JP4698257B2 - Method and apparatus for aligning flexible film - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a flexible film alignment method and apparatus for rubbing an alignment film formed on a flexible film.

  There is a rubbing process in the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal panel. It is a process of rubbing an alignment film formed on the surface of a fragile transparent substrate (for example, a glass substrate) with a cloth (rubbing) to form fine grooves, and uniform distribution of liquid crystal molecules and liquid crystal molecules. This is to obtain a uniform display over the entire surface of the liquid crystal display element by arranging the alignment in a predetermined direction along the groove.

  Therefore, in order to produce a liquid crystal display element with good display quality, it is required to uniformly form fine grooves over the entire alignment film by rubbing the entire alignment film under uniform conditions.

  A general method for rubbing an alignment film formed on a glass substrate is to form a rubbing roller by winding a cloth (rubbing cloth) in which a pile (hair) is planted on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical roller. The alignment film formed on the glass substrate is rubbed with a pile of a rotating rubbing roller while the substrate is moved in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed.

  By the way, in the case of the above rubbing, the target is a fragile transparent substrate, but it is also necessary to meet the market demand that the alignment film formed on the flexible film can be rubbed.

  Therefore, in the conventional method for rubbing a flexible film, for example, a backup roller is disposed on the lower side of the rubbing roller so as to face the rubbing roller, and the gap between the rotating rubbing roller and the backup roller is continuously set. There is one in which a continuous orientation process is performed on a film by conveying the film (for example, see Patent Document 1). However, in such a method, when the rubbing roller is disposed at an angle other than a right angle with respect to the film conveyance direction and the orientation treatment is performed, the film is not subjected to the rotational friction force applied to the film being conveyed by the rubbing roller and the backup roller. There is a problem that it is difficult to perform stable rubbing by moving in a direction different from the transport direction (the lateral direction of the film).

  Further, as another conventional method, a rubbing roller is disposed between a pair of rotation support rollers that also serve as a feed without using the backup roller as described above, and continuously through the rotation support rollers. There is one in which continuous orientation processing is performed while wrapping a conveyed film with a rotating rubbing roller (see, for example, Patent Document 2). However, in such a method, rubbing is performed such that a rotating rubbing roller is pressed against a free film that is not supported. For this reason, the gap between the film and the rubbing roller is not controlled, and it is difficult to bring the pile of the rubbing cloth into contact with the alignment film of the film in an optimum state, and it is difficult to perform a good alignment treatment. It was. In addition, when the rubbing roller is disposed at an angle other than a right angle with respect to the film conveyance direction and the orientation treatment is performed, the direction of the film being conveyed differs from the conveyance direction due to the rotational frictional force of the rubbing roller (the lateral direction of the film) Therefore, it is necessary to finely adjust the tension of the rubbing roller applied to the film so that the film does not move, and it is difficult to obtain a stable alignment treatment from this point.

  In order to solve this problem, an endless conveyor belt is arranged as a backup below the rubbing roller, and a film on which an alignment film is formed which is adhered or adsorbed to and supported by the endless conveyor belt is rotated. A method, a mechanism, and the like for continuously performing an alignment treatment with a rubbing roller are proposed (for example, see Patent Document 3).

  However, in these cases, as the film width increases, it is important to ensure the accuracy of the flatness of the endless conveyor belt, and simply disposing the support roller below the endless conveyor belt solves the problem. Turned out not to be. Conventional endless conveyor belts increase the tension and increase the tension of the endless conveyor belt, or arrange a plurality of support rollers below the endless conveyor belt to reduce bending when pressed against the rubbing roller. I was doing.

However, when the orientation process is performed with the rotation axis of the rubbing roller being directed to an angle other than perpendicular to the moving direction of the endless transport belt, the endlessness necessary for performing the stable rubbing process in any of the above methods. It was difficult to ensure an allowable range of ± 30 μm for the parallelism between the conveying belt and the rubbing roller. In particular, it has been extremely difficult to ensure such a parallelism with a rubbing apparatus corresponding to a film having a width of 1500 mm or more.
JP-A-6-110059 JP-A-8-160431 JP-A-8-184833

