (C) is explanatory drawing which shows the state which made the droplet land linearly in the main scanning direction. (D) is explanatory drawing which shows the state which made the droplet land in surface shape. The flowchart which shows the process of discharge inspection. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the colored landing circle which the transparent functional liquid landed, and the colored landing circle which the colored functional liquid landed. (B) is explanatory drawing which shows the example which comprises a figure with many transparent landing circles and colored landing circles. FIG. 5A is a flowchart showing a discharge inspection process. (B) is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the colored landing circle which the transparent functional liquid landed, and the colored landing circle which the colored functional liquid landed. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a droplet discharge device. FIG. 5A is a flowchart showing a discharge inspection process. (B) is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the transparent landing circle which the transparent functional liquid landed, and the liquid landing circle for an inspection which the functional liquid for an inspection landed.

Hereinafter, a discharge inspection method, a discharge inspection apparatus, a drawing method, and a drawing apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment will be described by taking, as an example, a discharge inspection of a discharge nozzle of a droplet discharge head in a droplet discharge apparatus that includes a droplet discharge head and draws an image on a drawing medium using the droplet discharge head. To do.
The droplet discharge device relatively moves the droplet discharge head and the drawing medium, and discharges a droplet of the functional liquid from the discharge nozzle of the droplet discharge head to land on a predetermined position on the drawing medium. Thus, the apparatus forms a predetermined image. The droplet discharge device corresponds to a drawing device.
In the drawings referred to in the following description, the vertical and horizontal scales of members or portions may be shown differently from actual ones for convenience of illustration.

<Droplet ejection method>
First, a droplet discharge method for discharging a liquid material as droplets will be described. Examples of the discharge technique of the droplet discharge method include a charge control method, a pressure vibration method, an electromechanical conversion method, an electrothermal conversion method, and an electrostatic suction method.
In the charge control method, a charge is applied to a liquid body with a charging electrode, and the flight direction of the liquid is controlled with a deflection electrode and discharged from a discharge nozzle. In addition, the pressure vibration method is a method in which an ultra-high pressure of about 30 kg / cm 2 is applied to the liquid material and the liquid material is discharged to the tip side of the discharge nozzle, and when the control voltage is not applied, the liquid material goes straight ahead. When discharged from the discharge nozzle and applied with a control voltage, electrostatic repulsion occurs between the liquid materials, and the liquid material scatters and is not discharged from the discharge nozzles. In addition, the electromechanical conversion method utilizes the property that a piezo element (piezoelectric element) deforms in response to a pulsed electric signal, and a deformable substance is placed in a space where a liquid material is stored by deformation of the piezo element. The pressure is applied through the liquid, and the liquid material is pushed out from the space and discharged from the discharge nozzle.

  In addition, the electrothermal conversion method is a method in which the liquid material is rapidly vaporized by a heater provided in the space in which the liquid material is stored, and bubbles are generated, and the liquid material in the space is discharged by the pressure of the bubbles. It is. In the electrostatic suction method, a minute pressure is applied to the space in which the liquid material is stored, a meniscus of the liquid material is formed on the discharge nozzle, and the liquid material is drawn out after applying an electrostatic attractive force in this state. In addition to this, it is also possible to apply a technique such as a system that uses a change in the viscosity of a fluid caused by an electric field or a system that uses a discharge spark.

The droplet discharge method has an advantage that a liquid material is less wasted and a desired amount of the liquid material can be accurately disposed at a desired position. Among these, the piezo method has the advantage that it does not affect the composition or the like of the liquid material because heat is not applied to the liquid material.
In the present embodiment, the above-described piezo method is used from the viewpoint of the high degree of freedom in selecting a liquid material and the good control ejection of droplets.

<Droplet ejection device>
Next, the overall configuration of the droplet discharge device 1 including the droplet discharge head 20 (see FIG. 2) will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a droplet discharge device.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the droplet discharge device 1 includes a head mechanism unit 2, a work mechanism unit 3, a functional liquid supply unit 4, and a maintenance device unit 7. The head mechanism unit 2 includes a droplet discharge head 20 that discharges a functional liquid as droplets. The work mechanism unit 3 includes a work mounting table 30 on which a work W that is a discharge target of liquid droplets discharged from the liquid droplet discharge head 20 is mounted. The functional liquid supply unit 4 includes a storage tank, a relay tank, and a liquid supply tube. The liquid supply tube is connected to the droplet discharge head 20, and the functional liquid is liquidated via the liquid supply tube. It is supplied to the droplet discharge head 20. The maintenance device unit 7 includes devices that perform inspection or maintenance of the droplet discharge head 20. The droplet discharge device 1 also includes a discharge device control unit 6 that comprehensively controls these mechanism units.

  The droplet discharge device 1 further includes a plurality of support legs 8 installed on the floor and a surface plate 9 installed on the upper side of the support legs 8. On the upper side of the surface plate 9, the work mechanism unit 3 is disposed so as to extend in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the surface plate 9. Above the work mechanism 3, the head mechanism 2 supported by two support columns fixed to the surface plate 9 extends in a direction (Y-axis direction) orthogonal to the work mechanism 3. It is arranged. In addition, a functional liquid tank of the functional liquid supply unit 4 having a supply pipe communicating with the droplet discharge head 20 of the head mechanism unit 2 is disposed beside the surface plate 9. A maintenance device section 7 is arranged in the X-axis direction along with the work mechanism section 3 in the vicinity of one supporting special column of the head mechanism section 2. Further, the discharge device controller 6 is accommodated below the surface plate 9.

The head mechanism unit 2 includes a head unit 21 having a droplet discharge head 20, a head carriage 27 having a head unit 21, and a moving frame 22 on which the head carriage 27 is suspended. The head mechanism unit 2 includes two sets of the head carriage 27 and the moving frame 22. The head mechanism unit 2 also includes a Y-axis scanning mechanism that moves the moving frame 22 in the Y-axis direction.
By moving the moving frame 22 in the Y-axis direction by the Y-axis scanning mechanism, the droplet discharge head 20 is freely moved in the Y-axis direction. Moreover, it holds at the moved position. The two moving frames 22 can be moved and held independently, or the two moving frames 22 can be moved and held together.
The work mechanism unit 3 includes a work mounting table 30 and an X-axis scanning mechanism. The workpiece mechanism unit 3 moves the workpiece mounting table 30 in the X-axis direction by the X-axis scanning mechanism, thereby freely moving the workpiece W mounted on the workpiece mounting table 30 in the X-axis direction. Moreover, it holds at the moved position.

  The droplet discharge head 20 moves to the discharge position in the Y-axis direction and stops, and discharges the functional liquid as droplets in synchronization with the movement of the workpiece W below in the X-axis direction. By controlling the work W moving in the X-axis direction and the liquid droplet ejection head 20 moving in the Y-axis direction relatively, the liquid droplets are landed at an arbitrary position on the work W, so that a desired plane is obtained. It is possible to perform shape drawing.

The maintenance device unit 7 includes various inspection devices, various maintenance devices, and a maintenance device scanning mechanism 75. The inspection apparatus is an apparatus for inspecting the droplet discharge head 20 such as the discharge inspection unit 70 for inspecting the discharge state of the droplet discharge head 20. The maintenance device is a device that performs various types of maintenance of the droplet discharge head 20. The maintenance device scanning mechanism 75 is a device that can move these devices in the X-axis direction and supports the devices in an arbitrary position.
When performing inspection and maintenance of the droplet discharge head 20, the head unit 21 (droplet discharge head 20) is moved to a position facing the maintenance device unit 7 using the Y-axis scanning mechanism. Further, the inspection device or maintenance device corresponding to the inspection or maintenance to be performed is moved by the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75 to a position facing the head unit 21 (droplet discharge head 20).

The discharge inspection unit 70 includes an inspection sheet mounting table 71 and an imaging camera 72.
The inspection sheet mounting table 71 has a mounting surface that is substantially parallel to the mounting surface of the workpiece mounting table 30, and can support the inspection sheet by suction. The inspection sheet placing table 71 can be moved in the X-axis direction by the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75 and supported so as to be held at an arbitrary position.

  By moving the inspection sheet mounting table 71 in the X-axis direction by the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75, the inspection sheet held on the mounting surface of the inspection sheet mounting table 71 is moved to a position facing the maintenance device unit 7. The head unit 21 (droplet discharge head 20) is allowed to face. By discharging the liquid material from the droplet discharge head 20 in the position state, the droplet can be landed on the inspection sheet held on the inspection sheet mounting table 71. In synchronization with the movement of the inspection sheet in the X-axis direction by the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75, the liquid material is discharged from the discharge nozzle 24 (see FIG. 2) provided in the droplet discharge head 20, thereby setting the landing position in the X-axis direction. Can be adjusted.

  The imaging camera 72 is supported by a camera support rod 73 so as to be movable up and down in the Z-axis direction by an elevator mechanism (not shown) and held at an arbitrary position. The camera support rod 73 is erected on the surface plate 9 beside the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75, and the imaging camera 72 is supported by the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75 so as to face from substantially the Z-axis direction. The inspection sheet placement table 71 faces the imaging camera 72 by the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75, and can be moved to a position where the imaging camera 72 can shoot. By moving the inspection sheet mounting table 71 to a position facing the imaging camera 72 by the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75, the surface of the inspection sheet held on the inspection sheet mounting table 71 can be photographed by the imaging camera 72.

