JPH081060A - Coating device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a coating device and method capable of stably coating even a narrow portion. [Structure] An ultrasonic wave generator 20 for applying ultrasonic vibration to an outer peripheral portion of a coating fluidized portion provided with a needle at the tip to give a stirring action to a coating liquid in the coating fluidized portion, and coating in a nozzle 6a. Liquid level control measuring device 21 for measuring the height of the liquid and the distance between the nozzle 6a and the medium 5 to be coated.
And a syringe 7 as a means for adjusting the height of the coating liquid by applying a primary pressure having a magnitude corresponding to the measurement result of the liquid level control measuring device 20 in the coating fluid part, the coating fluid part and the needle. And a high speed fine movement actuator as a means for discharging a coating liquid in the needle 7 from the nozzle 6a by creating a minute space in the needle 7 by partitioning the space from the inside of the needle 7. Was set up.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coating apparatus and method capable of precisely coating a predetermined amount of a coating liquid on a work.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are a compressed air extrusion type coating device and a piston machine drive type coating device as a device for precisely and minutely applying a coating liquid to a predetermined position on a work.

Among them, the compressed air extrusion type coating device fills a component such as an injection needle at one end with a Teflon tube or the like, that is, a cylindrical container called a syringe to which a needle is attached, and then fills the coating liquid. The syringe is hermetically sealed, compressed air is sent from the other end, and the pressure causes the coating liquid to be pushed out from the tip of the needle to apply the coating liquid to a predetermined position on the medium to be coated. In this device, the gap between the needle and the medium to be coated is mechanically determined.

On the other hand, the piston mechanical drive type coating device has almost the same structure as the compressed air extrusion type coating device, but instead of compressed air, a piston whose position can be controlled by mechanical driving is used. The structure is such that the coating liquid is extruded and coated at a predetermined position on the medium to be coated. Also in this device, the gap between the needle and the medium to be coated is mechanically determined.

[0005]

However, as described above, both the compressed air extrusion type coating device and the piston mechanical drive type coating device mechanically determine the gap between the needle and the medium to be coated. However, generally, the amount of the coating liquid remaining at the tip of the needle portion differs due to the difference in the viscosity of the coating liquid, the difference in the surface tension, and the like. Therefore, if the gap is set incorrectly, the coating liquid remaining at the tip of the needle portion may be coated on an unnecessary portion of the medium to be coated, which makes it difficult to perform stable coating on a narrow portion. There was a point. Further, if the coating liquid is once filled in the syringe, the stirring operation in the syringe cannot be performed thereafter. For this reason, there is a problem that handling is difficult when coating is performed using a liquid in which the components in the coating liquid tend to precipitate and aggregate. In addition, since the syringe filled with the liquid expands slightly during pressurization for extrusion coating, even if the extrusion operation is performed, it will not be extruded correctly as much as the operation is performed, and it is difficult to perform precise quantitative application in a minute range. There was a problem to say. Further, in the case of the compressed air extrusion type coating device, it is necessary to adjust the pressure of the compressed air at any time according to the remaining amount of the liquid in the syringe in order to make the coating amount constant, which is difficult to control. was there.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a coating apparatus and method capable of stably coating even a narrow portion or the like.
Furthermore, other purposes will be clarified one after another in the content described below.

[0007]

The object of the present invention is, in the apparatus of the present invention, a coating device for discharging the coating liquid supplied into the needle from the tip of the nozzle to coat the medium to be coated. The ultrasonic nozzle for applying ultrasonic vibration to the outer periphery of a part or the whole of the coating fluid portion provided with the needle at the tip, and an ultrasonic wave generating portion for imparting a stirring action to the coating liquid in the coating fluid portion, and the nozzle. Measuring means for measuring the height of the coating liquid in the section and the distance between the nozzle section and the medium to be coated, and a primary pressurization in the coating flow section in a size corresponding to the measurement result of the measuring means. Means for adjusting the height of the coating liquid in the nozzle portion by applying, to create a minute space in the needle by partitioning between the coating flow part and the inside of the needle, in this minute space Secondary pressure Is achieved by a structure in which a means for causing a given to the coating liquid in the needle discharged from the nozzle.

Another object of the present invention is, in the method of the present invention, a coating method for discharging a coating liquid supplied into a needle from a tip of a nozzle to coat a medium to be coated, in the nozzle portion. In order to adjust the height of the coating liquid in the nozzle portion by applying a primary pressure in the coating fluidized portion in accordance with the height of the coating fluid in the, and then the coating fluidized portion by the actuator arranged in the needle Achieved by partitioning the interior of the needle to create a minute space in the needle, applying secondary pressure in the minute space, and discharging the coating liquid in the needle from the nozzle to apply. To be done.

