JP4572330B2 - Droplet discharge device, method for maintaining nozzle discharge performance in droplet discharge device, and method for manufacturing electro-optical device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a droplet discharge device that discharges a discharge liquid from a nozzle of a head onto a work, a method for maintaining the discharge performance of a nozzle in the droplet discharge device, a method for manufacturing an electro-optical device, an electro-optical device, and an electronic apparatus.

The droplet discharge device is sometimes used as a drawing system, and this drawing system discharges droplets onto a workpiece by an ink jet method. This drawing system may be used in the manufacture of electro-optical elements such as flat panel displays.
A droplet discharge apparatus that discharges droplets by an ink jet method has a head for discharging droplets.
In order to prevent liquid drying and clogging of the liquid in the nozzle of the head, a structure in which the nozzle surface of the head is sealed with a cap when the head is not used has been proposed (Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-234174 A (first page, FIG. 3)

This type of head is sealed with a cap as described above to prevent the nozzle surface from drying or to recover from clogging of the nozzle. In this case, the solution is stored in the cap and the nozzle surface is sealed, but if the solution is not sufficiently filled in the cap, air (bubbles) may remain in the cap. High nature.
The air bubbles remaining in the cap enter the nozzle side while the nozzle surface is sealed with the cap. As a result, the liquid in the nozzle is solidified, and the solidified liquid causes nozzle clogging. End up. When this nozzle clogging occurs, when the liquid droplets are ejected from the nozzle of the head after the nozzle surface is sealed with the cap, the liquid droplets cannot be ejected from the clogged nozzle. When drawing with droplets, so-called dot dropout may occur, and the drawing quality of the work will be reduced.

  Accordingly, the present invention solves the above problems, prevents bubbles from remaining in the main body that seals the nozzle surface, eliminates nozzle clogging of the head, and improves the drawing quality, and the droplet discharge device An object of the present invention is to provide a method for maintaining the discharge performance of a nozzle in a discharge device, a method for manufacturing an electro-optical device, an electro-optical device, and an electronic apparatus.

The droplet discharge device of the present invention is a droplet discharge device that discharges a discharge liquid from a nozzle of a head onto a workpiece, and the discharge liquid filling portion for filling the nozzle with the discharge liquid; and the nozzle A discharge performance maintaining device for maintaining the discharge performance of the head, the discharge performance maintaining device comprising a cap filled with a filling liquid and sealing the nozzle surface of the head, The discharge performance maintaining device brings the nozzle surface of the head into contact with the filling liquid in a state where the section increases the pressure of the discharge liquid in the nozzle.
The droplet discharge device of the present invention is the above-described droplet discharge device, wherein the discharge liquid filling unit is connected to the nozzle of the head and stores the discharge liquid. The apparatus includes a moving unit that moves the liquid storage unit, and the discharge performance maintaining device further includes an elevating unit that raises and lowers the cap. After pressurizing the discharge liquid in the nozzle and positioning the nozzle at a position above the cap filled with the filling liquid, the cap may be raised relative to the nozzle by the lifting means.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a droplet discharge device for discharging a discharge liquid from a nozzle of a head onto a work, the main body sealing the nozzle surface of the head, A discharge liquid for filling the inside of the nozzle with the discharge liquid by increasing the pressure of the discharge liquid in the nozzle before filling the filling liquid and sealing the nozzle surface with the main body This is achieved by a droplet discharge device having a filling portion.

According to the configuration of the first invention, the main body seals the nozzle surface of the head. The discharge liquid filling unit fills the nozzle with the discharge liquid by increasing the pressure of the discharge liquid in the nozzle before filling the main body with the filling liquid and sealing the nozzle surface with the main body.
Thus, the main body seals the nozzle surface in a state where the main body is filled with the filling liquid. In addition, the discharge liquid filling unit increases the pressure of the discharge liquid in the nozzle and fills the nozzle with the discharge liquid.
In a state where the main body seals the nozzle surface, the filling liquid is filled between the main body and the nozzle surface, and bubbles do not remain. Moreover, since the discharge liquid filling portion fills the nozzle with the discharge liquid, no bubbles remain in the nozzle. As a result, bubbles do not enter from the inside of the main body to the nozzle side.
Accordingly, it is possible to improve the drawing quality of the workpiece by preventing bubbles from remaining in the main body for sealing the nozzle surface, eliminating nozzle clogging of the head.

According to a second invention, in the configuration of the first invention, the filling liquid is a solvent that dissolves in the discharge liquid, and the solvent is degassed.
According to the configuration of the second invention, the filling liquid is a solvent that dissolves in the ejection liquid. This solvent has been degassed.
Thereby, since the filling liquid is deaerated in a state where the inside of the main body is filled, bubbles can be prevented from being generated in the filling liquid in the main body. In addition, when bubbles remain in the main body, the bubbles are likely to move upward, and thus may enter the nozzle. However, by degassing the solvent filled in the main body, it is possible to eliminate bubbles in the main body although it takes time.

