JP2010128127A - Method for manufacturing image display and manufacturing equipment of image display - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for manufacturing an image display that is able to continuously remove the two different kinds of display mediums adhering to the upper edges of space forming members without requiring to move two particle removing plates generating both positive and negative electric fields first close to the space forming members such as partition walls then apart from them. <P>SOLUTION: The charged particles 3a, 3b adhering to the upper edges of the partition wall 71 arranged on a substrate 6 to form display medium spaces are removed by a particle removing roller 10. The voltages different in polarity from each other are impressed to the electrodes 11 adjoining one another on the removing roller 10. The charged particles 3a or 3b are adsorbed to the electrode 11 by the electric field high enough to adsorb those adhering to the upper edges of the partition walls 71 but not high enough to adsorb those within the display medium spaces 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an image display device. Specifically, an image display device in which a charged display medium is sealed between a transparent substrate and a counter substrate facing the transparent substrate, and the display medium is moved and the display color is switched by an electric field generated between the two substrates. It relates to the manufacturing method.

Patent Document 1 discloses an image display device that displays an image by flying and moving particle groups. Specifically, the charged particle group is accommodated in a plurality of display medium spaces partitioned by a partition wall between two opposing substrates at least one of which is transparent. An electric field is applied to the particle group from two electrodes having different potentials, and the particle group flies and moves. In order to manufacture the image display device disclosed in Patent Document 1, generally, after the particle group is dispersed from a nozzle disposed above a substrate to a display medium space formed on one substrate. The image display device is manufactured by superimposing the other substrate. Since the particle group is dispersed from the nozzle to the display medium space, the particles adhere to the upper end portion of the partition wall. In order to remove the adhered particles, an electric field having a polarity opposite to the charged polarity of the adhered particles is generated in the conductive particle removing plate.
JP 2007-322651 A

  However, in the general manufacturing method for manufacturing the image display device disclosed in Patent Document 1, two types of particle groups having different charging polarities are scattered on the space forming member, so that the upper end of the partition wall In order to remove the two kinds of attached particles, two particle removal plates are provided, a particle removal plate that generates an electric field of positive polarity and a particle removal plate that generates an electric field of negative polarity. Depending on the charged polarity of the adhered particles, a particle removal plate having a polarity opposite to the charged polarity needs to move closer to the partition wall to adsorb the particles and then move away. For this reason, the inventor needs an operation step of approaching and separating from the partition wall for each of the plurality of particle removal plates, and thus the number of steps in the entire manufacturing process of the image display device is increased, and the upper end of the partition wall is increased. The subject that the display medium adhering to a part cannot be removed continuously was found.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. An object of the present invention is that two types of display media are dispersed from a nozzle disposed above a substrate into a display medium space formed on one substrate, and the display medium is stored in each display medium space. In a manufacturing method for manufacturing an image display device, two particle removal plates that generate electric fields of positive and negative polarities need to be moved close to a space forming member such as a partition wall and then separated. And providing a method of manufacturing an image display device capable of continuously removing two different types of display media adhering to the upper end portion of the space forming member with a smaller number of steps than in the past. .

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display medium space for storing two kinds of positively and negatively charged display media between two opposing substrates at least one of which is transparent. On one of the substrates, a large number are formed by being divided by a space forming member. By generating a predetermined potential difference between the two substrates, the display medium stored in each display medium space is displaced and the display color is changed. A method of manufacturing an image display device to be switched, the spraying step of spraying the two types of display media charged positively and negatively from above the substrate on which the multiple display medium spaces are formed, and a support shaft An electric field generating and moving body that is supported and can move around, wherein the first and second regions to which different voltages are applied are alternately formed on the peripheral surface along the support axis. The display medium An arrangement step of arranging the space forming member adjacent to an upper end of the space-spreading member on the substrate, a substrate on which the electric field generating / moving body is moved around and the support shaft of the electric field generating / moving member and the display medium are sprinkled And an electric field is generated between the first and second regions by applying different voltages to the first and second regions of the electric field generating moving body. And an adsorption step of adsorbing the display medium adhering to the upper end portion of the space forming member on the substrate on which the display medium is dispersed.

  The invention described in claim 2 includes a substrate fixing step of arranging and fixing the other substrate to the upper end portion of the space forming member on the substrate on which the display medium is dispersed after the suction step is performed. It is a feature.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the circumferential movement direction in which the circumferential surface of the electric field generating moving body facing the substrate on which the display medium is dispersed is rotated, the driving step and the support shaft Relative to the substrate and the electric field generating rotator relatively moved in a direction parallel to the circumferential movement direction. The electric field generating moving body is moved at a revolving speed faster than a general moving speed, and the arranging step alternately forms the first area and the second area extending in a direction parallel to the axis of the support shaft. And an electric field generating and moving body in which an interval between the adjacent first region and the second region is at least half or less than an interval between two adjacent space forming members on the substrate. It is characterized.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the circumferential movement direction in which the circumferential surface of the electric field generating moving body facing the substrate on which the display medium is spread is circularly moved, the driving movement step and the support shaft Relative to the substrate and the electric field generating rotator relatively moved in a direction parallel to the circumferential movement direction. The electric field generating moving body is moved at a rotational speed twice as high as the general moving speed, and the arranging step includes alternating the first region and the second region extending in a direction parallel to the axis of the support shaft. An electric field generating and moving body that is formed and in which an interval between the adjacent first region and the second region is smaller than an interval between two adjacent space forming members on the substrate is disposed. Trying

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the adsorption step, the display medium that can adsorb the display medium attached to an upper end portion of the space forming member and exists in each display medium space on the substrate. A voltage application control step of applying a voltage for generating an electric field between the first and second regions adjacent to each other to the adjacent first and second regions. It is characterized by that.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the moving direction of the substrate, the electric field generation movement is performed by the collecting unit provided on the upstream side in the moving direction of the substrate from the sucking position where the display medium is sucked by the sucking step. It includes a display medium collecting step of collecting the display medium adsorbed on the body.

