Patent Grant
11279133
The present invention relates to an ink jet device for applying ink to a print object by ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles.
PTL 1 discloses an ink jet device for applying ink to a print object at intervals in a printing width direction perpendicular to a printing direction by ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles disposed at intervals in the printing width direction. In this ink jet device, the plurality of nozzles is disposed linearly in a longitudinal direction of the ink jet head having an elongated shape at intervals from each other. The intervals in the printing width direction of the nozzles can be changed by rotating the ink jet head about an axis perpendicular to a print surface of the print object.
PTL 1
Since the ink jet device disclosed in PTL 1 includes only one ink jet head, it is necessary to lengthen the ink jet head in the printing width direction in the case where the print object is large-sized, such as a large display device and/or the like. However, if the ink jet head is too long, the influence of thermal expansion on the spacing of the nozzles becomes large.
In the case of dividing the print surface of the print object in the printing width direction, and printing another divided region after printing of a certain divided region in the entire printing direction is completed, the wet state and the degree of drying vary depending on the difference in printing timing, and printing unevenness occurs.
The present invention is made in view of the such a point, and an object thereof is to reduce printing unevenness occurring in a large print object without making the ink jet head too long.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ink jet device configured to apply ink to a print object at intervals in a printing width direction perpendicular to a printing direction by ejecting ink from a plurality of nozzles disposed at intervals in the printing width direction, including: a plurality of ink jet heads including the plurality of nozzles disposed linearly with each other at intervals in a predetermined disposing direction, the plurality of ink jet heads ejecting ink in different regions each other in the printing width direction; and a position adjusting mechanism performing a rotating operation of changing the intervals in the printing width direction of the nozzles and performing a shifting operation of shifting at least one of the plurality of ink jet heads in the printing width direction, the rotating operation being performed by rotating the plurality of ink jet heads around an axis perpendicular to the print surface of the print object.
Thus, by ejecting ink in parallel with the plurality of ink jet heads, ink can be applied in a short time to a wider region in the printing width direction than the nozzle disposing region of each of ink jet heads. Therefore, it is possible to reduce printing unevenness occurring in the large print object without making the ink jet head too long.
According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce printing unevenness occurring in the large print object without excessively lengthening the ink jet head.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
Device main body 101 has four elongated ink jet heads 105, position adjusting mechanism 106 illustrated in
Ink jet head 105 is provided above printing stage 102. In each of ink jet heads 105, a plurality of nozzles 105a is linearly formed at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction. Each of nozzles 105a directs its ejection direction toward printing stage 102 side, that is, toward the lower side in
Position adjusting mechanism 106 adjusts the position of four ink jet heads 105. Position adjusting mechanism 106 has rotating mechanism 110, and shifting mechanism 111.
Rotating mechanism 110 rotates each of ink jet heads 105 around each of rotating shafts 109, thereby performing a rotating operation of changing the interval of nozzles 105a in printing width direction Y. Rotating mechanism 110 is configured so that an angle θ formed by the longitudinal direction of each of ink jet heads 105 relative to printing direction X can be changed to an angle in the range of 0 to 90 degrees. Specifically, rotating mechanism 110 has four motors 112 and four motive power transmitting mechanisms 113. A set composed of one motor 112 and one motive power transmitting mechanism 113 is attached to each of movable elements 115 to be described later. One end of each of ink jet heads 105 is connected to a corresponding one of motors 112 through rotating shaft 109 and motive power transmitting mechanism 113. Motive power transmitting mechanism 113 rotates rotating shaft 109, i.e., ink jet head 105 by transmitting the power of motor 112 to rotating shaft 109. Obviously, motor 112 may be directly connected to rotating shaft 109 or one end of ink jet head 105 not through motive power transmitting mechanisms 113.
Shifting mechanism 111 performs the shifting operation to shift each of ink jet heads 105 in printing width direction Y. Shifting mechanism 111 is a shaft motor having shaft 114 which is disposed so as to extend in printing width direction Y and in which the permanent magnet is incorporated, and four movable elements 115 incorporating a coil (electromagnet) wound so as to surround shaft 114 from the outer peripheral side. It is possible to move each of movable elements 115 to any position in printing width direction Y, by controlling the current flowing through the coil of each of movable elements 115. Movable element 115 and ink jet head 105 are connected through rotating shaft 109. Rotating mechanism 110 is attached to movable element 115. Therefore, ink jet head 105 and rotating mechanism 110 are movable in printing width direction Y along shaft 114 with movable element 115.
