JP2007119794A - Alignment apparatus for vacuum deposition - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an alignment apparatus for vacuum deposition where the improvement of working efficiency can be attained. <P>SOLUTION: Regarding the apparatus, the alignment between a mask body 4 held by a mask holding body 5 and a glass substrate 6 held by a substrate holding body 7 is performed in a vacuum vessel 2 for alignment different from the one for vapor deposition, further, the carrying-in/out thereof to each vacuum vessel is performed by a carrying means 17 in a state where the substrate 6 is mounted on the mask body 4 and a pressing plate 9 is mounted on the substrate. The holding frame 71 of the mask holding body is provided with a pressing plate supporting bar 72 capable of elevating only the pressing plate when the mask body supported by the carrying means is held by the mask holding body, and further, the holding frame 74 of the substrate holding body is provided with a substrate supporting rod 75 of elevating only the substrate when the substrate holding body is elevated by an elevation means 16 in a state where the substrate is mounted on the mask body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an alignment apparatus for vacuum deposition.

Conventionally, when a semiconductor substrate or the like is manufactured, a semiconductor material is evaporated in a vacuum vessel and is deposited on the surface of the substrate to form a predetermined conductor pattern.
When forming this conductor pattern, the mask in which the conductor pattern was formed is normally arrange | positioned on the surface of a board | substrate, and the photoresist apply | coated to the surface is exposed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-159997

By the way, it is necessary to arrange a mask at a predetermined position with respect to the substrate in the vacuum vessel, and an alignment device for this alignment is provided.
This alignment device is arranged in a vacuum vessel. However, when an alignment device with high alignment accuracy is arranged in a vacuum vessel, it is necessary to use parts and lubricants made of special materials that emit less gas. At the same time, since heat dissipation measures are required, the device itself becomes very expensive.

On the other hand, in order to avoid such a situation, it is conceivable to arrange the alignment device outside the vacuum vessel.
When the alignment device is disposed outside the vacuum vessel, a vacuum maintaining mechanism is required at the insertion portion of the mask holder in the alignment device into the vacuum vessel, and thus a special sealing mechanism or processing is required. Is expensive.

In addition, the insertion portion of the mask holder into the vacuum container is subjected to a large external force due to the vacuum force, in other words, atmospheric pressure, and distortion may occur, resulting in a decrease in alignment accuracy.
Further, since the alignment between the substrate and the mask is performed in the vacuum deposition chamber, after each deposition, the substrate is unloaded from the vacuum container, and the next substrate is loaded. Since the alignment between the substrate and the mask is performed, there is a problem that the working efficiency is very poor.

  Therefore, in order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an alignment apparatus for vacuum evaporation that can maintain high-accuracy alignment at a low manufacturing cost of the apparatus itself and can improve work efficiency. Objective.

In order to solve the above problems, the alignment apparatus for vacuum deposition of the present invention,
For alignment between the mask body having a mask part for depositing a deposition material on the surface of the substrate in the vacuum chamber for deposition and forming a predetermined conductor pattern and the substrate, different from the vacuum chamber for deposition. In a state where the substrate and the mask body are carried into and out of the vacuum container for placement, the substrate is placed on the upper surface of the mask portion of the mask body, and the pressing plate is placed on the upper surface of the substrate. An alignment apparatus adapted to perform
A mask holder suspended at the lower end of a suspension member inserted through a through-hole formed in the wall portion of the alignment vacuum vessel, and provided outside the alignment vacuum vessel and the above A connecting plate connected to the upper end of the suspension member, a position adjusting means capable of adjusting the position of the mask body held by the mask holding body relative to the substrate by moving the connecting plate, and the suspension A telescopic tubular blocking member that is fitted around the member and is provided between the outer periphery of the through hole of the wall portion and the connecting plate, and blocks the vacuum side and the atmosphere side, and the cylindrical blocking member A biasing means for generating a biasing force in a direction opposite to the pressing force to the connecting plate generated when the inside of the vacuum chamber is in a vacuum state, and a lifting means provided on the wall body side of the positioning vacuum container Can be moved up and down by the instrument and carried in the positioning vacuum container. As well as and a substrate holding member for elevating the substrate mounted on a mask body that is,
When the mask holding body is lifted by the position adjusting means via the suspension member and the mask body is held, the protruding support member that lifts the pressing plate prior to lifting the mask body is provided as the mask holding body. Is provided.

