JP4220279B2 - Flexographic printing apparatus and liquid crystal display manufacturing method using the same - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a flexographic printing apparatus used for manufacturing various devices, and more particularly to a flexographic printing apparatus suitable for thick film printing of a paste having a relatively high viscosity and a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device using the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Flexographic printing is a printing method using a relief printing plate that is flexible and elastic on a printing plate and using an organic solvent-based evaporative drying ink. Various application examples of flexographic printing apparatuses are known (for example, non-printing). Patent Document 1).
[0003]
In addition, as an example of applying the flexographic printing apparatus to the manufacture of a liquid crystal display device, a protective film is formed on the reflective electrode or wiring formed on the first mother substrate, or oriented on the protective film, wiring, or connection terminal. There is an example of using a flexographic printing apparatus to print a film. In the first mother substrate printed in this way, a seal is formed so as to surround the liquid crystal sealing scheduled region, and in the same manner, the second mother substrate on which the transparent electrode and the alignment film are formed passes through this seal. The liquid crystal mother panel is formed by being attached to the first mother substrate (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Non-Patent Document 1]
"Flexo Printing Guide" issued by Processing Technology Research Group, November 2000
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-091918 A
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventionally, flexographic printing is often used for printing a thin film such as an alignment film of a liquid crystal display device, for example, but it is a paste having a relatively high viscosity such as a seal of a flat panel (liquid crystal panel) of a liquid crystal display device. When applying flexographic printing to thick film printing, different types of paste may be used as a sealing material depending on the liquid crystal display device to be produced. Pastes with different viscosities will be used. Even if the same paste is used, its viscosity may change over time.
[0007]
On the other hand, in a flexographic printing apparatus, a flexographic plate provided with a relief printing pattern is attached to the surface of a rotating plate cylinder, paste is transferred from the anilox roll to the flexographic plate, and the printing medium is pressure-bonded to the flexographic plate. In order to transfer the paste to the flexographic plate with a uniform film thickness, a paste film with a desired uniform film thickness is formed on the surface of the anilox roll with a doctor blade. After that, the paste is transferred to a flexographic plate on a rotating plate cylinder.
[0008]
By the way, this doctor blade is made of a very thin plastic plate, a steel plate, or the like, and is easily deformed by an external force. Therefore, even when the film thickness of the paste is made uniform on the anilox roll, the doctor blade is deformed to some extent. If the amount of deformation of the doctor blade is constant, the film thickness of the paste formed on the surface of the anilox roll is kept constant, but the viscosity of the paste used varies depending on the use of different types of paste. Or when the viscosity of the paste used changes over time, especially in the case of thick film printing, the amount of deformation of the doctor blade for making the paste film thickness uniform will also differ, The amount of deformation changes, and the film thickness of the paste on the anilox roll changes. As a result, the film thickness of the paste transferred (printed) on the printing medium also changes, and the desired film thickness cannot be obtained.
[0009]
The object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, and when applied to thick film printing of a paste having a relatively high viscosity such as a seal of a liquid crystal display device, even if the viscosity of the paste used for printing changes, the printing Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexographic printing apparatus and a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device using the same, which can maintain the film thickness of the paste to be appropriately maintained.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an anilox roll in which paste is dropped from a dispenser nozzle, a doctor blade for smoothing the paste dropped on the anilox roll and forming a uniform paste film, and rotation. A plate cylinder and a flexo plate attached to the surface of the plate cylinder and having a printing pattern on which the paste is transferred from the anilox roll, the paste transferred to the flexo plate is moved in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the plate cylinder A flexographic printing apparatus that forms and prints a transfer paste pattern of a flexographic printing pattern on a printing medium by transferring it to the printing medium, The doctor blade is supported by a doctor blade support through a linear motion actuator that expands and contracts on both sides thereof, and the distal end surface of the doctor blade is parallel to the rotation axis of the anilox roll and the surface of the anilox roll Is arranged opposite to A film thickness detection sensor for detecting the film thickness of the paste film smoothed by the doctor blade on the anilox roll; A movement mechanism for reciprocating the film thickness detection sensor in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the anilox roll and along the surface of the anilox roll, and reciprocating movement by the movement mechanism Film thickness detection sensor The film thickness of each position of the surface of the paste film on the surface of the anilox roll by Based on the detection data Controlling each of the linear actuators, Paste film smoothed by doctor blade The entire Of the doctor blade so that the desired film thickness is uniform. Position of tip surface from anilox roll surface and tilt relative to anilox roll surface And a control device for controlling the operation.
