JP2008020559A - Color filter, and manufacturing method and apparatus of color filter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a color filter made by forming a colored pattern and an opaque black pattern at the same time on the surface of a transparent plastic film, to provide a manufacturing method of the color filter, and to provide manufacturing equipment of the color filter. <P>SOLUTION: The manufacturing equipment of the color filter is provided with four sets of pattern forming parts of an electrophotographic system for forming toner images of four colors of YMCBk on surfaces of photoreceptor drums corresponding to respective colors. Each pattern forming part has a photoreceptor drum and, on the surrounding of the drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer roller, a cleaner and a destaticizing lamp for removing charges remaining on the drum surface are arranged in this order along the rotation direction of the photoreceptor drum. A supply mechanism 30 and a fixing device 40 are arranged on a conveyance belt 20, and a film conveyed by a conveyance belt 20 is continuously conveyed along an extended conveyance path from the conveyance belt 20 and passes through the fixing device 40. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a color filter such as a color liquid crystal display used in a color television, a personal computer, a pachinko game machine, a color filter manufacturing method, and a color filter manufacturing apparatus, and in particular, a black matrix type using color electrophotography. The present invention relates to a color filter, a color filter manufacturing method, and a color filter manufacturing apparatus.

  In recent years, research and development of color liquid crystal displays has continued to expand, and the market for color liquid crystal displays has expanded greatly. Looking at the proportion of the price occupied by the components that make up the color liquid crystal display, the color filter is more expensive than the other components, and the reduction in the manufacturing cost of the color filter is to provide a liquid crystal display panel with a reasonable price. It is said to be a key point.

  Conventionally, various methods for manufacturing an inexpensive color filter while satisfying the required characteristics as a color filter have been attempted.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a photosensitive black resin material layer disposed on a plastic substrate film is transferred onto a transparent substrate for a color filter, and then the black resin material layer is irradiated with light to form a desired pattern. There has been proposed a method for manufacturing an inexpensive color filter by forming a black matrix.

  In general, a black matrix is usually formed by forming a metal film such as chromium oxide on the entire surface of the substrate by a method such as vacuum deposition or sputtering, and then applying a photosensitive resist, and then exposing / developing, etching, and resist stripping. The black matrix is formed by leaving the metal film only in necessary portions.

  In general, the color filter is composed of a large number of picture elements each composed of pixels of the three primary colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) formed on a transparent substrate. In addition, a light-shielding region having a certain width is generally provided between pixels of different colors in order to increase display contrast. Usually, since this light-shielding region is black, it is called a black matrix. ing.

  Next, in the method for producing a color filter, the colored pixel portion is formed by a dyeing method for dyeing a dyeable medium layer formed using a photolithography technique, or a pigment using a photosensitive composition in which a pigment is dispersed. It is performed by a dispersion method, an electrodeposition method using a patterned electrode, or the like.

  For example, Patent Document 2 proposes a method of manufacturing a color filter using the patterned electrode so that the ultraviolet absorbing layer has the same shape as the transparent electrode.

  Patent Document 3 proposes a method for manufacturing a plastic color filter in which the value obtained by subtracting the electrode extraction hole from the electrode width for forming the electrode extraction hole is smaller than the expansion / contraction variation width of the plastic film substrate.

  Patent Document 4 proposes a method for producing a plastic color filter having a black matrix without precise alignment on a plastic film substrate.

  Further, Patent Document 5 proposes a method for manufacturing a color filter that can form a film without cutting a long substrate such as a film and can provide more reliable electrical connection in continuous production. ing.

In addition, there is a method using an inkjet recording method as a low-cost manufacturing method. That is, in the ink jet recording method, it is possible to easily apply ink of a desired color to a desired position by arbitrarily setting a coloring area and a coloring pattern. Can be easily formed in a short time.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-197711 Japanese Patent No. 3415024 JP 11-84367 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-149012 JP 2000-66020 A

  However, the above-described method requires an expensive vacuum apparatus for depositing metal, and in particular, a large-scale apparatus is required to obtain a large-area color filter substrate, resulting in a significant increase in cost. .

  In addition, an expensive resist is required in the manufacturing process, and a complicated process such as resist coating, mask exposure, development, baking, etching, and resist stripping is required, resulting in high manufacturing costs. In addition, since the conventional method requires a high degree of accuracy for alignment between the black matrix and the colored pixel portion, there is also a problem that a considerable manufacturing cost is required in this respect.

