A method and apparatus for detecting the jetting effect of an array of nozzles

Abstract

This invention belongs to the technical field of novel display device fabrication and discloses a method and apparatus for detecting the ejection effect of an array nozzle. The method includes: acquiring standard ejection parameters; using the standard ejection parameters to eject ink from all nozzles of the array printhead, detecting all ink droplets ejected from all nozzles, and filtering out abnormal nozzles according to the allowable range of droplet volume, velocity, and ejection angle, then shielding the abnormal nozzles to obtain an initial number of abnormal nozzles; generating matching printed pattern data based on the filtered normal nozzles and printing them in the production area; during the printing process, the array printhead moves from the production area to the detection area according to the detection frequency, printing and curing ink droplets on a hydrophobic film according to a pre-set detection pattern; photographing and detecting the detection pattern, and obtaining the number of abnormal nozzles detected according to a detection algorithm. This application effectively improves production capacity by using a printing curing judgment method during the production process to confirm changes in the number of abnormal nozzles.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of novel display device fabrication, and more specifically, relates to a method and apparatus for detecting the jetting effect of an array nozzle. Background Technology

[0002] Inkjet printing technology has broad application prospects in manufacturing fields such as information, energy, medical, and defense. In recent years, it has been increasingly applied to flexible devices such as OLEDs, RFID, thin-film solar cells, wearable flexible devices, PCBs, smart skins, and LED direct-view displays. These applications can be further divided into two types based on printing method: thin-film printing and pixel pit printing.

[0003] The most common defects in thin film printing are linear mura, while the most common defects in pixel pit printing are dot defects, line defects, and color mixing. The causes of these defects are all abnormalities such as blockage of the nozzles in the arrayed printhead, changes in nozzle volume, and excessive spray angle.

[0004] As a core component of inkjet printers, the stability of nozzle ejection is paramount, and this stability is reflected in the nozzle ejection effect. Therefore, screening the nozzle ejection effect is essential. Specifically, in three dimensions, nozzle ejection effect measures the droplet volume, velocity, ejection angle, and other morphological characteristics, as well as the presence of satellite droplets. In two dimensions, nozzle ejection effect measures the droplet landing accuracy and droplet area.

[0005] In related technologies, the main detection method for nozzle ejection effect is the ink droplet observation system, which can intuitively detect the volume, velocity, and ejection angle of ink droplets. It is often used for ejection waveform debugging and nozzle screening before production begins.

[0006] However, when the ink droplet observation system is working, it needs to detect the shape of each ink droplet ejected from each nozzle one by one. Therefore, the detection efficiency of the ink droplet observation system is low. Moreover, if the ink droplet observation system is used to detect ink droplets in real time during the production process, production needs to be suspended for a long time, which seriously affects production capacity. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of the above-mentioned defects or needs of the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a method and device for detecting the jetting effect of array nozzles, so as to solve the technical problem in the related technology that the use of the ink droplet observation system to detect ink droplets in real time during the production process requires a long period of production suspension, which seriously affects the production capacity.

[0008] In a first aspect, a method for detecting the jetting effect of an array of nozzles is provided, characterized by comprising the following steps:

[0009] Obtain standard injection parameters;

[0010] Using standard jetting parameters, all nozzles of the array printhead are made to eject ink, and the ink droplets ejected from all nozzles are detected. Abnormal nozzles are then screened out according to the allowable range of droplet volume, velocity, and jetting angle.

[0011] Shield abnormal nozzles to obtain the initial number of abnormal nozzles;

[0012] Based on the selected normal nozzles, matching print pattern data is generated and printed in the production area;

[0013] During the printing process, the array printhead moves from the production area to the detection area according to the detection frequency, and prints and solidifies ink droplets on the hydrophobic film according to the set detection pattern;

[0014] The detection image is photographed for inspection, and the number of abnormal nozzles is obtained based on the detection algorithm.

