JP3981647B2 - Polarizing film manufacturing equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, and more particularly to an apparatus for manufacturing a polarizing film to which a technique for forming a polarizing film by applying ink of a dichroic dye is applied.
[0002]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventionally, polarizing plates disposed on both surfaces of a liquid crystal cell have been attached to the outside of a liquid crystal cell that has passed panel inspection using an adhesive.
For this reason, it is necessary to attach a polarizing plate to each liquid crystal cell divided by a scriber, and workability is very poor.
In addition, various measures such as securing positioning accuracy and adhesion strength at the time of bonding, prevention of bubbles and dust, and prevention of generation of static electricity are required. It took a lot of time and effort to assemble it, such as autoclaving to remove bubbles.
[0003]
In order to solve this problem, the present applicant applied an ink liquid containing a supramolecular complex in a liquid crystal state in which a dichroic dye developed by Optiva Inc. in the United States was voluntarily stacked in a stick shape to a glass using a normal flexographic printing apparatus. In addition, we have developed a technology to produce a polarizing film by printing on a plastic substrate and have applied for it earlier. This technology has made it possible to assemble a liquid crystal cell that does not require a polarizing plate, and the production efficiency of the LCD has been greatly improved.
[0004]
FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a polarizing film manufacturing apparatus using this technique.
In the figure, a plate 1 having a large number of fine grooves a along the printing direction is attached to a plate cylinder 2, and ink is dropped onto a rotating plate 1 from a horizontally long dispenser 3 and spread with a blade 4. Liquid crystal molecules composed of a functional dye are pushed into the fine groove a.
At this time, since the blade 4 is held with a slight gap without contacting the plate 1, a thin film of ink liquid is formed on the plate surface.
When the substrate 6 fixed on the table 5 passes directly under the plate cylinder 2, the plate 1 comes into contact with the substrate 6 and a thin film of ink liquid is transferred from the plate 1 to the substrate 6.
The transferred liquid crystal molecules composed of the dichroic dye are subjected to shearing force and are aligned in a certain direction, and the dye molecules are regularly arranged (crystallized) to produce polarization performance.
[0005]
This apparatus has many complicated mechanisms requiring accuracy, such as a rack gear control mechanism for synchronizing the movement of the table 5 and the plate cylinder 2, a gap adjusting mechanism between the blade 4 and the plate 1, and a precise feed mechanism of the table 5. I need.
Therefore, a lot of cost is required to produce an ultrathin polarizing film having desired polarization performance using this apparatus.
[0006]
On the other hand, liquid crystal molecules composed of a dichroic dye can be aligned by a mechanical shearing force when spread by the blade 4.
Therefore, when the ink liquid is applied to the substrate while applying a shearing force, liquid crystal molecules are aligned along the printing direction, and the liquid crystal dye molecules are regularly arranged.
As a result, a polarizing film having desired polarization performance can be easily produced.
[0007]
Therefore, the present invention has been made to provide an apparatus that can easily produce a polarizing film having a desired polarization performance by a simpler method without requiring a complicated mechanism requiring accuracy.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, the present invention is configured as follows.
[0009]
That is, the polarizing film production apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus for producing a polarizing film by spreading an ink liquid containing a supramolecular complex in a liquid crystal state in which dichroic dyes are spontaneously stacked in a stick shape on the surface of a substrate. A roller that slides in contact with the substrate and has a large number of fine grooves on the peripheral surface is loosely fitted to the movable bearing, while the movable bearing is horizontally moved along the substrate surface, and is a roller that rolls on the substrate surface. The object is achieved by spreading the ink liquid dropped onto the substrate.
[0010]
The polarizing film manufacturing apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the movable bearing is a longitudinal groove, and both ends of the shaft are dropped into the groove to support the roller.
[0011]
The polarizing film manufacturing apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that weights are attached to both sides of the roller shaft to adjust the pressure of the roller.
[0012]
The polarizing film manufacturing apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that a gap is provided between the roller and the substrate with a spacer interposed therebetween.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a polarizing film manufacturing apparatus embodying the present invention.
In the polarizing film manufacturing apparatus, bearings 7 and 7 are planted on both sides of the substrate 6, and longitudinal grooves 8 and 8 are provided in the bearings 7 and 7 to drop both ends of the shaft 10 of the roller 9.
As a result, the shaft 10 of the roller 9 is loosely fitted to the left and right bearings 7 and 7, and at the same time, the roller 9 can be easily attached and detached.
The bearings 7 and 7 are configured to be horizontally movable and are connected to horizontal moving means (not shown).
Further, weights 11 and 11 having the same weight on both sides of the shaft 10 of the roller 9 are attached.
[0015]
The roller 9 is in slidable contact with the substrate 6 by forming a large number of fine grooves a on the peripheral surface.
Further, flat portions are provided on both sides and the metal foil tape 12 is wound, and thereby a slit-like gap b is provided between the roller 9 and the substrate 6.
In addition, the plurality of rollers 9 are exchanged and used, and each application is removed with one touch, and another roller 9 is attached to perform the next application operation.
In the meantime, the removed roller 9 is washed and dried off-line, and is put on standby for the next coating operation.
[0016]
