KR20200144203A - Auto-leveling ink-jet apparatus and printing method using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An auto-leveling inkjet apparatus includes: an inkjet head unit discharging ink toward an object to be printed; a reservoir storing the ink and supplying the ink to the inkjet head unit; and an ink level maintaining unit including a counter mass which is connected to the reservoir and adjusts a height of the reservoir so as to constantly maintain a height from the inkjet head unit to an upper surface of the ink in the reservoir and in which a space is formed and a fluid is stored in the space. Therefore, the auto-leveling inkjet apparatus can prevent a printing quality from being degraded even while the inkjet head unit is moved at a high speed.

Description

Auto-leveling inkjet device and printing method using it {AUTO-LEVELING INK-JET APPARATUS AND PRINTING METHOD USING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to an auto-leveling ink jet apparatus and a printing method using the same, and more particularly, even if ink is discharged through a simple and compact structure, the storage height of ink can be kept constant based on the discharge amount of ink, Accordingly, the present invention relates to an auto-leveling ink jet apparatus capable of improving the jetting precision of ink and a printing method using the same.

Inkjet printing technology is a direct pattern by spraying ink onto a printed object at a frequency of several hundred times per second by force or pneumatic pressure from electricity or magnetism with a volume of less than tens of picoliters (pℓ, 10-12ℓ). Speak of technology. That is, the inkjet device can be defined as a device that prints by spraying ink to a desired position. Such an inkjet device can be used for patterning processes such as displays and semiconductors, which are emphasized in importance according to the recent rapid development of information and communication technology and the expansion of the market.

The inkjet device includes a reservoir for storing the ink. An auto-leveling inkjet device has been proposed for preventing a decrease in print quality due to a difference in potential energy applied to an ink drop according to a change in the ink level. However, when the substrate as a printing object is fixed, the inkjet head unit is moved, and inkjet printing is performed, there is an unsuitable problem.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2018-0119785

Accordingly, the technical problem of the present invention is conceived in this respect, and an object of the present invention is to provide an auto-leveling inkjet apparatus in which a substrate, which is a printing object, is fixed, and the inkjet head unit moves at high speed, and the print quality does not deteriorate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing method using the auto-leveling inkjet device.

An auto-leveling inkjet apparatus according to an embodiment for realizing the object of the present invention includes an inkjet head unit that discharges ink toward a printing object, a reservoir that stores the ink and supplies the ink to the inkjet head unit. , And connected to the reservoir, and adjusting the height of the reservoir to maintain a constant height from the inkjet head unit to the upper surface of the ink in the reservoir, and a space is formed therein, And an ink level maintenance unit including a counter mass in which fluid is stored.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the auto-leveling inkjet device may further include a first linear guide provided on one side of the reservoir to guide the movement of the reservoir in the vertical direction.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the auto-leveling inkjet device may further include a second linear guide provided on one side of the counter mass to guide the movement of the counter mass in the vertical direction.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the auto-leveling inkjet apparatus may further include a counter mass belt connecting the reservoir and the counter mass, and a pulley supporting the counter mass belt.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an injection/discharge unit capable of controlling the type and amount of the fluid may be formed on the upper surface of the counter mass by supplying or removing the fluid.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the liquid in the counter mass may be the same as the ink in the reservoir.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the counter mass may have the same size as the reservoir, and the inner space of the counter mass may have the same size as a space in which the ink of the reservoir is stored.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the auto-leveling inkjet device may further include an elastic member connected to the reservoir and changing an elastic force applied to the reservoir according to the height of the reservoir.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the auto-leveling inkjet device may further include a damping module coupled to the reservoir to buffer vibrations according to a change in height of the reservoir.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the auto-leveling inkjet device may further include a connecting unit provided between the inkjet head unit and the reservoir to connect the inkjet head unit and the reservoir. have.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a main storage unit connected to the reservoir through a supply flow path and supplying the ink to the reservoir may be further included.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the main storage unit may supply the ink to the reservoir so that the amount of the ink stored in the reservoir is constant.

