JP4571419B2 - Image display board manufacturing apparatus and image display board manufacturing method using the same - Google Patents

Description

  In the present invention, at least one is a transparent opposing substrate, and a first substrate and a second substrate on which a partition wall defining a display cell is formed are overlapped, and a particle group or a powder fluid is interposed therebetween. The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing an image display board for manufacturing an image display board having a structure for sealing, and a method for manufacturing an image display board using the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image display devices using techniques such as an electrophoresis method, an electrochromic method, a thermal method, and a two-color particle rotation method have been proposed as image display devices that can replace liquid crystal (LCD).

  Compared with LCD, these conventional technologies have advantages such as a wide viewing angle close to that of ordinary printed materials, low power consumption, and a memory function. It is considered as a technology that can be used for mobile phones, and is expected to expand to image display for mobile terminals, electronic paper, and the like. In particular, recently, an electrophoretic method (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1) in which a dispersion composed of dispersed particles and a colored solution is microencapsulated and disposed between opposing substrates has been proposed and is expected. It has been.

  However, the electrophoresis method has a problem that the response speed becomes slow due to the viscous resistance of the liquid because the particles migrate in the liquid. Furthermore, since particles with high specific gravity such as titanium oxide are dispersed in a solution with low specific gravity, it is easy to settle, and it is difficult to maintain the stability of the dispersed state, and there is a problem of lack of image repetition stability. . Even when microencapsulation is performed, the cell size is set to the microcapsule level, and the above-described drawbacks are hardly made to appear, and the essential problems are not solved at all.

  On the other hand, a method in which conductive particles and a charge transport layer are incorporated into a part of a substrate without using a solution is proposed instead of an electrophoresis method using behavior in a solution (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). ). However, this method has a problem that the structure is complicated because the charge transport layer and further the charge generation layer are arranged, and that it is difficult to inject the charges into the conductive particles, so that the stability is lacking. .

  As one method for solving the various problems described above, at least one of the transparent substrates is a first substrate and a second substrate on which a partition wall defining a display cell is formed. 2. Description of the Related Art An image display device including an image display plate having a structure in which a particle group or a powdered fluid is sealed between the two layers is known.

  In such an image display device, if the sealed particle group or powdered fluid is not removed while remaining on the upper part of the partition wall (rib) that defines the display cell, it will get on the upper part of the partition wall (rib). When the two substrates are overlapped with each other by the particle group or the powder fluid, they cannot be uniformly bonded in the surface, which may cause a display defect.

  As countermeasures, (1) a method of removing particles or powder fluid riding on the upper part of the partition using a blade, and (2) particles or powder fluid riding on the upper part of the partition by using a roll alone. (3) The method of removing the particles and powder fluid adhering to the roll with an adhesive film, (4) The particles or powder fluid riding on the upper part of the partition wall is removed by using the cleaner alone. How to do it.

趙 Kuniori and three others, “New Toner Display Device (I)”, July 21, 1999, Annual Meeting of the Imaging Society of Japan (83 times in total) “Japan Hardcopy’99”, p.249-252

When the method of (1) is used, the particle group or powder fluid riding on the upper part of the partition wall enters the display cell defined by the partition wall, and as a result, the filling amount of the particle group or powder fluid in the display cell is accurately determined. I can't control it.
When the method (2) is used, the particle group or the powder fluid adheres to the roll surface, so that it is difficult to continuously remove the particle group or the powder fluid.
When the method (3) is used, the particle group or powder fluid can be removed continuously, but the adhesive film becomes disposable, resulting in an increase in cost. Furthermore, since the adhesive material of the adhesive film adheres to the removed particle group or powdered fluid, it cannot be reused, resulting in an increase in cost.
When the method of (4) is used, not only the particle group or powder fluid riding on the upper part of the partition wall, but also the particle group or powder fluid filled in the display cell is removed to ensure a desired filling amount. Is difficult.

It is a first object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for manufacturing an image display board that can continuously remove particle groups or powder fluid on a partition wall at low cost and can accurately control the filling amount of the particle groups or powder fluid. 1 purpose.
The present invention enables image display using an apparatus for manufacturing an image display board that can continuously remove particle groups or powder fluid on a partition wall at low cost and can accurately control the filling amount of particle groups or powder fluid. A second object is to provide a method for manufacturing a plate.

In order to achieve the first object, an apparatus for manufacturing an image display board according to a first aspect of the present invention is a substrate facing at least one of which is transparent, and a partition that defines display cells on the surface of the first substrate is formed. A manufacturing apparatus for an image display board that manufactures an image display board having a structure in which the second substrate is superposed and a particle group or powder fluid is sealed therebetween, and the transport direction of the second substrate A roll having an axial length equal to or greater than the length in the orthogonal direction and arranged to contact the upper part of the partition, and an upper part of the partition to remove particles or powder fluid transferred to the roll A cleaner portion disposed at a portion not in contact with the line nozzle, and further, the cleaner portion is disposed so as to extend in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the second substrate, and the line nozzle Connected to rear end of suction direction Characterized Rukoto a suction portions.