  In addition, when a dyeable medium layer is formed in advance on a transparent substrate and a black matrix is formed by a method of dyeing with this layer using a black dye, a good dye that can be dyed black by itself is not obtained. 2 to 3 dyes are mixed and dyed black. This black dyeing has a problem that uneven color is easily generated, and even in this case, a sufficiently satisfactory black color cannot be obtained.

  Further, in the case of a method of forming a black matrix by a printing method using a printing ink containing carbon black, black compounding dye, etc., fine processing is difficult by the printing method, and a sufficiently accurate one cannot be obtained.

  Moreover, according to the method of forming a black matrix on a substrate by a lithographic method using a photosensitive resin composition in which a black pigment is dispersed, sufficient processing accuracy can be obtained, and the process can be performed by resin coating, temporary curing. The mask exposure, development, rinsing, main curing, and the like are short compared to the case of using metal chromium, so that inexpensive manufacturing is possible. However, since the spin coating is used when the black photosensitive resin composition is applied on the substrate, 95% or more of the photosensitive resin composition material is scattered, and the usage efficiency of the material is very 3 to 5%. There are problems such as bad.

  Furthermore, there is a sheet transfer method as a simple method for forming a black matrix. The sheet transfer method is known as a technique for producing red (R), green (G), and blue (B) colored pixel portions. In this method, first, after the red, green or blue pixel forming material layer formed on the base film is transferred onto the transparent base material, each pixel is formed using these pixel forming material layers. Then, a black photoresist is applied thereon, the previously formed pixel portion is used as a mask, and the photoresist in the region other than the pixel portion is exposed by exposing from the back side of the substrate, and thereafter development, Rinse to form a black matrix.

  However, in this method, it is necessary to repeat the steps of exposing, developing, and rinsing each time using a photomask to form each color pixel pattern, and this has not led to a fundamental cost reduction of the color filter manufacturing method. .

  Accordingly, in order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention has an object to provide a color filter in which a colored pattern and an opaque black pattern are simultaneously formed on the surface of a transparent plastic film, a color filter manufacturing method, and a color filter manufacturing apparatus. And

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a color filter in which a colored pattern and an opaque black pattern are simultaneously formed on the surface of a transparent plastic film.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the color filter according to the first aspect, the colored pattern and the opaque black pattern are formed using a digital color electrophotographic method.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the color filter according to the first or second aspect, the color filter generates a pattern that generates a translucent colored pattern and an opaque black pattern as electronic graphic information. And a pattern forming unit that receives the electronic graphic information and forms it by digital color electrophotography based on the received pattern of the graphic information.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the color filter according to any one of the first to third aspects, the colored pattern and the opaque black pattern have substantially the same thickness.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the color filter according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the pattern generation unit is a CAD device.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the color filter according to the second or third aspect, the pattern forming unit is a tandem digital color printer.

  The invention according to claim 7 is a color filter manufacturing method in which a colored pattern and an opaque black pattern are formed on the surface of a transparent plastic film by digital color electrophotography.

  The invention according to claim 8 is a color filter manufacturing apparatus for forming the color filter according to any one of claims 1 to 6 by digital color electrophotography.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a color filter, a color filter manufacturing method, and a color filter manufacturing apparatus in which a colored pattern and an opaque black pattern are simultaneously printed on a transparent film on the surface of a transparent plastic film. And

  In the present embodiment, it is possible to easily form a colored pattern and a black matrix, thereby achieving a fundamental cost reduction of a color filter manufacturing method and providing an inexpensive color filter having excellent characteristics. With the goal.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The color filter of the present embodiment is formed on the surface of a transparent plastic film by R (red), G (green), B (blue) which are three primary colors of light, or C (cyan), M (three primary colors). A magenta and Y (yellow) colored pattern and an opaque black pattern as a black matrix are simultaneously formed by digital color electrophotography.

  A color filter manufacturing method according to the present embodiment includes a CAD device as a pattern generating unit that generates a colored pattern and an opaque black pattern as electronic graphic information, and the electronic color information received by the digital color electrophotography. It has an image forming apparatus (for example, a quadruple tandem digital color printer) as a pattern forming portion for forming a pattern by the method.

  First, a manufacturing apparatus applied to the manufacture of the color filter of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 shows an outline of the configuration of a four-tandem full-color printer as a pattern forming apparatus used for manufacturing the color filter of this embodiment.

