JP5283324B2 - Printing apparatus and head cleaning method - Google Patents

Printing apparatus and head cleaning method Download PDF

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JP5283324B2
JP5283324B2 JP2006254298A JP2006254298A JP5283324B2 JP 5283324 B2 JP5283324 B2 JP 5283324B2 JP 2006254298 A JP2006254298 A JP 2006254298A JP 2006254298 A JP2006254298 A JP 2006254298A JP 5283324 B2 JP5283324 B2 JP 5283324B2
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cleaning
print head
cleaning liquid
liquid
foam
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JP2008073593A (en
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裕子 山本
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Ulvac Inc
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Ulvac Inc
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Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To clean a printing head without impairing a printing head or worsening the condition of a surface treatment such as water repellent treatment applied to the surface of the printing head. <P>SOLUTION: This printing equipment 1 has a cleaning device 3 which has a cleaning bed 40. A foamed layer 36 is formed by blowing a cleaning liquid 35 supplied onto the cleaning bed 40 and the printing head 20 is brought into contact with the foamed layer 36. Consequently, a deposit 29 is dissolved into the cleaning liquid 35 and removed. Since the surface where a discharge orifice 25 of the printing head 20 is formed, does not come into contact with the cleaning device 3 or any other member, the printing head 20 is not impaired. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

本発明は印刷ヘッドから吐出液を吐出する装置にかかり、特に、印刷ヘッドのクリーニングを行なえる装置に関する。   The present invention relates to an apparatus for discharging a discharge liquid from a print head, and more particularly to an apparatus capable of cleaning the print head.

液晶表示装置の配向膜や、スペーサの塗布の他、有機ＥＬ装置等の有機薄膜を形成する用途にも、インクジェットプリンタ形式の印刷装置が用いられている。
従来、インクジェットプリンタ形式の印刷装置は、吐出液を吐出するための吐出孔を複数有している。該印刷装置で印刷を行うと、吐出孔周辺や吐出孔内部に吐出液の凝固物や、高粘度化した吐出液や、粉塵等が付着し、吐出液の吐出方向が曲がって着弾位置がずれたり、甚だしい場合は吐出不良や吐出孔詰まりの原因となる。 In addition to alignment films for liquid crystal display devices and spacer coating, inkjet printer type printing devices are also used for forming organic thin films such as organic EL devices.
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, inkjet printer type printing apparatuses have a plurality of ejection holes for ejecting ejection liquid. When printing is performed with the printer, solidified discharge liquid, high-viscosity discharge liquid, or dust adheres to the periphery of the discharge hole or inside the discharge hole, and the discharge direction of the discharge liquid is bent to shift the landing position. If it is severe, it may cause discharge failure or clogging of discharge holes.

吐出孔の詰まりを防止するために、従来より付着物を除去するクリーニング装置が使用されている。例えば、従来のクリーニング装置は下記文献に記載されている。
特開２００５−３１９６５４号公報 In order to prevent clogging of the discharge holes, a cleaning device that removes deposits has been used conventionally. For example, a conventional cleaning device is described in the following document.
JP 2005-319654 A

しかしながら、上記のクリーニング装置では、クリーニング用のブレードを直接印刷ヘッドに擦りつけることで付着物の除去を行っており、ブレードが付着物を除去するときに、印刷ヘッドを傷つけ、印刷ヘッド表面に施されている撥水処理等の表面処理の状態を悪化させる。
また、ブレードで擦り取られた付着物が吐出孔内に入り込むと、吐出不良を引き起こす原因となる。 However, the cleaning device described above removes deposits by rubbing the cleaning blade directly against the print head. When the blade removes deposits, the print head is damaged and applied to the print head surface. It worsens the state of surface treatment such as water repellent treatment.
Moreover, if the deposits scraped off by the blade enter the discharge holes, it causes discharge failure.

