Coating device and coating method for liquid material containing solid particles

Abstract

The invention provides a coating device and a coating method for a liquid material containing solid particles, which can minimize an additional structure for diffusion of the solid particles and discharge liquid in a state that the solid particles are diffused. The invention provides a discharge device and a coating device thereof. The discharge device comprises a storage container of a liquid material containing solid particles; a metering part having a metering hole; a plunger in the metering hole; a nozzle; the switching valve is provided with a first position and a second position; a plunger driving device; a switching valve driving device; a discharge control device; the discharge control program is provided with: a filling step for filling the metering hole with the liquid material by setting the switching valve to the first position; a discharge step in which the switching valve is set to the second position and the liquid material in the metering hole is discharged from the discharge port; an inflow step of setting the switching valve to a first position and enabling the liquid material in the metering hole to flow into the storage container; a discharge step in which the filling step and the discharge step are continuously performed; and a stirring step in which the filling step and the inflow step are continuously performed.

Description

[0001] This application is filed on July 21, 2016 、Application No. 201680043583.3 、The name of the invention is Contains solid Device and method for discharging liquid material of bulk particles, and coating device A divisional application for a patent application. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for coating a liquid material containing solid particles in a state where the solid particles are diffused. Background Art

[0003] As a device for dispensing various liquid materials in a predetermined amount, there is known a device called a "dispenser" which has a container for storing the liquid material and discharges the liquid material in a predetermined amount from a nozzle connected to the container by the action of gas pressure or mechanical pressure. As a dispenser proposed by the applicant, for example, there is a dispenser disclosed in Patent Document 1, which fills the metering hole with the liquid material discharged by retreating a plunger that slides on the inner wall of the metering hole and discharges the liquid material from the nozzle by advancing the plunger.

[0004] Among various liquid materials discharged by a dispenser, in particular, when discharging a liquid mixed with solid particles having a specific gravity greater than that of the liquid, there is a problem that the solid particles settle to the bottom of the container or the depression of the flow path over time. In addition, if the solid particles are not diffused sufficiently, the nozzle may be clogged and the liquid cannot be discharged. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to stir the liquid in such a way that the solid particles are diffused in the liquid.

[0005] In recent years, dispensers having the structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 are often used to discharge a liquid mixed with solid particles. However, since the dispenser in Patent Document 1 does not have a mechanism for stirring the liquid, a mechanism for stirring is required.

[0006] The stirring of liquid is generally carried out by installing a stirring device in the container. However, even if the stirring device is installed in the container, solid particles may often settle in the middle of the pipe connecting the container and the discharge mechanism, and the solid particles cannot be discharged in a diffused state. In order to solve this problem, the following methods or devices have been proposed so far.

[0007] Patent document 2 is a liquid discharge method, characterized in that it includes: an adjustment process, which applies a pressure of 0.001MPa to 10MPa to a liquid containing solid particles in at least one container filled in two or more containers, and on the other hand, by setting the pressure of the liquid in the remaining at least one container to be smaller than the pressure of the liquid in the above-mentioned container, so that the above-mentioned liquid flows through a flow path between the above-mentioned two or more containers, and the flow rate of the above-mentioned liquid in the above-mentioned flow path is adjusted by a flow adjustment mechanism; and a discharge process, which discharges the above-mentioned liquid from the above-mentioned flow path through a valve.

[0008] Patent document 3 is a device for discharging a filler-added liquid material, wherein a discharging passage having a substantially uniform inner diameter extending to a discharging port is provided at the lower end of a storage container for the filler-added liquid material, a valve having a rotary valve body having a through passage is provided near the above-mentioned discharge port of the discharging passage, and a reciprocating pump is connected to the above-mentioned discharging passage on the upstream side of the valve.

[0009] Prior art literature

[0010] Patent Literature

[0011] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 4774407

[0012] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-300000

[0013] Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-80464 Summary of the invention

[0014] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0015] A technical means is sought for stirring a liquid material containing solid particles by a simple machine structure and discharging the liquid material in a state where the solid particles are dispersed.

[0016] The device described in Patent Document 2 has two containers, and needs to adjust the flow rate between the two containers, so the machine structure is complicated. The device described in Patent Document 3 needs to connect a pump for stirring to the discharge flow path, so the machine structure is complicated. If a branch flow path for diffusion is set in the flow path through which the liquid material passes, the flow will stagnate in the branch part, which will also become a cause of particle precipitation.

[0017] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for discharging a liquid containing solid particles while minimizing an additional structure for diffusing solid particles and while the solid particles are diffused.

