An IJP spraying equipment for high-efficiency panel production and its usage method

Abstract

This invention discloses an IJP (In-Process Paint) coating device and its usage method for high-efficiency panel production, comprising a central processing unit, a fixture transfer assembly, a positioning assembly, a cleaning assembly, an inkjet transfer assembly, and a curing assembly. The central processing unit serves as the control core of the coating device and is connected to each assembly. The fixture transfer assembly includes a direct drive motor and a fixture assembly, which carries the panels and adjusts the panel angle via the direct drive motor. The positioning assembly includes two positioning cameras, which simultaneously position four panels. The cleaning assembly includes cleaning printheads, one of which cleans two panels. The inkjet transfer assembly includes inkjet components, one set of which prints on two panels. The curing assembly includes a curing lamp, one of which cures all four panels. This invention enables high-speed printing, improving printing efficiency and quality. Mechanical feeding can be used to increase component utilization and reduce costs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of OLED inkjet printing technology, and specifically relates to an IJP coating device for high-efficiency panel production and its usage method. Background Technology

[0002] Inkjet printing (IJP) is a high-precision, mask-free patterning technology with advantages such as simple process and low cost, and has been widely used in the electronics industry. OLEDs based on inkjet printing have also been extensively studied, with significant progress made in efficiency and lifespan, and the printing effect is gradually catching up with traditional production processes such as thermal evaporation. However, because it is still a relatively new production process in the panel manufacturing field, few manufacturers have started large-scale production of OLED panels using this method. Therefore, the IJP equipment currently used for panel coating is mainly single-station equipment that relies on manual loading and unloading and is geared towards testing. However, this type of equipment is not suitable for large-scale mass production and has the following disadvantages.

[0003] 1. With only a single workstation, the processes of positioning, printing, and curing need to be completed, which takes too long and does not meet the required efficiency.

[0004] 2. Currently, the printing process on the equipment operates in turn, making it impossible to perform the process simultaneously. This results in low component utilization, leading to higher equipment operating costs and production costs.

[0005] 3. Currently, the loading and unloading methods are mainly manual, and the printed surface of the product has cleanliness requirements, so it is not suitable to use a robotic arm with suction cups to replace manual loading and unloading. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide an IJP spraying equipment and its method of use for high-efficiency panel production, which can print at high speed, improve printing efficiency and printing quality, and can adopt mechanical feeding to improve component utilization and reduce costs.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the solution of the present invention is: an IJP spraying equipment for high-efficiency panel production, comprising a base, a first gantry, a second gantry, a third gantry, a central processing unit, a fixture transfer assembly, a positioning assembly, a cleaning assembly, an inkjet transfer assembly, and a curing assembly;

[0008] The central processing unit serves as the control core of the spraying equipment and is connected to the fixture transfer assembly, positioning assembly, cleaning assembly, inkjet transfer assembly, and curing assembly.

[0009] The first gantry frame, the second gantry frame, and the third gantry frame are arranged sequentially along the y-axis on the base;

[0010] The fixture transfer assembly includes a y-axis horse, a direct drive motor, and a fixture assembly. The y-axis horse is mounted on the base and located below the first gantry, the second gantry, and the third gantry. The direct drive motor is mounted on the y-axis horse, and the fixture assembly is mounted on the direct drive motor. Multiple sets of fixture transfer assemblies are arranged on the base along the x-axis direction.

[0011] The positioning assembly includes two positioning cameras, a first x-axis support, and a screw module. The first x-axis support is located on the front of the first gantry. The screw module is mounted on the first x-axis support. The two positioning cameras are mounted on the screw module, and the distance between the two positioning cameras is adjusted by rotating the screw module. The two positioning cameras are located above two adjacent y-axis supports, and move above four adjacent y-axis supports via the first x-axis support. The positioning cameras are connected to the direct drive motor via a central processing unit.

[0012] The cleaning assembly includes an x-axis module and a cleaning nozzle. The x-axis module is located on the back of the first gantry, and the cleaning nozzle is mounted on the x-axis module and moves above two adjacent y-axis lines via the x-axis module.

[0013] The inkjet transfer assembly includes a second x-axis mast and an inkjet assembly. The second x-axis mast is mounted on a second gantry. The inkjet assembly is mounted on the second x-axis mast and moves above two adjacent y-axis masts via the second x-axis mast. The inkjet assembly includes multiple inkjet printheads arranged in a staggered manner along the x-axis direction.

[0014] The curing assembly includes a third x-axis horse and a curing lamp. The third x-axis horse is mounted on a third gantry, and the curing lamp is mounted on the third x-axis horse and moves above four adjacent y-axis horses via the third x-axis horse.

[0015] Furthermore, the fixture transfer assembly is arranged in four groups side by side, with each pair of groups sharing a base. Each group of fixture assemblies serves as a workstation to support one panel. The positioning assembly has two positioning cameras, which sequentially position and calibrate the panels at two interval workstations. The cleaning assembly has two cleaning nozzles, which sequentially clean the panels at two adjacent workstations. The inkjet transfer assembly has two groups of inkjet assemblies, with each group of inkjet assemblies having four inkjet nozzles arranged alternately along the x-axis. Each group of inkjet assemblies sequentially prints the panels at two adjacent workstations. The curing assembly has a curing lamp, which sequentially cures the panels at the four workstations.

