Multi-Head Inkjet Ejection Control for Color Filter Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ink jet apparatuses face challenges in controlling ejection of liquid materials when nozzle pitches do not match the pitches of ejected portions, requiring frequent adjustments of the ink jet head and increasing complexity with more nozzles, especially when applying materials to color filter substrates or matrix display apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features multiple heads with nozzle arrays that move in the Y-axis direction relative to a stage, ensuring that nozzle arrays overlap ejected portions at integer multiples of the ejection period, allowing for easier control and alignment without needing to change the angle of the ink jet head, and allows for finer nozzle pitch settings by forming a head group with a shorter nozzle pitch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the ink jet head is tilted to match nozzle pitch with ejected portion pitch, then ejection alignment is improved, but device complexity increases due to frequent angle adjustments and carriage remanufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the ejection function into multiple independent heads (N heads), each with its own nozzle arrays. This segmentation allows each head to operate with fixed geometry while collectively covering various pitch requirements through selective activation and positioning, eliminating the need to tilt or reconfigure individual heads for different pitch scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension by arranging multiple heads in the Y-axis direction with specific spacing relationships. Instead of adjusting the tilt angle of a single head in the X-axis direction, the system uses the Y-axis dimension to position multiple heads such that their combined nozzle arrays can match various ejected portion pitches through integer multiple relationships, converting an angular adjustment problem into a positional arrangement problem.
2Productivity
If the number of nozzles is increased to cover more regions, then productivity is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the large number of nozzles into N separate heads, each containing fewer nozzles. This segmentation simplifies the control of individual heads while maintaining high overall productivity through coordinated operation of multiple heads. Each head can be controlled independently with simpler logic, avoiding the complexity of controlling a single head with a very large number of nozzles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through the integer multiple relationship between the spacing of nozzle arrays and the spacing of ejected portions. By positioning nozzle arrays at distances that are integer multiples of a base distance DA, and by moving heads at speeds that are integer multiples of a base speed, the system creates periodic synchronization patterns that simplify control logic. This periodicity allows the control system to reuse timing and positioning patterns across different heads and positions, reducing overall control complexity despite the large number of nozzles.
Data Source
AI summary
An ejecting apparatus is provided for readily controlling ejection even when the number of nozzles is increased. In each of N heads in an ejecting apparatus, DA equals a distance between a first nozzle array and a second nozzle array, and a distance between the second nozzle array in one arbitrary head of the N heads and the first nozzle array in another head adjacent to this arbitrary head in the Y-axis direction is substantially equal to an integer multiple of DA.