Liquid material discharge device and liquid material coating device

Abstract

[Problem] To provide: a liquid material discharge device that makes it possible for a worker at a work site to easily replace a discharge valve; and a liquid material coating device comprising the liquid material discharge device. [Solution] A liquid material discharge device 1 that supplies a pressurized gas to a storage part 30 which is in communication with a nozzle 31 and which is mounted on a robot, said liquid material discharge device 1 being characterized by: comprising a pressure adjustment device 11 which adjusts, to a desired pressure, a pressurized gas supplied from a pressurized gas supply source 40, a discharge valve 21 which switches between communication and cut-off between the pressure adjustment device 11 and the storage part 30, a gas supply path 50 which puts the pressure adjustment device 11 and the discharge valve 21 in communication, and a first housing 10 which accommodates the pressure adjustment device 11; and comprising a second housing 20 which is configured to be physically separate from the first housing 10 and in which the discharge valve 21 is accommodated in a removable manner.

Description

Liquid material ejection device and liquid material application device

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid material discharge device that discharges a liquid material by supplying pressurized gas to a storage container that communicates with a nozzle, and a liquid material application device that includes the same device.

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art There is a liquid material discharging device called an air dispenser that supplies pressurized gas to a storage container that communicates with a nozzle, thereby discharging the liquid material in the storage container.

[0003] In a typical air-operated dispenser, the discharge amount and discharge timing are controlled using the pressure of the pressurized gas and the time during which the pressurized gas acts on the liquid material in the storage container as parameters. In other words, control of the pressurized gas is an important factor in determining the accuracy of the discharge amount and discharge timing of the air-operated dispenser.

[0004] The pressurized gas is controlled mainly by a pressure reducing valve for maintaining the pressurized gas at a desired pressure and a discharge valve for controlling the time and timing for applying the pressurized gas to the liquid material in the storage container. Generally, a discharge valve is required to have high speed response to an operation command and stable repeated operation. For example, in Patent Document 1, two solenoid valves are used in the discharge valve to quickly release the pressurized gas applied to the storage container and improve the response at the end of discharge.

[0005] Patent No. 3492515

[0006] When an air dispenser is incorporated into a factory production line and used over the long term, regular maintenance is required, including adjustment of the device and replacement of consumable parts. Dispenser maintenance is generally performed at the dispenser manufacturer's factory, but replacement of consumable parts is required to be done on-site.

[0007] In particular, the discharge valves provided in air dispensers are consumable parts that deteriorate with use, and there is an increasing demand for them to be easily replaced on site.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a liquid material discharging device in which the discharge valve can be easily replaced by an on-site worker, and a liquid material application device including the same.

[0009] The liquid material discharging device of the present invention comprises the following technical means: [1] A liquid material discharging device that communicates with a nozzle and supplies pressurized gas to a reservoir mounted on a robot, the liquid material discharging device comprising: a pressure regulator that regulates the pressure of the pressurized gas supplied from a pressurized gas supply source to a desired pressure; a discharge valve that switches communication between the pressure regulator and the reservoir and cuts off communication between the pressure regulator and the reservoir; a gas supply path that communicates between the pressure regulator and the discharge valve; and a first housing that houses the pressure regulator, the second housing being physically separate from the first housing and detachably housing the discharge valve. [2] The liquid material discharging device described in [1], wherein the gas supply path is at least partially flexible so that the relative positions of the first housing and the second housing can be changed. [3] The liquid material discharging device described in [1] or [2], wherein an outlet end of the gas supply path that communicates with the pressure regulator comprises a fitting to which a detachable joint can be attached. [4] The liquid material discharging device according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the gas supply path includes a first gas supply path communicating with the pressure adjusting device and a second gas supply path communicating with the second housing, the first gas supply path and the second gas supply path being connected via an air joint, the air joint including an upstream joint having an on-off valve and a downstream joint detachably connected to the upstream joint, the on-off valve opening when the upstream joint and the downstream joint are connected and closing when the upstream joint and the downstream joint are disconnected. [5] The liquid material discharging device according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the discharge valve includes an input port communicating with the gas supply path, an output port communicating with the reservoir, and an exhaust port, and further includes a discharge control device for controlling the operation of the discharge valve. [6] The liquid material discharging device according to [5], wherein the discharge control device is installed within the second housing.[7] The liquid material discharging device according to [5] or [6], further comprising a flow path member attached to the robot and to which the second housing is detachably attached, the flow path member comprising a first flow path communicating the gas supply path with the input port of the discharge valve, a second flow path communicating the storage portion with the output port of the discharge valve, and a third flow path communicating the atmosphere with the exhaust port of the discharge valve, wherein when the second housing is attached to the flow path member, the first to third flow paths and each port of the discharge valve are airtightly communicated. [8] The liquid material discharging device according to any of [1] to [7], further comprising a negative pressure generating device, the discharge valve comprising a switching valve for switching between a first position communicating the storage portion with the pressure adjusting device and a second position communicating the storage portion with the negative pressure generating device, and an exhaust valve for switching between communication between the storage portion and the atmosphere and being cut off. [9] The liquid material discharging device according to [8], characterized in that the negative pressure generating device is installed within the first housing.

[10] The liquid material discharging device according to [9], characterized in that a pressure adjustment control device that controls the operation of the negative pressure generating device and the pressure adjusting device is installed within the first housing.

[11] The liquid material discharging device according to any one of [8] to

[10] , further comprising a holding member to which the switching valve and the exhaust valve are detachably attached, the holding member comprising a first flow path that connects the pressure adjusting device and the storage unit via the switching valve, and a second flow path that connects the exhaust valve and the storage unit.

[12] The liquid material discharging device according to

[11] , characterized in that the holding member is connected to the negative pressure generating device via a negative pressure supply path that is at least partially flexible, and both the gas supply path and the negative pressure supply path are at least partially flexible so that the relative positions of the first housing and the second housing can be changed.

[13] The liquid material ejection device described in

[11] or

[12] , characterized in that the holding member is configured to include a base that houses the ejection valve and an attachment member that is detachably attached to the base, the attachment member holds the switching valve and the exhaust valve, and when the attachment member is attached to the base, the switching valve and the exhaust valve are connected to the base.

[14] The liquid material discharging device described in

[13] , wherein the base includes a base-side flow path communicating with the switching valve and the exhaust valve, and the mounting member includes a mounting member-side flow path communicating with the switching valve and the exhaust valve, and the base-side flow path and the mounting member-side flow path are connected when the mounting member is attached to the base.

[15] The liquid material discharging device described in

[14] , wherein the base includes a base-side connector connected to the switching valve and the exhaust valve via a signal cable, and the mounting member includes a mounting member-side connector connected to the switching valve and the exhaust valve via a signal cable, and the base-side connector and the mounting member-side connector are connected when the mounting member is attached to the base.

[16] The liquid material discharging device described in any of [1] to

[15] , wherein a buffer tank for storing pressurized gas whose pressure is adjusted by the pressure adjusting device is provided in a flow path connecting the pressure adjusting device and the discharge valve.

[17] The liquid material discharging device according to any one of

[11] to

[14] , characterized in that a buffer tank for storing pressurized gas whose pressure is adjusted by the pressure adjusting device is provided in the first flow path.

[18] The liquid material discharging device according to

[16] , further characterized in that a supply stop valve is provided in a flow path connecting the discharge valve and the buffer tank, the supply stop valve having a first position that connects the discharge valve and the buffer tank and a second position that blocks the discharge valve from connecting the buffer tank.

[19] The liquid material discharging device according to

[18] , characterized in that the supply stop valve is a three-way valve having an input port, an exhaust port, and an output port, and in the first position, connects the input port to the output port and blocks communication with the exhaust port, and in the second position, connects the output port to the exhaust port and blocks communication with the input port.

[20] The liquid material discharge device according to

[18] or

[19] , wherein the supply stop valve and the buffer tank are housed within the first housing.

[21] The liquid material discharging device according to any one of

[18] to

[20] , wherein the second housing is configured with a main body case and a cover, and the supply stop valve is equipped with a locking mechanism that allows the cover to be opened only when the valve is in the second position.

[22] The liquid material discharging device according to any one of

[16] to

[21] , wherein the buffer tank is housed within the second housing.

[23] The liquid material discharging device according to any one of [5] to [7], further comprising a pressure gauge that measures the air pressure in a flow path connecting the reservoir and the discharge valve, and wherein the discharge control device corrects the operation timing of the discharge valve based on the measurement value of the pressure gauge.

[24] The liquid material discharging device according to

[23] , wherein the discharge control device corrects the operation timing of the discharge valve so as to minimize changes in the discharge amount that occur due to differences in the remaining amount of liquid material in the reservoir.

[25] The liquid material discharging device according to any one of [1] to

[24] , further comprising a connector or attachment for attaching the second housing to the robot.

[26] The liquid material discharge device according to any one of [1] to [9] and

[11] to

[25] , characterized in that a pressure regulation control device that controls the operation of the pressure regulation device is installed within the first housing.

[27] The liquid material discharge device according to any one of [1] to [4], [8] to

[22] and

[25] , characterized in that a control device that controls the operation of the pressure regulation device and the discharge valve is installed within the first housing.

[0010] The liquid material application device of the present invention comprises the following technical means.

[28] A liquid material application device comprising the liquid material discharge device described in any one of [1] to

[27] , a movable head having a holder for holding the reservoir, and a robot for relatively moving the movable head and a coating target, wherein the second housing is detachably attached to the movable head.

[29] The liquid material application device described in

[28] , wherein the robot has at least a first movement axis and a second movement axis, the movable head moves along the first movement axis, and the holder moves along the second movement axis.

