TW202122157A - Apparatus for controlling ink application and method for applying ink capable of suppressing occurrence of an area to which ink is not applied - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention provides an ink application control device capable of suppressing occurrence of an area to which ink is not applied. Ink is applied to a predetermined area of a substrate under the control of a control unit of the ink application control device. Ink is applied to the edge area along the edge of the application area where ink is to be applied and to the inner area spaced apart from the edge area so that the ink applied to the edge area and the ink applied to the inner area do not come into contact with each other. Thereafter, ink is applied to the gap region between the edge area and the inner area.

Description

Ink coating control device and ink coating method

The invention relates to an ink coating control device and an ink coating method. This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-211466 filed on November 22, 2019. The entire content of this Japanese application is incorporated in this specification by reference.

A technique of forming a resist film for etching by an inkjet printing method is known (Patent Document 1). In the case of forming a resist film by a spin coating method, a photolithography step is required. Since the photolithography step is not required in the inkjet printing method, the number of steps can be reduced. [Prior Technical Literature]

[Patent Document 1] JP 2010-56266 A

[The problem to be solved by the invention]

If the liquid repellency of the surface of the substrate on which the ink is to be applied becomes higher, it is easy to cause the phenomenon that the droplets of the ink hitting the surface of the substrate attract each other. If the droplets are attracted to each other, even if the ink is bumped, the ink may move on the surface from the location of the bump, resulting in an area where the ink is not applied. The object of the present invention is to provide an ink application control device and an ink application method capable of suppressing the occurrence of areas where ink is not applied. [Technical means to solve the problem]

According to an aspect of the present invention, Provided is an ink application control device, which is provided with a control unit that controls application of ink to a predetermined area of a substrate, wherein: The control section uses the ink applied on the edge area and the ink applied on the inner area on the edge area along the edge of the application area where the ink should be applied and the inner area separated from the edge area. Apply the ink in a non-contact way, After the ink is applied to the edge area and the inner area, the ink is applied to the gap area between the edge area and the inner area.

According to another viewpoint of the present invention, Provided is an ink application control device, which is provided with a control unit that controls application of ink to a predetermined area of a substrate, wherein: In the edge area extending along the edge of the application area where the ink should be applied, a plurality of pixels that become the target position of the ink are arranged in the length direction of the aforementioned edge, and two pixels are arranged in the width direction. When the ink is impinged on the pixels in the edge area, the control unit makes the ink impinge on at least every other pixel in the length direction of the edge area, and then makes the ink impinge on the impinging ink. On the pixels between the pixels, for the two pixels arranged in the width direction of the aforementioned edge area, the ink is first bounced on the pixels on the inner side than the pixels on the outer side.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink coating method, which is to define an edge region along the edge of the coating region and a distance from the edge region of a substrate on a surface of a substrate that defines a coating region to be coated with ink. On the inner area of the gap, apply the ink in such a way that the ink applied on the edge area and the ink applied on the inner area are not in contact with each other, After the ink is applied to the edge area and the inner area, the ink is applied to the gap area between the edge area and the inner area.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink coating method, which is to form the ink on the edge area of the substrate that defines the coating area to be coated with the ink on the surface of the substrate extending along the edge of the aforementioned coating area. The plurality of pixels at the target position are arranged in the length direction of the aforementioned edge while two pixels are arranged in the width direction, In the length direction of the aforementioned edge area, make the ink bounce on at least every other pixel, After that, make the ink bounce on the pixels between the pixels on which the ink is bounced, Regarding the two pixels arranged in the width direction of the aforementioned edge area, the ink is first bounced on the pixel on the inner side than the pixel on the outer side. [Effects of Invention]

By applying ink to the edge area and the inner area, and then applying ink to the gap area, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of areas where the ink is not applied.

1A~FIG. 2B, the ink coating control device based on an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1A is a schematic front view of an ink application device equipped with an ink application control device based on this embodiment. A movable stage 12 is supported on the base 10 by a moving mechanism 11. Define an xyz rectangular coordinate system with the x-axis and y-axis facing the horizontal direction and the z-axis facing the vertical upward direction. The moving mechanism 11 is controlled by the ink application control device 50 to move the movable stage 12 in two directions, the x direction and the y direction. As the moving mechanism 11, for example, an XY table including an X-direction moving mechanism 11X and a Y-direction moving mechanism 11Y can be used. The X-direction moving mechanism 11X moves the Y-direction moving mechanism 11Y relative to the base 10 in the x direction, and the Y-direction moving mechanism 11Y moves the movable stage 12 relative to the base 10 in the y direction.

On the upper surface (holding surface) of the movable stage 12, a substrate 20 to be coated with ink is held. The substrate 20 is fixed to the movable stage 12 by, for example, a vacuum chuck. Above the movable stage 12, the ink ejection unit 30 is supported so as to be able to move up and down with respect to the base 10 by, for example, a door-shaped support member 13. The ink ejection unit 30 has a plurality of nozzle holes facing the substrate 20. Photocurable (for example, ultraviolet curable) ink is dropletized from each nozzle hole and discharged toward the surface of the substrate 20. The discharge of the ink is controlled by the ink application control device 50.