As a preferred example of the image display board manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, as described in the second to sixth inventions, the cleaner section is further swept out connected to the front end portion in the suction direction of the line nozzle. The surface of the roll is covered with an elastic body, and the elastic body has an elastic modulus smaller than the elastic modulus of the partition wall and a surface resistivity of 1 × 10 ⁹ (Ω / □) or less. , Having a surface roughness equal to or less than the average diameter of the particle group or the powder fluid, the roll and the cleaner portion being additionally provided on the back surface side of the second substrate, the line nozzle is a line-shaped slit And the slit has a length not less than the length in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the second substrate and not more than the length in the axial direction of the roll, and the roll surface and the line. Nozzle tip is arranged at an interval of 3mm or less That is, and, the roll may have a longer circumferential length than the conveying direction length of the second substrate.

In order to achieve the second object, the image display board manufacturing method of the seventh invention is attached to the upper part of the partition using the image display board manufacturing apparatus of any of the first to sixth inventions. The image display plate is manufactured while removing the particle group or the powder fluid.

  According to the image display board manufacturing apparatus of the first invention having the above-described structure, at least one of the transparent substrates is a transparent substrate, and the first substrate and the second substrate on which the partition walls defining the display cells are formed. And an image display board manufacturing apparatus that manufactures an image display board having a structure in which a particle group or a powder fluid is sealed therebetween is more than a length in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the second substrate. A roll which has an axial length and is arranged so as to be in contact with the upper part of the partition wall, and is arranged at a portion which is not in contact with the upper part of the partition wall in order to remove particles or powder fluid transferred to the roll. Since the particle portion or the powder fluid adhering to the upper part of the partition wall is continuously transferred to the roll, the cleaner unit is continuously provided by the cleaner unit disposed at a portion that does not contact the upper part of the partition wall. RemovedAt that time, the particle amount of the display cell or the filling amount of the powder fluid does not fluctuate as in the methods (1) and (4), and an adhesive film is used as in the method (3). There will be no cost increase. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an apparatus for manufacturing an image display plate that can continuously remove the particle group or powder fluid on the partition wall at low cost and can accurately control the filling amount of the particle group or powder fluid.

  According to the method for manufacturing an image display board of the eighth invention having the above-described configuration, the particle group or powder fluid adhered to the upper part of the partition wall using the image display board manufacturing apparatus of any of the first to seventh inventions. Since the image display board is manufactured while removing the particles, the particle group or powder fluid on the partition wall can be removed continuously at low cost, and the amount of the particle group or powder fluid can be accurately controlled. A method of manufacturing an image display board can be provided using a manufacturing apparatus.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, a basic configuration of an image display board that is an object of the present invention will be described. In the image display plate used in the present invention, an electric field is applied to a particle group enclosed between two opposing substrates. Along the applied electric field direction, a group of particles charged at a low potential is attracted by a Coulomb force toward the high potential side, and a group of particles charged at a high potential is attracted by a Coulomb force toward the low potential side. The particles are attracted to each other, and the particles reciprocate due to a change in the direction of the electric field caused by the switching of the potential, thereby displaying an image. Therefore, it is necessary to design the image display plate so that the particle groups can move uniformly and maintain stability during repetition or storage. Here, as the force applied to the particles, in addition to the force attracted by the Coulomb force between the particles, an electric image force with the electrode and the substrate, an intermolecular force, a liquid cross-linking force, gravity and the like can be considered.

  Next, an image display operation in the basic configuration of the above-described image display board will be described. As an example, the image display board used in the present invention is a display by moving particles 3 of two different colors (see FIG. 1; here, white particles 3W and black particles 3B) are moved in a direction perpendicular to the substrates 1 and 2. The present invention can be applied to both an image display board used in the system and an image display board using a display system by moving one kind of color particle 3W (see FIG. 2) in a direction parallel to the substrates 1 and 2. An example of a display panel structure for display is shown in FIG. 1 to 3, reference numeral 4 denotes partition walls provided for forming cells, and reference numerals 5 and 6 denote electrodes provided as necessary to give an electric field to the particles 3. The above description can be similarly applied to the case where the white particles 3W are replaced with the white powder fluid and the black particles 3B are replaced with the black powder fluid.

  Hereinafter, an apparatus for manufacturing an image display board which is a feature of the present invention will be described in detail. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are diagrams showing the configuration of an example of the image display board manufacturing apparatus of the present invention. FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) are other drawings of the image display board manufacturing apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the example of. The image display board manufacturing apparatus of the present invention has a mechanism for removing particles or powdered fluid on the partition wall, and is transferred to the roll 11 disposed so as to be in contact with the upper part of the partition wall 4. In order to remove the particles or powdered fluid 3, a cleaner portion 12 and the like disposed at a portion not in contact with the upper portion of the partition wall 4 are provided.

The following points need to be taken into consideration when configuring a mechanism for removing particles or powdered fluid on the partition walls.
a) In order to generate a uniform suction force for removing particles or powdered fluid over the entire length of the roll 11 in the axial direction, the nozzle shape of the line nozzle 13 is changed in the conveying direction (FIG. 4A). It is necessary to make the shape of an elongated line in a direction orthogonal to the direction of arrow A).
b) When the roll 11 is a complete insulator and has no electrical conductivity, the roll 11 is charged by contact peeling, and this charging fills the display cell charged to a different polarity. Even particles or powdered fluid is removed.
c) When the roll surface is rough, the amount of particles remaining on the partition walls or the amount of powder fluid left increases.
d) If the surface hardness of the roll 11 is higher than that of the partition wall 4 (having a larger elastic modulus), the partition wall 4 may be damaged.

