JPH1178203A - Precise screen printing method and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a precise screen printing method using a metal mask plate and an apparatus therefor. SOLUTION: In a precise screen printing method, printing ink 5 is transferred to a material 2 to be printed while a metal mask plate 1 and the material 2 to be printed are brought to a contact state by the constant force applied to the plane of the material to be printed other than the action of a squeegee member 4 only in a vertical direction in a region where ink is transferred to the plane of the material 2 to be printed through the perforations of the metal mask plate 1 by the cylindrical permanent magnet 3 rolling on the rear surface of the material 2 to be printed in connection with the movement of the squeegee member 4 and, at a part where the transfer of ink is completed, the metal mask plate 1 is separated from the surface of the material 2 to be printed as the squeegee member 4 goes away. By this constitution, the lateral shift of the metal mask plate is eliminated and ink is beautifully transferred.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for precision screen printing using a metal mask plate and a method for manufacturing precision parts using the same.

[0002] Screen printing is a process in which printing ink or other adhering material is pressed from one side of a metal mask plate, which is located slightly away from the surface of a printing substrate, onto a surface of the printing substrate with a doctor or a roller. This is a printing method for extruding on the other surface and printing on a printing medium. This printing method is a convenient method for printing on the surface of an inflexible flat object.

[0003] A metal mask plate has a gauze (mesh) which can be expanded and contracted to some extent and an image forming layer having a through image hole, and a suspended metal mask plate. There is a solid metal mask version that is extruded straight.

[0004] When an island surrounded by holes is present in an image, an image support is required. Therefore, in general, a suspended metal mask plate can cope with a variety of images and is much more versatile.

[0005]

2. Description of the Related Art Metal mask screen production methods or metal mask screen plates are disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 48-235.
27, JP-B-49-12285, JP-B-49-1244
7, Japanese Patent Publication No. 51-22897, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 51-5570
4, JP-A-51-78405-6, JP-A-51-134
205, JP-A-52-50568, JP-A-53-595
01, etc., Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-13097 (improvement of accuracy of solid metal mask plate), Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-28376 (suspended metal mask plate with adhesive layer), and Patent No. 2678
598 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-203787).

[0006]

Screen printing is suitable for printing that requires the formation of convex portions of ink on a large flat surface. However, when printing that requires precision, printing on a metal mask plate is required. The metal mask plate stretches slightly inhomogeneously due to the movement of a doctor or a roll moving by rubbing, causing a shift in a lateral direction (a direction parallel to the printing surface), and satisfactory results cannot be obtained. For example, the use of a plasma display (PDP) is promising for a large-screen television image machine, but screen printing is suitable because the walls between pixels of the PDP require a certain height. Even so, the accuracy is required for printing twice or three times to obtain the height, so using screen printing for a large area is not possible because of the above-mentioned lateral displacement of the metal mask plate. Until it was difficult.

The present inventor has conducted various studies in order to prevent the lateral displacement of the metal mask plate while maintaining a good image with a clean ink deposit in order to perform high-precision screen printing. Discover that we can solve
The present invention has been completed.

[0008]

That is, according to the present invention, as a requirement for solving the above problems, a) apart from pressing by the squeegee member, if the metal mask plate is pressed only in the direction perpendicular to the flat surface, It is possible to prevent slight lateral misalignment due to elongation, and b) after the doctor or roll leaves, if the metal mask plate is immediately separated from the surface of the printing substrate, it is possible to create a beautiful image with ink remaining. It was completed as follows.

(1) In a method of performing precise screen printing on a flat surface using a metal mask plate, a) an adhering material such as printing ink passes through a hole of the metal mask plate and is deposited on a flat surface of a printing substrate. In the zone to be transferred, or in the front or rear zone near that zone, the metal mask plate and the substrate are separated by a constant force applied only perpendicular to the plane of the substrate other than the action of the squeegee member. Transferring the adhesive material such as printing ink to the flat surface while making contact with the metal plate; b) at the portion where the transferring of the adhesive material such as printing ink onto the printing medium is completed, the metal mask plate is sequentially moved as the squeegee member moves away. Moving away from the surface of the printing substrate.

(2) In a screen printing method using a metal mask plate, a) forming part or all of the metal mask plate with a magnetic material; b) forming the metal mask plate at least with the metal mask The magnetic force pulls the adhered material, such as ink, through the holes of the plate in the zone where it is transferred onto the substrate by the squeegee member and / or in the front or rear zone near the zone. (C) at a portion where the transfer of the adhesion material such as the ink onto the printing medium has been completed and the metal mask plate has been brought into contact with the surface of the printing medium by magnetic force, and The method according to claim 1, wherein the metal mask plate moves away from the surface of the printing material as the squeegee member moves away.