[0015] In some embodiments, the method further includes: based on the number of abnormal nozzles detected and the initial number of abnormal nozzles;

[0016] If the number of abnormal nozzles detected is equal to or less than the initial number of abnormal nozzles, production continues;

[0017] If the number of abnormal nozzles detected is greater than the initial number of abnormal nozzles, then the abnormal nozzles are blocked, and a new initial number of abnormal nozzles is obtained.

[0018] In some embodiments, prior to obtaining the standard injection parameters, the method further includes:

[0019] Rinse all nozzles of the spray array;

[0020] Wipe away ink from the surface of the printhead array.

[0021] In some embodiments, the detection pattern includes a nozzle layout of the array nozzles, and is formed by rapid flash printing directly from the array nozzles or by continuous printing of each row of nozzles.

[0022] In some embodiments, the detection pattern includes an upper and lower portion of the pattern consisting of continuous Y-axis printing of ink droplets from the entire nozzle, and a middle portion consisting of single droplet printing from the entire nozzle, wherein the middle portion is either unidirectional or reciprocating printing.

[0023] In some embodiments, the detection pattern is printed by a single array nozzle in 1 pass / 2 pass, and multiple array nozzles print sequentially according to the relative positions between the array nozzles, ultimately achieving detection of all array nozzles.

[0024] The beneficial effects of the technical solution provided in this application include:

[0025] This application provides a method for detecting the ejection effect of an array of nozzles. Before production, the array printhead is run under standard ejection parameters, and all nozzles are inspected sequentially to screen out and block nozzles that do not meet the inkjet requirements, thereby minimizing the impact on print quality and ensuring normal production. During production, the array printhead is moved from the production area to the inspection area according to a pre-set inspection frequency, and ink droplets are printed and solidified on a hydrophobic film according to the inspection pattern. By photographing and inspecting the solidified ink droplets, the number of abnormal nozzles can be obtained, and the change in the number of abnormal nozzles after a period of printing can be observed, thus efficiently detecting the ejection effect of nozzles during production. It is important to note that during production, it is not necessary to inspect each ink droplet ejected from each nozzle individually; instead, the ejection effect of all nozzles is determined by inspecting the ink droplets solidified on the hydrophobic film, resulting in high inspection efficiency and minimal impact on production.

[0026] Secondly, an array nozzle spray effect detection device is provided, based on the array nozzle spray effect detection method described above, for detecting the spray effect of multiple nozzles in an array nozzle head, including:

[0027] A displacement motion unit is connected to the array nozzle drive to drive the array nozzle to move in the X-axis direction, and the array nozzle is adapted to move to the production area or the testing area.

[0028] The detection component includes a detection motion unit, an ink droplet observation unit, an imaging element, and a drop-curing unit. Both the ink droplet observation unit and the drop-curing unit are driven by the detection motion unit to move in the Y-axis direction. The ink droplet observation unit is adapted to detect the shape of ink droplets ejected from multiple nozzles of the array nozzle. The drop-curing unit includes a curing surface located in the detection area. The array nozzle is adapted to move above the curing surface so that the curing surface receives the ink droplets. The imaging element is connected to the drive end of the displacement motion unit and is adapted to detect the detection pattern formed by the ink droplets on the curing surface.

[0029] In some embodiments, the array nozzle spray effect detection device further includes a cleaning component connected to the drive end of the detection motion unit. The cleaning component is used for cleaning the nozzles, flash spraying, and collecting waste liquid during low-frequency spraying.

[0030] In some embodiments, the array nozzle jet effect detection device further includes a wiping assembly connected to the drive end of the detection motion unit to wipe away residual ink on the surface of the array nozzle.

[0031] In some embodiments, the drip-curing unit includes:

[0032] A hydrophobic film, the hydrophobic film being adapted to receive the ink droplets to form the cured pattern;

[0033] A membrane transposition mechanism is connected to the hydrophobic membrane drive and drives the hydrophobic membrane to move, thereby changing the position of the hydrophobic membrane for receiving the ink droplets;

[0034] A curing lamp is used to illuminate and cure the detected pattern.

