KR20230023112A - Inkjet printing apparatus and inkjet printing methode using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an inkjet printing device comprises: a stage where a target substrate is loaded; a support unit disposed on the stage; and a printing head unit moved on the support unit. The printing head unit comprises an inkjet head pack, and the inkjet head pack comprises a plurality of inkjet heads. The plurality of inkjet heads are disposed in a zigzag shape in a movement direction of the printing head unit.

Description

Inkjet printing device and inkjet printing method using the same {INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS AND INKJET PRINTING METHODE USING THE SAME}

The present disclosure relates to an inkjet printing device and an inkjet printing method using the same.

A display device is a device that displays a screen, and includes a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), and the like. Such display devices are used in various electronic devices such as mobile phones, navigation devices, digital cameras, electronic books, portable game consoles, and various terminals.

In the process of manufacturing such a display device, an inkjet printing process may be used to form layers such as an organic light emitting layer and a color filter.

Embodiments are intended to provide an inkjet printing device in which a plurality of nozzles ejecting ink to form a pixel area are arranged to be included in different rows of different inkjet heads. Through this, it is intended to provide an inkjet printing device having a stable ejection state regardless of the flow rate or concentration of ink. It is intended to provide an inkjet printing process with improved reliability by using such an inkjet printing device.

An inkjet printing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a stage on which a target substrate is loaded; a support part disposed on the stage; and a printing head unit moving on the support, wherein the printing head unit includes an inkjet head pack, the inkjet head pack includes a plurality of inkjet heads, and the plurality of inkjet heads move the printing head unit. They are arranged in a zigzag pattern along the direction.

The moving direction of the printing head unit is a second direction, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction, and the plurality of inkjet heads may be shifted by different distances along the first direction.

Each of the plurality of inkjet heads may include a plurality of nozzles, and the plurality of nozzles may be arranged in two or more rows different from each other.

The plurality of nozzles include a 1st row nozzle disposed in n row, a 2nd row nozzle disposed in n+1 row, a 3rd row nozzle disposed in n+2 row, and a 4th row nozzle disposed in n+3 row. May include row nozzles.

The plurality of nozzles included in one inkjet head may be arranged at a constant distance.

The plurality of nozzles included in the one inkjet head may be spaced apart at a first interval.

The first nozzle set may include a plurality of nozzles located within the first interval and included in different inkjet heads.

The inkjet printing device may include a plurality of first nozzle sets.

A plurality of nozzles included in the first nozzle set may be spaced apart at regular intervals.

A plurality of nozzles included in the first nozzle set may be spaced apart from each other along the first direction.

A plurality of nozzles included in the first nozzle set may be regularly spaced at a second interval along the first direction.

An inkjet printing method according to an embodiment includes loading a target substrate on a stage; disposing a printing head unit including a plurality of inkjet heads on the target substrate, and ejecting ink on the target substrate, wherein each of the plurality of inkjet heads is disposed in at least two or more rows; nozzles, and each of the plurality of inkjet heads ejects ink from nozzles arranged in different rows.

The printing head unit may move in a second direction, and the plurality of inkjet heads may shift to different degrees along a first direction perpendicular to the second direction.

Embodiments may provide an inkjet printing device in which a plurality of nozzles ejecting ink to form a pixel area are arranged to be included in different rows of different heads. Through this, it is possible to provide an inkjet printing device having a stable ejection state regardless of the flow rate or concentration of ink. An inkjet printing process with improved reliability can be provided by using such an inkjet printing device.

1 is a perspective view of an inkjet printing device according to an exemplary embodiment.
2 is a schematic plan view of a print head unit according to an exemplary embodiment.
3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation of a print head unit according to an exemplary embodiment.
4 is a schematic plan view of a print head unit according to an exemplary embodiment.
5 is a flowchart of an inkjet printing method according to an embodiment.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention. This invention may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

In order to clearly describe the present invention, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted, and the same reference numerals are assigned to the same or similar components throughout the specification.

In addition, since the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for convenience of explanation, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the shown bar. In the drawings, the thickness is shown enlarged to clearly express the various layers and regions. And in the drawings, for convenience of explanation, the thicknesses of some layers and regions are exaggerated.

In addition, when a part such as a layer, film, region, plate, etc. is said to be "on" or "on" another part, this includes not only the case where it is "directly on" the other part, but also the case where another part is in the middle. . Conversely, when a part is said to be "directly on" another part, it means that there is no other part in between. In addition, being "above" or "on" a reference part means being located above or below the reference part, and does not necessarily mean being located "above" or "on" in the opposite direction of gravity. .

