JPH08122765A - Transfer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To efficiently transfer the resist of each color which forms the pattern of each color pixel to the substrate for a color filter. CONSTITUTION: A transfer film 1 is released from a roll 2 set in a supplying zone A and the film 1 is laminated on a glass substrate 6 in a transferring zone E and pressed by a pressing member 14 having a rounded tip to transfer the color resist to the substrate 6. After the transfer is completed, the film 1 is wound up in a discharging zone F. A detecting zone B is placed between the supplying zone A and the transferring zone E so that the state of the transfer film 1 is inspected and only when the film is judged as good, the film 1 is laminated on the glass substrate 6 to transfer the color resist to the substrate 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color filter substrate for a liquid crystal display, in which a red (R), a green (G) and a blue (B) colored pixel and a light shielding layer are formed by a film transfer method. More specifically, the present invention relates to a transfer device used to transfer each colored resist forming a pattern of colored pixels onto a substrate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a so-called film transfer method has been known as one of methods for manufacturing a color filter of this type. In this method, a transfer film formed by forming a transparent colored resist on a substrate film is superposed on a glass substrate for a color filter, and the colored resist is transferred onto the substrate by heating and pressure bonding, and the coloring is performed through a photomask. After the resist is exposed, it is developed to form a pattern of colored pixels, and a color filter is manufactured by repeating the above steps for colored resists having different hues. Further, when a proper gap can be obtained at the time of exposure by using a thin film as the base film, the exposure is also performed before peeling the base film.

[0003]

In the film transfer method described in the prior art, small pieces of transfer film are placed one by one on a substrate for a color filter, and then heated and pressed by a roller to attach them. In addition, the substrate film is peeled off after the transfer of the colored resist to the substrate is completed. However, conventionally, since this work is manually performed, there is a problem that it takes much time and the production efficiency is low. Further, when the colored resists of the second and subsequent colors are transferred onto the substrate by pressing with a roller, air is entrained at the boundary between the colored pixels which are transferred and patterned previously, which causes a problem. It was Further, in order to check whether or not there is a defect in the transfer film, it has to be inspected one by one, which has also been a factor of reducing the production efficiency.

The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and it is possible to efficiently transfer the colored resist of the transfer film to the substrate for the color filter and prevent the occurrence of defects. It is to provide a transfer device.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a transfer device according to the present invention transfers a colored resist from a transfer film having a colored resist provided on a base film to a substrate for a color filter. A transfer device for feeding the transfer film from the winding device, a transfer film for superimposing the transfer film on the substrate, and a press member having a rounded tip for pressure bonding to transfer the colored resist to the substrate. And a discharge unit for winding the transfer film after the completion. Further, it is preferable to provide an inspection unit for inspecting the quality state of the transfer film between the supply unit and the transfer unit.

[0006]

In the transfer device of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the transfer film is continuously fed from the supply part, and then the transfer film is pressed onto the substrate to transfer the colored resist onto the substrate. In this case, since the tip end is overlapped from the edge by the rounded pressing member, it is possible to prevent air from being entrapped between the colored resists of the second and subsequent colors and the edge of the previous colored resist.

Further, in the structure in which the inspection unit is provided between the supply unit and the transfer unit, after the inspection unit inspects the quality state of the transfer film, if the product is a good product, the transfer unit colors the substrate. The resist is transferred, and if it is a defective product, the transfer is not performed in the transfer section, and the transfer film is wound up in the discharge section after passing through the transfer section.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a transfer device according to the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a transfer film having a thickness of 10 to 10.
A transparent colored resist and a protective film are formed on a base film made of a PET film having a thickness of about 100 μm. Further, the base film may be thinned to 3 to 10 μm so that the second and subsequent colors can be easily transferred, or a base material film laminated with a cushion material layer, a release layer and the like may be used. The transfer film 1 is set in the supply section A as a winding 2 which is a long film wound up. Although the number of windings 2 is one in the supply unit A shown in the drawing, if the productivity is further improved, a plurality of windings may be set, and further, an auto paster capable of automatically connecting the transfer film 1 may be used. May be used. Then, the transfer film 1 reaches the inspection section B via the guide roller after the protective film is peeled off.