[0035] Another embodiment of this application provides an array nozzle jet effect detection device, which is made based on the above-described array nozzle jet effect detection method. Therefore, the beneficial effects of this device are the same as those of the above-described array nozzle jet effect detection method, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0036] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the array nozzle spray effect detection method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0037] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the detection graphics provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0038] Figure 3 This is another schematic diagram of a detection graphic provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 4 This is another schematic diagram of a detection graphic provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 5 This is another schematic diagram of a detection graphic provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0041] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of an array nozzle jet effect detection device provided in another embodiment of this application.

[0042] In the diagram: 1. Machine platform; 2. Transposition motion unit; 3. Array nozzles; 4. Detection component; 401. Detection motion unit; 402. Ink droplet observation unit; 403. Imaging component; 404. Droplet curing unit; 5. Cleaning component; 6. Wiping component. Detailed Implementation

[0043] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0044] This application provides a method and apparatus for detecting the jetting effect of an array nozzle. The method uses ink droplet observation to confirm and initially screen the jetting effect in the early stages of production. During production, detection is performed at a certain frequency using a printed curing observation method, ensuring both the intuitiveness of the jetting effect confirmation and meeting production efficiency requirements. This application solves the technical problem in related technologies where using an ink droplet observation system for real-time ink droplet detection during production requires a prolonged production halt, severely impacting production capacity.

[0045] Reference Figure 1 A method for detecting the spray effect of an array of nozzles includes the following steps:

[0046] S100, flush all nozzles of the array nozzle.

[0047] S200, wipe the ink off the surface of the array printhead.

[0048] S300, obtain standard injection parameters.

[0049] S400 uses standard jetting parameters to make all nozzles of the array printhead spray ink, detects all ink droplets ejected from all nozzles, and filters out abnormal nozzles according to the allowable range of droplet volume, velocity, and jetting angle.

[0050] S500, shield abnormal nozzles, and obtain the initial number of abnormal nozzles.

[0051] S600 generates matching print pattern data based on the selected normal nozzles and prints it in the production area.

[0052] During the S700 printing process, the array printhead moves from the production area to the detection area according to the detection frequency, and prints and solidifies ink droplets on the hydrophobic film according to the set detection pattern.

[0053] S800: Take a picture of the detected image and obtain the number of abnormal nozzles based on the detection algorithm.

[0054] S900: Based on the number of abnormal nozzles detected and the initial number of abnormal nozzles, if the number of abnormal nozzles detected is equal to or less than the initial number of abnormal nozzles, then continue production; otherwise, repeat step S500.

[0055] Before printing production, steps S100-S500 are performed. This involves inspecting the spray effect of all nozzles, screening out and shielding any abnormal nozzles before production begins. During production, steps S600-S900 are performed to efficiently inspect the nozzles of the printhead array at a fixed frequency.

[0056] Specifically, in step S100, the array nozzles move to the position of the rinsing device, or the rinsing device moves to the position of the array nozzles, or both the array nozzles and the rinsing device move, so that the rinsing device rinses the nozzles. By cleaning the nozzles of the array nozzles, flashing, and collecting waste liquid during low-frequency spraying, all nozzles of the array nozzles are flushed clear, reducing the possibility of nozzle blockage and supporting subsequent production.

[0057] Specifically, step S200 follows step S100. In other embodiments, step S200 can be performed directly. In this embodiment, after step 100, the array printhead moves to the wiping device for wiping. Wiping the array printhead removes residual ink from its surface, preventing it from clogging the nozzles and ensuring normal production.

[0058] Step S300 involves obtaining standard injection parameters. Specifically, this includes:

[0059] The standard volume and shape of ink droplets ejected by the preset array printheads are defined.

[0060] Select at least one nozzle of the array printhead to spray ink, and adjust the spraying parameters according to the shape and volume of the ejected ink droplets until the ejected ink droplets meet the standard volume and standard shape, thus obtaining the standard spraying parameters.

