Methods and apparatus for reducing ink conglomerates during inkjet printing for flat panel display manufacturing

• US 20060185587A1
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Applied Materials Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Applied Materials Incorporated
• Inventors: Shang, Quanyuan, White, John M., Sze, Fan Cheung
• Application Number:
  US11/061,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20060185587A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 118/608
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/03 characterised by means for supplying liquid or other fluent material B05B9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17509 Whilst mounted in the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/195 for monitoring ink quality

Abstract

In a first aspect, an apparatus is provided for reducing an ink conglomerate during flat panel display manufacturing. The apparatus includes (1) an inkjet head adapted to dispense ink onto a substrate during inkjet printing; (2) an ink reservoir adapted to store ink for inkjet printing and supply the ink to the inkjet head; and (3) a conglomerate-reducing device adapted to break apart conglomerates in the ink before the ink reaches the inkjet head. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus for reducing an ink conglomerate during flat panel display manufacturing, comprising:

an inkjet head adapted to dispense ink onto a substrate during inkjet printing;

an ink reservoir adapted to store ink for inkjet printing and supply the ink to the inkjet head; and

a conglomerate-reducing device adapted to break apart conglomerates in the ink before the ink reaches the inkjet head.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conglomerate-reducing device is adapted to break apart conglomerates in the ink while the ink is in the ink reservoir.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a vacuum source adapted to provide a vacuum to the ink reservoir such that air bubbles created in the ink of the ink reservoir by the conglomerate-reducing device are removed.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conglomerate-reducing device includes a transducer, coupled to a sonic power source, and adapted to employ sonic energy to break apart conglomerates in the ink.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the transducer is inserted into or coupled to the ink reservoir.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the transducer is further adapted to employ at least one of ultrasonic and megasonic energy to break apart conglomerates in the ink.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising an ink supply line coupling the inkjet head to the ink reservoir;

wherein the transducer is inserted in or coupled to the ink supply line.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising an ink conglomerate-reducing tank coupled to the ink reservoir;

wherein;

the transducer is inserted into or coupled to the ink conglomerate-reducing tank; and

the ink conglomerate-reducing tank is adapted to;

employ the transducer to break apart conglomerates in ink stored by the ink conglomerate-reducing tank, thereby forming revitalized ink; and

transfer the revitalized ink to the ink reservoir or the inkjet head.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a vacuum source adapted to provide a vacuum to the ink conglomerate-reducing tank such that air bubbles created by the transducer in the ink of the ink conglomerate-reducing tank are removed.

10. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the transducer comprises a sonic probe.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the conglomerate-reducing device comprises a milling device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the milling device forms part of the ink reservoir.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a vacuum source adapted to provide a vacuum to the ink reservoir such that air bubbles created in the ink of the ink reservoir during milling are removed.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an ink conglomerate-reducing tank coupled to the ink reservoir;

wherein the ink conglomerate-reducing tank includes a milling device adapted to break apart conglomerates in the ink.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the ink conglomerate-reducing tank is further adapted to:

employ milling to break apart conglomerates in ink stored by the ink conglomerate-reducing tank, thereby forming revitalized ink; and

transfer the revitalized ink to the ink reservoir or the inkjet head.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a vacuum source adapted to provide a vacuum to the ink conglomerate-reducing tank such that air bubbles created in the ink of the ink conglomerate-reducing tank during milling are removed.

17. A method of reducing conglomerates in ink during flat panel display manufacturing, comprising:

transferring the ink from an ink reservoir to an inkjet head; and

breaking apart conglomerates in the ink before the ink reaches the inkjet head.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein breaking apart conglomerates in the ink is performed in the ink reservoir.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing a vacuum to the ink reservoir such that air bubbles created in the ink of the ink reservoir while breaking apart conglomerates in the ink are removed.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein breaking apart conglomerates in ink includes employing sonic energy to break apart conglomerates in the ink.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein:

transferring the ink from the ink reservoir to the inkjet head includes transferring the ink from the ink reservoir to the inkjet head via an ink supply line; and

breaking apart conglomerates in ink includes employing sonic energy in the ink supply line to break apart conglomerates in the ink.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein:

transferring the ink from the ink reservoir to the inkjet head includes transferring ink from the ink reservoir to an ink conglomerate-reducing tank; and

breaking apart conglomerates in ink includes employing sonic energy in the ink conglomerate-reducing tank to break apart conglomerates in the ink.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising providing a vacuum to the ink conglomerate-reducing tank such that air bubbles created in the ink of the ink conglomerate-reducing tank while breaking apart conglomerates in ink are removed.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising transferring the ink from the ink conglomerate-reducing tank back to the ink reservoir or to the inkjet head.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein breaking apart conglomerates in ink includes employing milling to break apart conglomerates in the ink.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising employing a vacuum to remove air bubbles created in the ink during milling.