Further, a deflection suppressing plate for suppressing the deflection of the substrate is arranged on the upper surface of the substrate in the alignment apparatus.
In addition, the substrate and the pressing plate placed on the mask body while supporting the mask body from below in the alignment vacuum container in the alignment apparatus can be transported between the alignment vacuum container and the outside. A conveying means is arranged.

  Further, the position adjusting means in the alignment apparatus is configured such that the mask body held on the connecting plate body via the suspension member and the mask holding body can move in parallel with the substrate surface.

Further, the position adjusting means in the alignment apparatus is provided with a function capable of moving the connecting plate in the axial direction perpendicular to the substrate surface.
Further, the urging force of the urging means in the alignment apparatus is configured to be adjustable.

  According to the above configuration, when aligning the mask body with respect to the substrate under a predetermined vacuum, the substrate position adjusting means is disposed outside the alignment vacuum container, so that a material that takes vacuum into consideration is used. This is not necessary and does not require a special sealing mechanism or the like, so that the manufacturing cost of the device itself is low.

  Further, since an urging means capable of applying an urging force that can be opposed to the pressing force due to the atmospheric pressure under vacuum is provided, it is possible to prevent an extra external force from acting on the position adjusting means, and thus the substrate. It is possible to maintain the alignment of the mask body with respect to.

  Furthermore, since the alignment is performed in the alignment vacuum container different from the evaporation vacuum container, it is possible to continuously perform the evaporation in the evaporation vacuum container, thereby improving the working efficiency. Can do.

  In addition, when the substrate and the mask body, which have been aligned in the alignment vacuum container, are transported to, for example, the vapor deposition vacuum container, a pressing plate is placed on the upper surface of the substrate so as to press the substrate against the mask body. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the mask body and the substrate from being displaced from each other during transportation.

  Furthermore, since the deflection suppressing plate is placed on the upper surface of the substrate, it is possible to prevent the substrates from being displaced from each other even during and after the alignment of the substrate with respect to the mask body.

[Embodiment]
An alignment apparatus for vacuum vapor deposition according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
This alignment apparatus for vacuum vapor deposition is provided in a vacuum vapor deposition apparatus for manufacturing a display unit of an organic EL display, for example, and deposits an organic material (deposition material) on the surface of a glass substrate using a mask body. When the predetermined conductor pattern is obtained, the mask body is held and the mask body is aligned with the glass substrate. In this vacuum vapor deposition apparatus, the alignment and vapor deposition are performed. In a different vacuum vessel.

