JP2010234714A - Printer and method for printing - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which enables printing with high accuracy and high reproducibility. <P>SOLUTION: The printer 1A includes stages 12a and 12b on which a flat plate A being a printing plate or a base is set, a blanket holding plate 13 which holds a sheet-like blanket 14 and is flexible, a fixed support part 15 which supports one end portion 13a of the blanket holding plate 13 immovably, a simple support part 16 which supports the other end portion 13b of the blanket holding plate 13 movably, an air balloon 18 which brings the blanket 14 into contact with the flat plate A by pressing the blanket holding plate 13, a contact end position adjusting part which brings the blanket 14 into contact with the flat plate A sequentially so as to adjust variably the position of a contact end, by adjusting variably the position of support of the other end portion 13b of the blanket holding plate 13 by the simple support part 16, and a contact pressure adjusting part which adjusts the internal pressure of the air balloon 18 so that the pressure of contact of the flat plate A with the blanket 14 at the contact end is approximately uniform. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method, and more particularly to a printing apparatus and a printing method for performing offset printing using a blanket attached to a flat plate-like blanket holding plate having flexibility.

  In general, a photolithography method using a photoresist is used for forming a fine pattern that is performed when manufacturing an electronic component, an optical component, or the like. For example, in the formation of a wiring pattern or an element that is performed at the time of manufacturing a liquid crystal panel, resist processing or etching using a photolithography method is performed.

  However, the photolithography method requires complicated processes such as a resist coating process, an exposure process, and a development process, and is not necessarily a process that can easily form a fine pattern. For this reason, when a fine pattern is formed by using the photolithography method, there arises a problem that a processing time required for manufacturing becomes long and a problem that a huge capital investment is required, resulting in a manufacturing cost. It was supposed to press. Therefore, there is a demand for a process that can more easily form a fine pattern.

  Conventionally, the use of an offset printing method has been proposed as a fine pattern formation process that meets such requirements. In the offset printing method, after transferring an ink pattern from a printing plate to an elastic member called a blanket, the ink pattern is transferred again from the blanket to a substrate to be printed, thereby attaching a desired ink pattern on the substrate. This is a method for forming a fine pattern.

  In general, the offset printing method rotates a cylindrical rolling cylinder around which a sheet-like blanket is wound, and synchronizes with this to move the printing plate or substrate relatively in translation, thereby contacting the blanket and the printing plate or substrate. Thus, printing is performed by transferring an ink pattern from a printing plate to a blanket or from a blanket to a substrate (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-58921 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-249696. (See Patent Document 2).

  However, when printing is performed on a large substrate using the blanket and the rolling drum configured as described above, blurring is likely to occur when the rolling drum rotates as the rolling drum becomes larger. Therefore, there is a problem that the positional accuracy of the transferred ink pattern is lowered, and the formed fine pattern is distorted. For example, in recent years, the size of liquid crystal panels has been greatly increased, and when offset printing is performed using a blanket and a transfer cylinder configured as described above when manufacturing this large-sized liquid crystal panel, positional accuracy is increased. With this decrease, it becomes difficult to form a uniform fine pattern, resulting in a problem that the printing accuracy is lowered.

  Therefore, as an offset printing method devised for the purpose of solving such a problem, there is an offset printing method as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-132743 (Patent Document 3). In the offset printing method disclosed in Patent Literature 3, a sheet-like blanket is bonded to a flat plate-like flexible blanket holding plate, a pressurizer is disposed behind the blanket holding plate, and the pressurizer is used. The blanket holding plate is gradually pressed from one end to the other to bring the blanket into contact with the printing plate or the substrate in sequence, thereby transferring the ink pattern from the printing plate to the blanket or from the blanket to the substrate for printing. Is. By using such an offset printing method, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of the above-described misregistration problem, and it is possible to manage the positional accuracy of the transferred ink pattern with high accuracy.

JP-A-11-58921 JP 2004-249696 A JP 2008-132743 A

  However, in Patent Document 3 described above, no investigation is made on the pressure applied to the blanket by the pressurizer. Therefore, when printing is performed using the offset printing apparatus and the offset printing method as disclosed in Patent Document 3 described above, the contact pressure when the blanket is brought into contact with the printing plate or the substrate is controlled at all. As a result, the contact pressure varies from site to site within the surface to which the ink pattern is to be transferred, resulting in non-uniform transfer accuracy and the inability to transfer the ink pattern with good reproducibility.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a printing apparatus and a printing method capable of printing with high accuracy and high reproducibility.

  A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a stage, a blanket, a blanket holding plate, a pressure applying member, a first support part, a second support part, a contact end position adjusting part, and a contact pressure adjusting part. . The stage is for supporting a flat plate which is a printing plate or a substrate, and the blanket is disposed opposite to the stage. The blanket holding plate is made of a flexible member that holds the blanket, and is arranged along the blanket on the side opposite to the side where the stage is located when viewed from the blanket. The pressure applying member is for contacting the blanket with the flat plate by pressing the blanket holding plate, and is disposed on the side opposite to the side where the stage is located when viewed from the blanket holding plate. Yes. The first support part supports one end of the blanket holding plate so as not to move, and the second support part has a variable distance between the other end of the blanket holding plate and the stage. Thus, the other end of the blanket holding plate is movably supported. The contact end position adjusting portion drives the second support portion so that a distance between the other end portion of the blanket holding plate and the stage is gradually reduced, whereby the blanket is moved with respect to the flat plate. Are sequentially contacted from a position near the one end of the blanket holding plate toward a position near the other end of the blanket holding plate, whereby the blanket holding plate among the contact portions of the flat plate and the blanket. This is a part that variably adjusts the position of the contact end located near the other end. When the contact end position adjusting unit variably adjusts the position of the contact end, the contact pressure adjusting unit adjusts the contact pressure between the flat plate and the blanket at the contact end, and the contact end adjusts the blanket holding plate. This is a part for controlling the driving of the pressure applying member so as to be substantially constant while moving from the position near the one end to the position near the other end of the blanket holding plate.