[0018] Technical means of solving problems

[0019] The device for discharging a liquid material containing solid particles of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises: a storage container, which stores the liquid material containing solid particles; a metering portion, which has a metering hole filled with the liquid material; a plunger, which moves forward and backward in the metering hole; a nozzle, which has a discharge port for discharging the liquid material; a switching valve, which has a first position connecting the storage container and the metering portion and a second position connecting the metering portion and the nozzle; a plunger driving device, which moves the plunger forward and backward; a switching valve driving device, which switches the first position and the second position of the switching valve; and a discharging control device, which has a processor and a storage device storing a discharging control program. The device; the above-mentioned discharge control program comprises: a filling step, which sets the above-mentioned switching valve to the first position, and fills the above-mentioned liquid material into the above-mentioned metering hole by moving the above-mentioned plunger backward; a discharge step, which sets the above-mentioned switching valve to the second position, and discharges the above-mentioned liquid material in the above-mentioned metering hole from the above-mentioned discharge port by moving the above-mentioned plunger forward; an inflow step, which sets the above-mentioned switching valve to the first position, and causes the above-mentioned plunger to move forward so that the above-mentioned liquid material in the above-mentioned metering hole flows into the above-mentioned storage container; a discharge step, which continuously executes the above-mentioned filling step and the above-mentioned discharge step; and a stirring step, which continuously executes the above-mentioned filling step and the above-mentioned inflow step.

[0020] In the above-mentioned discharge device, the discharge control program may include a continuous stirring step of continuously executing the stirring step.

[0021] In the above-mentioned discharge device, it may also be characterized in that it further includes a connecting member having a connecting flow path connecting the above-mentioned storage container and the above-mentioned metering part, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting part of the above-mentioned connecting flow path and the above-mentioned storage container is less than 1 / 4 of the cross-sectional area of ​​the above-mentioned storage container. In this case, it is preferred that the cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting part of the above-mentioned connecting flow path and the above-mentioned storage container is less than 1 / 10 of the cross-sectional area of ​​the above-mentioned storage container, and it is more preferred that the above-mentioned connecting flow path is composed of a straight-line flow path with substantially the same diameter from one end to the other end.

[0022] The coating device of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises: the above-mentioned discharge device of the liquid material containing solid particles; a workbench that fixes the workpiece; an XYZ drive mechanism that causes the above-mentioned workbench and the above-mentioned discharge device to move relative to each other; and a coating control device that comprises a processor and a storage device that stores a coating control program; the above-mentioned coating control program comprises: a coating step that causes the above-mentioned workbench and the above-mentioned discharge device to move relative to each other through the above-mentioned XYZ drive mechanism according to a coating pattern, and causes the above-mentioned discharge device to perform the above-mentioned discharge step and the above-mentioned stirring step.

[0023] In the above-mentioned coating device, it may also be characterized in that it further comprises: a conveying mechanism, which conveys the workpiece received from the carrying-in section to the above-mentioned workbench, and conveys the above-mentioned workpiece from the above-mentioned workbench to the carrying-out section; the above-mentioned coating control program comprises: a stirring step during conveyance, which causes the above-mentioned discharge control device to perform the above-mentioned stirring step more than once during the period when the above-mentioned workpiece is conveyed by the above-mentioned conveying mechanism.

[0024] In the above-mentioned coating device, it may also be characterized in that the above-mentioned coating control device comprises: a timer, which detects that a certain time has passed since the last stirring action or the last discharging action; and the above-mentioned coating control program comprises: a timed stirring step, which causes the above-mentioned discharging control device to execute the above-mentioned stirring step one or more times when the above-mentioned timer detects that the above-mentioned certain time has passed and there is time to execute the above-mentioned stirring step until the execution of the next discharging step.

[0025] In the above-mentioned coating device, it can also be characterized in that the above-mentioned coating control program has: a periodic stirring step, which detects the timing of executing the above-mentioned stirring step until the execution of the next discharging step with a certain period, and at this timing, the above-mentioned discharging control device executes the above-mentioned stirring step more than once.

[0026] The coating method of the present invention is characterized in that it is a coating method using the above-mentioned coating device, and the above-mentioned coating control device forms a coating pattern on the workpiece by executing the above-mentioned coating control program.

[0027] In the coating method, the solid particles may include solid particles having a specific gravity greater than that of the liquid material. In this case, the solid particles may be phosphors for LEDs.

[0028] Effects of the Invention

[0029] According to the present invention, it is possible to discharge a liquid material containing solid particles in a state where the solid particles are diffused, while minimizing the additional configuration for stirring.

[0030] Furthermore, since the flow of the liquid material in the same flow channel is reversed to be stirred, the precipitation of solid particles in the flow channel can be minimized. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the discharge device according to the embodiment.

[0032] Figure 2 It is an explanatory diagram for explaining a filling operation performed in the discharge device according to the embodiment.

[0033] Figure 3It is an explanatory diagram for explaining the inflow operation performed in the discharge device according to the embodiment.

[0034] Figure 4 It is an explanatory diagram for explaining a discharge operation performed in the discharge device according to the embodiment.

[0035] Figure 5 : is a cross-sectional side view of the main part of the discharge device involved in the embodiment. Here, Figure 5 (a) shows that the storage container is connected to the metering unit, Figure 5 (b) shows the state where the metering section is connected to the nozzle.

[0036] Figure 6 It is a schematic perspective view of a coating device according to an embodiment.