A third invention is characterized in that, in the configuration of the first invention, the filling liquid is the same as the ejection liquid.
According to the configuration of the third invention, the filling liquid is the same as the ejection liquid.
Thus, if the filling liquid and the discharge liquid are the same, there is no change in physical properties, so there is no need to discard.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the discharge liquid filling section is a storage section that raises a discharge liquid storage section connected to the nozzle of the head. It is a moving part.
According to the configuration of the fourth aspect of the invention, the discharge liquid filling part is a moving part of the storage part that raises the discharge liquid storage part connected to the nozzle of the head.
Thereby, the moving part of the storage part raises the discharge liquid storage part to increase the pressure of the discharge liquid in the nozzle of the head, fill the nozzle with the discharge liquid, and discharge the bubbles from the nozzle. be able to.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the discharge liquid filling portion is provided with a piezoelectric element for discharging the discharge liquid from the nozzle of the head, and the piezoelectric element. On the other hand, it is comprised by the control part which applies a voltage.
According to the configuration of the fifth aspect of the invention, the ejection liquid filling unit is configured by a piezoelectric element for ejecting the ejection liquid from the nozzle of the head and a control unit that applies a voltage to the piezoelectric element.
Thereby, the piezoelectric element is actuated by a command from the control unit, the pressure of the discharge liquid in the nozzle is increased, the inside of the nozzle is filled with the discharge liquid, and the bubbles can be discharged from the nozzle.

The method for maintaining the discharge performance of the nozzle in the droplet discharge device according to the present invention is a maintenance method for maintaining the discharge performance of the nozzle in the droplet discharge device that discharges the discharge liquid from the nozzle of the head onto the workpiece. The filling liquid is filled in the cap, the nozzle is brought into contact with the filling liquid in a state where the pressure of the discharge liquid in the nozzle is increased, and the nozzle is sealed by the cap.
Further, the discharge performance maintaining method of the nozzle in the droplet discharge device of the present invention is the discharge performance maintaining method described above, wherein the liquid reservoir that stores the discharge liquid is lifted to increase the physical head After pressurizing the ejection liquid in the nozzle and positioning the nozzle above the cap filled with the filling liquid, the nozzle is sealed with the cap by raising the cap with respect to the nozzle. You may stop.
In the sixth aspect of the present invention, the above object is a maintenance method for maintaining the discharge performance of the nozzle in a droplet discharge apparatus that discharges a discharge liquid from the nozzle of the head onto the work, and fills the main body. In a state before the nozzle surface is sealed with the main body and the nozzle surface is sealed, the discharge liquid filling portion increases the pressure of the discharge liquid in the nozzle and causes the discharge liquid to pass through the nozzle. This is achieved by a method for maintaining the discharge performance of a nozzle in a droplet discharge device characterized by satisfying the above requirements.

Thereby, the discharge liquid filling part increases the pressure of the discharge liquid in the nozzle and fills the nozzle with the discharge liquid. The main body seals the nozzle surface while the body is filled with a filling liquid. In a state where the main body seals the nozzle surface, the filling liquid is filled between the main body and the nozzle surface, and bubbles do not remain. Moreover, since the discharge liquid filling portion fills the nozzle with the discharge liquid, no bubbles remain in the nozzle. As a result, bubbles do not enter from the inside of the main body to the nozzle side.
Accordingly, it is possible to improve the drawing quality of the workpiece by preventing bubbles from remaining in the main body for sealing the nozzle surface, eliminating nozzle clogging of the head.

According to a seventh invention, in the structure of the sixth invention, the filling liquid uses a degassed solvent.
According to the structure of 7th invention, the degassed solvent is used for the filling liquid.
Thereby, since the filling liquid is deaerated in a state where the inside of the main body is filled, bubbles can be prevented from being generated in the filling liquid in the main body.

The eighth invention is characterized in that, in the structure of the seventh invention, the solvent in the main body is heated by a heating means.
According to the configuration of the eighth aspect of the invention, when the solvent in the main body is heated by the heating means and there is a solidified liquid in the nozzle, which causes nozzle clogging, the solvent in the main body is heated. Since the solidified liquid can be redissolved by being heated by the means, nozzle clogging can be more reliably eliminated.

A method for manufacturing an electro-optical device according to the present invention is a manufacturing method for manufacturing an electro-optical device by discharging a discharge liquid from a nozzle of a head onto a workpiece, the filling liquid being filled in a cap, The nozzle is brought into contact with the filling liquid in a state where the pressure of the discharge liquid is increased, the nozzle is sealed with the cap, and then the sealing of the nozzle surface by the main body is released, and the workpiece On the other hand, the electro-optical device is manufactured by discharging the discharge liquid.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a manufacturing method for manufacturing an electro-optical device by discharging a discharge liquid from a head nozzle to a work, wherein the main body is filled with the filling liquid. Before the nozzle surface is sealed by the main body, the discharge liquid filling part increases the pressure of the discharge liquid in the nozzle to fill the nozzle with the discharge liquid, and then the main body This is achieved by a method of manufacturing an electro-optical device, wherein the electro-optical device is manufactured by releasing the sealing of the nozzle surface and discharging the discharge liquid onto the workpiece.

Thereby, the discharge liquid filling part increases the pressure of the discharge liquid in the nozzle and fills the nozzle with the discharge liquid. The main body seals the nozzle surface while the body is filled with a filling liquid. In a state where the main body seals the nozzle surface, the filling liquid is filled between the main body and the nozzle surface, and bubbles do not remain. Moreover, since the discharge liquid filling portion fills the nozzle with the discharge liquid, no bubbles remain in the nozzle. As a result, bubbles do not enter from the inside of the main body to the nozzle side.
Therefore, no bubbles remain in the main body that seals the nozzle surface, nozzle clogging of the head is eliminated, and the discharge liquid is discharged onto the work, thereby improving the drawing quality on the work and improving the quality. An excellent electro-optical device can be manufactured.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electro-optical device manufactured by discharging a discharge liquid from a nozzle of a head onto a work, wherein the main body is filled with the filling liquid. In a state before the nozzle surface is sealed by the discharge liquid filling portion, the pressure of the discharge liquid in the nozzle is increased to fill the nozzle with the discharge liquid, and then the nozzle by the main body This is achieved by an electro-optical device manufactured by releasing the sealing of the surface and discharging the discharge liquid onto the workpiece.