上記課題を解決するため、本発明は、印刷対象物が配置される印刷台と、前記印刷台上の印刷対象物に対して相対移動し、吐出孔から吐出液を吐出する印刷ヘッドと、前記印刷ヘッドをクリーニングするクリーニング装置とを有する印刷装置であって、前記クリーニング装置は、表面に形成された多数の噴出孔を有する洗浄台と、前記洗浄台の前記表面の縁に設けられた壁と、前記洗浄台の前記表面上に洗浄液を供給する洗浄液供給装置と、前記洗浄台の内部に設けられ、前記噴出孔に接続された緩衝室と、前記緩衝室に接続され、前記緩衝室に発泡ガスを供給して前記噴出孔から前記発泡ガスを噴出させ、前記表面上の前記洗浄液を発泡させて発泡層を形成する給気装置と、前記洗浄台の前記表面上の前記洗浄液を前記噴出孔から吸引する排気系と、前記緩衝室への接続を、前記給気装置から前記排気系に切り替える切替弁と、を有し、前記印刷ヘッドの複数の前記吐出孔が配置された部分を、前記洗浄液の前記発泡層に浸漬し、前記発泡層の泡の消滅時の衝撃によって、前記印刷ヘッドの付着物を前記洗浄液に溶解又は分散させることができるように構成された印刷装置である。
本発明は、底面に形成された複数の吐出孔を有し、内部に配置された吐出液を前記吐出孔から吐出し、印刷対象物表面に前記吐出液の液滴を着弾させる印刷ヘッドをクリーニングするヘッドクリーニング方法であって、縁に壁が設けられ、表面に形成された多数の噴出孔を有する洗浄台の前記表面上に洗浄液を供給し、前記洗浄台の内部に設けられた緩衝室に、前記緩衝室に接続された給気装置から発泡ガスを供給し、前記噴出孔から前記発泡ガスを噴出させ、前記表面上の前記洗浄液を発泡させて発泡層を形成し、発泡した前記洗浄液に前記印刷ヘッドを接触させ、前記発泡層の泡の消滅時の衝撃によって、前記印刷ヘッドの付着物を前記洗浄液に溶解又は分散させて洗浄し、切替弁により前記緩衝室への接続を前記給気装置から排気系に切り替えて、前記排気系によって、前記洗浄台の前記表面の上の前記洗浄液を前記噴出孔から吸引するヘッドクリーニング方法である。
本発明はヘッドクリーニング方法であって、前記洗浄液の発泡する泡の生成と消滅とが釣り合うように前記発泡ガスを供給し、泡が一定量生成された状態で前記泡の生成と消滅とを釣り合わせ、前記発泡層の前記洗浄台の前記表面からの高さを一定にさせるヘッドクリーニング方法である。

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a printing table on which a printing object is disposed, a printing head that moves relative to the printing object on the printing table and discharges discharge liquid from discharge holes, A cleaning device for cleaning a print head, wherein the cleaning device includes a cleaning table having a number of ejection holes formed on a surface, and a wall provided at an edge of the surface of the cleaning table. a cleaning liquid supply device for supplying a cleaning liquid to the cleaning stage of the surface, provided inside the cleaning stage, a buffer chamber connected to the ejection hole is connected to the buffer chamber, blowing into the buffer chamber gas supplies is ejected to the foaming gas from the ejection hole, wherein the air supply device by foaming the cleaning solution on the surface that form a foam layer, the cleaning liquid on the surface of the cleaning table jetting Suction through hole And exhaust systems, said connection to the buffer chamber, has a switching valve for switching the exhaust system from the air supply device, a plurality of the discharge holes is disposed portion of the print head, the said washing liquid The printing apparatus is configured to be immersed in the foam layer and to dissolve or disperse the deposit on the print head in the cleaning liquid by an impact when the foam of the foam layer disappears .
The present invention has a plurality of discharge holes formed on the bottom surface, discharges a discharge liquid disposed inside from the discharge holes, and cleans a print head for landing droplets of the discharge liquid on the surface of a print object A cleaning method is provided for supplying a cleaning liquid onto the surface of a cleaning table having a plurality of ejection holes formed on the surface, the wall being provided on the edge, and a buffer chamber provided inside the cleaning table. The foaming gas is supplied from an air supply device connected to the buffer chamber, the foaming gas is ejected from the ejection holes, the cleaning liquid on the surface is foamed to form a foam layer, and the foamed cleaning liquid The print head is brought into contact, and the deposit on the print head is dissolved or dispersed in the cleaning liquid by an impact when the bubbles of the foam layer disappear, and the connection to the buffer chamber is connected to the buffer chamber by a switching valve. From the equipment to the exhaust system Toggles Te, by the exhaust system, a head cleaning method of sucking the cleaning liquid on said cleaning table of said surface from the ejection hole.
The present invention is a head cleaning method, in which the foaming gas is supplied so that the generation and disappearance of foaming bubbles of the cleaning liquid are balanced, and the generation and disappearance of the bubbles are balanced in a state where a certain amount of bubbles are generated. In addition, the height of the foam layer from the surface of the cleaning table is made constant .