[0037] Figure 7 This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of each module included in the discharge program and the coating control program according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described. In addition, unless otherwise specified, the "liquid material" used in this specification refers to a liquid material containing solid particles.

[0039] (1) Composition

[0040] like Figure 1 As shown, the discharge device 1 involved in the embodiment of the present invention is constructed to include: a storage container 2, which stores a liquid material 14; a measuring part 3, which is filled with the liquid material 14; a plunger 4, which moves forward and backward in the measuring part 3; a nozzle 5, which has a discharge port for discharging the liquid material 14; a switching valve 6, which switches the connection between the storage container 2 and the measuring part 3 or the connection between the measuring part 3 and the nozzle 5; a plunger driving device 7, which moves the plunger 4 forward and backward; a switching valve driving device 8, which changes the direction of the switching valve 6; and a discharge control device 10.

[0041] The storage container 2 is connected to the metering unit 3 via the switching valve 6, and stores a liquid material to be supplied to the metering unit 3. The discharge device 1 of the preferred embodiment is connected to a compressed gas source 9 for supplying compressed gas, and supplies the compressed gas whose pressure is regulated by the discharge control device 10 toward the storage container 2 via the pipe 11.

[0042] The metering part 3 is a cylindrical member having a metering hole 31 as a space for temporarily storing the liquid material ejected from the nozzle 5. The metering hole 31 is a cylindrical space, and a plunger 4 that slides on the inner peripheral surface of the metering part 3 is inserted. The metering part 3 is fixedly provided on a switching block constituting the switching valve 6.

[0043] The plunger 4 is a rod-shaped member, and at least the outer peripheral surface of the front end portion is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the metering hole 31. The plunger 4 is reciprocated by the plunger driving device 7.

[0044] The nozzle 5 has a discharge flow path and a discharge port formed therein, and is fixedly provided below the switching valve 6. The centers of the discharge port, the discharge flow path, and the metering hole 31 are arranged on the same straight line.

[0045] The switching valve 6 has a first position (see Figure 2 ), and the second position connecting the metering section 3 and the nozzle 5 (refer to Figure 4 The first position and the second position are switched by the switching valve driving device 8 which receives a command from the discharge control device 10. The switching valve 6 is connected to the storage container 2 via a connecting member 13 having a connecting flow path 131 therein.

[0046] In the embodiment, the stirring effect during the following inflow operation is enhanced by setting the connecting flow path 131 to have a diameter that is significantly smaller than the diameter of the storage container 2. That is, the cross-sectional area of ​​the surface perpendicular to the flow direction of the connecting flow path 131 connecting the storage container 2 and the switching valve 6 is configured to be significantly smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the surface perpendicular to the flow direction of the storage container 2. By setting the cross-sectional area of ​​the connecting flow path 131 to be smaller, when the liquid material 14 flows toward the storage container 2 during the inflow operation, the settled solid particles will be easily diffused in the container, and can be in a state of being more diffused in the liquid. The connecting flow path 131 can be composed of a flow path having substantially the same diameter from one end to the other end, or a reduced diameter portion (such as an orifice) is provided in the connecting portion 132. However, from the viewpoint of preventing particle sedimentation, it is preferably composed of a flow path having the same diameter from one end to the other end.

[0047] The connection flow path 131 connecting the switching valve 6 and the storage container 2 (at least the cross-sectional area of ​​the connection portion 132) is set to, for example, 1 / 4 or less of the cross-sectional area of ​​the storage container 2, more preferably 1 / 10 or less, further preferably 1 / 25 or less, and most preferably 1 / 64 or less.

[0048] The shape of the connecting flow path 131 may be a straight line shape (I-shape) or a shape having a curved portion such as an L-shape.

[0049] The shape of the connection member 13 is not limited to the tubular shape shown in the figure, and may be composed of a block-shaped member having the connection flow path 131 passing through the inside.

[0050] The discharge control device 10 is composed of a processor and a storage device storing a discharge control program. When the discharge control program is executed, the operation of the above-mentioned driving devices (7, 8) is controlled to automatically perform the discharge operation and stirring operation of the present invention described below. The discharge control device 10 is connected to the above-mentioned driving devices (7, 8) through a control wiring 12 to send and receive signals for control. The discharge control device 10 in a preferred embodiment has a pressure regulating mechanism for regulating the pressure of the compressed gas supplied from the compressed gas source 9 and supplying it to the storage container 2.

[0051] (2) Exhalation action

[0052] (2-1) Filling action

[0053] In the discharge device 1 having the above-described structure, when the liquid material is discharged from the nozzle 5 , the following operation is performed by the discharge control program.

[0054] First, the switching valve driving device 8 is driven, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown, the switching valve 6 is switched to the first position where the storage container 2 is connected to the metering unit 3. Then, if the plunger 4 is raised, the liquid material 14 is moved by the plunger 4, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown by the black arrow in FIG. 1 , the liquid is filled from the storage container 2 through the connecting member 13 and the switching valve 6 to the metering hole 31 from the lower end of the metering unit 3. Figure 2 The action of filling is called "filling action". At this time, the compressed gas regulated by the discharge control device 10 may be supplied to the storage container 2 to apply pressure thereto. By doing so, the filling action can be performed faster and more smoothly.

