Coating apparatus including nozzle cleaning mechanism and method of forming coating layer using the same

A coating apparatus, comprising:

• a nozzle having a nozzle front end configured to spray a coating solution and a head configured to store the coating solution, wherein the nozzle front end is disposed on the head, the nozzle front end has a bar shape having a first axis in a length direction of the nozzle front end such that a length of the nozzle front end is greater than a width of the nozzle front end, wherein the coating solution is sprayed through an opening in the nozzle front end extending the entire length of the nozzle front end;
• a movement axis on which the nozzle moves back and forth in a straight line in an extension direction, the nozzle is fixed to the movement axis by a rotating connection member, the rotating connection member is configured to allow the first axis of the nozzle front end to rotate between directions parallel to the movement axis and perpendicular to the movement axis while the first axis of the nozzle front end remains fixed in the Z-axis direction;
• a stage disposed under the movement axis;
• and
• a nozzle front end cleaning mechanism, which is disposed at an end of the movement axis, including a nozzle front end insertion unit defining a groove with a concave shape corresponding to the nozzle front end such that the groove has a length parallel to the extension direction, said nozzle front end insertion unit has a length direction disposed in the same direction as the movement axis, said nozzle front end insertion unit is configured to receive the nozzle front end such that when nozzle front end is disposed to be inserted into the nozzle front end insertion unit for cleaning the first axis of the nozzle front end is parallel with the movement axis;
• wherein the nozzle is fixed in a normal direction of a surface of the stage by a height of the movement axis such that a height of the nozzle over the stage is the same as a height of the nozzle over the nozzle front end cleaning mechanism,
• wherein, when the nozzle moves back and forth in the extension direction of the movement axis, the first axis of the nozzle front end is oriented perpendicular to the extension direction of the movement axis over the stage, and
• wherein, when the nozzle engages with the nozzle front end cleaning mechanism, the nozzle is rotated with respect to the movement axis so that the first axis of the nozzle front end is parallel to the extension direction of the movement axis.