JP2001286813A - Applying method of coloring agent - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and precisely determined the angle of an ink-jet head corresponding to the resolution of a color filter at the time of forming a color filter by applying the coloring agent on a substrate having black matrix by an ink-jet process. SOLUTION: In an applying method of the coloring agent on a substrate 1 having black matrix placed on a stage 3 movable in the x-y direction by discharging the coloring agent from the ink-jet head 4, a CCD camera 5 is determined to the stage 3 to photograph at least >=2 orifices of the ink-jet head 4 while moving the stage 3 by a distance integer times the pitch width of the black matrix in the x-direction and by a distance converted from the x-direction moving distance and the head angle in the y-direction, the dislocation of the orifice is detected to be converted to the deviation of the angle of the ink-jet head 4 and the angle is corrected by calculating the adjusting angle for the deviation of the angle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of color filters used in liquid crystal color displays and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technique for manufacturing a color filter by applying a colorant onto a substrate by an ink jet method. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A color filter for liquid crystal has a structure in which three colors of red, green and blue are arranged in a mosaic or stripe shape on a transparent substrate such as glass, and each boundary is partitioned by a black matrix. ing. Conventionally, various methods have been adopted as a method for manufacturing this color filter. However, there is no method that has advantages and disadvantages, is low in cost, and has excellent pixel forming ability. For these reasons, a method of arranging three colored layers on a substrate by an ink jet method has recently been adopted as a method with low cost and good pixel forming ability.

The method of manufacturing a color filter by the ink-jet method uses an ink-jet head having a plurality of orifices, and discharges a colorant while moving the ink-jet head relatively to the substrate so as to apply the colorant to the substrate. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a method of forming a colored layer by using a coating apparatus incorporating the ink jet head.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral G denotes a substrate to be coated placed on a stage S, and a coating apparatus having a plurality of ink-jet heads is moved relative to the substrate G so that a color material is formed. Is applied in a line. That is, the eight ink jet heads Hr on the left side discharge a colorant for red, and are attached to a frame (not shown) so that a plurality of orifices in each ink jet head Hr are continuous in the width direction of the substrate G. . Similarly, the central eight coating heads Hg
Is for discharging a colorant for green, is attached to a frame (not shown), and a plurality of orifices in each ink jet head Hg are continuous in the width direction of the substrate. Similarly, the eight inkjet heads Hb on the right eject blue colorants, are mounted on a frame (not shown), and a plurality of orifices in each inkjet head Hb are continuous in the width direction of the substrate. I have. Accordingly, the three colorants are applied in a single application step by moving the inkjet heads integrally with the substrate while discharging the colorants from the plurality of orifices.

A colorant is discharged from an ink jet head,
In order to form a colored layer on a substrate by using the coloring agent, the following three methods can be roughly divided.

The method shown in FIG. 2 is a method of providing a partition. In this method, first, as shown in FIG. 2A, a partition 12 made of a linear resin black matrix is formed on a substrate 11, and an upper portion 12a of the partition 12 is subjected to a water-repellent treatment or the like. Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, the colorant 14 is applied from the inkjet head 13 into the partition 12. Since the colorant 14 is prevented from being diffused by the partition 12, the partition 1 on the substrate 11 as shown in FIG.
The colored layer 15 is formed between the two.

The method shown in FIG. 3 is a method of providing an absorbing layer. In this method, first, as shown in FIG. 3A, a linear resin black matrix 22 is formed on a substrate 21, and an ink absorbing layer 23 is formed so as to cover the matrix.
Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, exposure is performed through a mask 24 to cure the upper portion 23a of the black matrix 22 so that the black matrix 22 loses absorptivity. Then, as shown in FIG. From 25, a colorant 26 is applied to the ink absorbing layer 23. Since the coloring agent 26 soaks into the ink absorption layer 23, a coloring layer 27 is formed between the black matrices 22 on the substrate 21.

