Work working method and apparatus, cassette, and unit for printing apparatus

Abstract

In a working method of performing work on a workpiece, a plurality of work chambers corresponding to work steps for the workpiece are consecutively arrayed, and a cleanliness with respect to dust particles is independently controlled in each of the work chambers. The workpiece is transferred to the respective work chambers, and working is performed in each of the work chambers in which a cleanliness is maintained below a predetermined cleanliness corresponding to the type of work on the workpiece.

1 . A working method of performing working of a work, comprising the steps of: 
 maintaining a cleanliness with respect to dust particles in a work chamber in which the work is worked hierarchically in the work chamber, and    performing the working at a position at which the cleanliness is high.    
   
   
       2 . A working method of performing working of a work, comprising the steps of: 
 controlling a cleanliness with respect to dust particles independently in each work chamber, a plurality of work chambers being arrayed consecutively corresponding to work steps for the work,    transferring the work to the respective work chambers, and    performing the working in each of the work chambers in which a cleanliness is maintained below a predetermined cleanliness corresponding to a type of working of the work.    
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein a loading chamber in which a work is loaded is connected to the work chamber, and a cleanliness in the work chamber is forcibly adjusted when the work is loaded into the loading chamber.  
   
   
       4 . A working method of performing working of a work, comprising the steps of: 
 maintaining a cleanliness in a work chamber in which the work is worked,    disposing a cassette storing parts to be worked on the work so as to be connected to the work chamber,    maintaining a cleanliness in the cassette at a predetermined value, and    performing the working of the part below a predetermined cleanliness.    
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein when the cassette is connected to the work chamber, a door of the cassette is opened after the door is cleaned.  
   
   
       6 . A working apparatus for performing working of a work, comprising: 
 a work chamber in which the working is performed,    said work chamber having a cleanliness atmosphere from which dust particles have been removed by a gas flow, and the cleanliness atmosphere in which a cleanliness is maintained hierarchically.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising means for working the work at a position at which an atmosphere is maintained at a predetermined cleanliness.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein a shielding member which maintains the cleanliness at the work position is provided in said work chamber.  
   
   
       9 . A working apparatus for performing working of a work, wherein 
 a plurality of work chambers corresponding to work steps for the work are arranged, and    each of said work chambers includes means for independently maintaining a cleanliness, means for transferring the work to each work chamber, and process means for performing a process corresponding to each step in each of said work chambers.    
   
   
       10 . A working apparatus comprising: 
 a work chamber in which working of a work is performed;    means for controlling a cleanliness in said work chamber;    a cassette which can be attached/detached to/from said work chamber; and    means for guaranteeing a cleanliness in said work chamber when said cassette is connected to said work chamber.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein a mount portion in which said cassette is mounted comprises a first door which opens when said cassette is mounted, and a second door which opens when a part in said cassette is loaded into said work chamber.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising means for cleaning a door of said cassette while the first door of said work chamber is open.  
   
   
       13 . (canceled).  
   
   
       14 . A method of working a unit for a printing apparatus which discharges a liquid, comprising the steps of: 
 controlling a cleanliness with respect to dust particles in a work chamber in which the work is worked hierarchically in the work chamber, and    performing the working of a work forming the unit at a position at which the cleanliness is high so as to prevent dust particles from adhering to the unit.    
   
   
       15 . (canceled).  
   
   
       16 . A working method for a unit for a printing apparatus which prints on a carrier by discharging a liquid, comprising the steps of: 
 controlling a cleanliness of a plurality of independent work chambers corresponding to work steps for the unit which has a nozzle mounted on a substrate, and    performing the working of the unit through the plurality of independent work chambers which are controlled to have a cleanliness corresponding to the work step.    
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the nozzle is supplied from a cassette which can be connected to the work chamber, and the cassette is connected to the work chamber while a predetermined cleanliness is maintained.  
   
   
       18 . A working method of performing working of a work, wherein 
 dividing a work atmosphere for the work into a plurality of independent work regions,    maintaining the divided regions at a predetermined cleanliness, and    performing the working of the work by transferring the work from the first independent work region to the second independent work region by transfer means which reciprocally moves between the first and second work regions to receive and transfer the work.    
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein 
 the cleanliness in each of the independent work regions is controlled independently, and    the cleanliness in each of the work regions is adjusted upon transfer operation of the transfer means.