JP2004216618A - Printing apparatus, method for printing and method for manufacturing liquid crystal displaying instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a uniform transfer film thickness with less generation of blurring and breaking even when a thick film such as a seal of a liquid crystal displaying instrument is printed. <P>SOLUTION: A transfer pattern 201 of a flexographic printing plate 2 fitted on a plate cylinder is formed so as to be a rotated arrangement by a specified angle Θ to the center O of the arrangement of this transfer pattern 201 of the flexographic printing plate 2. In this transfer pattern 201, the Y side 201Y is inclined by an angle Θ to the axial direction of the flexographic printing plate 2, and the flexographic printing plate 2 on which the transfer pattern 201 is formed like this is mounted on this plate cylinder so as to fit the Y axis to the rotational axis of the plate cylinder to use it for printing. In this instance, as all the sides are inclined to the rotational axis of the plate cylinder, there is no difference between the plate release characteristics of the flexographic printing plate 2 and a sealing agent in relation to either one of the sides of the transfer pattern 201, and as the result, the pattern is transferred by a uniform thickness. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing method, and a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device used for manufacturing a device such as a liquid crystal display device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Flexographic printing is a method of printing using a letterpress having flexibility and elasticity as a printing plate and using an organic solvent-based evaporative drying ink, and various application examples of a flexographic printing apparatus are known (for example, non-printing). Patent Document 1).
[0003]
In addition, as an application to the manufacture of a liquid crystal display device of a flexographic printing apparatus, a protective film may be formed on a reflective electrode or a wiring formed on a first mother substrate, or on a protective film, a wiring, or a connection terminal. There is an example in which a flexographic printing apparatus is used to print an alignment film. In the first mother substrate printed in this manner, a seal is formed so as to surround the region where liquid crystal is to be sealed. Similarly, the second mother substrate on which the transparent electrodes and the alignment film are formed is placed through the seal. Then, a liquid crystal mother panel is formed by being bonded to the first mother substrate (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Non-patent document 1]
"Flexo Printing Directory" published by Processing Technology Research Group, November 2000 [0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2001-91918
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, conventionally, flexographic printing is often used for printing a thin film such as an alignment film of a liquid crystal display device as described above, but it is applied to printing of a thick film such as the seal of a liquid crystal display device. In this case, the print pattern whose direction coincides with the rotation axis of the plate cylinder (ie, which is perpendicular to the direction of travel of the printing medium passing through the flexographic printing apparatus) is apt to be blurred or chipped, and has a uniform thickness. There was a problem that it was difficult to obtain a transfer pattern.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, and to make it possible to transfer a thick film pattern having a uniform thickness with little occurrence of blur or chipping even when used for printing a thick film such as a seal of a liquid crystal display device. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a printing method, and a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a rotating plate cylinder, a relief plate that forms a transfer pattern and is attached to the plate cylinder, an anilox roll, a smoothing means such as a doctor blade or a doctor roll, and positioning. A printing table having a mechanism and a printing medium mounted thereon, wherein the pattern is rotated by an angle Θ such that a pattern (line) coinciding with the rotation axis of the plate cylinder does not occur in the transfer pattern formed on the relief printing plate. At the time of mounting and printing, the printing table is rotated by the same angle as the rotation angle の of the relief pattern.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention, wherein 1 is a plate cylinder, 2 is a flexographic plate, 3 is a printing medium, 4 is an anilox roll, 5 is a dispenser nozzle, and 6 is a doctor. A blade, 7 is a printing table, 8 is a positioning mechanism, 9 is a linear motion bearing, 10 is a guide rail, 11 is a camera, and 12 and 13 are rotating shafts. Here, flexographic printing will be described as an example, but the same applies to other relief printing.
[0011]
In the drawing, the left-right direction on the paper is an X-axis direction, the up-down direction is a Z-axis direction, and the direction perpendicular to the paper is a Y-axis direction. The cylindrical plate cylinder 1 is rotatably mounted on a rotation axis 12 in the Y-axis direction. On the surface of the plate cylinder 1, a print pattern to be transferred to a printing medium 3 mounted on a print table 7 is formed. The formed relief plate, here, the flexographic plate 2 is attached. An anilox roll 4 having a cylindrical shape is rotatably attached to the rotating shaft 13 in the Y-axis direction so as to rotate so as to be able to contact the flexographic plate 2 on the plate cylinder 1. A dispenser nozzle 5 is provided above the anilox roll 4 so as to be able to reciprocate in the Y-axis direction (that is, along the surface of the anilox roll 4). (Ink) is dropped. As a result, ink adheres to the surface of the anilox roll 4. The doctor blade 6 as a smoothing means provided between a position where the ink is dropped by the dispenser nozzle 5 and a position where the ink comes into contact with the plate cylinder 1 is used. The ink dropped on the surface of the anilox roll 4 is scraped off, and in a portion of the surface of the anilox roll 4 that comes into contact with the plate cylinder 1, the ink is formed into a uniform film having a predetermined thickness. In this state, ink is transferred from the surface of the anilox roll 4 to the flexographic plate 2 of the plate cylinder 1. In addition, other means such as a doctor roll can be used as the smoothing means.
