KR20070070505A - Roll printing device, roll printing method and method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A roll printing device, a roll printing method and a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device by using the same are provided to return a printing mask to the original position by using a shift device even though a printing mask position is changed due to expansion of the printing mask, thereby preventing the printing inferiority. A roll printing apparatus is formed of a roll printing unit(101) and a substrate stage part(102). The roll printing unit includes a dispenser(140), a doctor roll(160), an anilox roll(180), a printing roll(200), a printing mask(220) attached to the printing roll, and a shift device(300) for shifting the printing mask. The shift device is installed at one end of the printing mask for moving on the printing roll to change a position of the printing mask. The substrate stage part includes a substrate stage(120), a camera(400) for aligning, and a camera(450) for measuring shift.

Description

Roll printing device, roll printing method and manufacturing method of liquid crystal display device using the same {Roll Printing Device, Roll Printing Method and method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device using the same}

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a method of applying an alignment film using a conventional roll printing equipment.

2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a roll printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a view illustrating a process of confirming a coating position of a predetermined material using a shift measuring camera in a roll printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart showing a roll printing process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5A to 5D are process diagrams illustrating a process of aligning a substrate using a roll printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of Signs of Major Parts of Drawing>

100: substrate 120: substrate stage

140: dispenser 160: doctor roll

180: anilox roll 200: printing roll

220: print mask 300: shift device

400: alignment camera 450: shift measurement camera

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to roll printing equipment, which is equipment for applying an alignment film or the like of a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to a method of aligning a substrate in order to apply the alignment film or the like to an accurate position.

Ultra-thin flat panel displays with a display screen thickness of only a few centimeters (cm). Among them, liquid crystal displays have low operating voltages, which consume less power and can be used as portable devices. Applications range from monitors to spacecraft to aircraft.

Such a liquid crystal display device generally includes a lower substrate and an upper substrate facing each other at a predetermined interval, and a liquid crystal layer formed between the two substrates, and depending on whether voltage is applied between the two substrates. The arrangement is changed and thus the light transmittance is changed so that the image is reproduced.

At this time, if the arrangement state of the liquid crystal layer is disordered with or without voltage applied, it is difficult to obtain a desired image, so that an alignment layer is formed on the lower substrate and the upper substrate to make the initial arrangement state of the liquid crystal layer constant.

As a method of forming such an alignment film, the rubbing orientation method and the photo-alignment method are largely used.

The rubbing orientation method is a method of aligning the alignment layer in a predetermined direction by applying an alignment film on a substrate in the form of a thin film, and then rotating a rubbing roll wound with a rubbing cloth.

The photo-alignment method is a method of applying an alignment film on a substrate in the form of a thin film, then irradiating UV light such as polarized light or non-polarized light to the alignment film so that the alignment film reacts with UV and is aligned in a constant direction.

Thus, in order to obtain an alignment film aligned in a predetermined direction by applying the rubbing orientation method or the photoalignment method, first, the alignment layer must be uniformly coated on the substrate in the form of a thin film. For this purpose, a roll printing method is mainly used.

Hereinafter, a conventional roll printing method will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a method of applying an alignment film using a conventional roll printing equipment.

First, after demonstrating the structure of the conventional roll printing equipment, the process of apply | coating an oriented film using a roll printing equipment is demonstrated.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, a conventional roll printing apparatus includes a substrate stage 12 for supporting a substrate 10, a dispenser 14 for supplying an alignment material, and three rolls 16, 18, and 20. do.

The three rolls are named doctor roll 16, anilox roll 18, and printing roll 20 in order from the top, and the doctor roll 16 is called anilox. The roll 18 is engaged, and the anilox roll 18 is engaged with the printing roll 20.

A printing mask 22 is attached to the printing roll 20 in accordance with a coating pattern of a desired alignment material.

