KR20080105670A - Array device and method for inkjet head - Google Patents

Abstract

A device and a method for arranging an initial position of an ink-jet head are provided to measure setting angles of front, side, and plane, and automatically adjust setting angles using actuators. A plurality of nozzles(11) jetting R, G, and B ink on the ink-jet head(10) is installed to the longitudinal direction. A photographing unit(40) takes a picture of the ink-jet head setting state. The photographing unit installed side plane of the stage(30) takes a picture of ink-jet head setting state of the front, side, and plane direction. The image of the ink-jet head are sent to the controller. If the current setting state is not coincide with the reference data, a fine adjustment unit(20) adjust the setting angle. The compared value is displayed to the display unit(60).

Description

Array device and method for inkjet head

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The schematic block diagram for demonstrating the alignment apparatus of the conventional inkjet head.

Figure 2 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the alignment apparatus of the ink jet head according to the present invention.

3 to 5 are a plan view, a front view and a side view for explaining a fine adjustment unit according to the present invention.

6 is a flowchart for explaining an alignment method of an inkjet head according to the present invention.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawing>

10: head 11: nozzle

20: fine adjustment unit 21: the first actuator

22: 2nd actuator 23: 3rd actuator

24: 4th actuator 25: 5th actuator

30: stage 31: substrate

40: imaging unit 41: vision 1

42: vision 2 60: display unit

The present invention relates to an alignment apparatus and method for an ink jet head, and more particularly, to an alignment apparatus and method for an ink jet head for aligning the initial position of the ink jet head after the initial installation or replacement of the ink jet head.

The color screen of a liquid crystal display device, which is widely used as a flat panel display device, is a TFT (Tin Film Transistor), which controls the transmittance of white light of a backlight, the operation of liquid crystal cells, R (Red), It is made through additive mixed colors of three primary colors that pass through G (Green) and B (Blue) color filters.

The color filter substrate includes a black filter (BM: black matrix) including a color filter for implementing each of the above-mentioned R, G, and B colors, and partition walls that serve to distinguish and block light between R, G, and B cells. And a common electrode (ITO: Indium Tin Oxide) for applying voltage to the liquid crystal cell.

A color filter substrate having the above structure is generally manufactured by sputtering Cr / CrOx on a substrate such as glass to form a black matrix, and then forming a color filter between the black matrices and forming a common electrode thereon.

The screen printing method and the photolithography process are the mainstream as the manufacturing method of the color filter.

The screen printing method is a simple process and a simple method of using inexpensive equipment. However, since the thickness and width uniformity of the color ink applied are poor, the screen printing method is not suitable for the flat panel display manufacturing process. Although it can be applied to a flat panel display manufacturing process because of its excellent thickness and uniformity and thin film formation, it is disadvantageous in that a material is expensive and expensive, and a complicated manufacturing process and expensive equipment are used.

In this respect, the inkjet printing method has recently received a lot of attention due to the intensive apparatus and low cost process in various places. In particular, all of the processes for pattern formation of a flat panel display device can be applied, and in particular, they can be used for color filter formation, alignment layer formation, phosphor formation, electrode formation, dielectric layer formation, and the like.

At this time, the head of the inkjet has to be aligned exactly after the initial position after replacement because of the initial installation or the elapse of the service life. In the related art, a pattern glass manufactured separately for the arrangement of the inkjet head was used, and the alignment apparatus of the conventional inkjet head will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a configuration diagram of a conventional alignment device of an inkjet head.

Referring to FIG. 1, an alignment apparatus of an inkjet head includes a pattern glass 1 having a lattice pattern formed on a glass substrate, a stage 2 on which the pattern glass 1 is loaded, and the pattern glass 1. An inkjet head 3 disposed at a predetermined distance apart from the upper side of the image pickup unit 4, and an imaging unit 4 which captures an alignment state of the pattern of the pattern glass 1 and the head 3 at the lower side of the stage 2; And a display section 5 which enlarges and displays the imaging result of the imaging section 4.

