JP5830146B1 - Printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing method capable of obtaining a very thin printed layer and reducing variations in the film thickness. A plate cylinder separation / contact direction drive mechanism for driving a plate cylinder in a separation / contact direction (Z-axis direction) with respect to a base member, and a plate cylinder rotation direction drive mechanism for driving the plate cylinder in a rotation direction. 3 and by giving a command to the plate cylinder separation / contact direction drive mechanism 4 and the plate cylinder rotation direction drive mechanism 3, the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 2 is applied to the surface of the film substrate F supported by the base member 1. Printing provided with plate cylinder separation / contact rotation control means E1 for controlling the position of the plate cylinder 2 in the separation / contact direction according to the rotation angle of the plate cylinder 2 so as to be driven to a certain size toward the substrate F side. The printing method is performed using the apparatus. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a printing method with high printing accuracy.

In this type of printing method , a predetermined position in the horizontal direction is marked and read with a camera to correct the printing screen to a normal position in the horizontal direction, or in the direction of rotation about the vertical axis. A method using a screen printer capable of improving the printing accuracy on a plane by correcting the angle to a normal angle is known (for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, in a screen printing machine, the thickness of the printed layer formed by the ink that is scraped from the screen varies depending on the difference in printing pressure (in the case of the above conventional example, the pressure applied to the squeegee for scraping the ink from the screen). Will change. For this reason, it is difficult to reduce the variation in the thickness of the printed layer. Further, the screen printing machine has a relatively thick print layer with a thickness of usually 1 μm (micrometer) or more.

  On the other hand, the relief printing machine is based on a structure in which the ink attached to the convex part of the plate provided on the outer peripheral part of the plate cylinder is transferred to the printing material by applying pressure, and low-viscosity ink can be used. Therefore, it is possible to make the thickness of the printed layer as extremely thin as about 10 nm (nanometer) (Patent Document 2).

  However, the letterpress printing machine has a problem that the film thickness variation is larger than the film thickness of the extremely thin printing layer.

  Therefore, as a result of intensive research, the inventor has found that the thickness of the sheet-like plate attached to the outer peripheral portion of the plate cylinder varies within a range of about 20 μm in the circumferential direction of the plate cylinder. The knowledge that it appears as a variation in film thickness was obtained.

JP-A-5-185579 Japanese Patent No. 5526610

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a printing method capable of obtaining a very thin printed layer and reducing variations in the film thickness. .

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 includes a printing support member for supporting a printing material, and a plate cylinder having a plate wound around the outer periphery in a cylindrical shape, and the plate cylinder is By transferring the printing material adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder to the printing material when rotating on the printing material supported by the printing support member while applying pressure to the printing material, A printing cylinder separation / contact direction driving mechanism configured to form a printing layer of the printing substance on the printing material, and driving the plate cylinder in a separation / contact direction with respect to the printing support member; and a rotation direction of the plate cylinder The printing cylinder rotating direction driving mechanism, the printing drum separating / attaching direction driving mechanism, and the printing cylinder rotation direction driving mechanism are commanded so that the outer peripheral surface of the printing cylinder is supported by the printing support member. The mark on the surface of the substrate Is configured so that a plate cylinder disjunction rotation control means for controlling the disjunctive direction position of the plate cylinder so that the state of forced certain size at the object side in the rotation angle of the plate cylinder The plate cylinder separation / rotation control means specifies at least a difference in radius of each specific section with respect to a radius from a rotation center of the plate cylinder to an outer peripheral surface in each specific section obtained by dividing the plate cylinder into a plurality of circumferential directions. The outer peripheral surface of each specific section is a fixed dimension on the substrate side with respect to the surface of the substrate based on the dimension in the radial direction that can be obtained in advance. A printing method for performing printing using a printing apparatus configured to control the position of the plate cylinder in the separation / contact direction for each of the specific sections so as to be driven in, wherein each of the specific sections The radial dimension is Each time the plate cylinder is rotated so that the position where the radial dimension on the outer circumferential surface of the specific section should be acquired is directed to the printed material side supported by the printing support member, the outer circumferential surface is applied to the printed material. The outer periphery of the plate cylinder is pressed against the substrate by moving the plate cylinder by a certain amount toward the substrate along the separation / contact direction from a reference position that is separated from the substrate. A portion of the printed material attached to the outer peripheral surface corresponding to each specific section of the printed material that is continuously attached linearly to the surface in the circumferential direction is transferred to the substrate as a line segment. The radial dimension obtained by using each line segment corresponding to each specific section transferred to the substrate as each chord of a circle whose outer circumference is the circumference of the plate cylinder is used. Ru printing method der.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein at least every other specific section adjacent in the circumferential direction is selected and the line segment corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the selected specific section is selected. In the same manner, each line segment corresponding to all the specific sections is obtained by obtaining a print body on which each line segment corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the other specific section not selected is obtained. It is characterized that it is so that to obtain a.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the position where the radial dimension on the outer peripheral surface of each specific section is to be acquired is the rotation center of the plate cylinder, It is a position in the direction connecting the center in the circumferential direction of the specific section.