In the inspection section B, a CCD camera 3 for inputting the image of the transfer film 1 is set, and it is possible to inspect the color resist for color unevenness, streaks or dust. As for the structure of the optical system in the inspection section B, the diffusion plate 4 is set on the opposite side of the CCD camera 3 with the transfer film 1 as a boundary, and peaks are present in the respective colors R, G, B of the color filters from both sides thereof. 3 wavelength light source 5
A means for irradiating the diffusion plate 4 with a white fluorescent lamp or a halogen lamp may be used. The light is diffused by the diffusion plate 4 and evenly illuminates the transfer film 1. Therefore, this image is input from the CCD camera 3 and a determination unit (not shown) determines a good product and a defective product.

An example of the judgment image at this time is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The horizontal axis represents the width direction of the film, and the vertical axis represents the color density of the transfer film. The non-defective product and the defective product are determined by comparing the allowable value ± a prepared for each color of R, G, B of the color filter, the reference color density level m, and the input data from the CCD camera 3. In this case, the permissible value ± a is ± a for each color of R, G, B using a digital switch.
(R), ± a (g), ± a (b), the reference color density level m is set as m (r), m (g), m (b). Here, the reference color density level m may be stored for each color by averaging the image input data by pressing the reference value input switch when the operator determines that the product is a non-defective product.

FIG. 2 is an example showing the case of a non-defective product, and the image input data is within the allowable value ± a centering on the set reference color density level m. FIG. 3 is an example showing a defective product, and the data input as an image deviates from the allowable value ± a around the set reference color density level m. The steep protrusion x on the left side is a defect due to the presence of dust, and the smooth convex portion y on the right side is the density unevenness of the colored resist.

C is a substrate heating unit, and the glass substrate 6 for a color filter is conveyed on a delivery roller 7 and is temporarily stopped at the substrate heating unit C by a forward-direction positioning piece and a left-right direction positioning piece (not shown). It Then, the glass substrate 6 is heated from above by a heating means 8 such as a far infrared heater or an infrared heater, and at the same time, is also heated from below by a heating wire (such as a nichrome wire) provided in the conveying roller 6 at 80 to 170 ° C. And it is supposed to be heated enough. Further, although not shown in the drawing, it may be dried from above and below with hot air.

When the inspection section B determines that the transfer film is non-defective, the transfer film portion of the non-defective product moves to the transfer section E through the film heating section D. The film heating portion D is composed of a transfer guide 9 in which a heating means 10 such as a far infrared heater or an infrared heater and first and second guide rollers 11 and 12 are integrated, and the heating means 10 causes the transfer film to be transferred. 1 is heated to some extent so that it can be transferred to the glass substrate 6.
At the same time, the glass substrate 6 also moves under the film heating section D to the transfer section E. The heating temperature of the transfer film 1 in the film heating section D is about 30 to 80 ° C. If the transfer film 1 is heated over this temperature and transferred to the glass substrate 6 and there is a time before transfer, the transfer film 1 may be stretched, or if the transfer film 1 is composed of a plurality of material layers, the material layers may be mixed. There is a fear. If such a problem occurs even when the transfer film 1 is heated at a temperature of 30 to 80 ° C., the transfer film 1 may not be heated. When the inspection unit B determines that the defect is detected, the defect position is detected by the counter 13 installed at the rear, and the defect position is recorded by the control device (not shown). Then, based on the stored defective position data, the defective transfer film portion is not transferred and is wound onto the discharge portion F.

At the transfer section E, the glass substrate 6 is temporarily stopped by a positioning piece (not shown) in the forward direction and a positioning piece in the left-right direction. The transport roller 7 here is also provided with a heating wire (nichrome wire or the like) for heating inside. Also,
An infrared heater or the like that heats from the upper part of the glass substrate 6 is provided around the periphery so that the transfer film 1 and the glass substrate 6 can be heated at the time of overlapping. Further, a heating wire (nichrome wire or the like) for heating is provided in the first guide roller 11 and the second guide roller 12 of the transfer guide portion 9 and in the pressing member 14 as necessary. As a result, the transfer film 1 and the glass substrate 6 are superposed while maintaining a high temperature.

