Inkjet printer with substrate height position control

Abstract

An inkjet printer is described. The inkjet printer has a substrate holder assembly including a base member having a long axis in a first direction and a short axis in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a contact member coupled to the base member, the contact member having a long axis in the first direction and a short axis in the second direction; a holder carriage coupled to the base member; a linear extender coupled between the base member and the contact member and extending from the base member to the contact member in a third direction that intersects the first and second directions; and a flexible member coupled to the base member, extending between the linear extender and the contact member in the second direction, and having a flex direction in a direction perpendicular to the first and second directions.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62 / 775,487, filed December 5, 2018, and U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 16 / 702,380, filed December 3, 2019, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to inkjet printers. Specifically, methods and apparatus for monitoring and controlling the position and orientation of a substrate are described. Background Technology

[0004] Inkjet printing is ubiquitous, found in office and home printers as well as in industrial-scale printers used for manufacturing displays, printing large-scale writing materials, adding materials to artifacts such as PCBs, and building biological products such as tissues. Most commercial and industrial inkjet printers, and some consumer printers, use a dispenser to apply printing material to a substrate. The dispenser jets a controlled amount of printing material onto the substrate at controlled times and rates to ensure the material reaches the target location on the substrate and produces marks of the desired size and shape.

[0005] In some cases, the precision required to position the printing material on the substrate is extremely high. Even minute deviations in the timing, quantity, or speed of material ejection can lead to printing failures. Similarly, inaccuracies in positioning the substrate to receive the printing material can cause the material to deviate from its target upon arrival. For example, if the distance between the substrate and the printhead deviates from the target, the printing material will travel an unexpected distance, arriving at the substrate sooner or later. Substrate precision control is crucial in high-precision inkjet printing applications. Invention Overview

[0006] The embodiments described herein provide a substrate retainer assembly, comprising: a base member having a long axis in a first direction and a short axis in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a contact member coupled to the base member, the contact member having a long axis in the first direction and a short axis in the second direction; a retainer bracket coupled to the base member; a linear extender coupled between the base member and the contact member, and extending from the base member toward the contact member in a third direction intersecting the first and second directions; and a flexible member coupled to the base member, extending in the second direction between the linear extender and the contact member, and having a flexural direction perpendicular to the first and second directions.

[0007] Other embodiments described herein provide an inkjet printer including a substrate support; a dispensing assembly attached to the substrate support; and a retainer assembly attached to the substrate support, the retainer assembly including a retainer bracket operably coupled to a slider attached to the substrate support; a base member coupled to the retainer bracket and having a long axis in a first direction along one side of the substrate support; a contact member coupled to the base member and having a long axis in the first direction, the contact member having an actuator at an edge adjacent to the substrate support; a first linear extender coupled to the base member and extending from the base member toward the contact member at a position adjacent to the edge of the contact member having the actuator; a first flexible assembly coupled to the base member and extending toward the actuator; a second linear extender coupled to the base member and extending from the base member toward the contact member at a position adjacent to the edge of the contact member having the actuator; and a second flexible assembly coupled to the base member and extending toward the actuator.

[0008] Other embodiments described herein provide a substrate retainer assembly including a retainer bracket; a base member coupled to the retainer bracket and having a long axis in a first direction; a contact member coupled to the base member such that the base member is between the retainer bracket and the contact member, the contact member having a long axis in the first direction and an actuator extending along the long side of the contact member; a first linear extender coupled to the base member and extending through the base member to the contact member at a location adjacent to an edge of the contact member having the actuator; a first flexible component coupled to the base member and extending toward the actuator; a second linear extender coupled to the base member and extending through the base member to the contact member at a location adjacent to an edge of the contact member having the actuator; and a second flexible component coupled to the base member and extending toward the actuator. Brief description of the attached figures

[0009] To gain a more detailed understanding of the features of this disclosure, the brief overview of this disclosure can be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However, it should be noted that the drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments and should not be considered as limiting its scope; other equivalent embodiments are permissible.

[0010] Figure 1 This is a top view of an inkjet printer according to one embodiment.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a plan view of a substrate support member according to one embodiment.

[0012] Figure 3 This is a side view of a printing component according to one embodiment.

[0013] Figure 4 According to one embodiment, it is used for Figure 1 Top-view perspective of the retainer assembly of an inkjet printer.

[0014] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a portion of the retainer component.

[0015] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 A detailed diagram of a portion of the retainer assembly.

[0016] Figure 7A yes Figure 4 A plan view of the retainer assembly.

[0017] Figure 7B yes Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a portion of the retainer component.

[0018] Figure 8A This is an active diagram illustrating the positioning of a substrate edge according to one embodiment.

[0019] Figure 8B This is an active diagram illustrating the positioning of the substrate edge according to another embodiment.

[0020] For ease of understanding, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same elements in the figures where possible. It is conceivable that elements and features of one embodiment may be beneficially incorporated into other embodiments without further description. Detailed description

[0021] This article describes an inkjet printer with highly controlled features to ensure precise placement of printing material onto a substrate. Figure 1This is a top view of an inkjet printer 100 according to one embodiment. The inkjet printer has a substrate support 102, a printing assembly 104, and a holder assembly 106 for manipulating the substrate for printing. The inkjet printer 100 is built on a base 108, which is typically a large object to minimize vibration transmission to the printer's operating components. In one example, the base 108 is a granite block. The substrate support 102 is located on the base 108 and includes a support surface 110 and means for making the support surface 110 substantially frictionless. Here, the support surface 110 is an air platform that provides an air cushion on which the substrate floats. The support surface 110 has a plurality of holes 112 that allow gas jets to flow out, thus providing an upward force to hold the substrate at an ideal height above the support surface 110. Some of these holes may also allow gas to be controlledly withdrawn from the air cushion that floats the substrate support to provide precise local control over the substrate height.

