JP2007065321A - Image forming method and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten time necessary for coating by shortening time for changing respective positions of two coating units and enabling shift of the two coating units to be controlled by one driving means and to make constitution of an image forming apparatus simple. <P>SOLUTION: Colors of ink ejected from the two coating units 6, 7 respectively are made different from each other and the two coating units 6, 7 are made in an integrally linked state and then scanning operation is performed in this linked state to form an image on a substrate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for forming an image such as a color filter of a color liquid crystal display device.

  Conventionally, when manufacturing a color filter of a color liquid crystal display device, a photolithography method using a photoresist material has been adopted, but most of the photoresist material that is a pixel material is discarded at the time of spin coating, There was a problem that the photoresist material could not be used economically. In addition, the overall work efficiency is low because the process of exposure and development is performed for each color, and expensive optical equipment such as an exposure apparatus and a development apparatus is required, which makes it impossible to reduce the cost. There is also a problem.

Therefore, in recent years, there have been attempts to obtain a color filter by printing using an inkjet technique. For example, a substrate such as a glass plate for a color filter in which black (black matrix) is applied in a pattern is applied with inks having respective pattern constituent colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). In order to be able to obtain an image that is a fine pattern of a filter, there has been proposed an image forming apparatus that performs ink coating with an inkjet head that ejects ink of each pattern constituent color (for example, Patent Document 1). In such an image forming apparatus, usually, the substrate is held on a transport table that moves in a first direction that is a coating direction so that the substrate can be moved in the first direction, and in the first direction. Scanning in which a coating unit is movably provided in a second direction that is orthogonal to the coating unit, and the coating unit is combined with relative movement in the first direction and movement in the second direction with respect to the substrate. An image such as a fine pattern is formed by ejecting ink from the inkjet head while operating.
JP 2005-049897 A

The color filter, which is a fine pattern, has a reflection type in which light passes through the pixel portion twice. In this case, since the brightness in the two-pass portion is given priority, the color reproduction range is A wide and advantageous YMC set ink is used. When the ink jet image forming apparatus is used for manufacturing this type of color filter, the colors Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) are the constituent colors of the color filter. The ink is ejected to form an image.
In addition, there is a color filter having both a portion using a color set with the RGB color coordinates and a portion using a color set with a YMC color coordinate. For example, there are both pixels of a color set in the RGB system and pixels of a color set in the YMC system, or a color portion set in the RGB system and a color set in the YMC system in one pixel. There is something to arrange the part.

  An attempt has been made to manufacture a color filter having a color portion set in the RGB system and a color portion set in the YMC system using the image forming apparatus using the inkjet method. FIG. 4 shows the image forming apparatus 1. In the image forming apparatus 1, the transport table 3 is movable on the gantry 2 in the first direction X, which is the coating direction, and the top of the transport table 3. A substrate 4 such as a glass plate for a color filter arranged in the position is moved in a state controlled in the first direction X by the transfer table 3. In addition, a gantry 5 is installed that passes a pair of horizontal portions 5a so as to cross over the moving space of the substrate 4 in a second direction Y that is a direction orthogonal to the first direction X. The gantry 5 is supported so that the two coating units 6 and 7 can move along the second direction Y.

  Each of the coating units 6 and 7 includes a plurality of ink jet heads, and ejects ink fed from an ink supply unit (not shown) under a controlled operation of each ink jet head. In addition, each of the coating units 6 and 7 includes a driving unit 8. The driving unit 8 controls the movement of the coating units 6 and 7 in the second direction Y along the horizontal portion 5 a of the gantry 5. The position, orientation, height, and the like in the first direction are adjusted based on a predetermined reference, for example, the substrate 4 arranged and fixed on the transfer table 3.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 can perform both discharge with RGB color ink and discharge with YMC color ink. The ink of YMC color ink is supplied to the ink jet head, and the ink of RGB color is supplied to the ink jet head of the other coating unit 7. Then, the coating units 6 and 7 are moved relative to the substrate 4 in the first direction X, that is, the movement of the substrate 4 along the first direction X relative to the coating units 6 and 7 that are not moved, It is controlled so as to perform a scanning operation combining the movement of the units 6 and 7 in the second direction Y. During the relative movement in the first direction X during the scanning operation, ink is ejected to the substrate 4, An image which is a filter pattern of the color filter is formed on the substrate 4.