  The printing apparatus according to the present invention preferably further includes a contact end position detection unit that detects the position of the contact end. In this case, the contact pressure adjustment unit is detected by the contact end position detection unit. It is preferable that the driving of the pressure applying member is controlled based on the positional information on the contact end.

  The printing apparatus according to the present invention preferably further includes a support load detection unit that detects a load to be applied to the second support unit by supporting the blanket holding plate. The contact pressure adjusting unit controls the driving of the pressure applying member based on the position information of the contact end detected by the contact end position detecting unit and the load information detected by the support load detecting unit. It is preferable to be configured.

  The printing apparatus according to the present invention preferably further includes a support position detection unit that detects the position of the blanket holding plate at a portion supported by the second support unit, in which case the contact pressure adjustment is performed. The unit is configured to control the driving of the pressure applying member based on the position information of the contact end detected by the contact end position detection unit and the support position information detected by the support position detection unit. It is preferable.

  In the printing apparatus according to the present invention, the pressure applying member may include an air balloon capable of pressurizing and depressurizing that presses the blanket holding plate. It is preferable that the contact pressure is adjusted by controlling the pressure of the air balloon against the blanket holding plate by controlling the internal pressure of the air balloon.

  In the printing apparatus according to the present invention, the pressure applying member may include a pressing roller that presses the blanket holding plate while moving on the blanket holding plate. It is preferable that the adjustment unit is configured to adjust the contact pressure by adjusting the pressing force of the pressing roller against the blanket holding plate.

  In the printing apparatus according to the present invention, the pressure applying member may include a plurality of pressing pads each capable of pressing a different position of the blanket holding plate, in which case the contact pressure adjustment is performed. It is preferable that the portion is configured to adjust the contact pressure by individually adjusting the pressing force of the plurality of pressing pads against the blanket holding plate.

  A printing method according to the present invention comprises a blanket held by a flexible blanket holding plate having one end portion supported so as not to move and the other end portion being movably supported on a flat plate which is a printing plate or a substrate. The blanket holding plate while changing the position of the other end portion of the blanket holding plate so that the distance between the other end portion of the blanket holding plate and the flat plate gradually decreases. By pressing the plate using a pressure applying member, the blanket is sequentially brought into contact with the flat plate from a position near the one end of the blanket holding plate toward a position near the other end of the blanket holding plate. A method for performing printing, which is located near the other end portion of the blanket holding plate in a contact portion between the flat plate and the blanket. The contact pressure between the flat plate and the blanket at the contact end is substantially constant while the contact end moves from a position near the one end of the blanket holding plate to a position near the other end of the blanket holding plate. Thus, the driving of the pressure applying member is controlled.

  In the printing method according to the present invention, preferably, the position of the contact end is detected, and the driving of the pressure applying member is controlled based on the detected position information of the contact end.

  In the printing method according to the present invention, preferably, the detected position information of the contact end and the detected load information are detected while detecting the load supporting the other end of the blanket holding plate. Based on this, the drive of the pressure applying member is controlled.

  In the printing method according to the present invention, preferably, the detected position information of the contact end and the detected support position information are detected while detecting the position of supporting the other end of the blanket holding plate. The driving of the pressure applying member is controlled based on the above.

  In the printing method according to the present invention, the pressure applying member may include an air balloon capable of pressurizing and depressurizing that presses the blanket holding plate. The contact pressure is adjusted by adjusting the pressing force of the air balloon against the blanket holding plate by controlling the internal pressure.

  In the printing method according to the present invention, the pressure applying member may include a pressing roller that presses the blanket holding plate while moving on the blanket holding plate. The contact pressure is adjusted by adjusting the pressing force of the pressing roller against the blanket holding plate.

  In the printing method according to the present invention, the pressure applying member may include a plurality of pressing pads each capable of pressing different positions of the blanket holding plate, and in that case, preferably, The contact pressure is adjusted by individually adjusting the pressing force of the plurality of pressing pads against the blanket holding plate.

  According to the present invention, a printing apparatus and a printing method capable of printing with high accuracy and high reproducibility can be provided.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a specific configuration example of a printing apparatus and a specific procedure example of a printing method according to related technology. It is the figure which represented typically the change of the pressure added to a blanket holding board, and the change of the contact pressure of a blanket and a flat plate, when printing using the printing apparatus and printing method which concern on related technology. The figure which represented typically the maximum value of the contact pressure applied to the flat plate for every part from the initial state to the final pressurization state when performing printing using the printing apparatus and the printing method according to the related technology. It is. It is a figure which shows the result of the simulation of the pressure distribution of the contact pressure which will be added to a flat plate, when printing using the printing apparatus and printing method which concern on related technology. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the structure of the printing apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a principal part enlarged plan view of the printing apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the functional block of the printing apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement flow of the printing apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a schematic side view which shows the operation state of the printing apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. In the printing apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention, it is the figure which plotted the correspondence of the internal pressure of the balloon referred in order to equalize contact pressure, and the position of a contact end. It is a figure which shows the model used as reference of the internal pressure control of an air balloon in the printing apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a schematic side view which shows the structure of the printing apparatus in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a schematic side view which shows the structure of the printing apparatus in Embodiment 3 of this invention.

  In the following, a specific configuration example of a printing apparatus and a specific procedure example of a printing method when using the offset printing method disclosed in Patent Document 3 described above will be referred to as related technology with reference to the drawings. This will be described in detail.

