JP5024245B2 - Metal mask for screen printing and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a screen printing plate, which is used to apply a periphery sealing compound to the circumference of a panel base plate for the liquid display panel device, and its manufacturing process that do not damage the liquid crystal display stratum surface which is encapsulated in the liquid crystal display panel device. <P>SOLUTION: The invention refers to the screen printing plate where it is characterized to have holes 8 in the shape to form a periphery sealing compound on the metal sheet 2, and in the hole 8 a mesh 4 of thinner film than the metal sheet 2 is formed, and on the other surface the mesh 4 is placed to be on the same plane of the metal plate 2, and the surface is to construct the squeegee surface. The invention also refers to the manufacturing process suitable for manufacturing the screen printing plate 20 of this invention and the metal mask screen plate manufacturing process is characterized in that a part of the metal plate 2 and the mesh 4 are formed by depositing the first layer of the galvanized layers made in the two-step galvanization processings, and the metal mask screen plate is completed by layering the metal plate 2 by depositing the second layer of the galvanized layers. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a screen printing metal mask and a manufacturing method thereof for applying a peripheral sealing agent around the substrate such as a liquid crystal display panel.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, screen printing that enables high-precision pattern printing has been employed when solder paste, conductor paste, or the like is applied and formed on a printed wiring board for mounting various electronic components, for example. In particular, when high-precision pattern printing is desired, a screen printing plate is used as a plate material for screen printing.

  On the other hand, the liquid crystal display panel can be obtained by bonding the periphery of the liquid crystal display panel with a peripheral sealing agent in a state where the liquid crystal layer is interposed between the pair of panel substrates. Therefore, in order to manufacture a liquid crystal display panel, an operation of applying a peripheral sealing agent to the panel substrate is required. As one method of this coating operation, a screen printing method excellent in productivity is employed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Screen printing plates are coated with a material that prevents bleeding of printing material (generally ink, peripheral sealing agent in this application), such as an emulsion, on a stretchable mesh. In this application, only the opening of the peripheral sealant around the panel substrate is opened.

  As the screen printing plate mesh, a silk screen mesh, a synthetic fiber mesh such as nylon or tetron, and a stainless steel mesh are used. Of these, stainless steel mesh for precision printing is mainly used for applying the peripheral sealing material.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state in which the peripheral sealing agent is applied to the panel substrate in the course of manufacturing the liquid crystal display panel. As shown in FIG. 10, a peripheral sealing agent 104 is formed around the panel substrate 102 on which the liquid crystal layer 106 is formed.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a state of an operation of applying a peripheral sealing agent to the panel substrate by screen printing. The screen printing plate 110 is disposed on the surface of the panel substrate 102 on which the liquid crystal layer 106 is formed, and the peripheral sealant 104 is poured into a surface (squeegee surface) opposite to the liquid crystal layer 106 side. The peripheral sealant 104 is applied to the surface of the liquid crystal layer 106 (the surface to be printed) so as to be slid by the squeegee 108 moving in the direction.

Screen printing plate 110, which mesh 114 on the plate frame 112 is formed by gauze lined, only partially meshed 114 should form a peripheral sealant 10 4 shown in FIG. 10 is an opening, other portions It is covered with an emulsion (not shown).
At this time, when the squeegee 108 is moved, tension is applied to the mesh 114 and the mesh 114 is brought into close contact with the surface of the liquid crystal layer 106, so that the mesh mark is transferred to the liquid crystal layer 106. This mesh mark causes a display defect of the finally obtained liquid crystal display panel.

Figure 12 is a plan view of a partially enlarged mesh 114 used in the screen printing plate shows a panel substrate 10 2 opposed to the print surface side. 13 is a DD cross-sectional view of the mesh 114 in FIG. 12, which is further enlarged from FIG. The mesh 114 is formed by weaving warps 114a and wefts 114b in a plain weave. The warp yarns 114a and the weft yarns 114b are wavy, and as a result, the crest portions 114a ′ from which the warp yarns 114a protrude toward the printing surface side and the crest portions 114b ′ from which the weft yarn 114b protrudes toward the printing surface side alternately exist Yes. The peak portions 114 a ′ and 114 b ′ are brought into contact with and pressed against the liquid crystal layer 106 formed on the surface of the panel substrate 102, thereby forming a mesh mark.

  In the case of a screen printing plate for applying a peripheral sealant around a panel substrate for a liquid crystal display panel, the mesh 114 is subjected to a calendar process for smoothing the peaks 114a ′ and 114b ′, and the liquid crystal layer 106 By making the contact surface a flat surface having a certain area, mesh marks are hardly attached. However, the areas of the contact surfaces of the crests 114a 'and 114b' with the liquid crystal layer 106 are known to the extent that they can be obtained by smoothing by calendering, and the effect of reducing mesh marks is not sufficient.

