Patent Publication Number: US-11654450-B2

Title: Application needle member, application needle member assembly, application member, and application apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is the U.S. National Phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/JP2019/032628, filed on Aug. 21, 2019, which claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-162874, dated Aug. 31, 2018, the entire contents of each are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an application needle member, an application needle member assembly, an application member, and an application apparatus, and more specifically to an application needle member, an application needle member assembly, an application member, and an application apparatus capable of suppressing contamination in an operation of applying a material. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In recent years, electronic devices are multi-functioned, miniaturized and functionally advanced, and accordingly, quartz resonators and other similar electronic components and electrodes are increasingly miniaturized in size. Accordingly, when mounting an electronic component such as a quartz resonator, applying an electrically conductive liquid material finely and thickly is required. While fine patterns are formed generally in methods such as printing and ink-jetting, in addition thereto, a method using an application needle is also one option. The method using an application needle enables fine application using materials in a wide range of viscosity. 
     An application apparatus which applies a liquid material with an application needle is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-112577 (PTL 1). The application apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-112577 includes an application mechanism supported by an XYZ stage. In the application mechanism, a movable portion and an application needle reciprocate in the direction Z as a cam operates. The application needle is immersed in a liquid material stored in an application material container, and thus has a surface with the liquid material adhering thereto. When the application needle reciprocates in the direction Z, the liquid material adhering to the surface of the application needle is applied to an object. According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-112577, an application needle fixing plate having the application needle bonded thereto is supported by a spring so as to be movable in one direction. This reduces or prevent damage caused to the tip of the application needle or the object as a high-speed operation is performed and the object is pressed in. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     PTL 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-112577 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-112577, the application needle fixing plate and the application needle are integrally formed. That is, according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-112577, the application needle fixed to the application needle fixing plate cannot be replaced alone. Therefore, the application needle must be used to apply a liquid material of a type different from a liquid material previously applied with the same application needle. In this case, a liquid material of a type different from a liquid material to be applied may be introduced into the application needle, that is, contamination may arise. 
     In order to suppress such contamination, the application needle may have the liquid material manually wiped off in advance with a solvent such as acetone. The application needle may also be sterilized in advance with ethanol, an autoclave or the like. These methods, however, impair working efficiency. 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above issue. An object of the present invention is to provide an application needle member, an application needle member assembly, an application member, and an application apparatus capable of eliminating contamination while suppressing reduction in working efficiency. 
     Solution to Problem 
     According to the present disclosure, an application needle member is an application needle member capable of applying a liquid material to an object, and comprises an application needle and an application needle insertion material. The application needle includes a tip facing the object and a bottom opposite to the tip. The application needle insertion material is attached to the bottom of the application needle. The application needle insertion material is configured to be detachably attachable to a fixing member. 
     According to the present disclosure, an application needle member assembly comprises the application needle member and an application needle case. The application needle case is attached to the application needle member while accommodating the application needle therein. 
     According to the present disclosure, an application member comprises an application needle holder and a base body. The base body detachably holds the application needle holder. The application needle holder includes a main body portion and an application needle member. The application needle member is detachably attached to the main body portion. 
     According to the present disclosure, an application apparatus comprises the application member and a holding table. The holding table holds an object to which a liquid material is applied with the application needle member. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     Thus, when the type of liquid material to be applied is changed to another, the application needle member can be removed from the fixing member and replaced to prevent contamination while suppressing reduction in working efficiency. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    schematically shows an application apparatus according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    schematically shows an application mechanism of the application apparatus shown in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    schematically shows a configuration of an application needle holder shown in  FIG.  2    according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic cross section of a first exemplary manner of attaching together an application needle, an application needle insertion material, and an application needle fixing plate shown in  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic cross section of a second exemplary manner of attaching together the application needle, the application needle insertion material, and the application needle fixing plate shown in  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic cross section of a third exemplary manner of attaching together the application needle, the application needle insertion material, and the application needle fixing plate shown in  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic cross section of a fourth exemplary manner of attaching together the application needle, the application needle insertion material, and the application needle fixing plate shown in  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  8    schematically shows a base body of the application mechanism shown in  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  9    is a schematic diagram also showing an application needle case to be attached to the application needle of the application needle holder of  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  10    is a schematic cross section of a first exemplary state before the application needle case is attached to the application needle member in the present embodiment. 
         FIG.  11    is a schematic cross section of a second exemplary state before the application needle case is attached to the application needle member in the present embodiment. 
         FIG.  12    is a schematic cross section of a third exemplary state before the application needle case is attached to the application needle member in the present embodiment. 
         FIG.  13    is a schematic cross section of a fourth exemplary state before the application needle case is attached to the application needle member in the present embodiment. 
         FIG.  14    is a schematic cross section of a first exemplary manner of attaching the  FIG.  10    application needle member and application needle case together. 
         FIG.  15    is a schematic cross section of a second exemplary manner of attaching the  FIG.  11    application needle member and application needle case together. 
         FIG.  16    is a schematic cross section of a third exemplary manner of attaching the  FIG.  12    application needle member and application needle case together. 