[0009]

According to this, the pressurizing process is divided into two steps, and the final pressurization (secondary pressurization) required for coating is performed by an actuator or the like installed in the needle and is separated from the coating flow section side. Since it is carried out in the minute space, it is possible to suppress the change in the coating amount due to the expansion of other element members which may be a concern at the time of pressurization, and it is possible to perform the micro stable coating. Further, by measuring the height of the coating liquid in the nozzle portion and adjusting the height of the coating liquid in the nozzle portion by the primary pressure, quantitative coating becomes easy. Further, when ultrasonic vibration is applied to a part or all of the outer peripheral portion of the coating fluidized portion having a needle at the tip, and an ultrasonic wave generating portion for agitating the coating liquid in the coating fluidized portion is provided, The ultrasonic vibration enables continuous stirring of the coating liquid in a narrow space in the coating fluidizing section, and the sedimentation / aggregation of the liquid before coating is eliminated. At the same time, the ultrasonic vibration makes it difficult for the coating liquid to remain at the tip of the nozzle, which enables stable coating to the narrow portion.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is an overall structural layout view of a fine precision coating apparatus having a coating liquid stirring function shown as an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 indicates a coating device mount. 2 is an XYZ installed on the applicator base 1
The robot 2 is a type orthogonal robot, and the robot 2 supports a syringe mounting base 3 so as to be movable along the Z axis (vertical direction), and the first arm axis 2a.
A second arm shaft 2b that movably supports along the Y-axis (front-rear direction), and a second arm shaft 2b that movably supports the second arm shaft 2b along the X-axis (left-right direction). It is composed of three arm shafts 2c, and the syringe mounting base 3 can be moved up and down, back and forth, and left and right by the action of these first, second, and third arm shafts 2a to 2c. In addition, a medium 5 to be coated on which the coating liquid 4 is coated can be positioned and mounted on the coating apparatus base 1.
Further, a needle 6, a syringe 7 and the like are arranged on the syringe mounting base 3.

FIG. 1 shows in detail the construction of the main parts on the syringe mounting base 3. Therefore, referring to FIG. 1 in more detail, reference numeral 8 is a drive motor mounted on the syringe mounting base 3, and the drive motor 8 is preferably a pulse motor. A ball screw 9 is attached to the output shaft 8a of the drive motor 8 via a coupling 10 so as to be integrally rotatable.

Reference numeral 11 is a piston unit attached to the tip of the ball screw 9. This piston unit 11
Is a body 11a, a piston 11b projecting upward from a central portion of the upper surface of the body 11a, and a piston 11b projecting upward from positions on both left and right sides of the piston 11b on the upper surface of the body 11a. And a pair of left and right guide shafts 11c. And piston 1
A part of 1b is tightly inserted into the syringe 7 so that the piston can move, and the guide shaft 11c is attached to the syringe mounting base 3 by the syringe guide 12.
It is held so as to be movable in the vertical direction.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a flexible coating liquid transport tube, and the coating liquid 4 is injected and filled in the transport tube 13. Further, one end of the coating liquid transport tube 13 is tightly connected to the syringe 7, and the other end is tightly connected to the needle 6.

The needle 6 is provided with a nozzle 6a having a hole 15 for discharging the coating liquid 4 at its tip, and is formed of a metal material in a cylindrical shape so as not to be easily deformed. There is. A high-speed fine movement actuator 16 is arranged inside the needle 6. As shown in FIG. 4, the high-speed fine movement actuator 16 is provided so as to lie in the needle 6, and for example, a piezoelectric element or the like is used, and the shaft 1 is driven by a stepping motor (not shown).
7 is used as a fulcrum to rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. Then, when a voltage is applied from the outside, it is finely moved at a high speed, so that the needle 6 is effectively expanded or contracted to cause a volume change.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3 as a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1, the outer periphery of the coating liquid transport tube 13 completely covers the outer periphery of the coating liquid transport tube 13, and the coating liquid A flexible ultrasonic vibrating tube 18 which is also flexible is provided so as to form a double tube structure together with the transfer tube 13. Further, a part 18 a of the ultrasonic vibration tube 18 is branched and connected to an ultrasonic vibration generator 20 (see FIG. 2) arranged on the applicator base 1. In addition, a liquid 19 for ultrasonic vibration transmission is filled between the ultrasonic vibration tube 18 and the coating liquid transport tube 13 and between the ultrasonic vibration generator 20 and a portion 18a communicating with the ultrasonic vibration generator 20. When the ultrasonic vibration generator 20 is vibrated, the vibration generated here is applied to the liquid 1
It is transmitted through the inside of the needle 9 to the inside of the needle 6, and the vibration causes the coating liquid 4 inside the needle 6 to be agitated. In addition, at this time, the temperature of the coating liquid 4 is sufficiently controlled so that stirring can be effectively obtained.

