TWI422270B - Method and apparatus for sealing sheet of metal thin plate for manufacturing step of organic EL element - Google Patents

Description

Method and device for affixing metal sheet by organic EL element manufacturing step

The present invention relates to, for example, a vapor deposition mask used in an organic EL element manufacturing step, such as an extremely thin metal sheet having a plurality of slit openings and having different rigidity. A method and apparatus for manufacturing a step of manufacturing an organic EL element by using a thin metal plate and fixing it to a frame in a flat state without deflection.

Conventionally, vacuum vapor deposition has been carried out in the production of an organic EL device, and a vapor deposition mask is a thin metal plate having an opening portion having a plurality of slits. Then, it is vapor-deposited at the time of vapor deposition, and is attached to a frame having a large opening having a larger opening than the opening by a magnet or the like. However, in recent years, when the development of the patterning is made fine, the slit formed in the opening portion is made fine, and when the thickness of the vapor deposition mask itself is also reduced, the vapor deposition mask is fixed only by using a magnet or the like. In the frame, deflection or skew occurs in the opening, and there is a problem that the accuracy of the slit cannot be maintained. Therefore, the applicant has first developed a state in which the vapor deposition mask is attached to the frame, and the vapor deposition mask can be held in a state of being stretched toward the slit of the opening portion, and the holding mask of the vapor deposition mask is Refer to the license document 1). When the jig is held, the thin line portion of the slit constituting the opening portion can be kept in a state of being stretched in the longitudinal direction, so that the slit can be held in a straight line and held at a constant pitch, so that a high-definition pattern can be obtained. The advantages of theization.

However, in the vapor deposition mask described in Patent Document 1, since only one opening portion is formed in one vapor deposition mask, there is a problem that productivity is not good. because Further, in order to improve the productivity, as shown in Fig. 22, it is conceivable to use a multi-faceted mask 1 in which a plurality of openings 2 are formed on one vapor deposition mask, and the mask is fixed using the fixing jig 3 and the movable jig 4. When the both ends are clamped, the movable jig 4 can be kept in a state of being stretched toward the slit of the opening 2 as indicated by an arrow mark. However, when the multi-faceted mask 1 having a plurality of openings 2 is held by the clamps 3 and 4, the rigidity of the opening and the non-opening portion is different regardless of whether or not the mask is full width. Evenly stretching, skewing or deflection occurs in the opening portion, so that the desired slit pattern cannot be obtained, and the positional accuracy of each opening portion is also confirmed to be poor. For example, in the case of a multi-faceted mask for vapor deposition used for the production of an organic EL element, a total pitch of ±10 μm or less is required for the position of each opening, but it is difficult to achieve such dimensional accuracy.

Therefore, in the method for solving the problem, as shown in FIG. 23, the applicant first developed that the mounting portion 5 is formed in advance on the side of the plurality of masks 1A on which the plurality of openings 2 are formed. The mounting portion 5 is wound around a reel provided on the frame, and the reel is rolled upward to extend the multi-faceted mask 1A in both the longitudinal and lateral directions to form a multi-faceted mask device that maintains a flat state. (Refer to Patent Document 2). In the multi-face mask device, the multi-faceted mask 1A is stretched in both the longitudinal and lateral directions. Therefore, the multi-faceted mask 1A is formed flat and the slits of the respective openings can be arranged in parallel, so that a plurality of faces can be obtained. And the advantages of fine patterning.

However, the multi-faceted mask device described in Patent Document 2 is produced in the opening portion when the multi-faceted mask is thin and easily skewed. The slanting or flexing occurs, and there is a problem that the desired slit pattern cannot be obtained. Further, the multi-faceted masking device is provided with a reel for each of the four sides of the frame to wind the mounting portion 5 on which four sides of the multi-faceted mask 1A are attached, and therefore has a problem of complicated structure and high cost.

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-68453

[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-332056

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-faceted mask for vapor deposition, such as a plurality of openings having a plurality of slits, and having different rigidity regions. A method and apparatus for fixing a thin metal plate to a frame of a simple structure without being bent and holding the opening or the like to a desired dimensional accuracy.

The present invention is a method for affixing a metal thin plate, comprising: a step of positioning a rectangular metal thin plate on a rectangular frame; and a stretching step of arranging the metal thin plates at least against each other by a plurality of jigs The two sides are respectively clamped, and the stretching tension is applied to make the metal thin plate stretched; in the pressing step, each of the clamps in the frame applies a pressing force to the frame, and the tensile force acts on the metal. In the field corresponding to the field on the thin plate, elastic deformation is generated opposite to the direction of the tensile force applied to the metal thin plate; in the fixing step, the metal thin plate in the stretched state is fixed to the frame in the pressed state.

The invention relates to a method for affixing a metal thin plate, wherein: in the stretching step, each of the four sides of the metal thin plate is stretched by a clamp In the pressing step, each of the four sides of the above frame is pressed.

The present invention relates to a method of affixing a thin metal plate, wherein the stretching tension applied to the thin metal plate by the jig is made in the field corresponding to the field in which the above-mentioned jig is applied to the field in which the stretching force acts. The pressure is equal.

The present invention relates to a method of affixing a thin metal plate, wherein the metal thin plate includes a plurality of rectangular opening portions having a plurality of slits arranged in parallel at the same time, and the plurality of jigs are arranged corresponding to the opening portion and the non-opening portion. .

The invention relates to a method for affixing a metal thin plate, wherein: in the stretching step, the corner portion is stretched by clamping a vicinity of a corner portion between adjacent two sides of the metal thin plate, so that the corner portion is stretched The jig can move in all directions of the adjacent two sides.

The present invention relates to a frame-mounting device for a metal thin plate, which is a frame-mounting device that is fixed to a rectangular frame in a state in which a rectangular metal thin plate is stretched, and is characterized in that: the frame and the above-mentioned frame are disposed thereon a plurality of plate stretching units disposed at a plurality of equal positions on at least two sides of the metal sheet, and a plurality of frame holding units; each of the sheet stretching units having: a clamp for holding the metal sheets And a clamp moving means for moving the clamp to cause the clamp to apply a tensile force to the clamped metal sheet; each of the frame holding units has a frame holding member configured to apply a pressing force to the frame And the above-mentioned jig applies the stretching tension to the field of the metal sheet to correspond to the field to generate an elastic deformation opposite to the direction of the stretching tension caused by the above-mentioned jig; and the frame holding member moving means, Moving the frame to hold the member causes the frame to hold the member to apply pressure to the frame.

The affixing device for a metal thin plate according to claim 6, wherein the plate stretching unit and the frame holding unit are each of four sides of the frame and the metal thin plate disposed thereon. Set in multiples and equally.

The present invention relates to a frame-fitting device for a metal thin plate, wherein the plate stretching unit and the frame holding unit are integrally formed; the jig moving means of the plate stretching unit and the frame holding member moving means of the frame holding unit, A common cylinder device is provided which is coupled to the jig and the frame holding member to move the two in a direction in which they are separated from each other and in a direction in which they are close to each other.

The present invention is a frame-mounting device for a metal thin plate, wherein the frame holding member is provided with a support surface supported by the frame.

The present invention relates to a metal thin plate affixing device, wherein the metal thin plate includes a plurality of rectangular opening portions having a plurality of slits arranged in parallel at the same time, and the plurality of jigs are disposed corresponding to the opening portion and the non-opening portion.

The present invention is a frame-fitting device for a thin metal plate, wherein the stretching tension imparted by the jig moving means of the plurality of plate stretching units is made adjustable on each of the plate stretching units.

The present invention relates to a frame-fitting device for a thin metal plate, wherein an additional plate stretching unit is provided in the vicinity of a corner portion between adjacent two sides of the metal thin plate, and the additional plate stretching unit has a jig for holding the metal thin plate, and A jig moving means for moving the jig toward each of the adjacent two sides.

The present invention is a metal sheet affixing device, wherein the additional board stretching unit further comprises: a first base member, and a parallel to the metal sheet on the first base member, and is held in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the extension tension is applied a second base member that moves, and a jig support that is movable in parallel with the direction in which the tensile force of the thin metal sheet is applied in parallel to the second base member, and the jig and the jig opening and closing mechanism that opens and closes the jig are held by the jig In the support table, the jig moving means connects the jig support table and the second base member so that the jig support table moves in the direction in which the tension is applied in the direction in which the second base member is moved.

The present invention relates to a metal sheet affixing device, wherein the additional sheet stretching unit further includes: a base member; and a first clamp support table on the base member that is movable in parallel to the direction in which the tensile force of the metal sheet is extended in parallel; and a second clamp support table that is parallel to the thin metal plate and that is movable in a direction perpendicular to the extension tension in the first clamp support table, and the clamp and the clamp opening and closing mechanism that opens and closes the clamp are held in the above In the second jig support table, the jig moving means connects the first jig support table and the base member such that the first jig support table moves in a direction in which the first tension member is attached to the base member.