As a method of preventing the mesh mark, there is a method of increasing the thickness of the emulsion. However, this method is not preferable because the coating amount of the peripheral sealing agent tends to vary and the seal width may not be constant.
Furthermore, those bonded to the metal mask (pattern forming layer) and a mesh 114 having only the through pattern holes moiety to form the peripheral sealing agent 10 4 (generally, a "suspend metal mask plate" or "Suspend screen printing plate" According to the above, since the surface in contact with the liquid crystal layer 106 is a metal mask, it is possible to considerably prevent a mesh mark from being attached. However, the mesh 114 is located on the back surface (squeegee surface) of the metal mask. When the mesh 114 is moved while pressing the squeegee 108, the mesh 114 is transferred to the printing surface through the metal mask, so that the mesh marks are completely removed. It cannot be prevented.

  In Patent Document 2, by aligning the rubbing direction of the alignment film (liquid crystal layer) and the calendering direction of the screen mesh in the same direction, the direction of the scratches by the calendering process and the rubbing direction become the same direction. A technique is disclosed in which even if a scratch is transferred to an alignment film, the alignment is hardly disturbed and display defects due to mesh marks can be prevented. However, just because the direction of the scratches by rubbing and the rubbing direction are aligned, the mesh mark remains on the surface of the liquid crystal layer, and the concern about display defects is not wiped out.

JP-A-7-137423 JP 2006-17835 A

Accordingly, the present invention is, for example, to provide a liquid crystal screen printing metal mask for applying a peripheral sealing agent around the substrate of the display panel or the like, and a manufacturing method of such a screen printing metal mask can be easily obtained With the goal.

In screen printing metal mask according to the present invention, there is provided a screen printing metal mask for applying a peripheral sealing agent around the substrate is a surface to be printed, screen printing metal mask is made of a metal plate, metal plate opening lap shape to be formed around the sealing agent is provided in, than the metal plate only to the opening to form a mesh of the same metal thin film, the printed undersurface of the mesh of the lower surface of the metal plate than the surface which is shall be arranged at a remote retracted position on the upper side.

Further, in the method for producing a screen printing metal mask according to the present invention, a method for producing a screen printing metal mask comprising a metal plate for applying a peripheral sealant around a substrate which is a printing surface. , with respect to the plane of the metal matrix having a plane, a first resist forming step of forming a first resist layer of circumferential shape to be formed peripheral sealing agent, the first resist metal matrix is formed was by subjecting the first metal plating layer on the surface, an opening is provided in the circumferential shape to be formed around the sealant to a metal plate, a mesh of the same metal thin film than the metal plate only to the opening a first plating step for forming a preliminary peeling step of peeling off the first resist, the surface of the metal plating layer is formed of a metal matrix, a second resist forming step of forming a second resist layer lap shape , Second resist is formed a surface of genus preform, again the by performing metal plating and the second metal plating layer of the same material, the upper side of the printed surface of the lower surface of the lower surface of the mesh metal plate disposed away retracted position to a second plating step to increase the plate thickness of the metal plate other than the opening portion, a peeling step of peeling the Relais resist to remain, a metal matrix, the first and stacked a second plated layer by demolding is intended to include a demolding step to obtain a screen printing Metaruma disk made of a metal plate.

When a screen-printing metal mask of the present invention, with reference to this, when applying the peripheral sealing material around the base plate in which the liquid crystal layer and the like are formed, opposite to the squeegee surface of the screen printing metal mask the liquid crystal layer in the print surface side which is the surface abutting area, flat metal plate surface der because, will be brought into contact with the liquid crystal layer in terms, it is not to leave the mesh mark.

In addition, since there is no mesh on the squeegee surface, the concern about the appearance of the mesh through the metal plate is also eliminated, and it is possible to reliably prevent the mesh mark from attaching to the liquid crystal layer.
For this reason, it is possible to completely prevent a display defect derived from the mesh mark of the finally obtained liquid crystal display panel.
Further, according to the screen manufacturing method of printing metal mask of the present invention, it is possible to easily manufacture a screen printing metal mask of the present invention having the above excellent features.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[ Metal Mask for Screen Printing of the Present Invention]
FIG. 1A is a schematic plan view schematically showing a metal mask for screen printing according to an embodiment which is an exemplary aspect of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. It is sectional drawing and FIG.1 (c) is CC sectional drawing of Fig.1 (a). As shown in FIG. 1, the screen printing metal mask 20 of the present embodiment has a rectangular opening having a predetermined width (with a shape to form a peripheral sealant) slightly inside from the edge of the metal plate 2. Hole) 8 is provided, and the mesh 4 is disposed in the opening 8. In FIG. 1, in the plan view of FIG. 1 (a), the surface on the substrate side is facing upward, but in FIGS. 1 (b) and 1 (c), the squeegee surface is facing upward. (The same applies to the following figures unless otherwise specified.)