  In order to maintain a good ink discharge state from the inkjet head in the coating units 6 and 7, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a maintenance mechanism 9 that cleans the discharge nozzles of the inkjet head. This maintenance mechanism 9 is installed on both sides of the gantry 2, and there is one maintenance mechanism 9 for each of the two coating units 6, 7, and wipes off ink stains on the discharge nozzle side of the inkjet head. Wiping unit 10, pressure suction unit 11 that pressurizes and sucks discharge nozzles to optimize the discharge nozzles in accordance with the ink, and contacts the discharge nozzles to prevent ink drying when waiting for the coating unit The capping unit 12 is composed of a drain unit 13 that receives the discharged liquid flowing out from the discharge nozzle during ink filling or cleaning, and these are integrated in a first direction X that is the same direction as the gantry 2 on both sides of the gantry 2. It is provided so that it can move along. Then, each of the coating units 6 and 7 moves to the extreme end side of the gantry 5 so as to be in the upper position of the maintenance mechanism 9 that is out of the upper region of the gantry 2 at the time when one cycle of coating is completed. The maintenance mechanism 9 moves with respect to the coating units 6 and 7 stopped at a position above the maintenance mechanism 9 to perform a cleaning operation.

However, in this image forming apparatus 1, since the two coating units 6 and 7 operate independently, there is a problem that the time for the coating operation becomes long. That is, at the point of time when the substrate is moved in the first direction X, one coating unit finishes coating the ink and moves from the position to the standby position, and then the other coating is moved to that position. Since the unit advances and ink is applied to the substrate, it takes time to change the positions of the two.
Further, the driving means 8 described above is provided in each of the coating units 6 and 7, but the driving means 8 is a complicated mechanism and is heavy, and these two heavy objects are supported by the gantry 5. In order to move independently, it is necessary to make the gantry 5 highly rigid. In addition to this, since the two maintenance mechanisms 9 are provided, there is a problem that the configuration of the entire image forming apparatus becomes complicated.
In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to reduce the time required to change the position of each of the two coating units, and to enable movement control of the two coating units with one driving means. The purpose is to shorten the time required for the image forming apparatus and to simplify the configuration of the image forming apparatus.

(Invention of Claim 1)
The invention of claim 1 has been made in consideration of the above problems, and a coating unit including a plurality of ink jet heads is relative to a first direction which is a coating direction with respect to a substrate such as a glass plate for a color filter. The coating unit can be moved in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the coating unit can be applied while performing a scanning operation combining a relative movement in the first direction and a movement in the second direction. A method of forming an image such as a fine pattern by discharging ink from an inkjet head of a processing unit onto the substrate, wherein the two coating units are divided into two colors. The image forming method is characterized in that the two coating units are integrated with each other, and the scanning operation is performed in this connection state to form an image on the substrate. A law, and provides this image forming method, it is to solve the above problems.

(Invention of Claim 2)
In the above invention, the two coating units can be connected in a direction along one of the first direction and the second direction.

(Invention of Claim 3)
Moreover, in the said invention, the ink of the three colors of R, G, B set by RGB system is discharged from the inkjet head of one coating unit among the said two coating units, and the other coating unit It is possible to eject inks of three colors Y, M, and C set in the YMC system from the inkjet head.

(Invention of Claim 4)
Another invention is to move a coating unit having a plurality of inkjet heads relative to a substrate such as a glass plate for a color filter in a first direction which is a coating direction and to be orthogonal to the first direction. Ink is applied to the substrate from the inkjet head of the coating unit while allowing the coating unit to perform a scanning operation combining the relative movement in the first direction and the movement in the second direction. An image forming apparatus for forming an image such as a fine pattern by discharging, wherein the two coating units are provided, and each of the two coating units has different colors of ink to be discharged. An image forming apparatus having a configuration in which an image is formed on a substrate by performing the scanning operation in a unitary connected state. It is intended to solve the problems.

(Invention of Claim 5)
In the above invention, the two coating units may be connected in a direction along one of the first direction and the second direction.

(Invention of Claim 6)
Moreover, in the said invention, the ink of the three colors of R, G, B set by RGB system is discharged from the inkjet head of one coating unit among the said two coating units, and the other coating unit It is possible to eject inks of three colors Y, M, and C set in the YMC system from the inkjet head.

(Effect of Claim 1)
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the two coating units operate as one body, the time required to change the position of both when coating the same region of the substrate is shortened, and the coating time as a whole is reduced. Becomes shorter. And since one drive means can move-control the two coating units united, the apparatus configuration can be simplified. Also, since there is only one driving means, it is not necessary to make the gantry itself more rigid than a gantry designed to move the two driving means independently along the second direction. Furthermore, it is possible to place two coating units on standby at the same end of the gantry, and the cleaning operation by one maintenance mechanism is performed on the two coating units at that position. Also in this respect, the configuration of the entire apparatus can be simplified.

