JP2008090158A - Sheet-like optical member attaching method and sheet-like optical member attaching apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of sticking sheet-like optical member capable of reducing defective stripping of a releasing film and defective sticking of a sheet-like optical member when sticking the sheet-like optical member to a substrate, and to provide a device of sticking the sheet-like optical member. <P>SOLUTION: The method of sticking sheet-like optical member includes a stripping step of stripping the releasing film 14 from a polarizing plate 10 (sheet-like optical member); and a sticking step of sticking the polarizing plate 10 to a liquid crystal display panel 24 (substrate). The polarizing plate 10 is partially stuck to the liquid crystal display panel 24 and, thereafter, the polarizing plate 10 is gradually stuck to the liquid crystal display panel 24 by the relative movement between the liquid crystal display panel 24 and a stage 12 which sucks and retains the polarizing plate, wherein a suction force with which the polarizing plate 10 is sucked to the stage 12 is changed so as to be made weaker than the suction force in the stripping step. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet-like optical member affixing method and affixing device, and more particularly to a sheet-like optical member affixing method and affixing device suitable for adhering a polarizing plate to the surface of a liquid crystal display panel. It is.

  In recent years, flat panel displays have been widely used as display units for various electric products such as computers, televisions, and mobile phones. As such a flat panel display, for example, a liquid crystal display panel is widely applied.

  A liquid crystal display panel generally has a configuration in which liquid crystal is filled between two substrates that are arranged to face each other with a minute interval. Sheet-like optical members such as polarizing plates that transmit only light in a predetermined polarization direction are formed on an opposite surface of the opposite surfaces of these substrates, that is, an outer surface of the liquid crystal display panel, from an adhesive or the like. It is pasted through an adhesive layer.

  Conventionally, in order to attach a polarizing plate to a liquid crystal display panel, first, a release film bonded to the surface of the polarizing plate via an adhesive layer is peeled to expose the adhesive layer, and then the polarizing plate and the liquid crystal display panel And pasted together.

  According to such a method, first, the polarizing plate is adsorbed and held on the stage surface, the release tape is attached to one end of the release film surface, and the release tape is held by the clip. The release film is peeled from the polarizing plate by being pulled to the other end side.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 9, in a state where the polarizing plate 104 from which the release film has been peeled is adsorbed on the surface of the stage 100, the stage 100 is tilted so that one end thereof approaches the liquid crystal display panel 102. Then, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on the surface of the polarizing plate 104 is brought into contact with the liquid crystal display panel 102, and the polarizing plate 104 is pressed against the liquid crystal display panel 102 by the pressing roller 106, so that bubbles are formed between the polarizing plate 104 and the liquid crystal display panel 102. The liquid crystal display panel 102 and the stage 100 are relatively moved while not entering. Then, the polarizing plate 104 slides on the stage 100, and the polarizing plate 104 can be attached to the liquid crystal display panel 102 gradually.

  As described above, in order to attach the polarizing plate 104 to the liquid crystal display panel 102 while sliding on the stage 100, the polarizing plate 104 slides on the surface of the stage 100 so that the polarizing plate 104 does not float on the stage 100. It must be adsorbed to the stage 100 to such an extent that it can move.

  For example, the polarizing plate pasting apparatus described in Patent Document 1 shown in FIG. 9 is provided with fixing members 108, 108 that sandwich and fix a part of the other end of the polarizing plate 104 on the stage 100. Thereby, a polarizing plate can be affixed on a liquid crystal display panel, without receiving the influence of the curvature of a polarizing plate, a deformation | transformation, etc.

JP 2006-11198 A

  However, along with the recent increase in size of liquid crystal display panels, the size of polarizing plates has increased, and the release film that covers the surface has also increased in size. For this reason, the release film itself becomes heavy, and a greater force is required to peel the release film from the polarizing plate.

  Therefore, with the optimum adsorption force for attaching the polarizing plate to the liquid crystal display panel, the adsorption force may be too weak to peel the release film. If the force to adsorb the polarizing plate to the stage when peeling the release film is weak, the release film will not peel off the polarizing plate and the polarizing plate itself will float from the stage, or the position of the polarizing plate on the stage will shift. In other words, there has been a problem that a peeling failure of the release film occurs.

  On the other hand, the optimal adsorption force for peeling the release film from the polarizing plate is too strong to attach the polarizing plate to the liquid crystal display panel, and the sheet-like optical member is fixed to the stage, and the liquid crystal display panel The polarizing plate cannot be slid and moved on the stage by relative movement with the stage. Therefore, there has been a problem that a polarizing plate is poorly attached due to the inability to attach the polarizing plate to the liquid crystal display panel.