  That is, this vacuum deposition apparatus is provided with an alignment vacuum container for aligning the mask body with respect to the glass substrate, in addition to a deposition vacuum container for performing deposition on the glass substrate. When the mask body and the glass substrate are carried into and out of the container (when transported), the glass substrate is placed on the upper surface of the mask body, and the upper surface of the glass substrate is bent to suppress the bending of the glass substrate. A suppression plate is placed, and a pressing plate for preventing relative movement between the mask body and the glass substrate and maintaining alignment accuracy is placed on the upper surface of the deflection suppression plate. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the glass substrate is rectangular, and therefore the mask body, the deflection suppressing plate, and the pressing plate are also rectangular.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the alignment apparatus 1 includes an alignment vacuum container (hereinafter simply referred to as a vacuum container) 2 having an alignment vacuum chamber (hereinafter referred to as an alignment chamber) 3, and the position described above. A mask holder 5 that is arranged in the alignment chamber 3 and holds the mask body 4 from below, and is also placed in the alignment chamber 3 and at a position lower than the mask holder 5 and placed on the mask body 4. A substrate holder 7 capable of lifting and holding only a glass substrate (hereinafter simply referred to as a substrate) 6 (which will be described later, which is precisely the substrate and the deflection suppressing plate), and four front / rear and left / right positions of the mask holder 5 Are connected to the outside of the vacuum vessel 2 through a through hole 2b formed in a mounting plate (an example of a wall portion) 2a having a lower end connected thereto and an upper end arranged as an upper wall portion of the vacuum vessel 2. Four rod-like suspension members protruding 1, a connecting plate 12 having a rectangular shape in plan view, for example, which is provided outside the vacuum vessel 3 and connected to the upper ends of the four suspension members 11, and an upper surface of the mounting plate 2a. Position adjustment that can adjust the position of the mask body 4 (which will be described later, but precisely, the mask portion) in the alignment chamber 3 held by the mask holding body 5 by moving the connecting plate body 12 Expansion means which is fitted between the means 13 and each of the suspension members 11 and which is provided between the outer periphery of the through hole 2b of the mounting plate 2a and the connecting plate 12 to block the vacuum side and the atmosphere side. The direction opposite to the pressing force (pressing force) to the connecting plate 12 generated when the cylindrical blocking member (for example, a vacuum bellows is used) 14 and the inside of the cylindrical blocking member 14 are in a vacuum state Urging means 15 for generating (giving) the urging force of Elevating means 16 provided on the mounting plate 2a of the vacuum vessel 2 for raising and lowering the substrate holder 7 in the alignment chamber 3, and disposed in the alignment chamber 3, including the substrate 6, the deflection suppressing plate 8 and Conveying means 17 for conveying the mask body 4 (hereinafter, collectively referred to as a workpiece W) on which the pressing plates 9 are placed in order to a predetermined alignment region is provided.

  The cylindrical blocking member 14 is connected to the mounting plate 2a side and the connecting plate 12 side via a lower annular mounting seat 18 and an upper annular mounting seat 19 having a predetermined inner diameter, respectively. A force due to vacuum (pressing force due to atmospheric pressure) acts on the mounting portion opening area (contact area) of the cylindrical blocking member 14 to the upper annular mounting seat 19 provided on the body 2a side.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the position adjusting means 13 translates and rotates the connecting plate 12 in a plane parallel to the surface of the substrate 6 (rotation with the center of the plate as the rotation center) and The in-plane moving device 21 can be turned (rotated around a position different from the center of the plate), and the vertical moving device 22 can be moved in a vertical direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate 6.

  The in-plane moving device 21 is disposed at a support plate 31 having a rectangular shape in plan view, drive support mechanisms 32 disposed at three positions among the four corners on the support plate 31, and the remaining one position. The guide support mechanism 33 is constituted by a moving plate 35 supported via a connecting tool 34 provided in each of the support mechanisms 32, 33. The moving plate 35 and the connecting plate 12 are It is configured to allow movement in the vertical direction via the elevating guide mechanism 36 and to interlock (follow) movement in the horizontal plane.

  The drive support mechanism 32 is a well-known technique, and as shown in FIG. 5, the drive support mechanism 32 can move through a linear guide mechanism 37 in a horizontal plane, that is, in the XY axis direction. It can be forcibly moved along the axial direction (X-axis or Y-axis direction), and the guide support mechanism 33 can freely move in the XY-axis direction via a linear guide mechanism 39 similar to the above. It has been made to get.