Movable element position detecting device 107 detects the position of each of movable elements 115. Movable element position detecting device 107 has linear scale 116, and reading head 117. Linear scale 116 is disposed so as to extend in printing width direction Y in parallel with shaft 114. Reading head 117 is fixed to each of movable elements 115. Each of reading heads 117 detects the position of movable elements 115 by reading the position information of linear scale 116.
Position adjusting mechanism controller 108 controls position adjusting mechanism 106 based on the detection result of movable element position detecting device 107. Position adjusting mechanism controller 108 stores in advance the interval in the longitudinal direction of nozzles 105a of each of ink jet heads 105. Position adjusting mechanism controller 108 calculates angle θ of each of ink jet heads 105 and the position of movable element 115 in printing width direction Y, based on the interval in printing width direction Y of coloring regions 103b in display panel 103 and the stored interval of nozzles 105a. Angle θ (hereinafter referred to as calculated angle θ) is calculated by the following equation (1).
[1]
θ=sin−1 (interval of coloring regions 103b/interval of nozzles 105a) (Equation 1)
Position adjusting mechanism controller 108 controls position adjusting mechanism 106 so that four ink jet heads 105 eject ink 104 into different regions in the printing width direction each other.
The function of position adjusting mechanism controller 108 is realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and/or the like such as a personal computer.
In ink jet device 100 configured as described above, the positions of nozzles 105a are adjusted as follows.
First, the user stores the interval in printing width direction Y of coloring regions 103b in display panel 103 as the print object and the interval in the longitudinal direction of nozzles 105a of each of ink jet heads 105 in position adjusting mechanism controller 108. Next, position adjusting mechanism controller 108 calculates angle θ of each of ink jet heads 105 and the position of movable element 115 in printing width direction Y based on the interval in printing width direction Y of coloring regions 103b in display panel 103 and the stored interval of nozzles 105a. Thereafter, position adjusting mechanism controller 108 causes rotating mechanism 110 to perform the rotating operation, so that the longitudinal direction of each of ink jet heads 105 forms angle θ relative to printing direction X. Thus, motor 112 is driven, the power of motor 112 is transmitted to rotating shaft 109 of each of ink jet heads 105 through motive power transmitting mechanisms 113, ink jet head 105 rotates around rotating shaft 109, and the longitudinal direction of each of ink jet heads 105 forms angle θ relative to printing direction X. Position adjusting mechanism controller 108 causes shifting mechanism 111 to perform the shifting operation, so that the position of movable element 115, that is, one end of each of ink jet heads 105 in printing width direction Y becomes the calculated positions, with reference to the detection result of movable element position detecting device 107. Specifically, movable element 115 is moved to any position in printing width direction Y, by controlling the current flowing through the coil of movable element 115. In this state, the plurality of nozzles 105a of each of ink jet heads 105 is disposed at intervals in printing width direction Y.
After completion of the position adjustment of ink jet heads 105, ink 104 is ejected simultaneously from the plurality of nozzles 105a of four ink jet heads 105 at each predetermined timing, while moving printing stage 102 in printing direction X at a constant speed in a state of fixing device main body 101. Four ink jet heads 105 eject ink 104 into different regions in the printing width direction. Ejected ink 104 is applied onto coloring regions 103b at intervals each other in printing width direction Y. Ink 104 ejected from each of nozzles 105a at a time is required to have a predetermined volume. When the volume of ink 104 varies, the brightness or the color tone of each pixel of display panel 103 varies, and the quality of display panel 103 is reduced. When ink 104 protrudes from coloring regions 103b, poor light emission or color mixing due to penetration of ink 104 into the adjacent coloring region 103b is caused. Therefore, it is important to accurately deposit ink 104 on each of coloring regions 103b.
In this manner, the positions of ink jet heads 105 can be automatically adjusted, by setting the interval in printing width direction Y of coloring regions 103b in display panel 103 as the print object in position adjusting mechanism controller 108. Thus, it is easy to perform the setting operation when changing the type of display panel 103 as the print object.