[30] The liquid material application device described in

[29] , wherein the second housing is installed on a first side surface of the movable head on the first movement axis, and the holder is installed on a second side surface of the movable head on the second movement axis.

[31] The liquid material application device according to any one of

[28] to

[30] , characterized in that it comprises a bridge on which the first operating axis is provided and a plurality of pillars supporting the bridge, the plurality of pillars including a pillar on which an internal flow path constituting a part of the gas supply path is formed.

[32] The liquid material application device according to any one of

[28] to

[31] , characterized in that the liquid material application device comprises a syringe having the nozzle attached to a tip thereof, and the syringe and the discharge valve are connected via an air tube having at least a partial flexibility.

[33] A liquid material application device comprising: a first liquid material discharge device comprising the liquid material discharge device described in

[25] ; a second liquid material discharge device comprising the liquid material discharge device described in

[25] ; a movable head having a holder that holds a first reservoir from which the first liquid material discharge device supplies pressurized gas and a second reservoir from which the second liquid material discharge device supplies pressurized gas; and a robot that moves the movable head relative to an object to be coated, wherein the second housing of the first liquid material discharge device and the second housing of the second liquid material discharge device are detachably installed on the movable head via the connecting device or the attachment.

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a liquid material discharging device in which a worker on-site can easily replace a discharge valve, and a liquid material application device including the same device.

[0012] 1 is a block diagram showing a liquid material discharging apparatus according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a liquid material application apparatus according to the first embodiment; FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of an attachment for attaching a second housing; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a liquid material application apparatus according to a first modified example of the first embodiment; FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a liquid material application apparatus according to a second modified example of the first embodiment; FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a liquid material discharging apparatus according to a second embodiment; FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a liquid material discharging apparatus according to a third embodiment; FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a liquid material discharging apparatus according to a fourth embodiment; FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a second housing according to a fourth embodiment, where (A) is a see-through front view of the main parts and (B) is a cross-sectional side view of the main parts, with the holding member viewed from the right side; FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main parts of a pressure gauge according to the fourth embodiment; FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a second housing according to a first modified example of the fourth embodiment, where (A) is a state in which the housing cover is closed and (B) is a state in which the housing cover is removed; and FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a second housing according to a second modified example of the fourth embodiment, where (A) is a state in which the housing cover is closed and (B) is a state in which the housing cover is open. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a second housing according to a third modified example of the fourth embodiment, where (A) is a state in which the housing cover is closed, (B) is a state in which the housing cover is open, and (C) is a state in which the discharge valve is removed. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a liquid material discharge device according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a second housing according to a first modified example of the fifth embodiment, where (A) is a perspective front view of a main part and (B) is a perspective side view of a main part, as viewed from the right side, of the holding member. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a liquid material application device according to a second modified example of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a liquid material application device according to a third modified example of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a liquid material discharge device according to a sixth embodiment. FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a specific example of a supply stop valve according to the sixth embodiment, where (A) is a state in which the supply stop valve is in a first position and (B) is a state in which the supply stop valve is in a second position. 13A and 13B are perspective views illustrating a second housing and a flow path member of a seventh embodiment, where (A) shows a state in which the second housing is attached and (B) shows a state in which the second housing is separated. 13B are perspective views illustrating a second housing and a flow path member according to a first modified example of the seventh embodiment, where (A) shows a state in which the second housing is attached and (B) shows a state in which the second housing is separated. 13C are block diagrams illustrating a liquid material application device of an eighth embodiment.FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating a state in which two second housings are attached to the movable head.

[0013] 1, a liquid material discharging device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is an air-operated dispenser that includes a first housing 10 and a second housing 20 and supplies pressurized gas to a reservoir 30 mounted on a robot (described below). The first housing 10 and the second housing 20 are physically separate entities and are connected by at least partially flexible piping (including air tubes and cables), allowing the relative positional relationship between the two to be freely changed.

[0014] The first housing 10 is a case that houses at least the pressure regulator 11 and the control device 12. The first housing 10 is sometimes referred to as a main device. In this embodiment, a touch panel (not shown) is provided on the side of the first housing 10 as a display device and input device for displaying and operating the set values ​​of the pressure regulator 11. The pressure regulator 11 is a manual regulator that reduces the pressure of pressurized gas supplied from a pressurized gas supply source 40 connected to an input port on the upstream side (primary side) to a desired pressure, stabilizes the pressure, and supplies it to an output port on the downstream side (secondary side). A flexible air tube 50 that forms a gas supply path is detachably connected to the output port of the pressure regulator 11.

[0015] The control device 12 is a computer that controls the operation of the pressure regulating device 11 and the discharge valve 21, and includes a processing device (not shown) and a storage device (not shown) that stores a control program. That is, the control device 12 of the first embodiment functions as a pressure regulating control device that controls the operation of the pressure regulating device 11 and a discharge control device that controls the operation of the discharge valve 21.

[0016] The control device 12 is connected to the pressure regulating device 11 via wiring 13. The connection between the control device 12 and the pressure regulating device 11 can be any configuration that can transmit signals, such as a signal cable, a configuration using conductors formed on a substrate, a configuration where contacts are in direct contact with each other, or wireless. The control device 12 is also connected to the discharge valve 21 so as to be able to communicate with each other via a signal cable 14 that is at least partially flexible and detachably connected to the discharge valve 21. It is also possible to configure the control device 12 and the discharge valve 21 so as to be able to communicate wirelessly without providing the signal cable 14.

[0017] The second housing 20 is a case that houses at least the discharge valve 21. The second housing 20 may also be called a switching device. A display device for displaying the setting value of the discharge valve 21 and the like may be provided on the side of the second housing 20.

[0018] The discharge valve 21 is a three-way valve with an input port on the upstream side (primary side), an output port on the downstream side (secondary side), and an exhaust port provided midstream. The input port of the discharge valve 21 is connected to the pressure regulator 11 via an air tube 50, the output port is connected to the storage unit 30 via an air tube 51, and the exhaust port is connected to the exhaust port 17 via an air tube 52. The discharge valve 21 functions as a switching valve that switches between a first position that connects the storage unit 30 to the pressure regulator 11 and a second position that connects the storage unit 30 to the exhaust port 17. Note that the pressure regulator 11, the discharge valve 21, and the storage unit 30 may be connected to air tubes (50, 51) via joints provided on the first housing 10 and / or the second housing 20. Connecting the air tubes (50, 51) via joints allows for easy attachment and detachment of the air tubes.

[0019] The air tubes 50 to 52 and the signal cable 14 are detachably connected to the discharge valve 21. In this embodiment, the pressure regulating device 11 and the discharge valve 21 are stored in physically separate housings, and the discharge valve 21 is connected to other components via the flexible air tubes 50 to 52 and the signal cable 14, so that the discharge valve 21 can be easily replaced.

[0020] The discharge valve 21 may be an air-operated or electrically operated type, but in a discharge device used in a mass production process in a production factory, it is preferable to use a three-way valve in which the operation timing of a solenoid valve or the like can be accurately controlled by a computer (i.e., the control device 12). The switching operation of the discharge valve 21 may be performed by manually issuing an instruction to the control device 12 each time switching between discharge operation and stop.

[0021] The reservoir 30 can be formed of a known reservoir container. In this embodiment, a syringe is used, which is formed with an inner cylinder having a lower opening at its bottom end and an outer cylinder surrounding the inner cylinder. A nozzle having a discharge port at its tip is attached to the inner cylinder of this syringe, and this nozzle constitutes the discharge portion 31. Note that in FIG. 1 , the reservoir 30 and the discharge portion 31 are depicted in a schematic diagram. The reservoir 30 and the nozzle may be connected via a flexible liquid transfer tube, in which case the nozzle and the liquid transfer tube constitute the discharge portion 31. Alternatively, the reservoir container constituting the reservoir 30 and the nozzle constituting the discharge portion 31 may be integrally molded from resin.

[0022] Storage unit 30 is provided with a known adapter (not shown) that is detachably attached to its upper end, and pressure-regulated air is supplied from discharge valve 21 via flexible air tube 51. Since second housing 20 and storage unit 30 are connected at least partially by flexible piping (including air tubes and cables), the relative positional relationship between them can be freely changed.

[0023] Factory air, a gas cylinder, etc. can be used as the pressurized gas supply source 40. It is preferable that an air supply pipe 41 that connects the pressurized gas supply source 40 and the liquid material discharge device 1 is provided with a filter (not shown) or an oil mist trap (not shown) so that dry, clean pressurized gas can be supplied to the liquid material discharge device 1.

[0024] The liquid material discharging device 1 supplies pressurized gas from a pressurized gas supply source 40 to the storage unit 30 via the pressure regulator 11, the air tube 50, the discharge valve 21, and the air tube 51, and discharges the liquid material stored in the storage unit 30 from the discharge unit 31. During the discharge operation, the discharge valve 21 is set to the first position described above by the control device 12. When the control device 12 switches the discharge valve 21 to the second position, the pressurized gas in the storage unit 30 is discharged through the exhaust port 17, which communicates with the atmosphere, and the discharge of the liquid material from the discharge unit 31 stops. Note that even during standby when no discharge operation is being performed, it is preferable to set the discharge valve 21 to the second position described above and connect the air tube 52 and the air tube 51 to open the storage unit 30 to the atmosphere.

