TWI393996B - Magnetic auxiliary roller continuous printing equipment and continuous embossing method - Google Patents

Description

Magnetic auxiliary roller continuous imprinting device and continuous imprinting method

The present invention relates to an imprint apparatus and method, and more particularly to a magnetic assist roller continuous imprint apparatus and a continuous imprint method using the magnetic assist roller continuous imprint apparatus.

Imprint technology is a rapid prototyping technology widely used in the process of industrial components. Common imprinting techniques include the use of a flexible polymer material, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), as a mold. The polymer photoresist coated on the surface of the light-transmitting substrate is embossed to produce an optical element of a specific shape.

Referring to FIG. 1 , it is a schematic diagram of a conventional imprinting technique, which includes a mold core 10 and a substrate 12 . The surface of the mold core 10 is provided with a pattern 14 on the surface of which is coated with a layer of photocured photoresist 16 which is embossed on the photoresist 16 by the pattern 14 of the mold core 10 during the imprint process, and then irradiated. An ultraviolet (UV) curing source cures the photoresist 16 to produce optical elements of a particular shape.

However, the traditional imprinting technology must be manufactured manually, and it cannot be automated by machine, resulting in poor production and lack of competitiveness. Therefore, if it can be improved for the traditional imprinting technology, a magnetic auxiliary roller continuous type is proposed. Imprinting equipment will greatly increase production capacity and reduce costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic assist roller continuous imprint apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, the magnetic auxiliary roller continuous imprint apparatus disclosed in the present invention comprises an embossing area, a substrate, a magnetic auxiliary roller, a UV curing light source and an electromagnetic control switch.

The substrate used in the present invention is an elongated flexible substrate, the surface of which is coated with a layer of photocurable photoresist, and the substrate is transported to the embossed area by a plurality of rollers for continuous imprinting. The magnetic auxiliary roller has a plurality of patterns on its surface, and the two ends are respectively carried on an elastic member, so that the magnetic auxiliary roller can vertically move and roll in the vertical direction, and the UV curing light source is disposed under the embossed area. And the electromagnetic control opening relationship is disposed under the UV curing light source, and the magnetic auxiliary roller is controlled to move up and down by magnetic force.

When the roller transports the substrate to the embossed area, the electromagnetic control switch will be activated and generate a magnetic force that will drive the magnetic auxiliary roller to move downward, at which time the pattern of the magnetic auxiliary roller surface will press the photoresist on the surface of the substrate, The elastic element of the end will be in a pressurized state. When the electromagnetic control switch is turned off, the elastic force of the elastic element will drive the magnetic auxiliary roller to move upward, and complete the embossing once, and then use the UV curing light source to illuminate the photoresist to obtain a specific Shaped optics.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the substrate is a light-transmissive substrate, the UV-curing light source is a light-emitting diode (LED) light source, and the surface of the magnetic auxiliary roller is a PDMS material. In addition, this The invention further includes an image capturing device for capturing image data of the substrate after being embossed to determine the embossing quality of the optical component.

In order to further disclose the advantages and spirit of the present invention, a detailed description will be made in conjunction with the drawings.

Please refer to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, which are the magnetic auxiliary roller continuous imprinting apparatus of the present invention, including an embossing area 20, a substrate 21, a magnetic auxiliary roller 22, a UV curing light source 23, and an electromagnetic Control switch 24.

The substrate 21 used in the present invention is an elongated flexible substrate, the surface of which is coated with a layer of photocurable photoresist 25 (Polymer), and the substrate 21 is transported to the embossed area 20 by a plurality of rollers 26 for continuous pressing. Printed. The magnetic auxiliary roller 22 is provided with a plurality of patterns 27 on its surface, and the two ends are respectively supported on an elastic member 28, so that the magnetic auxiliary roller 22 can vertically move and roll in the vertical direction, and the UV curing light source 23 is disposed on the surface. Below the embossed area 20, the electromagnetic control switch 24 is disposed under the UV curing light source 23, and the magnetic auxiliary roller 22 is controlled to move up and down by magnetic force.

