JP2007307717A - Screen printing plate and its manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a screen printing plate, which coats a periphery sealing agent on the periphery of a panel board for a liquid crystal display panel without damaging the surface of a liquid crystal layer sealed in the liquid crystal display panel, and a manufacturing method for manufacturing the screen printing plate. <P>SOLUTION: This screen printing plate consists of a hole 8 having a shape, with which the periphery sealing agent is formed, being provided in a metal plate 2 and, at the same time, a mesh 4, which is a thinner film than the metal plate, being formed in the hole 8, under the condition on one surface that the mesh 4 is so arranged as to be flush with the metal plate 2 in order to compose the surface acting as a squeegeeing surface. Further, as a manufacturing method suitable for manufacturing this screen printing plate 20, the manufacturing method for completing a metal mask screen plate 4 consists of two stages of a plating treatment process or a first plating layer of the formation of some part of the metal plate 2 and the mesh 4 and a second plating layer or the lamination of the metal plate 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a screen printing plate for applying a peripheral sealing agent around a panel substrate for a liquid crystal display panel and a method for manufacturing the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, screen printing that enables high-precision pattern printing has been employed when solder paste, conductor paste, or the like is applied and formed on a printed wiring board for mounting various electronic components, for example. In particular, when high-precision pattern printing is desired, a screen printing plate is used as a plate material for screen printing.

  On the other hand, the liquid crystal display panel can be obtained by bonding the periphery of the liquid crystal display panel with a peripheral sealing agent in a state where the liquid crystal layer is interposed between the pair of panel substrates. Therefore, in order to manufacture a liquid crystal display panel, an operation of applying a peripheral sealing agent to the panel substrate is required. As one method of this coating operation, a screen printing method excellent in productivity is employed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Screen printing plates are coated with a material that prevents bleeding of printing material (generally ink, peripheral sealing agent in this application), such as an emulsion, on a stretchable mesh. In this application, only the opening of the peripheral sealant around the panel substrate is opened.

  As the screen printing plate mesh, a silk screen mesh, a synthetic fiber mesh such as nylon or tetron, and a stainless steel mesh are used. Of these, stainless steel mesh for precision printing is mainly used for applying the peripheral sealing material.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state in which the peripheral sealing agent is applied to the panel substrate in the course of manufacturing the liquid crystal display panel. As shown in FIG. 10, a peripheral sealing agent 104 is formed around the panel substrate 102 on which the liquid crystal layer 106 is formed.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a state of an operation of applying a peripheral sealing agent to the panel substrate by screen printing. The screen printing plate 110 is disposed on the surface of the panel substrate 102 on which the liquid crystal layer 106 is formed, and the peripheral sealant 104 is poured into a surface (squeegee surface) opposite to the liquid crystal layer 106 side. The peripheral sealant 104 is applied to the surface of the liquid crystal layer 106 (the surface to be printed) so as to be slid by the squeegee 108 moving in the direction.

The screen printing plate 110 is a product in which a mesh 114 is stretched on a plate frame 112. The mesh 114 has an opening only at a portion where the peripheral sealant 102 shown in FIG. 10 is to be formed, and other portions are not. Covered by the emulsion shown.
At this time, when the squeegee 108 is moved, tension is applied to the mesh 114 and the mesh 114 is brought into close contact with the surface of the liquid crystal layer 106, so that the mesh mark is transferred to the liquid crystal layer 106. This mesh mark causes a display defect of the finally obtained liquid crystal display panel.

  FIG. 12 is an enlarged plan view of a part of the mesh 114 used in the screen printing plate, and shows the printing surface side facing the panel substrate 10. 13 is a DD cross-sectional view of the mesh 114 in FIG. 12, which is further enlarged from FIG. The mesh 114 is formed by weaving warps 114a and wefts 114b in a plain weave. The warp yarns 114a and the weft yarns 114b are wavy, and as a result, the crest portions 114a ′ from which the warp yarns 114a protrude toward the printing surface side and the crest portions 114b ′ from which the weft yarn 114b protrudes toward the printing surface side alternately exist. Yes. The crests 114 a ′ and 114 b ′ are brought into contact with and pressed against the liquid crystal layer 106 formed on the surface of the panel substrate 102, thereby forming a mesh mark.

  In the case of a screen printing plate for applying a peripheral sealant around a panel substrate for a liquid crystal display panel, the mesh 114 is subjected to a calendar process for smoothing the peaks 114a ′ and 114b ′, and the liquid crystal layer 106 By making the contact surface a flat surface having a certain area, mesh marks are hardly attached. However, the areas of the contact surfaces of the crests 114a 'and 114b' with the liquid crystal layer 106 are known to the extent that they can be obtained by smoothing by calendering, and the effect of reducing mesh marks is not sufficient.