The present invention is a metal sheet affixing apparatus, wherein the additional board stretching unit further includes: a base member, and a clamp support table on the base member that can be moved in parallel to the extension direction of the tensile force of the metal sheet, the clamp is On the above-mentioned jig support table, parallel to the thin metal plate held by the above-mentioned jig, and held to be moved in a direction perpendicular to the direction of extension tension The jig opening and closing mechanism that opens and closes the jig is held by the jig support table, and the jig moving means connects the jig support base and the base member such that the jig support table extends toward the base member The force is moved in the direction.

The present invention is a method for attaching a thin metal plate, comprising: a step of positioning a rectangular metal thin plate on a rectangular frame; and a stretching step of clamping the four sides of the metal thin plate with a plurality of jigs, and Applying the stretching tension to the state in which the metal thin plate is stretched; in the fixing step, the metal thin plate in the stretched state is fixed on the frame in the pressed state, and in the stretching step, the metal thin plate phase is held by the jig The corners of the adjacent two sides are clamped together, and the corners are stretched to move the jig toward each of the adjacent two sides.

In the above-described method for attaching a thin metal plate according to the present invention, when a rectangular metal thin plate is fixed to a frame, at least two opposite sides of the metal thin plate are sandwiched by a plurality of jigs, and are applied by The tension is stretched, and the thin metal plate is stretched, so that the rigidity of the metal thin plate can be stretched by the tension suitable for each field. Therefore, the metal thin plate is kept in a flat state without being skewed or deflected, and when the opening portion is provided, the opening portion can be maintained at a position where the desired dimensional accuracy is maintained, thereby keeping the metal thin plate untwisted or The state in which the opening is not deflected and the opening is maintained at the desired dimensional accuracy can be fixed to the frame by a spot welding machine or the like. Further, at this time, the frame is pressed in a direction opposite to the direction in which the tensile force is applied to the thin metal plate, and elastic deformation occurs, so that a restoring force in the opposite direction to the pressing force is generated on the frame. Thus, gold After the thin plate is fixed to the frame by a spot welding machine or the like, when the metal thin plate and the frame are released, the tensile force remaining on the thin metal plate is offset by the restoring force remaining in the frame. Therefore, even if the rigidity of the frame is small, there is no case where the frame is disadvantageously deformed due to the stretching tension remaining in the metal thin plate, or the shrinkage stretching tension of the metal thin plate becomes small, so that the metal thin plate is maintained to apply the desired stretching tension. status. In this way, even if a frame having a low rigidity and a simple structure is used, the metal thin plate can be kept in a state of no skew or deflection on the frame, and the opening portion can be fixed at a desired dimensional accuracy, and can be maintained. In this state.

In the implementation of the method of the present invention, the jig is disposed in advance on each of the four sides of the metal thin plate to extend the metal thin plate in both the longitudinal and transverse directions, and the four sides of the frame are pressed in both the vertical and horizontal directions. In the case of the configuration, it is possible to obtain an effect of further stretching the metal sheet in a state of being free from skew or deflection and fixing it to the frame.

Even if the tensile force applied to the thin metal plate by the above-mentioned jig is different from the pressing force applied to the frame, since the frame itself has rigidity, it does not cause much trouble. However, when the stretching tension and the pressing force are made the same size in advance, the stretching tension remaining on the metal thin plate can be offset by the restoring force remaining in the frame, so that the metal after the liberation frame and the metal thin plate can be surely prevented. Deformation of the sheet or frame. Therefore, it is possible to further maintain the metal thin plate fixed to the frame in a state of no skew or deflection, and to maintain the state in which the opening portion is maintained at a desired dimensional accuracy.

The configuration of the clamp that applies the tensile force to the metal sheet, in response to the metal In the case where the thin plate is rigidly distributed and is appropriately set, the metal thin plate has a configuration in which a plurality of slits are included in the organic EL element, and a rectangular opening is formed by juxtaposing a plurality of slits. It is preferable to arrange a plurality of jigs corresponding to the opening portion and the non-opening portion in advance. In the case of this configuration, the opening portion and the non-opening portion having greatly different rigidity can be stretched by the individual jigs, so that the metal thin plate can be kept free from skew or deflection.

In the frame-stacking device of the present invention, a plurality of plate stretching units and a plurality of frames are equally disposed on at least two sides of a rectangular frame disposed at a predetermined position and a rectangular metal plate disposed thereon. The unit is housed, so that at least two sides of the metal sheets are opposed to each other, and the metal sheets are held in a flat state without skew or deflection by a plurality of clamps and tension is applied, and the openings are provided. At this time, the opening portion can be maintained at a position where the desired dimensional accuracy is maintained. Further, it is possible to form a state in which a pressing force in a direction opposite to the stretching tension applied to the metal thin plate is applied to the frame, and in this state, the metal thin plate is fixed to the frame by the spot welding machine, so that the metal thin plate can be eliminated. It is skewed or deflected, and the opening or the like is held on the frame while maintaining the desired dimensional accuracy. Further, after the metal sheet or the frame is liberated, the metal sheet can be kept free from skew or deflection, and the opening portion or the like can be maintained in a state of desired dimensional accuracy.

Here, when the plate stretching unit and the frame holding unit are disposed in advance on each of the four sides of the metal thin plate and the frame, the metal thin plate is stretched in both the vertical and horizontal directions, and the skew can be further prevented from being skewed or scratched. The state of the curve, and can be fixed and held on the frame in this state.

It is preferable that the jig moving means provided in the above-described plate stretching unit and the frame holding member moving means provided in the frame holding unit can easily adjust the applied force by using a cylinder device such as an air cylinder. When the cylinder device is used, an individual cylinder device can be used for the jig moving means and the frame holding unit, but a common cylinder device is used for the jig moving means and the frame holding unit, and the cylinder is used. It is preferable that the apparatus is connected to the jig and the frame pressing member so as to be movable in a direction in which they are apart from each other or in a direction in which they approach each other. In such a configuration, by the common cylinder device, the tension and the squeezing pressure can be simultaneously applied to the jig and the frame pressing member, which not only simplifies the structure, but also allows the tension and the pressing force to be imparted. equal.

In the frame holding member, it is preferable to provide a support surface for supporting and supporting the frame in advance. In this manner, there is no need to provide a dedicated device for the support frame, and the device can be simplified.

The arrangement of the plurality of panel stretching units and the frame holding unit on one side may be such that the jig for holding the sheet metal is determined in such a manner that the rigidity distribution of the sheet metal is at an appropriate position. A thin metal plate, such as a multi-faceted mask used in the manufacture of an organic EL element, includes a plurality of slits and a rectangular opening portion is formed in parallel, and a plurality of plate stretching units and frame holding units are previously provided. It is preferable to arrange corresponding to the opening portion and the non-opening portion. In the case of this configuration, the opening portion and the non-opening portion having different rigidity can be stretched by the individual jigs, so that the metal thin plate can be stretched and held in a state of no skew or deflection.

The tension applied by the moving means of the plurality of plate stretching units, The composition can be adjusted to be better on each of the panel extension units. In the case of this configuration, the stretching tension applied to the thin metal plate can be precisely adjusted in accordance with the position, so that the metal thin plate can be further stretched without being skewed or bent, and fixed to the frame.

According to the present invention, the four sides of the metal thin plate are respectively held by a plurality of jigs, and the tensile force is applied to the metal thin plate to make the metal thin plate to be in a state of no skew or deflection, and the corner of the metal thin plate is clamped. The jig near the portion can be moved in a direction at right angles to the stretching direction. Therefore, the jigs disposed to hold the corner portions do not interfere with each other, so that the corner portions of the thin metal plate can be stretched to a predetermined position. The metal sheet is held in a state of no skew or deflection, and also includes a corner portion within a predetermined dimensional accuracy range, and thus can be fixed to the frame in this state. In this way, the metal thin plate is fixed to the metal thin plate formed on the frame, and the metal thin plate is maintained in a state of no skew or deflection, and the positions of the respective portions in the metal thin plate (for example, in the metal thin plate having a plurality of openings) The position of each opening portion is also maintained within a predetermined dimensional accuracy range including the corner portion, and when the metal thin plate is used for vapor deposition, for example, the vapor deposition of the fine pattern can be accurately performed.

First embodiment

The present invention is preferably applied to any metal thin plate which is required to be in a flat state in which it is inclined or deflected, and is preferably used as a metal thin plate which is used as a multi-face mask for vapor deposition for manufacturing an organic EL element which requires precision. Hereinafter, a multi-face mask for vapor deposition is used in the production of an organic EL element. The metal sheet used is taken as an example to illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a schematic plan view of a frame-mounting device for a thin metal plate according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a procedure for performing a frame-fitting operation by the image-mounting device, and FIG. 3 is a view showing the same. A schematic perspective view of a thin metal plate and a frame processed by the frame-mounting device, a fourth perspective view showing a thin metal plate and a frame after the frame is attached, and a fifth drawing showing the plate extending in the frame-mounting device A schematic side view of the state in which the jig is opened, and Fig. 6 (a) and (b) are schematic side views showing the state in which the plate is stretched and the frame pressing unit is operated in a different state.

