TW201703980A - Device and method of improving curl of optical film - Google Patents

Abstract

A device of improving curl of an optical film is provided, including: a feeding unit for providing an optical film containing a first layer and a second layer laminated thereon; a delaminating unit disposed downstream of the feeding unit for delaminating the first layer and the second layer of the optical film; a tension adjusting unit disposed downstream of the delaminating unit for adjusting the tension of the delaminated first layer; and a laminating unit disposed downstream of the delaminating unit and the tension adjusting unit for laminating the first layer and the second layer again to form a re-laminated optical film. A method of improving curl of an optical film is also provided.

Description

Optical film warpage improvement device and method

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for adjusting an optical film, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for improving warpage of an optical film.

Optical film materials are widely used in various displays, and optical films generally used for displays are usually in a multi-layer structure, and are formed by laminating film layers of a plurality of different materials. Taking a polarizing plate as an example, a protective film made of triacetate cellulose (TAC) is attached to both surfaces of a polarizing film made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).

However, after the optical film having a multilayer structure is bonded, the stress between the layers is caused by the tension of each layer, and thus the optical film is curled.

In order to improve or correct the warpage of the optical film, the multilayer structure can be reattached. In general, the surface film layer of the warped optical film is peeled off to release the stress, and the bonding is performed again using a new replacement film. However, this method is costly for a new replacement film and also produces a large number of discarded optical film layers, and thus is not economical.

The invention provides a warpage improving device for an optical film, comprising: a feeding unit for providing an optical film material, the optical film material comprising a first film layer and a second film layer adhered thereto; a peeling unit, setting Downstream of the feeding unit, the first film layer and the second film layer of the optical film are separated; a tension adjusting unit is disposed downstream of the stripping unit for adjusting the tension of the separated first film layer; The merging unit is disposed downstream of the stripping unit and the tension adjusting unit for re-adhering the first film layer and the second film layer to form a re-adhesive optical film material.

The invention also provides a method for improving the warpage of an optical film, comprising: providing an optical film material by a feeding unit, wherein the optical film material comprises a first film layer and a second film layer adhered thereto; a first film layer and a second film layer of the optical film; adjusting a tension of the separated first film layer by a tension adjusting unit; and re-attaching the first film layer and the second film layer with the bonding unit to form a re-fitting Optical film.

10‧‧‧Optical film warpage improvement device

12‧‧‧Feed unit

14‧‧‧ peeling unit

16‧‧‧Tensor unit

18‧‧‧Fitting unit

20‧‧‧After warpage adjustment unit

22‧‧‧Winding unit

50‧‧‧Optical film

50'‧‧‧Re-attached optical film

52‧‧‧First membrane

52'‧‧‧ Tension-adjusted first membrane

54‧‧‧Second film

100‧‧‧Method for improving warpage of optical film

102~112‧‧‧Steps for improving the warpage of optical film

141‧‧‧ peeling roller

143‧‧‧Transfer wheel

145‧‧‧Transfer wheel

161‧‧‧Transfer wheel

162‧‧‧Bounce wheel

181‧‧‧ fitted roller

201‧‧‧Back warpage adjustment wheel

221‧‧‧Winding roller

1 is a flow chart showing a method of improving warpage of an optical film according to some embodiments of the present invention; and FIG. 2 is a view showing a warpage improving device for an optical film according to some embodiments of the present invention.

The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the following drawings are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the elements may be arbitrarily enlarged or reduced to clearly show the features of the present invention. In the description and drawings, the same or similar elements will be denoted by like reference numerals.

The various features of the invention are set forth in the description of the various embodiments of the invention. Of course, these are only examples and should not limit the scope of the invention. For example, when the first element is referred to in the description to form a second element, it may include an embodiment in which the first element is in direct contact with the second element, and may include other elements formed in the first An embodiment between the second elements, wherein the first element is not in direct contact with the second element. In addition, repeated reference numerals or signs may be used in the various embodiments, which are merely for the purpose of simplicity and clarity of the disclosure, and do not represent a particular relationship between the various embodiments and/or structures discussed.

In addition, space-related terms such as "under", "below", "above", "between", and similar terms may be used. These relational terms are used to facilitate the description of the relationship between one element or feature(s) in the drawing and another element or feature(s), which are intended to include different orientations of the device in operation or operation, and The orientation described in the illustration. The device may be turned to a different orientation (rotated 90 degrees or other orientation), and the spatially related adjectives used therein may also be interpreted identically. It should be understood that before, during or after the method is possible There are additional operational steps, and some of the operational steps described may be replaced or deleted in the methods of other embodiments.