In addition, throughout the specification, when a certain component is said to "include", it means that it may further include other components without excluding other components unless otherwise stated.

In addition, throughout the specification, when it is referred to as "planar image", it means when the target part is viewed from above, and when it is referred to as "cross-sectional image", it means when a cross section of the target part cut vertically is viewed from the side.

Hereinafter, a printing device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 . 1 is a perspective view of an inkjet printing device according to an exemplary embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a print head unit according to an exemplary embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an operation of the print head unit according to an exemplary embodiment.

In FIG. 1 , a first direction DR1 , a second direction DR2 , and a third direction DR3 are defined. The first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2 are located on the same plane and are orthogonal to each other, and the third direction DR3 is perpendicular to the first and second directions DR1 and DR2, respectively. is the direction It can be understood that the first direction DR1 means the horizontal direction in the drawing, the second direction DR2 means the vertical direction in the drawing, and the third direction DR3 means the upper and lower directions in the drawing. there is.

1 to 3 , an inkjet printing apparatus (IP) according to an embodiment may include a base frame (BF), a print head unit (HU), and a stage (STA).

The base frame BF may include a support unit SUP and a head moving unit HTU. The support part SUP includes a first support part SUP1 extending in a first horizontal direction DR1 and a second support part SUP2 connected to the first support part SUP1 and extending in a third direction DR3 which is a vertical direction. ) may be included.

The head moving unit HTU includes a head moving unit HT mounted on the first support unit SUP1 and movable in one direction, and a head disposed on the lower surface of the head moving unit HT to which the print head unit HU is disposed. A fixing part HF may be included.

The head moving unit HT can move in the first direction DR1 on the first support unit SUP1, and the print head unit HU is fixed to the fixing unit HF to move in the first direction together with the head moving unit HT. It can move in the direction DR1.

The print head unit HU may be disposed on the base frame BF. The print head unit HU may be spaced apart from the stage STA at a lower part of the base frame BF by a predetermined distance. The distance between the print head unit HU and the stage STA may be adjusted by the height of the second support part SUP2 of the base frame BF. The print head unit HU may be connected to a separate ink storage unit to jet predetermined ink onto the target substrate SUB.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the print head unit HU includes a plurality of inkjet head packs IHP, and each inkjet head pack IHP may include a plurality of inkjet heads IH.

According to an embodiment, each inkjet head pack (IHP) may form light emitting layers having different colors. The print head unit (HU) according to an embodiment includes six inkjet head packs (IHP), two inkjet head packs (IHP) discharge ink for forming a red light emitting layer, and two inkjet head packs (IHP) IHP) may eject ink for forming a green light emitting layer, and two inkjet head packs (IHP) may eject ink for forming a blue light emitting layer.

Although the drawing shows only 6 inkjet head packs (IHP) disposed in the print head unit (HU), this schematically shows the print head unit (HU) and the number of inkjet head packs (IHP) is not limited thereto. .

A plurality of inkjet heads IH included in one inkjet head pack IHP may be spaced apart from each other along the second direction DR2 . 2 shows that the inkjet heads IHs are arranged in one row and the inkjet heads IHs in each row are alternately arranged. The plurality of inkjet heads IH may be arranged in a zigzag shape along the first direction DR1 , and a detailed arrangement shape will be described with reference to FIG. 4 .

The shape of the inkjet head IH is not particularly limited, but as an example, the inkjet head IH may have a rectangular shape.

The inkjet head IH disposed in the print head unit HU may jet ink onto the target substrate SUB disposed on the stage STA. According to an exemplary embodiment, the print head unit HU may move along the first direction on the first support unit SUP1, and the inkjet head IH may move to a specific position and jet ink onto the target substrate SUB. can do.

The print head unit HU may move in the first direction DR1 in which the first support part SUP1 extends, and the inkjet head IH may move in the second direction DR2 and print ink on the target substrate SUB. can spray.

In an exemplary embodiment, the ink may be provided in a solution or colloidal state. For example, the solvent may be acetone, water, alcohol, toluene, propylene glycol (PG) or propylene glycol methyl acetate (PGMA), but is not limited thereto.

The width of the target substrate SUB measured in the first direction DR1 may be greater than the width of the print head unit HU. In this case, the print head unit HU may move in the first direction DR1 and spray ink all over the target substrate SUB.