本発明は上記のように構成されており、印刷ヘッドを、吐出孔が設けられた面を下側に向けた状態で下降させて、泡を含んだ洗浄液に接触させれば、洗浄液が吐出孔の内部に入り込み難い。   The present invention is configured as described above. When the print head is lowered with the surface provided with the discharge holes facing downward and brought into contact with the cleaning liquid containing bubbles, the cleaning liquid is discharged into the discharge holes. It is difficult to get inside.

本発明によれば、印刷ヘッドを傷つけずにクリーニングを行うことが可能である。印刷ヘッド内には付着物は入り込まないだけでなく、洗浄液も入り込むことなく、本発明の印刷ヘッドのクリーニングにより吐出不良が起こらない状態にすることが可能である。   According to the present invention, it is possible to perform cleaning without damaging the print head. It is possible not only to prevent deposits from entering the print head, but also to prevent the occurrence of defective ejection by cleaning the print head of the present invention without entering cleaning liquid.

図１(ａ)〜(ｄ)の符号１は、本発明の一例の印刷装置を示しており、図１(ａ)は平面図、図１(ｂ)は、図１(ａ)の側面図である。
印刷装置１は、印刷対象物が配置される印刷台１１と、印刷台１１上に位置し、印刷台１１の表面とは離間して配置された支持部１２と、支持部１２の印刷台１１に向いた面に配置された印刷ヘッド２０とを有している。 Reference numeral 1 in FIGS. 1A to 1D denotes a printing apparatus according to an example of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a plan view, and FIG. 1B is a side view of FIG. It is.
The printing apparatus 1 includes a printing table 11 on which a printing object is arranged, a support unit 12 that is positioned on the printing table 11 and spaced from the surface of the printing table 11, and a printing table 11 of the support unit 12. And a print head 20 disposed on the surface facing the surface.

図１(ａ)、(ｂ)の符号７は、印刷台１１上の支持部１２の片側位置に配置された印刷対象物を示しており、不図示の移動機構により、印刷対象物７は、図１(ｃ)に示すように、支持部１２と対面する位置を通過しながら、図１(ｄ)に示すように、支持部１２の反対側の位置まで移動できるように構成されている。   Reference numeral 7 in FIGS. 1A and 1B denotes a print object placed on one side of the support 12 on the printing table 11, and the print object 7 is moved by a moving mechanism (not shown). As shown in FIG. 1 (c), it is configured to be able to move to a position on the opposite side of the support portion 12 as shown in FIG. 1 (d) while passing through the position facing the support portion 12.

印刷ヘッド２０は、インク供給系７０と廃液系６０に接続されている。印刷ヘッド２０は支持部１２に支持された状態で、印刷対象物７の移動方向とは垂直な方向を水平面内で往復移動できるように構成されており、印刷ヘッド２０を移動させながら、インク供給系７０から供給された吐出液を印刷ヘッド２０から吐出し、印刷対象物７を移動させると、印刷対象物７の所望位置に吐出液を着弾させることができるように構成されている。   The print head 20 is connected to the ink supply system 70 and the waste liquid system 60. The print head 20 is configured to be able to reciprocate in a horizontal plane in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the print object 7 while being supported by the support unit 12, and supply ink while moving the print head 20. When the discharge liquid supplied from the system 70 is discharged from the print head 20 and the print object 7 is moved, the discharge liquid can be landed on a desired position of the print object 7.