         FIG.  17    is a schematic cross section of a fourth exemplary manner of attaching the  FIG.  13    application needle member and application needle case together. 
         FIG.  18    schematically shows a configuration of an application needle holder according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG.  19    is a schematic cross section of a manner of attaching together an application needle member and an application needle case shown in  FIG.  18   . 
         FIG.  20    schematically shows a configuration of an application needle holder according to a third embodiment. 
         FIG.  21    is a schematic cross section of a manner of attaching together an application needle member and an application needle case shown in  FIG.  20   . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the figures, identical or equivalent components are identically denoted and will not be described redundantly. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG.  1    schematically shows an application apparatus according to the present embodiment. The application apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG.  1   . For the sake of convenience, directions X, Y and Z are introduced. Referring to  FIG.  1   , the application apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention mainly comprises: a process chamber; a Y-axis table  2 , an X-axis table  1 , a Z-axis table  3 , an application mechanism  4  as an application member, an observation optical system  6 , and a CCD camera  7  connected to observation optical system  6 , which are arranged inside the process chamber, and a control unit. The control unit includes a monitor  9 , a control computer  10 , and a console panel  8 . 
     In the process chamber, Y-axis table  2  is placed above the floor of the process chamber. Y-axis table  2  is movable along the Y-axis. Specifically, a guide unit is placed on the lower surface of Y-axis table  2 . The guide unit is slidably connected to a guide rail placed on the floor of the process chamber. A ball screw is connected to the lower surface of Y-axis table  2 . The ball screw can be operated by a drive member such as a motor to cause Y-axis table  2  to move along the guide rail (along the Y-axis). Y-axis table  2  has an upper surface serving as a mount surface on which a substrate  5 , which is an object to be processed, is mounted. Accordingly, Y-axis table  2  functions as a holding table to hold an object to which a liquid material is applied, or substrate  5 . 
     X-axis table  1  is placed above Y-axis table  2 . X-axis table  1  is disposed on a structure placed over and extending across Y-axis table  2  along the X-axis. X-axis table  1  is provided with a moving body to which Z-axis table  3  is connected, and the moving body is disposed to be movable along the X-axis. The moving body is movable along the X-axis by means of a ball screw for example. X-axis table  1  is fixed to the floor of the process chamber via the aforementioned structure. Therefore, Y-axis table  2  is movable along the Y-axis with respect to X-axis table  1 . 
     On the moving body connected to X-axis table  1 , Z-axis table  3  is placed as described above. To Z-axis table  3 , observation optical system  6  and application mechanism  4  are connected. Observation optical system  6  is provided for observing an application position of substrate  5  to which a material is applied. CCD camera  7  converts an observed image into an electrical signal. Z-axis table  3  holds observation optical system  6  and application mechanism  4  so that they are movable along the Z-axis. 
     Control computer  10  and console panel  8  for controlling Y-axis table  2 , X-axis table  1 , Z-axis table  3 , observation optical system  6 , and application mechanism  4 , as well as monitor  9  associated with control computer  10  are placed outside the process chamber. Monitor  9  displays image data converted by CCD camera  7 , data output from control computer  10 , and the like. Console panel  8  is used for entering instructions to control computer  10 . 
       FIG.  2    schematically shows an application mechanism of the application apparatus shown in  FIG.  1   . Referring to  FIG.  2   , application mechanism  4  of the present embodiment mainly includes a servomotor  41 , a cam  43 , a bearing  44  held in contact with a cam surface of cam  43 , a cam coupling plate  45 , a movable portion  46 , a movable base  35  holding an application needle holder  20 , and an application material container  21 . Application needle holder  20  is detachably attachable to movable base  35 . In other words, movable base  35  as a base body detachably holds application needle holder  20 . 
     In application mechanism  4 , servo motor  41  is placed so that its central axis extends along the Z-axis shown in  FIG.  1   . Cam  43  is connected to a rotational shaft of servo motor  41 . Cam  43  is rotatable about the central axis of servo motor  41 . Cam  43  includes a central portion connected to the rotational shaft of servo motor  41 , and a flange portion connected to one end of the central portion. The flange portion has an upper surface (a surface facing servomotor  41 ) serving as a cam surface. This cam surface is formed in an annular shape along the outer periphery of the central portion, and is formed to slope so that the distance from the bottom surface of the flange portion to the cam surface varies. Specifically, the cam surface includes: an upper-end flat region (having a large thickness) where the distance from the bottom surface is the largest distance; a lower-end flat region located at a distance from the upper-end flat region; and a slope portion smoothly connecting the upper-end flat region and the lower-end flat region together. The lower-end flat region is a region (having a small thickness) where the distance from the bottom surface is the smallest distance. 
     Bearing  44  is disposed to contact the cam surface of cam  43 . Cam coupling plate  45  is connected to bearing  44 . Cam coupling plate  45  has one end connected to bearing  44  and the other, opposite end fixed to movable portion  46 . Movable base  35  as a base body is connected to movable portion  46 . Application needle holder  20  is placed on movable base  35 . Application needle holder  20  includes application needle  24 . Application needle  24  can apply a liquid material to the object or substrate  5 . Application needle  24  is disposed to protrude from the lower surface of application needle holder  20  (from the lower side opposite to the side where servomotor  41  is located). Under application needle holder  20 , application material container  21  is disposed. Application needle  24  is inserted in application material container  21  and thus held. 
