JP3995839B2 - Equipment for manufacturing optical film laminates - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to equipment for producing an optical film laminate.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, in an STN type liquid crystal display device (where the twist angle of liquid crystal molecules is set to 180 ° to 270 °), the screen becomes yellow or blue due to the relationship between the birefringence of the STN type liquid crystal and the wavelength of visible light. The display becomes difficult to see.
[0003]
Therefore, an optical film laminated chip in which a polarizing film having a birefringence as an optical film and a retardation film are bonded so that their optical axes form a predetermined angle is bonded to glass or the like enclosing a liquid crystal. As a result, the phase difference of the liquid crystal cell is canceled, and black and white display is realized.
[0004]
Conventionally, as a means for obtaining the optical film laminated chip as described above, there has been an equipment having the following configurations [A], [B], and [C].
[0005]
[A] A film obtained by sequentially cutting the first optical film whose optical axis is parallel or orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the film in a direction that forms a set angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the film, thereby obtaining a parallelogram optical film cut-out body Cutting device.
[0006]
[B] The parallelogram optical film cut-out body cut out by the film cutting device and the second optical film whose optical axis is parallel or orthogonal to the film longitudinal direction The film bonding apparatus which bonds a side and the both-sides edge of a 2nd optical film in the state which each follows.
[0007]
[C] To constitute the film laminating apparatus, the second film supply unit for supplying the second optical film is provided, and the film support table on which the optical film cutout body is placed is optically oriented along the support table surface. An optical film cutout body from the film support base side is provided so that the film cutout body is allowed to be fed and the optical film cutout body is fed while the lower surface thereof is in sliding contact with the support base surface. A pair of sandwiching rollers for sandwiching and conveying the second optical film from the two-film supply unit so that they are bonded together is provided.
[0008]
And the optical film laminated chip was cut out according to the magnitude | size of the liquid crystal display device from the optical film laminated body obtained with the film bonding apparatus.
[0009]
The means to obtain optical film laminated chips with the above equipment can reduce manufacturing processes, improve work efficiency, improve production capacity, improve yield, and reduce the types of optical film laminates to be stocked. The effect that it is possible can be acquired.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional configuration, the film support base on which the optical film cutout body is placed as in the above [C] is allowed to feed the optical film cutout body in the direction along the support base surface, and the optical Since the film cut-out body was provided so that the lower surface thereof was slidably contacted with the support base surface, the optical film was moved when the optical film was sent along the support base surface to the pair of sandwiching rollers. It was easy to bend in the left-right direction by the sliding contact resistance received from the support surface of the film support table.
[0011]
In particular, the optical film cut-out body on the film support base has a taper shape in which the front end edge in the feed direction is positioned on the lower side (front side) in the feed direction toward the one end side in the feed width direction. Since the pulling force from the pinching roller is applied to the front edge portion on one end side in the feed width direction in an uneven manner, the optical film cut-out body is easily swung to the left or right side at the beginning of pinching and conveyance, and has the sliding resistance. The fluctuation was enlarged and the cut-out optical film was easily bent in the left-right direction.
[0012]
As a result, even if the optical film cut-out body and the second optical film are bonded to each other along the two sides of the former cut side and the both side edges of the latter, an optical film laminate is obtained. The angle formed by the optical axes of the two films deviates from the desired angle, and the liquid crystal display device to which the optical film laminated chip cut out from the optical film laminate is attached cannot obtain the desired display performance. there were.
[0013]
Further, when the optical film cutout body is bent in the left-right direction as described above, the resistance of the optical film cutout body with respect to the sandwiching roller increases, and it becomes difficult for the sandwiching roller to smoothly sandwich and convey the optical film cutout body. Therefore, there is also a problem that the optical film cut-out body is easily clogged on the side of the sandwiching roller.
[0014]
The objective of this invention exists in the point which provides the manufacturing equipment of the optical film laminated body which can perform the bonding operation | work of an optical film smoothly while being able to form an optical film laminated body accurately.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The structure, operation, and effect of the invention according to claim 1 are as follows.