The warpage improving device for an optical film according to the present invention adjusts the surface tension of the separated film layer by a tension adjusting mechanism, and repeatedly uses the peeled film layer to re-adhere to the tension-adjusted film material. Thereby, the warpage of the optical film material is improved and the peeled film layer is effectively utilized, thereby improving the quality of the optical film material and reducing the labor cost.

The warpage improving device for the optical film of the present invention and the warpage improving method for the optical film material will be described in detail below. 1 shows a flow chart of a method 100 for improving warpage of an optical film in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. Reference can be made simultaneously to Fig. 2, which shows a schematic view of the warpage improving device 10 of the optical film material in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

First, in step 102, please refer to FIG. 2 simultaneously, and the optical film 50 is supplied by the feeding unit 12. The optical film 50 can include a first film layer 52 and a second film layer 54 that is bonded to the first film layer 52. The feeding unit 12 can have a rotatable feed roller (not shown) for the optical film 50 to abut and to change its extension path.

The optical film 50 refers to a film that contributes to optical gain, alignment, compensation, steering, orthogonality, diffusion, protection, anti-sticking, scratch resistance, anti-glare, reflection suppression, high refractive index, etc., and may be, for example, polarized light. Membrane, release film, wide viewing angle film, brightness enhancement film, reflective film, protective film, alignment liquid crystal film with characteristics such as control of viewing angle compensation or birefracting, easy-bonding treatment film, hard coating film, anti-reflection film, Various surface treatment films such as an anti-adhesive film, a diffusion film, and an anti-glare film, or a combination thereof, are not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, the optical film 50 can be any optical film having at least two layers of structure. In some embodiments, optical film 50 is an optical film having a two-layer structure. In some embodiments, the first film layer 52 of the optical film 50 can be a substrate layer and the second film layer 54 can be a protective layer. In some embodiments, the first film layer 52 can be a polarizing film, for example, a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film that adsorbs an aligned dichroic dye or a liquid crystal material is doped with an absorbing dye molecule. Polyvinyl alcohol can be formed by saponifying polyvinyl acetate. In some embodiments, the polyvinyl acetate may be a monomer of vinyl acetate or a copolymer of vinyl acetate and other monomers, and the like. The above other monomers may be unsaturated carboxylic acids, olefins, unsaturated sulfonic acids or vinyl ethers. In other embodiments, the polyvinyl alcohol may be a modified polyvinyl alcohol, for example, an aldehyde-modified polyethylene formaldehyde, polyvinyl acetal or polyvinyl butyral or the like.

In some embodiments, the second film layer 54 may be a polyester resin, an olefin resin, a cellulose acetate resin, a polycarbonate resin, an acrylic resin, a cycloolefin resin, or a combination thereof, but is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the second film layer 54 may be polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate. Diester, polyethylene naphthalate, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or a combination of the above.

Furthermore, the second film layer 54 may also contain an ultraviolet absorber (for example, a diphenylketone compound or a benzotriazole compound, etc.) or a plasticizer (for example, a phenyl phosphate compound or a phthalate). Compound, etc.). In addition, the second film layer 54 may be further subjected to a surface treatment, for example, Anti-glare treatment, anti-reflection treatment, hard coating treatment, electrification prevention treatment or anti-fouling treatment.

Next, in step 104, referring to FIG. 2 simultaneously, the first film layer 52 and the second film layer 54 of the optical film 50 are separated by the peeling unit 14. The stripping unit 14 is disposed downstream of the feeding unit 12. The peeling unit 14 may have at least two peeling rollers 141.

In some embodiments, the peeling roller 141 of the peeling unit 14 can be connected to a peeling motor (not shown), and the peeling motor can drive the peeling roller 141 to rotate, thereby pulling the first film layer 52 and the second film layer 54 to Separation. Furthermore, the separated first film layer 52 and second film layer 54 are transported downstream by transport rollers 143, 145, respectively. In detail, the first film layer 52 is transferred to the tension adjusting unit 16 by the conveying roller 143, and the second film layer 54 is conveyed to the bonding unit 18 by the conveying roller 145.

In an embodiment, the tension of the first film layer 52 and/or the second film layer 54 may also be adjusted and controlled by the peeling unit 14. In one embodiment, the tension of the first film layer 52 and/or the second film layer 54 is adjusted and controlled by the peeling roller 141.