  The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that, in the arranging step, the electric field generating moving body is arranged at a position where it does not contact a space forming member on the substrate on which the display medium is dispersed.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display medium space for storing two kinds of positively and negatively charged display media between two opposing substrates at least one of which is transparent. On one of the substrates, a large number are formed by being divided by a space forming member. By generating a predetermined potential difference between the two substrates, the display medium stored in each display medium space is displaced and the display color is changed. An apparatus for manufacturing an image display device to be switched, the substrate having the display medium space formed from the two types of positively and negatively charged display media from above the substrate having the plurality of display medium spaces formed thereon And a dispersal part that disperses the display medium and a space forming member on the substrate on which the display medium is disperseed. 1st and 2nd area The electric field generating and moving body formed alternately on the peripheral surface in parallel with the axis of the support shaft, and the electric field generating and moving body are moved around, and the support shaft of the electric field generating and moving body and the display medium are dispersed. A drive unit that relatively moves the substrate, and an electric field for adsorbing the display medium attached to the upper end of the space forming member on the substrate on which the display medium is dispersed, An apparatus for manufacturing an image display device, comprising: a voltage applying unit that applies a voltage generated between second regions to the first and second regions.

  The invention according to claim 9 is characterized in that the electric field generating and moving body is a cylindrical rotating body that is rotatable about the support shaft.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the electric field generating and moving body is supported by the support shaft and is capable of moving around, and the first and second regions to which different voltages are applied are along the support shaft. The electric field generating and moving bodies formed alternately are arranged in the arranging step adjacent to the upper end of the space forming member on the substrate on which the display medium is dispersed. In the driving step, the electric field generating moving body is moved around and the support shaft of the electric field generating moving body and the substrate on which the display medium is dispersed are relatively moved. In the adsorption step, the first and second regions of the electric field generating rotator are applied with different voltages to generate electric fields between the first and second regions, and the substrate on which the display medium is dispersed The display medium adhering to the upper end portion of the upper space forming member is sucked. As a result, with the relative movement of the substrate and the electric field generating moving body and the circular movement of the electric field generating moving body, the display medium attached to the upper end portion of the space forming member is continuously provided by the first and second regions. Can be removed. In addition, since the conventional two types of particle removal plates do not require an operation process for approaching and separating from the partition wall, the number of processes in the entire manufacturing process can be reduced.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, the substrate fixing step arranges and fixes the other substrate on the upper end portion of the space forming member on the substrate on which the display medium is dispersed after the removal step. . As a result, since the display medium is not attached to the upper end portion of the space forming member when the other substrate is arranged and fixed, the sealing property between the substrates can be improved.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the driving step includes an axial direction between the circumferential movement direction and the support shaft in the circumferential movement direction in which the circumferential surface of the electric field generating moving body facing the substrate on which the display medium is dispersed is rotated. A rotating speed faster than a relative moving speed for relatively moving the substrate and the electric field generating rotating body formed of the space forming member in a lattice shape on the grid and the electric field generating rotor. Then, the electric field generating moving body is moved. In the disposing step, the first region and the second region extending in a direction parallel to the axis of the support shaft are alternately formed, and the interval between the adjacent first region and the second region is determined on the substrate. An electric field generating and moving body that is at least half or less of the interval between two adjacent space forming members is disposed. As a result, the process of removing the display medium attached to the upper end portion of the space forming member extending in the vertical direction by the first region and the second region can be performed at least twice for each space forming member. become. Even if it is difficult to remove all of the many display media attached to the upper end of the space forming member in one removal process, the display medium must be removed at least twice by the first region and the second region. Is possible. In addition, since the display medium attached to the upper end portion of each space forming member is removed at least twice by the first region and the second region, the electric field generating moving body and the substrate are particularly aligned. The display medium attached to the upper end of the space forming member can be removed. Since the process of aligning the electric field generating moving body and the substrate is not necessary, the manufacturing process can be further simplified.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the driving step includes an axis line between the circumferential movement direction and the support shaft in the circumferential movement direction in which the circumferential surface of the electric field generating moving body facing the substrate on which the display medium is dispersed is rotated. A number of display medium spaces formed in a grid pattern in the direction of the substrate and the electric field generating rotator relative to the direction parallel to the circular movement direction. The electric field generating moving body is moved at a speed. In the disposing step, the first region and the second region extending in a direction parallel to the axis of the support shaft are alternately formed, and the interval between the adjacent first region and the second region is determined on the substrate. An electric field generating moving body smaller than the interval between two adjacent space forming members is arranged. As a result, the process of removing the display medium attached to the upper end portion of the space forming member extending in the vertical direction by the first region and the second region can be performed at least twice for each space forming member. become. Even if it is difficult to remove all of the many display media attached to the upper end of the space forming member in one removal process, the display medium must be removed at least twice by the first region and the second region. Is possible. In addition, since each space forming member is removed at least twice by the first region and the second region, the upper end portion of the space forming member is not particularly aligned without aligning the electric field generating moving body and the substrate. The attached display medium can be removed.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the sucking step can suck the display medium attached to the upper end portion of the space forming member and does not suck the display medium existing in each display medium space on the substrate. A voltage application control step of applying a voltage for generating an electric field of possible magnitude between the adjacent first and second regions to the adjacent first and second regions is included. As a result, it is possible to prevent the image display device from being able to display a clear display color by erroneously attracting the display medium in each display medium space.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, the display medium collecting step is performed by the collecting unit provided on the upstream side of the moving direction of the substrate from the sucking position where the display medium is sucked by the sucking step in the moving direction of the substrate. The display medium adsorbed by the electric field generating moving body is collected. As a result, when the display medium adsorbed by the electric field generating moving body is collected by the collecting unit, even if the collection of the display medium by the collecting unit fails and the display medium falls again on the space forming member, The display medium can be adsorbed by the electric field generating moving body. Therefore, when the display medium adheres to the upper end portion of the space forming member, it is possible to prevent production of a defective product with reduced sealing performance between the substrates, and to improve the productivity of the image display device.