In the metal mask 20 for screen printing according to the present embodiment, a characteristic feature of the present invention is that the upper surface of the mesh 4 disposed in the circular opening 8 where the peripheral sealant is to be formed is the upper surface of the metal plate 2 and the squeegee. arranged so as to be flush with the surface, and the lower surface of the mesh 4 is featured in that it is arranged in a retracted position spaced upward than the lower surface of the metal plate 2 (the surface of the substrate side) . Here, the term “level” means that a plurality of members or elements have a flat portion and the flat portions are located on the same plane. In the present invention, that is, the mesh 4 and It means that the metal plate 2 is arranged so as to be located on the same plane. Moreover, the fact that the lower surface of the mesh 4 in the plane of the substrate side is disposed in the retracted viewed position apart upward from the lower surface of the metal plate 2, the lower surface of the metal plate 2 against the surface of the substrate side contact, but the lower surface of the mesh 4 does not abut the surface of the substrate side, even by pressing the upper surface of the mesh 4 a squeegee means that does not contact the printing substrate.
As is apparent from the relationship between the mesh 4 and the metal plate 2 in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, both are on the same plane on the squeegee surface (the upper surface in FIGS. 1B and 1C). It can be said that both are arranged in a flush state. Further, when being disposed in a retracted position where the lower surface of the mesh 4 in terms of the substrate side (FIG. 1 (b) and 1 (surface on the lower side in c)) leaves the lower surface by remote upper side of the metal plate 2 I can say.

With reference to FIG. 2, illustrating the structural differences of screen printing menu Tarumasuku conventional suspend the screen printing plate and this embodiment. Here, FIG. 2 (x) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a conventional suspend screen printing plate 20 ′ and FIG. 2 (y) is a screen printing metal mask 20 of the present embodiment. These are sectional views corresponding to the BB section in FIG. 1 (that is, the lower side is the printing side). However, in FIG. 2 (x), the mesh 4 ′ is drawn more schematically.

As shown in FIG. 2 (x), in the conventional suspend screen printing plate 20 ′, the region E ′ in contact with the liquid crystal layer, for example, on the printing surface side is a surface of a flat metal plate (metal mask) 2 ′. However, the mesh 4 'is present on the back side of the squeegee surface, and when pressed by rubbing with the squeegee 108 as described with reference to FIG. 11, the mesh 4' is formed on the metal mask 2 '. Since the image is transferred to the printing surface through the opening 8 ' , the mesh mark cannot be completely prevented.

On the other hand, in the screen printing metal mask 20 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 (y), for example, a region E in contact with the liquid crystal layer on the printing surface side is the surface of the flat metal plate 2. and going on it, of course, on the squeegee side is its back, only to the opening 8 of the orbiting shape to form the shape of the peripheral sealing material and the mesh 4 is disposed, the upper surface of the mesh 4 is a metal As described with reference to FIG. 11, the upper surface of the plate 2 is flush with the lower surface of the mesh 4 and the lower surface of the metal plate 2 is in the retracted position away from the lower surface of the metal plate 2 (the surface on the substrate side ) . Even when pressed by rubbing with the squeegee 108 , it is possible to reliably prevent the mesh mark from attaching to the printed material ( for example, a liquid crystal layer formed on a panel substrate such as a liquid crystal display panel).

Further, as shown in FIG. 2 (x), a conventional suspend screen printing plate 20 ′ has a metal mask 2 ′ having a rectangular opening 8 ′ having a predetermined width and a mesh 4 separately from the metal mask 2 ′. It is made by pasting '. Thus, in the conventional suspend screen printing plate 20 ′, the sum (T1 + T2 ′) of the thickness T1 of the metal mask 2 ′ and the thickness T2 ′ of the mesh 4 ′ is the thickness of the entire plate, and the mesh wire diameter is The larger the size, the more than a certain thickness of the entire plate.

  The thickness of the metal mask 2 'and the mesh 4' is required to be self-supporting in a separate state before the two are bonded together. However, there is a limit to reducing the overall thickness. In particular, the metal mask 2 ′ is required to be self-supporting in accordance with the practicality or durability of the plate itself, and therefore needs a certain level of robustness, and there is a limit to reducing the thickness T <b> 1.

On the other hand, the screen printing metal mask 20 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 (y), has openings (patterned holes) 8 in the metal plate 2 corresponding to the conventional metal mask 2 '. In addition, since the mesh 4 is formed to be thinner than the metal plate 2, the thickness T2 of the mesh 4 does not affect the thickness of the entire plate, and the thickness T1 of the metal plate 2 and the thickness of the entire plate are not affected. Be the same. Therefore, there is an effect that the thickness of the entire plate can be reduced.

Further, 'the squeegee surface S entire mesh 4' conventional suspend the screen printing plate 20 is, although the flatness is ensured, even for screen printing Metaruma disk 20 of the present embodiment, the upper surface of the mesh 4 And the upper surface of the metal plate 2 are flush with each other, the flatness of the squeegee surface S is ensured. Therefore, it is smooth when pressed and printed so as to be rubbed with a squeegee, and there is no problem.

Note that, for example, in a screen printing metal mask for applying a peripheral sealant around a panel substrate such as a liquid crystal display panel, since the width of the region where the peripheral sealant is to be formed is relatively narrow, A large load is not applied to the mesh 4, and there is no great concern that the mesh 4 bends. However, when it is desired to improve the durability or when the width of the region where the peripheral sealant is to be formed is relatively wide, the mesh 4 is suspended vertically from the surface on the substrate side. And the post | mailbox of the length in which the edge part is substantially aligned with the surface by the side of the to-be-printed object of the metal plate 2 can also be arranged.

<Details of components>
Next, each member which comprises the metal mask for screen printing of this invention is demonstrated in detail.