Looking at the method of applying the alignment film using the roll printing equipment having such a structure, first, the alignment material 15 is supplied to the anilox roll 18 from the dispenser 14. The alignment material 15 supplied to the anilox roll 18 is applied to the printing mask 22 attached to the printing roll 20 while being uniformly spread by the doctor roll 16 engaged with the anilox roll 18. Will be. This series of processes is performed while the doctor roll 16 and the anilox roll 18 and the anilox roll 18 and the printing roll 20 are engaged with each other to rotate in the direction of the arrow.

The substrate 10 is seated on the substrate stage 12, and the substrate stage 12 moves in a predetermined direction from the lower portion of the printing roll 20.

As the substrate stage 12 moves as described above, the substrate 10 seated on the substrate stage 12 and the printing mask 22 attached to the printing roll 20 come into contact with each other, and the printing mask 22 The applied alignment material is transferred onto the substrate 10, so that the alignment material is applied onto the substrate 10.

However, the conventional method for applying an alignment film using such a roll printing equipment has the following problems.

When the alignment material applying process is repeatedly performed using the roll printing equipment, the printing mask 22 attached to the printing roll 20 of the roll printing equipment is expanded so that the position of the printing mask 22 is changed. A problem arises. In general, since the rubber mask material is applied, the print mask 22 expands when repeatedly contacted with a liquid such as an alignment material.

Therefore, when the print mask 22 is expanded and the position of the print mask 22 is changed, the alignment material is not applied at the correct position, thereby causing a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems,

A first object of the present invention is to provide a roll printing apparatus capable of returning a print mask to its original position even when the print mask is expanded and the print mask position is changed.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a roll printing method in which a printing mask can be returned to its original position even when the printing mask is expanded and the position of the printing mask is changed so that no printing defect occurs.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device in which the alignment material can be applied at the correct position in forming the alignment material using a roll printing equipment.

In order to achieve the first object, the present invention is a printing roll; A printing mask attached to the printing roll; And a shift device formed on at least one end of the print mask to shift the print mask.

That is, the present invention adds a shift device for shifting the print mask to at least one end of the print mask, even if the print mask is expanded and the position of the print mask is changed as the application process is repeated. By returning the print mask to its original position, it is possible to prevent print failure.

Here, the shift device is preferably formed at both ends of the print mask. In addition, the shift device may be driven by a motor to move on the printing roll.

The roll printing equipment may further comprise a dispenser, anilox roll, doctor roll, and a substrate stage.

The roll printing equipment may further include an alignment camera.

The roll printing equipment may further include a camera for shift measurement.

In order to achieve the second object, the present invention comprises the steps of applying a predetermined material on the substrate using a roll printing equipment comprising a printing roll and a printing mask attached to the printing roll; Confirming whether the predetermined material is applied at the correct position on the substrate; And shifting a printing mask attached to a printing roll of the roll printing apparatus when the predetermined material is not applied at the correct position on the substrate.

Preferably, the step of shifting the print mask comprises a step of moving the shift device formed on at least one end of the print mask on the print roll.

It is preferable that the step of checking whether the predetermined material is applied at the correct position on the substrate is preferably performed by comparing the preset position information with the position information measured by the shift measuring camera.

It is preferable to further include a step of aligning the substrate before the process of applying a predetermined material on the substrate by using the roll printing equipment. The process of aligning the substrate may include applying a dummy material on an alignment dummy substrate, forming a predetermined dummy alignment mark on the dummy substrate on which the dummy material is applied, and placing the dummy material on the dummy alignment mark. Positioning an in camera and then fixing the alignment camera position, preparing a substrate, and forming an alignment mark on the substrate corresponding to the same position as the dummy alignment mark on the dummy substrate, and on the substrate It is preferable that the alignment mark formed is adapted to the fixed alignment camera position.

In order to achieve the third object, the present invention comprises the steps of preparing a lower substrate and an upper substrate; Applying an alignment layer using a roll printing apparatus including a printing roll and a printing mask attached to the printing roll on at least one of the lower substrate and the upper substrate; And forming a liquid crystal layer between the both substrates.