[0016]
[Constitution]
A film cutting device for sequentially cutting the first optical film whose optical axis is parallel or perpendicular to the film longitudinal direction in a direction forming a set angle with respect to the film longitudinal direction is provided. The optical film cut-out body is cut into a parallelogram optical film cut-out body cut out by the film cutting device and a second optical film whose optical axis is parallel or orthogonal to the film longitudinal direction. The second optical film is supplied in order to provide a film laminating apparatus for laminating the two sides on the other side and both side edges of the second optical film in a state along each of them, and configure the film laminating apparatus. While providing a 2nd film supply part, the film support stand which mounts the said optical film cut-out body to the direction in alignment with the support stand surface Provided so that feeding of the optical film cut-out body is allowed, the optical film cut-out body from the film support base side and the second optical film from the second film supply section are bonded together A pair of nipping rollers for nipping and conveying are provided, and a number of air jets for blowing air from the support table surface side of the film support table are provided in the film support table ,
In this film support base, resin corrugated cardboard is placed and fixed on a support member, and an air supply unit is connected to a large number of spaces partitioned inside the corrugated cardboard via a resin air flow passage forming body. At the same time, a corrugated cardboard is removably fitted into the hollow part of the air flow passage forming body, and air is not leaked from the end of the cardboard partitioned space opposite to the air supply part. And a large number of air jets are formed on the upper surface of the cardboard.
[0017]
[Action]
The first optical film whose optical axis is parallel or orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the film is sequentially cut by the film cutting device in a direction forming a set angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the film, whereby a parallelogram optical film cutting body is obtained. obtain.
[0018]
And a film bonding apparatus is a parallelogram optical film cut-out body, and the 2nd optical film in which the optical axis was parallel or orthogonal to the film longitudinal direction, and the two sides on the side where the optical film cut-out body was cut, And the both side edges of the second optical film are bonded together.
[0019]
That is, a pair of sandwiching rollers sandwich and convey the optical film cut-out body sent from the film support base side along the support base surface and the second optical film from the second film supply unit as described above. Match.
[0020]
In this case, since the film support base is provided with a plurality of air outlets for blowing air from the support base surface side of the film support base, the optical film cut-out body can be sent to the holding roller side while air is blown to the lower surface thereof. .
[0021]
By blowing air to the lower surface of the optical film cutout body, the weight of the optical film cutout body applied to the film support can be reduced, and if the optical film cutout body is lifted by the air, the weight is increased. It can be almost zero.
[0022]
As a result, in the former case, the slidable contact resistance received by the optical film cut-out body from the support surface of the film support table can be reduced, and in the latter case, the slidable contact resistance can be made substantially zero.
[0023]
The optical film cut-out body on the film support base has a taper shape in which the front end edge in the feed direction is positioned on the lower side (front side) in the feed direction toward the one end side in the feed width direction. Since the tensile force from the pinching roller is applied to the front edge portion on one end side in the feed width direction in an uneven manner, the optical film cut-out body is likely to be swung to the left or right side at the beginning of pinching conveyance, and if there is the sliding resistance, Although the shake is likely to be enlarged, according to the configuration of the first aspect, the sliding contact resistance can be reduced or made almost zero, so that the enlargement of the shake can be suppressed.
[0024]
Thereby, the optical film cut-out body can be moved straight and fed to the pair of sandwiching rollers, and the optical film cut-out body and the second optical film can be divided into two sides on the former cut side and both side edges on the latter. When pasting in a state along each, an optical film laminate in which the angle formed by the optical axes of both films is accurately set to a desired angle can be obtained.
[0025]
Also, by moving the optical film cutting body straight and feeding it to the pair of sandwiching rollers, it is possible to avoid the resistance of the optical film cutting body against the sandwiching rollers from increasing, and to avoid clogging of the optical film cutting body on the sandwiching roller side Thus, the optical film cut-out body can be smoothly nipped and conveyed.