(Metal plate)
In the present invention, the material of the metal plate is not particularly limited, and various metals that have been conventionally used as a metal mask material in a screen printing plate can be used without any problem. Specific examples include nickel, iron, copper, and alloys (for example, stainless steel) containing these metals. Among these, nickel and its alloys are preferable from the viewpoint of workability and economy.

  In the present invention, the thickness of the metal plate is not particularly limited, but is preferably 10 μm or more, and more preferably 12 μm or more in order to ensure a certain degree of durability. On the other hand, the upper limit of the thickness of the metal plate can be appropriately set depending on the purpose, but in order to obtain a high-definition image, it is preferably 70 μm or less, and 40 μm or less. More preferred.

The panel substrate (printed material) to which the peripheral sealing agent is applied is only one in the example of the embodiment, but two or more panel substrates may be juxtaposed and printed with a single screen printing metal mask. It is possible and preferable from the viewpoint of productivity. In this case, as the holes (openings) opened in the metal mask for screen printing of the present invention, the number of “holes having a shape to form a peripheral sealing agent” corresponding to all the panel substrates is provided.

  In the present invention, the size of the metal plate depends on the size of the panel substrate to which the peripheral sealing agent is applied and the area depending on the number of coatings at one time, and is not particularly limited, but generally one side is 200 mm to 850 mm. A rectangular shape within the range is selected. Of course, the shape of the metal plate is not limited to a rectangle.

(mesh)
Mesh In the present invention, be formed integrally with the front Symbol metal plate, preferably from the production suitability, from that point of view, it is desirable that the said metal plate of the same material.

  In the present invention, the thickness of the mesh is required to be at least a thin film than the metal plate. Depending on the thickness of the metal plate, the lower limit is preferably 5 μm or more, preferably 10 μm or more. It is more preferable. Further, the upper limit of the thickness of the mesh can be appropriately increased according to the thickness of the metal plate, but is 30 μm or less in order to obtain a high-definition image. Preferably, it is more preferably 25 μm or less.

In the present invention, the thickness of the element material constituting the mesh, thin enough not to impair the function of the screen printing Metaruma disk, also, in order to ensure a certain degree of flexibility and durability during printing, It is preferable to select from the range of 5 μm to 40 μm, and it is more preferable to select from the range of 10 μm to 30 μm.

In the present invention, the density of the material constituting the mesh (so-called “mesh”) is preferably large (fine) for forming a high-definition image, but is too large (too fine). In some cases, the components of the peripheral sealant cannot be sufficiently permeated. Therefore, it is selected from a range of about 27.6 to 315 (70 to 800 mesh) per 1 mm.

Further, according to the manufacturing method described later, since the newly formed mesh with main Tsu key, for example, is where you want to increase the thickness of the peripheral sealing material (print pattern) to reduce the density of the mesh, desirable to reduce the location mesh The density of the mesh, the thickness of the mesh, the shape of the mesh, the thickness of the material , and the like may be different depending on the site depending on the pattern to be formed, such as increasing the density of the material .

The shape of the mesh holes is a square in which vertical and horizontal materials are orthogonally spaced at equal intervals in the drawing, but is not limited to this in the present invention. According to the manufacturing method to be described later, the shape of the mesh holes can be arbitrarily set. Therefore, any shape, for example, regular triangle, square, rectangle, rhombus, regular hexagon, and other polygons (regular polygons and deformed polygons). Including any square shape), a circular shape, an elliptical shape, an indefinite shape, or the like, and an optimum shape may be selected in consideration of various conditions.

(post)
When arranging the posts, post will be molded integrally with the metal plate and the mesh is preferably from production suitability, from that point of view, it is desirable that the said metal plate or the same material as the mesh.
The shape of the post is not particularly limited, and any shape such as a prismatic shape, a columnar shape, a truncated cone shape, a truncated pyramid shape, or any other irregular shape may be adopted.

<Usage>
The metal mask for screen printing of the present invention may be used by being fixed to a plate frame. In a normal suspend screen printing plate, 紗 provided on the entire surface of the squeegee side (refers to a “mesh” in general terms, and since the concept is different from “mesh” in the present invention, the terminology is changed in the present invention. The concept is divided into concepts and used) is provided up to the outer periphery of the metal mask, and is fixed to the plate frame, so-called “stretching”. However, since the metal mask for screen printing of the present invention does not have a member corresponding to this “紗”, a band-shaped elastic stretch band is provided on the outer periphery (preferably on the squeegee surface side) of the metal mask for screen printing of the present invention. What is necessary is just to stick and fix to a plate frame through this.

Said resilient Zhang hard, in the outer periphery of the front texture Tarumasu click, because it is a member of the same significance and gauze used in ordinary suspension screen printing plate, as the material of the mesh (gauze) in the screen printing plate conventionally What has been used can be used without problems. Specific examples include metal meshes such as stainless steel, aluminum, iron, copper, and alloys containing these metals, and resin meshes such as polyester (for example, Tetron (registered trademark)). Moreover, the thing which coat | covered the surface of these resin meshes with the said metal or alloy may be sufficient.