1A shows an example in which the ink ejection unit 30 is stationary with respect to the base 10 and the substrate 20 is moved, but on the contrary, the substrate 20 may be stationary with respect to the base 10 and the ink ejection unit 30 can be moved. In this way, what is necessary is just to have a structure which moves one of the board|substrate 20 and the ink ejection unit 30 relative to the other.

The ink application control device 50 includes a storage unit 51 and a control unit 52. The storage unit 51 stores image data defining the shape of the application area where the ink should be applied and the position within the surface of the substrate 20. The control unit 52 controls the moving mechanism 11 and the ink ejection unit 30 based on the image data so that the dropletized ink hits a predetermined position on the surface of the substrate 20. The control unit 52 causes the dropletized ink to impinge on a plurality of positions in the application area to apply the ink in the application area. In this way, a film formed of ink is formed on the surface of the substrate 20.

FIG. 1B is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the movable stage 12 and the ink ejection unit 30 when viewed from above. The substrate 20 is held on the holding surface of the movable stage 12. The ink ejection unit 30 is supported above the substrate 20. The ink ejection unit 30 includes an inkjet head 31 and a light source 33 for curing. A plurality of nozzle holes 32 are provided on the surface of the inkjet head 31 facing the substrate 20. The plurality of nozzle holes 32 are arranged at equal intervals in the x direction. The interval is, for example, a size corresponding to a resolution of 600 dpi. Furthermore, the plurality of nozzle holes 32 need not be arranged on a straight line parallel to the x direction, and may be arranged at positions regularly shifted from the reference line parallel to the x direction to the y direction.

The curing light source 33 is respectively arranged on both sides of the inkjet head 31 in the y direction, and functions as a curing device for curing the ink attached to the substrate 20. The moving mechanism 11 is controlled by the ink application control device 50 to move the movable stage 12 in the x direction and the y direction. Furthermore, the ink application control device 50 controls the discharge of ink from each nozzle hole 32 of the inkjet head 31.

While moving the substrate 20 in the y direction, the ink droplets are formed and discharged from the inkjet head 31, so that the ink can be applied to the substrate 20 in the x direction with a resolution of, for example, 600 dpi. The ink attached to the substrate 20 is cured by light radiated from the curing light source 33 located on the downstream side of the moving direction of the substrate 20. The following processing is referred to as “scanning”, that is, while moving the substrate 20 in the y direction, the ink droplets are formed and discharged from the inkjet head 31. The substrate 20 is shifted to the x direction by only 1/2 of the interval corresponding to 600 dpi to perform two scans, so that the ink can be bounced on the substrate 20 with a resolution of 1200 dpi in the x direction.

By performing two scans, it is possible to apply ink to a width area corresponding to the interval between the nozzle holes 32 at both ends in the x direction. When the size of the substrate 20 is larger than the distance between the nozzle holes 32 at both ends, the substrate 20 is moved in the x direction to perform multiple scans, so that the ink can be applied to the entire area of the substrate 20.

Next, referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the ink coating method based on this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2A is a partial top view of the substrate 20 in the mid-stage of ink application. On the surface of the substrate 20, a plurality of application areas 21 where ink should be applied are defined. One coating area 21 is shown in FIG. 2A.

In the coating region 21, an edge region 22 along the edge of the coating region 21 and an inner region 23 separated from the edge region 22 are defined. A region inside the edge region 22 and outside the inside region 23, that is, the region between the edge region 22 and the inside region 23 is referred to as a gap region 24. The edge area 22 is defined as covering the entire circumference of the coating area 21.

First, the control unit 52 controls the moving mechanism 11 and the inkjet head 31 to apply ink on the edge area 22 and the inner area 23. In FIG. 2A, the area coated with ink is hatched diagonally from the upper right. At this time, the ink applied to the edge area 22 and the ink applied to the inner area 23 are not in contact with each other. In other words, the width of the gap region 24 is ensured to the extent that the ink applied to the edge region 22 and the ink applied to the inner region 23 do not contact each other. At this point in time, the ink applied on the edge region 22 and the inner region 23 is irradiated with light from the curing light source 33 (FIG. 1B) during scanning to be cured.

FIG. 2B is a partial plan view of the substrate 20 in a state where ink application is completed. The control unit 52 applies ink to the gap area 24 after applying ink to the edge area 22 and the inner area 23. In FIG. 2B, the area where the ink is applied in this step is hatched diagonally at the bottom right. Through the steps up to this point, the ink is applied and cured on the entire area of the application area 21 to form an ink film.

Next, while comparing with the comparative examples shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the excellent effects of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A to 2B will be described.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are respectively a plan view of the coating area 21 applied with ink by the ink coating method based on the comparative example, in the middle stage and at the end of the coating. In the comparative example, the edge area 22 and the inner area 23 are defined in the coating area 21, and the gap area 24 (FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B) is not ensured between the two. That is, the edge area 22 is in contact with the inner area 23. In the ink coating method based on the comparative example, as shown in FIG. 3A, ink is first applied to the edge region 22. In FIG. 3A, the area coated with ink is hatched diagonally from the upper right. After that, as shown in FIG. 3B, ink is applied to the inner region 23. In FIG. 3B, the area where the ink is applied in this step is hatched diagonally at the bottom right.

