CONTINUOUS MANUFACTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPTICAL DISPLAY UNIT
20190233244 ยท 2019-08-01
Inventors
- Kazuo KITADA (Ibaraki-shi, Osaka, JP)
- Hirofumi SAIGOU (Ibaraki-shi, Osaka, JP)
- Satoru TAKEDA (Ibaraki-shi, Osaka, JP)
- Tomokazu YURA (Osaka-shi, Osaka, JP)
- Takehiko KATADA (Osaka-shi, Osaka, JP)
- Katsumi EGUCHI (Osaka-shi, Osaka, JP)
Cpc classification
G02F1/1335
PHYSICS
B65H41/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
G02F1/13
PHYSICS
B32B2457/20
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H37/04
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H35/0013
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H2801/61
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H35/006
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B32B37/02
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B32B38/1816
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H2301/5162
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B32B38/10
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B32B39/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
G09F9/30
PHYSICS
International classification
B65H37/04
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65H41/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
G09F9/30
PHYSICS
G02F1/1335
PHYSICS
Abstract
A continuous manufacturing apparatus for an optical display unit which allows for laminating a sheet of optical functional film with a panel member, even when length of each of their long sides is wide, without lowering lamination accuracy and/or increasing generation of bubbles by lamination. In a RTP system using laminating rollers having sufficient length not being bent by their own weight, when using a sheet of optical functional film which each of long sides is longer than the length of the laminating rollers, each of the sheets of optical functional film is conveyed on a band of carrier film in a continuously aligned state such that each of short sides extend in a direction crossing a conveying direction, and peeled from the band of carrier film at a laminating part to be laminated with one of opposite surfaces of the panel member.
Claims
1. A continuous manufacturing apparatus for an optical display unit comprising an optical functional film feeding part for feeding rectangular first sheets of optical functional film, an optical film laminate forming part for forming a first band of optical film laminate in which each of the first sheets of optical functional film is continuously aligned in a conveying direction such that each of short sides extends in a direction crossing the conveying direction on a first band of carrier film, a first optical film laminate conveying part for conveying the first band of optical film laminate toward a first laminating part, a second optical film laminate conveying part for conveying a second band of optical film laminate including a second band of carrier film and rectangular second sheets of optical functional film continuously supported on the second band of carrier film such that each of short sides extends in a direction crossing the conveying direction toward a second laminating part, a panel member conveying part for conveying a panel member toward the first and second laminating parts, the first laminating part including a first peeling means for peeling the first sheet of optical functional film from the first band of carrier film, and a first laminating means, which is longer than the short side of the first sheet of optical functional film, for laminating the peeled first sheet of optical functional film with one of opposite surfaces of the panel member, and the second laminating part including a second peeling means for peeling the second sheet of optical functional film from the second band of carrier film, and a second laminating means for laminating the peeled second sheet of optical functional film with the other of opposite surfaces of the panel member.
2. A continuous manufacturing apparatus for the optical display unit according to claim 1, wherein each of the first sheets of optical functional film fed from the optical functional film feeding part is laminated on each of sheets of releasing film, and the optical film laminate forming part includes a coupling means for coupling opposing short sides of the sheets of releasing film to make the first band of carrier film.
3. A continuous manufacturing apparatus for the optical display unit according to claim 1, further comprising a carrier film feeding part for feeding the first band of carrier film, and the optical film laminate forming part is configured to laminate the first sheet of optical functional film fed from the optical functional film feeding part on the first band of carrier film fed from the carrier film feeding part.
4. A continuous manufacturing apparatus for the optical display unit according to claim 3, wherein each of the first sheets of optical functional film fed from the optical functional film feeding part is laminated on each of sheets of releasing film, and the optical film laminate forming part is configured to laminate the first sheet of optical functional film with the sheet of releasing film fed from the optical functional film feeding part on the first band of carrier film fed from the carrier film feeding part such that the sheet of releasing film contacts the first band of carrier film.