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an alignment processing method and apparatus capable of continuously and stably rubbing an alignment film formed on a wide flexible film and performing a uniform alignment process over the entire film surface. It is to provide.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention described in claim 1 of the present invention includes a rubbing roller having a rubbing cloth attached to the outer peripheral surface of the roller, and always faces the rubbing roller in conjunction with the rubbing roller. The number and the distance between the rubbing roller and the position of the rubbing roller are always constant regardless of the direction of the rotation axis of the rubbing roller, and the rotation surface of the flexible film is always independent of the direction of the rotation axis of the rubbing roller. The upper surface of the endless conveyor belt that moves between a plurality of backup rollers oriented in a direction parallel to the conveying direction is continuously applied to the alignment film formed on the flexible film conveyed together with the endless conveyor belt by the rubbing roller. It is characterized by being rubbed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rubbing roller in which a rubbing cloth is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the roller, and the rubbing roller is always in a position facing the rubbing roller in conjunction with the rubbing roller. The number and interval facing the rollers are always constant irrespective of the direction of the rotation axis of the rubbing roller, and the rotation surface is always parallel to the conveyance direction of the flexible film regardless of the direction of the rotation axis of the rubbing roller. A plurality of backup rollers facing each other, and an endless conveyance belt that moves between the rubbing roller and the backup roller, and an upper surface of the endless conveyance belt is formed on a flexible film that is conveyed together with the endless conveyance belt. The alignment film is rubbed continuously. .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the orientation process is performed in a state where the distance between the upper surface of the backup roller and the outer peripheral surface of the rubbing roller is kept the same. It is characterized by that.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the second or third aspect , at least one or more height fine adjustment means for performing fine adjustment of the height of the rubbing roller. Is provided.

  A method and an apparatus for aligning a flexible film according to the present invention include a rubbing roller, a plurality of backup rollers disposed at positions facing the rubbing roller, and an endless conveying belt that moves between the rubbing roller and the backup roller. In the orientation processing apparatus for a flexible film, the backup roller on which the endless conveyance belt that supports the flexible film on which the orientation film is formed is always in a position facing the rubbing roller in conjunction with the rubbing roller, and the backup roller The rotating surface was always oriented in the direction parallel to the conveying direction of the flexible film regardless of the direction of the rotating shaft of the rubbing roller.

  As a result, rubbing is performed with the distance between the rubbing roller and the flexible film kept constant at all positions in the longitudinal direction of the rubbing roller regardless of the rubbing angle, and the alignment treatment is performed uniformly over the entire surface of the flexible film. Is called.

  In addition, the endless conveying belt is not bent and distorted, and the flexible film supported by the endless conveying belt is also bent and distorted without causing defects. The rubbing is always performed while maintaining flatness.

  Further, no slip phenomenon occurs between the backup roller and the endless conveying belt, and since there is no mutual wear and no dust generation, the environment of the alignment process is not impaired.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. The embodiments described below are preferable specific examples of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention particularly limits the present invention in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  The present invention provides a rubbing method and a rubbing apparatus for rubbing an alignment film of a flexible film on which an alignment film is formed in a uniform state over the entire surface. The rubbing of the alignment film formed on a fragile substrate such as glass is performed by single wafer processing, while the alignment film formed on the flexible film is rubbed by continuous processing.

  As shown in the schematic front view of the alignment processing apparatus in FIG. 1, the flexible film 1 on which the alignment film is formed is supplied to the alignment processing apparatus, and is supplied to the rubbing apparatus as a supply roll 2 wound in a roll shape. It is set, continuously fed from the supply roll 2 and wound around the winding roll 3.

  In the meantime, the flexible film 1 is disposed between the supply-side guide roller 4 and the pair of supply-side transport rollers 5 disposed so as to face each other, and between the rubbing roller 6 and the endless transport belt 7 so as to face each other. The winding side conveying roller 8 is wound around the winding roll 3 through the respective mechanisms of the winding side guide roller 9 in order.

  The orientation processing mechanism part in the series of steps for transporting the flexible film on which the orientation film is formed will be described.

  The orientation processing mechanism is mainly composed of a rubbing roller 6, an endless conveying belt 7 and a plurality of backup rollers 10. The rubbing roller 6 is wound with a cloth (rubbing cloth) in which a pile (hair) is planted on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical roller, and the rotation axis is approximately 90 ° to 45 ° with respect to the conveyance direction of the flexible film 1. It is supported so as to be rotatable and vertically movable within the range of °.