  Of the three drive support mechanisms 32, two are arranged so that they can be forcibly moved in the same direction, and the remaining one is in a direction perpendicular to the two forcible movement directions. By moving the servo motor 38 in a predetermined (one, two, or three) driving support mechanism 32 among these three, the moving plate 35 is moved in the X axis. Direction (see FIG. 5B), Y-axis direction (see FIG. 5C), oblique direction with respect to the X-axis and Y-axis (see FIG. 5D), and the center of the moving plate 35 as the rotation axis (See FIG. 5 (e)), and also in a turning direction in which the support mechanism 32 is turned around (see FIG. 5 (f)), the movable plate 35 can be moved in any direction within the horizontal plane. And can be moved at any rotation or turning angle. That.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the elevating guide mechanism 36 includes a rectangular mounting plate 41 integrally formed on the upper surface of the moving plate 35, and front, rear, left and right positions of the mounting plate 41. Four linear guide shafts 42 erected by passing through the respective hole portions 12a of the connecting plate body 12, and the respective side portions of the linear guide shafts 42 provided on the respective hole portion 12a sides of the connecting plate body 12. And four moving members 43 that are externally fitted and guided so as to be movable in the vertical direction. In the drawing, only the left and right guide shafts 42 and the moving member 43 disposed on the front side (front part) are shown.

  An electric cylinder (driven by a servo motor) is used as the vertical movement device 22, and a retracting rod 22 a of the electric cylinder is connected to the mounting plate 41, and the retracting rod 22 a The mask holding body 5 is moved up and down through the connecting plate 12 and the distance between the mask body 4 and the substrate 6 is adjusted.

  The urging means 15 cancels (or reduces) the pressing force due to the atmospheric pressure acting on the end face side in the cylindrical blocking member 14 that is communicated with the alignment chamber 3 through the through hole 2b and is in a vacuum state. Is for.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the urging means 15 is a plurality of (for example, two left and right) single rods arranged on the mounting plate 2a side and supporting the connecting plate 12 from below. Pneumatic cylinders 51, an air supply pump 55 connected to an air supply port 53 to a cylinder chamber 52 in each of the pneumatic cylinders 51 via an air pipe 54, and a pressure adjustment disposed in the middle of the air pipe 54 56. Since the connecting plate 12 can move at least in the horizontal direction, the cylinder body, which is the lower side of the pneumatic cylinder 51, is fixed to the mounting plate 2a side, and a rolling ball ( Ball bearings) are arranged, and the connecting plate 12 is simply supported from below. Note that the upper and lower ends of the pneumatic cylinder 51 may be connected to the mounting plate 2a and the connecting plate 12 via universal joints. Of course, the urging force can be adjusted by adjusting the air pressure of the pneumatic cylinder 51.

  Further, the conveying means 17 has a rod-shaped support base 62 to which a support roller 61 rotatable around a horizontal axis is attached to an upper end portion of the conveying means 17 so that driving control is possible by a driving means (not shown). A plurality (for example, four on one side and eight on both sides) are provided on both sides and at predetermined intervals.

Next, the mask holder 5 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the mask holding body 5 includes a rectangular holding frame 71 that supports the peripheral portion of the mask body 4, and left and right side portions (even long side portions) of the holding frame 71. And a pair of presser plate support rods (projection-like support members) 72 projecting at a predetermined interval. Of course, the central portion of the holding frame 71 is made an opening so that an organic material (evaporation material) can pass therethrough.

  And this mask holding body 5 is supported by the suspension member 11 side via the support piece 73 provided in the lower end part of the said suspension member 11, The horizontal adjustment plane and the vertical direction are carried out by the position adjustment means 13. The mask body 4 is aligned with respect to the substrate 6.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the substrate holder 7 includes a rectangular holding frame 74 having an opening formed in the center like the holding frame 71 of the mask holding body 5, and the holding frame 74. A plurality of (for example, 10) substrate support rods (also referred to as substrate protrusion support members) 75 projecting upward at a predetermined interval around the periphery. The substrate support rod 75 is positioned inside the opening of the holding frame 71 of the mask holder 5 and is not in contact with the mask holder 5.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the mask body 4 is composed of a mask portion 77 at the center and a holding frame 78 that holds the periphery of the mask portion 77. A plurality of holes 79 through which the support rods 72 and 75 of the substrate holder 7 and the mask holder 5 can be inserted are formed.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, in order to align the mask body 4 with respect to the substrate 6 held by the substrate holder 7, the mask body 4 is provided near the corner on the diagonal line. A CCD camera device 57 for guiding a dot-like (black circle mark) substrate-side mark M2 provided on the substrate 6 side in the circular mask-side mark M1 is provided on the connecting plate 12 side via a focus adjustment tool 58. Is provided. Of course, a viewing window 59 is provided on the mounting plate 2a side.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the focus adjuster 58 includes a support plate 82 attached to an attachment plate 81 erected on the edge of the connecting plate 12, and both of the support plates 82 provided above and below the support plate 82. A screw shaft 84 that is rotatably supported by the flanges 83, 83 in the vertical direction, a nut member 85 that is screwed onto the screw shaft 84 and to which the camera device 57 is attached, and is supported by the upper flange 83. The motor 86 rotates the screw shaft 84.