According to an embodiment, each of the plurality of inkjet heads IH may include a plurality of nozzles NZ as shown in FIG. 3 . Ink may be sprayed onto the target substrate SUB through the plurality of nozzles NZ. The inkjet head IH may eject ink through a plurality of nozzles NZ. The ink ejected from the nozzle NZ may be jetted onto the target substrate SUB provided on the stage STA or sub-stage SSTA. The plurality of nozzles NZ may be located on the lower surface of the inkjet head IH and may be arranged along one direction in which the inkjet head IH extends.

When the stage STA moves in the second direction DR2 and is located under the base frame BF, the print head unit HU moves between the first rail RL1 and the second rail RL2 to inkjet the print head unit HU. Ink may be ejected through the head IH. The operation of the inkjet head (IH) is not limited thereto and may be variously modified within a range capable of implementing it. A detailed description of the operation of the inkjet head IH will be omitted.

The stage STA may include a plate-shaped part capable of fixing the target substrate SUB and rails RL1 and RL2 capable of moving it. The stage STA may include two rails RL1 and RL2, and the target substrate SUB may be moved in the second direction DR2 and the like by using the rails RL1 and RL2. The target substrate SUB is an object of inkjet printing, and a predetermined layer may be formed by spraying ink on the entire upper surface of the target substrate SUB while moving the position of the target substrate SUB by the stage STA. . For example, an organic emission layer may be formed on the target substrate SUB.

Meanwhile, the present specification is an embodiment in which the print head unit (HU) moves in a first direction and the stage (STA) moves in a second direction to adjust the position where the ink ejected from the inkjet head (IH) is provided. It shows, but is not limited thereto. That is, the print head unit HU moves along the first and second directions to adjust the ink ejection position, or the stage STA moves along the first and second directions to adjust the ink ejection position. can be adjusted.

The sub-stage SSTA may provide a space in which the target substrate SUB is disposed. The shape of the sub-stage SSTA is not particularly limited, but as an example, the sub-stage SSTA has a rectangular shape with both sides extending in the first and second directions DR1 and DR2 as shown in the drawing. can have The sub-stage SSTA may include a long side extending in the first direction DR1 and a short side extending in the second direction DR2. However, the overall planar shape of the sub-stage SSTA may vary depending on the planar shape of the target substrate SUB. For example, when the target substrate SUB has a rectangular shape on a plane, the shape of the sub-stage SSTA may be rectangular as shown in the drawing, and when the target substrate SUB has a circular plane, the sub-stage ( SSTA) may also have a circular shape on a plane. Although the present specification shows an embodiment in which the target substrate SUB is disposed on the sub-stage SSTA, it is not limited thereto, and the sub-stage SSTA may be omitted and positioned directly above the stage STA.

Hereinafter, an inkjet printing device and an inkjet printing method using the same according to an embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 . 4 is a plan view of an inkjet printing device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a printing method using the inkjet printing device according to an embodiment. Since the inkjet printing device described above is used, description of overlapping configurations will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 4 , one inkjet head pack (IHP) includes a plurality of inkjet heads (IH). For example, the inkjet head pack IHP includes a first inkjet head IH1, a second inkjet head IH2, a third inkjet head IH3, and a fourth inkjet head IH4 disposed along the second direction DR2. and a fifth inkjet head IH5. Although this specification shows and describes an embodiment in which one inkjet head pack (IHP) includes five inkjet heads (IH), it is not limited to this number and may be variously changed.

The plurality of inkjet heads IH may be arranged in one row along the second direction DR2, and may be particularly arranged in a zigzag shape. The plurality of inkjet heads IH may have shapes shifted by different distances along the first direction DR1 based on the edge of the inkjet head pack IHP. For example, the 4th inkjet head IH4, the 2nd inkjet head IH2, the 3rd inkjet head IH3, the 1st inkjet head IH1, and the 5th inkjet head IH5 are arranged in the order of the inkjet head pack IHP. It may be spaced apart from one edge (eg the left edge). That is, the fourth inkjet head IH4 may be located closest to the left edge of the inkjet head pack IHP, and the fifth inkjet head IH5 may be located farthest. However, it is not limited to this order, and any embodiment in which the plurality of inkjet heads IH are spaced apart by different shift degrees may be possible.