  According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the electric field generating and moving body is arranged at a position where it does not contact the space forming member on the substrate by the arranging step. As a result, since the rotating member comes into contact with the space forming member and the display medium attached to the upper end of the space forming member is removed, the electric field generating moving body does not press the space forming member. The deformation of the forming member can be prevented, and the image display quality in units of pixels can be improved. Further, when the other substrate is placed and fixed by the substrate fixing step, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the sealing property between the substrates caused by the deformation of the space forming member.

  According to the invention described in claim 8, the electric field generating and moving body is disposed on the substrate on which two kinds of display media charged positively and negatively are scattered from above the substrate on which a large number of display medium spaces are formed. It is arrange | positioned adjacent to the upper end of this space formation member, is supported by the support shaft, and is comprised so that rotation is possible. The drive unit moves the electric field generating moving body in a circular motion and relatively moves the support shaft of the electric field generating moving body and the substrate on which the display medium is dispersed. The voltage application unit generates an electric field between the first and second regions of the electric field generating moving body for attracting the display medium attached to the upper end portion of the space forming member on the substrate on which the display medium is dispersed. A voltage is applied to the first and second regions. As a result, with the relative movement of the substrate and the electric field generating moving body and the circular movement of the electric field generating moving body, the display medium attached to the upper end portion of the space forming member is continuously provided by the first and second regions. Can be removed. In addition, since the conventional two types of particle removal plates do not require an operation process for approaching and separating from the partition wall, the number of processes in the entire manufacturing process can be reduced.

  When the electric field generating moving body has a configuration other than a cylindrical rotating body that can rotate around one support shaft, for example, when it is configured by a belt-shaped moving body that is stretched between two support shafts, In order to attract the display medium attached to the upper end of the space forming member, an electric field of a predetermined magnitude is maintained by maintaining a constant distance between the substrate and the peripheral surface of the belt-like moving body facing the substrate. It is necessary to generate However, there is a problem that the belt holding mechanism is complicated, for example, a configuration that absorbs the slack of the belt of the belt-like moving body is required to keep the distance constant over the entire length of the peripheral surface facing the substrate. According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the electric field generating and moving body is a cylindrical rotating body that can rotate around the support shaft. As a result, the distance between the substrate and the circumferential surface of the electric field generating moving body can be kept relatively constant by positioning the support shaft, and a predetermined electric field is applied between the substrate and the circumferential surface. Can be generated. Therefore, the structure in which the electric field generating moving body is held and moved around is a simple structure.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus of an electrophoretic display device 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.

<External configuration of manufactured electrophoretic display unit 1>
FIG. 1 is an external view of an electrophoretic display device 1 manufactured by a manufacturing method to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in the arrow direction along the line AA ′ of the electrophoretic display device 1 shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the electrophoretic display device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. For convenience of explanation, FIGS. 1 and 2 use an example in which a monochrome image can be displayed by the electrophoretic display device 1 and the number of pixels of the electrophoretic display device 1 is 20 (5 × 4). I will explain.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the display surface of the electrophoretic display device 1 is provided with a display medium space 2 for displaying display information. In the first embodiment, an electrode is disposed at the same position as the display medium space 2 in order to generate an electric field with respect to the display medium space 2. The peripheral part where the display medium space 2 is formed is covered with an upper electrode protective film 61. The upper electrode protective film 61 is formed of a material that can exhibit high transparency, such as polyimide, polyethylene terephthalate, glass, titanium oxide, silicon oxide, and polystyrene. The peripheral portion of the electrophoretic display device 1 in which the display medium space 2 is not formed is surrounded by a mask portion 40 that is concealed so that the user cannot visually recognize it. The white display 33a is formed by charged particles 3a filled in the display medium space 2. The black display 33b is formed by charged particles 3b filled in the display medium space 2. Detailed description of the charged particles 3a and the charged particles 3b will be described later.

  In the electrophoretic display device 1 of the first embodiment, the directions of the arrows shown in FIG. 2 are the upward direction and the downward direction, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, the electrophoretic display device 1 includes a mask unit 40, a lower substrate 50, an upper substrate 60, a display unit 70, and a partition wall 71. The lower substrate 50 is provided on the lower surface portion of the electrophoretic display device 1. The upper substrate 60 is disposed to face the lower substrate 50 in the upward direction with the display unit 70 interposed therebetween. A user of the electrophoretic display device 1 browses display information displayed via the display layer 63 from above in FIG.