[0055] (2-2) Discharge action

[0056] If the filling operation is completed, the switching valve driving device 8 is driven, such as Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 1 , the switching valve 6 is switched to the second position where the metering section 3 is connected to the nozzle 5. Next, if the plunger driving device 7 is driven to lower the plunger 4, the volume of the metering hole 31 is reduced, so that the liquid material 14 in the metering hole 31 is reduced. Figure 4 As shown by the black arrow in FIG. 1 , the liquid is discharged from the metering unit 3 through the switching valve 6 to the nozzle 5. Figure 4 The action of ejecting is called "ejection action".

[0057] The discharge action is mainly performed in two action modes. One is to intermittently lower the plunger 4 multiple times, thereby continuously discharging multiple droplets. The other is to continuously lower the plunger 4 while moving the nozzle and the workpiece relative to each other, thereby discharging linearly onto the workpiece. The amount of liquid material that can be discharged by lowering the plunger 4 to the lower end or near the lower end of the metering hole 31 is determined by the amount of liquid material 14 filled into the metering hole 31 by the filling action. In other words, the desired discharge amount is predicted to set the filling amount (the amount of rise of the plunger 4).

[0058] In this specification, the filling operation described above ( Figure 2 ) and discharge action ( Figure 4 ) is called a "discharging operation". In addition, the basic discharging operation is to first perform a filling operation and then perform a discharge operation.

[0059] (3) Stirring action

[0060] In the discharge device 1 having the above configuration, the following operations are performed by the discharge control program when stirring the liquid material: Here, the state where the basic discharge operation is completed, that is, the state where the discharge operation is completed (the plunger is lowered) is set as the initial state.

[0061] (3-1) Filling action

[0062] First, the filling operation (2-1) is performed. In the measuring hole 31 immediately after the filling operation, the solid particles in the liquid material are stirred by the flow generated during the filling operation.

[0063] (3-2) Inflow Action

[0064] like Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the position of the switching valve 6 is not switched but maintained at the first position in which the storage container 2 is connected to the metering unit 3. Then, since the volume of the metering hole 31 decreases when the plunger 4 is lowered, the liquid material 14 in the metering hole 31 decreases. Figure 3 As shown by the black arrow in FIG. 1 , the liquid flows from the metering hole 31 through the switching valve 6 and the connecting member 13 and flows into the storage container 2 from the lower end of the storage container 2. In this specification, the liquid is referred to as Figure 3 The action of the plunger 4 is called an "inflow action". When the inflow action is performed, it is preferable not to supply compressed gas to the storage container 2 because the liquid material 14 can flow in more easily. In the storage container 2, since the inflow action generates a flow from bottom to top, the solid particles settled in the storage container 2 can be rolled up, and the liquid material 14 can be stirred. In order to make more liquid material 14 flow back into the storage container 2, the descending action of the plunger 4 is preferably performed to the lower end or near the lower end of the metering hole 31.

[0065] In this specification, the filling operation described above ( Figure 2 ) and inflow action ( Figure 3 ) is called a "stirring action". Furthermore, it should be noted that the position of the switching valve 6 when the plunger 4 is lowered in the above-mentioned stirring action and the discharge action is different. That is, in the filling action and the inflow action involved in the stirring action, the switching valve 6 is in the first position, but in the discharge action, it is in the first position during the filling action and in the second position during the discharge action, which is different.

[0066] (4) Discharge control program

[0067] The discharge control program is programmed to perform the above-mentioned stirring operation at a preset timing (for example, immediately before the discharge operation or between discharge operations). It is particularly preferred that the stirring operation be performed at least once before the discharge operation.

[0068] The stirring action may be performed continuously and multiple times before the discharge action is performed, thereby enhancing the stirring effect, or the stirring action may be repeatedly performed during the period when no discharge is performed. More specifically, a timer may be set in the discharge control device 10 to detect the situation where no action instruction is received for a certain period of time (for example, the time for the problem of particle sedimentation set by pre-measurement), and the stirring action may be performed once or multiple times when the timer detects the passage of a certain period of time (the timer is implemented by hardware or software).

[0069] The program may be programmed to detect a timing when there is time to perform the stirring operation before the next discharge operation is performed, not based on the timing of discharge or the like, at a certain cycle, and to perform the stirring operation once or a plurality of times at that timing.

[0070] It is also possible to program the operation to be continuously executed from the stirring operation to the discharge operation. For example, if the discharge operation is performed after the filling operation, it becomes a discharge operation, and if the inflow operation is performed after the filling operation, it becomes a stirring operation. Therefore, it is disclosed that the program is programmed in the following manner: the discharge operation is performed when a discharge instruction is received, and the stirring operation is performed when no discharge instruction is received. These stirring operations are automatically executed by executing the discharge control program stored in the storage device of the discharge control device 10.