  This printer uses photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk (corresponding to toner images of four colors Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and Bk (black), which are color expression methods, respectively. 4 sets of pattern forming portions 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10Bk (pattern forming means) of an electrophotographic system for forming on the surface of the (pattern carrying body).

  Below these pattern forming portions 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10Bk, a transport belt 20 is stretched for transporting a film (base material) through each pattern forming portion.

  The photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk of the pattern forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10Bk are respectively arranged in rolling contact with the conveyor belt 20, and the film (base material) is electrostatically applied to the surface of the conveyor belt 20. Adsorbed.

  The four sets of image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10Bk have the same structure. Therefore, for explanation, the yellow pattern forming unit 10Y disposed on the most upstream side in the transport direction of the film (base material) will be described as a representative, and the other color pattern forming units 10M, 10C, and 10Bk are patterns. Since it is formed in the same manner as the forming portion 10Y, description thereof will be omitted.

  The pattern forming unit 10Y has a photosensitive drum 1Y that is in rolling contact with the conveyor belt 20 at a substantially central position. Around the photosensitive drum 1Y, a charging device 2Y for charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y to a predetermined potential, and the charged surface of the drum 1Y is exposed based on a color-separated pattern signal, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y is statically exposed on the drum surface. An exposure device 3Y that forms an electrostatic latent image, a developing device 4Y that supplies yellow toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the drum surface and develops it, and the developed toner image is transported via the transport belt 20. A transfer roller 5Y (transfer device) that transfers onto a film, a cleaner 6Y that removes residual toner that remains on the drum surface without being transferred, and a static elimination lamp that removes charge that remains on the drum surface (not shown). The drums 1Y are arranged in order along the rotation direction of the drum 1Y.

  A supply mechanism 30 for supplying the film onto the conveyor belt 20 is disposed on the lower right side of the conveyor belt 20 in the drawing.

  A fixing device 40 (described in detail in FIG. 2) is disposed on the left side of the conveyance belt 20 in the drawing. The film transported by the transport belt 20 is transported through a transport path continuously extending from the transport belt 20 through the fixing device 40 and passes through the fixing device 40.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the fixing device 40 heats and pressurizes the film in a state where the toner images of the respective colors are transferred onto the surface of the conveyed film. Then, the toner images of the respective colors are melted and fixed on the film (details are omitted in this figure). In this embodiment, as described above, a color filter is manufactured by simultaneously fixing on a transparent substrate using an electrophotographic method. Further, the film is discharged to the downstream side of the conveyance path of the fixing device 40 via a discharge roller.

  Next, the configuration and operation of the fixing device 40 in the configuration cross section of the pattern forming unit of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the fixing device 40 includes an endless fixing belt 41 stretched and supported by a support roller 42 and a fixing auxiliary roller 44 facing the support roller 42, and heats the fixing belt 41. And a pressure roller 43 that presses against the auxiliary fixing roller 44 via the fixing belt 41 to form a nip portion. The fixing belt 41 is a resistance heating device having at least a heat generating layer and further including a heating control unit 45, a power supply electrode 46, and a thermistor 47. The heat generating layer is electrically exposed on the circumference of both end portions of the fixing belt, and a power supply electrode 46 such as a brush-like electrode comes into contact therewith so that it can be electrically connected and supplied with power. Yes. As a result, the entire surface of the fixing belt can be heated.

  The toner used is an isoparaffinic solvent in which a red colorant (trade name: SpilionRed GRLH, manufactured by Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd.) is dispersed in a white latex obtained by the reaction of a cyclized rubber and a halogen-containing methacrylate, which is known in the prior art. (Esso Chemical Co., Ltd., trade name ISOPAR G) negatively charged R (red) toner prepared in the same manner and Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd. SpilionBlue GRLH Special, Spilion Green 3 GNH Special Charged B (blue) toner and negatively charged G (green) toner, or other pulverized toner or polymerized toner for electrophotography may be used.

  The film used is a polyester material (for example, PET) and the thickness is not particularly limited. For example, the film can be manufactured using a colorless and transparent film of about 0.1 mm, but other materials may be used.