[0011]
The present invention also provides an anilox roll in which a paste is dropped from a dispenser nozzle, a doctor blade for smoothing the paste dropped on the anilox roll and forming a uniform paste film, a rotating plate cylinder, and a plate cylinder And a flexographic plate having a printing pattern to which the paste is transferred from the anilox roll, and the paste transferred to the flexographic plate is transferred to a printing medium that moves in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the plate cylinder. A flexographic printing apparatus that forms and prints a transfer paste pattern of a flexographic printing pattern on a substrate, The doctor blade is supported by a doctor blade support through a linear motion actuator that expands and contracts on both sides thereof, and the distal end surface of the doctor blade is parallel to the rotation axis of the anilox roll and the surface of the anilox roll Is arranged opposite to A film thickness detection sensor that detects the film thickness of the transfer paste pattern of the printed substrate; A movement mechanism that moves the film thickness detection sensor over the entire surface of the printed material, and a movement mechanism that moves the film thickness detection sensor Film thickness detection sensor The thickness of the printed material printed by the film thickness over the entire surface of the transfer paste pattern Based on the detection data Controlling each of the linear actuators, Paste film smoothed by doctor blade The entire Of the doctor blade so that the desired film thickness is uniform. Position of tip surface from anilox roll surface and tilt relative to anilox roll surface And a control device for controlling the operation.
[0012]
The present invention is also a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device using the flexographic printing apparatus, wherein the substrate to be printed is a transparent glass substrate, and the paste is a sealing material for a flat panel of the liquid crystal display apparatus. It is what.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1 to 5 are side views showing a first embodiment of a flexographic printing apparatus of the present invention and its printing operation, wherein 1 is a plate cylinder, 1a is a rotating shaft, 2 is a flexographic plate, and 3 is a substrate. 4 is an anilox roll, 4a is a rotating shaft, 5 is a dispenser nozzle, 6 is a doctor blade device, 6a is a doctor blade, 6b is a support, 6c is a linear actuator, 7 is a printing table, 8 is a positioning mechanism, 9a, 9b is a linear motion bearing, 10 is a guide rail, 11 is a camera, and 12 is a film thickness detection sensor.
[0014]
First, the configuration of the first embodiment will be described.
[0015]
In FIG. 1, the left-right direction on the paper surface is defined as the X-axis direction, the vertical direction is defined as the Z-axis direction, and the direction perpendicular to the paper surface is defined as the Y-axis direction. A cylindrical plate cylinder 1 is rotatably attached to a rotary shaft 1a in the Y-axis direction, and a printing pattern to be transferred to a printing medium 3 mounted on a printing table 7 is formed on the surface of the plate cylinder 1. The formed relief printing plate, here, the flexographic printing plate 2 is attached. A cylindrical anilox roll 4 is rotatably attached to the rotary shaft 4a in the Y-axis direction so as to rotate in contact with the flexographic plate 2 on the plate cylinder 1. Above the anilox roll 4, a dispenser nozzle 5 is provided so as to be able to reciprocate in the Y-axis direction (that is, along the surface of the anilox roll 4). (Ink) is dropped. As a result, the paste adheres to the surface of the anilox roll 4, but the doctor blade device 6 as a smoothing means provided between the position where the dispenser nozzle 5 drops the paste and the position where it comes into contact with the plate cylinder 1 is used. The doctor blade 6a scrapes off and smoothes the paste dripped onto the surface of the anilox roll 4, and the paste is uniformly formed into a film having a predetermined thickness at the portion contacting the plate cylinder 1 on the surface of the anilox roll 4. Is formed. In this state, the paste is transferred from the surface of the anilox roll 4 to the flexographic plate 2 of the plate cylinder 1. In addition, as a smoothing means, other means, such as a doctor roll, can also be used.
[0016]
Here, a specific example of the doctor blade device 6 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, 6d is a hinge and the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part corresponding to FIG.
[0017]
In the figure, a doctor blade device 6 has a structure in which a doctor blade 6a and a doctor blade support 6b are coupled via two linear actuators 6c. The linear actuator 6c is, for example, a piezoelectric actuator, and expands and contracts in the direction of the arrow in accordance with a control signal given from a control device (not shown). Further, the doctor blade 6a can be inclined with respect to the doctor blade support 6b by making the expansion / contraction amounts of the two linear motion actuators 6c different. For this purpose, the linear motion actuator 6c is pivotally coupled to the doctor blade support 6b by a hinge 6d.