As a method of preventing the mesh mark, there is a method of increasing the thickness of the emulsion. However, this method is not preferable because the coating amount of the peripheral sealing agent tends to vary and the seal width may not be constant.
Further, a metal mask (pattern forming layer) having a through-pattern hole only in a portion where the peripheral sealant 102 is to be formed and a mesh 114 are bonded together (generally, “suspended metal mask plate” or “suspend screen printing plate”, etc. According to the above, since the surface in contact with the liquid crystal layer 106 becomes a metal mask, it is considerably prevented that the mesh mark is attached. However, the mesh 114 is located on the back surface (squeegee surface) of the metal mask. When the mesh 114 is moved while pressing the squeegee 108, the mesh 114 is transferred to the printing surface through the metal mask, so that the mesh marks are completely removed. It cannot be prevented.

  In Patent Document 2, by aligning the rubbing direction of the alignment film (liquid crystal layer) and the calendering direction of the screen mesh in the same direction, the direction of the scratches by the calendering process and the rubbing direction become the same direction. A technique is disclosed in which even if a scratch is transferred to an alignment film, the alignment is hardly disturbed and display defects due to mesh marks can be prevented. However, just because the direction of the scratches by rubbing and the rubbing direction are aligned, the mesh mark remains on the surface of the liquid crystal layer, and the concern about display defects is not eliminated.

JP-A-7-137423 JP 2006-17835 A

  Therefore, the present invention is a screen printing plate for applying a peripheral sealant around a panel substrate for a liquid crystal display panel, and the liquid crystal layer surface sealed in the liquid crystal display panel is damaged. It is an object of the present invention to provide a non-screen printing plate and a production method capable of easily obtaining such a screen printing plate.

The above object is achieved by the present invention described below. That is, the present invention
<1> A screen printing plate for applying a peripheral sealant around a panel substrate for a liquid crystal display panel,
A hole having a shape to form the peripheral sealant is provided in the metal plate, and a mesh of a thin film is formed in the hole than the metal plate, and on one surface, the mesh is the metal plate. The screen printing plate is characterized by being arranged so as to be flush with each other, and the surface constitutes a squeegee surface.

  <2> The screen printing plate according to <1>, wherein the metal plate and the mesh are integrally formed.

  <3> The screen printing plate according to <2>, wherein a material of the metal plate and the mesh is nickel or an alloy thereof.

  <4> The screen printing plate according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein an outer periphery of the metal plate is fixed to a plate frame via a belt-like elastic stretch band.

  <5> The screen printing plate according to <4>, wherein the elastic stretch band is a ridge.

<6> A method for producing a screen printing plate for applying a peripheral sealant around a panel substrate for a liquid crystal display panel,
A first resist forming step of forming a resist having a shape to form the peripheral sealing agent composed of a negative image of the mesh with respect to the plane of the metal base material having a plane;
A first plating step of performing metal plating on the surface on which the resist of the metal base material is formed;
A second resist forming step of forming a resist of the shape not including a negative image of the mesh on the surface of the metal base material on which the metal plating layer is formed;
A second plating step of again applying metal plating of the same material as the metal plating to the surface on which the resist of the metal base material is formed;
A peeling step for peeling off the remaining resist;
A demolding step of demolding the laminated plating layer to obtain a screen printing plate from a metal base material,
Is a method for producing a screen printing plate.

  <7> The method for producing a screen printing plate according to <6>, wherein the metal plating is nickel plating or an alloy plating thereof.

  According to the screen printing plate of the present invention, when the peripheral sealing agent is applied to the periphery of the panel substrate on which the liquid crystal layer is formed, the surface printing plate is the surface opposite to the squeegee surface of the screen printing plate. Since the region in contact with the liquid crystal layer on the printing surface side is a flat metal plate surface, the surface contacts the liquid crystal layer without leaving a mesh mark.

In addition, since there is no mesh on the squeegee surface, the concern about the appearance of the mesh through the metal plate is also eliminated, and it is possible to reliably prevent the mesh mark from attaching to the liquid crystal layer.
For this reason, it is possible to completely prevent a display defect derived from the mesh mark of the finally obtained liquid crystal display panel.
Moreover, according to the method for producing a screen printing plate of the present invention, the screen printing plate of the present invention having the above-mentioned excellent characteristics can be easily produced.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[Screen Printing Plate of the Present Invention]
FIG. 1A is a schematic plan view schematically showing a screen printing plate according to an embodiment which is an exemplary aspect of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. FIG.1 (c) is CC sectional drawing of Fig.1 (a). As shown in FIG. 1, the screen printing plate 20 of the present embodiment has a rectangular opening (a hole having a shape to form a peripheral sealant) having a predetermined width slightly inside from the edge of the metal plate 2. 8 is provided, and the mesh 4 is disposed in the opening 8. In FIG. 1, in the plan view of FIG. 1 (a), the surface on the substrate side is facing upward, but in FIGS. 1 (b) and 1 (c), the squeegee surface is facing upward. (The same applies to the following figures unless otherwise specified.)