  The partition wall 71 is disposed between the lower substrate 50 and the upper substrate 60 and is supported by both substrates. The partition walls 71 are arranged so as to form a large number of display medium spaces 2 by equally dividing the lower substrate 50 into a lattice shape. The material of the partition wall 71 may be a material mainly composed of a photocurable resin, and polymers and oligomers mainly containing an acrylic group, a vinyl group, an allyl group or an epoxy group are used. In the first embodiment, a resin containing an epoxy group is used as the material of the partition wall 71.

  The display unit 70 is configured by filling each display medium space 2 with charged particles 3a and charged particles 3b. Specifically, charged particles 3 a and charged particles 3 b are filled in each of a large number of display medium spaces 2 divided in a lattice pattern by the partition walls 71 on the lower substrate 50. In the first embodiment, each display medium space 2 is formed by a space filled with charged particles 3a and charged particles 3b. As materials for the charged particles 3a and the charged particles 3b, pigments and dyes made of organic compounds or inorganic compounds, or pigments and dyes wrapped with a synthetic resin are used. In the first embodiment, a mixture of a styrene resin and titanium dioxide is used as the material as the charged particles 3a. As the charged particles 3a, particles having an average particle diameter of 5 μm and an amount of titanium dioxide in the particles of 40 wt% are used. As the charged particles 3b, a mixture of styrene resin and carbon black is used. As the charged particles 3b, particles having an average particle diameter of 5 μm and a carbon black amount of 30 wt% in the particles are used. Therefore, the charged particles 3a have a white color tone, and the charged particles 3b have a black color tone. The charged particles 3a and the charged particles 3b are charged so as to be different from each other positively or negatively. In the first embodiment, the charged particles 3a are negatively charged and the charged particles 3b are positively charged.

  The lower substrate 50 includes a lower electrode protective film 51, a lower electrode 52, and a housing support part 53.

  The lower electrode protective film 51 is an insulating film formed by applying an insulating material to the upper surface side of the lower electrode 52. The lower electrode protective film 51 is formed of a material having a high insulating effect, such as a resin film such as polyethylene terephthalate or polystyrene, or an inorganic material such as silicon oxide or titanium oxide. In the first embodiment, silicon oxide is used as the lower electrode protective film 51.

  The lower electrode 52 is provided for applying a voltage to the display medium space 2. The lower electrode 52 is arranged in parallel with the upper electrode 62 in order to apply a constant voltage to each of the display medium spaces 2.

  The housing support member 53 is provided on the lower surface side of the lower electrode 52. The housing support part 53 supports the electrophoretic display device 1 itself.

  The upper substrate 60 includes an upper electrode protective film 61, an upper electrode 62, and a display layer 63. A mask portion 40 is provided on the upper surface of the upper substrate 60 (the surface that does not face the lower substrate 50).

  The upper electrode protective film 61 is an insulating film formed by applying an insulating material to the lower surface side of the upper electrode 62. The upper electrode protective film 61 is made of a highly transparent material such as polyimide, polyethylene terephthalate, glass, titanium oxide, silicon oxide, or polystyrene. In the first embodiment, silicon oxide is used as the material of the upper electrode protective film.

  The upper electrode 62 is an electrode for generating an electric field between the upper electrode 62 and the lower electrode 52. In order to apply the same voltage to the upper electrode 62 in each display medium space 2, the upper electrode 62 is configured as a common electric conductor. In the first embodiment, the upper electrode 62 is configured as a common electric conductor, and the lower electrode 52 is an active matrix system arranged for each of the display medium spaces 2. The upper electrode 62 is made of a highly transparent material. In the first embodiment, a transparent electrode formed of indium tin oxide (ITO) is used as the upper electrode 62.

  The display layer 63 is formed of a transparent member such as glass, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, or triacetyl cellulose. The display layer 63 is provided on the upper surface side of the upper electrode 62. The display layer 63 functions as a display screen. As the display layer 63, a flexible glass substrate is used. Since the upper substrate 60 is formed of the above-described highly transparent material, the user can visually recognize the display unit 70 from above the upper substrate 60.

  The mask unit 40 is provided to conceal the peripheral portion of the display unit 70 where the display medium space 2 does not exist so that the user cannot visually recognize it. The mask portion 40 is provided with a constant width along the four sides of the upper substrate 60. As the mask unit 40, a plate-shaped member having a square shape shown in FIG. 2 is used so that the user can visually recognize the display unit 70. As the mask portion 40, a member colored with a synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate is used. Further, an ink layer having an effect equivalent to that of the mask portion 40 may be directly formed on the surface of the display layer 63 with ink or the like. In the first embodiment, polyethylene terephthalate is used as the mask portion 40.

<Appearance configuration of manufacturing equipment>
FIG. 3 is an external view of a manufacturing apparatus 5 in which the manufacturing method according to the first embodiment to which the present invention is applied is used. In the manufacturing apparatus 5, the directions of the arrows shown in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the manufacturing apparatus 5 as viewed from the front in FIG. The manufacturing apparatus 5 includes a transport roller 7, a particle spray nozzle 8, a particle spray nozzle 9, a particle removal roller 10, and a particle collecting unit 12.

  The transport roller 7 is configured to be rotatable, and transports the display medium space forming substrate 6 in the right direction toward an arrangement position where the particle spray nozzle 8, the particle spray nozzle 9, and the particle removal roller 10 are disposed. The display medium space forming substrate 6 includes the lower substrate 50 and the partition walls 71 shown in FIG. The conveyance roller 7 of the first embodiment is an example of a drive unit of the present invention.