  As shown in FIG. 2 which is a partial plan view of FIG. 1, the plurality of backup rollers 10 have substantially the same shape and the same dimensions, and always face the rubbing roller 6 in conjunction with the rotation of the rubbing roller 6. And the rotation surface is always parallel to the conveyance direction of the flexible film 1 regardless of the rotation direction of the rubbing roller 6, that is, the rotation axis is perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the flexible film 1. It is supported to become.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a rotating surface holding mechanism that holds the rotating surface of the backup roller so as to be always parallel to the conveying direction of the flexible film regardless of the rotating direction of the rubbing roller.

  In FIG. 3, two parallel beams 11a and 11b whose longitudinal directions are substantially perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the flexible film are provided at the center of each longitudinal direction and serve as pivot centers. The support pins 12a and 12b are rotatably supported.

  The two beams 11a and 11b are connected to each other by a plurality of links 13 at a predetermined interval, and a backup roller 10 having a rotating surface directed in the conveyance direction of the flexible film is rotatably supported on each link 13. Yes.

  When the alignment film formed on the flexible film is rubbed at a predetermined angle, for example, an angle α with respect to the conveyance direction of the flexible film, the rubbing roller is only an angle α with respect to a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the flexible film. Rotate. Then, in conjunction with the rotation of the rubbing roller, the beams 11a and 11b are similarly rotated by the angle α.

  At that time, since the two parallel beams rotate about the rotation support pin, the distance between the beams decreases as the rotation angle increases. However, since the link connected to the two beams has a constant length, positioning is performed so as to secure a distance between the beams corresponding to the length of the link.

  As a result, the link is directed in a fixed direction regardless of the rotation of the beam, and the backup roller supported rotatably on the link also maintains the fixed direction. Therefore, even when the alignment process is performed by rotating the rotating shaft of the rubbing roller with which the beam is linked by a predetermined angle, the rotating surface of the backup roller is always parallel to the conveying direction of the flexible film.

  Next, an alignment processing method using the above-described alignment processing apparatus will be described. First, the rubbing roller 6 is pulled upward, and the link 13 that rotates and supports the backup roller 10 is connected so that each backup roller 10 contacts the endless conveyance belt 7 without impairing the flatness of the endless conveyance belt 7. The height of the beams 11a and 11b is adjusted.

  And the front-end | tip part of the flexible film 1 wound by the supply roll 2 is sequentially passed through the supply side guide roller 4, the supply side conveyance roller 5, the backup roller 10, the winding side conveyance roller 8, and the winding side guide roller 9. And wind it around the take-up roll 3.

  Thereafter, the rubbing roller 6 is rotated and set to a predetermined angle so as to correspond to the rubbing direction of the alignment film formed on the flexible film 1. Then, the rubbing roller 6 is gradually lowered and temporarily stopped when the rubbing roller 6 and the endless transport belt 7 reach a predetermined distance, and fine adjustment is performed.

  FIG. 4 shows a mechanism for finely adjusting the height of the rubbing roller 6. Roller heads 14 that rotatably support the rubbing roller 6 are provided at both ends of the rubbing roller 6, and the roller head 14 is supported by a roller head support frame 15. Two balance cylinders 16 are attached to the roller head support frame 15 at the upper side, and a stopper 17 disposed so as to face the roller head support frame 15 is moved up and down by a ball screw 19 of the servo motor 18 below the both ends. It is supported freely.

  Fine adjustment of the height of the rubbing roller 6 is achieved by controlling the height of the stopper by driving the respective servo motors 18 and rotating the ball screws 19, and at the same time with respect to the roller head support frame 15 by the balance cylinder 16. A downward force is applied, and the roller head support frame 15 is fixed by the compression load of the balance cylinder 16 and the stopper 17. Then, the height of the rubbing roller 6 supported by the roller head support frame 15 via the roller head 14 is fixed, and fine adjustment is completed.

  In the orientation processing apparatus in which the operation preparation is completed, the rubbing roller 6 starts to rotate in the direction of the arrow in FIG. And the supply roll 2 and the winding roll 3 are rotated synchronously, and the flexible film 1 sent out from the supply roll 2 side is continuously conveyed at the predetermined speed to the winding roll 3 side. At the same time, the endless transport belt 7 is also moved in synchronization with the transport direction and transport speed of the flexible film 1. Then, an alignment film made of polyimide or the like of the flexible film 1 that is supported by the endless transport belt 7 whose flatness is secured by the backup roll 10 and transported on the endless transport belt 7 in the same direction and at the same speed as the endless transport belt 7. Is rubbed continuously by a pile of rubbing cloth attached to a rotating rubbing roller 6 and uniformly rubbed over the entire surface of the flexible film 1 conveyed from the supply roll 2 side to the take-up roll 3 side. It will be.

