JPH0815693A - Sticking unit for optical film and continuously sticking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently accurately position and stick an optical film such as a polarization film, etc., on a prescribed position of a surface of a liquid crystal display panel. CONSTITUTION:This unit is a sticking unit for an optical film provided with a panel stage 1, a film setting mechanism 11 holding the optical film F and putting the optical film F on the liquid crystal display panel L placed on the panel stage 1, a positioning mechanism 2 providing a positioning plate 4 around the panel stage 1 horizontally movably and adjusting the liquid crystal display panel L on the panel stage 1 and the position of the optical film F arranged on the liquid crystal panel L by moving the positioning plate 4 and positioning the optical film F on a prescribed position for the liquid crystal display panel 1 and a sticking mechanism 13 pressing and sticking the optical film F positioned by the positioning mechanism 2 onto the surface of the liquid crystal display panel L.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical film laminating unit for laminating an optical film such as a polarizing film or a retardation film on the surface of a liquid crystal display panel, and a continuous laminating apparatus using the laminating unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a liquid crystal display panel, a pair of transparent substrates (glass plates) on which electrodes for display are formed are polymer-bonded through a frame-shaped sealing material and surrounded by both the substrates and the sealing material. Liquid crystal is sealed in the area. Then, a polarizing film or a retardation film as an optical film is attached to the surface of the liquid crystal display panel.

When the optical film is attached to the surface of the liquid crystal display panel, the liquid crystal display panel is first placed on the panel stage, then the optical film is held by the film holder, and the optical film is attached to the film holder. Place it on the LCD panel via. Then, while the film holder is separated from the optical film, a pressing roller is pressed against the optical film, and the pressing roller is rolled from one end side to the other end side of the optical film, and the pressing roller moves the optical film to the liquid crystal display panel. I try to stick it on the surface. An adhesive is previously applied to the lower surface of the optical film, and the optical film is attached to the surface of the liquid crystal display panel via the adhesive.

When attaching an optical film to the surface of a liquid crystal display panel, it is necessary to attach the optical film to a predetermined position on the surface of the liquid crystal display panel with high accuracy. Therefore, conventionally, when the optical film is placed on the panel stage, the positioning mechanism attached to the panel stage positions the optical film at a predetermined position of the panel stage, and the optical film is held by the film holder. When the film is held, the optical film is positioned at a predetermined position of the film holder by a positioning mechanism attached to the film holder, and in this state, the optical film is attached to the surface of the liquid crystal display panel.

[0005]

However, in the means for individually positioning the liquid crystal display panel and the optical film, the accuracy is low because the optical film is indirectly positioned with respect to the liquid crystal display panel, and the liquid crystal display Since the positions of the panel and the optical film have to be adjusted individually, there is a problem that the work takes time and the efficiency is reduced.

The present invention has been made paying attention to such a point, and an object thereof is to efficiently and accurately position an optical film such as a polarizing film at a predetermined position on the surface of a liquid crystal display panel. It is intended to provide a sticking unit of an optical film that can be stuck together and a continuous sticking device using this sticking unit.

[0007]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a panel stage on which a liquid crystal display panel is mounted, an optical film which is held on the panel stage. A film setting mechanism to be placed on the liquid crystal display panel placed on the liquid crystal display panel, and a positioning plate that is horizontally movable around the panel stage, and the liquid crystal display panel on the panel stage and the A positioning mechanism for adjusting the position of the optical film arranged on the liquid crystal display panel to position the optical film at a predetermined position with respect to the liquid crystal display panel, and the optical film positioned by the positioning mechanism is used for the liquid crystal display panel. A sticking unit having a sticking mechanism for pressing and sticking to the surface of Than it is.

A plurality of the sticking units are evenly arranged on the peripheral portion of the rotary base that rotates intermittently, and the sticking units are sequentially moved to a plurality of positions by the intermittent rotation of the rotary base. Then, the liquid crystal display panel is supplied to the sticking unit, the optical film is supplied to the sticking unit at the next position, and while the sticking unit moves to the next position, the film setting mechanism of the sticking unit, the positioning mechanism, The optical film is positioned with respect to the liquid crystal display panel by the operation of the attaching mechanism, and the optical film is attached to the surface of the liquid crystal display panel, and the optical film is attached when the attaching unit moves to the next position. Configure a continuous sticking device to take out the liquid crystal display panel It is obtained by way.