     A fixing pin is fixed to movable portion  46 . Another fixing pin is fixed to a pedestal holding servo motor  41 . A spring is placed to connect one fixing pin to the other fixing pin. On movable portion  46 , a force in the direction toward application material container  21  is exerted by the spring. The force exerted by the spring causes bearing  44  to be kept pressed against the cam surface of cam  43 . 
     Movable portion  46  and movable base  35  are connected to a linear guide placed on the pedestal that holds servo motor  41 , and are movable along the Z-axis. 
     In application mechanism  4 , servo motor  41  is driven to rotate the rotational shaft of servo motor  41  and thereby rotate cam  43 . As a result, the position along Z-axis of bearing  44  that is in contact with the cam surface of cam  43  varies as the rotational shaft of servo motor  41  rotates. As bearing  44  positionally varies along the Z-axis, movable portion  46  and movable base  35  move along the Z-axis, and application needle  24  can thus be positionally changed along the Z-axis. 
       FIG.  3    schematically shows a configuration of the application needle holder shown in  FIG.  2    according to the first embodiment. In  FIG.  3   , for the sake convenience, each member included in the application needle holder is shown in an exploded manner. Referring to  FIG.  3   , application needle holder  20  mainly includes a holder base  22  and a holder lid  23  as a casing, and an application needle fixing plate  25  as a fixing member to which application needle  24  is fixed. Inside holder base  22 , a recess is formed for accommodating application needle fixing plate  25  with application needle  24  connected thereto. In other words, application needle fixing plate  25  is disposed inside the casing composed of holder base  22  and holder lid  23 . Application needle  24  has a tip by which a liquid material is applied to an object, and an end portion opposite to the tip in a direction in which application needle  24  extends (i.e., the direction Z shown in FIG.  3 ) (that is, an end portion on the side of the bottom of application needle  24 ), and application needle fixing plate  25  is fixed to the opposite end portion. Application needle fixing plate  25  detachably fixes application needle  24 . 
     More specifically, an application needle insertion material  241  is attached to an end portion of application needle  24  located on a side opposite, as seen in the direction in which application needle  24  extends (i.e., the direction Z shown in  FIG.  3   ), to a side where the liquid material is applied to the object (that is, on the side of the bottom of application needle  24 ). Application needle  24  and application needle insertion material  241  configure an application needle member. Application needle insertion material  241  is a cap-shaped member attached to the end portion of application needle  24  on the side of the bottom thereof. Application needle insertion material  241  is a member formed so as to externally cover a surface of the bottom of application needle  24 . Application needle insertion material  241  is for example a cylindrical member. Application needle insertion material  241  has a hollow portion capable of accommodating a portion of the bottom of application needle  24 . The hollow portion is preferably cylindrically shaped, for example, so as to be fittable to the external shape of application needle  24 . The end portion of the bottom of application needle  24  is inserted into the hollow portion, for example. In this state, application needle insertion material  241  is attached to application needle  24 . From a different point of view, the above-described application needle member is an application needle member capable of applying a liquid material to an object, and includes application needle  24  and application needle insertion material  241 . Application needle  24  includes a tip facing the object and a bottom located opposite to the tip. Application needle insertion material  241  is attached to the bottom of application needle  24 . As will be described hereinafter, application needle insertion material  241  is configured to be detachably attachable to application needle fixing plate  25  serving as a fixing member. Further, application mechanism  4  as an application member shown in  FIG.  2    includes application needle holder  20  and movable base  35  serving as a base body. Movable base  35  detachably holds application needle holder  20 . Application needle holder  20  includes: a main body portion including holder base  22 , holder lid  23  and application needle fixing plate  25 ; and an application needle member including application needle  24  and application needle insertion material  241 . Holder base  22  and holder lid  23  configure a casing. That is, the main body portion includes the casing and application needle fixing plate  25  serving as a fixing member. Application needle fixing plate  25  is disposed inside the casing. The application needle member including application needle  24  and application needle insertion material  241  is detachably attached to the main body portion. More specifically, application needle insertion material  241  is detachably attached to application needle fixing plate  25 . 
     When application needle insertion material  241  is cut along a cross section intersecting a direction in which it extends (i.e., a cross section along the XY plane in  FIG.  3   ), application needle insertion material  241  preferably has a cross-sectional area sufficiently larger than that of application needle  24 . Application needle insertion material  241  has an outer diameter sufficiently larger than the diameter of application needle  24 . 
     Application needle insertion material  241  configuring the application needle member is detachably attached to application needle fixing plate  25 . That is, application needle insertion material  241  is disposed such that at least a portion thereof is embedded in an opening of application needle fixing plate  25 . The opening is formed in an end portion of application needle fixing plate  25 . In that state, application needle insertion material  241  is attached to application needle fixing plate  25 . That is, application needle insertion material  241  and application needle fixing plate  25  are fixed together such that an inner circumferential surface of the opening of application needle fixing plate  25  is in contact with an external circumferential surface of application needle insertion material  241 . 