In Fig. 3, reference numeral 11 denotes a rectangular metal thin plate used as a vapor deposition mask, in which an opening portion 12 having a plurality of slits 12a is formed in plural and vertically and horizontally. Reference numeral 13 is a metal frame for mounting the thin metal plate 11, and is provided with an opening portion 14 having a size including a plurality of openings 12 for forming the thin metal plate 11. The thin metal plate 11 is formed to have a larger size than the frame 13 in both the longitudinal and lateral directions, and an easy-to-cut line 15 which is easy to bend and can be cut is formed at a position substantially corresponding to the outer periphery of the frame 13. The easy cutting line 15 has a strength that can withstand the tensile force applied to the thin metal plate 11.

The thin metal plate 11 is fixed to the frame 13 by spot welding or the like, and the peripheral portion is cut and removed by the easy cutting line 15, whereby the vapor deposition mask device 17 shown in Fig. 4 can be formed. The thickness of the thin metal plate 11 used herein, the size of the opening portion 12, the size of the slit formed thereon, and the like are not particularly limited, but a representative size may be, for example, the thickness of the thin metal plate 11. The size of the opening portion 12 is 50 to 70 mm, the width is 30 to 50 mm, and the width of the slit is 30 to 200 μm. 50 to 100 μm, the width of the metal thin wires constituting the slit is 100 to 150 μm.

In the first drawing, the frame-mounting device of the thin metal plate, which is denoted by reference numeral 20, is provided with a rectangular frame 13 disposed at a predetermined position and a plurality of four sides of the thin metal plate 11 disposed thereon, which are juxtaposed in parallel The plate extension ‧ frame pressing unit 21 and the support rail 22 holding the plate extension ‧ frame pressing unit 21 are provided. The support rail 22 is disposed parallel to each side of the thin metal plate 11 disposed at a predetermined position. Each of the panel extensions ‧ frame pressing unit 21 remains movable on the support rail 22, moves along the support rail 22 to a desired position, and is configured to be fixed at the position.

Each of the panel extension ‧ frame pressing unit 21 is provided with a support table 24 that is movable on the support rail 22 and can be held at a desired position as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , and is supported by the support table The movable table 26 which is horizontally moved to the side 11a of the thin metal plate 11 via the linear motion guide 25 and which is moved in the right-angle direction, and the jig 27 which is provided on the movable table 26 to sandwich the thin metal plate 11 is fixed. a fixing claw 27a on the moving table 26, a clamp 27 for moving the claw 27b that can open and close the fixed claw 27a, and a cylinder device 29 such as an air cylinder that is opened and closed via the toggle joint 28, The cylinder device 30 such as an air cylinder provided to reciprocate the movable table 26 with respect to the support table, the auxiliary support base 32 fixed to the support base 24, and the linear support guide 33 via the linear guide 33 The cylinder pressing device 35 that holds the frame holding member 34 that moves in the same direction as the moving table, and that causes the frame holding member 34 to reciprocate the support table 24 and the support support table 32, and the like The forward position of the mobile station 26 (the mobile station 26 is facing The direction of the center of the sheet metal 11 The stopper 36 or the like provided so as to move the position of the member 34 and the retracted position of the frame holding member 34 (the movement limit position at which the frame member 13 moves away from the frame 13 in the direction away from the frame 13).

When the cylinder device 30 connected to the moving table 26 is moved as shown in Fig. 6(b), the moving table 26 is moved in the direction of the arrow mark A when the piston rod 30a is extended. The stretching force acts on the thin metal plate 11 held by the jig 27, and the stretching force acts on the thin metal plate 11 held by the jig 27 to constitute a jig moving means for moving the jig. The frame holding member 34 is a support surface 34 provided with the support frame 13, and the jig 27 can be moved when moving in the direction of the arrow B in the opposite direction to the direction A of the tensile force applied to the thin metal plate 11. The pressure in the direction of the mark B acts on the structure of the frame 13.

Here, the state of the thin metal plate 11 and the frame 13 is viewed from above, and the frame holding member 34 applies a pressing force to the field of the frame 13, which is the field in which the jig 27 in the frame 13 overlaps the field of the stretched metal thin plate 11. Upper (in the corresponding field) is set in such a manner that elastic deformation in the direction of the arrow mark B can be generated. Preferably, the frame holding member 34 applies a pressing force to the center of the field on the frame 13, and is set such that the jig 27 is superposed on the center of the field in which the thin metal plate 11 is stretched. When the cylinder device 35 connected to the frame holding member 34 is moved such that the piston rod 35a is extended, the frame holding member 34 is moved in the direction of the arrow mark B to impart the same to the metal sheet 11 When the tension is applied to the frame 13 in the opposite direction, the frame holding member is configured to apply a pressing force to the frame, and the frame moving the member to hold the member moves the member moving means.

In the first drawing, a plurality of plate extending and arranging pressing units 21 provided on the four sides 11a of the thin metal plate 11 are disposed so as to correspond to the opening portion 12 and the non-opening portion 12b of the thin metal plate 11 located at a predetermined position. The width of the jig 27 to be provided is determined in such a manner that the opening portion 12 of the thin metal plate 11 is juxtaposed and the non-opening portion can be stretched. According to this configuration, the region in which the opening portion 12 of the thin metal plate 11 is arranged in the vertical direction and the region in the horizontal direction, and the region extending in the vertical direction at the position without the opening portion and the region extending in the lateral direction can be used. The individual clamps 27 are used to stretch well.

In the cylinder device 30 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) for providing the extension tension provided in each of the plurality of plate extension and frame pressing units 21, the tension is individually adjusted, and the adjustment is continued via the regulator. Go to the actuating fluid supply piping. Further, in the actuating fluid supply pipe, a common on-off valve is provided so that all the cylinder devices can be simultaneously actuated, and the actuation timing of each cylinder device can be separately adjusted, and is also connected A speed controller is provided in the operating fluid supply pipe of each cylinder device. The plurality of plate extensions ‧ the frame pressing unit 21 is provided with a pressing force applying cylinder 35, and is connected to the operating fluid supply pipe. In the actuating fluid supply pipe, a common regulator is provided so that the pressure of all the cylinder devices 35 can be simultaneously adjusted. Further, the actuating fluid supply pipe is also provided with a regulator in such a manner that the pressing force by each of the cylinder devices 35 can be individually adjusted.

However, although the above-mentioned sheet stretching and squeezing unit 21 is a sheet extending function for stretching the metal sheet 11, and a pressing function for pressing the frame 13 One of the body structures, but the plate stretching unit 21a having the function of extending the plate composed of the fixed claw 27a, the clamp 27, and the cylinder devices 29, 30, and the frame holding member 34 and the cylinder device 35 can also be used. The frame holding units 21b are configured to be independently provided.

Next, the mounting operation of the frame of the thin metal plate using the above-described frame attaching device 20 will be described. In a state in which the respective sheets are stretched and the pressing unit 21 is opened (refer to Fig. 5), the frame 13 is placed against the frame holding member 34, the thin metal plate 11 is placed thereon, and the plurality of jigs 27 are used. 4 sides are clamped. This state is the state shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2(a), and FIG. 6(a). Next, as shown in Fig. 6(b), the operating fluid is supplied to the cylinder device 30 for the extension tension imparting, so that the piston rod 30a is extended to move the jig 27 in the direction of the arrow mark A to extend The force acts on the thin metal plate 11. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 1, the thin metal plate 11 is stretched in both the longitudinal and lateral directions by a plurality of jigs 27. In this state, the surface state of the thin metal plate 11 is visually inspected, and if it is skewed or warped, the operating fluid pressure of the cylinder device 30 coupled to the jig 27 in which the field is stretched is adjusted, and the metal thin plate 11 is adjusted. It is a state in which the slits 12 of the opening portion 12 are arranged in parallel in a flat state without skew or deflection. Then, the position of each of the openings 12 formed in the thin metal plate 11 is inspected, and the openings are brought into a position within a predetermined dimensional accuracy, and the operating fluid pressure of each of the cylinder devices 30 is adjusted. According to the above, the metal thin plate 11 can be made in a flat state without skew or deflection, and each of the openings can be in a state of predetermined dimensional accuracy.

Secondly, as shown in Figure 6(b), the actuating fluid is supplied to the pressing pressure. In the cylinder device 35 for application, the piston rod 35a is extended so that the frame 13 is pressed in the direction of the arrow mark B. Here, the pressing force for pressing the frame 13 in the direction of the arrow mark B is set in advance to be substantially equal to the stretching tension of the jig 27 acting on the thin metal plate 11. Therefore, the frame 13 is elastically deformed in the direction of the arrow mark B to generate a restoring force in the opposite direction. In this state, as shown in Fig. 2(b), the thin metal plate 11 is spot-welded to the frame 13 by the laser welding machine 40. The spot welding is to sequentially move the laser welding machine 40 at the desired spot welding position. Therefore, a plurality of locations of the thin metal plate 11 are fixed to the frame 13 by the spot welding portion 42 (see FIG. 1). Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 2(c), the jig 27 is opened to release the clamping of the thin metal plate 11, and the frame holding member 34 is retracted to release the pressing force against the frame 13.