5. A continuous manufacturing apparatus for the optical display unit according to claim 3, wherein each of the first sheets of optical functional film fed from the optical functional film feeding part is laminated on each of sheets of releasing film, and the optical film laminate forming part includes a peeling means for peeling the sheet of releasing film from the first sheet of optical functional film with the sheet of releasing film fed from the optical functional film feeding part, and configured to laminate the first sheet of optical functional film after the sheet of releasing film is peeled on the first band of carrier film fed from the carrier film feeding part.
6. A continuous manufacturing apparatus for the optical display unit according to claim 1, further comprising a third optical film laminate conveying part for conveying a third band of optical film laminate including a third band of carrier film and rectangular third sheets of optical functional film continuously supported on the third band of carrier film toward the first laminating part such that each of long sides shorter than the length of the first laminating means extends in a direction crossing the conveying direction.
7. A continuous manufacturing apparatus for the optical display unit according to claim 6, further comprising a rotating part for rotating an intermediate laminate in which the third sheet of optical functional film is laminated with one of opposite surfaces of the panel member, or an intermediate laminate before the third sheet of optical functional film is laminated with one of opposite surfaces of the panel member, by 90 degrees.
8. A continuous manufacturing method for an optical display unit comprising steps of feeding a rectangular first sheet of optical functional film, forming a first band of optical film laminate in which each of the first sheets of optical functional films is continuously aligned in a conveying direction such that each of short sides extends in a direction crossing the conveying direction on a first band of carrier film, conveying the first band of optical film laminate toward a first laminating position, conveying a second band of optical film laminate including a second band of carrier film and each of rectangular second sheets of optical functional film continuously supported on the second band of carrier film such that each of short sides extends in a direction crossing the conveying direction toward a second laminating position, conveying a panel member toward the first and second laminating positions, peeling the first sheet of optical functional film from the first band of carrier film, and laminating the peeled first sheet of optical functional film with one of opposite surfaces of the panel member using a first laminating means which is longer than the short side of the first sheet of optical functional film, and peeling the second sheet of optical functional film from the second band of carrier film, and laminating the peeled second sheet of optical functional film with the other of opposite surfaces of the panel member using a second laminating means.
9. A continuous manufacturing method for an optical display unit according to claim 8, wherein each of the first sheets of optical functional film fed in the step of feeding the first sheet of optical functional film is laminated on each of sheets of releasing film, and the step of forming the first band of optical film laminate includes a step of coupling opposing short sides of the sheets of releasing film to make the first band of carrier film.
10. A continuous manufacturing method for the optical display unit according to claim 8, further comprising a step of feeding the first band of carrier film, and the step of forming the first band of optical film laminate includes a step of laminating the first sheet of optical functional film fed in the step of feeding the first sheet of optical functional film on the first band of carrier film fed in the step of feeding the first band of carrier film.
11. A continuous manufacturing method for the optical display unit according to claim 10, wherein each of the first sheets of optical functional film fed in the step of feeding the first sheet of optical functional film is laminated on each of sheets of releasing film, and the step of forming the first band of optical film laminate includes a step of laminating the first sheet of optical functional film with the sheet of releasing film fed in the step of feeding the first sheet of optical functional film on the first band of carrier film fed in the step of feeding the band carrier film such that the sheet of releasing film contacts the first band of carrier film.
12. A continuous manufacturing method for the optical display unit continuous manufacturing method according to claim 10, wherein each of the first sheets of optical functional film fed in the step of feeding the first sheet of optical functional film feeding part is laminated on each of sheets of releasing film, and the step of forming the first band of optical film laminate includes a step of peeling the sheet of releasing film from the first sheet of optical functional film with the sheet of releasing film fed in the step of feeding the first sheet of optical functional film, and a step of laminating the first sheet of optical functional film after the sheet of releasing film is peeled on the first band of carrier film fed in the step of feeding the first band of carrier film.
13. A continuous manufacturing apparatus for the optical display unit according to claim 2, further comprising a third optical film laminate conveying part for conveying a third band of optical film laminate including a third band of carrier film and rectangular third sheets of optical functional film continuously supported on the third band of carrier film toward the first laminating part such that each of long sides shorter than the length of the first laminating means extends in a direction crossing the conveying direction.