[0018]
The distal end surface 6e of the doctor blade 6a is arranged in parallel with the rotation shaft 4a of the anilox roll 4 (FIG. 1) and opposed to the surface of the anilox roll 4, and the amount of expansion / contraction of the two linear actuators 6c is adjusted. Accordingly, the position of the tip surface 6e of the doctor blade 6a from the surface of the anilox roll 4 (hereinafter referred to as the position of the doctor blade 6a) and the inclination with respect to this surface (hereinafter referred to as the inclination of the doctor blade 6a) are adjusted. can do.
[0019]
Returning to FIG. 1, the printing table 7 on which the printing medium 3 is mounted is placed on a positioning mechanism 8, and by this positioning mechanism 8, the X, Y, Z-axis directions and further around the Z-axis. Positioning in the θ direction is possible. Therefore, the position of the printing medium 3 can be adjusted by the positioning mechanism 8. Further, the positioning mechanism 8 is connected to a guide rail 10 extending through the lower side of the plate cylinder 1 in the X-axis direction via a linear motion bearing 9, and the printing body 3 mounted on the table 7 is connected to the positioning mechanism 8. It can be moved in the Y-axis direction.
[0020]
Further, a camera 11 for imaging an alignment mark (not shown) provided on the printing medium 3 mounted on the printing table 7 is provided above the printing table 7. The camera 11 is configured to be movable in the X and Y biaxial directions by a camera drive mechanism (not shown). An image signal picked up by the camera 11 is sent to an image processing device (not shown) and processed by the image processing device to detect the position and orientation of the printing medium 3. The detected information is sent to a control device (not shown), and the positioning mechanism 8 is controlled to adjust the position and orientation of the printing medium 3.
[0021]
Furthermore, a film thickness detection sensor 12 for measuring the film thickness of the paste film formed on the anix roll 4 is provided. As the film thickness detection sensor 12, a reflection type laser length measuring device is suitable. This film thickness detection sensor 12 reciprocates in the Y-axis direction by a film thickness detection sensor moving mechanism (not shown), and measures the film thickness of the paste on the entire surface of the anix roll 4.
[0022]
The measurement data of the film thickness detection sensor 12 is sent to a control device (not shown). In the control device, for each position on the surface of the anilox roll 4 before the paste film is formed, the distance from the position to the film thickness detection sensor 12 is measured in advance by the film thickness detection sensor 12, and the measurement data Is stored as initial measurement data. When the paste is dropped on the surface of the anilox roll 4, the distance to the position is measured by the film thickness detection sensor 12 for each position on the surface of the paste film smoothed by the doctor blade 6a. When the data is supplied to the control device, the control device calculates the film thickness distribution of the paste film on the surface of the anilox roll 4 from the measurement data and the initial measurement value, and compares it with the target film thickness. The linear motion actuator 6c is driven in the direction of decreasing the angle to control the position and inclination of the doctor blade 6a.
[0023]
The position and orientation of the doctor blade 6 are controlled every time the paste is dropped from the dispenser nozzle 5 onto the surface of the anilox roller 4 (that is, every time the printing medium 3 is mounted on the printing table 7 and printing is started). ) Done. As a result, even if the type of paste used is changed or the viscosity of the paste changes due to changes over time and the amount of deformation of the doctor blade 6 changes, the thickness of the paste film applied to the anix roll 4 can be reduced. The desired film thickness can be kept constant over the entire surface.
[0024]
The position and orientation of the doctor blade 6 are controlled every time a predetermined number of prints 3 are printed when the type of paste is changed or when the same type of paste is used continuously. You may make it perform.
[0025]
Next, a series of operations of the printing according to the first embodiment and the position and posture control of the doctor blade 6a will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6. FIG.
[0026]
FIG. 1 shows a state before printing is started.
