JPH11167021A - Device for manufacturing color filter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the manufacturing device for a color filter which has high quality and complies with a variety of requests. SOLUTION: This is a manufacturing device 20 for a color filter which jets pixel materials out of nozzle units 21 by an ink jet method and sticks the jetted pixel material drops DIK in specific array order along the X and Y directions of a transparent substrate G to form many pixels P. The nozzle unit 21 has its nozzle diameter set to <=1/2 as large as the length of a pixel P in its short- side X direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a color filter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In OA equipment, a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal panel is used as an image display means. Some color filters used when displaying a color image on such a flat panel display are manufactured by an inkjet method because they can pattern pixel material droplets (ink droplets) accurately in a short time.

In the production of a color filter by an ink-jet method, for example, a large number of sections formed by a black matrix on a transparent substrate are provided with red, green, blue (R,
G and B) are applied in a predetermined arrangement order to form a predetermined color pattern composed of a large number of pixels.

[0004]

By the way, a color filter has a large number of very fine pixels arranged in a predetermined order for each color. For this reason, when manufacturing a color filter, inks are mixed between adjacent pixels, and when different colors are mixed, color mixing occurs. There is a problem that the quality deteriorates due to variations and the like, and it has been desired to provide a manufacturing apparatus capable of manufacturing a high-quality color filter.

In addition, with the diversification of OA equipment, color filters used in flat panel displays are required to have high quality and to have various aspects in terms of pixel size and arrangement. . However, at present, it is difficult to satisfy the diversified demands described above with a single manufacturing apparatus, and it has been desired to provide a high-quality color filter manufacturing apparatus capable of meeting the diversified requests. The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a high-quality color filter manufacturing apparatus capable of responding to diversified requests.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, pixel material droplets are ejected from a plurality of nozzle units by an ink jet method, and the ejected pixel material droplets are ejected in the X direction of a transparent substrate. An apparatus for manufacturing a color filter in which a large number of pixels are attached in a predetermined arrangement order in a Y direction, wherein the nozzle unit has a nozzle diameter set to 以下 or less of a length of the pixel in a short side direction. That is the configuration.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a color filter manufacturing apparatus which achieves the object of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the manufacturing apparatus 20 includes a plurality of nozzle units 21, an ink tank 22, a pressure unit 23, and a change unit 24.

A plurality of nozzle units 21 are provided for each color of red, green, and blue. Each nozzle unit 21 discharges an ink droplet DIK of each color from each of the nozzle units 21, and a large number of pixels P in a predetermined arrangement order are set. Is formed on the transparent substrate G. The plurality of nozzle units 21
As shown in FIG. 2, the pixels P are arranged at an integral multiple of the arrangement interval in the short side direction (the direction of arrow X in FIG. 1). When the plurality of nozzle units 21 are arranged in this manner, it is not necessary to largely change the discharge position by controlling the charge signal.
Since the flight distance of the droplet can be minimized and the droplet can be applied with high accuracy, a little disturbance (air turbulence)
Even if there is, it can be prevented from falling into the adjacent cell.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, each nozzle unit 21 is provided with adjusting means 21a for individually adjusting the arrangement interval of the pixels P in the short side direction, for example, a motorized micrometer. When the deflection direction and the nozzle arrangement direction are the same, the adjustment means may be realized by making the charge amount variable. In FIG.
Reference numeral 25 denotes a guide rail when the plurality of nozzle units 21 move in the short side direction of the pixel P. Each nozzle unit 21 has a discharge nozzle, a piezoelectric vibrating element, a charging electrode, and a deflecting electrode (not shown). Here, the discharge nozzle has a nozzle diameter of 以下 or less with respect to the length of the pixel to be formed in the short side direction. If the nozzle diameter is larger than ２, the ink droplet may be too large for the pixel, and may protrude in the short side direction of the pixel.

[0010] At this time, the charging electrode applies a predetermined charge to the ink droplet by a pulse voltage applied based on a predetermined information signal. On the other hand, the ink droplet charged by the charging electrode is deflected by the deflecting electrode in the X and Y directions indicated by arrows on the transparent substrate G in accordance with the charge level according to the charge level. Adheres to Here, the deflection electrode also functions as a change unit that changes the position of the ink droplet in the X and Y directions according to the size or arrangement of the pixels.

The ink droplets that have not adhered to the transparent substrate G are collected by a gutter (not shown). Further, a black matrix is formed on the transparent substrate G in advance, but is omitted in each drawing. Ink tank 22
Although not shown for a predetermined number, each is provided for each color ink and stores ink for each color.

The pressurizing means 23 is a means for pressure-feeding the ink stored in the ink tank 22 to each nozzle unit 21 via a pipe 26, and is, for example, a pump or the like. The changing means 24 includes the pressing means 23 or each nozzle unit 2
The piezoelectric vibrating element is electrically connected to the piezoelectric vibrating element, and controls the ink ejection pressure or the ink droplet ejection frequency in accordance with the size or arrangement of the pixels to change the volume of the ink droplet. As the changing means 24, for example, a regulator or a function generator is used. Here, the changing unit 24 changes the volume of the ink droplet.
The diameter of the ink droplet is set to be 2/3 or less of the length of the pixel to be formed in the short side direction. Ink droplet diameter 2
If it is larger than / 3, the ink droplet may be too large for the pixel and may protrude in the short side direction of the pixel.