14. A continuous manufacturing apparatus for the optical display unit according to claim 3, further comprising a third optical film laminate conveying part for conveying a third band of optical film laminate including a third band of carrier film and rectangular third sheets of optical functional film continuously supported on the third band of carrier film toward the first laminating part such that each of long sides shorter than the length of the first laminating means extends in a direction crossing the conveying direction.
15. A continuous manufacturing apparatus for the optical display unit according to claim 4, further comprising a third optical film laminate conveying part for conveying a third band of optical film laminate including a third band of carrier film and rectangular third sheets of optical functional film continuously supported on the third band of carrier film toward the first laminating part such that each of long sides shorter than the length of the first laminating means extends in a direction crossing the conveying direction.
16. A continuous manufacturing apparatus for the optical display unit according to claim 5, further comprising a third optical film laminate conveying part for conveying a third band of optical film laminate including a third band of carrier film and rectangular third sheets of optical functional film continuously supported on the third band of carrier film toward the first laminating part such that each of long sides shorter than the length of the first laminating means extends in a direction crossing the conveying direction.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0033]
[0034]
[0035]
[0036]
[0037]
[0038]
[0039]
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0040] In the following, a continuous manufacturing apparatus and a continuous manufacturing method of the optical display unit according to the present invention are described in detail with references to drawings.
Summary of Present Invention
[0041] The present invention relates to a RTP system including a pair of laminating rollers having sufficient length not being bent by their own weight. The length of each of the laminating rollers is the length in a direction parallel to a rotating axis of the laminating rollers. In the present invention, when using a rectangular sheet of optical functional film which each of long sides is longer than the length of the laminating rollers, each of the sheets of optical functional film is conveyed on a band of carrier film in a continuously aligned state toward a laminating part such that each of short sides extends in a direction crossing a conveying direction, and peeled from the band of carrier film at a laminating part to be laminated with one of opposite surfaces of the panel member separately conveyed to the laminating part. In one embodiment, the band of optical film laminate in which each of the sheets of optical functional film is conveyed on a band of carrier film in a continuously aligned state such that each of short sides extend in a direction crossing a conveying direction can be formed by coupling short sides of a sheet of releasing film of a laminate in which the sheet of releasing film and the sheet of optical functional film are laminated. In another embodiment, the band of optical film laminate can be formed by laminating a sheet of optical functional film on the band of carrier film. In further embodiment, the band of optical film laminate can be formed by laminating the laminate in which the sheet of releasing film and the sheet of optical functional film are laminated on the band of carrier film.
[0042]
[0043] As shown in
[0044] The sheet of optical film laminate L1, including the sheet of releasing film Re1 and the first sheet of optical functional film S1, is aligned such that each of the short sides extends in a direction crossing a conveying direction, and then opposing short sides of adjacent sheets of releasing film Re1 are coupled using a connecting tape T, for example. A plurality of sheets of releasing film Re1 are respectively coupled with each other to make a first band of carrier film C1. Thus, a first band of optical film laminate L1 is obtained in which each of the sheets of optical functional film S1 is continuously aligned on the first band of carrier film C1 via the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A1.
[0045] The first band of optical film laminate L1 is conveyed toward a laminating part. At the laminating part, the sheet of optical functional film S1 is peeled with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A1 from the first band of carrier film C1 (that is, the film in which the adjacent short sides of the sheets of releasing film Re1 are coupled) by a peeling means. The peeled first sheet of optical functional film S1 is laminated with the TFT side surface of the panel member W by the pair of laminating rollers longer than the length of each of the short sides of the first sheet of optical functional film S1.
[0046] The second sheet of optical functional film S2 has short sides, each of which is shorter than the length of the laminating rollers, and continuously supported on a second band of carrier film C2 via a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A2 such that each of the short sides extends in a direction crossing the conveying direction. Each of long sides of the second sheet of optical functional film S2 may be longer or shorter than the length of the laminating rollers. The second optical film laminate L2 can be obtained by, for example, feeding a band of laminate in which a band of optical functional film is laminated on the second carrier film C2 from a roll R2 of the band of laminate, and forming slit lines reaching to the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A2 at intervals corresponding to the length of the short side of the panel member W.