[0027]
In the figure, the printing medium 3 is conveyed and mounted on the printing table 7. At this time, the positioning mechanism 8 is controlled by a control device (not shown), so that the printing table 7 is set to the initial position and the initial posture (note that the initial position and the initial posture are the above X, Y, Z, (In the coordinate system of the θ axis, it means a state where the position X = Y = Z = 0 and the angle θ = 0 °). The camera 11 captures an alignment mark provided on the printing medium 3 and sends the captured image signal to an image processing apparatus (not shown). This image processing apparatus analyzes the image signal to recognize the amount of deviation of the position and orientation of the printing medium 3 on the print table 7, and illustrates a correction signal of a correction amount corresponding to the amount of deviation. Do not send to the control device. The control device controls the positioning mechanism 8 in accordance with the correction signal and adjusts the position X, Y, Z and the angle θ, so that the position of the printing medium 3 is adjusted so that the deviation amount becomes zero. And correct the posture.
[0028]
The paste is dropped from the dispenser nozzle 5 onto the surface of the anix roll 4 until the correction of the position and orientation of the printing medium 3 is completed, and the position and inclination are controlled by the detection output of the film thickness detection sensor 12. A paste film having a uniform film thickness is formed on the surface of the anix roll 4 by the doctor blade 6a, and this paste is transferred to the flexographic plate 2 of the rotating plate cylinder 1.
[0029]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation from the end of the correction of the position and orientation of the printing medium 3 until the printing table 7 starts moving toward the plate cylinder 1 (that is, in the X-axis direction).
[0030]
In the figure, when the correction of the position and orientation of the printing medium 3 is completed, the control unit controls the positioning mechanism 8 so that the printing medium 3 is set to a height position for printing. The printing table 7 moves (that is, rises) in the Z-axis direction. At the same time, the printing table 7 moves at a position and speed synchronized with the rotational phase and peripheral speed of the flexographic plate 2 attached to the plate cylinder 1 at a guide rail. 10 and starts moving in the X-axis direction.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 4, when reaching the position where the printing medium 3 is printed, the positioning mechanism 8 pushes up the printing table 7 in the Z-axis direction and presses the printing medium 3 against the flexographic plate 2 of the plate cylinder 1. By acting as described above, the printing medium 3 moves while contacting with the flexographic plate 2 while receiving an appropriate printing pressure, and the plate cylinder 1 rotates in synchronism with this, so that the paste on the flexographic plate 2 is transferred. Transferred to the substrate 3. At this time, the anilox roll 4 is separated from the surface of the plate cylinder 1. Therefore, the paste is not transferred to a portion other than the portion where the flexographic plate 2 is provided on the surface of the plate cylinder 1.
[0032]
Here, a printing pressure is applied between the printing medium 3 and the flexographic plate 2 by the positioning mechanism 8 of the printing table 7, but instead, when the printing medium 3 does not contact, the plate cylinder 1 and the anilox roll 4 are in a position lower than the normal height position, and at the time of printing described above, the print cylinder 1 and the anilox roll 4 are lifted and moved upward by the printing medium 3 that comes into contact therewith. The printing pressure may be applied to the substrate 3 from the above.
[0033]
When the printing is finished and the state shown in FIG. 5 is reached, as shown in FIG. 6, the printing medium 3 is unloaded from the printing table 7, and the printing table 7 is further lowered along the guide rail 10 in the reverse direction. Returning to the position in FIG. 5 and 6, the plate cylinder 1 and the anilox roll 4 are separated from each other.
[0034]
As described above, in the first embodiment, the paste can be transferred from the anilox roll 4 to the flexo plate 2 on the plate cylinder 1 with a uniform desired film thickness as a whole, and there is a change in the viscosity of the paste. In addition, a transfer paste pattern having a uniform desired film thickness can be obtained on the substrate 3.
[0035]
FIGS. 7 to 13 are side views showing the second embodiment of the flexographic printing apparatus of the present invention and its printing operation. The parts corresponding to those in FIGS. Omitted.
[0036]
First, the configuration of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0037]
In the previous first embodiment, the film thickness detection sensor 12 is provided on the anilox roll 4 side, and the thickness or inclination of the paste film formed on the surface of the anilox roll 4 is measured. In this second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the film thickness detection sensor is mounted on the printing table 7 at the position where the printing medium 3 is mounted and ejected, for example, a movable mounting base ( (Not shown). In this second embodiment, with this configuration, the film thickness of the entire transfer paste pattern on the printed substrate 3 is measured by the film thickness detection sensor 12, and this measurement data is measured by a control device (not shown). And the initial measurement data obtained in advance, the film thickness of the entire transfer paste pattern is calculated to obtain an error from the target film thickness, and the doctor blade device 6 is controlled in accordance with this error, whereby the upper surface of the printing material 3 The position and inclination of the doctor blade 6a are set so that the transfer paste pattern has a uniform predetermined film thickness as a whole.