Each inkjet head IH may include a plurality of nozzles NZ. The plurality of nozzles NZ may be spaced apart at regular intervals along the first direction DR1 . The plurality of nozzles NZ may be spaced apart at the same first interval W1 along the first direction DR1. The first interval W1 may be changed in consideration of the number of nozzles NZ included in the inkjet head IH, the size of the nozzles NZ, and the characteristics of provided ink. It may be a micrometer, and for example, it may be 70 micrometers to 71 micrometers.

The plurality of nozzles NZ may be disposed in two or more different rows, for example, in four different rows. Although this specification shows an embodiment in which a plurality of nozzles NZ are arranged in four rows, the number is not limited thereto and may be changed depending on the embodiment.

The plurality of nozzles NZ include a first row nozzle NZ1 disposed in n row, a second row nozzle NZ2 disposed in n+1 row, a third row nozzle NZ3 disposed in n+2 row, And it may include a fourth row nozzle (NZ4) disposed in the n+3 row. Here, n is a natural number greater than or equal to 1.

For example, each inkjet head IH includes two first row nozzles NZ1, two second row nozzles NZ2, two third row nozzles NZ3, and one fourth row nozzle NZ4. can include In addition, the first inkjet head IH1 includes a first row nozzle NZ1, a third row nozzle NZ3, a second row nozzle NZ2, a fourth row nozzle NZ4, and a second row nozzle NZ4 along the first direction DR1. It may include a plurality of nozzles NZ disposed in the order of the first row nozzle NZ1 , the third row nozzle NZ3 , and the second row nozzle NZ2 .

A plurality of nozzles disposed within a first interval W1 among the plurality of nozzles NZ included in one inkjet head pack IHP based on the first row nozzles NZ1 of the first inkjet head IH1 (NZ) is referred to as the first nozzle set NS1. One inkjet head pack IHP may include a plurality of first nozzle sets NS1.

The first nozzle set NS1 may include a plurality of nozzles NZ disposed in different rows. The first nozzle set NS1 includes the first row nozzles NZ1 included in the first inkjet head IH1, the second row nozzles NZ2 included in the second inkjet head IH2, and the third inkjet head IH3. ) and a fourth row nozzle NZ4 included in the fourth inkjet head IH4. According to the embodiment, the first nozzle set NS1 may further include the first row nozzles NZ1 included in the fifth inkjet head IH5. In the present specification, the first nozzle set NS1 includes a first row nozzle NZ1, a second row nozzle NZ2, a third row nozzle NZ3, and a fourth row nozzle (NZ1) disposed along the second direction DR2. NZ4) has been described. However, the order is not limited, and nozzles included in different inkjet heads and located in different rows may be included, and the third row nozzles NZ3, the fourth row nozzles NZ4, and the second row nozzles NZ2 , arranged in the order of the nozzles NZ1 in the first row, and the like.

The plurality of nozzles NZ included in the first nozzle set NS1 may be spaced apart at equal intervals along the first direction DR1. The first row nozzle NZ1, the second row nozzle NZ2, the third row nozzle NZ3, and the fourth row nozzle NZ4 included in the first nozzle set NS1 are along the first direction DR1. They may be spaced apart by a certain interval. For example, the first row nozzles NZ1, the second row nozzles NZ2, the third row nozzles NZ3, and the fourth row nozzles NZ4 included in the first nozzle set NS1 have a second interval W2. can be spaced apart. The second interval W2 may vary depending on the size of the nozzle NZ, the characteristics of the provided ink, and the like, and may be, for example, 14 micrometers to 15 micrometers.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 5, an inkjet printing method using the inkjet printing apparatus described above will be described.

First, a plurality of target substrates SUB are loaded on the stage STA or sub-stage SSTA (S100). A plurality of target substrates SUB may be placed on the stage STA or sub-stage SSTA.

While the inkjet printing process progresses, the stage STA may move along the second direction DR2, but is not limited thereto and the moving direction of the stage STA may be variously changed.

Thereafter, the printing head unit HU may be disposed on the target substrate SUB (S200). Then, ink is ejected on the target substrate SUB using the printing head unit HU (S300). At this time, the aforementioned inkjet printing device (IP) may be used.

In the aforementioned inkjet printing device (IP), one inkjet head pack (IHP) may provide ink for forming a light emitting layer, and in particular, provide ink for forming a light emitting layer exhibiting any one of red, green, and blue colors. can do.

