KR20100105017A - Device and system of drying ink ejected from ink-jet head, and ink-jet printing apparatus having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A dryer of an ink discharged from an ink-jet head, a dry system and an inkjet printer with the same are provided to prevent stain on an ink covered surface by preventing the deformation of an ink covered surface. CONSTITUTION: A dryer of an ink discharged from an ink-jet head comprises a lighting-emitting area(272), a driving part(276), a controller(274), a power source and an exterior control apparatus. The driving part drives the lighting-emitting area. The controller controls the operation of the driving part. The power supply supplies electric energy to the lighting-emitting area. The exterior control apparatus controls the operation of the ink drying device. The ink drying device is attached to the front face of the ink-jet head.

Description

A device and system of drying ink ejected from ink-jet head, and ink-jet printing apparatus having the same

The present invention relates to a drying apparatus of an ink ejected from an inkjet head, a drying system, and an inkjet printing apparatus having the same. More specifically, the present invention provides an ink drying apparatus including, for example, an ultraviolet LED (UV LED) in front of each of the plurality of inkjet heads of the inkjet printing apparatus, which is discharged from the plurality of inkjet heads and supplied onto the printing object. An ink drying apparatus, a drying system, and an inkjet printing apparatus having the same, which can dry dried ink quickly.

Generally, in order to manufacture an electronic circuit component or a flat panel display (FPD) such as a plasma display panel (PDP) or a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), for example, a photoresist (PR) liquid or Glass pastes or printed circuits using metal pastes or inks (hereinafter referred to as "inks"), such as copper (Cu), silver (Ag), aluminum (Al), etc. On the board (PCB), certain patterns such as electrodes or dots should be formed.

As a method for forming the above-described constant pattern, for example, a method of directly patterning a constant pattern using an inkjet printing apparatus having an inkjet head for ejecting ink droplets is used.

1A is a perspective view of an inkjet printing apparatus according to the prior art.

Referring to FIG. 1A, the inkjet printing apparatus 100 according to the related art includes, for example, a plurality of inkjet heads 120 for supplying ink to form a plurality of patterns 114 on a printing object 110; A gantry 130 mounted with the plurality of inkjet heads 120 and movable on the printing object 110; And an ink storage device 140 connected to the plurality of inkjet heads 120, respectively, to provide ink. Hereinafter, the operation of the inkjet printing apparatus 100 according to the prior art will be described in detail.

Referring back to FIG. 1A, in the inkjet printing apparatus 100, an ink supply main conduit 152 and a plurality of branch conduits 152a, are supplied from the ink storage device 150 to the plurality of inkjet heads 120. Ink is supplied in advance through 152b, 152c, 152d, ..., 152e. The start and end of the ink supply are controlled by the plurality of control valves 156a, 156b, 156c, 156d, ..., 156e. The pressing force of the ink storage device 150 is provided by the pressurized fluid (for example, air) supplied from the ink pressurizing conduit. The supply of pressurized fluid is controlled by pressurized fluid control valve 154. Thereafter, the gantry 130 on which the plurality of inkjet heads 120 are mounted moves on the printing object 110, and supplies ink onto the printing object 110 to form a plurality of desired patterns 114. The printing object 110 is located on the stage 112 for fixing the printing object 110, and the stage 112 is located on the printing apparatus frame 160.

The ink discharged from the plurality of inkjet heads 120 used in the inkjet printing apparatus 100 described above is supplied onto the printing object 110 to form a required pattern 114. In this case, since the ink supplied on the printing object 110 is in a liquid state, drying must be performed in a short time. In the prior art, one or more hot air drying apparatuses (not shown) are used as a method for drying the ink supplied onto the printing object 110. Such a hot-air drying apparatus is an apparatus which heats air using a heater, for example, and supplies high temperature heated air on a drying object using a blower, such as a fan.

However, when the ink supplied on the printing object 110 is dried using the hot air drying apparatus according to the related art described above, the following problem occurs.

Figure 1b is a view showing a stain that occurs on the ink coating surface when drying the ink supplied on the printing object using the hot air drying apparatus of the prior art, Figure 1c is a printing object using the hot air drying apparatus of the prior art When the ink supplied to the image is dried, the width and height of the formed ink pattern are changed.

