KR102535153B1 - Apparatus for Cleaning Inkjet Head - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning an inkjet head according to example embodiments may include a first roller, a second roller, a contact unit, a first rotation unit, a second rotation unit, a moving unit, and a control unit. The first roller may be provided to wind a wiper used to clean the nozzle surface of the inkjet head, and the second roller may be provided to collect and wind the wiper used to clean the nozzle surface. The contact part may be provided to adhere the wiper to the nozzle surface when cleaning the wiper. The first rotation unit may be provided to rotate the first roller, and the second rotation unit may be provided to rotate the second roller. The moving unit moves from an upper first point to a lower second point by the wiper unwound from the first roller, and moves from the second point to the first point by the wiper wound around the second roller. It can be equipped to move. The control unit may be provided to control the first rotating unit to operate when the moving unit is located at the first point, and to control the second rotating unit to operate when the moving unit is located at the second point.

Description

Inkjet head cleaning device {Apparatus for Cleaning Inkjet Head}

The present invention relates to an inkjet head cleaning device. More specifically, the present invention relates to an inkjet head cleaning device for cleaning a nozzle surface of an inkjet head using a wiper provided to be wound from a first roller to a second roller.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In manufacturing display devices such as liquid crystal display devices and organic EL devices, a process of applying a chemical solution for forming an alignment layer and a color filter is performed.

To apply the chemical solution, an inkjet head having a nozzle surface is mainly used, and if chemical residues or the like remain on the nozzle surface of the inkjet head, it may act as a cause of defects during application of the chemical solution.

Therefore, the nozzle surface of the inkjet head needs to be cleaned frequently. Cleaning of the nozzle surface can be achieved by bringing the nozzle surface into close contact with a wiper provided between two rollers.

The wiper is configured to be recovered from one roller to the other roller. Therefore, since the wiper wound on one roller must be replaced when all of the wipers are returned to the other roller, the amount of consumption of the wiper wound on one roller must be accurately determined. In addition, since the nozzle surface cannot be sufficiently cleaned when the tension of the wiper provided between the two rollers varies, the tension of the wiper must also be maintained constant.

Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1098371

An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet head cleaning device capable of accurately determining the amount of wiper consumption and managing the wiper tension to be constant.

An inkjet head cleaning apparatus according to exemplary embodiments for achieving one object of the present invention may include a first roller, a second roller, a contact unit, a first rotation unit, a second rotation unit, a moving unit, and a control unit. there is. The first roller may be provided to wind a wiper to be used for cleaning the nozzle surface of the inkjet head. The second roller may be provided to recover and wind the wiper used to clean the nozzle surface. The contact part may be disposed between the first roller and the second roller, and may be provided to bring the wiper into close contact with the nozzle surface when cleaning the wiper. The first rotating unit may be provided to rotate the first roller so that the wiper is released from the first roller. The second rotation unit may be provided to rotate the second roller so that the wiper released from the first roller is wound around the second roller. The moving unit is provided so that the wiper passes between the first roller and the second roller, and moves from an upper first point to a lower second point by the wiper released from the first roller, It may be provided to move from the second point to the first point by the wiper wound around two rollers. The control unit may be provided to control the first rotating unit to operate when the moving unit is located at the first point, and to control the second rotating unit to operate when the moving unit is located at the second point.

In example embodiments, the wiper may include a poly resin or a fluorine resin.

In example embodiments, the adhesion part may include foamed silicone.

In exemplary embodiments, the control unit controls the first rotating unit to operate after cleaning the nozzle surface when the moving unit is positioned at the first point, and the moving unit moves at the second point. When positioned, the second rotating unit may be controlled to operate after cleaning the nozzle surface.

In example embodiments, the controller may include a first sensor for sensing the moving part located at the first point and a second sensor for sensing the moving part located at the second point.

In example embodiments, the moving unit may further include a confirmation unit that checks the number of times the moving unit reciprocates between the first point and the second point.

Since the inkjet head cleaning device according to exemplary embodiments can accurately determine the amount of wiper consumption, the wiper can be replaced at an accurate time, and thus the cleaning device itself can be managed more efficiently.

The inkjet head cleaning apparatus according to the exemplary embodiments can manage the tension of the wiper to be constant, so that the inkjet head cleaning efficiency can be further improved.

However, the effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and may be variously extended without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

1 and 2 are diagrams for explaining an inkjet head cleaning apparatus according to exemplary embodiments.