The printing head unit HU according to an embodiment may eject ink while moving along the second direction DR2 . Based on the inkjet head pack IHP shown in FIG. 4 , in the process of discharging ink to the pixel area PX, the first row nozzles NZ1 included in the first inkjet head IH1 and the second inkjet head The second row nozzles NZ2 included in IH2, the third row nozzles NZ3 included in the third inkjet head IH3, and the fourth row nozzles NZ4 included in the fourth inkjet head IH4 Ink can be ejected in this order. However, it is not limited to this order, and a plurality of nozzles included in different inkjet heads and disposed in different rows may sequentially eject ink.

According to the inkjet printing device and inkjet printing method, ink ejected to form one pixel area PX may be ejected from nozzles arranged in different rows.

The nozzles disposed in the same row may have similar ink characteristics such as temperature and flow rate of the provided ink. When ink discharged from a plurality of nozzles arranged in the same row is defective, a pixel area formed from the ink may exhibit defects such as stains and ink sedimentation.

However, when a plurality of nozzles forming one pixel area are disposed in different rows as in one embodiment, since the inks ejected to form one pixel area may have different characteristics, the position of the nozzle or the number of inks It is possible to provide a pixel area of improved quality while being less affected by characteristics. According to an embodiment, since a stable printing state may be provided, it may be possible to provide a display device having improved reliability.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention defined in the following claims are also included in the scope of the present invention. that fall within the scope of the right.

SUB: target substrate STA: stage
IHP: Inkjet Head Pack IH: Inkjet Head
NZ: Nozzle NZ1: 1st Row Nozzle
NZ2: 2nd row nozzle NZ3: 3rd row nozzle
NZ4: 4th row nozzle NS1: 1st nozzle set

Claims (20)

a stage on which a target substrate is loaded;
a support part disposed on the stage; and
a printing head unit moving on the support;
The printing head unit includes an inkjet head pack,
The inkjet head pack includes a plurality of inkjet heads,
The inkjet printing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inkjet heads are arranged in a zigzag pattern along a moving direction of the printing head unit. In paragraph 1,
the moving direction of the printing head unit is a second direction;
The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction,
The plurality of inkjet heads are shifted by different distances along a first direction. In paragraph 1,
Each of the plurality of inkjet heads includes a plurality of nozzles,
The plurality of nozzles are arranged in two or more rows different from each other. In paragraph 3,
The plurality of nozzles,
1st row nozzles arranged in n rows;
A second row nozzle disposed in n+1 row;
A third row nozzle disposed in the n+2 row, and
An inkjet printing device comprising nozzles in a fourth row arranged in rows n+3. In paragraph 3,
The plurality of nozzles included in one inkjet head are arranged at a constant distance. In paragraph 3,
The plurality of nozzles included in the one inkjet head are spaced apart at a first interval. In paragraph 6,
The first nozzle set is positioned within the first interval and includes a plurality of nozzles included in different inkjet heads. In paragraph 7,
An inkjet printing device comprising a plurality of first nozzle sets. In paragraph 7,
The plurality of nozzles included in the first nozzle set are spaced apart at regular intervals. In paragraph 7,
A plurality of nozzles included in the first nozzle set are spaced apart from each other along a first direction. loading a target substrate on a stage;
disposing a printing head unit including a plurality of inkjet heads on the target substrate; and
Discharging ink on the target substrate;
Each of the plurality of inkjet heads includes a plurality of nozzles arranged in at least two rows;
wherein each of the plurality of inkjet heads ejects ink from nozzles arranged in different rows. In paragraph 11,
the printing head unit moves in a second direction;
The plurality of inkjet heads are shifted to different degrees along a first direction perpendicular to the second direction. In paragraph 12,
Each of the plurality of inkjet heads,
1st row nozzles arranged in n rows;
A second row nozzle disposed in n+1 row;
A third row nozzle disposed in the n+2 row, and
An inkjet printing method comprising nozzles in a fourth row disposed in n+3 rows. In paragraph 11,
An inkjet printing method in which a distance between the plurality of nozzles is constant in one inkjet head. In paragraph 14,
The inkjet printing method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of nozzles included in one inkjet head are spaced apart at a first interval. In clause 15,
An inkjet printing method comprising a first nozzle set positioned within the first interval and included in different inkjet heads. In clause 16,
An inkjet printing method comprising a plurality of first nozzle sets. In clause 16,
The plurality of nozzles included in the first nozzle set are spaced apart at regular intervals. In clause 16,
A plurality of nozzles included in the first nozzle set are spaced apart from each other along a first direction. In paragraph 19,
The plurality of nozzles included in the first nozzle set are regularly spaced at a second interval along the first direction.

Images