Thereby, the discharge liquid filling part increases the pressure of the discharge liquid in the nozzle and fills the nozzle with the discharge liquid. The main body seals the nozzle surface while the body is filled with a filling liquid. In a state where the main body seals the nozzle surface, the filling liquid is filled between the main body and the nozzle surface, and bubbles do not remain. Moreover, since the discharge liquid filling portion fills the nozzle with the discharge liquid, no bubbles remain in the nozzle. As a result, bubbles do not enter from the inside of the main body to the nozzle side.
Therefore, no bubbles remain in the main body that seals the nozzle surface, nozzle clogging of the head is eliminated, and the discharge liquid is discharged onto the work, thereby improving the drawing quality on the work and improving the quality. An excellent electro-optical device can be manufactured.

An eleventh invention is an electronic apparatus including the electro-optical device according to the tenth invention.
Thereby, an electronic apparatus having a high-quality electro-optical device can be provided.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a preferred embodiment of the droplet discharge device of the present invention.
The droplet discharge device 10 shown in FIG. 1 can be used as a drawing system. As an example, this drawing system is incorporated in a production line of an organic EL (electroluminescence) device, which is a kind of so-called flat panel display. The droplet discharge device 10 can form, for example, a light emitting element that becomes each pixel of the organic EL device.

The droplet discharge device 10 can be used as, for example, an ink jet drawing device. The droplet discharge device 10 is for forming a light emitting element of an organic EL device by a droplet discharge method (inkjet method). The head of the droplet discharge device 10 (also referred to as a functional droplet discharge head) can form a light emitting element of an organic EL element. Specifically, in the manufacturing process of the organic EL element, the head in which the light emitting functional material is introduced is relative to the substrate (an example of a workpiece) on which the bank part is formed through the bank part forming process and the plasma processing process. By performing scanning in this manner, the droplet discharge device 10 can form the hole injection / transport layer and the light emitting layer film forming portion corresponding to the position of the pixel electrode on the substrate.
For example, by preparing two droplet discharge devices 10, the first droplet discharge device 10 forms a hole injection / transport layer, and the other droplet discharge device 10 has R (red), G Light emitting layers of three colors (green) and B (blue) can be formed.

  The droplet discharge device 10 of FIG. 1 is accommodated in a chamber 12. The chamber 12 has another chamber 13. In the chamber 13, a work carry-in / out table 14 is accommodated. The workpiece carry-in / out table 14 is a table for carrying the workpiece W into the chamber 12 or carrying out the processed workpiece W from the table 30 in the chamber 12.

A chamber 12 shown in FIG. 1 accommodates a maintenance unit 15 that performs maintenance of the head 11. A recovery unit 16 is provided outside the chamber 12.
The maintenance unit 15 includes a nozzle discharge performance maintaining device 400, a wiping unit 600, a flushing unit (not shown), a discharge inspection unit (not shown), a weight measurement unit (not shown), and the like.

The flushing unit is for receiving ejection droplets ejected preliminarily from the head 11. The nozzle performance maintaining device 400 is for maintaining the nozzle ejection performance when the nozzle on the nozzle surface of the head 11 is not used. The wiping unit 600 wipes the nozzle surface as necessary after sucking the nozzle surface.
The discharge inspection unit inspects the discharge state of the discharge droplets discharged from the head 11. The weight measurement unit measures the weight of the droplets ejected from the head 11.
The recovery unit 16 includes, for example, a droplet recovery system that recovers ejection droplets and a cleaning liquid supply system that supplies a cleaning solvent used after wiping.

  The chamber 12 and the chamber 13 are individually air-controlled so that the atmosphere in the chamber 12 and the chamber 13 does not vary. The reason why the chamber 12 and the chamber 13 are used in this way is that, for example, in the case of manufacturing an organic EL element, the influence of the atmosphere can be eliminated because the moisture in the atmosphere is disliked. A dry air atmosphere is maintained by continuously introducing and exhausting dry air into the chamber 12 and the chamber 13.

Next, components in the chamber 12 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.
In the chamber 12, a frame 20, a head 11, a carriage 19, a liquid storage unit 300, a first operation unit 21, a second operation unit 22, a table 30, and a guide base 17 are accommodated.
The frame 20 in FIG. 1 is provided horizontally along the X-axis direction. The guide base 17 is provided along the Y-axis direction. The frame 20 is above the guide base 17. The X axis corresponds to the first movement axis, and the Y axis corresponds to the second movement axis. The X axis and the Y axis are orthogonal to each other, and are also orthogonal to the Z axis. The Z axis is a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG.

The first operation unit 21 is for linearly reciprocating and positioning the carriage 19 and the head 11 along the frame 20 along the X-axis direction.
The second operation unit 22 has a table 30. The table 30 can also be loaded with a workpiece W as shown in FIG. The table 30 of the second operation unit 22 holds the workpiece W when the droplets for ejection are applied from the head 11 to the workpiece W. Then, the second operation unit 22 can position the workpiece W by linearly moving on the guide base 17 along the Y-axis direction.

  The first operation unit 21 includes a motor 21A for linearly moving the carriage 19 and the head 11 in the X-axis direction for positioning. The motor 21A can linearly move the carriage 19 and the head 11 in the X-axis direction by using, for example, a feed screw. The motor 21A may be a rotary electric motor or a linear motor.