When the drum 26 conveys the substrate 21 to the embossed area 20, the electromagnetic control switch 24 will be activated and generate a magnetic force that will drive the magnetic auxiliary roller 22 to move downward, at which point the pattern 27 of the surface of the magnetic auxiliary roller 22 will press the substrate. The surface resist 25 of the surface 21, the elastic member 28 of the two ends will be in a pressurized state, and after the electromagnetic control switch 24 is closed, the elastic force of the elastic member 28 will drive the magnetic auxiliary roller 22 to move upward, and complete the imprint once, and then The photoresist is then irradiated with a UV curing light source 23 to obtain an optical element of a particular shape.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the substrate 21 is a light transmissive substrate, the UV curing light source 23 is an LED light source, and the pattern 27 of the surface of the magnetic auxiliary roller 22 is a PDMS material. In addition, the present invention further includes an image capturing device 29 for capturing image data of the substrate 21 after being embossed to determine the embossing quality of the optical component.

It can be seen from the above description that the magnetic auxiliary roller continuous imprinting apparatus of the present invention has the following advantages compared with the conventional imprinting technology:

a. Mass production can be carried out using machined equipment to reduce costs.

b. The average force of embossing does not affect the quality of the phenomenon of excessive or excessive power.

c. The image capture device can be used to monitor the quality of the stamp at any time.

The above description of the present invention is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. .

10‧‧‧Men

12‧‧‧Substrate

14‧‧‧ pattern

16‧‧‧Light resistance

20‧‧ s embossed area

21‧‧‧Substrate

22‧‧‧Magnetic auxiliary roller

23‧‧‧UV curing light source

24‧‧‧Electromagnetic control switch

25‧‧‧Light resistance

26‧‧‧Roller

27‧‧‧ pattern

28‧‧‧ Spring

29‧‧‧Image capture device

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional imprint technique.

2A and 2B are schematic views of the magnetic auxiliary roller continuous imprinting apparatus of the present invention.

20‧‧ s embossed area

21‧‧‧Substrate

22‧‧‧Magnetic auxiliary roller

23‧‧‧UV curing light source

24‧‧‧Electromagnetic control switch

25‧‧‧Light resistance

26‧‧‧Roller

27‧‧‧ pattern

28‧‧‧ Spring

29‧‧‧Image capture device

Claims (16)

A magnetic auxiliary roller continuous imprinting apparatus comprises: an embossing area; a substrate disposed above the embossing area, the surface of which is coated with a layer of photocurable photoresist; and a magnetic auxiliary roller having a plurality of surfaces thereon a pattern, the two ends of which are respectively carried on an elastic member, so that the magnetic auxiliary roller can move and roll in a vertical direction; a UV curing light source is disposed under the embossed area; and an electromagnetic control switch It is disposed under the UV curing light source and controls the magnetic auxiliary roller to move up and down by magnetic force. The magnetic auxiliary roller continuous imprint apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is a translucent substrate. The magnetic auxiliary roller continuous imprinting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image capturing device for capturing image data of the substrate after being imprinted. The magnetic auxiliary roller continuous imprinting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the UV curing light source is an LED light source. The magnetic auxiliary roller continuous imprinting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pattern of the magnetic auxiliary roller surface is a PDMS material. The magnetic auxiliary roller continuous imprinting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is a long flexible substrate, and the plurality of flexible substrates are used. The rollers transport the substrate to the embossed area for continuous imprinting. The magnetic auxiliary roller continuous imprinting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic auxiliary roller is made of iron, cobalt, nickel or an alloy thereof. The magnetic auxiliary roller continuous imprinting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photocuring photoresist is made of a polymer. A continuous imprinting method is carried out by using a magnetic auxiliary roller continuous imprinting apparatus as described in claim 1, the method comprising: conveying a substrate to an embossing area, wherein the substrate surface is coated a layer of photo-curing photoresist; controlling a magnetic auxiliary roller to move downward by using an electromagnetic control switch, and imprinting the substrate; curing the substrate by using a UV curing light source; and stopping the control of the magnetic auxiliary roller by the electromagnetic control switch Move down to return the magnetic assist roller to its original position. The continuous imprint method according to claim 9, wherein the substrate is a light transmissive substrate. The continuous imprinting method of claim 9, wherein the substrate, after being imprinted, further comprises capturing image data of the substrate by using an image capturing device. The continuous imprint method as described in claim 9, wherein The UV curing light source is an LED light source. The continuous imprint method of claim 9, wherein the magnetic auxiliary roller surface has a pattern of a PDMS material. The continuous imprint method according to claim 9, wherein the substrate is an elongated flexible substrate, and the substrate is transported to the embossed area by a plurality of rollers for continuous imprinting. The continuous imprint method according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic auxiliary roller is made of iron, cobalt, nickel or an alloy thereof. The continuous imprint method according to claim 9, wherein the photocurable photoresist is made of Polymer.