[0022] Printing assembly 104 includes a dispenser assembly 114 disposed on a printing support 116. The printing support 116 is disposed relative to a substrate support 102 to provide a channel for the dispenser assembly 114, structurally positioning it relative to a substrate on the substrate support 102, thereby allowing precise application of printing material onto the substrate. Here, the printing support 116 includes a guide rail 117 or beam traversing the substrate support 102, allowing the dispenser assembly 114 to traverse the substrate support 102 and deposit printing material onto the substrate at any location from one side of the printing support 116 to its opposite side. In this embodiment, the printing support 116 is attached to and extends from a base 108 to provide stable support for the dispenser assembly 114. Two platforms 120 extend from the base 108 to the guide rail 117 on opposite sides of the substrate support 102, the guide rail extending across the substrate support 102. Both the stand 120 and the guide rail 117 can be made of the same material as the base 108. In this case, the stand 120, the guide rail 117, and the base 108 are formed from a single piece of granite.

[0023] Dispenser assembly 114 typically includes one or more dispensers 119 and a print assembly controller 118, which includes electronics and sensors for controlling functional parameters of the dispensers 119, such as the position, timing, duration, print material type, and dispensing profile of the dispensers 119 along the print support 116. Dispensers 119 are typically moved along the print support 116 by operation of a print holder 122 coupled to the print support 116 to translate the dispensers 119 from one end of a guide rail 117 to the other opposite end. Power and signal conduits are not shown for simplicity.

[0024] The substrate is positioned below the printing assembly 104 via the retainer assembly 106. The retainer assembly 106 achieves firm contact with the substrate after loading and moves the substrate along the substrate support 102 to position it relative to the printing assembly 104, thereby precisely dispensing printing material onto the substrate. In this configuration, the retainer assembly 106 is located on one side of the substrate support 102 and typically extends along the substrate support 102 in a first direction during printing to translate the substrate in that direction. The first direction is... Figure 1 The distributor 119 is indicated by arrow 124. It typically moves in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, as defined by guide rail 117, which extends substantially in the second direction. Figure 1 The direction is indicated by arrow 126. The second direction 126 is sometimes referred to as the "x-direction" and the guide rail 117 is referred to as the "x-beam".

[0025] The retainer assembly 106 is typically mounted on a retainer assembly support 128, which in this example is a track extending substantially along the entire length of the substrate support 102 in a first direction along the edge 130. In this embodiment, the retainer assembly support 128 is attached to the base 108 to provide stable support for the retainer assembly 106. The retainer assembly support 128 may be made of the same material as the base 108. In this case, the retainer assembly support 128, the base 108, and the printed support 116 are integrally formed from a single piece of granite. Sometimes, the retainer assembly support 128 is referred to as a “y-beam”.

[0026] The retainer assembly 106 includes a retainer bracket 132 that travels along a retainer assembly support 128. A base member 134 is coupled to the retainer bracket 132, and a contact member 136 is coupled to the base member 134, wherein the base member 134 is located between the retainer bracket 132 and the contact member 136. The contact member 136 includes an actuator 138 located at an edge 140 of the contact member 136, which is closest to the edge 130 of the substrate support 102. Here, a vacuum source (not shown) is coupled to the retainer assembly 106 to provide a vacuum at the contact surface 142 of the actuator 138, thereby securely holding the substrate on the substrate support 102 for processing. During operation, the retainer assembly 106 moves along the retainer assembly support 128 to position the securely held substrate at any location on the substrate support 102, such that, for example, by operation of the print assembly controller 118, the print assembly 104 can position the dispenser 119 to provide access to a precise location on the substrate, thereby dispensing print material.

[0027] System controller 129 receives signals from various sensors that can be deployed throughout inkjet printer 100 and sends these signals to the system of inkjet printer 100 to control printing. Here, system controller 129 is shown operatively coupled to print assembly controller 118 and retainer assembly controller 131, which controls the operation of retainer assembly 106. Each substrate support 102, print assembly 104, retainer assembly 106, and possibly other auxiliary systems, such as environmental and material management systems, may have sensors operatively coupled to system controller 129 to send signals relating to the state of various components to system controller 129 during printing operations. System controller 129 includes data and instructions for determining control signals sent to the various controlled components of inkjet printer 100.

[0028] When printing on a substrate, it is typically necessary to place tiny droplets of printing material (e.g., droplets with a diameter of 5-10 μm) into a substrate area with a size of 10-15 μm. In this operation, printing material is typically dispensed as the substrate moves to minimize printing time. Achieving extremely high accuracy is complicated by minute dimensional variations in the printing system components, temperature variations, inaccuracies in the translational speeds of the substrate, dispenser assembly, and holder assembly 106, and inaccuracies in the distance between the substrate and dispenser 19. If the distance between dispenser 119 and the substrate cannot be precisely known or controlled, the velocity of the printing material droplets from dispenser 119 cannot be programmed to ensure that the droplets arrive at the target position when the substrate is properly positioned. The droplets arrive too early or too late and miss their target.

[0029] This document describes apparatus and methods for controlling the distance (sometimes referred to as "flight altitude") between a substrate and a dispenser 119 when the substrate is floating on an air cushion. One or more sensors are included in the substrate support 102 or the printing assembly 104 to sense one or more distances between the substrate and, for example, certain portions of the substrate support 102 or the printing assembly 104. Figure 2 This is a plan view of a substrate support 200 according to one embodiment. The substrate support 200 can be used as... Figure 1The substrate support 102 in the inkjet printer 100. The substrate support 200 includes a first plurality of holes 202 formed in a support surface 201 of the substrate support 200 for providing gas between the support surface 201 and the substrate disposed thereon to create an air cushion supporting the substrate at a target height above the support surface 201. The substrate support 200 also includes a second plurality of holes 204 formed in the support surface 201 for providing suction between the support surface 201 and the substrate disposed thereon. A gas source (not shown) including an inert gas is fluidly coupled to the first plurality of holes 202, and a vacuum source (not shown) is fluidly coupled to the second plurality of holes 204. The gas source and the vacuum source are operated to provide an air cushion with a target thickness and / or pressure between the substrate and the support surface 201. Here, the first plurality of holes 202 are substantially uniformly distributed across the entire support surface 201 from one end to the other and completely span the support surface 201. The second plurality of holes 204 are interspersed with the first plurality of holes 202 in the central region 205 of the support surface 201. In the central region 205, the vacuum provided by the second plurality of holes 204 works in conjunction with the air cushion provided by the first plurality of holes 202 to provide control over the height of the substrate above the support surface 201 in the central region 205, in which the deposition of printing material on the substrate occurs.