In consideration of the above, in the image display board manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the roll 11 and the cleaner 12 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B or the roll 11 and the cleaner shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B are used. The part 12 shall be used. 4 (a) and 4 (b), the roll 11 has an outer circumference that is longer than the length of the second substrate 1 on the surface of which the partition walls 4 that define the display cells are formed, in the transport direction (arrow A direction in the figure). A roll having a length and an axial length equal to or greater than the length in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the second substrate 1 is used. The roll 11 has a roll surface covered with an elastic body, and the elastic body has an elastic modulus smaller than the elastic modulus of the partition wall 4 (or a surface hardness softer than the surface hardness of the partition wall 4) and 1 × 10 ⁹ (Ω). / □) It has the following surface resistivity and the surface roughness below the average diameter (for example, 5 micrometers) of a particle group or a powder fluid.

  Moreover, the cleaner part 12 of the structure of FIG. 4 (a), (b) and the line nozzle 13 arrange | positioned so that it may extend in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction (arrow A direction shown in figure) of the 2nd board | substrate 1; A cleaner part provided with the suction part 14 connected to the suction direction rear end part of the line nozzle 13 is used. The line nozzle 13 has a line-shaped slit (nozzle) as shown in FIG. 4A, and the slit is in the transport direction of the second substrate 1 as shown in FIG. 4B. The surface of the roll 11 and the tip (slit) of the line nozzle are arranged at an interval of 3 mm or less. Yes.

  On the other hand, the roll 11 having the configuration shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is the same as the roll 11 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, but the configuration shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is used. The cleaner unit 12 is connected to a line nozzle 13 disposed so as to extend in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction (arrow A direction in the figure) of the second substrate 1 and the suction direction rear end of the line nozzle 13. A cleaner unit including a suction unit 14 and a sweeping unit 15 connected to the front end of the line nozzle 13 in the suction direction is used. As shown in FIG. 5A, the line nozzle 13 has line-shaped slits (nozzles) divided into two, and these slits are formed on the second substrate as shown in FIG. 5B. The length of the roll 11 is not less than the length in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction and not more than the axial length of the roll, and the surface of the roll 11 and the tip (slit) of the line nozzle are 3 mm or less apart. Is arranged in.

Next, a method for manufacturing an image display board using the image display board manufacturing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the configuration of FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b).
First, as shown in FIG. 5A, a second substrate 1 having a partition formed on the surface is prepared. On the surface of the substrate 1, a striped electrode (not shown) made of an ITO electrode is provided by patterning. Next, grid-like or mesh-like partition walls 4 that define display cells are formed on the electrodes of the substrate.

  Next, the substrate 1 is set on the stage in a spraying device (not shown). In this state, by spraying the particle group or powdered fluid 3 from the nozzle (not shown) into the spraying device, a predetermined amount of the particle group or powdered fluid 3 is formed in each display cell defined by the partition 4 on the substrate 1. Fill.

  Next, an unnecessary particle group or powder fluid 3 on the partition wall 4 is removed. Specifically, the substrate 1 filled with particles or powdered fluid 3 in the display cell is conveyed in the direction of arrow A as shown in FIG. 5A, and at the same time, the roll 11 is rotated in the direction of arrow C. The sweep unit 15 and the suction unit 14 are operated. As a result, unnecessary particles or powdered fluid 3 riding on the partition walls 4 are transferred to the roll 11, and then easily peeled off from the roll surface by the air flowing from the sweeping portion 15 at the upper part of the roll 11. It is sucked from the slit of the line nozzle 13 by the suction force from the part 14 and moves in the direction of the arrow B (suction direction) in the figure, and is sucked and removed by the suction part 14 and collected.

  Thereafter, the first substrate (not shown) is bonded to the substrate 1 filled with the particle group or powder fluid 3 in the display cell, and the particle group or powder fluid 3 is sealed in the display cell. To do. The image display board of this invention can be produced by the above.

According to the present invention, the particle group or powdered fluid 3 adhering to the upper part of the partition wall 4 is continuously transferred to the roll 11 and then continuously transferred by the cleaner unit 12 disposed at a portion not in contact with the upper part of the partition wall 4. At that time, the filling amount of the particle group or the powder fluid 3 of the display cell does not vary as in the methods (1) and (4), and the method (3) above. Thus, since an adhesive film is not used, the cost is not increased. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image display board manufacturing apparatus that can continuously remove the particle group or the powder fluid 3 on the partition wall 4 at a low cost and can accurately control the filling amount of the particle group or the powder fluid 3. it can.
Moreover, according to this invention, it becomes possible to reuse the particle group or the powder fluid 3 collect | recovered by the suction part 14. FIG. At that time, for example, when a step of removing the unnecessary particle group or powdered fluid 3 by the cleaner 12 after the white and black particle group or powdered fluid is dispersed in the display cell of the substrate 1, the collected particle group is performed. Alternatively, the powder fluid 3 can be separated by utilizing the charging characteristics of each particle group or powder fluid, so that it can be easily reused. For example, when a step of removing the unnecessary particle group or powdered fluid 3 by the cleaner 12 is performed after the white or black particle group or powdered fluid is dispersed in the display cell of the substrate 1, the particles are collected by the cleaner 12. The particles or powder fluid can be reused as they are.