Since the present invention can be applied with various changes and can have various forms, embodiments will be described in detail in the text. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to a specific form disclosed, and should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention. Like reference numbers have been used for like elements in describing each figure. Terms such as first and second may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. These terms are only used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. Terms used in this application are only used to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this application, the terms "comprise" or "consisting of" are intended to designate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, but one or more other features It should be understood that it does not preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning in the context of the related art, and unless explicitly defined in the present application, they should not be interpreted in an ideal or excessively formal meaning. don't

And with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in more detail exemplary embodiments. The same reference numerals are used for the same components in the drawings, and redundant descriptions of the same components are omitted.

1 and 2 are diagrams for explaining an inkjet head cleaning apparatus according to exemplary embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , an inkjet head cleaning device 300 (hereinafter, referred to as a 'cleaning device') according to exemplary embodiments is a nozzle surface ( 25), the first roller 33, the second roller 35, the contact part 45, the first rotation part 34, the second rotation part 36, the moving part 37, the control unit (40), a confirmation unit 47, and the like.

The first roller 33 may be provided so that a wiper 31 to be used for cleaning the nozzle surface 25 is wound. The second roller may be provided to recover and wind the wiper 31 used to clean the nozzle surface 25 . The contact portion 45 may be disposed between the first roller 33 and the second roller 35 . Further, the contact portion 45 may be provided to bring the wiper 31 into close contact with the nozzle surface 25 when cleaning the wiper 31 .

Thus, in the cleaning of the nozzle surface 25 using the cleaning device 300 according to the exemplary embodiments, the first roller 33 and the second roller are removed by the first roller 33 and the second roller 35. The nozzle surface 25 is interviewed on the wiper 31 passing between (35), and the wiper 31 and the nozzle surface 25 are brought into closer contact using the contact portion 45.

Since the wiper 31 directly interviews the nozzle surface 25, it must be made of a material that does not damage the nozzle surface 25. Accordingly, as examples of materials that can be used as the wiper 31, polyresin, fluororesin, and the like may be cited. Examples of the polyresin include polyester and the like, and examples of the fluororesin include ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoro Ethylene) and the like.

Since the contact portion 45 has a structure that presses the wiper 31 and the nozzle surface 25 under the nozzle surface 25 when the wiper 31 and the nozzle surface 25 are brought into close contact, the wiper ( 31) can tear, and damage the nozzle face 25. Accordingly, the close contact portion 45 may be made of a material that provides elasticity to the wiper 31 and the nozzle surface 25 when the wiper 31 and the nozzle surface 25 are pressed. Therefore, as an example of a material that can be used as the close contact portion 45, foamed silicone and the like can be cited.

In addition, the contact portion 45 may be provided to correspond to the inkjet head 23 on a one-to-one basis. That is, one contact portion 45 may be provided to adhere one inkjet head 23 to each other. Accordingly, as many contact parts 45 as the number of inkjet heads 23 may be provided. Accordingly, a cleaning device for cleaning an inkjet head unit composed of three inkjet heads 23 may include three contact parts 45 .

In the cleaning of the wiper 31 using the cleaning device 300 according to exemplary embodiments, the inkjet head 23 is moved toward the wiper 31 or the cleaning device 300 including the wiper 31 It may be moved toward the inkjet head 23, or the inkjet head 23 and the cleaning device 300 may be moved together.

The first rotation unit 34 may be provided to rotate the first roller 33 . In particular, the first rotation unit 34 may be provided to rotate the first roller 33 so that the wiper 31 wound around the first roller 33 is unwound. The second rotation unit 36 may be provided to rotate the second roller 35 . In particular, the second rotation unit 36 may be provided to rotate the second roller 35 so that the wiper 31 is wound. The first rotation unit 34 and the second rotation unit 36 may include a motor.

Accordingly, in the cleaning device 300 according to exemplary embodiments, the wiper 31 released from the first roller 33 by the first rotation unit 34 is moved to the second roller 35 by the second rotation unit 36. ).

The moving unit 37 may be provided so that the wiper 31 passes between the first roller 33 and the second roller 35 . That is, the moving part 37 may be provided so that the wiper 31 wound from the first roller 33 to the second roller 35 passes through.

And the moving part 37 moves from the first point to the second point by the wiper 31 unwound from the first roller 33, and the second point by the wiper 31 wound around the second roller 35. It may be provided to move from the point to the first point. Here, the first point may be above the second point, and the second point may be below the first point. Also, the first point and the second point may be on a vertical line.

