Nanofiber producing apparatus and method of producing nanofibers

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a nanofiber producing apparatus includes a portion to be deposited, an ejection unit, a power supply unit, an inspection unit and an adjusting unit. The portion to be deposited includes a first surface and a second surface. The second surface faces the first surface. The ejection unit ejects a raw material liquid toward the first surface. The power supply unit generates a potential difference between the ejection unit and the first surface. The inspection unit inspects a defect of the first surface. The adjusting unit is provided so as to face the second surface. The adjusting unit generates a potential in the second surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A nanofiber producing apparatus comprising:
 a portion to be deposited that includes a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface;   an ejection unit that ejects a raw material liquid toward the first surface;   a power supply unit that generates a potential difference between the ejection unit and the first surface;   an inspection unit that inspects a defect of the first surface; and   an adjusting unit that is provided so as to face the second surface, the adjusting unit generating a potential in the second surface.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit that controls the adjusting unit,
 wherein the control unit determines a position of the adjusting unit with respect to the portion to be deposited based on a defect signal sent from the inspection unit.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the control unit controls the ejection unit and the power supply unit, and   the control unit determines a voltage value applied from the power supply unit and an amount of the raw material liquid ejected from the ejection unit based on the defect signal sent from the inspection unit.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the control unit determines a position of the ejection unit with respect to the portion to be deposited based on the defect signal sent from the inspection unit. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a potential generated in the second surface is a potential whose polarity is opposite to that of the potential generated in the ejection unit. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting unit has a shape whose width is decreased as the adjusting unit approaches the second surface. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an end portion facing the second surface of the adjusting unit is pointed. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting unit has a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a shielding unit that is provided between the ejection unit and the first surface, the shielding unit generating a predetermined potential,
 wherein the potential generated in the shielding unit is a potential whose polarity is the same as that of the potential generated in the ejection unit.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising a control unit that controls the shielding unit, wherein the control unit determines a position of the shielding unit with respect to the portion to be deposited based on a defect signal sent from the inspection unit. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the shielding unit includes at least one circular body provided so as to surround the defect. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the shielding unit includes a pair of rectangular parallelepipeds provided so as to face each other in order to surround the defect, and   the width of the adjusting unit is approximately the same as the width between the rectangular parallelepipeds or smaller than the width between the rectangular parallelepipeds.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the ejection unit includes a plurality of nozzles, and   the apparatus further comprises a supply unit that supplies the raw material liquid to each of the plurality of nozzles.   
     
     
         14 . A nanofiber producing apparatus comprising:
 a portion to be deposited that includes a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface;   a plurality of ejection units that eject a raw material liquid toward the first surface;   a power supply unit that generates a potential difference between the plurality of ejection units and the first surface;   an inspection unit that inspects a defect of the first surface; and   a plurality of adjusting units that are provided so as to face the second surface, each of the adjusting units corresponding to each of the ejection units, the adjusting units generating a potential in the second surface.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein a potential generated in the second surface is a potential whose polarity is opposite to that of the potential generated in the plurality of ejection units. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of shielding units that are provided between the plurality of ejection units and the first surface, each of the shielding units corresponding to each of the ejection units, the shielding units generating a predetermined potential,
 wherein the potential generated in the shielding units is a potential whose polarity is the same as that of the potential generated in the plurality of ejection units.   
     
     
         17 . A method of producing nanofibers that uses a nanofiber producing apparatus which allows a power supply unit to generate a potential in an ejection unit and allows the ejection unit to eject a raw material liquid so as to deposit nanofibers on a portion to be deposited, the method comprising:
 inspecting a defect of a surface to be deposited of the portion to be deposited;   determining a voltage value applied from the power supply unit and an amount of the raw material liquid ejected from the ejection unit based on the defect; and   depositing the nanofibers on the defect by generating a potential in a surface on the opposite side of the surface to be deposited.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising determining a position of the ejection unit with respect to the portion to be deposited based on the defect. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein a potential generated in the surface on the opposite side of the surface to be deposited is a potential whose polarity is opposite to that of the potential generated in the ejection unit. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the depositing of the nanofibers on the defect includes generating a potential whose polarity is the same as that of the potential generated in the ejection unit between the ejection unit and the surface to be deposited.