JP2007212909A - Device of sticking optical film, method of sticking optical film and method of manufacturing display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device of sticking optical film and a method of sticking optical film which can restrain air from entering between a display panel and an optical film. <P>SOLUTION: A protection film 3 is peeled from a polarizing plate 2 halfway and the peeled part of the protection film 3 is folded and is mounted on a protection film suction pad 24. While one end of the polarizing plate 2 is pressed against a liquid crystal panel 1 by a sticking roller 11, a liquid crystal panel suction base 10 is moved. In accordance with the movement of the liquid crystal panel suction base 10, the polarizing plate 2 is pressed against the liquid crystal panel 1 successively from the end by the sticking roller 11, and the polarizing plate 2 is stuck to the liquid crystal panel 1. The remaining part of the protection film 3 without being peeled from the polarizing plate 2 is successively peeled from the polarizing plate 2 in accordance with the movement. Until just before the protection film 3 is completely peeled from the polarizing plate 2, the polarizing plate 2 is pressed by the protection film 3 and warping of the polarizing plate 2 is reformed and, therefore, the entering of air between the display panel 1 and the polarizing plate 2 is restrained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical film sticking apparatus, an optical film sticking method, and a method for producing a display panel using them, for sticking an optical film composed of a polarizing plate, a retardation plate, etc. to a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel, In particular, the present invention relates to an optical film sticking apparatus, an optical film sticking method, and a method for producing a display panel using them, which are suitable for peeling a protective film from an optical film and sticking the optical film to a display panel.

  In the manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal panel is formed by sealing liquid crystal between a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) substrate and a color filter substrate, and then a polarizing plate is attached to the front and back surfaces of the liquid crystal panel. Furthermore, a phase difference plate for visual compensation may be attached. Such an optical film made of a polarizing plate, a retardation plate, or the like is attached by an attaching device.

  Usually, an adhesive is applied to the optical film in advance, and a protective film is put on the adhesive. In the conventional pasting apparatus, while holding the optical film by an adsorption table or the like, first, after peeling the protective film from the optical film, the optical film is moved to the position where the pasting is performed, and the optical film is transferred to the display panel. I was pasting.

For example, in the polarizing plate pasting apparatus described in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, the optical film is attached to the display panel by holding the liquid crystal panel on the lower surface of the suction table and placing the polarizing plate on the upper surface of another suction table. While holding and moving the suction table of the liquid crystal panel, the polarizing plate is pressed against the liquid crystal panel by the sticking roller to stick the polarizing plate.
JP-A-11-174228 JP 2003-98520 A

  When the protective film is peeled from the optical film, the optical film is slightly warped due to the influence of moisture or the like. In the conventional pasting apparatus, as described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, even when the optical film is vacuum-sucked by the suction table and held flat, the end of the optical film is finished when the optical film is pasted. The vicinity becomes free from the suction table, and air enters the display panel due to the warp of the optical film. For this reason, there was a problem that air bubbles were mixed between the display panel and the optical film in the vicinity of the end on the side where the application of the optical film was completed.

  Further, in the conventional pasting device, when peeling the protective film from the optical film, when moving the optical film to the position where the pasting is performed after peeling the protective film, and when pasting the optical film to the display panel, There is a problem that foreign matter such as dust adheres to the optical film, and the foreign matter is mixed between the display panel and the optical film.

  Conventionally, the time required for peeling off the protective film from the optical film has been approximately the same as the time required for attaching the optical film to the display panel. In the conventional pasting apparatus, since the peeling of the protective film and the pasting of the optical film are performed separately, there is a problem that about twice the time required for actual pasting is required.

  An object of the present invention is to suppress air from entering between a display panel and an optical film. Moreover, the subject of this invention is suppressing that a foreign material adheres to an optical film. Moreover, the subject of this invention is performing the peeling of the protective film from an optical film, and the sticking to the display panel of an optical film in a short time. Another object of the present invention is to manufacture a high-quality display panel with a short tact time with less air bubbles and foreign matters.