  Accordingly, the problem to be solved by the present invention is that when a sheet-like optical member such as a polarizing plate is attached to a substrate such as a liquid crystal display panel, a mold release is disposed on the surface of the sheet-like optical member via an adhesive layer. Even when the film is peeled off or when the sheet-like optical member is attached to the substrate via the adhesive layer, the sheet-like optical member can be adsorbed to the stage with an optimum adsorption force, and the release film is peeled off. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for attaching a sheet-like optical member or a device for attaching a sheet-like optical member, which can reduce defects and attachment failure of the sheet-like optical member.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides the release film in a state where the other surface of the sheet-like optical member having the release film laminated on one surface via an adhesive layer is fixed to the stage surface by adsorption. After peeling off the peeling step, and attaching one end of the sheet-like optical member adsorbed on the surface of the stage to the substrate to which the sheet-like optical member is attached via an adhesive layer, the substrate and the stage are relatively A polarizing plate attaching step of sliding the sheet-like optical member on the stage surface by movement and attaching the sheet-like optical member continuously to the other end side on the substrate surface. A method for attaching a sheet-like optical member, wherein an adsorption force for adsorbing the sheet-like optical member to the stage in the attaching step is different from an adsorption force in the peeling step. The one in which the subject matter of the present invention.

  At this time, it is preferable that an adsorption force for adsorbing the sheet-like optical member to the stage when the sheet-like optical member is slid on the surface of the stage is weaker than an adsorption force in the peeling step.

  At this time, vacuum suction or an electrostatic chuck can be applied to suck the sheet-like optical member to the stage.

  The method for attaching a sheet-like optical member according to the present invention is suitably used for attaching a polarizing plate to a liquid crystal display panel.

  The sheet-like optical member attaching apparatus according to the present invention includes a stage on which a sheet-like optical member having a release film laminated on at least one surface via an adhesive layer is disposed on the surface; An adsorbing means for adsorbing the sheet-like optical member, a switching means for switching the adsorbing force of the adsorbing means, and controlling the switching means so that the sheet-like optical member is attached to a substrate to which the sheet-like optical member is attached. And a control means for making the suction force of the suction means different from when the release film of the sheet-like optical member is peeled off when being attached via the adhesive layer. is there.

In this case, when the sheet-like optical member is attached to the substrate, which is an object to be attached to the sheet-like optical member, via the adhesive layer, the control means removes the release film of the sheet-like optical member. It is preferable to make the suction force of the suction means weaker than when peeling.

  In this case, a vacuum suction or an electrostatic chuck can be applied to the suction means to suck the sheet-like optical member onto the stage.

  Furthermore, the sheet-like optical member attaching device according to the present invention is suitably used for attaching a polarizing plate to a liquid crystal display panel.

  According to the method for affixing a sheet-like optical member according to the present invention, when the sheet-like optical member is affixed to the substrate, the adsorbing force that adsorbs the sheet-like optical member to the stage causes the release film from the sheet-like optical member The sheet-like optical member has an optimum adsorption force in each case when the sheet-like optical member is affixed to the substrate and when the release film is peeled off from the sheet-like optical member because it differs from the adsorption force when peeling. Can be adsorbed on the stage surface. Thereby, the peeling defect when peeling a release film from a sheet-like optical member and the sticking failure when sticking a sheet-like optical member on a board | substrate can be reduced.

  Further, when peeling the release film, the sheet-like optical member is firmly fixed to the stage surface with a strong adsorbing force so that the sheet-like optical member is not lifted or displaced from the stage, and the sheet-like optical member is mounted on the substrate. When adhering to the substrate, the sheet-like optical member can be slid on the surface of the stage and affixed to the substrate by the relative movement between the substrate and the stage by weakening the adsorption force. As a result, the release film is peeled off without causing the sheet-like optical member to float or deviate from the stage, and the sheet-like optical member is substrated without being affected by warpage, deformation, or the like of the sheet-like optical member. Can be pasted on.

  Further, according to the sheet optical member attaching apparatus according to the present invention, the control means controls the switching means for switching the suction force of the suction means so that the sheet optical member is attached to the substrate. Since the adsorption force that adsorbs to the stage is different from the adsorption force when peeling the release film, both when attaching the sheet-like optical member to the substrate and when peeling the release film from the sheet-like optical member In this case, it is possible to realize an optimum adsorption force. Therefore, when the release film is peeled off from the sheet-like optical member, the sheet-like optical member is dropped from the stage and a peeling failure occurs, or when the sheet-like optical member is attached to the substrate, the sheet-like optical member is placed on the stage. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of sticking failure due to being fixed to the surface. In other words, since it has switching means for switching the suction force of the suction means that sucks the sheet-like optical member to the stage, the optimum suction force when peeling the release film and the best suction time when attaching the sheet-like optical member In each case, the optimum adsorption force can be realized. Thereby, the peeling defect of the release film from a sheet-like optical member can be reduced, and the sticking defect of the sheet-like optical member to a board | substrate can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is applied to a process of attaching a polarizing plate to the surface of a liquid crystal display panel in the production of a liquid crystal display panel. In the following description, the method for attaching a sheet-like optical member according to the present invention is abbreviated as “this method”, and the device for attaching a sheet-like optical member according to the present invention is abbreviated as “this device”. There is.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a method for attaching a sheet-like optical member according to the present invention. According to this method, the sheet-like optical member (polarizing plate) is attached to the substrate (liquid crystal display panel) in the attaching step after the release film is released in the releasing step.