Focusing on the innermost edge of the edge region 22 on the inner peripheral side, when ink is applied to the inner region 23, a film of hardened ink may be formed on the side of the edge region 22 and not formed on the inner deep side. There is the state of the membrane. When the liquid repellency of the surface of the substrate 20 is high, the ink droplets that hit the surface of the substrate 20 are attracted to the hardened ink film in the edge region 22 during the period until hardening. Therefore, an uncoated area 25 where ink is not applied is generated slightly inside the edge area 22. In addition, the ink is applied to the edge area 22 before the ink is applied to the inner area 23 in order to improve the straightness of the outer peripheral line of the film formed by the ink.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, when ink is applied to the gap area 24, a film covering the ink of the edge area 22 is formed on the outer peripheral side of the gap area 24, and a film covering the inner side is formed on the inner deep side. Film of ink in area 23. Therefore, it is suppressed that the ink droplet hitting the gap region 24 is attracted only in one direction on the outer peripheral side or the inner deep side. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of the uncoated region 25 (FIG. 3B ). When the surface of the substrate 20 has liquid repellency such that the contact angle with ink is 90° or more, the uncoated area 25 is likely to occur. Therefore, when a substrate and ink having a liquid repellency with a contact angle of 90° or more are used to coat the ink, it is particularly preferable to apply this embodiment.

In addition, in this embodiment, ink is applied to two areas of the edge area 22 and the inner area 23 by one scan. However, since the ink applied to these two areas does not contact each other, there is no bounce. A phenomenon in which the ink droplets in the edge area 22 are attracted to the deep inside of the coating area 21. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the straightness of the outer circumference of the film of the ink applied on the application area 21.

Next, a modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A to 2B will be described. In the above embodiment, the control unit 52 moves the movable stage 12 relative to the stationary inkjet head 31 to control the ejection of ink from the inkjet head 31 so that the ink hits the target position on the surface of the substrate 20. As another structure, instead of moving the movable stage 12, the inkjet head 31 may be moved. In addition, the movable stage 12 may be moved in one direction and the inkjet head 31 may be moved in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the movable stage 12. Furthermore, in addition to this, the control unit 52 may control an ink application mechanism that can apply ink by attaching dropletized ink to a target position on the surface of the substrate 20.

Next, referring to FIGS. 4A to 9B, an ink application control device and an ink application method based on another embodiment will be described. Hereinafter, the description of the same structure as that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A to 2B will be omitted.

FIG. 4A is a diagram schematically showing image data 40 defining the shape and position of the coating area 21 (FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B). The shape and position of the coating area 21 are defined by a plurality of pixels 41 arranged in a matrix. On the surface of the substrate 20 (FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B ), the position corresponding to the pixel 41 becomes the target position of the ink to be dropletized. For example, the column direction of the plurality of pixels 41 corresponds to the scanning direction (y direction in FIG. 1B), and the row direction corresponds to the direction in which the nozzle holes 32 are arranged at equal intervals (x direction in FIG. 1B).

FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the pixel 41 and the ink droplet 60 projected on the substrate 20 when viewed from above. In a plan view, the ink droplet 60 hitting the substrate 20 has a substantially circular shape. When the impact position of the ink is not shifted, the center position of the ink droplet 60 coincides with the center position of the pixel 41 of the impact target. When viewed from the top, one pixel 41 is contained in a droplet 60 of ink that hits the pixel 41. The ink droplet 60 does not spread to the center position of the adjacent pixel 41. That is, the diameter of the ink droplet 60 is less than twice the pixel pitch. Therefore, the inks respectively hitting the two adjacent pixels 41 contact each other to form a continuous film. The inks respectively hitting the two pixels 41 separated by one pixel 41 do not contact each other. As an example, the pixel pitch is 21.125 μm (corresponding to the pitch of 1200 dpi), and the diameter of the ink droplet 60 is 30 μm or more and 40 μm or less.

5A and 5B are diagrams showing the correspondence between the edge area 22, the inner area 23, and the gap area 24 and a plurality of pixels 41, and the pixels 41 that make ink hit. The plurality of pixels 41 corresponding to the edge region 22 are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the edge region 22 (the circumferential direction of the coating region 21). Two pixels 41 are arranged in the width direction of the edge area 22. That is, the edge region 22 is composed of two pixel rows in which a plurality of pixels 41 are arranged in the circumferential direction. Three pixels 41 are arranged in the width direction of the gap region 24. That is, the interval between the edge region 22 and the inner region 23 corresponds to three pitches of the pixels 41. In addition, the width of the gap region 24 can also be wider than the diameter of the ink droplet hitting the substrate 20 and narrower than three times the diameter of the ink droplet.

In the ink coating method based on this embodiment, the same as the method based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, as shown in FIG. 5A, the ink is first made to hit the pixels in the edge area 22 and the inner area 23 41 on. The ink does not bounce on the pixels 41 in the gap region 24. In FIG. 5A, the pixels 41 hit by the ink droplets are hatched. Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, the ink is made to hit the pixels 41 in the gap region 24. In FIG. 5B, the pixels 41 struck by the ink droplets in this step are marked with relatively deep hatching.