(Effect of claim 2)
In the invention of claim 2, if the two coating units are aligned in the first direction and integrated, the two coating units can simultaneously apply ink to the substrate. If one coating unit is aligned in the second direction and integrated, the position of one coating unit can be changed to the other coating unit in a short time when the ink coating is completed. The time required for the coating work can be shortened.

(Effect of claim 3)
According to the invention of claim 3, an image having both the R, G, and B color portions set in the RGB system and the Y, M, and C color portions set in the YMC system can be obtained.

(Effect of claim 4)
According to the invention of claim 4, since the two coating units are integrated, the position of both when the two coating units are applied to the same region of the substrate by performing the coating operation in an integrated state. The time required for the change is shortened, and the coating time as a whole is shortened. And since it becomes possible to move and control one drive means for the two coating units integrated, the apparatus configuration becomes simple. Also, since there is only one driving means, it is not necessary to make the gantry itself more rigid than a gantry designed to move the two driving means independently along the second direction. Furthermore, it is possible to place two coating units on standby at the same end of the gantry, and the cleaning operation by one maintenance mechanism is performed on the two coating units at that position. Also in this respect, the configuration of the entire apparatus can be simplified.

(Effect of Claim 5)
In the invention of claim 5, if the two coating units are arranged in the first direction to be integrated, the two coating units can simultaneously apply ink to the substrate. If one coating unit is aligned in the second direction and integrated, the position of one coating unit can be changed to the other coating unit in a short time when the ink coating is completed. The time required for the coating work can be shortened.

(Effect of claim 6)
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, an image having both R, G, and B color portions set in the RGB system and Y, M, and C color portions set in the YMC system can be obtained.

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which a structure overlaps with the prior art example shown in FIG.
That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has one coating unit 6 that can discharge YMC three-color ink, which is a YMC color, from an inkjet head. The other three coating units 7 that are capable of ejecting the three colors of RGB, which are RGB colors, from the inkjet head are integrally connected so that the scanning operation can be performed in this connected state. It is.

The two coating units 6, 7 are integrated in the first direction X as shown in the figure, and the second direction Y on the horizontal portion 5 a of the gantry 5 is driven by one driving means 8. For example, when the substrate 4 moves along the first direction X, the coating units 6 and 7 stop without moving and move relative to the substrate 4. Ink is discharged from the two coating units 6 and 7 and before the movement in one direction of the substrate 4 in the first direction X is finished, before the movement in the reverse direction is started, the coating unit 6 7 is moved in the second direction Y by a necessary amount, and then the substrate 4 is moved in a state where the coating units 6 and 7 are stopped, and ink is ejected from the coating units 6 and 7. The color filter pattern is formed on the substrate 4 by performing the scanning operation To form a certain image. Note that an image to be a black mask is provided in advance on the substrate 4 that is a glass plate for a color filter.
In the above embodiment, the coating units 6 and 7 are operated together. However, if necessary, any one of the coating units may be operated to eject ink.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, the maintenance mechanism 9 is arranged on one side in the second direction Y with respect to the gantry 2, and when the coating units 6 and 7 do not perform a scanning operation, the gantry 5 It moves to the end part on the maintenance mechanism 9 side, and is provided so that the cleaning can be performed by the maintenance mechanism 9 for each of the coating units 6 and 7 at this position.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1, the two coating units 6 and 7 are arranged side by side in the direction along the first direction X and integrated, and as described above, the two coating units 6 are applied. 7 and 7 are designed to discharge ink. In this case, an example of the entire arrangement of the inkjet heads 14 in the two coating units 6 and 7 is shown in FIG. 2. In the coating unit 6, the inkjet head 14 that discharges Y, M, and C inks. However, it is arranged so that ink can be ejected to the positions determined by the colors Y, M and C of the substrate 4 moving in the first direction X. Similarly, in the coating unit 7, the inkjet head 14 that discharges R, G, and B inks is positioned at the positions determined by the R, G, and B colors of the substrate 4 that moves in the first direction X. It is arranged so that ink can be ejected.

Then, the image forming apparatus 1 having the two coating units 6 and 7 in which the plurality of inkjet heads 14 are arranged as described above discharges ink from both of the two coating units 6 and 7, while the YMC system. FIG. 3 shows a scanning example in the case of forming an image which is a color filter pattern having both the color portion set in step S4 and the color portion set in RGB system. When moving to one side in the direction X, ink is ejected from the coating units 6 and 7 to form a part of the image (circle 1 arrow in FIG. 3A). 7 is moved in the second direction Y so as to be the next coating position in the connected state (circle 2 arrow in FIG. 3 (a)) and stopped.
The substrate 4 is moved in the reverse direction in the first direction X after the preparation for discharging the coated units 6 and 7 after the movement is completed (circle 3 in FIG. 3B). Ink 7 is ejected from both. By performing this scanning, an image of the color filter is formed.