     Specifically, application needle insertion material  241  is attached to application needle fixing plate  25  in the following manner.  FIG.  4    is a schematic cross section of a first exemplary manner of attaching together the application needle, application needle insertion material, and application needle fixing plate shown in  FIG.  3   . Referring to  FIG.  4   , in the first example, application needle insertion material  241  and application needle fixing plate  25  are press-fitted so that, at an attachment portion  2411  that is an interface where the inner circumferential surface of the opening of application needle fixing plate  25  and the external circumferential surface of application needle insertion material  241  contact each other, the external circumferential surface of application needle insertion material  241  presses the inner circumferential surface of application needle fixing plate  25  and thus causes frictional resistance, which allows application needle insertion material  241  and application needle fixing plate  25  to be attached together. Application needle  24  is fixed such that application needle  24  has the bottom inserted into the opening formed in an end portion of application needle insertion material  241 . Any method can be used to fix application needle  24  to application needle insertion material  241 .  FIG.  5    is a schematic cross section of a second exemplary manner of attaching together the application needle, application needle insertion material, and application needle fixing plate shown in  FIG.  3   . Referring to  FIG.  5   , in the second example, application needle insertion material  241  and application needle fixing plate  25  are attached together at a screw portion  2412  as a male screw and a female screw are screwed together. That is, application needle insertion material  241  shown in  FIG.  5    has an extension composed of a male screw or a female screw which is formed at one end of application needle insertion material  241  opposite to the other end thereof having application needle  24  fixed thereto and configures screw portion  2412 . A small opening that receives the extension is formed at the bottom surface of the opening of application needle fixing plate  25 . A female screw or a male screw configuring screw portion  2412  is formed on the internal circumferential surface of the small opening. 
       FIG.  6    is a schematic cross section of a third exemplary manner of attaching together the application needle, application needle insertion material, and application needle fixing plate shown in  FIG.  3   . Referring to  FIG.  6   , in the third example, application needle insertion material  241  and application needle fixing plate  25  are attached together at a luer portion  2413  by a so-called luer lock system. Luer portion  2413  is a groove-shaped portion provided on an external surface of application needle insertion material  241  and an internal surface of application needle fixing plate  25 . Luer portion  2413  on the external surface of application needle insertion material  241  and luer portion  2413  formed on the internal circumferential surface of the opening of application needle fixing plate  25  interfere with each other to attach application needle insertion material  241  and application needle fixing plate  25  together. That is, application needle insertion material  241  shown in  FIG.  6    has an extension having luer portion  2413  formed at one end of application needle insertion material  241  opposite to the other end thereof having application needle  24  fixed thereto. Luer portion  2413  is formed on the internal circumferential surface of the opening of application needle fixing plate  25  at a portion facing the extension. 
       FIG.  7    is a schematic cross section of a fourth exemplary manner of attaching together the application needle, application needle insertion material, and application needle fixing plate shown in  FIG.  3   . Referring to  FIG.  7   , in the fourth example, application needle insertion material  241  and application needle fixing plate  25  are attached together at a latch portion  2414  by a so-called rotational latch system. Latch portion  2414  is a groove-shaped portion provided on an external surface of application needle insertion material  241  and an internal surface of application needle fixing plate  25 . Latch portion  2414  on the external surface of application needle insertion material  241  and latch portion  2414  formed on the internal circumferential surface of the opening of application needle fixing plate  25  are relatively rotated about their rotation axis (i.e., a direction along the Z-axis in  FIG.  3   ) and thus engaged together to attach application needle insertion material  241  and application needle fixing plate  25  together. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  4  to  7   , in the present embodiment, application needle insertion material  241  and application needle fixing plate  25  are attached together by any one selected from the group consisting of a press-fitting portion, a screw portion, a luer portion, and a latch portion. 
     In any of  FIGS.  3  to  7   , application needle insertion material  241  may be detachably attached to application needle  24 . Note, however, that application needle insertion material  241  may be attached to application needle  24  so as to be fixed thereto undetachably. When application needle insertion material  241  is fixed to application needle  24  undetachably, application needle  24  can be easily detached from fixing plate  25  by detaching application needle insertion material  241  from fixing plate  25 . When application needle insertion material  241  is detachably attached to application needle  24 , it is done so preferably by press fitting, for example. When application needle insertion material  241  is fixed to application needle  24  undetachably, it is preferably done so with an adhesive for example. 
     Application needle insertion material  241  is preferably formed of a material different from that of application needle  24 . Specifically, for example, application needle  24  is preferably formed of a generally known stainless steel material. Application needle insertion material  241  is preferably formed for example of generally known polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, or other resin materials. 