In addition, air from the air supply unit enters a large number of spaces in which the cardboard is partitioned in the film support table, and blows upward from a number of air outlets on the top surface of the cardboard. And an optical film cut-out body is sent to the clamping roller side, receiving the air from the said air outlet on the lower surface. Since the air flow passage to the air outlet is formed by a large number of spaces partitioned by corrugated cardboard as described above, for example, compared to a case where the air flow passage is configured by machining or the like on a film support base. The film support can be configured at a low cost. Further, since the corrugated cardboard is made of resin, the strength can be increased compared to that of paper, and the air jet port can be easily formed.
[0026]
[effect]
Therefore, the optical film laminated body can be formed with high accuracy, and an optical film laminated body manufacturing facility capable of smoothly performing the optical film laminating operation can be provided. Furthermore, the manufacturing cost of the film support can be reduced, and the manufacturing facility for the optical film laminate that can improve the durability of the film support can be provided .
[0034]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0035]
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a production facility for an optical film laminate (an optical film laminate chip to be attached to a liquid crystal display device is cut out from the optical film laminate obtained by this facility).
[0036]
The manufacturing equipment for the optical film laminate includes a parallelogram polarizing film cutout 3 from a polarizing film 1 whose optical axis is parallel to the film longitudinal direction (corresponding to the first optical film, with a release film attached). A polarizing film cutting device 2 (corresponding to a film cutting device) that cuts out (corresponding to the optical film cutting body) is provided, and the polarizing film cutting body 3 and the retardation film 4 whose optical axis is parallel to the film longitudinal direction. (Corresponding to the second optical film) is bonded to a state in which two sides of the polarizing film cutout body 3 on the cut side and both side edges of the retardation film 4 are along each other, and the optical film laminate 31. A film laminating device 6 for obtaining (see FIG. 3) is provided.
[0037]
Next, the polarizing film cutting device 2 and the film bonding device 6 will be described.
[0038]
[Polarizing film cutting device 2]
It comprises a polarizing film supply unit 7 for sending the polarizing film 1 in the longitudinal direction of the film, and a cutting unit 8 for the polarizing film 1 from the polarizing film supply unit 7.
[0039]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the polarizing film supply unit 7 is configured such that both ends of the cylindrical first rotating shaft 9 in which the polarizing film 1 is wound in a roll shape are radially outward and longitudinally outward. A plurality of support rollers 10 that are supported separately from each other from the side are supported by a cutting device frame 11 and a pair of upper and lower feed rollers 12 that feed and hold the polarizing film 1 are provided.
[0040]
A leather band 32 that gives resistance to the rotation of the first rotating shaft 9 is wound around both ends of the first rotating shaft 9 to prevent the deflection of the polarizing film 1 on the upper side of the feeding roller 12. A spring 33 is connected to both ends of the leather band 32, and a hook connected to the spring 33 is locked to a locked portion on the apparatus frame 11 side.
[0041]
Although not shown in the drawings, the polarizing film 1 is wound in a roll shape with a belt-like aluminum sheet laminated on both ends in the width direction to prevent foreign matters such as dust from entering between the respective wound portions of the polarizing film 1. At the same time, even if dust or the like is wound between the respective winding portions, it is possible to prevent the pressing shape due to dust or the like from sticking to the polarizing film 1.
[0042]
The aluminum thin plate material is separated from the polarizing film 1 by its own weight and collected on the floor side as the polarizing film 1 is drawn out and becomes linear from the roll shape.
[0043]
As the polarizing film 1 is fed, the first film support 13 supports the auxiliary cutter 14 that cuts one side of the release film 34 attached to the polarizing film 1.
[0044]
That is, the release film 34 is cut in a direction along the one side edge on one side edge side of the release film 34 with the attached state (see FIG. 3 for the release film 34).