(Related technology)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a specific configuration example of a printing apparatus and a specific procedure example of a printing method according to the related art.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, a printing apparatus 1F according to related technology includes a stage 112 that holds a flat plate A that is a printing plate or a substrate, and a pressure plate 117 that is positioned above the stage 112. And a leaf spring-shaped blanket holding plate 113 disposed between the stage 112 and the pressure plate 117. The pressure platen 117 is rotatably supported by a rotation shaft 119 provided at one end thereof. The blanket holding plate 113 is configured by a flat plate-like flexible plate-like member, and one end portion 113a which is the end portion on the same side as the side on which the rotation shaft 119 is provided is a fixed support portion ( The other end 113b is movably supported by a simple support portion (not shown). An air balloon 118 filled with a predetermined volume of air is provided on the lower surface of the pressure plate 117, and a sheet-like blanket 114 capable of holding an ink pattern is provided on the lower surface of the blanket holding plate 113. .

  When printing is performed using the printing apparatus 1F, the pressure plate 117 and the blanket holding plate 113 are disposed at a position away from the stage 112, the flat plate A is set on the stage 112, and the pressure plate 117 is rotated. Then, the air balloon 118 is pressed against the blanket holding plate 113 to bend the blanket holding plate 113 (see FIG. 1A). Next, by further gradually rotating the pressure plate 117, the blanket 114 is sequentially directed from the position near the one end 113a of the blanket holding plate 113 to the position near the other end 113b of the blanket holding plate 113 with respect to the flat plate A. (See FIG. 1B). Then, the pressure platen 117 is rotated until the blanket holding plate 113 disappears and the blanket holding plate 113 and the flat plate A become parallel (see FIG. 1C). As described above, when the printing plate is used as the flat plate A, the ink pattern is transferred from the printing plate to the blanket 114, and when the substrate is used as the flat plate A, the ink pattern is transferred from the blanket 114 to the substrate. become.

  In the printing apparatus and the printing method according to the related art described above, since the positional accuracy of the ink pattern to be formed is improved and distortion hardly occurs, it can be used particularly effectively when the substrate to be printed is large. On the other hand, it is important whether the surface of the printing plate or the substrate can be uniformly and uniformly pressed by the leaf spring-like blanket holding plate 113. In other words, if the plate spring or blanket holding plate 113 cannot press the entire surface of the printing plate or substrate uniformly, the transfer accuracy will be uneven for each part in the surface where the ink pattern is transferred, and the reproducibility will be reduced. There is a problem that the ink pattern cannot be transferred well. This point will be examined next.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a change in pressure applied to the blanket holding plate and a change in contact pressure between the blanket and the flat plate when printing is performed using the printing apparatus and the printing method according to the related art. Here, the initial state shown in FIG. 2A is a state before the pressure platen 117 is lowered, and the first pressurization process state shown in FIG. 2B is a state where the pressure platen 117 is slightly lowered. In this state, the blanket 114 starts to contact the flat plate A. The second pressurization process state shown in FIG. 2C is a state in which the pressurization platen 117 is further lowered and the contact range between the blanket 114 and the flat plate A is expanded, and the final pressurization shown in FIG. The state is a state in which the pressure platen 117 is further lowered and the blanket 114 and the flat plate A are completely in contact with each other. On the other hand, FIG. 3 shows the maximum value of the contact pressure applied to the flat plate during the period from the initial state to the final pressure state when printing is performed using the printing apparatus and the printing method according to the related art. It is the figure represented for every.

In the initial state shown in FIG. 2A, a uniform pressure P is applied to the blanket holding plate 113 by the air balloon 118. In this state, the force (total pressure P) applied to the blanket holding plate 113 is supported by the fixed support portion 115 and the simple support portion 116, which are a pair of fulcrums that support the blanket holding plate 113, and these fixed support portions. 115 and the simple support portion 116 are applied with forces F1 ₀ and F2 ₀ larger than the pressure P, respectively.

In the state as first pressurizing process shown in FIG. 2 (B), the contact pressure F1 ₁ of different sizes occurs and the pressure P at the contact end that is a boundary portion between the blanket 114 and the flat plate A are in contact. The contact pressure F1 ₁ is a blanket holding plate 113 is an air balloon 118 determined by the position of the pressure P and the simple support 116 for pressurizing, noncontact areas of the blanket 114 of the force applied to the blanket holding plate 113 and flat plate A The sum of the pressures P applied to the portion corresponding to is supported by this contact end and the simple support portion 116. In the state as the first pressurizing process of as illustrated, for non-contact area between the blanket 114 and the flat plate A is large, the contact pressure F1 ₁ occurring at the contact end becomes clearly larger force than the pressure P, a simple support 116 The force F2 ₁ applied to the pressure is also larger than the pressure P.

In the state as second pressurization process shown in FIG. 2 (C), the contact pressure F1 ₂ of different sizes occurs and the pressure P at the contact end that is a boundary portion between the blanket 114 and the flat plate A are in contact. The contact pressure F1 _2, again while the blanket holding plate 113 is an air balloon 118 determined by the position of the pressure P and the simple support 116 for pressurizing, simply supported position of the contact end as compared with the state as the first pressurizing process described above Along with the non-contact area between the blanket 114 and the flat plate a is reduced by moving to parts 116 side, a smaller force than the contact pressure F1 _1. The force F2 ₂ applied to the simple support portion 116 is also smaller than the force F2 ₁ described above.