<Droplet ejection head>
Next, the droplet discharge head 20 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the droplet discharge head. 2A is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the droplet discharge head, FIG. 2B is a perspective sectional view showing the structure of the droplet discharge head, and FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the part of the discharge nozzle of a droplet discharge head. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis shown in FIG. 2 coincide with the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis shown in FIG. 1 when the droplet discharge head 20 is mounted on the droplet discharge apparatus 1. ing.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the droplet discharge head 20 includes a nozzle substrate 25. In the nozzle substrate 25, two rows of nozzle rows 24A in which a large number of discharge nozzles 24 are arranged in a substantially straight line are formed. The functional liquid is ejected as droplets from the ejection nozzle 24 and landed on a drawing object or the like at an opposing position, thereby arranging the functional liquid at the position. The nozzle row 24 </ b> A extends in the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 1 in a state where the droplet discharge head 20 is mounted on the droplet discharge apparatus 1. In the nozzle row 24A, the discharge nozzles 24 are arranged at equal nozzle pitches, and the position of the discharge nozzle 24 is shifted by a half nozzle pitch in the Y-axis direction between the two nozzle rows 24A. Therefore, as the liquid droplet ejection head 20, functional liquid droplets can be arranged at half nozzle pitch intervals in the Y-axis direction.

As shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, in the droplet discharge head 20, the pressure chamber plate 51 is stacked on the nozzle substrate 25, and the vibration plate 52 is stacked on the pressure chamber plate 51.
The pressure chamber plate 51 is formed with a liquid pool 55 in which the functional liquid supplied to the droplet discharge head 20 is always filled. The liquid pool 55 is a space surrounded by the diaphragm 52, the nozzle substrate 25, and the wall of the pressure chamber plate 51. The functional liquid is supplied from the functional liquid supply unit 4 to the droplet discharge head 20 and is supplied to the liquid pool 55 via the liquid supply hole 53 of the vibration plate 52. Further, the pressure chamber plate 51 is formed with a pressure chamber 58 partitioned by a plurality of head partition walls 57. A space surrounded by the diaphragm 52, the nozzle substrate 25, and the two head partition walls 57 is a pressure chamber 58.

The pressure chambers 58 are provided corresponding to the respective discharge nozzles 24, and the number of the pressure chambers 58 and the number of the discharge nozzles 24 are the same. The functional fluid is supplied from the liquid pool 55 to the pressure chamber 58 via the supply port 56 located between the two head partition walls 57. A set of the head partition wall 57, the pressure chamber 58, the discharge nozzle 24, and the supply port 56 is arranged in a line along the liquid pool 55, and the discharge nozzles 24 arranged in a line form a nozzle line 24A. .
Although not shown in FIG. 2B, the discharge nozzles 24 arranged in one row are arranged in a substantially symmetrical position with respect to the liquid pool 55 with respect to the nozzle row 24A including the discharge nozzle 24 shown in the figure. A nozzle row 24A is formed. A set of a head partition wall 57, a pressure chamber 58, and a supply port 56 corresponding to the nozzle row 24A is arranged in one row.

One end of each piezoelectric element 59 is fixed to the portion of the diaphragm 52 that constitutes the pressure chamber 58. The other end of the piezoelectric element 59 is fixed to a base (not shown) that supports the entire droplet discharge head 20 via a fixing plate (not shown).
The piezoelectric element 59 has an active part in which an electrode layer and a piezoelectric material are stacked. In the piezoelectric element 59, by applying a driving voltage to the electrode layer, the active portion contracts in the longitudinal direction (the thickness direction of the diaphragm 52 in FIG. 2B or 2C). When the drive voltage applied to the electrode layer is released, the active portion returns to its original length.

  When the driving voltage is applied to the electrode layer and the active portion of the piezoelectric element 59 is contracted, the vibration plate 52 to which one end of the piezoelectric element 59 is fixed receives a force that is pulled to the side opposite to the pressure chamber 58. When the diaphragm 52 is pulled to the opposite side of the pressure chamber 58, the diaphragm 52 challenges the opposite side of the pressure chamber 58. As a result, while the volume of the pressure chamber 58 increases, the functional liquid is supplied from the liquid pool 55 to the pressure chamber 58 via the supply port 56. Next, when the drive voltage applied to the electrode layer is released, the active portion returns to the original length, and the piezoelectric element 59 suppresses the diaphragm 52. When the diaphragm 52 is pressed, it returns to the pressure chamber 58 side. As a result, the volume of the pressure chamber 58 suddenly returns to the original, that is, the increased volume is reduced, so that pressure is applied to the functional liquid filled in the pressure chamber 58 and the pressure chamber 58 communicates with the pressure chamber 58. The functional liquid is discharged as droplets from the discharge nozzle 24 formed in this manner.

<Head unit>
Next, a schematic configuration of the head unit 21 provided in the head mechanism unit 2 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the head unit. The X axis and the Y axis shown in FIG. 3 coincide with the X axis and the Y axis shown in FIG. 1 in a state where the head unit 21 is attached to the droplet discharge device 1.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the head unit 21 includes a unit plate 23 and nine droplet discharge heads 20 mounted on the unit plate 23. The droplet discharge head 20 is fixed to the unit plate 23 via a head holding member (not shown). In the fixed droplet discharge head 20, the head body is loosely fitted in a hole (not shown) formed in the unit plate 23, and the nozzle substrate 25 is located at a position protruding from the surface of the unit plate 23. . FIG. 3 is a view as seen from the nozzle substrate 25 side. The nine droplet ejection heads 20 are divided in the Y-axis direction to form three groups of head groups 20A each having three droplet ejection heads 20 each. The nozzle row 24 </ b> A of each droplet discharge head 20 extends in the Y-axis direction when the head unit 21 is attached to the droplet discharge device 1.

  The three droplet discharge heads 20 included in one head set 20A are more than the discharge nozzles 24 at the ends of one droplet discharge head 20 of the droplet discharge heads 20 adjacent to each other in the Y-axis direction. The discharge nozzle 24 at the end of one of the droplet discharge heads 20 is disposed at a position where it is shifted by a half nozzle pitch. In the three droplet discharge heads 20 included in the head set 20A, if the positions of all the discharge nozzles 24 in the X-axis direction are the same, the discharge nozzles 24 are arranged at equal intervals of a half nozzle pitch in the Y-axis direction. In other words, at the same position in the X-axis direction, the droplets ejected from the ejection nozzles 24 constituting each nozzle row 24A included in each droplet ejection head 20 are arranged at equal intervals in the Y-axis direction by design. To land on a straight line.

  The six nozzle rows 24A included in the three droplet discharge heads 20 included in one head set 20A can be handled as one nozzle row. The nozzle row has, for example, 180 times six times and 1080 discharge nozzles 24, the nozzle pitch in the Y-axis direction is 70 μm, and the distance between the centers of the discharge nozzles 24 at both ends in the Y-axis direction (nozzle row) Length) is about 75.5 mm. Since the droplet discharge heads 20 overlap with each other in the Y-axis direction, the head set 20A is configured in a stepwise manner in the X-axis direction.

  The three head sets 20A included in the head unit 21 are arranged at positions where the nozzle arrays that can be regarded as one nozzle array included in each of the head units 21 are shifted by a half nozzle pitch of the nozzle array 24A in the Y-axis direction. . In other words, each head unit 21 has the other of the droplet discharge heads 20 constituting the adjacent head set 20A with respect to the discharge nozzle 24 at the end of the droplet discharge head 20 in one head set 20A. The discharge nozzle 24 at the end of the droplet discharge head 20 in the head set 20A is disposed at a position shifted by a half nozzle pitch in the Y-axis direction.

  The 18 nozzle rows 24A included in the nine droplet discharge heads 20 in the three head sets 20A provided in one head unit 21 can be handled as one nozzle row. The nozzle row is referred to as “unit nozzle row 240A”. The unit nozzle row 240A has 180 times 18 times, 3240 discharge nozzles 24, for example, and the nozzle pitch in the Y-axis direction is 70 μm, and the distance between the centers of the discharge nozzles 24 at both ends in the Y-axis direction (nozzle row) The length) is about 226,7 mm. That is, when one droplet is ejected from the ejection nozzle 24 of the head unit 21 and landed so that the X-axis direction is the same position, a straight line is formed in which 3240 points are connected at a pitch interval of 70 μm.

  As described above, the droplet discharge device 1 includes the two head units 21 and can form a nozzle row in which the two unit nozzle rows 240A are continuous in the Y-axis direction. The nozzle row can form a straight line in which, for example, 6480 points are connected at a pitch interval of 70 μm during one scan.

In addition, ultraviolet irradiation devices 15 are disposed on both sides of the head unit 21 in the X direction. The ultraviolet irradiation device 15 is provided at a position facing each other across the head unit 21. Each ultraviolet irradiation device 15 has a light source that emits ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light from the light source promotes curing of the functional liquid ejected from the head unit 21. As the light source, for example, various light sources such as LED, LD, mercury lamp, mekhalide lamp, xenon lamp, and excimer lamp can be adopted.
The ultraviolet irradiation device 15 irradiates the functional liquid immediately after landing on the workpiece W or the inspection sheet 110 with ultraviolet light. Thereby, the functional liquid is cured or temporarily cured on the workpiece W or the inspection sheet 110. By adjusting the irradiation amount of ultraviolet light, the degree of curing or temporary curing of the functional liquid and the flow state of the functional liquid change.

As the functional liquid, a functional liquid that is cured by being irradiated with light is employed. In addition, ultraviolet light is employed as light for promoting the curing of the functional liquid.
The functional liquid contains a resin material, a photopolymerization initiator, and a solvent as components (colored functional liquid). A functional liquid having a specific function can be generated by adding a functional material such as a pigment such as a pigment or a dye or a surface modifying material such as a lyophilic or liquid repellent property to these components. A functional liquid containing a pigment such as a pigment or a dye can be employed as a functional liquid for forming an image to be drawn on a workpiece, for example.

Further, by adopting a resin material having light permeability such as an acrylic resin material as a resin material as a component of the functional liquid, a functional liquid having light permeability can be configured. Such a functional liquid having optical transparency can be used as, for example, a clear ink (transparent functional liquid).
As the use of the clear ink, for example, a use as an overcoat layer for covering an image, a use as a base layer before forming an image, and the like can be considered.
As the base paint, not only the light-transmitting paint but also a functional liquid obtained by adding various pigments to the light-transmitting paint can be adopted. For example, a functional liquid exhibiting a white color or a metallic luster (a functional liquid exhibiting a metallic line) may be employed as the base paint.