A printing method according to an embodiment for realizing the object of the present invention includes a first ink ejection step of discharging ink from an inkjet head unit toward a fixed object to be printed, and the inkjet head unit to the fixed object to be printed. A moving step of moving along a first direction, an ink level, which is a height from the inkjet head unit to the upper surface of the ink stored in the reservoir, by adjusting the height of the reservoir storing the ink. A reservoir height adjusting step of adjusting the height of the reservoir in order to keep it constant, and a second ink discharging step of discharging ink from the ink jet head unit toward the object to be printed at the position where the ink jet head unit is moved Includes. In the step of adjusting the height of the reservoir, the height of the reservoir is connected to the reservoir through a counter mass belt supported by a pulley, and the height of the reservoir according to the change in the weight of the ink by a counter mass that resists the weight of the reservoir. Is adjusted. The counter mass has a space formed therein, and a fluid is stored in the space.

In an embodiment of the present invention, in the step of adjusting the height of the reservoir, by a first linear guide provided on one side of the reservoir to guide the movement of the reservoir in the vertical direction, the movement of the reservoir is It can be limited in the vertical direction.

In one embodiment of the present invention, in the step of adjusting the height of the reservoir, by a second linear guide provided on one side of the counter mass to guide the movement of the counter mass in the vertical direction, the movement of the counter mass is It can be limited in the vertical direction.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the liquid in the counter mass may contain the same material as the ink in the reservoir.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the counter mass may have the same size as the reservoir, and the inner space of the counter mass may have the same size as a space in which the ink of the reservoir is stored.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the printing method may further include an ink supply step of supplying the ink to the reservoir from a main storage unit connected to the reservoir through a supply channel.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first ink discharge step and the second ink discharge step may be performed continuously, and at the same time, the moving step and the reservoir height adjusting step may be performed.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the auto-leveling inkjet apparatus maintains an ink-level constant and maintains a constant potential energy of stored ink. Further, even if the inkjet head unit moves at high speed, since ink and fluid in the reservoir and the counter mass show similar movement, auto-leveling of the ink in the reservoir can be stably performed.

In addition, since the auto-leveling inkjet device includes first and second linear guides to suppress lateral shaking of the reservoir and the counter mass, more stable auto-leveling can be performed.

Accordingly, the degree of precise control of the ink discharge amount is improved, and the print quality in the printing method using the auto-leveling inkjet device can be improved.

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

1 is a perspective view of an auto-leveling inkjet apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a side view of the auto-leveling inkjet apparatus of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating that the inkjet head unit 100 of the auto-leveling inkjet apparatus of FIG. 1 moves on a printing object G and performs inkjet printing.
4 is a schematic conceptual diagram of auto-leveling of the auto-leveling inkjet apparatus of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a view simulating the movement of ink in the reservoir according to the movement of the inkjet head unit of the auto leveling inkjet apparatus of FIG.
6 is a side view of an auto-leveling inkjet apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a flowchart illustrating a printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

1 is a perspective view of an auto-leveling inkjet apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a side view of the auto-leveling inkjet apparatus of FIG. 1.

1 and 2, the auto-leveling inkjet apparatus may include an inkjet head unit 100, an ink level maintenance unit 200, and a connecting unit 300.

The inkjet head unit 100 discharges ink droplets (see I of FIG. 4) toward a printing object G (eg, a substrate), and the inkjet head unit 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 1 As shown in detail in FIG. 2, it may be a piezo-electric inkjet head module that discharges the ink droplets based on a pressure by a piezo element provided on the inkjet head unit 100. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and the inkjet head unit 100 is a thermal inkjet head provided through heating of a heater by heat as a discharge driving source for discharging ink droplets as needed. It can also be a module.