[0047] The second optical film laminate L2 is conveyed toward the laminating part. At the laminating part, the second sheet of optical functional film S2 is peeled with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A2 from the second band of carrier film C2 by the peeling means. The peeled second sheet of optical functional film S2 is laminated with the CF side surface of the panel member W by the pair of laminating rollers.
[0048] By the way, when the size of the panel member W is smaller than a certain size, a third sheet of optical functional film S3, which each of long sides is shorter than the length of the laminating rollers, may be laminated with the TFT side surface of the panel member instead of the first sheet of optical functional film S1. In such case, it is not necessary to align the first sheet of optical functional film S1 such that each of the short sides extends in the direction crossing the conveying direction to form the first optical film laminate L1, as described in the above.
[0049] Each of the third sheet of optical functional film S3 is continuously supported on a third band of carrier film C3 via a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A3 such that each of long sides extends in a direction crossing the conveying direction. The third optical film laminate L3 can be obtained by, for example, feeding a band of laminate in which a band of optical functional film is laminated on the third band of releasing film C3 from a roll R3 of the band of laminate, and forming slit lines reaching to the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A3 at intervals corresponding to the length of the short side of the panel member W.
[0050] The third optical film laminate L3 is conveyed toward the laminating part. At the laminating part, the third sheet of optical functional film S3 is peeled with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A3 from the third band of carrier film C3 by the peeling means. The peeled third sheet of optical functional film S3 is laminated with the panel member W by the pair of laminating rollers.
First Embodiment
[0051] A continuous manufacturing apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is described in the following.
[0052] The continuous manufacturing apparatus 1 has, as shown in
[0053] The continuous manufacturing apparatus 1 also has a second panel member conveying part 74 for conveying an intermediate panel P1 to which the first sheet of optical functional film is laminated toward a second laminating part 80. The continuous manufacturing apparatus 1 also has a second optical film laminate conveying part 22 for conveying a second optical film laminate L2 fed from the roll R2 to the apparatus 1 toward a second laminating part 80, and the second laminating part 80 for laminating a second sheet of optical functional film S2 with the other of opposite surfaces of the intermediate panel member P1. Each of these parts 22 and 80 is continuously arranged in a straight line.
[0054] The continuous manufacturing apparatus 1 also has a third optical film laminate conveying part 36, configured as to allow for feeding a third optical film laminate L3 from the roll R3 to the apparatus 1, for conveying the fed third optical film laminate L3 toward the first laminating part 50. The third optical film laminate conveying part 36 is connected to the first optical film laminate conveying part 40. When the third optical film laminate L3 is used, at the first laminating part 50, the third sheet of optical functional film S3 (not the first sheet of optical functional film S1) is laminated with one of opposite surfaces of the panel member W. A panel member P2, formed by the first sheet of optical functional film S1 or the third sheet of optical functional 1 film S3, and the second sheet of optical functional film S2 being laminated to respective sides of the panel member W, is fed to a next process.
[0055] The optical functional film feeding part 10 feeds the first sheet of optical functional film S1 to the optical film laminate forming part 11. The first sheet of optical functional film is, as shown in
[0056] The optical functional film feeding part 10 is shown in
[0057] The sheet of optical film laminate L1 is accumulated at the accumulating part 12 such that a surface of the sheet of releasing film Re1 faces downward, and a suctioning means 131 of the suctioning and conveying means 13 suctions the first sheet of optical functional film S1 side of the sheet of optical film laminate L1. The suctioning and conveying means 13 arranges the sheet of optical film laminate L1 suctioned by the suctioning means 131 at a predetermined position of a conveying means 14 of the optical film laminate forming part 11 such that each of short sides extends in a direction crossing the conveying direction, and then, releases the suctioning of the suctioning means 131.