The movement of the moving part 37 from the first point to the second point may be due to the weight of the wiper 31 released from the first roller 33, and the moving part 37 moves from the second point to the second point. Being able to move to one point may be due to tension applied to the wiper 31 as it is wound by the second roller 35 . That is, as shown in FIG. 1, when the wiper 31 is released from the first roller 33, the load of the wiper 31 is applied to the moving part 37, so that the moving part 37 moves from the first point to the second point. As shown in FIG. 2, when the wiper 31 is wound using the second roller 35, the tension of the wiper 31 is applied to the moving part 37, so that the moving part 37 moves to the second It is possible to move from a point to a first point.

The control unit 40 is provided to control the operation of the first rotation unit 34 and the operation of the second rotation unit 36, and when the moving unit 37 is located at the first point, the first rotation unit 34 It can be controlled to operate, and when the moving part 37 is positioned at the second point, the second rotating part 36 can be controlled to be operated.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2 , when the moving part 37 is positioned at the first point, the controller 40 controls the first rotating part 34 to operate so that the wiper 31 is released from the first roller 33. 1, when the moving part 37 is positioned at the second point, the controller 40 controls the second rotating part 36 to operate so that the wiper 31 moves with the second roller 35. It can be rolled up.

The controller 40 may include a first sensor 39 and a second sensor 41 provided at the first point and the second point, respectively. The first sensor 39 may be provided to sense the moving part 37 located at the first point, and the second sensor 41 may be provided to sense the moving part 37 located at the second point. there is.

As described above, since the tension applied to the wiper 31 can always be constant by the moving part 37 in the cleaning of the nozzle surface 25 using the cleaning device 300 according to the exemplary embodiments, the inkjet head ( 23) can be kept constant. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, even if the wiper 31 is released by the first rotating part 34, the moving part 37 moves to the second point, so that the tension applied to the wiper 31 can be maintained constant. It will be possible to keep the cleaning efficiency of the head 23 constant, and as shown in FIG. 2, the moving part 37 is positioned at the first point by the second rotating part 36, so that the wiper 31 is wound around the wiper ( Since the tension applied to 31) can be kept constant, the cleaning efficiency of the inkjet head 23 can be kept constant.

The checking unit 47 may be provided to check the number of times the moving unit 37 moves back and forth between the first point and the second point. The total length of the wiper 31 unwound from the first roller 33 and wound around the second roller 35 can be checked by checking the number of reciprocations of the moving part 37 using the confirmation part 47 .

Thus, in the cleaning of the nozzle surface 25 using the cleaning device 300 according to the exemplary embodiments, the number of reciprocating movements of the moving unit 37 using the confirmation unit 47 is only checked to determine the number of reciprocating wipers 31. The amount of consumption can be checked, and as a result, the wiper 31 can be replaced at an accurate time.

Also, reference numeral 43 may include an idle roller supporting the wiper 31 passing between the first roller 33 and the second roller 35 .

Hereinafter, an inkjet head cleaning method using an inkjet head cleaning apparatus according to exemplary embodiments will be described.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , when the moving unit 37 is located at the first point, the control unit 40 receives a sensing signal from the first sensor 39 and controls the operation of the first rotating unit 34 to be made. . At this time, the operation of the second rotation unit 36 is stopped. Accordingly, the wiper 31 is released from the first roller 33 by the operation of the first rotation unit 34 and the moving unit 37 is positioned at the second point as shown in FIG. 1 .

In this way, as the moving part 37 moves to the second point, the tension applied to the wiper 31 can be maintained constant. Also, the controller 40 may receive a sensing signal from the second sensor 41 .

Accordingly, the control unit 40 temporarily stops the operation of both the first rotation unit 34 and the second rotation unit 36 in order to clean the nozzle surface 25 . Then, the nozzle surface 25 is cleaned by bringing the wiper 31 and the inkjet head 23 into close contact.

Subsequently, after cleaning the nozzle surface 25, the control unit 40 moves the wiper 31 so that the moving unit 37 is positioned at the first point using the second rotating unit 36 as shown in FIG. By winding, the wiper 31 used for cleaning the nozzle face 25 can be recovered.

As another example, as shown in FIG. 1 , when the moving part 37 is positioned at the second point, a sensing signal is received from the second sensor 41 and the operation of the second rotating part 36 is controlled. At this time, the operation of the first rotation unit 34 is stopped. Accordingly, as the wiper 31 is wound around the second roller 35 by the operation of the second rotation unit 36, the moving unit 37 is positioned at the first point as shown in FIG. 2.

In this way, as the moving part 37 moves to the first point, the tension applied to the wiper 31 can be maintained constant. Also, the control unit 40 may receive a sensing signal from the first sensor 39 .