[0038]
The setting of the position and inclination of the doctor blade 6a is performed by using the printing medium 3 that is a dummy before performing the printing operation of the flexographic printing apparatus using the same paste and the same flexographic plate 2. Note that the above initial measurement data is obtained by measuring the entire surface of the printing medium 3 serving as a dummy before printing with the film thickness detection sensor 12.
[0039]
Next, a series of operations for setting the position and inclination of the doctor blade 6a in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0040]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state of the dummy substrate 3 before starting printing.
[0041]
In FIG. 3, a dummy substrate 3 is conveyed and mounted on a printing table 7. At this time, the positioning mechanism 8 is controlled by a control device (not shown), so that the printing table 7 is set to the initial position and the initial posture (note that the initial position and the initial posture are the same as those in the first embodiment. Is the same). The camera 11 images a registration mark provided on the dummy substrate 3 and sends the captured image signal to an image processing device (not shown). This image processing apparatus analyzes the image signal to recognize the amount of deviation of the position and orientation of the printing medium 3 on the print table 7, and illustrates a correction signal of a correction amount corresponding to the amount of deviation. Do not send to the control device. The control device controls the positioning mechanism 8 in accordance with the correction signal and adjusts the position X, Y, Z and the angle θ, so that the position of the printing medium 3 is adjusted so that the deviation amount becomes zero. And correct the posture.
[0042]
Thereafter, while the film thickness detection sensor 12 moves, the distance to the film thickness detection sensor 12 is measured for the entire surface of the dummy printing medium 3, and the measurement data is sent to a control device (not shown). . The control device stores this measurement data as initial measurement data.
[0043]
By the time the correction of the position and orientation of the printing medium 3 is completed, the paste is dropped from the dispenser nozzle 5 onto the surface of the anix roll 4, and a paste film having a uniform film thickness is formed by the doctor blade 6a. 4, the paste film is transferred to the flexographic plate 2 of the rotating plate cylinder 1.
[0044]
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation from the completion of the correction of the position and orientation of the dummy printing medium 3 until the printing table 7 starts moving toward the plate cylinder 1 (that is, in the X-axis direction). It is.
[0045]
In the figure, when the correction of the position and orientation of the dummy printing medium 3 is completed, the control device controls the positioning mechanism 8 to set the printing medium 3 at a height position for printing. As described above, the printing table 7 moves (that is, rises) in the Z-axis direction, and at the same time, the printing table 7 moves at a position and speed synchronized with the rotational phase and peripheral speed of the flexographic plate 2 attached to the plate cylinder 1. The movement in the X-axis direction is started along the guide rail 10.
[0046]
Then, as shown in FIG. 9, when reaching the position where the dummy printing medium 3 is printed, the positioning mechanism 8 pushes up the printing table 7 in the Z-axis direction so that the dummy printing medium 3 is moved to the plate cylinder 1. By acting so as to press against the flexographic plate 2, the dummy printing medium 3 moves while contacting the flexographic plate 2 while receiving an appropriate printing pressure, and the plate cylinder 1 rotates in synchronization with this. As a result, the paste on the flexographic plate 2 is transferred to the printing medium 3 serving as a dummy. At this time, the anilox roll 4 is separated from the surface of the plate cylinder 1. Therefore, the paste is not transferred to a portion other than the portion where the flexographic plate 2 is provided on the surface of the plate cylinder 1.
[0047]
Here, printing pressure is applied between the dummy printing medium 3 and the flexographic plate 2 by the positioning mechanism 8 of the printing table 7, but instead, the dummy printing medium 3 is used. When not in contact, the plate cylinder 1 and the anilox roll 4 are at a position lower than the normal height position, and at the time of printing, the plate cylinder 1 and the anilox roll 4 are lifted and moved upward by the dummy 3 to be contacted. Accordingly, printing pressure may be applied from the plate cylinder 1 and the anilox roll 4 to the dummy printing medium 3.
[0048]
When the printing is finished and the state shown in FIG. 10 is reached, the printing table 7 descends as shown in FIG. 11 and moves in the reverse direction along the guide rail 10, and as shown in FIG. Return to the previous position. In this state, the film thickness detection sensor 12 measures the distance to the entire surface of the transfer paste pattern on the dummy printed body 3, and sends the measurement data to the control device. When the control device captures the measurement data, the controller obtains an error from the target film thickness over the entire surface of the transfer paste pattern on the dummy printed body 3 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The position and inclination of the doctor blade 6a are controlled according to the error. Thereby, the position and inclination of the doctor blade 6a are set so that a paste film having a target film thickness can be obtained uniformly over the entire surface of the anilox roll 4.