  The motor 22 </ b> A of the second operation unit 22 can position the table 30 by linearly moving the table 30 along the guide base 17 in the Y-axis direction. As the motor 22A, for example, a rotary electric motor that rotates a feed screw can be used. As the motor 22A, a linear motor can be used in addition to the rotary motor.

  The table 30 of the second operation unit 22 has a mounting surface 30A. The mounting surface 30A is a surface perpendicular to the Z-axis direction in FIG. The mounting surface 30A has a suction portion 30B. The suction portion 30B can suck the workpiece W by vacuum suction. Thereby, the workpiece | work W can be reliably fixed so that attachment or detachment is possible, without shifting | deviating with respect to the mounting surface 30A.

Next, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a structural example of the carriage 19 and the head 11 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the shape around the carriage 19 and the head 11, and FIG. 3 is an example of a front view seen from the direction E in FIG.
The carriage 19 can be positioned by moving in the X-axis direction by a motor 21A shown in FIG. The carriage 19 detachably holds the head 11 using a head holder 61.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the motor 62 is actuated by a command from the control unit 200, the head holder 61 and the head 11 unit can be moved up and down along the Z-axis direction and positioned. The head 11 can rotate in the θ direction around the U axis by operating another motor 63 in accordance with a command from the control unit 200.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the head 11 has a nozzle plate 64. The lower surface of the nozzle plate 64 is a nozzle surface 70. The nozzle surface 70 has nozzle openings 121 to 126 of a plurality of nozzles. The head 11 is connected to the liquid storage unit 300. The liquid storage unit 300 stores liquid to be discharged onto the workpiece W, and the liquid storage unit 300 is also referred to as a functional liquid storage unit. The ejection liquid in the liquid reservoir 300 can be ejected from the nozzle openings 121 to 126 by, for example, the ink jet method by the operation of the piezoelectric vibrator 789 shown in FIG.

FIG. 4A shows an example of a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators 789 arranged in the head 11. One piezoelectric vibrator 789 is arranged corresponding to each nozzle of the head 11 shown in FIG. The control unit 200 in FIG. 4A gives a signal to the driving unit 201, and the driving unit 201 operates any piezoelectric vibrator in the plurality of piezoelectric vibrators 789, thereby operating the piezoelectric element. From the nozzle openings 121 to 126 of the nozzle corresponding to the vibrator 789 shown in FIG. 2, droplets can be ejected by an ink jet method.
The control unit 200, the drive unit 201, and each piezoelectric vibrator 789 constitute a discharge liquid filling unit 650, as will be described later.

Next, the liquid storage unit 300 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 4B.
For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, the liquid storage unit 300 includes a plurality of liquid packs 111 to 116 and a container 301 that stores these liquid packs. Although six liquid packs 111 to 116 are shown in this example, the number of liquid packs is not particularly limited, and may be one, two or more, five, or seven or more.
Each liquid pack 111 to 116 is made of a flexible material, and each liquid pack contains the same type or different types of ejection liquid. The inside of the container 301 is configured to pressurize the liquid packs 111 to 116 by supplying compressed air from the outside so that the liquid can be separately discharged from the liquid packs 111 to 116.

The liquid packs 111 to 116 in FIG. 5 are detachably connected to the corresponding nozzles 81 to 86 of the head 11 by liquid supply tubes 91 to 96, respectively. One end of the liquid supply tube 91 is detachably connected to the connection portion 111A of the liquid pack 111. The other end portion of the liquid supply tube 91 is detachably connected to the connection portion 81 </ b> A of the head 11.
Similarly, one end portions of the liquid supply tubes 92 to 96 are detachably connected to the connection portions 112A to 116A of the liquid packs 112 to 116, respectively. The other end portions of the liquid supply tubes 92 to 96 are detachably connected to the connection portions 82A to 86A on the head 11 side, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 5, the head 11 has a plurality of nozzles 81 to 86. The nozzles 81 to 86 have nozzle openings 121 to 126, respectively. For example, several tens or several thousand nozzles 81 are arranged along the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 5 to form a nozzle row. The other nozzles 82 to 86 also form nozzle rows in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The nozzle openings 121 to 126 are formed facing the nozzle surface 70 of the nozzle plate 64.
This nozzle surface 70 faces downward Z2 in the Z-axis direction in the example of FIG. Thus, on the nozzle surface 70, for example, six nozzle rows (nozzle opening rows) are arranged in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG.

FIG. 5 further shows a nozzle discharge performance maintaining device 400. The nozzle discharge performance maintaining apparatus 400 includes a cap 221, a suction pump 19, a waste liquid tank 100, an elevating means 250, an air release valve 251, and a storage unit moving unit 410.
The cap 221 is an example of a main body, and the moving unit 410 of the storage unit is an example of a discharge liquid filling unit.
FIG. 6 shows a structural example of the cap 221. The cap 221 has a bottom surface portion 221A, four side surface portions 21B, and an upper opening 21C. The upper opening 21 </ b> C is, for example, a rectangular opening surrounded by the elastic member 29. The elastic member 29 is a member that is provided at the upper end portion of the four side surface portions 21 </ b> B of the cap 221 and is in close contact with the nozzle surface 70.

The cap 221 is a substantially box-shaped member, and the absorbent material 23 is accommodated in the cap 221. The absorbent 23 is made of a material such as foamed plastic in order to absorb the discharge liquid 4.
The bottom surface portion 221A has connection portions 21D and 21E. The connecting portion 21D is connected to the suction pump 19 through the tube 19A. By operating the suction pump 19, the inside of the cap 221 is changed from the atmospheric pressure state to the negative pressure state, and the filling liquid and the discharging liquid, which will be described later, stored in the cap 221 are discharged to the waste liquid tank 100 side. can do. The connecting portion 21E is connected to the atmosphere opening port 252 through the atmosphere opening valve 251. By opening the air release valve 251, the inside of the cap 221 in a negative pressure state can be returned to the atmospheric pressure state.