  In the peeling step, as shown in FIG. 1A, the sheet-like optical member (polarizing plate 10) is fixed to the surface of the stage 12 by adsorption, and the release film 14 is peeled off. This sheet-like optical member is a polarizing plate 10 which is an optical member having a function of transmitting only a specific polarization component with respect to incident light, and is separated on one surface via an adhesive layer 16 made of an adhesive or the like. A mold film 14 (Separator) is laminated. The surface of the polarizing plate 10 where the release film 14 is not provided is adsorbed and fixed to the stage 12, and a release tape 18 is attached to one side edge of the surface of the release film 14. The tape 18 is gripped by the clip 20. Then, the release film 14 that supports the clip 20 is moved toward the side opposite to the side to which the release tape 18 is attached (in the direction indicated by the arrow a), thereby pulling the release film 14. Then, it peels from the polarizing plate 10.

  At this time, the polarizing plate 10 is adsorbed on the surface of the stage 12 with a force equal to or greater than the force pulling the release film 14. When the polarizing plate 10 is adsorbed to the stage 12 with a strong force in this way, the polarizing plate 10 is fixed to the stage, so that the release film 14 is lifted off the stage together with the polarizing plate 10 without being peeled off from the polarizing plate 10. It can peel reliably by pulling the release film 14 without it.

  Next, in the attaching step, the polarizing plate 10 from which the release film 14 is peeled and the adhesive layer 16 is exposed is attached to the liquid crystal display panel 24 which is a substrate to which the sheet-like optical member is attached. As shown in FIG. 1B, the liquid crystal display panel 24 is placed on a roller conveyor 26 that enables the liquid crystal display panel 24 to move in a predetermined direction (for example, a direction indicated by an arrow b). On the other hand, the stage 12 for adsorbing and holding the polarizing plate 10 from which the release film 14 has been peeled in the peeling step is disposed below the liquid crystal display panel 24, and the surface of the liquid crystal display panel 24 to which the polarizing plate 10 is to be attached and polarized light The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 16 of the plate 10 is disposed so as to face. Then, one side of the stage 12 (the side on the downstream side in the moving direction of the liquid crystal display panel 24) is lifted to bring one end of the polarizing plate 10 into contact with the surface of the liquid crystal display panel 24. Then, one end of the polarizing plate 10, that is, the portion that is in contact with the liquid crystal display panel 24 is attached to the liquid crystal display panel 24 through the adhesive layer 16. Further, by moving the liquid crystal display panel 24 in the direction indicated by the arrow b and relatively moving the liquid crystal display panel 24 and the stage 12 on which the polarizing plate 10 is adsorbed, the polarizing plate 10 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow c. It is pulled and slides on the stage 12. In this manner, the portion of the polarizing plate 10 attached to the liquid crystal display panel 24 is pressed by the pressing roller 28, and the polarizing plate 10 is gradually attached so that no air bubbles or the like enter between them.

  In this attaching step, when the polarizing plate 10 is slid on the stage 12 by the relative movement of the liquid crystal display panel 24 and the stage 12 and is gradually attached to the liquid crystal display panel 24, the release film 14 is peeled off. The polarizing plate 10 is adsorbed on the stage with a weaker adsorbing force. That is, the polarizing plate 10 does not lift from the stage, but the polarizing plate 10 can move in a direction parallel to the surface of the stage 12 by the force applied to the polarizing plate 10 by the relative movement of the liquid crystal display panel 24 and the stage. The polarizing plate 10 is adsorbed to the stage 12 with a moderate force.

  When the polarizing plate 10 is adsorbed with an adsorbing force that can slide on the stage 12, the adsorbing force is too strong, and the polarizing plate 10 and the liquid crystal display panel 24 are partially bonded together. The problem that the polarizing plate 10 is fixed to the stage 12 and the liquid crystal display panel 24 cannot be moved does not occur. Further, the force for adsorbing the polarizing plate 10 is too weak, so that the polarizing plate 10 does not float or fall off from the stage during the attachment to the liquid crystal display panel 24. Accordingly, the polarizing plate 10 can be gradually and reliably attached to the liquid crystal display panel 24, and the occurrence of defective attachment can be reduced.