The ink level maintenance unit 200 stores ink INK, is connected to the inkjet head unit 100 to supply the ink INK to the inkjet head unit 100, but the inkjet head unit 100 Based on the discharge amount of the ink INK, the ink level (ink-level, see h1 in FIG. 4), which is the storage height (upper surface of the ink) of the ink K, can be kept constant.

The ink level maintaining unit 200 may include a reservoir 210, a reservoir height adjustment unit 220, a counter mass 230, a counter mass belt 232 and a pulley 233.

The reservoir 210 may store the ink INK and supply the ink to the inkjet head unit 100.

The reservoir height adjustment unit 220 is connected to the reservoir 210 and may adjust the height of the reservoir 210 (see h2 in FIG. 4) based on the discharge amount of the ink I. The reservoir height adjustment unit 220 may include an elastic member 221 and a damping module 222.

The elastic member 221 is connected to the reservoir 210, and an elastic force applied to the reservoir 210 may vary according to the height of the reservoir 210. For example,

For example, the elastic member 221 is disposed under the reservoir 210 and is maintained in a compressed state by the weight of the reservoir 210, so that the reservoir is It may be a compression spring that upwards 210.

That is, the compression spring maintains an equilibrium state in relation to the initial reservoir 210 and is maintained in a compressed state by the weight of the initial reservoir 210. Thereafter, when the weight of the reservoir 210 decreases due to the discharge of the ink (INK) stored in the reservoir 210, the upward elastic force is transmitted to the reservoir 210 according to the discharge amount of the ink (INK). And, by moving the reservoir 210 upward, the ink level can be kept constant.

The damping module 222 may be coupled to the reservoir 210 to buffer vibration according to a height change of the reservoir 210. For example, the damping module 222 may be a hydraulic linear motion damper.

In this way, by providing the damping module 222, the vibration caused by the movement of the reservoir 210 can be buffered, and the ink level can be stably maintained without lowering the printing speed.

The counter mass 230 may be connected to the reservoir 210 by a counter mass belt 232. The counter mass belt 232 is supported by a pulley, so that the counter mass 230 and the reservoir 210 may be interlocked with each other.

By providing the counter mass 230 to resist the weight of the reservoir 210, it is possible to reduce an external force required when adjusting the height of the reservoir 210 according to the discharge of the ink INK.

The counter mass 230 may have a space formed therein, and a fluid FL may be stored in the space.

The fluid FL inside the counter mass 230 may have a fluid characteristic similar to the ink INK inside the reservoir 210. For example, the fluid FL may have properties such as viscosity, surface tension, and density similar to those of the ink INK.

For example, the fluid FL in the counter mass 230 may include the same material as the ink INK in the reservoir. In this case, the counter mass 230 has the same size as the reservoir 210, and the inner space in which the fluid FL of the counter mass 230 is stored is the ink ( INK) may be stored in the same size and shape as the internal space.

However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and by appropriately designing the size and shape of the reservoir and the size and shape of the counter mass, the fluid FL and the ink INK have similar fluid properties. ), you will be able to properly select the constituent materials.

An injection/discharge part 231 may be formed on the upper surface of the counter mass 230 so that the type and amount of the fluid FL can be adjusted by supplying or removing the fluid FL.

The auto-leveling inkjet device is provided on one side of the reservoir 210 and moves the reservoir 210 in a vertical direction, that is, a third direction perpendicular to the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. It may further include a first linear guide (LM1) for guiding to (D3). The first linear guide LM1 has an effect of increasing stability by preventing shaking when the reservoir 210 is driven.

The auto-leveling inkjet apparatus may further include a second linear guide LM2 provided on one side of the counter mass to guide the movement of the counter mass in the vertical direction, that is, the third direction D3. The second linear guide LM2 has an effect of increasing stability by preventing shaking when the counter mass 230 is driven.

Even when the inkjet head unit 100 is driven at high speed by the first and second linear guides LM1 and LM2, the counter scalpel 230 according to the deceleration/acceleration of the inkjet head unit 100 It is possible to limit the relative lateral movement of the, that is, the movement in the first or second directions D1 and D2.