Referring to FIG. 1B, when the ink supplied on the printing object 110 is dried using a hot air drying apparatus (not shown) of the prior art, for example, a printing object such as a temperature-sensitive glass substrate ( 110 is adversely affected by hot heated air (hot air). More specifically, when using the hot air drying apparatus of the prior art, it is difficult for the hot heated air supplied by the hot air drying apparatus to be uniformly provided on the printing object 110 as a whole. As a result, deformation such as twisting of the ink application surface 110a occurs, and ultimately, a stain 110b occurs on the ink application surface 110a, thereby causing a problem that the application of ink is not uniform.

In addition, in the case of using the hot air drying apparatus of the prior art, the strength of the printing object 110 itself is weakened due to the heated air of the high temperature, the problem that the damage to the printing object 110 occurs in a subsequent process or severe damage Occurs. When such damage or damage of the printing object 110 occurs, a chain problem such as a subsequent process is stopped to solve this problem.

In addition, in the case of using the hot air drying apparatus of the prior art, the drying process is performed after all the ink is supplied for a plurality of patterns to be formed on the printing object 110. As a result, the ink supplied first fails to maintain the supplied state before the drying process is performed, and spreading occurs. Due to the spreading of the ink, as shown in FIG. 1C, the coated pattern 114 is widened from W1 to W2 and the height is lowered from H1 to H2 as time passes. As a result, a problem arises in that the widths and heights of the plurality of ink patterns 114 formed on the printing object 110 are formed differently from the pattern of the specification required.

In addition, in the case of using the hot air drying apparatus of the prior art, a drying process is performed after a plurality of patterns are formed on the printing object 110, and a subsequent drying process is performed after the subsequent patterns are formed. Therefore, since the pattern forming process and the drying process have to be made several times as separate processes, a problem arises in that the overall process time increases.

In addition, the kind of ink supplied on the printing object 110 is very diverse, for example, a photoresist liquid or a metal paste. Since the optimum drying temperature (curing temperature) of these various inks varies slightly depending on the type, it is required that the drying apparatus be precisely controlled according to the optimum drying temperature of the ink used in order to dry the ink used under the optimum conditions. However, the hot air drying apparatus of the prior art is practically impossible such precise temperature control. Therefore, in the prior art, it is quite difficult to dry the applied ink to an optimum drying temperature, and as a result, there arises a problem that the generation of the stain 110b or the uniform application of the ink as described above do not occur.

Therefore, a new solution for solving the above problems is required.

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, by providing an ink drying apparatus including an ultraviolet LED in front of each of the plurality of inkjet heads of the inkjet printing apparatus is discharged from the plurality of inkjet heads and supplied to the printing object It is to provide an ink drying apparatus, a drying system, and an inkjet printing apparatus having the same, which can quickly dry the ink.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drying apparatus for ink ejected from an inkjet head, wherein the ink drying apparatus is attached to a front surface of the inkjet head, and the ink drying apparatus comprises: a light emitting unit; A driving unit driving the light emitting unit; A control unit controlling an operation of the driving unit; A power supply for supplying electrical energy required for the operation of the light emitting unit, the driving unit, and the control unit; And an external controller for controlling the operation of the ink drying apparatus.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drying system for ink ejected from an ink jet head, comprising: a plurality of ink drying devices attached to the front surfaces of the plurality of ink jet heads; A power supply for supplying electrical energy required for the operation of the plurality of ink drying apparatuses; And an external controller for controlling operations of each of the plurality of ink drying apparatuses, each of the plurality of ink drying apparatuses comprising: a light emitting unit; A driving unit driving the light emitting unit; And a control unit controlling an operation of the driving unit, wherein the power supply supplies electrical energy required for the operation of the light emitting unit, the driving unit, and the control unit.

According to a third aspect of the invention, an inkjet printing apparatus comprising: a plurality of inkjet heads for supplying ink to form a plurality of patterns on a printing object; A plurality of ink drying apparatus attached to the front surface of each of the plurality of inkjet heads; A gantry mounted with the plurality of inkjet heads and movable on the printing object; And an ink storage device connected to the plurality of inkjet heads, respectively, for providing ink, wherein the plurality of ink drying devices each include a light emitting unit; A driving unit driving the light emitting unit; And a control unit controlling an operation of the driving unit, wherein the power supply supplies electrical energy required for the operation of the light emitting unit, the driving unit, and the control unit.

The following advantages are achieved by using the ink drying apparatus, the drying system, and the ink jet printing apparatus having the same, ejected from the ink jet head of the present invention.