(3) The metal plate is a suspended metal mask plate having a mesh layer and a magnetic image forming layer, the plate being held at a slight distance from the plane, and When a squeegee member such as a roll or a roll is moved relative to the metal mask plate on the metal mask plate and the ink is transferred onto the surface of the printing medium, the magnetic force in the radial direction by the permanent magnet is linked to the relative movement. The method according to (2), wherein the metal mask plate is brought into contact with the printing medium by magnetic force by rolling the cylinder formed on the peripheral surface on the back surface of the printing medium.

(4) The printing medium and the metal mask plate are fixed, and a squeegee member such as a doctor or a roll is moved together with a cylindrical body which generates a radial magnetic force on the peripheral surface by a permanent magnet, or The method according to (3), wherein the squeegee member such as a doctor or a roll and a cylindrical body that generates a magnetic force in the radial direction on the peripheral surface by the permanent magnet are fixed, and the printing medium and the metal mask plate are moved together.

(5) In order to bring the metal mask plate into vertical contact with the printing medium in the zone where the transfer of the ink to the printing medium surface is performed or in the front or rear zone near the zone. A screen printing apparatus including a cylindrical body that generates a magnetic force in a radial direction on a peripheral surface by a permanent magnet, which rolls on a back surface of a printing medium in conjunction with movement of a squeegee member of ink.

A method of forming a wall between pixels of a plasma display using the printing method according to any one of the above (1) to (4).

Metal Mask Plate Used in the Present Invention As described above, generally, any image can be handled by using a suspended metal mask plate. Regarding the manufacturing method of the metal mask plate, the prior art described in the prior art,
In particular, Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-13097 (improvement of accuracy of solid metal mask plate), Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-28376 (suspended metal mask plate having an adhesive layer) and Japanese Patent No. 2678598 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-203787) are described. Can be referenced.

However, in order to bring the metal mask plate into contact with the printing medium by magnetic force, a part or all of the metal mask plate must be a magnetic material. Preferably, the image forming layer of the metal mask plate is made of a magnetic material.

Materials suitable as the magnetic metal used for the metal mask plate include iron and SUS430.
When selecting a material, it is more preferable to use a material that does not easily take a permanent magnetic force together with the use of a metal mask plate among magnetic materials.

The image forming layer of the metal mask plate can be made of a magnetic material by forming the image forming layer by iron plating instead of nickel plating, for example, by the method of Japanese Patent No. 2678598.

Iron plating can be performed using a ferrous chloride bath, an iron borofluoride bath, an iron sulfamate bath, a ferrous sulfate bath, or the like.

In the case of using the permanent magnet the permanent magnet, the force which the permanent magnet is sucked toward the metal mask plate to the printing material it is, should provide adhesion as the metal mask plate is not displaced laterally.

The magnet material includes cast and sintered alnico magnets,
Fillite magnets, iron-chromium-cobalt magnets, and rare earth cobalt magnets. In the present invention, a magnet made of a material whose generated magnetic flux is stable is particularly suitable.

The required magnetic force varies depending on conditions such as the thickness of the printing medium, but generally a magnetic flux density of 2,000 to 14,000 gauss is used.

Preferred Form of Permanent Magnet The permanent magnet used in the present invention is as follows: 1) A metal mask plate having a magnetic portion is attracted to and adhered to a printing medium with a constant magnetic force to prevent lateral displacement of the metal mask plate. Action 2) The metal mask plate at the portion where the ink has moved to the surface of the printing medium after the ink has been attracted and adhered has the function of gradually removing the metal mask from the surface of the printing medium by eliminating the magnetic force.

In order to realize these effects, it is preferable that the permanent magnet is a rollable cylindrical shape whose circumferential surface generates a uniform magnetic force in the radial direction. This is because the cylindrical shape allows a uniform magnetic force to be obtained on the cylindrical peripheral surface, and the ability to roll prevents the magnetic force from being applied laterally to the plane of the printing medium. .

The permanent magnet is formed such that the circumferential surface of the cylindrical body generates a uniform magnetic force in the radial direction. This includes, for example,
Using a hollow cylindrical permanent magnet, covering the peripheral surface of a non-magnetic cylindrical body with several permanent magnets to form a cylindrical body,
And embedding a magnet in a porous non-magnetic cylindrical body to form a cylindrical magnet.

The optimum diameter of the cylindrical body which generates a radial magnetic force on the peripheral surface by the permanent magnet depends on the strength of the suspended metal mask plate, the thickness of the printing medium, the magnetic force of the permanent magnet, the ink viscosity, and other factors. It will vary according to the factors, and in each case the skilled person can easily select a suitable diameter.