Next, referring to FIG. 6A to FIG. 6E, an example of the sequence of causing the ink to hit the plurality of pixels 41 in the edge region 22 and the inner region 23 will be described.

FIG. 6A is a diagram showing a unit 42 formed by 4 pixels 41 arranged in 2 rows and 2 columns. The four pixels 41 included in one unit 42 are numbered from 1 to 4. For example, the pixel 41 in the first row and the first column (top left) is labeled with number 4, the pixel 41 in the first row and second column (top right) is labeled with the number 3, and the pixel 41 in the second row, column 1 (bottom left) is labeled Number 2, the pixel 41 in the second row and second column (bottom right) is labeled with number 1. The unit 42 is formed by collecting four of the plurality of pixels 41 in the application area 21. At this time, a plurality of cells 42 are collected in a matrix without gaps. In FIGS. 6B to 6E, the boundary of the cell 42 is represented by a solid line, and the boundary of the pixel 41 in the cell 42 is represented by a broken line.

In this embodiment, one scan is used to make the ink bounce on the pixels 41 with the same number in the plurality of cells 42. A total of 4 scans are performed in order to cause the ink to hit all the pixels 41 in the edge area 22 and the inner area 23.

6B to 6E are diagrams respectively showing the pixels 41 that make ink hit during the first to fourth scans. 6B to 6E show a part of the pixels 41 located near the upper left corner of the coating area 21. In FIGS. 6B to 6E, the pixels 41 on which the ink hits in this scan are marked with relatively darker hatches, and the pixels 41 on which ink droplets are hit until the last scan are marked with relatively lighter lines. Shadow.

In the first scan, as shown in FIG. 6B, the ink is made to hit the pixel 41 with the number 1 in the cell 42. In the second scan, as shown in FIG. 6C, the ink is made to hit the pixel 41 with the number 2 in the cell 42. In the third scan, as shown in FIG. 6D, the ink is made to hit the pixel 41 of number 3 in the cell 42. In the fourth scan, as shown in FIG. 6E, the ink is made to hit the pixel 41 with the number 4 in the cell 42. With 4 scans, the ink can be bounced on all the pixels 41 in the edge area 22 and the inner area 23.

As shown in FIGS. 6B to 6E, in the length direction of the edge region 22, the ink is bombarded on every other pixel 41 by one scan. With regard to the two pixels 41 arranged in the width direction of the edge region 22, the ink is caused to first hit the pixel 41 on the inner peripheral side than the pixel 41 on the outer peripheral side.

In the inner area 23, as shown in FIG. 6B, in the first scan, the ink is made to hit a plurality of pixels 41 every other row and every other column. In the second scan, as shown in FIG. 6C, the ink is made to bounce on the pixels 41 where the ink contained in the ink-bounced row is not bounced. In the third scan, as shown in FIG. 6D, the ink is made to be flicked on a plurality of pixels 41 in a row where the ink is not flicked at every other column. In the fourth scan, as shown in FIG. 6E, the ink is made to hit the pixels 41 where the ink is not hit.

Next, referring to FIG. 7A to FIG. 7D, an example of the sequence of causing the ink to hit the pixels 41 in the gap region 24 will be described. A total of 4 scans are performed in order to cause the ink to hit all the pixels 41 in the gap area 24.

FIGS. 7A to 7D are diagrams respectively showing the pixels 41 that make ink hit during the first to fourth scans when ink is applied to the gap region 24. In FIGS. 7A to 7D, a part of the pixels 41 located near the upper left corner of the coating area 21 are shown. In FIGS. 7A to 7D, the pixels 41 where the ink hits in this scan are marked with relatively darker hatches, and the pixels 41 where ink droplets hit until the last scan are marked with relatively lighter hatches. Shadow.

In the first scan, as shown in FIG. 7A, the ink is caused to bounce on the pixels 41 at every other pixel in the length direction among the plurality of pixels 41 located at the center in the width direction of the gap region 24. In the second scan, as shown in FIG. 7B, the ink is made to hit the pixel 41 between the ink-impacted pixel 41 and the edge area 22 and the pixel between the ink-impacted pixel 41 and the inner area 23 41 on. In the third scan, as shown in FIG. 7C, the ink is made to hit the pixel 41 where the ink is not hit at the center in the width direction. In the fourth scan, as shown in FIG. 7D, the ink is made to hit the pixels 41 in the gap area 24 where the ink is not hit.

As shown in FIGS. 7A to 7D, if we focus on the three pixels 41 arranged in the width direction in the gap area 24, the ink is first made to hit the pixel 41 in the center, and then the ink is made to hit the pixels 41 at both ends. on. The ink that hits the pixel 41 at the center in the width direction does not contact any of the inks applied to the edge area 22 and the inner area 23. Both of the ink on the pixels 41 that hit the two ends of the width direction, the ink that has hit the gap area 24 and the ink that has been applied to the edge area 22, or the ink and the coating that have hit the gap area 24 The two inks on the inner area 23 are in contact with each other.

Next, the excellent effects of this embodiment will be described. First, the excellent effect at the time of applying ink to the gap region 24 will be explained.