[0061] Specifically, before production, the standard volume and shape of the ink droplets to be ejected are preset according to industry standards or processing requirements. At least one nozzle of the printhead array is selected; in this embodiment, a nozzle is randomly selected and ejected. The ejected ink droplets are detected by an ink droplet observation system. Based on the detection results, the ejection parameters are adaptively adjusted until the volume and shape of the ejected ink droplets conform to the standard volume and shape. The ejection parameters at this point are recorded to obtain the standard ejection parameters.

[0062] It should be noted that the ink droplet observation system is a commonly used technique in this field, so it will not be discussed in detail here.

[0063] Specifically, step S400 involves using standard jetting parameters to eject ink from all nozzles of the printhead array, detecting all ink droplets ejected from each nozzle, and filtering out abnormal nozzles according to the allowable range of droplet volume, velocity, and jetting angle; and step S500 involves shielding the abnormal nozzles to obtain the initial number of abnormal nozzles. This includes:

[0064] After obtaining the standard jetting parameters, all printheads of the array printhead are sequentially made to spray ink using the standard jetting parameters. The ink droplet observation system is used to detect the ink droplets ejected from multiple nozzles of the array printhead in sequence to detect the jetting effect of all nozzles of the array printhead.

[0065] During ink droplet detection, the ink droplet observation system measures the droplet volume, velocity, and ejection angle. The nozzles are then screened according to the allowable ranges for these parameters. Nozzles whose ejected droplets do not meet these allowable ranges are identified as abnormal nozzles, shielded, and the initial number of abnormal nozzles is recorded.

[0066] The permissible ranges for the volume, velocity, and ejection angle of the ejected ink droplets are adaptively set according to production printing requirements. Generally, based on standard droplet volume, velocity, and ejection angle, the detected droplet volume range is within 10%, the droplet velocity range is within 10%, and the droplet ejection angle range is within 10%.

[0067] This setup allows for the inspection of all nozzles in the array before production, confirming and initially screening the spraying effect of the nozzles to identify any issues such as trailing or satellite droplets, ensuring normal subsequent production, and also revealing the spraying stability of all nozzles in the array under initial conditions.

[0068] After steps S100-S500, step S600 is performed: based on the selected normal nozzles, matching print pattern data is generated and printed in the production area. According to the generated matching print pattern data, the array printheads operate in the production area to begin printing production.

[0069] In step S700, during the printing process, the array printhead moves from the production area to the detection area according to the detection frequency, and prints and solidifies ink droplets on the hydrophobic film according to the preset detection pattern. Specifically:

[0070] During the printing process, production is paused after a set detection frequency, such as after 2 hours of continuous production or after printing 200 pieces. At the same time, the array printhead moves from the production area to the detection area and prints ink droplets on the hydrophobic film in the detection area according to the set detection pattern. The ink droplets are then cured using a UV curing lamp.

[0071] It should be noted that the testing frequency should be adapted to production requirements.

[0072] In step S800, the detection image is photographed for detection, and the number of abnormal nozzles is obtained according to the detection algorithm. Specifically:

[0073] After the ink droplets ejected by the array printhead solidify on the hydrophobic film, an industrial CCD camera is used to photograph and inspect the ink droplets on the hydrophobic film. A detection algorithm is then used to determine the number of abnormal nozzles detected. The detection algorithm is used to detect whether the ink droplets on the hydrophobic film meet printing requirements, thus identifying any abnormalities in the corresponding nozzles. In this embodiment, the detection algorithm includes one or more of the following: ink droplet similarity exceeding specifications, ink droplets exceeding the X / Y allowable deviation range, missing ink droplets, and satellite droplets.

[0074] This setup allows for the simultaneous detection of all nozzles in use by detecting ink droplets on the hydrophobic film, improving detection efficiency and facilitating the detection of nozzles in the array printhead during production. It also minimizes production downtime and reduces the impact on production.