Applying an attractive force to the metal mask plate by a magnetic force other than that caused by the rotating permanent magnet is also included in the scope of the present invention. For example, in conjunction with the movement of a squeegee member such as a doctor or a roll, a flexible permanent magnet sheet is brought into close contact with only the portion where the squeegee member such as a doctor or a roll is present and the front thereof to the back surface of the printing medium, and You can change the position. It is also possible to roll a flexible permanent magnet sheet on a rotatable roll and roll it on the back surface of the printing medium.

However, even when the flat permanent magnet piece is moved in close contact with the back surface of the printing medium, a force is applied in a direction parallel to the plane, and the metal mask plate is likely to be shifted laterally.

Further, even if a permanent magnet plate is provided on the back surface of the entire printing medium, lateral displacement can be prevented, but clear transfer of ink cannot be expected. In addition, in the case of such a magnet, it is difficult to remove the close contact with the metal mask plate.

A squeegee using a cylindrical permanent magnet
In an embodiment using a permanent magnet that rotates in conjunction with a member and a permanent magnet , those skilled in the art can easily design an arbitrary structure for the linkage between the rolling movement of the permanent magnet and the operation of the squeegee. For example, the support of the rotating shaft of the permanent magnet and the support of the squeegee may be fixed and moved together while the rolling rotation of the permanent magnet is performed.

In order to realize the rolling rotation of the permanent magnet,
The surface of the permanent magnet and the back surface of the printing medium are made of a non-slip material so that the permanent magnet and the back surface of the printing medium are brought into contact with each other, so that the rolling movement of the permanent magnet can be performed smoothly. Alternatively, racks may be provided on both sides of the printing medium, and gears meshing with the racks may be provided at both ends of the cylindrical shape of the permanent magnet so that the permanent magnet rotates on the back surface of the printing medium without lateral displacement. Further, it is also possible to synchronize the forward movement of the rotating shaft of the permanent magnet with the rotational movement that resembles the rolling rotational movement by using other gear mechanisms. In these cases, the cylinder of the permanent magnet need not be particularly strongly pressed or even contacted to the back surface, but may be advanced, for example, along a linear guide.

Due to the rotation of the permanent magnet, the magnetic force is applied in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the printing medium even if the permanent magnet moves straight.

The structure for the squeegee member to perform the function of distributing the ink to the surface of the printing material while the squeegee member moves together with the linear movement of the support of the permanent magnet can be easily designed by those skilled in the art.

[0034]

FIG. 1 shows a state in which a suspended metal mask plate 1 and a printing medium 2 are fixed, and the ink 5 is applied to the surface of the printing medium 2 by interlocking the advance of the permanent magnet 3 and the advance of the squeegee 4. This shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the suspended metal mask plate 1 is brought into close contact with the surface of the printing medium 2 by a downward magnetic force at the transferred position. Since the permanent magnet 3 moves in a portion where the ink has already moved to the surface of the printing medium 2, the suspended metal mask
Does not receive a downward magnetic force, moves away from the surface of the printing medium 2 sequentially, and cleanly transfers the ink to the surface without soiling the surface of the printed portion. In this case, the permanent magnet 3
Does not shift laterally, the magnetic force is constant, and the magnetic force of the same magnitude acts in the same manner for each printing to bring the metal mask plate 1 into close contact with the surface of the printing medium 2. Reproducible and precise printing is possible without being influenced by lateral force. Therefore, it is also possible to repeat the printing on the same printing medium to raise the ink, and it is also possible to use the same for printing a wall that forms a space between pixels of a plasma display that requires a height. .

FIG. 2 shows an apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG.
A plan view (bottom view) of a specific example of an apparatus in which gears 7 are provided at both ends of a permanent magnet 3 and racks 8 are provided on both side surfaces of a printing medium, and the former meshes with the latter to realize uniform rotation without slippage. ing.

FIG. 3 shows a specific example in which the printing medium and the suspended metal mask plate move instead of the flexible magnet and the squeegee 4 moving.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show that the same result as in FIG. 1 may be obtained even if the magnet is not cylindrical. That is, in FIG. 4, the squeegee 4 is moved while the suspended metal mask plate 1 is in close contact with the printing medium 2 by the flexible magnet 6 to transfer the ink to the surface of the printing medium 2. When the flexible magnet 6 is separated from the back surface of the printing medium 2 in conjunction with the movement of the printing medium 2, the suspended metal mask plate 1 sequentially moves away from the surface of the printing medium 2 and stains the surface of the printed portion. Cleanly transfers the ink to the surface without any problems. Since the flexible magnet 6 does not move laterally at all, non-uniform lateral force is not applied to the suspended metal mask plate 1 and no image deviation occurs.