Therefore, according to Embodiment 1, it is possible to apply ink 104 to wider region in printing width direction Y than the region where nozzles 105a of ink jet heads 105 are disposed in a short time, by ejecting ink 104 from the plurality of ink jet heads 105 in parallel. Therefore, the printing unevenness occurring in large display panel 103 can be reduced without making ink jet head 105 too long.
In Embodiment 1, one display panel 103 as the print object is used; however, a plurality of display panels may be used. A plurality of types of display panels 103 having different intervals between coloring regions 103b may be disposed on printing stage 102 in printing width direction Y. Position adjusting mechanism controller 108 may store in advance the interval in printing width direction Y of coloring regions 103b in each of display panels 103, and may calculate angle θ of each of ink jet heads 105 and the position in printing width direction Y, based on the interval of coloring regions 103b in display panels 103 as the print object of each of ink jet heads 105 and the interval of nozzles 105a of each of ink jet heads 105. When the print object is not disposed in a part of a region in printing width direction Y on printing stage 102, ink jet head 105 may not be disposed at a position facing the region where the print object is not disposed, and ink jet head 105 may be concentratedly disposed at a position facing the region where the print object is disposed. Thus, the number of ink jet heads 105 can be reduced and the equipment can be reduced in weight.
In Embodiment 2, interval D1 between nozzles 105a of four ink jet heads 105 is set to a common length. Position adjusting mechanism controller 108 calculates a common value as angles θ of four ink jet heads 105. The sum of interval D2 between nozzle 105a nearest from rotating shaft 109 of ink jet head 105 illustrated on the left side in
[2]
D1=D2+D3 (Equation 2)
Therefore, interval D4 of nozzles 105a adjacent to each other between the pair of ink jet heads 105 connected each other by connecting frame 201 in printing width direction Y becomes equal to interval D5 of nozzles 105a adjacent to each other in each of ink jet heads 105 in printing width direction Y.
Since the other configuration is the same as that of Embodiment 1, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
Therefore, according to Embodiment 2, since the number of movable element 115 can be reduced by half, it is possible to reduce the cost and the weight of ink jet device 200.
In Embodiment 2, two ink jet heads 105 are connected to each other by connecting frame 201, however, two or more ink jet heads 105 may be connected by connecting frame 201.
Position adjusting mechanism 301 has four sets of printing direction movable element 302 and printing width direction movable element 303, movable element interlocking rail 304 as an interlocking mechanism, a pair of printing width direction rails 305, first to fourth printing direction guiding rails 306a to 306d, printing width direction guiding rail 307, power source 308 such as the motor, and motive power transmitting mechanism 309. In Embodiment 3, four ink jet heads 105 are referred to as first to fourth ink jet heads 1051 to 1054 in order from the right side in
Printing direction movable element 302 is connected to rotating shaft 109 at one end in a longitudinal direction of each of ink jet heads 1051 to 1054. Curves 302a are formed on the both sides in printing width direction Y of the both end surfaces at front and rear in printing direction X of printing direction movable element 302. Rotating shaft 310 that projects upward or downward, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the print surface of display panel 103 is fixed on the other longitudinal end of each of ink jet heads 1051 to 1054. Printing width direction movable element 303 is connected to rotating shaft 310. Ink jet head 105 is rotatable about rotating shaft 109, 310 relative to printing direction movable element 302 and printing width direction movable element 303. That is, each of first to fourth ink jet heads 1051 to 1054 is relatively rotatably connected to one of the plurality of printing width direction movable elements 303 at one end thereof, and is relatively rotatably connected to one of the plurality of printing direction movable elements 302 at the other end thereof.
Movable element interlocking rail 304 which extends in printing width direction Y and is disposed so as to be shiftable in printing direction X has rectangular long hole 304a which penetrates in the vertical direction and is long in printing width direction Y. The width of long hole 304a in printing direction X is set slightly longer than the width of printing direction movable element 302. Movable element interlocking rail 304 accommodates four printing direction movable elements 302 in long hole 304a, thereby aligning the positions of four printing direction movable elements 302 in printing direction X. The both end surfaces at front and rear in printing direction X of printing direction movable element 302 contact with the inner circumferential surface of long hole 304a, or are faced to the inner circumferential surface of long hole 304a from the inside with a minute gap. With such a configuration, movable element interlocking rail 304 interlocks four printing direction movable element 302 in a direction along printing direction X in a state of movable in printing direction X, that is, movable along movable element interlocking rail 304. That is, each of printing direction movable elements 302 is movably disposed along movable element interlocking rail 304.