       FIG.  8    schematically shows the base body in the application mechanism shown in  FIG.  2   . Referring to  FIG.  8   , as has been described above, in application mechanism  4 , application needle holder  20  is detachably attachable to movable base  35 . Specifically, a plurality of (e.g., two) magnets are disposed on a surface of application needle holder  20  that is to face movable base  35  (i.e., a surface of holder base  22 ), although not shown. Further, as shown in  FIG.  8   , a plurality of magnets  33  (two magnets in  FIG.  8   ) are also disposed on movable base  35 . The magnets on the surface of holder base  22  and magnets  33  of movable base  35  shown in  FIG.  8    attract each other to enable application needle holder  20  to be placed on movable base  35 . Positionally adjusting the magnets on the surface of holder base  22  and magnets  33  of movable base  35  allows application needle holder  20  to be accurately positioned when application needle holder  20  is attracted to movable base  35  by a magnetic force acting between the magnets of holder base  22  and magnets  33  of movable base  35 . 
     For example, a reference surface of application needle holder  20  in the direction Z can be pressed against a reference surface  34  of movable base  35 , and a reference surface of application needle holder  20  in the direction X can be pressed against a reference surface  36  of movable base  35 . Such a state can be implemented for example by the following configuration: That is, a magnet of application needle holder  20  and a magnet of movable base  35  that face each other when application needle holder  20  is placed on movable base  35  have their relative positions adjusted. Specifically, magnets  33  of movable base  35  are set to be positionally closer to reference surfaces  34  and  36  than the magnets of application needle holder  20 . This allows a magnetic force between the magnets on the surface of application needle holder  20  and magnets  33  of movable base  35  to exert a force to attract application needle holder  20  toward reference surfaces  34  and  36  (i.e., in a direction indicated in  FIG.  8    by an arrow). As a result, application needle holder  20  can be fixed to movable base  35  with good reproducibility with high positional accuracy.  FIG.  9    is a schematic diagram also showing an application needle case to be attached to application needle  24  of the application needle holder shown in  FIG.  3   . In  FIG.  9   , for the sake of convenience, each member included in the application needle holder is shown in an exploded manner. Referring to  FIG.  9   , application needle holder  20  includes an application needle case  242  in addition to the members shown in  FIG.  3   . Application needle case  242  is a cap-shaped member that covers application needle  24  and has an end portion attached to application needle insertion material  241 . 
     Application needle case  242  is a member formed so as to externally cover a surface of a portion of application needle  24  excluding a portion thereof covered with application needle insertion material  241 . Application needle case  242  has, for example, a cylindrical shape extending in the direction in which application needle  24  extends. An end portion of application needle case  242  that is located on the side of the tip of application needle  24  is curved. Note, however, that application needle case  242  may have a shape close to a cone having a diameter reduced toward the tip of application needle  24 . In any case, application needle case  242  can partially or entirely accommodate application needle  24 . 
     When application needle case  242  is cut along a cross section intersecting the direction in which it extends (i.e., a cross section along the XY plane in  FIG.  3   ), application needle case  242  preferably has an internal space accommodating application needle  24  with a cross-sectional area sufficiently larger than that of application needle  24 . For example, the internal space accommodating application needle  24  preferably has a width three times or more the diameter of application needle  24 . Application needle case  242  has an external shape sufficiently larger in thickness than application needle  24 . 
     Application needle case  242  is detachably attachable to application needle  24 . More specifically, application needle case  242  is detachably attachable to the application needle member composed of application needle  24  and application needle insertion material  241 .  FIG.  10    is a schematic cross section of a first exemplary state before the application needle case is attached to the application needle member in the present embodiment.  FIG.  11    is a schematic cross section of a second exemplary state before the application needle case is attached to the application needle member in the present embodiment.  FIG.  12    is a schematic cross section of a third exemplary state before the application needle case is attached to the application needle member in the present embodiment.  FIG.  13    is a schematic cross section of a fourth exemplary state before the application needle case is attached to the application needle member in the present embodiment. Referring to  FIG.  10   , as shown in the first example, the state before application needle case  242  is attached to the application needle member composed of application needle  24  and application needle insertion material  241  is as follows: That is, when application needle case  242  is attached to the application needle member, application needle case  242  covers application needle  24  from the side of the tip of application needle  24  opposite to the bottom thereof attached to application needle insertion material  241 . Referring to  FIGS.  11 ,  12  and  13   , the second, third and fourth examples are basically similar to  FIG.  10   . In the first example shown in  FIG.  10   , application needle case  242  has an open end portion brought into contact with and thus fixed to an external circumferential surface of application needle insertion material  241 , as will be described hereinafter. Application needle case  242  has the open end portion with a smooth inner circumferential surface and application needle insertion material  241  has a smooth external circumferential surface. 
     In  FIG.  11   , a screw portion  2415  is formed on a surface of application needle insertion material  241  at a portion accommodated in application needle case  242 . Further, in  FIG.  11   , a screw portion  2421  is formed on the inner circumferential surface of application needle case  242  at a region on the side of the open end portion. One of screw portion  2415  and screw portion  2421  is a male screw, and the other is a female screw. 
     In  FIG.  12   , a lure portion  2416  is formed on a surface of application needle insertion material  241  at a portion accommodated in application needle case  242 . Further, in  FIG.  12   , a lure portion  2423  is formed on the inner circumferential surface of application needle case  242  at a region on the side of the open end portion. 