In this embodiment, when the ink is applied to the gap area 24, if the three pixels 41 arranged in the width direction are focused on, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7C, the ink is earlier than the pixels 41 at both ends. Bounce on the pixel 41 in the center. The ink splashed on the pixel 41 in the center does not contact any ink film in the edge area 22 and the inner area 23. Therefore, the ink flicking on the pixel 41 in the center is not attracted to either side of the edge area 22 and the inner area 23.

As shown in FIG. 7B, the ink bounced on the pixels 41 at both ends of the three pixels 41 arranged in the width direction and the ink that has been bounced on the pixel 41 in the center are applied to the edge area 22 and the inner area The ink on either one of 23 touches the two sides. The ink on the pixel 41 at the center has been hardened, so even if the ink on the pixels 41 at the two ends is connected to the edge area 22 or the inner area 23 through the film, it will not be attracted to the edge area 22 or Inside area 23. As shown in FIG. 7D, the ink flicked in the fourth scan is in contact with the ink that has flicked on the four adjacent pixels 41 on four sides, and therefore will not be attracted to any direction. In this way, the ink hitting the gap area 24 will not be attracted to any direction, and therefore the generation of uncoated areas can be suppressed.

Next, referring to FIG. 8, an explanation will be given focusing on the excellent effect at the time of ink application to the edge region 22.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the planar shape of the ink that is bounced and hardened on the pixels 41 on the upper and left edge regions 22 of the coating region 21 shown in FIGS. 6B to 6E. Mark the area covered by the ink flicked from the first to fourth scans with numbers from 1 to 4.

Before the first scan, the ink does not bounce on any pixel 41, so the bounced ink in the first scan (FIG. 6B) has a substantially circular planar shape. The ink flicked in the second scan (Figure 6C) is in contact with and attracted to the ink flicked and hardened in the first scan before hardening. Therefore, on the left, the ink hitting the area indicated by the dotted line is attracted to the ink located inside the coating area 21, so that the edge on the outer peripheral side moves slightly inward. On the upper side, it is attracted to the ink on both sides of the flick in the first scan. As a result, the edge of the pixel 41 hit by the ink in the second scan is recessed, and the edge of the pixel 41 hit by the ink in the first scan has a protruding undulating edge.

In the third scan (FIG. 6D), the ink flicked on the left is attracted to the ink on both sides of the flick and hardened in the first and second scans. In the third scan (FIG. 6D ), the ink hitting the upper side is attracted to the ink located inside the coating area 21 and hit and hardened in the first and second scans. In this way, the ink film in the edge area 22 formed until the third scan has a shape in which the edge on the outer circumferential side has large undulations and the edge on the inner circumferential side has small undulations. In a plan view, the convex portion of the edge on the outer peripheral side of the edge region 22 has a larger area than the concave portion.

In the fourth scan (FIG. 6E), the ink hits the concave portion of the edge where the undulation occurs on the outer peripheral side of the ink film in the edge area 22 formed until the third scan. Since this ink fills the recesses, the amplitude of the undulation of the edge on the outer peripheral side of the edge region 22 becomes smaller. In other words, the straightness of the edge on the outer peripheral side is improved. In this way, in this embodiment, the straightness of the edge on the outer peripheral side of the film of the ink applied on the edge region 22 can be improved.

Next, referring to FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B, the excellent effect of applying ink on a plurality of square or rectangular coating regions 21 arranged in a matrix by the ink coating method based on this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 9A is a plan view showing an example of the arrangement of a plurality of coating regions 21. A plurality of square or rectangular coating regions 21 are arranged in a matrix. Such an arrangement of the coating area 21 is used for, for example, a resist film for etching when forming a transparent electrode of a touch panel. The transparent conductive film is etched by using the resist film formed of the ink applied on the coating area 21 as an etching mask to form a transparent electrode. In order to increase the resolution of the touch panel, it is desirable to reduce the interval between the transparent electrodes. In order to reduce the interval between the transparent electrodes, the interval between the coating regions 21 must be reduced.

FIG. 9B is an enlarged view showing an example of a plan view of the gap portion of the coating region 21 when the edge of the coating region 21 fluctuates. If the interval between the coating regions 21 is reduced, the risk of the protrusions on the edges of adjacent coating regions 21 coming into contact with each other increases. If the inks coated on the two coating areas 21 are connected, the two transparent electrodes will be electrically short-circuited.

If the ink coating method based on this embodiment is used, the straightness of the edge of the coating area 21 can be improved. Therefore, even if the interval between the coating areas 21 is reduced, it is difficult to produce ink coated on the two coating areas 21. s contact. Thereby, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect that it is difficult to generate a short circuit of the transparent electrode.

In FIGS. 6B to 6E, the ink bounce sequence on the plurality of pixels 41 located on the upper and left edge regions 22 of the coating region 21 has been described. Next, referring to FIG. 10A to FIG. 11B, an example of the bounce sequence of the ink on the plurality of pixels 41 in the upper, left, and right edge regions 22 will be described.