[0075] Further, in step S900, based on the number of abnormal nozzles detected and the initial number of abnormal nozzles, if the number of abnormal nozzles detected is equal to or less than the initial number of abnormal nozzles, production continues; otherwise, step S500 is repeated. Specifically:

[0076] First, compare the number of abnormal nozzles detected with the initial number of abnormal nozzles.

[0077] If the number of abnormal nozzles detected is equal to or less than the initial number of abnormal nozzles, it indicates that the nozzle count of the array nozzles remains consistent with or better than the initial production state. Once the nozzle detection of the array nozzles is complete, the array nozzles return from the detection area to the production area to continue production.

[0078] If the number of detected abnormal nozzles exceeds the initial number of abnormal nozzles, it indicates an increase in the number of abnormal nozzles in the array nozzles. In this case, step S500 is repeated before production resumes, i.e., abnormal nozzles are masked, and a new initial number of abnormal nozzles is obtained. The initial number of abnormal nozzles is then updated to support subsequent detection.

[0079] In this embodiment, the detection pattern includes the nozzle layout of the array nozzles, which is either formed by rapid flash spraying directly from the array nozzles or by continuous printing of each row of nozzles.

[0080] Reference Figure 2 It is produced by direct and rapid flash spraying from an array of nozzles, resulting in fast detection speed.

[0081] Reference Figure 3 This pattern is formed by continuous printing of each row of nozzles. Each row of nozzles continuously prints n drops, and the row spacing is set according to requirements. Specifically, the spacing for X3 is n*21.166μm, X4 = 2.5*n*21.166μm, and Y3 and Y4 are set according to requirements. The allowable deviation range for the ink droplet landing point is X = X1, Y = 2*Y3 + Y1.

[0082] In other embodiments, the detection pattern includes three parts: upper, middle, and lower. The upper and lower parts of the pattern are ink droplets continuously printed in the Y direction from all nozzles, while the middle part is printed as a single droplet from all nozzles. The middle part is printed in one direction or in a reciprocating manner.

[0083] Reference Figure 4 The top and bottom parts of the graph represent continuous Y-axis printing of ink droplets from all nozzles, while the middle part represents single-droplet printing from all nozzles, and this middle part is printed unidirectionally. To prevent adjacent nozzle droplets from sticking together, the middle part is divided into two rows; the number of rows depends on the number of nozzles. X1 and Y1 represent the allowable deviation range of the droplet landing point, the boxes are generated by software, and the X2 spacing is n*21.166μm, where n is the number of consecutive prints per row of nozzles.

[0084] Reference Figure 5 The top and bottom parts of the graphic are formed by continuous Y-axis printing of ink droplets from all nozzles, while the middle part is formed by single-droplet printing from all nozzles, with the middle part being printed in a back-and-forth motion. This printing method adds a return stroke to the unidirectional printing in the middle part, so that the landing point positioning in both the forward and return directions can be confirmed simultaneously.

[0085] Figure 3 and Figure 4 The text also provides examples of abnormal ink droplets, specifically the NG section in the image.

[0086] Furthermore, the detection pattern is printed by a single array nozzle in 1 pass / 2 pass, and multiple array nozzles print sequentially according to the relative positions between the array nozzles, ultimately achieving the detection of all array nozzles.

[0087] According to the array nozzle spraying effect detection method disclosed in this embodiment, it is possible not only to visually detect the array nozzle spraying effect in the early stage of production, measure the volume, speed and spraying angle of each nozzle, and confirm whether there are tailing and satellite droplets, and output accurate quantitative data; at the same time, during the production process, under the premise of knowing the excellent spraying stability of the array nozzle, the increase or decrease of the number of abnormal nozzles can be quickly confirmed by printing and curing judgment, thereby improving the detection rate and effectively improving production capacity.