However, when the thin metal plate 11 is stretched in the direction of the arrow mark A by the jig 27, the tensile force (restoring force) in the direction of the arrow mark B is generated on the thin metal plate 11. Therefore, when the jig 27 is opened, as shown in Fig. 2(d), the tension in the direction of the arrow mark B generated on the thin metal plate 11 acts directly on the frame 13, and the frame 13 faces the direction of the arrow mark B. Stretch out. If the pressing force is not applied to the frame 13, the frame 13 supports the tensile force in the direction of the arrow mark B of the thin metal plate 11 by its own rigidity, and the frame 13 is directed toward the arrow mark B by the thin metal plate 11 at this time. The direction is stretched and elastically deformed. Although the rigidity of the frame 13 is set to be extremely large in advance, the elastic deformation is a negligible small item, but in practice, in order to reduce the weight, reduce the cost, etc., the rigidity of the frame 13 has to be made small to some extent. As a result, an elastic deformation which cannot be ignored is caused, and along with this, the thin metal plate 11 contracts, and the tensile force which has been generated inside is lowered. Therefore, the thin metal plate 11 is skewed or deflected, and the parallelism of the slits 12a of the respective opening portions 12 is distorted, and the desired slit pattern cannot be obtained, or the position of each opening portion 12 becomes aliased.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the thin metal plate 11 is fixed to the frame 13, the pressing force in the direction of the arrow B is applied to the frame 13 to be elastically deformed, so that the frame 13 is restored in the direction of the arrow A. force. Therefore, the thin metal plate 11 is fixed to the frame 13, and when the metal thin plate 11 and the frame 13 are opened, the tensile force in the direction of the arrow mark B is generated on the thin metal plate 11 to become the arrow mark B generated by the frame 13. The restoring force and the rigidity of the frame 13 are supported, and even if the rigidity of the frame 13 is small, the frame 13 does not stretch over the metal thin plate 11 and is further deformed in the direction of the arrow mark A. Thereby, the thin metal plate 11 does not shrink, and the stretching tension applied to the thin metal plate 11 is maintained as it is. As a result, even when the rigidity of the frame 13 is small, the metal thin plate 11 can be kept in a state of no skew or deflection, and each opening portion can be maintained in a state of being within a desired dimensional accuracy. In other words, by using the frame 13 which is small in rigidity and inexpensive, the metal thin plate 11 can be kept in a state of no skew or deflection, and each opening portion can be maintained in a state in which the desired dimensional accuracy is within a range.

Here, the pressing force applied to the frame 13 by the frame holding member 34 is set to be substantially equal to the stretching tension of the jig 27 acting on the thin metal plate 11, and the tensile force on the thin metal plate 11 and the frame 13 can be generated. Resilience is offset and is therefore preferred. However, even if the two are more or less different, the frame 13 itself has a certain degree of rigidity, so there is no problem. The pressing force applied to the frame 13 by the frame holding member 34 can be applied to the clamp 27 The difference in the stretching tension applied to the thin metal plate 11 may be set to within about ±30% of the stretching tension in advance.

The thin metal plate 11 is fixed to the frame 13, the jig 27 is opened, and the frame holding member 34 is retracted to release the pressing force of the frame, and then the peripheral portion of the thin metal plate 11 is removed by the easy cutting line 15. As described above, as shown in Fig. 4, the vapor deposition mask device 17 formed by fixing the thin metal plate 11 to the frame 13 can be manufactured. In the formed vapor deposition mask device 17, the metal thin plate 11 can be kept in a state of no skew or deflection, and the slits 12a of the respective opening portions 12 are also correctly held in a state in which the arrays are parallel, and the openings are opened. The position of the portion 12 is also maintained within the desired dimensional accuracy. As a result, when vapor deposition is performed by using the vapor deposition mask device 17, the vapor deposition of the fine pattern can be accurately performed.

In the above description of the operation, after the metal thin plate 11 is stretched by a plurality of jigs 27 to be adjusted to a flat state, the pressing force is applied to the frame 13, but the pressing force is applied to the frame 13 and Not limited to this, when the tension is applied by the jig 27, the pressing force can be simultaneously applied. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the cylinder device 30 that applies the tensile force to the thin metal plate 11 and the cylinder device 35 that applies the pressing force to the frame 13 are individually provided, but the present invention is not limited thereto. A common cylinder device can also be used. Hereinafter, an embodiment of this case will be described.

Fig. 7 is a view showing a plate stretching/frame pressing unit 21A used in the frame fitting device according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the board extension ‧ frame pressing unit 21A, the support table 32A is attached to the support table 24A, The frame holding member 34A is movably held by the assisting support table 32A by the linear motion guide 33, and the frame holding member 34A is coupled to the piston rod 30a of the cylinder device 30A by the connecting rod 50. The cylinder device 30A has its cylinder 30b held on the moving table 26 of the holding jig 27. With this configuration, when the cylinder device 30A is actuated, the moving table 26 and the frame holding member 34A can be moved in a direction away from each other (arrow direction A direction and arrow symbol B direction) and in the direction in which they approach, and this time The force applied to the moving table 26 and the frame holding member 34A is made the same force. Further, reference numeral 55 is a spring for pressing the connecting rod 50 toward the right side in the drawing to return the frame holding member 34A to the retracted position. The other structure is the same as the plate extension ‧ frame pressing unit 21 of the embodiment shown in Figs. The panel stretching/frame pressing unit 21A shown in Fig. 7 is for replacing the panel stretching/frame pressing unit 21 in the paneling device 20 shown in Fig. 1.

In the affixing device of the ejector pressing unit 21A shown in Fig. 7, the frame 13 is also placed against the frame holding member 34A, and the thin metal plate 11 is placed thereon and clamped by the jig 27 hold. Next, as shown in Fig. 7(b), the cylinder device 30A is moved in the direction in which the piston rod 30a is extended, and the frame holding member 34A is moved in the direction of the arrow mark B. Therefore, the tension is applied to the thin metal plate 11 by the jig 27, and the pressing force equal to the magnitude of the stretching tension can be applied to the frame 13 via the frame holding member 34A. Next, the stretching tension applied to the plurality of jigs 27 which are equally disposed on the respective four sides of the thin metal plate 11 is adjusted to make the thin metal plate free from skew or deflection, and the openings are made to be located. After the state within the predetermined dimensional accuracy range, The thin metal plate 11 is spot-welded to the frame 13 and fixed. At this time, in the field of the frame 13 which is overlapped with the clamp 27 to apply the tensile force to the metal thin plate 11, the frame holding member 34A acts on the pressing force equal to the stretching tension to cause elastic deformation, and thus Each of the thin metal plate 11 and the frame 13 has a restoring force of the same size and opposite directions, so that when the thin metal plate 11 and the frame 13 are released, the restoring force of the thin metal plate 11 and the restoring force of the frame 13 cancel each other. There is no case where the frame 13 is deformed by being stretched and stretched, so that the metal thin plate 11 does not shrink and maintains a state in which a predetermined stretching tension is applied. As a result, the frame 13 having a small rigidity and being inexpensive can be used to keep the metal thin plate 11 in a state where it is not skewed or deflected, and the openings are kept in a state of being within a desired dimensional accuracy.

In the panel stretching/frame pressing unit 21A shown in Fig. 7, by the common cylinder device 30, the tensile force imparted to the thin metal plate 11 and the pressure applied to the frame 13 can be imparted, thereby making the device structure or control. The system is simplified, and at the same time, the stretching tension applied to the thin metal plate 11 can be made equal to the pressing force applied to the frame 13, and the metal thin plate 11 can be fixed to the frame 13, so that the shrinkage of the thin metal plate 11 after the subsequent opening can be further prevented. It is obtained that the metal thin plate can be maintained in a state of no skew or deflection, and the openings are maintained in a state of being within a desired dimensional accuracy range.

Fig. 8 is a view showing a plate stretching/frame pressing unit 21B used in the frame fitting device according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In the sheet stretching frame 21B, the width of the support table 24B is enlarged, and a long rail 57 is provided thereon, and the moving table 26 is movably held on the rail 57 via the linear guide 25 while Embossing the frame via the linear guide 33 Piece 34A remains movable. Next, the frame holding member 34B is coupled to the piston rod 30a of the cylinder device 30B held by the moving table 26 by the connecting rod 50B. The other configuration is the same as the plate extension ‧ frame pressing unit 21B shown in Fig. 7. In the panel stretching frame 21B of Fig. 8, as shown in Fig. 8(b), by moving the cylinder device 30B, the moving table 26 and the jig 27 held thereon are directed toward the arrow mark. The A direction is moved while the frame holding member 34B is moved in the direction of the arrow mark B, and the tension is applied to the thin metal plate 11 by the jig 27, and the pressing force equal to the magnitude of the stretching tension can be held by the frame member 34B. It is applied to the frame 13. In this embodiment, when the moving table 26 and the frame holding member 34B are movably held by the rail 57, the advantage of simplification of the structure can be obtained.

