Head life evaluation apparatus and method

1 . A head life evaluation apparatus comprising:

a head block comprising at least one first nozzle for ejecting a treatment liquid in an inkjet manner; and

a chamber block detachably coupled to the head block and comprising at least one first chamber corresponding to the first nozzle to evaluate a lifespan of the first nozzle in a first environment

wherein first to n-th nozzles (where n is a natural number greater than 1) are disposed in one or more rows on a surface of the head block facing the chamber block, and

wherein first to n-th chambers provided in a concave shape to respectively correspond to the first to n-th nozzles are disposed in one or more rows on a surface of the chamber block facing the head block,

wherein the head block is an upper movable structure raised or lowered by a lifting device, and wherein the chamber block is a lower fixed structure fixed to be couplable to the head block.

2 . The head life evaluation apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a guide mounted between the head block and the chamber block to seal the at least one first chamber of the chamber block when the head block is coupled to the chamber block.

3 . The head life evaluation apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the guide is an O-ring or a sealing member.

4 . A head life evaluation method comprising:

(a) preparing a head block comprising first to n-th nozzles;

(b) coupling the head block to a chamber block such that the first to n-th nozzles respectively correspond to first to n-th chambers;

(c) creating different first to n-th environments in the first to n-th chambers; and

(d) supplying a treatment liquid simultaneously to the first to n-th nozzles in different environments for a certain period of time,

wherein, in step (c), the first to n-th chambers are differently controlled by selecting at least one of a humidity, a temperature an oxygen level a pressure and combinations thereof.

5 . The head life evaluation method of claim 4 , wherein, in step (d), the treatment liquid supplied to the first to n-th chambers is collected through a treatment liquid discharge line.

6 . The head life evaluation method of claim 4 , further comprising (e) inspecting the first to n-th nozzles by selecting at least one of visual inspection, microscopic inspection, printing inspection, cutting inspection, and combinations thereof, after step (d).

7 . A head life evaluation apparatus comprising:

a head block comprising first to n-th nozzles (where n is a natural number greater than 1) for ejecting a treatment liquid in an inkjet manner; and

a chamber block detachably coupled to the head block and comprising first to n-th chambers respectively corresponding to the first to n-th nozzles to evaluate lifespans of the first to n-th nozzles in first to n-th environments,

wherein the first or n-th chamber comprises:

a chamber body providing an inner space having an open top;

a treatment liquid discharge line mounted under the inner space;

a humidity control line for supplying humidified or dehumidified air or moisture to the inner space to maintain the inner space at a first humidity or at an n-th humidity different from the first humidity;

a temperature control device mounted on the humidity control line or the chamber body to maintain the inner space at a first temperature or at an n-th temperature different from the first temperature;

an oxygen supply device mounted on the chamber body to maintain the inner space at a first oxygen level or at an n-th oxygen level different from the first oxygen level;

a sensor comprising at least one of a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, an oxygen sensor, a pressure sensor, and combinations thereof; and

a controller for receiving a measurement signal from the sensor and applying at least one of a humidity control signal for maintaining the inner space at a certain humidity, a temperature control signal for maintaining the inner space at a certain temperature, an oxygen control signal for maintaining the inner space at a certain oxygen level, a pressure control signal for maintaining the inner space at a certain pressure, and combinations thereof selectively to at least one of the humidity control line, the temperature control device, the oxygen supply device, a pressure control line, and combinations thereof.

8 . A head life evaluation apparatus comprising:

a head block comprising at least one first nozzle for ejecting a treatment liquid in an inkjet manner; and

a chamber block detachably coupled to the head block and comprising at least one first chamber corresponding to the first nozzle to evaluate a lifespan of the first nozzle in a first environment,

wherein first to n-th nozzles (where n is a natural number greater than 1) are disposed in one or more rows on a surface of the head block facing the chamber block, and

wherein first to n-th chambers provided in a concave shape to respectively correspond to the first to n-th nozzles are disposed in one or more rows on a surface of the chamber block facing the head block,

wherein the first or n-th chamber comprises:

a chamber body providing an inner space having an open top;

a treatment liquid discharge line mounted under the inner space; and

a humidity control line for supplying humidified or dehumidified air or moisture to the inner space to maintain the inner space at a first humidity or at an n-th humidity different from the first humidity.

9 . The head life evaluation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first or n-th chamber comprises:

a chamber body providing an inner space having an open top;

a treatment liquid discharge line mounted under the inner space; and

a humidity control line for supplying humidified or dehumidified air or moisture to the inner space to maintain the inner space at a first humidity or at an n-th humidity different from the first humidity.

10 . The head life evaluation apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first or n-th chamber further comprises a temperature control device mounted on the humidity control line or the chamber body to maintain the inner space at a first temperature or at an n-th temperature different from the first temperature.

11 . The head life evaluation apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first or n-th chamber further comprises an oxygen supply device mounted on the chamber body to maintain the inner space at a first oxygen level or at an n-th oxygen level different from the first oxygen level.

12 . The head life evaluation apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first or n-th chamber further comprises a pressure control line mounted on the chamber body to maintain the inner space at a first pressure or at an n-th pressure different from the first pressure.

13 . The head life evaluation apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:

a sensor comprising at least one of a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, an oxygen sensor, a pressure sensor, and combinations thereof; and

a controller for receiving a measurement signal from the sensor and applying at least one of a humidity control signal for maintaining the inner space at a certain humidity, a temperature control signal for maintaining the inner space at a certain temperature, an oxygen control signal for maintaining the inner space at a certain oxygen level, a pressure control signal for maintaining the inner space at a certain pressure, and combinations thereof selectively to at least one of the humidity control line, a temperature control device, an oxygen supply device, a pressure control line, and combinations thereof.

14 . The head life evaluation apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the chamber body comprises a treatment liquid collector provided in a funnel shape under the inner space, and

wherein the treatment liquid collector is connected to the treatment liquid discharge line.

15 . The head life evaluation apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the treatment liquid discharge line comprises:

a treatment liquid discharge pipe connected to the chamber body;

a separation tank connected to the treatment liquid discharge pipe to separate the treatment liquid from a gas;

a drain line provided at a lower portion of the separation tank to discharge the treatment liquid;

a vacuum line provided at an upper portion of the separation tank to form a vacuum pressure in the separation tank; and

a purge line for purifying an inside of the separation tank.

16 . The head life evaluation apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first or n-th chamber further comprises a separator mounted in the chamber body to protect the first nozzle or a sensor from air or moisture.

17 . The head life evaluation apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the separator is a mesh member capable of filtering out foreign substances, or a stabilizer capable of making air flows uniform.

18 . The head life evaluation apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a treatment liquid supply device for supplying the treatment liquid simultaneously to the first to n-th nozzles.

19 . A head life evaluation apparatus comprising:

a head block comprising at least one first nozzle for ejecting a treatment liquid in an inkjet manner; and

a chamber block detachably coupled to the head block and comprising at least one first chamber corresponding to the first nozzle to evaluate a lifespan of the first nozzle in a first environment,

further comprising a guide mounted between the head block and the chamber block to seal the at least one first chamber of the chamber block when the head block is coupled to the chamber block.

20 . A head life evaluation method comprising:

(a) preparing a head block comprising first to n-th nozzles;

(b) coupling the head block to a chamber block such that the first to n-th nozzles respectively correspond to first to n-th chambers;

(c) creating different first to n-th environments in the first to n-th chambers; and

(d) supplying a treatment liquid simultaneously to the first to n-th nozzles in different environments for a certain period of time,

wherein, in step (d), the treatment liquid supplied to the first to n-th chambers is collected through a treatment liquid discharge line.