JP4471183B2 - Coloring method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention belongs to the technical field of color filters used for liquid crystal color displays and the like, and particularly relates to a technique for manufacturing a color filter by applying a colorant on a substrate by an ink jet method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The color filter for liquid crystal has a structure in which three color pigments of red, green, and blue are arranged in a mosaic or stripe pattern on a transparent substrate such as glass and each boundary is partitioned by a black matrix. Various methods have been conventionally employed for producing this color filter, but each has advantages and disadvantages, and it is difficult to find a method that is low in cost and excellent in pixel forming ability. Therefore, recently, as a method with low cost and good pixel forming ability, a method of arranging three colored layers on a substrate by an ink jet method has been adopted.
[0003]
The ink jet color filter manufacturing method uses an ink jet head having a plurality of orifices, and discharges the colorant while applying the ink jet head to the substrate to move the ink jet head relative to the substrate. FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a three-color simultaneous coating method which is a method for forming a layer and is performed using a coating apparatus incorporating this inkjet head.
[0004]
In FIG. 1, G is a substrate to be coated placed on the stage S, and the coating material having a plurality of inkjet heads is moved relative to the substrate G so that the colorant is in a line shape. It is comprised so that it may apply | coat to. In other words, the left eight ink jet heads Hr eject red colorant, and are attached to a frame (not shown) so that a plurality of orifices in each ink jet head Hr are continuous in the width direction of the substrate G. . Similarly, the eight coating heads Hg at the center eject green colorant and are attached to a frame (not shown) so that a plurality of orifices in each inkjet head Hg are continuous in the width direction of the substrate. . Similarly, the right eight inkjet heads Hb eject blue colorant and are attached to a frame (not shown) so that a plurality of orifices in each inkjet head Hb are continuous in the width direction of the substrate. Yes. Accordingly, the three colorants are applied in a single application step by moving the ink jet heads together and moving relative to the substrate while discharging the colorants from a plurality of orifices.
[0005]
In order to discharge a colorant from an inkjet head and form a colored layer on the substrate with the colorant, the following three methods are roughly divided.
[0006]
The method shown in FIG. 2 is a method of providing a partition wall. In this system, first, as shown in FIG. 2A, a partition wall 12 made of a line-shaped resin black matrix is formed on a substrate 11, and a water repellent treatment or the like is applied to an upper portion 12a of the partition wall 12. Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, the colorant 14 is applied from the inkjet head 13 into the partition wall 12. Since the colorant 14 is prevented from diffusing by the partition walls 12, a colored layer 15 is formed between the partition walls 12 on the substrate 11 as shown in FIG.
[0007]
The method shown in FIG. 3 is a method in which an absorption layer is provided. In this method, first, as shown in FIG. 3A, a linear resin black matrix 22 is formed on a substrate 21, and an ink absorption layer 23 is formed so as to cover it. Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, exposure is performed through a mask 24 to cure the upper portion 23a of the black matrix 22 to eliminate absorption, and as shown in FIG. The colorant 26 is applied from 25 to the ink absorption layer 23. Since the colorant 26 soaks into the ink absorbing layer 23, a colored layer 27 is formed between the black matrices 22 on the substrate 21.
[0008]
The method shown in FIG. 4 is a photocatalytic method. In this method, first, as shown in FIG. 4A, a linear resin black matrix 32 is formed on a substrate 31, and a photocatalyst layer 33 is formed so as to cover it. Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, by performing exposure through a mask 34, the wettability of the portion 33 a other than the upper portion of the black matrix 32 is changed to be superhydrophilic. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 4C, when the colorant 36 is applied from the inkjet head 35 to the photocatalyst layer 33, the colorant 36 collects only on the photocatalyst layer 33 whose wettability has changed. A colored layer 37 is formed between the black matrices 32 in FIG.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the colorant coating method using the ink jet head as described above, the angle of the ink jet head is changed to correspond to the resolution of the color filter. In this case, the angle adjustment of the ink jet head is obtained by calculation. It is set to a fixed value. However, in such a method, a positional deviation due to the accuracy of the angle adjusting jig and the mounting position accuracy due to the unique shape of each inkjet head occurs. Therefore, it has been necessary to perform correction after drawing on a substrate with a black matrix and measuring the deviation.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and the object of the present invention is to produce a color filter by applying a colorant to a substrate with a black matrix by an inkjet method. An object of the present invention is to provide a colorant coating method capable of easily and accurately determining the angle of an ink jet head corresponding to the resolution.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention uses an inkjet head having a large number of orifices arranged in a row, and the inkjet head from the inkjet head with respect to a substrate with a black matrix placed on a stage movable in the xy direction. In the method of applying the colorant to be applied onto the substrate by discharging the colorant, a CCD camera is fixed to the stage, and the stage is a distance that is an integral multiple of the pitch width of the black matrix in the x direction, the y direction. In this case, at least two or more orifices of the inkjet head are photographed while moving by the distance converted from the x- direction movement distance and the inkjet head angle, and the angular deviation of the inkjet head is converted by detecting the positional deviation of the orifices. , ink jet heads to calculate the adjustment angle for the angular deviation It is characterized by performing angle correction.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view showing the positional relationship between the black matrix-mounted substrate placed on the stage and the inkjet head. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a substrate with a black matrix, which is set at a predetermined position on the stage 3 by positioning pins 2. The stage 3 is movable and can move in the x and y directions with respect to the fixed inkjet head 4. In the figure, reference numeral 5 denotes a CCD camera, which is fixedly attached to the stage 3.
