Patent ID: 8037841
Filing Date: 2011-10-18
Classification: B41J,G02B

Abstract:
1. A liquid droplet ejection apparatus that performs printing processing by ejecting functional liquid from functional liquid droplet ejection heads onto a workpiece while a set table on which the workpiece is mounted and which faces a printing area moves in a scanning direction relative to the functional liquid droplet ejection heads, the liquid droplet ejection apparatus comprising: an ejection inspecting section configured to have a printing unit which is arranged on a movement locus of the set table and to which an inspection pattern is printed by inspection ejection using the functional liquid droplet ejection heads, configured to recognize the inspection pattern printed on the printing unit as an image, and configured to inspect ejection performance of the functional liquid droplet ejection heads; a workpiece alignment section configured to align the workpiece relative to the set table; a table moving section configured to move the set table in the scanning direction in the printing area and configured to move the set table in the scanning direction between the printing area and an alignment position located in a first side relative to the printing area; a unit moving section configured to move the printing unit independently of the set table, in the scanning direction between a retracted position located in a second side relative to the printing area and an inspection position located beneath the functional liquid droplet ejection heads; a controller configured to control the functional liquid droplet ejection heads, the ejection inspecting section, the table moving section, the unit moving section, and the workpiece alignment section; wherein the table moving section includes a first slider used to support the set table and a common supporting base used to support the first slider to slide in the scanning direction, and the unit moving section includes a second slider used to support the printing unit and the common supporting base used to support the second slider to slide in the scanning direction; and a periodic flushing box which is disposed on the second slider and which is used to receive functional liquid forcibly ejected from the functional liquid droplet ejection heads, wherein the controller allows alignment processing of moving the set table to the alignment position and aligning the workpiece and inspection processing of moving the printing unit to the inspection position and performing the inspection ejection and inspection of the ejection performance to be performed simultaneously.