At this time, the step of applying the alignment film using the roll printing equipment is a step of applying the alignment material on any one of the substrate; Checking whether the orientation material is applied at the correct location on the substrate; And shifting a printing mask attached to the printing roll of the roll printing equipment when the alignment material is not applied at the correct position on the substrate.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1.roll printing equipment

2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a roll printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As can be seen in Figure 2, the roll printing equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention, the roll printing unit 101 and the substrate stage unit 102.

The roll printing unit 101 may include a dispenser 140, a doctor roll 160, an anilox roll 180, a printing roll 200, a printing mask 220 attached to the printing roll 200, and a printing mask. It comprises a shift device 300 for shifting.

The dispenser 140 serves to dispense the predetermined material 150 to the anilox roll 180.

The doctor roll 160 rotates in engagement with the anilox roll 180 so that the predetermined material 150 dispensed on the anilox roll 180 is uniformly moved to the printing roll 200. It is also possible to apply a doctor blade in place of the doctor roll 140. It is also possible to apply the doctor roll 140 and the doctor blade at the same time.

The anilox roll 180 receives a predetermined material 150 dispensed from the dispenser 140 and then moves the predetermined material 150 to a printing mask 220 attached to the printing roll 200. Do it.

The print mask 220 is to be formed in a variety of patterns according to the pattern to be applied, hereinafter will be shown an example in which four patterns are formed.

The shift device 300 is formed at at least one end of the print mask 220, preferably at both ends of the print mask 220. The shift device 300 is driven by a motor to move on the printing roll 200, thereby changing the position of the printing mask 220.

The process of changing the position of the print mask 220 by the shift device 300 is performed when the print mask 220 is expanded and its position is out of the initially set position.

The substrate stage unit 102 includes a substrate stage 120, an alignment camera 400, and a shift measurement camera 450.

The substrate stage 120 moves in a predetermined direction under the printing roll 200. The substrate 100 is seated on the substrate stage 120, and a predetermined alignment mark 130 is formed on the substrate 100.

The alignment camera 400 is formed on the substrate stage 120 to align the position of the substrate 100 seated on the substrate stage 120 before the application process of the predetermined material 150 is performed. To do.

That is, by matching the position of the alignment camera 400 with the position of the alignment mark 130 of the substrate 100, the substrate 100 is aligned before the application process of the predetermined material 150 proceeds. As the alignment camera 400 determines the position in advance by using the dummy substrate, the alignment camera 400 uniformly aligns the position of the substrate 100 continuously and repeatedly inputted by fixing the position on the substrate stage 120. To do it. Therefore, the alignment camera 400 is fixedly formed on the substrate stage 120.

Specific details related to the alignment process of such a substrate may be more clearly understood by referring to a roll printing process described later.

The shift measuring camera 450 serves to check whether a predetermined material 150 is correctly applied onto the substrate 100 after the coating process is completed, which will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3. .

3 illustrates a process of confirming a coating position of a predetermined material 150 using a shift measuring camera 450 in a roll printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. When the application position is confirmed and an error occurs in the application position, the position of the printing mask 220 is changed using the shift device 300 described above. Therefore, the shift measuring camera 450 is formed to be movable on the substrate stage 120.

In FIG. 3, the dotted line indicates the correct application position of the predetermined material 150, and the solid line indicates the position where the predetermined material 150 is actually applied. Referring back to FIG. 2, when the alignment mark 130 of the substrate 100 is aligned with the alignment camera 400 in FIG. 2, the substrate is aligned to have a predetermined material 150 in a pattern indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 3. When the printing mask 220 is expanded and the position of the printing mask 220 is changed as the application process is repeated, an error may occur in the pattern indicated by the solid line in FIG. 3. In this case, the shift measuring camera 450 measures the difference x between the actual position information generated by the error and the preset position information, and the shift device of FIG. By driving the 300 to shift the print mask 220 to the initial position.

2. Roll printing method

4 is a flowchart showing a roll printing process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, first, the substrate is aligned (10s).

The process of aligning the substrate is specifically illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5D, and the process of aligning the substrate will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5D.

First, as shown in FIG. 5A, after the alignment dummy substrate 100a is seated on the substrate stage 120, a dummy material 150a is applied onto the dummy substrate 100a using a roll printing apparatus.