吐出液の吐出を長時間行なうと、印刷ヘッド２０の表面に、吐出液やダストが付着するため、クリーニングを行なう必要がある。
印刷対象物７が移動する範囲の外側であって、印刷ヘッド２０が到着可能な位置には、クリーニング装置が配置されている。図２は、印刷ヘッド２０がクリーニング装置３上に位置した状態を示している。 If the discharge liquid is discharged for a long time, the discharge liquid or dust adheres to the surface of the print head 20, so that cleaning is necessary.
A cleaning device is arranged outside the range in which the print object 7 moves and at a position where the print head 20 can arrive. FIG. 2 shows a state where the print head 20 is positioned on the cleaning device 3.

クリーニング装置３は、洗浄台４０と、洗浄液供給装置３０とを有している（図３（ａ））。
洗浄液供給装置３０には、洗浄液供給系３１が接続されている。洗浄液供給系３１には、洗浄液３５が配置されており、洗浄液供給装置３０から洗浄台４０上に所望量の洗浄液３５を供給できるように構成されている（図３（ｂ））。 The cleaning device 3 includes a cleaning table 40 and a cleaning liquid supply device 30 (FIG. 3A).
A cleaning liquid supply system 31 is connected to the cleaning liquid supply device 30. A cleaning liquid 35 is disposed in the cleaning liquid supply system 31 so that a desired amount of the cleaning liquid 35 can be supplied from the cleaning liquid supply device 30 onto the cleaning table 40 (FIG. 3B).

この洗浄液は、吐出液の凝固物や高粘度化した吐出液を溶解する液体や、吐出液の溶媒と同じ液体を用いることができる。また、洗浄液には界面活性剤等の洗浄力を強化する物質を添加することもできる。   As the cleaning liquid, a liquid that dissolves a coagulated product of the discharge liquid, a discharge liquid having a high viscosity, or the same liquid as the solvent of the discharge liquid can be used. In addition, a substance that enhances the detergency such as a surfactant may be added to the cleaning liquid.

洗浄台４０の縁には、壁４２が設けられている。洗浄台４０の表面は水平に配置されており、洗浄台４０上に供給された洗浄液は洗浄台４０の表面上を拡がり、壁４２によって洗浄台４０から落下するのが防止されている。   A wall 42 is provided at the edge of the cleaning table 40. The surface of the cleaning table 40 is arranged horizontally, and the cleaning liquid supplied onto the cleaning table 40 spreads on the surface of the cleaning table 40 and is prevented from falling from the cleaning table 40 by the wall 42.

洗浄台４０には多数の噴出孔４５が形成されており、各噴出孔４５は洗浄台４０内部に設けられた緩衝室４６に接続されている。
洗浄台４０には、配管５１によって給気系（給気装置）５０が接続されており、給気系５０から空気や窒素ガス等の発泡ガスを洗浄台４０に供給すると、発泡ガスは緩衝室４６に溜まり、各噴出孔４５から洗浄台４０上に噴出されるように構成されている。 A number of ejection holes 45 are formed in the cleaning table 40, and each ejection hole 45 is connected to a buffer chamber 46 provided inside the cleaning table 40.
An air supply system (air supply device) 50 is connected to the cleaning table 40 by a pipe 51. When foaming gas such as air or nitrogen gas is supplied from the air supply system 50 to the cleaning table 40, the foaming gas is buffered. 46 is configured to be ejected from the ejection holes 45 onto the cleaning table 40.

洗浄台４０上に洗浄液３５が供給された状態で、噴出孔４５から発泡ガスが噴出されると、洗浄液３５に泡が形成される。
この泡は短時間で弾けて消滅するように構成されており、所定量の発泡ガスが供給された状態では、泡が一定量生成された状態で、泡の生成と消滅が釣り合い、洗浄台４０から一定高さに泡の層（発泡層）３６が形成される（図４（ｃ））。 When the foaming gas is ejected from the ejection holes 45 in a state where the cleaning liquid 35 is supplied onto the cleaning table 40, bubbles are formed in the cleaning liquid 35.
The bubbles are configured to be blown and disappear in a short time. In a state where a predetermined amount of foaming gas is supplied, the generation and disappearance of bubbles are balanced in a state where a certain amount of bubbles are generated, and the washing table 40 Then, a foam layer (foamed layer) 36 is formed at a certain height (FIG. 4C).