  However, since the collar that can be used as the elastic stretch band in the present invention is not provided in the opening, there is no limitation on the thickness of the fiber and the density of the fiber (so-called “mesh”). As long as it has a desired elastic force that can be stretched between a “metal plate” corresponding to a metal mask and a plate frame with a tension suitable for printing in a normal suspend screen printing plate The fiber thickness and fiber density may be arbitrary values. Moreover, as long as it has the said desired elastic force, it will not be specifically limited to a collar, It is also possible to employ | adopt a conventionally well-known sheet-like or film-like member as said elastic stretch band. From the viewpoint of durability and cost, it is most convenient and preferable to use a heel as the elastic stretch band.

  Moreover, there is no restriction | limiting in particular as a usable plate frame, The thing conventionally used as a plate frame in a screen printing plate can be used without a problem. When fixed to the plate frame via the elastic stretch band (so-called “saddle tension”), sufficient tension is applied to the elastic stretch band, and it has sufficient shape retention when used for screen printing. If it is a thing, no restrictions will be imposed on its shape, structure, size, and material. As specific materials, various plastic materials may be used in addition to metal materials such as stainless steel, aluminum, iron, and copper.

The fixing between the metal mask and the elastic stretch band and the fixation between the elastic stretch band and the plate frame are not particularly limited, and may be performed by a conventionally known general method. For example, examples of adhesion fixing methods include welding methods, adhesive methods, plating methods, ultrasonic welding methods, mechanical attachment methods such as attachment by pressing with screws or pressers, and the like. There is no problem even if it is done by any method.

In the present invention, the plate frame is not an essential component, but in normal screen printing, it is often used while being stretched on the plate frame. However, it may be possible to use it for screen printing without having a plate frame, such as a form directly attached to a printing apparatus, and even in such a case, the metal mask for screen printing of the present invention can be suitably used. .

<The manufacturing method of the metal mask for screen printing of this invention>
The screen printing metal mask manufacturing method of the present invention (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “the manufacturing method of the present invention”) is roughly divided into two plating processes (1 and 2), a peeling process, It consists of Each plating process is further divided into a resist forming process and a plating process, and a second plating process is further separated into a peeling process, which are essential processes. In other words, it is as follows.

(1) Step of first plating process (1-A) A first resist layer having a circular shape on which the peripheral sealing agent composed of a negative image of the mesh is to be formed on the flat surface of the metal base material having a flat surface. Forming a first resist.
(1-B) first plating step of applying a first metal plating layer on the surface on which the resist is formed of metal matrix.

(2) Second plating process step (2-A) A second resist layer that does not include a negative image of the mesh is formed on the surface of the metal base material on which the metal plating layer is formed. Resist formation process.
(2-B) A second plating step in which a second metal plating layer made of the same material as the metal plating is applied again to the surface on which the resist of the metal base material is formed.
(2-C) A peeling process for peeling off the remaining resist.

(3) A demolding step of demolding the stacked first and second metal plating layers from the metal base material to obtain a screen printing metal mask .

Note that (1) as a final step of the first plating process, a (1-C) preliminary stripping step of stripping the first resist layer formed in the first resist forming step may be provided.
Hereinafter, the production method of the present invention will be described separately for each step with specific examples.

[Specific example of manufacturing method]
In this example, an example of a manufacturing method for manufacturing a metal mask for screen printing according to the embodiment having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

(1) First plating step (1-A) First resist forming step The first resist forming step is a peripheral sealing agent comprising a negative image of a mesh with respect to the plane of the metal base material having a plane. Is a step of forming a first resist layer having a circular shape to be formed.

First, a metal base material 10 having a plane as shown in FIG. 3 is prepared. Here, FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view for explaining an example of the method for producing a screen printing metal mask according to the present invention, and FIG. 3A is based on the method for producing a screen printing metal mask according to the present invention. FIG. 3B is a schematic plan view showing a metal base material before processing, FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3A, and FIG. 3C is a sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. FIG. 3 to 7 are all schematic explanatory views for explaining an example of the method for producing a screen printing metal mask of the present invention.

  The metal base material 10 is not particularly limited as long as it has a flat surface that can hold the formed metal mask in a flat shape, and is not limited to a flat plate shape as shown in FIG. .

In this step, a first resist layer having a circular shape on which a peripheral sealing agent composed of a mesh negative image is to be formed is formed on the surface of the metal base material 10. FIG. 4A is a schematic plan view showing the state of the surface of the metal base material 10 after the operation in this step is performed, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 4, after the operation in this step, the first resist layer 12 made of a negative mesh image is formed.

Here, the “negative image of the mesh” refers to a portion other than the material of the mesh composed of vertical and horizontal materials , in other words, a shape corresponding to a hole portion in the mesh. That is, microscopically, the individual shapes of the resist 12 are square, but when the entire region where the resist 12 is formed is viewed, a portion where the resist is not formed is in a mesh state ( However, in FIG. 4, since the said image is too fine, illustration is abbreviate | omitted.) In the present invention, a resist image having such a shape is expressed as a “negative mesh image”.