Hereinafter, the alignment apparatus of the conventional inkjet head as described above will be described in more detail.

First, the alignment apparatus of the conventional inkjet head uses a separate pattern glass 1 to check whether the pattern displayed on the pattern glass 1 matches the nozzles of the head 3.

To this end, after the head 3 is installed or replaced, a pattern glass 1 separate from the glass substrate for color filter manufacturing is loaded on the stage 2, and the head (3) is loaded through the loaded pattern glass 1. Check the nozzle position in 3).

In order to confirm the nozzle position, the imaging section 4 is placed on the lower side of both sides of the stage 2, and both ends of the head 3 are captured.

The imaging results of the imaging section 4 are displayed on the display section 5, and the user checks the screen displayed on the display section 5 to confirm the alignment of the head 3.

At this time, if it is determined that the alignment of the head (3) is wrong, it is necessary to perform the operation to change the position of the head (3), and then perform the same batch check again.

However, when a fine tilt occurs in the head 3, even if it is determined that the user is disposed correctly, the position of the color layer forming ink actually sprayed by the distance difference between the head 3 and the glass substrate for color filter production. May not be applied to the color layer correctly.

This is a problem that the alignment of the correct head 3 is not easy because the conventional arrangement of the inkjet head only checks the nozzle position of the inkjet head.

In addition, when the head 3 is misaligned, an operator must manually correct the position of the head 3, and after correcting, the operation of checking the alignment state of the head 3 must be repeatedly performed, thereby aligning the head. This is not easy, there was a problem that takes a long time to work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention in view of the above problems is to provide an inkjet head alignment apparatus and method for measuring the front mounting angle, side mounting angle, and planar mounting angle of an ink jet head using an imaging unit including vision 1 and vision 2. .

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a device and method for aligning the inkjet head to automatically fine-tune the front mounting angle, side mounting angle and planar mounting angle of the head by installing a plurality of actuators.

In the alignment apparatus of an inkjet head according to the present invention for achieving the above object, in the alignment apparatus of the inkjet head, the front mounting angle, side mounting angle and planar mounting angle of the head are respectively measured using at least two image pickups When the imaging data and the reference data do not coincide with each other, the error is corrected using a plurality of actuators.

An alignment apparatus of an ink jet head according to the present invention includes an ink jet head having a plurality of nozzles mounted in a longitudinal direction for ejecting R, G, and B ink; An imaging unit for photographing the front mounting angle, side mounting angle, and planar mounting angle of the inkjet head; And a fine adjusting unit for comparing the imaging data of the imaging unit with reference data, and correcting the front mounting angle, side mounting angle, and planar mounting angle of the head when the imaging data does not match the reference data as a result of the comparison. .

The imaging unit may include a vision 1 for capturing the front and side mounting angles of the inkjet head, and a vision 2 for capturing the planar mounting angle of the inkjet head.

In this case, the comparison result value may be displayed on the screen of the display unit.

In addition, the fine adjustment unit, the actuator for correcting the front mounting angle and the side mounting angle of the head is respectively installed in the upper four corners of the head, the actuator for correcting the flat mounting angle of the head is installed in the upper center of the head It is characterized by.

At this time, in adjusting the front mounting angle of the head, the actuators in the left row and the actuators in the right row are paired with respect to the front of the head, and the pairs are operated simultaneously so that the left and right heights of the front of the head are respectively adjusted. do.

Further, in adjusting the side mounting angle of the head, the actuators in the left row and the actuators in the right row are paired with respect to the side of the head, respectively, and the pairs are operated simultaneously to adjust the left and right heights of the head side. It is characterized by that.

Here, it is preferable that the actuator uses a micro motor capable of fine adjustment.