Reference numeral 21 is a liquid level control measuring device which can be set by hanging down to the position of the upper surface of the medium 5 to be coated which is arranged on the coating device frame 1, and preferably a CCD camera or a laser displacement meter is used. . Reference numeral 22 denotes a reflecting mirror that can be arranged between the liquid level control measuring instrument 21 and the needle 6. The liquid level control measuring instrument 21 and the reflecting mirror 22 are used to extend the tip of the nozzle 6a of the needle 6 to the coated medium 5. And the height of the coating liquid 4 in the nozzle 6a are measured, and this data is input to the needle / medium gap measuring device 23 to control the arm axis (Z axis) 2a of the orthogonal robot 2 and the drive motor 8. Is done. The liquid level control measurement 21 and the reflecting mirror 22
Is arranged at a position apart from the medium to be coated 5 so as not to interfere with the medium 5 to be coated.

Next, the operation of this coating apparatus will be described. First, in this device, the ultrasonic vibration generator 20
Is being driven, and while the ultrasonic vibration generator 20 is being driven, the coating liquid transport tube 13 and the coating liquid 4 in the needle 6 are vibrated through the liquid 19 for transmitting ultrasonic vibration. The coating liquid 4 is kept in a state of being constantly stirred, and the components in the coating liquid 4 are controlled so as not to settle or aggregate.

The distance between the tip of the nozzle 6a of the needle 6 and the medium to be coated 5 is measured by the liquid level control measuring device 21 and the reflecting mirror 22, and from the measurement result, the first arm axis of the orthogonal robot 2 is measured. The (Z-axis) 2a is controlled, the entire syringe mounting base 3 is moved upward or downward, and the distance between the tip of the nozzle 6a of the needle 6 and the medium 5 to be coated is adjusted. Furthermore, the nozzle 6 is controlled by the liquid level control measuring instrument 21.
a liquid level height, that is, the coating liquid 4 is applied to the hole 15 of the nozzle 6a.
It is measured whether or not it has reached the lower surface, and the drive motor 8 is operated based on the measurement result to perform the primary pressurization.
Then, by this primary pressurization, the coating liquid 4 is applied to the hole 1 of the nozzle 6a.
The height of the liquid surface is changed until the lower surface of No. 5 is reached.

After that, the high-speed fine movement actuator 16 is rotated about 90 degrees from the state of FIG. 4 with the shaft 17 as a fulcrum by driving a stepping motor (not shown), and the high-speed fine movement actuator 16 is brought into a horizontal state. A micro-enclosed space partitioned from the coating liquid transport tube 13 is formed on the lower side. Further, secondary pressurization is performed by applying a voltage to the high-speed fine movement actuator 16 so that it is finely moved at high speed to effectively expand. At the same time, the second arm axis (Y axis) 2b, the third arm axis (X axis) 2c, and the first arm axis (Z axis) 2 of the orthogonal robot 2 are also included.
a is controlled so that the nozzle 6a draws a predetermined trajectory and is moved on the medium 5 to be coated while adjusting and tracking the gap between the nozzle 6a and the medium 5 to be coated. Then, the coating liquid 4 in the needle 6 is discharged minutely from the nozzle 6a in accordance with the secondary pressurization, whereby the coating liquid 4 is stably and minutely applied onto the medium 5 to be coated.