That is, by rotating the motor 86, the camera device 57 can be focused, so that the substrate 6 and the mask body 4 can be accurately aligned.
Note that the holding plate 9 and the deflection suppressing plate 8 also have peeping openings 9a and 8a formed at positions corresponding to the peeping window 59, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the elevating means 16 includes elevating pneumatic cylinders 92 disposed above the respective through holes 2 c formed on both sides of the mounting plate 2 a of the vacuum vessel 2 via mounting seats 91. The upper end portion is inserted through the through hole 2c and connected to the rod portion 92a of the pneumatic cylinder 92 and the substrate is held at the lower end portion. The vertical support rod 94 is provided with a holding piece 93 that can hold the lower surface of the body 7. Reference numeral 95 denotes an O-ring for vacuum interruption interposed between the rod portion 92 a of the pneumatic cylinder 92 and the mounting seat 91.

  Accordingly, when the mask holder 5 is raised by the vertical movement device 22 of the position adjusting means 13 while the workpiece W is moved on the support roller 61 of the conveying means 17, the pressing plate provided on the holding frame 71. The presser plate 9 is first lifted by the support rod 72, and then the mask body 4 is lifted above the support roller 61. Further, the substrate holding body 7 is raised by the lifting / lowering pneumatic cylinder 92 of the lifting / lowering means 16. Then, the deflection suppressing plate 8 is lifted together with the substrate 6 by the substrate support rod 75 provided on the holding frame 74.

In the above configuration, the alignment operation of the mask body 4 with respect to the substrate 6 will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 9, the substrate holder 7 and the mask holder 5 are moved away from the transfer surface of the workpiece W (the upper surface of the support roller 61) where the tip ends of the support bars 72 and 75 are positioned below. Let it go down.

  Next, the mask body 4, the substrate 6, the deflection suppressing plate 8, and the pressing plate are placed on the support roller 61 of the conveying means 17 from the loading / unloading opening (see FIG. 2) 2 e formed in the side wall 2 d of the vacuum vessel 2. The work W formed by sequentially stacking 9 is loaded and stopped at a predetermined position.

  At the time of the conveyance, the deflection suppressing plate 8, the substrate 6, and the mask body 4 are firmly adhered to each other by the pressing plate 9, and therefore, the substrate 6 and the mask body 4 are caused by vibration generated during the conveyance. Is prevented from shifting relative to each other.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10, when the mask holding body 5 is raised by operating the vertical movement device 22, only the holding plate 9 is lifted by the holding plate support rod 72 attached to the mask holding body 5. To be exact, the substrate 6 is separated from the deflection suppressing plate 8. Of course, at this time, the holding plate support rod 72 is inserted through the hole 79 provided in the holding frame 78 of the mask body 4. Subsequently, the mask body 4 is also lifted above the support roller 61 by the holding frame 71.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 11, when the lifting means 16 is driven to raise the substrate holder 7, the substrate 6 and the deflection suppressing plate 8 are lifted by the substrate support rod 75 provided on the substrate holder 7. And separated from the mask body 4. Of course, the substrate support rod 75 is inserted through the hole 79 provided in the holding frame 78 of the mask body 4.

In this state, the position adjustment means 13 aligns the mask body 4 with respect to the substrate 6.
Hereinafter, this alignment operation will be described.