  In the image display board manufacturing apparatus of the present invention described above, the roll 11 and the cleaner section 12 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, or the roll 11 and the cleaner section 12 shown in FIGS. 1 is provided on the front surface side (opposite substrate 2 side), but in addition to that, the roll 11 and the cleaner 12 in FIGS. 4A and 4B or the roll 11 in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Since the cleaner unit 12 is also provided on the back side of the substrate 1, unnecessary particle groups or powder fluid 3 adhering to the back surface of the substrate 1 can be removed when the particle group or powder fluid 3 is dispersed. preferable.

  Hereinafter, each member which comprises the image display board used as the object of this invention is demonstrated.

  Regarding the substrate, at least one of the substrates is a transparent substrate from which the color of particles or powder fluid can be confirmed from the outside of the apparatus, and a material having high visible light transmittance and good heat resistance is preferable. The other substrate may be transparent or opaque. Examples of substrate materials include polymer sheets such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethersulfone, polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyimide, and acrylic, flexible materials such as metal sheets, and flexible materials such as glass and quartz. There are no inorganic sheets. The thickness of the substrate is preferably 2 to 1100 μm, and more preferably 5 to 700 μm. If it is too thin, it will be difficult to maintain the strength and uniformity of the distance between the substrates. There are inconveniences.

  In FIG. 1, the electrodes 5 and 6 are provided on the side of the substrate 2 that needs to be transparent on the viewing side, and are formed of a conductive material that is transparent and can be patterned. Examples thereof include metals such as aluminum, gold, silver, and copper, and conductive polymers such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, and polythiophene. Examples of the forming method include vacuum deposition and coating. Note that the electrode thickness is not particularly limited as long as the conductivity can be secured and the light transmittance is not hindered, and is preferably 3 to 1000 nm, preferably 5 to 400 nm. The material and thickness of the electrode 5 provided on the substrate 1 side are the same as those of the electrode 6 described above, but need not be transparent. In this case, the external voltage input may be superimposed with direct current or alternating current.

  The shape of the partition wall 4 is optimally set according to the type of particle group or powder fluid involved in the display, and is not limited in general. However, the partition wall width is 2 to 100 μm, preferably 3 to 50 μm. Is adjusted to 2 to 5000 μm, preferably 5 to 500 μm. In forming the partition walls, a both-rib method in which ribs are formed on each of the opposing substrates and then bonded, and a one-rib method in which ribs are formed only on one substrate are conceivable. In the present invention, any method is preferably used.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the display cell formed by the partition walls made of these ribs is exemplified by a square shape, a triangular shape, a line shape, a circular shape, and a hexagonal shape as viewed from the plane of the substrate. The shape is illustrated. It is better to make the portion corresponding to the cross section of the partition wall visible from the display side (the area of the frame portion of the display cell) as small as possible, and the sharpness of the image display increases. Here, examples of the method for forming the partition include a screen printing method, a sand blasting method, a photolithography method, and an additive method. Of these, the photolithography method using a resist film is preferably used.

  Next, the particles used in the image display board that is the subject of the present invention will be described. The particles can contain a charge control agent, a colorant, an inorganic additive, and the like, if necessary, in the resin as the main component, as in the conventional case. Examples of resins, charge control agents, colorants, and other additives will be given below.

  Examples of the resin include urethane resin, urea resin, acrylic resin, polyester resin, acrylic urethane resin, acrylic urethane silicone resin, acrylic urethane fluororesin, acrylic fluororesin, silicone resin, acrylic silicone resin, epoxy resin, polystyrene resin, styrene Acrylic resin, polyolefin resin, butyral resin, vinylidene chloride resin, melamine resin, phenol resin, fluororesin, polycarbonate resin, polysulfone resin, polyether resin, polyamide resin and the like can be mentioned, and two or more kinds can be mixed. In particular, acrylic urethane resin, acrylic silicone resin, acrylic fluororesin, acrylic urethane silicone resin, acrylic urethane fluororesin, fluororesin, and silicone resin are suitable from the viewpoint of controlling the adhesive force with the substrate.

  The charge control agent is not particularly limited. Examples of the negative charge control agent include salicylic acid metal complexes, metal-containing azo dyes, metal-containing oil-soluble dyes (including metal ions and metal atoms), and quaternary ammonium salt systems. Examples thereof include compounds, calixarene compounds, boron-containing compounds (benzyl acid boron complexes), and nitroimidazole derivatives. Examples of the positive charge control agent include nigrosine dyes, triphenylmethane compounds, quaternary ammonium salt compounds, polyamine resins, imidazole derivatives, and the like. In addition, metal oxides such as ultrafine silica, ultrafine titanium oxide, ultrafine alumina, nitrogen-containing cyclic compounds such as pyridine and derivatives and salts thereof, various organic pigments, resins containing fluorine, chlorine, nitrogen, etc. are also charged. It can also be used as a control agent.

  As the colorant, various organic or inorganic pigments and dyes as exemplified below can be used.

Examples of the black colorant include carbon black, copper oxide, manganese dioxide, aniline black, activated carbon and the like.
Examples of blue colorants include C.I. I. Pigment brie 15: 3, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 15, Bituminous Blue, Cobalt Blue, Alkaline Blue Lake, Victoria Blue Lake, Phthalocyanine Blue, Metal-free Phthalocyanine Blue, Phthalocyanine Blue Partial Chlorides, Fast Sky Blue, Indanthrene Blue BC and the like.
Examples of red colorants include bengara, cadmium red, red lead, mercury sulfide, cadmium, permanent red 4R, risor red, pyrazolone red, watching red, calcium salt, lake red D, brilliant carmine 6B, eosin lake, rhodamine lake B, Alizarin Lake, Brilliant Carmine 3B, C.I. I. Pigment Red 2 etc.