[0016] Furthermore, the fixture assembly includes a fixture plate, multiple suction cup rods, a support plate, a first lifting cylinder, and a second lifting cylinder. The fixture plate is fixed to a direct drive motor, and a vacuum suction device is provided inside the fixture plate to fix the panel. The suction cup rods are jacked up and down on the fixture plate, and a vacuum suction cup is provided at the top of the suction cup rods to fix the panel. The support plate is located on one side of the fixture plate and is flush with and linked to the top of the suction cup rods. The first lifting cylinder drives the suction cup rods to move up and down, and the second lifting cylinder drives the support plate to move up and down.

[0017] Furthermore, it also includes a robotic arm fork, which is equipped with a vacuum suction device and uses the vacuum suction device to fix the panel, so as to move the panel onto the suction cup of the fixture assembly, or remove the printed panel from the suction cup.

[0018] Furthermore, it also includes a waste discharge assembly and a printhead ink cap. The waste discharge assembly includes a waste discharge base, a waste discharge funnel, and a printhead scraper. The waste discharge base is disposed on a base and located on one side of the inkjet assembly. The waste discharge funnel is disposed on the waste discharge base. The printhead scraper is disposed above the waste discharge funnel to scrape away the ink remaining at the ink nozzle of the inkjet head. The printhead ink cap is installed on the waste discharge assembly. The printhead ink cap closes with the inkjet head cover after shutdown to protect the inkjet head.

[0019] Furthermore, it also includes an ink path system, which includes an ink supply system and an air circuit system. The ink supply system is connected to the inkjet printhead to supply ink to the inkjet printhead, and the air circuit system is connected to the inkjet printhead to provide pressure to the inkjet printhead.

[0020] Furthermore, it also includes an ink observation component, which includes an ink observer and an adjustment base. The adjustment base is disposed between the two inkjet components, and the ink observer is rotatably mounted on the adjustment base. The ink observer rotates between the two inkjet components to observe the two inkjet components.

[0021] Furthermore, the inkjet assembly also includes a first z-axis module, which is mounted on a second x-axis module. Multiple inkjet printheads are arranged side by side on the first z-axis module along the x-axis and move up and down through the first z-axis module to adjust the distance between them and the panel according to the thickness of the panel.

[0022] Furthermore, the curing assembly also includes a second z-axis module, which is mounted on the third x-axis module. The curing lamp is mounted on the second z-axis module and is adjusted up and down by the second z-axis module to adjust the distance between the lamp and the panel according to the thickness of the panel.

[0023] A method of using an IJP spraying equipment for high-efficiency panel production includes the following steps:

[0024] S1 Loading: The robotic arm fork grabs the panel on the feeding device and opens the vacuum suction device on the robotic arm fork to fix the panel, moving the panel onto the fixture assembly. The first and second lifting cylinders simultaneously drive the suction cup top rod and support plate to rise. The vacuum suction device on the robotic arm fork closes, placing the panel onto the suction cup top rod. The vacuum suction cup at the top of the suction cup top rod opens the fixed panel. Then, the first and second lifting cylinders simultaneously drive the suction cup top rod and support plate to descend until they are flush with the fixture plate. The vacuum suction device inside the fixture plate opens the fixed panel to complete the loading. After loading is completed, the robotic arm fork moves away to continue picking up and loading materials. The fixture assembly has four groups arranged side by side along the x-axis, each group being a station. From left to right, they are station 1, station 2, station 3, and station 4. The robotic arm fork loads materials sequentially in a staggered order of station 1, station 3, station 2, and station 4.

[0025] S2 Positioning: Four fixture assemblies carrying panels move sequentially to below the positioning assembly via the y-axis horse. Two positioning cameras simultaneously take pictures of the panels at the first and second workstations for positioning. The direct drive motor below the panel adjusts the angle of the panel according to the picture results of the positioning camera to complete the positioning. After positioning, the two positioning cameras move above the third and fourth workstations via the first x-axis horse and position the panels at the two workstations. The two positioning cameras complete the positioning of the panels at the four workstations.

[0026] S3 Cleaning: Four fixture assemblies carrying panels move sequentially below the cleaning assembly via the y-axis, and the cleaning nozzles clean the panels on the first station. After cleaning, the cleaning nozzles move to the top of the second station via the x-axis module and clean the panels on the second station. There are two cleaning nozzles, and the other cleaning nozzle simultaneously cleans the panels on the third and fourth stations. The two cleaning nozzles complete the cleaning of the panels on all four stations.

[0027] S4 Printing: Four fixture assemblies carrying panels move sequentially below the inkjet assembly via the y-axis motor. Multiple inkjet printheads on the inkjet assembly print ink onto the panel at the first station. After printing, the inkjet assembly moves above the second station via the second x-axis motor and prints ink onto the panel at the second station. There are two sets of inkjet assemblies. Another set of inkjet assemblies prints ink onto the panels at the third and fourth stations simultaneously. The two sets of inkjet assemblies complete the inkjet printing of the panels at all four stations.

[0028] S5 Curing: Four fixture assemblies carrying panels are moved sequentially under the curing assembly via the y-axis horse, and the curing lamp illuminates and cures the panel on the first station; after curing, the curing lamp is moved sequentially above each station via the third x-axis horse according to the loading order, and cures the panel on each station. One curing lamp completes the curing of the panels on the four stations.

[0029] S6 Unloading: The four fixture components carrying the panels are moved to the rear end of the base via the Y-axis. The vacuum suction device on the fixture plate is closed. The first and second lifting cylinders simultaneously drive the suction cup top rod and the support plate to rise. The vacuum suction cup at the top of the suction cup top rod is closed. The robotic arm tooth fork grabs the panel on the suction cup top rod and opens the vacuum suction device on the robotic arm tooth fork to fix the panel. Then the panel is removed to complete the unloading.