Fig. 9 is a view showing a plate stretching/frame pressing unit 21C used in the frame fitting device according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In the plate stretching/frame pressing unit 21C, the auxiliary moving table 61 is movably held on the support table 24C via the linear guide 60, and the moving table 26 is movably held by the linear guide 25 in the subsidy Mobile station 61. Next, the frame holding member 34C is attached to the auxiliary moving table 61, and the cylinder 30b of the cylinder device 30C is attached to the moving table 26, and the piston rod 30a is coupled to the auxiliary moving table 61. Further, a spring 63 for returning the frame holding member 34C to the retracted position is also provided. The other configuration is the same as the plate extension ‧ frame pressing unit 21B shown in Fig. 7. In the panel stretching frame 21C of Fig. 9, as shown in Fig. 9(b), by moving the cylinder device 30C, the moving table 26 and the jig 27 held thereon are directed toward the arrow mark. The A direction is moved, and the frame holding member 34C is moved toward the arrow mark B via the auxiliary moving table 61, and the tension is applied to the metal thin plate 11 by the jig 27, and the pressing force equal to the stretching tension can be applied. It is applied to the frame 13 via the frame holding member 34C. In this embodiment, by arranging the auxiliary moving table 61 and the moving table 26 in an overlapping manner, it is possible to obtain a small advantage that the width of the plate stretching/frame pressing unit 21C is made small.

Fig. 10 is a schematic plan view showing a frame attaching device 20D according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In the frame-mounting device 20D of the present embodiment, a plurality of plate stretching and frame pressing units 21 are disposed on each of four sides of the thin metal plate 11 located at a predetermined position. Further, an additional plate stretching/frame pressing unit 21d is disposed on the corner portion 11b between the adjacent two sides 11a of the thin metal plate 11, and the other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 10, the metal thin plate 11 is held by the jigs 27 of the respective sheet stretching members ‧ the pressing unit 21 and the additional sheet stretching ‧ frame pressing unit 21d, and is stretched and adjusted to be flat, and Fixed on the box of the pressure state. At this time, the thin metal plate 11 is first stretched in the diagonal direction by the jig 27 of the additional plate extension ‧ frame pressing unit 21d disposed at the corner portion 11b, and secondly, by the four-sided plate extension ‧ frame pressing unit 21 stretches in both directions. In this manner, first, when the four corner portions 11b of the thin metal plate 11 are pulled in the diagonal direction, the entire thin metal plate 11 can be stretched, and the corner portion 11b can be disposed between the clamped positions 27 When the interference is made small, the tensile force in both the longitudinal and transverse directions can be applied to the entire thin metal plate 11. Thus, it is possible to maintain the metal sheet in a state of no skew or deflection, and to maintain the opening portion 12 at a position of a desired dimensional accuracy.

Alternatively, the additional plate of the corner portion 11b may be stretched over the ‧ frame pressing unit 21d, and replaced by a plate stretching unit having only a plate stretching function.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the clamp moving means for moving the clamp by applying the tensile force to the metal thin plate held by the clamp, or the frame holding member presses the pressing force on the frame, and moving the upper frame to move the member The frame holding member moving means is not limited to the cylinder device shown in the embodiment, and may be changed to use a motor. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the operating fluid pressure of the cylinder device 30 supplied to the jig 27 which respectively supplies the tension to the plurality of plate extensions ‧ frame pressing unit 21 and the additional plate extension ‧ frame pressing unit 21d can be Individually adjusted, each of the jigs 27 can be individually adjusted to impart the tensile force to the thin metal plate 11. This configuration can precisely adjust the stretching tension applied to the thin metal plate 11, so that even in the metal thin plate 11 which is liable to be skewed or deflected, the advantage of being able to maintain the state of being stretched extremely flat can be obtained. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, in the case where the thin metal plate 11 which is stretched in a flat state is relatively easily held, the plurality of jigs 27 disposed on the respective sides 11a may be, for example, corresponding to the opening portion. The jig of 12 is the first group, and the jig corresponding to the non-opening portion 12b is divided into a plurality of groups, and the operating fluid pressures of the cylinder devices connected to the jigs of the respective groups are collectively created. Adjustment.

Further, the plate stretching members 21, 21B, 21C, and the like disposed on the respective sides 11a of the thin metal plate 11 are not necessarily limited to the individual jigs. In the case of being placed at a position corresponding to the opening portion 12 and the non-opening portion 12b, the opening portion and the non-opening portion may be appropriately combined, and may be changed to have a wide width, or may be more subdivided. The way the field is changed to use more fixtures. In any case, as long as the metal sheet can be kept in a state of being stretched or not bent in accordance with the characteristics of the metal sheet to be used, the number or arrangement of the jigs for determining the sheet stretching and pressing unit is determined. can. Further, in the above-described embodiment, a plurality of plate stretching and arranging pressing units are disposed on the four sides 11a of the thin metal sheets 11, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the plural number may be arranged only on the opposite sides. The board is stretched and the box is pressed. However, in this case, it is preferable that the slits of the opening portion 12 are arranged in parallel, and a plurality of plate stretching and frame pressing units are disposed at both ends in the same direction as the slit.

Second embodiment

The present invention is applicable to a case where any rectangular metal mask (also referred to as a metal sheet) which is required to be held in a flat state without skew or deflection is mounted on a rectangular frame (also referred to as a frame), but particularly It is preferable to use it as a metal steaming cover with a multi-surface mask for vapor deposition for manufacturing an organic EL element requiring precision. Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described by taking a metal mask used as a multi-face mask for vapor deposition in the manufacture of an EL device as an example.

Fig. 20 is a schematic perspective view of a metal mask and a frame-shaped frame processed by a frame mounting device (also referred to as a thin-plate attaching device) of the embodiment to be described later, and Fig. 21 is a view in which a metal mask is attached to the frame. And form A schematic perspective view of the mask unit.

In Fig. 20, reference numeral 101 denotes a rectangular quadrangular metal mask (also referred to as a metal thin plate) used as a vapor deposition mask, and is formed by juxtaposing a plurality of mask portions (opening portions) 102 vertically and horizontally. Each of the mask portions (opening portions) 102 is provided with a plurality of minute slits 102a that can be vapor-deposited. The shape and arrangement of the slits in each of the mask portions 102 may be arbitrary. For example, the slits of the elongated slit shape may be arranged in parallel, and the slits of the long hole shape may be arranged in parallel in the vertical direction and in parallel. . Reference numeral 103 denotes a rigid frame for mounting the metal mask 101, and includes an opening portion 104 having a size including a plurality of mask portions 102 in which the metal mask 101 is formed (referred to as an effective region). The metal mask 101 is formed to have a larger dimension in both the longitudinal and lateral directions than the frame 103, and an easy-cut line 105 that can be easily cut by bending is formed at a position substantially corresponding to the outer periphery of the frame 103. Further, the easy cutting line 105 is provided to have an strength capable of withstanding the tensile force applied to the metal mask 101. The thickness of the metal mask 101, the size of the mask portion 102, the size of a plurality of minute openings formed thereon, and the like are not particularly limited. However, as a representative, the thickness of the metal mask 101 may be 30. ~200μm, the size of the mask portion 102 can be 50~70mm, the width can be 30~50mm, the width of the slit 102a can be 40~100μm, and the width of the non-porous portion between the openings arranged in parallel can be 80 ~200μm, etc. The metal mask 101 is fixed to the frame 103 by spot welding or the like, and the peripheral portion thereof is cut by the easy cutting line 105, and when removed, the mask unit 108 shown in Fig. 21 can be formed.

Figure 11 is a frame mounting of a metal mask according to an embodiment of the present invention. A schematic plan view of the apparatus, Fig. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the frame mounting device shown in Fig. 11, and Fig. 13 (a) and (b) are diagrams showing that the tension unit 113 provided on the frame mounting device is in a different operating state. Fig. 14 (a) and (b) are schematic side views showing the tension unit 113A provided at a position near the corner of the metal cover of the frame mounting device, in a different operating state. Fig. 15 is a schematic front view of the direction of the VV arrow of Fig. 14(b).

In the eleventh and twelfth drawings, a frame mounting device (also referred to as a metal thin plate attaching device) of a metal mask indicated by reference numeral 110 is provided with a support table 111 and a support table 111. A plurality of tension units 113, 113A are disposed by sandwiching a plurality of points on each of the four sides of the metal mask 101 to apply tension. Here, the tension unit 113A is disposed at a position near the corner of the metal cover 101, and the tension unit 113 is disposed in another field.

That is, the metal mask 101 has a rectangular shape, and the tension unit 113A is provided in the vicinity of the corner portion 101b between the adjacent sides 101a, and the tension unit 113 is disposed in other fields.

Further, the tension unit 113 may be referred to as a plate stretching unit, and the tension unit 113A may also be referred to as an additional plate stretching unit.

As shown in an enlarged view of Fig. 13, the tension unit 113 includes a base member 115 fixed to the support rail 114 provided on the support base 111 by an adjustable mounting position, and a direct motion on the base member 115. The guide member 116 holds the movable clamp support table 117 toward the extension direction of the metal mask, and is disposed on the clamp support table 117 to clamp the metal cover. The jig 118 of the cover 101, the jig opening and closing mechanism 119 that opens and closes the jig 118, and the tensile force acting on the metal cover 101 sandwiched by the jig 118 move the jig support table 117 of the holding jig 118 relative to the base member 115. The jig moves means 123 and the like.

