TWI696498B - Apparatus for cleaning nozzle - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a nozzle cleaning apparatus for rapidly and smoothly cleaning a nozzle without disassembling the nozzle, the apparatus including: a nozzle support on which a nozzle is mounted; a cleaning liquid supply unit which is connected to the nozzle through a supply tube and supplies a cleaning liquid into the nozzle; a container which accommodates the cleaning liquid discharged from an outlet of the nozzle; and a blocking unit which blocks the outlet of the nozzle.

Description

Nozzle cleaning device

The invention relates to a nozzle cleaning device for automatically cleaning nozzles.

Generally speaking, in the process of manufacturing a liquid crystal panel, in order to prevent the liquid crystal sandwiched between the substrates from leaking to the outside and maintain the spacing between the substrates, the adhesive is applied to at least one substrate in a predetermined pattern.

The glue dispenser is used to form glue patterns on the substrate. The dispenser includes: a platform provided on the frame and supporting the substrate, a coating head unit including a syringe filled with glue and a nozzle communicating with the syringe, and a coating head unit support frame supporting the coating head unit.

The glue dispenser forms a glue pattern on the substrate when changing the relative position between the nozzle and the substrate. In other words, when the dispensing machine moves the nozzle installed in the coating head unit in the vertical direction to precisely adjust the gap between the nozzle and the substrate, the nozzle and/or substrate is moved in the horizontal direction, and the glue is discharged from the nozzle to deposit on the substrate Form a glue pattern on it.

During the process of discharging the glue from the nozzle to form a glue pattern on the substrate, the glue may stick inside the nozzle, or the glue may stick around the nozzle outlet. When the glue sticks inside the nozzle or around the nozzle outlet, the nozzle outlet may block, so that the glue cannot be discharged smoothly.

Therefore, in order to smoothly form the glue pattern on the substrate, the nozzle needs to be cleaned. To achieve this, in the related art, the operator must completely disassemble the nozzle, and manually wipe the nozzle element to clean the nozzle, so cleaning the nozzle takes a lot of time, resulting in a reduction in process efficiency.

[Related technical literature]

[Patent Literature]

Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2012-0069141.

The present invention is dedicated to providing a nozzle cleaning device that can quickly and smoothly clean the nozzle without disassembling the nozzle.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a nozzle cleaning device, including: a nozzle support, a cleaning liquid supply unit, a container, and a blocking unit, wherein the nozzle support is provided with a nozzle; the cleaning liquid supply unit is connected to the nozzle through a supply pipe and supplies cleaning The liquid enters the nozzle; the container contains the cleaning liquid discharged from the outlet of the nozzle; the blocking unit blocks the outlet of the nozzle.

The blocking unit may include: a blocking member and a blocking member driving device, wherein the blocking member is installed to be movable in a direction in which the blocking member is in contact with the outlet of the nozzle and in a direction in which the blocking member is to be moved away from the outlet of the nozzle; The member driving device connects the blocking member and moves the blocking member so that the blocking member blocks the outlet of the nozzle.

The nozzle may include a cylinder barrel and a conversion screw, wherein the cylinder barrel has the above outlet; the conversion screw is rotatably installed in the cylinder barrel, and the nozzle cleaning device may include a nozzle driving unit that rotates the conversion screw so that the cleaning liquid is in the nozzle cycle.

The nozzle driving unit may include a driving motor and a connecting member, wherein the driving motor generates driving power; the connecting member connects the driving motor to the conversion screw, and the connecting member may include a first connecting portion, a second connecting portion, and a joint portion, the first connecting portion The conversion screw is connected, the second connection part is connected to the drive shaft of the drive motor, and the joint part is rotatably connected to the first connection part and the second connection part and between the first connection part and the second connection part.

The cleaning liquid supply unit may include a cleaning liquid tank and a liquid level sensor, wherein the cleaning liquid tank contains the cleaning liquid and is connected to the nozzle through the supply pipe; the liquid level sensor is installed in the cleaning liquid tank and detects the content contained in the cleaning liquid tank The level of the cleaning fluid.

The nozzle cleaning device may further include a gas supply unit, which is connected to the nozzle through the supply pipe and supplies gas into the nozzle.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, by supplying the cleaning liquid into the nozzle, the nozzle can be cleaned quickly and smoothly without disassembling the nozzle, thereby improving the efficiency of the process of applying the glue to the substrate.

Furthermore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, after cleaning the nozzle, the nozzle can be dried with a cleaning liquid so that the nozzle can be quickly cleaned and then used.