  The optical film sticking apparatus of the present invention is peeled off by an optical film holding means for holding an optical film, a peeling means for peeling the protective film halfway from the optical film held by the optical film holding means, and a protective film peeling means. A protective film holding means for holding the part, a display panel holding means for holding the display panel, and an optical film held by the optical film holding means are affixed to the display panel held by the display panel holding means. The optical film holding means, the protective film holding means, and the display panel holding means are relatively moved, and the portion of the optical film from which the protective film has been peeled is attached to the display panel by the sticking means. Is.

  Moreover, the optical film sticking method of this invention hold | maintains an optical film with an optical film holding means, peels off a protective film from an optical film halfway, hold | maintains the part which peeled off the protective film with a protective film holding means, The panel is held by the display panel holding means, and the optical film holding means, the protective film holding means, and the display panel holding means are moved relative to each other while the part of the optical film from which the protective film has been peeled is transferred to the display panel. It is something to paste.

  Since the protective film is peeled off from the optical film halfway, and the peeled part of the protective film is held by the protective film holding means, the part of the optical film where the protective film has not been peeled is the part of the protective film that has not been peeled off Pressed by. In that state, while the optical film holding means and the protective film holding means and the display panel holding means are relatively moved, when the portion of the optical film from which the protective film has been peeled is attached to the display panel, The portion remaining without being peeled is sequentially peeled from the optical film in accordance with the relative movement of the optical film holding means, the protective film holding means, and the display panel holding means. Until the protective film is completely peeled off from the optical film, the optical film is pressed by the protective film and the warp of the optical film is corrected, preventing air from entering between the display panel and the optical film. Is done.

  In addition, the protective film is first peeled off from the optical film and the protective film is peeled off immediately before being attached to the display panel from the portion of the optical film that has not been peeled off. Adherence of foreign matter is suppressed.

  In addition, the protective film is first peeled off from the optical film halfway, and the remaining protective film is peeled off and the optical film is attached to the display panel at the same time. Therefore, the protective film is peeled off from the optical film and the optical film is displayed. Affixing to the panel is performed in a short time as a whole.

  Furthermore, in the optical film sticking apparatus of the present invention, the optical film holding means has an adsorption means and a protective film holding means for adsorbing the optical film, and the adsorption means peels the protective film from the optical film halfway. At the time, the optical film is adsorbed, and the peeling means folds the peeled part of the protective film and mounts it on the protective film holding means, and the adsorbing means releases the adsorption when the adhering means sticks the optical film to the display panel. To do.

  Further, the optical film attaching method of the present invention is provided with an adsorption means for adsorbing an optical film and a protective film holding means in the optical film holding means, and the optical film is adsorbed by the adsorption means when peeling the protective film partway from the optical film. Then, the peeled portion of the protective film is folded and mounted on the protective film holding means, and the suction of the suction means is released when the optical film is attached to the display panel.

  Adsorption means for adsorbing the optical film and protective film holding means are provided in the optical film holding means, and when the protective film is peeled off from the optical film halfway, the optical film is adsorbed by the adsorption means. Even if stress is applied, the optical film is held flat without distortion. And since the peeled part of the protective film is folded and mounted on the protective film holding means, the optical film is pressed against the optical film holding means by the protective film even if the suction of the suction means is subsequently released, and the optical film is optically The film is held flat by the film holding means. When adhering the optical film to the display panel, the adsorption of the adsorption unit is released, so that the optical film adhered to the display panel is not distorted due to the resistance due to the adsorption of the adsorption unit.

  The manufacturing method of the display panel of this invention sticks an optical film to a display panel using any one of said optical film sticking apparatuses or optical film sticking methods. Air is prevented from entering between the display panel and the optical film, foreign matter is prevented from adhering to the optical film, the protective film is peeled off from the optical film, and the optical film is attached to the display panel. Since it is performed in a short time as a whole, a high-quality display panel with few bubbles and foreign matters is manufactured with a short tact time.

  According to the optical film sticking apparatus and the optical film sticking method of the present invention, since the optical film can be pressed by the protective film and the warp of the optical film can be corrected, air enters between the display panel and the optical film. Can be suppressed.

  In addition, the protective film is first peeled off from the optical film, and the protective film is peeled off from the portion of the optical film that has not been peeled off immediately before being attached to the display panel. Can be prevented from adhering.