The resin material in the functional liquid is a material that forms a resin film. Such a resin material is not particularly limited as long as it is a liquid material at room temperature and becomes a polymer by being polymerized. The resin material preferably has a low viscosity, and is preferably in the form of an oligomer. Furthermore, the resin material is more preferably in the form of a monomer.
The photopolymerization initiator is an additive that acts on the cross-linking group of the polymer to advance the cross-linking reaction. As the photopolymerization initiator, for example, pendyl dimethyl ketal may be employed. In this embodiment, a radical photopolymerization initiator is employed as the photopolymerization initiator. As the radical type photopolymerization initiator, for example, Irgacure 819 manufactured by Ciba Japan Co., Ltd. may be employed. The solvent is for adjusting the viscosity of the resin material.

In addition, as a functional liquid, it is not restricted to the functional liquid which hardening accelerates | stimulates by receiving light irradiation. A functional liquid that accelerates curing by heat may be used. Moreover, the case where it hardens | cures only by drying may be sufficient.
Further, the light for accelerating the curing of the functional liquid is not limited to ultraviolet light, but may be infrared light or visible light.
In addition, when a plurality of functional liquids are stacked and landed, it is sufficient that at least the base-side functional liquid is cured (dried).

<Discharge of functional liquid>
Next, a discharge control method from the droplet discharge head 20 in the droplet discharge apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an electrical configuration of the droplet discharge head and a signal flow.

As described above, the droplet discharge device 1 includes the discharge device control unit 6 that controls the operation of each unit of the droplet discharge device 1. The ejection device controller 6 includes a CPU 84 that outputs a control signal and a head driver 20 d that performs electrical drive control of the droplet ejection head 20.
As shown in FIG. 4, the head driver 20d is electrically connected to each droplet discharge head 20 via an FFC cable. Further, the droplet discharge head 20 corresponds to the piezoelectric element 59 provided for each discharge nozzle 24 (see FIG. 2), and includes a shift register (SL) 85, a latch circuit (LAT) 86, and a level shifter ( LS) 87 and a switch (SW) 88.

  The discharge control in the droplet discharge device 1 is performed as follows. First, the CPU 84 transmits the dot pattern data obtained by converting the arrangement pattern of the functional liquid on the drawing object such as the workpiece W to the head driver 20d. Then, the head driver 20d decodes the dot pattern data to generate nozzle data that is ON / OFF (discharge / non-discharge) information for each discharge nozzle 24. The nozzle data is converted into a serial signal (SI) and transmitted to each shift register 85 in synchronization with the clock signal (CK).

  The nozzle data transmitted to the shift register 85 is latched at the timing when the latch signal (LAT) is input to the latch circuit 86, and further converted into a gate signal for the switch 88 by the level shift cou 87. That is, when the nozzle data is “ON”, the switch 88 is opened and the drive signal (COM) is supplied to the piezoelectric element 59. When the nozzle data is “OFF”, the switch 88 is closed and the piezoelectric element 59 is closed. The drive signal (COM) is not supplied. Then, the functional liquid is discharged as droplets from the discharge nozzle 24 corresponding to “ON”, and the discharged droplets of the functional liquid land on the drawing object such as the workpiece W, and the drawing object The functional liquid is placed on the top.

<Landing position>
Next, the relationship between the discharge nozzles 24 of the droplet discharge head 20 and the landing positions of the droplets discharged from the respective discharge nozzles 24 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the discharge nozzles and the landing positions of the droplets discharged from the respective discharge nozzles. FIG. 5 (a) is an explanatory view showing the arrangement position of the discharge nozzles, and FIG. 5 (b) is an explanatory view showing a state in which droplets are landed linearly in the extending direction of the nozzle rows, FIG. 5C is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which droplets have landed linearly in the main scanning direction, and FIG. 5D is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which droplets have landed in a planar shape. is there. The X axis and Y axis shown in FIG. 5 coincide with the X axis and Y axis shown in FIG. 1 when the head unit 21 is attached to the droplet discharge device 1. The X-axis direction is the main scanning direction, and liquid droplets are discharged at an arbitrary position while the discharge nozzle 24 (droplet discharge head 20) is relatively moved in the direction of arrow a shown in FIG. Thus, the droplet can be landed at an arbitrary position in the X-axis direction.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the discharge nozzles 24 constituting the nozzle row 24A are arranged at the center distance of the nozzle pitch P in the Y-axis direction. As described above, the positions of the discharge nozzles 24 constituting the two nozzle rows 24A are shifted from each other by ½ of the nozzle pitch P in the Y-axis direction.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (b), the landing point 91 indicating the landing position and the landing circle 91A indicating the wet and spreading state of the landed liquid droplet indicate the state of one landed liquid droplet. By discharging droplets from all of the discharge nozzles 24 of the two nozzle rows 24A at the timing of landing on the virtual line L indicated by the two-dot chain in FIG. 5B, the nozzle pitch P is set. A straight line is formed in which the landing circles 91 </ b> A are continuous at a center-to-center spacing of ½.

  As shown in FIG. 5C, by continuously ejecting liquid droplets from one ejection nozzle 24, a straight line in which landing circles 91A are continuous in the X-axis direction is formed. The minimum value of the center-to-center distance between the landing points 91 in the X-axis direction is denoted as the minimum landing distance d. The minimum landing distance d is a product of the relative movement speed in the main scanning direction and the minimum discharge interval of the discharge nozzle 24.

As shown in FIG. 5 (d), by ejecting droplets at the timing of landing on virtual lines L1, L2, and L3 indicated by two-dot chain lines, the center-to-center spacing of ½ of the nozzle pitch P is obtained. Thus, a landing surface is formed in which the straight lines connecting the landing circles 91A are arranged in parallel in the X-axis direction.
Each landing point 91 in the case where the distance between the virtual lines L1, L2, and L3 shown in FIG. 5D is the minimum landing distance d is a position at which the droplet of the functional liquid can be disposed by the droplet discharge device 1. is there.

At the time of drawing an image, the positions where the droplets are to be arranged are determined for the positions of the respective landing points 91 shown in FIG. For example, an arrangement table specifying the arrangement position and the discharge nozzles 24 that discharge droplets at the arrangement position is formed, and the functional liquid is landed according to the arrangement table, thereby drawing an image defined by the image information.
In the example shown in FIG. 5 (d), there is a gap between the landing circles 91A, but the discharge weight per one droplet to be discharged is appropriate for the nozzle pitch P and the minimum landing distance d. It is possible to arrange the functional liquid without gaps.

<Discharge inspection>
Next, the discharge inspection of the discharge nozzle 24 performed using the discharge inspection unit 70 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As described above, the droplet discharge device 1 includes the two head units 21 and the two unit nozzle rows 240A. Here, a case where a colorless and transparent transparent functional liquid 190 is supplied to one head unit 21 and a colored functional liquid 290 is supplied to the other head unit 21 will be described as an example. The head unit 21 to which the transparent functional liquid 190 is supplied is referred to as a transparent liquid unit, and the head unit 21 to which the colored functional liquid 290 is supplied is referred to as a colored liquid unit.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a discharge inspection process. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of the functional liquid discharged and landed for the discharge inspection. FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram showing a state of a transparent landing circle landed with a transparent functional fluid and a colored landing circle landed with a colored functional fluid, and FIG. 7B shows a number of transparent landing circles and colored circles. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which comprises a figure with a landing circle.

  In step S <b> 21 of FIG. 6, the inspection sheet 110 (see FIG. 7) is set on the inspection sheet mounting table 71 of the discharge inspection unit 70. As the inspection sheet 110, a resin film or the like can be used. The inspection sheet is preferably made of a material that makes it difficult for the landed functional liquid to move from the landing position and to hardly penetrate.

  Next, in step S <b> 22, the transparent liquid unit is moved in the Y-axis direction so as to be positioned at a discharge inspection position that is a position facing the maintenance device unit 7. The discharge inspection position is such that the inspection sheet mounting table 71 is scanned in the X-axis direction by the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75, whereby all the discharge nozzles 24 of the transparent liquid unit are set on the inspection sheet mounting table 71. It is a position where you can face.

  Next, in step S23, inspection discharge of the discharge nozzle 24 of the transparent liquid unit is performed. The maintenance device scanning mechanism 75 scans the inspection sheet mounting table 71 holding the inspection sheet 110 in the X-axis direction, and discharges the transparent liquid droplet 191 of the transparent functional liquid 190 from the discharge nozzle 24 of the transparent liquid unit. 7 (a-1) or 7 (b-1), the test sheet 110 is landed at a predetermined position. The predetermined position of the inspection sheet 110 is precisely the portion of the inspection sheet 110 held on the inspection sheet mounting table 71 that covers the predetermined position of the inspection sheet mounting table 71.

  As shown in FIG. 7A-1, the transparent droplet 191 of the transparent functional liquid 190 that has landed on the inspection sheet 110 forms a transparent landing circle 192 that is substantially circular in plan view. The size of the transparent landing circle 192 is determined by the volume of the transparent droplet 191, the viscosity of the transparent functional liquid 190, the liquid repellency of the inspection sheet 110 with respect to the transparent functional liquid 190, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 7 (b-1), the transparent liquid droplet 191 is landed, for example, linearly. In the example shown in FIG. 7 (b-1), the transparent liquid droplets 191 discharged from one nozzle row 24A of the liquid droplet discharge head 20 are landed on the virtual line L21 and discharged from the other nozzle row 24A. The transparent droplet 191 is landed on the virtual line L22. On the imaginary line L21 and the imaginary line L22, in the design, transparent landing circles 192 are arranged at intervals of the nozzle pitch of the discharge nozzles 24 in the nozzle row 24A. Since the position of the discharge nozzle 24 is shifted by a half nozzle pitch in the Y-axis direction between the two nozzle rows 24A, the transparent landing circle 192 on the virtual line L21 and the transparent landing circle 192 on the virtual line L22 The position in the axial direction is shifted by a half nozzle pitch.
The transparent functional liquid 190 (transparent landing circle 192) is brought into a non-flowing state such as curing (drying) or temporary curing (temporary drying) by irradiation with ultraviolet rays.