A fourth aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in the invention of any one of the first to third aspects, the specific sections are divided at equal intervals in a circumferential direction of the plate cylinder.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the plate cylinder separating / connecting direction driving mechanism is disposed on one side and the other side in the axial direction of the plate cylinder. It is characterized by having.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the printing material is polyimide, polythiophene, polyacetylene, polyaniline, polyphenylene vinylene, polyfluorene, polypyrrole, organic semiconductor, light emitting polymer. Contains liquid, water-based ink, UV ink, oil-based ink, process ink, neutral color ink, waterless ink, or particles made of conductive metals such as silver and copper, nanoparticles or nanowires containing any organic material It is characterized by being liquid.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the plate is a relief plate formed of synthetic resin, rubber, or mold rubber. The mold rubber has rubber elasticity formed from, for example, a liquid silicone resin.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the printing material adhered to the printing plate is transferred to the printing material while pressure is applied to the printing material from the plate cylinder, and the printing material having a low viscosity is used as the printing material. Since it can be used, an extremely thin film having a thickness of about 10 nm can be obtained as the printed layer transferred to the substrate.

  On the other hand, when the thickness of the plate varies in the circumferential direction of the plate cylinder, for example, in the range of about 20 μm, the dimension from the rotation center to the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder also varies in the range of about 20 μm in the circumferential direction. For this reason, when the conventional technique is used as it is, the pressure (printing pressure) acting on the printing material from the plate cylinder changes corresponding to the variation in the thickness of the plate, and this change in pressure is changed. For a printed layer having a film thickness of about 10 nm, a large change in film thickness appears. Even if 1/1000 of the plate thickness variation appears as a variation in the printing layer thickness, the variation in the printing layer thickness is as large as about 20 nm. That is, the flatness of the film thickness is poor for a printed layer having a film thickness of 10 nm.

  However, by giving commands to the plate cylinder separation / contact direction drive mechanism and the plate cylinder rotation direction drive mechanism from the plate cylinder separation / contact rotation control means, the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder is fixed to the substrate side with respect to the surface of the substrate to be printed. Since the position of the plate cylinder is controlled according to the rotation angle of the plate cylinder so that the dimensions are driven, even if the thickness of the plate varies in the circumferential direction of the plate cylinder, The pressure acting on the printing material from the cylinder can be kept constant, and the variation in the thickness of the printing layer transferred to the printing material can be made extremely small. In other words, the flatness of the film thickness can be improved.

  Accordingly, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect that it is possible to obtain a printed layer having a very thin film thickness and to make the variation in the film thickness extremely small.

On the other hand , the plate cylinder separation and rotation control means specifies at least a difference in radius of each specific section with respect to a radius from the rotation center of the plate cylinder to the outer peripheral surface in each specific section in which the plate cylinder is divided into a plurality of circumferential directions. In a state in which the outer peripheral surface of each specific section is driven by a certain dimension toward the printed material side with respect to the surface of the printed material, based on the radial dimension that can be obtained and acquired in advance. The position of the plate cylinder in the separation direction is controlled for each specific section so that each time the plate cylinder rotates within a range of angles corresponding to each specific section, the radius in the specific section Based on the dimension in the direction, the position of the plate cylinder in the contact / separation direction is controlled so that the outer peripheral surface of the specific section is driven by a certain dimension toward the substrate. That is, as the plate cylinder rotates, the outer peripheral surfaces of all the specific sections are sequentially brought into contact with the printing material and are driven to a certain size toward the printing material.

  Therefore, the variation in the film thickness of the printed layer transferred to the substrate can be suppressed to an extremely small level. Then, by narrowing the circumferential interval of each specific section in the plate cylinder, there is an effect that the variation in the thickness of the print layer in the entire printed material can be further reduced. The specific section is divided in the circumferential direction in order to measure radial dimensions at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction of the plate cylinder, and does not physically divide the plate cylinder. Needless to say.

Further, by moving the plate cylinder from the reference position toward the printing support member by a certain amount, the outer peripheral surface corresponding to each specific section of the plate cylinder is pressed against the printed material, and the plate cylinder continues linearly in the circumferential direction of the plate cylinder. A part of the printing material corresponding to each of the specific sections is transferred as a line segment to the substrate, and each line segment corresponding to each of the specific sections transferred to the substrate is transferred to the plate cylinder. By using each chord of a circle whose outer circumference is the circumference, the dimension in the radial direction in each specific section is obtained. Therefore, the dimension in the radial direction can be easily obtained with high accuracy for each specific section.

That is, as a radius of a circle, for example, one representative radius obtained by actually measuring the diameter of the plate cylinder is r, a string length (hereinafter referred to as “string length”) is L, and the plate cylinder. Of the straight line extending from the center of the circle corresponding to the center of rotation to the circumference of the chord through the center of the string, where H is the arrow height as the dimension from the chord to the circumference, the arrow height H is the radius r and the chord length L. Can be obtained by the following equation.
  H = r− (r ² -(L / 2) ² ) ^1/2

Here, 100 mm (millimeter) which is a radius of a general plate cylinder is used as the radius r, and 0.005 mm (5 μm), 0.01 mm (10 μm),. The chord length L is calculated as follows using 015 mm (15 μm) and 0.02 mm (20 μm).
  H (mm) 0.005 0.010 0.015 0.020
  L (mm) 2.000 2.828 3.464 3.000
  L / H 400 282.8 230.9 150

In this case, the arrow height H is detected in a state in which the arrow height H is enlarged by about 150 times or more compared to the case where the arrow height H is directly measured by detecting the string length L after measuring the string length L. Is possible. And this arrow height H can be used as a dimension of the radial direction which can specify the difference of the radius in each specific area.
That is, by measuring the length of the above-described line segment corresponding to the chord length L, the radial dimension in each specific section can be detected accurately and easily.