  As described above, in the alignment processing method and the alignment processing apparatus of the present invention, the endless conveyance belt that supports the flexible film when performing the alignment process continuously on the alignment film made of polyimide or the like formed on the flexible film. In order to ensure flatness, a plurality of backup rollers are provided below the endless transport belt to support the endless transport belt.

  Moreover, all the backup rollers are always in a position facing the rubbing roller in conjunction with the rubbing roller, and the rotating surface is always in the direction of conveying the flexible film regardless of the rotation angle (rubbing angle) of the rubbing roller, and the endless conveying belt. To the direction of transport.

  As a result, the flexible film at the time of rubbing is rubbed in a state of being linearly sandwiched between a rotating rubbing roller and an endless conveying belt rotatably supported by a plurality of backup rollers arranged to face the rubbing roller. Therefore, the rubbing is performed in a state where the distance between the rubbing roller and the flexible film is kept constant at all positions in the longitudinal direction of the rubbing roller regardless of the rubbing angle. Therefore, the alignment treatment is performed uniformly over the entire surface of the flexible film.

  Further, since the rotation surface of the backup roller is always the same as the transport direction of the endless transport belt, there is no force applied to the endless transport belt in the width direction, and the endless transport belt is not bent and distorted. Therefore, the flexible film supported by the endless conveying belt is not bent and does not suffer from defects such as distortion, and is always rubbed while maintaining flatness.

In addition, since the rotation surface of the backup roller is always the same as the conveyance direction of the endless conveyance belt, there is no slip phenomenon between the backup roller and the endless conveyance belt, and there is no mutual wear and no dust generation due to it. In addition, the environment for the orientation treatment is not impaired.
It has excellent effects such as.

It is a schematic front view which shows embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of FIG. 1. It is explanatory drawing of the rotating surface holding mechanism of the backup roller concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic front view which shows the height fine adjustment mechanism of the rubbing roller concerning embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flexible film 2 Supply roll 3 Winding roll 4 Supply side guide roller 5 Supply side conveyance roller 6 Rubbing roller 7 Endless conveyance belt 8 Winding side conveyance roller 9 Winding side guide roller 10 Backup roller 11a, 11b Beam 12a, 12b times Dynamic support pin 13 Link 14 Roller head 15 Roller head support frame 16 Balance cylinder 17 Stopper 18 Servo motor 19 Ball screw

Claims (4)

A rubbing roller having a rubbing cloth attached to the outer peripheral surface of the roller, and a position and a position facing the rubbing roller that are always in opposition to the rubbing roller in conjunction with the rubbing roller. Endless , which is always constant regardless of the direction, and whose rotating surface always moves between a plurality of backup rollers oriented in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the flexible film regardless of the direction of the rotation axis of the rubbing roller. An alignment treatment method for a flexible film, wherein an alignment film formed on a flexible film conveyed together with the endless conveyance belt is continuously rubbed on the upper surface of the conveyance belt with the rubbing roller. A rubbing roller having a rubbing cloth attached to the outer peripheral surface of the roller;
In conjunction with the rubbing roller, it is always in a position facing the rubbing roller, and the number and interval facing the rubbing roller are always constant irrespective of the direction of the rotation axis of the rubbing roller, A plurality of backup rollers that always face the direction parallel to the conveyance direction of the flexible film, regardless of the direction of the rotation axis of the rubbing roller ;
An endless conveyor belt that moves between the rubbing roller and the backup roller;
An alignment processing apparatus for a flexible film, wherein an alignment film formed on a flexible film conveyed along with the endless conveyance belt is continuously rubbed on the upper surface of the endless conveyance belt.   The alignment processing apparatus for a flexible film according to claim 2, wherein the alignment processing is performed in a state where the distance between the upper surface of the backup roller and the roller outer peripheral surface of the rubbing roller is all kept the same. The orientation of the flexible film according to any one of claims 2 and 3 , wherein at least one height fine adjusting means for finely adjusting the height of the rubbing roller is provided. Processing equipment.

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