  Next, in step S <b> 24 of FIG. 6, the colored liquid unit is moved in the Y-axis direction and is positioned at the ejection inspection position that is the position facing the maintenance device unit 7. As described above, the discharge inspection position is set by setting all the discharge nozzles 24 of the colored liquid unit on the inspection sheet mounting table 71 by causing the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75 to scan the inspection sheet mounting table 71 in the X-axis direction. It is a position where the inspection sheet 110 can be faced. The discharge inspection position of the colored liquid unit is set at a position shifted by a half nozzle pitch in the Y-axis direction with respect to the discharge inspection position of the transparent liquid unit.

Next, in step S25, inspection discharge of the discharge nozzle 24 of the colored liquid unit is performed. The maintenance device scanning mechanism 75 scans the inspection sheet mounting table 71 holding the inspection sheet 110 in the X-axis direction, and discharges the colored liquid droplets 291 of the colored functional liquid 290 from the discharge nozzle 24 of the colored liquid unit. 7 (a-2) and FIG. 7 (b-2), the test sheet 110 is landed at a predetermined position. At a predetermined position, at least a part of the colored functional liquid 290 forming the colored landing circle 292 overlaps with the transparent functional liquid 190 constituting the transparent landing circle 192, and at least a part of the colored functional liquid 290 and the transparent functional liquid 190 It is a position that does not overlap.
In the inspection discharge of the colored functional liquid 290 in step S25, the transparent functional liquid 190 disposed on the inspection sheet 110 is cured (dried) or temporarily cured (temporary drying) by the inspection discharge of the discharge nozzle 24 of the transparent liquid unit in step S23. After the non-flowing state of

As shown in FIG. 7A-2, the colored droplets 291 of the colored functional liquid 290 that have landed on the inspection sheet 110 form a colored landing circle 292 that is substantially circular in plan view. The colored landing circle 292 partially overlaps the transparent landing circle 192.
The size of the colored landing circle 292 is determined by the volume of the colored droplet 291, the viscosity of the colored functional liquid 290, the liquid repellent property of the inspection sheet 110 with respect to the colored functional liquid 290, and the like, as with the transparent landing circle 192. The size of the colored landing circle 292 and the size of the transparent landing circle 192 are set such that the volume of the colored landing circle 192 and the transparent landing circle 192 are partially overlapped when landing at a half nozzle pitch.

  As shown in FIG. 7B-2, the colored droplets 291 are landed in a straight line like the transparent droplets 191. In the example shown in FIG. 7B-2, similarly to the transparent droplet 191, the colored droplet 291 discharged from one nozzle row 24A of the droplet discharge head 20 is landed on the virtual line L21, and The colored liquid droplets 291 discharged from one nozzle row 24A are landed on the virtual line L22. On the imaginary line L21 and the imaginary line L22, colored landing circles 292 are arranged at the nozzle pitch interval of the ejection nozzles 24 in the nozzle row 24A by design. Since the position of the discharge nozzle 24 is shifted by a half nozzle pitch in the Y-axis direction between the two nozzle rows 24A, the colored landing circle 292 on the virtual line L21 and the colored landing circle 292 on the virtual line L22 The position in the axial direction is shifted by a half nozzle pitch. Further, since the discharge inspection position of the colored liquid unit is set at a position shifted by a half nozzle pitch in the Y-axis direction with respect to the discharge inspection position of the transparent liquid unit, the colored liquid droplet 291 is the same as the transparent liquid droplet 191. The colored droplets 291 and the transparent droplets 191 are alternately arranged at half nozzle pitch intervals.

  Next, in step S26 of FIG. 6, the inspection sheet 110 is moved in the X-axis direction by moving the inspection sheet mounting table 71 holding the inspection sheet 110 in the X-axis direction by the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75. And positioned at the imaging position. The image pickup position is a position where the image pickup camera 72 faces and can be taken by the image pickup camera 72.

Next, in step S27, images of the transparent droplet 191 (transparent landing circle 192) and the colored droplet 291 (colored landing circle 292) are acquired by the imaging camera 72. The transparent landing circle 192 made of the colorless and transparent transparent functional liquid 190 is difficult to shoot with an imaging apparatus that mainly captures visible light as information.
However, the colored liquid droplet 291 of the colored functional liquid 290 overlaps the transparent liquid droplet 191 of the transparent functional liquid 190 after the transparent functional liquid 190 is in a non-flowing state such as curing (drying) or temporary curing (temporary drying). It is landed at the position. Although the colored droplet 291 and the transparent droplet 191 overlap, the colored functional liquid 290 and the transparent functional liquid 190 do not mix with each other, but when viewed from the imaging camera 72, the colored landing circle 292 and the transparent landing circle 192 The color tone of the overlapping (through) portions of the images has changed, making it easier to photograph.

Next, in step S <b> 28, the shapes of the transparent landing circle 192 and the colored landing circle 292 in the image shot by the imaging camera 72 are analyzed.
In a state where the colored droplets 291 land independently, a colored landing circle 292 having a substantially circular shape in plan view is formed. The colored functional liquid 290 of the colored liquid droplet 291 landed in step S25 partially overlaps the transparent functional liquid 190 of the transparent liquid droplet 191 landed in step S23. For this reason, the colored landing circle 292 has a shape in which the color tone of the portion overlapping (through) the transparent landing circle 192 changes and a part of the circle is missing.

  Since the colored landing circle 292 is different from a substantially circular shape, it can be determined that the transparent liquid droplet 191 exists. That is, it can be determined that at least the discharge nozzle 24 that discharges the transparent functional liquid 190 toward the corresponding position can perform discharge. Further, it can be determined that at least a part of the colored functional liquid 290 that forms the colored landing circle 292 has landed at a position that satisfies the condition that the transparent functional liquid 190 that forms the transparent landing circle 192 does not overlap. That is, it can be determined that at least the landing position accuracy that satisfies the condition of the predetermined landing position is maintained.

  As shown in FIG. 7B-2, in a state where the colored droplets 291 and the transparent droplets 191 are alternately arranged and landed at half-nozzle pitch intervals, the colored landing circle 292 in the image photographed by the imaging camera 72 is used. And the transparent landing circle 192 form a line connecting the dots of the landing circle. The line shown in FIG. 7B-2 is a substantially straight line, and the straight line corresponds to a predetermined shape drawn by a plurality of drawing liquids and a plurality of detection liquids.

  Since the colored landing circle 292 is different from a substantially circular shape, it can be determined that the transparent landing circle 192 exists. That is, it can be determined that at least the discharge nozzle 24 that discharges the transparent functional liquid 190 toward the corresponding position can perform discharge. Further, it can be determined that the colored droplets 291 and the transparent droplets 191 are landed at a position satisfying a condition that the colored droplets 291 and the transparent droplets 191 are alternately arranged at half nozzle pitch intervals and arranged in a substantially linear shape. That is, it can be determined that at least the landing position accuracy that satisfies the condition of the predetermined landing position is maintained.

Step S28 is performed, and the discharge inspection of the discharge nozzle 24 performed using the discharge inspection unit 70 is completed.
The colored functional liquid 290 corresponds to a detection liquid. The transparent functional liquid 190 corresponds to a drawing liquid. The discharge nozzle 24 of the colored liquid unit corresponds to a detection discharge nozzle. The colored liquid unit corresponds to detection liquid arrangement means. The discharge nozzle 24 of the transparent liquid unit corresponds to a discharge nozzle that discharges a liquid droplet for drawing. The inspection sheet 110 corresponds to an inspection drawing medium. The discharge inspection unit 70 corresponds to detection means.

<Discharge inspection 2>
Next, another example of the discharge inspection of the discharge nozzle 24 performed using the discharge inspection unit 70 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a discharge inspection process. FIG. 8A is a flowchart showing a discharge inspection process, and FIG. 8B is an explanatory diagram showing a state of a transparent landing circle landed with a transparent functional liquid and a colored landing circle landed with a colored functional liquid. It is.

Steps S31 to S34 in FIG. 8A are the same steps as steps S21 to S24 described above. In step S21 to step S24, inspection discharge from the transparent liquid unit is performed, whereas in step S31 to step S34, inspection discharge from the colored liquid unit is performed.
In step S <b> 31 of FIG. 8, the inspection sheet 110 is set on the inspection sheet mounting table 71 of the discharge inspection unit 70.

  Next, in step S <b> 32, the colored liquid unit is moved in the Y-axis direction so as to be positioned at a discharge inspection position that is a position facing the maintenance device unit 7. As described above, the discharge inspection position is set by setting all the discharge nozzles 24 of the colored liquid unit on the inspection sheet mounting table 71 by causing the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75 to scan the inspection sheet mounting table 71 in the X-axis direction. It is a position where the inspection sheet 110 can be faced.

Next, in step S33, inspection discharge of the discharge nozzle 24 of the colored liquid unit is performed. The maintenance device scanning mechanism 75 scans the inspection sheet mounting table 71 holding the inspection sheet 110 in the X-axis direction, and discharges the colored liquid droplets 293 of the colored functional liquid 290 from the discharge nozzle 24 of the colored liquid unit. Landing at a predetermined position of the sheet 110. As shown in FIG. 8B-1, the colored droplets 293 landed on the inspection sheet 110 form a colored landing circle 294 having a substantially circular shape in plan view. The size of the colored landing circle 294 is determined by the volume of the colored droplet 293, the viscosity of the colored functional liquid 290, the liquid repellent property of the inspection sheet 110 with respect to the colored functional liquid 290, and the like.
The colored functional liquid 290 (colored landing circle 294) is brought into a non-flowing state such as curing (drying) or temporary curing (temporary drying) by irradiation with ultraviolet rays.