According to the invention described in claim 2, even when the specific section is set finely, the lengths of the line segments corresponding to all the specific sections can be accurately detected.

According to the invention described in claim 3, the position where the radial dimension on the outer peripheral surface of each specific section is to be acquired is the position in the direction connecting the rotation center of the plate cylinder and the center in the circumferential direction of each specific section. Therefore, a more average radial dimension can be obtained in each specific section. That is, the radial dimension in the circumferential direction also changes in each specific section, but the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder is printed on the substrate based on the average radial dimension in each specific section. A certain dimension can be driven to the side. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce variation in the thickness of the printed layer transferred to the printing material.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since each specific section is divided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the plate cylinder, there is an advantage that control of the angle direction of the plate cylinder is simplified.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the plate cylinder separating / connecting direction driving mechanism is disposed on both the one side and the other side in the axial direction of the plate cylinder, the one side and the other side are independent. In this state, variations in the thickness of the printed layer can be reduced. Further, even when the thickness of the plate changes so as to incline toward the axial direction of the plate cylinder, the change can be prevented from affecting the thickness of the printing layer. Therefore, it is possible to make the thickness of the printing layer of the entire printed material more uniform.

According to the invention described in claim 6 , since the printing substance is a liquid containing an organic material including any one of polyimide, polythiophene, polyacetylene, polyaniline, polyphenylene vinylene, polyfluorene, polypyrrole, organic semiconductor, and light emitting polymer, A printing layer based on a liquid containing an organic material having a very thin film thickness and a stable thickness can be obtained. Therefore, for example, by forming a printing layer based on a liquid containing an organic material on a thin plastic film as a substrate to be printed, an organic EL display device having high flexibility and high quality such as color display can be obtained. In addition, it is possible to obtain a higher performance organic EL illumination, a thin film solar cell, a thin film transistor (TFT), and the like having high flexibility. Furthermore, various flexible sensors with high flexibility and higher performance can be obtained.

  In addition, by reducing and flattening the film thickness of the printing layer using water-based ink, UV ink, oil-based ink, process ink, intermediate color ink, or waterless ink, it is possible to improve the expression by printing. Furthermore, by obtaining a printed layer based on a liquid containing particles, nanoparticles, or nanowires made of a conductive metal such as silver or copper, a fine circuit with constant performance can be configured.

According to the invention described in claim 7 , since the plate is a relief plate formed of synthetic resin, rubber, or mold rubber, the plate is covered from the plate based on the flexibility of the synthetic resin, rubber, or mold rubber. The pressure acting on the printed material can be made uniform. Therefore, variations in the thickness of the printed layer can be further reduced.

It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the printing apparatus used for the printing method shown as one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the printing apparatus, Comprising: It is the II arrow directional view of FIG. It is a figure which shows the printing apparatus, Comprising: It is the III arrow line view of FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control device in the printing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the said plate cylinder and a film board | substrate at the time of obtaining the dimension of a radial direction for every specific area divided into the circumferential direction about the plate cylinder in the printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the film substrate which has the several line segment transcribe | transferred from the said plate cylinder in order to obtain the dimension of the radial direction for every specific area of the plate cylinder in the printing apparatus, (a) is the whole said film substrate. It is a top view to show, (b) is an enlarged view which shows the principal part B of (a). In the printing apparatus, it is explanatory drawing for obtaining the dimension of a radial direction from arrow height by making into a chord the line segment transcribe | transferred to the film board | substrate. It is explanatory drawing shown as the 1st other example of the said printing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing shown as the 2nd other example of the said printing apparatus.

An embodiment of a printing method of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings of a printing apparatus used in the printing method .

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the printing apparatus used in the printing method shown in this embodiment has a base member (printing support member) 1 that supports a film substrate (substrate) F and a cylindrical winding around the outer periphery. A plate cylinder 2 having a sheet-like relief (plate) 2a attached thereto, and the plate cylinder 2 is rotated and moved on the film substrate F supported by the base member 1 while applying pressure to the film substrate F. When a liquid organic EL material (printing substance) (liquid containing a light emitting polymer) attached to the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 2 is transferred to the film substrate F, the organic EL material is transferred to the film substrate F. A printing layer made of a material is formed. The printing apparatus includes a printing mechanism unit A, a first drive mechanism unit B, a second drive mechanism unit C, a third drive mechanism unit D, and a control device E (see FIG. 4). It has become.

  Since the upper surface of the base member 1 supports the film substrate F, the base member 1 is a flat support surface 1a. The base member 1 is configured to reliably support the film substrate F on the support surface 1a in a flat shape by using, for example, a vacuum suction force.