  The particle spray nozzle 8 sprays the charged particles 3b from the upper direction with respect to the display medium space forming substrate 6 onto the display medium space forming substrate 6. The particle spraying nozzle 9 sprays the charged particles 3 a from above to the display medium space forming substrate 6. The particle spray nozzle 8 and the particle spray nozzle 9 of the first embodiment are examples of the spray unit of the present invention.

  The particle removal roller 10 has a rotation shaft 13 parallel to the front-rear direction in FIG. 3 and is disposed so as to be rotatable around the rotation shaft 13 as a support shaft. The particle removal rollers 10 are arranged at intervals that do not contact the display medium space forming substrate 6. The particle removal roller 10 is provided with electrodes 11 at a large number of intervals along the circumference of the particle removal roller 10. The electrode 11 extends in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the rotation shaft 13 of the particle removal roller 10. Voltages having different polarities are applied to the adjacent electrodes 11 so that electric fields in different directions are alternately formed in the circumferential direction. The peripheral surface of the particle removing roller other than the electrode 11 is covered with an insulator. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the particle removal roller 10 of the manufacturing apparatus 5 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Voltages having different polarities are applied to the adjacent electrodes 11a and 11b shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an electrical configuration for applying voltages of different polarities to the electrode 11a and the electrode 11b. As shown in FIG. 6, a slip ring 14 a and a slip ring 14 b are provided around the rotation shaft 13 of the particle removal roller 10. The slip ring 14 a is connected to the electrode 11 a and the first terminal 15 a of the voltage generator 15. The slip ring 14 b is connected to the electrode 11 b and the second terminal 15 b of the voltage generator 15. The first and second terminals 15a and 15b are slidably connected to the circumferential surfaces of the slip rings 14a and 14b. The voltage generator 15 generates voltages of different polarities at the first and second terminals 15a and 15b. Different voltages generated by the voltage generator 15 are applied to the slip ring 14a and the slip ring 14b, respectively. For example, when a positive voltage is applied to the slip ring 14a by the voltage generator 15, a positive voltage is applied to the electrode 11a. In addition, when a negative voltage is applied to the slip ring 14b, a negative voltage is applied to the electrode 11b. When voltages having different polarities are applied to the electrodes 11a and 11b, an electric field 80 having a predetermined magnitude and direction is generated between the electrodes 11a and 11b as shown in FIG. Due to the electric field 80 generated between the electrodes 11a and 11b, the charged particles 3a and charged particles 3b adhering to the upper end of the partition wall 71 are adsorbed by the particle removing roller 10. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a state in which the charged particles 3a and the charged particles 3b attached to the upper end portion of the partition wall 71 are adsorbed by the electric field 80 generated between the electrodes 11a and 11b. As shown in FIG. 7, the electric field 80 generated between the electrodes 11 a and 11 b passes through the charged particles 3 a or the charged particles 3 b attached to the upper end of the partition wall 71 as the particle removing roller 10 rotates. The magnitude of the electric field 80 is such that the charged particles 3a or the charged particles 3b can be adsorbed to the electrode 11a or the electrode 11b. When the electric field 80 passes through the charged particles 3a or the charged particles 3b, the charged particles 3a or the charged particles 3b are adsorbed to either the electrode 11a or the electrode 11b according to the polarity. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when a positive voltage is applied to the electrode 11a and a negative voltage is applied to the electrode 11b, the negative charged particles 3a are adsorbed to the electrode 11a, and the positive charged particles 3b are Adsorbed to the electrode 11b. In the manufacturing apparatus 5, the circumferential distance between the adjacent electrodes 11 provided in the particle removal roller 10 is not more than half of the distance between the partition walls 71 facing in the right direction. There is a voltage that can adsorb the charged particles 3a or charged particles 3b attached to the upper end of the partition wall 71 and generate an electric field of a magnitude that cannot adsorb the charged particles 3a or charged particles 3b accommodated in the display medium space 2. Applied to the electrode 11a and the electrode 11b. The particle removal roller 10 of the first embodiment is an example of the electric field generating moving body of the present invention. The electrode 11a and the electrode 11b of the first embodiment are examples of the first region and the second region of the present invention. The voltage generation unit 15 of the first embodiment is an example of a voltage application unit of the present invention.

  The particle collecting unit 12 collects the charged particles 3 a and the charged particles 3 b adsorbed on the particle removing roller 10. The charged particles 3a and charged particles 3b adsorbed on the electrode 11 are collected together with the air by sucking the air around the nozzles of the particle collecting unit 12 by the particle collecting unit 12.

<The manufacturing method of 1st Embodiment>
Implementation of the manufacturing method of the first embodiment using the manufacturing apparatus 5 having the configuration described above will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process procedure of a manufacturing process in the manufacturing apparatus 5. In the flowchart of the manufacturing process, power is supplied to the manufacturing apparatus 5 when an external power source such as a commercial power source and the manufacturing apparatus 5 are connected via a battery or an outlet. Thereafter, step S1 is executed.

  In step S <b> 1, the particle removing roller 10 is disposed by the manufacturing apparatus 5 at a position close to the upper end portion of the partition wall 71 provided in the display medium space forming substrate 6 conveyed by the conveying roller 7. Step S1 of the first embodiment is an example of an arrangement step of the present invention.