[0071] The above-described discharge device 1 can switch between the discharge action and the stirring action by switching the position of a switching valve 6, and the device structure is simple. That is, even without providing multiple valves, multiple containers, pumps, flow control valves, etc., the stirring action can be achieved with a simple device structure.

[0072] In addition, the direction of the liquid material flowing in the connection channel 131 is reversed during the filling operation and the inflow operation. Since the flow in the connection channel 131 is not only in one direction, the solid particles are less likely to precipitate in the connection channel 131.

[0073] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Examples, but the present invention is not limited to these Examples at all.

[0074] [Example]

[0075] [A] Discharge device

[0076] (A1) Composition

[0077] Figure 5 A cross-sectional side view of the main parts of the discharge device 1 according to the embodiment is shown. Figure 5 (a) shows the switching valve 6 in the first position where the storage container 2 is in communication with the measuring unit 3. Figure 5 (b) shows the switching valve 6 in the second position where the metering unit 3 is connected to the nozzle 5. Figure 5 In the figure, the shaded portion represents a cross section.

[0078] The discharge device 1 involved in the embodiment of the present invention is the same as the above-mentioned embodiment example, and is composed of the following components: a storage container 2, which stores a liquid material 14; a measuring part 3, which is filled with the liquid material 14; a plunger 4, which moves forward and backward in the measuring part 3; a nozzle 5, which has a discharge port for discharging the liquid material 14; a switching valve 6, which switches the connection between the storage container 2 and the measuring part 3 or the connection between the measuring part 3 and the nozzle 5; a plunger driving device 7, which moves the plunger 4 forward and backward; a switching valve driving device 8, which changes the direction of the switching valve 6; a compressed gas source 9, which supplies compressed gas toward the storage container 2; and a discharge control device 10, which controls the operation of the above-mentioned driving devices (7, 8) or the pressure of the compressed gas supplied.

[0079] In the present embodiment, as the storage container 2, a container for storing a liquid material 14, i.e., a syringe, is used. The upper end of the storage container 2 is connected to the compressed gas source 9 via the piping 11 and the discharge control device 10 described below, and the lower end is connected to the valve block 19 via the connecting member 13. The storage container 2 itself is fixed at two locations, the lower end and the vicinity of the center, by a fixing member 16 extending from the base plate 15. In the present embodiment, the container for storing the liquid material 14 is set as a syringe, but it is not limited to this. For example, the storage container 2 may also be constituted by a member such as a groove placed separately near the discharge device 1. In addition, the storage container 2 and the valve block 19 are connected by a tubular connecting member 13, but it is not limited to a tubular shape, and it may also be constituted by a block-shaped member having a connecting flow path 131 inside.

[0080] The metering section 3 is composed of a cylindrical member filled with a liquid material 14 to be discharged, and the plunger 4 can move in the up-down direction in the metering hole 31 provided therein. The plunger 4 is connected to the plunger drive device 7 via the connecting portion 17, and can move up-down by driving the plunger drive device 7. Since the connecting portion 17 is fixed to the slide rail 18, the plunger 4 can smoothly reciprocate without tilting or shaking. In this embodiment, a linear actuator is used as the plunger drive device 7, for example. The lower end of the metering section 3 is connected to the valve block 19, and the metering hole 31 is connected to the second flow path 21 described below.

[0081] The valve block 19 has formed therein: a first flow path 20 connected to the storage container 2; a second flow path 21 connected to the metering hole 31; and a third flow path 22 connected to the nozzle 5; and a switching valve 6 is provided for switching the connection between the first flow path 20 and the second flow path 21, and the connection between the second flow path 21 and the third flow path 22.

[0082] The switching valve 6 has a valve body 23 which is a cylindrical member inside. On the surface of the valve body 23, a groove 24 for connecting the first flow path 20 and the second flow path 21 is recessed in a direction parallel to the central axis, and a through hole 25 is also provided which is perpendicular to the central axis and passes through the central axis from the side toward the opposite side. The first position and the second position are switched by rotating the valve body 23 using the switching valve driving device 8. Here, the valve body 23 of the switching valve 6 is not limited to a cylindrical member, but may be a plate-like member having the groove 24 and the through hole 25 provided therein.

[0083] As the switching valve drive device 8, for example, a rotary actuator or a motor is used. In the present embodiment, the switching valve drive device 8 is connected to the switching valve 6 by a power transmission mechanism not shown in the figure, and the switching valve drive device 8 can be continuously arranged with the plunger drive device 7 and the like at a place separated from the switching valve 6. Although the power transmission mechanism is not shown here, it can be arranged in a groove recessed in the base plate 15 and arranged in the groove. As the power transmission mechanism, a chain or a belt is used. (The structure of using a power transmission mechanism and continuously arranging the switching valve drive device and the plunger drive device is described in detail in Patent Document 1 involved in the applicant's patent). Here, the location where the switching valve drive device 8 is set is not limited to the present embodiment, and the switching valve drive device 8 can also be arranged near the switching valve 6 without using a power transmission mechanism for direct drive.