[0058] In the optical film laminate forming part 11, the first band of optical film laminate L1 can be formed from the sheet of optical film laminate L1. The first band of optical film laminate L1 is formed by continuously aligning each of the first sheets of optical functional film S1 in the conveying direction on the first band of carrier film C1 such that each of short sides extends in a direction crossing the conveying direction. The optical film laminate forming part 11 includes, as shown in
[0059] The sheet of optical film laminate L1 conveyed to the optical film laminate forming part 11 by the suctioning and conveying means 13 is arranged at a predetermined position on the conveying means 14. The position correcting means 16 for correcting positions of both long sides of the sheet of optical film laminate L1 is preferably provided at the predetermined position to allow for linearly coupling the adjacent plurality of optical film laminates L1 with accuracy. The position correcting means 16 has holding parts 162, 164, and 166 for holding both long sides of the sheet of optical film laminate L1 from outside, for example, and these holding parts 162 to 166 allow for aligning a lateral position of the sheet of optical film laminate L1 with its reference position. In addition, it is preferable to read a forward short side of the sheet of optical film laminate L1 by the detecting means 15 to align a conveying direction position with its reference position by the conveying means 14 so that a distance between the short sides of the adjacent sheets of optical film laminate L1 is made as close as possible. The forward short side of the sheet of optical film laminate L1 in which the lateral position and the conveying direction position are aligned with their respective reference positions may be opposed to a rearward short side of the adjacent preceding sheet of optical film laminate L1 and a direction along the conveying direction.
[0060] The method of aligning the lateral position and the conveying direction position of the optical film laminate L1 with their respective reference positions is not limited to the above method, and may be a method which allows for aligning with the reference positions such that adjacent optical film laminates L1 can be coupled linearly with accuracy. In addition, a place for aligning the lateral position and the conveying direction position of the optical film laminate L1 with their respective reference positions is not limited to the place shown in
[0061] The opposing short sides of the adjacent sheets of optical film laminate L1 are coupled by the coupling means 17. In the embodiment shown in
[0062] The optical film laminate forming part 11 can thus form the first band of optical film laminate L1 in which each of the first sheets of optical functional film S1 is continuously aligned on the first band of carrier film C1 via the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A1. The formed first band of optical film laminate L1 is sent to the first optical film laminate conveying part 40 by feed rollers 18. The first optical film laminate conveying part 40 conveys the first optical film laminate L1 to the first laminating part 50 through dancer rollers 42 for adjusting a conveying speed etc.
[0063] On the other hand, the panel member to be laminated with the first sheet of optical functional film S1 is fed for example from a magazine (not shown), in which a plurality of panel members W is contained, one by one, and as shown in
[0064] At the first laminating part 50, one of opposite surfaces of the panel member W, for example, the surface of the thin film transistor (TFT side) is laminated with the first sheet of optical functional film S1. The first laminating part 50 has, as shown in
[0065] The first upper laminating roller 561 and the first lower laminating roller 562 laminate the sheet of optical functional film S1 with the panel member W by sandwiching the sheet of optical functional film S1 peeled with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A1 and the panel member W and applying pressure in opposing directions with each other from above and from underneath. The first upper laminating roller 561 and the first lower laminating roller 562 are provided such that respective central axes become parallel to each other. For each of the first upper laminating roller 561 and the first lower laminating roller 562, a roller formed by covering a core made of a metal and/or carbon with an elastic body such as rubber can be used, diameter thereof is about 30 mm to 80 mm, and a length in a direction parallel to the central axis is appropriately selected to correspond to a size of the optical functional film and the panel member to be laminated. When the size of the panel member W to be laminated is large, the length of each of the first upper laminating roller 561 and the first lower laminating roller 562 must be made longer depending on the size, and if the length of these laminating rollers became longer than a certain length, each of central parts may be bent downward by their own weight. Therefore, in the present invention, the respective length of the first upper laminating roller 561 and the first lower laminating roller 562 is set to be shorter than the length to be bent by their own weight, and when a sheet of optical functional film having long sides longer than the length of these laminating rollers, the sheet of optical functional film is used such that its short sides are aligned extending in a direction crossing the conveying direction.
[0066] Table 1 shows an example of experiment results of, when a sheet of optical functional film of a size corresponding to various size of panel members is laminated with each of the panel members, checking as to whether bubbles have generated between the panel member and the film depending on the length of the laminating rollers used for lamination. In this experiment, general purpose laminating rollers were used, which diameter is 50 mm, and material is nitrile butyl rubber (NBR). The sheet of optical functional film used in the experiments was a polarizing film (product serial number; SEG1423DU) of Nitto Denko Corporation. In addition, each of the panel members used in the experiments is what has been taken out from commercially available televisions by disassembling thereof, and each of the various size of the panel members is what has been included in the following liquid crystal televisions.