1. Since the ink on the printing object dries quickly in real time, deformation of the ink coating surface does not occur and staining on the ink coating surface is prevented.

2. Since the ink is dried within a short time by the use of the ultraviolet LED, unlike the prior art, it does not adversely affect the strength of the printing object, thereby preventing damage or breakage of the printing object in a subsequent process.

3. Since the ink supply process and the drying process are performed at the same time, spreading of the ink and deformation of the formed pattern are prevented. Therefore, uniform pattern formation is possible.

4. Since the ink supply process and the drying process are performed at the same time, the overall process time is significantly reduced.

5. Precise temperature control is possible to meet the optimum drying temperature of various inks.

Further advantages of the present invention can be clearly understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like or similar reference numerals denote like elements.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments and drawings of the present invention.

2A is a plan view and a side view schematically showing a drying apparatus of an ink ejected from an inkjet head and an inkjet printing apparatus having the same according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A, the plurality of ink drying apparatuses 270 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention are attached to the front surfaces of the plurality of inkjet heads 220, respectively. In the embodiment of FIG. 2A, the plurality of inkjet heads 220 includes a plurality of first row inkjet heads 220a1 and a plurality of second row inkjet heads 220a2. The plurality of first row inkjet heads 220a1 and 220a2 and the plurality of second row inkjet heads 220b1 and 220b2 are alternately mounted on the left and right sides of the gantry 230, respectively. The gantry 230 may include a plurality of first and second left-row inkjet heads 220a1 and 220b1 among the plurality of first-row inkjet heads 220a1 and 220a2 and the plurality of second-row inkjet heads 220b1 and 220b2. It is used when moving in the right direction 232a, and the plurality of first and second right row inkjet heads 220a2 and 220b2 are used when the gantry 230 moves in the left direction 232b. It is also apparent that only one of the plurality of first and second left row inkjet heads 220a1 and 220b1 or the plurality of first and second right row inkjet heads 220a2 and 220b2 may be used.

Meanwhile, the inkjet printing apparatus 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention is substantially the same as the inkjet printing apparatus 100 according to the related art shown in FIG. 1A except for the plurality of ink drying apparatuses 270. Care must be taken. Thus, referring to FIGS. 1A and 2A, the inkjet printing apparatus 200 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of inkjet heads for supplying ink to form a plurality of patterns 114 on the printing object 210. 220; A plurality of ink drying apparatuses 270 attached to a front surface of each of the plurality of inkjet heads 220; A gantry 230 mounted with the plurality of inkjet heads 220 and movable on the printing object 210; And an ink storage device 240 connected to the plurality of inkjet heads 220, respectively, to provide ink.

2B is a perspective view showing an ink jet head and one ink drying apparatus according to a specific embodiment of the present invention attached to the ink jet head.

2A and 2B, an ink drying apparatus 270 according to a specific embodiment of the present invention is attached to one side of the inkjet head 220. The inkjet head 220 attached to the gantry 230 moves the ink in the downward direction 220c as the gantry 230 is transported on the printing object 210. In this case, the ink drying device 270 is the inkjet head 220. Since it is attached to the ink discharged on the printing target 210 in accordance with the transfer of the gantry 230 it is possible to dry in real time.

Hereinafter, the specific configuration and operation of the ink drying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 2C is a perspective view of one ink drying apparatus according to the specific embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2B, and FIG. 2D is an interior of the ink drying apparatus according to the specific embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2C. FIG. 2E is a plan view of the ink drying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2F is a block diagram of the ink drying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

2C to 2F together with FIG. 2A, an ink drying apparatus 270 according to a specific embodiment of the present invention may include a light emitting unit 272; A driver 276 for driving the light emitter 272; A controller 274 controlling the operation of the driver 276; A power supply 271 for supplying electrical energy required for the operation of the light emitting unit 272, the driving unit 276, and the control unit 274; And an external controller 280 that controls the operation of the ink drying apparatus 270. In addition, the ink drying apparatus 270 according to the present invention includes a light emitting unit 272, a driving unit 276, and a control unit 274 housed in a case 270c including a body member 270a and a cover member 270b. It is preferably implemented in the form of a module. More specifically, the light emitting part 272, the driving part 276, and the control part 274 are mounted in the body member 270a, and the cover member 270b is assembled with the body member 270a in the case 270c. It may be implemented in a housed module form. In the ink drying apparatus 270 according to the present invention, the light emitting unit 272 may be implemented by, for example, a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) LED (272a). In addition, the light emitting unit 272 is provided in front of the plurality of ultraviolet (UV) LEDs 272a, and a condenser lens 272b for condensing the ultraviolet rays emitted from the plurality of ultraviolet (UV) LEDs 272a (FIG. 2D). Reference) may be further provided. The driver 276 may be embodied by a plurality of drivers 276a respectively driving the plurality of ultraviolet LEDs 272a. The controller 274 may be implemented with, for example, a micro control unit (MCU) 274. The MCU 274 controls the irradiation amount (intensity) of each ultraviolet light emitted from the plurality of ultraviolet LEDs 272a by controlling the plurality of driving devices 276a using a pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme. can do. Therefore, the ink drying apparatus 270 of the present invention can precisely control the optimum drying temperature (curing temperature) of various inks.