  As described above, when the release film 14 is peeled from the polarizing plate 10 and when the polarizing plate 10 is attached to the liquid crystal display panel 24, the adsorption force for adsorbing the polarizing plate 10 to the stage 12 is changed. In each case, the polarizing plate 10 can be adsorbed to the stage 12 with an optimum adsorbing force. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of both the peeling defect of the release film 14 and the sticking failure of the polarizing plate 10 can be suppressed, and the polarizing plate 10 can be reliably affixed on the liquid crystal display panel 24. FIG.

  In order to attract the polarizing plate 10 to the stage 12 in this way, for example, vacuum suction or electrostatic chuck is applied, and depending on the respective steps of peeling the release film 14 and attaching the polarizing plate 10, The suction force is configured to be switched. The configuration for switching the suction force of the stage 12 will be described in detail in the description of the sheet-like optical member pasting apparatus according to the present invention.

  The liquid crystal display panel 24, which is a substrate to which the sheet-like optical member is attached, is a liquid crystal filled between two transparent substrates, and this method is particularly suitable for large liquid crystals such as 65-inch. It is suitably applied to stick the polarizing plate 10 to the display panel 24. Further, the liquid crystal display panel 24 may be a single panel before a substrate such as a gate driver or a source driver is attached, or may be a module obtained by attaching these substrates.

  The polarizing plate 10 includes a polarizing base material (for example, PVA (polyvinyl alcohol)) containing a polarizing element (iodine or dichroic dye) and two base base materials (for example, TAC) that are protected by sandwiching the polarizing base material. (Triacetyl cellulose) and the like, and has a thickness of about 200 to 300 μm. A release film 14 having a thickness of about 40 μm is laminated on one surface of the polarizing plate 10 with an adhesive layer 16 interposed therebetween. The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 16 is formed from an adhesive made of an acrylic resin material, and the release film 14 is formed from PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or the like. A protective film made of, for example, PET for protecting the polarizing plate 10 is integrally laminated on the surface of the polarizing plate 10 opposite to the adhesive layer 16. Note that the sheet-like optical member attached to the substrate by this method is not limited to the polarizing plate 10, and a sheet containing a component that adjusts various optical characteristics such as diffusion and reflection, and a plurality of films are integrated. A laminated sheet or the like is applied.

  Next, an embodiment of the sheet optical member attaching apparatus according to the present invention will be described using an example in which the polarizing plate 10 is attached to the liquid crystal display panel 24. The liquid crystal display panel 24 and the polarizing plate 10 can be the same as those applied to the above-described method for attaching the sheet-like optical member. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated about the member same as what was shown by description of the sticking method of the sheet-like optical member concerning the above-mentioned this invention.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the apparatus 1. The sheet-like optical member attaching apparatus 1 includes a stage 12 on the surface of which a polarizing plate 10 attached to a liquid crystal display panel 24 is disposed, and a suction hole is provided on the surface of the stage 12 (FIG. 3). The vacuum hole 30 is connected to the suction hole via a pipe or the like so that the polarizing plate 10 can be adsorbed on the surface of the stage 12. Further, a flow rate adjusting valve 32 which is a switching means for switching the adsorption force for adsorbing the polarizing plate 10 to the stage 12 by adjusting the flow rate of the flow path between the suction hole on the surface of the stage 12 and the vacuum pump 30, Control means 34 for controlling the switching means. In addition, an electromagnetic valve or the like is applied to the flow rate adjusting valve 32, and the flow rate can be adjusted by receiving a switching signal from the control means 34.

  The affixing device 1 further affixes a peeling tape 18 to one end of a release film 14 disposed on the surface of the polarizing plate 10 that is not adsorbed on the stage, The release film 14 is configured so as to be peeled off, and includes a peeling arm 22 that supports a clip 20 that holds the peeling tape 18. Further, a tilting means 36 for tilting the stage 12 so that the polarizing plate 10 from which the release film 14 is peeled and the adhesive layer 16 is exposed is partially in contact with the liquid crystal display panel 24, and the liquid crystal display panel through the adhesive layer 16. A pressing roller 28 is provided to press the polarizing plate 10 superimposed on the surface of 24. With such a configuration, this attaching apparatus continuously performs a series of operations of peeling the release film 14 from the polarizing plate 10 and attaching the release film 14 to the liquid crystal display panel 24.

  FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the stage. FIG. 3 (a) is a top view of the surface of the stage that adsorbs the polarizing plate 10, and FIG. 3 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. In this stage, as shown in FIG. 3A, a large number of suction holes 38 are dispersedly provided on the surface of the stage that adsorbs the polarizing plate 10, and each of the suction holes 38 is formed in FIG. As shown to b), it forms so that the stage surface and the chamber 40 provided in the stage may be connected. The chamber 40 is provided with an exhaust port 42, and the exhaust port 42 is connected to the vacuum pump 30 via a pipe or the like (see FIG. 2). When the air in the chamber 40 is exhausted by the vacuum pump 30 with the polarizing plate 10 disposed on the surface of the stage 12, the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the stage 12, that is, the side opposite to the surface of the polarizing plate 10 on the stage 12 side. The polarizing plate 10 is adsorbed on the stage due to the pressure difference from the surface.