The screen printing plate 20 of the present embodiment has a characteristic configuration of the present invention in that the mesh 4 disposed in the opening 8 is disposed so as to be flush with the metal plate 2 on the squeegee surface. Here, the term “level” means that a plurality of members or elements have a flat portion and the flat portions are located on the same plane. In the present invention, that is, the mesh (4 on the squeegee surface). ) And the metal plate (2) are arranged so as to be located on the same plane.
As is apparent from the relationship between the mesh 4 and the metal plate 2 in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, both are on the same plane on the squeegee surface (the upper surface in FIGS. 1B and 1C). It can be said that both are arranged in a flush state.

  The structural difference between the conventional suspend screen printing plate and the screen printing plate of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 2 (x) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a conventional suspend screen printing plate 20 ', and FIG. 2 (y) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the screen printing plate 20 of the present embodiment. These are sectional views corresponding to the BB section in FIG. 1 (that is, the lower side is the printing side). However, in FIG. 2 (x), the mesh 4 'is depicted more schematically.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (x), in the conventional suspend screen printing plate 20 ′, the region E ′ in contact with the liquid crystal layer on the printing surface side is the surface of the flat metal plate (metal mask) 2 ′. However, the mesh 4 ′ is present on the back side of the squeegee surface, and when pressed by rubbing with the squeegee (108) as described with reference to FIG. 11, the mesh 4 ′ passes through the metal mask. Therefore, the mesh mark cannot be completely prevented.

  On the other hand, in the screen printing plate 20 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 (y), the region E in contact with the liquid crystal layer on the printing surface side is the surface of the flat metal plate 2. Needless to say, there is no mesh on the squeegee surface side that is the back side of the squeegee, and the mesh mark is printed even when pressed by rubbing with the squeegee (108) as described with reference to FIG. It can be reliably prevented from attaching to (a liquid crystal layer formed on a panel substrate for a liquid crystal display panel).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2 (x), the conventional suspend screen printing plate 20 ′ has a metal mask 2 ′ having a rectangular opening 8 ′ having a predetermined width and a mesh 4 separately from the metal mask 2 ′. It is made by pasting '. As described above, in the conventional suspend screen printing plate 20 ′, the total (T1 + T2 ′) of the thickness T1 of the metal mask 2 ′ and the thickness T2 ′ of the mesh 4 ′ is the thickness of the entire plate, which is more than a certain amount as a whole. It becomes the thickness of.

  The thickness of the metal mask 2 'and the mesh 4' is required to be self-supporting in a separate state before the two are bonded together. However, there is a limit to reducing the overall thickness. In particular, the metal mask 2 ′ is required to be self-supporting in accordance with practicality or durability as a plate itself, so that it requires a certain degree of robustness, and there is a limit to reducing the thickness T <b> 1.

  On the other hand, the screen printing plate 20 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 (y), in the opening (patterned hole) 8 of the metal plate 2 corresponding to the metal mask 2 ′ of the conventional example, Since the mesh 4 that is thinner than the metal plate 2 is formed, the thickness T2 of the mesh 4 does not affect the thickness of the entire plate, and the thickness T1 of the metal plate 2 and the thickness of the entire plate are the same. Become. Therefore, there is an effect that the thickness of the entire plate can be reduced.

  Further, in the suspend screen printing plate 20 ′ of the conventional example, the entire surface of the squeegee surface S is the mesh 4 ′, and the flatness is ensured. However, the mesh 4 and the metal are also used in the suspend screen printing plate 20 ′ of the present embodiment. Since the plate 2 is flush with the plate 2, the flatness of the squeegee surface S is ensured. Therefore, it is smooth when pressed and printed so as to be rubbed with a squeegee, and there is no problem.

  In a screen printing plate for applying a peripheral sealant around a panel substrate for a liquid crystal display panel, the width of the region where the peripheral sealant is to be formed is generally relatively narrow. A large load is not applied, and there is no great concern that the mesh 4 bends. However, when it is desired to improve the durability or when the width of the region where the peripheral sealant is to be formed is relatively wide, the mesh 4 is suspended vertically from the surface on the substrate side. And the post | mailbox of the length in which the edge part is substantially aligned with the surface by the side of the to-be-printed object of the metal plate 2 can also be arranged.

<Details of components>
Next, each member constituting the screen printing plate of the present invention will be described in detail.

(Metal plate)
In the present invention, the material of the metal plate is not particularly limited, and various metals that have been conventionally used as a metal mask material in a screen printing plate can be used without any problem. Specific examples include nickel, iron, copper, and alloys (for example, stainless steel) containing these metals. Among these, nickel and its alloys are preferable from the viewpoint of workability and economy.