[0015]
An example of the procedure for determining the angle of the inkjet head 4 with respect to the substrate 1 with a black matrix when the inkjet head 4 is replaced or when the substrate 1 with a black matrix having a different production lot is used is as follows.
[0016]
First, as shown in FIG. 6, the stage 3 is moved to the position A below the inkjet head 4, and one orifice is photographed by the CCD camera 5. Then, the position coordinates of the first orifice are measured in advance.
[0017]
Next, the stage 3 is moved in the x direction in accordance with an integral multiple of the pitch width of the black matrix, and the amount of movement in the y direction is converted by the amount of movement in the x direction and the angle of the inkjet head 4 to move the stage 3 in the y direction. Move by that amount. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the stage 3 is moved to the B position. Then, the position coordinates of the orifice projected on the CCD camera 5 are measured, and the deviation from the position coordinates of the first orifice is calculated. Thereafter, an adjustment angle for the deviation is calculated, and the angle of the inkjet head 4 is adjusted.
[0018]
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, when the CCD monitor screens Ma and Mb at different positions are checked, and there is a deviation (X, Y) in the position coordinates of the orifice a on the monitor screen Mb, The adjustment angle is calculated by the personal computer 6 and an instruction for adjusting the angle of the inkjet head 4 may be issued.
[0019]
In this way, the angle of the ink jet head 4 can be adjusted by detecting the displacement of the position coordinates of the two orifices. However, as shown in FIG. Also good. In addition, when performing about two orifices, it is desirable to select orifices as far apart as possible.
[0020]
By adjusting the angle of the inkjet head 4 in this way, the colorant can be applied to the substrate without causing a positional shift due to the angle of the inkjet head.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention uses an inkjet head having a large number of orifices arranged in a row, and the colorant from the inkjet head to the substrate with the black matrix placed on the stage movable in the xy direction. In the method of applying the colorant to be applied onto the substrate by discharging the CCD, a CCD camera is fixed to the stage, and the stage is an integral multiple of the black matrix pitch width in the x direction and in the y direction. At least two or more orifices of the inkjet head are photographed while moving by the distance converted from the x- direction moving distance and the inkjet head angle, and the angular deviation of the inkjet head is converted by detecting the positional deviation of the orifice. corner of the inkjet head by calculating the adjustment angle for the angular deviation By that to perform the correction, without wasting a black matrix with the substrate, it is possible to easily and accurately determine the angle of the ink jet head corresponding to the color filter resolution.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a three-color simultaneous coating method performed using a coating apparatus incorporating an inkjet head.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing one method for forming a colored layer on a substrate by discharging a colorant from an inkjet head.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing another method for forming a colored layer on a substrate by discharging a colorant from an inkjet head.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing still another method for forming a colored layer on a substrate by discharging a colorant from an inkjet head.
FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between a black matrix-mounted substrate placed on a stage and an inkjet head.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where an orifice is imaged by moving a stage with respect to an inkjet head.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing how the angle of the inkjet head is adjusted.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an orifice plate of an inkjet head provided with alignment marks.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Substrate with black matrix 2 Positioning pin 3 Stage 4 Inkjet head 4a Orifice plate 5 CCD camera 6 Personal computer 7 Alignment mark 11 Substrate 12 Partition wall 13 Inkjet head 14 Colorant 15 Colored layer 21 Substrate 22 Black matrix 23 Ink absorbing layer 24 Mask 25 Inkjet Head 26 Colorant 27 Colored layer 31 Substrate 32 Black matrix 33 Photocatalyst layer 34 Mask 35 Inkjet head 36 Colorant 37 Colored layer

Claims (1)

Using an inkjet head having a large number of orifices arranged in a row, coating is performed on the substrate by discharging a colorant from the inkjet head to a substrate with a black matrix placed on a stage movable in the xy direction. In this colorant coating method, a CCD camera is fixed to the stage, the stage is an integral multiple of the pitch width of the black matrix in the x direction, the x direction moving distance in the y direction and the head angle of the inkjet head. At least two or more orifices of the inkjet head are photographed while being moved by the converted distance, the angular deviation of the inkjet head is converted by detecting the positional deviation of the orifice, and the adjustment angle for the angular deviation is calculated to calculate the inkjet. color and performs angle correction of the head The method of application.

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