  Next, in step S <b> 34 of FIG. 8A, the transparent liquid unit is moved in the Y-axis direction so as to be positioned at a discharge inspection position that is a position facing the maintenance device unit 7. As described above, the discharge inspection position is set by setting all the discharge nozzles 24 of the transparent liquid unit on the inspection sheet mounting table 71 by causing the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75 to scan the inspection sheet mounting table 71 in the X-axis direction. It is a position where the inspection sheet 110 can be faced. For example, the discharge inspection position of the transparent liquid unit is set to the same position as the discharge inspection position of the colored liquid unit.

Next, in step S35, inspection discharge of the discharge nozzle 24 of the transparent liquid unit is performed.
The maintenance device scanning mechanism 75 scans the inspection sheet mounting table 71 holding the inspection sheet 110 in the X-axis direction, and discharges the transparent liquid droplet 193 of the transparent functional liquid 190 from the discharge nozzle 24 of the transparent liquid unit. As shown in FIG. 8B-3, the test sheet 110 is landed at a predetermined position. As shown in FIG. 8B-3, the predetermined position is the same position as the landing position of the colored droplet 293. Accordingly, the transparent liquid droplet 193 lands on the colored functional liquid 290 that forms the colored landing circle 294.
In the inspection discharge of the transparent functional liquid 190 in step S35, the colored functional liquid 290 disposed on the inspection sheet 110 is cured (dried) or temporarily cured (temporary drying) by the inspection discharge of the discharge nozzle 24 of the colored liquid unit in step S33. After the non-flowing state of

As shown in FIG. 8B-2, the transparent droplet 193 of the transparent functional liquid 190 that has landed on the inspection sheet 110 forms a transparent landing circle 194 that is substantially circular in plan view. As shown in FIG. 8B-3, the transparent liquid droplet 193 is formed on the colored functional liquid 290 that forms the colored landing circle 294 so that the transparent landing circle 194 is formed inside the colored landing circle 294. To land on.
The size of the transparent landing circle 194 is determined by the volume of the transparent droplet 193, the viscosity of the transparent functional liquid 190, the liquid repellent property of the colored functional liquid 290 with respect to the transparent functional liquid 190, and the like. In the example shown in FIG. 8B-3, the transparent landing circle 194 is set to be smaller than the colored landing circle 294.

  Next, in step S36 of FIG. 8A, the inspection sheet 110 is moved in the X-axis direction by moving the inspection sheet mounting table 71 holding the inspection sheet 110 in the X-axis direction by the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75. Move it to the imaging position. The image pickup position is a position where the image pickup camera 72 faces and can be taken by the image pickup camera 72.

Next, in step S37, images of the transparent droplet 193 (transparent landing circle 194) and the colored droplet 293 (colored landing circle 294) are acquired by the imaging camera 72.
The transparent landing circle 194 made of the colorless and transparent transparent functional liquid 190 is difficult to shoot with an imaging device that mainly captures visible light as information.
However, the transparent liquid droplet 193 of the transparent functional liquid 190 overlaps the colored liquid droplet 293 of the colored functional liquid 290 after the colored functional liquid 290 is in a non-flowing state such as curing (drying) or temporary curing (temporary drying). It is landed at the position. Although the colored droplet 293 and the transparent droplet 193 overlap each other, the colored functional liquid 290 and the transparent functional liquid 190 do not mix with each other, but when viewed from the imaging camera 72, the colored landing circle 292 and the transparent landing circle 192 The color tone of the overlapping (through) portions of the images has changed, making it easier to photograph.

Next, in step S38, the color tone of the transparent landing circle 192 and the colored landing circle 292 in the image taken by the imaging camera 72 is analyzed.
In a state where the colored functional liquid 290 and the transparent functional liquid 190 are not mixed and overlapped with each other, the color tone of the overlapped portion is changed by the transparent functional liquid 190 having a colorless and transparent color. ) Lightly colored and different from the color tone of the colored functional liquid 290.

When the color tone of the overlapped portion is different from the color tone of the colored functional liquid 290, it can be determined that the transparent functional liquid 190 is present. That is, it can be determined that at least the discharge nozzle 24 that discharges the transparent functional liquid 190 toward the corresponding position can perform discharge.
Further, it can be determined that the transparent liquid droplet 193 has landed at a position where the colored functional liquid 290 of the colored liquid droplet 293 and the transparent functional liquid 190 of the transparent liquid droplet 193 can overlap each other without being mixed. That is, it can be determined that at least the zen position accuracy that satisfies the predetermined landing position condition is maintained.

Step S38 is performed, and the discharge inspection of the discharge nozzle 24 performed using the discharge inspection unit 70 is completed.
The colored functional liquid 290 corresponds to a detection liquid. The transparent functional liquid 190 corresponds to a drawing liquid. The discharge nozzle 24 of the colored liquid unit corresponds to a detection discharge nozzle. The discharge nozzle 24 of the transparent liquid unit corresponds to a discharge nozzle that discharges a liquid droplet for drawing.

<Part 2 of droplet discharge device>
Next, the configuration of the droplet discharge device 101 including the discharge inspection unit 170 different from the discharge inspection unit 70 included in the droplet discharge device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the droplet discharge device.

As shown in FIG. 9, the droplet discharge device 101 includes a head mechanism unit 102, a work mechanism unit 103, a functional liquid supply unit 104, and a maintenance device unit 107. The head mechanism unit 102 is different from the head mechanism unit 2 in that the head mechanism unit 102 includes one head unit 21. The work mechanism unit 103 and the functional liquid supply unit 104 are different from the work mechanism unit 3 or the functional liquid supply unit 4 in that the configuration provided corresponds to the head mechanism unit 102 including one head unit 21. .
The maintenance device unit 107 includes each device for inspecting or maintaining the droplet discharge head 20 in the same manner as the maintenance device unit 7 of the droplet discharge device 1. The droplet discharge device 101 also includes a discharge device control unit 106 that comprehensively controls each of these mechanism units. The head unit 21 provided in the head mechanism unit 102 is a transparent liquid unit that discharges the transparent functional liquid 190, for example.

  Further, the droplet discharge device 101 includes support legs 8 and a surface plate 109 similar to the support legs 8 and the surface plate 9 of the droplet discharge device 1. On the upper side of the surface plate 109 and the like, as with the head mechanism unit 2, the work mechanism unit 3, the functional liquid supply unit 4, the maintenance device unit 7, and the discharge device control unit 6 in the droplet discharge device 1, the head mechanism unit 102. A work mechanism unit 103, a functional liquid supply unit 104, a maintenance device unit 107, and a discharge device control unit 106.

  The maintenance device unit 107 includes various inspection devices, various maintenance devices, and a maintenance device scanning mechanism 75. The inspection apparatus is an apparatus that inspects the droplet discharge head 20 such as the discharge inspection unit 170 that inspects the discharge state of the droplet discharge head 20. The maintenance device is a device that performs various types of maintenance of the droplet discharge head 20. The maintenance device scanning mechanism 75 is a device that can move these devices in the X-axis direction and supports the devices in an arbitrary position.

  When performing inspection and maintenance of the droplet discharge head 20, the head unit 21 (droplet discharge head 20) is moved to a position facing the maintenance device unit 107 using the Y-axis scanning mechanism. Further, the inspection device or maintenance device corresponding to the inspection or maintenance to be performed is moved by the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75 to a position facing the head unit 21 (droplet discharge head 20).

The discharge inspection unit 170 includes an inspection head unit 174, an inspection sheet placement table 71, and an imaging camera 72.
The inspection sheet placement table 71 and the imaging camera 72 are disposed in the same manner as the inspection sheet placement table 71 or the imaging camera 72 in the droplet discharge device 1 and have the same functions.

The inspection head unit 174 has the same configuration as that of the head unit 21 and includes the same droplet discharge head 20 as that of the head unit 21. The droplet ejection head 20 provided in the inspection head unit 174 is supplied with the inspection functional liquid 390 (see FIG. 10B) from the inspection functional liquid supply unit (not shown).
The inspection head unit 174 is supported by a support frame (not shown). The support frame is suspended from beams that are passed to columns that are erected on the surface plate 109 on both sides of the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75 in the Y-axis direction. The droplet discharge head 20 of the suspended inspection head unit 174 has the discharge nozzle 24 facing the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75 side.

By moving the inspection sheet mounting table 71 in the X-axis direction by the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75, the inspection sheet 110 held on the mounting surface of the inspection sheet mounting table 71 is transferred to the inspection head unit 174 (droplet discharge head 20). ). In this position, the test functional liquid 390 is ejected from the droplet discharge head 20 of the test head unit 174, so that the test functional liquid 390 is landed on the test sheet 110 held on the test sheet mounting table 71. it can. In synchronism with the movement of the inspection sheet 110 in the X-axis direction by the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75, the inspection functional liquid 390 is discharged from the discharge nozzle 24 of the droplet discharge head 20 provided in the inspection head unit 174, so that the X-axis direction is discharged. The landing position at can be adjusted.
The discharge inspection unit 170 corresponds to detection means. The inspection head unit 174 corresponds to detection liquid arrangement means. The discharge nozzle 24 provided in the inspection head unit 174 corresponds to a detection discharge nozzle.

<Discharge inspection 3>
Next, an example of a discharge inspection of the discharge nozzle 24 in the droplet discharge apparatus 101 performed using the discharge inspection unit 170 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing one stage of the discharge inspection. FIG. 10A is a flowchart showing a discharge inspection process, and FIG. 10B shows the state of the transparent landing circle landed with the transparent functional liquid and the inspection liquid landing circle landed with the inspection functional liquid. It is explanatory drawing shown.