  The piping between the suction hole 38 and the vacuum pump 30 is provided with a flow rate adjusting valve 32 for adjusting the flow rate. By adjusting the flow rate adjusting valve 32, the exhaust flow rate at the exhaust port 42 is changed. Thus, the adsorption force for adsorbing the polarizing plate 10 to the stage is changed.

  In addition to this, in order to change the suction force, for example, the suction hole 38 can be adjusted by changing the diameter of the suction hole 38 by providing a shielding member or the like, or the exhaust amount of the vacuum pump 30 can be changed. It can also be adjusted. Moreover, you may carry out combining these.

  Also, if the electrostatic charge is applied to the stage surface and the polarizing plate 10 with different polarities and the polarizing plate 10 is attracted to the stage by an electric attractive force, the charge amount on the stage side and the polarizing plate side is changed. The suction power can be adjusted.

  FIG. 4 shows a flow of an operation for attaching the polarizing plate 10 to the liquid crystal display panel 24 by the attaching device 1. First, as shown in FIG. 4A, the polarizing plate 10 having the release film 14 disposed on the surface via the adhesive layer 16 is placed on the stage 12, and the chamber 40 inside the stage 12 is opened by the vacuum pump 30. The polarizer 10 is evacuated and adsorbed on the stage. At this time, the control means 34 sends an opening switching signal to the flow rate adjustment valve 32 interposed between the suction hole 38 and the vacuum pump 30 and attracts the polarizing plate 10 to the stage 12 with a strong force. Then, the release tape 18 affixed to one end of the surface of the release film 14 is gripped by the clip 20, and the release film 22 that supports the clip 20 is moved to the other end side to pull the release film 14. Peel from polarizing plate 10.

  As described above, when the release film 14 is peeled off while fixing the polarizing plate 10 to the stage 12 with a strong adsorbing force, the release film 14 is lifted off the stage together with the polarizing plate 10 without being peeled off from the polarizing plate 10. The position of the polarizing plate 10 on 12 does not shift.

  When the release film 14 is peeled off, the most pulling force is required when peeling is started. Therefore, the adsorption force for adsorbing the polarizing plate 10 to the stage is strongly adjusted at least when the release film 14 starts to peel off. Need to be. However, it is not always necessary to maintain a strong adsorption force until the release film 14 is peeled off.

  In this way, the stage 12 that adsorbs the polarizing plate 10 from which the release film 14 has been peeled and the adhesive layer 16 is exposed is disposed below the roller conveyor 26 that conveys the liquid crystal display panel 24. As shown in FIG. 4B, the roller conveyor 26 is a transport means for transporting the liquid crystal display panel 24, which is a substrate to which a sheet-like optical member is attached, and has a large number of cylindrical rollers having substantially the same diameter. 26a are arranged in parallel at equal intervals, and each roller 26a is rotatably supported. The liquid crystal display panel 24 is placed on the roller conveyor 26. When the liquid crystal display panel 24 is pushed out from behind by the transport arm 44, the roller 26a rotates and the liquid crystal display panel 24 is transported forward.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the liquid crystal display panel 24 is transported by the roller conveyor 26 and the transport arm 44. As shown in FIG. 5A, the roller conveyor 26 has a side roller that guides a position in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the liquid crystal display panel 24 with the circumferential surface in contact with the transport direction side of the liquid crystal display panel 24. 26b is provided. By controlling the position in the direction intersecting the transport direction of the liquid crystal display panel 24 by the side roller 26b, the relative positional relationship with the polarizing plate 10 can be accurately adjusted. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the transport arm 44 that pushes out the liquid crystal display panel 24 from the rear has a contact surface 44 a that contacts the rear end surface of the liquid crystal display panel 24 at the tip thereof. The liquid crystal display panel 24 is transported forward by being pushed forward by the transport arm 44.

  The conveying means for conveying the liquid crystal display panel 24 is not limited to a roller conveyor, and for example, an adsorption plate such as the stage 12 that adsorbs the polarizing plate 10 can be applied. In that case, the surface of the liquid crystal display panel 24 opposite to the surface to which the polarizing plate 10 is attached is adsorbed by an adsorption plate, and the liquid crystal display panel 24 can be transported by moving the adsorption plate substantially horizontally. it can.