The jig 118 is provided with a fixed claw 118a fixed to the clamp support base 117, and a movable claw 118b that is openable and closable relative thereto. The jig opening and closing mechanism 119 includes a toggle mechanism 120, and a cylinder mechanism 121 such as a cylinder device that opens and closes the movable claw 118b via the toggle mechanism 120. The toggle mechanism 120 includes a first handle 120b that is rotatable about a pin 120a on a support plate 117a attached to the clamp support base 117, and a rotatable centering on the support plate 117a with a pin 120c as a center. The second shank 120d, the link 120e that connects the first shank 120b and the second shank 120d, and the like, the cylinder mechanism 121 is coupled to the first shank 120b, and the movable claw 118b of the jig 118 is rotatably held by the second shank 120d. Further, an adjustment screw 120f for supporting the back surface of the movable claw 118b is attached to the distal end of the second shank 120d, and the adjustment screw 120f is used to move the claw when the clamp 118 is in the closed position as shown in Fig. 13(b) The height position of 118b is made adjustable. However, although not shown in the drawings, as shown in FIG. 13(a), a spring is also provided, and the second handle 120d is rotated upward to open the movable claw 118b, and the movable claw 118b is held in contact with the movable claw 118b. Adjust the position on the screw 120f. With these configurations, the first shank 120b can be reciprocated by the cylinder mechanism 121 to open and close the jig 118, and the closed position shown in Fig. 13(b) can be fixed by the claw 118a and the movable claw 118b. The metal mask 101 is firmly held.

The jig moving means 123 is for reciprocating the jig support table 117 with respect to the base member 115. In the present embodiment, an air cylinder is used. As shown in Fig. 13(b), the jig moving means 123 can move the metal mask 101 held by the jig 118 in the direction of the arrow mark A by moving the jig support table 117 in the direction of the arrow mark A. force. Here, although the air cylinder is used as the jig moving means 123 here, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a hydraulic cylinder, a servo motor or the like may be used.

A frame support 125 supporting the frame 103 is mounted on the base member 115. The frame support 125 is configured to position the frame 103 at a predetermined position in the horizontal plane by placing the frame 103 thereon, while the upper surface of the frame 103 is held on the clamp 118 and is biased with metal. The mask 101 is substantially in contact with each other and can be positioned in the up and down direction. Further, the frame support 125 also functions as a stopper for restricting the forward position of the jig support table 117.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 , the tension unit 113A disposed to sandwich the vicinity of the corner portion of the metal cover 101 is provided with an adjustable mounting on the support rail 114 provided on the support base 111. The first base member 115A fixed in the form of a position, the metal mask 101 held by the clamp 118 in the first base member 115A via the linear guide 127, and the direction of the extension of the metal mask is added. The second base member 115B that is movable in the right-angle direction and the direction in which the tension is applied to the metal mask via the linear guide 116 on the second base member 115B (the movement direction of the jig support 117 to be described later is The movable clamp support table 117 is held in the same direction, and is disposed on the clamp support table 117. The jig 118 that sandwiches the metal mask 101 and the jig opening and closing mechanism 119 that includes the cylinder mechanism 121 such as an air cylinder that opens and closes the jig 118 via the toggle mechanism 120, and the tensile force is applied to the clamp 118. The jig moving means 123 for moving the jig support table 117 of the holding jig 118 with respect to the second base member 115B, the frame support 125 of the support frame 103, and the like are formed in a manner of the metal cover 101.

Here, the second base member 115B is made to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the jig support table 117 by the linear motion guide 127, and the jig support table 117 and the jig 118 held thereon are oriented The extension tension is added to the direction A of the metal mask 101 and the direction of the BB which is a right angle. Further, when the position return spring is provided between the first base member 115A and the second base member 115B, and the force in the BB direction acts on the second base member 115B, the movement of the second base member 115B is allowed, and the force disappears. Then return to the original central position. The frame support 125 is held on the first base member 115A. The other construction is the same as the tension unit 113 shown in Fig. 13.

In Figs. 11 and 12, the tension units 113 and 113A are arranged such that the respective sides of the metal mask 101 are sandwiched by a plurality of tension units 113 and 113A, and the tension can be applied to the sides in the right-angle direction. . Further, the jigs 118 of the plurality of tension units 113 and 113A disposed so as to sandwich the respective sides of the metal mask 101 are entirely disposed on the mask portion 102 and the non-mask portion 102b of the metal mask 101. The field extending in the longitudinal direction of the mask portion 102 forming the metal mask 101 and the field extending in the lateral direction, and the field extending in the longitudinal direction without the mask and the collar extending in the lateral direction The domains can be stretched by respective clamps 118 to impart tension.

The tension applied to the metal mask 101 can be individually adjusted, and the jig moving means 123 provided on each of the plurality of tension units 113, 113A is provided with individual adjustment by the driving force of the jig moving means 123. Adjustment means (not shown). More specifically, the air cylinders constituting the jig moving means 123 are connected to the air supply pipe, and the air supply pipe is provided with a regulator that can individually adjust the supply pressure of each air cylinder as an adjusting means. Further, the clamp moving means (air cylinder) 123 of all the tension units 113 can be simultaneously operated, and the air supply pipes connected to the air cylinders are supplied with air via a common opening and closing valve, and are adjustable. A speed controller may be provided in the air supply piping of each air cylinder in such a manner as to operate the air cylinders.

Next, the metal mask mounting operation of the metal mask frame mounting device 110 having the above configuration will be described. As shown in Figs. 13(a) and 14(a), the jig support table 117 is placed at the advanced position, and in the state where the jig 118 is opened, first, the frame 103 is held in the frame of the plurality of tension units 113, 113A. On the support member 125, next, a metal mask 101 is placed thereon so that the four sides thereof are held by the jigs 118 of the plurality of tension units 113. At this time, the metal mask 101 is previously positioned on the frame 103 using a plurality of positioning pins (not shown). Next, the pressurized air is sent to the jig moving means (air cylinder) 123 connected to each of the jig support tables 117, and the jigs 118 are moved from the direction in which the metal mask 101 is separated, and the metal mask 101 is mostly used. a small tension is applied to both the longitudinal and transverse directions to form the metal mask 101 in a slightly open state. The positioning pin is removed in the state, and thereafter, a large stretching force is applied to the metal mask 101. This state is the state shown in Fig. 13 (b) and Fig. 14 (b). However, even when the positioning pin is removed from the metal mask 101, the position of the metal mask 101 with respect to the frame 103 does not change, so that the desired positioning accuracy with respect to the frame 103 of the metal mask 101 can be maintained.

As described above, by the tension unit 113 disposed on the four sides of the metal mask 101, the four sides of the metal mask 101 are respectively sandwiched, and when the tensile force is applied, as shown in Fig. 11, the metal mask 101 is mostly The jigs 118 are stretched in both the longitudinal and transverse directions. In this state, the surface state of the metal mask 101 is visually inspected, and if it is skewed or deflected, the operating fluid pressure of the jig moving means (air cylinder) 123 connected to the jig 118 extending the field is adjusted. It is adjusted so that the metal mask 101 can be kept in a flat state without being skewed or deflected, and the opening portions of the mask portion 102 are arranged in parallel. Then, the positions of the respective mask portions 102 formed on the metal mask 101 are inspected, and the respective mask portions 102 are moved to positions within a predetermined dimensional accuracy, and the actuator fluid of each of the jig moving means (air cylinders) 123 is adjusted. pressure. In the adjustment operation, as shown in Fig. 16, the tension units 113A and 113A that sandwich the corner portions of the metal mask 101 and are disposed in the vicinity thereof, and the jigs 118 and 118 apply the stretching force in the direction of the arrow A and the direction of the arrow B. The metal mask 101 is placed on the metal mask 101. Therefore, the partial metal mask 101 held by the jig 118 of each tension unit 113A is oriented toward the clamp by the tension of the tension unit 113 disposed on the adjacent corner of the clamping corner portion. The direction of the extension of the 118 is extended in the direction of the right angle (B direction or A direction), and the force acts on the jig 118. However, in the tension unit 113A The jig support table 117 (see FIGS. 14 and 15) supporting the jig 118 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the extension of the metal mask is applied, and is thus stretched and moved on the metal cover 101. . Therefore, the corner portion of the metal mask 101 can be stretched to a predetermined size, and the corner portion of the effective area can be positioned at the desired point P. In this way, the metal mask 101 can be made in a state of no skew or deflection, and each of the mask portions 102 and the mask portion 102 disposed at the corner portion can be within a predetermined dimensional accuracy range.