Therefore, only the vertical force (vertical potential energy) of the counter mass 230 can be transmitted to the reservoir 210 through the counter mass belt 232, and thus the inside of the reservoir 210 Auto leveling of the ink INK can be stably performed.

The connecting unit 300 may be provided between the inkjet head unit 100 and the ink level maintenance unit 200 to connect the inkjet head unit 100 and the ink level maintenance unit 200. The connecting unit 300 may be provided in the shape of a corrugated pipe, as shown, to be compressed and stretched when the reservoir 210 is driven. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be provided in various shapes as necessary.

According to the present embodiment, the auto-leveling inkjet apparatus maintains an ink-level constant and maintains a constant potential energy of stored ink. Further, even if the inkjet head unit moves at high speed, since ink and fluid in the reservoir and the counter mass show similar movement, auto-leveling of the ink in the reservoir can be stably performed.

In addition, since the auto-leveling inkjet device includes first and second linear guides to suppress lateral shaking of the reservoir and the counter mass, more stable auto-leveling can be performed.

Accordingly, the degree of precise control of the ink discharge amount is improved, and the print quality in the printing method using the auto-leveling inkjet device can be improved.

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating that the inkjet head unit 100 of the auto-leveling inkjet apparatus of FIG. 1 moves on a printing object G and performs inkjet printing.

Referring to FIG. 3, the printed object G may be a substrate used for manufacturing a display device. The substrate may be disposed on a plane formed by a first direction D1 and a second direction D2 perpendicular to the first direction D1.

On the other hand, when the size of the print object G is very large (for example, when manufacturing a display substrate for a display device), the print object G is fixed and the auto including the inkjet head unit 100 It is advantageous for the leveling inkjet device to repeatedly move in a direction parallel to the first direction D1 and to perform inkjet printing.

In this case, when the inkjet head unit 100 is driven at a high speed, ink in the reservoir of the auto-leveling inkjet apparatus may flow within the reservoir. In the auto-leveling inkjet apparatus according to the embodiments of the present invention, since a fluid having a fluid property similar to that of the ink is stored in the counter mass, the flow of the ink in the reservoir and the flow of the fluid in the counter mass are similar to each other. , Stable auto-leveling can be performed.

4 is a schematic conceptual diagram of auto-leveling of the auto-leveling inkjet apparatus of FIG. 1.

1, 2 and 4, as shown, the auto-leveling inkjet apparatus adjusts the height h2 of the reservoir 210 based on the ejection amount of ink even when ink is ejected, so that the ink level (ink -level, h1) is kept constant and the potential energy of the stored ink can be kept constant.

That is, the reservoir 210 of the auto-leveling ink jet apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment maintains the ink level h1, which is the storage height of ink, based on the ejection amount of the ink droplet I. The height h2 of the initial reservoir 210 shown in a) is adjusted upward as shown in (b) of FIG. 4 according to the reservoir 210 moving upward based on the discharge amount of the ink droplet (I), but The ink level h1, which is the height of the ink, is provided to be kept constant in the state (a) of FIG. 4, which is a state before ejection of the ink droplets I, and the state (b), of FIG. 4, which is a state after ejection of the ink.

FIG. 5 is a view simulating the movement of ink in the reservoir according to the movement of the inkjet head unit of the auto-leveling inkjet apparatus of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, as acceleration/deceleration is performed in the left direction of the drawing ((a)(b)(c)), it is possible to check the fluctuation of ink in the reservoir. In particular, when the effect of acceleration or deceleration is large, a state in which a part of the ink is floating in the air continues, and accordingly, the weight of the reservoir and the ink inside the reservoir affects the outside (i.e., counter mass And the weight in equilibrium) can be reduced.

Therefore, when the counter mass does not contain fluid (rigid), a situation in which the position of the cumbersome reservoir rises upward compared to the original position may occur.