印刷ヘッド２０の底面には吐出液を吐出する複数の吐出孔２５が形成されている。この印刷ヘッド２０を不図示の上下移動機構によって洗浄台４０の上方から降下させ、上下移動機構の移動量を制御することで、印刷ヘッド２０を発泡層３６が生成された状態の洗浄台４０表面上に、洗浄台４０表面とは非接触の状態で平行に配置し、洗浄台４０の表面と印刷ヘッド２０の底面との間の距離を、発泡層３６の厚みよりも短距離まで近接させておく（図４（ｄ））。   A plurality of discharge holes 25 for discharging the discharge liquid are formed on the bottom surface of the print head 20. The print head 20 is lowered from above the cleaning table 40 by a vertical movement mechanism (not shown), and the amount of movement of the vertical movement mechanism is controlled, so that the print head 20 is in a state where the foam layer 36 is generated. Further, the surface is arranged in parallel with the surface of the cleaning table 40 in a non-contact state, and the distance between the surface of the cleaning table 40 and the bottom surface of the print head 20 is made closer to a distance shorter than the thickness of the foam layer 36. (FIG. 4D).

この距離で印刷ヘッド２０を静止させた状態では、洗浄台４０表面と印刷ヘッド２０底面の間は泡の含んだ洗浄液で充満され、印刷ヘッド２０が発泡層３６に浸漬されており、洗浄台４０表面と印刷ヘッド２０底面との間の泡は消滅と発生を繰り返すので、泡の消滅時の衝撃によって、印刷ヘッド２０底面の付着物２９が洗浄液に溶解又は分散され、印刷ヘッド２０底面がクリーニングされる。   In a state where the print head 20 is stationary at this distance, the space between the surface of the cleaning table 40 and the bottom surface of the print head 20 is filled with the cleaning liquid containing bubbles, and the print head 20 is immersed in the foam layer 36. Since the bubbles between the surface and the bottom surface of the print head 20 are repeatedly disappeared and generated, the deposit 29 on the bottom surface of the print head 20 is dissolved or dispersed in the cleaning liquid by the impact when the bubbles disappear, and the bottom surface of the print head 20 is cleaned. The

この状態で所定時間経過した後、配管５１の設けられた切替弁５２を、給気系５０から排気系５５に切り替え、配管５１内を負圧にして緩衝室４６を吸引すると、洗浄台４０表面の洗浄液が泡と共に噴出孔４５から吸引され、印刷ヘッド２０と洗浄台４０との間に泡の状態で存する洗浄液は吸引除去される（図５（ｅ）。印刷ヘッド２０の表面が乾燥すると、クリーニングは終了し、印刷対象物７に対して吐出液を吐出できる状態になる。   After a predetermined time has passed in this state, when the switching valve 52 provided with the pipe 51 is switched from the air supply system 50 to the exhaust system 55 and the inside of the pipe 51 is brought into a negative pressure and the buffer chamber 46 is sucked, the surface of the washing table 40 The cleaning liquid is sucked from the ejection holes 45 together with the foam, and the cleaning liquid existing in the foam state is sucked and removed between the print head 20 and the cleaning table 40 (FIG. 5E) When the surface of the print head 20 is dried, The cleaning is completed, and the discharge liquid can be discharged to the printing object 7.

このように、本発明では、吐出孔２５が形成された印刷ヘッド２０底面が、クリーニング装置３に接触せずにクリーニングが行なわれるので、底面が傷つけられたり、異物が吐出孔２５内に入り込むことはない。   Thus, in the present invention, the bottom surface of the print head 20 in which the ejection holes 25 are formed is cleaned without contacting the cleaning device 3, so that the bottom surface is damaged or foreign matter enters the ejection holes 25. There is no.

