Coating apparatus and coating method using a coating needle to apply a liquid material to an object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11338316-B2
Application number	US-201716328488-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2017
Priority date	Aug 29, 2016
Publication date	May 24, 2022
Grant date	May 24, 2022

Abstract

A coating apparatus applies a liquid material to a surface of a target object using a coating needle. The coating apparatus includes a coating unit having a coating needle and a container to hold a liquid material, a driving device configured to move the coating needle up and down, a Z-axis table configured to move the coating unit up and down, and a controller configured to drive the driving device and the Z-axis table to perform a coating operation. The controller adjusts the coating amount of the liquid material by controlling the driving device and the Z-axis table in accordance with an operation parameter set corresponding to the coating unit attached.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A coating apparatus configured to apply a liquid material to a surface of a target object using a coating needle, the coating apparatus comprising:
a coating unit configured to be replaceable and including a container and the coating needle, the container being configured to hold the liquid material;
a first driving device configured to move the coating needle up and down;
a second driving device configured to move the coating unit up and down relative to the target object; and
a controller configured to:
acquire an operation parameter set corresponding to the coating unit attached;
control the first and second driving devices to perform a coating operation of applying the liquid material to the target object based on the operation parameter;
after applying the liquid material to the target object, acquire a coating amount of the liquid material that has been applied to the target object; and
adjust the operation parameter based on the acquired coating amount of the liquid material, wherein

the container has a bottom having a hole,
the controller is configured to apply the liquid material to the surface of the target object by moving the coating unit down using the second driving device while allowing the coating needle to protrude from the hole using the first driving device, and bringing the coating needle into contact with the target object,
the operation parameter is a push amount by which the coating unit is further moved down from a state in which the target object and the coating needle are in contact with each other,
when the coating amount is to be reduced, the controller reduces the push amount, and
when the coating amount is to be increased, the controller increases the push amount.

2. The coating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the operation parameter is a standby time in which the coating operation is on standby in a state in which the coating needle protrudes from the hole, and
when the coating amount is to be reduced, the controller extends the standby time, and
when the coating amount is to be increased, the controller shortens the standby time.

3. The coating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the operation parameter is a contact time between the target object and the coating needle, and
when the coating amount is to be reduced, the controller shortens the contact time, and
when the coating amount is to be increased, the controller extends the contact time.

4. The coating apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the operation parameter is a contact time between the target object and the coating needle, and
when the coating amount is to be reduced, the controller shortens the contact time, and
when the coating amount is to be increased, the controller extends the contact time.

5. A coating method of applying a liquid material to a surface of a target object using a coating needle in a coating apparatus,
the coating apparatus including
a coating unit configured to be replaceable and including a container and the coating needle, the container being configured to hold the liquid material,
a first driving device configured to move the coating needle up and down, and
a second driving device configured to move the coating unit up and down relative to the target object,

the coating method comprising:
acquiring an operation parameter set corresponding to the coating unit attached;
applying the liquid material to a surface of the target object by bringing the coating needle into contact with the target object using the first and second driving devices;
measuring a coating amount of the liquid material applied; and
adjusting the operation parameter based on the measured coating amount of the liquid material, wherein

the container has a bottom having a hole,
the applying of the liquid material includes applying the liquid material to the surface of the target object by moving the coating unit down using the second driving device while allowing the coating needle to protrude from the hole using the first driving device, and bringing the coating needle into contact with the target object, and
the adjusting of the operation parameter includes
reducing the push amount when the coating amount is to be reduced, and
increasing the push amount when the coating amount is to be increased.

Assignees

• Ntn Toyo Bearing Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yamanaka Akihiro

Classifications

• H10P72/0448

  Apparatus for applying a liquid, a resin, an ink or the like · CPC title

• B05C5/0225

  characterised by flow controlling means, e.g. valves, located proximate the outlet (B05C5/0258, B05C5/0275 take precedence; supply valves upstream the coating head B05C11/1036) · CPC title

• B05C1/02 Primary

  for applying liquid or other fluent material to separate articles {(B05C1/006 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B05C11/1034

  specially designed for conducting intermittent application of small quantities, e.g. drops, of coating material (B05C5/0225, B05C11/1026 take precedence) · CPC title

• B05C1/00

  Apparatus in which liquid or other fluent material is applied to the surface of the work by contact with a member carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. a porous member loaded with a liquid to be applied as a coating (B05C5/02, B05C7/00 take precedence) · CPC title