[0067] Panel member of 60 inches; AQUOS LC60US30
[0068] Panel member of 65 inches; REGZA 65Z20X
[0069] Panel member of 70 inches; AQUOS LC70XG35
[0070] Panel member of 75 inches; BRAVIA KJ75X9400C
[0071] Panel member of 80 inches; AQUOS LC80XL10
[0072] A gap between the upper and lower rollers is set to be 1.2 mm, and laminating speed is set to be 500 mm/s. As shown in Table 1, in the case of the laminating rollers, when the length of the laminating rollers is 1500 mm or less, bubbles by lamination were not generated. Therefore, under a condition of this experiment, it is preferable to set the length of the first upper laminating roller 561 and the first lower laminating roller 562 to be 1500 mm or less by which bubbles by lamination do not generate.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Length of Generation of Panel member Length of Short Side Laminating Bubbles by Size (inch) or Long Side Rollers Lamination 60 Short side 747 mm 850 mm Not Generated 65 Short side 810 mm 900 mm Not Generated 70 Short side 872 mm 950 mm Not Generated 75 Short side 934 mm 1000 mm Not Generated 80 Short side 986 mm 1050 mm Not Generated 60 Long side 1328 mm 1400 mm Not Generated 65 Long side 1439 mm 1500 mm Not Generated 70 Long side 1549 mm 1600 mm Generated 75 Long side 1660 mm 1750 mm Generated 80 Long side 1771 mm 1850 mm Generated
[0073] The carrier film C1 after the first sheet of optical functional film S1 and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A1 are peeled off is wound by a winding means C11. The intermediate panel member P1 having the sheet of optical functional film S1 laminated with one of opposite surfaces of the panel member W (for example, the surface of the TFT side of the panel member W) is conveyed out from the first laminating part 50, and sent to a second panel member conveying part 74.
[0074] The second panel member conveying part 74 conveys, as shown in
[0075] The continuous manufacturing apparatus 1 further includes, as shown in
[0076] The optical film laminate L2 is, as shown in
[0077] At the second laminating part 80, the second sheet of optical functional film S2 is laminated with the other of opposite surfaces, for example, the surface of the color filter side (CF side), of the intermediate panel member P1 formed by laminating the first optical functional film S1 with one of opposite surfaces of the panel member W. The second laminating part 80 has, as shown in
[0078] The second upper laminating roller 861 and the second lower laminating roller 862 laminate the second sheet of optical functional film S2 with the intermediate panel member P1 by sandwiching the sheet of optical functional film S2 peeled with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A2 and the intermediate panel member P1, and applying pressure in opposing directions with each other from above and from underneath. The second upper laminating roller 861 and the second lower laminating roller 862 are provided such that respective central axes become parallel to each other. For each of the second upper laminating roller 861 and the second lower laminating roller 862, a roller formed by covering a core made of a metal and/or carbon with an elastic body such as rubber can be used, diameter thereof is about 30 mm to 80 mm, and a length in a direction parallel to the central axis is appropriately selected to correspond to a size of the optical functional film and the panel member to be laminated. When the size of the panel member W to be laminated is large, the length of each of the second upper laminating roller 861 and the second lower laminating roller 862 must be made longer depending on the size. However, different from the first laminating means 56, since the length of each of the second upper laminating roller 861 and the second lower laminating roller 862 can be made as corresponding to the short side of the second sheet of optical functional film S2, it is possible to set it shorter than a length which may be bent by their own weight. For example, in the above Table 1, even in a case of the panel member having 80 inches, the length of the laminating roller corresponding to the short side is 1050 mm, and this is shorter than the length of the laminating roller, which is 1500 mm, where bubbles by lamination were not generated.