  The plate cylinder 2 is provided with a rotation drive shaft 2b at the rotation center position, and is driven to rotate about the rotation drive shaft 2b. The relief plate 2a is formed in a sheet shape with a synthetic resin, and is wound around the outer periphery of the plate cylinder 2 in a cylindrical shape, so that a cylindrical outer peripheral surface coaxial with the rotation drive shaft 2b in the plate cylinder 2 is formed. Is configured. The plate cylinder 2 configured in this manner is supplied with the organic EL material from the anilox roll 21 on its outer peripheral surface, thereby transferring the organic EL material adhering to the uppermost surface of the convex portion of the relief plate 2a to the film substrate F. It is like that.

  The anilox roll 21 is provided with a rotational drive shaft 21a at the rotational center position thereof, and is rotationally driven with the rotational drive shaft 21a as an axis, and has a cylindrical shape coaxial with the rotational drive shaft 21a. It has the outer peripheral surface. The anilox roll 21 is supplied with the organic EL material from the flange portion 22 on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and further supplies the organic EL material to the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 2. The collar portion 22 is configured to store the organic EL material, and supply the stored organic EL material to the outer peripheral surface of the anilox roll 21. The collar portion 22 is provided with a doctor 22 a for adjusting the organic EL material to a certain thickness and supplying it to the anilox roll 21.

  Further, the plate cylinder 2 is configured such that its rotational drive shaft 2 b is rotationally driven by a plate cylinder rotation direction drive mechanism 3. The plate cylinder rotation direction drive mechanism 3 is configured to include a servo motor (not shown). Also about the anilox roll 21, the rotational drive shaft 21a is rotationally driven by the other rotational drive mechanism which is not shown in figure. The plate cylinder 2 and the anilox roll 21 are controlled so that the speeds of the outer peripheral surfaces thereof are synchronized.

  The printing mechanism section A is configured to include the plate cylinder 2, the anilox roll 21, the collar 22, the plate cylinder rotation direction driving mechanism 3 and the like described above. The printing mechanism A is installed on the lower surface side of the first platform 100.

  The first drive mechanism B is installed on the upper surface side of the first platform 100 and has a configuration including a plate cylinder separation / contact direction drive mechanism 4. The first drive mechanism B is also installed on the lower surface side of the second platform 200 at the same time. In other words, the first drive mechanism B is installed between the first platform 100 and the second platform 200.

  The second drive mechanism C is installed on the upper surface side of the second platform 200 and has a configuration including a plate cylinder axis direction drive mechanism 5 and a vertical axis rotation drive mechanism 6.

  The third drive mechanism D is installed on the upper side of the second drive mechanism C, and has a configuration including a plate cylinder printing direction drive mechanism 7.

  The plate cylinder printing direction drive mechanism 7 in the third drive mechanism portion D includes the third drive mechanism portion D and the printing mechanism portion A and the first print mechanism portion A that are installed below the third drive mechanism portion D along the two rail bars 71 having high rigidity. The entire drive mechanism B and second drive mechanism C are driven to move. The rail bar 71 extends in the direction in which the plate cylinder 2 rolls on the support surface 1a of the base member 1 and is parallel to the support surface 1a, that is, in the X-axis direction (the direction of the arrow or the direction opposite to the arrow). Exist.

  Further, the plate cylinder printing direction driving mechanism 7 has a configuration including a servo motor (not shown), and the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 2 whose speed of movement along the rail bar 71 rolls on the support surface 1a. Is controlled by the plate cylinder printing direction control means E4 in the control device E so as to synchronize with the circumferential speed.

  The plate cylinder axis direction drive mechanism 5 in the second drive mechanism section C is the same as the third drive mechanism section D in that the entire first drive mechanism section B and printing mechanism section A are in the axial direction of the plate cylinder 2, that is, Y. By moving and driving in the axial direction (the direction of the arrow or the direction opposite to the arrow), the position of the plate cylinder 2 in the axial direction can be adjusted. The plate cylinder axis direction drive mechanism 5 has a configuration including a servo motor (not shown), and is controlled by the plate cylinder axis direction control means E2 of the control device E.

  Further, the rotation drive mechanism 6 around the vertical axis in the second drive mechanism part C is configured so that the entire first drive mechanism part B and the printing mechanism part A are rotated around the Z axis (vertical axis) with respect to the third drive mechanism part D. , That is, the direction of the axis of the plate cylinder 2 can be adjusted around the Z axis. In this case, the Z-axis is an axis extending in the Z-axis direction from the axial center of the plate cylinder 2. The vertical axis rotation drive mechanism 6 is also provided with a servo motor (not shown), and is controlled by a vertical axis control means E3 of the control device E.

  The plate cylinder separation / contact direction driving mechanism 4 in the first driving mechanism B is configured so that the entire first platform 100 and the printing mechanism A are in the Z-axis direction (base) with respect to the second driving mechanism C including the second platform 200. It is driven to move in a direction perpendicular to and away from the support surface 1a of the member 1. Accordingly, the position of the plate cylinder 2 is adjusted in a direction in which it is separated from and contacting the support surface 1 a of the base member 1.

  The plate cylinder separation / contact direction drive mechanism 4 includes a first inclined member 41, a second inclined member 42, and an actuator 43 that moves and drives the first inclined member 41 linearly.