Preferably, the roll printing equipment uses the roll printing equipment according to FIG. 2 described above.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5B, a predetermined dummy alignment mark 300a is formed on the dummy substrate 100a to which the dummy material 150a is applied.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5C, the alignment camera 400 is positioned on the dummy alignment mark 300a, and then the alignment camera 400 is fixed.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5D, the alignment mark 300 is formed on the substrate 100 that is actually applied to the production, and the substrate 100 on which the alignment mark 300 is formed is seated on the substrate stage 120. The alignment process of the substrate 100 is completed by aligning the alignment mark 300 with the fixed alignment camera 400 position.

Here, the position of the alignment mark 300 formed on the substrate 100 is set to be the same as the position of the dummy alignment mark 300a formed on the dummy substrate 100a.

Referring to FIG. 4 again, after the alignment process of the substrate 100 is completed, a predetermined material is coated on the substrate using a roll printing apparatus (20s), and it is determined whether the predetermined material is applied at the correct position on the substrate. Check (30s).

As a result of the check, if the predetermined material is applied at the correct position on the substrate and no error occurs at the application position (No), the next roll printing is performed, and the error is not applied at the application position because the predetermined material is not applied at the correct position on the substrate. (Yes) shifts the print mask attached to the printing roll of the roll printing equipment (40s).

The predetermined material applying process 20s, the application position checking process 30s, and the print mask shift process 40s will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 described above.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, after aligning the substrate 100 to the substrate stage 120 of the roll printing equipment, the substrate stage 120 is moved to move from the printing mask 220 attached to the printing roll 200. The predetermined material 150 is applied onto the substrate 100.

3, the application position of the predetermined material 150 is confirmed using the shift measuring camera 450. As a result of the check, when a difference occurs between the preset position information and the position information measured by the shift measuring camera 450, the position of the printing mask 220 is shifted by the shift device 300 of FIG. 2 by the difference. do.

3. Manufacturing method of liquid crystal display device

First, the lower substrate and the upper substrate are prepared.

The lower substrate and the upper substrate are prepared by appropriately changing the driving mode of the liquid crystal display device.

That is, in the twisted nematic (TN) mode, a thin film transistor is formed at the intersection of the gate line and the data line and crosses the gate line and the data line on the lower substrate to cross each other in a longitudinal direction. And a pixel electrode formed in the pixel area to function as an electrode for forming an electric field, and a light blocking layer for blocking leakage of light on the upper substrate, a color filter layer for color implementation, and an electrode for forming an electric field. A common electrode is formed.

In the In Plane Switching (IPS) mode, a thin film transistor which is formed at the intersection of the gate line and the data line, the gate line and the data line defining a pixel area on the lower substrate and transversely transversely and acts as a switching element, A pixel electrode and a common electrode are formed in the pixel area to form a horizontal electric field by acting as an electrode pair for forming an electric field. A light shielding layer for blocking leakage of light is formed on the upper substrate, and a color filter layer for color realization. Is formed.

Thereafter, an alignment layer is coated on at least one of the lower substrate and the upper substrate.

In the process of applying the alignment film, the above-described roll printing method is applied, and the alignment material is used as a predetermined material.

After applying the alignment layer, a rubbing method or an optical alignment method is applied to uniformly align the alignment direction of the alignment layer.

Thereafter, a liquid crystal layer is formed between the substrates.

The liquid crystal layer forming method includes a vacuum injection method or a liquid crystal dropping method.

The vacuum injection method includes forming a sealing material having an injection hole on one of the substrates, bonding the both substrates, and then injecting liquid crystal into the bonding substrate through the injection hole of the sealing material.

The liquid crystal dropping method includes a process of forming a sealing material on one of the two substrates, dropping the liquid crystal on either one of the two substrates, and bonding the both substrates.

The above is only a description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, various modifications can be made within the scope not changing the technical spirit of the present invention.