[0025] In conventional devices, the pressure regulator, control device, and discharge valve are housed in the same housing along with piping such as electrical wiring and air tubing, and the piping must be disconnected and connected within the space-constrained housing, making on-site replacement of the discharge valve difficult. In contrast, in this embodiment, the discharge valve 21 is detachably housed in the second housing 20, separate from the first housing 10 that houses the pressure regulator 11, making replacement easy.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 2, the liquid material discharging device 1, together with a robot 600, constitutes a liquid material applying device 2. The robot 600 includes three motion axes (601, 602, 603) of X, Y, and Z, a base 604, and a bridge 605 supported by two supports 607a and 607b. A movable head 606 is mounted on the bridge 605, on which the X-axis member 601 is provided, so as to be movable in the X direction (along the first motion axis). A second housing 20 is attached to the side surface of the movable head 606 on the X axis, and a Z-axis member 603 is mounted on the front surface of the movable head 606 (the side surface on the Y axis) so as to be movable in the Z direction (along the second motion axis).

[0027] In this embodiment, the second housing 20 is detachably attached to the movable head 606 by a connector such as a screw or an attachment (mounting device). FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of an attachment 610 for attaching the second housing 20 to the movable head 606. The attachment 610 is an L-shaped member when viewed from the front. The second housing 20 is placed on a first surface 610a extending horizontally and is detachably fixed by a fastener 611. The second surface 610b extending vertically of the attachment 610 abuts against the side surface of the movable head 606 and is detachably fixed by a fastener 612. The discharge valve 21, which is a consumable part, may be replaced by replacing the second housing 20 itself. A detachable member (e.g., a DIN rail) may be added to the attachment 610 to facilitate attachment and detachment of the second housing 20.

[0028] The Z-axis member 603 is equipped with holders to which the storage unit 30 and the discharge unit 31 can be detachably attached. A work table T on which the target workpiece W is placed is mounted so as to be movable in the Y direction (along the third motion axis) on the Y-axis member 602 arranged on the upper surface of the stand 604. The discharge unit 31 mounted on the robot 600 and the target workpiece W can move relatively in the three axial directions of X, Y, and Z.

[0029] The first housing 10 of the liquid material discharging device 1 is placed near a stand 604. The storage unit 30 and the discharge unit 31 are parts that require frequent replacement, and can be replaced by an on-site worker after moving the movable head 606 and the Z-axis member 603 to a position that is easy to work with (for example, the end of the X-axis member 601). In this embodiment, similar to the replacement of the storage unit 30, the discharge valve 21 of the second housing 20 can also be replaced by moving the movable head 606 to a position that is easy to work with (for example, the end of the X-axis member 601 on the side where the second housing 20 is provided).

[0030] The X-axis member 601 of the robot 600 moves the movable head 606 to which the second housing 20 is attached to a position that is easy to work with, and the position of the second housing 20 is fixed by maintaining the excited state of the X-axis member 601. In other words, there is no need to hold the second housing 20 with one hand, and the discharge valve 21 can be replaced using both hands, improving workability.

[0031] In this embodiment, the second housing 20 is attached to the side of the movable head 606 for the following reasons. The first reason is to minimize the load on the Z axis member 603, which requires high-speed mobility. Mounting the second housing 20 on the Z axis member 603 is undesirable because it requires the use of a drive unit with a large driving force for the Z axis member 603, and the inertial force during movement in the Z direction also becomes large. For this reason, in this embodiment, the second housing 20 is installed on the movable head 606, which is mounted on the X axis member 601, which is the upper axis of the Z axis.

[0032] The second viewpoint is the ease of replacing the storage portion 30 and the discharge portion 31. The storage portion 30 is replaced when the remaining amount of liquid material falls below a certain level, but the ease of replacement is impaired if the second housing 20 is located near the storage portion 30. Therefore, in this embodiment, the second housing 20 is disposed at a certain distance from the storage portion 30 (for example, 10 cm or more, preferably 20 cm or more, and more preferably 30 cm or more), and is connected to the discharge valve 21 by a flexible air tube 51.

[0033] The third aspect is to prevent the liquid material from flowing back up the air tube 51 and reaching the discharge valve 21 while minimizing pressure fluctuations. In a configuration in which negative pressure is supplied to the storage unit 30, as in the embodiment described below, there is a risk that the liquid material in the storage unit 30 will flow back up the air tube 51 and reach the discharge valve 21. On the other hand, if the distance between the storage unit 30 and the second housing 20 is too close, the effects of non-reproducible pressure fluctuations that occur when adjusting the pressure of the discharge valve 21 are directly transmitted to the storage unit 30, causing variations in the discharge amount. In this regard, it has been confirmed that pressure fluctuation disturbances can be regulated by passing the pressurized gas supplied from the discharge valve 21 through an air tube having a length that serves as an approach section. Taking these factors into consideration, it is disclosed that the distance between the storage unit 30 and the second housing 20 (the length of the air tube 51) is preferably, for example, 10 to 80 cm, and more preferably 30 to 50 cm.

[0034] <First Modification> Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a liquid material application apparatus 2a according to a first modification, which is provided with an air joint and a cable joint. In the first modification, the gas supply path is composed of a first gas supply path 50a, a second gas supply path 50b, and air joints 61 and 62. The outlet end of the first gas supply path 50a, which is connected to the first housing 10, is detachably connected to the upstream air joint 61. The inlet end of the second gas supply path 50b, which is connected to the second housing 20, is detachably connected to the downstream air joint 62. The upstream air joint 61 is provided with an on-off valve (not shown). The on-off valve automatically opens when the upstream air joint 61 and the downstream air joint 62 are connected, and automatically closes when the upstream air joint 61 and the downstream air joint 62 are separated. By providing air fittings 61, 62 having such on-off valves, it becomes possible to remove the second housing 20 and replace consumable parts without stopping the supply of pressurized gas from the pressure adjusting device 11.

[0035] The signal cables 14a, 14b that connect the control device 12 and the discharge valve 21 are also detachably connected by cable joints 63, 64. When attaching or detaching the second housing 20 to or from the movable head 606, the air joints 61, 62 are separated, and the cable joints 63, 64 are also separated, which improves the workability of removing the second housing 20 and replacing consumable parts.

[0036] <Second Modification> FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a liquid material application apparatus 2b according to a second modification, which includes an internal robot flow path and an internal robot signal line. In the second modification, an internal robot flow path 608 and an internal robot signal line 609 are provided on a support 607a. Joints (not shown) are provided at the inlet and outlet ends of the internal robot flow path 608, respectively, to which gas supply paths 50a and 50b are connected. Joints (not shown) are provided at both ends of the internal robot signal line 609, respectively, to which signal cables 14a and 14b are connected. According to the second modification, the exposed piping (air tubes, cables) is minimized, improving the ease of replacing consumable parts. The internal robot flow path and internal robot signal line can be provided on the support 607b, the platform 604, and / or the bridge 605.

[0037] In the liquid material discharging device 1 of the first embodiment and modified example described above, the discharge valve 21 is housed in a second housing that is physically separate from the first housing that houses the pressure adjusting device 11, making it easy to replace the discharge valve 21, which is a consumable part. Furthermore, in the liquid material application device 2 of this embodiment, it is possible to replace the discharge valve 21 after moving the movable head 606, in which the second housing 20 is disposed, to a position that makes it easier to work with. Furthermore, the discharge valve 21 and the reservoir 30 are connected by a flexible air tube 51 that is long enough not to impair workability, making it easy to replace both the discharge valve 21 and the reservoir 30, which are consumable parts.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment and modified example, the distance between the discharge valve 21 and the storage unit 30 (the length of the air tube 51) is sufficiently short, so even if the distance between the pressure regulating device 11 and the storage unit 30 (the length of the air tube 50) is long (for example, 2 to 10 m), there is little risk of delays in the pressure increase and pressure release within the storage unit 30 during the switching operation of the discharge valve 21. Conventionally, because the discharge valve was provided near the pressure regulating device, delays occurred in the pressure increase and pressure release of the pressurized gas applied to the storage unit when discharge started and stopped, causing disruptions to the coating shape.

[0039] Although the present embodiment and modified examples illustrate a robot 600 having three motion axes (601, 602, 603), X, Y, and Z, the configuration of the robot is not limited to this. For example, the effects of the present invention can be achieved by attaching the second housing 20 to an arm near the point of application of a multi-axis robot. In this case, it is preferable that the second housing 20 be mounted not on the rotation axis at the end of the arm, but on at least one rotation axis higher up.

[0040] 6 is different from the first embodiment mainly in that it includes a pressure regulation control device 112 and a discharge control device 122. In the following, elements common to the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0041] 6, the liquid material discharging device 101 of the second embodiment is an air-operated dispenser that includes a first housing 110 and a second housing 120 and supplies pressurized gas to a storage unit 30 mounted on a robot similar to that of the first embodiment. The first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are physically separate entities and are connected by at least partially flexible piping (including air tubes and cables), so that the relative positional relationship between them can be freely changed.

[0042] The first housing 110 is a case that houses at least the pressure regulator 111 and the pressure regulation control device 112. In this embodiment, a touch panel (not shown) serving as a display device and input device for displaying and operating the set values, etc. of the pressure regulator 111 is provided on the side of the first housing 110, but the display device and / or input device may be provided on the side of the second housing 120. The pressure regulator 111 is an electro-pneumatic regulator that is automatically controlled by the pressure regulation control device 112, and reduces the pressure of pressurized gas supplied from a pressurized gas supply source 40 connected to an input port on the upstream side (primary side) to a desired pressure, stabilizes the pressure, and supplies the pressure to an output port on the downstream side (secondary side).