  In the present invention, the thickness of the metal plate is not particularly limited, but is preferably 10 μm or more, and more preferably 12 μm or more in order to ensure a certain degree of durability. On the other hand, the upper limit of the thickness of the metal plate can be appropriately set depending on the purpose, but in order to obtain a high-definition image, it is preferably 70 μm or less, and 40 μm or less. More preferred.

  The panel substrate (printed material) to which the peripheral sealant is applied is only one in the example of the embodiment, but two or more panel substrates can be juxtaposed and printed on a single screen printing plate. Yes, from the viewpoint of productivity. In this case, as the holes (openings) to be opened in the screen printing plate of the present invention, the number of “holes having a shape to form a peripheral sealing agent” corresponding to all the panel substrates is provided.

  In the present invention, the size of the metal plate depends on the size of the panel substrate to which the peripheral sealing agent is applied and the area depending on the number of coatings at one time, and is not particularly limited, but generally one side is 200 mm to 850 mm. A rectangular shape within the range is selected. Of course, the shape of the metal plate is not limited to a rectangle.

(mesh)
In the present invention, the mesh material is not particularly limited. However, as will be described later, it is preferable for the mesh to be integrally formed with the metal plate from the viewpoint of manufacturing suitability, and from this viewpoint, it is desirable to use the same material as the metal plate.

  In the present invention, the thickness of the mesh is required to be at least a thin film than the metal plate. Depending on the thickness of the metal plate, the lower limit is preferably 5 μm or more, preferably 10 μm or more. It is more preferable. Further, the upper limit of the thickness of the mesh can be appropriately increased according to the thickness of the metal plate, but is 30 μm or less in order to obtain a high-definition image. Preferably, it is more preferably 25 μm or less.

  In the present invention, the thickness of the material (fiber) constituting the mesh is thin enough not to impair the function as a screen printing plate, and in order to ensure a certain degree of flexibility and durability during printing, It is preferable to select from the range of 5 μm to 40 μm, and it is more preferable to select from the range of 10 μm to 30 μm.

  In the present invention, the density of the fibers constituting the mesh (so-called “mesh”) is preferably large (fine) for forming a high-definition image, but is too large (too fine). In some cases, the components of the peripheral sealant cannot be sufficiently permeated. Therefore, it is selected from a range of about 27.6 to 315 (70 to 800 mesh) per 1 mm.

  In addition, according to the manufacturing method described later, instead of attaching a ready-made mesh, a new mesh is formed by plating. For example, a place where the thickness of the peripheral sealant (printing pattern) is to be increased is set to a mesh density. Depending on the pattern to be formed, the density of the mesh, the thickness of the mesh, the shape of the mesh, the thickness of the fiber, etc. may be different depending on the part. .

  The shape of the mesh holes is a square in which the vertical and horizontal fibers are orthogonally spaced at equal intervals in the drawing, but is not limited to this in the present invention. According to the manufacturing method to be described later, the shape of the mesh holes can be arbitrarily set. Therefore, any shape, for example, regular triangle, square, rectangle, rhombus, regular hexagon, and other polygons (regular polygons and deformed polygons). Including any square shape), a circular shape, an elliptical shape, an indefinite shape, or the like, and an optimum shape may be selected in consideration of various conditions.

(post)
In the case of arranging the post, the material of the post is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the post is integrally formed with the metal plate or the mesh from the viewpoint of manufacturability. It is desirable to use the same material as the post described later.
The shape of the post is not particularly limited, and any shape such as a prismatic shape, a columnar shape, a truncated cone shape, a truncated pyramid shape, or any other irregular shape may be adopted.

<Usage>
The screen printing plate of the present invention may be used by being fixed to a plate frame. In a normal suspend screen printing plate, 紗 provided on the entire surface of the squeegee side (refers to a “mesh” in general terms, and the concept is different from “mesh” in the present invention. The concept is divided into concepts and used) is provided up to the outer periphery of the metal mask, and is fixed to the plate frame, so-called “stretching”. However, since the screen printing plate of the present invention does not have a member corresponding to this “紗”, a belt-like elastic stretch band is attached to the outer periphery (preferably the squeegee surface side) of the metal plate of the screen printing plate of the present invention. It can be attached to the plate frame through this.

  The elastic stretch band is a member having the same significance as the heel used in an ordinary suspend screen printing plate on the outer periphery of the metal plate (metal mask). What has been used as a material can be used without problems. Specific examples include metal meshes such as stainless steel, aluminum, iron, copper, and alloys containing these metals, and resin meshes such as polyester (for example, Tetron (registered trademark)). Moreover, the thing which coat | covered the surface of these resin meshes with the said metal or alloy may be sufficient.