The manufacturing apparatus 20 of this embodiment is configured as described above, and manufactures color filters having various pixel sizes or pixel arrangements as follows. Here, the inks of the respective colors stored in the respective ink tanks 22 are pressurized by the pressurizing means 23 and are pressure-fed to the respective nozzle units 21 through the pipes 26. A description will be given of a color, for example, a red ink, and a description of other colors of ink will be omitted.

First, the red ink stored in the ink tank 22 is pressurized by the pressurizing means 23 and sent to each nozzle unit 21 through the pipe 26 under pressure. Next, in each of the nozzle units 21, the ink is divided by a voltage having a predetermined period applied to the piezoelectric vibrating element to form an ink droplet. Next, after each of the divided ink droplets is given a predetermined charge from the charging electrode, the flying path is deflected in the X direction indicated by an arrow on the transparent substrate G according to the charge level by the electric field from the deflection electrode. And adhere to a predetermined position to be a pixel.

When forming a color pattern using ink droplets, the manufacturing apparatus 20 controls the charging voltage applied to the charging electrode to change the position at which the ink droplets are attached in the X direction. By changing the size of the ink droplets by means of 24, it is possible to freely respond to changes in the size and arrangement of pixels. In this way, the transparent substrate G on which the color pattern composed of a large number of pixels in a predetermined arrangement order set in advance by the ink droplets of each color is formed.
Is subjected to various processes such as temporary curing of the ink and main curing of the ink, and then a process of forming a protective film, a transparent electrode, and the like, to form a color filter as a final product.

At this time, in the color filter manufacturing apparatus 20 of the present invention, the charging electrode is used to change the position where the ink droplets are attached in the X direction, Alternatively, by controlling the ejection frequency of the ink droplets by the piezoelectric vibrating element of each nozzle unit 21 and changing the volume of the ink droplets, it is easy to change the size and arrangement of a large number of pixels to be formed on the transparent substrate G. It corresponds to. Needless to say, when the position of each nozzle unit 21 in the short side direction of the pixel P is shifted, the position is adjusted by the adjusting unit 21a.

Here, for example, the pixel size is changed as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). That is, when changing the size from the pixel P1 to the pixel P2 having a different size, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the position of the ink droplet DIK in the X and Y directions is changed by turning on and off the application of a voltage to the charging electrode, and as shown in FIG. Is the ink droplet DIK having a volume corresponding to the pixel P1.
The value is changed from 1 to an ink drop DIK2 having a volume corresponding to the pixel P2.

At this time, for example, the volume of the ink droplet is approximately doubled when the discharge pressure of the ink by the pressurizing unit 23 is controlled to four times by the changing unit 24, and the discharge frequency by the piezoelectric vibrating element is reduced by 1 / If it is controlled to 2, it can be changed twice. Further, when the diameter of the discharge nozzle of the nozzle unit 21 is changed to 2 ^1/3 times, the volume of the ink droplet can be doubled.

In the nozzle unit 21, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of discharge nozzles 21c to 21e having different diameters are provided on a rotating plate 21b, and the rotating plate 21b is rotated by rotating means (not shown) to form ink droplets. The nozzle diameter at the time of discharging the ink may be changed. As described above, in the color filter manufacturing apparatus of the present embodiment, when manufacturing a color filter by an inkjet method, it is possible to extremely flexibly respond to changes in pixel size and arrangement, In the case of changing the color filter, it is not necessary to create a new mask for forming a pixel, the cost involved in the above change in the manufacture of the color filter can be significantly reduced, and the manufacturing time can be greatly reduced.

[0020]

As is apparent from the above description, claim 1
According to the apparatus for manufacturing a color filter described in (1), the nozzle diameter of the nozzle unit is set to be equal to or less than の of the length of the pixel in the short side direction. It is possible to achieve the object of the present invention that it can respond to diversified requests, and moreover, it is possible to extremely flexibly respond to changes in pixel size and arrangement when manufacturing a color filter by an inkjet method. In the case of changing the pixel size and the like, it is not necessary to create a new pixel forming mask, and the cost associated with the change in the manufacture of the color filter can be significantly reduced, and the manufacturing time can be significantly reduced. An excellent effect that cannot be obtained can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an apparatus for manufacturing a color filter of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view showing an arrangement interval of a plurality of nozzle units in the manufacturing apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a means for adjusting an arrangement interval in a plurality of nozzle units in the manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 1;

4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams showing a case of changing the attachment position of the ink droplet (FIG. 4A) and a case of changing the volume of the ink droplet (FIG. 4B) in changing the pixel size. .

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the nozzle unit.

[Description of Signs] 20 Manufacturing apparatus 21 Nozzle unit 21a Adjusting means 21b Rotating plate 21c to 21e Discharge nozzle 22 Ink tank 23 Pressurizing means 24 Changing means 25 Guide rail 26 Piping DIK Ink drop DIK1, DIK2 Ink drop G Transparent substrate P Pixel P1, P2 pixels

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A color forming a large number of pixels by discharging pixel material droplets from a plurality of nozzle units by an ink-jet method and attaching the discharged pixel material droplets in a predetermined arrangement order in the X direction and the Y direction on a transparent substrate. An apparatus for manufacturing a color filter, wherein the nozzle unit has a nozzle diameter set to be equal to or less than の of a length in a short side direction of the pixel.