[0043] The pressure regulation control device 112 is a computer that controls the operation of the pressure regulation device 111, and is connected to the pressure regulation device 111 by wiring 13, and is configured to be able to communicate with the discharge control device 122 that is connected by an at least partially flexible signal cable 114. Note that the signal cable 114 may not be provided, and the pressure regulation control device 112 and the discharge control device 122 may be configured to be able to communicate wirelessly.

[0044] The second housing 120 is a case that houses at least the discharge valve 121 and the discharge control device 122. By housing the discharge valve 121 and the discharge control device 122 inside the second housing 120, it is possible to prevent the piping routing portions from being exposed to the outside, which makes it possible to mount multiple devices on the robot's movable head 606. A touch panel (not shown) may be provided as a display device and input device for displaying and operating the setting values, etc. of the discharge valve 121 and the discharge control device 122. Note that, from the perspective of reducing the weight of the second housing 120, a configuration may be adopted in which the setting values, etc. of the discharge valve 121 and the discharge control device 122 are displayed and operated on the first housing 110 side.

[0045] The discharge valve 121 is a solenoid valve automatically controlled by the discharge control device 122, and is a three-way valve having an input port, an output port, and an exhaust port. The discharge valve 121 functions as a switching valve that switches between a first position that connects the reservoir 30 to the pressure adjusting device 111 and a second position that connects the reservoir 30 to the exhaust port 17. The discharge valve 121 and the discharge control device 122 are connected by a wiring 123 that has a similar configuration to the wiring 13. The air tubes 50 to 52 and the wiring 123 are detachably connected to the discharge valve 121.

[0046] The discharge control device 122 is a computer that controls the operation of the discharge valve 121, and is electrically connected to the pressure adjustment control device 112 via a signal cable 114. The discharge control device 122 controls the operation of the discharge valve 121 in conjunction with controlling the operation of the pressure adjustment device 111. The discharge control device 122 and the pressure adjustment control device 112 are connected to a common power source (not shown). A liquid material application device can be configured by mounting the liquid material discharge device 101 of this embodiment on the robot 600 of the first embodiment. As in the first embodiment, the second housing 120 can be detachably attached to the side surface on the X-axis of the movable head 606.

[0047] In the liquid material discharging device 101 of the second embodiment described above, the discharge valve 121 is housed in a second housing that is physically separate from the first housing that houses the pressure adjusting device 111, making it easy to replace the discharge valve 121, which is a consumable part. Furthermore, in a liquid material application device configured by mounting the liquid material discharging device 101 of this embodiment on the robot 600 described above, the discharge valve 121 can be replaced after moving the movable head 606, on which the second housing 120 is disposed, to a position that is easy to work with. Furthermore, as in the first embodiment, the discharge valve 121 and the reservoir 30, which are consumable parts, are located at a distance that does not impair workability during replacement, making it less likely that problems will occur, such as pressure buildup in the reservoir 30 and delays in pressure release, when the discharge valve 121 is switched.

[0048] 7 is different from the second embodiment mainly in that it includes a negative pressure generating device 213 disposed in a first housing 210, and that the discharge valve is composed of a switching valve 223 and an exhaust valve 224. In the following, elements common to the second embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0049] 7, the liquid material discharge device 201 of the third embodiment is an air-operated dispenser that includes a first housing 210 and a second housing 220 and supplies pressurized gas to the storage unit 30. The liquid material discharge device 201 and storage unit 30 of this embodiment are also mounted on a robot similar to that of the first embodiment, and form a liquid material application device.

[0050] The first housing 210 is a case that houses the pressure adjusting device 111, the pressure adjusting control device 212, and the negative pressure generating device 213. The pressure adjusting control device 212 is a computer that controls the operation of the pressure adjusting device 111 and the negative pressure generating device 213, and is configured to be able to communicate with a discharge control device 222 that is connected by a signal cable 114 that is at least partially flexible.

[0051] The negative pressure generator 213 is configured to include a negative pressure regulator 214 and a vacuum ejector 215. The negative pressure regulator 214 may be configured, for example, as a flow rate proportional valve that adjusts the pressurized gas supplied from the pressurized gas supply source 40 to a desired flow rate by adjusting the opening / closing degree of the valve in proportion to the current value or voltage value applied from the pressure regulator control device 212, or as a pressure proportional valve that adjusts the pressurized gas to a desired pressure.

[0052] An input port of the vacuum ejector 215 is connected to the negative pressure regulator 214, a negative pressure port is flexible and connected to the switching valve 223 by an air tube 252 that forms a negative pressure supply path, and an exhaust port is connected to an exhaust port 217 via an air tube 216. The vacuum ejector 215 generates negative pressure in the air tube 252 by an airflow that exhausts pressurized gas supplied via the negative pressure regulator 214 from the air tube 216 and the exhaust port 217. The exhaust port 217 may be provided on a side surface of the first housing 210 or at a position where it exhausts air into the first housing 210.

[0053] If the requirement for reducing the weight of the second housing 220 is not strict, the negative pressure generator 213 may be provided on the second housing 220 side. This configuration makes it possible to reduce the number of air tubes extending from the first housing 210. In this case, the negative pressure regulator 214 may be configured to be controlled by the discharge control device 222.

[0054] The second housing 220 is a case that houses the discharge control device 222 and the discharge valves (223, 224). The discharge valve in the third embodiment is composed of a switching valve 223 and an exhaust valve 224. That is, in this embodiment, the switching valve 223 and the exhaust valve 224 are consumable parts that require periodic replacement. By housing the discharge control device 222, the switching valve 223, and the exhaust valve 224 in the second housing 220, it is possible to prevent the routing of piping from being exposed to the outside, which makes it possible to mount multiple devices on the movable head 606 of the robot.

[0055] The discharge control device 222 is a computer that controls the operation of the switching valve 223 and the exhaust valve 224 connected via a signal cable. The switching valve 223 is a three-port solenoid valve that switches between a first position that connects the air tube 50 and the air tube 51, and a second position that connects the air tube 252 and the air tube 51.

[0056] The exhaust valve 224 is a two-port solenoid valve that switches between a first position where the air tube 51 is opened to the atmosphere via the air tube 253 and the exhaust port 225, and a second position where the communication between the air tube 51 and the air tube 253 is blocked. To enable rapid exhaust from the exhaust port 225, it is preferable to minimize the piping resistance of the air tube 253. For example, a preferred embodiment is disclosed in which the diameter of the air tube 253 is increased and the exhaust port 225 is provided in the second housing 220. Here, the exhaust port 225 may be provided on a side surface of the second housing 220, or may be provided at a position where air is exhausted into the second housing 220.

[0057] At the start of discharge, the discharge control device 222 switches the switching valve 223 to the first position to connect the pressurized gas supply source 40 to the storage section 30, thereby applying pressurized gas to the storage section 30 and discharging the liquid material from the discharge section 31.

[0058] When discharge is completed, the discharge control device 222 switches the switching valve 223 to the second position and simultaneously opens the exhaust valve 224 for an extremely short time (for example, between several milliseconds and several tens of milliseconds), thereby discharging the pressurized gas stored in the reservoir 30 and the flexible tube 51 from the exhaust port 225 via the air tube 253. Since exhaust from the exhaust port 217 on the first housing 210 side has a large piping resistance and takes time to discharge, the discharge cycle can be made faster by rapidly discharging the pressurized gas in the reservoir 30 and the flexible tube 51 from the exhaust port 225 on the second housing 220 side for only an extremely short time immediately after discharge is completed.

[0059] After the extremely short-time rapid exhaust, the discharge control device 222 switches the exhaust valve 224 to the second position to close it. During this time, the reservoir 30 and the vacuum ejector 215 remain in communication with each other via the switching valve 223, which is maintained in the second position, and negative pressure continues to be applied to the reservoir 30.

[0060] After the discharge operation is completed, the discharge control device 222 keeps the switching valve 223 in the second position even during standby, maintaining communication between the storage unit 30 and the vacuum ejector 215, thereby continuing to apply negative pressure to the storage unit 30. This is because the liquid material may be discharged from the discharge unit 31 due to its own weight even during standby. By constantly maintaining negative pressure inside the storage unit 30 even during standby, it is possible to maintain balance with the gravity of the liquid material and prevent the liquid material from being discharged from the discharge unit 31 during standby. Note that during standby, the exhaust valve 224 is kept in the second position (closed state).

[0061] The liquid material discharge device 201 of the third embodiment described above houses the discharge valves (223, 224) in a second housing 220 that is physically separate from the first housing that houses the pressure adjusting device 111, etc., so that the discharge valves (223, 224), which are consumable parts, can be easily replaced.

[0062] 8 is different from the third embodiment mainly in that the discharge valve is composed of a switching valve 323 and an exhaust valve 324 held by a holding member 325. In the following, elements common to the third embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 8, the liquid material ejection device 301 of the fourth embodiment has a holding member 325 in a second housing 320, and a switching valve 323 and an exhaust valve 324 are connected to air tubes (50, 51, 252, 253) via the holding member 325.

[0064] Three flexible air tubes (50, 51, 252) are connected to the switching valve 323, and two flexible air tubes (51, 253) are connected to the exhaust valve 324. In a configuration without the holding member 325, it was necessary to attach and detach all of these air tubes when replacing the discharge valves (323, 324). However, in this embodiment, the air tubes (50, 51, 252, 253) are connected to the base 325a of the holding member 325, and the mounting member 325b, to which the discharge valves (323, 324) are attached, can be attached and detached to the base 325a of the holding member 325, thereby simplifying the replacement work of the discharge valves.