According to embodiments of the present invention, since a fluid having a fluid property similar to that of the ink is stored in the counter mass, the flow of the ink in the reservoir and the flow of the fluid in the counter mass are similar to each other. This can be done.

6 is a side view of an auto-leveling inkjet apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the auto-leveling inkjet apparatus is substantially the same as the auto-leveling inkjet apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 except for the main storage unit 400 and the supply passage 410. Therefore, repeated description is omitted.

The auto-leveling inkjet apparatus may include an inkjet head unit 100, an ink level maintenance unit 200, and a connecting unit 300. The ink level maintaining unit 200 may include a reservoir 210, a reservoir height adjustment unit 220, a counter mass 230, a counter mass belt 232 and a pulley 233. The auto-leveling inkjet device may further include a first linear guide LM1 and a second linear guide LM2.

The main storage unit 400 is connected to the reservoir 210 through the supply flow path 410, and may supply ink INK to the reservoir 210. The main storage unit 400 may supply the ink INK to the reservoir 210 so that the amount of the ink INK stored in the reservoir 210 is constant. This is because the amount of the fluid FL stored in the counter mass 230 does not change, whereas the ink INK stored in the reservoir 210 decreases as ink droplets are discharged, and accordingly, the fluid FL ) And the flow characteristics of the ink INK may be different, because the difference can be minimized by supplying the ink INK from the main storage unit 400 to the reservoir 210.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a printing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the printing method may include a first ink discharging step (S100), a moving step (S200), a reservoir height adjusting step (S300), and a second ink discharging step (S400).

In the first first ink discharging step S100, ink may be discharged from the inkjet head unit toward a fixed object to be printed.

In the moving step S200, the inkjet head unit may be moved in a first direction with respect to the fixed object to be printed.

In the reservoir height adjustment step (S300), an ink level, which is the height from the inkjet head unit to the upper surface of the ink stored in the reservoir, is determined by adjusting the height of the reservoir storing the ink. In order to keep it constant, the height of the reservoir can be adjusted.

In the second ink discharging step (S400), ink may be discharged from the inkjet head unit toward the object to be printed at the position where the inkjet head unit is moved.

In this case, the printing method may be performed by the auto-leveling inkjet apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, it has been described that after the ink is discharged from the inkjet head unit, the inkjet head unit moves and adjusts the height, and then the ink is discharged again. However, the ink discharge, the inkjet head unit Movement of the inkjet head unit and height adjustment of the inkjet head unit may be performed simultaneously. That is, while the inkjet head unit moves, the height may be adjusted and ink may be discharged to the object to be printed. In other words, the first first ink discharging step (S100) and the second ink discharging step (S400) are performed continuously, and at the same time, the moving step (S200) and the reservoir height adjusting step (S300) are performed. Can be.

According to the present embodiment, the auto-leveling inkjet apparatus maintains an ink-level constant and maintains a constant potential energy of stored ink. Further, even if the inkjet head unit moves at high speed, since ink and fluid in the reservoir and the counter mass show similar movement, auto-leveling of the ink in the reservoir can be stably performed.

In addition, since the auto-leveling inkjet device includes first and second linear guides to suppress lateral shaking of the reservoir and the counter mass, more stable auto-leveling can be performed.

Accordingly, the degree of precise control of the ink discharge amount is improved, and the print quality in the printing method using the auto-leveling inkjet device can be improved.

The present invention can be applied to manufacturing an organic light emitting display device and various electronic devices including the same. For example, the present invention can be applied to a mobile phone, a smart phone, a video phone, a smart pad, a smart watch, a tablet PC, a vehicle navigation, a television, a computer monitor, a notebook computer, a head mounted display, and the like.

Although the above has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, those of ordinary skill in the relevant technical field can variously modify the present invention within the scope not departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention described in the following claims. You will understand that it can be modified and changed.