Steps S41 to S43 in FIG. 10A are the same steps as steps S21 to S23 described above.
By performing step S43, as shown in FIG. 10B-1, the transparent liquid droplet 191 of the transparent functional liquid 190 is landed on the inspection sheet 110 at a predetermined position. The predetermined position of the inspection sheet 110 is precisely the portion of the inspection sheet 110 held on the inspection sheet mounting table 71 that covers the predetermined position of the inspection sheet mounting table 71.

  As shown in FIG. 10B-1, the transparent liquid droplet 191 of the transparent functional liquid 190 that has landed on the inspection sheet 110 forms a transparent landing circle 192 that is substantially circular in plan view. The size of the transparent landing circle 192 is determined by the volume of the transparent droplet 191, the viscosity of the transparent functional liquid 190, the liquid repellency of the inspection sheet 110 with respect to the transparent functional liquid 190, and the like.

Next, in step S <b> 44 of FIG. 10A, the inspection sheet 110 is moved, and the inspection functional liquid 390 is discharged toward the inspection sheet 110.
The maintenance device scanning mechanism 75 scans the inspection sheet placement table 71 holding the inspection sheet 110 in the X-axis direction. At the same time, the inspection liquid droplet 391 of the inspection functional liquid 390 is discharged from the discharge nozzle 24 of the liquid droplet discharge head 20 provided in the inspection head unit 174, and as shown in FIG. 110 is landed at a predetermined position. By injecting from the ejection nozzle 24 of the inspection head unit 174 in synchronization with the scanning of the inspection sheet 110 by the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75, the inspection droplet 391 can be landed on an arbitrary position of the inspection sheet 110. is there.
The predetermined position is the same position as the landing position of the transparent droplet 191. Therefore, when the transparent droplet 191 has landed, the inspection droplet 391 landes on the transparent functional liquid 190 that forms the transparent landing circle 192.

In step S44, the inspection functional liquid 390 is ejected by curing (drying) or temporarily curing (temporary drying) the transparent functional liquid 190 disposed on the inspection sheet 110 by inspection ejection from the ejection nozzle 24 of the transparent liquid unit in step S43. After the non-flowing state of
As the functional fluid for inspection 390, a liquid material that reacts with components on the surface layer of the transparent functional fluid 190 to change its color tone, for example, is used. As the inspection droplet 391 lands on the transparent functional liquid 190 forming the transparent landing circle 192, the inspection functional liquid 390 and the transparent functional liquid 190 are formed as shown in FIG. Overlapping. Then, the inspection functional liquid 390 reacts with the surface layer component of the transparent functional liquid 190, so that the overlapped portion (contacted portion) has a color tone.

  Next, in step S45 of FIG. 10A, the inspection sheet 110 is moved in the X-axis direction by moving the inspection sheet mounting table 71 holding the inspection sheet 110 in the X-axis direction by the maintenance device scanning mechanism 75. Move it to the imaging position. The image pickup position is a position where the image pickup camera 72 faces and can be taken by the image pickup camera 72.

Next, in step S <b> 46, the imaging camera 72 acquires an image of a portion (contact portion) where the inspection functional liquid 390 and the transparent functional liquid 190 overlap on the inspection sheet 110.
The transparent landing circle 192 made of the colorless and transparent transparent functional liquid 190 is difficult to shoot with an imaging apparatus that mainly captures visible light as information. However, the portion of the transparent functional liquid 190 in which the inspection functional liquid 390 and the transparent functional liquid 190 overlap (contacted portion) is colored by the reaction of the inspection functional liquid 390 with the components on the surface of the transparent functional liquid 190. Have a toned color. For this reason, an image of a portion where the inspection functional liquid 390 and the transparent functional liquid 190 overlap (contact portion) can be easily obtained by the imaging camera 72.

Next, in step S <b> 47, the color tone of a portion where the inspection functional liquid 390 and the transparent functional liquid 190 overlap (contact portion) in the image captured by the imaging camera 72 is analyzed.
When the transparent liquid droplet 191 has not landed and the transparent functional liquid 190 does not exist, the inspection liquid droplet 391 shown in FIG. It is a landed image. The color tone is the color tone of the test functional liquid 390.
When the transparent liquid droplet 191 has landed at a predetermined position and the transparent functional liquid 190 exists, the image photographed by the imaging camera 72 is an inspection functional liquid shown in FIG. It is an image of a portion where 390 and the transparent functional liquid 190 are overlapped (contact portion). The color tone is a color tone of a portion where the inspection functional liquid 390 and the transparent functional liquid 190 are overlapped (contacted portion), which is colored by the reaction of the inspection functional liquid 390 with the surface layer component of the transparent functional liquid 190. .

  It is determined that the transparent functional liquid 190 exists because the color tone of the obtained liquid image is the color tone of the portion where the inspection functional liquid 390 and the transparent functional liquid 190 overlap (contact portion). be able to. That is, it can be determined that at least the discharge nozzle 24 that discharges the transparent functional liquid 190 toward the corresponding position can perform discharge. Further, it can be determined that the transparent liquid droplet 191 has landed at a position where the inspection functional liquid 390 of the inspection liquid droplet 391 and the transparent functional liquid 190 of the transparent liquid droplet 191 can overlap each other without being mixed. . That is, it can be determined that at least the landing position accuracy that satisfies the condition of the predetermined landing position is maintained.

Step S47 is performed, and the discharge inspection of the discharge nozzle 24 performed using the discharge inspection unit 170 is completed.
The inspection functional liquid 390 corresponds to a detection liquid. The transparent functional liquid 190 corresponds to a drawing liquid. The discharge nozzle 24 of the droplet discharge head 20 provided in the inspection head unit 174 corresponds to a detection discharge nozzle. The discharge nozzle 24 of the head unit 21 provided in the head mechanism unit 102 corresponds to a discharge nozzle that discharges a liquid droplet for drawing.

Hereinafter, the effect by embodiment is described. According to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The inspection discharge of the colored functional liquid 290 in step S25 is performed after the transparent functional liquid 190 disposed on the inspection sheet 110 is in a non-flowing state such as curing (drying) or temporary curing (temporary drying). In the colored liquid droplet 291, at least a part of the colored functional liquid 290 that forms the colored landing circle 292 overlaps with the transparent functional liquid 190 that forms the transparent landing circle 192, and at least a part of the colored functional liquid 290 includes the transparent functional liquid 190. You can land at a position that does not overlap.
Thereby, although the colored functional liquid 290 and the transparent functional liquid 190 are not mixed with each other, when viewed from the imaging camera 72, the color tone of the portion where the colored landing circle 292 and the transparent landing circle 192 overlap (through) is obtained. Since it changes, it becomes easy to photograph.

(2) In the inspection discharge of the colored functional liquid 290 in step S25, the colored liquid droplets 291 overlap at least a part of the colored functional liquid 290 that forms the colored landing circle 292 with the transparent functional liquid 190 that forms the transparent landing circle 192. At the same time, the colored functional liquid 290 is landed at a position where at least a part of the colored functional liquid 290 does not overlap the transparent functional liquid 190.
As a result, the colored landing circle 292 changes in color tone in a portion overlapping (through) with the transparent landing circle 192, so that a part of the circle is missing. By detecting the shape, it can be determined that the transparent liquid droplet 191 exists. That is, it can be determined that at least the discharge nozzle 24 that discharges the transparent functional liquid 190 toward the corresponding position can perform discharge.

(3) The inspection discharge of the transparent functional liquid 190 in step S35 is performed after the colored functional liquid 290 disposed on the inspection sheet 110 is in a non-flowing state such as curing (drying) or temporary curing (temporary drying). The transparent droplet 193 is landed at a position where at least a part of the transparent functional liquid 190 that forms the transparent landing circle 194 overlaps with the colored functional liquid 290 that forms the colored landing circle 294.
Thereby, although the colored functional liquid 290 and the transparent functional liquid 190 are not mixed with each other, when viewed from the imaging camera 72, the color tone of the portion where the colored landing circle 292 and the transparent landing circle 192 overlap (through) is obtained. Since it changes, it becomes easy to photograph.

(4) The inspection discharge of the transparent functional liquid 190 in step S35 is performed after the colored functional liquid 290 disposed on the inspection sheet 110 is in a non-flowing state such as curing (drying) or temporary curing (temporary drying). The transparent droplet 193 is landed at a position where at least a part of the transparent functional liquid 190 that forms the transparent landing circle 194 overlaps with the colored functional liquid 290 that forms the colored landing circle 294.
Thereby, although the colored functional liquid 290 and the transparent functional liquid 190 are not mixed with each other, when viewed from the imaging camera 72, the color tone of the portion where the colored landing circle 292 and the transparent landing circle 192 overlap (through) is obtained. Because it changes, it becomes easier to photograph. By detecting the color tone, it can be determined that the transparent droplet 193 is present. That is, it can be determined that at least the discharge nozzle 24 that discharges the transparent functional liquid 190 toward the corresponding position can perform discharge.

(5) In the ejection of the inspection functional liquid 390 in step S44, the inspection droplet 391 is landed at the same position as the landing position of the transparent droplet 191. The ejection is performed after the transparent functional liquid 190 arranged on the inspection sheet 110 is in a non-flowing state such as curing (drying) or temporary curing (temporary drying). The functional fluid for inspection 390 is a liquid that reacts with components on the surface layer of the transparent functional fluid 190 to change the color tone.
As a result, the portion where the inspection functional liquid 390 and the transparent functional liquid 190 overlap each other (the contacted portion) is colored to change the color tone. By detecting the color tone, it can be determined that the transparent liquid droplet 191 exists. That is, it can be determined that at least the discharge nozzle 24 that discharges the transparent functional liquid 190 toward the corresponding position can perform discharge.

  (6) In the example shown in FIG. 7B-2, the colored droplets 291 and the transparent droplets 191 are alternately arranged at a half nozzle pitch interval. The image of the colored landing circle 292 in the image photographed by the imaging camera 72 changes the color tone of the portion overlapping (through) with the transparent landing circle 192 and has a shape with a part of the circle missing. It can be determined that the transparent landing circle 192 exists by forming a part of the colored landing circle 292 lacking. That is, it can be determined that at least the discharge nozzle 24 that discharges the transparent functional liquid 190 toward the corresponding position can perform discharge.