Printing width direction rail 305 extends in printing width direction Y on both side at front and rear in printing direction X of four ink jet heads 105.
First to fourth printing direction guiding rails 306a to 306d are formed in an elongated shape extending in printing direction X, and are disposed in parallel with each other in order from the right side in
On printing width direction guiding rail 307 disposed so as to extend in printing width direction Y, printing width direction movable element 303 is disposed slidably in printing width direction Y. Note that printing width direction movable element 303 may be moved through a rolling member such as a roller relative to printing width direction guiding rail 307.
Motive power transmitting mechanism 309 is connected to one of the plurality of printing width direction movable element 303, in the present Embodiment, printing width direction movable element 303 connected to first ink jet head 1051. Motive power transmitting mechanism 309 move printing width direction movable element 303 in printing width direction Y, by transmitting the power of power source 308 to printing width direction movable element 303 connected to first ink jet head 1051. Note that motive power transmitting mechanism 309 may be connected to printing width direction movable element 303 other than printing width direction movable element 303 connected to first ink jet head 1051.
Position adjusting mechanism controller 312 stores in advance the interval in the longitudinal direction of nozzles 105a of first to fourth ink jet heads 1051 to 1054. Position adjusting mechanism controller 312 controls power source 308 based on the previously stored interval of nozzles 105a so that the interval of nozzles 105a in printing width direction Y becomes the interval of coloring region 103b in display panel 103 in printing width direction Y.
The function of position adjusting mechanism controller 312 is realized by the CPU (Central Processing Unit) and/or the like such as the personal computer.
In ink jet device 300 of Embodiment 3, when printing width direction movable element 303 connected to first ink jet head 1051 is moved in the right direction (one direction of printing width direction Y) in
All of first to fourth ink jet heads 1051 to 1054 can be rotated in a direction to reduce angle θ and moved leftward in
Since the other configuration is the same as that of Embodiment 1, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
Therefore, according to Embodiment 3, since the position of the plurality of ink jet heads 105 can be adjusted by one power source 308, the number of power sources 308 can be reduced, and the cost and the weight of ink jet device 300 can be reduced.
Since curves 302a are formed on the both ends in printing width direction Y of the both end surfaces at front and rear in printing direction X of printing direction movable element 302, when printing direction movable element 302 starts to move in printing width direction Y, it is possible to prevent that printing direction movable element 302 is caught on the inner peripheral surface of long hole 304a of movable element interlocking rail 304 by the act of a large frictional force.
In Embodiment 3, instead of forming curves 302a on printing direction movable element 302, position adjusting mechanism controller 312 may control power source 308 to move printing width direction movable element 303 connected to first ink jet head 1051 in printing width direction Y while vibrating in printing width direction Y. In this manner, when printing direction movable element 302 starts to move in printing width direction Y, it is possible to prevent that printing direction movable element 302 is caught on the inner peripheral surface of long hole 304a of movable element interlocking rail 304 by the frictional force.
In order to prevent printing direction movable element 302 from being caught on the inner peripheral surface of long hole 304a of movable element interlocking rail 304 by the frictional force, a play may be provided between printing direction movable element 302 and movable element interlocking rail 304. In such a case, it is possible to suppress the positional variation due to the provision of play, by providing a mechanism for finely adjusting the position of printing direction movable element 302 manually, or moving in a predetermined direction, such as right to left in
Nozzle position detecting device 401 detects the position of nozzle 105a. Nozzle position detecting device 401 has camera 403, camera supporting shaft 404, supporting shaft guiding shaft 405, and nozzle position calculator 406.
Camera 403 is disposed below four ink jet heads 105 so as to direct the direction facing nozzles 105a, that is, upward.
Camera supporting shaft 404 extends in printing width direction Y and supports camera 403 from below slidably in printing width direction Y. Camera supporting shaft 404 has movable element (not illustrated). Camera 403 is attached to camera supporting shaft 404 through the movable element. This movable element incorporates the coil (electromagnet) wound so as to surround camera supporting shaft 404 from the outer peripheral side, and configures a shaft motor together with camera supporting shaft 404.