[0009]

In the sticking unit of the present invention, the position of the liquid crystal display panel and that of the optical film are adjusted by the positioning mechanism under the condition that the optical film is placed on the liquid crystal display panel. The optical film is positioned with respect to. Further, in the continuous sticking device of the present invention, during the stop time period between rotations of the rotary base,
The liquid crystal display panel is supplied to one sticking unit, the optical film is supplied to the other sticking unit, the sticking of the optical film is completed from the other sticking unit, and the liquid crystal display panel is taken out. While the sticking unit moves due to the rotation of the base, positioning and sticking of the optical film to the liquid crystal display panel are achieved in the sticking unit.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows an optical film sticking unit. Reference numeral 1 is a vacuum suction type panel stage, and a positioning mechanism 2 is provided on the panel stage 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the positioning mechanism 2 is composed of a shaft 3 protruding horizontally from each side surface of the panel stage 1 so as to be capable of advancing and retracting, and a positioning plate 4 attached to a tip portion of these shafts 3. The shaft 3 is operated to move back and forth via, for example, a hydraulic control mechanism (not shown).

A positioning part 7 is formed on the inner upper part of each positioning plate 4, and a step 8 is formed on the protruding end surface of the positioning part 7. The step 8 divides the protruding end surface of the positioning portion 7 into a convex surface 7a arranged on the upper side and a concave surface 7b arranged on the lower side with the step 8 as a boundary.

A base 10 capable of horizontal movement is provided above the panel stage 1. A vacuum suction type film holder 12 constituting a film setting mechanism 11 and a rotatable pressing roller 14 constituting a film sticking mechanism 13 are provided below the base 10.

The film holder 12 is attached to the tip of a shaft 15 which vertically and forwardly and backwardly projects from the base 10, and the pressing roller 14 is attached to the base 10.
It is attached to the tip of a shaft 16 that vertically projects from the shaft 16. And the shafts 15,
Each of the 16 is operated to move back and forth through, for example, a hydraulic control mechanism (not shown).

Next, a procedure for attaching, for example, a polarizing film F as an optical film to the surface of the liquid crystal display panel L with this attaching unit will be described. First, FIG.
As shown in (A), the liquid crystal display panel L is supplied and mounted on the panel stage 1 by a panel supply mechanism (not shown). Further, the polarizing film F is supplied to the lower surface side of the film holder 12, and the polarizing film F is held on the lower surface of the film holder 12 by vacuum suction.

From this state, as shown in FIG. 1B, the film holder 12 is lowered through the shaft 15 and the polarizing film F is set on the liquid crystal display panel L.
After that, the vacuum adsorption to the polarizing film F is released and the polarizing film F is released.

Next, each positioning plate 4 of the positioning mechanism 2 is horizontally moved in a direction approaching each side surface of the panel stage 1 via each shaft 3. By this movement, the concave surface 7 of the positioning portion 7 of each positioning plate 4 is moved.
b contacts each side of the liquid crystal display panel L arranged on the panel stage 1, and the convex surface 7 of the positioning portion 7
a is in contact with each side of the polarizing film F disposed on the liquid crystal display panel L, and the positions of the liquid crystal display panel L and the polarizing film F are adjusted by the contact, and the liquid crystal is polarized with respect to the liquid crystal display panel L. The film F is positioned at a predetermined position.

After this positioning, the liquid crystal display panel L is fixed on the panel stage 1 by vacuum suction of the panel stage 1, and each positioning plate 4 is moved to the outside of the panel stage 1 to move the liquid crystal display panel L. And the positioning part 7 is detached from each side of the polarizing film F.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1C, the pressing roller 14 is lowered via the shaft 16 and is held so that the pressing roller 14 is in contact with one edge of the polarizing film F. Then, the base 10 is horizontally moved in the arrow direction.
By this horizontal movement, the pressing roller 14 moves integrally with the base 10 while rotating from one edge of the polarizing film F toward the other edge, and the movement of the pressing roller 14 causes the surface of the polarizing film F to move to the liquid crystal display panel L. Then, the polarizing film F is attached to the surface of the liquid crystal display panel L.

After the polarizing film F is attached, the pressing roller 14 is raised and the base 10 is horizontally moved to return to the original position, and with respect to the liquid crystal display panel L arranged on the panel stage 1. The vacuum suction is released, and the liquid crystal display panel L is taken out from above the panel stage 1 via a panel taking-out mechanism (not shown). This completes the step of attaching the polarizing film F.

In such a sticking unit, the liquid crystal display panel L and the polarizing film F are not individually positioned, but the polarizing film F is placed on the liquid crystal display panel L.
Under the condition that the polarizing film F is placed on the liquid crystal display panel L, the positioning mechanism 2 adjusts the positions of the liquid crystal display panel L and the polarizing film F to position the polarizing film F with respect to the liquid crystal display panel L. Positioning can be performed with high accuracy, and positioning work can be performed efficiently in a short time, thus improving work efficiency.