なお、印刷ヘッド２０底面と洗浄台４０表面の間が泡を含んだ洗浄液で充満されている場合、印刷ヘッド２０内部の吐出液の圧力を、印刷ヘッド２０底面と洗浄台４０表面の間の圧力よりも上昇させ、洗浄液が印刷ヘッド２０内部に侵入しないようにするとよい。   When the space between the bottom surface of the print head 20 and the surface of the cleaning table 40 is filled with the cleaning liquid containing bubbles, the pressure of the discharge liquid inside the print head 20 is set to the pressure between the bottom surface of the print head 20 and the surface of the cleaning table 40. It is better to prevent the cleaning liquid from entering the print head 20.

上記は、洗浄液３５を発泡させた後、印刷ヘッド２０を洗浄台４０表面に近接させたが、洗浄台４０表面に洗浄液３５を供給した後、又は、洗浄液３５を供給する前に印刷ヘッド２０を洗浄台４０表面に発泡層３６よりも短距離まで近接させた後、その状態で洗浄液３５を発泡させてもよい。   In the above description, after the cleaning liquid 35 is foamed, the print head 20 is brought close to the surface of the cleaning table 40. However, after the cleaning liquid 35 is supplied to the surface of the cleaning table 40 or before the cleaning liquid 35 is supplied, the print head 20 is moved. The cleaning liquid 35 may be foamed in that state after being brought closer to the surface of the cleaning table 40 to a shorter distance than the foam layer 36.

また、上記は洗浄台４０上に配置された洗浄液供給装置３０から洗浄液３５を供給したが、図６に示すように、洗浄液供給系５９を配管５１に接続し、切替弁５２によって、先ず、噴出孔４５を洗浄液供給系５９に接続し、緩衝室４６に洗浄液を供給して、噴出孔４５から洗浄台４０表面に洗浄液を汪溢させ、次いで、切替弁５２によって噴出孔４５を給気系５０に接続し、洗浄台４０表面の洗浄液中に発泡ガスを吹きこみ、発泡させても良い。   In the above, the cleaning liquid 35 is supplied from the cleaning liquid supply device 30 disposed on the cleaning table 40. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the cleaning liquid supply system 59 is connected to the pipe 51 and is first ejected by the switching valve 52. The hole 45 is connected to the cleaning liquid supply system 59, the cleaning liquid is supplied to the buffer chamber 46, the cleaning liquid overflows from the ejection hole 45 to the surface of the cleaning table 40, and then the ejection hole 45 is connected to the air supply system 50 by the switching valve 52. The foaming gas may be blown into the cleaning liquid on the surface of the cleaning table 40 for foaming.

なお、本発明に用いることができる吐出液は、液晶表示装置の配向膜の原料となる、有機樹脂が溶解した樹脂溶液や、液晶表示装置のスペーサが液体中に分散されたスペーサ分散液や、有機ＥＬ表示装置の有機発光層の原料となる樹脂溶液を用いることができる。   The discharge liquid that can be used in the present invention is a resin solution in which an organic resin is dissolved, a spacer dispersion liquid in which spacers of a liquid crystal display device are dispersed in a liquid, which is a raw material for an alignment film of a liquid crystal display device, A resin solution used as a raw material for the organic light emitting layer of the organic EL display device can be used.

以上は、印刷ヘッド２０に対して印刷対象物７が移動する印刷装置１について説明したが、本発明は、印刷対象物７が静止し、支持部１２が移動する印刷装置も含まれる。   The printing apparatus 1 in which the print object 7 moves with respect to the print head 20 has been described above. However, the present invention includes a printing apparatus in which the print object 7 is stationary and the support unit 12 is moved.