FIG. 7 shows a structural example of the moving unit 410 of the storage unit shown in FIG.
The storage unit moving unit 410 is a device for filling the discharge liquid into the nozzles 81 to 86 shown in FIG. 5 by raising the liquid storage unit 300 shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 in the Z1 direction. . The storage unit moving unit 410 includes a mounting table 415 on which the liquid storage unit 300 is mounted, a base 416, and a cylinder 417. When the control unit 200 instructs the cylinder 417, the rod 418 of the cylinder 417 extends from the state shown in FIG. 7A to the state shown in FIG. 7B. As a result, the mounting base 415 rises in the Z1 direction with respect to the base 416.

  The mounting base 415 can raise the connection portions 111A to 116A of the liquid packs 111 to 116 by the raising distance H1 by raising the liquid storage portion 300 in the Z1 direction. As a result, the head pressure of the discharge liquid in each nozzle 81 to 86 in the head 11 is increased in the nozzle, and the discharge liquid is filled in each nozzle, so that bubbles in each nozzle are discharged from the nozzle openings 121 to 121. 126 can be forcibly discharged to the outside.

Returning to FIG. 5, the elevating means 250 raises the cap 221 with respect to the nozzle surface 70, thereby bringing the elastic member 29 of the cap 221 shown in FIG. 6 into close contact with the nozzle surface 70. Each nozzle opening 81-86 of surface 70 can be sealed.
In addition to this, the nozzle discharge performance maintaining apparatus 400 includes a filling liquid filling device 470. The filling device 470 is a device for filling the cap 221 with a filling liquid through the upper opening 21C.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the structure of the filling device 470 for filling liquid. The liquid filling device 470 includes a solvent tank 471, a dispenser 472, and a tube 473. The dispenser 472 is connected to the solvent tank 471 with respect to the tube 473. The solvent tank 471 contains a solvent as an example of a filling liquid. The solvent stored in the solvent tank 471 is used for, for example, a discharge liquid, and a solvent that dissolves in the discharge liquid, for example, degassed decane can be used. By using a degassing solvent such as degassed decane, in the state where the solvent M is accommodated in the cap 221, there is no possibility that bubbles are mixed in the cap 221.
The solvent M in the solvent tank 471 is filled into the cap 221 through the tube 473, the dispenser 472, and the upper opening 21C. The solvent M is filled up to the upper end of the elastic member 29 in the cap 221 to prevent bubbles from entering the cap 221. The solvent may be pure water or γ-butyrolactone in addition to decane.

Next, an embodiment of a nozzle discharge performance maintaining method in the droplet discharge device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, as shown in FIG. 8, the cap 221 is filled with the solvent M through the dispenser 472 of the filling liquid filling device 470. The solvent M is filled up to the upper end of the elastic member 29. As a result, no gap is formed on the upper end side in the cap 221, and bubbles are prevented from entering the cap 221. Since the solvent M is degassed, bubbles can be prevented from entering.

Next, the motor 21A shown in FIG. 1 operates, the head 11 moves in the X (−) direction together with the carriage 19, and the head 11 reaches the upper position of the cap 221 as shown in FIG.
The moving part 410 of the storage part in FIG. 7 raises the liquid storage part 300 by the rising distance H1, as shown in FIG. 7B, so that the pressure of the discharge liquid from the liquid packs 111 to 116 is changed to the nozzles 81 to 81. Within 86, the pressure increases.
The nozzle surface 70 faces the cap 221, and the cap 221 seals the nozzle openings 81 to 86 of the nozzle surface 70 as shown in FIG. In this sealed state, the filling solvent M is completely filled between the nozzle surface 70 and the cap 221 to prevent air bubbles from entering.

When the cap 221 seals the nozzle surface 70 after increasing the pressure of the discharge liquid as described above, the pressing portion 29D of the elastic member 29 of the cap 221 is, for example, as shown in FIG. It is pressed against 70 with a certain pressing force. At this time, a phenomenon occurs in which the filling solvent M in the cap 221 enters the nozzles 81 to 86 side. At this time, if air bubbles are present in the cap 221, the air bubbles AB enter the inside through the nozzle openings 81 to 86 of the nozzle surface 70 as shown in FIG. 11B from the state of FIG. It is possible to get in. However, if the solvent M is degassed, it takes time, but bubbles in the cap can be eliminated.
In this way, the nozzle surface is capped after pressurizing the ejection liquid without pressurizing the ejection liquid after capping the nozzle surface. This is because the meniscus is formed on the inner side of the nozzle with respect to the nozzle surface, so that if the capping is performed before the discharge liquid is pressurized as it is, bubbles enter the nozzle.

  In the example of FIG. 7, the moving unit 410 of the storage unit raises the liquid storage unit 300 to pressurize the discharge liquid in the nozzles 81 to 86 with the raised physical head. In FIG. 8, the filling device 470 for filling liquid adopts a structure in which the solvent 221 is filled into the cap 221 from the dispenser 472 by a so-called dropping method.

In FIG. 12A, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the liquid reservoir 300 is raised by the rising distance H1, the discharge liquid 4 is applied downward from the nozzle openings 121 to 126 with higher pressure. It shows a state of being pressed. In FIG. 12B, the liquid reservoir 300 is not lifted as shown in FIG. 7A, and the heights of the connecting portions 111A to 116A of the liquid packs 111 to 116 are This is an example when the height matches.
In this case, a meniscus 4M of the discharge liquid 4 having a concave shape in the Z1 direction is formed in the nozzle openings 111 to 116.