10A to 11B are diagrams respectively showing the pixels 41 where the ink hits in the first to fourth scans. The boundary of the cell 42 is represented by a solid line, and the boundary of the pixel 41 within the cell 42 is represented by a broken line. In the 1st to 4th scans, the ink is made to bounce on the pixels 41 of No. 1 to No. 4 in the edge area 22 and the inner area 23, respectively. In Figs. 10A to 11B, similar to Figs. 6B to 6E, the pixels 41 on which the ink is projected in this scan are marked with relatively dark hatching, and the ink is projected until the last scan. The drop pixels 41 are marked with relatively shallow hatching.

In the case where the number of pixels in the row direction in the coating area 21 is an even number, in the first scan, as shown in FIG. 10A, in the left edge area 22 of the coating area 21, the ink hits the edge area On the pixel 41 on the inner peripheral side of 22, but in the edge region 22 on the right, the ink bounces on the pixel 41 on the outer peripheral side. In the edge area 22 on the left, the ink bounce sequence is the same as the sequence shown in FIGS. 6B to 6E. In the edge area 22 on the right, in the second scan, as shown in FIG. 10B, the ink bounces on the pixels 41 on the inner peripheral side. In the third scan, as shown in FIG. 11A, the ink bounces on the pixels 41 on the outer peripheral side. In the fourth scan, as shown in FIG. 11B, the ink hits the pixels 41 on the inner peripheral side.

In this way, in the edge area 22 on the right side of the coating area 21, if the two pixels 41 arranged in the width direction of the edge area 22 are focused, the ink first bounces on the outer peripheral side of the pixel 41 on the inner peripheral side. Pixel 41 is on. Therefore, the effect of improving the straightness of the edge as described with reference to FIG. 8 cannot be obtained. When the number of pixels in the row direction of the coating area 21 is an even number, the straightness of the edge of one of the left and right edge areas 22 can be improved, but a sufficient effect of improving the straightness of the other edge area 22 cannot be obtained. . Similarly, when the number of pixels in the column direction of the coated region 21 is an even number, the straightness of the edge of one of the upper and lower edge regions 22 can be improved, but the straightness of the other edge region 22 cannot be improved. Full effect.

In this way, even if a sufficient effect of improving straightness can be obtained on only one of the left and right or one of the upper and lower sides, the two adjacent ones in the row direction or the column direction in FIG. 9A can be improved. The straightness of one of the mutually opposed edges of the coating area 21. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the effect of suppressing the contact of the inks coated on the two coating areas 21.

Next, referring to FIGS. 12A to 15B, an ink application control device and an ink application method based on another embodiment will be described. Hereinafter, descriptions of the same configurations as those of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1A to 2B, 4A to 9B, and 10A to 11B will be omitted. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10A to 11B, when the number of pixels in the row direction of the coating area 21 is an even number, the excellent effect of improving the straightness of the left side of the coating area 21 can be obtained, but it cannot be obtained The effect of improving the straightness of the right side is sufficient. In contrast, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 12A to 15B, even if the number of pixels in the row direction of the coating area 21 is an even number, a sufficient effect of improving the straightness of the left and right sides of the coating area 21 can be obtained. . In this embodiment, a total of 8 scans are performed to make the ink bounce on all the pixels 41 in the edge area 22.

FIG. 12A is a diagram showing the unit 42 including the pixels 41 that make the ink hit in the first to fourth scans together with the serial number. FIG. 12B is a diagram showing the unit 42 including the pixels 41 that make the ink splash in the 5th to 8th scans together with the serial number. The numbers marked with the pixels 41 of the cell 42 shown in FIG. 12A are the same as the pixels of the cell 42 shown in FIG. 6A. In the unit 42 shown in FIG. 12B, the pixels 41 at the lower right, lower left, upper right, and upper left are labeled with serial numbers 5 to 8 respectively. In the i-th scan, the ink is made to hit the pixel number i. In this embodiment, in the first to fourth scans, the ink is made to hit the pixels 41 on the inner peripheral side of the edge area 22, and in the fifth to eighth scans, the ink is made to hit the pixels 41 on the inner periphery of the edge area 22. On the pixel 41 on the outer peripheral side of the edge region 22.

FIG. 12C is a diagram showing the pixel 41 where the ink hits in the first scan. In the upper and left edge regions 22, the pixel 41 with the number 1 is located on the inner peripheral side, so that the ink is bombarded on the pixel 41 with the number 1. In the right and lower edge regions 22, the pixel 41 with the number 1 is located on the outer peripheral side, so the ink does not bounce on the pixels 41. Furthermore, the ink is also made to hit the number 1 pixel 41 in the inner area 23.

FIG. 12D is a diagram showing the pixel 41 where the ink hits in the second scan. In the upper and right edge regions 22, the pixel 41 of the number 2 is located on the inner peripheral side, so that the ink is bombarded on the pixel 41 of the number 2. In the left and lower edge regions 22, the pixel 41 with the number 2 is located on the outer peripheral side, so the ink does not bounce on the pixels 41. Furthermore, the ink is also made to hit the pixel 41 of number 2 in the inner region 23.