[0084] The discharge control device 10 for controlling the operation of each of the above-mentioned machines is connected to the above-mentioned driving devices (7, 8) via a control wiring 12. The discharge control device 10 includes a processor and a storage device storing a discharge control program, and controls the magnitude or application time of the pressure supplied from the compressed gas source 9, the moving distance or moving speed of the plunger 4, the switching of the switching valve 6, and the like.

[0085] (A2) Action

[0086] By executing the above-mentioned discharge control program, the discharge operation and stirring operation described in the embodiment are automatically performed. The discharge device 1 of the embodiment can automatically perform the same discharge operation or stirring operation as described in the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0087] (A3) Application

[0088] The discharging device and method of the present embodiment are used in the process of coating a liquid material containing solid particles with a larger specific gravity than the liquid material, for example, the process of coating a liquid material mixed with a phosphor (which is equivalent to the solid particles) on an LED element. The liquid material used in the coating process of the LED element is, for example, an epoxy resin, a silicone resin, and an acrylic resin, and the phosphor includes nitride-based, oxynitride-based, oxide-based, and sulfide-based phosphors. Specific examples of phosphors include: a yellow phosphor formed by mixing other elements in a crystal of a garnet structure composed of a composite oxide of yttrium and aluminum, i.e., a YAG-based phosphor (chemical formula Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce); with chemical formula Lu 3 Al 5 O 12 : Green phosphor represented by Ce, i.e. LuAG phosphor; with chemical formula (Sr, Ca)AlSiN 3 : Red phosphor represented by Eu, i.e. SCASN phosphor; with chemical formula CaAlSiN 3 : Red phosphor represented by Eu, i.e. CASN phosphor; 3 Si 6 N 11 : Yellow phosphor represented by Ce, i.e. LSN phosphor; with chemical formula CaSc 2 O 4 A green phosphor represented by the chemical formula SiAlON:Eu, that is, a scandium oxide phosphor; and a green phosphor represented by the chemical formula SiAlON:Eu, that is, a sialon-based phosphor.

[0089] [B] Coating device

[0090] The discharge device 1 is mounted on a coating device 51 and performs coating operation on a workpiece 56 . Figure 6 A schematic perspective view showing a coating device 51 according to the embodiment.

[0091] (B1) Composition

[0092] The coating device 51 involved in the embodiment of the present invention is mainly composed of the following components: the above-mentioned discharge device 1; an XYZ drive mechanism 52, which enables the workpiece 56 as the object of discharging the liquid material 14 to move relative to the above-mentioned discharge device 1; a conveying mechanism 53, which moves the workpiece 56 from the outside of the coating device 51 and moves it toward the coating operation position, and then moves it out of the coating device 51; a workbench 55, which supports and fixes the workpiece 56 during the coating operation; and a coating control device 57, which controls the operation of each of the above-mentioned machines.

[0093] The ejection device 1 is arranged on the XYZ drive mechanism 52, and can move relative to the workpiece 56 in the directions indicated by the symbols (X moving direction 60, Y moving direction 61, Z moving direction 62). In the present embodiment, the ejection device 1 is configured to move in the XYZ direction, but it is not limited thereto, as long as the ejection device 1 and the workpiece 56 can be relatively moved. For example, the ejection device 1 can also be configured to move only in the Z direction, so that the workbench 55 can move in the XY direction. The XYZ drive mechanism 52 can adopt, for example, a servo motor or a combination of a stepping motor and a ball screw, a linear motor, etc.

[0094] The coating device 51 of this embodiment is provided with a conveying mechanism 53 for delivering workpieces to devices of the preceding and following processes not shown in the figure or a loader / unloader. The conveying mechanism 53 is a structure in which two rail-shaped members 54 having a width substantially the same as that of the workpiece 56 to be transported are arranged in parallel, and a belt that is rotated by rollers not shown in the figure is arranged above the rail-shaped members 54. The rollers are rotated by a motor or the like, thereby rotating the belt, and the workpiece 56 placed on the belt is transported in the direction indicated by the symbol (carry-in direction 63, carry-out direction 64). That is, the end of the rail-shaped member 54 on the opposite side of the carry-in direction 63 constitutes the carry-in portion, and the end on the same side as the carry-in direction 63 constitutes the carry-out portion. As the conveying mechanism 53, instead of the above-mentioned conveying by the belt, a robot with a mechanical arm or the like can be used to deliver the substrate.

[0095] The workbench 55 is provided between two rail-shaped members 54 of the conveying mechanism 53, and has an ascending position, which supports and fixes the workpiece 56 stopped at the working position by lifting it from below; and a descending position, which separates from the workpiece 56 in a manner not to contact the workpiece 56 when conveying the workpiece 56. As a device for raising and lowering the workbench 55, for example, a combination of a motor and a ball screw or a cylinder can be used. In order to fix the workpiece 56 to the workbench 55, the following methods can be used: a method of opening a plurality of holes passing from the inside of the workbench 55 toward the upper surface, and sucking air from the holes to fix the workpiece 56 by adsorption; a method of clamping the workpiece 56 by a fixing member, and fixing the member to the workbench 55 by a fixing mechanism such as a screw, thereby fixing the workpiece 56; a method of fixing the workpiece 56 by clamping the workpiece 56 by a pressing member (not shown) provided by the conveying mechanism 53 and the workbench 55 in the ascending position of the workbench 55, etc.