According to the above configuration, the present invention adds a shift device for shifting the print mask to at least one end of the print mask, even though the print mask is expanded and the position of the print mask is changed as the application process is repeated. The printing failure is prevented by returning the print mask to the original position using a.

Claims (19)

Printing rolls; A printing mask attached to the printing roll; And And a shifting device formed on at least one end of the printing mask to shift the printing mask. The method of claim 1, And said shift device is formed at both ends of said print mask. The method of claim 1, And said shift device is driven by a motor to move on said printing roll. The method of claim 1, A dispenser for dispensing certain substances; Anilox roll containing a predetermined substance dispensed in the dispenser and rotating in engagement with the printing roll; A doctor roll which rotates in engagement with the anilox roll and uniformizes a predetermined substance dispensed on the anilox roll; And Roll printing equipment characterized in that it further comprises a substrate stage which is positioned below the printing roll and the substrate is seated. The method of claim 4, wherein Roll alignment equipment further comprises an alignment camera for aligning the substrate seated on the substrate stage. The method of claim 5, The alignment camera is a roll printing equipment, characterized in that fixed to the upper substrate stage. The method of claim 4, wherein And a shift measuring camera for confirming whether a predetermined material applied on the substrate seated on the substrate stage is applied at the correct position on the substrate. The method of claim 7, wherein The shift measuring camera is a roll printing equipment, characterized in that movable on the substrate stage. Applying a predetermined material onto a substrate using a roll printing apparatus comprising a printing roll and a printing mask attached to the printing roll; Confirming whether the predetermined material is applied at the correct position on the substrate; And And shifting a printing mask attached to a printing roll of the roll printing equipment when the predetermined material is not applied at the correct position on the substrate. The method of claim 9, And the shifting of the print mask comprises moving a shift device formed on at least one end of the print mask on the print roll. The method of claim 9, And confirming whether or not the predetermined substance is applied at the correct position on the substrate comprises comparing the preset position information with the position information measured by the shift measuring camera. The method of claim 9, And aligning the substrate prior to the step of applying a predetermined substance on the substrate by using the roll printing equipment. The method of claim 12, The process of aligning the substrate Applying a dummy material on the alignment dummy substrate; Forming a predetermined dummy alignment mark on the dummy substrate to which the dummy material is applied; Positioning an alignment camera on the dummy alignment mark and then fixing the alignment camera position; Preparing a substrate, and forming an alignment mark on the substrate corresponding to the same position as the dummy alignment mark on the dummy substrate; And And a step of aligning the alignment mark formed on the substrate with the fixed alignment camera position. Preparing a lower substrate and an upper substrate; Applying an alignment layer using a roll printing apparatus including a printing roll and a printing mask attached to the printing roll on at least one of the lower substrate and the upper substrate; And And forming a liquid crystal layer between the both substrates, The process of applying the alignment layer using the roll printing equipment Applying an alignment material on either of said substrates; Checking whether the orientation material is applied at the correct location on the substrate; And And shifting a printing mask attached to a printing roll of the roll printing equipment when the alignment material is not applied at the correct position on the substrate. The method of claim 14, And the shifting of the print mask comprises moving a shift device formed on at least one end of the print mask on the print roll. The method of claim 14, The process of confirming whether or not the alignment material is applied to the correct position on the substrate comprises the step of comparing the preset position information and the position information measured by the shift measuring camera. The method of claim 14, And aligning the substrate before applying the alignment material on the substrate by using the roll printing equipment. The method of claim 17, The process of aligning the substrate Applying a dummy material on the alignment dummy substrate; Forming a predetermined dummy alignment mark on the dummy substrate to which the dummy material is applied; Positioning an alignment camera on the dummy alignment mark and then fixing the alignment camera position; Preparing a substrate, and forming an alignment mark on the substrate corresponding to the same position as the dummy alignment mark on the dummy substrate; And And aligning the alignment mark formed on the substrate with the fixed alignment camera position. The method of claim 14, Forming a liquid crystal layer between the both substrates Forming a sealing material on either of the substrates; Dropping liquid crystal onto any one of the above substrates; And A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, characterized in that the step of bonding both the substrates.

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