[0065] 9A and 9B are schematic diagrams of the second housing 320 of this embodiment, with (A) being a see-through front view of the essential parts and (B) being a cross-sectional side view of the essential parts of the holding member 325 as viewed from the right side. As shown in FIG. 9, the holding member 325 is configured to include a base 325a and a mounting member 325b. The base 325a is a block-shaped member having a gas flow path formed therein. A discharge control device 322 is disposed to the side of the base 325a via a fixture 322a. A pressure gauge 327 is disposed between the side surface of the base 325a and the discharge control device 322.

[0066] 9A, the base 325a shows a state in which the secondary flow path (flow path connected to air tube 51) of the discharge valve (323, 324) is transparent, and the second housing 320 is completely transparent. Four air tubes (50, 51, 252, 253) are connected to the gas flow path of the base 325a. In FIG. 9B, the flow path 325c communicates with the air tube 252 or 253, the flow path 325d communicates with the air tube 50, and the flow path 325e communicates with the air tube 51. An insertion hole 328 for measuring pressure with a pressure gauge 327 is provided in the flow path 325e.

[0067] The mounting member 325b functions as a holder for mounting the discharge valves (switching valve 323 and exhaust valve 324), and is detachably fixed to the base 325a with fasteners 326 such as screws. A sealing member is provided at the portion of the mounting member 325b that comes into contact with the base 325a, so that the space inside the mounting member 325b can be made airtight when fixed. Note that sealing members may also be provided at the portion where the switching valve 323 and mounting member 325b come into contact and at the portion where the exhaust valve 324 and mounting member 325b come into contact.

[0068] The mounting member 325b has flow paths that communicate with the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324, and when the mounting member 325b is attached to the base 325a, the gas flow paths in the base 325a are connected to the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324. Therefore, when replacing the discharge valves (the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324), the replacement work can be easily performed by attaching and detaching the mounting member 325b. The switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324 may be detachably attached to the mounting member 325b, or the mounting member 325b may be replaced as a consumable part together with the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324. In the latter case, the replacement work can be performed more easily by replacing the entire mounting member 325b including the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324.

[0069] When an air-operated solenoid valve is used as the discharge valve, the number of operating pipes connected to the discharge valve increases, and in this case, additional gas flow paths are formed in the base 325a and the mounting member 325b.

[0070] When mounted on the robot 600 shown in Fig. 2, the worker performs the work of attaching and detaching the discharge valves (the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324) while looking diagonally down at the second housing 320. For this reason, in this embodiment, the side of the mounting member 325b is made sloped, and the fastener 326 is configured with a screw that screws into the sloped surface, thereby improving operability. The electrical connection between the discharge valves (the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324) and the discharge control device 322 can be made with a single touch using a connector 360.

[0071] The fastener 326 is preferably designed to not fall off the mounting member 325b. This is because it prevents the fastener 326 from being lost when the mounting member 325b is attached or detached on-site. Furthermore, the fastener 326 is preferably long enough so that when the removed mounting member 325b is placed with its bottom face down on a flat surface, the tip of the fastener 326 abuts against the flat surface, causing the bottom of the mounting member 325b to float up. This is to prevent dust and other particles adhering to the bottom of the mounting member 325b from entering the airtight space when the mounting member 325b is attached to the base 325a.

[0072] FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a pressure gauge. The pressure gauge 327 is disposed on the side surface of the base 325a in a manner that the pressure gauge 327 is pressed against the side surface of the discharge control device 322. An insertion hole 328 through which a pressure sensor 327a is inserted is provided on the side surface of the base 325a on which the pressure gauge 327 is disposed. A sealing member (e.g., an O-ring) is disposed in the insertion hole 328. The pressure gauge 327 measures the pressure of the pressurized gas in the flow path 325e and transmits the measured pressure to the discharge control device 322. The pressure sensor 327a is embedded in the insertion hole 328 provided in the flow path 325e, which is continuous with the air tube 51 connected to the reservoir 30, thereby enabling rapid pressure changes at the start and end of discharge to be accurately detected.

[0073] The discharge control device 322 can adjust the operation timing of the discharge valves (switching valve 323 and exhaust valve 324) based on the measurement value of the pressure gauge 327. For example, when the remaining amount of liquid material in the storage section 30 is large, the amount of pressurized gas sent to the storage section 30 during discharge is small, and the pressure change is completed in a short time, but when the remaining amount of liquid material in the storage section 30 is small, the amount of pressurized gas sent to the storage section 30 during discharge is large, and the pressure change takes time. In other words, by estimating the remaining amount of liquid material in the storage section 30 based on the measurement value of the pressure gauge 327 and feedback-controlling the operation of the discharge valves (switching valve 323 and exhaust valve 324), it is possible to solve the problem of variations in the discharge amount caused by changes in the remaining amount of liquid material in the storage section 30.

[0074] In the liquid material discharging device 301 of the fourth embodiment described above, the discharge valves (switching valve 323 and exhaust valve 324) are unitized by the holding member 325, which eliminates the need for complicated piping arrangements, thereby streamlining the interior of the second housing 320 and improving the workability when replacing the discharge valves. Furthermore, because replacement of the discharge valve is completed by attaching and detaching the mounting member 325b to the base 325a, the risk of incorrectly connecting the piping can be significantly reduced.

[0075] 11 is a perspective view of a second housing 420 according to a first modification of the fourth embodiment. The second housing 420 is composed of a main body case 420a and a removable housing cover 420b. (A) shows the housing cover 420b in a closed state, and (B) shows the housing cover 420b removed. The second housing 420 of the first modification incorporates a switching valve 323 and an exhaust valve 324 held by a holding member 425. The main body case 420a is formed with a connecting hole 420c and an opening 420d that exposes the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324. The connecting hole 420c is connected to an air tube 51. The main body case 420a and the housing cover 420b are fixed together with fasteners 426, such as screws.

[0076] 11(B), when the housing cover 420b is removed from the main body case 420a, the discharge valves (switching valve 323 and exhaust valve 324) held by the mounting member 425b of the holding member are exposed. The mounting member 425b is attached to and detached from the base 425a (not shown) of the holding member housed in the main body case 420a. With the housing cover 420b removed, the discharge valves (switching valve 323 and exhaust valve 324) can be easily replaced by attaching and detaching the mounting member 425b using a fastener (not shown), thereby improving the workability when replacing the discharge valves.

[0077] <Second Modification> FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a second housing 520 according to a second modification of the fourth embodiment. The second housing 520 is composed of a main body case 520a and an openable / closable housing cover 520b. (A) shows the housing cover 520b in a closed state, and (B) shows the housing cover 520b in an open state. The housing cover 520b of the second modification incorporates the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324, which are held by a holding member 425. The main body case 520a is formed with a connecting hole 520c and an opening 520d that exposes the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324. The connecting hole 520c is connected to the air tube 51. In FIG. 12(A), the opening 520d is covered by the housing cover 520b. The housing cover 520b is connected to the main body case 520a by a hinge 520f in an openable / closable manner.

[0078] 12(B), when the housing cover 520b is opened, the discharge valves (switching valve 323 and exhaust valve 324) held by the mounting member 425b of the holding member are exposed. The mounting member 425b is attached to and detached from the base 425a (not shown) of the holding member housed in the main body case 520a. The discharge valves (switching valve 323 and exhaust valve 324) can be easily replaced by attaching and detaching the mounting member 525b with a fastener (not shown) while the housing cover 520b is open, thereby improving the workability when replacing the discharge valves.

[0079] 13A and 13B are perspective side views of a main portion of a second housing 620 according to a third modification of the fourth embodiment, with (A) the housing cover 620b closed, (B) the housing cover 620b open, and (C) the discharge valves (323, 324) removed. The second housing 620 of the third modification differs from the second housing 520 of the second modification mainly in that a pressing member 621 is provided on the back side of the housing cover 620b and that four joints are provided. The pressing member 621 is made of an elastic member, and when the cover 620b is closed, it presses the discharge valves (switching valve 323 and exhaust valve 324) against the base 425a (see FIG. 13A).

[0080] The holding member 425 of the third modified example includes a base 425a and an attachment member 425b. The base 425a is a block-shaped member having gas flow paths formed therein, and each gas flow path is connected to a joint. Specifically, the air tube 50 is detachably connected to joint 622a, the air tube 51 to joint 622b, the air tube 253 to joint 622c, and the air tube 252 to a joint (not shown). Each joint has an open end extending outward from the side of the housing 620a, allowing easy connection of air tubes. By removing all air tubes connected to the second housing 620, the second housing 620 itself can be easily removed from the robot 600.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 13B, when the fastener 626 is loosened and the housing cover 620b is opened, the discharge valves (the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324) are released from the pressure of the pressing member 621. This makes it possible to easily remove the discharge valves (323, 324) together with the mounting member 425b from the base 425a. More specifically, the insertion portion 425b １ Since the upper surface of the insertion portion 425b is inclined, １ is used as a rotation axis, and the insertion part 425b １ and the opposite end 425b ２ By lifting the mounting member 425b upward, the mounting member 425b can be removed from the base 425a.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 13C, the end of the mounting member 425b is provided with an insertion portion 425b. １ The insertion portion 425b is formed. １ is a trapezoidal shape in side view, and is a recess formed in the base 425a. １ When the mounting member 425b is attached to the base 425a, the guide portion 425a １ Insertion part 425b １ and then closing the housing cover 620b, the discharge valves (323, 324) can be easily attached.