  However, since the collar that can be used as the elastic stretch band in the present invention is not provided in the opening, there is no limitation on the thickness of the fiber and the density of the fiber (so-called “mesh”). As long as it has a desired elastic force that can be stretched between a “metal plate” corresponding to a metal mask and a plate frame with a tension suitable for printing in a normal suspend screen printing plate The fiber thickness and fiber density may be arbitrary values. Moreover, as long as it has the said desired elastic force, it will not be specifically limited to a collar, It is also possible to employ | adopt a conventionally well-known sheet-like or film-like member as said elastic stretch band. From the viewpoint of durability and cost, it is most convenient and preferable to use a heel as the elastic stretch band.

  Moreover, there is no restriction | limiting in particular as a usable plate frame, The thing conventionally used as a plate frame in a screen printing plate can be used without a problem. When fixed to the plate frame via the elastic stretch band (so-called “saddle tension”), sufficient tension is applied to the elastic stretch band, and it has sufficient shape retention when used for screen printing. If it is a thing, no restrictions will be imposed on its shape, structure, size, and material. As specific materials, various plastic materials may be used in addition to metal materials such as stainless steel, aluminum, iron, and copper.

  The fixing between the metal plate and the elastic stretch band and the fixation between the elastic stretch band and the plate frame are not particularly limited, and may be performed by a conventionally known general method. For example, examples of adhesion fixing methods include welding methods, adhesive methods, plating methods, ultrasonic welding methods, mechanical attachment methods such as attachment by pressing with screws or pressers, and the like. There is no problem even if it is done by any method.

  In the present invention, the plate frame is not an essential component, but in normal screen printing, it is often used while being stretched on the plate frame. However, it may be possible to use it for screen printing without having a plate frame such as that directly attached to a printing apparatus, and even in such a case, the screen printing plate of the present invention can be suitably used.

<Method for Producing Screen Printing Plate of the Present Invention>
The method for producing a screen printing plate of the present invention (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “the production method of the present invention”) is roughly divided into two plating treatment steps (1 and 2) and a peeling step. Become. Each plating process is further divided into a resist forming process and a plating process, and a second plating process is further separated into a peeling process, which are essential processes. In other words, it is as follows.

(1) First Plating Process (1-A) First forming a resist having a shape to form the peripheral sealing agent composed of a negative image of a mesh on the plane of the metal base material having a plane. Resist formation process.
(1-B) A first plating step in which metal plating is performed on the surface on which the resist of the metal base material is formed.

(2) Step of the second plating process (2-A) A second resist forming step of forming the patterned resist not including the mesh negative image on the surface of the metal base material on which the metal plating layer is formed.
(2-B) A second plating step in which metal plating of the same material as the metal plating is applied again to the surface on which the resist of the metal base material is formed.
(2-C) A peeling process for peeling off the remaining resist.

(3) A demolding step of demolding the laminated plating layer from the metal base material to obtain a screen printing plate.

It should be noted that (1) as a final step of the first plating process, a (1-C) preliminary stripping step of stripping the resist formed in the first resist forming step may be provided.
Hereinafter, the production method of the present invention will be described separately for each step with specific examples.

[Specific example of manufacturing method]
In this example, an example of a manufacturing method for manufacturing a screen printing plate having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

(1) First plating step (1-A) First resist forming step The first resist forming step is a peripheral sealing agent comprising a negative image of a mesh with respect to the plane of the metal base material having a plane. Is a step of forming a resist having a shape to be formed.

  First, a metal base material 10 having a plane as shown in FIG. 3 is prepared. Here, FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view for explaining an example of the method for producing the screen printing plate of the present invention, and FIG. 3A shows the metal before the treatment by the method for producing the screen printing plate of the present invention. FIG. 3B is a schematic plan view showing a base material, FIG. 3B is a BB cross-sectional view of FIG. 3A, and FIG. 3C is a CC cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 to 7 are also schematic explanatory views for explaining an example of the method for producing a screen printing plate of the present invention.

  The metal base material 10 is not particularly limited as long as it has a flat surface that can hold the formed metal mask in a flat shape, and is not limited to a flat plate shape as shown in FIG. .

  In this step, a resist having a shape for forming a peripheral sealant composed of a mesh negative image is formed on the surface of the metal base material 10. FIG. 4A is a schematic plan view showing the state of the surface of the metal base material 10 after the operation in this step is performed, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 4, after the operation in this step, a resist 12 composed of a mesh negative image is formed.

  Here, the “negative image of the mesh” refers to a portion of the mesh composed of vertical and horizontal fibers other than the fibers, in other words, a shape corresponding to a hole portion in the mesh. That is, microscopically, the individual shapes of the resist 12 are square, but when the entire region where the resist 12 is formed is viewed, a portion where the resist is not formed is in a mesh state ( However, in FIG. 4, since the said image is too fine, illustration is abbreviate | omitted.) In the present invention, a resist image having such a shape is expressed as a “negative mesh image”.