On the other hand, the ink drying apparatus 270 according to the embodiment of the present invention controls the operation of the light emitting unit 272, the driving unit 276, and the control unit 274 through the power terminal unit 271a (see FIGS. 2C and 2D). A power supply 271 for supplying necessary electrical energy may be provided. The power supply 271 may be implemented with, for example, a DC 25V power supply. The driver 276 and the controller 274 allow the DC 25V provided from the power source 271 to be supplied with a power source (eg, DC 5V) required for driving the plurality of ultraviolet light (UV) LEDs 272a.

In addition, the ink drying apparatus 270 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is connected to the external controller 280 through the external input / output device 278. The external input / output device 278 may be implemented by, for example, the input / output (I / O) terminal portions 278a and 278b or the interface terminal portion 278b. The input / output (I / O) terminal portions 278a and 278b may include a switching device or a programmable logic controller (PLC) in which the external control device 280 simply controls the on / off operation of the ink drying device 270, for example. Interface terminal unit 278b is used in the case of a controller, and serial communication (serial) for transmitting a signal or data of information to be described later when the external controller 280 is, for example, a personal computer (PC) or a microprocessor. communications). In this case, the information of the personal computer (PC) or the microprocessor may be programmed in advance such as, for example, information such as the type of ink used, the optimum value of the amount of ultraviolet radiation to be output from the ink drying apparatus 270 according to the type of ink, and the like. It is stored. In addition, the external controller 280 implemented as a personal computer (PC) or a microprocessor calculates the difference between the optimal value of the ultraviolet irradiation amount to be output from the ink drying apparatus 270 and the value of the actual ultraviolet irradiation amount 270 to dry the ink drying apparatus 270. ), The operation of adjusting the amount of ultraviolet irradiation of the ink drying apparatus 270 can be controlled.

2G is a block diagram of an ink drying system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2G in conjunction with FIGS. 2A-2F, the ink drying system 290 according to the embodiment of the present invention is a plurality of ink drying apparatus attached to the front surface of the plurality of inkjet heads 220 (see FIG. 2A). (270a, 270b, ..., 270c, 270d); A power supply 271 for supplying electrical energy required for the operation of the plurality of ink drying apparatuses 270a, 270b,..., 270c, 270d; And an external controller 280 for controlling the operation of each of the plurality of ink drying apparatuses 270a, 270b,..., 270c, 270d. Here, the plurality of ink drying apparatuses 270a, 270b, ..., 270c, 270d have the same configuration as the ink drying apparatus 270 shown in Figs. 2A to 2F, respectively. Therefore, in this specification, description of each specific structure of the some ink drying apparatus 270a, 270b, ..., 270c, 270d is abbreviate | omitted. In addition, in the embodiment of FIG. 2G, a plurality of ink drying apparatuses 270a, 270b,..., 270c, and 270d are exemplarily illustrated as four, but a person skilled in the art will appreciate that an inkjet head ( It will be appreciated that it should be provided equal to the number of 220).

On the other hand, the ink drying apparatus 270 and the ink drying system 290 according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 2a to 2g, respectively (for example, information indicating the operating state of the individual ink drying apparatus 270, etc.) , A display device 282 (for example, a monitor (e.g., a monitor (e.g., 282)). According to the information displayed on the display device 282, the user uses the external control device 280 to operate the plurality of ink drying devices 270a, 270b, ..., 270c, 270d (for example, the actual amount of ultraviolet radiation). Can be controlled to adjust the value of to the value of the optimum ultraviolet irradiation dose).