[0012]
The printing table 7 on which the printing medium 3 is mounted is placed on a positioning mechanism 8, which enables positioning in the X, Y, and Z axis directions, and further, in the θ direction around the Z axis. Can also be positioned. The position of the printing medium 3 can be adjusted by the positioning mechanism 8. The positioning mechanism 8 is connected to a guide rail 10 extending through the underside of the plate cylinder 1 in the X-axis direction via a linear motion bearing 9, and the printing mechanism 3 mounted on the table 7 is moved. It can be moved in the Y-axis direction.
[0013]
Further, a video camera 11 for capturing an alignment mark provided on the printing medium 3 placed on the printing table 7 is provided above the printing table 7. The camera 11 is configured to be movable in two X- and Y-axis directions by a camera driving mechanism (not shown). An image signal captured by the camera 11 is sent to an image processing device (not shown), and processed by the image processing device to detect the position and orientation of the printing medium 3. The detection information is sent to a control device (not shown), and the position and orientation of the printing medium 3 are adjusted by controlling the positioning mechanism 8.
[0014]
Next, the operation of the printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0015]
FIG. 1 shows a preparation state before printing is started.
[0016]
In the figure, a printing medium 3 is conveyed and mounted on a printing table 7. At this time, the printing table 7 is set to the initial position and the initial posture by controlling the positioning mechanism 8 by a control device (not shown) (the initial position and the initial posture are the X, Y, Z, In the coordinate system of the θ axis, the position X = Y = Z = 0 and the angle θ = 0 °). The camera 11 captures an image of the alignment mark provided on the printing medium 3 and sends the captured image signal to an image processing device (not shown). The image processing apparatus analyzes the image signal, recognizes a shift amount of the position and orientation of the printing medium 3 on the print table 7, and shows a correction signal of a correction amount corresponding to the shift amount. Not sent to the control unit. This control device controls the positioning mechanism 8 in accordance with the correction signal, and adjusts the positions X, Y, Z and the angle θ so that the position of the printing medium 3 becomes zero so that the above-mentioned shift amount becomes zero. And correct the posture. The ink has been transferred from the anilox roll 4 to the flexographic plate 2 by the time the correction of the position and posture of the printing medium 3 is completed.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation from the end of the correction of the printing medium 3 to the start of the movement of the printing table 7 toward the plate cylinder 1 (that is, in the X-axis direction).
[0018]
In the figure, when the correction of the position and orientation of the printing medium 3 is completed, the control unit controls the positioning mechanism 8 so that the printing medium 3 is set at a height position for printing. The printing table 7 moves (that is, rises) in the Z-axis direction. At the same time, the printing table 7 moves at a position and speed synchronized with the rotational phase and the peripheral speed of the flexographic plate 2 attached to the plate cylinder 1. It moves along X in the X-axis direction.
[0019]
Then, as shown in FIG. 3, when the printing medium 3 reaches a position where printing is performed, the positioning mechanism 8 pushes up the printing table 7 in the Z-axis direction and presses the printing medium 3 against the flexographic printing plate 2 of the plate cylinder 1. In this way, the printing medium 3 moves while contacting the flexographic plate 2 while receiving an appropriate printing pressure, and the plate cylinder 1 rotates in synchronization with this, whereby the ink on the flexographic plate 2 is discharged. The image is transferred to the printing medium 3. At this time, the anilox roll 4 is separated from the surface of the plate cylinder 1. Therefore, ink is not transferred to a portion of the surface of the plate cylinder 1 other than the portion where the flexographic plate 2 is provided.
[0020]
Here, the printing pressure is applied between the printing medium 3 and the flexographic printing plate 2 by the positioning mechanism 8 of the printing table 7, but instead, when the printing medium 3 does not contact, the plate cylinder is used. 1 and the anilox roll 4 are at a position lower than the regular height position, and at the time of the above-described printing, they are lifted up by the contacting printing medium 3 and move upward, and accordingly, the plate cylinder 1 and the anilox roll 4 Thus, the printing pressure may be applied to the printing medium 3.