  In the final pressurization state shown in FIG. 2D, the pressure P applied by the air balloon 118 to the blanket holding plate 113 is directly applied to the flat plate A via the blanket 114, so that the blanket 114 and the flat plate A contact each other. The pressure is a force having a magnitude corresponding to the pressure P.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the maximum value F1 _max of the contact pressure applied to the flat plate A gradually decreases from the end on the fixed support portion 115 side toward the end on the simple support portion 116 side. I understand. As described above, when printing is performed using the printing apparatus and the printing method according to the related art, the maximum value F1 _{max of the} contact pressure applied to the flat plate A is different for each part, and the transfer accuracy is reduced and the ink pattern is reduced. It is understood that a decrease in reproducibility occurs due to this non-uniform contact pressure.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a simulation result of the pressure distribution of the contact pressure that is applied to the flat plate when printing is performed using the printing apparatus and the printing method according to the related art described above. 4A is a diagram illustrating the above-described first pressurization process state, and FIG. 4B illustrates the pressure distribution of the contact pressure applied to the surface of the flat plate A in the first pressurization process state. FIG. 4C shows the distribution of the contact pressure applied to the central position C of the flat plate A and the maximum value of the contact pressure applied to the central position C of the flat plate A in the first pressurizing process state. It is a figure which shows the result plotted for every.

  Referring to FIGS. 4A to 4C, the simulation result also shows that the contact pressure larger than the surrounding area is applied to the flat plate A at the contact end, and the maximum value of the contact pressure applied to the flat plate A is fixed. It can be confirmed that the distance gradually decreases from the end portion on the support portion 115 side toward the end portion on the simple support portion 116 side.

  Based on the above, in the printing apparatus and the printing method in the related art, the present inventors appropriately adjust the contact pressure at the contact end to equalize the contact pressure, thereby reducing the transfer accuracy and the ink pattern. Inspired by the reduction in reproducibility, the printing apparatus and printing method according to Embodiments 1 to 3 of the present invention as described below were devised. Hereinafter, the first to third embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the configuration of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of a main part of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a functional block configuration of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. First, the configuration of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the printing apparatus 1A in the present embodiment includes a printing plate stage 12a, a substrate stage 12b, a blanket holding plate 13, a blanket 14, and a fixed support portion 15 as a first support portion. And the simple support part 16 as a 2nd support part and the air balloon 18 as a pressure provision member are mainly provided.

  The printing plate stage 12a is a stage for supporting the printing plate as the flat plate A, and the substrate stage 12b is a stage for supporting the substrate as the flat plate A. Each of the printing plate stage 12a and the substrate stage 12b holds the printing plate and the substrate as the flat plate A by performing a vacuum chuck, respectively. The printing plate stage 12a and the substrate stage 12b are arranged on a guide rail 11 provided on the base 10, and can slide on the base 10 along the arrow B direction in the figure. It is configured. The base 10, the guide rail 11, the printing plate stage 12 a and the substrate stage 12 b are all composed of a structure showing sufficient rigidity against the pressure applied by the air balloon 18 described later.

  The printing plate held on the printing plate stage 12a is for transferring an ink pattern to the blanket 14, and a gravure offset printing plate using an intaglio plate or an offset printing plate using a flat plate without unevenness is used. The On the other hand, the substrate held on the substrate stage 12b is such that the ink pattern held by the blanket 14 is transferred to form a fine pattern on the surface, and is, for example, a glass substrate.

  Here, the position of the substrate stage 12b can be finely adjusted by a position adjusting mechanism (not shown). Specifically, the position adjustment mechanism can finely adjust the substrate stage 12b in the x, y, and θ directions shown in FIG. 6, and is held by the substrate stage 12b by driving the position adjustment mechanism. Substrate alignment is performed. For the alignment, an alignment mark previously attached to the substrate is used, the alignment mark is recognized by a camera (not shown), and fine adjustment of the substrate stage 12b is performed using the aligner based on the alignment mark. The substrate is aligned at. The printing plate stage 12a is also provided with a similar position adjusting mechanism, and the printing plate stage 12a is finely adjusted using the position adjusting mechanism to hold the printing plate held by the printing plate stage 12a. Are aligned.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a blanket holding plate 13 is disposed above a predetermined position of the base 10. The blanket holding plate 13 is made of a plate-like flexible member, and holds the blanket 14 on its lower surface. The blanket 14 is composed of a sheet-like elastic member, and a blanket that can temporarily hold an ink pattern on its surface is used. One end portion 13 a of the blanket holding plate 13 is fixed by a fixed support portion 15 provided on the base 10, and the other end portion 13 b of the blanket holding plate 13 is a simple support portion provided on the base 10. 16 is supported.

  The fixed support part 15 fixes the said one end part 13a immovably by pinching | interposing the one end part 13a of the blanket holding plate 13, for example. On the other hand, the simple support part 16 can support the other end part 13b of the blanket holding plate 13 from below by being supported by a pair of support pillars 16a standing from the base 10 and the pair of support pillars 16a. The shaft 16b is supported by a pair of support columns 16a that can be moved up and down in the vertical direction, thereby supporting the other end 13b of the blanket holding plate 13 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. As the shaft 16b, it is preferable that no bending moment is generated in the blanket holding plate 13 in a state where the other end portion 13b of the blanket holding plate 13 is supported. Therefore, as the shaft 16b, a shaft having a columnar shape or a cylindrical shape is preferably used, and it is preferable that the shaft 16b is rotatably supported by a pair of support columns 16a.

  Here, the fixed support portion 15 and the simple support portion 16 are provided at positions where the guide rail 11 provided on the base 10 described above is sandwiched. Therefore, the blanket holding plate 13 whose one end portion 13 a and the other end portion 13 b are fixed and supported by the fixed support portion 15 and the simple support portion 16 is disposed so as to straddle the guide rail 11. Therefore, in a state where the printing plate stage 12a moves on the guide rail 11 and is positioned below the blanket holding plate 13, the blanket 14 is disposed opposite to the printing plate held on the printing plate stage 12a. In the state where the substrate stage 12b moves on the guide rail 11 and is positioned below the blanket holding plate 13, the blanket 14 is disposed opposite to the substrate held on the substrate stage 12b. .