That is, two CCD camera devices 57 arranged on a diagonal line are used for positioning the mask body 4 with respect to the substrate 6.
That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the position adjusting means 13 is arranged so that the dot-like substrate side mark M2 provided on the substrate 6 side enters the circular mask side mark M1 provided on the mask body 4 side. After the in-plane moving device 21 is driven, the mask body 4 is moved by the vertical moving device 22 so as to be almost in contact with the surface of the substrate 6. The shape of each mark may be any shape such as a cross shape as long as image recognition is easy.

When the alignment of the mask body 4 with respect to the substrate 6 is completed, the vertical moving device 22 raises the mask holding body 5 by the gap between the substrate 6 and the mask body 4 to bring them into close contact with each other.
Next, after the substrate holding body 7 is lowered toward the retracted position by the elevating means 16, the mask holding body 5 is lowered by the vertical movement device 22 to support the mask body 4 on the support roller 61, and When the mask holder 5 is further lowered toward the retracted position, the presser plate 9 is placed on the deflection suppressing plate 8.

  That is, the substrate 6, the deflection suppressing plate 8, and the presser plate 9 are integrated on the upper surface of the mask body 4, and the workpiece W that is integrated and supported on the support roller 61 is transferred to the support roller. 61 is driven to the outside of the vacuum vessel 2, and is then carried into a vapor deposition vacuum vessel (not shown) arranged adjacent to the vacuum vessel 2, and the organic material conductor to the substrate 6. A pattern is deposited. In addition, also about the conveyance of the mask body 4, the board | substrate 6, the bending suppression board 8, and the press board 9 between containers, the conveyance means which has a roller is used.

Further, when the work W is carried into or out of the vacuum vessel 2, at least the carry-in / out opening 2 e is kept in the same degree of vacuum as in the vacuum vessel 2.
Here, based on FIG. 12, the effect when the bending suppression board 8 is mounted in the board | substrate 6 is demonstrated.

When the substrate 6 does not have the deflection suppressing plate 8, as shown in FIG. 12B, only the end portion of the substrate 6 is supported by the substrate support rod 75, so that the central portion bends downward.
By the way, since the alignment of the mask body 4 with respect to the substrate 6 is performed with a gap where the substrate 6 and the mask body 4 do not contact each other, after the alignment, the mask body 4 is raised by the vertical movement device 22. Although it is made to adhere, a shift | offset | difference arises at the time of a raise by the backlash of a device or the straight advance accuracy. Since this deviation becomes conspicuous as the amount of increase increases, it is desirable that the amount of increase be as small as possible when highly accurate alignment (several μm) is required.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12A, when the deflection suppressing plate 8 is overlapped on the substrate 6, the end portion of the substrate 6 is supported by the substrate support rod 75 (supported by the free end) and fixed by the deflection suppressing plate 8. As a result, the deflection of the central portion is reduced to about half that of the case where it is simply supported. Thereby, after aligning the mask body 4 with the substrate 6, the amount of ascending by the vertical movement device 22 when closely contacting can be reduced, so that more accurate alignment can be performed.

  Further, after the mask body 4 and the substrate 6 are brought into close contact with each other, a shift occurs when the presser plate 9 is further overlapped. However, due to the presence of the bending suppression plate 8, the adhesion between the mask body 4 and the substrate 6 is obtained. And the effect of reducing the deviation is also obtained.

  Further, in order to improve the adhesion between the mask body 4 and the substrate 6 in the holding plate 9, a magnet may be disposed inside. However, at the time of alignment, the mask body 4 is pulled up by a magnetic force, and the substrate 6 is moved. It is necessary to make the distance large so that it does not touch.

  Furthermore, a flat plate made of aluminum or stainless steel having a thickness (thickness more than several times that of the substrate) that is sufficiently smaller than that of the substrate 6 is used for the bending suppression plate 8, but not so thickly. That is, the weight is reduced, and it is considered that the contact portion of the substrate 6 with the substrate support rod 75 is not damaged.