Supporting shaft guiding shaft 405 extends in printing direction X, and supports one end of camera supporting shaft 404 in printing width direction Y from below slidably in a direction along printing direction X. Supporting shaft guiding shaft 405 has connecting unit 405a. Connecting unit 405a incorporates the coil (electromagnet) wound so as to surround supporting shaft guiding shaft 405 from the outer peripheral side, and configures a shaft motor together with supporting shaft guiding shaft 405. Therefore, camera 403 can move freely in printing direction X and printing width direction Y, and thus, can move under any nozzle 105a as a photographed object.
Nozzle position calculator 406 calculates the center position of nozzle 105a as the position of nozzle 105a by image recognition based on the image photographed by camera 403.
Position adjusting mechanism controller 402 stores in advance the interval in the longitudinal direction of nozzles 105a of each of ink jet heads 105.
Position adjusting mechanism controller 402 performs an adjusting operation of the nozzle position as illustrated in
First, in (S4001), position adjusting mechanism controller 402 calculates angle θ of ink jet head 105, based on the interval of coloring regions 103b in the display panel 103 in printing width direction Y and the stored interval of nozzles 105a. Here, the position of leftmost nozzle 105a of leftmost ink jet head 105 is set as a reference position. Position adjusting mechanism controller 402 calculates distance DI from the reference position to leftmost nozzle 105a of each of ink jet heads 105, by multiplying the total number of nozzles 105a of the other ink jet head 105 on the left side of leftmost nozzle 105a of each of ink jet heads 105 and the interval of the desired nozzles 105a, that is, the interval of coloring regions 103b in printing width direction Y. In
Next, in (S4002), position adjusting mechanism controller 402 causes rotating mechanism 110 to performed the rotating operation based on calculated angle θ, and causes shifting mechanism 111 to perform the shifting operation based on calculated distance DI.
Thereafter, in (S4003), position adjusting mechanism controller 402 calculates a variation between the position of nozzle 105a detected by nozzle position detecting device 401 after the operation of (S4002) and the position of the desired nozzle 105a.
In (S4004), position adjusting mechanism controller 402 causes rotating mechanism 110 to perform the rotating operation and causes shifting mechanism 111 to perform the shifting operation, so that the average of the variations calculated for the positions of nozzles 105a at both ends of four ink jet heads 105 becomes small. Thus, the position of nozzle 105a is corrected.
The functions of nozzle position calculator 406 and position adjusting mechanism controller 402 are realized by the CPU (Central Processing Unit) and/or the like such as the personal computer.
Since the other configuration is the same as that of Embodiment 1, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
Therefore, according to Embodiment 4, nozzle 105a can be moved to the desired position more reliably.
Since position adjusting mechanism controller 402 controls position adjusting mechanism 106 so that the average of the variations of nozzles 105a at both ends of four ink jet heads 105 becomes small, it is possible to suppress the appearance of periodic shading in the image of display panel 103 due to the positional variation of nozzles 105a at both ends of ink jet heads 105.
In the above Embodiment 4, in (S4004), position adjusting mechanism controller 402 controls position adjusting mechanism 106 so that the average of the variations of nozzles 105a at both ends of four ink jet heads 105 becomes small. However, in (S4004), position adjusting mechanism controller 402 may control position adjusting mechanism 106 so that the average of the variations of all nozzles 105a of four ink jet heads 105 becomes small.
Landing position detecting device 501 detects the landing position of ink 104 in the print object after printing. Landing position detecting device 501 has camera 503, camera guiding shaft 504, and landing position calculator 505.
Camera 503 photographs the print surface of the print object after printing. Therefore, camera 503 is disposed so as to direct the direction of facing printing stage 102, that is, downward. As camera 503, a line camera in which imaging elements are disposed on a line extending in printing width direction Y is used.
Camera guiding shaft 504 has a movable element (not illustrated). Camera 503 is attached to camera guiding shaft 504 through the movable element. The movable element incorporates the coil (electromagnet) wound so as to surround camera guiding shaft 504 from the outer peripheral side, and configures a shaft motor together with camera guiding shaft 504. Therefore, camera 503 can move freely in printing width direction Y, and thus, can move over the ink after any landing of the photographed object.