  The first inclined member 41 has a lower surface portion 41a that is movably supported by the first platform 100, and an upper surface portion 41b that is inclined with a predetermined angle with respect to the lower surface portion 41a.

  That is, the first inclined member 41 is held by the first platform 100 so as to be able to reciprocate in the same direction as the movement direction of the plate cylinder 2. Further, the upper surface portion 41 b is inclined in a direction gradually moving away from the upper surface of the first platform 100 from the front to the rear with respect to the moving direction of the plate cylinder 2.

  The second inclined member 42 has a flat inclined surface in which the lower surface portion 42 a is slidable with respect to the upper surface portion 41 b of the first inclined member 41. Further, the upper surface portion 42 b of the second inclined member 42 is parallel to the lower surface portion 41 a of the first inclined member 41 in a state where the lower surface portion 42 a is in contact with the upper surface portion 41 b of the first inclined member 41. Is formed. The upper surface portion 42b is fixed to the lower surface of the second platform 200.

  The actuator 43 is configured to drive the first inclined member 41 to reciprocate. The actuator 43 is configured to include a servo motor (not shown).

  The first drive mechanism B prevents the first platform 100 and the second platform 200 from being relatively displaced in the horizontal direction as the first inclined member 41 moves, and these first platforms. In order to allow a change in the distance between the first platform 100 and the second platform 200, a connecting member (not shown) for connecting the first platform 100 and the second platform 200 is provided.

  The plate cylinder separating / connecting direction drive mechanism 4 has the first platform 100 and the second platform so that the plate cylinder 2 is located at a position corresponding to each of the one end and the other end of the plate cylinder 2 in the axial direction. 200. In particular, the upper surface portion 42 b of the second inclined member 42 is fixed to the lower surface of the second platform 200 so as to be positioned directly above one end portion and the other end portion in the axial direction of the plate cylinder 2. .

  The control device E includes plate cylinder separation / contact rotation control means E1, plate cylinder axis direction control means E2, vertical axis rotation control means E3, and plate cylinder printing direction control means E4.

  The plate cylinder separation / contact rotation control means E1 controls the angle of the plate cylinder 2 in the rotation direction by giving commands to the plate cylinder separation / contact direction drive mechanism 4 and the plate cylinder rotation direction drive mechanism 3, and The position of the plate cylinder in the Z-axis direction is controlled such that the outer peripheral surface is driven to a certain dimension toward the film substrate F with respect to the surface of the film substrate F supported by the base member 1. Yes.

  That is, the plate cylinder separation / contact rotation control means E1 gives a command to the actuator 43 of each plate cylinder separation / contact direction drive mechanism 4 to control the amount of movement of the plate cylinder 2 in the Z-axis direction. And a plate cylinder rotation direction control means E1b for giving a command to the plate cylinder rotation direction drive mechanism 3 to control the rotation angle of the plate cylinder 2. Then, while controlling the rotation angle of the plate cylinder 2 by the plate cylinder rotation direction control means E1b, the state where the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 2 is always driven by a certain dimension toward the film substrate F side by the plate cylinder separation / contact direction control means E1a. Thus, the position of the plate cylinder 2 in the Z-axis direction is controlled.

  In printing, as described above, the plate cylinder printing direction drive mechanism 7 is controlled by a command from the plate cylinder printing direction control means E4, and the printing mechanism part A, the first drive mechanism part B, and the second drive mechanism part. The speed at which C and the entire third drive mechanism portion D move in the X-axis direction is synchronized with the speed in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 2 that rolls and moves on the support surface 1a. Further, the plate cylinder axis direction drive mechanism 5 is controlled by a command from the plate cylinder axis direction control means E2, and the plate cylinder 2 moves to the normal position in the axial direction, whereby the axial position of the plate cylinder 2 is controlled. Correction is made. Furthermore, the rotation drive mechanism 6 around the vertical axis is controlled by a command from the vertical axis control means E3, and the axial direction of the plate cylinder 2 moves to the normal angular position around the Z axis, so that the position in this rotation direction is Correction is made.

  Here, regarding the control of the position of the plate cylinder 2 in the Z-axis direction, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of specific sections S1, S2, S3... Sn (Sn Is shown as a general code for a specific section.) With respect to the radius from the rotation center O of the plate cylinder 2 to the outer peripheral surface in FIG. , R2, R3,... Rn (Rn is shown as a general code for the radial dimension) is acquired in advance. Each radial dimension Rn is a dimension located in a direction connecting the rotation center O of the plate cylinder 2 and the center in the circumferential direction of each specific section Sn.

  In FIG. 5, the radii from the rotation center O to the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 2 are shown as radial dimensions R1, R2, R3,... Rn. Even if it is not, what should just understand the difference of each radius is sufficient. The difference between the radii corresponds to the variation in the thickness of the relief plate 2a in the circumferential direction. For this reason, the dimension Rn in each radial direction indicates the radius of the plate cylinder 2 in each specific section Sn in FIG. 5, but will be described as only showing the difference between the radii in the text. In FIG. 5, the plate cylinder 2 is shown by a cross-sectional view of a main part in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction, and a main part plan view of the film substrate F is shown. And the outer peripheral surface of each specific section Sn in FIG. 5 is enlarged and shown stepwise so that the variation of the dimension Rn in each radial direction can be clearly seen.