[0049]
When the above setting operation is completed, as shown in FIG. 13, the dummy printing medium 3 is removed from the printing table 7 and discarded, and then the printing medium 3 that is actually used as a product. The printing operation will be started. Such a printing operation is the same as the printing operation of the dummy printing medium 3 and is different from the printing operation of the dummy printing medium 3 in that the position and inclination of the terblade 6a are already controlled. Thus, a paste film having a target film thickness can be obtained uniformly over the entire surface of the anilox roll 4.
[0050]
The position and inclination of the doctor blade 6a using the dummy printing body 3 described above are set when the paste viscosity changes by changing the type of paste to be used, or when the same type of base is used. In such a case, it is performed according to the surrounding environment such as every predetermined time.
[0051]
As described above, also in the second embodiment, even if the viscosity of the paste to be used changes, a transfer paste pattern having a uniform target film thickness can be obtained on the printing medium 3.
[0052]
In the second embodiment, the position and inclination of the doctor blade 6a are fixed in advance, and the film thickness of the transfer paste pattern on the printing medium 3 is measured by the film thickness detection sensor 12 in accordance with changes in the surrounding environment. Thus, information on how much the position and inclination of the doctor blade 6a should be set is stored, and the position and inclination of the doctor blade 6a are controlled using the measurement results of the surrounding environment. The film thickness of the transfer paste pattern can be obtained with a desired accuracy.
[0053]
According to the second embodiment, since the film thickness of the transfer paste pattern on the printing medium 3 that is actually used as a product is not measured, the film thickness is controlled more than when the film thickness is controlled while actually measuring. However, it is not necessary to operate the film thickness detection sensor 12 for each printing of the printing medium 3, and the printing throughput can be improved.
[0054]
As an example, the flexographic printing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to an apparatus for manufacturing a flat panel (liquid crystal panel) of a liquid crystal display device.
[0055]
In this application example, the substrate 3 in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 13 is a transparent glass substrate, and a plurality of glass substrates 3 are produced so that a plurality of liquid crystal panels can be produced in one printing process. Wirings including elements such as TFTs (thin film transistors) or TFDs (thin film diodes) for controlling the liquid crystal panel are formed at each location of the liquid crystal panel.
[0056]
In this case, the flexographic printing apparatus of the present invention forms a frame (seal) made of a sealing material for laminating and bonding two such glass substrates, and the paste dropped from the dispenser nozzle 5 is UV-cured. A sealing material is used. For this reason, the printing pattern formed on the flexographic plate 2 also has a rectangular frame shape, and the printing pattern is formed corresponding to the position of the seal of the liquid crystal panel to be printed on the glass substrate 3.
[0057]
Seal printing on the glass substrate 3 is the same as described above.
[0058]
FIG. 14 shows a glass substrate 3 on which such seal printing has been performed. Here, a transfer pattern seal 13 made of four seal materials is formed by the flexographic plate 2.
[0059]
Each seal 13 on the glass substrate 3 is not shown in the figure, but the above wiring is made. Each seal 13 is filled with liquid crystal, and then another similar glass substrate is stacked and irradiated with ultraviolet rays. To do. Thereby, the seal 13 is cured, the two glass substrates are bonded, and the liquid crystal is sealed in the seal 13 between the glass substrates. Then, the individual glass panels are obtained by cutting the bonded glass substrate for each seal 13.
[0060]
Here, the two glass substrates were bonded together and then cut for each seal 13 to obtain a liquid crystal panel, but the glass plate 3 after printing shown in FIG. 4 was cut for each seal, A liquid crystal panel may be obtained by injecting liquid crystal into each seal 13 and bonding another glass substrate together.
[0061]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when applied to thick film printing of a paste having a relatively high viscosity, even if the viscosity of the paste to be printed changes, the film thickness of the printed transfer paste pattern is appropriately set. Can keep.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a flexographic printing apparatus according to the present invention and a state of printing preparation for the first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing a specific example of the doctor blade device in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state from the completion of print preparation following FIG. 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 to the start of a printing operation;
4 is a diagram for explaining a printing operation subsequent to FIG. 3 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a printing end state following FIG. 4 of the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;
6 is a diagram for explaining an operation of returning to the state shown in FIG. 1 following FIG. 5 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of a flexographic printing apparatus according to the present invention and a printing preparation state for measuring a film thickness of a transfer paste pattern.