[0030] After adopting the above solution, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0031] 1. Achieving high-speed printing: The fixture transfer assembly of this invention has multiple sets arranged side-by-side below each component, with each set of fixture components serving as a workstation to support one panel; the positioning assembly has two positioning cameras, which sequentially position and calibrate the panels at two interval workstations; the cleaning nozzles in the cleaning assembly are engaged to clean the panels at two adjacent workstations; the inkjet transfer assembly has four inkjet nozzles arranged in a staggered manner along the x-axis, with one set of inkjet nozzles sequentially printing the panels at two adjacent workstations; the curing assembly can sequentially cure the panels at all four workstations; this invention can achieve high-speed printing with only four workstations, two positioning cameras, two cleaning nozzles, two sets of inkjet nozzles, and one curing lamp. The panels at the four workstations are moved under each component via the y-axis to complete all processes. Furthermore, this invention uses staggered feeding, which allows each component to work on the panels at the four workstations at different times, enabling the production of four panels in one cycle. Its production speed is more than four times that of traditional equipment, greatly improving production speed and achieving high-speed production.

[0032] 2. Low cost: The panel at each workstation can be moved under each component via a Y-axis to complete all processes without the need for other intermediate connections or conveying devices, thus reducing production costs. Furthermore, the two workstations of this invention share a positioning camera, a cleaning nozzle, and a set of inkjet components, and the four workstations share a curing lamp, which improves the utilization rate of components. The overall price is about twice that of traditional equipment, but the production efficiency is more than four times that of traditional equipment, resulting in high cost-effectiveness, low cost, and fast production speed.

[0033] 3. High print quality: Each inkjet assembly has multiple inkjet printheads arranged in a staggered pattern along the x-axis, ensuring that there are no gaps or overlaps between the inkjet areas of each printhead. The inkjet areas of all printheads can precisely cover the panel, resulting in high print quality. Furthermore, the direct drive motor under the fixture assembly can adjust the angle of the panel based on the feedback from the positioning camera, ensuring that the printing area of ​​the inkjet assembly accurately covers the printing surface of the panel, achieving precise printing and further improving print quality.

[0034] 4. The invention uses mechanical loading and unloading instead of manual loading and unloading. It is equipped with a cleaning component that can clean the panel after loading to meet the cleanliness requirements of the printing surface. The use of robotic arms for loading and unloading further improves the production speed. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1 This is a side view of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 3 This is a top view of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the jig transfer assembly of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the fixture assembly of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure on which the positioning component and cleaning component of the present invention are installed on the first gantry frame;

[0041] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the inkjet transfer assembly of the present invention mounted on the second gantry.

[0042] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the inkjet assembly of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 9 for Figure 8 Enlarged view of a portion of point A in the middle;

[0044] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the curing component of the present invention installed on the third gantry frame;

[0045] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the waste discharge component of the present invention in use.

[0046] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the waste discharge component of the present invention in the closed state.

[0047] Label Explanation:

[0048] 1. Base; 11. First gantry; 12. Second gantry; 13. Third gantry; 2. Fixture transfer assembly; 21. Y-axis motor; 22. Direct drive motor; 23. Fixture assembly; 231. Fixture plate; 232. Suction cup top rod; 233. Support plate; 234. First lifting cylinder; 235. Second lifting cylinder; 236. Frame; 24. Panel; 241. Flex part; 25. Robotic arm toothed fork; 26. Marble base; 3. Positioning assembly; 31. Positioning camera; 32. 1. First x-axis motor; 33. Screw module; 4. Cleaning assembly; 41. Cleaning printhead; 42. X-axis module; 5. Inkjet transfer assembly; 51. Second x-axis motor; 52. Inkjet assembly; 521. Inkjet printhead; 522. First z-axis module; 6. Curing assembly; 61. Third x-axis motor; 62. Curing lamp; 63. Second z-axis module; 7. Waste discharge assembly; 71. Waste discharge base; 72. Waste discharge funnel; 73. Printhead scraper; 74. Printhead ink cap; 8. Ink path system; 9. Ink viewing assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0049] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0050] This invention provides an IJP spraying device for high-efficiency panel production, such as... Figures 1 to 3 As shown, it includes a base 1, a first gantry 11, a second gantry 12, a third gantry 13, a central processing unit (not shown in the figure), a fixture transfer assembly 2, a positioning assembly 3, a cleaning assembly 4, an inkjet transfer assembly 5, and a curing assembly 6.

[0051] The central processing unit, as the control core of the spraying equipment, is connected to the fixture transfer component 2, positioning component 3, cleaning component 4, inkjet transfer component 5, and curing component 6. The first gantry 11, the second gantry 12, and the third gantry 13 are arranged sequentially along the y-axis on the base 1.

[0052] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the fixture transfer assembly 2 includes a y-axis strut 21, a direct drive motor 22, and a fixture assembly 23. The y-axis strut 21 is mounted on the base 1 and passes through the base 1 below the first gantry 11, the second gantry 12, and the third gantry 13. The direct drive motor 22 is mounted on the y-axis strut 21 and moves on the base 1 via the y-axis strut 21. The fixture assembly 23 is mounted on the direct drive motor 22 and is used to support and fix the panel 24. The direct drive motor 22 drives the fixture assembly 23 to rotate to adjust the angle of the panel 24. The fixture transfer assembly 2 has multiple sets arranged along the x-axis direction on the base 1.