  (7) In the example shown in FIG. 7 (b-2), it can be determined that the transparent landing circle 192 is present because the colored landing circle 292 is partially cut out. Since the inspection can be performed by detecting the defective portion of the line, the comparison process can be simplified as compared with the case where the presence or absence is detected for each individual landing circle.

  (8) The discharge inspection unit 70 of the droplet discharge device 1 and the discharge inspection unit 170 of the droplet discharge device 101 include the inspection sheet mounting table 71 independently of the work mechanism unit 3 or the work mechanism unit 103. Yes. Thereby, in the drawing process by the droplet discharge device 1 or the droplet discharge device 101, the discharge inspection of the discharge nozzle 24 can be performed by using the interval where the head unit 21 is not operating. The time when the head unit 21 is not operating in the drawing process is, for example, the time for supplying the workpiece W to the workpiece mounting table 30 or removing the workpiece W from the workpiece mounting table 30.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment was described referring an accompanying drawing, suitable embodiment is not restricted to the said embodiment. It is obvious that the embodiment can be variously modified within a range not departing from the gist, and can also be implemented as follows.

(Modification 1) In the above-described embodiment, the discharge inspection unit 70 and the discharge inspection unit 170 include the inspection sheet mounting table 71 that holds the inspection sheet 110 and the imaging camera 72. However, it is not indispensable that the ejection inspection apparatus has a dedicated apparatus for holding an inspection drawing medium such as the inspection sheet 110. As an apparatus for holding the inspection drawing medium for inspection, an apparatus such as the work mounting table 30 that holds the drawing medium at the time of drawing may be used. In this case, the detection means such as the imaging camera 72 is disposed at a position where the liquid material that has landed on the inspection drawing medium held by the apparatus that holds the drawing medium at the time of drawing can be detected.
By using a device that holds the drawing medium at the time of drawing, the discharge inspection can be performed in a state close to the actual operating state. For this reason, there is a high possibility that the inspection of the landing position accuracy will be more accurate than when a dedicated device that holds the inspection drawing medium for inspection is used.

  (Modification 2) In the embodiment described above, the droplet discharge device 1 includes two head units 21, and one head unit 21 is a transparent liquid to which a colorless and transparent transparent functional liquid 190 is supplied. The other head unit 21 is a colored liquid unit to which a colored functional liquid 290 is supplied. However, it is not essential that the functional liquid discharged by the discharge head provided in the head unit is the same. In the drawing apparatus, a plurality of different types of functional liquids such as different colors may be discharged. Color drawing is also possible by discharging a plurality of types of functional liquids having different colors. The type of the functional liquid may include a plurality of head units as in the liquid droplet ejection apparatus 1 and may vary from head unit to head unit, or may vary from head group to head unit. Alternatively, it may be different for each nozzle row. Different functional liquids may be ejected from one ejection nozzle to another by using a droplet ejection head that can individually supply functional liquid to each ejection nozzle. When performing color drawing, a plurality of, for example, a head unit or a droplet discharge head configured to be able to land a plurality of functional liquids having different colors at the same landing position, or a scanning method is used. As a result, finer drawing becomes possible.

(Modification 3) In the embodiment, the inspection target of the discharge inspection in the droplet discharge device 1 is the discharge nozzle 24 of the transparent liquid unit that discharges the transparent functional liquid 190. However, in the discharge inspection described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 and the discharge inspection described with reference to FIG. 8, in order to verify that the discharge nozzle 24 of the transparent liquid unit is normally discharged. The discharge nozzle 24 of the colored liquid unit needs to discharge normally. Therefore, in these discharge inspections, the discharge inspection of the discharge nozzle 24 of the colored liquid unit can be performed in parallel with the discharge inspection of the discharge nozzle 24 of the transparent liquid unit.
In the discharge inspection of the discharge nozzle 24 of the colored liquid unit, the transparent functional liquid 190 corresponds to the detection liquid material. The colored functional liquid 290 corresponds to a drawing liquid. The discharge nozzle 24 of the transparent liquid unit corresponds to a detection discharge nozzle. The discharge nozzle 24 of the colored liquid unit corresponds to a discharge nozzle that discharges a liquid droplet for drawing.

  (Modification 4) In the embodiment, the inspection target of the discharge inspection in the droplet discharge device 1 or the droplet discharge device 101 is the discharge nozzle 24 of the transparent liquid unit that discharges the colorless and transparent transparent functional liquid 190. . However, the inspection target of the discharge inspection is not limited to the discharge nozzle that discharges a colorless and transparent liquid material. The discharge inspection method and the discharge inspection apparatus described using the above embodiment as an example are also useful in the discharge inspection of discharge nozzles that discharge a liquid that is not colorless and transparent. This is particularly effective when characteristics such as the color tone of the liquid discharged from the discharge nozzle to be inspected are characteristics that make it difficult to visually recognize the landed liquid.

  (Modification 5) In the embodiment, the discharge inspection using the discharge inspection unit 70 or the discharge inspection unit 170 is performed by detecting the presence or absence of the transparent functional liquid 190 discharged from the discharge nozzle 24 to be inspected. This was a discharge inspection for inspecting whether or not the nozzles 24 were discharged. However, as described in the above embodiment, it can be verified that at least the landing position accuracy satisfying the predetermined landing position necessary for the discharge inspection is maintained. For example, the accuracy of the landing position can be verified by measuring the positions of the colored landing circle 292 and the transparent landing circle 192 more accurately.

  (Modification 6) In the above embodiment, the inspection discharge of the discharge nozzle 24 of the transparent liquid unit is performed in step S23, and the inspection discharge of the discharge nozzle 24 of the colored liquid unit is performed in step S25. In step S33, the discharge nozzle 24 of the colored liquid unit is inspected and discharged, and in step S35, the discharge nozzle 24 of the transparent liquid unit is inspected and discharged. Further, in step S43, inspection discharge of the discharge nozzle 24 of the transparent liquid unit was performed, and in step S44, inspection functional liquid 390 was discharged. As described above, the order of discharging the detection liquid material and the drawing liquid material may be any first.

  (Modification 7) In the above embodiment, in the ejection inspection described with reference to FIG. 8, the transparent liquid droplet 193 is landed on the colored functional liquid 290 that forms the colored landing circle 294. In the discharge inspection described with reference to FIG. 10, the inspection droplet 391 is landed at the same position as the landing position of the transparent droplet 191. In these cases, it is not essential that the position where the drawing liquid is landed and the position where the detection liquid is landed are the same. The drawing liquid and the detection liquid need only be arranged at positions where one part of the drawing liquid and the detection liquid overlap each other.

  (Modification 8) In the above embodiment, the test functional liquid 390 is a liquid that reacts with the surface layer components of the transparent functional liquid 190 to change the color tone. However, it is not essential that the color tone of the detection liquid changes due to the reaction between the drawing liquid and the detection liquid. The liquid for detection may be a liquid that changes the color tone of the liquid for drawing by the reaction of the liquid for drawing and the liquid for detection.

  (Modification 9) In the above embodiment, the droplet discharge device 1 includes two head units 21, and the droplet discharge device 101 includes one head unit 21. However, it is not essential that the drawing apparatus has one or two head units. Any number of head units may be provided in the drawing apparatus.

  (Modification 10) In the above embodiment, the head unit 21 includes nine droplet discharge heads 20, but it is not essential that the head unit includes nine discharge heads. Any number of ejection heads may be included in the head unit.

  (Modification 11) In the embodiment described above, the droplet discharge head 20 includes two nozzle rows 24A in which a large number of discharge nozzles 24 are arranged in a substantially straight line. However, how many nozzle rows the discharge head includes. It may be. The positions of the discharge nozzles 24 included in the droplet discharge head 20 are shifted in the extending direction of the nozzle row 24A. However, the discharge heads are discharged at substantially the same position in the extending direction of the nozzle row. The structure provided with two or more nozzles may be sufficient.

  (Modification 12) In the above-described embodiment, the workpiece mounting table 30 is moved in the X-axis direction by the X-axis scanning mechanism to move the workpiece W in the X-axis direction, and the droplet discharge head 20 is moved by the Y-axis scanning mechanism. By moving in the Y-axis direction, the workpiece W and the droplet discharge head 20 are relatively moved in the plane direction. It is not essential to move both the drawing object and the ejection head in order to move the drawing object and the ejection head relative to each other. A configuration may be adopted in which either the drawing object or the ejection head is moved in the plane direction to move the drawing object and the ejection head relative to each other.

  (Modification 13) In the above-described embodiment, the shapes of the transparent landing circle 192 and the colored landing circle 292 are analyzed, and the color tone of the portion where the transparent landing circle 192 and the colored landing circle 292 overlap is analyzed and discharged. The inspection process was completed. However, the factors that determine that the analysis result is defective include defects in the discharge nozzle that discharges the droplets for inspection. In order to suppress erroneous determination that a discharge nozzle to be inspected is defective due to a defect in a discharge nozzle that discharges a droplet for inspection, the above-described discharge inspection process may be performed again. When the discharge inspection process is performed again, it is preferable that the combination of the discharge nozzles for discharging the droplets arranged in an overlapping manner be different between the first time and the second time.

  (Modification 14) In the above-described embodiment, the shapes of the transparent landing circle 192 and the colored landing circle 292 are analyzed, and the color tone of the portion where the transparent landing circle 192 and the colored landing circle 292 overlap is analyzed, and the discharge is performed. The inspection process was completed. However, the factors that determine that the analysis result is defective include defects in the discharge nozzle that discharges the droplets for inspection. In order to suppress erroneous determination that a discharge nozzle to be inspected is defective due to a defect in a discharge nozzle that discharges droplets for inspection, the discharge nozzle that has been determined to be defective is described above. A discharge inspection similar to the discharge inspection step may be performed again. When the discharge inspection process is performed again, the combination of the discharge nozzles that discharge the liquid droplets arranged in a superimposed manner is performed for the first discharge inspection and the discharge nozzle that is determined to be defective. It is preferable to vary the discharge inspection.