Further, the “ circumferential shape in which the peripheral sealant is to be formed” consisting of a negative image of the mesh means that when the entire region where the resist 12 is formed is viewed, the portion of the resist 12 and the portion corresponding to the mesh This means that the whole image including the shape of the circumference in which the peripheral sealant is to be formed. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, when the entire region where the resist 12 is formed is viewed, the entire region has a rectangular shape having a predetermined width. That is, in this example, the shape is a desired pattern, and the opening 8 having the shape is formed in the finally formed metal mask for screen printing.

  Conventionally known various resist agents can be used as the resist 12, and any of those commercially available as resist agents or newly prepared for the present invention can be used without any problem. In general, any material that is not used as a resist (for example, an adhesive, etc.) can be used as long as it is a material that acts as a non-conductor against energization in electrolytic plating. . In order to form a fine print pattern, it is desirable to use a photosensitive resist material.

  Examples of the photosensitive resist material include commercially available negative-type and positive-type products. For example, a photosensitive dry photo film (photosensitive resist material, photosensitive resin) commercially available from various manufacturers can be used.

  In order to form the resist 12 using a photosensitive resist material, the photosensitive resist material is applied to the surface of the metal base material 10, and after development, a rectangular resist having a predetermined width composed of a negative image of the mesh. Depending on the type of resist material selected, a predetermined development may be performed after irradiating light negatively or positively.

(1-B) First Plating Step The first plating step is a peripheral seal on a metal plate by applying a first metal plating layer to the surface of the metal base material on which the resist is formed in the first resist formation step. agent opening circumferential shape to be formed is provided, form a form a mesh of the same metal thin film than the metal plate only to the opening, flush with the upper surface of the mesh in the upper surface and the squeegee surface of the metal plate It is the process arranged so that it may become (refer to Drawing 5) .
As shown in FIG. 4, when the surface of the metal base material 10 having the resist 12 formed on the surface is subjected to metal plating of a material to form a finally obtained metal mask for screen printing , it is shown in FIG. As described above, a first metal plating layer to be the metal plate 2 is formed on a portion of the surface of the metal base material 10 other than the portion where the resist 12 is formed. Here, FIG. 5A is a schematic plan view showing the state of the surface of the metal base material 10 after the operation according to this step is performed, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.

  For example, when electrolytic plating is employed as the metal plating, the portion of the resist 12 that acts as a nonconductor is not plated. Even when other plating methods are adopted, the resist 12 is not plated, or is plated on the resist 12, and the metal base material 10 surface is directly plated. No.

  Since the portion where the resist 12 was formed was a negative image of the mesh, after the operation according to this step was performed, the metal plating layer to be the mesh 4 and the resist 12 were viewed as a whole. It is in a mixed state (a state in which a metal plating layer is formed in a mesh-like gap of the resist 12) (see reference numerals 12 and 4).

Examples of the metal to be plated by electrolytic plating include various metals and alloys thereof, and the metals or alloys listed as the material for the metal plate in the present invention can be used. Among these, nickel and alloys thereof are preferable because durability during fine line printing is further improved, and are also preferable from the viewpoint of workability and economy.
The thickness of the metal plating to be formed in this step is the thickness of the mesh 4 finally provided in the opening 8 and may be set to a desired value.

(1-C) Preliminary peeling step The preliminary peeling step is a step of peeling the resist formed in the first resist forming step after the operation of the first plating step.
When the operation of the first plating step is completed, as shown in FIG. 5, the resist 12 and the first metal plating layer (metal plate 2) exist in a mixed state on the surface of the metal base material 10. . In this step, the resist 12 is removed.

FIG. 6A is a schematic plan view showing the state of the surface of the metal base material 10 after the operation in this step is performed, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 6A. FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, when the operation of this process is completed, the mesh 4 having the shape of the opening 8 (the shape in which the peripheral sealant is to be formed) is formed in the opening 8 on the surface of the metal base material 10. It is formed.

  The resist 12 may be removed by using an optimum method according to the type of the resist material. For example, the resist 12 may be removed using an alkaline solution or other organic / inorganic solvents. In any case, there is no problem if it is performed by a conventionally known method, and therefore a detailed description is omitted. The process is an optional process, and the operation of the second plating process, which will be described later, is continued as it is in the state of the remaining resist, and (2-C) peeling is the final process of the process. In the process, all resists may be removed.

(2) Second Plating Process (2-A) Second Resist Forming Process The second resist forming process refers to a metal base material after the operation of “(1) First Plating Process” is completed. The surface of the first metal plating layer (with the remaining resist if the operation of the (1-C) preliminary stripping step is omitted) is formed on the surface on which the first metal plating layer does not include the mesh negative image . This is a step of forming a second resist layer . That is, the difference from the (1-A) first resist forming step is that the resist to be formed does not include a mesh negative image.

FIG. 7A is a schematic plan view showing the state of the surface of the metal base material 10 after the operation in this step is performed, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 7A. FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 7, the second resist layer 12 formed in this step is not a mesh negative image as shown in FIG. 4 but a solid image having a shape corresponding to a simple opening 8. ing.

In FIG. 7B and FIG. 7C, the layers 12 and 4 formed as the first resist layer (the layer on the metal base material 10 side) are composed of a metal plating layer to be the mesh 4 and the resist 12. It is a layer in a mixed state, and is different from the second resist layer (layer to be printed) on the resist 12 alone.