     In  FIG.  13   , a latch portion  2417  is formed on a surface of application needle insertion material  241  at a portion accommodated in application needle case  242 . Further, in  FIG.  12   , a latch portion  2424  is formed on the inner circumferential surface of application needle case  242  at a region on the side of the open end portion. 
       FIG.  14    is a schematic cross section of a first exemplary manner of attaching the  FIG.  10    application needle member and application needle case together.  FIG.  15    is a schematic cross section of a second exemplary manner of attaching the  FIG.  11    application needle member and application needle case together.  FIG.  16    is a schematic cross section of a third exemplary manner of attaching the  FIG.  12    application needle member and application needle case together.  FIG.  17    is a schematic cross section of a fourth exemplary manner of attaching the  FIG.  13    application needle member and application needle case together. Referring to  FIGS.  14  to  17   , application needle case  242  of each of  FIGS.  10  to  13    is attached to application needle insertion material  241  configuring an application needle member, as shown in  FIGS.  14  to  17   .  FIGS.  14  to  17    show a structure in which an application needle member and application needle case  242 , which serve as an application needle member assembly, are attached together. Application needle case  242  is attached to the application needle member while accommodating application needle  24  of the application needle member therein. Specifically, referring to  FIG.  14   , in the first example, application needle case  242  and application needle  24  are attached together at an attachment portion  2418  by press fitting. An end portion of application needle insertion material  241  on the side of application needle  24  is press-fitted into the open end portion of application needle case  242 . The inner circumferential surface of the open end portion of application needle case  242  and the external circumferential surface of application needle insertion material  241  at the end portion thereof on the side of application needle  24  are in contact with each other. A frictional force is generated at a press-fitting portion that is an interface where the inner circumferential surface of the open end portion of application needle case  242  and the external circumferential surface of application needle insertion material  241  at the end portion thereof on the side of application needle  24  contact each other. 
     Referring to  FIG.  15   , in the second example, application needle case  242  and application needle insertion material  241  are attached together at a screw portion  2419  formed by screwing the  FIG.  11    screw portion  2415  into the  FIG.  11    screw portion  2421 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  16   , in the third example, application needle case  242  and application needle insertion material  241  are attached together in a so-called luer lock system as the  FIG.  12    luer portion  2416  and luer portion  2423  mesh with each other. This manner is similar to luer portion  2413  shown in  FIG.  6   . That is, in  FIG.  6   , a portion corresponding to luer portion  2416  in  FIG.  12    and a portion corresponding to luer portion  2423  in  FIG.  12    are collectively shown as luer portion  2413 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  17   , in the fourth example, application needle case  242  and application needle insertion material  241  are attached together in a so-called rotational latch system as latch portions  2417  and  2424  shown in  FIG.  13    mesh with each other. This manner is similar to latch portion  2414  shown in  FIG.  7   . That is, in  FIG.  7   , a portion corresponding to latch portion  2417  in  FIG.  13    and a portion corresponding to latch portion  2424  in  FIG.  13    are collectively shown as latch portion  2414 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  14  to  17   , in the present embodiment, application needle insertion material  241  is configured such that application needle case  242  accommodating application needle  24  therein is attached thereto. Application needle insertion material  241  and application needle case  242  are attached together by any one selected from the group consisting of a press-fitting portion, a screw portion, a luer portion, and a latch portion. Further, as shown in  FIGS.  4  to  7  and  10  to  17   , application needle insertion material  241  includes a first attachment portion (attachment portion  2411  of  FIG.  4   , screw portion  2412  of  FIG.  5   , luer portion  2413  of  FIG.  6   , and latch portion  2414  of  FIG.  7   ) allowing application needle insertion material  241  to be detachably attached to application needle fixing plate  25  serving as a fixing member, and a second attachment portion (attachment portion  2418  of  FIG.  14   , screw portion  2419  of  FIG.  15   , luer portion  2413  of  FIG.  16   , and latch portion  2414  of  FIG.  17   ) allowing application needle case  242  to be attached to application needle insertion material  241 . This ensures attachment between application needle insertion material  241  and another member. 
     In the states shown in  FIGS.  14  to  17   , the application needle member composed of application needle  24  and application needle insertion material  241  with application needle case  242  attached thereto may be sterilized. For example, the application needle member is sterilized when it is used for a medical purpose or in a biochemical experiment, in particular. In that case, the sterilizing operation is performed using EOG (ethylene oxide gas), gamma rays, electron beams, or the like. Specifically, initially, the application needle member with application needle case  242  attached thereto is individually packaged. In this state, EOG is introduced into the individual package, and the individual package is sealed. Alternatively, the individually packaged application needle member with application needle case  242  attached thereto is exposed to gamma rays or electron beams. In the case of sterilization with EOG, the individual package may partially or entirely be composed of a member such as film or fiber which is permeable to a sterilizing gas such as EOG. In order to allow the sterilizing gas to come into contact with application needle  24  located inside application needle case  242 , it is preferable that application needle case  242  is previously provided with a hole for permeation of gas. 