Next, in step 106, referring to FIG. 2 simultaneously, the tension of the separated first film layer 52 is adjusted by the tension adjusting unit 16. The tension adjusting unit 16 is disposed downstream of the peeling unit 14.

In some embodiments, the tension adjustment unit 16 can include a bounce mechanism, a tension sensor (not shown), and a pulse generator (not shown). The bounce mechanism has a fixed transfer roller 161 and a dancer roll 162 that moves up and down between the transfer rollers 161. Furthermore, the tension sensor settings The conveying roller 161 is configured to measure the tension generated by the first film layer 52 between the rollers, and the tension signal is sent to a controller (not shown). The pulse generator generates a pulse according to the rotational displacement of the transfer roller 161, and also delivers the generated pulse to the controller.

Furthermore, the controller calculates the length of the first film layer taken up between the rollers by calculating the pulse generated by the pulse generator, and determines the movement of the dancer roll 162 by the tension signal generated by the tension sensor. Bit. For example, in the case where the film surface tension is high, the dancer roll 162 is raised to lower the tension; conversely, in the case where the film surface tension is low, the dancer roll 162 is lowered to increase the tension. . Moreover, in some embodiments, the optical film 50 can be stretched between the respective rollers to produce a film tension of from 50 N to 800 N.

It is to be noted that the warpage improving device 10 for optical film adjusts the surface tension of the peeled first film layer 52 by the tension adjusting unit 16, and adjusts the problem of the uneven length of the optical film due to the deformation of the film surface. Therefore, the quality of the subsequent bonding steps can be improved.

Next, in step 108, referring to FIG. 2 simultaneously, the tension-adjusted first film layer 52' and the second film layer 54 are re-bonded by the bonding unit 18 to form a re-adhesive optical film 50'. . The bonding unit 18 is disposed downstream of the tension adjusting unit 16 and the peeling unit 14, and the tension-adjusted first film layer 52' and the second film layer 54 are transported to the bonding unit 18 via the transport roller 143 and the transport roller 145, respectively. The bonding unit 18 can have at least two abutting roller 181 for pressing the separated film layer.

In an embodiment, the above-mentioned fitting roller 181 can be connected to A bonding motor (not shown) is provided, and the bonding motor can rotate the bonding roller 181 to send the re-adhered optical film 50' away from the bonding roller 181.

It should be noted that the above bonding step re-attaches the tension-adjusted first film layer 52' and the second film layer 54 of the original optical film material 50. In particular, the optical film warpage improvement method 100 recovers and reuses the peeled second film layer 54 to re-adhere to the tension-adjusted first film layer 52' without using any new ones. Change the film. That is, the tension-adjusted first film layer 52' and the second film layer 54 are attached by means of the original film reattachment, thereby having the advantage of reducing the labor cost.

Next, in step 110, referring to Fig. 2, the rear warpage adjusting unit 20 is used to warp the re-adhered optical film 50'. The rear warpage adjusting unit 20 is disposed downstream of the bonding unit 18.

In some embodiments, the rear warpage adjustment unit 20 can include at least two warp adjustment rollers 201 that are spaced apart from each other and rotatable. The position of the warpage adjusting roller 201 can be manually adjusted according to the degree of warpage of the optical film 50', which can resist the re-adhesive optical film 50', so that the optical film 50' is forced and curved, thereby releasing The stress stored in it improves the warp phenomenon.

Next, in step 112, the re-adhered optical film 50' is wound by the winding unit 22. The winding unit 22 is disposed downstream of the rear warpage adjusting unit 20.

In some embodiments, the winding unit 22 can include at least one winding roller 221 and a winding motor (not shown) coupled to the winding roller 221. The winding motor can drive the winding roller to rotate, and then pull the rear warp The re-adhered optical film 50' is output from the unit 20 and is wound up.

It should be noted that the material of the above various rollers is not particularly limited and may be a metal roller, a rubber roller or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the base material of the above metal roller may be stainless steel or SUS304 (stainless steel containing 18% chromium and 8% nickel). In some embodiments, a chromium plating process can be performed on the surface of the metal roller. In some embodiments, the rubber roller may be NBR (nitrile rubber), Titan, urethane, polyoxymethylene, EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene rubber), or the like. Further, the rubber roller may have a hardness of 60 to 100 or 85 to 95.