  Above the blanket holding plate 13, an air balloon 18 is arranged along the upper surface of the blanket holding plate 13. The upper portion of the air balloon 18 is fixed to a fixing plate 17b attached to the tip of a fixing frame 17a provided in the base 10 that is substantially L-shaped in side view. The air balloon 18 has a size capable of pressing the upper surface portion of the blanket holding plate 13 corresponding to the portion to which the blanket 14 is attached.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the printing apparatus 1 </ b> A according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 30, a stage drive mechanism 31, a simple support unit drive mechanism 32, a pressure increasing / decreasing mechanism 33, a pressure, in addition to the components described above. A detection unit 34 and a contact end position detection unit 20 are provided. The control unit 30 is a part for controlling the overall operation of the printing apparatus 1A, and outputs a control signal to each of the above-described units included in the printing apparatus 1A.

  The stage driving mechanism 31 is a part for slidingly moving the printing plate stage 12a and the substrate stage 12b described above, and based on the control signal input from the control unit 30, the printing plate stage 12a and the substrate stage 12b. Drive. The stage drive mechanism 31 includes, for example, an actuator such as a motor as a drive source. Note that the sliding movement of the printing plate stage 12a and the substrate stage 12b is performed with an interval maintained such that the distance between them is equal to or greater than a predetermined size.

  The simple support portion drive mechanism 32 is a part for adjusting the support position of the other end portion 13 b of the blanket holding plate 13 by the simple support portion 16 described above, and is simply supported based on a control signal input from the control portion 30. The unit 16 is driven. The simple support portion drive mechanism 32 includes an actuator such as a motor as a drive source, and adjusts the position (height) of the shaft 16b supported by the pair of support columns 16a by the drive source. The support position (support height) of the other end portion 13b of the blanket holding plate 13 by the portion 16 is adjusted.

  Here, the simple support portion drive mechanism 32 drives the simple support portion 16 based on the control signal of the control portion 30, thereby adjusting the support position of the other end portion 13 b of the blanket holding plate 13 by the simple support portion 16. As a result, the contact state between the flat plate A which is a printing plate or a substrate and the blanket 14 is variously changed. Specifically, since the one end portion 13a of the blanket holding plate 13 is fixed so as not to move by the fixed support portion 15, the support position of the other end portion 13b of the blanket holding plate 13 by the simple support portion 16 moves up and down. Accordingly, the size of the contact portion between the blanket 14 and the flat plate A is variably adjusted. Therefore, the contact end located near the other end portion 13b of the blanket holding plate 13 among the contact portions between the blanket 14 and the flat plate A is the support position of the other end portion 13b of the blanket holding plate 13 by the simple support portion 16 described above. As a result, the simple support portion drive mechanism 32 and the control portion 30 described above function as a contact end position adjusting portion.

  The pressure increasing / decreasing mechanism 33 is a part for variably adjusting the internal pressure of the air balloon 18 by increasing / decreasing the air balloon 18 and is driven based on a control signal input from the control unit 30. As the pressure increasing / decreasing mechanism 33, for example, a combination of a compressor and a control valve is preferably used.

  Here, the driving force of the pressure increasing / decreasing mechanism 33 is controlled based on the control signal of the control unit 30 and various internal pressures of the air balloon 18 are adjusted, whereby the pressing force applied to the blanket holding plate 13 by the air balloon 18 is changed. It will be variably adjusted. Accordingly, the contact pressure between the blanket 14 and the flat plate A at the contact end is also variably adjusted by the internal pressure of the air balloon 18, and as a result, the pressure-increasing / depressurizing mechanism 33 and the control unit 30 described above are connected to the contact pressure adjusting unit. It will fulfill the function.

  The pressure detection unit 34 detects the internal pressure of the air balloon 18 and inputs a signal corresponding to the detected pressure to the control unit 30. As the pressure detection unit 34, for example, a capacitive pressure sensor, a pressure sensor using a piezoelectric element, or the like can be used.

  The contact end position detection unit 20 includes a detection element (see FIG. 5) for detecting the position of the contact end described above, and controls a signal corresponding to the detected position of the contact end as position information. Input to section 30. As shown in FIG. 5, for example, the contact end position detection unit 20 is preferably configured to have a unit shape that can be detachably attached to the printing plate stage 12a and the substrate stage 12b. In the contact end position detection unit 20 shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of photoelectric sensors arranged in a straight line are used as the detection elements 21, and the blanket holding plate 13 approaches the detection elements 21. The position of the contact end is detected by detecting whether or not. In addition to the non-contact photoelectric sensor described above, a proximity sensor or magnetic sensor that is a non-contact detection element, a tact switch or touch sensor that is a contact detection element, or the like is used as the detection element 21. Is possible.

  As a printing method when printing is performed using the printing apparatus 1A in the present embodiment, first, the printing plate as the flat plate A is set on the printing plate stage 12a described above, and the flat plate A is formed on the substrate stage 12b. Set the board as. Subsequently, after aligning the printing plate, which is the flat plate A, and the substrate using the above-described position adjusting mechanism, the printing plate stage 12 a is disposed below the blanket 14 using the stage driving mechanism 31. Then, after bringing the blanket 14 into contact with the printing plate, the ink pattern is transferred from the printing plate to the blanket 14 by releasing these contacts. Next, the stage 12b for the substrate is arranged below the blanket 14 using the stage drive mechanism 31, and after the blanket 14 is brought into contact with the substrate, the contact is released to transfer the ink pattern from the blanket 14 to the substrate. To do.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a printing operation flow of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a schematic side view illustrating a state during the printing operation of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation of the printing apparatus 1A when performing the above-described transfer process will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. The transfer operation is the same between the case of transferring from the printing plate to the blanket 14 and the case of transferring from the blanket 14 to the substrate.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when performing the transfer process, first, the air balloon 18 is pressurized so that the internal pressure of the air balloon 18 reaches a predetermined initial pressure (step S101). Specifically, the air balloon 18 is pressurized by driving the pressurizing / depressurizing mechanism 33 based on a command from the control unit 30, and based on the internal pressure information of the air balloon 18 detected by the pressure detecting unit 34. Thus, the internal pressure of the air balloon 18 is adjusted by determining whether or not the control unit 30 has reached a predetermined initial pressure. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9A, the support position of the other end portion 13b of the blanket holding plate 13 by the simple support portion 16 is an upper position spaced apart from the flat plate A, whereby the blanket holding plate 13 is bent. Leave it as it was. The top surface of the blanket holding plate 13 is in contact with the air balloon 18.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8, it is determined whether or not the position of the contact end is at the transfer completion position (step S102). Specifically, based on the contact end position information detected by the contact end position detection unit 20, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the contact end is at the transfer completion position. If it is determined that the contact end is at the transfer completion position (YES in step S102), the transfer is completed, and the support position of the other end portion 13b of the blanket 14 by the simple support portion 16 while the pressure of the air balloon 18 is reduced. Is returned to the initial position. If it is determined that the contact end is not at the transfer completion position (NO in step S102), the process proceeds to step S103 described later.