[0045]
The cutting section 8 is provided with a second film support table 15 for receiving and placing the polarizing film 1 from the first film support table 13 side, and the polarizing film 1 on the second film support table 15 is set as the film longitudinal direction. A cutter mechanism 16 that sequentially cuts in an angled direction is provided to obtain a parallelogram-shaped polarizing film cutout body 3.
[0046]
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, and 7, the second film support 15 allows the leg member 19 to support the circular substrate 20, and the substrate portion on the upper side of the cutting line of the cutter 14. The resin cardboard 21 is placed and fixed.
[0047]
Then, a hollow arc-shaped air flow passage forming body 22 is fixed to the upper peripheral portion of the substrate 20 so that the hollow portion communicates with a large number of spaces partitioned by the corrugated cardboard 21 and the corrugated cardboard 21. The lower end of the cardboard 21 is sealed so that air does not leak from the numerous spaces of the corrugated cardboard 21, and the air supply passage 23 is connected to the air supply passage forming body 22 so that the air from the air supply portion 23 is A large number of air outlets 24 are formed through the upper surface of the corrugated cardboard 21 so as to flow through the numerous spaces of the airflow passage forming body 22 and the corrugated cardboard 21 and to be ejected upward.
[0048]
That is, while letting the polarizing film supply part 7 send the polarizing film 1 in the film longitudinal direction, air is blown up from the air outlet 24 of the second film support 15, and the polarizing film 1 is blown against the lower surface thereof. The second film support 15 is supplied and mounted.
[0049]
By blowing air onto the lower surface of the polarizing film 1 in this way, the weight of the polarizing film 1 applied to the second film support 15 can be reduced, and the weight can be increased by lifting the polarizing film 1 with the air. It can be almost zero.
[0050]
Therefore, the sliding contact resistance received by the polarizing film 1 from the support surface of the second film support table 15 can be reduced in the former case, and can be substantially zero in the latter case.
[0051]
The cutter mechanism 16 will be described. The cutter case 18 that traverses the substrate 20 is supported on the second film support 15 above the substrate 20.
[0052]
As shown in FIG. 2, the cutter case 18 is set in a posture in which the cutter case 18 is inclined at a set angle with respect to the feeding direction of the polarizing film 1 (that is, the film longitudinal direction) in plan view, and the cutter case 18 is circular. The cutter 17 reciprocates in the longitudinal direction to cut the polarizing film 1.
[0053]
When the cutter 17 cuts the polarizing film 1, a film pressing member (not shown) supported by the cutter case 18 so as to be movable up and down is lowered to cut the polarizing film 1, and the cutting ends. And raise the holding member.
[0054]
The feeding roller 12 repeats a state in which the polarizing film 1 is fed out by a predetermined length and a state in which the feeding is stopped. And the cutter 17 cut | disconnects the polarizing film 1 in the stopped state.
[0055]
[Film pasting device 6]
A third film support base 25 that receives the polarizing film cutout body 3 cut out by the polarizing film cutting apparatus 2 is disposed on the lower side of the polarizing film cutting apparatus 2 and the lower side of the third film support base 25. The fourth film support base 26 is disposed on the fourth film support base 26 and the retardation film supply section 27 for supplying the retardation film 4 is provided on the fourth film support base 26. A pair of sandwiching rollers 28 that sandwich and convey the phase difference film 4 so as to be bonded to each other are provided on the fourth film support base 26.
[0056]
An operator transfers the polarizing film cutout body 3 from the polarizing film cutting device 2 side to the third film support base 25 side.
[0057]
The third film support base 25 is provided so that the polarizing film cutout body 3 can be fed in a direction along the support base surface (specifically, a direction along the support base surface and toward the holding roller 28). is there. The operator performs feeding of the polarizing film cutout body 3 placed on the third film support base 25 to the clamping roller 28 side.