  In step S <b> 2, a predetermined voltage is applied to the electrode 11 provided in the particle removal roller 10. Specifically, voltages having different polarities are alternately applied to adjacent electrodes 11 provided in the particle removal roller 10. In the first embodiment, a positive voltage is applied to the electrode 11a. A negative voltage is applied to the electrode 11b. A voltage is generated that can adsorb the charged particles 3a or charged particles 3b adhering to the upper end of the partition wall 71 and generate an electric field of such a magnitude that the charged particles 3a or charged particles 3b accommodated in the display medium space 2 cannot be adsorbed. Applied to the electrode 11a and the electrode 11b. Step S2 of the first embodiment is an example of a voltage application control step of the present invention.

  In step S3, rotation of the transport roller 7 and the particle removal roller 10 is started. The particle removing roller 10 is rotated in a direction opposite to the right direction in which the display medium space forming substrate 6 is conveyed by the conveying roller 7. In FIG. 3, the particle removal roller 10 is rotated in the clockwise direction around the rotation shaft 13 as the facing direction. The particle removing roller 10 is rotated so that the outer peripheral surface has a speed higher than the speed at which the display medium space forming substrate 6 is transported by the transport roller 7. The conveyance of the display medium space forming substrate 6 and the rotation of the particle removal roller 10 started in step S3 of the first embodiment are examples of the driving step of the present invention.

  In step S4, it is determined whether the display medium space forming substrate 6 transported by the transport roller 7 is in a position where the charged particles 3a or the charged particles 3b can be sprayed by the particle spray nozzle 8 or the particle spray nozzle 9. The In the first embodiment, the sensor determines whether the tip portion of the display medium space forming substrate 6 in the right direction is at a predetermined position where particles can be dispersed by the particle spray nozzle 8. If the sensor determines that the tip of the display medium space forming substrate 6 in the right direction is a position where the charged particles 3a or the charged particles 3b can be dispersed, step S5 is executed. If it is determined that the position is not the predetermined position, step S4 is repeatedly executed.

  In step S <b> 5, the charged particles 3 a and the charged particles 3 b are sprayed in the display medium space 2 provided on the display medium space forming substrate 6 by the particle spray nozzle 8 and the particle spray nozzle 9. Step S5 of the first embodiment is an example of a spraying step of the present invention.

  In step S <b> 6, the charged particles 3 a and the charged particles 3 b attached to the upper ends of the partition walls 71 provided on the display medium space forming substrate 6 are removed by the particle removing roller 10. As shown in FIG. 7, when an electric field is generated from the electrode 11a toward the electrode 11b, when the electrode 11b approaches the upper end of the partition wall 71, the positively charged charged particles 3b attached to the partition wall 71 are removed. To be adsorbed. When the electrode 11 a approaches the upper end of the partition wall 71, the negatively charged charged particles 3 a attached to the partition wall 71 are attracted to the particle removal roller 10. A voltage capable of generating an electric field having a magnitude capable of removing the charged particles 3a or the charged particles 3b attached to the upper end portion of the partition wall 71 between the electrodes 11a and 11b is applied to the electrodes 11a and 11b. Step S6 of the first embodiment is an example of the adsorption step of the present invention.

  In step S <b> 7, the particle collecting unit 12 collects the charged particles 3 a and the charged particles 3 b attached to the removal roller 10. By sucking the air around the nozzle of the particle collecting unit 12 by the particle collecting unit 12, the charged particles 3a and the charged particles 3b attached to the electrode 11 are collected together with the air. Step S7 of the first embodiment is an example of the display medium collection step of the present invention.

  In step S <b> 8, it is determined whether the rear end portion of the display medium space forming substrate 6 on the left side has passed the particle removal roller 10. In the first embodiment, the sensor detects whether the rear end of the display medium space forming substrate 6 has passed the particle removal roller 10. If it is determined that it has passed, step S9 is executed. If it is determined that it has not passed, step S8 is repeatedly executed.

In step S <b> 9, the upper substrate 60 is fixed to the display medium space forming substrate 6. Step S9 of the first embodiment is an example of the substrate fixing step of the present invention.
[Second Embodiment]

  Hereinafter, a second embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a method of manufacturing the electrophoretic display device 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. Since the external configuration and manufacturing process of the manufacturing apparatus used in the manufacturing method of the second embodiment are substantially the same as those of the manufacturing apparatus 5 shown in FIG. 3, only different parts will be described.

  In the manufacturing apparatus used for the manufacturing method of the second embodiment, the distance between the electrodes 11 provided on the circumference of the removing roller 10 and adjacent to each other is smaller than the distance between the partition walls 71 facing each other in the right direction.

  In a step corresponding to step S4 of the second embodiment, rotation of the transport roller 7 and the particle removal roller 10 is started. The particle removing roller 10 is rotated in a direction opposite to the right direction in which the display medium space forming substrate 6 is conveyed by the conveying roller 7. In FIG. 3, the particle removal roller 10 is rotated in the clockwise direction around the rotation shaft 13 as the facing direction. The particle removal roller 10 is rotated such that the speed of the outer peripheral surface thereof is twice as fast as the speed at which the display medium space forming substrate 6 is transported by the transport roller 7.

(Modification 1)
Modification 1 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described. In the manufacturing method in the first and second embodiments, the upper substrate 60 may not be fixed in step S10.

(Modification 2)
Modification 2 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described. In step S2 of the manufacturing method of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the particle removal roller 10 is disposed adjacent to the partition wall 71 provided on the display medium space forming substrate 6 and not in contact therewith. In the second modification, the particle removal roller and the partition wall 71 provided on the display medium space forming substrate 6 may be in contact with each other.