[0088] Specifically: Before production, the array printheads are run under standard jetting parameters, and all nozzles are inspected sequentially to screen out and block nozzles that do not meet the inkjet requirements, minimizing the impact on print quality and ensuring normal production. During production, the array printheads are moved from the production area to the inspection area according to a pre-set inspection frequency, and ink droplets are printed and solidified on a hydrophobic film according to the inspection pattern. By photographing and inspecting the solidified ink droplets, the number of abnormal nozzles can be obtained, showing how the number of abnormal nozzles changes over a period of time. This efficiently completes the inspection of nozzle jetting effect during production. It is important to note that during production, it is not necessary to inspect each ink droplet ejected from each nozzle individually again; instead, the ink droplets solidified on the hydrophobic film are inspected to determine the jetting effect of all nozzles. This method is highly efficient and has minimal impact on production.

[0089] Another embodiment of this application provides an array nozzle spray effect detection device, based on the array nozzle spray effect detection method described above, for detecting the spray effect of multiple nozzles in an array nozzle 3, referring to... Figure 6 The array nozzle spray effect detection device includes a machine base 1, a displacement motion unit 2, and a detection component 4. Both the displacement motion unit 2 and the detection component 4 are mounted on the machine base 1.

[0090] Reference Figure 6 Specifically, the transposition motion unit 2 is mounted on the machine base 1 and is driven by the array printhead 3 to move the array printhead 3 in the X-axis direction. The machine base 1 includes a production area and a testing area. When the array printhead 3 is driven by the transposition motion unit 2, it can move to either the production area or the testing area. When the array printhead 3 is in the production area, it is used for printing; when the array printhead 3 is in the testing area, it is tested by the testing component 4 to achieve testing during the production process. The X-axis direction is as shown in the figure. The transposition motion unit 2 includes linear motion mechanisms such as a linear motor and a lead screw mechanism.

[0091] Reference Figure 6 Specifically, the detection component 4 includes a motion detection unit 401, an ink droplet observation unit 402, an imaging element 403, and a droplet curing unit 404.

[0092] Reference Figure 6The detection motion unit 401 is mounted on the machine base 1, and its drive end moves below the array nozzle 3. The droplet observation unit 402 is mounted on the drive end of the detection motion unit 401 and is driven by the detection motion unit 401 to move in the Y-axis direction. Before production, the droplet observation unit 402 detects the shape of the ink droplets ejected from all nozzles of the array nozzle 3 to detect all nozzles of the array nozzle 3, which facilitates the shielding of abnormal nozzles and records the initial number of abnormal nozzles. The Y-axis direction is the Y-axis direction in the figure. In this embodiment, the drive path of the detection motion unit 401 is perpendicular to the drive path of the transposition motion unit 2. The detection motion unit 401 includes linear motion mechanisms such as linear motors and lead screw mechanisms, and the droplet observation unit 402 is an ink droplet observation system.

[0093] Reference Figure 6 The drip-curing unit 404 is mounted on the drive end of the detection motion unit 401 and is driven to move in the Y-axis direction. The drip-curing unit 404 includes a curing surface for receiving ink droplets. During production, the array printhead 3 is driven to the detection area, and simultaneously, the drip-curing unit 404 is adaptively driven, so that the array printhead 3 is above the curing surface of the drip-curing unit 404. According to the detection pattern, the array printhead 3 sprays ink droplets onto the curing surface, and the ink droplets cure on the curing surface.

[0094] Specifically, the drip-curing unit 404 includes a hydrophobic membrane, a membrane transposition mechanism, and a curing lamp. The upper surface of the hydrophobic membrane is the curing surface. The membrane transposition mechanism is installed at the drive end of the detection and motion unit 401. The hydrophobic membrane is disposed on the membrane transposition mechanism, and the membrane transposition mechanism is driven by the hydrophobic membrane to move the hydrophobic membrane, thereby changing the position of the hydrophobic membrane for receiving ink droplets. The membrane transposition mechanism may include a rotation mechanism or a winding / unwinding mechanism, which will not be described in detail here.

[0095] This setup, by changing the position of the hydrophobic membrane to receive ink droplets, facilitates multiple checks of the nozzle ejection status during the production process.

[0096] The curing lamp, including a UV lamp, is installed under the hydrophobic film. The detection pattern can be cured by the curing lamp, which facilitates the subsequent detection of the cured ink droplets.