[0096] The XYZ drive mechanism 52, the conveying mechanism 53, and the workbench 55 are arranged on a base 58, and are covered by a cover 59 indicated by a dotted line. Covering with the cover 59 can prevent the intrusion of dust from the outside, and can also ensure the safety of the operator. However, although not shown in the figure, an opening for carrying in and out the workpiece 56 is provided at the position of the conveying mechanism 53 relative to the carrying-in side and the carrying-out side. Figure 6 Although not shown in the figure, the discharge control device 10 may be disposed inside the base 58 .

[0097] The coating control device 57 that controls the operation of each of the above-mentioned machines has a processor and a storage device that stores a coating control program, and is arranged inside the base 58 as shown by the dotted line. The coating pattern data required for the coating operation is stored in the storage device of the coating control device 57. The coating control device 57 is connected to the discharge control device 10 to perform the above-mentioned stirring operation at a specified time. The connection between the coating control device 57 and the discharge control device 10 is performed as follows: the discharge control device 10 controls the operation of the machine required for the operation of the discharge device 1 during the discharge operation and the stirring operation, and the coating control device 57 instructs the discharge control device 10 to perform the discharge operation and the stirring operation.

[0098] Figure 7 This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of each module of the discharge control program and the coating control program according to the embodiment. The coating control program sends a stirring operation command to the discharge control program at the following timing, for example.

[0099] (a) When workpieces are loaded or unloaded

[0100] (b) When the discharge device is moved in the XYZ direction without discharge (for example, when moving from the standby position to the coating start position)

[0101] (c) When a certain time (for example, the time at which the particle sedimentation problem occurs and is set by a pre-measured setting) has passed since the last ejection operation command or stirring operation command and no ejection operation command or stirring operation command has been issued

[0102] When implementing the above (c), a timer for detecting the passage of a certain period of time may be set in the coating control device 57, and the timer may be programmed to perform one or more stirring actions when the timer detects the passage of a certain period of time (the timer is implemented by hardware or software).

[0103] (B2) Action

[0104] In the above-mentioned coating device 51, the following coating operation is performed by the coating control program.

[0105] If the coating control program is executed, the workpiece 56 is moved into the cover 59 of the coating device 51 by the conveying mechanism 53 that conveys the workpiece 56 in the first direction. The workpiece 56 moved into the cover 59 is directly conveyed in the first direction and stops when it is conveyed to the position (operating position) where the workbench 55 is provided. If the workpiece 56 stops, the workbench 55 rises to support and fix the workpiece 56. After the workpiece 56 is supported and fixed on the workbench 55, the liquid material 14 is continuously discharged onto the workpiece 56 according to a pre-set coating pattern while the discharge device 1 is relatively moved relative to the workpiece 56 by the XYZ drive mechanism 52, thereby performing the desired coating operation. The coating pattern referred to here also includes, for example, a situation in which the liquid material is filled in the dam while the discharge port is moved to a specified position and stopped.

[0106] When the coating operation of the dispensing device 1 toward the workpiece 56 is completed, the fixation of the workpiece 56 is released, and the workpiece 56 is moved toward the carrying-out side by the conveying mechanism 53, and carried out to the outside of the cover 59 of the coating device 51. The above is the process of basic coating operation on one workpiece 56. When operating on multiple workpieces 56, the above series of operations (workpiece carrying-in, coating, workpiece carrying-out) are programmed to be repeated.

[0107] In the coating device 51 of the present embodiment, when the workpiece 56 is moved in or out, there is a time when the discharging action is not performed (it can also be said that it cannot be performed). Therefore, the coating control program is programmed to perform a stirring action by utilizing the time when the discharging action is not performed (cannot be performed). For example, since the workpiece 56 is moved in before the coating action (discharging action) is about to be performed, if it is programmed to perform a stirring action when the workpiece 56 is moved in, the solid particles can be discharged in a state of diffusion in the liquid, and the effect is the greatest. In addition, even in the case of only one workpiece 56, as long as it is programmed to perform a stirring action when the workpiece 56 is moved in, the opportunity for the stirring action will not be missed. In the case of multiple workpieces 56, it can also be programmed to perform a stirring action when the workpiece 56 is moved out. In addition, it is also possible to perform a stirring action during the period from the removal of one workpiece 56 to the entry of the next workpiece 56. In addition, it is also possible to program a stirring action in a standby state where the workpiece 56 is not moved in.

[0108] In this way, by sending a stirring operation instruction to the discharge control device 10 when the workpiece 56 is carried in or carried out through the coating control program, the coating operation can be performed in a state where the solid particles are always dispersed in the liquid.