10‧‧‧ nozzle

11‧‧‧Export

12‧‧‧Cylinder

13‧‧‧ Conversion screw

14‧‧‧Connecting member

15‧‧‧ entrance

20‧‧‧ nozzle support

30‧‧‧Fixed unit

40‧‧‧Cleaning fluid supply unit

41‧‧‧Supply tube

42‧‧‧Clean tank

43‧‧‧Liquid level sensor

45‧‧‧Valve

46‧‧‧Valve

50‧‧‧Nozzle drive unit

51‧‧‧Drive motor

52‧‧‧Connector

521‧‧‧First connection

522‧‧‧Second connection

523‧‧‧Joint Department

60‧‧‧Container

70‧‧‧block unit

71‧‧‧block

72‧‧‧block member driving device

80‧‧‧Control unit

90‧‧‧Gas supply unit

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a nozzle cleaning device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic diagram of a nozzle to be cleaned by a nozzle cleaning device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a control block diagram of a nozzle cleaning device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

4 and 5 are schematic perspective views of the operation of the nozzle cleaning device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a schematic diagram of a nozzle cleaning device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a control block diagram of a nozzle cleaning device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, referring to the accompanying drawings, a nozzle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described Clean the device.

The nozzle cleaning device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be used to clean the nozzles described in this case [Prior Art] and Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2012-0069141, for example. Furthermore, the nozzle cleaning device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be provided separately from the dispenser, or installed in the dispenser.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a nozzle cleaning device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a nozzle support 20, a fixing unit 30, a cleaning liquid supply unit 40, a nozzle driving unit 50, a container 60, a blocking unit 70, and a control unit 80, wherein the nozzle 10 of the dispenser is installed on the nozzle support 20; the fixing unit 30 is installed on the nozzle support 20 and fixes the nozzle 10 to the nozzle support 20; the cleaning liquid supply unit 40 supplies the cleaning liquid into the nozzle 10 The nozzle driving unit 50 drives the nozzle 10 to discharge the cleaning liquid from the outlet of the nozzle 10; the container 60 contains the cleaning liquid discharged from the outlet 11 of the nozzle 10; the blocking unit 70 blocks the outlet 11 of the nozzle 10; the control unit 80 controls the cleaning liquid supply unit 40. Nozzle driving unit 50 and blocking unit 70.

The nozzle 10 may include a tubular cylinder 12 having an outlet 11, a conversion screw 13 rotatably installed in the cylinder 12, and a connecting member 14, wherein the connecting member 14 connects one end of the conversion screw 13 and connects the nozzle driving unit 50.

The inlet 15 is formed on one side of the cylinder 12, and the glue is supplied from the outside through the inlet 15; and the outlet 11 that discharges the glue is formed at the lower end of the cylinder 12. In the example where the nozzle 10 to be cleaned is the nozzle support 20 installed in the nozzle cleaning device, the inlet 15 may be connected to the cleaning liquid supply unit 40 through the supply pipe 41. In turn, the cleaning fluid can be discharged from the outlet 11.

The conversion screw 13 is formed with plural threads and rotates to discharge the glue supplied through the inlet 15 of the cylinder 12 through the outlet 11. The nozzle 10 to be cleaned is the nozzle installed in the nozzle cleaning device In the example of the nozzle support 20, when the conversion screw 13 is rotated by the operation of the nozzle driving unit 50, the cleaning liquid supplied through the inlet 15 circulates in the nozzle 10. With this procedure, the inside of the nozzle 10 can be cleaned with the cleaning liquid.

In a state where the conversion screw 13 is inserted into the cylinder 12, the connecting member 14 is exposed outside the cylinder 12 and used to transmit power to the conversion screw 13. In the state of being connected to the conversion screw 13, the connection member 14 can move together with the conversion screw 13. For example, the connecting member 14 may be formed integrally with the conversion screw 13. The connection member 14 may be made of engineering plastics (such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK)) to reduce the generation of foreign objects due to friction during the process of transmitting power through the connection member 14.

The nozzle support 20 can be installed in a separate device or space from the dispenser. In another example, the nozzle support 20 may be installed in the dispenser. In such a situation, the nozzle support 20 may be installed on the coating head unit support frame, and the coating head unit support frame supports the coating head unit so that the coating head can move. In the example where the nozzle support 20 is installed in the dispenser, the operator can install the nozzle 10 on the nozzle support 20 to clean the nozzle 10 immediately after the nozzle 10 is separated from the coating head unit, thereby improving the process effectiveness.