[0030] Multiple distance sensors 206 are disposed in the support surface 201 to sense the distance between the substrate and the support surface 201. Because the substrate can be large, multiple sensors 206 can be used to sense the distance at multiple portions of the substrate. In other cases, a single sensor 206 can be used. Here, the sensors 206 are shown as being regularly spaced apart in the support surface 201. The sensors 206 can be capacitive, inductive, optical, or acoustic, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, only capacitive sensors are used. In another embodiment, capacitive and optical sensors are used. The optical sensors can be based on interferometry, diffraction, spectroscopy, and / or triangulation. The distance sensors 206 are operatively coupled to the system controller 129. Figure 1 The system controller 129 receives and stores the signals representing the sensed distance. Each sensor 206 sends a signal related to the distance from the substrate to the sensor 206, along with an identification code. The system controller 129 also converts the signals into distance and can convert the identification codes into the position of the support surface 201 based on a predetermined mapping of the sensors 206.

[0031] The type and density of sensors 206 can vary across the entire support surface 201. For example, if no distance to the support surface 201 is sensed in certain areas, those areas may not have sensors 206. If low-grained distance measurement is sufficient in certain areas, those areas may have a low density of sensors 206. If high-grained measurement is required in other areas, those areas may have a high density of sensors 206. In this case, the support surface 201 has a high density of sensors 206 in the area near the printing assembly 104 used for dispensing printing material, thereby allowing for more precise control of the substrate and dispenser 119 (…). Figure 1 The distance between them.

[0032] In another embodiment, one or more sensors may be attached to the printing assembly. Figure 3 This is a side view of a printing assembly 300 according to one embodiment. The printing assembly 300 can be used as... Figure 1 The printing component 104 in the inkjet printer 100. The printing component 300 includes... Figure 1 Similar elements to the printing assembly 104 will be labeled using the same reference numerals. The printing assembly includes one or more sensors 302 for sensing distance to the substrate. One sensor 302 is shown mounted on the printing support 116. Another sensor 302 is also shown mounted on the printing holder 122. Yet another sensor 302 is shown mounted on one of the dispensers 119. Any or all of these sensors 302 can be used to sense the relevant distance to the substrate. If multiple sensors 302 can be used in conjunction with sensors 206 in the support surface 201 of the substrate support 200, the system controller 129 can compare multiple distance readings and obtain a distance estimate with improved accuracy. The sensors 302 can be optical or acoustic. Any of the aforementioned optical sensors can be used for sensor 302. The sensor 302 shown here is operatively coupled to the printing assembly controller 118 to send a signal representing a distance reading to the printing assembly controller 118. It should be noted that the sensors 302 and other operative elements of the printing assembly 104 can be directly operatively coupled to the system controller 129 without the use of the printing assembly controller.

[0033] The height of the substrate can be controlled by adjusting the air cushion supporting the substrate. If the substrate height is adjusted upwards or downwards, a slight curvature may appear near the edge of the substrate that contacts the retainer assembly, without adjusting the retainer assembly. Figure 4This is a perspective view of a retainer assembly 400 according to one embodiment. The retainer assembly 400 has the ability to adjust the edge of the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the support surface 201 of the substrate support 200 (or 102). The retainer assembly 400 can be used as the retainer assembly 106 described above.

[0034] The retainer assembly 400 has a support member 402, a base member 404 coupled to the support member 402, and a contact member 406 coupled to the base member 404, such that the base member 404 is situated between the contact member 406 and the support member 402. The contact member 406 uses a vacuum to contact the substrate along its edge to form a stable and secure contact with the substrate. A vacuum source (not shown) is fluidly coupled to the retainer assembly 400 to provide a vacuum force. The support member 402 supports substantially frictionless movement of the retainer assembly 400 along the retainer assembly support 128.

[0035] The base member 404 has a long axis 405 extending along a first direction 124, which is substantially aligned with the support surface 201 of the base support member 102. Figure 2 The dimensions in the first direction 124 are the same. The base member 404 has a short axis 407 in the second direction 126. The base member 404 may be plate-shaped and may have various openings for fasteners, sensors, actuators, etc. The base member 404 is fastened to the support member 402 to provide stable support for the contact member 406 as the support member 402 translates along the retainer assembly support 128. In this embodiment, the base member 404 extends beyond the end of the support member 402 in the first direction 124, and the support member 402 is centered relative to the base member 404. Here, the outline of the base member 404 is rectangular.

[0036] Contact member 406 is adjustably coupled to base member 404. Contact member 406 includes a support shaft 408, a manipulator stand 410, a manipulator 412 coupled to the manipulator stand, and a plurality of landing components for mounting sensors and / or locators as described below (discussed further below). Contact member 406 has a long axis 409 in a first direction 124 and a short axis 411 in a second direction 126, and is substantially similar in length to base member 404. Like the base member, contact member 406 also has a rectangular profile because the support shaft 408, manipulator stand 410, and manipulator 412 all substantially extend the length of base member 404. Manipulator stand 410 is located adjacent to the support edge 416 of contact member 406 of base support member 102 and adjacent to the proximity edge 418 of base member 404. The support shaft 408 is located at the adjustment edge 420 of the contact member 406 opposite to the support edge 416, and is adjacent to the corresponding opposite edge 422 of the base member 404.

[0037] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the retainer assembly 400. A linear extender 502 is coupled to the base member 404 and extends from the base member 404 toward the contact member 406. The linear extender 502 is located at the support edge 416 of the contact member 406 and extends toward the contact member 406 in a third direction 504 perpendicular to the first and second directions. The linear extender 502 may also extend slightly in either or both of the first direction 124 and the second direction 126. The linear extender 502 can be any precision positioner capable of positioning an object with an accuracy of less than 10 μm, such as a piezoelectric positioner. In the piezoelectric embodiment, when a voltage is applied, a sample of piezoelectric material is oriented to change its length in a third direction, and the degree of length change is directly and precisely related to the applied voltage.