以上は、上下移動機構の移動量を制御することで、印刷ヘッド２０を洗浄台４０と接触させずに近接配置する場合について説明したが、本発明はこれに限定されるものではない。
例えば、印刷ヘッド２０の所定場所が当接された時に、印刷ヘッド２０の底面が洗浄台４０の表面と離間するようなストッパーを洗浄台４０に設けてもよい。印刷ヘッド２０はストッパーに当接された状態では発泡層３６に浸漬される。印刷ヘッド２０をそれ以上下降させようとしても、ストッパーに当接されることで、それ以上は洗浄台４０に近接しないから、印刷ヘッド２０の底面が洗浄台４０の表面と接触しない。 The above has described the case where the print head 20 is disposed close to the cleaning table 40 by controlling the movement amount of the vertical movement mechanism, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, a stopper may be provided on the cleaning table 40 such that the bottom surface of the print head 20 is separated from the surface of the cleaning table 40 when a predetermined location of the print head 20 is brought into contact. The print head 20 is immersed in the foamed layer 36 in a state where it is in contact with the stopper. Even if the print head 20 is further lowered, the bottom surface of the print head 20 does not come into contact with the surface of the cleaning table 40 because the printing head 20 does not come close to the cleaning table 40 due to contact with the stopper.

印刷ヘッド２０底面をストッパーに当接させると、吐出孔２５やその周囲が破損する原因となるので、ストッパーは印刷ヘッド２０の底面以外の場所、又は底面であっても吐出孔２５が形成された領域から離間した場所に当接させることが望ましい。   If the bottom surface of the print head 20 is brought into contact with the stopper, the discharge hole 25 and its surroundings may be damaged. Therefore, the discharge hole 25 is formed even at a place other than the bottom surface of the print head 20 or the bottom surface. It is desirable to make it contact | abut to the place away from the area | region.

（ａ）：本発明に用いる印刷装置を説明するための平面図、（ｂ）〜（ｄ）：印刷対象物を移動させる工程を説明するための側面図(A): a plan view for explaining a printing apparatus used in the present invention, (b) to (d): a side view for explaining a step of moving a printing object. 印刷ヘッドをクリーニング装置上に配置した状態を説明するための平面図The top view for demonstrating the state which has arrange | positioned the print head on the cleaning apparatus （ａ）、（ｂ）：クリーニング工程の前半を説明するための概略図(A), (b): Schematic for explaining the first half of the cleaning process （ｃ）、（ｄ）：クリーニング工程の中半を説明するための概略図(C), (d): Schematic diagram for explaining the middle part of the cleaning process （ｅ）：クリーニング工程の後半を説明するための概略図(E): Schematic for explaining the latter half of the cleaning process クリーニング装置の他の例を説明するための概略図Schematic for demonstrating the other example of a cleaning apparatus.

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

１……印刷装置 ３……クリーニング装置 ７……印刷対象物 ２０……印刷ヘッド ２５……吐出孔 ３５……洗浄液 ３６……発泡層 ４０……洗浄台 ４２……壁 ４５……噴出孔   DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing device 3 ... Cleaning device 7 ... Print target object 20 ... Print head 25 ... Discharge hole 35 ... Cleaning liquid 36 ... Foam layer 40 ... Cleaning stand 42 ... Wall 45 ... Ejection hole

Claims (3)