  Further, the “shape to form the peripheral sealant” composed of a negative image of the mesh means that when the entire region where the resist 12 is formed is viewed, the portion of the resist 12 and the portion corresponding to the mesh It means that the entire image including the shape of the peripheral sealant is to be formed. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, when the entire region where the resist 12 is formed is viewed, the entire region has a rectangular shape having a predetermined width. That is, in this example, the shape is a desired pattern, and the opening 8 having the shape is formed in the finally formed screen printing plate.

  Conventionally known various resist agents can be used as the resist 12, and any of those commercially available as resist agents or newly prepared for the present invention can be used without any problem. In general, any material that is not used as a resist (for example, an adhesive, etc.) can be used as long as it is a material that acts as a non-conductor against energization in electrolytic plating. . In order to form a fine print pattern, it is desirable to use a photosensitive resist material.

  Examples of the photosensitive resist material include commercially available negative-type and positive-type products. For example, a photosensitive dry photo film (photosensitive resist material, photosensitive resin) commercially available from various manufacturers can be used.

  In order to form the resist 12 using a photosensitive resist material, the photosensitive resist material is applied to the surface of the metal base material 10, and after development, a rectangular resist having a predetermined width composed of a negative image of the mesh. Depending on the type of resist material selected, a predetermined development may be performed after irradiating light negatively or positively.

(1-B) First Plating Step The first plating step is a step of performing metal plating on the surface of the metal base material on which the resist is formed in the first resist forming step.
When the surface of the metal base material 10 having the resist 12 formed on the surface thereof as shown in FIG. 4 is subjected to metal plating of the material to form the finally obtained screen printing plate, as shown in FIG. In addition, a metal plating layer to be the metal plate 2 is formed in a portion other than the portion where the resist 12 is formed on the surface of the metal base material 10. Here, FIG. 5A is a schematic plan view showing the state of the surface of the metal base material 10 after the operation according to this step is performed, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.

  For example, when electrolytic plating is employed as the metal plating, the portion of the resist 12 that acts as a nonconductor is not plated. Even when other plating methods are adopted, the resist 12 is not plated, or is plated on the resist 12, and the metal base material 10 surface is directly plated. No.

  Since the portion where the resist 12 was formed was a negative image of the mesh, after the operation according to this step was performed, the metal plating layer to be the mesh 4 and the resist 12 were viewed as a whole. It is in a mixed state (a state in which a metal plating layer is formed in a mesh-like gap of the resist 12) (see reference numerals 12 and 4).

Examples of the metal to be plated by electrolytic plating include various metals and alloys thereof, and the metals or alloys listed as the material for the metal plate in the present invention can be used. Among these, nickel and alloys thereof are preferable because durability during fine line printing is further improved, and are also preferable from the viewpoint of workability and economy.
The thickness of the metal plating to be formed in this step is the thickness of the mesh 4 finally provided in the opening 8 and may be set to a desired value.

(1-C) Preliminary peeling step The preliminary peeling step is a step of peeling the resist formed in the first resist forming step after the operation of the first plating step.
When the operation of the first plating process is completed, as shown in FIG. 5, the resist 12 and the metal plating layer (metal plate 2) are present on the surface of the metal base material 10 in a mixed state. In this step, the resist 12 is removed.

FIG. 6A is a schematic plan view showing the state of the surface of the metal base material 10 after the operation in this step is performed, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 6A. FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, when the operation of this process is completed, the mesh 4 having the shape of the opening 8 (the shape in which the peripheral sealant is to be formed) is formed in the opening 8 on the surface of the metal base material 10. It is formed.

  The resist 12 may be removed by using an optimum method according to the type of the resist material. For example, the resist 12 may be removed using an alkaline solution or other organic / inorganic solvents. In any case, there is no problem if it is performed by a conventionally known method, and therefore a detailed description is omitted. The process is an optional process, and the operation of the second plating process, which will be described later, is continued as it is in the state of the remaining resist, and (2-C) peeling is the final process of the process. In the process, all resists may be removed.

(2) Second Plating Process (2-A) Second Resist Forming Process The second resist forming process refers to a metal base material after the operation of “(1) First Plating Process” is completed. On the surface on which the metal plating layer is formed (along with the remaining resist if the operation of the (1-C) preliminary stripping step is omitted), a resist having the above-described shape that does not include a mesh negative image is formed. It is a process. That is, the difference from the (1-A) first resist forming step is that the resist to be formed does not include a mesh negative image.

  FIG. 7A is a schematic plan view showing the state of the surface of the metal base material 10 after the operation in this step is performed, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 7A. FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 7, the resist 12 formed in this step is not a mesh negative image as shown in FIG. 4 but a solid image having a shape corresponding to a simple opening 8.