  In addition, the protective film is first peeled off from the optical film halfway, and the remaining protective film is peeled off and the optical film is attached to the display panel at the same time. Therefore, the protective film is peeled off from the optical film and the optical film is displayed. As a whole, it can be applied to the panel for a short time.

  Furthermore, according to the optical film sticking apparatus and the optical film sticking method of the present invention, when the optical film holding means is provided with the suction means and the protective film holding means for adsorbing the optical film, when the protective film is peeled off from the optical film halfway, The optical film is adsorbed by the adsorbing means, the peeled part of the protective film is folded and mounted on the protective film holding means, and the optical film is removed by releasing the adsorbing means when the optical film is attached to the display panel. While being held flat by the optical film holding means, the optical film attached to the display panel can be prevented from being distorted due to resistance due to the suction of the suction means.

  According to the method for manufacturing a display panel of the present invention, air can be prevented from entering between the display panel and the optical film, and foreign matter can be prevented from adhering to the optical film. Also, since the protective film can be peeled off from the optical film and the optical film can be applied to the display panel in a short time as a whole, a high-quality display panel with few bubbles and foreign matters can be manufactured in a short tact time. can do.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a polarizing plate pasting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment shows an example of a polarizing plate pasting apparatus for pasting a polarizing plate to a liquid crystal panel. The polarizing plate pasting apparatus includes a liquid crystal panel suction base 10, a sticking roller 11, a polarizing plate suction base, and a peeling unit 30.

  The liquid crystal panel adsorption base 10 is in a position where the polarizing plate 2 is attached to the liquid crystal panel 1. The liquid crystal panel 1 is mounted on the liquid crystal panel suction base 10 by a transport unit (not shown). The liquid crystal panel suction base 10 holds the liquid crystal panel 1 by vacuum suction of the upper surface of the liquid crystal panel 1 (the surface opposite to the surface on which the polarizing plate 2 is attached). A sticking roller 11 is disposed below the liquid crystal panel 1 mounted on the liquid crystal panel suction base 10.

  The polarizing plate adsorption base and the peeling unit 30 are in positions where the protective film 3 is peeled from the polarizing plate 2. A polarizing plate 2 is mounted on the polarizing plate adsorption base by a transport unit (not shown). The polarizing plate adsorption base is divided into a moving part 21 and a fixed part 22. The moving unit 21 and the fixed unit 22 have a plurality of polarizing plate suction pads 23. Moreover, the moving part 21 has the protective film adsorption pad 24 in the position where the polarizing plate 2 apart from the fixing | fixed part 22 is not mounted.

  The arrows in FIG. 1 indicate the peeling direction of the protective film 3 when the protective film 3 is peeled from the polarizing plate 2. When the protective film 3 is peeled from the polarizing plate 2, the fixing portion 22 holds only a predetermined range from one end of the polarizing plate 2 (the end on the side where the peeling of the protective film 3 is started), and the moving portion 21 is the most remaining part. Hold. When the polarizing plate 2 is attached to the liquid crystal panel 1, the moving part 21 is moved as described later, and the fixing part 22 remains at the position shown in FIG.

  A peeling unit 30 for peeling the protective film 3 from the polarizing plate 2 is disposed above the polarizing plate 2 held on the polarizing plate adsorption base. The peeling unit 30 has a chuck for sandwiching the protective film 3 and is provided with a roller wound with an adhesive tape in the vicinity of the chuck.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the peeling of the protective film from the polarizing plate. The moving unit 21 and the fixed unit 22 vacuum-suck the lower surface of the polarizing plate 2 with a plurality of polarizing plate suction pads 23 when the protective film 3 is peeled off from the polarizing plate 2. First, as shown in FIG. 2A, the peeling unit 30 contacts the protective film 3 with an adhesive tape wound around a roller at one end of the polarizing plate 2. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 2B, the peeling unit 30 slightly moves in the peeling direction while pulling the end of the protective film 3 attached to the adhesive tape away from the polarizing plate 2, and the protective film 3 is rotated by the rotation of the roller. Is introduced into the chuck, and the end of the protective film 3 is sandwiched between the chucks.

