Patent ID: 8001923
Filing Date: 2011-08-23
Classification: B41J,H01L

Abstract:
1. A droplet ejection apparatus for supplying some kinds of liquid materials each having a predetermined color, the predetermined color including a first color, a second color and a third color, the apparatus comprising: a head unit having at least first, second and third groups corresponding to the liquid materials of the first, second and third colors, respectively, wherein the first group includes a plurality of droplet ejection heads comprising at least a first droplet ejection head, a second droplet ejection head, a third droplet ejection head and a fourth droplet ejection head for ejecting the liquid material of the first color, each of the first to fourth droplet ejection heads including at least one nozzle array constituted from a plurality of nozzles linearly aligned, the nozzle arrays of the first to fourth droplet ejection heads being parallel to each other in a first direction parallel to each of the nozzle arrays, wherein the second droplet ejection head is arranged between the third droplet ejection head and the fourth droplet ejection head when viewed from the first direction, and the third droplet ejection head is arranged between the first droplet ejection head and the second droplet ejection head when viewed from the first direction, wherein the second group includes a plurality of droplet ejection heads comprising at least a fifth droplet ejection head, a sixth droplet ejection head, a seventh droplet ejection head and an eighth droplet ejection head for ejecting the liquid material of the second color, each of the fifth to eighth droplet ejection heads including at least one nozzle array constituted from a plurality of nozzles linearly aligned, the nozzle arrays of the fifth to eighth droplet ejection heads being parallel to each other in the first direction parallel to each of the nozzle arrays, wherein the sixth droplet ejection head is arranged between the seventh droplet ejection head and the eighth droplet ejection head when viewed from the first direction, and the seventh droplet ejection head is arranged between the fifth droplet ejection head and the sixth droplet ejection head when viewed from the first direction, wherein the third group includes a plurality of droplet ejection heads comprising at least a ninth droplet ejection head, a tenth droplet ejection head, an eleventh droplet ejection head and a twelfth droplet ejection head for ejecting the liquid material of the third color, each of the ninth to twelfth droplet ejection heads including at least one nozzle array constituted from a plurality of nozzles linearly aligned, the nozzle arrays of the ninth to twelfth droplet ejection heads being parallel to each other in the first direction parallel to each of the nozzle arrays, wherein the tenth droplet ejection head is arranged between the eleventh droplet ejection head and the twelfth droplet ejection head when viewed from the first direction, and the eleventh droplet ejection head is arranged between the ninth droplet ejection head and the tenth droplet ejection head when viewed from the first direction; a stage for supporting a base; a moving mechanism for moving the stage with respect to the head unit; and a control unit configured to control operation of the head unit and the moving mechanism so that the plurality of droplet ejection heads of the first group of the head unit eject droplets of the liquid material of the first color onto the base, the plurality of droplet ejection heads of the second group of the head unit eject droplets of the liquid material of the second color onto the base, and the plurality of droplet ejection heads of the third group of the head unit eject droplets of the liquid material of the third color onto the base while moving the stage with respect to the head unit in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein an ejection area of the first group of the head unit in the first direction includes a first sub-area, a second sub-area, and a third sub-area with the second sub-area being continuously disposed between the first sub-area and the third sub-area without a gap, wherein an ejection area of the second group of the head unit in the first direction includes a fourth sub-area, a fifth sub-area, and a sixth sub-area with the fifth sub-area being continuously disposed between the fourth sub-area and the sixth sub-area without a gap, and wherein an ejection area of the third group of the head unit in the first direction includes a seventh sub-area, an eighth sub-area, and a ninth sub-area with the eighth sub-area being continuously disposed between the seventh sub-area and the ninth sub-area without a gap, and wherein, in the first group, the plurality of droplet ejection heads are arranged on the head unit so that the nozzle array of the first droplet ejection head overlaps the nozzle array of the third droplet ejection head throughout the first sub-area when viewed from the second direction, the nozzle array of the first droplet ejection head overlaps the nozzle array of the fourth droplet ejection head throughout the second sub-area when viewed from the second direction, and the nozzle array of the second droplet ejection head overlaps the nozzle array of the fourth droplet ejection head throughout the third sub-area when viewed from the second direction, wherein, in the second group, the plurality of droplet ejection heads are arranged on the head unit so that the nozzle array of the fifth droplet ejection head overlaps the nozzle array of the seventh droplet ejection head throughout the fourth sub-area when viewed from the second direction, the nozzle array of the fifth droplet ejection head overlaps the nozzle array of the eighth droplet ejection head throughout the fifth sub-area when viewed from the second direction, and the nozzle array of the sixth droplet ejection head overlaps the nozzle array of the eighth droplet ejection head throughout the sixth sub-area when viewed from the second direction, wherein, in the third group, the plurality of droplet ejection heads are arranged on the head unit so that the nozzle array of the ninth droplet ejection head overlaps the nozzle array of the eleventh droplet ejection head throughout the seventh sub-area when viewed from the second direction, the nozzle array of the ninth droplet ejection head overlaps the nozzle array of the twelfth droplet ejection head throughout the eighth sub-area when viewed from the second direction, and the nozzle array of the tenth droplet ejection head overlaps the nozzle array of the twelfth droplet ejection head throughout the ninth sub-area when viewed from the second direction, wherein the second sub-area, the fifth sub-area and the eighth sub-area partially overlap each other when viewed from the second direction, and wherein the fourth droplet ejection head and the fifth droplet ejection head are disposed next to each other when viewed from the first direction, and the eighth droplet ejection head and the ninth droplet ejection head are disposed next to each other when viewed from the first direction.