  In addition to performing the nozzle discharge performance maintaining method in the droplet discharge device 10 described above, the nozzle discharge performance maintaining device 400 shown in FIG. 5 can also perform a normal suction operation of the discharge liquid from the nozzle surface. . As shown in FIG. 5, after the nozzle surface 70 is positioned at the upper position of the cap 221, the cap 221 is raised by the lifting / lowering means 250 and positioned at the upper position of the cap 221, and then the cap 221 is moved by the lifting / lowering means 250. When the suction pump 19 operates in a state where the cap 221 is sealed and the nozzle surface is sealed, the discharge liquid in the nozzles 81 to 86 can be discharged to the waste liquid tank 100 side. Thereby, nozzle clogging and bubbles in the nozzles 81 to 86 can be completely discharged.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 13, the filling solvent M is filled in the cap 221 in a state of being raised by the surface tension rather than the elastic member 29 unlike the example of FIG. 8. In this state, as shown in FIG. 13B from the state of FIG. 13A, the cap 221 seals the nozzle surface 70 to prevent bubbles from entering between the cap 221 and the nozzle surface. You can stop.

FIG. 14 shows yet another embodiment of the present invention.
In the embodiment of FIG. 14, a heater 480 as a heating unit is built in the bottom surface portion 221 </ b> A of the cap 221. The heater 480 can heat the solvent M as a filling liquid filled in the cap 221 by energization from the heater power supply 481. Providing the heater 480 has the following advantages. If any of the nozzles 81 to 86 is clogged with the solidified discharge liquid, the nozzle can be increased by simply raising the liquid reservoir and increasing the pressure of the discharge liquid in the nozzle. Since the solidified liquid cannot be sucked out and discharged, bubbles may remain in the nozzle.

  However, since the degassed solvent M gradually absorbs the bubbles, it comes into contact with the discharge liquid in which the solvent has solidified. Nozzle clogging can be eliminated by re-dissolving the discharge liquid solidified by the solvent. At this time, since the cap 221 is provided with the heater 480, the dissolution rate of the re-dissolution of the discharge liquid solidified by the solvent M can be increased and dissolved quickly.

FIG. 15 shows yet another embodiment of the present invention.
The cap 221 of the embodiment of FIG. 15 illustrates another embodiment of the filling liquid filling device 470 of FIG. In the filling device 470 for filling liquid shown in FIG. 15, the solvent tank 471 is connected to the connection portion 21 </ b> F of the bottom surface portion 221 </ b> A of the cap 221 through the tube 473. The solvent tank 471 can be filled with the solvent M through the connection portion 21 </ b> F of the bottom surface portion 221 </ b> A of the main body 221.
In addition to this, the tube 473 may be connected to the single side surface portion 21B instead of the bottom surface portion 221A, and may of course adopt a structure in which the solvent M is filled in the cap 221.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the discharge liquid filling unit increases the pressure of the discharge liquid in the nozzle and fills the nozzle with the discharge liquid. The main body seals the nozzle surface while the body is filled with a filling liquid. Thereby, in the state which the main body sealed the nozzle surface, the filling liquid is filled between the inside of the main body and the nozzle surface, and bubbles do not remain. Moreover, since the discharge liquid filling portion fills the nozzle with the discharge liquid, no bubbles remain in the nozzle. As a result, bubbles do not enter from the inside of the main body to the nozzle side.
Accordingly, it is possible to improve the drawing quality of the workpiece by preventing bubbles from remaining in the main body for sealing the nozzle surface, eliminating nozzle clogging of the head.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, since the filling liquid is deaerated in a state where the inside of the main body is filled, no bubbles are generated in the filling liquid in the main body. If the filling liquid and the discharge liquid are the same, there is no change in physical properties, so there is no need to throw away the filling liquid and the discharge liquid. The moving part of the storage part raises the discharge liquid storage part to increase the pressure of the discharge liquid in the nozzle of the head, fill the nozzle with the discharge liquid, and discharge the bubbles from the nozzle. .

In the embodiment described above, a structure in which the moving part 410 of the storage part raises the liquid storage part 300 is adopted in order to increase the pressure in the nozzle of the discharge liquid 980 in the nozzles 81 to 86 as shown in FIG. ing.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a discharge liquid filling unit 650 shown in FIG. 4 may be used. The ejection liquid filling unit 650 includes a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators 789 and a driving unit 201. The drive unit 201 applies a voltage smaller than the voltage applied to each piezoelectric vibrator 789 when ejected from a normal ejection liquid nozzle in accordance with a command from the control unit 200. Thereby, the pressure in the nozzle of the discharge liquid in each nozzle 81 thru | or 86 can be raised.

  Embodiments of the present invention can be used to manufacture electro-optical devices (devices). Examples of the electro-optical device include a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) device, an electron emission device, a PDP (Plasma Display Panel) device, an electrophoretic display device, and the like. The electron emission device is a concept including a so-called FED (Field Emission Display) device. Further, as the electro-optical device, various devices including metal wiring formation, lens formation, resist formation, and light diffuser formation are conceivable. By using the embodiment of the present invention for manufacturing an electro-optical device, the nozzle nozzle clogging of the head is eliminated, and the discharge liquid is discharged onto the work, thereby improving the drawing quality in the work and being excellent. An electro-optical device is obtained.