  If it is determined in step S102 that the contact end is not at the transfer completion position, the blanket holding plate 13 is lowered by a predetermined amount (step S103). Specifically, the simple support part drive mechanism 32 is driven based on the command of the control part 30, and the support position of the other end part 13b of the blanket 14 is lowered by lowering the simple support part 16 by a predetermined amount. .

  Next, the position of the contact end is detected (step S104), and then the internal pressure of the air balloon 18 is detected (step S105). Specifically, the position of the contact end is detected by the controller 30 recognizing the position information of the contact end input from the contact end position detector 20, and the pressure information input from the pressure detector 34 is controlled by the controller. The internal pressure of the air balloon 18 is detected by the recognition of 30.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the internal pressure of the air balloon 18 is an internal pressure corresponding to the position of the contact end (S106). Specifically, the control unit 30 stores in advance a table in which the optimal internal pressure of the air balloon is determined according to the position of the contact end, and the position of the contact end detected in the above-described steps S104 and S105. Based on the information and the pressure information of the air balloon 18, it is determined by referring to the table whether the internal pressure of the air balloon 18 is an internal pressure corresponding to the position of the contact end. If it is determined that the internal pressure of the air balloon 18 is an internal pressure corresponding to the position of the contact end (YES in step S106), the process proceeds to step S102. On the other hand, when it is determined that the internal pressure of the air balloon 18 is not the internal pressure corresponding to the position of the contact end (NO in step S106), the process proceeds to step S107.

  If it is determined in step S106 that the internal pressure of the air balloon 18 is not the internal pressure corresponding to the position of the contact end, the air balloon is pressurized by a predetermined amount (step S107). Specifically, the air balloon 18 is pressurized by driving the pressure increasing / decreasing mechanism 33 based on a command from the control unit 30. In addition, after the pressurization process of step S107 is completed, it transfers to step S105.

  By performing the transfer process according to the operation flow as described above, as shown in FIG. 9B, the blanket 14 is moved from the position near the one end 13a of the blanket holding plate 13 with respect to the flat plate A. In this way, they are sequentially contacted toward the position near the other end 13b. Accordingly, the contact end sequentially moves from a position near the one end portion 13 a of the blanket holding plate 13 toward a position near the other end portion 13 b of the blanket holding plate 13. Here, according to the operation flow as described above, the contact pressure at the contact end is optimized as needed.

  In the process of peeling these after the contact between the blanket 14 and the flat plate A is completed, control is performed so that the contact pressure at the contact end does not fluctuate in the same manner as the process for bringing the blanket 14 into contact with the flat plate A described above. Preferably it is done.

  Here, in the printing apparatus 1 </ b> A according to the present embodiment, the control unit 30 as the contact pressure adjusting unit has a contact pressure between the flat plate A and the blanket 14 at the contact end, and the contact end is one end of the blanket holding plate 13. The internal pressure of the air balloon is controlled so as to be substantially constant while moving from the position near the portion 13a to the position near the other end portion 13b of the blanket holding plate 13. Therefore, by performing the transfer process while performing such pressure adjustment, the surface of the flat plate A is almost entirely pressed by the leaf spring-like blanket holding plate 13, and the transfer accuracy is uniform. The ink pattern is transferred with good reproducibility.

  In step S106 described above, the table used as a criterion for determining whether or not the relationship between the position of the contact end and the internal pressure of the air balloon 18 is suitable is the use of experimentally derived data or theoretically derived data. The use of data is possible. For example, when it is decided to use theoretically derived data, the data can be derived by the following method.

  FIG. 10A is a diagram schematically showing the pressurization process state of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 10B is a graph of data used in the present embodiment. is there. FIGS. 11A to 11C are explanatory diagrams for deriving a model used as a reference for controlling the internal pressure of the air balloon in the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In the pressurization process shown in FIG. 10A, various variables are defined as follows.
F1: Contact pressure at the contact end P: Internal pressure of the air balloon 18 (force per unit length applied to the blanket holding plate 13)
a: Distance from the fixed support portion 15 to the pressure region (to the end of the blanket 14 on the fixed support portion 15 side) b: Pressurization region (the end of the blanket 14 on the fixed support portion 15 side to the simple support portion 16 side) Length l: distance between the support portions of the blanket holding plate 13 (distance between the fixed support portion 15 and the simple support portion 16)
x: distance from the fixed support portion 15 to the contact end E: Young's modulus of the blanket holding plate 13 I: sectional moment of inertia of the blanket holding plate 13 K: bending amount constant of the blanket holding plate 13 In that case, air to be controlled The internal pressure P of the balloon 18 is expressed by the following formula (1) based on the above variables.