Next, in this state, as shown in Fig. 12, the metal mask 101 is spot-welded to the frame 103 using the laser welding machine 130. The spot welding is such that the laser welder 130 is sequentially moved at the desired spot welding position. Therefore, a plurality of locations of the metal mask 101 are fixed to the frame 103 by the spot welding portion 132 (see FIG. 11). Thereafter, the jig 118 is opened to release the nip of the metal mask 101, and the peripheral portion of the metal mask 101 is removed by the easy-cut line 105. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 21, the mask unit 108 having the structure in which the metal mask 101 is fixed to the frame 103 can be formed. In the mask unit 108 thus produced, the metal mask 101 is kept in a state of no skew or deflection, and the opening portions of the mask portions 102 are correctly held in a state of being aligned in parallel, and each mask portion is provided. The position of 102 is also maintained within the predetermined dimensional accuracy. As a result, when the mask unit 108 is used for vapor deposition, the vapor deposition of the fine pattern can be accurately performed. For example, a vapor-deposited substrate such as a glass substrate is attached to the mask unit 108, and a vapor deposition machine is provided, and by vapor deposition of an organic layer or a cathode of the organic EL element, vapor deposition of a fine pattern can be performed. The positional accuracy is good, so it can be formed with high quality. Machine layer or cathode.

In the above-described embodiment, the tension unit 113A that moves the clamp 118 in the direction in which the tension is applied to the metal mask is moved in the direction of the right angle, and the tension unit is disposed at the closest position on the corner portion of each side. The number of the 113A can be appropriately increased or decreased, and as the case may be, all the tension units may be used as the tension unit 113A. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the tension unit 113A holds the clamp base 117 or the second base of the jig moving means 123 in order to move the jig 118 in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the extension of the metal mask is applied. The member 115B is formed to move in a right-angle direction with respect to the direction in which the tension is applied. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and at least the jig 118 may be moved in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the tension is applied. Hereinafter, another example of the tension unit usable in the present invention will be described.

The tension unit 113B shown in Fig. 17 is a first clamp support table 117A and a second clamp support table 117B that divide the clamp support table 117 into upper and lower sides in the tension unit 113 shown in Fig. 13 . The linear motion guide 134 is disposed, and the second clamp support 117B is formed parallel to the metal mask 101 held by the clamp 118 and can be moved in a right angle direction with respect to the extension tension of the metal mask, and the clamp 118 and the clamp The opening and closing mechanism 119 is held by the second jig support table 117B, and the jig moving means 123 is coupled to the first jig support table 117A. Further, a position return spring (not shown) that resets the second jig support table 117B to the center position with respect to the first jig support table 117A is also provided. The other configuration is the same as the tension unit 113 shown in Fig. 13. The tension unit 113B, the fixture The 118 is also movable in a direction perpendicular to the extension of the metal mask. Therefore, when it is used in the vicinity of the corner portion of the metal mask 101, the corner portion of the metal mask 101 can be made. Unobstructed to be stretched to a predetermined size position.

In the tension unit 113C shown in Figs. 18 and 19, the jig 118A can constitute a movable claw 118Ab that is rotatable via the pin 136 with respect to the fixed claw 118Aa and the fixed claw 118Aa, and the jig 118A can be moved relative to the jig support base 117 via the jig 118A. The linear motion guide 138 is formed parallel to the metal mask 101 held by the clamp 118A and is movable in a right angle direction with respect to the extension tension of the metal mask. Further, a reset spring is provided for returning the jig 118A to the center position with respect to the jig support table 117. Further, on the jig support table 117, a jig opening and closing mechanism 119A including a toggle mechanism 120A that opens and closes the jig 118A and a link mechanism 121 is held. The toggle mechanism 120A includes a first handle 120b that is rotatable about a pin 120a on a support plate 117a attached to the clamp support base 117, and a rotatable centering on the support plate 117a with a pin 120c as a center. The second shank 120d, the link 120e that connects the first shank 120b and the second shank 120d, and the like, the cylinder mechanism 121 is coupled to the first shank 120b, and the movable claw 118Ab of the jig 118A is attached to the second shank 120d. Push the adjustment screw 120g to the closed position. The adjusting screw 120g is also adjustable as shown in Fig. 18(b) by the locking force of the movable claw 118Ab when the clamp 118A is in the closed position. Further, in order to open and close the movable claw 118Ab in conjunction with the reciprocal rotation of the second shank 120d, a torsion coil spring 140 is also provided to connect the two. Other constructions and tension units shown in Figure 13 113 is the same. In the tension unit 113C, the jig 118C is also movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the extension of the metal mask is applied, so that it can be used in the vicinity of the corner portion 101b of the metal mask 101. The corner portion of the metal mask 101 is stretched unobstructed to a predetermined size position.

As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the operating fluid pressures supplied to the jig moving means (air cylinders) 123 for applying the stretching tension to the plurality of jigs 118 are individually adjustable so that the jigs 18 are given to the metal mask 101. The extension tension can be adjusted individually. This configuration can precisely adjust the stretching tension applied to the metal mask 101, so that even in the metal mask 101 which is likely to be skewed or deflected, the advantage of being able to maintain the state of being extremely flat can be obtained. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, in a case where a metal mask that is relatively easily stretched in a flat state is used, a plurality of jigs disposed on each side, for example, a jig corresponding to the mask portion may be used. In the first group, the jigs corresponding to the non-mask portions are divided into a plurality of groups as the second group, and the operating fluid pressures of the cylinder devices connected to the jigs of the respective groups are collectively adjusted.

Further, the tension units 113 and 113A (or 113B, 113C) disposed on each side of the metal mask 101 are not necessarily limited to the positions where the individual jigs 118 are respectively fitted to the mask portion 102 and the non-mask portion 102b. In the case of the arrangement, the mask portion 102 and the non-mask portion 102b may be combined as appropriate, and the width may be changed to a wide width or may be sandwiched. The way to divide the field is changed to use more fixtures. In any case, depending on the characteristics of the metal mask used, the metal mask can be held in a state of being stretched without being skewed or deflected, and the number or arrangement of the tension unit (the jig) can be determined.

Further, the first embodiment and the second embodiment have been described separately, but the first embodiment and the second embodiment may be combined as needed.

For example, the tension unit 113A shown in Fig. 11 of the second embodiment may be used instead of the additional plate extension ‧ frame pressing unit 21d shown in Fig. 10 of the first embodiment.

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a method and apparatus for affixing a thin metal plate according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a procedure of a frame-fitting operation performed by the image sticking device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a thin metal plate and a frame processed by the frame attaching device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a thin metal plate and a frame after being framed.

Fig. 5 is a partial cross-sectional schematic side view showing a state in which a plate stretcher/frame pressing unit and a jig used in the frame attaching device of Fig. 1 are opened.

Fig. 6(a) and Fig. 6(b) are partial cross-sectional schematic side views showing a state in which the panel extension and the frame pressing unit shown in Fig. 5 are closed, a state in which the frame is closed, and a different operation state.

Fig. 7 (a) and (b) are partial cross-sectional schematic side views showing a state in which the plate stretched by the other embodiment, the pressing unit, and the jig are closed, and different operating states.

Fig. 8 (a) and (b) are partial cross-sectional schematic side views showing a state in which the plate stretching unit and the jig used in the other embodiment are closed, a state in which the jig is closed, and a different operation state.

Fig. 9 (a) and (b) are partial cross-sectional schematic side views showing a state in which the plate stretching unit and the jig used in the other embodiment are closed, a state in which the jig is closed, and a different operation state.

Fig. 10 is a schematic plan view showing a frame attaching device for a metal thin plate according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a schematic plan view showing a frame mounting device (a frame attaching device) for a metal mask (metal thin plate) according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the frame mounting device shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 (a) and (b) are schematic side views showing the tension unit provided in the frame mounting device shown in Fig. 11 in different operating states.

Fig. 14 (a) and (b) are schematic side views showing the tension unit provided on the frame mounting device shown in Fig. 11 in different operating states.

Fig. 15 is a schematic front view of the direction of the arrow V-V of Fig. 14(b).

Figure 16 is a view showing the gold in the frame mounting device shown in Figure 11 It is a rough plan view of the corner area of the mask, which is in a state in which a plurality of tension units are stretched.

Fig. 17 (a) and (b) are schematic cross-sectional side views showing portions of the tension unit used in the other embodiment in different operating states.

Fig. 18 (a) and (b) are schematic cross-sectional side views showing the tension unit used in still another embodiment in a different operating state.

Fig. 19 (a) and (b) are a schematic front view and a schematic side view showing a jig of the tension unit shown in Fig. 18 and a portion in the vicinity thereof.

Fig. 20 is a schematic perspective view of a metal mask and a frame-like frame.

Fig. 21 is a schematic perspective view of a mask unit formed by attaching a metal mask to a frame.

Fig. 22 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which both ends of a vapor deposition mask having a plurality of faces are sandwiched and stretched by one jig.

Fig. 23 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a conventional multi-faced vapor deposition mask.