In summary, the optical film warpage improving device provided by the present invention adjusts the surface tension of the separated film layer by using a tension adjusting mechanism, and adjusts the optical film caused by the film surface deformation during the film conveying process. The problem of uneven material length. Further, the peeled film layer is repeatedly reused to re-adhere to the tension-adjusted film material. Thereby, the warpage of the optical film material is improved and the peeled film layer is effectively utilized, thereby improving the quality of the optical film material and reducing the labor cost.

The foregoing description of the various embodiments of the invention may be Those skilled in the art can readily design or modify other processes and structures based on the present invention to achieve the same objectives and/or achieve the same advantages as the embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that such equivalents can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

10‧‧‧Optical film warpage improvement device

12‧‧‧Feed unit

14‧‧‧ peeling unit

16‧‧‧Tensor unit

18‧‧‧Fitting unit

20‧‧‧After warpage adjustment unit

22‧‧‧Winding unit

50‧‧‧Optical film

50'‧‧‧Re-attached optical film

52‧‧‧First membrane

52'‧‧‧ Tension-adjusted first membrane

54‧‧‧Second film

141‧‧‧ peeling roller

143‧‧‧Transfer wheel

145‧‧‧Transfer wheel

161‧‧‧Transfer wheel

162‧‧‧Bounce wheel

181‧‧‧ fitted roller

201‧‧‧Back warpage adjustment wheel

221‧‧‧Winding roller

Claims (13)

A warpage improving device for an optical film material, comprising: a feeding unit for providing an optical film material, the optical film material comprising a first film layer and a second film layer adhered thereto; a unit disposed downstream of the feeding unit for separating the first film layer and the second film layer of the optical film; a force adjusting unit disposed downstream of the stripping unit for adjusting the separation a tension of a film layer; and a bonding unit disposed downstream of the stripping unit and the tension adjusting unit for re-attaching the first film layer and the second film layer to form a re-adhesive optical film material. The warpage improving device for an optical film according to claim 1, further comprising: a rear warpage adjusting unit disposed downstream of the bonding unit to resist the re-adhesive optical film, And/or a winding unit disposed downstream of the rear warpage adjusting unit for receiving the re-adhesive optical film. The warpage improving device for an optical film according to claim 1, wherein the optical film comprises a substrate layer and a protective layer formed thereon. The warpage improving device for an optical film according to claim 3, wherein the protective layer comprises: a polyester resin, an olefin resin, a cellulose acetate resin, a polycarbonate resin, an acrylic resin, a cycloolefin resin, or the like The combination. The warpage improving device for an optical film according to claim 1, wherein the tension adjusting unit comprises: a jumping mechanism comprising: a jumping roller and a conveying roller. The apparatus for improving the warpage of the optical film according to claim 5, wherein the tension adjusting unit further comprises: a force sensor disposed on the conveying roller for determining the tension of the first film layer To determine the displacement of the dancer wheel. The warpage improving device for an optical film according to claim 1, wherein the peeling unit comprises at least two peeling rollers, and the bonding unit comprises at least two bonding rollers. A method for improving warpage of an optical film comprises: providing an optical film material by a feeding unit, wherein the optical film material comprises a first film layer and a second film layer adhered thereto; Separating the first film layer and the second film layer of the optical film; adjusting the tension of the separated first film layer by a force adjustment unit; and re-attaching the first film layer and the first layer with a bonding unit The two layers are formed to form a re-adhesive optical film. The method for improving the warpage of the optical film according to the eighth aspect of the invention, further comprising: flexing the re-adhesive optical film with a rear warpage adjusting unit, and/or using a winding unit Re-attached optical film for winding. The method for improving warpage of an optical film according to claim 8, wherein the peeling unit presses the optical film with at least two peeling rollers to separate the first film layer and the second film of the optical film. The film layer, and the bonding unit uses at least two bonding rollers that abut each other to adhere the first film layer and the second film layer. The method for improving warpage of an optical film according to claim 8, wherein the optical film comprises a substrate layer and a protective layer formed thereon. The method for improving the warpage of an optical film according to the invention of claim 8, wherein the tension adjusting unit comprises: a beating mechanism comprising: a beating roller and a conveying roller. The method for improving the warpage of an optical film according to the invention of claim 8, wherein the tension adjusting unit further comprises a force sensor disposed on the conveying roller for determining the tension of the first film layer. Determine the displacement of the dancer wheel.