Brush aging apparatus and brush aging method

A brush aging method comprising:

• introducing a brush into a chamber, the brush being a new brush;
• measuring a parameter of a protrusion of the new brush through a sensor inside the chamber;
• performing aging for the brush based on the parameter to convert the new brush into an aged brush;
• measuring the parameter of the protrusion of the aged brush through the sensor;
• determining, by using at least one processor, whether the parameter has reached a target parameter;
• when the parameter fails to reach the target parameter, performing again the aging for the aged brush based on the parameter;
• and
• when the parameter reaches the target parameter, removing the aged brush from the chamber.

A brush aging apparatus comprising:

• a chamber configured to provide a process space;
• inside the process space:
• a brush comprising a plurality of protrusions protruding in a direction perpendicular to a circumferential surface of the brush;
• a stand detachably coupled to the brush and configured to rotate the brush by taking a lengthwise direction of the brush as a rotation axis;
• an aging bar configured to abrade the plurality of protrusions, having a flat shape, and placed such that a flat surface of the aging bar faces the circumferential surface of the brush;
• a driving member coupled to a ceiling of the chamber and the aging bar and configured to move the aging bar in a vertical direction to make the aging bar come in contact with or be spaced apart from at least any one of the plurality of protrusions of the brush;
• a nozzle configured to discharge a cleaning solution to an interface where the brush contacts the aging bar;
• a sensor spaced apart from the brush and configured to measure parameters of the plurality of protrusions;
• a height adjusting member configured to adjust a location of the sensor in the vertical direction;
• and
• a rail extending in a direction parallel to the lengthwise direction of the brush and providing a path along which the sensor moves in the lengthwise direction of the brush;
• at least one processor;
• and
• memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to control pressure applied to the brush by the aging bar and rotation speed of the brush, based on the parameters of the plurality of protrusions that are measured by the sensor,
• wherein the parameters comprise at least any one of a cross-sectional area of the plurality of protrusions of the brush according to a Y-Z plane, a height of the plurality of protrusions in a protrusion direction, a degree to which edges of the plurality of protrusions are rounded, and an amount of foreign materials left on a surface of the plurality of protrusions.