The alignment method of the inkjet head according to the present invention comprises the steps of capturing the front mounting angle, side mounting angle and planar mounting angle of the head using vision 1 and vision 2 of the imaging unit; Sending the captured image data to a control unit to compare with reference data; Determining whether the comparison result corresponds to the captured image data; And correcting the alignment position of the head by using the fine adjustment unit when an error occurs between the imaging data and the reference data as a result of the determination.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the alignment apparatus of the ink jet head according to the present invention.

The alignment apparatus of the inkjet head of the present invention as shown in the drawing is largely composed of an inkjet head 10, an imaging unit 40, and a fine adjustment unit 20. As shown in FIG.

The inkjet head 10 is equipped with a plurality of nozzles 11 for ejecting R, G, and B in the longitudinal direction. In this case, the nozzle 11 to be mounted may be equipped with heat insulation or a plurality of rows, in the case of heat insulation, one row is mounted with approximately 128 nozzles 11.

An imaging unit 40 is installed to capture the alignment state of the inkjet head 10. The imaging unit 40 is installed at the side of the stage 30 to adjust the front mounting angle and the side mounting angle of the inkjet head 10. Vision 1 41 for imaging, and Vision 2 42 for imaging the plane mounting angle of the inkjet head 10 are included.

Here, the image data photographed through the imaging unit 40 is sent to a control unit (not shown) to undergo an image reading process, and when the result of the reading does not match the reference data, the fine adjustment unit 20 The front mounting angle, the side mounting angle and the flat mounting angle of the head 10 to be corrected.

In this case, the comparison result value may be displayed through the screen of the display unit 60.

In the automatic mode, the control unit (not shown) may drive the fine adjustment unit 20 to perform automatic alignment of the head 10.

3 to 5 are a plan view, a front view and a side view for explaining a fine adjustment unit according to the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, the fine adjustment unit 20 includes first, second, third and fourth actuators 21, 22, 23, and 24 for correcting the front and side mounting angles of the head, respectively. It is installed in the upper four corners of the 10, and the fifth actuator 25 for correcting the planar installation angle of the head 10 is installed in the upper center of the head (10).

The first, second, third, and fourth actuators 21, 22, 23, and 24 adjust the vertical height of the head 10 at their respective installed positions so that the front and side mounting angles are corrected. The fifth actuator 25 adjusts the left and right rotation amounts of the head 10 using the plane center of the head 10 as the rotation axis so that the plane installation angle is corrected.

First, the operation of the actuator for correcting the front mounting angle will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the first and second actuators 21 and 22 and the third and fourth actuators 23 and 24 respectively form a pair. Each pair is operated simultaneously, wherein the first and second actuators 21 and 22 adjust the height of the left side of the head 10, and the third and fourth actuators 23 and 24 are the head 10. Adjust the height of the right side of the.

Of course, when one pair of left and right actuators are lowered, the other pair of actuators may be lifted and operated so that the front mounting angle is adjusted.

Next, referring to the operation of the actuator for correcting the side mounting angle, as shown in Figure 5, the first and third actuators 21 and 23 and the second and fourth actuators 22 and 24, respectively, Each pair is operated simultaneously, wherein the first and third actuators 21 and 23 adjust the height of the front side of the head 10, and the second and fourth actuators 22 and 24 of the head 10. The rear height is adjusted.

In addition, when the pair of actuators before and after the lowering operation, the other pair of actuators may be raised and lowered to adjust the side installation angle.

Next, the operation of the actuator for correcting the planar installation angle will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the first, second, third and fourth actuators 21, 22, 23, and 24 are stopped in operation. 5 actuator 25 is to rotate the head 10 to the left and right fine.

Here, the first, second, third, fourth actuators 21, 22, 23, 24 may be used a micro motor capable of fine adjustment, the fifth actuator 25 to adjust the fine rotation angle Stepping motors can be used.

Actuators as described above can be automatically adjusted through the control unit.

6 is a flowchart for explaining an alignment method of an inkjet head according to the present invention.