The fixing unit 30 may be a latch that fixes the nozzle 10 to the nozzle support 20 by pressing the front end of the nozzle 10. However, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the fixed unit 30, and various configurations of the fixed unit 30 may be used, such as a device including a hydraulically or pneumatically operated clamp, or an electrically operated solenoid.

The cleaning liquid supply unit 40 may include a cleaning liquid tank 42 and a valve member 45. The cleaning liquid tank 42 contains the cleaning liquid and is connected to the nozzle 10 through the supply tube 41. The valve member 45 supplies the cleaning liquid through the supply tube 41 or blocks the supply of the cleaning liquid. Acetone can be used as a cleaning solution.

For example, the cleaning liquid tank 42 is disposed at a position higher than the nozzle 10, and can be borrowed The cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid tank 42 is supplied to the nozzle 10 by gravity. In another example, the cleaning liquid supply unit 40 may further include a device for squeezing the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid tank 42 (for example, a pressure generator connected to the cleaning liquid tank 42) or a device for pumping the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid tank 42 (For example, a pump), and the cleaning liquid can be forced to be supplied from the cleaning liquid tank 42 to the nozzle 10 through the supply pipe 41.

The valve member 45 may be a control valve controlled by the control unit 80 to adjust the flow rate of the cleaning liquid flowing through the supply pipe 41.

Meanwhile, the cleaning liquid supply unit 40 may further include a liquid level sensor 43 installed in the cleaning liquid tank 42 to detect the liquid level of the cleaning liquid contained in the cleaning liquid tank 42. As the liquid level sensor 43, a typical electronic or mechanical liquid level sensor may be used. The control unit 80 may calculate the supply amount of the cleaning liquid based on the cleaning liquid level change measured by the liquid level sensor 43. Therefore, the control unit 80 can control the cleaning liquid supply unit 40, the nozzle driving unit 50, and the blocking unit 70 so that the supply amount of the cleaning liquid used during the procedure of cleaning the nozzle 10 is within the reference amount, thereby avoiding unnecessary cleaning liquid waste.

The nozzle driving unit 50 may include a driving motor 51 that generates driving power and a connector 52 that connects the driving motor 51 to the nozzle 10.

The driving motor 51 may be a motor that reciprocally rotates a driving shaft (not shown) connected to the driving motor 51.

The connecting member 52 may include a first connecting portion 521, a second connecting portion 522, and a joint portion 523, the first connecting portion 521 is connected to the nozzle 10, the second connecting portion 522 is connected to the drive shaft of the drive motor 51, and the joint portion 523 is rotatably connected The first connection portion 521 and the second connection portion 522 are between the first connection portion 521 and the second connection portion 522. The first connection portion 521 may be connected to the conversion screw 13 through the connection member 14. The connecting member 52 can be configured as a universal joint, wherein the joint part 523 is rotatably connected to the first joint The connecting portion 521 and the second connecting portion 522. Furthermore, the connecting member 52 may be a flexible coupling member, wherein at least one of the first connecting portion 521, the second connecting portion 522, and the joint portion 523 is made of an elastic material (such as rubber). Therefore, even if the conversion screw 13 of the nozzle 10 and the drive shaft of the drive motor 51 are misaligned, and the conversion screw 13 of the nozzle 10 and the drive shaft of the drive motor 51 are eccentric and deviated, the driving power of the drive motor 51 can be transmitted through The connector 52 is smoothly transferred to the conversion screw 13. In addition, for example, when a rigid shaft is used to connect the conversion screw 13 of the nozzle 10 and the drive shaft of the drive motor 51, problems such as foreign objects and deflection of the rigid shaft due to friction may be avoided.

The container 60 is directly installed under the outlet 11 of the nozzle 10 and is used to contain the cleaning liquid discharged from the outlet 11 of the nozzle 10.

The blocking unit 70 may include a blocking member 71 and a blocking member driving device 72 installed in a direction in which the blocking member 71 is to be in contact with the outlet 11 of the nozzle 10 and when the blocking member 71 is to be moved away from the outlet 11 of the nozzle 10 Horizontally movable in the direction, the blocking member driving device 72 connects the blocking member 71 and moves the blocking member 71 so that the blocking member 71 blocks the outlet 11 of the nozzle 10.

In order to prevent the nozzle 10 from being damaged when the blocking member 71 is to be in contact with the nozzle 10, the portion of the blocking member 71 that is in contact with the outlet 11 of the nozzle 10 may be made of an elastic material.