[0058]
As shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, the third film support base 25 will be described in detail. A resin-made cardboard 36 is attached to a rectangular substrate 35 (corresponding to a support member) supported by a leg member 39. The air supply unit 23 is connected to and communicated with a large number of spaces partitioned and fixed by the cardboard 36 via a resin air flow passage forming body 37, and air supply to the numerous spaces partitioned by the cardboard 36 is provided. The end opposite to the portion 23 is sealed so that air does not leak, and a number of air jets 38 are formed on the upper surface of the cardboard 36.
[0059]
That is, the polarizing film cut-out body 3 is sent to the holding roller 28 side while blowing air from the air outlet 38 to the lower surface thereof.
[0060]
The air flow passage forming body 37 has a rectangular shape along the width direction of the corrugated cardboard 36, and is formed in a hollow shape with one end in the width direction of the air flow passage forming body 37 opened. Further, the upper surface side of one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the corrugated cardboard 36 is cut off, and the lower end portion thereof is detachably fitted into the hollow portion of the airflow passage forming body 37, and the lower end portion and the airflow passage An adhesive tape is attached to a connection portion outside the formed body 37.
[0061]
The air supply unit 23 is connected to an air circulation hole formed on one end side in the width direction of the air flow passage forming body 37 through a pipe.
[0062]
With the above structure, when the corrugated cardboard 36 is damaged, the corrugated cardboard 36 can be removed from the airflow path forming body 37 and a new corrugated cardboard 36 can be exchanged and mounted on the airflow path forming body 37.
[0063]
By blowing air to the lower surface of the polarizing film cutout body 3, the weight of the polarizing film cutout body 3 applied to the third film support base 25 can be reduced, and the polarizing film cutout body 3 can be removed with the air. If it is lifted, the weight can be made almost zero.
[0064]
As a result, in the former case, the sliding contact resistance received by the polarizing film cutout 3 from the support base surface of the third film support base 25 can be reduced, and in the latter case, the sliding contact resistance can be made substantially zero.
[0065]
A plurality of guide rollers 29 for feeding and guiding the polarizing film cutout body 3 toward the sandwiching roller 28 are provided on the substrate portion on the laterally outer side of the cardboard 36.
[0066]
The guide roller 29 is in contact with one of the two sides of the polarizing film cutout body 3 on the cut side, and the operator rotates the polarizing film cutout body 3 toward the sandwiching roller 28 to rotate around the vertical axis. Rotate to.
[0067]
The retardation film supply unit 27 has the fourth film support base in a state where the cylindrical second rotation shaft 30 in which the retardation film 4 is wound in a roll shape is positioned above the fourth film support base 26. 26 is rotatably supported.
[0068]
The polarizing film cutout 3 and the retardation film 4 are bonded together as follows.
[0069]
1) An operator holds the polarizing film cutout body 3 in a state in which the two sides on the cut side of the polarizing film cutout body 3 are along the longitudinal direction of the retardation film 4 from the retardation film supply section 27. 25 (see FIG. 3).
[0070]
2) Of the first divided release film 34A and the second divided release film 34B on the one side edge side of the release film 34 divided by the auxiliary cutter 14, the operator is in a state of sticking the first divided release film 34A. The front end side of the 2nd division | segmentation peeling film 34B is peeled off from the polarizing film 1 leaving it (refer FIG. 3).
[0071]
And the polarizing film cut-out body 3 is sent out to the clamping roller 28 side, holding the peeled 2nd division | segmentation peeling film part in a hand.
[0072]
3) A pair of sandwiching rollers 28 sandwich and convey the polarizing film cutout body 3 and the retardation film 4, and thereby, two sides of the polarizing film cutout body 3 on the cut side and both side edges of the retardation film 4. The phase difference film 4 is stuck on the adhesive surface of the polarizing film cutout body 3 (the surface protected by the second divided release film 34B) in a state along each of the above.