In the above description, the deflection suppressing plate 8 is provided to improve the alignment accuracy. However, the bending suppressing plate 8 can be omitted.
As described above, when positioning the mask body 4 with respect to the substrate 6 under a predetermined vacuum, since the position adjusting means 13 for the mask body 4 is arranged outside the vacuum vessel 2, the configuration of the apparatus itself is inexpensive. Can be made.

  Further, when the through hole 2b for guiding the suspension member 12 in the alignment apparatus 1 to the outside of the vacuum vessel 2 is formed, a cylindrical blocking member 14 for blocking the through hole 2b from the atmosphere side is connected. Since it is attached to the plate body 12 and the pneumatic cylinder 51 is disposed between the connecting plate body 12 and the mounting plate body 2a, and the connecting plate body 12 is urged upward from below, that is, Since the urging means 15 that can oppose the pressing force due to the atmospheric pressure under vacuum is provided, it is possible to prevent an extra external force from acting on the alignment apparatus 1, and thus no distortion occurs in the apparatus. Alignment of the mask body with respect to the substrate can be performed with high accuracy.

More specifically, the following effects can be obtained.
1. Since the in-plane moving device 21 for moving the mask body 4 in the horizontal plane and the vertical moving device 22 for moving in the vertical direction are disposed outside the vacuum vessel 2 (under atmospheric pressure), a special vacuum mechanical element, motor Since a cooling device or the like is not required, an inexpensive and highly accurate alignment device can be provided.
2. Each moving device 21, 22 is disposed outside (under atmospheric pressure) of the vacuum vessel 2, and is provided with a biasing means 15 that can apply a biasing force that opposes the pressing force acting under vacuum. Since the force acting on each of the moving devices 21 and 22 can be reduced, and a drive device such as a motor in the moving device having a small capacity can be used, a more inexpensive configuration can be achieved.
3. In addition, since each moving device 21, 22 is arranged outside the vacuum vessel 2 (under atmospheric pressure), and provided with a biasing means 15 that can apply a biasing force that can be opposed to the pressing force acting under vacuum, The distortion of the apparatus itself can be suppressed, and the visual field shift in the camera device 57 for aligning the mask body 4 can be prevented, so that highly accurate alignment can be performed.
4). Further, since the focus adjustment tool 58 of the camera device 57 is provided, when the mask body 4 is aligned with the substrate 6 via the marks M1 and M2, the positions of both marks can be accurately grasped, and therefore more accurate. Alignment can be performed.
5. Since the entire alignment device is disposed on the upper surface of the vacuum vessel 2, each drive is not affected by the deformation of the vacuum vessel due to atmospheric pressure and supports the substrate 6 and the mask body 4 to be suspended from above. Since the effects of backlash and elastic deformation at the portion are reduced and the device is stabilized by itself (having self-alignment like a pendulum), the mask body 4 can be aligned with the substrate 6 with high accuracy. it can.
6). The workpiece W transported via the support roller 61 is lifted by the substrate holder 7 and the mask holder 5 to separate the presser plate 9, the substrate 6 and the mask body 4, and then align the mask body 4 with respect to the substrate 6. Then, these are integrated again and transported to the next process via the support roller 61, so that the productivity of the mask body 4 with respect to the substrate 6 is maintained with high accuracy. Can be secured.
7). Furthermore, the deflection suppressing plate 8 disposed on the upper surface of the substrate 6 may not be provided. Even in this case, the effects of the items 1 to 6 described above can be obtained. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the displacement that occurs when the substrate 6 is integrated with the mask body 4. Therefore, the alignment of the mask body 4 with respect to the substrate 6 can be performed with high accuracy.

  By the way, the in-plane moving device 21 in the above embodiment is configured by the driving support mechanism 32 arranged at three places and the guide support mechanism 33 arranged at one place. You may comprise by 32.