[0109] Explanation of symbols

[0110] 1: discharge device, 2: storage container (syringe), 3: measuring part, 4: plunger, 5: nozzle, 6: switching valve, 7: plunger drive device, 8: switching valve drive device, 9: compressed gas source, 10: discharge control device, 11: piping, 12: control wiring, 13: connecting member, 14: liquid material, 15: base plate, 16: fixing member, 17: connecting part, 18: slide rail, 19: valve block, 20: first flow path, 21: second flow path, 22: The third flow path, 23: valve body, 24: groove, 25: through hole, 31: metering hole, 51: coating device, 52: XYZ drive mechanism, 53: conveying mechanism, 54: rail-shaped member, 55: workbench, 56: workpiece, 57: coating control device, 58: base, 59: cover, 60: X moving direction, 61: Y moving direction, 62: Z moving direction, 63: carrying-in direction, 64: carrying-out direction, 131: connecting flow path, 132: connecting part.

Claims

1. A coating device, characterized in that: have: A dispensing device for liquid materials containing solid particles; a workbench, which holds the workpiece; a relative driving mechanism, which enables the workbench and the discharging device to move relative to each other; and A coating control device comprises a processor and a storage device storing a coating control program. The discharging device comprises: A single storage container that stores a liquid material containing solid particles; a single metering portion having a metering hole filled with the liquid material; A single plunger, at least the outer peripheral surface of the front end of which is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the metering hole, moves forward and backward in the metering hole; A single nozzle having a discharge port for discharging the liquid material; a single switching valve having a first position connecting the storage container with the metering portion and a second position connecting the metering portion with the nozzle; a single plunger drive that moves the plunger forward and backward; a single switching valve driving device for switching the switching valve between a first position and a second position; and A discharge control device comprises a processor and a storage device storing a discharge control program. The discharge control program includes: a filling step of setting the switching valve to a first position and moving the plunger backward to fill the liquid material into the metering hole; a discharge step of setting the switching valve to a second position and discharging the liquid material in the metering hole from the discharge port by moving the plunger forward; an inflow step of setting the switching valve to a first position and moving the plunger forward so that the liquid material in the metering hole flows into the storage container; a discharging step of continuously performing the filling step and the discharging step; and a stirring step, which continuously performs the filling step and the inflow step, The device further comprises: a compressed gas source configured to supply the compressed gas, the pressure of which is regulated by the discharge control device, to the storage container via a pipe, In the filling step, the compressed gas is supplied from the compressed gas source to the storage container, In the inflow step, the compressed gas is not supplied from the compressed gas source to the storage container, The discharge control program executes the discharge step when receiving a discharge operation instruction from the coating control program, and executes the stirring step when receiving a stirring operation instruction from the coating control program. The coating control program sends the stirring action instruction to the discharge control program at the following timing: (a) When workpiece loading or unloading begins (b) When the discharging device is in relative motion and the discharging step is not performed (c) When a certain time has passed since the last execution of the discharge step or the stirring step and the discharge step and the stirring step are not executed.

2. The coating device according to claim 1, characterized in that The discharge control program includes a continuous stirring step of continuously executing the stirring step.

3. The coating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The device further comprises: a connecting member having a connecting flow path connecting the storage container and the measuring unit, A cross-sectional area of ​​a connection portion between the connecting flow path and the storage container is 1 / 10 or less of a cross-sectional area of ​​the storage container.

4. The coating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A cross-sectional area of ​​a connection portion between the connecting flow path and the storage container is 1 / 25 or less of a cross-sectional area of ​​the storage container.

5. The coating device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The connecting flow path is composed of a straight-line flow path having substantially the same diameter from one end to the other end.

6. The coating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The machine further comprises: a conveying mechanism for conveying the workpiece received from the conveying-in portion to the workbench, and conveying the workpiece from the workbench to the conveying-out portion, The coating control program includes a stirring step during transport for causing the discharge control device to execute the stirring step one or more times while the workpiece is being transported by the transport mechanism.

7. The coating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: When the workpiece loading starts, the stirring operation command is sent to the discharge control program.

8. The coating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The coating control device includes: a timer for detecting that a certain time has passed since the last execution of the discharging step or the stirring step; The coating control program sends a stirring operation instruction to the discharge control device to execute the stirring step one or more when the timer detects the passage of the certain time and there is time to execute the stirring step before the next discharge step is executed.

9. The coating device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The coating control program detects at a certain period that there is time to execute the stirring step before the next discharge step is executed, and sends a stirring operation instruction to the discharge control program to cause the discharge control device to execute the stirring step one or more times at this timing.

10. A coating method, characterized in that: A coating method using the coating device according to claim 1 or 2, The coating control device relatively moves the table and the discharge device through the relative drive mechanism based on a coating pattern by executing the coating control program, and transmits the discharge operation command to the discharge device.

11. The coating method according to claim 10, characterized in that The solid particles include solid particles having a specific gravity greater than that of the liquid material.

12. The coating method according to claim 11, characterized in that The solid particles are fluorescent substances for LEDs.

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