     Normally, the application needle member composed of application needle  24  and application needle insertion material  241  is sold with application needle case  242  attached to cover application needle  24 , as shown in  FIGS.  14  to  17   . The application needle member sold in this state is attached to application needle fixing plate  25  at a customer&#39;s end. The attachment is done in a manner shown in any one of  FIGS.  4  to  7   . The application needle member attached to application needle fixing plate  25  is used with application needle case  242  removed therefrom. 
     The present embodiment has a function and effect, as described hereinafter. An application needle member comprising application needle  24  and application needle insertion material  241  according to the present embodiment is fixed to application needle fixing plate  25  of application needle holder  20 . In other words, application needle fixing plate  25  is disposed in application needle holder  20  inside a casing composed of holder base  22  and holder lid  23  according to the present embodiment. Application needle  24  is detachably attached to application needle fixing plate  25 . That is, the application needle member including application needle  24  can be removed from application needle fixing plate  25  and replaced as desired. Therefore, for example, when a plurality of different types of liquid materials are applied, the application needle member can be easily replaced for each liquid material. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to apply a plurality of types of liquid materials by using the same application needle  24 . This can suppress contamination caused when a liquid material to be applied is mixed with another type of liquid material as a plurality of types of liquid materials are applied using the same application needle  24 . Further, a cleaning operation of manually wiping a liquid material off application needle  24  with a solvent such as acetone in advance can be dispensed with. This can improve the efficiency of an operation of application using application needle  24 . 
     Note that application needle insertion material  241  is attached to application needle  24 , and application needle insertion material  241  is detachably attached to application needle fixing plate  25 . Application needle insertion material  241  and application needle fixing plate  25  are attached together by any one selected from the group consisting of attachment portion  2411  (see  FIG.  4   ) that is a press fitting portion attached by press fitting, screw portion  2412  (see  FIG.  5   ), luer portion  2413  (see  FIG.  6   ), and latch portion  2414  (see  FIG.  7   ). Therefore, application needle  24  can be easily removed from application needle fixing plate  25  and thus replaced. 
     In the present embodiment, application needle case  242  can be attached to the application needle member so as to cover application needle  24 . Herein, application needle case  242  is attached to application needle insertion material  241  configuring the application needle member. Application needle insertion material  241  and application needle case  242  are attached together by any one selected from the group consisting of attachment portion  2418  that is a press fitting portion (see  FIG.  14   ), screw portion  2419  (see  FIG.  15   ), luer portions  2416  and  2423  (see  FIGS.  12  and  16   ), and latch portions  2417  and  2424  (see  FIGS.  13  and  17   ). In replacing an application needle member including application needle  24  with another application needle member including application needle  24 , contamination caused as a foreign matter adheres to a surface of application needle  24  of the other application needle member can be suppressed. In addition, the application needle member can be replaced in a state in which application needle  24  is protected by application needle case  242 . This can suppress an accident in which an operator accidentally pricks his/her hand or the like with the tip of application needle  24  when the operator replaces the application needle member with another. 
     Second Embodiment 
       FIG.  18    schematically shows a configuration of an application needle holder according to a second embodiment.  FIG.  19    schematically shows how the application needle member and the application needle case shown in  FIG.  18    are attached together. In contrast to the schematic cross sections of  FIGS.  14  to  17   ,  FIG.  19    shows application needle case  242  with its interior indicated by a dotted line as if it were seen through. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  18  and  19   , application needle holder  20  according to the present embodiment has basically the same configuration as that of application needle holder  20  according to the first embodiment. Application needle insertion material  241  detachably attached to application needle fixing plate  25  and application needle case  242  attached to application needle insertion material  241  are also basically the same in configuration as those in the first embodiment. Accordingly, identical components are identically denoted and any feature shared with the first embodiment will not be described repeatedly. 
     Note, however, that, as shown in  FIGS.  18  and  19   , in the present embodiment, application needle insertion material  241  has at least a portion having a surface colored to provide a colored portion CLD. In this regard, the present embodiment is different in configuration from the first embodiment, which does not include such a colored portion CLD. The region of application needle insertion material  241  in which colored portion CLD is provided is a region to be inserted into the opening of application needle fixing plate  25  and fixed therein. Colored portion CLD is provided to application needle insertion material  241  on a surface of a region on a side opposite, as seen in a direction in which application needle  24  extends, to a side where a liquid material is applied, i.e., on a surface of a region on the side of the bottom of application needle  24 . In  FIG.  19   , a region of the surface of application needle insertion material  241  other than colored portion CLD is a non-colored portion NCLD. Colored portion CLD may have any color that is different from that of non-colored portion NCLD. Colored portion CLD may be a colored resin layer coating a surface of application needle insertion material  241 , or may be formed by winding a colored resin tape on application needle insertion material  241 . 