[0038] A bearing member 506 is disposed between the linear extender 502 and the contact member 406. The bearing member 506 is positioned adjacent to the base member 404 at the support edge 416 of the contact member 406. The linear extender 502 applies a positioning force to the bearing member 506, which in turn transmits the positioning force to the contact member 406. The bearing member 506 extends in a first direction 124, and its length is substantially the same as the length of the contact member 406 in the first direction 124. Therefore, the bearing member 506 extends substantially along the entire length of the contact member 406 in the first direction 124. Here, the bearing member 506 is hollow to reduce weight, and the bearing member 506 has a dimension in a second direction 126 that is larger than the dimension of the actuator stand 410 of the contact member 406 in the second direction 126.

[0039] A landing member 508 is disposed between the bearing member 506 and the control stand 410. The landing member 508 adjusts the positioning force applied to the contact member 406 by the linear extender 502. The landing member 508 may be made of a robust, resilient material to absorb any pulses or impacts that may be transmitted between the contact member 406 and the bearing member 506. In other cases, the landing member 508 may be an air bearing. Multiple landing members 508 are distributed along the length of the bearing member 506 and the control stand 410 to provide stable and consistent positioning support along the length of the control stand 410.

[0040] The linear extender 502 changes its length in the third direction 504 when actuated. As the linear extender 502 extends, the bearing member 506 is pushed toward the contact member 406 in the third direction 504 to move the position of the support edge 416 of the contact member 406 in the third direction 504. When the substrate is placed on the actuator 412, the substrate contacts the actuator 412 at the contact surface 510. A vacuum is applied to the contact surface 510 through a vacuum manifold 512, which is a conduit that passes through the actuator 412 along its length in the first direction 124. The pressure difference generated by the vacuum forces the substrate against the contact surface 510, causing the substrate to move together with the actuator 412, the actuator stand 410, and the contact member 406. At the support edge 416, by actuating the linear extender 502, the actuator 412 moves in the third direction 504, thereby modifying the substrate height above the substrate support 102 near the retainer assembly 400.

[0041] Refer again Figure 4 The contact member 406 includes a plurality of supports 424 that connect the manipulator platform 410 to the support shaft 408. Here, there are four supports 424, two at opposite ends of the support shaft 408 and two near the center of both sides of the contact member 406. In this case, the dimension of the support shaft 408 in the first direction 124 is smaller than the dimension of the manipulator platform 410 in the first direction 124. The supports 424 are used to securely connect the support shaft 408 to the manipulator platform 410 such that the two move as a whole and the contact member 406 has structural integrity. The supports 424 are oriented here along the second direction 126 and are rod-shaped members extending from the support shaft 408 to the manipulator platform 410. Each support 424 is positioned between the support shaft 408 and the base member 404 and between the manipulator platform 410 and the bearing member 506, and each support 424 is in direct contact with both the support shaft 408 and the manipulator platform 410. Each bracket 424 also forms a right angle with the support shaft 408 and the control panel 410.

[0042] exist Figure 5A bracket 424 is visible. A second landing member 509 is positioned between the base member 404 and the support shaft 408, shown here behind the bracket 424. The second landing member 509 supports the support shaft 408 at the adjustment edge 420 of the contact member 406. As the linear extender 502 extends, thereby moving the bearing member 506, landing member 508, manipulator platform 410, and manipulator 412 in a third direction 504, the bracket 424 connects the movement of the aforementioned members at the support edge 416 to the support shaft 408 at the adjustment edge 420. Because the positioning force of the linear extender 502 is not directed through the centroidal axis of the contact member 406, the rotation of the contact member 406 prevents the support shaft 408 from moving in the third direction 504. The contact member 406 thus forms an angle θ relative to the base member 404. The angle θ typically ranges from a few microradians, for example from zero to 100 microradians. The second landing member 509 may also be an air bearing.

[0043] The base member 404 includes a support block 428 that supports a first flexible member 430 and a second flexible member 432 forming a pair of flexible members. The support block 428 has a first side surface 434 that contacts the base member 404. Here, the second landing member 509 contacts the base member 404 on the first side surface 514, and the support block 428 contacts the base member 404 on a second side surface 516 opposite to the first side surface 514. The base member 404 is thus disposed between the second landing member 509 and the support block 428. The first side surface 514 of the base member 404 has a shelf 518 located between the second landing member 509 and a proximal edge 418 of the base member 404. At the shelf 518, the thickness of the base member 404 changes from a first thickness between the support block 428 and the second landing member 509 to a second thickness, which is less than the first thickness. Therefore, as the base member 404 extends from a position adjacent to the support shaft 408 toward the operator platform 410, the thickness of the base member 404 decreases at the shelf 518.

[0044] A first flexible member 430 is attached to a first side 514 of the base member 404 between the support shaft 408 and the base member. The first side 514 is positioned opposite to the second side 516 of the base member 404 to which the support block 428 is attached. The first flexible member 430 extends toward the operator platform 410 in a second direction 126, beyond the shelf 518 and the proximal edge 418 of the base member. At the shelf 518, a gap 520 is formed between the first flexible member 430 and the base member 404, which allows the first flexible member 430 to flex freely in a third direction 504. Thus, the first flexible member 430 has a flexural direction in the third direction 504. The first flexible member 430 extends to a position between the bearing member 506 and the operator platform 410. The first flexible member 430 is secured to the base member 404 by a first capture plate 522, which is disposed between the base member 404 and the first capture plate 522, and is fastened by convenient fasteners (e.g., bolts). A first flexible member 430 is fixed to the bearing member 506 at a first side 528 via a second capturing plate 524, the first flexible member 430 being disposed between the second capturing plate 524 and the bearing member 506. In this manner, when the bearing member 506 moves in a third direction 504 via the linear extender 502, the first flexible member 430 bends in the third direction 504 to provide a restoring force opposite to the positioning force of the linear extender 502. Figure 5 As can be seen, the landing component 508 is in a supporting relationship with the first side 528 of the bearing component 506 and the manipulator platform 410.