  By acquiring the radial dimension Rn in each specific section Sn in advance, the outer peripheral surface of each specific section Sn is moved by moving the plate cylinder 2 in the Z-axis direction based on each radial dimension Rn. The plate cylinder 2 can be rotationally driven while controlling the position of the plate cylinder 2 so as to be driven to a certain dimension toward the film substrate F side with respect to the surface of the film substrate F.

  The radial dimension Rn in each specific section Sn is obtained as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the plate cylinder 2 rotates so that the position where the radial dimension Rn on the outer peripheral surface of each specific section Sn is to be obtained faces the film substrate F supported by the base member 1. Each time (each time the direction of the radial dimension Rn faces the direction perpendicular to the support surface 1a), the plate cylinder 2 is moved in the Z-axis direction (separated) from the reference position G where the outer peripheral surface is separated from the film substrate F. The outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 2 is pressed against the film substrate F by moving a certain amount along the direction) toward the film substrate F.

  Thereby, a part of the organic EL material attached to the outer peripheral surface corresponding to each specific section Sn among the organic EL materials that are continuously attached linearly to the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 2 in the circumferential direction. Each line segment T1, T2, T3,... Tn (Tn is shown as a general code of the line segment) corresponding to each specific section Sn transferred to the film substrate F as a line segment and transferred to the film substrate F is a plate. Each chord of the circle whose circumference is the outer periphery of the trunk 2 is used. Based on the chord length of each chord, the radial dimension Rn in each specific section Sn is obtained.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, one representative radius r is obtained by measuring the diameter of the plate cylinder 2 with respect to the radius of the circle, the chord length is L, and the center of the chord is determined from the center O of the circle. The arrow height H can be obtained from the radius r and the chord length L by the following equation, where H is the arrow height as a dimension from the chord to the circle of the straight line passing through the circumference.
^{H = r- (r 2 - (} L / 2) 2) 1/2

Here, 100 mm (millimeter) which is a radius of a general plate cylinder is used as the radius r, and 0.005 mm (5 μm), 0.01 mm (10 μm),. The chord length L is calculated as follows using 015 mm (15 μm) and 0.02 mm (20 μm).
H (mm) 0.005 0.010 0.015 0.020
L (mm) 2.000 2.828 3.464 3.000
L / H 400 282.8 230.9 150

  That is, by obtaining the arrow height H by measuring the chord length L, the arrow height H can be obtained in an enlarged state 150 times or more compared to the case where the arrow height H is directly measured. Since the chord length L and the arrow height H obtained at each position on the circumference correspond to the length of each line segment Tn and the dimension Rn in each radial direction, measure the length of each line segment Tn. Thus, the dimension Rn in each radial direction can be detected accurately and easily.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing each line segment Tn obtained by pressing the outer peripheral surface of each specific section Sn of the plate cylinder 2 against the film substrate F. In addition, each line including the line segment Tn transferred to the film substrate F shown in FIG. 6A has a certain interval in the axial direction of the plate cylinder 2 to which the organic EL material adhered so as to continue linearly in the circumferential direction. A plurality of organic EL materials that are linearly attached in the axial direction are provided at the measurement positions of the radial dimension Rn in each specific section Sn.

As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 6B, by measuring the length L of the line segment Tn, the radial dimension Rn in each specific section Sn, that is, the thickness variation in the circumferential direction of the relief 2a can be accurately determined. And it becomes possible to detect easily.
The specific section Sn is divided in the circumferential direction in order to measure the radial dimension Rn at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction of the plate cylinder 2 and physically divides the plate cylinder 2. It goes without saying that it is not.

  Further, when the line segments Tn are transferred to the film substrate F, if the intervals between the specific sections Sn are narrow, both end portions of the adjacent line segments Tn may overlap each other. In this case, one specific section Sn is placed, and every other section is selected to obtain a film substrate F onto which each line segment Tn corresponding to the outer peripheral surface is transferred. Similarly, the film substrate F to which each line segment Tn corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the other specific section Sn not selected is transferred is obtained. Thereby, even when the specific section Sn is set finely, the length of the line segment Tn corresponding to all the specific sections Sn can be accurately detected.

In the printing apparatus configured as described above and the printing method using the printing apparatus, the organic EL material adhered to the uppermost surface of the convex portion of the relief plate 2a in a state where pressure is applied from the plate cylinder 2 to the film substrate F. Since it is configured so as to be transferred to the film substrate F, a very thin film thickness of about 10 nm can be obtained as the printed layer transferred to the film substrate F.

  On the other hand, when the thickness of the relief plate 2a varies in the circumferential direction of the plate cylinder 2 in the range of about 20 μm, for example, the dimension from the rotation center of the plate cylinder 2 to the outer peripheral surface also varies in the range of about 20 μm in the circumferential direction. become. For this reason, when the conventional technique is used as it is, the pressure (printing pressure) acting on the film substrate F from the plate cylinder 2 changes corresponding to the variation in the thickness of the relief plate 2a. This change appears as a large film thickness change for a printed layer having a film thickness of about 10 nm. If 1/1000 of the thickness variation of the relief plate 2a appears as a variation in the thickness of the printing layer, the variation in the thickness of the printing layer is 20 nm. That is, a large variation in film thickness appears for a printed layer having a thickness of 10 nm.