Landing position calculator 505 calculates the landing position of ink 104 based on an image photographed by camera 503.
Position adjusting mechanism controller 502 stores in advance the interval between nozzles 105a of each of ink jet heads 105.
Position adjusting mechanism controller 502 performs the following adjusting operation of the nozzle position based on the detection result of landing position detecting device 501.
First, position adjusting mechanism controller 502 performs the operation of the above (S4001) and (S4002), similarly to position adjusting mechanism controller 402 of Embodiment 4
Next, position adjusting mechanism controller 502 ejects ink 104 from all of nozzles 105a of all ink jet heads 105 in drops by drops and makes it land on testing display panel 506 as the print object. As testing display panel 506 on which ink 104 is landed, a clean panel having no structure such as bank 103a and no dirt attached thereto is used in order to minimize the movement of ink 104 after the landing due to the surface tension and/or the like.
Thereafter, position adjusting mechanism controller 502 calculates a variation in printing width direction Y between the landing position calculated by landing position calculator 505 based on the image of testing display panel 506 photographed by camera 503 after ejection (after printing) of ink 104, and a desired landing position
Position adjusting mechanism controller 502 corrects the position of nozzles 105a so that the average of the variations calculated for the positions of ink 104 ejected from nozzles 105a at both ends of four ink jet heads 105 becomes small. Position adjusting mechanism controller 502 corrects the position of nozzle 105a by causing rotating mechanism 110 to perform the rotating operation and causing shifting mechanism 111 to perform the shifting operation. Note that position adjusting mechanism controller 502 may correct the position of nozzles 105a so that the average of the positional variations of ink 104 ejected from all nozzles 105a of four ink jet heads 105 becomes small.
Thereafter, position adjusting mechanism controller 502 ejects ink 104 from all nozzles 105a of all ink jet heads 105, and lands it on testing display panel 506.
Thereafter, position adjusting mechanism controller 502 calculates a variation in printing direction X between the landing position detected by landing position detecting device 501 after the ejection of ink 104 to testing display panel 506 and the desired landing position. The ejection timing of ink 104 from each of nozzles 105a is set so that the variation of the landing position of ink 104 in printing direction X ejected from each of nozzles 105a becomes small.
The functions of landing position calculator 505 and the position adjusting unit controller 502 are realized by the CPU (Central Processing Unit) and/or the like such as the personal computer.
Since the other configuration is the same as that of Embodiment 4, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
Therefore, according to Embodiment 5, the position of ink jet head 105 can be adjusted so that ink 104 is ejected to the desired landing position even when the ejecting angle of ink 104 of nozzle 105a varies.
Position adjusting mechanism 601 has holding plate 605 as a holding member, suction pad 604 as a plurality of attachable and detachable devices, moving device 606 as a moving unit, and guiding mechanism 607.
Holding plate 605 is disposed so as to face ink jet head 105 from above (direction opposite to ejection of ink 104). Holding plate 605 has plane 605a facing moving device 606. Plane 605a is a lower surface of holding plate 605. Holding plate 605 has at least one through hole 605b. Fall preventing wire 617 and utility cable 618 passes through the through hole 605b.
Suction pads 604 are fixed to the upper surfaces of both ends of ink jet head 105 in a state that their suction surfaces face upward. Suction pad 604 is attached to or detached from holding plate 605, specifically, plane 605a. Suction pad 604 can be attached by suction to the suction object by generating a negative pressure between the suction surface thereof and holding plate 605. Suction pads 604 can be fixed to both ends of each of ink jet heads 105 one by one. It is needless to say that the position and the number of suction pads 604 are not limited to such a configuration. Note that it is preferable that the upper surface of ink jet head 105 is formed of a flat surface, and suction pad 604 is disposed in a state in which it is flush with the flat surface or in a state in which it is recessed from the flat surface. By disposing in such a manner, it is possible to bring the upper surface of ink jet head 105 into surface contact with plane 605a of holding plate 605, and thus, it is easy to equalize the distance between each of nozzles 105a and holding plate 605. That is, the distance between each of nozzles 105a and display panel 103 as the print object can be easily equalized.