[0045] The second flexible member 432 extends from the second side 526 of the support block 428 opposite to the first side 434 and is fixed to the second side 526 of the support block 428 by a third capturing plate 530, which is secured to the support block 428 by a convenient fastener (e.g., bolt). Here, the first flexible member 430 and the second flexible member 432 have the same length. The second flexible member 432 extends toward the bearing member 506 in the second direction 126. Here, the bearing member 506 is a hollow tube with a square profile. The second flexible member 432 is attached to the second side 532 of the bearing member 506 opposite to the first side 528. The second flexible member 432 is fixed to the second side 532 of the bearing member 506 by a fourth capturing plate 534, which is positioned between the fourth capturing plate 534 and the second side 532 of the bearing member 506. The fourth capturing plate 534 is fastened to the second side 532 of the bearing member 506 by a convenient fastener such as a bolt.

[0046] The linear extender 502 is positioned here through the second side 532 of the bearing member 506 to contact the first side 528 of the bearing member 506 at the inner surface 536 of the first side 528. A pressure member 538 at the force-bearing end 540 of the linear extender 502 contacts the inner surface 536 of the first side 528. The pressure member 538 applies a positioning force to the inner surface 536 of the first side 528 of the bearing member 506. The bearing member 506 contacts the first flexible member 430 at the outer surface 542 of the first side 528, thereby transmitting the positioning force via the first flexible member 430 to the actuator stand 410 of the contact member 406, and thus to the actuator 412. The actuator 412 moves to a precise position determined by the actuation control applied to the linear extender 502 (e.g., voltage in the case of a piezoelectric element) in response to the positioning force applied by the linear extender 502. When in contact with the substrate disposed on the substrate support 102, the linear extender 502 achieves precise positioning of the substrate edge in a third direction 504. Therefore, the linear extender 502 precisely influences the height of the edge region of the substrate above the substrate support 102, thereby preventing contact between the edge region and the substrate support surface 201 in cases where the substrate height changes in other regions. In this condition, the linear extender 502 has a range of motion of approximately 100 μm, which can be selected based on the specific architecture and scale of the system. The first flexible member 430 and the second flexible member 432, along with a restoring force on the bearing member 506 under this directional gravity, provide a force opposite to the positioning force of the linear extender 502. This causes the bearing member 506 to move in the opposite direction to the positioning force when the actuation of the linear extender 502 is interrupted or reduced, thereby reducing the height of the substrate at the edge of the substrate support 102.

[0047] The linear extender 502 is supported by an extension 546 of the base member 404, which extends in the second direction 126 from the second side 516 of the base member 404 toward the bearing member 506. A stirrup member 544 extends from the extension 546 and is aligned with the linear extender 502 positioned within the stirrup member 544. Here, the linear extender 502 is a cylinder whose axis extends in the third direction 504, and may also extend slightly in the first direction 124 and the second direction 126. The linear extender 502 is positioned in the stirrup member 544 with a support end 548 opposite the force-bearing end 540. The linear extender 502 extends through the fourth capture plate 534, the second flexible member 432, and the second side 532 of the bearing member 506 into the interior of the bearing member 506, ultimately reaching the force-bearing end 540 and the pressure member 538 abutting against the inner surface 536 of the first side 528 of the bearing member 506. When actuated, the linear extender 502 thus generates a separation force between the stirrup 544 and the bearing member 506, causing the bearing member 506 to move relative to the stirrup 544 and the base member 404 to which the stirrup 544 is attached in the third direction 504. As described above, when the actuation of the linear extender 502 stops or weakens, the first flexible member 430 and the second flexible member 432 reverse the movement in the third direction 504.

[0048] Refer again Figure 4 The retainer assembly 400 has two linear extenders (in Figure 4 (Not visible in the center), it is positioned to provide a stable positioning force to the contact member 406, with both on one side of the centerline of the contact member 406. The location of the linear extenders can be seen with reference to the two support blocks 428, the first flexible member 430, and the plurality of capture plates 522, 524, and 530. The bearing member 506 is also visible. If desired, the two linear extenders allow the two ends or sides of the contact member 406 to be actuated differently in a third direction 504 to provide the ability to rotatably position the substrate about an axis in a second direction 126, sometimes referred to as θ-x positioning capability. Each linear extender has a pair of flexible members, such as... Figure 5 As shown, reference is made to the first flexible member 430 and the second flexible member 432. Each pair of flexible members and each linear extender are coupled to the device, as shown. Figure 5 As shown in the image.

[0049] The aforementioned linear extender 502 cooperates with the first flexible member 430 and the second flexible member 432 to position the manipulator 412 on a third direction 504; therefore, the linear extender 502 is sometimes referred to as a z-positioner. The retainer assembly 400 also includes a linear positioner 436. Figure 4In this version, near the opposite ends of the retainer assembly 400, there are two linear positioners 436, namely a first linear positioner and a second linear positioner. Each linear positioner 436 is disposed next to a corresponding encoder 438 and positions the contact member 406 in the second direction 126 by applying a positioning force to the contact member 406 in the second direction 126. Each linear positioner 436 includes an extension member 442 disposed in the receiving portion 444 and abutting against the wall 446. Figure 5 One of the linear positioners 436 and the encoder 438 is visible. The extension member 442 has a first end abutting against the wall 446 and a second end disposed in the receiving portion 444. The encoder 438 includes a pair of struts 552 supporting a scale 550. The struts 552 are attached to a bracket 424 of the contact member 406. The sidewall 556 of the receiving portion 444 is visible between the struts 552 and extends through the gap between the bracket 424 and the first flexible member 430. The receiving portion 444 is attached to a base member 404. The wall 446 is attached to a pivot 408 of the contact member 406. A reading head 554 is attached to the receiving portion 444 and protrudes to be aligned with the scale 550.