FIG. 13A is a diagram showing the pixel 41 where the ink is flicked in the third scan. In the left and lower edge regions 22, the pixel 41 of number 3 is located on the inner peripheral side, so that the ink hits the pixel 41 of number 3. In the upper and right edge regions 22, the pixel 41 with the number 3 is located on the outer peripheral side, so the ink does not bounce on the pixels 41. Furthermore, the ink is also made to hit the pixel 41 of number 3 in the inner region 23.

FIG. 13B is a diagram showing the pixel 41 where the ink hits in the fourth scan. In the right and lower edge regions 22, the pixel 41 with the number 4 is located on the inner peripheral side, so that the ink is bombarded on the pixel 41 with the number 4. In the upper and left edge regions 22, the pixel 41 with the number 4 is located on the outer peripheral side, so the ink does not bounce on the pixels 41. Furthermore, the ink is also made to hit the number 4 pixel 41 in the inner area 23. Through the scanning from the first to the fourth time, the ink bounces on all the pixels 41 on the inner peripheral side of the edge region 22 and all the pixels 41 in the inner region 23.

FIG. 14A is a diagram showing the pixel 41 where the ink hits in the fifth scan. In the fifth scan, the ink is made to hit the pixel 41 at the position No. 5 of the cell 42 shown in FIG. 12B. In the right and lower edge regions 22, the pixel 41 of number 5 is located on the outer peripheral side, so that the ink hits the pixel 41 of number 5. In the upper and left edge regions 22, the pixel 41 of No. 5 is located on the inner peripheral side, so the ink does not bounce on the pixels 41.

FIG. 14B is a diagram showing the pixel 41 where the ink is flicked in the sixth scan. In the left and lower edge regions 22, the pixel 41 with the number 6 is located on the outer peripheral side, so that the ink is bombarded on the pixel 41 with the number 6. In the upper and right edge regions 22, the pixel 41 with the number 6 is located on the inner peripheral side, so the ink does not bounce on the pixels 41.

FIG. 15A is a diagram showing the pixel 41 where the ink is flicked in the seventh scan. In the upper and right edge regions 22, the pixel 41 with the number 7 is located on the outer peripheral side, so that the ink is bombarded on the pixel 41 with the number 7. In the left and lower edge regions 22, the pixel 41 with the number 7 is located on the inner peripheral side, so the ink does not bounce on the pixels 41.

FIG. 15B is a diagram showing the pixel 41 where the ink flicks in the 8th scan. In the upper and left edge regions 22, the pixel 41 with the number 8 is located on the outer peripheral side, so that the ink is bombarded on the pixel 41 with the number 8. In the right and lower edge regions 22, the pixel 41 with the number 8 is located on the inner peripheral side, so the ink does not bounce on the pixels 41. Through the 5th to 8th scans, the ink bounces on all the pixels 41 on the outer peripheral side of the edge region 22.

Next, the excellent effects of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 12A to 15B will be described. In this embodiment, when paying attention to the two pixels 41 arranged in the width direction of the edge region 22, the ink first bounces on the inner peripheral side than the pixels 41 on the outer peripheral side in the entire area of the edge region 22. Pixel 41 is on. Therefore, as described with reference to FIG. 8, the straightness of the edge on the outer peripheral side of the edge region 22 can be improved. As shown in FIG. 9A, when a plurality of application areas 21 are arranged in a matrix with an interval therebetween, the interval between the application areas 21 can be further reduced.

Next, a modification of the above-mentioned embodiment will be described. In the above embodiment, the case where the coating area 21 (FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, etc.) is square or rectangular is processed, but the shape of the coating area 21 may also be a shape other than a square or a rectangle. For example, when a part of the edge is parallel to the row direction or the column direction of the pixel arrangement, the ink application method of the above-mentioned embodiment can be applied to the edge.

The foregoing embodiments are examples, and it is self-evident that the structures shown in different embodiments can be partially substituted or combined. Regarding the same action and effect based on the same structure of a plurality of embodiments, it is not mentioned in each embodiment one by one. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes, improvements, combinations, etc. can be made.

10: Pedestal 11: Mobile agency 11X: X-direction moving mechanism 11Y: y direction moving mechanism 12: Movable stage 13: Supporting member 20: substrate 21: coating area 22: edge area 23: Inside area 24: Clearance area 25: uncoated area 30: Ink discharge unit 31: Inkjet head 32: Nozzle hole 33: Light source for hardening 40: image data 41: pixel 42: Unit 50: Ink coating control device 51: Storage Department 52: Control Department 60: Drops of ink hitting the substrate