As shown in FIG. 4B, a pressing roller 28 and a backup roller 28a are provided at an intermediate portion of the roller conveyor 26 in the transport direction of the liquid crystal display panel 24. The pressure roller 28 is configured such that at least an outer peripheral surface thereof is formed of an elastically deformable material, such as a rubber material, and can be rotated while pressing the liquid crystal display panel 24 having the polarizing plate 10 attached to the surface from the lower surface. Yes. Further, a backup roller 28 a that instructs the liquid crystal display panel 24 not to be deformed when pressure is applied to the liquid crystal display panel 24 by the pressure roller 28 is disposed at a position facing the pressure roller 28 via the liquid crystal display panel 24. Has been.

  In synchronization with the front side edge of the liquid crystal display panel 24 conveyed on the roller conveyor 26 reaching just before the pressing roller 28, the control means 34 moves the stage to the tilt means 36 provided on the stage 12. Send a tilt signal. Then, the front side edge of the stage 12 to which the polarizing plate 10 is attracted is lifted, and the surface of the polarizing plate 10 comes into contact with the surface of the liquid crystal display panel 24 through the adhesive layer 16 before the pressing roller 28. The tilt means 36 is composed of a motor and an arm.

  The control means 34 starts from the time when the release film 14 starts to be peeled off from the polarizing plate 10 and finishes peeling to a predetermined part, and then the stage 12 is tilted until one end of the polarizing plate 10 comes into contact with the liquid crystal display panel 24. At this point, a signal for reducing the flow rate is sent to the flow rate adjustment valve 32 interposed between the suction hole 38 and the vacuum pump 30 to weaken the adsorption force for adsorbing the polarizing plate 10.

  As shown in FIG. 4C, the portion of the polarizing plate 10 that is in contact with the liquid crystal display panel 24 is stuck to the liquid crystal display panel 24 due to the adhesiveness of the adhesive layer 16, and the liquid crystal display panel 24 is pressed against the transport arm 44. As it moves forward (left side in the figure), the polarizing plate 10 is also pulled and moves forward while sliding on the stage 12. Then, the portion where the polarizing plate 10 is adhered to the liquid crystal display panel 24 is pressed by the pressing roller 28 and is bonded to the liquid crystal display panel 24 so that bubbles and the like do not enter.

  At this time, since the adsorption force for adsorbing the polarizing plate 10 to the stage 12 is weakened, the polarizing plate 10 can slide on the surface of the stage 12 as the liquid crystal display panel 24 is conveyed. .

  In this way, when the polarizing plate 10 is gradually attached to the liquid crystal display panel 24 and the entire polarizing plate 10 is attached to the liquid crystal display panel 24, the control means controls the vacuum pump 30 to stop the exhaust. Then, the tilting unit 36 is controlled to return the stage 12 to the original position (FIG. 4D).

  Thus, the present apparatus 1 has an adsorption force for adsorbing the polarizing plate 10 to the stage 12 when the release film 14 is peeled from the polarizing plate 10 and when the polarizing plate 10 is attached to the liquid crystal display panel 24. Since it can be switched, the polarizing plate 10 can be adsorbed on the stage 12 with an optimum adsorbing force in each case. That is, it is not necessary to set the adsorbing force in a balanced manner so that it can be applied in either case, and it is possible to reduce the peeling failure of the release film 14 and the sticking failure of the polarizing plate 10, and the liquid crystal display panel 24. The polarizing plate 10 can be reliably affixed to.

  Next, FIG. 6 shows an outline of a process when the sheet-like optical member bonding method or the bonding apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display panel 24 is provided between an array substrate on which a large number of pixel electrodes are arranged in a matrix and a color filter substrate (CF substrate) on which a color filter corresponding to each pixel electrode of the array substrate is formed. Manufactured by filling with liquid crystal. The present method or the present apparatus is applied to the step of attaching the polarizing plate 10 to the surfaces of the liquid crystal display panel 24 thus manufactured on the array substrate side and the CF substrate side.

  Here, as the liquid crystal display panel 24 to which the polarizing plate 10 is attached, a liquid crystal display panel before being modularized, that is, before a gate driver, a source driver or the like is attached via a flexible substrate or the like, is preferably used.

  As the liquid crystal display panel 24 to which the polarizing plate 10 is attached, various types of conventionally known types are applied. For example, in a normally white mode TN type or a normally black mode MVA type liquid crystal display panel 24, the orientation directions of the polarizing plates 10 attached to the array substrate side and the CF substrate side (transmission light to be transmitted). The polarizing plates 10 and 10 are attached so that the polarization directions are orthogonal to each other.

  First, a cassette in which a plurality of liquid crystal display panels 24 are stored with the CF substrate side up is set in a loader unit, and the liquid crystal display panels 24 are sequentially loaded into the panel inversion unit CF by the loader. In the panel inversion unit CF, the liquid crystal display panel 24 is inverted, and the CF substrate side is disposed below and the array substrate side is disposed above. Then, the liquid crystal display panel 24 is put into the polarizing plate attaching portion CF, and one piece from a plurality of CF polarizing plates 10 set in advance on the release plate 14 side in the CF polarizing plate 10 set portion. The polarizing plate 10 is put into the polarizing plate attaching portion CF. Then, the polarizing plate for CF 10 is attached to the surface of the liquid crystal display panel 24 on the CF substrate side by using the above-described method or apparatus at the polarizing plate attaching portion CF.