8 is a diagram illustrating a state from the completion of print preparation following FIG. 7 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7 to the start of a printing operation.
9 is a diagram for explaining a printing operation following FIG. 8 in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a printing end state following FIG. 9 of the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7;
11 is a diagram for explaining the operation of returning to the state shown in FIG. 7 following FIG. 10 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7;
12 is a diagram showing a state of film thickness measurement of a transfer paste pattern on a dummy printing medium following FIG. 11 of the second embodiment shown in FIG.
13 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a dummy printing medium after the film thickness measurement subsequent to FIG. 12 in the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 is completed is discharged.
14 is a view showing a glass substrate for a liquid crystal panel printed in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 plate cylinder
1a Rotating shaft
2 Flexo version
3 Substrate
4 Anilox roll
4a Rotating shaft
5 Dispenser nozzle
6 Doctor blade device
6a Doctor blade
6b Doctor blade support
6c linear actuator
6d hinge
6e Tip surface
7 Print table
8 Positioning mechanism
9 Linear motion bearing
10 Guide rail
11 Camera
12 Film thickness detection sensor
13 Seal

Claims (3)

An anilox roll to which a paste is dropped from a dispenser nozzle, a doctor blade for smoothing the paste dropped on the anilox roll to form a uniform paste film, a rotating plate cylinder, and a surface of the plate cylinder And a flexographic plate having a printing pattern to which the paste is transferred from the anilox roll, and the paste transferred to the flexographic plate is transferred to a printing medium that moves in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the plate cylinder Thus, in a flexographic printing apparatus for forming and printing a transfer paste pattern of a printing pattern of the flexographic plate on the substrate,
The doctor blade is supported by a doctor blade support through a linear motion actuator that expands and contracts on both sides thereof, and the distal end surface of the doctor blade is parallel to the rotation axis of the anilox roll and the surface of the anilox roll Is arranged opposite to
A film thickness detection sensor for detecting the film thickness of the paste film smoothed by the doctor blade on the anilox roll;
A movement mechanism for reciprocating the film thickness detection sensor in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the anilox roll and along the surface of the anilox roll;
Based on the film thickness detection data for each position of the surface of the paste film on the surface of the anilox roll by the film thickness detection sensor reciprocated by the moving mechanism , the linear motion actuator is controlled for each The position of the distal end surface of the doctor blade from the surface of the anilox roll and the inclination with respect to the surface of the anilox roll so that the entire paste film smoothed by the doctor blade becomes a uniform film of a desired thickness And a control device for controlling the flexographic printing apparatus. An anilox roll to which a paste is dropped from a dispenser nozzle, a doctor blade for smoothing the paste dropped on the anilox roll to form a uniform paste film, a rotating plate cylinder, and a surface of the plate cylinder And a flexographic plate having a printing pattern to which the paste is transferred from the anilox roll, and the paste transferred to the flexographic plate is transferred to a printing medium that moves in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the plate cylinder Thus, in a flexographic printing apparatus for forming and printing a transfer paste pattern of a printing pattern of the flexographic plate on the substrate,
The doctor blade is supported by a doctor blade support through a linear motion actuator that expands and contracts on both sides thereof, and the distal end surface of the doctor blade is parallel to the rotation axis of the anilox roll and the surface of the anilox roll Is arranged opposite to
A film thickness detection sensor for detecting the film thickness of the printed transfer paste pattern of the substrate;
A moving mechanism for moving the film thickness detection sensor over the entire surface of the printed material;
The direct acting actuator is controlled for each of the linear motion actuators based on the film thickness detection data over the entire surface of the transfer paste pattern of the printed body printed by the film thickness detection sensor moved by the moving mechanism , and the doctor blade The position of the tip surface of the doctor blade from the surface of the anilox roll and the inclination of the anilox roll with respect to the surface of the anilox roll are controlled so that the entire paste film smoothed in step 1 becomes a uniform film having a desired film thickness. A flexographic printing apparatus, comprising:   3. The manufacture of a liquid crystal display device using a flexographic printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the substrate to be printed is a transparent glass substrate, and the paste is a sealing material for a flat panel of a liquid crystal display device. Method.

Images