  7B and 7C, the layers 12 and 4 formed as the lower layer of the resist 12 (the layer on the metal base material 10 side) are a mixture of the metal plating layer serving as the mesh 4 and the resist 12. This layer is different from the upper layer made of only the resist 12.

In the case where a post having a length that hangs vertically from the surface of the mesh 4 and is substantially aligned with the surface of the metal plate 2 on the substrate side is disposed on the surface of the mesh 4 on the substrate side. Thus, a resist may be formed so that the post-shaped through hole to be obtained is formed at a desired location.
In addition, since the material, formation method, and the like of the resist 12 are the same as those in the “(1-A) first resist formation step”, detailed description thereof is omitted.

(2-B) Second Plating Step The second plating step is a metal plating made of the same material as the metal plating in the first plating step again on the surface of the metal base material on which the resist is formed in the second resist forming step. It is the process of giving.

  When further metal plating is performed on the surface of the metal base material 10 on which the metal plating layer (metal plate 2) and the resist 12 are formed as shown in FIG. 7, as shown in FIG. A metal plating layer is laminated on a portion of the surface of the base material 10 other than the portion where the resist 12 is formed. Here, FIG. 8A is a schematic plan view showing the state of the surface of the metal base material 10 after the operation in this step is performed, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG.

  That is, according to the metal plating in this step, the opening 8 is not subjected to metal plating, and is laminated to other portions. That is, the metal plating layer (metal plate 2) other than the opening 8 is laminated in the first and second plating processes at the boundary L1, and the thickness thereof is increased as a whole. A sufficient thickness to be required as a “metal plate” is secured. In the opening 8, the mesh 4 formed in the first plating process is held as a thin film.

  In FIG. 8, the metal plating layer (metal plate 2) is shown as being divided up and down at the boundary L1, but in actuality, the first and second plating processes are performed. The upper and lower plated layers thus laminated are fused to form a single film. In that respect, as described above, even if the two plating processes for laminating the two are included, these processes can be grasped integrally, and the manufacturing method of this example is referred to as “integral molding” in the present invention. It does not deviate from the concept of "

The thickness of the metal plating layer laminated in this step is finally obtained as (1-B) the total thickness of the metal plating layer (metal plate 2), which is the sum of the metal plating layer formed in the first plating step. What is necessary is just to adjust suitably so that it may become thickness required for the metal plate of the screen printing plate manufactured. That is, for example, when it is desired to have a thickness of 15 μm as a whole and the mesh 4 to have a thickness of 5 μm, (1-B) 5 μm in the first plating step, and 10 μm in this step (second plating step). What is necessary is just to give metal plating.
In addition, since the plating material, the plating method, and the like in the metal plating layer are the same as those in the “(1-B) first plating step”, detailed description thereof is omitted.

(2-C) Stripping Step The stripping step is a step of stripping the resist remaining after the end of the second plating step.
When the operation of the second plating process is completed, as shown in FIG. 8, the resist 12 and the metal plate 2 as the metal plating layer are present on the surface of the metal base material 10 in a mixed state. In particular, the resist 12 remains so as to fill the opening 8. Moreover, in the layers 12 and 4, the metal plating layer used as the mesh 4 and the resist 12 are mixed. In this step, the resist 12 is removed.

FIG. 9A is a schematic plan view showing the state of the surface of the metal base material 10 after the operation in this step is performed, and FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 9A. FIG. 9C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, when the operation of this process is finished, the mesh 4 having a shape (rectangular shape having a predetermined width) in which the peripheral sealant is to be formed in the opening 8 on the surface of the metal base material 10. Is formed, and a space is formed below the portion (printed material side).
In addition, since the removal method of the resist 12 and the like are the same as those in the “(1-C) preliminary peeling step”, detailed description thereof is omitted.

(3) Demolding process The demolding process is the process of “(2) the second plating process”, and after removing the laminated plating layer from the metal base material, the screen printing plate is removed. It is a process to obtain. That is, the metal plating layer 2 in the state shown in FIG. 9 is removed from the metal base material 10 in this step by peeling off, thereby obtaining the screen printing plate of the above-described embodiment having the structure shown in FIG. .

  There is no particular limitation on the peeling method (demolding method) at this time, but it is possible to use different metal materials such as when trying to peel a nickel or its alloy molding from a stainless steel metal base material. In some cases, it is usually not difficult to peel off, and it is only necessary to perform a physical demolding operation using hands and instruments. When it is difficult to remove the mold, the mold may be removed by various conventionally known peeling methods. In order to facilitate the demolding, it is also preferable to perform the demolding operation after completely dissolving the remaining resist 12 by, for example, an operation such as immersion in an organic solvent.