(Modification 3)
A modification 3 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the particle removal roller 10 has a cylindrical shape. In the third modification, the moving body is not limited to the cylindrical shape as long as it is supported by the support shaft and moves around. The peripheral surface of the particle removal roller may be constituted by a flat surface that is a peripheral surface of a part of an endless belt that can move around. Further, the peripheral surface of the particle removal roller may be constituted by a flat surface and a curved surface.

(Modification 4)
A modification 4 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the particles collected by the particle removing roller 10 are collected by the particle collecting unit 12. In the fourth modification, when the particles collected by the particle removing roller 10 are collected by the particle collecting unit 12, the voltage applied to the electrode 11 is weakened to weaken the adsorption force for the electrode 10 to adsorb the particles. You may do it. When the particles adsorbed on the particle removal roller 10 are collected, no voltage may be applied to the electrode 11. In the case of the modified example 4, the voltage generator is configured to apply a voltage to each of the electrodes provided in the particle removal roller.

(Modification 5)
Modification 5 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, each display medium space 2 is provided with a set of electrodes including an upper electrode 62 and a lower electrode 52 that face each other. In the fifth modification, a pair of electrodes facing each display medium space 2 may not be arranged. A pair of opposing electrodes may be arranged for a plurality of display medium spaces. Further, electrodes may be arranged only for a specific display medium space. For example, the manufacturing method of the present invention may be used as a manufacturing method of a segment type electrophoretic display device.

(Modification 6)
A modification 6 of the active matrix system of the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described. Instead of the active matrix method, a passive matrix method may be used.

(Modification 7)
A modification 7 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described. In step S <b> 2 of the manufacturing method of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, voltages having different polarities are alternately applied to the adjacent electrodes 11 provided in the particle removal roller 10. Specifically, a positive voltage is applied to the electrode 11a. A negative voltage is applied to the electrode 11b. In the modified example 7, the charged particles 3a or the charged particles 3b adhering to the upper end portion of the partition wall 71 can be adsorbed, and the electric field of such a magnitude that the charged particles 3a or the charged particles 3b accommodated in the display medium space 2 cannot be adsorbed. If it is the voltage which generate | occur | produces, it will not specifically limit. For example, voltages having the same polarity but different voltage values may be alternately applied to adjacent electrodes provided in the particle removal roller 10. In that case, the charged particles 3a or charged particles 3b adhering to the upper end of the partition wall 71 can be adsorbed by the potential difference between adjacent electrodes, and the charged particles 3a or charged particles 3b accommodated in the display medium space 2 are not adsorbed. It is only necessary to generate an electric field having a possible magnitude.

(Modification 8)
A modification 8 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the display medium space forming substrate 6 is transported by the transport roller 7. In the modified example 8, the present invention is applied to a known roll-to-roll system shown in (http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/WORD/2006060306/114143/). In the production method of the roll-to-roll method of the modified example 8, step S3 of the process procedure of the manufacturing process shown in FIG. 8 is different from the first and second embodiments. In the modification 8, the plastic substrate is wound in a roll shape around the rotation axis. By rotating the rotating shaft, the plastic substrate wound around the rotating shaft is conveyed in a predetermined direction. On the upstream side of the manufacturing process (upstream side of the plastic substrate transport direction), when the plastic substrate is transported in a predetermined direction, the display medium space is formed on one surface of the plastic substrate by embossing or photolithography. It is formed. On the downstream side of the manufacturing process (on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the plastic substrate), the same processes as those in steps S4 to S7 in the first and second embodiments are performed. The step of transporting the plastic substrate wound in the roll shape of the modified example 8 in a predetermined direction by rotating the rotating shaft is an example of the driving step of the present invention.

(Modification 9)
A modification 9 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the electrode 11 extends parallel to the rotation axis direction of the rotation shaft 13 of the particle removal roller 10. In Modification 9, the electrode may extend spirally around the peripheral surface of the particle removal roller with respect to the rotation axis direction.

(Modification 10)
A modification 10 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described. In the flowchart S <b> 1 of the manufacturing process of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the particle removal roller 10 is disposed at a position close to the upper end portion of the partition wall 71. In Modification 10, the upper end portion of the partition formed on the display medium space forming substrate is brought close to the particle removal roller by being conveyed by the conveyance roller 7 with respect to the particle removal roller fixed in advance at a predetermined position. It may be arranged in a position.

It is an external view of the electrophoretic display device 1 manufactured by the manufacturing method of the first embodiment. It is arrow sectional drawing along the A-A 'line of the electrophoretic display device 1 manufactured by the manufacturing method of 1st Embodiment. It is an external view of the manufacturing apparatus 5 used for the manufacturing method of 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing seen from the front of the manufacturing apparatus 5 used for the manufacturing method of 1st Embodiment. It is an enlarged view of the particle removal roller 10 with which the manufacturing apparatus 5 used for the manufacturing method of 1st Embodiment was equipped. It is explanatory drawing explaining the electrical structure for applying the voltage of a different polarity to the electrode 11a and the electrode 11b of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining the state from which the charged particle 3a and the charged particle 3b which adhered to the upper end part of the partition 71 are removed by the electric field which generate | occur | produced between the electrode 11a of the said manufacturing apparatus 5, and the electrode 11b. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the manufacturing process in the said manufacturing apparatus 5. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrophoretic display apparatus 2 Display medium space 3a Charged particle 3b Charged particle 5 Manufacturing apparatus 6 Display medium space formation board 7 Conveyance roller 8 Particle distribution nozzle 9 Particle distribution nozzle 10 Particle removal roller 11 Electrode 11a Electrode 11b Electrode 12 Particle collection part 13 Rotating shaft 14a Slip ring 14b Slip ring 15 Voltage generating unit 15a First terminal 15b Second terminal 33a White display 33b Black display 40 Mask unit 50 Lower substrate 51 Lower electrode protective film 52 Lower electrode 53 Housing support unit 60 Upper substrate 61 Upper electrode protective film 62 Upper electrode 63 Display layer 70 Display part 71 Partition 80 Electric field