[0050] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 A detailed view of one of the linear positioner 436 and encoder 438 of the retainer assembly 400. This view is taken from the position of the support shaft 408 toward the operator stand 410. The extension member 442 is visible within the receiving portion 444 and extends beyond the plane of this view. The reader head 554 includes a support member 602 attached to the receiving portion 444 and a reader 604 attached to the support member 602. The reader 604 is aligned with a measuring member 608 located above the scale 550 of the encoder 438. The support member 552 supports the scale 550 from one side such that the scale 550 extends from the support member 552 toward the receiving portion 444. Thus, the reader 604 can be aligned with the measuring member 608 between the scale 550 and the support 424. The measuring member 608 is disposed on the outer surface 610 of the scale 550 facing the reader 604.

[0051] Encoder 438 generates a signal indicating the position of reader 604 relative to measuring member 608. Measuring member 608 is attached to contact member 406 by operating the support post 552 attached to bracket 424. Reader 604 is attached to base member 404 by operation of support member 602 and receiving portion 444. If contact member 406 moves relative to base member 404 in a third direction 126, reader 604 records the positional shift of measuring member 608. To compensate for this shift, extension member 442 can be powered to apply a positioning force in the second direction 126 to wall 446. Figure 5This energy is applied to the support shaft 408 of the contact member 406. The extension member 442 is a bidirectional positioner, meaning that energy can be applied to extend or retract the extension member 442. The extension member 442 can be pneumatic, electromagnetic, electromechanical, or any bidirectional actuated extension member.

[0052] Refer again Figure 5 When the linear extender 502 ( Figure 4 As the contact member 406 extends along the third direction 504 (in one of the two embodiments), the rotation of the contact member 406 changes the angle θ of the contact member 406 relative to the base member 404. In addition to causing movement of the manipulator 412 along the third direction 504, this also causes movement of the manipulator 412 along the second direction 126. The encoder 438 records this movement in the second direction 126 and sends a signal indicating the position of the contact member 406 relative to the base member 404 to the retainer assembly controller 131. Figure 1 Alternatively, in the absence of a separate retainer assembly controller 131, the signal may be sent to the system controller 129. In response, if the recorded motion is outside the tolerance range, either the retainer assembly controller 131 or the system controller 129 may send a signal to excite the linear positioner 436 to adjust the position of the contact member 406 in the second direction 126. Figure 4 As shown and described above, two linear positioners 436 are present in the retainer assembly 400. The two linear positioners 436 can be powered together to adjust the position of the entire contact member 406 in the second direction 126, thereby compensating for any misalignment in the second direction 126 caused by rotation of the contact member 406 or by any other misalignment in the inkjet printer 100.

[0053] Refer again Figure 4 The contact member 406 is connected to the base member 404 via a pivot 443 located near the center of both the contact member 406 and the base member 404. The pivot 443 is connected to the base member 404 and extends through the contact member 406 between two supports 424 near the center of the contact member 406. A flexible plate 450 is disposed around the pivot 443 and extends to the supports 424 on either side of the pivot. The flexible plate 450 is secured to the two supports 424 by respective capture plates 452, which are fastened to the supports 424 by convenient fasteners (e.g., bolts).

[0054] Figure 7A yes Figure 4A top view of the contact member 406. The substrate 702 is shown held on the manipulator 412. For reference purposes, components surrounding the two linear positioners 436 are shown. The pivot 443 includes a pivot post 704 that extends through the contact member near its center. The pivot post 704 extends through a flexible plate 450. The flexible plate 450 allows the contact member 406 to move along a third direction 504 according to a positioning force applied by the linear extender 502.

[0055] Figure 7B yes Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a portion of the contact member 406. The pivot column 704 has a first end 720 and a second end 722. The first end 720 extends through the flexible plate 450, and the second end 722 has a flange 724 connected to the sliding member 726.

[0056] The sliding member 726 has a first surface 728, a second surface 730, and a hole 732 passing through the sliding member 726 from the first surface 728 to the second surface 730. A pivot post 704 extends through the hole 732 in the sliding member. The sliding member 726 has a third surface 734 that connects the first surface 728 and the second surface 730. The sliding member 726 also has a fourth surface 736 opposite to the third surface 734 that also connects the first surface 728 and the second surface 730.

[0057] A first groove 738 is formed in the third surface 734. A second groove 740 is formed in the fourth surface 736. A first guide member 742 extends from the base member 404 and engages with the first groove 738. A second guide member 744 extends from the base member 404 and engages with the second groove 740. A sliding member 726 slides along the first guide member 742 and the second guide member 744 to allow the sliding member 726 to slide in a second direction 126 ( Figure 7A Move on.

[0058] In this configuration, the pivot 704 is secured to the sliding member 726 by a recess 746 formed in the second surface 730 of the sliding member 726 around the hole 732. The flange 724 engages with the recess 746 and is engaged within it between the sliding member 726 and the base member 404. The pivot 704 extends through the flexible plate 450 and is attached to the flexible plate 450 via a central capturing plate 710. Both the central capturing plate 710 and the flexible plate 450 have openings that allow rotational movement of the central capturing plate 710 and the flexible plate 450 about the pivot 704. In this way, the contact member 406 can rotate about the pivot 704. Movement of the sliding member 726 allows the contact member 406 to move along a second direction 126. In another embodiment, the pivot 704 may be attached to the sliding member 726. Figure 7BIn the embodiment shown, the second end 722 of the pivot 704 can rotate relative to the base member 404 within the recess 746 to obtain additional rotational degrees of freedom between the base member 404 and the contact member 406.

[0059] Thus, the linear extender 502 can be actuated according to signals received from system controller 129 or retainer assembly controller 131 to position the edge of substrate 702 at a target height above the support surface 201 of substrate support 200 or 102. The flexible plate 450 flexes with the movement of contact member 406 along a third direction 504, thereby providing an additional restoring force opposite to the action of the linear extender 502. The linear positioner 436 can be actuated according to signals received from system controller 129 or retainer assembly controller 131 to compensate for displacement in the second direction 126 caused by the movement of manipulator 412 in the third direction 504 and the accompanying rotation of contact member 406. The sliding member 726 allows contact member 406 to move in the second direction 126 in response to the positioning of the linear positioner 436. Finally, the linear positioner 436 can be actuated differently to compensate for any misalignment of substrate 702 or defects in the positioning of retainer assembly 400 or 106 on retainer assembly support 128. The pivot column 704 allows the contact member 406 to rotate about the pivot column 704 according to the differential positioning applied by the linear positioner 436. The system described herein achieves precise positioning of the substrate 702 for printing operations.