  As described above, the screen printing plate of the present invention having excellent characteristics can be produced. That is, (1) if the squeegee surface side of the metal plate 2 and the mesh 4 are simultaneously formed by the plating process in the first plating process, their surfaces are naturally flush with each other, and (2) the second If only the metal plate 2 is laminated by the plating process in the plating process, only the metal plate 2 can have a desired thickness, and the mesh 4 can be made thinner than that. It can be manufactured easily.

According to the manufacturing method of this example, by performing plating twice, a high-performance screen printing plate can be easily manufactured with high accuracy, so that the printing accuracy can be improved and the cost can be reduced. it can.
Moreover, in the manufacturing method of this example, since the plating material used in both steps of the plating process is the same, a screen printing plate in which the metal plate 2 and the mesh 4 are integrally formed can be easily manufactured. .

  The screen printing plate and the method for producing the same according to the present invention have been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and examples, and those skilled in the art Can change or improve the configuration of the present invention based on known knowledge.

  For example, the first and second plating processes are performed in two stages. For the purpose of ensuring the thickness of the mesh and / or the metal plate, two or more stages of plating processes are performed in each process. As a whole, the operation of the plating process may be performed three times or more. In this case, it is understood that the plating process is merely performed two or more times for convenience in each plating process, and a plurality of plating processes are performed in one process. .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which represents typically an example of the screen printing plate of this invention, (a) is a schematic plan view, (b) is BB sectional drawing of (a), (c) is CC of (a). It is sectional drawing. (X) is a conventional suspended screen printing plate, and (y) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the screen printing plate of FIG. It is a model explanatory drawing showing the metal base material before the process by an example of the manufacturing method of the metal mask screen plate of this invention, (a) is a schematic plan view, (b) is BB sectional drawing of (a), ( (c) is CC sectional drawing of (a). It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the state of the metal base material surface after the operation by a 1st resist formation process was made, (a) is a schematic plan view, (b) is BB sectional drawing of (a), (c) is CC sectional drawing of (a). It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the state of the metal base material surface after the operation by a 1st plating process was made, (a) is a schematic top view, (b) is BB sectional drawing of (a), (c ) Is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the state of the metal base material surface after operation by a preliminary | backup peeling process, (a) is a schematic plan view, (b) is BB sectional drawing of (a), (c). FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the state of the metal base material surface after the operation by a 2nd resist formation process was made, (a) is a schematic plan view, (b) is BB sectional drawing of (a), (c) is CC sectional drawing of (a). It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the state of the metal base material surface after operation by a 2nd plating process was performed, (a) is a schematic top view, (b) is BB sectional drawing of (a), (c ) Is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the state of the metal base material surface after operation by a peeling process was performed, (a) is a schematic top view, (b) is BB sectional drawing of (a), (c) is It is CC sectional drawing of (a). FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which a peripheral sealing agent is applied to a panel substrate in the middle of manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel. It is a schematic diagram which shows the mode of the operation | work which apply | coats a periphery sealing agent to a panel board | substrate by screen printing. It is the top view which expanded a part of mesh used for a screen printing plate. It is DD sectional drawing in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

2: Metal plate 4: Mesh 6: Post 8: Opening 10: Metal base material 12: Resist 20: Screen printing plate

Claims (7)

A screen printing plate for applying a peripheral sealant around a panel substrate for a liquid crystal display panel,
A hole having a shape to form the peripheral sealant is provided in the metal plate, and a mesh of a thin film is formed in the hole than the metal plate, and on one surface, the mesh is the metal plate. The screen printing plate is characterized by being arranged so as to be flush with each other, and the surface constitutes a squeegee surface. The screen printing plate according to claim 1, wherein the metal plate and the mesh are integrally formed. The screen printing plate according to claim 2, wherein a material of the metal plate and the mesh is nickel or an alloy thereof. The screen printing plate according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an outer periphery of the metal plate is fixed to a plate frame via a belt-like elastic stretch band. The screen printing plate according to claim 4, wherein the elastic stretch band is a ridge. A method for producing a screen printing plate for applying a peripheral sealant around a panel substrate for a liquid crystal display panel,
A first resist forming step of forming a resist having a shape to form the peripheral sealing agent composed of a negative image of the mesh with respect to the plane of the metal base material having a plane;
A first plating step of performing metal plating on the surface on which the resist of the metal base material is formed;
A second resist forming step of forming a resist of the shape not including a negative image of the mesh on the surface of the metal base material on which the metal plating layer is formed;
A second plating step of again applying metal plating of the same material as the metal plating to the surface on which the resist of the metal base material is formed;
A peeling step for peeling off the remaining resist;
A demolding step of demolding the laminated plating layer to obtain a screen printing plate from a metal base material,
A method for producing a screen printing plate, comprising: The method for producing a screen printing plate according to claim 6, wherein the metal plating is nickel plating or alloy plating thereof.

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