The method shown in FIG. 4 is a photocatalytic method. In this method, first, as shown in FIG. 4A, a linear resin black matrix 32 is formed on a substrate 31, and a photocatalyst layer 33 is formed so as to cover the matrix. Then, FIG.
As shown in (b), by performing the exposure through the mask 34, the wettability of the portion 33a other than the upper portion of the black matrix 32 is changed to make the black matrix 32 super-hydrophilic. Subsequently, FIG.
As shown in (c), when the colorant 36 is applied to the photocatalyst layer 33 from the inkjet head 35, the colorant 36 is collected only on the photocatalyst layer 33 having changed wettability.
1 between the black matrixes 32 on the colored layer 37
Is formed.

[0009]

In the above-described method for applying a colorant using an ink jet head, the angle of the ink jet head is changed in order to correspond to the resolution of the color filter. The head angle adjustment is set to a fixed value obtained by calculation. However, in such a method, a positional shift occurs due to the accuracy of the angle adjusting jig and the mounting position accuracy due to the unique shape of each inkjet head. Therefore, it is necessary to draw once on the substrate with the black matrix, measure the deviation, and apply the correction.

The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and an object of the present invention is to prepare a color filter by applying a colorant to a substrate with a black matrix by an ink jet method.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for applying a colorant, which can easily and accurately determine the angle of an ink jet head according to the resolution of a color filter.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a black matrix mounted on a stage movable in xy directions using an ink jet head having a large number of orifices arranged in a line. In the method of applying a colorant to be applied on the substrate by discharging the colorant from the inkjet head to the substrate with a CCD camera, the CCD camera is fixed to the stage, and the stage is moved at a pitch of a black matrix in the x direction. By moving at least two orifices of the inkjet head while detecting a displacement of the orifice in the y direction while moving by a distance calculated from the moving distance in the X direction and the head angle in the y direction, and detecting the displacement of the orifice, Angle shift, and adjust the angle by correcting the angle shift. It is characterized in that.

In the above coating method, instead of photographing the orifice with a CCD camera, a plurality of alignment marks centered on an extension of the center of the orifice and located at both ends of the head are provided on the orifice plate of the ink jet head. Alternatively, at least two or more alignment marks may be photographed, and the positional deviation of the alignment marks may be detected to convert the angular deviation of the inkjet head.

[0013]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view showing a positional relationship between a substrate with a black matrix mounted on a stage and an ink jet head. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a substrate with a black matrix, which is set at a predetermined position on a stage 3 by positioning pins 2. The stage 3 is movable, and can move in the x direction and the y direction with respect to the fixed inkjet head 4. Reference numeral 5 in the figure denotes a CCD camera, which is fixed to the stage 3 in a fixed state.

The procedure for determining the angle of the ink jet head 4 with respect to the substrate 1 with the black matrix when the ink jet head 4 is replaced or when the substrate 1 with the black matrix having a different production lot is used is as follows.

First, as shown in FIG. 6, the stage 3 is moved to the position A below the ink jet head 4, and
One orifice is photographed by the camera 5. Then, the position coordinates of the first orifice are measured.

Next, the stage 3 is moved in the x direction in accordance with an integral multiple of the pitch width of the black matrix, and the amount of movement in the y direction is converted based on the amount of movement in the x direction and the angle of the ink jet head 4 to move the stage 3. Move by that amount in the y direction. For example, as shown in FIG.
To the B position. Then, the position coordinates of the orifice projected on the CCD camera 5 are measured, and the deviation from the position coordinates of the first orifice is calculated. Thereafter, an adjustment angle for the deviation is calculated, and the angle of the inkjet head 4 is adjusted.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the CCD monitor screens Ma and Mb at different positions are checked, and the position coordinates of the orifice a are shifted (X,
If there is Y), the adjustment angle for the deviation is set to the personal computer 6.
, And an instruction to adjust the angle of the inkjet head 4 may be issued.

As described above, the angle of the ink jet head 4 can be adjusted by detecting the deviation of the position coordinates between the two orifices. However, as shown in FIG.
May be performed for three or more orifices, for example, by adding the C position. In the case where two orifices are used, it is desirable to select orifices that are as far apart as possible.

