Inkjet head cleaning apparatus and inkjet printing equipment including same

An inkjet head cleaning apparatus, comprising:

• a body part having a shape corresponding to an inkjet head in which a nozzle for discharging a liquid is formed;
• a brush part formed on a first surface of the body part and having a size such that the brush part is inserted into the nozzle to remove foreign substances;
• a brush cleaning unit that cleans the brush part using a cleaning solution;
• a brush drying unit for drying the cleaning solution remaining on the brush part;
• and
• a drive unit for lifting the body part so that the dried brush part is inserted into the nozzle.

Inkjet printing equipment, comprising:

• a stage that forms a space where a substrate is treated;
• a gripper positioned on a side of the stage and configured to move in a first direction while gripping the side of the substrate;
• a gantry provided on an upper part of the stage;
• an inkjet head caused to move in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in the gantry and discharging droplets toward the substrate;
• and
• an inkjet head cleaning apparatus positioned at a first side of the stage to clean the inkjet head,
• wherein the inkjet head cleaning apparatus includes:
• a body part having a shape corresponding to the inkjet head;
• a brush part formed on a first surface of the body part and having a size such that the brush part is inserted into a nozzle to remove foreign substances;
• a brush cleaning unit that cleans the brush part using a cleaning solution;
• and
• a drive unit for lifting the body part so that the brush part is inserted into the nozzle.

A method for cleaning an inkjet head, the method comprising:

• adjusting a surface polarity of a brush part of a cleaning member;
• moving the cleaning member to be located under the inkjet head;
• lifting the cleaning member so that the brush part of the cleaning member is inserted into a nozzle of the inkjet head;
• and
• lowering the cleaning member in response to cleaning of the inkjet head being completed.