[0053] like Figure 5 As shown, the fixture assembly 23 includes a fixture plate 231, multiple suction cup rods 232, a support plate 233, a first lifting cylinder 234, and a second lifting cylinder 235. The fixture plate 231 is fixed to the direct drive motor 22, and a vacuum suction device is provided inside the fixture plate 231 to fix the panel 24. The suction cup rods 232 are flexibly mounted on the fixture plate 231, and a vacuum suction cup is provided at the top of the suction cup rods 232 to fix the panel 24. The support plate 233 is located on one side of the fixture plate 231 and is flush with and linked to the top of the suction cup rods 232. The first lifting cylinder 234 and the second lifting cylinder 235 are connected. Cylinder 234 drives the suction cup top rod 232 to move up and down, and the second lifting cylinder 235 drives the support plate 233 to move up and down. The support plate 233 is always flush with the top of the suction cup top rod 232. A typical OLED panel 24 has a flex section 241 on one side. The flex section 241 is a flexible circuit board, or FPC for short. It is a highly reliable and flexible printed circuit board made of polyimide or polyester film as the substrate, characterized by high wiring density, light weight, and thinness. The support plate 233 is used to support the flex section 241. The direct drive motor 22 is a DD motor, which has high torque and can output high torque at low speeds. It does not require a reduction mechanism, i.e., it does not require a reducer, gears, pulleys, or other connecting mechanisms. It is directly connected to the load. Therefore, the fixture assembly 23 can be directly mounted on the direct drive motor 22, reducing the positioning error caused by the connecting mechanism and allowing for more precise adjustment of the panel 24 angle to achieve precise inkjet printing.

[0054] The present invention also includes a robotic fork 25, which is used to grasp and move the panel 24 to achieve loading and unloading. Using the robotic fork 25 for loading and unloading avoids contact with the printing surface of the panel 24, and the handling speed is fast, making it suitable for the loading and unloading sequence of the present invention. The robotic fork 25 is equipped with a vacuum suction device, which fixes the panel 24 to ensure that the panel 24 does not fall off during the process of moving the panel 24 onto the suction cup top rod 232 of the fixture assembly 23, or removing the printed panel 24 from the suction cup top rod 232. During loading, the suction cup top rod 232 and support plate 233 rise, and the robotic arm toothed fork 25 grabs the panel 24 from the feeding device and places it on the suction cup top rod 232. The suction cup top rod 232 and support plate 233 then descend until they are flush with the fixture plate 231, completing the loading process. During unloading, the suction cup top rod 232 and support plate 233 rise to lift the panel 24, and the robotic arm toothed fork 25 grabs the lifted panel 24 and removes it, completing the unloading process. Multiple suction cup top rods 232 are provided and spaced apart to facilitate the robotic arm toothed fork 25 in grabbing the panel 24.

[0055] The fixture assembly 23 further includes a box-shaped frame 236, which is mounted on the direct drive motor 22. The fixture plate 231 is mounted on the top of the frame 236. The first lifting motor is located inside the frame 236. The lower end of the suction cup top rod 232 passes through the fixture plate 231 and the top of the frame 236 and is connected to the first lifting motor. The second lifting motor is mounted on the side wall of the frame 236. The support plate 233 is located above the second lifting cylinder 235 and is connected to the second lifting cylinder 235. The first lifting cylinder 234 and the second lifting cylinder 235 simultaneously drive the suction cup top rod 232 and the support plate 233 to rise and fall, so that the top of the support plate 233 and the top of the suction cup top rod 232 are flush and linked. The support plate 233 has multiple support blocks protruding at intervals. The top of the support blocks is flush with the suction cup top rod 232. The flex part 241 is placed on the top of the support block. The gap between the support blocks facilitates the insertion of the robotic arm tooth fork 25 to grasp the flex part 241.

[0056] like Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, the positioning component 3 includes two positioning cameras 31, a first x-axis support 32, and a screw module 33. The first x-axis support 32 is located on the front of the first gantry 11, and the screw module 33 is mounted on the first x-axis support 32. The two positioning cameras 31 are mounted on the screw module 33. The two positioning cameras 31 are respectively located above two adjacent y-axis supports 21. Each positioning camera 31 corresponds to a fixture component 23 on a y-axis support 21. The two positioning cameras 31 can simultaneously position the panels 24 on the two fixture components 23. The two positioning cameras 31 can move above four adjacent y-axis supports 21 via the first x-axis support 32, that is, move above the other two y-axis supports 21 via the first x-axis support 32 to position the two panels 24 on them. The two positioning cameras can simultaneously position the panels 24 on the four y-axis supports 21. The positioning camera 31 is preferably a CCD camera, capable of sensing light and converting images into digital signals. It can then photograph the panel 24 and send the photographed image, also converted into a digital signal, to the central processing unit. The central processing unit controls the direct drive motor 22 to adjust the angle of the panel 24 based on the photographic result, facilitating subsequent inkjet printing and ensuring printing accuracy. Furthermore, the CCD camera has advantages such as small size, light weight, immunity to magnetic fields, and resistance to vibration and impact. The screw module 33 is a double-threaded screw module. When the size of the panel 24 changes, the distance between the two cameras can be adjusted by rotating the threads at both ends of the screw module 33, allowing the cameras to be positioned directly above the panel 24 to accommodate different panel sizes. For panels 24 of varying thicknesses, since the positioning camera 31 has a wide depth of field, its height essentially does not require adjustment, eliminating the need for a z-axis drive component; only slight manual adjustment is needed before use.