As is clear from the above description, when the same region of the substrate is applied as in the prior art, the time required for changing the positions of the two application units is not required, and the overall application time can be shortened. Further, since the movement control of the two coating units 6 and 7 is performed by one driving means 8, it is not necessary for the gantry 5 to support two driving means that move independently by heavy objects, and the rigidity of the gantry 5 itself is eliminated. Need not be set very high.
Further, since the two coating units 6 and 7 are moved only to one side of the gantry 5 and are cleaned by one maintenance mechanism 9 corresponding to the position, only one maintenance mechanism 9 is required, and the image forming apparatus The overall configuration of 1 is simplified.

In the above embodiment, the two coating units 6 and 7 are connected and integrated so as to be arranged in parallel in the direction along the first direction X. However, the present invention is limited to this. Instead, the two coating units 6 and 7 may be connected and integrated so as to be in a juxtaposed state in the direction along the direction of the second direction Y.
When these two coating units 6 and 7 are integrated in the direction along the second direction Y, for example, with one coating unit 6, the substrate 4 moves in one direction in the first direction X. The ink is discharged, and the coating units 6 and 7 are moved in the horizontal portion 5a of the gantry 5 to change the positions of one coating unit 6 and the other coating unit 7, and the reverse in the first direction X Ink is discharged from the other coating unit 7 to the substrate 4 moving in the direction, and then the coating units 6 and 7 are moved in the second direction Y so as to correspond to the next coating region. . This is repeated to form an image. The inkjet head can also be cleaned by changing the positions of the coating units 6 and 7 with respect to the maintenance mechanism 9.

Further, in the embodiment, the description has been given of the case where the color set in the YMC system is discharged from one coating unit 6 and the color set in the RGB system is discharged from the other coating unit 7. The invention is not limited to this. For example, while the ink discharged from the two coating units 6 and 7 is both a color set in the RGB system, it is red so that the ink colors in the two coating units 6 and 7 are different from each other. Prepare red R1 and R2 inks with different colors, green G1 and G2 inks with different colors even with green, and blue B1 and B2 inks with different colors even with blue. The ink of the colors R1, G1, and B1 may be ejected from the processing unit 6, and the inks of the colors R2, G2, and B2 may be ejected from the other coating unit 7.
Furthermore, in the embodiment, the ink that is ejected has been described as a coating material for obtaining a color filter of a color liquid crystal display device, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the ink may be an EL light emitting material.

It is explanatory drawing which shows embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the arrangement | sequence of the inkjet head of the two coating units in embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the scanning operation | movement in embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the prior art example which has two coating units.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 3 ... Conveyance table 4 ... Board | substrate 5 ... Gantry 5a ... Horizontal part 6 ... Coating unit 7 ... Coating unit 8 ... Drive means 9 ... Maintenance mechanism 14 ... Inkjet head X ... First direction Y ... First Two directions

Claims (6)

A coating unit including a plurality of inkjet heads is moved relative to a substrate such as a glass plate for a color filter in a first direction which is a coating direction, and is also moved in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Enabling the coating unit to perform a scanning operation that combines the relative movement in the first direction and the movement in the second direction, while discharging ink from the inkjet head of the coating unit onto the substrate to form a fine pattern, etc. A method of forming an image of
Two coating units are used, and the colors of ink discharged from the two coating units are made different from each other. The two coating units are integrally connected, and the scanning operation is performed in this connected state. An image forming method comprising forming an image on a substrate.   The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein the two coating units are connected in a direction along one of the first direction and the second direction.   Of the above two coating units, R, G and B inks set in RGB are ejected from the inkjet head of one coating unit, and YMC is ejected from the inkjet head of the other coating unit. The image forming method according to claim 1, wherein inks of three colors Y, M, and C set in the system are ejected. A coating unit including a plurality of inkjet heads is moved relative to a substrate such as a glass plate for a color filter in a first direction which is a coating direction, and is also moved in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Enabling the coating unit to perform a scanning operation that combines the relative movement in the first direction and the movement in the second direction, while discharging ink from the inkjet head of the coating unit onto the substrate to form a fine pattern, etc. An image forming apparatus for forming an image of
There are two coating units, and each of the two coating units has different colors of ink to be ejected, and the two coating units form the image on the substrate by performing the scanning operation in an integrally connected state. An image forming apparatus having a configuration.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the two coating units are connected in a direction along one of the first direction and the second direction.   Of the above two coating units, R, G and B inks set in RGB are ejected from the inkjet head of one coating unit, and YMC is ejected from the inkjet head of the other coating unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein inks of three colors Y, M, and C set in the system are ejected.

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