印刷対象物が配置される印刷台と、
前記印刷台上の印刷対象物に対して相対移動し、吐出孔から吐出液を吐出する印刷ヘッドと、
前記印刷ヘッドをクリーニングするクリーニング装置とを有する印刷装置であって、
前記クリーニング装置は、
表面に形成された多数の噴出孔を有する洗浄台と、
前記洗浄台の前記表面の縁に設けられた壁と、
前記洗浄台の前記表面上に洗浄液を供給する洗浄液供給装置と、
前記洗浄台の内部に設けられ、前記噴出孔に接続された緩衝室と、
前記緩衝室に接続され、前記緩衝室に発泡ガスを供給して前記噴出孔から前記発泡ガスを噴出させ、前記表面上の前記洗浄液を発泡させて発泡層を形成する給気装置と、
前記洗浄台の前記表面上の前記洗浄液を前記噴出孔から吸引する排気系と、
前記緩衝室への接続を、前記給気装置から前記排気系に切り替える切替弁と、を有し、
前記印刷ヘッドの複数の前記吐出孔が配置された部分を、前記洗浄液の前記発泡層に浸漬し、前記発泡層の泡の消滅時の衝撃によって、前記印刷ヘッドの付着物を前記洗浄液に溶解又は分散させることができるように構成された印刷装置。 A printing stand on which a print object is placed;
A print head that moves relative to the printing object on the printing table and discharges the discharge liquid from the discharge holes;
A printing device having a cleaning device for cleaning the print head,
The cleaning device includes:
A washing table having a number of ejection holes formed on the surface;
A wall provided at an edge of the surface of the washing table;
A cleaning liquid supply device for supplying a cleaning liquid onto the surface of the cleaning table;
A buffer chamber provided inside the washing table and connected to the ejection hole;
An air supply device connected to the buffer chamber, supplying a foaming gas to the buffer chamber, ejecting the foam gas from the ejection holes, and foaming the cleaning liquid on the surface to form a foam layer;
An exhaust system for sucking the cleaning liquid on the surface of the cleaning table from the ejection holes;
A switching valve for switching the connection to the buffer chamber from the air supply device to the exhaust system,
A portion of the print head in which the plurality of ejection holes are arranged is immersed in the foam layer of the cleaning liquid, and the deposit on the print head is dissolved in the cleaning liquid by impact when the foam of the foam layer disappears. A printing device configured to be distributed. 底面に形成された複数の吐出孔を有し、内部に配置された吐出液を前記吐出孔から吐出し、
印刷対象物表面に前記吐出液の液滴を着弾させる印刷ヘッドをクリーニングするヘッドクリーニング方法であって、
縁に壁が設けられ、表面に形成された多数の噴出孔を有する洗浄台の前記表面上に洗浄液を供給し、
前記洗浄台の内部に設けられた緩衝室に、前記緩衝室に接続された給気装置から発泡ガスを供給し、前記噴出孔から前記発泡ガスを噴出させ、前記表面上の前記洗浄液を発泡させて発泡層を形成し、
発泡した前記洗浄液に前記印刷ヘッドを接触させ、前記発泡層の泡の消滅時の衝撃によって、前記印刷ヘッドの付着物を前記洗浄液に溶解又は分散させて洗浄し、
切替弁により前記緩衝室への接続を前記給気装置から排気系に切り替えて、前記排気系によって、前記洗浄台の前記表面の上の前記洗浄液を前記噴出孔から吸引するヘッドクリーニング方法。 It has a plurality of discharge holes formed on the bottom surface, and discharges the discharge liquid arranged inside from the discharge holes,
A head cleaning method for cleaning a print head for landing droplets of the discharge liquid on the surface of a print object,
A cleaning liquid is supplied onto the surface of the cleaning table provided with walls on the edge and having a number of ejection holes formed on the surface;
A foaming gas is supplied from a gas supply device connected to the buffer chamber to a buffer chamber provided inside the cleaning table, and the foam gas is ejected from the ejection holes to foam the cleaning liquid on the surface. To form a foam layer,
The print head is brought into contact with the foamed cleaning liquid, and the deposits of the print head are dissolved or dispersed in the cleaning liquid and washed by impact when the foam of the foam layer disappears,
A head cleaning method in which a connection to the buffer chamber is switched from the air supply device to an exhaust system by a switching valve, and the cleaning liquid on the surface of the cleaning table is sucked from the ejection holes by the exhaust system. 前記洗浄液の発泡する泡の生成と消滅とが釣り合うように前記発泡ガスを供給し、泡が一定量生成された状態で前記泡の生成と消滅とを釣り合わせ、前記発泡層の前記洗浄台の前記表面からの高さを一定にさせる請求項２記載のヘッドクリーニング方法。
The foaming gas is supplied so that the generation and disappearance of foaming foam of the cleaning liquid is balanced, and the generation and disappearance of the foam are balanced in a state where a certain amount of foam is generated, The head cleaning method according to claim 2, wherein a height from the surface is made constant.
JP2006254298A 2006-09-20 2006-09-20 Printing apparatus and head cleaning method Expired - Fee Related JP5283324B2 (en)

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