[0079] In the continuous manufacturing apparatus 1, when a panel member W smaller than a certain size is used, a third sheet of optical functional film S3 which length of each of long sides is shorter than the length of the first laminating rollers 56, not the first sheet of optical functional film S1 which length of each of the long sides is longer than the length of the first laminating rollers 56 may be laminated with the face of the TFT side of the panel member W. In this case, it is not necessary to form the first optical film laminate L1 by aligning each of the short sides of the first sheet of optical functional film S1 in the direction extending across the conveying direction as described in the above, and the optical film laminate L3 having a width corresponding to the length of the long side of the panel member W can be used. For this purpose, the continuous manufacturing apparatus 1 further includes, as shown in
[0080] The third optical film laminate L3 can be formed from the optical film laminate L3. The optical film laminate L3 is, as shown in
[0081] The third optical film laminate conveying part 36 is connected so that the third optical film laminate L3 may be passed to the first optical film laminate conveying part 40 at any position of the first optical film laminate conveying part 40. Therefore, the third optical film laminate L3 can be conveyed on a path the same as the path on which the first optical film laminate L1 is conveyed toward the first laminating part 50.
[0082] When laminated with the third sheet of optical functional film S3, the panel member W is conveyed toward the first laminating part 50 with its long side being at the front at the first panel member conveying part 72, and laminated with the third sheet of optical functional film S3 at the first laminating part 50 from the forward long side toward the rearward long side in the conveying direction. On the other hand, when laminated with the first sheet of optical functional film S1, the panel member W is conveyed toward the first laminating part 50 with the short side being at the front at the first panel member conveying part 72, and laminated from the forward short side toward the rearward short side in the conveying direction at the first laminating part 50. Thus, an orientation of the panel member W when sent to the first laminating part 50 is different depending on whether the first sheet of optical functional film S1 is used or the third sheet of optical functional film S3 is used. Therefore, the panel member W needs to be fed with its short side at the front or its long side at the front according to necessity when fed to the first panel member conveying part 72. Alternatively, the first panel member conveying part 72 may be provided with a rotating part for rotating the panel member W by 90 degrees around an axis perpendicular to its main surface.
[0083] In addition, the intermediate panel member P1, when the first optical functional film S1 is laminated with one of opposite surfaces of the panel member W, can be conveyed by the second panel member conveying part 74 with the orientation as it is, that is, the orientation shown by a solid line in
Second Embodiment
[0084] Next, a continuous manufacturing apparatus 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is described.
[0085] As shown in
[0086] The optical film laminate forming part 11 has a sheet of optical functional film feeding base 112, a feed roller 114 of the sheet of optical functional film, and laminating rollers 116 for laminating the first sheet of optical functional film S1 and the first band of carrier film C1. The first sheet of optical functional film S1 conveyed by the suctioning and conveying means 13 is arranged at a predetermined position of the sheet of optical functional film feeding base 112 such that each of the short side extends in a direction crossing the conveying direction. Although not shown in
[0087] In this embodiment, the continuous manufacturing apparatus 1 includes the carrier film feeding part 100 for feeding the first band of carrier film C1 to the optical film laminate forming part 11. At the carrier film feeding part 100, a band of film laminate L4 including the first band of carrier film C1 is fed from a roll R4. The band of film laminate L4 has, as shown in
[0088] At the optical film laminate forming part 11, the first band of carrier fil C1 with the first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A1 fed from the carrier film feeding part 100 is laminated with the first sheet of optical functional film S1 sent from the sheet of optical functional film feeding base 112, by the laminating rollers 116. The optical film forming part 11 can thus form the first band of optical film laminate L1 in which each of the first sheets of optical functional film S1 is continuously aligned on the first band of carrier film C1 via the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A1. The formed fist band of optical film laminate L1 is sent to the first optical film laminate conveying part 40 by the feed rollers 18.
[0089] At the first laminating part 50, as shown in
Third Embodiment
[0090] Next, a continuous manufacturing apparatus 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention is described.
[0091] A configuration of the apparatus according to this embodiment is the same as the second embodiment shown in
[0092] At the carrier film feeding part 100, a band of film laminate L5 including a band of carrier film C1is fed from a roll R5. The band of film laminate L5 has, as shown in
[0093] The sheet of optical film laminate L1 conveyed to the optical film laminate forming part 11 and sent from the sheet of optical functional film feeding base 112 by the feed rollers 114, and the band of carrier film C1 with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A5 fed from the carrier film feeding part 100 are laminated by the laminating rollers 116. At this point, the sheet of optical film laminate L1 is laminated such that the sheet of releasing film Re1 contacts the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A5.
