DROPLET JETTING APPLICATOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING COATED BODY

Abstract

A droplet jetting applicator includes: a droplet jetting head which freely moves and includes a nozzle surface with a plurality of nozzles formed, from which droplets are jetted; a suction section which sucks the droplets jetted by the droplet jetting head from a facing position facing the nozzle surface; a support/transfer section which supports the suction section, freely moves together with the droplet jetting head, and moves the supported suction section to the facing position and a non-facing position which is apart from the facing position; and an exhaust section which evacuates the suction section to give the suction section a suction force.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a droplet jetting applicator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of an inkjet head unit and a head maintenance unit which are included in the droplet jetting applicator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a schematic configuration of the head maintenance unit shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a suction section included in the head maintenance unit shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Claims

1. A droplet jetting applicator comprising: a droplet jetting head which is movably provided and includes a nozzle surface with a plurality of nozzles formed, through which droplets are jetted;a suction section which sucks the droplets jetted by the droplet jetting head at a facing position opposite to the nozzle surface;a support/transfer section which supports the suction section, freely moves together with the droplet jetting head, and moves the supported suction section to the facing position and a non-facing position which is apart from the facing position; andan exhaust section which evacuates the suction section to give the suction section a suction force.

2. The droplet jetting applicator according to claim 1, wherein the suction section includes an opposite surface which faces the nozzle surface when the suction section is located at the facing position and includes a plurality of through holes.

3. A method of manufacturing a coated body, comprising: preparing a droplet jetting applicator; andjetting droplets to a coated body using the droplet jetting applicator, wherein:the droplet jetting applicator includes:a droplet jetting head which is movably provided and includes a nozzle surface with a plurality of nozzles formed, through which droplets are jetted;a suction section which sucks the droplets jetted by the droplet jetting head at a facing position opposite to the nozzle surface;a support/transfer section which supports the suction section, freely moves together with the droplet jetting head, and moves the supported suction section to the facing position and a non-facing position which is apart from the facing position; andan exhaust section which evacuates the suction section to give the suction section a suction force.

4. The method of manufacturing a coated body according to claim 3, wherein the suction section includes an opposite surface which faces the nozzle surface when the suction section is located at the facing position and includes a plurality of through holes.