When the predetermined coating is completed, the voltage to the high-speed fine movement actuator 16 is reduced to the original volume, and is rotated 90 degrees again to the vertical state to open the minute space. Next, the drive motor 8 performs primary pressurization to replenish the coating liquid, and the coating liquid 4 is coated again.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, a structure in which ultrasonic vibration is applied to the needle 6 and the coating liquid transport tube 13 which serve as the coating and flowing portion, and ultrasonic vibration is applied to a part of the coating and flowing portion, For example, ultrasonic vibration may be applied only to the outer circumference of the needle 6.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The pressurizing process is divided into two stages, and the final pressurization (secondary pressurization) required for coating is performed by an actuator or the like installed in the needle and in a minute space that is separated from the coating flow section side. In addition, it is possible to suppress the change in the coating amount due to the expansion of other element members which is a concern during pressurization, and it is possible to perform the micro stable coating. Further, by measuring the height of the coating liquid in the nozzle portion and adjusting the height of the coating liquid in the nozzle portion by the primary pressure, quantitative coating becomes easy. Further, when ultrasonic vibration is applied to a part or all of the outer peripheral portion of the coating fluidized portion having a needle at the tip, and an ultrasonic wave generating portion for agitating the coating liquid in the coating fluidized portion is provided, In the coating flow section by ultrasonic vibration,
It is possible to continuously stir the coating liquid in a narrow space, eliminating sedimentation and aggregation of the liquid before coating. At the same time, the ultrasonic vibration makes it difficult for the coating liquid to remain at the nozzle tip,
Stable application to narrow areas is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a main part of a micro precision coating device having a coating liquid stirring function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration layout diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the device of this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Coating Device Stand 2 Cartesian Robot 4 Coating Liquid 5 Coating Medium 6 Needle 8 Drive Motor 13 Coating Liquid Conveying Tube 16 High-speed Fine-motion Actuator 18 Ultrasonic Vibration Tube 19 Ultrasonic Vibration Liquid 21 Liquid Level Control Measuring Instrument

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A coating apparatus for discharging a coating liquid supplied into a needle from a tip of a nozzle to coat a medium to be coated, wherein a part or all of a coating fluid portion provided with the needle at the tip. An ultrasonic wave generator for applying an ultrasonic vibration to the outer peripheral part of the coating fluid part to give a stirring action to the coating liquid, a height of the coating liquid in the nozzle part, the nozzle part and the medium to be coated. Measuring means for measuring the distance to the top, and applying a primary pressure of a magnitude corresponding to the measurement result of the measuring means in the coating flow part to adjust the height of the coating liquid in the nozzle part. Means for partitioning between the coating flow part and the inside of the needle to create a minute space in the needle, and applying secondary pressure in the minute space to apply the coating liquid in the needle to the nozzle. More vomiting Coating apparatus is characterized in that a means for. 2. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for applying a secondary pressure to the needle comprises a high speed fine movement actuator such as a piezoelectric element. 3. A coating device for discharging a coating liquid supplied into a needle from a tip of a nozzle to coat a medium to be coated, wherein a part or all of a coating fluid portion provided with the needle at the tip. An ultrasonic wave generator for applying an ultrasonic vibration to the outer peripheral part of the coating fluid part to give a stirring action to the coating liquid, a height of the coating liquid in the nozzle part, the nozzle part and the medium to be coated. Measuring means for measuring the distance to the top, and by applying a primary pressure of a magnitude corresponding to the measurement result of the measuring means in the coating flow part to adjust the height of the coating liquid in the needle Means for partitioning between the coating flow part and the inside of the needle to create a minute space in the needle, and applying secondary pressure in the minute space to apply the coating liquid in the needle to the nozzle. More vomiting An actuator for moving the nozzle, and a robot for moving the nozzle in the X and Y axis directions while adjusting and tracking the gap between the nozzle portion and the medium to be coated based on the measurement result of the measuring means. A coating device characterized by. 4. The coating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the actuator comprises a high speed fine movement actuator such as a piezoelectric element. 5. A coating method for coating a medium to be coated by discharging a coating liquid supplied into a needle from a tip of a nozzle, wherein a coating flow part is provided according to a height of the coating liquid in the nozzle part. The primary pressure is applied to adjust the height of the coating liquid in the nozzle portion, and thereafter the partition between the coating fluidizing portion and the needle is divided by an actuator arranged in the needle into the needle. A coating method, characterized in that a minute space is formed, a secondary pressure is applied to the minute space, and the coating liquid in the needle is discharged from the nozzle for coating. 6. A coating method for discharging a coating liquid supplied into a needle from a tip of a nozzle to coat on a medium to be coated, wherein a part or all of a coating fluid portion having the needle at the tip is provided. While applying ultrasonic vibration to the outer peripheral portion of the coating fluidized portion to give a stirring action to the coating fluid in the coating fluidized portion, a primary pressure is applied to the coating fluidized portion in accordance with the height of the coating fluid in the nozzle portion, The height of the coating liquid in the nozzle portion is adjusted, and thereafter, a fine space is created in the needle by partitioning between the coating flow portion and the inside of the needle by an actuator arranged in the needle, A secondary application of pressure is applied to the coating liquid, and the coating liquid in the needle is discharged from the nozzle for coating.