  However, by giving a command to the plate cylinder separation / contact direction drive mechanism 4 and the plate cylinder rotation direction drive mechanism 3 from the plate cylinder separation / contact rotation control means E1, the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 2 is in contact with the surface of the film substrate F. Since the position of the plate cylinder 2 is controlled in accordance with the rotation angle of the plate cylinder 2 so as to be driven to a certain size toward the film substrate F side, the thickness of the relief plate 2a is set to the plate cylinder 2 The pressure acting on the film substrate F from the plate cylinder 2 can be kept constant even if the film is uneven in the circumferential direction, and the variation in the thickness of the printing layer transferred to the film substrate F should be extremely small. Can do.

  Accordingly, it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect that it is possible to obtain a printed layer having a very thin film thickness and to make the variation in the film thickness extremely small.

  Further, the plate cylinder separation / rotation control means E1 has at least the radius of each specific section Sn with respect to the radius from the rotation center of the plate cylinder 2 to the outer peripheral surface in each specific section Sn obtained by dividing the plate cylinder 2 into a plurality of circumferential directions. The outer peripheral surface of each specific section Sn is relative to the surface of the film substrate F on the basis of the radial dimension Rn that is capable of specifying the difference and is acquired in advance. Since the position of the plate cylinder 2 in the contact / separation direction is controlled for each specific section Sn so as to be driven to a certain dimension on the F side, the angle corresponding to each specific section Sn. The position of the plate cylinder 2 in the contact / separation direction so that the outer peripheral surface of the specific section Sn is driven by a certain dimension toward the film substrate F on the basis of the radial dimension Rn in the specific section Sn. Is controlled To become. That is, as the plate cylinder 2 rotates, the outer peripheral surfaces of all the specific sections Sn are sequentially brought into contact with the film substrate F and are driven to a certain size toward the film substrate F side.

  Then, by narrowing the interval in the circumferential direction of each specific section Sn in the plate cylinder 2, there is an effect that the variation in the thickness of the printing layer in the entire film substrate F can be reduced. Moreover, since each specific section Sn is divided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the plate cylinder 2, the control of the rotation direction of the plate cylinder 2 is simplified.

  Further, since the position where the radial dimension Rn on the outer peripheral surface of each specific section Sn should be acquired is the position in the direction connecting the rotation center of the plate cylinder 2 and the center in the circumferential direction of each specific section Sn, each specific section A more average radial dimension Rn can be obtained in Sn. That is, the radial dimension in the circumferential direction also changes in each specific section Sn, but the outer periphery of the plate cylinder 2 is based on the average radial dimension Rn in each specific section Sn. The surface can be driven to a certain dimension toward the film substrate F side. Therefore, the dispersion | variation in the film thickness of the printing layer transcribe | transferred to the film board | substrate F can be reduced more.

  In particular, by moving the plate cylinder 2 from the reference position toward the printing support member by a certain amount, the outer peripheral surface corresponding to each specific section Sn in the plate cylinder 2 is pressed against the film substrate F, and the circumferential direction of the plate cylinder 2 is reached. A portion of the organic EL material corresponding to each specific section Sn among the organic EL materials that have been continuously adhered in a straight line is transferred to the film substrate F as a line segment, and each transferred to the film substrate F is transferred to the film substrate F. Since each line segment Tn corresponding to the specific section Sn is each chord of a circle having the circumference of the plate cylinder 2 as the circumference, the radial dimension Rn in each specific section Sn is obtained. Rn can be obtained easily and accurately for each specific section Sn.

  On the other hand, since the plate cylinder separation / contact direction driving mechanism 4 is disposed on one side and the other side of the plate cylinder 2 in the axial direction, the film thickness of the printing layer is independently provided on one side and the other side. Can be reduced. Further, even when the thickness of the relief plate 2a changes so as to be inclined toward the axial direction of the plate cylinder 2, the change can be prevented from affecting the film thickness of the printing layer. Therefore, the film thickness of the printing layer of the whole film substrate F can be made more uniform.

  Further, for example, a thin plastic film is used as the film substrate F, and a thin organic EL material printing layer is formed thereon, thereby obtaining an organic EL display device having high flexibility and high quality such as color display. be able to. Furthermore, it is possible to obtain organic EL lighting having higher performance, a thin film solar cell, a thin film transistor (TFT), and the like having high flexibility. Furthermore, various flexible sensors with high flexibility and higher performance can be obtained.

  Moreover, since the relief plate 2a is made of a synthetic resin, the pressure acting on the film substrate F from the relief plate 2a can be made uniform based on the flexibility of the synthetic resin. Therefore, the variation in the thickness of the print layer can be further reduced.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid organic EL material (light emitting polymer) is exemplified as the printing substance. However, as the printing substance, liquid polyimide, polythiophene, polyacetylene, polyaniline, polyphenylene vinylene, polyfluorene, Liquid, water-based ink, UV ink, oil-based ink, process ink, neutral color ink, waterless ink, or particles made of conductive metals such as silver and copper, nanoparticles containing organic materials including any of polypyrrole and organic semiconductors Alternatively, it may be a liquid containing nanowires or other liquid such as ink.