Yellow colorants include chrome yellow, zinc yellow, cadmium yellow, yellow iron oxide, mineral first yellow, nickel titanium yellow, navel yellow, naphthol yellow S, Hansa Yellow G, Hansa Yellow 10G, Benzidine Yellow G, Benzidine Yellow GR, Quinoline Yellow Lake, Permanent Yellow NCG, Tartrazine Lake, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 12 etc.
Examples of green colorants include chrome green, chromium oxide, pigment green B, C.I. I. Pigment Green 7, Malachite Green Lake, Final Yellow Green G, etc.
Examples of the orange colorant include red chrome yellow, molybdenum orange, permanent orange GTR, pyrazolone orange, Vulcan orange, indanthrene brilliant orange RK, benzidine orange G, indanthrene brilliant orange GK, C.I. I. Pigment Orange 31 etc.
Examples of purple colorants include manganese purple, first violet B, and methyl violet lake.
Examples of white colorants include zinc white, titanium oxide, antimony white, and zinc sulfide.

  Examples of extender pigments include barite powder, barium carbonate, clay, silica, white carbon, talc, and alumina white. Examples of various dyes such as basic, acidic, disperse, and direct dyes include nigrosine, methylene blue, rose bengal, quinoline yellow, and ultramarine blue.

Examples of inorganic additives include titanium oxide, zinc white, zinc sulfide, antimony oxide, calcium carbonate, lead white, talc, silica, calcium silicate, alumina white, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, cadmium orange, titanium yellow, Examples include bitumen, ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, cobalt green, cobalt violet, iron oxide, carbon black, manganese ferrite black, cobalt ferrite black, copper powder, and aluminum powder.
These pigments and inorganic additives can be used alone or in combination. Of these, carbon black is particularly preferable as the black pigment, and titanium oxide is preferable as the white pigment.

  The particles used in the present invention preferably have an average particle diameter d (0.5) in the range of 0.1 to 50 μm and are uniform and uniform. If the average particle diameter d (0.5) is larger than this range, the display is not clear, and if it is smaller than this range, the cohesive force between the particles becomes too large, which hinders the movement of the particles.

Furthermore, in the present invention, regarding the particle size distribution of each particle, the particle size distribution Span represented by the following formula is set to less than 5, preferably less than 3.
Span = (d (0.9) −d (0.1)) / d (0.5)
(However, d (0.5) is a numerical value expressed in μm that the particle size is 50% larger than this and 50% smaller than this, and d (0.1) is a particle whose proportion of particles below this is 10%. (Numerical value expressed in μm, d (0.9) is a numerical value expressed in μm for a particle size of 90% or less)
By keeping Span within a range of 5 or less, the size of each particle is uniform, and uniform particle movement becomes possible.

  Furthermore, regarding the correlation between the particles, the ratio of d (0.5) of the particles having the minimum diameter to d (0.5) of the particles having the maximum diameter among the used particles is set to 50 or less, preferably 10 or less. It is essential. Even if the particle size distribution Span is reduced, particles with different charging characteristics move in opposite directions, so that the particle size is close to each other and each particle can be easily moved in the opposite direction by the equivalent amount. This is within this range.

The particle size distribution and the particle size can be obtained from a laser diffraction / scattering method or the like. When laser light is irradiated onto particles to be measured, a light intensity distribution pattern of diffracted / scattered light is spatially generated, and this light intensity pattern has a corresponding relationship with the particle diameter, so that the particle diameter and particle diameter distribution can be measured. .
Here, the particle size and particle size distribution in the present invention are obtained from a volume-based distribution. Specifically, using a Mastersizer2000 (Malvern Instruments Ltd.) measuring machine, particles are introduced into a nitrogen stream and the attached analysis software (software based on volume-based distribution using Mie theory) The diameter and particle size distribution can be measured.

  The charge amount of the particles naturally depends on the measurement conditions, but the charge amount of the particles in the image display panel almost depends on the initial charge amount, the contact with the partition wall, the contact with the substrate, the charge decay with the elapsed time, In particular, it was found that the saturation value of the charging behavior of the two types of particles is the dominant factor.

  As a result of intensive studies, the present inventors have found that by using the same carrier particles in the blow-off method and measuring the charge amount of each particle, it is possible to evaluate the range of appropriate charging characteristic values of the two types of particles. It was.

Although the measurement method will be described in detail later, the charge amount per unit weight of the particle (μC / g) is measured by sufficiently contacting the particle and the carrier particle by the blow-off method and measuring the saturated charge amount. be able to. The surface charge density (μC / m ² ) can be calculated by separately obtaining the average particle diameter and specific gravity of the particles.