[0097] Reference Figure 6 The imaging element 403 is mounted on the drive end of the transposition motion unit 2. After the detection pattern on the cured surface is cured, the imaging element 403 moves above the cured surface and detects the detection pattern to simultaneously detect ink droplets ejected from multiple nozzles of the array nozzle 3. This facilitates rapid detection of all nozzles, improves detection efficiency, and has minimal impact on production, making it suitable for detection in production. The imaging element 403 includes an industrial CCD camera.

[0098] After detection by imaging element 403, the number of abnormal nozzles is obtained. By comparing the number of abnormal nozzles with the initial number of abnormal nozzles, the nozzle status of array nozzle 3 can be quickly determined.

[0099] Optionally, the array nozzle spray effect detection device further includes a cleaning component 5, which is connected to the drive end of the detection motion unit 401 and is used for cleaning the nozzles, flash spraying, and collecting waste liquid during low-frequency spraying.

[0100] Before production, the array nozzles 3 and the cleaning assembly 5 adapt to each other, positioning the array nozzles 3 below the cleaning assembly 5. The cleaning assembly 5 then rinses the array nozzles 3 to reduce the possibility of nozzle clogging. Simultaneously, the cleaning assembly 5 is equipped with a waste liquid collection system to minimize contamination of the production area. The cleaning assembly 5 is a fairly common mechanical mechanism and will not be described in detail here.

[0101] Optionally, the array nozzle jet effect detection device further includes a wiping component 6, which is connected to the drive end of the detection motion unit 401 to wipe away residual ink on the surface of the array nozzle 3.

[0102] Before production, the array printhead 3 and the wiping assembly 6 adapt to each other, positioning the array printhead 3 below the wiping assembly 6. The wiping assembly 6 then wipes the array printhead 3, removing residual ink from its surface and maintaining its cleanliness to ensure normal subsequent production. In this embodiment, the array printhead 3 can be rinsed by the cleaning assembly 5 before being wiped by the wiping assembly 6. The wiping assembly 6 is a common mechanical mechanism and will not be described in detail here.

[0103] The working principle of this array nozzle spray effect detection device is as follows:

[0104] Before production, the cleaning component 5 and wiping component 6 sequentially rinse and wipe the array printhead 3. Then, the ink droplet observation unit 402 detects all the nozzles of the array printhead 3, shields abnormal nozzles, and records the initial number of abnormal nozzles. Printing is then performed using the normal production nozzles. During production, at a preset detection frequency, the array printhead 3 moves to the detection area and prints a detection pattern on the cured surface. The imaging component 403 then detects the cured pattern to simultaneously detect all ink droplets, thus obtaining the number of abnormal nozzles detected. Based on the number of abnormal nozzles detected and the initial number of abnormal nozzles, the nozzle status of the array printhead 3 can be quickly determined.

[0105] This array nozzle spray effect detection device can not only visually detect the spray effect of the array nozzles in the early stage of production, measure the volume, speed and spray angle of each nozzle, and confirm whether there are tailing and satellite droplets, and output accurate quantitative data; at the same time, during the production process, under the premise of knowing the excellent spray stability of the array nozzle 3, it can quickly confirm the increase or decrease of the number of abnormal nozzles by printing and curing judgment, improve the detection rate, and thus effectively improve production capacity.

[0106] In the description of this application, it should be understood that in the accompanying drawings, the positive direction of "X" represents the right, and correspondingly, the negative direction of "X" represents the left; the positive direction of "Y" represents the front, and correspondingly, the negative direction of "Y" represents the rear; the terms "X", "Y", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0107] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0108] It should be noted that in this application, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0109] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims

1. An array orifice ejection effect detection method, characterized by, The method comprises the following steps: acquiring standard ejection parameters; using the standard ejection parameters to make all the nozzles of the array head eject ink, and detecting the ink droplets ejected by all the nozzles, and screening out abnormal nozzles according to the allowed range of the volume, speed and ejection angle of the ink droplets; shielding the abnormal nozzles to obtain an initial number of abnormal nozzles; generating matching printing patterning data based on the screened normal nozzles and printing in the production area; during the printing production, the array head is moved from the production area to the detection area according to a detection frequency, and ink droplets are printed and solidified on the hydrophobic film according to a set detection pattern; the detection pattern comprises a nozzle arrangement pattern of the array head; the detection pattern comprises upper, middle and lower parts, and the upper and lower parts of the pattern are ink droplets printed continuously in the Y direction by all the nozzles, and the middle part is single-droplet printing by all the nozzles, and the middle part is bidirectional printing; photographing the detection pattern, and obtaining the number of abnormal nozzles according to a detection algorithm; the detection algorithm comprises multiple types of ink droplet similarity exceeding specifications, ink droplets exceeding the allowed deviation range in the X / Y direction, ink droplet missing and satellite droplets.

2. The array orifice ejection effect detection method according to claim 1, characterized by, Further comprising: comparing the number of abnormal nozzles detected with the initial number of abnormal nozzles; if the number of abnormal nozzles detected is equal to or less than the initial number of abnormal nozzles, continue production; if the number of abnormal nozzles detected is greater than the initial number of abnormal nozzles, shield the abnormal nozzles and obtain a new initial number of abnormal nozzles.

3. The array orifice ejection effect detection method according to claim 1, characterized by, Before the step of acquiring standard ejection parameters, further comprising: flushing all the nozzles of the array head; erasing ink on the surface of the array head.

4. The array orifice ejection effect detection method according to claim 1, characterized by, The detection pattern is formed by direct rapid flash ejection of the array head or continuous printing of each row of nozzles.

5. The array orifice ejection effect detection method according to claim 1, wherein The detection pattern comprises upper and lower parts of the pattern, which are ink droplets printed continuously in the Y direction by all the nozzles, and the middle part is single-droplet printing by all the nozzles, and the middle part is unidirectional printing or bidirectional printing.

6. The array orifice ejection effect detection method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The detection pattern is completed by single-array head 1pass / 2pass printing, and multiple-array heads are printed in turn according to the relative positions between the array heads, finally realizing the detection of all the array heads.

7. An array orifice ejection effect detection device based on the array orifice ejection effect detection method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, for detecting ejection effects of a plurality of orifices of an array head, characterized by, Further comprising: a transposition motion unit, which is drivingly connected with the array head to drive the array head to move in the X-axis direction, and the array head is adapted to move to the production area or the detection area; a detection assembly, which comprises a detection motion unit, an ink droplet observation unit, an imaging member and a droplet falling and solidification unit; the ink droplet observation unit and the droplet falling and solidification unit are driven by the detection motion unit to move in the Y-axis direction; the ink droplet observation unit is adapted to detect the shape of the ink droplets ejected by multiple nozzles of the array head, the droplet falling and solidification unit comprises a solidification surface, the solidification surface is located in the detection area, and the array head is adapted to move above the solidification surface to enable the solidification surface to receive the ink droplets; the imaging member is connected with the driving end of the transposition motion unit, and is adapted to detect a detection pattern formed by the ink droplets on the solidification surface.

8. The array orifice ejection effect detection apparatus according to claim 7, characterized by Further comprising a cleaning assembly, which is connected with the driving end of the detection motion unit, and is used for cleaning, flash ejection and waste liquid collection of the nozzles during low-frequency ejection.

9. The array orifice ejection effect detection apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, A wiping assembly is further included, which is connected with the driving end of the detecting motion unit to wipe off the residual ink on the surface of the array jet.

10. The array orifice ejection effect detection apparatus according to claim 7, characterized by, The drop solidification unit includes: a hydrophobic film adapted to receive the ink drops to form a solidified pattern; a film displacement mechanism drivingly connected with the hydrophobic film to move the hydrophobic film to change the position of the hydrophobic film for receiving the ink drops; a solidification lamp for irradiating and solidifying the detecting pattern.

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