Based on the above equation (1), the relationship between the internal pressure P of the air balloon 18 to be controlled and the position x of the contact end is graphed as shown in FIG. Here, in FIG. 10B, the position x of the contact end is taken on the horizontal axis, and the internal pressure P of the air balloon 18 is taken on the vertical axis. As understood from this figure, in order to keep the contact pressure at the contact end constant, it is necessary to gradually increase the internal pressure P of the air balloon 18. In FIG. 10B, the maximum value F1 _max of the contact pressure for each part of the blanket 14 and the flat plate A to be controlled constant is also displayed in a graph.

  The relationship shown in FIG. 10B uses the one calculated by the model shown in FIG. FIG. 11A schematically shows the above-described pressurization process, in which the blanket holding plate 13 is in contact with the flat plate A, and a predetermined contact pressure F1 is generated at the contact end. FIG. 11B is a model in which this is replaced with a beam, and the blanket holding plate 13 and the flat plate A are located on the left side in the drawing (that is, the side where the fixed support portion 15 is located) from the contact pressure at the contact end. Since the force applied to these components is balanced, the above pressurization process is modeled as shown in FIG. 11C when the pressure in the portion is ignored. The above-described equation (1) is derived according to this model.

  By performing printing using the printing apparatus and printing method in the present embodiment described above, the blanket holding plate 13 can easily press the surface of the printing plate or substrate, which is the flat plate A, almost uniformly over the entire surface. As a result, the transfer accuracy is improved, and the ink pattern can be transferred with good reproducibility. Therefore, by using the printing apparatus and printing method according to the present embodiment for printing on a large substrate, printing with high accuracy and high reproducibility becomes possible.

  In the pressurization process shown in FIG. 10A, when the support force of the simple support portion 16 (the load applied to the simple support portion 16) is F2, the support load F2 is the air balloon 18 that is a control target. Is expressed by the following formula (2) using the internal pressure P, the position x of the contact end, and the contact pressure F1 at the contact end.

  Therefore, a support load detection unit such as a load cell is added to the simple support unit 16 to detect the support force (support load) of the simple support unit 16, and the internal pressure of the air balloon 18 to be controlled is determined according to the position of the contact end. When optimizing, if the load information detected by the support load detector is used, the contact pressure can be adjusted with higher accuracy. In FIG. 10B, the relationship between the support load F2 and the position x of the contact end is also graphed and displayed.

  Further, a support position detection unit is added to the simple support unit 16 to detect the support position (support height) of the other end portion 13b of the blanket holding plate 13 by the simple support unit 16, and the internal pressure of the air balloon 18 to be controlled is detected. If the support position information detected by the support position detection unit is used in optimizing the position according to the position of the contact end, the contact pressure can be adjusted with higher accuracy.

  Note that the contact end position detection unit 20 provided in the printing apparatus 1A in the present embodiment described above is attached only during adjustment of the printing apparatus 1A, and the contact end moving speed between the blanket 14 and the flat plate A, the air balloon After the relationship between the pressurization speed of 18 and the lowering speed of the simple support portion 16 that supports the other end portion 13b of the blanket holding plate 13 is stored in the control portion 30, it may be removed. Also, the support load detection unit and the support position detection unit described above may be attached only at the time of adjustment of the printing apparatus 1A, similarly to the contact end position detection unit 20 described above.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 12 is a schematic side view showing the configuration of the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected in the figure about the part similar to 1 A of printing apparatuses in Embodiment 1 mentioned above, and the description is not repeated here.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the printing apparatus 1B according to the present embodiment is different from the printing apparatus 1A according to the first embodiment described above in the configuration of the pressure applying member. In the printing apparatus 1B according to the present embodiment, the blanket holding plate is moved while moving on the blanket holding plate 13 instead of the air balloon 18 as the pressure applying member used in the printing apparatus 1A according to the first embodiment. 13 is provided as a pressure applying member.

  Here, the pressing roller 42 is connected to the actuator 44 via the load cell 43, whereby the pressing force applied to the blanket holding plate 13 by the pressing roller 42 is controlled. The pressing roller 42 is also connected to another actuator 41, and is moved along the printing direction by being driven by the actuator 41. The actuators 41 and 44 described above are both connected to the control unit 30 and their operations are controlled.

  Even in such a configuration, the same effects as those described in the first embodiment of the present invention can be obtained. That is, by adopting the above configuration, the surface of the printing plate or substrate, which is the flat plate A, can be simply and substantially uniformly pressed by the blanket holding plate 13, and the transfer accuracy is improved and reproduced. It becomes possible to transfer the ink pattern with good characteristics.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 13 is a schematic side view showing the configuration of the printing apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected in the figure about the part similar to 1 A of printing apparatuses in Embodiment 1 mentioned above, and the description is not repeated here.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the printing apparatus 1 </ b> C according to the present embodiment is different from the printing apparatus 1 </ b> A according to the first embodiment described above in the configuration of the pressure applying member. In the printing apparatus 1C in the present embodiment, each of the blanket holding plates 13 can be pressed at different positions instead of the air balloon 18 as the pressure applying member used in the printing apparatus 1A in the first embodiment. A plurality of pressing pads 53 are provided as pressure applying members.

  The plurality of pressing pads 53 are arranged in alignment in the printing direction. Each pressing pad 53 is connected to the actuator 51 via the load cell 52, and thereby the pressing force to the blanket holding plate 13 by each pressing pad 53 is controlled. In addition, as the press pad 53, it is preferable to be comprised by what has flexibility, such as rubber | gum and a balloon, for example.

  Even in such a configuration, the same effects as those described in the first embodiment of the present invention can be obtained. That is, by adopting the above configuration, the surface of the printing plate or substrate, which is the flat plate A, can be simply and substantially uniformly pressed by the blanket holding plate 13, and the transfer accuracy is improved and reproduced. It becomes possible to transfer the ink pattern with good characteristics.