[0057] like Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, the cleaning component 4 includes a cleaning nozzle 41 and an x-axis module 42. The x-axis module 42 is located on the back of the first gantry 11. The cleaning nozzle 41 is mounted on the x-axis module 42 and moves above two adjacent y-axis masts 21 via the x-axis module 42. The cleaning nozzle 41 can clean the panel 24. One cleaning nozzle 41 can clean the panels 24 on two y-axis masts 21. The cleaning nozzle 41 is preferably a plasma nozzle, i.e., a plasma-type cleaning nozzle 41, which achieves the cleaning purpose by spraying high-speed plasma to bombard the surface of the panel 24. It has the advantages of high cleaning efficiency, no need for drying after cleaning, and the ability to clean products of any shape. For panels 24 with different thicknesses, since the thickness variation of the panel 24 is not too large, there is no need to set up a z-axis drive component. The distance between the cleaning nozzle 41 and the product can be manually adjusted before use, and basically no further adjustment is needed after use.

[0058] like Figure 1 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the inkjet transfer assembly 5 includes a second x-axis mount 51 and an inkjet assembly 52. ​​The second x-axis mount 51 is mounted on the second gantry 12, and the inkjet assembly 52 is mounted on the second x-axis mount 51 and moves above two adjacent y-axis mounts 21 via the second x-axis mount 51. The inkjet assembly 52 includes multiple inkjet printheads 521 arranged in a staggered pattern along the x-axis direction. Each group of inkjet assemblies 52 has four inkjet printheads 521, with a printing width of 240mm. The panel 24 is 200mm*200mm in size, and the panel 24 can be printed by passing under the printheads once. One inkjet assembly 52 can handle the inkjet printing of the panel 24 on two y-axis mounts 21. Due to the thickness limitation of the inkjet printheads 521, if the four inkjet printheads 521 are arranged side by side, there will be gaps between the inkjet ranges of adjacent inkjet printheads 521, and the panel 24 cannot be completely covered. Therefore, they can be arranged in a staggered pattern, such as... Figure 9 As shown, two inkjet printheads 521 are spaced apart in front, and two others are spaced apart behind. Connecting these four points forms a parallelogram structure, controlling the gap between the inkjet printheads 521. This ensures that the inkjet range of each printhead 521 precisely covers the panel 24, with no gaps or overlaps between their inkjet ranges. For panels 24 of varying thicknesses, precise control of the distance between the inkjet printheads 521 and the panel 24 is required during printing. Therefore, the inkjet assembly 52 also includes a first z-axis module 522. This first z-axis module 522 is mounted on a second x-axis mount 51. Multiple inkjet printheads 521 are arranged side-by-side along the x-axis on the first z-axis module 522 and move up and down via the first z-axis module to adjust the distance between them and the panel 24 according to its thickness.

[0059] like Figure 1 and Figure 10 As shown, the curing assembly 6 includes a third x-axis support 61 and a curing lamp 62. The third x-axis support 61 is mounted on the third gantry 13, and the curing lamp 62 is mounted on the third x-axis support 61 and moves above four adjacent y-axis supports 21 via the third x-axis support 61. The curing lamp 62 can cure the panel 24, preventing ink diffusion on the printed panel 24 and affecting the printing effect. The curing speed is relatively fast, and one curing lamp 62 can cure the panels 24 on four y-axis supports 21 simultaneously. The curing lamp 62 is preferably a UV curing lamp, which has a long lifespan, can be lit instantly, has stable light output, good uniform irradiation effect, and high curing efficiency. For panels 24 with different thicknesses, in order to improve curing efficiency, it is necessary to adjust the distance between the curing lamp 62 and the panel 24. For this purpose, the curing component 6 is also provided with a second z-axis module 63. The second z-axis module 63 is mounted on the third x-axis axis 61. The curing lamp 62 is mounted on the second z-axis module 63 and moves up and down through the second z-axis module 63 to adjust the distance between the lamp and the panel 24 according to the thickness change of the panel 24.

[0060] like Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, in a preferred embodiment, a marble base 26 can be provided below the jig transfer assembly 2. The marble base is installed through the base 1 along the y-axis direction. The y-axis strut 21 is installed on the marble base 26. The marble base 26 has a flat surface, which can accurately control the height of the control panel 4. Furthermore, the second gantry 12 is a marble gantry. Marble has good stability, high strength, high hardness, does not produce magnetic reaction, can maintain high precision under heavy load, and is also easy to clean residual ink. The first gantry 11 and the third gantry 13 are square steel gantry, which are sturdy and can reduce the amount of materials used and the space occupied.

[0061] like Figure 11 and Figure 12As shown, the present invention also includes a waste discharge assembly 7 and a printhead ink cap 74. The waste discharge assembly 7 includes a waste discharge base 71, a waste discharge funnel 72, and a printhead scraper 73. The waste discharge base 71 is disposed on the base 1 and located on one side of the inkjet assembly 52. ​​The waste discharge funnel 72 is disposed on the waste discharge base 71, and the printhead scraper 73 is disposed above the waste discharge funnel 72. The printhead ink cap 74 is installed on the waste discharge assembly 7. The printhead ink cap 74 can be quickly removed. When the inkjet printhead 521 is working, the printhead ink cap 74 is not installed. When the inkjet printhead 521 is in standby mode, the inkjet printhead 521 can be adjusted by moving the inkjet printhead 521 to the waste discharge funnel. Inkjet printing begins above the hopper 72. Then, the inkjet printhead 521 is moved, and the scraper 73 removes any remaining ink from the nozzles of the printhead 521. The removed ink is discharged through the waste discharge funnel 72, completing the calibration of the inkjet printhead 521. When the inkjet printhead 521 is not in operation, the printhead ink cap 74 is installed on the waste discharge assembly 7, i.e., the waste discharge funnel 72. The inkjet printhead 521 is then moved above the printhead ink cap 74, and the first z-axis module 522 lowers the printhead 521 to close it to the printhead ink cap 74. This protects the inkjet printhead 521 and prevents the nozzles from becoming clogged due to prolonged contact with air.