By adjusting the angle of the inkjet head 4 in this manner, the colorant can be applied to the substrate without causing a positional shift due to the angle of the inkjet head.

In the above description, the case where the orifice is photographed by the CCD camera has been described. As another method, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the orifice plate 4a of the ink jet head is placed on the extension line of the center of the orifice a. Alignment marks 7 are provided at both ends of the head, and these alignment marks 7 are photographed. By detecting the displacement of the alignment mark 7, the angle displacement of the inkjet head is converted. It may be.

[0022]

As described above, the present invention uses an ink-jet head having a large number of orifices arranged in a line and applies the ink-jet head to a substrate with a black matrix mounted on a stage movable in xy directions. In the method of applying a color material, which is applied in a line on the substrate by discharging the color material from an inkjet head, a CCD camera is fixed to the stage, and the stage is an integer of a pitch width of a black matrix in the x direction. By photographing two or more orifices of the inkjet head while moving in the y direction by a distance calculated from the moving distance in the X direction and the head angle in the y direction, and detecting the misalignment of the orifice, the angular misalignment of the inkjet head is determined. By converting the angle and calculating the adjustment angle for the angle deviation, the angle is corrected. , Without wasting a black matrix with the substrate, it is possible to easily and accurately determine the angle of the ink jet head corresponding to the color filter resolution.

Instead of photographing the orifice with a CCD camera, a plurality of alignment marks are provided on the orifice plate of the ink-jet head, each having a center on an extension of the center of the orifice and located at both ends of the head. If the above-described alignment mark is photographed and the angle deviation of the ink jet head is converted by detecting the positional deviation of the alignment mark, it is possible to easily perform photographing regardless of the size of the orifice size.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a three-color simultaneous coating method performed by using a coating apparatus incorporating an inkjet head.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing one method of forming a colored layer on a substrate by discharging a colorant from an inkjet head.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing another method of forming a colored layer on a substrate by discharging a colorant from an inkjet head.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing still another method of forming a colored layer on a substrate by discharging a colorant from an ink jet head.

FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view showing a positional relationship between a substrate with a black matrix mounted on a stage and an ink jet head.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the stage is moved with respect to the inkjet head to photograph an orifice.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing how to adjust the angle of the inkjet head.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing an orifice plate of an ink jet head provided with an alignment mark.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 substrate with black matrix 2 positioning pin 3 stage 4 inkjet head 4a orifice plate 5 CCD camera 6 personal computer 7 alignment mark 11 substrate 12 partition wall 13 inkjet head 14 colorant 15 coloring layer 21 substrate 22 black matrix 23 ink absorption layer 24 mask 25 inkjet Head 26 Colorant 27 Colored layer 31 Substrate 32 Black matrix 33 Photocatalyst layer 34 Mask 35 Inkjet head 36 Colorant 37 Colored layer

Claims (2)

[Claims] An ink jet head having a large number of orifices arranged in a line is used to discharge a colorant from the ink jet head to a substrate with a black matrix mounted on a stage movable in the xy directions. In the method of applying a colorant to be applied on the substrate, a CCD camera is fixed to the stage, and the stage is moved in the x direction by a distance that is an integral multiple of the pitch width of the black matrix, and in the y direction, the movement distance in the X direction. At least two orifices of the ink jet head are photographed while moving by the distance converted from the head angle, and the angle shift of the ink jet head is converted by detecting the position shift of the orifice, and the adjustment angle for the angle shift is calculated. A method for applying a colorant, wherein angle correction is performed by using a colorant. 2. The coating method according to claim 1, wherein C
Instead of photographing the orifice with a CD camera, a plurality of alignment marks are provided on the orifice plate of the ink jet head, the alignment marks being centered on an extension of the center of the orifice and located at both ends of the head, and at least two or more alignment marks are provided. A method of applying a colorant, wherein the method is adapted to convert the angle shift of the ink jet head by detecting the position shift of the alignment mark by photographing the image.