The blocking member driving device 72 is used to move the blocking member 71 horizontally, and can be configured as a linear motion mechanism, such as an actuator operated by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, a ball screw, or a linear motor.

Hereinafter, the operation of the nozzle cleaning device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

First, separate the nozzle 10 to be cleaned from the applicator head unit of the dispenser, and then The nozzle 10 is mounted on the nozzle support 20 by the fixing unit 30.

In such a situation, the nozzle 10 is in a state where the conversion screw 13 is integrally coupled to the cylinder 12, and the cylinder 12 and the conversion screw 13 need not be separated from each other when cleaning the nozzle 10. Furthermore, the nozzle 10 can be transported with the connecting member 14 connected to the conversion screw 13. At the same time, a syringe that supplies glue to the nozzle 10 is attached to the nozzle 10, and the syringe is removed from the nozzle 10 before the nozzle 10 is installed on the nozzle support 20.

When the nozzle 10 is installed on the nozzle support 20, the conversion screw 13 of the nozzle 10 is connected to the drive motor 51 through the connection member 14 and the connection 52. The connecting member 52 is configured as a flexible coupling member, so that the conversion screw 13 of the nozzle 10 can be easily connected to the driving shaft of the driving motor 51.

Then, the nozzle 10 may be connected to the cleaning liquid tank 42 of the cleaning liquid supply unit 40 through the supply pipe 41. One end of the supply pipe 41 is connected to the inlet 15, which is where the syringe can be connected to the nozzle 10.

When the nozzle 10 is connected to the cleaning liquid supply unit 40, a predetermined amount of cleaning liquid is supplied to the nozzle 10 from the cleaning liquid supply unit 40 in the initial stage. In such a situation, the cleaning liquid is supplied until a small amount of cleaning liquid is discharged from the outlet 11 of the nozzle 10. The initial supply amount of the cleaning liquid may be determined in advance, and the control unit 80 may calculate the supply amount of the cleaning liquid based on the liquid level detected by the liquid level sensor 43, and control the cleaning liquid supply unit 40 to supply the predetermined initial supply amount of the cleaning liquid. Therefore, unnecessary waste of cleaning liquid can be avoided.

Then, when cleaning liquid is supplied until a small amount of cleaning liquid is discharged from the outlet 11 of the nozzle 10, the blocking member 71 is moved into contact with the outlet 11 of the nozzle 10 by the operation of the blocking member driving device 72, and blocks the outlet 11, as shown in FIG. 4 Shown. Therefore, the cleaning liquid in the nozzle 10 stops flowing.

In this state, the following steps can be performed in the order exemplified or the reverse order, Regardless of the exemplified order, at least two steps may be repeated.

(1) In the state where the outlet 11 is blocked, the cleaning liquid can circulate inside the nozzle 10 when the conversion screw 13 rotates. In such a situation, the switching screw 13 can be reciprocated or repeatedly reciprocated.

(2) In a state where the blocking member 71 is separated from the nozzle 10 and the outlet 11 is opened, the cleaning liquid can be supplied to the nozzle 10 from the cleaning liquid supply unit 40 and circulated inside the nozzle 10 and then discharged from the outlet 11. In such a situation, the switch screw 13 can be rotated. The cleaning liquid discharged from the outlet 11 may be collected in the container 60, and then discarded or reused (see FIG. 5).

(3) In the state where the outlet 11 is opened and the cleaning liquid is continuously supplied, the switching screw 13 may be stopped, or repeatedly rotated and stopped (see FIG. 5).

(4) In the state of continuous supply of cleaning liquid, the outlet 11 can be repeatedly opened and blocked.

Therefore, when the cleaning liquid circulates inside the nozzle 10, it can clean the inner surface of the cylinder 12 and the outer surface of the conversion screw 13, especially the portion between the threads of the conversion screw 13, and then be discharged to the outside together with foreign matter.

After the operation is performed, in a state where the supply of the cleaning liquid is interrupted, the outlet 11 is opened and the cleaning liquid is completely discharged from the nozzle 10. Then, the nozzle 10 is separated from the nozzle support 20 in the reverse order to the order in which the nozzle 10 is attached to the nozzle support 20, and then attached to the coating head unit of the dispenser.

The nozzle cleaning device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention can clean the nozzle 10 quickly and smoothly by supplying the cleaning liquid into the nozzle without disassembling the nozzle 10, thereby improving the process efficiency of applying glue to the substrate.