Referring to the inkjet head alignment method according to the present invention with reference to FIG. 6, first, the step (S11) of imaging the alignment state of the head 10 using the imaging unit 40 is performed.

At this time, the imaging unit 40 is composed of a vision 1 (41) installed on the head 10 side, and a vision 2 (42) installed on the bottom of the head 10, the vision 1 (41) is a head ( Image 10) the installation angle in the horizontal direction, that is, the front and side mounting angles.

In addition, the vision 2 42 captures the plane installation angle from the bottom of the head 10.

Next, the step of analyzing the image by sending the image data to the control unit (S12) and the step (S13) of determining whether the analysis result image data and the reference data are aligned.

Next, when an error occurs between the measurement data and the reference data as a result of the determination, the step S14 of correcting the alignment position of the head 10 using the fine adjustment unit 20 is performed.

At this time, the fine adjustment unit 20 drives the first, second, third, and fourth actuators 21, 22, 23, 24 separately so that the front and side mounting angles of the head 10 are corrected. By driving the fifth actuator 25, the planar installation angle of the head 10 is corrected.

As the present invention having the above-described configuration and operation can be variously modified and changed by those skilled in the art using the various embodiments described above, the true technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the contents described in the detailed description of the specification, but the patent claims It should be determined by the scope.

The present invention has the effect of achieving accurate measurement and alignment by measuring the front mounting angle, side mounting angle and planar mounting angle of the inkjet head using the imaging unit including the vision 1 and vision 2.

And, in correcting the alignment of the inkjet head of the present invention, since the automatic alignment using a plurality of actuators is possible, there is an effect of reducing the labor of the operator.

Claims (9)

In the alignment device of the inkjet head, The front mounting angle, the side mounting angle and the planar mounting angle of the head are respectively measured using at least two image pickups, and when the imaging data and the reference data do not coincide, the error is corrected using a plurality of actuators. Alignment device of the inkjet head. An ink jet head mounted in a longitudinal direction with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting R, G, and B ink; An imaging unit for photographing the front mounting angle, side mounting angle, and planar mounting angle of the inkjet head; And A fine adjustment unit for comparing the image pickup data of the image pickup unit with reference data, and correcting the front mounting angle, side mounting angle, and planar mounting angle of the head when the image pickup data does not match the reference data; Alignment apparatus of an inkjet head, characterized in that comprises a. The method of claim 2, And the imaging unit includes a vision 1 for capturing the front and side mounting angles of the inkjet head, and a vision 2 for capturing the planar mounting angle of the inkjet head. The method of claim 2, And the comparison result value is displayed on a screen of the display unit. The method of claim 2, The fine adjustment unit, An actuator for correcting the front mounting angle and the side mounting angle of the head is installed at each of the upper four corners of the head, and an actuator for correcting the flat mounting angle of the head is installed at the upper center of the head. Alignment device. The method of claim 5, In adjusting the front mounting angle of the head, the actuators in the left row and the actuators in the right row are paired with respect to the front of the head, and the pairs are operated simultaneously so that the left and right heights of the front of the head are adjusted. Characterized in that the alignment of the inkjet head. The method of claim 5, In adjusting the side mounting angle of the head, the actuators in the left row and the actuators in the right row are paired with respect to the side of the head, and the pairs are operated simultaneously so that the left and right heights of the head side are adjusted. Alignment device for an inkjet head, characterized in that. The method of claim 5, The actuator is an alignment device of an ink jet head, characterized in that the micromotor capable of fine adjustment. Imaging the front mounting angle, side mounting angle, and planar mounting angle of the head using vision 1 and vision 2 of the imaging unit; Sending the captured image data to a control unit to compare with reference data; Determining whether the comparison result corresponds to the captured image data; And Correcting the alignment position of the head using a fine adjustment unit when an error occurs between the captured image data and the reference data as a result of the determination; Alignment method of an inkjet head comprising a.

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