[0060] As described above, the retainer assembly described herein has the ability to adjust the position of the substrate's edge in the third-party direction, and thus can adjust the distance between the substrate and the substrate support at the edge region of the substrate. This feature can be useful if the overall position of the substrate in the third-party direction changes. In this case, the position of the edge region of the substrate can be changed to accommodate it. Figure 8A This is an activity diagram illustrating substrate edge positioning using the embodiments described herein. Substrate 826 is positioned above substrate support 802 for processing. Printing material is ejected from dispenser 828 onto substrate 826, which is supported above substrate support 802 by an air cushion. A retainer assembly 822, which may be one of any retainer assemblies described herein, is positioned adjacent to substrate support 802. The retainer assembly has a contact surface 824, for example... Figure 5The contact surface 510. The substrate 826 is held against the contact surface 824 by suction. The substrate support 802 forms an air cushion that supports the substrate 826 between the dispenser 828 and the substrate support 802. The substrate support 802 has a flat top surface 832. The substrate 826 is also flat and has a uniform separation distance between the top surface of the dispenser 828 and the top surface of the substrate 826 in a first region 833. In a second region 831, the substrate 826 is deflected into the contact surface 824. Therefore, the top surface of the substrate 826 has a non-uniform separation distance from the dispenser 828. The retainer assembly described herein has the ability to move upward in a third direction to correct this non-uniform separation. Therefore, if the non-uniform separation distance between the substrate 826 and the dispenser 828 is caused by the deflection of the substrate towards the contact surface 824, the retainer assembly 822 can be adjusted upward in a third direction to eliminate the deflection.

[0061] Figure 8B This is another active diagram illustrating substrate edge positioning according to another embodiment. In this case, a substrate support 850 with a tapered edge 852 is used. The tapered edge 852 of the substrate support 850 is adjacent to the retainer assembly 822. The support surface 854 of the substrate support 850 is retracted from the substrate in the direction toward the retainer assembly 822 at the tapered edge 852. In other words, the distance from the tapered edge 852 to the substrate 826 decreases with distance from the retainer assembly 822. The tapered edge 852 minimizes edge effects in substrate processing, thereby facilitating upward adjustment of the edge region in a third party to eliminate non-uniformity in the spacing between the substrate 826 and the dispenser 828 without the risk of contact between the substrate 826 and the support surface 854.

[0062] The tapered edge 852 is typically linear. That is, the tapered edge 852 is a flat surface that forms an angle between about 1° and about 20° with the support surface 854, for example, about 5°. The width 851 of the tapered edge 852 in the direction parallel to the support surface 854 is about 10 mm to about 30 mm, but may be greater than 30 mm. Here, a corner is shown where the tapered edge 852 forms with the support surface 854. This corner may be sharp, as schematically depicted here, or it may be rounded or chamfered. For example, a slight chamfer with a radius of about 0.1 mm may be applied to the joint between the tapered edge 852 and the support surface 854.

[0063] Although the foregoing describes embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be designed without departing from the basic scope of the present disclosure, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A substrate retainer assembly, comprising: Base components; Contact member, which is connected to the base member; A linear extender is connected between the base member and the contact member and is oriented from the base member toward the contact member; A bearing component positioned to transmit a positioning force between the linear extender and the contact member; and A pair of flexible components, which are connected to a base component and a bearing component, the pair of flexible components including a first flexible component and a second flexible component, each of the first flexible component and the second flexible component having a flexible direction aligned with the said direction.

2. The substrate retainer assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The positioning force causes the contact member to rotate.

3. The substrate retainer assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The first flexible member extends on a first side of the bearing member between the bearing member and the contact member, and the second flexible member extends on a second side of the bearing member opposite to the first side.

4. The substrate retainer assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The base component includes a support block that separates the first flexible component and the second flexible component.

5. The substrate retainer assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The base component is a bottom plate.

6. The substrate retainer assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The linear extender is a first linear extender, and the direction is a first direction, and further includes a second linear extender connected between the base member and the contact member, and oriented in a second direction from the base member toward the contact member.

7. The substrate retainer assembly according to claim 2, wherein, The flexible member pair includes a first flexible member and a second flexible member, and the flexible member pair further includes a second flexible member pair connected to the bearing member.

8. The substrate retainer assembly according to claim 7, wherein, The flexible member of the second flexible member pair extends to the opposite side of the bearing member.

9. The substrate retainer assembly according to claim 8, wherein, The base component includes a first support block that separates the flexible members of the first flexible member pair and a second support block that separates the flexible members of the second flexible member pair.

10. A substrate retainer assembly, comprising: A substrate contact member, which includes a manipulator having a vacuum surface; The first actuator moves the substrate contact member in a first direction and rotates the substrate contact member; The second actuator moves the manipulator in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and The third actuator moves the manipulator upward in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions.

11. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 10, wherein, The second actuator and the third actuator are components of the substrate contact member.

12. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 10, wherein, The third actuator includes two linear actuators that can be operated to rotate the manipulator about an axis extending in the second direction.

13. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 12, wherein, The second actuator includes two linear actuators that can be operated to rotate the manipulator about an axis extending upward from the third party.

14. The substrate holder assembly of claim 13, further comprising a pivot located between the two linear actuators of the second actuator.

15. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 10, wherein, The substrate contact member is attached to the support shaft.

16. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 15, further comprising a flexible member configured to provide a restoring force to the substrate contact member.

17. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 16, wherein the first actuator is a linear extender.

18. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 17, wherein the linear extender is a first linear extender, and further comprises a second linear extender for moving and rotating the substrate contact member in a first direction, wherein the center of the substrate contact member is located between the first linear extender and the second linear extender.

19. An inkjet printer, comprising: Substrate support components; A dispensing component, which is attached to a substrate support; and Substrate retainer assembly, which is attached to the substrate support. The substrate retainer assembly includes: A substrate contact member, which includes a manipulator having a vacuum surface; The first actuator moves the substrate contact member in a first direction and rotates the substrate contact member; A second actuator moves the manipulator in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and The third actuator moves the manipulator upward in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions.