As described above, the ink drying apparatus 270 and the ink drying system 290 of the present invention are attached to the front surface of each of the plurality of inkjet heads 220, and the printing object 210 from the plurality of inkjet heads 220. It is possible to dry the ink ejected onto the film in real time.

Various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. It is not. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

1A is a perspective view of an inkjet printing apparatus according to the prior art.

FIG. 1B is a view showing spots that occur on an ink application surface when drying ink supplied on a printing object using a hot air drying apparatus of the prior art.

FIG. 1C is a view showing that the width and height of an ink pattern formed when drying ink supplied on a printing object using a hot air drying apparatus of the prior art are changed.

2A is a plan view and a side view schematically showing a drying apparatus of an ink ejected from an inkjet head and an inkjet printing apparatus having the same according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2B is a perspective view showing an ink jet head and one ink drying apparatus according to a specific embodiment of the present invention attached to the ink jet head.

FIG. 2C is a perspective view of one ink drying apparatus according to a specific embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2B.

FIG. 2D is a diagram illustrating an internal perspective view of the ink drying apparatus according to the specific embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2C.

2E is a plan view of the ink drying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

2F is a block diagram of an ink drying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2G is a block diagram of an ink drying system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (12)

In the drying apparatus of the ink discharged from an inkjet head, The ink drying apparatus is attached to the front surface of the inkjet head, The ink drying device is Light emitting unit; A driving unit driving the light emitting unit; A control unit controlling an operation of the driving unit; A power supply for supplying electrical energy required for the operation of the light emitting unit, the driving unit, and the control unit; And External controller for controlling the operation of the ink drying apparatus Containing Ink drying device. The method of claim 1, And the light emitting part, the driving part, and the control part are implemented in a module form that is housed in a case including a body member and a cover member. The method of claim 1, The light emitting unit is implemented as a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) LED, The driving unit is implemented as a plurality of drivers (driver) for driving the plurality of ultraviolet LED, respectively, The controller is implemented as a micro control unit (MCU). Ink drying device. The method of claim 3, wherein And the light emitting part is provided in front of the plurality of ultraviolet LEDs, and further includes a condenser lens for condensing ultraviolet rays emitted from the plurality of ultraviolet LEDs. The method of claim 3, wherein And the MCU controls the irradiation amount of each ultraviolet light emitted from the plurality of ultraviolet LEDs by controlling the plurality of driving devices using a pulse width modulation (PWM) method. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The ink drying apparatus is connected to the power supply through a power supply terminal portion, the ink drying apparatus is connected to the external control device through an external input / output device. In the drying system of the ink discharged from the inkjet head, A plurality of ink drying apparatus attached to the front surface of the plurality of inkjet heads; A power supply for supplying electrical energy required for the operation of the plurality of ink drying apparatuses; And External controller for controlling the operation of each of the plurality of ink drying apparatus Including, Each of the plurality of ink drying apparatuses Light emitting unit; A driving unit driving the light emitting unit; And Control unit for controlling the operation of the drive unit Including; The power source supplies electrical energy required for the operation of the light emitting unit, the driving unit, and the control unit. Ink drying system. In an inkjet printing apparatus, A plurality of inkjet heads for supplying ink to form a plurality of patterns on a printing object; A plurality of ink drying apparatus attached to the front surface of each of the plurality of inkjet heads; A gantry mounted with the plurality of inkjet heads and movable on the printing object; And An ink storage device each connected to the plurality of inkjet heads for providing ink Including, The plurality of ink drying apparatus, respectively Light emitting unit; A driving unit driving the light emitting unit; And Control unit for controlling the operation of the drive unit Including; The power source supplies electrical energy required for the operation of the light emitting unit, the driving unit, and the control unit. Inkjet printing device. The method of claim 8, The light emitting unit, the driving unit, and the control unit is an inkjet printing device implemented in the form of a module (module) housed in a case consisting of a body member and a cover member. The method of claim 8, The light emitting unit is implemented as a plurality of ultraviolet (UV) LED, The driving unit is implemented as a plurality of drivers (driver) for driving the plurality of ultraviolet LED, respectively, The controller is implemented as a micro control unit (MCU). Inkjet printing device. The method of claim 10, And the MCU controls each of the plurality of driving apparatuses using a pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme to control the amount of irradiation of each ultraviolet rays emitted from the plurality of ultraviolet LEDs. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, And the plurality of ink drying apparatuses are respectively connected to the power source through a power supply terminal portion, and to the external control apparatus through an external input / output device.

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