  FIG. 16 shows a structural example of an organic EL device when the droplet discharge device of the present invention is used as a drawing device for manufacturing an organic EL device which is a kind of flat panel display. The organic EL device 701 is provided for an organic EL element 702 including a substrate 711, a circuit element portion 721, a pixel electrode 731, a bank portion 741, a light emitting element 751, a cathode 761 (counter electrode), and a sealing substrate 771. A wiring of a flexible substrate (not shown) and a driving IC (not shown) are connected.

  A circuit element portion 721 is formed on the substrate 711 of the organic EL element 702, and a plurality of pixel electrodes 731 are aligned on the circuit element portion 721. Bank portions 741 are formed in a lattice pattern between the pixel electrodes 731, and light emitting elements 751 are formed in the recess openings 744 generated by the bank portions 741. A cathode 761 is formed on the entire upper surface of the bank portion 741 and the light emitting element 751, and a sealing substrate 771 is laminated on the cathode 761.

A manufacturing process of the organic EL element 702 includes a bank part forming process for forming the bank part 741, a plasma treatment process for appropriately forming the light emitting element 751, a light emitting element forming process for forming the light emitting element 751, and a cathode 761. And a sealing step in which a sealing substrate 771 is stacked on the cathode 761 and sealed.
That is, the organic EL element 702 is formed by forming the bank portion 741 at a predetermined position on the substrate 711 (work W) on which the circuit element portion 721 and the pixel electrode 731 are formed in advance, and then performing plasma processing, the light emitting element 751 and the cathode 761 (opposing Electrode) are sequentially formed, and further, a sealing substrate 771 is laminated on the cathode 761 and sealed. Note that the organic EL element 702 is easily deteriorated by the influence of moisture in the atmosphere, and therefore, the organic EL element 702 is manufactured in a dry air or inert gas (nitrogen, argon, helium, etc.) atmosphere. preferable.

Each light emitting element 751 includes a hole injection / transport layer 752 and a film forming portion including a light emitting layer 753 colored in any one color of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). The light emitting element forming step includes a hole injecting / transporting layer forming step for forming the hole injecting / transporting layer 752 and a light emitting layer forming step for forming the three-color light emitting layer 753. .
The organic EL device 701 is manufactured by manufacturing the organic EL element 702 and then connecting the wiring of the flexible substrate to the cathode 761 of the organic EL element 702 and connecting the wiring of the circuit element unit 721 to the driving IC.

Next, the case where the droplet discharge device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied to the manufacture of a liquid crystal display device will be described.
FIG. 17 shows a cross-sectional structure of the liquid crystal display device 801. The liquid crystal display device 801 includes a color filter 802, a counter substrate 803, a liquid crystal composition 804 sealed between the color filter 802 and the counter substrate 803, and a backlight (not shown). On the inner surface of the counter substrate 803, pixel electrodes 805 and TFT (thin film transistor) elements (not shown) are formed in a matrix. Red, green, and blue colored layers 813 of the color filter 802 are arranged at positions facing the pixel electrode 805. An alignment film 806 for aligning liquid crystal molecules in a certain direction is formed on the inner surfaces of the color filter 802 and the counter substrate 803, and a polarizing plate 807 is formed on the outer surfaces of the color filter 802 and the counter substrate 803. Is glued.

  The color filter 802 includes a translucent transparent substrate 811, a large number of pixels (filter elements) 812 arranged in a matrix on the transparent substrate 811, a colored layer 813 formed on the pixels 812, and each pixel 812. A light-shielding partition 814 for partitioning. An overcoat layer 815 and an electrode layer 816 are formed on the top surfaces of the colored layer 813 and the partition 814.

  A manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device 801 will be described. First, a partition 814 is formed in the transparent substrate 811, and then a colored layer 813 of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) is formed in the pixel 812 portion. . Then, an overcoat layer 815 is formed by spin coating with a transparent acrylic resin paint, and an electrode layer 816 made of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) is further formed to form a color filter 802.

  A pixel electrode 805 and a TFT element are formed in the counter substrate 803. Next, after the alignment film 806 is applied to the counter substrate 803 on which the color filter 802 and the pixel electrode 805 are formed, they are bonded to each other. A liquid crystal composition 804 is sealed between the color filter 802 and the counter substrate 803, and then a polarizing plate 807 and a backlight are stacked.

Embodiments of the droplet discharge device of the present invention can be used to form the filter elements (R (red), G (green), and B (blue) colored layers 813) of the color filter. Further, by using a liquid material corresponding to the pixel electrode 805, the pixel electrode 805 can be used.
In addition, as other electro-optical devices, devices including preparation of a preparation in addition to metal wiring formation, lens formation, resist formation, and light diffuser formation are conceivable. Various electro-optical devices can be efficiently manufactured by using the above-described droplet discharge device for manufacturing various electro-optical devices (devices).

  The electronic apparatus of the present invention is equipped with the electro-optical device. In this case, the electronic apparatus corresponds to various electric products in addition to a mobile phone and a personal computer equipped with a so-called flat panel display.

  FIG. 18 illustrates a shape example of a mobile phone 1000 that is an example of an electronic apparatus. A cellular phone 1000 includes a main body portion 1001 and a display portion 1002. The display unit 1002 uses, for example, an organic EL device 701 or a liquid crystal display device 801 which is an electro-optical device as described above.