  Next, the peeling unit 30 rises obliquely in the peeling direction to a predetermined height as shown in FIG. 2 (c) with the end of the protective film 3 being sandwiched between the chucks, and then in FIG. 2 (d). As shown, the protective film 3 is peeled off partway from the polarizing plate 2 by moving in parallel in the peeling direction by a predetermined distance. Then, the peeling unit 30 descends vertically as shown in FIG. 2 (e), and the peeled portion of the protective film 3 is folded and mounted on the protective film suction pad 24. The protective film suction pad 24 holds the one end peeled off by the peeling unit 30 of the protective film 3 by vacuum suction.

  Thus, when the protective film 3 is separated from the polarizing plate 2 and peeled off, the stress applied to the polarizing plate 2 changes abruptly at the start of peeling. In the present embodiment, since the end of the protective film 3 on the side where the peeling is started is vacuum-sucked by the polarizing plate suction pad 23 of the fixing portion 22, the stress applied to the polarizing plate 2 is abrupt when the protective film 2 starts peeling. Even if it changes, the edge of the polarizing plate 2 is held flat without distortion. The fixing unit 22 releases the vacuum suction by the polarizing plate suction pad 23 after the peeling unit 30 peels the protective film 3 from the polarizing plate 2 halfway.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining attachment of a polarizing plate to a liquid crystal panel. The moving part 21 is moved to a position where the polarizing plate 2 is attached to the liquid crystal panel 1 by a moving mechanism (not shown) while holding the polarizing plate 2 as shown in FIG. In the middle of the movement or at the position where the application is performed, the moving unit 21 is tilted by a predetermined angle as shown in FIG.

  The liquid crystal panel 1 is held by the liquid crystal panel suction base 10 at a position where the pasting is performed, and a pasting roller 11 is disposed below the liquid crystal panel suction base 10. At the position where the application is performed, the moving unit 21 is raised by a moving mechanism (not shown) while being inclined at a predetermined angle. At this time, the affixing roller 11 is also raised together with the moving unit 21 by a moving mechanism (not shown). As shown in FIG. 3 (b), one end of the polarizing plate 2 held by the moving unit 21 is pressed against the liquid crystal panel 1 by the pasting roller 11 as the moving unit 21 and the pasting roller 11 rise.

  The moving unit 21 releases the vacuum suction by the polarizing plate suction pad 23 after one end of the polarizing plate 2 is pressed against the liquid crystal panel 1 by the sticking roller 11. Even when the vacuum suction by the polarizing plate suction pad 23 is released, the polarizing plate 2 is held flat by the moving portion 21 because it is pressed by the protective film 3.

  With one end of the polarizing plate 2 pressed against the liquid crystal panel 1, the liquid crystal panel suction base 10 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow as shown in FIG. At this time, the portion of the polarizing plate 2 pressed against the liquid crystal panel 1 by the sticking roller 11 adheres to the liquid crystal panel 1 by the adhesive applied in advance, and the polarizing plate 2 moves together with the liquid crystal panel 1. As the liquid crystal panel suction base 10 moves, the polarizing plate 2 is sequentially pressed from the end against the liquid crystal panel 1 by the sticking roller 11 as shown in FIGS. 3B, 3C, and 3D. Is attached to the liquid crystal panel 1.

  The portion of the protective film 3 that remains without being peeled off from the polarizing plate 2 is peeled off sequentially from the polarizing plate 2 as the polarizing plate 2 moves. As shown in FIG. 3D, the polarizing plate 2 is pressed by the protective film 3 until the protective film 3 is completely peeled off from the polarizing plate 2, and the warpage of the polarizing plate 2 is corrected. Air is suppressed from entering between the panel 1 and the polarizing plate 2. And when the protective film 3 is peeled completely from the polarizing plate 2, the protective film 3 is left on the moving part 21, as shown in FIG.3 (e).

  In the present embodiment, the liquid crystal panel suction base 10 is moved. However, the liquid crystal panel suction base 10 and the polarizing plate suction base are relatively moved by moving the moving part 21 of the polarizing plate suction base. May be. In that case, the affixing roller 11 also moves together with the moving unit 21.

  According to the embodiment described above, the polarizing plate 2 can be pressed by the protective film 3 and the warpage of the polarizing plate 2 can be corrected, so that air enters between the liquid crystal panel 1 and the polarizing plate 2. Can be suppressed.