The transfer operation at the transfer section E is shown in FIG.
First, at the position shown in FIG. 4 (a), the glass substrate 6 is temporarily stopped by a positioning piece in the forward direction and a positioning piece in the left-right direction (not shown). Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, the transfer guide 9 descends slightly below the surface of the glass substrate 6, and the transfer film 1 is pulled from the supply section A. At this time, since there is a nip roller on the discharge portion F side, the transfer film 1
Can't be pulled. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 4C, the spatula-type pressing member 14 descends and presses the edge of the glass substrate 6 from above the transfer film 1. Pressing force is 2 ~ 20kg /
cm ² . Next, as shown in FIG. 4D, the pressing member 14 moves in parallel on the glass substrate 6 via the transfer film 1 to bring the transfer film 1 and the glass substrate 6 into close contact with each other over the entire surface, and the transfer film 1 is colored. The resist is transferred to the glass substrate 6.

After the transfer operation is completed, the pressing member 1
4 and the transfer guide 9 are sequentially returned to the states shown in FIGS. 4D to 4A, the base film is peeled off from the glass substrate 6. However, when the state shown in FIG. The energization to the heating wire inside is stopped, and hot water is caused to flow into the transport roller 7. Next, cold water is caused to flow to lower the temperatures of the base material film, the colored resist, and the glass substrate 6 in the bonded portion.
If you want to lower the temperature particularly quickly, run cold water from the beginning. Further, cool air is blown from the upper cooler 15. When the temperature has dropped sufficiently, the winding roller of the discharge section F is driven to move the transfer film 1 while moving the pressing member 14 in the opposite direction. At this time, a brake is applied so that the supply unit A does not rotate to feed the transfer film 1. By doing so, the base film and the glass substrate 6 can be peeled off, and the transferred colored resist remains on the glass substrate 6 neatly. If the temperature does not drop sufficiently here, the colored resist will be taken off by the base film and transfer will not be successful. Then, after the pressing member 14 has moved to the position of FIG. 4C to complete the peeling, the pressing member 14 is raised to the position shown in FIG. 4B, and then the transfer guide 9 is moved to the position of FIG. 4A. As shown in the figure, the glass substrate 6 is ejected by returning it upward and rotating the transport roller 7.

After the color resist of the first color is transferred to the glass substrate 6 in this way, the color resist is exposed through a photomask and developed to form a pattern of colored pixels. Then, for the second and third colored resists, the colored pixel pattern of the color filter is formed by similarly performing transfer, exposure and development from the transfer film onto the glass substrate 6. In the case where the exposure is performed before the base film is peeled off, the exposure is performed between the transfer portion E and the discharge portion F.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view showing the pressing member used in the above embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

The pressing member 14 has a spatula shape as a whole,
As shown in the figure, it comprises a holding member 14a and a cylindrical rotating roll 14b, and the rotating roll 14b is rotatably held by being wrapped around the tip of the holding member 14a so as not to jump out. Further, a tunnel 14c is provided inside the holding member 14a, and a heating wire is arranged in the tunnel 14c although not shown. Further, the holding member 14a is rounded on the side in contact with the transfer film (left side in FIG. 6). As described above, since the pressing member 14 is provided with the rotating roll 14b at the tip thereof, it becomes difficult for air to enter when the transfer film 1 is pressed, and the transfer film 1 can be pressed while being heated by the heating wire. Since the corners of the holding member 14a that contacts the transfer film 1 are rounded, it is not necessary to scratch or cut the transfer film 1.

FIG. 7 shows a transfer state by the transfer device of the present invention in comparison with a conventional example. FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram showing a transfer state by the transfer device of the present invention, and FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram showing a transfer state by the conventional device.