FIG. 5 shows the rod 10 on which the flexible magnet 6 is mounted in conjunction with the movement of the squeegee member 4 when the squeegee 4 is moved to transfer the ink to the surface of the printing medium 2.
Is moved forward while rotating, the suspended metal mask plate 1 is sucked vertically to the surface of the printing medium 2 at the position of the rod 10, and is sequentially separated from the surface of the printing medium 2 by the passage of the rod 10 to perform printing. Ink is transferred to the surface neatly without soiling the surface of the finished part. Here, since the flexible magnet 6 does not move laterally at all, non-uniform lateral force is not applied to the suspended metal mask plate 1 and no image deviation occurs.

[0039]

[Effects of the present invention]

1. It can be used for manufacturing large plasma displays. 2. Since there is no lateral displacement due to the squeegee of the metal mask plate, printing with high accuracy is possible. 3. The transfer of ink is finished beautifully. 4. The mechanism is simple, and the pressing with a constant force is realized. 5. Printing with raised ink is possible. 6. This is most remarkable in a mode in which a cylindrical permanent magnet is rolled on the lower surface of the printing medium, but as a whole, the permanent magnet moves at a considerable speed, but the magnetic force of the permanent magnet does not laterally displace, so the force for laterally displacing the metal mask plate is. Quick and clean printing is possible without generation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for performing a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention using a cylindrical permanent magnet.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a lower surface of an apparatus similar to the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in which gears are provided at both ends of a permanent magnet cylinder and a rack is provided on the back surface of a printing medium.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an apparatus for moving a printing medium and a suspended metal mask plate for performing the method of the present invention using a cylindrical permanent magnet.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for performing another embodiment of the method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for performing another embodiment of the method of the present invention.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H01J 9/02 H01J 9/02 F 9/227 9/227 E H05K 3/12 610 H05K 3/12 610Q

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A method for performing precise screen printing on a flat surface using a metal mask plate, the method comprising the steps of: (a) transferring an adhesive material such as printing ink onto a flat surface of a printing medium through holes of the metal mask plate; The metal mask plate and the printing medium are contacted by a constant force applied only perpendicularly to the plane of the printing medium other than the action of the squeegee member in a zone to be printed or in a front or rear zone near the zone. (2) At a portion where the transfer of the adhesive material such as the printing ink onto the printing medium is completed, the metal mask plate is successively moved as the squeegee member moves away. Separating from the surface of the substrate. 2. A screen printing method using a metal mask plate, wherein: a) forming a part or all of the metal mask plate with a magnetic material; b) forming the metal mask plate at least with the metal mask plate. And / or a zone in which an adhesive material such as printing ink is transferred onto the substrate by a squeegee member through the holes of
Attracting and contacting the printing medium by magnetic force in the front or rear zone near the zone; c) the transfer of the above-mentioned adhesion material such as ink onto the printing medium is completed and the metal mask by magnetic force A method wherein the metal mask plate is separated from the surface of the printing material as the squeegee member moves away from the portion of the plate where the contact with the printing material surface is completed. 3. A suspended metal mask plate, wherein the substrate to be printed is a flat surface, the metal mask plate is held at a slight distance from the flat surface, and has a mesh layer and a magnetic material image forming layer. When a squeegee member such as a roll is moved relative to the metal mask plate on the metal mask plate and the ink is transferred onto the surface of the printing medium, the magnetic force in the radial direction by the permanent magnet is linked with the relative movement. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the metal mask plate is brought into contact with the printing material by magnetic force by rolling the cylinder formed on the surface on the back surface of the printing material. 4. A printing medium and a metal mask plate are fixed, and a squeegee member such as a doctor or a roll is moved together with the cylindrical body which generates a radial magnetic force on a peripheral surface by a permanent magnet. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the squeegee member such as a roll or a roll and the cylindrical body which generates a magnetic force in the radial direction on the peripheral surface by the permanent magnet are fixed, and the printing medium and the metal mask plate are moved together. 5. In the zone where the transfer of the ink to the surface of the printing material takes place or in the front or rear zone near that zone,
In order to bring the metal mask plate into vertical contact with the printing medium and make contact with the printing medium, the radial magnetic force of the permanent magnet, which rolls on the back of the printing medium in conjunction with the movement of the ink squeegee member, is applied to the peripheral surface. Screen printing device with a resulting cylinder. 6. A method for forming a wall between pixels of a plasma display using the printing method according to claim 1.