  (Modification 15) In the above embodiment, the case where the ejection inspection unit 70 has the imaging camera 72 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Using a scanner device instead of the imaging camera 72 can reduce the device cost.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Droplet discharge apparatus (drawing apparatus), 15 ... Ultraviolet irradiation apparatus, 20 ... Droplet discharge head (detection liquid arrangement means), 24 ... Discharge nozzle, 70 ... Discharge inspection unit (detection means), 72 ... Imaging camera 101 ... Droplet discharge device (drawing device) 110 ... Inspection sheet (inspection drawing medium) 170 ... Discharge inspection unit (detection means) 190 ... Transparent functional liquid (liquid for drawing) 290 ... Colored functional liquid ( Liquid for detection), 390... Functional liquid for inspection (liquid for detection)

Claims (19)

A discharge inspection method in a drawing apparatus comprising a discharge nozzle for discharging a drawing liquid as droplets,
A liquid for detection is discharged from a discharge nozzle for detection toward the inspection drawing medium and is landed on the inspection drawing medium, whereby the detection liquid is arranged on the inspection drawing medium. Liquid placement step;
The drawing liquid is disposed on the inspection drawing medium by discharging droplets of the drawing liquid material from the discharge nozzle toward the inspection drawing medium and landing on the inspection drawing medium. Liquid placement step;
A detection step of detecting a state of the drawing liquid material and the detection liquid material arranged on the inspection drawing medium;
Have
The detection liquid placement step and the drawing liquid placement step are performed after any one of the steps, and after the drawing liquid or the detection liquid placed in the step is in a non-flowing state, Perform the other process,
In the detection liquid arrangement process or the drawing liquid arrangement process performed after the detection liquid arrangement process and the drawing liquid arrangement process, the detection liquid arrangement process or the drawing liquid arrangement process performed previously. An ejection inspection method, comprising: landing the drawing liquid material or the detection liquid material at a position at least partially overlapping with the drawing liquid material or the detection liquid material arranged in the step. In the detection liquid arrangement process or the drawing liquid arrangement process to be performed later in the detection liquid arrangement process and the drawing liquid arrangement process, the detection liquid arrangement process or the drawing liquid arrangement process performed earlier. The drawing liquid or the detection liquid disposed in the step, and the drawing liquid or the detection liquid disposed in the detection liquid placement step or the drawing liquid placement step to be performed later. In both cases, the drawing liquid or the detection liquid is landed at a position where at least part of the liquid does not overlap,
The detection step detects a shape formed by the drawing liquid droplet and the detection liquid droplet disposed on the inspection drawing medium. 2. The discharge inspection method according to 1.   In the detection liquid arrangement step and the drawing liquid arrangement step, the drawing liquid body or the detection liquid body is formed into a predetermined shape with the plurality of drawing liquid bodies and the plurality of detection liquid bodies arranged. The ejection inspection method according to claim 2, wherein the ejection inspection method is arranged at a position to draw a pattern.   The ejection inspection method according to claim 1, wherein in the detection step, the presence or absence of a change in color tone of the detection liquid or the drawing liquid is detected.   The detection liquid is a liquid containing a component that changes color tone by reacting with the drawing liquid, or the drawing liquid reacts with the detection liquid by reacting with the detection liquid. The discharge inspection method according to claim 4, wherein the discharge inspection method is a liquid containing a component whose color tone changes.   6. The ejection inspection method according to claim 1, wherein the drawing liquid is a colorless and transparent liquid. The drawing apparatus is capable of discharging a plurality of types of drawing liquid materials of different types by including the discharge nozzles that discharge each of the drawing liquid materials of different types.
7. The detection liquid disposing step includes discharging and disposing one of the plurality of types of the drawing liquid material. Discharge inspection method.   The drawing apparatus includes a detection-dedicated discharge nozzle that discharges the detection liquid, and the detection liquid is discharged from the detection-dedicated discharge nozzle in the detection liquid arrangement step. The discharge inspection method according to any one of 1 to 6.   The discharge inspection method according to claim 1, wherein the detection liquid arrangement step, the drawing liquid arrangement step, and the detection step are performed again.   The detection liquid disposing step, the drawing liquid disposing step, and the detecting step are performed again with the discharge nozzle in which a defect has been detected in the detecting step as an inspection target. The discharge inspection method according to any one of 1 to 8.   The detection liquid disposing step in which the combination of the discharge nozzle and the detection discharge nozzle for discharging the drawing liquid and the detection liquid that overlap at least partially with each other is performed first, the drawing 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the liquid placement step and the detection step are different from the detection liquid placement step, the drawing liquid placement step, and the detection step to be performed again. Discharge inspection method. A discharge inspection apparatus provided in a drawing apparatus including a discharge nozzle for discharging a drawing liquid as droplets,
Detection provided with a detection discharge nozzle for disposing the liquid material for detection on the inspection drawing medium by discharging droplets of the liquid material for detection toward the inspection drawing medium and landing on the inspection drawing medium Liquid arrangement means;
The drawing liquid ejected as droplets from the discharge nozzle toward the inspection drawing medium and landed on the inspection drawing medium and disposed on the inspection drawing medium by the detection liquid arrangement means Detecting means for detecting a state of the arranged liquid for detection;
With
After the detection liquid material or the drawing liquid material is landed on the inspection drawing medium using either the detection liquid arranging means or the discharge nozzle, the drawn liquid material or the landing liquid material After making the detection liquid material non-flow state, the detection liquid material or the drawing liquid material is landed on the inspection drawing medium using the other of the detection liquid arranging means or the discharge nozzle,
Discharging characterized by causing the detection liquid or the drawing liquid to be landed later to land at a position at least partially overlapping the drawing liquid or the detection liquid previously landed Inspection device.   The drawing apparatus includes the discharge nozzle that discharges any of the drawing liquid materials of different types, and can discharge a plurality of types of drawing liquid materials of different types. 13. The discharge nozzle according to claim 12, wherein the detection discharge nozzle provided in the liquid arrangement means is the discharge nozzle that discharges the drawing liquid material of any of the plurality of types of the drawing liquid material. Inspection device.   The discharge inspection apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the detection discharge nozzle provided in the detection liquid arrangement unit is a detection-dedicated discharge nozzle that discharges the detection liquid material. In a drawing method, the droplets of the drawing liquid discharged from a discharge nozzle for discharging the drawing liquid as droplets are landed on the drawing medium, and the drawing liquid is arranged on the drawing medium. There,
A liquid for detection is discharged from a discharge nozzle for detection toward the inspection drawing medium and is landed on the inspection drawing medium, whereby the detection liquid is arranged on the inspection drawing medium. Liquid placement step;
The drawing liquid is disposed on the inspection drawing medium by discharging droplets of the drawing liquid material from the discharge nozzle toward the inspection drawing medium and landing on the inspection drawing medium. Liquid placement step;
Detecting a state of the drawing liquid and the detection liquid disposed on the inspection drawing medium, and
The detection liquid placement step and the drawing liquid placement step are performed after any one of the steps, and after the drawing liquid or the detection liquid placed in the step is in a non-flowing state, Perform the other step,
In the detection liquid arrangement process or the drawing liquid arrangement process performed after the detection liquid arrangement process and the drawing liquid arrangement process, the detection liquid arrangement process or the drawing liquid arrangement process performed previously. A drawing method, wherein the drawing liquid material or the detection liquid material is landed at a position at least partially overlapping with the drawing liquid material or the detection liquid material arranged in the above. In the detection liquid arrangement process or the drawing liquid arrangement process to be performed later in the detection liquid arrangement process and the drawing liquid arrangement process, the detection liquid arrangement process or the drawing liquid arrangement process performed earlier. The drawing liquid or the detection liquid disposed in the step, and the drawing liquid or the detection liquid disposed in the detection liquid placement step or the drawing liquid placement step to be performed later. In both cases, the drawing liquid or the detection liquid is landed at a position where at least part of the liquid does not overlap,
The detection step detects a shape formed by the drawing liquid droplet and the detection liquid droplet disposed on the inspection drawing medium. 15. The drawing method according to 15.   16. The drawing method according to claim 15, wherein in the detection step, presence or absence of a change in color tone of the detection liquid material or the drawing liquid material is detected.   The detection liquid is a liquid containing a component that changes color tone by reacting with the drawing liquid, or the drawing liquid reacts with the detection liquid by reacting with the detection liquid. The drawing method according to claim 15, wherein the drawing method is a liquid containing a component whose color tone changes. A drawing nozzle for discharging the drawing liquid as droplets, the droplets of the drawing liquid discharged from the discharge nozzles landing on the drawing medium, and the drawing liquid on the drawing medium A drawing device for arranging
Detection provided with a detection discharge nozzle for disposing the liquid material for detection on the inspection drawing medium by discharging droplets of the liquid material for detection toward the inspection drawing medium and landing on the inspection drawing medium Liquid arrangement means;
The drawing liquid ejected as droplets from the discharge nozzle toward the inspection drawing medium and landed on the inspection drawing medium and disposed on the inspection drawing medium by the detection liquid arrangement means Detecting means for detecting a state of the arranged liquid for detection;
With
After the detection liquid material or the drawing liquid material is landed on the inspection drawing medium using either the detection liquid arranging means or the discharge nozzle, the drawn liquid material or the landing liquid material After making the detection liquid material non-flow state, the detection liquid material or the drawing liquid material is landed on the inspection drawing medium using the other of the detection liquid arranging means or the discharge nozzle,
A drawing characterized in that the liquid for detection or the liquid for drawing to be landed later is landed at a position at least partially overlapping the liquid for drawing or the liquid for detection previously landed apparatus.

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