Hereinafter, a nozzle cleaning device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. Similar reference symbols indicate the same parts as the aforementioned exemplary embodiments, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a nozzle cleaning device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a gas supply unit 90 that is connected to the nozzle 10 through a supply pipe 41 and supplies gas to the nozzle 10.

The gas supply unit 90 may be configured as a compressor or a blower. The gas supplied by the gas supply unit 90 may be dry gas without moisture.

Meanwhile, the gas supply unit 90 and the cleaning liquid supply unit 40 may be connected to the nozzle 10 through a single supply pipe 41. In such a situation, the supply pipe 41 is provided with a three-way valve member 46 to supply only one of cleaning liquid and gas through the supply pipe 41. The valve member 46 may be a control valve controlled by the control unit 80.

After the cleaning liquid circulates in the nozzle 10 and discharges the cleaning liquid from the nozzle 10, the gas supply unit 90 supplies the gas to the nozzle 10 through the supply pipe 41. Therefore, the cleaning liquid remaining in the nozzle 10 can be discharged by the gas flow supplied to the nozzle 10, and the inside of the nozzle 10 can be dried.

The nozzle cleaning device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention can dry the nozzle 10 after the nozzle is cleaned by the cleaning liquid, so that the nozzle 10 can be quickly cleaned and then used.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes. However, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific exemplary embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope defined by the scope of the appended patent application.

10‧‧‧ nozzle

11‧‧‧Export

20‧‧‧ nozzle support

30‧‧‧Fixed unit

40‧‧‧Cleaning fluid supply unit

41‧‧‧Supply tube

42‧‧‧Clean tank

43‧‧‧Liquid level sensor

45‧‧‧Valve

50‧‧‧Nozzle drive unit

51‧‧‧Drive motor

60‧‧‧Container

70‧‧‧block unit

71‧‧‧block

72‧‧‧block member driving device

Claims (5)

A nozzle cleaning device includes: a nozzle support member on which a nozzle is mounted; a cleaning liquid supply unit, which is connected to the nozzle through a supply pipe and supplies a cleaning liquid into the nozzle; a container, which is accommodated from the nozzle The cleaning liquid discharged from an outlet; and a blocking unit blocking the outlet of the nozzle, wherein the blocking unit includes: a blocking member installed in a direction in which the blocking member is to contact the outlet of the nozzle and in the The blocking member is movable in a direction to move away from the outlet of the nozzle; and a blocking member driving device is connected to the blocking member and moves the blocking member so that the blocking member blocks the outlet of the nozzle. A nozzle cleaning device includes: a nozzle support member on which a nozzle is mounted; a cleaning liquid supply unit, which is connected to the nozzle through a supply pipe and supplies a cleaning liquid into the nozzle; a container, which is accommodated from the nozzle The cleaning fluid discharged from an outlet; and a blocking unit blocking the outlet of the nozzle, wherein the nozzle includes a cylinder having the outlet and a conversion screw rotatably installed in the cylinder, and the nozzle is cleaned The device includes a nozzle driving unit which rotates the conversion screw to circulate the cleaning liquid in the nozzle. The nozzle cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the nozzle driving unit includes generating driving power A driving motor and a connecting piece connecting the driving motor to the conversion screw, and the connecting piece includes a first connecting part, a second connecting part and a joint part, the first connecting part is connected to the converting screw, The second connecting part is connected to a driving shaft of the driving motor, and the joint part is rotatably connected to the first connecting part and the second connecting part between the first connecting part and the second connecting part. A nozzle cleaning device includes: a nozzle support member on which a nozzle is mounted; a cleaning liquid supply unit, which is connected to the nozzle through a supply pipe and supplies a cleaning liquid into the nozzle; a container, which is accommodated from the nozzle A cleaning liquid discharged from an outlet; and a blocking unit blocking the outlet of the nozzle, wherein the cleaning liquid supply unit includes a cleaning liquid tank and a liquid level sensor, the cleaning liquid tank contains the cleaning liquid and passes through the supply The pipe is connected to the nozzle, and the liquid level sensor is installed in the cleaning liquid tank and detects the liquid level of the cleaning liquid contained in the cleaning liquid tank. A nozzle cleaning device includes: a nozzle support member on which a nozzle is mounted; a cleaning liquid supply unit, which is connected to the nozzle through a supply pipe and supplies a cleaning liquid into the nozzle; a container, which is accommodated from the nozzle The cleaning liquid discharged from an outlet; a blocking unit blocking the outlet of the nozzle; and a gas supply unit connected to the nozzle through the supply pipe and supplying gas into the nozzle.

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