Moving device 606 has pedestal 608. Pedestal 608 incorporates a coil. Camera 609 is disposed in a state of directing the photographing direction upward, and chuck shaft 610 capable of rotation and vertical movement is projected upward, on the upper surface of pedestal 608. The projecting direction of chuck shaft 610 is a direction perpendicular to the print surface of display panel 103. Chuck 611 is fixed on the tip of chuck shaft 610. Moving device 606 has chuck shaft rotating device 612 for rotating chuck shaft 610, chuck shaft elevating device 613 for moving chuck shaft 610 vertically, and chuck driving device 614 for opening or closing chuck 611. That is, chuck shaft 610 connects pedestal 608 and chuck 611 in a state that they can rotate relatively and can be closed to or separated from each other.
Guiding mechanism 607 has moving device supporting shaft 615, and supporting shaft guiding shaft 616. Guiding mechanism 607 guides moving device 606 in the direction along printing direction X and in printing width direction Y.
Moving device supporting shaft 615 extends in printing width direction Y. Pedestal 608 of moving device 606 is supported from below slidably in printing width direction Y. A permanent magnet is incorporated in moving device supporting shaft 615. The coil of pedestal 608 is positioned so as to surround moving device supporting shaft 615 from the outer peripheral side. It is possible to move pedestal 608 to any position in printing width direction Y, by controlling the current flowing through the coil of pedestal 608. Connecting unit 615a is provided at one end portion in printing width direction (the end portion of right side in
Supporting shaft guiding shaft 616 extends in printing direction X. Connecting unit 615a of moving device supporting shaft 615 is connected to supporting shaft guiding shaft 616 slidably in a direction along printing direction X. The permanent magnet is also incorporated in supporting shaft guiding shaft 616. The coil of connecting unit 615a is positioned so as to surround supporting shaft guiding shaft 616 from the outer peripheral side. Moving device supporting shaft 615 can be moved to any position in the direction along printing direction X, by controlling the current flowing through the coil of connecting unit 615a.
Head position specifier 602 specifies the present position of ink jet head 105 based on an image photographed by camera 609. The position is specified by, for example, recognition of the outer shape of ink jet head 105 or recognition of a mark previously attached to ink jet head 105. The function of head position specifier 602 is realized by the CPU (Central Processing Unit) such as the personal computer. Note that moving device supporting shaft 615 is longer than the length in printing width direction Y of the region where the plurality of ink jet heads 105 is disposed. Supporting shaft guiding shaft 616 is also longer than the length in printing direction X of the region where the plurality of ink jet heads 105 is disposed. Therefore, camera 609 can move under any nozzle 105a as the photographed object. Note that camera 609 may be disposed in a state of directing the photographing direction of camera 609 downward on the lower surface of pedestal 608. In this case, camera 609 can photograph the position of the ink after landing. In this case, the landing position calculator is provided instead of head position specifier 602.
Position adjusting mechanism controller 603 performs the following position adjusting operation for each of ink jet heads 105.
First, in a state where ink jet head 105 as an adjusted object is attached through suction pad 604 to holding plate 605, position adjusting mechanism controller 603 moves moving device 606 below ink jet head 105. Moving device 606 can be moved by controlling the current flowing through the coils of pedestal 608 and connecting unit 615a.
Then, position adjusting mechanism controller 603 moves moving device 606 so that chuck 611 of moving device 606 is positioned directly below ink jet head 105 as the adjusted object, based on the present position specified by head position specifier 602.
Position adjusting mechanism controller 603 moves chuck shaft 610 upward under the control of the chuck shaft elevating device 613 in a state in which chuck 611 of moving device 606 is disposed directly below ink jet head 105 as the adjusted object, and causes chuck 611 to pinch ink jet head 105 and to hold by chuck 611 under the control of chuck driving device 614.
In this state, position adjusting mechanism controller 603 stops generating a negative pressure between the suction surface of suction pad 604 and holding plate 605 (that is, turns off suction on suction pad 604), thereby suction pad 604 is separated from holding plate 605. Position adjusting mechanism controller 603 lowers chuck shaft 610, under the control of chuck shaft elevating device 613.