Next, the powder fluid used in the image display board which is the subject of the present invention will be described.
The “powder fluid” in the present invention is a substance in an intermediate state of both fluid and particle characteristics that exhibits fluidity by itself without borrowing the force of gas or liquid. For example, liquid crystal is defined as an intermediate phase between a liquid and a solid, and has fluidity that is a characteristic of liquid and anisotropy (optical properties) that is a characteristic of solid (Heibonsha: Encyclopedia) . On the other hand, the definition of particle is an object with a finite mass even if it is negligible, and is said to be affected by gravity (Maruzen: Physics Encyclopedia). Here, even in the case of particles, there are special states of gas-solid fluidized bed and liquid-solid fluids. When gas is flowed from the bottom plate to the particles, upward force is applied to the particles according to the velocity of the gas. Is a gas-solid fluidized bed that is in a state where it can easily flow when it balances with gravity, and it is also called a liquid-solid fluidized state that is fluidized by a fluid (ordinary) Company: Encyclopedia). As described above, the gas-solid fluidized bed body and the liquid-solid fluid are in a state of using a gas or liquid flow. In the present invention, it has been found that a substance in a state of fluidity can be produced specifically without borrowing the force of such gas and liquid, and this is defined as powder fluid.

  That is, the pulverulent fluid in the present invention is in an intermediate state having both the characteristics of particles and liquid, as in the definition of liquid crystal (liquid and solid intermediate phase), and is the characteristic of the above-mentioned particles. It is a substance that is extremely unaffected and exhibits a unique state with high fluidity. Such a substance can be obtained in an aerosol state, that is, a dispersion system in which a solid or liquid substance is stably suspended as a dispersoid in a gas, and the solid substance is used as a dispersoid in the image display device of the present invention. Is.

An image display board which is an object of the present invention is a liquid which encloses a liquid powder having high fluidity in an aerosol state in which solid particles are stably suspended as a dispersoid in a gas between opposing substrates, at least one of which is transparent. Such a powder fluid can be easily and stably moved by a Coulomb force or the like by applying a low voltage.
As described above, the pulverized fluid used in the present invention is a substance in the intermediate state of both fluid and particle characteristics that exhibits fluidity by itself without borrowing the force of gas or liquid. This powder fluid can be in an aerosol state in particular, and in the image display device of the present invention, a solid substance is used in a state of relatively stably floating as a dispersoid in the gas.

The range of the aerosol state is preferably such that the apparent volume of the pulverized fluid when it is floated is twice or more that when it is not suspended, more preferably 2.5 times or more, and particularly preferably 3 times or more. Although an upper limit is not specifically limited, It is preferable that it is 12 times or less.
If the apparent volume of the pulverized fluid is less than twice that of the unfloating state, it is difficult to control the display, and if it is more than 12 times, the powder fluid will be overloaded when sealed in the device. Inconvenience in handling occurs. The apparent volume at the maximum floating time is measured as follows. That is, the powdered fluid is put into a closed container that allows the powdered fluid to permeate, and the container itself is vibrated or dropped to create a maximum floating state, and the apparent volume at that time is measured from the outside of the container. Specifically, in a container with a lid (trade name: iBoy: manufactured by ASONE Co., Ltd.) having a diameter (inner diameter) of 6 cm and a height of 10 cm, the powder fluid corresponding to 1/5 of the volume of the fluid when not floating. And set the container on a shaker, and shake at a distance of 6 cm at 3 reciprocations / sec for 3 hours. The apparent volume immediately after stopping shaking is the apparent volume at the maximum floating time.

Moreover, in this invention, what the time change of the apparent volume of a powder fluid satisfy | fills following Formula is preferable.
V ₁₀ / V ₅ > 0.8
Here, V ₅ represents an apparent volume (cm ³ ) 5 minutes after the maximum floating time, and V ₁₀ represents an apparent volume (cm ³ ) 10 minutes after the maximum floating time. In the image display device of the present invention, the apparent volumetric change V ₁₀ / V ₅ of the powder fluid is preferably larger than 0.85, and more preferably larger than 0.9. When V ₁₀ / V ₅ is 0.8 or less, it becomes the same as when ordinary so-called particles are used, and it becomes impossible to ensure the effect of high-speed response and durability as in the present invention.

  Moreover, the average particle diameter (d (0.5)) of the particulate material constituting the powder fluid is preferably 0.1 to 20 μm, more preferably 0.5 to 15 μm, and particularly preferably 0.9 to 8 μm. . If it is smaller than 0.1 μm, it is difficult to control the display, and if it is larger than 20 μm, the display is not clear. The average particle diameter (d (0.5)) of the particulate material constituting the powder fluid is the same as d (0.5) in the next particle diameter distribution Span.

The particle substance constituting the powder fluid preferably has a particle size distribution Span represented by the following formula of less than 5, more preferably less than 3.
Particle size distribution Span = (d (0.9) -d (0.1)) / d (0.5)
Here, d (0.5) is a numerical value expressed in μm of the particle diameter that 50% of the particulate material constituting the powder fluid is larger than this and 50% is smaller than this, and d (0.1) is less than this. A numerical value in which the ratio of the particle substance constituting the powder fluid is 10%, expressed in μm, and d (0.9) is the particle diameter in which the particulate substance constituting the powder fluid is 90% μm It is a numerical value expressed by By setting the particle size distribution Span of the particulate material constituting the powder fluid to 5 or less, the sizes are uniform and uniform powder fluid movement becomes possible.

  The above particle size distribution and particle size can be obtained from a laser diffraction / scattering method or the like. When laser light is irradiated to the powder fluid to be measured, a light intensity distribution pattern of diffracted / scattered light is generated spatially, and this light intensity pattern has a corresponding relationship with the particle diameter, so the particle diameter and particle diameter distribution are measured. it can. This particle size and particle size distribution are obtained from a volume-based distribution. Specifically, using a Mastersizer2000 (Malvern Instruments Ltd.) measuring machine, powder fluid was introduced into the nitrogen stream, and the attached analysis software (software based on volume reference distribution using Mie theory) Measurements can be made.