  Thereafter, the liquid crystal display panel 24 is put into the panel inversion unit AR and inverted again, and the CF substrate side is arranged on the upper side and the array substrate side is arranged on the lower side. The liquid crystal display panel 24 is put into the polarizing plate attaching part AR, and the polarizing plate for the array substrate is set on the array substrate polarizing plate 10 set part with the release film 14 side facing up. Ten to one polarizing plate 10 is put into the polarizing plate attaching portion AR. In this polarizing plate attaching portion AR, the array substrate polarizing plate 10 is attached to the surface of the liquid crystal display panel 24 on the array substrate side using the above-described method or apparatus, and the unloaded portion is loaded. In the unloader section, the liquid crystal display panel 24 with the polarizing plate 10 attached to both sides is stored in the cassette with the CF substrate side up as in the initial state. Thereafter, a source driver, a gate driver, and the like are mounted on the liquid crystal display panel 24, and a backlight module and the like are incorporated to complete the liquid crystal display device.

  It should be noted that conventionally used loaders, panel reversing mechanisms, unloaders, and the like can be applied as they are to the loader unit, the panel reversing unit, and the unloader unit, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Further, in the method and apparatus for attaching a sheet-like optical member according to the present invention, the surface of the polarizing plate 10 is accidentally damaged in the process after the polarizing plate 10 is attached in the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device. In such a case, the present invention can also be applied to a re-sticking process in which the polarizing plate 10 is attached again. The case where this method or this apparatus is applied to such a re-sticking process is demonstrated, referring FIG. 7 and FIG.

  In this re-attachment step, the polarizing plate 10 can be attached again even in the liquid crystal display panel 24 after the gate driver, the source driver, and the like are attached via a flexible substrate or the like and modularized.

  In this re-sticking process, the polarizing plate 10 is previously removed from the surface of the liquid crystal display panel 24 where the polarizing plate 10 is to be attached again, and the surface on which the polarizing plate 10 is to be attached again as shown in FIG. With the facing up, insert it into the panel set.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, the panel setting unit is a panel stage 46 on which the liquid crystal display panel 24 is placed, and the panel stage 46 can be moved forward and backward in a predetermined direction below the panel stage 46. Caster 48 etc. are provided so that it can do. A fixing means (not shown) for fixing the liquid crystal display panel 24 at a predetermined position is provided on the upper surface of the panel stage 46. As this fixing means, a means by vacuum suction, a means by which the liquid crystal display panel 24 is fixed in a frame provided on the surface of the panel stage 46, or the like is applied.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the polarizing plate 10 to be attached again to the liquid crystal display panel 24 is set in the polarizing plate 10 setting portion. As shown in FIG. 8A, the polarizing plate 10 set portion is a polarizing plate stage 12 ′ that adsorbs the polarizing plate 10 and has substantially the same configuration as the stage 12 of the apparatus 1 described above. In addition, a reversing unit is provided that can reverse the polarizing plate 12 ′ together with the polarizing plate 10 adsorbed. In this manner, when the liquid crystal display panel 24 and the polarizing plate 10 are set in the panel setting portion and the polarizing plate 10 setting portion, the polarizing plate 10 is attached to one surface of the liquid crystal display panel 24.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, the polarizing plate 10 placed on the polarizing plate stage 12 'is fixed to the polarizing plate stage 12' by adsorption. In order to attract the polarizing plate 10 to the polarizing plate stage 12 ′, substantially the same configuration as that of the above-described stage of the present apparatus can be applied. Also, other suction means such as an electrostatic chuck can be applied.

  Then, a release tape 18 is attached to one end of the release film 14 provided on the surface of the polarizing plate 10, and the release tape 18 is gripped by a clip or the like (not shown) and pulled to the other end. The mold film 14 is peeled off. At this time, the polarizing plate 10 is firmly fixed to the surface of the polarizing plate stage 12 ′ with a strong adsorption force.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 8C, the polarizing plate stage 12 ′ adsorbing the polarizing plate 10 from which the release film 14 is peeled and the adhesive layer 16 is exposed is inverted and further tilted. Then, the panel stage 46 on which the liquid crystal display panel 24 is placed moves below the polarizing plate stage 12 ′, the surface of the polarizing plate 10 on which the adhesive layer 16 is provided, and the polarizing plate 10 of the liquid crystal display panel 24. Is arranged to face the surface to be attached.