In the case where a post having a length that hangs vertically from the surface of the mesh 4 and is substantially aligned with the surface of the metal plate 2 on the substrate side is disposed on the surface of the mesh 4 on the substrate side. Thus, a resist may be formed so that the post-shaped through hole to be obtained is formed at a desired location.
In addition, since the material, formation method, and the like of the resist 12 are the same as those in the “(1-A) first resist formation step”, detailed description thereof is omitted.

(2-B) Second Plating Step The second plating step is a second material made of the same material as the metal plating in the first plating step again on the surface of the metal base material on which the resist is formed in the second resist forming step. This is a step in which the lower surface of the mesh is disposed at a retracted position away from the printed surface on the lower surface of the metal plate, and the thickness of the metal plate other than the opening portion is increased by applying the metal plating layer of ( (See FIG. 8) .

When a second metal plating layer is further applied to the surface of the metal base material 10 having the metal plating layer (metal plate 2) and the resist 12 formed on the surface as shown in FIG. 7, it is shown in FIG. As described above, the second metal plating layer is laminated on a portion of the surface of the metal base material 10 other than the portion where the resist 12 is formed. Here, FIG. 8A is a schematic plan view showing the state of the surface of the metal base material 10 after the operation in this step is performed, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG.

That is, according to the metal plating in this step, the second metal plating layer is not formed in the opening 8 and the second metal plating layer 2 is laminated at other portions. That is, the metal plating layer (metal plate 2) other than the opening 8 is laminated in the first and second plating processes at the boundary L1, and the thickness thereof is increased as a whole. A sufficient thickness to be required as a “metal plate” is secured. In the opening 8, the mesh 4 formed in the first plating process is held as a thin film.

  In FIG. 8, the metal plating layer (metal plate 2) is shown as being divided up and down at the boundary L1, but in actuality, the first and second plating processes are performed. The upper and lower plated layers thus laminated are fused to form a single film. In that respect, as described above, even if the two plating processes for laminating the two are included, these processes can be grasped integrally, and the manufacturing method of this example is referred to as “integral molding” in the present invention. It does not deviate from the concept of "

The thickness of the metal plating layer laminated in this step is finally obtained as (1-B) the total thickness of the metal plating layer (metal plate 2), which is the sum of the metal plating layer formed in the first plating step. What is necessary is just to adjust suitably so that it may become thickness required for the metal mask for screen printing to be performed. That is, for example, when it is desired to have a thickness of 15 μm as a whole and the mesh 4 to have a thickness of 5 μm, (1-B) 5 μm in the first plating step, and 10 μm in this step (second plating step). What is necessary is just to give metal plating.
In addition, since the plating material, the plating method, and the like in the metal plating layer are the same as those in the “(1-B) first plating step”, detailed description thereof is omitted.

(2-C) Stripping Step The stripping step is a step of stripping the resist remaining after the end of the second plating step.
When the operation of the second plating process is completed, as shown in FIG. 8, the resist 12 and the metal plate 2 as the metal plating layer are present on the surface of the metal base material 10 in a mixed state. In particular, the resist 12 remains so as to fill the opening 8. Moreover, in the layers 12 and 4, the metal plating layer used as the mesh 4 and the resist 12 are mixed. In this step, the resist 12 is removed.

FIG. 9A is a schematic plan view showing the state of the surface of the metal base material 10 after the operation in this step is performed, and FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 9A. FIG. 9C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, when the operation of this process is finished, the mesh 4 having a shape (rectangular shape having a predetermined width) in which the peripheral sealant is to be formed in the opening 8 on the surface of the metal base material 10. Is formed, and a space is formed below the portion (printed material side).
In addition, since the removal method of the resist 12 and the like are the same as those in the “(1-C) preliminary peeling step”, detailed description thereof is omitted.

(3) Demolding process The demolding process refers to the metal for screen printing by demolding the laminated plating layer from the metal base material after the operation of “(2) Second plating process” is completed. This is a step of obtaining a mask . That is, the metal plating layer 2 in the state shown in FIG. 9, demolded by peeling from the metal matrix 10 in this step, the meta screen printing of the embodiment having the configuration shown in Figure 1 of the object Rumasuku Get. In other words, screen printing metal mask 20 of the present embodiment, the upper surface of the mesh 4 which is disposed in the opening 8 of the orbiting shape to be formed around the sheet Lumpur agent flush with the upper surface and the squeegee surface of the metal plate 2 It arranged such that, and the lower surface of the mesh 4 is featured in that it is arranged in a retracted position spaced upward from the lower surface of the metal plate 2 (the surface of the printing object side).

  There is no particular limitation on the peeling method (demolding method) at this time, but it is possible to use different metal materials such as when trying to peel a nickel or its alloy molding from a stainless steel metal base material. In some cases, it is usually not difficult to peel off, and it is only necessary to perform a physical demolding operation using hands and instruments. When it is difficult to remove the mold, the mold may be removed by various conventionally known peeling methods. In order to facilitate the demolding, it is also preferable to perform the demolding operation after completely dissolving the remaining resist 12 by, for example, an operation such as immersion in an organic solvent.