FIG. 3 shows a continuous sticking device in which a plurality of sticking units having the above-mentioned structure can be used to stick the polarizing film F on the surface of the liquid crystal display panel L sequentially and continuously by a flow operation. .

This continuous sticking device is equipped with a rotary base 20 that rotates in one direction.
Six pasting units U1 to U6 having the same structure as the above are evenly attached to the upper peripheral portion of the above.

Around the rotary base 20, six positions P1 to P6 are uniformly set. Then, the rotary base 20 intermittently rotates by 1/6 rotation, and each pasting unit U1 is rotated by a fixed time during the intermittent rotation.
.About.U6 are arranged at positions corresponding to the respective positions P1 and P2.

The position P1 is provided with a panel supply mechanism 21 for supplying the liquid crystal display panel L to the sticking units U1 to U6 arranged at the position P1, and the position P2 is provided with the sticking units U1 to U6 arranged at the position P2. A film supply mechanism 22 for supplying the polarizing film F to U6 is provided, and at the position P6, the sticking units U1 to U6 arranged at this position P6.
A panel take-out mechanism 23 for taking out the liquid crystal display panel L is provided.

To explain the operation, the rotary base 20 rotates intermittently by 1/6 rotation, but the intermittent rotation of the first stage causes the empty sticking unit U1 to which the liquid crystal display panel L is not supplied to be positioned. Move from P6 to position P1 and place it. And sticking unit U1
Panel feed mechanism 2 while the machine is stopped at position P1
1, the liquid crystal display panel L is supplied onto the panel stage 1 in the sticking unit U1.

Next, by the intermittent rotation of the second stage of the rotary base 20, the sticking unit U1 moves from position P1 to P2, and the sticking unit U2 moves to position P6.
To P1. While the sticking unit U1 is stopped at the position P2, the polarizing film F is supplied to the film holder 11 in the sticking unit U1 while the sticking unit U2 is stopped at the position P1, and the panel is held while the sticking unit U2 is stopped at the position P1. The supply mechanism 21 supplies the liquid crystal display panel L onto the panel stage 1 in the sticking unit U2.

Next, the third unit of the rotary base 20 rotates intermittently to move the sticking unit U1 from the positions P2 to P3 and the sticking unit U2 to the positions P1 to P2, respectively, and the sticking unit U3 moves from the positions P6 to P1. Move to. Then, the polarizing film F is supplied by the film supply mechanism 22 to the sticking unit U2 which has moved to the position P2, and the liquid crystal display panel L is supplied by the panel supply mechanism 21 to the sticking unit U3 which has moved to the position P1.

Next, by the intermittent rotation of the fourth stage of the rotary base 20, the sticking unit U1 moves from positions P3 to P4 and the sticking unit U2 moves from positions P2 to P3.
At the same time, the sticking unit U3 moves from position P1 to P2, and the sticking unit U4 moves from position P6 to P1. Then, the polarizing film F is supplied by the film supply mechanism 22 to the sticking unit U3 moved to the position P2, and the liquid crystal display panel L is supplied by the panel supply mechanism 21 to the sticking unit U3 moved to the position P1.

Next, by the intermittent rotation of the fifth stage of the rotary base 20, the sticking unit U1 moves from positions P4 to P5, and the sticking unit U2 moves from positions P3 to P4.
Then, the sticking unit U3 moves from position P2 to P3, the sticking unit U4 moves from position P2 to P3, and the sticking unit U5 moves from position P6 to P1. Then, the polarizing film F is supplied by the film supply mechanism 22 to the sticking unit U4 which has moved to the position P2, and the liquid crystal display panel L is supplied by the panel supply mechanism 21 to the sticking unit U5 which has moved to the position P1.

When the sticking unit U1 moves to the position P3 by the intermittent rotation of the third stage of the rotary base 20, the sticking unit U1 is already supplied with the liquid crystal display panel L and the polarizing film F. Then, this sticking unit U1 is moved from positions P3 to P by intermittent rotation of the fourth and fifth steps of the rotary base 20.
While shifting to P5 via 4 the polarizing film F is positioned with respect to the liquid crystal display panel L by the laminating process operation in the laminating unit U1 and the polarizing film F is laminated on the surface of the liquid crystal display panel L.