  Then, with the polarizing plate stage 12 ′ tilted, the panel stage 46 and the polarizing plate stage 12 ′ are brought close to each other, and one end of the polarizing plate 10 is brought into contact with the liquid crystal display panel 24. As shown in FIG. 8D, a pressure roller 28 is disposed above the panel stage 46, and the liquid crystal display panel 24 and the polarizing plate stage are pressed while pressing the polarizing plate 10 with the pressing roller 28. The polarizing plate 10 is gradually attached to the liquid crystal display panel 24 by relative movement with respect to 12 ′. At this time, the polarizing plate 10 does not fall off from the polarizing plate stage 12 ′ and is attracted to the polarizing plate stage 12 ′ with an adsorption force that can slide on the surface of the polarizing plate 10 stage. ing.

  Thus, when the whole polarizing plate 10 is affixed to the liquid crystal display panel 24, the stage for polarizing plate 10 is reversed again, and the surface which adsorb | sucks the polarizing plate 10 is shown in FIG.8 (e). Placed on top. In this way, the polarizing plate 10 is attached to the surface of the liquid crystal display panel 24 again.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to such embodiment at all, Of course, it can implement in a various aspect in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention. For example, the sheet-like optical member is not limited to the polarizing plate 10 and may be any other sheet-like member having various optical characteristics. The substrate to which the sheet-like optical member is attached is also the liquid crystal display panel 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other types of flat display devices or substrates other than the display device may be used.

It is the figure which showed the outline of the sticking method of the sheet-like optical member which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the sticking apparatus of the sheet-like optical member which concerns on this invention. 3A is a top view of a stage provided in the attaching apparatus of FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA. It is the schematic which shows the flow of the operation | movement which affixes a polarizing plate with the affixing apparatus of FIG. It is the figure which showed a mode that a liquid crystal display panel was conveyed with a roller conveyor and a conveyance arm. It is a figure which shows the outline of the process at the time of applying this method or this apparatus to the polarizing plate sticking process of the manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device. It is a figure which shows the outline of the process at the time of applying this method or this apparatus to the polarizing plate re-sticking process of the manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device. It is a figure which shows the outline of the polarizing plate re-sticking process of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the conventional polarizing plate sticking apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sticking apparatus 10 Polarizing plate 12 Stage 14 Release film 16 Adhesive layer 24 Liquid crystal display panel 28 Press roller 30 Vacuum pump 32 Flow rate adjusting valve 34 Control means 36 Tilt means

Claims (10)

A peeling step of peeling off the release film in a state where the other surface of the sheet-like optical member having the release film laminated on one surface via an adhesive layer is fixed to the stage surface by adsorption; and the sheet-like optical member After attaching one end of the sheet-like optical member adsorbed on the surface of the stage to the substrate to which the substrate is attached via an adhesive layer, the sheet-like optical member is moved on the stage surface by relative movement between the substrate and the stage. A method for attaching the sheet-like optical member to the substrate surface, including a step of sliding and attaching the sheet-like optical member to the substrate surface continuously toward the other end side,
A method for adhering a sheet-like optical member, wherein the adsorbing force for adsorbing the sheet-like optical member on the stage in the attaching step is different from the adsorbing force in the peeling step.   2. The suction force for attracting the sheet-like optical member to the stage when the sheet-like optical member is slid on the surface of the stage is made weaker than the suction force in the peeling step. Method for pasting the sheet-like optical member.   The method for adhering a sheet-like optical member according to claim 1, wherein the sheet-like optical member is sucked onto the stage by vacuum suction.   The method for adhering a sheet-like optical member according to claim 1, wherein the sheet-like optical member is attracted to the stage by an electrostatic chuck.   The method for attaching a sheet-like optical member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the substrate is a liquid crystal display panel, and the sheet-like optical member is a polarizing plate. A stage in which a sheet-like optical member having a release film laminated on at least one surface via an adhesive layer is disposed on the surface;
Adsorption means for adsorbing the sheet-like optical member to the stage;
Switching means for switching the suction force of the suction means;
When controlling the switching means to peel off the release film of the sheet-like optical member, the sheet-like optical member is attached to a substrate that is an object to be attached to the sheet-like optical member via the adhesive layer. An apparatus for attaching a sheet-like optical member, comprising: a control means for making the suction force of the suction means different depending on when it is attached.   When the control means affixes the sheet-like optical member to the substrate, which is an object to be affixed with the sheet-like optical member, via the adhesive layer, than when the release film of the sheet-like optical member is peeled off. 7. The sheet optical member pasting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the switching means is controlled so as to weaken the suction force of the suction means.   The apparatus for adhering a sheet-like optical member according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the suction means sucks the sheet-like optical member onto the stage by vacuum suction.   The apparatus for adhering a sheet-like optical member according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the suction means sucks the sheet-like optical member onto the stage by an electrostatic chuck.   10. The sheet optical member pasting device according to claim 6, wherein the substrate is a liquid crystal display panel, and the sheet optical member is a polarizing plate.

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