[0062] like Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the present invention also includes an ink path system 8, which includes an ink supply system and an air path circuit system. The ink supply system is connected to the inkjet printhead 521 to provide ink to the inkjet printhead 521, and the air path circuit system is connected to the inkjet printhead 521 to provide pressure to the inkjet printhead 521 so that the inkjet printhead 521 can stably eject ink.

[0063] like Figure 3 As shown, the present invention also includes an ink observation component 9, which includes an ink observer and an adjustment base. The adjustment base is disposed between the two inkjet components 52. The ink observer is rotatably mounted on the adjustment base and can be angled, so that the ink observer can rotate between the two inkjet components 52 to observe the debugging status of the two inkjet components 52. One ink observer can take care of two inkjet components 52, reducing the space occupied and cost.

[0064] In a preferred embodiment, the fixture transfer assembly 2 of the present invention has four sets arranged side by side on the base 1, with each pair of sets sharing one base 1. Each set of fixture assemblies 23 serves as a workstation to support one panel 24. The positioning assembly 3 has two positioning cameras 31, which sequentially position and calibrate the panels 24 at two interval workstations. The cleaning assembly 4 has two cleaning nozzles 41, which sequentially clean the panels 24 at two adjacent workstations. The inkjet transfer assembly 5 has two sets of inkjet assemblies 52, with four inkjet nozzles 521 arranged in a front-to-back manner along the x-axis. Each set of inkjet assemblies 52 sequentially prints the panels 24 at two adjacent workstations. The curing assembly 6 has a curing lamp 62, which sequentially cures the panels 24 at the four workstations. After all processes are completed in one round, the printing of four panels 24 can be completed, achieving high-speed printing. The production speed of the equipment is more than four times that of traditional equipment, greatly improving production efficiency. The implementation scheme is feasible based on the following: the printing speed of the inkjet assembly 52 is approximately 30 mm / s. If a 200 mm * 200 mm panel 24 is printed, the time is approximately 7 seconds. Since there are two inkjet assemblies 52, the printing time for one panel 24 is approximately 4 seconds. The photo-taking time of the positioning camera 31 is less than half the printing time of the inkjet assembly 52. ​​The two positioning cameras 31 can fully cover the positioning of the panels 24 at the four workstations. The cleaning speed of the cleaning printhead 41 is similar to the printing speed of the inkjet assembly 52. ​​Like the inkjet assembly 52, the two cleaning printheads 41 can cover the cleaning of the panels 24 at the four workstations. The curing speed of the curing lamp 62 can reach 80 mm / s, which is more than twice the printing speed of the inkjet assembly 52. ​​Therefore, one curing lamp 62 can cover the curing of the panels 24 at the four workstations.

[0065] The present invention also provides a method of using an IJP spraying equipment for high-efficiency production of panel 24, comprising the following steps:

[0066] S1 Loading: The robotic arm fork 25 grabs the panel 24 on the feeding device and opens the vacuum suction device on the robotic arm fork 25 to fix the panel 24, moving the panel 24 onto the fixture assembly 23. The first lifting cylinder 234 and the second lifting cylinder 235 simultaneously drive the suction cup top rod 232 and the support plate 233 to rise. The vacuum suction device on the robotic arm fork 25 closes, placing the panel 24 onto the suction cup top rod 232. The vacuum suction cup at the top of the suction cup top rod 232 opens to fix the panel 24. Then, the first lifting cylinder 234 and the second lifting cylinder 235 simultaneously drive the suction cup top rod 232 and the support plate 233 to rise. The support plate 233 descends to be flush with the fixture plate 231, and the vacuum suction device inside the fixture plate 231 opens the fixed panel 24 to complete the loading. After loading is completed, the robotic arm tooth fork 25 moves away to continue picking up and loading materials. The fixture components 23 are arranged in four groups along the x-axis, each group being a station. From left to right, they are the first station, the second station, the third station, and the fourth station. The robotic arm tooth fork 25 loads materials in a staggered order of the first station, the third station, the second station, and the fourth station. Loading materials in a staggered order can stagger the working time of each component on the panel 24 at the four stations, thereby improving production efficiency.

[0067] S2 Positioning: After the loading is completed, the four fixture components 23 carrying the panels 24 are moved sequentially to the positioning component 3 via the y-axis horse 21. The initial positions of the two positioning cameras 31 are above the first and second workstations. The two positioning cameras 31 first take pictures of the panels 24 on the first and second workstations at the same time and convert the pictures into digital signals and send them to the central processing unit. The central processing unit controls the direct drive motor 22 to adjust the angle of the panels 24 according to the picture results to complete the positioning. After the positioning is completed, the two positioning cameras 31 move to the third and fourth workstations via the first x-axis horse 32 and position the panels 24 on the two workstations. The two positioning cameras 31 complete the positioning of the panels 24 on the four workstations in one round. After the positioning is completed, the two positioning cameras 31 move to the first and second workstations again to perform the next round of positioning.

[0068] S3 Cleaning: After positioning, the four fixture assemblies 23 carrying the panels 24 move sequentially to the underside of the cleaning assembly 4 via the y-axis horse 21. There are two cleaning nozzles 41, whose initial positions are above the first and third workstations respectively, and they clean the panels 24 on the two workstations. After cleaning, the two cleaning nozzles 41 move to the upperside of the second and fourth workstations respectively via the x-axis module 42, and clean the panels 24 on the two workstations. After cleaning, the two cleaning nozzles 41 move back to their initial positions for the next round of cleaning.