Thereafter, position adjusting mechanism controller 603 moves moving device 606 to a desired position so that ink jet head 105 is positioned at a desired position in printing width direction Y, and rotates chuck shaft 610 under the control of chuck shaft rotating device 612 so that angle θ of ink jet head 105 becomes a desired angle. Thus, ink jet head 105 is rotated in a state held by chuck 611 around chuck shaft 610. Position adjusting mechanism controller 603 moves chuck shaft 610 upward, and contacts the suction surface of suction pad 604 to holding plate 605, under the control of chuck shaft elevating device 613. Suction pad 604 is attached to holding plate 605 by generating the negative pressure between the suction surface of suction pad 604 and holding plate 605 (that is, turning on the suction of suction pad 604. Thus, ink jet head 105 is fixed to holding plate 605.
Since the other configuration is the same as that of Embodiment 1, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
Therefore, according to Embodiment 6, since it is not necessary to attach rotating mechanism 110 and shifting mechanism 111 of Embodiment 1 to ink jet head 105, it is possible to reduce the load on the support body for supporting ink jet head 105 from above.
In the above Embodiment 4, position adjusting mechanism 601 of Embodiment 6 may be provided instead of position adjusting mechanism 106, and the movement of ink jet head 105 may be performed in (S4002) and (S4004) by position adjusting mechanism 601.
In the above Embodiment 5, instead of position adjusting mechanism 106, position adjusting mechanism 601 according to Embodiment 6 may be provided, and the movement of ink jet head 105 in the (S4002) and the correcting step of the nozzle position may be performed by position adjusting mechanism 601.
Although suction pad 604 is used as the attachable and detachable device in Embodiment 6, an attachable and detachable device that attaches or detaches in accordance with a magnetic force may be used. Suction pad 604 may be fixed to holding plate 605 by a mechanical fixing method, in addition to the suction by the generation of the negative pressure at the time of printing. Thus, positional variation of ink jet head 105 at the time of printing can be prevented.
(Other Modifications)
In the above Embodiments 1 to 6 and the modification, four ink jet heads 105 are provided in ink jet device 100, however, more than four ink jet heads may be provided.
In the above Embodiments 1 to 6 and the modification, ink jet head 105 has the elongated shape, and nozzles 105a are disposed linearly at intervals from each other in the longitudinal direction of ink jet head 105. However, ink jet head 105 may have another shape, and nozzles 105a may be disposed linearly at intervals each other in a predetermined arrangement direction.
In the above Embodiments 1 to 6 and the modification, position adjusting mechanism 106, 301, 601 is configured so that all ink jet heads 105 provided can be shifted in the printing width direction, however, only a part of ink jet heads 105 may be configured to be shifted in the printing width direction.
In the above Embodiments 1 to 6 and the modification, instead of position adjusting mechanism 106, 301, 601, a position adjusting mechanism that performs only one of the rotating operation of rotating ink jet head 105 or the shifting operation of shifting at least one of the plurality of ink jet heads 105 in the printing width direction may be provided.
In the above Embodiments 1 to 6 and the modification, display panel 103 is moved during the printing operation in a state that ink jet head 105 is fixed, however, the present invention can also be adapted to an ink jet device that moves ink jet head 105 in a state that the print object is fixed.
In the above Embodiments 1 to 6 and the modification, the present invention is adapted to the printing of display panel 103, however, the present invention can also be adapted to an industrial ink jet device in which a member other than display panel 103 is a print object.
The ink jet device according to the present invention is extremely useful and highly industrially usable, because it has a highly practical effect of reducing printing unevenness occurring in a large print object, even if the ink jet head is not lengthened.
This application is entitled to the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-176070, filed on Sep. 26, 2019 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-128361, filed on Jul. 29, 2020, the disclosures of which including the specification, drawings and abstract are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2019-176070 | Sep 2019 | JP | national |
| JP2020-128361 | Jul 2020 | JP | national |
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| 6712536 | Miyano | Mar 2004 | B2 |
| 20020044163 | Shigemura | Apr 2002 | A1 |
| 20020109741 | Okabe | Aug 2002 | A1 |
| 20060132530 | Yasuda | Jun 2006 | A1 |
| 20060216409 | Mishima | Sep 2006 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2006-272035 | Oct 2006 | JP |
| 2013039762 | Feb 2013 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20210094293 A1 | Apr 2021 | US |