Accordingly, the control unit 40 temporarily stops the operation of both the first rotation unit 34 and the second rotation unit 36 in order to clean the nozzle surface 25 . Then, the nozzle surface 25 is cleaned by bringing the wiper 31 and the inkjet head 23 into close contact.

Subsequently, after cleaning the nozzle surface 25, the control unit 40 moves the wiper 31 so that the moving unit 37 is positioned at the second point using the first rotating unit 34 as shown in FIG. By loosening, the wiper 31 used for cleaning the nozzle face 25 can be recovered.

Since the inkjet head cleaning device according to exemplary embodiments can be applied to a process of applying liquid droplets on a substrate, it can be more actively applied to manufacturing display devices such as liquid crystal display devices and organic EL devices.

Although the above has been described with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art can variously modify and change the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention described in the claims below. You will understand that you can.

23: inkjet head 25: nozzle surface
31: wiper 33: first roller
34: first rotating part 35: second roller
36: second rotating part 37: moving part
39: first sensor 40: control unit
41: second sensor 43: idle roller
45: adhesion part 47: confirmation part
300: cleaning device

Claims (10)

a first roller around which a wiper to be used for cleaning the nozzle surface of the inkjet head is wound;
a second roller that collects and winds the wiper used to clean the nozzle surface;
a contacting part disposed between the first roller and the second roller and adhering the wiper to the nozzle surface when cleaning the wiper;
a first rotation unit rotating the first roller to release the wiper from the first roller;
a second rotation unit rotating the second roller so that the wiper released from the first roller is wound around the second roller;
The wiper is provided to pass between the first roller and the second roller, and is moved from an upper first point to a lower second point by the wiper released from the first roller, and to the second roller The first point moves from the second point to the first point by the wound wiper, and moves from the first point to the second point by a load applied to the wiper unwound from the first roller. a moving unit configured to have a vertical arrangement of a fulcrum and the second fulcrum; and
and a control unit for controlling the first rotational unit to operate when the moving unit is located at the first position and for controlling the second rotational unit to operate when the moving unit is located at the second position. Head cleaning device. According to claim 1,
The inkjet head cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the wiper comprises a poly resin or a fluorine resin. According to claim 1,
The inkjet head cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the contact portion includes foamed silicone. According to claim 1,
The control unit controls the first rotating unit to operate after cleaning the nozzle surface when the moving unit is located at the first point, and cleans the nozzle surface when the moving unit is located at the second point. The inkjet head cleaning device, characterized in that controlling the operation of the second rotating unit after performing the operation. According to claim 1,
wherein the controller includes a first sensor for sensing the moving part located at the first point and a second sensor for sensing the moving part located at the second point. According to claim 1,
The inkjet head cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a checking unit configured to check the number of times the moving unit reciprocates between the first point and the second point. a first roller on which a wiper to be used for cleaning the nozzle surface of an inkjet head is wound, a second roller for recovering and winding the wiper used for cleaning the nozzle surface, and the first roller to release the wiper from the first roller; An inkjet head cleaning method using a first rotation unit for rotating a first roller and a second rotation unit for rotating the second roller so that the wiper unwound from the first roller is wound on the second roller, the method comprising:
In a state in which the operation of the second rotation unit is stopped, only the first rotation unit is operated so that the wiper is released from the first roller, and the wiper released from the first roller maintains constant tension. moving a moving unit provided to allow the wiper to pass between the first roller and the second roller from a relatively upper first point to a relatively lower second point;
cleaning the nozzle surface of the inkjet head by adhering the nozzle surface of the inkjet head to the wiper; and
Including the step of recovering the wiper by operating the second rotation unit,
Characterized in that the first point and the second point have a vertical arrangement so that the movement from the first point to the second point can be performed by a load applied to the wiper released from the first roller. A method for cleaning an inkjet head to be cleaned. According to claim 7,
The inkjet head cleaning method of claim 1 , wherein the operation of both the first rotation unit and the second rotation unit is stopped when the nozzle surface is cleaned. According to claim 7,
When the movable part is located at the second point, only the second rotatable part is operated in a state in which the operation of the first rotatable part is stopped, so that the wiper wound from the second roller can maintain a constant tension. moving to point 1;
cleaning the nozzle surface of the inkjet head by adhering the nozzle surface of the inkjet head to the wiper; and
and recovering the wiper by operating the second rotating unit. According to claim 9,
The inkjet head cleaning method of claim 1 , wherein the operation of both the first rotation unit and the second rotation unit is stopped when the nozzle surface is cleaned.

Images