[0069] S4 Printing: After cleaning, the four fixture assemblies 23 carrying the panels 24 move sequentially below the inkjet assembly 52 via the y-axis horse 21. There are two inkjet assemblies 52, with their initial positions above the first and third workstations, respectively. Multiple inkjet printheads 521 on the two inkjet assemblies 52 respectively print inkjet prints on the panels 24 at the two workstations. After printing, the two inkjet assemblies 52 move to the second and fourth workstations above the x-axis module 42, respectively, and print inkjet prints on the panels 24 at the two workstations. After printing, the two inkjet assemblies 52 move back to their initial positions for the next round of printing.

[0070] S5 Curing: After printing, the four fixture assemblies 23 carrying panels 24 are moved sequentially to the underside of the curing assembly 6 via the y-axis horse 21. The initial position of the curing lamp 62 is above the first station, and it irradiates and cures the panel 24 on the first station. After curing, the curing lamp 62 is moved sequentially to the top of each station via the third x-axis horse 61 according to the loading order, that is, it moves sequentially to the top of the third station, the second station, and the fourth station, and cures the panel 24 on each station. After curing, the curing lamp 62 moves back to the initial position for the next round of curing.

[0071] S6 Unloading: After curing, the four fixture components 23 carrying the panels 24 are moved sequentially to the rear end of the base 1 via the y-axis horse 21. The vacuum suction device on the fixture plate 231 is closed. The first lifting cylinder 234 and the second lifting cylinder 235 simultaneously drive the suction cup top rod 232 and the support plate 233 to rise. The vacuum suction cup at the top of the suction cup top rod 232 is closed. The robotic arm tooth fork 25 grabs the panel 24 on the suction cup top rod 232 and opens the vacuum suction device on the robotic arm tooth fork 25 to fix the panel 24. Then the panel 24 is removed to complete the unloading.

[0072] The robotic arm toothed fork 25, fixture assembly 23, positioning assembly 3, cleaning assembly 4, inkjet assembly 52, and curing assembly 6 are all controlled by a central processing unit to complete all processes.

[0073] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the design of this case. All equivalent changes made based on the key design features of this case shall fall within the protection scope of this case.

Claims

1. An IJP spraying equipment for high-efficiency panel production, characterized in that: Includes a base, a first gantry, a second gantry, a third gantry, a central processing unit, a fixture transfer assembly, a positioning assembly, a cleaning assembly, an inkjet transfer assembly, a curing assembly, and a robotic arm fork; The central processing unit serves as the control core of the spraying equipment and is connected to the fixture transfer assembly, positioning assembly, cleaning assembly, inkjet transfer assembly, and curing assembly. The first gantry frame, the second gantry frame, and the third gantry frame are arranged sequentially along the y-axis on the base; The fixture transfer assembly includes a Y-axis horse, a direct drive motor, and a fixture assembly. The Y-axis horse is mounted on the base and located below the first gantry, second gantry, and third gantry. The direct drive motor is mounted on the Y-axis horse, and the fixture assembly is mounted on the direct drive motor. The fixture transfer assembly has multiple sets arranged along the X-axis on the base. There are four sets of fixture transfer assemblies arranged side by side, with each pair of sets sharing one base. Each set of fixture assemblies is a workstation to support one panel. From left to right, they are the first workstation, the second workstation, the third workstation, and the fourth workstation. The robotic arm feeds materials sequentially in a staggered order of the first workstation, the third workstation, the second workstation, and the fourth workstation. The positioning assembly includes two positioning cameras, a first x-axis support, and a screw module. The first x-axis support is located on the front of the first gantry. The screw module is mounted on the first x-axis support. The two positioning cameras are mounted on the screw module, and the distance between the two positioning cameras is adjusted by rotating the screw module. The two positioning cameras are located above two adjacent y-axis supports, and move above four adjacent y-axis supports via the first x-axis support. The positioning cameras are connected to the direct drive motor via a central processing unit. The cleaning assembly includes an x-axis module and a cleaning nozzle. The x-axis module is located on the back of the first gantry. The cleaning nozzle is mounted on the x-axis module and moves above two adjacent y-axis lines via the x-axis module. The cleaning assembly has two cleaning nozzles, which sequentially clean the panels on two adjacent workstations. The inkjet transfer assembly includes a second x-axis mast and an inkjet assembly. The second x-axis mast is mounted on a second gantry. The inkjet assembly is mounted on the second x-axis mast and moves above two adjacent y-axis masts via the second x-axis mast. The inkjet assembly includes multiple inkjet printheads arranged alternately along the x-axis. The inkjet transfer assembly has two sets of inkjet assemblies. Each set of inkjet assemblies has four inkjet printheads arranged alternately along the x-axis. Each set of inkjet assemblies prints panels on two adjacent workstations in sequence. The curing assembly includes a third x-axis motor and a curing lamp. The third x-axis motor is mounted on a third gantry, and the curing lamp is mounted on the third x-axis motor and moves above four adjacent y-axis motors via the third x-axis motor to sequentially cure the panels at the four workstations.

2. The IJP spraying equipment for high-efficiency panel production as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The fixture assembly includes a fixture plate, multiple suction cup rods, a support plate, a first lifting cylinder, and a second lifting cylinder. The fixture plate is fixed to a direct drive motor, and a vacuum suction device is provided inside the fixture plate to fix the panel. The suction cup rods are raised and lowered on the fixture plate, and a vacuum suction cup is provided at the top of the suction cup rod to fix the panel. The support plate is located on one side of the fixture plate and is flush with and linked to the top of the suction cup rods. The first lifting cylinder drives the suction cup rods to move up and down, and the second lifting cylinder drives the support plate to move up and down.