[0083] <Fourth Modification> Figure 14 is a perspective view of a holding member 625 according to a fourth modification of the fourth embodiment, in a separated state. The holding member 625 of the fourth modification is configured to include a base 625a and an attachment member 625b. The base 625a, which is made of a block-shaped member, is formed with gas flow paths (361a-364a, 371a-373a), connectors (341, 351), and a communication hole 625c. The communication hole 625c is connected to the air tube 51 and supplies pressurized gas to the storage section 30. The discharge valves (323, 324) are air-operated solenoid valves. Symbol 361a is an air operation flow path, symbol 362a is an exhaust flow path, symbol 363a is a discharge flow path connecting the discharge valve (323, 324) and the storage section 30, and symbol 364a is a pressurized gas flow path connecting the discharge valve (323, 324) and the pressure adjustment device 111.

[0084] The mounting member 625b is provided with the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324, and has gas flow paths (361b-364b, 371b-373b). Connectors (342, 352) are disposed on the bottom surface of the mounting member 625b, which is made of a plate-like member, with their connection surfaces exposed. The connector 342 is connected to the switching valve 323 by a signal cable 343, and the connector 352 is connected to the exhaust valve 324 by a signal cable 353.

[0085] When the bottom surface of the mounting member 625b is placed on the upper surface of the base 625a, the gas flow paths (361a-364a, 371a-373a) and the gas flow paths (361b-364b, 371b-373b) are connected, and the connectors (341, 351) and the connectors (342, 352) are connected. The mounting member 625b can be fixed to the base 625a by a locking mechanism (not shown). According to the holding member 625 of the fourth modification, the discharge valves (switching valve 323 and exhaust valve 324) can also be removed by removing the mounting member 625b from the base 625a, thereby improving the workability when replacing the discharge valves.

[0086] 15 is different from the fourth embodiment mainly in that a liquid material discharge device 401 according to the fifth embodiment has a buffer tank 440 inside a second housing 420. In the following, elements common to the fourth embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 15 , the liquid material discharging device 401 of the fifth embodiment includes a buffer tank 440 in a second housing 420. The buffer tank 440 can be configured as a tank having a shape such as a sphere, an oval sphere, a cylinder, a tube, or a coil. A tubular buffer tank can also be configured by using an air tube 50 having a larger inner diameter (preferably at least twice as large) than the air tube 41 and / or the air tube 51. While the illustrated example shows the buffer tank 440 as a single tank, it may also be configured as a combination of multiple tanks. The total capacity of the buffer tank 440 is, for example, 0.7 to 25 times or 1 to 10 times the capacity of the reservoir 30.

[0088] By providing a buffer tank 440 between the flow paths 50a, 50b that communicate between the reservoir 30 and the pressure regulator 111, it is possible to prevent a sudden decrease in pressure within the flow paths that occurs when the switching valve 323 is switched, and to rapidly increase the pressure within the reservoir container, thereby achieving the pressure required to obtain the desired discharge rate in a short period of time. That is, immediately after the switching valve 323 is opened, the flow rate of pressurized gas passing through the switching valve 323 is greater than the flow rate of pressurized gas supplied from the pressure regulator 111, causing a decrease in pressure on the primary side (input / output port side) of the switching valve 323. In this case, by providing a buffer tank 440 near the primary side of the switching valve 323 and securing a large amount of pressurized gas whose pressure has been adjusted, the pressure decrease on the primary side of the switching valve 323 can be kept small, and the pressure in the reservoir 30 can be increased quickly.

[0089] 15 is the same as that of the fourth embodiment, and is configured to include a base 325a and a mounting member 325b. Here, the holding member 325 may be configured to be able to hold a buffer tank 440.

[0090] The liquid material discharge device 401 of the fifth embodiment described above uses the buffer tank 440 to suppress pressure drops on the primary side of the switching valve 323, while the retaining member 325 that unitizes the discharge valves makes it possible to reduce the labor required to replace the discharge valves, which are consumable parts, and also significantly reduces the risk of incorrectly connecting the piping when replacing the discharge valves.

[0091] <First Modification> FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a second housing 720 according to a first modification of the fifth embodiment, where (A) is a see-through front view of the main part and (B) is a cross-sectional side view of the main part of the holding member 725 as viewed from the right side. The holding member 725 of the first modification is configured with a base 725a and a mounting member 725b. The base 725a is a block-shaped member having an internal gas flow path and four air tubes (50, 51, 252, 253) connected thereto, similar to the base 325a of the fourth embodiment. The second housing 720 is also detachably attached to the side surface of the movable head 606 on the X-axis. The base 725a of the first modification differs from the base 325a of the fourth embodiment in that it has larger external dimensions and includes a buffer tank 640 formed therein.

[0092] The buffer tank 640 is a space that communicates with the gas flow paths 725c and 725d within the base 725a. The capacity of the buffer tank 640 is, for example, 0.7 to 25 times or 1 to 10 times the capacity of the reservoir 30. The buffer tank 640 is sufficient as long as it has a cross-sectional area larger than the gas flow paths, and can have any spatial shape, such as a sphere, an oval sphere, a cylinder, or a polyhedron. The gas flow path 725c is connected to the air tube 50, and pressure-regulated pressurized gas is supplied from the output port of the pressure regulator 111.

[0093] The gas flow path 725d is in communication with the input port of the switching valve 323. By providing a buffer tank 640 near the input port of the switching valve 323 and storing a large amount of pressurized gas whose pressure has been adjusted, it is possible to minimize the pressure drop on the primary side (input / output port side) of the switching valve 323 and quickly increase the pressure in the reservoir 30.

[0094] The mounting member 725b is similar to the mounting member 325b of the fourth embodiment, and functions as a holder to which the discharge valves (the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324) are detachably attached, and is detachably fixed to the base 725a with fasteners 726 such as screws. When the mounting member 725b is attached to the base 725a, the gas flow path within the base 725a is connected to the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324.

[0095] According to the second housing 720 of the first modified example described above, there is no need to handle piping when installing a buffer tank, so the inside of the second housing 720 is organized and workability when replacing the discharge valve is improved.

[0096] <Second Modification> The buffer tank 440 can also be arranged outside the second housing. Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing a second modification in which the buffer tank 440 is provided midway along the air tube 50 of the liquid material discharging device 301 of the fourth embodiment mounted on a robot 600. According to the second modification in which the buffer tank 440 is arranged outside the second housing 320, the second housing 320 can be configured to be lightweight and compact.

[0097] 18 is a perspective view showing a third modified example in which a buffer tank 440 is provided midway through the air tube 50 of the liquid material discharge device 301 of the fourth embodiment mounted on a robot 600 via a branch joint 441. The buffer tank 440 of the third modified example is fixed to the bridge 605 by a connector 442. In this way, when the buffer tank 440 is disposed outside the second housing 320, the buffer tank 440 may be connected and fixed to a component of the robot 600.

[0098] Sixth Embodiment A liquid material discharge device 501 according to a sixth embodiment shown in Fig. 19 differs from the fifth embodiment shown in Fig. 15 mainly in that it has a supply stop valve 550. In the following, elements common to the fifth embodiment will be given the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0099] 19, a liquid material discharge device 501 according to the sixth embodiment has a buffer tank 440 and a supply stop valve 550 provided between flexible air tubes 50a and 50b. The configuration of the buffer tank 440 is the same as that of the fifth embodiment. The input / output port of the buffer tank 440 is connected to the air tube 50a, and the output port is connected to the supply stop valve 550 via the air tube 50c.

[0100] The supply stop valve 550 of this embodiment is a three-way valve having an input port, an exhaust port, and an output port, and is switched between a first position, which connects the buffer tank 440 and the holding member 325 to each other, and a second position, which connects the holding member 325 to the exhaust port and opens the gas to the atmosphere. The supply stop valve 550 can be configured to manually switch its position, or it may be configured to communicate with the pressure adjustment control device 212 or the discharge control device 322 via wire or wirelessly, allowing the position to be automatically switched. Alternatively, the supply stop valve 550 can be configured as a two-way valve having a first position, which connects the buffer tank 440 to the holding member 325, and a second position, which blocks the connection between the buffer tank 440 and the holding member 325. This two-way valve configuration also prevents wasteful consumption of the pressurized gas continuously supplied from the pressure adjustment device 111.

[0101] During the discharge operation and during standby, the supply stop valve 550 maintains the first position that connects the buffer tank 440 to the holding member 325. When replacing the discharge valves (the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324), it is necessary to stop the supply of pressurized gas to the discharge valves (the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324), so the holding member 325 is set to the second position that connects the holding member 325 to the exhaust port and is open to the atmosphere.

[0102] In this embodiment, the provision of the supply stop valve 550 eliminates the need to cut off the supply of pressurized gas when replacing the discharge valves, and therefore it becomes possible to replace the discharge valves (the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324) without turning off the power to the liquid material discharge device 501. Here, it is preferable that the pressure adjustment control device 212 or the discharge control device 322 has a function to stop the supply of electricity to the discharge valves (the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324).

[0103] 20A and 20B are plan views illustrating a specific example of the supply stop valve 550 of this embodiment, where (A) shows the supply stop valve 550 in a first position, and (B) shows the supply stop valve 550 in a second position. Note that in Fig. 20B, the holding member 325 and the discharge control device 322 are depicted in a simplified form.

[0104] The supply stop valve 550 includes a cock 550a, an input port 550b, an exhaust port 550c, and an output port 550d. When the supply stop valve 550 is in the first position shown in FIG. 20A, the cock 550a is in a locked position overlapping the housing cover 820b. When the supply stop valve 550 is in the second position shown in FIG. 20B, the cock 550a is in an unlocked position not overlapping the housing cover 820b. By employing a locking mechanism for the housing cover 820b using the rotating cock 550a, the supply stop valve 550 can be reliably placed in the second position during discharge valve replacement. This prevents accidents such as accidentally removing the discharge valves (the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324) while pressurized gas is being supplied to them, which could result in pressurized gas spraying out from the sealing surface between the base 325a and the mounting member 325b.