In [FIG. 1], FIG. 1A is a schematic front view of an ink application device equipped with an ink application control device based on the embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the movable stage and the ink ejection unit when viewed from above . In [FIG. 2], FIG. 2A is a partial plan view of the substrate in the middle stage of ink application, and FIG. 2B is a partial plan view of the substrate in a state where ink application is completed. In [FIG. 3], FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are respectively the top views of the intermediate stage and the end of the application area where the ink is applied by the ink application method based on the comparative example. In [FIG. 4], FIG. 4A is a diagram schematically showing the image data defining the shape and position of the coating area, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing the positional relationship between pixels and ink droplets that hit the substrate. In [FIG. 5], FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are diagrams showing the correspondence between the edge area, the inner area, and the gap area and the pixels, and the pixels that make the ink splash. In [Figure 6], Figure 6A shows a unit formed by 4 pixels arranged in 2 rows and 2 columns, and Figures 6B to 6E show that the ink is flicked during the first to fourth scans, respectively. Pixel map. In [Fig. 7], Fig. 7A to Fig. 7D are diagrams respectively showing the pixels where the ink bounces during the first to fourth scans when ink is applied to the gap area. [Fig. 8] is a diagram showing the planar shape of the ink that is bounced and hardened on the pixels on the left and upper edge areas of Fig. 6B to Fig. 6E. In [FIG. 9], FIG. 9A is a plan view showing an example of the arrangement of a plurality of application areas, and FIG. 9B is an enlarged plan view showing the gap portion of the application area when the edges of the application area are undulated. In [FIG. 10], FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are diagrams showing the pixels where the ink hits in the first scan and the second scan, respectively. In [FIG. 11], FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are diagrams respectively showing the pixels where the ink hits in the third and fourth scans. In [Fig. 12], Fig. 12A together with the serial number shows a diagram of the unit including the pixels that make the ink splash in the first to fourth scans, and Fig. 12B together with the serial number shows the unit included in the 5th to 8th scans. Figures 12C and 12D are diagrams of the pixels that make the ink hit in the second scan, respectively. Figures 12C and 12D show the pictures of the pixels that make the ink hit in the first and second scans, respectively. In [FIG. 13], FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B are diagrams showing the pixels where the ink flicks in the third and fourth scans, respectively. In [Fig. 14], Fig. 14A and Fig. 14B are diagrams showing the pixels where the ink flicks in the fifth and sixth scans, respectively. In [FIG. 15], FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B are diagrams showing the pixels that make ink hit in the 7th and 8th scans, respectively.

20: substrate

21: coating area

22: edge area

23: Inside area

24: Clearance area

Claims (7)

An ink coating control device is provided with a control unit that controls the application of ink to a predetermined area of a substrate, wherein The control section uses the ink applied on the edge area and the ink applied on the inner area on the edge area along the edge of the application area where the ink should be applied and the inner area separated from the edge area. Apply the ink in a non-contact way, After the ink is applied to the edge area and the inner area, the ink is applied to the gap area between the edge area and the inner area. The ink coating control device according to claim 1, wherein When the ink is applied to the gap area, the control section applies the ink so as not to contact any of the edge area and the inner area, and then it is applied to the ink applied to the gap area and the ink applied to the gap area. The ink on the edge area is in contact with both sides and the ink is applied in such a manner that it contacts both the ink applied on the gap area and the ink applied on the inner area. The ink coating control device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein The plurality of pixels in the edge area that become the target position of the ink are arranged in the length direction of the edge area, and two pixels are arranged in the width direction, When the ink is impinged on the pixels in the edge area, the control unit makes the ink impinge on at least every other pixel in the length direction of the edge area, and then makes the ink impinge on the impinging ink. On the pixels between the pixels, and in the width direction of the aforementioned edge area, the ink is made to first bounce on the pixels on the inner peripheral side than the pixels on the outer peripheral side. The ink coating control device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein The plurality of pixels in the inner area that become the target position of the ink are arranged in a matrix, When the ink is impinged on a plurality of pixels in the inner area, the control section makes the ink impinge every other row and every other column, and then makes the ink impinge on the rows where the ink is impinged. The included ink is not bumped on the pixels, and then the ink is bumped on a plurality of pixels in the row where the ink is not bumped in every other column, and then the ink is bumped on the pixels that are not bumped by the ink, thereby Make the ink bounce on all the pixels in the aforementioned inner area. An ink coating control device is provided with a control unit that controls the application of ink to a predetermined area of a substrate, wherein On the edge area extending along the edge of the coating area where the ink should be applied, a plurality of pixels that become the target position of the ink are arranged in the length direction of the aforementioned edge and two in the width direction. When the ink is impinged on the pixels in the edge area, the control unit makes the ink impinge on at least every other pixel in the length direction of the edge area, and then makes the ink impinge on the impinging ink. As for the pixels between the pixels, for the two pixels arranged in the width direction of the aforementioned edge area, the ink is first bounced on the pixel on the inner side than the pixel on the outer side. An ink coating method, which is to coat the edge area along the edge of the coating area of the substrate on the surface of the coating area to which the ink should be applied and the inner area separated from the edge area by the interval to coat Apply the ink in such a way that the ink spread on the aforementioned edge area and the ink spread on the aforementioned inner area do not contact, After the ink is applied to the edge area and the inner area, the ink is applied to the gap area between the edge area and the inner area. An ink coating method, which is a plurality of pixels on the edge area extending along the edge of the aforementioned coating area on the surface of the substrate that defines the coating area to be coated with the ink, and becomes the target position of the ink. Arrange two pixels in the width direction while arranging in the length direction of the aforementioned edge, In the length direction of the aforementioned edge area, make the ink bounce on at least every other pixel, After that, make the ink bounce on the pixels between the pixels on which the ink is bounced, Regarding the two pixels arranged in the width direction of the aforementioned edge area, the ink is first bounced on the pixel on the inner side than the pixel on the outer side.

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