FIG. 19 illustrates a computer 1100 that is another example of the electronic apparatus. A computer 1100 includes a main body portion 1101 and a display portion 1102. The display unit 1102 can use the organic EL device 701 and the liquid crystal display device 801 which are examples of the electro-optical device as described above.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the filling liquid M may be made of the same material as the ejection liquid. As a result, a material different from the ejection liquid does not enter the nozzle of the head.
The embodiment of the droplet discharge device of the present invention can also be used for black and white or color printing (printing) on an object to be printed which is an example of a workpiece. In this case, the liquid storage unit is an ink cartridge, and this ink cartridge stores one type or a plurality of types of ink (for example, black, yellow, magenta, cyan, light cyan, light magenta, etc.) separately. . Each ink is an example of a liquid.

  The liquid droplet ejection apparatus according to the above-described embodiment is a so-called off-carriage type in which a liquid pack that is an ink pack is disposed at a position different from the head 11. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a so-called on-carriage type droplet discharge device that mounts a liquid pack on a carriage on which the head 11 is mounted may be used.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments may be combined with each other.

The top view which shows preferable embodiment of the droplet discharge apparatus of this invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a carriage, a head, and the like of the droplet discharge device in FIG. 1. The front view seen from the E direction in FIG. 2 which shows the carriage, head, etc. of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a piezoelectric vibrator of a head and a structure example of a liquid storage unit. The figure which shows the discharge performance maintenance apparatus of a liquid storage part, a head, and a nozzle. The figure which shows the structural example of the cap of the discharge performance maintenance apparatus of a nozzle, and its peripheral part. The figure which shows the structural example etc. of the moving part (liquid filling part for discharge) of a storage part. The figure which shows a mode that the solvent is filled in the cap by the dropping method. The figure which shows the state which sealed the nozzle surface from the state with which the cap with which the solvent was filled facing the nozzle surface. The figure which shows the state by which the elastic member of the cap was pressed with respect to the nozzle surface. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state where air bubbles have entered the nozzle when the cap is pressed against the nozzle surface in FIG. 10. The figure which shows the state by which the discharge liquid in a nozzle was pressurized by the moving part of the storage part of FIG. 7, and the state which is not pressurized. The figure which is another embodiment of this invention, and shows the example with which more solvent is filled in the cap. The figure which shows another embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows another embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the example of a shape of the organic electroluminescent apparatus manufactured with the droplet discharge apparatus of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the structural example of the liquid crystal display device manufactured with the droplet discharge apparatus of this invention. The perspective view which shows the mobile telephone which is an example of an electronic device provided with the display apparatus manufactured by embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which shows the computer which is another example of an electronic device.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Droplet discharge apparatus, 11 ... Head, 221 ... Cap (an example of a main body), 70 ... Nozzle surface, 81 thru | or 86 ... Nozzle, 111 thru | or 116 ... Nozzle opening, 410: Moving part of storage part (an example of a filling part of discharge liquid), 470: Filling device for filling liquid, M: An example of filling liquid

Claims (10)

A droplet discharge device that discharges a discharge liquid from a nozzle of a head onto a workpiece,
A discharge liquid filling portion for filling the nozzle with the discharge liquid;
A discharge performance maintaining device for maintaining the discharge performance of the nozzle,
The discharge performance maintaining device includes a cap filled with a filling liquid and sealing the nozzle surface of the head,
The discharge performance maintaining device brings the nozzle surface of the head into contact with the filling liquid in a state in which the discharge liquid filling portion increases the pressure of the discharge liquid in the nozzle. Drop ejection device. The discharge liquid filling unit includes a liquid storage unit that is connected to the nozzle of the head and stores the discharge liquid, and a moving unit that moves the liquid storage unit,
The discharge performance maintaining device further includes elevating means for elevating and lowering the cap,
After the liquid storage unit is raised by the moving unit, the discharge liquid in the nozzle is pressurized by the raised physical head, and the nozzle is positioned above the cap filled with the filling liquid The liquid droplet ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cap is raised with respect to the nozzle by the elevating means . Said filling liquid is a solvent mutually soluble with the discharge liquid droplet discharging apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the solvent is degassed. The filling liquid droplet discharging apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the same as the ejection liquid. The discharge liquid filling section includes a piezoelectric element for discharging the discharge liquid from the nozzle of the head and a control section for applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element. The droplet discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 . A maintenance method for maintaining the ejection performance of the nozzle in a droplet ejection apparatus that ejects ejection liquid from a nozzle of a head onto a workpiece,
The filling liquid is filled in a cap , the nozzle is brought into contact with the filling liquid in a state where the pressure of the discharge liquid in the nozzle is increased, and the nozzle is sealed by the cap. A method for maintaining the discharge performance of a nozzle in a droplet discharge device. By raising the liquid reservoir that stores the ejection liquid, the ejection liquid in the nozzle is pressurized by the raised physical head,
The nozzle is sealed by the cap by positioning the nozzle above the cap filled with the filling liquid and then raising the cap with respect to the nozzle. A method for maintaining the ejection performance of a nozzle in the liquid droplet ejection apparatus described above. Said filling liquid, the discharge performance maintenance method of the nozzles of the droplet ejecting apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized by using a degassed solvent. Discharge performance maintenance method of the nozzles of the droplet ejecting apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to claim 8, characterized in that heating by the heating means said filling liquid. A manufacturing method for manufacturing an electro-optical device by discharging a discharge liquid from a nozzle of a head onto a work,
Filling a cap with a filling liquid, bringing the nozzle into contact with the filling liquid in a state where the pressure of the discharge liquid in the nozzle is increased , and sealing the nozzle with the cap;
Thereafter, the sealing of the nozzle surface by the main body is released, and the electro-optical device is manufactured by discharging the discharge liquid onto the workpiece.

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