[0105] The second housing 820 is configured to include a main body case 820a and a housing cover 820b, and the housing cover 820b is removable. As shown in FIG. 20B , removing the housing cover 820b, which functions as a lid, reveals the holding member 325 and discharge control device 322 housed in the main body case 820a. Here, a configuration may be adopted in which a second holding member is provided on the housing cover 820b to hold the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324, and when the housing cover 820b is attached to the main body case 820a, the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324 are attached to the holding member 325, and when the housing cover 820b is removed from the main body case 820a, the switching valve 323 and the exhaust valve 324 are removed from the holding member 325.

[0106] In the liquid material discharging device 501 of the sixth embodiment described above, the buffer tank 440 and the supply stop valve 550 are located outside the second housing 820, allowing the second housing 820 to be lightweight and compact. In this embodiment, too, the retaining member 325, which unitizes the discharge valves while suppressing a drop in the primary pressure of the switching valve 323, reduces the labor required to replace the discharge valves, which are consumable parts. Furthermore, by returning the pressure inside the retaining member 325 to atmospheric pressure using the supply stop valve 550 before replacing the discharge valve, accidents such as the release of pressurized gas can be prevented. Furthermore, the supply stop valve 550 and the second housing 820 equipped with the locking mechanism shown in FIG. 20B prevent the mistake of starting the replacement process while pressurized gas is still being supplied to the discharge valve.

[0107] Seventh Embodiment The liquid material discharge device of the seventh embodiment shown in FIG. 21 differs from the third embodiment shown in FIG. 7 mainly in that a second housing 920 is attached to a flow path member 900. Hereinafter, elements common to the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described again. The second housing 920 of the seventh embodiment houses a discharge control device (not shown), a switching valve (not shown), an exhaust valve (not shown), a pressure gauge (not shown), and an attachment member (not shown) inside the case. The discharge valve is an air-operated solenoid valve. The attachment member has an air-operated flow path, an exhaust flow path, a discharge flow path, and a pressure measurement flow path, and includes an externally exposed contact surface 920a. The discharge control device in the second housing 920 is the discharge control device 222 shown in FIG. 7 and is connected to the pressure regulation control device 212 in the first housing 210 via a signal cable (not shown).

[0108] The flow path member 900 is detachably fixed to the side surface of the movable head 606 so that the abutment surface 900a faces horizontally. The flow path member 900 is connected to the pressure regulator 111 via an air tube 50, and to the negative pressure generator 213 via an air tube 252. As shown in Fig. 21(A) , a second housing 920 is detachably attached to the flow path member 900 and fixed by a fixture (not shown). A seal member is provided on the portion of the flow path member 900 that contacts the second housing 920 (or on the portion of the second housing 920 that contacts the flow path member 900).

[0109] 21(B), the flow path member 900 has an abutment surface 900a that abuts against an abutment surface 920a of the mounting member of the second housing 920. When the second housing 920 is mounted on the flow path member 900, the flow paths formed in the mounting member and the flow paths of the flow path member 900 are airtightly connected. In Fig. 21, reference numerals 901 and 908 denote air-operated flow paths, reference numeral 902 denotes an exhaust flow path, reference numerals 903 and 905 denote discharge flow paths connecting the discharge valve and the storage section 30, reference numeral 904 denotes a pressure measurement flow path connecting the pressure gauge and the storage section 30, reference numeral 906 denotes a pressurized gas flow path connecting the discharge valve and the pressure regulating device, and reference numeral 907 denotes a negative pressure flow path connecting the discharge valve and the negative pressure generating device.

[0110] The second housing 920 of the seventh embodiment can be removed from the flow path member 900 to replace the discharge valve, improving the workability of replacing the discharge valve. The second housing 920 itself may be replaced as a consumable part. While an air-operated solenoid valve is used in this embodiment, if an electrically operated solenoid valve is used, the air-operated flow paths 901 and 908 do not need to be provided. Furthermore, in a configuration without a pressure gauge, the pressure measurement flow path 904 connecting the pressure gauge and the reservoir 30 does not need to be provided. Therefore, the minimum number of flow paths formed in the flow path member are a first flow path connecting the gas supply path and the input port of the discharge valve, a second flow path connecting the reservoir and the output port of the discharge valve, and a third flow path connecting the atmosphere and the exhaust port of the discharge valve.

[0111] <First Modification> In a flow path member 910 according to a first modification of the seventh embodiment, the abutment surface 910a is disposed on the upper surface. That is, the flow path member 910 is detachably fixed to the side surface of the movable head 606 so that the abutment surface 910a faces upward (see FIG. 22A). The flow path member 910 has the same flow paths as the flow path member 900. In FIG. 22B, only the air operation flow path 911, the exhaust flow path 912, the discharge flow paths 913 and 915, and the pressure measurement flow path 914 are shown.

[0112] The second housing 920 shown in Fig. 22 is the same as the second housing 920 shown in Fig. 21. The second housing 920 of the first modified example can also be removed from the flow path member 910 to replace the discharge valve, which improves the workability of replacing the discharge valve.

[0113] Eighth Embodiment A liquid material application apparatus 1002 according to an eighth embodiment shown in Figure 23 includes a second liquid material discharge device 1401 in addition to a liquid material discharge device 401. Hereinafter, for ease of explanation, the liquid material discharge device 401 will be referred to as the first liquid material discharge device 401. Since the first liquid material discharge device 401 has the same configuration as the fifth embodiment shown in Figure 15, the same reference numerals will be used for common elements and explanations will be omitted. Pressurized gas is supplied to the pressure regulator 111 and negative pressure regulator 214 of the first liquid material discharge device 401 from a first branch flow path 42 branching off from an air supply pipe 41.

[0114] The second liquid material discharging apparatus 1401 has the same configuration as the liquid material discharging apparatus 401. The components of the second liquid material discharging apparatus 1401 are assigned reference numerals that are the same as the components of the first liquid material discharging apparatus 401 but increased by 1000. For example, reference numeral 1111 denotes a pressure regulator, and reference numeral 1323 denotes a switching valve. Pressurized gas is supplied to the pressure regulator 111 and negative pressure regulator 214 of the liquid material discharging apparatus 1401 from a second branch flow path 43 branching off from the air supply pipe 41. In the second liquid material discharging apparatus 1401 as well, the discharge valves (1323, 1324) can be easily replaced by attaching and detaching the mounting member 1325b to the base 1325a, and the risk of incorrect piping connections can also be significantly reduced.

[0115] The pressure regulation control device 212 and the discharge control device 322 of the first liquid material discharge device 401 and the pressure regulation control device 1212 and the discharge control device 1322 of the second liquid material discharge device 1401 perform device control individually. The liquid material A discharged from the first liquid material discharge device 401 and the liquid material B discharged from the second liquid material discharge device 1401 may be the same or different. When applying the same liquid material, it can be used, for example, in applications where the same liquid material is applied to multiple chips on a substrate on which a large number of identical chips are arranged. When applying different liquid materials, it can be used, for example, in applications where a first liquid material is applied to the same chip and then a second liquid material is applied.

[0116] 23 , the devices arranged in the first housing 1210 of the second liquid material discharging device 1401 may be housed in the same case as the first housing 210 of the first liquid material discharging device 401. When the first housing 210 and the first housing 1210 are configured in a single case, the pressure adjustment control device 212 and the pressure adjustment control device 1212 may be configured as the same physical device, and pressure adjustment control of the first liquid material discharging device 401 and the second liquid material discharging device 1401 may be achieved by software.

[0117] 24 , the second housing 420 of the first liquid material discharging device 401 and the second housing 1420 of the second liquid material discharging device 1401 are arranged side by side on a first surface 710a extending in the horizontal direction of the attachment 710, and are detachably fixed by a fixture 711. Furthermore, the second surface 710b extending in the vertical direction of the attachment 710 abuts against the side surface of the movable head 606, and is detachably fixed by a fixture 712. The discharge valve, which is a consumable part, may be replaced by replacing the second housing 420 and the second housing 1420 themselves.

[0118] Movable head 606 is disposed on bridge 605 provided with X-axis member 601 shown in Figure 2, and is movable in the X direction (along the first movement axis). Z-axis member 1603 is mounted on the front surface (side surface on the Y axis) of movable head 606 so as to be movable in the Z direction (along the second movement axis). Z-axis member 1603 is provided with holders 1604a and 1604b to which first storage section 30 and second storage section 1030 can be detachably attached.

[0119] The liquid material application device 1002 of the eighth embodiment described above can reduce the number of steps required to replace the discharge valves (323, 324, 1323, 1324), which are consumable parts, in a configuration including the first reservoir 30 and the second reservoir 1030. A configuration including multiple liquid material discharge devices with the same configuration, as in this embodiment, can be applied not only to the fifth embodiment, but also to the first to fourth embodiments, the sixth to seventh embodiments, and the respective modified examples of the first to seventh embodiments.

[0120] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Various modifications and improvements can be made to the above-described embodiments, and such modifications and improvements are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0121] For example, the discharge control device (122, 222, 322) may be provided with an operation management function that measures the number of operations or the operating time of the discharge valve, and if the number of operations or the operating time exceeds a set value, sends a notification signal to a display device or an external terminal to prompt replacement of the discharge valve.

[0122] Furthermore, a unique individual number may be assigned to each discharge valve, and an individual management function may be provided in which the discharge control device (122, 222, 322) identifies the individual number of the discharge valve and manages the number of operations or the operating time for each individual number. This makes it possible to execute the above-mentioned operation management function even when a used discharge valve is reused or when a discharge valve scheduled for disposal is mistakenly re-installed. The operation management function and the individual management function are applicable to any of the first to eighth embodiments.