3. The IJP spraying equipment for high-efficiency panel production as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The robotic arm toothed fork is equipped with a vacuum suction device, which is used to fix the panel so as to move the panel onto the suction cup of the fixture assembly, or to remove the printed panel from the suction cup.

4. The IJP spraying equipment for high-efficiency panel production as described in claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a waste discharge assembly and a printhead ink cap. The waste discharge assembly includes a waste discharge base, a waste discharge funnel, and a printhead scraper. The waste discharge base is mounted on a base and located on one side of the inkjet assembly. The waste discharge funnel is mounted on the waste discharge base. The printhead scraper is positioned above the waste discharge funnel to scrape away ink residue left at the ink nozzle of the inkjet head. The printhead ink cap is mounted on the waste discharge assembly and closes with the inkjet head cover after shutdown to protect the inkjet head.

5. The IJP spraying equipment for high-efficiency panel production as described in claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes an ink path system, which comprises an ink supply system and an air path system. The ink supply system is connected to the inkjet printhead to supply ink to the inkjet printhead, and the air path system is connected to the inkjet printhead to provide pressure to the inkjet printhead.

6. The IJP spraying equipment for high-efficiency panel production as described in claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes an ink observation component, which includes an ink observer and an adjustment base. The adjustment base is disposed between the two inkjet components, and the ink observer is rotatably mounted on the adjustment base. The ink observer rotates between the two inkjet components to observe the two inkjet components.

7. The IJP spraying equipment for high-efficiency panel production as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The inkjet assembly also includes a first z-axis module, which is mounted on a second x-axis module. Multiple inkjet printheads are arranged side by side on the first z-axis module along the x-axis and move up and down through the first z-axis module to adjust the distance between them and the panel according to the thickness of the panel.

8. The IJP spraying equipment for high-efficiency panel production as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The curing assembly also includes a second z-axis module, which is mounted on the third x-axis module. The curing lamp is mounted on the second z-axis module and is adjusted up and down by the second z-axis module to adjust the distance between the lamp and the panel according to the thickness of the panel.

9. A method of using an IJP spraying equipment for high-efficiency panel production as described in any one of claims 3-8, comprising the following steps: S1 Loading: The robotic arm fork grabs the panel on the feeding device and opens the vacuum suction device on the robotic arm fork to fix the panel, moving the panel onto the fixture assembly. The first and second lifting cylinders simultaneously drive the suction cup top rod and support plate to rise. The vacuum suction device on the robotic arm fork closes, placing the panel onto the suction cup top rod. The vacuum suction cup at the top of the suction cup top rod opens the fixed panel. Then, the first and second lifting cylinders simultaneously drive the suction cup top rod and support plate to descend until they are flush with the fixture plate. The vacuum suction device inside the fixture plate opens the fixed panel to complete the loading. After loading is completed, the robotic arm fork moves away to continue picking up and loading materials. The fixture assembly has four groups arranged side by side along the x-axis, each group being a station. From left to right, they are station 1, station 2, station 3, and station 4. The robotic arm fork loads materials sequentially in a staggered order of station 1, station 3, station 2, and station 4. S2 Positioning: Four fixture assemblies carrying panels move sequentially to below the positioning assembly via the y-axis horse. Two positioning cameras simultaneously take pictures of the panels at the first and second workstations for positioning. The direct drive motor below the panel adjusts the angle of the panel according to the picture results of the positioning camera to complete the positioning. After positioning, the two positioning cameras move above the third and fourth workstations via the first x-axis horse and position the panels at the two workstations. The two positioning cameras complete the positioning of the panels at the four workstations. S3 Cleaning: Four fixture assemblies carrying panels move sequentially under the cleaning assembly via the y-axis, and the cleaning nozzles clean the panels on the first station. After cleaning is completed, the cleaning nozzle moves to the top of the second station via the x-axis module and cleans the panel on the second station. There are two cleaning nozzles. The other cleaning nozzle cleans the panels on the third and fourth stations at the same time. The two cleaning nozzles complete the cleaning of the panels on the four stations. S4 Printing: Four fixture assemblies carrying panels move sequentially below the inkjet assembly via the y-axis motor. Multiple inkjet printheads on the inkjet assembly print ink onto the panel at the first station. After printing, the inkjet assembly moves above the second station via the second x-axis motor and prints ink onto the panel at the second station. There are two sets of inkjet assemblies. Another set of inkjet assemblies prints ink onto the panels at the third and fourth stations simultaneously. The two sets of inkjet assemblies complete the inkjet printing of the panels at all four stations. S5 Curing: Four fixture assemblies carrying panels are moved sequentially under the curing assembly via the y-axis horse, and the curing lamp illuminates and cures the panel on the first station; after curing, the curing lamp is moved sequentially above each station via the third x-axis horse according to the loading order, and cures the panel on each station. One curing lamp completes the curing of the panels on the four stations. S6 Unloading: The four fixture components carrying the panels are moved to the rear end of the base via the Y-axis. The vacuum suction device on the fixture plate is closed. The first and second lifting cylinders simultaneously drive the suction cup top rod and the support plate to rise. The vacuum suction cup at the top of the suction cup top rod is closed. The robotic arm tooth fork grabs the panel on the suction cup top rod and opens the vacuum suction device on the robotic arm tooth fork to fix the panel. Then the panel is removed to complete the unloading.

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