[0021]
When the printing is completed and the state shown in FIG. 4 is reached, as shown in FIG. 5, the printing medium 3 is carried out of the printing table 7, and the printing table 7 is further lowered and moves in the reverse direction along the guide rail 10. It returns to the position shown in FIG. 4 and 5, the plate cylinder 1 and the anilox roll 4 are separated.
[0022]
6 shows a conventional example of the flexographic printing plate 2 in FIGS. 1 to 5, wherein FIG. 6 (a) is a plan view, and FIG. 6 (b) is a section line AA of FIG. Is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 201, 201 is a transfer pattern, 201X is a pattern side in the X-axis direction (hereinafter referred to as X side), and 201Y is a pattern side in the Y-axis direction (hereinafter referred to as Y side).
[0023]
6A and 6B, the flexographic printing plate 2 is made of an elastic material, and the transfer pattern 201 is formed thereon as a relief printing plate. When the anilox roll 4 (FIGS. 1 to 5) comes into pressure contact with the transfer pattern 201, ink is transferred onto the transfer pattern 201, and the ink is transferred to the printing medium 3 in the state shown in FIG.
[0024]
Here, it is assumed that the transfer pattern 201 has a rectangular shape composed of an X side 201X and a Y side 201Y, and the direction of the Y side 201Y coincides with the rotation axis 12 of the plate cylinder 1 (FIGS. 1 to 5). And
[0025]
When such a transfer pattern 201 is transferred to the printing medium 3, conventionally, when the sealant (ink) separates from the flexographic plate 2 as compared with the X side 201X, the transfer of the flexographic plate 2 is caused by a stringing phenomenon. In some cases, the sealant transferred from the Y side 201Y of the pattern 201 to the printing medium 3 from the Y side 201Y parallel to the rotation axis 12 of the plate cylinder 1 cannot be obtained at a predetermined height and width.
[0026]
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a specific example of the flexographic printing plate 2 used in the flexographic printing apparatus according to the present invention, and portions corresponding to FIG.
[0027]
In the drawing, the flexographic printing plate 2 of this specific example is obtained by rotating the arrangement of each transfer pattern 201 with respect to the arrangement center O by a predetermined angle Θ with respect to the arrangement center O with respect to the conventional flexographic printing plate 2 shown in FIG. It is molded so as to form an array. As a result, the Y side 201Y of each transfer pattern 201 is inclined by an angle に 対 し て with respect to the rotation axis 12 of the plate cylinder 1, and the X side 201X is also (90 ° + Θ) (or (90 °)). −Θ)). The flexographic plate 2 shown in FIG. 7 on which the transfer pattern 201 is formed is attached to the plate cylinder 1 such that the Y axis is parallel to the rotation axis 12 of the plate cylinder 1.
[0028]
Here, it is most preferable that the angle Θ be set to approximately 45 ° (including 45 °) when the shape of the flexographic plate 2 is a square. This is because, when the angle is set to approximately 45 °, the vertical flexo plate 2 cannot be distinguished vertically and horizontally, so that the flexographic plate 2 is set so that the Y axis shown in FIG. Even if the transfer pattern 201 is attached to the plate cylinder 1 such that the X axis is parallel to the rotation axis 12 of the plate cylinder 1, both the X side 201 X and the Y side 201 Y of the transfer pattern 201 It is inclined at an equal angle to the rotation axis of the plate cylinder 1, that is, approximately 45 °, and the separation properties of the sealant from the flexographic plate 2 become the same between the X side 201X and the Y side 201Y. Even when the thick pattern is transferred to the printing medium 3, any side thereof can be transferred to the printing medium 3 as a film pattern having a uniform thickness.
[0029]
However, the shape of the flexographic plate 2 may be a shape other than a square such as a rectangular shape, and the angle Θ may be in the range of 30 ° to 60 °, and the X side 201X and the Y side With 201Y, the same release properties of the sealant from the flexographic plate 2 as the same can be obtained, and a transfer shape having a substantially uniform thickness can be obtained on the printing substrate 3. Although the copy pattern 201 is rectangular here, the same effect can be obtained even if the copy pattern 201 is formed in a shape other than a rectangle by making the inclination angles of the respective sides of the plate cylinder 1 from the rotation axis 12 substantially the same. Can be
[0030]
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the operation of the embodiment using the flexographic printing plate 2 shown in FIG. 7, and the portions corresponding to those in the above-mentioned drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.