  In printing, the plate cylinder 2 side is configured to move in the X-axis direction (the direction of the arrow or the direction opposite to the arrow). However, as shown in FIG. 8, the base member 1 side moves in the X-axis direction. You may comprise. In this case, the plate cylinder 2 side may be configured to be movable in the X-axis direction or may be configured to be immovable.

  Moreover, although the example which used the base member 1 which has the planar support surface 1a as a printing support member was shown, as this printing support member, as shown in FIG. 9, the cylindrical outer peripheral surface which supports a to-be-printed material You may comprise by the impression cylinder 11 which has 11a. In this case, the substrate (film substrate F) is unwound from, for example, the unwinding roller 12, passes through the portion of the outer peripheral surface 11 a of the impression cylinder 11, and is wound around the winding roller 13 or vice versa. , That is, in the X-axis direction (the direction of the arrow or the direction opposite to the arrow). In this case as well, the plate cylinder 2 side may be configured to be movable in the X-axis direction or may be configured to be immovable.

  Further, regarding the configuration of the plate cylinder separation / contact direction drive mechanism 4, the first inclined member 41 driven by the actuator 43 is movably provided on the first platform 100, and the second inclined member 42 is fixed to the second platform 200. As shown in the example, the first inclined member 41 driven by the actuator 43 is movably provided on the second platform 200, and the second inclined member 42 is fixed directly above the plate cylinder 2 of the first platform 100. You may comprise.

1 Base member (printing support member)
2 Plate cylinder 2a Letterpress (plate)
3 Plate cylinder rotation direction drive mechanism 4 Plate cylinder separation / contact direction drive mechanism F Film substrate (printed material)
E1 Plate cylinder separation and rotation control means G Reference position Rn Radial dimension Sn Specific section Tn Line segment

Claims (7)

A printing support member for supporting the printing material; and a plate cylinder having a plate wound around the outer periphery in a cylindrical shape, and the printing drum is supported by the printing support member on the printing material. the by transferring to the printing substrate printing material adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder, it is configured to form a printing layer by the printing material to the printing substrate when rotated while applying pressure against ,
A plate cylinder separation / contact direction drive mechanism for driving the plate cylinder in a separation / contact direction with respect to the printing support member;
A plate cylinder rotation direction drive mechanism for driving the plate cylinder in the rotation direction;
By giving a command to the plate cylinder separation / contact direction driving mechanism and the plate cylinder rotation direction driving mechanism, the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder is on the substrate side with respect to the surface of the substrate supported by the printing support member. It is configured so that a plate cylinder disjunction rotation control means for controlling in accordance with the rotation angle of the position of the disjunctive direction the plate cylinder of the plate cylinder so as to be constant dimension Trapped state,
The plate cylinder separation / rotation control means specifies at least a difference in radius of each specific section with respect to a radius from a rotation center of the plate cylinder to an outer peripheral surface in each specific section in which the plate cylinder is divided into a plurality of circumferential directions. The outer peripheral surface of each specific section is driven to a certain size on the substrate side with respect to the surface of the substrate, based on the radial direction dimension that can be obtained in advance. A printing apparatus configured to control the position of the plate cylinder in the separation / contact direction for each specific section so that
A printing method for printing using
The dimension in the radial direction in each specific section is the plate cylinder so that the position on the outer peripheral surface of each specific section to acquire the radial dimension is directed to the substrate to be printed supported by the print support member. Each time the outer peripheral surface is moved away from the reference position in a state where the outer peripheral surface is separated from the printed material, the outer peripheral surface is moved by a certain amount toward the printed material along the separation / contact direction. The printing adhered to the outer peripheral surface corresponding to each specific section of the printing material that has been pressed against the substrate and thereby continuously adhered linearly to the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder in the circumferential direction. A part of the substance is transferred as a line segment to the substrate, and each line segment corresponding to each specific section transferred to the substrate is a string of a circle whose outer circumference is the plate cylinder. Radial dimension obtained by Printing method, which comprises using a. Select at least every other specific section adjacent in the circumferential direction to obtain a printed material on which the line segment corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the selected specific section has been transferred. by obtaining the substrate where each line segment is transferred corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of a specific section of claim 1, characterized that it is so that to obtain the line segment corresponding to all of the specific section Printing method. The position where the radial dimension on the outer peripheral surface of each specific section should be acquired is a position in a direction connecting the rotation center of the plate cylinder and the center in the circumferential direction of each specific section. The printing method according to claim 1 or 2 . Wherein each specific section, printing method according to claim 1, characterized that you have divided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the plate cylinder. The BandoHanare contact direction drive mechanism, printing method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that it is arranged on one side and the other side of the axial direction of the plate cylinder. The printing substance is a liquid, water-based ink, UV ink, oil-based ink, process ink containing an organic material containing at least one of polyimide, polythiophene, polyacetylene, polyaniline, polyphenylene vinylene, polyfluorene, polypyrrole, organic semiconductor, and light emitting polymer. , neutral ink, a waterless ink, or silver, particles made of a conductive metal such as copper, printing method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the liquid der Rukoto containing nanoparticles or nanowires . The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the plate is a relief plate formed of synthetic resin, rubber, or mold rubber .

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