As described above, the metal mask for screen printing of the present invention having excellent characteristics can be produced. That is, (1) if the squeegee surface side of the metal plate 2 and the mesh 4 are simultaneously formed by the plating process in the first plating process, their surfaces are naturally flush with each other, and (2) the second by a process of plating treatment, if stacked plating layer by the metal plate 2 only plating processing, only the metal plate 2 as the desired thickness, can be a mesh 4 of the thin film than a metal screen printing of the present invention The mask can be easily manufactured.

According to the manufacturing method of this example, by performing the plating process twice, a high-performance metal mask for screen printing can be easily manufactured with high accuracy, so that the printing accuracy is improved and the cost is reduced. be able to.
In the manufacturing method of this embodiment, since the plating material used in both steps of the plating process as the same, that the metal plate 2 and the mesh 4 is easily manufactured screen printing metal masks formed by unified molding together Can do.

As mentioned above, although the metal mask for screen printing and its manufacturing method of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and examples. Those skilled in the art can make changes and improvements to the configuration of the present invention based on known knowledge.

  For example, the first and second plating processes are performed in two stages. For the purpose of ensuring the thickness of the mesh and / or the metal plate, two or more stages of plating processes are performed in each process. As a whole, the operation of the plating process may be performed three times or more. In this case, it is understood that the plating process is merely performed two or more times for convenience in each plating process, and a plurality of plating processes are performed in one process. .

It is a figure which represents typically an example of the metal mask for screen printing of this invention, (a) is a schematic plan view, (b) is BB sectional drawing of (a), (c) is C of (a). It is -C sectional drawing. (X) is a conventional suspend screen printing plate, and (y) is a schematic sectional view showing the screen printing metal mask of FIG. It is a schematic explanatory drawing showing the metal base material before the process by an example of the manufacturing method of the metal mask for screen printing of this invention, (a) is a schematic plan view, (b) is BB sectional drawing of (a), (C) is CC sectional drawing of (a). It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the state of the metal base material surface after the operation by a 1st resist formation process was made, (a) is a schematic plan view, (b) is BB sectional drawing of (a), (c) is CC sectional drawing of (a). It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the state of the metal base material surface after the operation by a 1st plating process was made, (a) is a schematic top view, (b) is BB sectional drawing of (a), (c ) Is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the state of the metal base material surface after operation by a preliminary | backup peeling process, (a) is a schematic plan view, (b) is BB sectional drawing of (a), (c). FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the state of the metal base material surface after the operation by a 2nd resist formation process was made, (a) is a schematic plan view, (b) is BB sectional drawing of (a), (c) is CC sectional drawing of (a). It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the state of the metal base material surface after operation by a 2nd plating process was performed, (a) is a schematic top view, (b) is BB sectional drawing of (a), (c ) Is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the state of the metal base material surface after operation by a peeling process was performed, (a) is a schematic top view, (b) is BB sectional drawing of (a), (c) is It is CC sectional drawing of (a). FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which a peripheral sealing agent is applied to a panel substrate in the middle of manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel. It is a schematic diagram which shows the mode of the operation | work which apply | coats a periphery sealing agent to a panel board | substrate by screen printing. It is the top view which expanded a part of mesh used for a screen printing plate. It is DD sectional drawing in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

2: Metal plate 4: Mesh of a thin film than the metal plate (arranged in the opening)
8: Circumferentially shaped opening (rectangular hole for forming a peripheral sealant)
10: Metal matrix 12: Resist 20: Metal mask for screen printing

Claims (2)

A screen printing Metaruma disk for applying a peripheral sealing agent around the substrate is a surface to be printed,
The metal mask for screen printing is made of a metal plate,
The metal plate is provided with a circular-shaped opening to form the peripheral sealing agent,
Said than only opening the metal plate to form a mesh of the same metal thin film, the lower surface of the mesh is placed in the retracted position away upward than the print surface of the lower surface of the metal plate This is a metal mask for screen printing. A method for producing a metal mask for screen printing comprising a metal plate for applying a peripheral sealant around a substrate to be printed ,
A first resist forming step of forming a circumferential first resist layer on which the peripheral sealing agent is to be formed with respect to the plane of the metal base material having a plane;
By applying the first metal plating layer to the surface of the metal base material on which the first resist is formed, a circular-shaped opening where the peripheral sealant is to be formed is provided in the metal plate, and only in the opening. A first plating step of forming a mesh made of the same metal as a thin film than the metal plate ;
A preliminary stripping step of stripping the first resist;
A second resist forming step of forming the circular second resist layer on the surface of the metal base material on which the metal plating layer is formed;
Second resist is formed the surface of the metal matrix, again the by subjecting a second metal plating layer of metal plating the same material, above the surface to be printed on the lower surface of the lower surface is the metal plate of the mesh A second plating step that is arranged at a retracted position away from the side and increases the thickness of the metal plate other than the opening portion ;
A peeling step of peeling off the remaining second resist;
A demolding step of demolding the laminated first and second plating layers from a metal base material to obtain a metal mask for screen printing composed of a metal plate ;
A method for producing a metal mask for screen printing, comprising:

Images