In the conventional apparatus, since the transfer roll 16 has a large diameter as shown in FIG. 7B, the colored resist (R) is used.
When the next colored resist (G) is to be transferred from the transfer film 1 onto the glass substrate 6 to which is transferred, air remains between the transfer film 1 and the edge of the previous colored resist (R), and It often happened that the colored resist (G) could not be transferred well. However, with the device of the present invention,
Since the transfer is performed by using the spatula type pressing member 14 in which the rotating roll 14b having a small diameter is fitted at the tip of the holding member 14a, air is transferred between the transfer film 1 and the edge of the color resist (R) which has already been transferred. Are less likely to remain, and the entrainment of air can be reduced to transfer the next colored resist (G). Rotating roll 14b in pressing member 14
Has a diameter of 100 mm or less, more preferably 10 mm
It is the following.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a modification of the spatula type pressing member. The pressing member 17 in FIG. 8A has a sharp tip, but is slightly rounded because it is not a blade. Since this type of pressing member 17 has a simple structure, it is easy to manufacture, and it is most difficult to entrap air during transfer. However, since there is a possibility of rubbing and cutting the film when moving on the transfer film, it is necessary to consider the roundness of the tip and the strength of the transfer film before use. The pressing member 18 of FIG. 8 (b) has a small diameter columnar member 18a fixed to the tip. Since the cylindrical member 18a does not rotate, it scrapes the transfer film, but not so much that the film is cut. The smaller the diameter of the columnar member 18a, the less likely it is that air will be entrained. Also, since there are no moving parts, this type is also easy to manufacture. The pressing member 19 shown in FIG.
Is a holding member 19a as in the pressing member 14 of the above embodiment.
Since it has a rotating roll 19a at the tip, the movement on the transfer film is smooth. And the holding member 19a
Since one side is a flat surface and there are few edges that the film contacts, the film is less likely to be damaged.

FIG. 9 is a view showing still another example of the spatula type pressing member in use. This pressing member 20 is shown in FIG.
Similar to the pressing member 19 shown in (c), a rotating roll 20b is provided at the tip of the holding member 20a, and a guide roller 20c is provided on the back of the holding member 20a.
When transfer is performed using this pressing member 20, the transfer film is wound up via the guide roller 20c and does not come into contact with the holding member 20a, so that it is not damaged or cut.

10A and 10B show an example of a pressing member which is not a spatula type. FIG. 10A is a side view and FIG. 10B is a front view. The pressing member 21 has a structure in which a thin roller 21a has large-diameter discs 21b at both ends, and by rotating the disc 21b, the transfer film is pressed against the glass substrate by the roller 21a. When the transfer is performed using the pressing member 21, the transfer film is wound around only the roller 21a and there is no other contact portion, so that the transfer is smooth. Furthermore, since the diameter is small, it is difficult to entrap air.

[0027]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects.

Since the process of transferring the colored resist on the transfer film to the substrate for the color filter is automatically performed without manual labor, the production efficiency of the color filter by the film transfer method can be increased and the transfer can be performed. In the section, since the transfer film is pressure-bonded to the substrate by the pressing member having the rounded tip, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of defects by entraining air at the boundary with the colored pixel previously patterned on the substrate. be able to.

Further, since the inspection section is provided between the supply section and the transfer section, it is possible to continuously transfer only the good transfer film section without transferring the defective transfer film section. The filter production efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a transfer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing an example of a determination image in the inspection unit.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing an example of a determination image in the inspection unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a transfer operation performed in a transfer unit.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view showing a pressing member used in the transfer portion.

6 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a transfer state by a transfer device of the present invention in comparison with a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a modification of a spatula-type pressing member.

FIG. 9 is a view showing still another example of the spatula type pressing member in a use state.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of a pressing member that is not a spatula type.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transfer film 2 Winding 3 CCD camera 4 Diffusion plate 5 Light source 6 Glass substrate 7 Conveying roller 8 Heating means 9 Transfer guide 10 Heating means 11 First guide roller 12 Second guide roller 13 Counter 14 Pressing member 15 Cold air blower 17-20 Pressing member A Supply section B Inspection section C Substrate heating section D Film heating section E Transfer section F Discharge section

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A transfer device for transferring a colored resist from a transfer film having a colored resist provided on a base film to a substrate for a color filter, comprising a feeding section for feeding the transfer film from a winding device, and a transfer film. A transfer device comprising: a transfer unit that is superposed on a substrate and is pressed by a pressing member having a rounded end to transfer the colored resist to the substrate; and a discharge unit that winds up a transfer film after the transfer is completed. 2. The transfer device according to claim 1, further comprising an inspection unit for inspecting a non-defective state of the transfer film between the supply unit and the transfer unit.