[Symbol description of main components]

11‧‧‧Metal sheet

11a, 101a‧‧‧The side of the metal sheet

12‧‧‧ openings

12a‧‧‧slit

13,103‧‧‧ box

14,104‧‧‧ openings

15,105‧‧‧Easy cutting line

17‧‧‧Decanted masking device

20,20D‧‧‧Frame device

21, 21A, 21B, 21C‧‧‧ board extension ‧ frame pressing unit

21a‧‧‧Sheet extension unit

21b‧‧‧Boxed unit

22‧‧‧Support track

24, 24A, 24B, 24C‧‧‧ Support Desk

25‧‧‧Directional guides

26‧‧‧Mobile Station

27,118‧‧‧ fixture

27a‧‧‧Fixed claws

27b‧‧‧ movable claw

28‧‧‧Toggle joint

29, 30, 35, 30A, 30B, 30C‧‧‧cylinder device

30a, 35a‧‧ ‧ Pistons

30b‧‧‧ cylinder

32,32A‧‧‧Subsidy support desk

34, 34A, 34B, 34C‧‧‧ framed components

25,33,60‧‧‧Directional guides

36‧‧‧STOP

40,150‧‧‧laser welding machine

42,132‧‧‧ Spot Welding Department

50, 50B‧‧‧ Connecting rod

57‧‧‧ Track

61‧‧‧Subsidized mobile station

21d‧‧‧Sheet extension ‧ frame pressing unit

11b, 101b‧‧‧ corner

101‧‧‧Metal mask

102b‧‧‧Unmasked

102‧‧‧Mask Department

103‧‧‧Frame

104‧‧‧ openings

108‧‧‧Mask unit

111‧‧‧Support Desk

113,113A, 113B, 113C‧‧‧ Tension unit

114‧‧‧Support track

117‧‧‧Clamp support table

117A‧‧‧1st fixture support

117B‧‧‧2nd clamp support

115‧‧‧Base components

116‧‧‧Directional guides

118,118A‧‧‧ fixture

119,119A‧‧‧Clamp opening and closing mechanism

123‧‧‧Jig moving means

118a, 118Aa‧‧‧fixed claws

118b, 118Ab‧‧‧ movable claw

120,120A‧‧‧Toggle mechanism

121‧‧‧Cylinder mechanism

120b‧‧‧1st handle

120d‧‧‧2nd handle

120e‧‧‧ connecting rod

120a, 120c, 136‧‧ sales

120f, 120g‧‧‧ adjustment screw

110‧‧‧Frame mounting device

125‧‧‧Frame support

115A‧‧‧1st base member

115B‧‧‧2nd base member

127,134,138‧‧‧Directional guides

101b‧‧‧ corner

11‧‧‧Metal sheet

12‧‧‧ openings

12a‧‧‧slit

21b‧‧‧Boxed unit

13‧‧‧ box

20‧‧‧Frame device

21‧‧‧Sheet extension ‧ frame pressing unit

22‧‧‧Support track

27‧‧‧Clamp

42‧‧‧ Spot Welding Department

Claims (15)

A method for framing a metal thin plate in a manufacturing step of an organic EL element, comprising: a step of positioning a rectangular metal thin plate on a rectangular frame; and a stretching step of using at least a plurality of jigs to mutually at least the metal thin plates Each of the two sides is clamped and stretched, and the metal sheet is stretched; the pressing step, each of the frames in the frame applies a pressing force to the frame, and the tension is applied In the field corresponding to the field of the metal thin plate, elastic deformation is generated opposite to the direction of the tensile force applied to the metal thin plate; the fixing step is to fix the metal thin plate in the stretched state to the pressed state. The frame is a tensile force applied to the thin metal plate by using the above-mentioned jig, and is made equal to the pressing force applied to the field in which the above-mentioned jig is applied to the field in which the tension is applied. The method of affixing a metal thin plate for manufacturing an organic EL element according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein in the stretching step, each of the four sides of the metal thin plate is stretched by a jig; in the pressing step , is to press each of the four sides of the above box. The method of affixing a metal thin plate for manufacturing an organic EL device according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the metal thin plate comprises: a plurality of rectangular openings having a plurality of slits arranged in parallel at the same time; The plurality of jigs are arranged corresponding to the opening and the non-opening. The method of affixing a metal thin plate for manufacturing an organic EL element according to the second aspect of the invention, wherein in the stretching step, the vicinity of the corner portion between the adjacent two sides of the thin metal plate is clamped by the jig Hold the corners so that the clamp can move in all directions of the adjacent two sides. A frame-mounting device for a metal thin plate for manufacturing an organic EL element, which is a frame-mounting device that is fixed to a rectangular frame in a state in which a rectangular metal thin plate is stretched, and is characterized in that: And a plurality of plate stretching units disposed at equal positions on the two opposite sides of the metal thin plate, and a plurality of frame holding units; each of the plate stretching units having: clamping the metal sheets a clamp and a clamp moving unit for moving the clamp to cause the clamp to apply a tensile force to the clamped metal sheet; each of the frame holding units has a frame holding member configured to apply a pressing force to In the above-mentioned frame and the above-mentioned jig, the tensile force acts on the field of the metal thin plate to form a corresponding field to generate an elastic deformation opposite to the direction of the tensile force caused by the above-mentioned jig; and the frame is biased by the member moving unit, which is movable The frame holds the member such that the frame retaining member applies a pressing force to the frame. The affixing device for a metal thin plate for manufacturing an organic EL device according to the fifth aspect of the invention, wherein the plate stretching unit and the frame holding unit are the frame and the metal thin plate disposed thereon Each of the four sides is equally provided in plurals. The affixing device for a sheet metal sheet for manufacturing an organic EL element according to the fifth aspect of the invention, wherein the sheet stretching unit and the frame holding unit are integrally formed; and the sheet stretching unit of the sheet stretching unit And the frame holding member moving unit of the frame holding unit has a common cylinder device that connects the jig and the frame holding member so that the two are separated from each other and the direction of approaching mobile. The frame-mounting device for a metal thin plate for manufacturing an organic EL device according to the fifth aspect of the invention, wherein the frame holding member has a support surface supported by the frame. The affixing device for a metal thin plate for manufacturing an organic EL device according to the fifth aspect of the invention, wherein the metal thin plate comprises: a plurality of rectangular openings having a plurality of slits arranged in parallel at the same time, and the plurality of the plurality of slits The jig is disposed corresponding to the opening and the non-opening. The affixing device for a metal thin plate for manufacturing an organic EL device according to the fifth aspect of the invention, wherein the stretching force imparted by the jig moving unit of the plurality of panel stretching units is formed on each of the panel stretching units. Adjustable. The affixing device for a metal thin plate for manufacturing an organic EL device according to the sixth aspect of the invention, wherein an additional plate stretching unit is provided in the vicinity of a corner portion between adjacent two sides of the metal thin plate; The additional plate stretching unit includes a jig that sandwiches the thin metal plate, and a jig moving unit that moves the jig toward each of the adjacent two sides. The affixing device for a metal thin plate for manufacturing an organic EL element according to the invention of claim 11, wherein the additional sheet stretching unit further includes: a first base member; and a parallel to the metal sheet on the first base member And maintaining a second base member movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the tension is applied, and holding on the second base member a clamp support table movable in parallel with an additional direction of the tensile force of the metal sheet; And the jig opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the jig is held on the jig support table, and the jig moving unit connects the jig support table and the second base member such that the jig support table extends toward the second base member The force is moved in the direction. The affixing device for a metal thin plate for manufacturing an organic EL element according to the invention of claim 11, wherein the additional sheet stretching unit further includes: a base member; and the base member can be kept parallel to the metal sheet a first clamp support table in which the extension tension is moved in an additional direction, and a second clamp support table which is parallel to the metal thin plate on the first clamp support table and which is movable in a direction perpendicular to the extension tension direction; the clamp and the clamp The jig opening and closing mechanism that opens and closes is held by the second jig support table, and the jig moving unit connects the first jig support table and the base member such that the first jig support table is opposed to the upper The base member is moved in an additional direction toward the extension tension. The affixing device for a metal thin plate for manufacturing an organic EL element according to the invention of claim 11, wherein the additional sheet stretching unit further includes: a base member; and the base member can be kept parallel to the metal sheet a clamp support table in which the tension is moved in an additional direction; the clamp is on the clamp support table, parallel to the thin metal plate held by the clamp, and is held to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the extension tension direction, and the clamp is The opening and closing mechanism of the opening and closing is held by the jig support unit, and the jig moving unit is coupled to the jig support base and the base member such that the jig support is moved in a direction in which the tension is applied to the base member. A method for framing a metal thin plate in a manufacturing step of an organic EL element, comprising: a step of positioning a rectangular metal thin plate on a rectangular frame; and a stretching step of clamping the four sides of the metal thin plate with a plurality of jigs Holding and stretching the metal sheet, the metal sheet is stretched; in the fixing step, the metal sheet in the stretched state is fixed on the frame in the pressed state, and the metal is clamped by the clamp during the stretching step The vicinity of the corner portion between the adjacent two sides of the thin plate is clamped, and the corner portion is stretched so that the jig can be moved in the directions of the adjacent two sides, which is to be applied to the metal thin plate using the above-mentioned jig. Force, creation and the above-mentioned jig are applied to the field in which the tension is applied The pressure in the field should be equal.