The metal foil tape 12 is 1 m of a commercially available shim tape (registered trademark) made of stainless steel, brass, annealed copper, etc. with a width of 12.7 mm, a length of 1000 mm, and a thickness of 0.005, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05 mm. Buy with a scroll of paper, cut it short and use it disposable.
If the shim tape is thicker than this, it is too thick to be useful for producing a polarizing film.
[0017]
The polarizing film manufacturing apparatus embodying the present invention is configured as described above, and when producing a polarizing film, an ink liquid c of a dichroic dye is dropped from a dispenser (not shown) as shown in FIG. It accumulates in the immediate vicinity of the roller 9, and the bearings 7 and 7 are moved horizontally along the coating direction A.
As a result, the roller 9 rolls on the substrate 6 to spread the ink liquid c, and a thin film of the ink liquid c is formed on the surface of the substrate 6.
At this time, a shearing force is applied to the stick-like supramolecular complex contained in the ink liquid c in a slight gap sandwiched between the fine groove a of the roller 9 and the substrate 6, so that they are aligned on the substrate 6.
For this reason, polarization performance is generated in the thin film of the ink liquid c formed on the substrate 6.
The film thickness at this time is controlled by the cross-sectional shape of the fine groove a of the roller 9 and the thickness of the metal foil tape 12.
Further, the force acting between the roller 9 and the substrate 6 is adjusted by the left and right weights 11, 11 attached to the roller 9.
[0018]
FIG. 3 shows an example of the fine groove.
FIG. 3 (a) shows a stripe-shaped fine groove a, which is suitable for spreading at a low speed.
FIG. 3B shows a wavy stripe-type fine groove a, which is suitable for spreading at high speed.
FIG. 3 (c) shows a raindrop-like stripe-shaped fine groove a, which is also suitable for spreading at high speed.
By these fine grooves a, the stick-like supramolecular complex contained in the ink liquid c sandwiched between the fine grooves a and the substrate 6 is oriented in a certain direction.
[0019]
In the case of a multi-sided substrate, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of flat portions are provided on a roller 9 having a number of fine grooves a in accordance with the arrangement of the panel d, and a metal foil tape 12 is wound around each roller 9. Is slidably brought into contact with the substrate 6, and a slit-like gap b corresponding to each panel d is provided between the roller 9 and the substrate 6.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the polarizing film manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is a dichroic roller that rolls on the substrate surface by freely moving a roller having a large number of fine grooves on the peripheral surface thereof and freely moving it on a movable bearing. A polarizing film is produced by spreading the dye ink.
Therefore, according to the present invention, since the movable bearing is horizontally moved and the roller is simply rolled, complicated mechanisms and adjustments such as a rack gear for synchronizing the movement of the table and the plate cylinder are not required, and the apparatus is simplified. Is done.
[0021]
Moreover, the polarizing film manufacturing apparatus of this invention drops the both ends of a shaft in a movable bearing, and supports a roller.
Therefore, according to the present invention, since the roller can be easily removed, the roller can be replaced every time coating is performed, and the roller can be easily cleaned and dried during the application.
For this reason, the equipment of the line becomes simple, the tact time (the time required for the machine operation) can be shortened, and the operation becomes easy.
[0022]
Moreover, the polarizing film manufacturing apparatus of the present invention adjusts the pressure of the roller by attaching weights on both sides of the roller shaft.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the shearing force applied to the gap between the fine groove of the roller and the substrate can be adjusted only by changing the weight, so that a polarizing film having a desired polarization performance can be easily produced.
[0023]
The polarizing film manufacturing apparatus of the present invention provides a gap between the roller and the substrate with a spacer interposed therebetween.
Therefore, according to the present invention, since the film thickness of the ink liquid can be limited only by changing the spacer, it becomes easy to control the film thickness of the polarizing film.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a polarizing film manufacturing apparatus embodying the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of manufacturing a polarizing film embodying the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a fine groove.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a polarizing film manufacturing apparatus for a multi-sided substrate.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a conventional polarizing film manufacturing apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 plate 2 plate cylinder 3 dispenser 4 blade 5 table 6 substrate 7 bearing 8 groove 9 roller
10 axes
11 spindles
12 Metal foil tape a Fine groove b Gap c Ink liquid d Panel

Claims (4)

An apparatus for producing a polarizing film by spreading an ink liquid containing a supramolecular complex in a liquid crystal state in which dichroic dyes are spontaneously stacked in a stick shape on the surface of the substrate,
While the roller having a large number of fine grooves on the peripheral surface in sliding contact with the substrate is loosely fitted to the movable bearing,
This movable bearing is moved horizontally along the substrate surface,
A polarizing film manufacturing apparatus, wherein the ink liquid dropped onto the substrate is spread by a roller that rolls on the substrate surface. The movable bearing is a longitudinal groove,
2. A polarizing film manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein both ends of the shaft are dropped into the groove to support the roller. 2. The polarizing film manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein weights are attached to both sides of the shaft of the roller to adjust the pressure of the roller. The polarizing film manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a gap is provided between the roller and the substrate with a spacer interposed therebetween.

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