Thereafter, the sixth unit of the rotary base 20 is intermittently rotated to move the sticking unit U1 from positions P5 to P6 and the sticking unit U2 from positions P4 to P5.
The pasting unit U3 is moved from positions P3 to P4, the pasting unit U4 is moved from positions P2 to P3, the pasting unit U5 is moved from positions P2 to P3, and the pasting unit U6 is moved from positions P6 to P1.
Move to Then, the polarizing film F is supplied by the film supply mechanism 22 to the sticking unit U5 which has moved to the position P2, and the liquid crystal display panel L is supplied by the panel supply mechanism 21 to the sticking unit U6 which has moved to the position P1. Further, the liquid crystal display panel L to which the polarizing film F is already attached is taken out by the panel taking-out mechanism 23 from the pasting unit U1 which has moved to the position P6. When the liquid crystal display panel L is taken out, the sticking unit U1 is emptied and waits for the shift to the position P1.

As described above, due to the intermittent rotation of the rotary base 20, the liquid crystal display panel L is supplied when one of the sticking units U1 to U6 is moved to the position P1, and the polarized light is polarized when it is moved to the position P2. The film F is supplied, and during the transition from the position P3 to the position P5, the polarizing film F is positioned and attached to the liquid crystal display panel L, and the position P is set.
The liquid crystal display panel L, to which the pasting has been completed, is taken out when shifting to 6.

The stop time between rotations of the rotary base 20 is, for example, 1.0 to 1.5 seconds, and during this stop time period, the liquid crystal display panel L is supplied, the optical film F is supplied,
Then, the liquid crystal display panel L that has been attached is taken out at the same time, so that there is no time loss and the optical film F is attached to the surface of the liquid crystal display panel L efficiently, and the liquid crystal display panels L after the attachment are sequentially placed. There is an advantage that it can be taken out continuously.

The optical film to be attached to the surface of the liquid crystal display panel L is not limited to the case of the polarizing film, and for example, the case of attaching a retardation film can be similarly applied.

[0035]

As described above, according to the pasting unit of the present invention, an optical film such as a polarizing film can be efficiently and accurately positioned and pasted at a predetermined position on the surface of a liquid crystal display panel. Further, according to the continuous sticking device of the present invention, the optical film can be efficiently stuck to the surface of the liquid crystal display panel and the liquid crystal display panel after the sticking can be successively taken out successively without time loss. There is an advantage that can be.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a sticking unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a positioning mechanism in the sticking unit.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a continuous sticking device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Panel stage 2 ... Positioning mechanism 4 ... Positioning plate 11 ... Film setting mechanism 13 ... Film sticking mechanism 20 ... Rotary base 21 ... Panel feeding mechanism 22 ... Film feeding mechanism 23 ... Panel takeout mechanism L ... Liquid crystal display panel F ... Polarizing film (Optical film) U1 to U6 ... Sticking unit P1 to P6 ... Position

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A panel stage for mounting a liquid crystal display panel, and a film setting mechanism for holding an optical film and mounting the optical film on the liquid crystal display panel mounted on the panel stage. A positioning plate is provided around the panel stage so as to be horizontally movable,
Positioning for adjusting the position of the liquid crystal display panel on the panel stage and the optical film arranged on the liquid crystal display panel by moving these positioning plates to position the optical film at a predetermined position with respect to the liquid crystal display panel. An optical film sticking unit comprising: a mechanism and a sticking mechanism for sticking the optical film positioned by the positioning mechanism onto the surface of the liquid crystal display panel. 2. A panel stage for mounting a liquid crystal display panel, and a film setting mechanism for holding an optical film and mounting the optical film on the liquid crystal display panel mounted on the panel stage. A positioning plate is provided around the panel stage so as to be horizontally movable,
Positioning for adjusting the position of the liquid crystal display panel on the panel stage and the optical film arranged on the liquid crystal display panel by moving these positioning plates to position the optical film at a predetermined position with respect to the liquid crystal display panel. A plurality of sticking units including a mechanism and a sticking mechanism for sticking the optical film positioned by the positioning mechanism to the surface of the liquid crystal display panel are evenly arranged on the peripheral edge of the rotary base that rotates intermittently. The sticking unit is sequentially moved to a plurality of positions by intermittent rotation of the rotary base, the liquid crystal display panel is supplied to the sticking unit at one position, and the optical film is supplied to the sticking unit at the next position. , While the pasting unit moves to the next position, The operation of the film setting mechanism, the positioning mechanism, and the bonding mechanism of the sticking unit positions the optical film with respect to the liquid crystal display panel, and sticks the optical film on the surface of the liquid crystal display panel. A continuous sticking device for an optical film, wherein the liquid crystal display panel on which the sticking of the optical film has been completed is taken out when shifting to a position.