100: inkjet head unit
200: ink level maintenance unit
210: reservoir
220: reservoir height adjustment unit
230: counter mass
300: connecting unit
INK: ink
FL: fluid
LM1, LM2: first and second linear guides

Claims (19)

An ink jet head unit for discharging ink toward an object to be printed;
A reservoir that stores the ink and supplies the ink to the inkjet head unit; And
It is connected to the reservoir, and in order to maintain a constant height from the inkjet head unit to the upper surface of the ink in the reservoir, the height of the reservoir is adjusted, a space is formed therein, and a fluid within the space is Auto-leveling ink jet apparatus comprising an ink level maintaining unit including a stored counter mass. The method of claim 1,
And a first linear guide provided at one side of the reservoir to guide the movement of the reservoir in an up-down direction. The method of claim 2,
And a second linear guide provided on one side of the counter mass to guide the movement of the counter mass in a vertical direction. The method of claim 1,
A counter mass belt connecting the reservoir and the counter mass; And
Auto-leveling inkjet apparatus, characterized in that it further comprises a pulley (pully) for supporting the counter mass belt. The method of claim 1,
An auto-leveling inkjet apparatus, characterized in that an injection/discharge part is formed on the upper surface of the counter mass to control the type and amount of the fluid by supplying or removing the fluid. The method of claim 1,
Wherein said liquid in said counter mass contains the same material as said ink in said reservoir. The method of claim 6,
The counter mass has the same size as the reservoir, and the inner space of the counter mass has the same size as a space in which the ink of the reservoir is stored. The method of claim 1,
And an elastic member connected to the reservoir and changing an elastic force applied to the reservoir according to the height of the reservoir. The method of claim 8,
And a damping module coupled to the reservoir to buffer vibrations according to a change in height of the reservoir. The method of claim 9,
And a connecting unit provided between the inkjet head unit and the reservoir to connect the inkjet head unit and the reservoir. The method of claim 1,
And a main storage unit connected to the reservoir through a supply passage and supplying the ink to the reservoir. The method of claim 11,
And the main storage unit supplies the ink to the reservoir so that the amount of the ink stored in the reservoir is constant. A first ink ejection step of ejecting ink from the inkjet head unit toward a fixed object to be printed;
A moving step of moving the inkjet head unit in a first direction with respect to the fixed object to be printed;
In order to maintain a constant ink level (ink-level) from the inkjet head unit to the upper surface of the ink stored in the reservoir by adjusting the height of the reservoir storing the ink, the height of the reservoir Reservoir height adjustment step of adjusting; And
A second ink discharging step of discharging ink from the inkjet head unit toward the object to be printed at the position where the inkjet head unit is moved,
In the reservoir height adjustment step,
The height of the reservoir is adjusted according to the change in the weight of the ink by a counter mass that is connected to the reservoir through a counter mass belt supported by a pulley and resists the weight of the reservoir,
A printing method, wherein the counter mass has a space formed therein, and a fluid is stored in the space. The method of claim 13,
In the reservoir height adjustment step,
A printing method, characterized in that, by a first linear guide provided on one side of the reservoir and guiding the movement of the reservoir in the vertical direction, the movement of the reservoir is restricted in the vertical direction. The method of claim 14,
In the reservoir height adjustment step,
A printing method, characterized in that the movement of the counter mass is limited in the vertical direction by a second linear guide provided on one side of the counter mass and guiding the movement of the counter mass in the vertical direction. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the liquid in the counter mass contains the same material as the ink in the reservoir. The method of claim 16,
The counter mass has the same size as the reservoir, and the inner space of the counter mass has the same size as a space in which the ink of the reservoir is stored. The method of claim 13,
And an ink supply step of supplying the ink to the reservoir from a main storage unit connected to the reservoir through a supply passage. The method of claim 13,
The first ink discharging step and the second ink discharging step are performed continuously, and at the same time, the moving step and the reservoir height adjusting step are performed.

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