  In addition, the protective film 3 is first peeled off from the polarizing plate 2 halfway, and the protective film 3 is peeled off immediately before being attached to the liquid crystal panel 1 from the portion where the protective film 3 of the polarizing plate 2 is not peeled off. Further, it is possible to suppress foreign matter from adhering to the polarizing plate 2.

  Moreover, since the protective film 3 is first peeled off from the polarizing plate 2 and the remaining protective film 3 is peeled off and the polarizing plate 2 is attached to the liquid crystal panel 1 at the same time, the protective film 3 from the polarizing plate 2 is removed. Peeling and sticking of the polarizing plate 2 to the liquid crystal panel 1 can be performed in a short time as a whole.

  Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the polarizing plate suction pad 23 and the protective film suction pad 24 are provided in the moving portion 21 of the polarizing plate suction base, and when the protective film 3 is peeled off from the polarizing plate 2 halfway, When the plate 2 is vacuum-sucked by the polarizing plate suction pad 23, the peeled portion of the protective film 3 is folded and mounted on the protective film suction pad 24, and the polarizing plate 2 is attached to the liquid crystal panel 1. By releasing the vacuum suction, the polarizing plate 2 attached to the liquid crystal panel 1 is prevented from being distorted due to the resistance due to the vacuum suction of the polarizing plate suction pad 23 while holding the polarizing plate 2 flat on the moving portion 21. can do.

  The present invention is not limited to sticking a polarizing plate to a liquid crystal panel, but can be widely applied to sticking an optical film having a protective film to a display panel.

  By sticking the optical film to the display panel using the optical film sticking apparatus or the optical film sticking method of the present invention, air can be prevented from entering between the display panel and the optical film, and It is possible to suppress foreign matter from adhering to the optical film, and it is possible to peel the protective film from the optical film and attach the optical film to the display panel as a whole in a short time. A high-quality display panel with little contamination can be manufactured with a short tact time.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the polarizing plate sticking apparatus by one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining peeling of the protective film from a polarizing plate. It is a figure explaining sticking to the liquid crystal panel of a polarizing plate.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid crystal panel 2 Polarizing plate 3 Protective film 10 Liquid crystal panel adsorption base 11 Sticking roller 21 Moving part 22 of a polarizing plate adsorption base Fixing part 23 of a polarizing plate adsorption base Polarizing plate adsorption pad 24 Protective film adsorption pad 30 Peeling unit

Claims (6)

Optical film holding means for holding the optical film;
Peeling means for peeling the protective film partway from the optical film held by the optical film holding means;
Protective film holding means for holding the part of the protective film peeled off by the peeling means;
Display panel holding means for holding the display panel;
Attaching means for attaching the optical film held by the optical film holding means to the display panel held by the display panel holding means,
While the optical film holding means and the protective film holding means and the display panel holding means are relatively moved, the portion of the optical film from which the protective film is peeled off is pasted to the display panel by the pasting means. An optical film pasting apparatus. The optical film holding means has an adsorption means for adsorbing an optical film and the protective film holding means,
The adsorbing means adsorbs the optical film when the peeling means peels the protective film partway from the optical film,
The peeling means is mounted on the protective film holding means by folding back the peeled portion of the protective film,
The optical film sticking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suction means releases the suction when the sticking means sticks the optical film to the display panel. Holding the optical film by the optical film holding means,
Peel off the protective film from the optical film halfway,
Hold the peeled part of the protective film by the protective film holding means,
Hold the display panel by the display panel holding means,
An optical film attaching method comprising attaching an optical film holding means, a protective film holding means and a display panel holding means to a display panel while relatively moving the protective film holding means and the display panel holding means. . An adsorption means for adsorbing the optical film and a protective film holding means are provided in the optical film holding means,
When peeling off the protective film partway from the optical film, the optical film is adsorbed by the adsorbing means,
Fold the peeled part of the protective film and mount it on the protective film holding means,
The optical film sticking method according to claim 3, wherein when the optical film is attached to the display panel, the suction of the suction means is released.   A method for producing a display panel, wherein the optical film is attached to a display panel using the optical film attaching apparatus according to claim 1.   An optical film is affixed on a display panel using the optical film affixing method of Claim 3 or Claim 4, The manufacturing method of the display panel characterized by the above-mentioned.

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