Claims (9)

A display medium space for storing two types of positively and negatively charged display media between two opposing substrates at least one of which is transparent is formed on one of the two substrates. A method of manufacturing an image display device in which a large number of parts are formed by being divided by members, and a predetermined potential difference is generated between two substrates, whereby a display medium stored in each display medium space is displaced and a display color is switched. And
A spraying step of spraying the two types of display media charged in positive and negative from above the substrate on which the plurality of display medium spaces are formed,
An electric field generating and moving body supported by a support shaft and capable of moving around, wherein the first and second regions to which voltages of different magnitudes are applied are alternately formed on the peripheral surface along the support shaft. An arrangement step of arranging an electric field generating moving body adjacent to an upper end of a space forming member on the substrate on which the display medium is dispersed;
A driving step of rotating the electric field generating and moving body and moving the support shaft of the electric field generating and moving body and the substrate on which the display medium is dispersed;
An electric field is generated between the first and second regions by applying different voltages to the first and second regions of the electric field generating moving body, and the display medium is dispersed on the substrate. An adsorption step for adsorbing the display medium attached to the upper end of the space forming member;
A method for manufacturing an image display device including:   2. The substrate fixing step according to claim 1, further comprising a substrate fixing step of arranging and fixing the other substrate at an upper end portion of the space forming member on the substrate on which the display medium is dispersed after the suction step is performed. Manufacturing method of image display apparatus. The driving step is performed in a lattice shape in the circumferential movement direction and the axial direction of the support shaft in the circumferential movement direction in which the circumferential surface of the electric field generating moving body facing the substrate on which the display medium is spread is circularly moved. At a revolving speed faster than a relative moving speed for relatively moving the substrate formed by the space forming member and the electric field generating rotator in the multiple display medium spaces in a direction parallel to the revolving movement direction. , Moving the electric field generating moving body,
In the arranging step, the first area and the second area extending in a direction parallel to the axis of the support shaft are alternately formed, and the first area and the second area are adjacent to each other. 3. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein an electric field generating and moving body having an interval that is at least half of an interval between two adjacent space forming members on the substrate is disposed. Method. The driving step is performed in a lattice shape in the circumferential movement direction and the axial direction of the support shaft in the circumferential movement direction in which the circumferential surface of the electric field generating moving body facing the substrate on which the display medium is spread is circularly moved. Orbital speed that is twice the relative movement speed for relatively moving the substrate formed by the space forming member and the electric field generating rotator in the display medium space in a direction parallel to the orbital movement direction. Then, the electric field generating moving body is moved,
In the arranging step, the first area and the second area extending in a direction parallel to the axis of the support shaft are alternately formed, and the first area and the second area are adjacent to each other. The method for manufacturing an image display device according to claim 1, wherein an electric field generating and moving body having a smaller interval than an interval between two adjacent space forming members on the substrate is disposed.   In the adsorption step, an electric field that is capable of adsorbing the display medium attached to the upper end portion of the space forming member and that cannot adsorb the display medium existing in each display medium space on the substrate. A voltage application control step of applying a voltage for generating a voltage between the first and second regions adjacent to each other to the first and second regions adjacent to each other is included. The manufacturing method of the image display apparatus in any one of Claim 4.   In the moving direction of the substrate, the display medium adsorbed by the electric field generating moving body is collected by the collecting unit provided on the upstream side in the moving direction of the substrate from the adsorbing position where the display medium is adsorbed by the adsorbing step. 6. The method for manufacturing an image display device according to claim 1, further comprising a display medium collecting step.   The said arrangement | positioning step arrange | positions the said electric field generation moving body in the position which does not contact the space formation member on the board | substrate with which the said display medium was spread | dispersed. Manufacturing method of image display apparatus. A display medium space for storing two types of positively and negatively charged display media between two opposing substrates at least one of which is transparent is formed on one of the two substrates. An apparatus for manufacturing an image display apparatus in which a large number of parts are formed by being divided by members, and a predetermined potential difference is generated between two substrates, whereby a display medium stored in each display medium space is displaced and a display color is switched. And
A spraying unit that sprays the two types of display media charged positively and negatively onto the substrate on which the display medium space is formed from above the substrate on which the plurality of display medium spaces are formed;
First and second regions, which are arranged adjacent to the upper end of the space forming member on the substrate on which the display medium is dispersed, are supported by a support shaft and can move around, and are applied with voltages of different magnitudes. An electric field generating and moving body alternately formed in parallel with the axis of the support shaft on the peripheral surface;
A driving unit that moves the electric field generating moving body in a circular manner and relatively moves a support shaft of the electric field generating moving body and the substrate on which the display medium is dispersed;
A voltage for generating an electric field for adsorbing the display medium adhering to the upper end portion of the space forming member on the substrate on which the display medium is dispersed is generated between the first and second regions of the electric field generating moving body. A voltage application unit to be applied to the first and second regions;
An apparatus for manufacturing an image display device.   9. The apparatus for manufacturing an image display device according to claim 8, wherein the electric field generating and moving body is a cylindrical rotating body that is rotatable about the support shaft.