[0123] Furthermore, in the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 19, the buffer tank 440 and the supply stop valve 550 are arranged on the flow path (50a to 50c) connecting the first housing 210 and the second housing 820, but if there is not a high demand for the buffer tank to suppress pressure reduction, the buffer tank 440 and the supply stop valve 550 may be arranged inside the first housing 210.

[0124] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,101,201,301,401,501...Liquid material discharge device 2...Liquid material application device 10,110,210...First housing 11,111...Pressure adjustment device 12...Control device 13...Wiring 14,114...Signal cable 20,120,220,320,420,520,620,720,820,920...Second housing 21,121...Discharge valve 30...Storage section 40...Pressurized gas supply source 50-52...Air tube 61...Air joint (upstream side) 62...Air joint (downstream side) 63...Cable joint (upstream side) 64...Cable joint (downstream side) 112,212...Pressure adjustment control device 122,222,322...Discharge control device 213...Negative pressure generating device 214...Negative pressure regulator 215...Vacuum ejector 216, 252, 253...Air tube 217...Exhaust port 223, 323...Switching valve 224, 324...Exhaust valve 325, 425, 625, 725...Holding member 326, 426, 626, 726...Fixing device 327...Pressure gauge 600...Robot 601...X-axis member 602...Y-axis member 603, 1603...Z-axis member 604...Frame 605...Bridge 606...Movable head 607...Support 608...Internal robot flow path 609...Internal robot signal line 610, 710...Attachment 611, 711...Fixing device 612, 712...Fixing device 621...Pressing member 622...Joint 900, 910... Flow path members 1002... Liquid material application device 1401... Second liquid material discharge device T... Work table W... Work

Claims

1. A liquid material discharging device that communicates with a nozzle and supplies pressurized gas to a storage unit mounted on a robot, comprising: a pressure regulating device that regulates the pressurized gas supplied from a pressurized gas supply source to a desired pressure; a discharge valve that switches between communication between the pressure regulating device and the storage unit and blocking communication; a gas supply path that communicates between the pressure regulating device and the discharge valve; and a first housing that houses the pressure regulating device, and further comprising a second housing that is physically separate from the first housing and detachably houses the discharge valve.

2. The liquid material discharging device according to claim 1, wherein the gas supply path is at least partially flexible so that the relative positions of the first housing and the second housing can be changed.

3. The liquid material discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the outlet end of said gas supply path communicating with said pressure regulator is provided with a detachable joint.

4. The liquid material ejection device described in claim 1, characterized in that the gas supply path comprises a first gas supply path communicating with the pressure regulating device and a second gas supply path communicating with the second housing, the first gas supply path and the second gas supply path being connected via an air fitting, the air fitting comprising an upstream fitting having an on-off valve and a downstream fitting detachably connected to the upstream fitting, the on-off valve opening when the upstream fitting and the downstream fitting are connected, and the on-off valve closing when the upstream fitting and the downstream fitting are separated.

5. The liquid material discharging device according to claim 1, characterized in that the discharge valve comprises an input port communicating with the gas supply path, an output port communicating with the reservoir, and an exhaust port, and further comprises a discharge control device that controls the operation of the discharge valve.

6. The liquid material discharging device according to claim 5, wherein the discharge control device is installed inside the second housing.

7. The liquid material discharge device according to claim 5, further comprising a flow path member attached to the robot and to which the second housing is detachably attached, the flow path member comprising: a first flow path connecting the gas supply path and the input port of the discharge valve; a second flow path connecting the storage section and the output port of the discharge valve; and a third flow path connecting the atmosphere and the exhaust port of the discharge valve, wherein when the second housing is attached to the flow path member, the first to third flow paths are airtightly connected to each port of the discharge valve.

8. A liquid material discharge device as described in claim 1, further comprising a negative pressure generating device, wherein the discharge valve is configured to include a switching valve that switches between a first position that connects the storage section to the pressure adjusting device and a second position that connects the storage section to the negative pressure generating device, and an exhaust valve that switches between connecting and blocking communication between the storage section and the atmosphere.

9. The liquid material discharging device according to claim 8, wherein the negative pressure generating device is installed inside the first housing.

10. The liquid material discharge device according to claim 9, wherein a pressure adjusting control device for controlling the operation of said negative pressure generating device and said pressure adjusting device is installed inside said first housing.

11. A liquid material ejection device as described in claim 8, further comprising a holding member to which the switching valve and the exhaust valve are detachably attached, the holding member comprising a first flow path that connects the pressure regulating device and the storage section via the switching valve, and a second flow path that connects the exhaust valve and the storage section.

12. A liquid material ejection device as described in claim 11, characterized in that the holding member is connected to the negative pressure generating device via a negative pressure supply path that is at least partially flexible, and both the gas supply path and the negative pressure supply path are at least partially flexible so that the relative positions of the first housing and the second housing can be changed.

13. The liquid material ejection device described in claim 11, characterized in that the holding member is configured to include a base that houses the ejection valve and an attachment member that is detachably attached to the base, the attachment member holds the switching valve and the exhaust valve, and when the attachment member is attached to the base, the switching valve and the exhaust valve are connected to the base.

14. A liquid material ejection device as described in claim 13, characterized in that the base has a base-side flow path that communicates with the switching valve and the exhaust valve, the mounting member has a mounting member-side flow path that communicates with the switching valve and the exhaust valve, and when the mounting member is attached to the base, the base-side flow path and the mounting member-side flow path are connected to each other.

15. The liquid material ejection device described in claim 14, characterized in that the base has a base-side connector connected to the switching valve and the exhaust valve via a signal cable, the mounting member has a mounting member-side connector connected to the switching valve and the exhaust valve via a signal cable, and when the mounting member is attached to the base, the base-side connector and the mounting member-side connector are connected.

16. The liquid material discharge device according to claim 1, further comprising a buffer tank for storing pressurized gas whose pressure has been adjusted by the pressure adjusting device, on a flow path connecting the pressure adjusting device and the discharge valve.

17. The liquid material discharge device according to claim 11, wherein a buffer tank for storing pressurized gas whose pressure is adjusted by the pressure adjusting device is provided in the first flow path.

18. A liquid material discharge device as described in claim 16, further comprising a supply stop valve provided on a flow path connecting the discharge valve and the buffer tank, the supply stop valve having a first position that connects the discharge valve and the buffer tank and a second position that cuts off the connection between the discharge valve and the buffer tank.

19. The liquid material ejection device described in claim 18, wherein the supply stop valve is a three-way valve having an input port, an exhaust port, and an output port, and in the first position, the input port is connected to the output port and the communication with the exhaust port is blocked, and in the second position, the output port is connected to the exhaust port and the communication with the input port is blocked.

20. The liquid material discharging device according to claim 18, wherein the supply stop valve and the buffer tank are housed within the first housing.

21. The liquid material ejection device described in claim 18, characterized in that the second housing is configured to include a main body case and a cover, and the supply stop valve is equipped with a locking mechanism that allows the cover to be opened only when it is in the second position.

22. The liquid material discharging device according to claim 16, wherein the buffer tank is housed within the second housing.

23. A liquid material discharging device as described in claim 5, further comprising a pressure gauge for measuring the air pressure in the flow path connecting the storage section and the discharge valve, and the discharge control device corrects the operation timing of the discharge valve based on the measurement value of the pressure gauge.

24. A liquid material ejection device as described in claim 23, characterized in that the ejection control device corrects the operation timing of the ejection valve so as to reduce changes in the ejection amount that occur due to differences in the remaining amount of liquid material in the storage section.

25. The liquid material discharging device according to claim 1, further comprising a connector or attachment for attaching the second housing to the robot.

26. The liquid material discharging device according to claim 1, wherein a pressure adjusting control device for controlling the operation of said pressure adjusting device is installed in said first housing.

27. The liquid material discharging device according to claim 1, wherein a control device for controlling the operation of the pressure adjusting device and the discharging valve is installed inside the first housing.

28. A liquid material application device comprising: a liquid material ejection device according to any one of claims 1 to 27; a movable head having a holder for holding the storage section; and a robot for moving the movable head and an object to be applied relatively, wherein the second housing is detachably attached to the movable head.

29. The liquid material application device described in claim 28, characterized in that the robot has at least a first movement axis and a second movement axis, the movable head moves along the first movement axis, and the holder moves along the second movement axis.

30. The liquid material application device described in claim 29, wherein the second housing is installed on a first side of the movable head on the first operating axis, and the holder is installed on a second side of the movable head on the second operating axis.

31. A liquid material application device as described in claim 28, comprising a bridge on which the first operating axis is provided and a plurality of pillars supporting the bridge, wherein the plurality of pillars includes a pillar on which an internal robot flow path that constitutes part of the gas supply path is formed.

32. The liquid material application device according to claim 28, wherein the reservoir is a syringe with the nozzle attached to its tip, and the syringe and the discharge valve are connected via an air tube that is at least partially flexible.

33. A liquid material application device comprising: a first liquid material discharge device comprising the liquid material discharge device described in claim 25; a second liquid material discharge device comprising the liquid material discharge device described in claim 25; a movable head having a holder that holds a first reservoir from which the first liquid material discharge device supplies pressurized gas and a second reservoir from which the second liquid material discharge device supplies pressurized gas; and a robot that moves the movable head relative to an object to be coated, wherein the second housing of the first liquid material discharge device and the second housing of the second liquid material discharge device are detachably installed on the movable head via the connector or the attachment.

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