  Preparation of powder fluid can be done by kneading and pulverizing the necessary resin, charge control agent, colorant, and other additives, or by polymerization from monomers, and adding existing particles to resin, charge control agent, colorant, and other It may be coated with an agent. Hereinafter, the resin, charge control agent, colorant, and other additives constituting the powder fluid will be exemplified.

  Examples of the resin include urethane resin, acrylic resin, polyester resin, urethane-modified acrylic resin, silicone resin, nylon resin, epoxy resin, styrene resin, butyral resin, vinylidene chloride resin, melamine resin, phenol resin, fluorine resin, etc. Two or more types can also be mixed. In particular, acrylic urethane resin, acrylic urethane silicone resin, acrylic urethane fluororesin, urethane resin, and fluororesin are preferable from the viewpoint of controlling the adhesive force with the substrate.

  Examples of charge control agents include quaternary ammonium salt compounds, nigrosine dyes, triphenylmethane compounds, imidazole derivatives and the like in the case of imparting positive charges, and metal-containing azo compounds in the case of imparting negative charges. Examples thereof include dyes, salicylic acid metal complexes, and nitroimidazole derivatives.

  As the colorant, various organic or inorganic pigments and dyes as exemplified below can be used.

Examples of the black colorant include carbon black, copper oxide, manganese dioxide, aniline black, activated carbon and the like.
Examples of blue colorants include C.I. I. Pigment brie 15: 3, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 15, Bituminous Blue, Cobalt Blue, Alkaline Blue Lake, Victoria Blue Lake, Phthalocyanine Blue, Metal-free Phthalocyanine Blue, Phthalocyanine Blue Partial Chlorides, Fast Sky Blue, Indanthrene Blue BC and the like.
Examples of red colorants include bengara, cadmium red, red lead, mercury sulfide, cadmium, permanent red 4R, risor red, pyrazolone red, watching red, calcium salt, lake red D, brilliant carmine 6B, eosin lake, rhodamine lake B, Alizarin Lake, Brilliant Carmine 3B, C.I. I. Pigment Red 2 etc.

Yellow colorants include chrome yellow, zinc yellow, cadmium yellow, yellow iron oxide, mineral first yellow, nickel titanium yellow, navel yellow, naphthol yellow S, Hansa Yellow G, Hansa Yellow 10G, Benzidine Yellow G, Benzidine Yellow GR, Quinoline Yellow Lake, Permanent Yellow NCG, Tartrazine Lake, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 12 etc.
Examples of green colorants include chrome green, chromium oxide, pigment green B, C.I. I. Pigment Green 7, Malachite Green Lake, Final Yellow Green G, etc.
Examples of the orange colorant include red chrome yellow, molybdenum orange, permanent orange GTR, pyrazolone orange, Vulcan orange, indanthrene brilliant orange RK, benzidine orange G, indanthrene brilliant orange GK, C.I. I. Pigment Orange 31 etc.
Examples of purple colorants include manganese purple, first violet B, and methyl violet lake.
Examples of white colorants include zinc white, titanium oxide, antimony white, and zinc sulfide.

  Examples of extender pigments include barite powder, barium carbonate, clay, silica, white carbon, talc, and alumina white. Examples of various dyes such as basic, acidic, disperse, and direct dyes include nigrosine, methylene blue, rose bengal, quinoline yellow, and ultramarine blue.

Examples of inorganic additives include titanium oxide, zinc white, zinc sulfide, antimony oxide, calcium carbonate, lead white, talc, silica, calcium silicate, alumina white, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, cadmium orange, titanium yellow, Examples include bitumen, ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, cobalt green, cobalt violet, iron oxide, carbon black, manganese ferrite black, cobalt ferrite black, copper powder, and aluminum powder.
These pigments and inorganic additives can be used alone or in combination. Of these, carbon black is particularly preferable as the black pigment, and titanium oxide is preferable as the white pigment.

Furthermore, in the present invention, it is important to manage the gas in the voids surrounding the particle group or the powder fluid between the substrates, which contributes to the improvement of display stability. Specifically, it is important that the relative humidity at 25 ° C. is 60% RH or less, preferably 50% RH or less, more preferably 35% RH or less with respect to the humidity of the gas in the gap.
1 to 3, the space between the opposing substrate 1 and substrate 2 in FIGS. 1 to 3, the occupied portion of the electrodes 5, 6, the particle group (or powder fluid) 3, the occupied portion of the partition 4, and the device A gas portion that is in contact with a so-called particle group (or powder fluid) excluding the seal portion is meant.
The gas in the gap is not limited as long as it is in the humidity region described above, but dry air, dry nitrogen, dry argon, dry helium, dry carbon dioxide, dry methane, and the like are preferable. This gas needs to be sealed in the apparatus so that the humidity is maintained. For example, filling of particles or powder fluid, assembly of the substrate, etc. are performed in a predetermined humidity environment, It is important to apply a sealing material and a sealing method to prevent moisture intrusion.

The distance between the substrate in the image display plate of the present invention is not limited as long as the particle group or the powder fluid can move and the contrast can be maintained, but is usually adjusted to 2 to 5000 μm, preferably 5 to 500 μm.
The volume occupancy of the particle group or powder fluid in the space between the opposing substrates is preferably 5 to 70%, more preferably 5 to 60%. If it exceeds 70%, the movement of particles or powder fluid is hindered, and if it is less than 5%, the contrast tends to be unclear.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the following. The partition used in the following examples had 90 degrees in JIS-A hardness.