  In the above embodiment, the mask body 4, the substrate 6, the deflection suppressing plate 8, and the presser plate 9 are transported between containers. However, for example, a robot is used. It can also be transported using a hand or the like.

It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the alignment apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the alignment apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the alignment apparatus. It is a top view of the in-plane movement apparatus in the alignment apparatus, (a) shows the structure of an in-plane movement apparatus, (b)-(f) demonstrates the operation | movement. It is a perspective view which shows a mask body, a board | substrate, and those holding bodies in the same vacuum evaporation system. It is a top view explaining position alignment operation of a substrate and a mask body by the alignment device. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the focus adjustment tool in the alignment apparatus. It is sectional drawing explaining the alignment operation | work in the alignment apparatus. It is sectional drawing explaining the alignment operation | work in the alignment apparatus. It is sectional drawing explaining the alignment operation | work in the alignment apparatus. It is principal part sectional drawing explaining the effect | action of the bending suppression board in the alignment apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Alignment apparatus 2 Positioning vacuum container 2a Mounting plate body 2b Through hole 2c Through hole 3 Positioning vacuum chamber 4 Mask body 5 Mask holding body 6 Glass substrate 7 Substrate holding body 8 Deflection suppression plate 9 Holding plate 11 Suspension member 12 Connecting plate body 13 Position adjusting means 14 Cylindrical blocking member 15 Energizing means 16 Elevating means 17 Conveying means 21 In-plane moving device 22 Vertical moving device 61 Support roller 62 Rod-like support base 71 Holding frame 72 Holding plate support rod 73 Support Piece 74 Holding frame 75 Substrate support rod 77 Mask portion 78 Holding frame

Claims (6)

For alignment between the mask body having a mask part for depositing a deposition material on the surface of the substrate in the vacuum chamber for deposition and forming a predetermined conductor pattern and the substrate, different from the vacuum chamber for deposition. In a state where the substrate and the mask body are carried into and out of the vacuum container for placement, the substrate is placed on the upper surface of the mask portion of the mask body, and the pressing plate is placed on the upper surface of the substrate. An alignment apparatus adapted to perform
A mask holder suspended at the lower end of a suspension member inserted through a through-hole formed in the wall of the alignment vacuum container;
A connecting plate provided outside the alignment vacuum vessel and connected to the upper end of the suspension member;
A position adjusting means capable of adjusting the position of the mask body held by the mask holding body relative to the substrate by moving the connecting plate;
A telescopic cylindrical blocking member that is fitted around the suspension member and is provided between the outer periphery of the through hole of the wall portion and the connecting plate, and blocks the vacuum side and the atmosphere side;
An urging means for generating an urging force in a direction opposite to the pressing force to the connecting plate generated when the inside of the cylindrical blocking member is in a vacuum state;
A substrate holder that can be moved up and down by an elevating means provided on the wall body side of the alignment vacuum container, and moves up and down the substrate placed on the mask body carried into the alignment vacuum container; And having
When the mask holding body is lifted by the position adjusting means via the suspension member and the mask body is held, the protruding support member that lifts the pressing plate prior to lifting the mask body is provided as the mask holding body. An alignment apparatus for vacuum deposition characterized by being provided in the above.   The alignment apparatus for vacuum evaporation according to claim 1, wherein a deflection suppressing plate for suppressing the deflection of the substrate is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate.   In the alignment vacuum vessel, a transport means that supports the mask body from below and transports the substrate and the pressing plate placed on the mask body between the alignment vacuum container and the outside is arranged. The alignment apparatus for vacuum evaporation of Claim 1 characterized by these.   2. The vacuum according to claim 1, wherein the position adjusting means is configured such that the mask body held on the connecting plate body via the suspension member and the mask holding body can move in parallel with the substrate surface. Alignment device for vapor deposition.   The alignment apparatus for vacuum evaporation according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the position adjusting means has a function of moving the connecting plate in an axial direction perpendicular to the substrate surface.   2. The alignment apparatus for vacuum deposition according to claim 1, wherein the biasing force of the biasing means is adjustable.

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