  By using such a device, a film substrate, and a dye mixed toner, and through a known process used in a normal image forming apparatus, image information for forming a color filter is, for example, as shown in FIG. Color filter image data created by a CAD (computer 51 in which a CAD creation program is installed) or the like is input to a pattern forming unit 52 (color filter manufacturing apparatus) which is a second image forming apparatus, and this input Based on the information about the color filter, a pattern of three primary colors and a black matrix are printed on the film substrate according to a desired color tone. In addition, since the thickness of the pattern becomes uniform because it is heated and pressed by the fixing mechanism, a color filter manufactured by a simple process is provided as a filter for display elements and display devices including liquid crystal and PDP. be able to.

  An example of a color filter obtained using such a manufacturing apparatus is shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the color filter of the present embodiment has areas 62a (R: red), 62b (G: green), and 62c (B: blue) corresponding to the three primary colors of light on a plastic substrate 61, respectively. And the black stripe region 63 is provided on the surface thereof.

  In the present embodiment, the image data of the color filter may be created by reading an actual color filter with the respective primary colors by the reading device, or the first image forming device (computer 51) having a function such as CAD. The color filter can be designed by using the image data of the obtained color filter, and the color filter can be manufactured by the pattern forming unit 52 as the second image forming apparatus.

  Further, a colored pattern and an opaque black pattern are simultaneously printed on the surface of the transparent plastic film, and the colored pattern and the opaque black pattern are formed by digital color electrophotography. A pattern of the three primary colors and a black matrix pattern are simultaneously printed on the transparent film on the surface to form a color filter with a uniform thickness, so there is no reduction in light transmittance, which is an important quality as a color filter. This eliminates the disadvantage that the spectral characteristics and chromaticity characteristics of the conventional color filter are greatly impaired, the threshold voltage of the device is increased, and the sharpness of the rise is remarkably impaired. It becomes possible.

  Further, there is no need to form a transparent conductive film for increasing the transfer efficiency, which has been performed in the case of a conventional color filter, and the photolithography process required in the conventional manufacturing method can be omitted. Since accurate positioning is not required, manufacturing time can be shortened. Further, since an expensive photomask is not required, it can be manufactured at a low cost.

  In addition, electronic graphic data generated at the same time as the drawing work in the CAD system can be transmitted and received and the pattern can be immediately formed in the quadruple tandem digital color printer system, so that a high-quality color filter can be obtained in a short time. it can.

  Further, in the production of a printed wiring board, it is possible to produce an effect that it can be applied to the production of a photomask used when resist pattern formation is performed by contact exposure using a film-like photomask.

It is a figure which shows the structure cross section in the pattern formation part of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the cross section of the fixing device in the pattern formation part of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the schematic perspective view of the structural example of the manufacturing system of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the cross section of the color filter manufactured by this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1Y, 1M, 1C, 1Bk photoreceptor drum 2Y, 2M, 2C, 2Bk charging device 3Y, 3M, 3C, 3Bk exposure device 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4Bk developing device 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5Bk transfer roller 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6Bk cleaner 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10Bk Pattern forming unit 20 Conveying belt 30 Supply mechanism 40 Fixing device 41 Fixing belt 41b Heat generation layer 42 Support roller 43 Pressure roller 44 Fixing auxiliary roller 45 Heating control unit 46 Power supply electrode 47 Thermistor 51 Graphic data generator (CAD: first image forming apparatus)
52 pattern forming unit (4-drum tandem digital full color printer: second image forming apparatus)
61 Film substrate 62a, 62b, 62c Three primary colors coloring pattern 63 Opaque black pattern (black matrix)

Claims (8)

  A color filter, wherein a colored pattern and an opaque black pattern are simultaneously formed on the surface of a transparent plastic film.   The color filter according to claim 1, wherein the colored pattern and the opaque black pattern are formed using digital color electrophotography. The color filter includes a pattern generating unit that generates a translucent colored pattern and an opaque black pattern as electronic graphic information;
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic graphic information is received by an apparatus including a pattern forming unit formed by digital color electrophotography based on the received pattern of the graphic information. The color filter described.   The color filter according to claim 1, wherein the colored pattern and the opaque black pattern have substantially the same thickness.   The color filter according to claim 1, wherein the pattern generation unit is a CAD device.   4. The color filter according to claim 2, wherein the pattern forming unit is a tandem digital color printer apparatus.   A method for producing a color filter, wherein a colored pattern and an opaque black pattern are formed on the surface of a transparent plastic film by digital color electrophotography.   7. A color filter manufacturing apparatus, wherein the color filter according to claim 1 is formed by digital color electrophotography.

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