<Example 1>
In order to manufacture the image display board, a manufacturing apparatus including the roll 11 and the cleaner unit 12 having the configurations shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B was used. At that time, the roll 11 is a conductive rubber roll having a surface hardness of 70 degrees in JIS-A hardness, and the cleaner unit 12 is a “UVU-F TYPE Flat” manufactured by Shinko Co., Ltd. An “ultrasonic dry cleaner for panels” was used. The surface resistivity of the roll 11 is measured by using a “Hiresta UP MCP-HT type device” manufactured by Dia Instruments Co., Ltd. and a reduced sample probe (MCP-HTP15) and pressing the probe onto the surface of the roll. It was. The surface resistivity of the roll 11 used in this example was 3.0 × 10 ⁵ (Ω / □).

  First, as shown in FIG. 5A, a substrate 1 filled with a predetermined amount of particles or powdered fluid 3 in a display cell defined by partition walls 4 is conveyed in the direction of arrow A by a conveying device (not shown), and At the same time, the roll 11 is rotated in the direction of arrow C, and the sweep unit 15 and the suction unit 14 are operated. As a result, unnecessary particles or powdered fluid 3 riding on the partition walls 4 are transferred to the roll 11, and then easily peeled off from the roll surface by the air flowing from the sweeping portion 15 at the upper part of the roll 11. It is sucked from the slit of the line nozzle 13 by the suction force from the part 14 and moves in the direction of the arrow B (suction direction) in the figure, and is sucked and removed by the suction part 14 and collected. Thereafter, the other substrate (not shown) is bonded to the substrate 1 filled with the particle group or powder fluid 3 in the display cell, and the particle group or powder fluid 3 is sealed in the display cell. . The image display board of this invention is produced by the above.

  According to the present embodiment, by performing the above-described “removing step of unnecessary particle group or powder fluid 3 on the partition wall 4”, the unnecessary particle group or powder fluid 3 on the partition wall 4 is removed almost 100%. The particle group or the powder fluid 3 transferred to the roll 11 could be removed almost 100%. The completed image display board did not cause poor bonding. Therefore, it was possible to continuously produce an image display plate with good display quality at low cost.

  The image display board manufactured using the image display board manufacturing apparatus of the present invention has no image unevenness, and is a display unit of a mobile device such as a notebook computer, PDA, mobile phone, or handy terminal, an electronic book, an electronic newspaper, or the like. Paper, signboards, posters, blackboard bulletin boards, calculators, home appliances, automotive displays, card displays such as point cards, IC cards, electronic advertisements, electronic POPs, electronic price tags, electronic scores, RF-ID devices It is suitably used for the display part of the above.

It is a figure which shows an example of the drive method in the image display board manufactured using the manufacturing apparatus of the image display board of this invention. It is a figure which shows the other example of the drive method in the image display board manufactured using the manufacturing apparatus of the image display board of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the structure of the image display board manufactured using the manufacturing apparatus of the image display board of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the structure of an example of the manufacturing apparatus of the image display board of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the structure of the other example of the manufacturing apparatus of the image display board of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the shape of the partition in the image display board manufactured using the manufacturing apparatus of the image display board of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 Substrate 3 particle, powder fluid 3W White particle, white powder fluid 3B Black particle, black powder fluid 4 Partition 5 Electrode 6 Electrode 11 Roll 12 Cleaner part 13 Line nozzle 14 Suction part 15 Sweep part

Claims (7)

At least one of the transparent substrates is a transparent substrate, and the first substrate and the second substrate on which the partition walls defining the display cells are formed are overlapped, and a particle group or powder fluid is sealed therebetween. An image display board manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing an image display board having a structure,
A roll having an axial length that is equal to or greater than a length perpendicular to the transport direction of the second substrate and being in contact with the upper portion of the partition; and a particle group or powder fluid transferred to the roll A cleaner portion disposed at a portion that does not come into contact with the upper portion of the partition wall ,
The cleaner unit includes Rukoto includes a arranged line nozzles so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the second substrate, and a suction part connected to the suction direction rear end portion of the line nozzles An apparatus for manufacturing an image display board characterized by the above. 2. The image display board manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaner unit further includes a sweeping unit connected to a front end of the line nozzle in the suction direction. The surface of the roll is covered with an elastic body, and the elastic body has an elastic modulus smaller than the elastic modulus of the partition wall, a surface resistivity of 1 × 10 ⁹ (Ω / □) or less, the particle group or the powder 3. The apparatus for producing an image display board according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a surface roughness equal to or less than an average diameter of the fluid.   The apparatus for manufacturing an image display board according to claim 1, wherein the roll and the cleaner portion are additionally provided on the back side of the second substrate. The line nozzle has a line-shaped slit, and the slit has a length that is not less than the length in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the second substrate and not more than the length in the axial direction of the roll. having together, the image display panel manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said roll surface and the line nozzle tip is characterized in that it is arranged at intervals of less than 3 mm.   The image display board manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the roll has an outer peripheral length longer than a length of the second substrate in a conveyance direction. An image display board is manufactured using the image display board manufacturing apparatus of any one of Claims 1-6 , removing the particle group or powder fluid adhering to the upper part of the said partition. Manufacturing method of display board.

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