  The above-described embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not restrictive. The technical scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  1A to 1C, 1F Printing device, 10 base, 11 guide rail, 12a printing plate stage, 12b substrate stage, 13 blanket holding plate, 13a one end, 13b other end, 14 blanket, 15 fixed support, 16 Simple support section, 16a support, 16b shaft, 17a fixed frame, 17b fixed plate, 18 air balloon, 20 contact end position detection section, 21 detection element, 30 control section, 31 stage drive mechanism, 32 simple support section drive mechanism, 33 Pressure-reducing mechanism, 34 Pressure detector, 41, 44 Actuator, 42 Press roller, 43 Load cell, 51 Actuator, 52 Load cell, 53 Press pad, A Flat plate.

Claims (14)

A stage for supporting a flat plate which is a printing plate or substrate;
A blanket disposed opposite the stage;
A flexible blanket holding plate that is arranged along the blanket on the side opposite to the side where the stage is located when viewed from the blanket, and holds the blanket;
A pressure applying member disposed on the side opposite to the side where the stage is located when viewed from the blanket holding plate, and pressing the blanket holding plate to bring the blanket into contact with the flat plate;
A first support portion for supporting the one end portion of the blanket holding plate so as not to move;
A second support portion that movably supports the other end portion of the blanket holding plate so that a distance between the other end portion of the blanket holding plate and the stage is variable;
By driving the second support portion so that the distance between the other end portion of the blanket holding plate and the stage is gradually reduced, the blanket is placed on the one end of the blanket holding plate with respect to the flat plate. It is made to contact sequentially toward the position near the other end portion of the blanket holding plate from the position near the portion, and thereby, the contact portion between the flat plate and the blanket is positioned near the other end portion of the blanket holding plate. A contact end position adjusting unit that variably adjusts the position of the contact end to be
When the position of the contact end is variably adjusted by the contact end position adjusting unit, the contact pressure between the flat plate and the blanket at the contact end is changed from the position where the contact end is closer to the one end of the blanket holding plate. A printing apparatus comprising: a contact pressure adjusting unit that controls driving of the pressure applying member so as to be substantially constant while moving to a position near the other end of the blanket holding plate. A contact end position detecting unit for detecting the position of the contact end;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact pressure adjusting unit controls driving of the pressure applying member based on position information of the contact end detected by the contact end position detecting unit. A support load detecting unit for detecting a load to be applied to the second support unit by supporting the blanket holding plate;
The contact pressure adjusting unit controls driving of the pressure applying member based on contact end position information detected by the contact end position detection unit and load information detected by the support load detection unit. The printing apparatus according to 2. A support position detection unit that detects the position of the blanket holding plate of the portion supported by the second support unit;
The contact pressure adjusting unit controls driving of the pressure applying member based on position information of the contact end detected by the contact end position detecting unit and support position information detected by the support position detecting unit. Item 3. The printing apparatus according to Item 2. The pressure applying member includes an air balloon capable of pressurizing and depressurizing to press the blanket holding plate,
The said contact pressure adjustment part adjusts the said contact pressure by controlling the internal pressure of the said air balloon and adjusting the pressing force of the said air balloon with respect to the said blanket holding plate, The contact pressure of any one of Claim 1 to 4 Printing device. The pressure applying member includes a pressing roller that presses the blanket holding plate while moving on the blanket holding plate,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact pressure adjusting unit adjusts the contact pressure by adjusting a pressing force of the pressing roller against the blanket holding plate. The pressure applying member includes a plurality of pressing pads each capable of pressing a different position of the blanket holding plate,
5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact pressure adjusting unit adjusts the contact pressure by individually adjusting a pressing force of the plurality of pressing pads against the blanket holding plate. A blanket that is held by a flexible blanket holding plate that is supported so that one end is immovable and the other end is movably supported is arranged to face a flat plate that is a printing plate or substrate, Using the pressure applying member, the blanket holding plate is moved while changing the position of the other end of the blanket holding plate so that the distance between the other end of the blanket holding plate and the flat plate is gradually reduced. A printing method in which printing is performed by sequentially contacting the blanket with the flat plate from a position near the one end of the blanket holding plate toward a position near the other end of the blanket holding plate by pressing. ,
Of the contact portions between the flat plate and the blanket, the contact pressure between the flat plate and the blanket at the contact end located near the other end of the blanket holding plate is such that the contact end is the one end of the blanket holding plate. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the driving of the pressure applying member is controlled so as to be substantially constant while moving from a position closer to the portion to a position closer to the other end portion of the blanket holding plate.   The printing method according to claim 8, wherein the driving of the pressure applying member is controlled based on the detected position information of the contact end while detecting the position of the contact end.   The driving of the pressure applying member is controlled based on the detected position information of the contact end and the detected load information while detecting the load that supports the other end of the blanket holding plate. The printing method according to claim 9.   The driving of the pressure applying member is controlled based on the detected position information of the contact end and the detected support position information while detecting the position of supporting the other end of the blanket holding plate. The printing method according to claim 9. The pressure applying member includes an air balloon capable of pressurizing and depressurizing to press the blanket holding plate,
The printing method according to claim 8, wherein the contact pressure is adjusted by controlling an internal pressure of the air balloon to adjust a pressing force of the air balloon against the blanket holding plate. . The pressure applying member includes a pressing roller that presses the blanket holding plate while moving on the blanket holding plate,
The printing method according to claim 8, wherein the contact pressure is adjusted by adjusting a pressing force of the pressing roller with respect to the blanket holding plate. The pressure applying member includes a plurality of pressing pads each capable of pressing a different position of the blanket holding plate,
The printing method according to claim 8, wherein the contact pressure is adjusted by individually adjusting the pressing force of the plurality of pressing pads against the blanket holding plate.