[0073]
The second divided release film 34B is peeled off as the holding roller 28 is nipped and conveyed. For example, if the polarizing film cutting body 3 is sent to the holding roller 28 side after the entire second divided release film 34B is peeled off from the polarizing film cutting body 3, foreign substances such as dust adhere to the adhesive surface of the polarizing film cutting body 3. Although the operator's hand may come into contact with the adhesive surface, the second split release film 34B is peeled off as the holding roller 28 is held and transported by the above means 2). The problem can be solved.
[0074]
When the operator sequentially supplies the polarizing film cutout body 3 to the pair of sandwiching rollers 28 along with the supply of the retardation film 4, a plurality of polarizing film cutout bodies 3 are sequentially attached to the series of retardation films 4. The band-shaped optical film laminate 31 in which the polarizing film cutout 3 and the retardation film 4 are bonded together can be obtained.
[0075]
An operator cuts the belt-shaped optical film laminate 31 along the shape of the polarizing film cutout body 3 to obtain a cut sheet-like optical film laminate 31, and liquid crystal is produced from the cut sheet-like optical film laminate 31. The optical film laminated chip is cut out according to the size of the display device.
[0076]
[Another embodiment]
The polarizing film 1 or the retardation film 4 may have an optical axis orthogonal to the film longitudinal direction.
[0077]
A conveying device that sends out the polarizing film cutout body 3 toward the pair of sandwiching rollers 28 may be provided.
[0078]
As shown in FIG. 11, a box-like air flow passage forming body 37 along the width direction of the corrugated cardboard 36 is connected to one end of the corrugated cardboard 36 in the third film support base 25 from the lower side. A number of partitioned spaces and the space in the air flow passage forming body 37 may be communicated, and the air supply section 23 may be connected to the air flow passage forming body 37 in communication.
[0079]
The polarizing film cutting body 3 is transferred from the polarizing film cutting device 2 side to the third film support base 25 side automatically by a robot hand having a suction nozzle for the polarizing film cutting body 3. May be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an optical film laminate manufacturing facility. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of an optical film laminate manufacturing facility. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a manufacturing process of an optical film laminate. FIG. 5 is a front view showing a structure of a film supply unit. FIG. 5 is a view taken along line AA in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a cutting unit in a polarizing film cutting device. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a corrugated board of a film support table, etc. FIG. 9 is a vertical side view showing a connection structure between the corrugated board and an air flow passage forming body. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal section showing a corrugated board. Front view [FIG. 11] Perspective view of another embodiment [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st optical film 2 Film cutting device 3 Optical film cutting body 4 Second optical film 6 Film laminating device 23 Air supply parts 24 and 38 Air outlet 25 Film support stand 27 Second film supply part 28 Nipping roller 35 Support member 36 Cardboard

Claims (1)

A film cutting device for sequentially cutting the first optical film whose optical axis is parallel or perpendicular to the film longitudinal direction in a direction forming a set angle with respect to the film longitudinal direction is provided. The optical film cut-out body is cut into a parallelogram optical film cut-out body cut out by the film cutting device and a second optical film whose optical axis is parallel or perpendicular to the film longitudinal direction. The second optical film is supplied in order to provide a film laminating apparatus for laminating the two sides on the other side and both side edges of the second optical film in a state along each of them, and configure the film laminating apparatus. While providing a 2nd film supply part, the film support stand which mounts the said optical film cut-out body to the direction in alignment with the support stand surface Provided so that feeding of the optical film cut-out body is allowed, the optical film cut-out body from the film support base side and the second optical film from the second film supply section are bonded together A pair of nipping rollers for nipping and conveying are provided, and a number of air jets for blowing air from the support table surface side of the film support table are provided in the film support table ,
In this film support base, resin corrugated cardboard is placed and fixed on a support member, and an air supply unit is connected to a large number of spaces partitioned inside the corrugated cardboard via a resin airflow passage forming body. At the same time, a corrugated cardboard is removably fitted into the hollow part of the air flow passage forming body, and air is not leaked from the opposite end of the air supply part of the numerous spaces partitioned by the corrugated cardboard. And a large number of air jets formed on the upper surface of the corrugated cardboard .

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