[0031]
FIG. 8A shows one state of a preparatory operation for transferring a pattern to the printing medium 3, and the printing medium 3 is conveyed to the printing table 7 in the same manner as described with reference to FIG. Mounted on At this time, the printing table 7 is set to the initial position and the initial posture by controlling the positioning mechanism 8 by a control device (not shown) (the initial position and the initial posture are the X, Y, Z, In the coordinate system of the θ axis, the position X = Y = Z = 0 and the angle θ = 0 °). The camera 11 captures an image of the alignment mark provided on the printing medium 3 and sends the captured image signal to an image processing device (not shown). The image processing apparatus analyzes the image signal, recognizes a shift amount of the position and orientation of the printing medium 3 on the print table 7, and shows a correction signal of a correction amount corresponding to the shift amount. Not sent to the control unit. This control device controls the positioning mechanism 8 in accordance with the correction signal, and adjusts the positions X, Y, Z and the angle θ so that the position of the printing medium 7 is adjusted so that the above-mentioned shift amount becomes zero. And correct the posture.
[0032]
Next, as shown in FIG. 8B, the printing table 7 is rotated by the above angle Θ by operating the positioning mechanism 8. At this time, the deviation between the center of the θ-axis of the positioning mechanism 8 and the center position of the printing medium 3 precisely matches because the recognition correction has been performed in advance, and the rotation of the printing table 7 causes the position of the printing medium 3 to shift. No shift occurs. The ink has been transferred from the anilox roll 4 to the flexographic plate 2 by the time the correction of the position and posture of the printing medium 7 is completed.
[0033]
The subsequent operation is the same as that described with reference to FIGS.
[0034]
As described above, in this embodiment, the transfer pattern coinciding with the rotation axis 12 of the plate cylinder 1 can be eliminated, and no difference in the plate separation characteristics of the sealant occurs at any place of the flexographic plate. A pattern having a uniform thickness can be transferred on the printing medium 3.
[0035]
In the present invention, a transfer shape having a uniform thickness can be obtained even when the printing pressure control according to the square pattern direction disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-257505 is used.
[0036]
In one embodiment of the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention using the above-described printing method, the flat panel seal material as the ink is printed on the flat panel as the printing medium 3 to seal the flat panel. Although it is formed, the sealing material can be transferred to the flat panel with a desired uniform thickness without fading or chipping, and a desired good thick film printing can be performed.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to avoid a transfer pattern coinciding with the rotation axis of the plate cylinder, and in any pattern, there is no difference in plate separation characteristics of the sealant from the flexographic plate, It is possible to transfer a pattern having a uniform thickness.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a printing apparatus, a printing method, and a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a printing preparation state.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state from the completion of preparation for printing to the start of a printing operation in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, following FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a printing operation subsequent to FIG. 2 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state of printing completion following FIG. 3 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
5 is a diagram illustrating an operation of returning to the state shown in FIG. 1 subsequent to FIG. 4 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a conventional flexographic printing plate.
FIG. 7 is a view showing a specific example of a flexographic plate used in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5;
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the operation of the embodiment using the flexographic plate shown in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Plate cylinder 2 Flexo plate 3 Printed object 4 Anilox roll 5 Dispenser nozzle 6 Doctor blade 7 Printing table 8 Positioning mechanism 9 Linear motion bearing 10 Guide rail 11 Video camera 12, 13 Rotation axis 201 Transfer pattern 201X, 201Y Transfer pattern 201 Side

Claims (4)

A plate cylinder on which a relief having a transfer pattern formed is attached and rotated, an anilox roll for transferring ink to the relief, a doctor blade or a doctor roll for forming the ink to a uniform thickness on the anilox roll, and the like. A printing apparatus comprising: a smoothing unit, a printing table on which a printing medium is mounted, and a positioning mechanism between the printing table and the plate cylinder.
The transfer pattern is attached by rotating the transfer pattern by an angle Θ such that a pattern coincident with the rotation axis of the plate cylinder is not formed in the transfer pattern formed on the relief plate. A printing apparatus wherein the printing table is rotated by the same angle. In claim 1,
The ink to be printed is a sealant for the flat panel of the display device,
A printing apparatus, wherein the angle Θ of the transfer pattern is approximately 45 °. A plate cylinder on which a relief having a transfer pattern formed is attached and rotated, an anilox roll for transferring ink to the relief, a doctor blade or a doctor roll for forming the ink to a uniform thickness on the anilox roll, and the like. A printing method using a printing apparatus having a smoothing means, a printing table on which a printing medium is mounted, and a positioning mechanism between the printing table and the plate cylinder,
The transfer pattern is rotated by an angle Θ so that a pattern coincident with the rotation axis of the plate cylinder is not formed in the transfer pattern formed on the relief printing plate. A printing method, wherein the printing table is rotated by the same angle, and the transfer pattern formed by the relief printing is printed on the printing medium. The apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device using a printing method according to claim 3, wherein the ink to be printed is a sealing material for a flat panel, and the angle Θ is approximately 45 °.

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