     The present embodiment has a function and effect, as described hereinafter. The present embodiment has a function and effect similar to those of the first embodiment and the following function and effect: 
     In the present embodiment, application needle insertion material  241  has at least a portion provided with colored portion CLD, as has been described above. That is, colored portion CLD is provided to application needle insertion material  241  on a surface of a region relatively close to application needle fixing plate  25 . Therefore, application needle insertion material  241  is disposed such that a portion thereof including colored portion CLD, in particular, is embedded in the opening of application needle fixing plate  25 . For example, colored portion CLD is attached through a press-fitting step to application needle fixing plate  25  at attachment portion  2411  as shown in  FIG.  4   . As a result, the user of application needle holder  20  can push application needle insertion material  241  into the opening of application needle fixing plate  25  so that application needle insertion material  241  has colored portion CLD entirely inserted into the opening of application needle fixing plate  25  to ensure that application needle insertion material  241  is fixed to application needle fixing plate  25 . 
     Third Embodiment 
       FIG.  20    schematically shows a configuration of an application needle holder according to a third embodiment.  FIG.  21    schematically shows how the application needle member and the application needle case in  FIG.  20    are attached together. As well as  FIG.  19   ,  FIG.  21    shows application needle case  242  with its interior indicated by a dotted line as if it were seen through. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  20  and  21   , application needle holder  20  according to the present embodiment has basically the same configuration as that of application needle holder  20  according to the first embodiment. Application needle insertion material  241  detachably attached to application needle fixing plate  25  and application needle case  242  attached to application needle insertion material  241  are also basically the same in configuration as those in the first embodiment. Accordingly, identical components are identically denoted and any feature shared with the first embodiment will not be described repeatedly. 
     It should be noted, however, that, as shown in  FIGS.  20  and  21   , in the present embodiment, application needle insertion material  241  has a portion provided with a flange portion TB that is larger in a size, that is, a diameter for example, (in the XY plane) intersecting a direction in which application needle insertion material  241  extends (i.e., the direction Z) than the remainder of application needle insertion material  241 . In this regard, the present embodiment is different in configuration from the first and second embodiments that do not have such a flange portion TB. 
     Flange portion TB has a diameter (or a distance from its center) in cross section preferably 1.5 times or more and 2 times or less, more preferably 1.6 times or more and 1.9 times or less, that in cross section of a region of application needle insertion material  241  excluding flange portion TB. Flange portion TB at least has only to have a maximum width larger than that of the opening of application needle fixing plate  25 . The maximum width of flange portion TB may be larger or smaller than a size (a length of one side, or a diameter) of application needle fixing plate  25  in the XY plane. 
     Flange portion TB may be disposed at a position including a central portion of application needle insertion material  241  in the direction in which application needle insertion material  241  extends (or the direction Z in  FIG.  20   ). Note, however, that this is not exclusive, and flange portion TB may be formed for example to be disposed in a region closer to the tip of application needle  24  than the central portion of application needle insertion material  241  in the direction in which application needle insertion material  241  extends. 
     The present embodiment has a function and effect, as described hereinafter. The present embodiment has a function and effect similar to those of the first embodiment and the following function and effect: 
     In the present embodiment, application needle insertion material  241  has at least a portion provided with flange portion TB, as has been described above. Accordingly, for example, application needle insertion material  241  can be attached to application needle fixing plate  25  such that a region of application needle insertion material  241  opposite, as seen at flange portion TB, to an end portion of application needle insertion material  241  having application needle  24  connected thereto is entirely accommodated in the opening of application needle fixing plate  25 . That is, flange portion TB functions as a stopper when application needle insertion material  241  is fixed to application needle fixing plate  25 . When presence of flange portion TB is compared with absence thereof, the former can suppress variation in length along the Z-axis of a region of application needle insertion material  241  inserted into the opening of application needle fixing plate  25 . 
     Note that the features of the above-described embodiments (or examples) may be combined as appropriate within a consistent range in the art. For example, the third embodiment may also be provided with colored portion CLD on a surface of application needle insertion material  241  on a side opposite to the tip of application needle  24 , as seen at flange portion TB. As well as the first embodiment, the second and third embodiments have only to attach application needle insertion material  241  and application needle fixing plate  25  together by any one selected from the group consisting of a press-fitting portion, a screw portion, a luer portion, and a latch portion. Further, as well as the first embodiment, the second and third embodiments have only to attach application needle insertion material  241  and application needle case  242  together by any one selected from the group consisting of a press-fitting portion, a screw portion, a luer portion, and a latch portion. 
     The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered as illustrative in any respect and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the above description, and is intended to include any modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the terms of the claims. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       1  X-axis table,  2  Y-axis table,  3  Z-axis table,  4  application mechanism,  5  substrate,  6  observation optical system,  7  CCD camera,  8  console panel,  9  monitor,  10  control computer,  20  application needle holder,  21  application material container,  22  holder base,  23  holder lid,  24  application needle.  25  application needle fixing plate,  33  magnet,  34 ,  36  reference surface,  35  movable base,  41  servomotor,  43  cam,  44  bearing,  45  cam coupling plate,  46  movable portion,  241  application needle insertion material,  242  application needle case,  2411  attachment portion,  2412 ,  2415 ,  2419 ,  2421  screw portion,  2413 ,  2416 ,  2423  luer portion,  2414 ,  2417 ,  2424  latch portion, CLD colored portion, NCLD non-colored portion.