20. The inkjet printer according to claim 19, wherein, The substrate retainer assembly further includes a flexible member configured to provide a restoring force to the substrate contact member.

21. The inkjet printer according to claim 20, wherein, The substrate contact member is attached to the support shaft.

22. A substrate retainer assembly, comprising: The base member has a major axis in a first direction and a minor axis in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; A contact member, which is pivotally connected to a base member, the contact member having a long axis in a first direction and a short axis in a second direction, and including a plurality of supports for connecting the actuator to the support shaft. A pivot, which is connected to the base member and extends through the contact member between two supports near the center of the contact member; A linear extender is connected between the base member and the contact member, and extends upward from the base member toward the contact member on a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction; and A flexible plate, which is arranged around a pivot and extends to a support on either side of the pivot.

23. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 22, wherein the flexible plate allows the contact member to move in a third direction according to the positioning force applied by the linear extender.

24. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 22, wherein, The base component is the bottom plate.

25. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 22, wherein, The linear extender is a first linear extender, and also includes a second linear extender connected to the base member and extending in a third direction from the base member toward the contact member.

26. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 22, wherein, The flexible plates are fixed to the two support members by their respective capture plates.

27. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 22, wherein the pivot includes a pivot post that extends through the contact member near the center of the contact member.

28. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 27, wherein the pivot post extends through the flexible plate.

29. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 27, wherein the pivot post includes a first end and a second end.

30. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 29, wherein the first end extends through the flexible plate.

31. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 29, wherein the second end has a flange coupled to the sliding member.

32. A substrate retainer assembly, comprising: The base plate is connected to the support block; Contact member, which is connected to the base plate, the contact member includes: Support shaft; Manipulator; and A bracket, which is connected to the support shaft and the actuator; A linear extender, which is connected between the base plate and the contact member, and is oriented to extend in a direction toward the contact member; and A pair of flexible components, which are connected to a base plate and a contact member, the pair of flexible components including a first flexible component and a second flexible component, each of the first flexible component and the second flexible component having a flexible direction aligned with the said direction.

33. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 32, wherein, The first flexible member is fixed to a first side of the support block, and the second flexible member is fixed to a second side of the support block opposite to the first side.

34. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 32, further comprising a bearing member between the linear extender and the contact member.

35. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 33, further comprising a bearing member between the linear extender and the contact member, wherein the first flexible member extends on a first side of the bearing member between the bearing member and the contact member, and the second flexible member extends on a second side of the bearing member opposite to the first side.

36. The substrate holder assembly of claim 34, wherein, The linear extender applies a positioning force to the contact member via a bearing member, and the positioning force causes the contact member to rotate.

37. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 36, wherein, The first flexible member extends on a first side of the bearing member between the bearing member and the contact member, and the second flexible member extends on a second side of the bearing member opposite to the first side.

38. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 37, further comprising a landing member disposed between the base plate and the contact member.

39. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 38, wherein the landing member is a first landing member, and further comprises a second landing member disposed between the bearing member and the contact member.

40. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 32, wherein, The linear extender is a first linear extender, and also includes a second linear extender connected between the base plate and the contact member and oriented in the stated direction.

41. A substrate retainer assembly, comprising: Base plate; A contact member, which is connected to a base plate, the contact member comprising: a manipulator having a vacuum surface, a support shaft, and a plurality of brackets connecting the support shaft to the manipulator, wherein the manipulator and the support shaft are substantially parallel components. A first linear actuator is coupled to a base plate and a contact member, which moves an actuator in a first direction and rotates the contact member about an axis extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the actuator and the support shaft each extend in the second direction. A second linear actuator, which moves an upward contact member in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions; and A pair of flexible components connected to a base plate and a contact member, the pair of flexible components including a first flexible component and a second flexible component, each of the first flexible component and the second flexible component having a flexible direction aligned with the first direction.

42. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 41, wherein the contact member is pivotally connected to the base plate.

43. The substrate holder assembly of claim 42, further comprising a third linear actuator that moves the contact member in a third direction, wherein the pivot is disposed between the second linear actuator and the third linear actuator.

44. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 42, further comprising a plurality of landing members disposed between the base plate and the contact member.

45. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 42, further comprising a bearing member disposed between the first linear actuator and the contact member.

46. ​​The substrate retainer assembly of claim 45, further comprising a plurality of landing members disposed between the bearing member and the contact member.

47. The substrate retainer assembly of claim 43, wherein the pivot enables the contact member to rotate about an axis parallel to the first direction, and the second linear actuator and the third linear actuator are components of the contact member.

48. An inkjet printer, comprising: Substrate support components; A distribution component, which is connected to a base support; and A substrate retainer assembly coupled to a substrate support member, the substrate retainer assembly comprising: Base plate; A contact member, pivotally connected to a base plate, the contact member comprising: a manipulator having a vacuum surface, a support shaft, and a plurality of supports connecting the support shaft to the manipulator, wherein the manipulator and the support shaft are substantially parallel components. A first linear actuator is coupled to a base plate and a contact member, which moves an actuator in a first direction and rotates the contact member about an axis extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the actuator and the support shaft each extend in the second direction. A second linear actuator, which moves an upward contact member in a third direction substantially perpendicular to the first and second directions; and A pair of flexible components connected to a base plate and a contact member, the pair of flexible components including a first flexible component and a second flexible component, each of the first flexible component and the second flexible component having a flexible direction aligned with the first direction.

49. The inkjet printer of claim 48, wherein the substrate holder assembly further comprises a third linear actuator that moves the contact member in a third direction, and wherein the pivot is disposed between the second linear actuator and the third linear actuator.

50. The inkjet printer of claim 49, wherein the second and third linear actuators are operable to rotate the contact member about the pivot.

51. The inkjet printer of claim 48, further comprising a bearing member located between the first linear actuator and the contact member, wherein the first flexible member and the second flexible member extend on opposite sides of the bearing member.

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