[0094] The optical film laminate laminated by the laminating rollers 116 is made by laminating the band of carrier film C1, the pressure sensitive adhesive layer A5, the sheet of releasing film Re1, the first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A1, and the first sheet of optical functional film S1 in this order. The band of carrier film C1, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A5, and the sheet of releasing film Re1 in this laminate function as a band of carrier film as a whole, and thus, this laminate can be considered as equivalent to the first optical film laminate L1. The formed first band of optical film laminate L1 is fed to the first optical film laminate conveying part 40 by the feed rollers 18.
[0095] At the first laminating part 50, as shown in
Fourth Embodiment
[0096] Next, a continuous manufacturing apparatus 1 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is described.
[0097] As shown in
[0098] In this embodiment, the optical film laminate forming part 11 has a sheet of releasing film peeling means 118, and laminating rollers 116 for the first sheet of optical functional film S1 and the first band of carrier film C1. In addition, the continuous manufacturing apparatus 1 further has the film feeding part for peeling releasing film 110. The film feeding part for peeling releasing film 110 feeds a film for peeling releasing film L6 to the optical film laminate forming part 11. The film for peeling releasing film L6 is, as shown in
[0099] At the optical film laminate forming part 11, the sheet of optical film laminate L1 may be laminated on the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A6 of the film for peeling releasing film L6 fed to the sheet of releasing film peeling means 118 such that the sheet of releasing film Re1 contacts the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A6. The film for peeling releasing film L6, to which the sheet of optical film laminate L1 is laminated, is wound and hooked around a tip end of the sheet of releasing film peeling means 118 to be conveyed, and thus, the sheet of releasing film Re1 can be peeled from the sheet of optical film laminate L1.
[0100] The rest of the sheet of optical film laminate L1 after the sheet of releasing film Re1 is peeled off, that is, the first sheet of optical functional film S1 with the first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A1 is fed to the laminating rollers 116. On the other hand, the film for peeling releasing film L6 to which the sheet of releasing film Re1 is laminated is wound to R61.
[0101] The continuous manufacturing apparatus 1 has, similar to the second embodiment shown in
[0102] The carrier film feeding part 100 has the peeling part 102, and at the peeling part 102, the band of releasing film Re7 is peeled with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A7 from the band of film laminate L7. The band of carrier film C1 after the band of releasing film Re7 is peeled off is fed to the optical film laminate forming part 11.
[0103] At the optical film laminate forming part 11, the first band of carrier film C1 fed from the carrier film feeding part 100 can be laminated to the first sheet of optical functional film S1 with the first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A1 sent from the sheet of releasing film peeling means 118, by the laminating rollers 116. The optical film laminate forming part 11 can thus form the first band of optical film laminate L1 in which each of the first sheets of optical functional film S1 is continuously aligned on the first band of carrier film C1 via the first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer A1. The formed first band of optical film laminate L1 is fed to the first optical film laminate conveying part 40 by the feed rollers 18.
[0104] At the first laminating pat 50, as shown in
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0105] 1: Continuous manufacturing apparatus [0106] 10: Optical functional film feeding part
[0107] 12: Accumulating part
[0108] 13: Suctioning and conveying means [0109] 11: Optical film laminate forming part
[0110] 14: Conveying means
[0111] 15: Detecting means
[0112] 16: Position correcting means
[0113] 17: Connecting tape applying means (Coupling means)
[0114] 112: Sheet of optical functional film feeding base
[0115] 114: Feed rollers
[0116] 116: Laminating rollers [0117] 118: Sheet of releasing film Re 1 peeling means [0118] 100: Carrier film feeding part
[0119] 102: Peeling part
[0120] 110: Film feeding part for peeling releasing film [0121] 20: Second optical film laminate feeding part [0122] 21: Second slit line forming part
[0123] 24: Slit line forming means [0124] 22: Second optical film laminate conveying part [0125] 30: Third optical film laminate feeding part [0126] 32: Third slit line forming part
[0127] 34: Slit line forming means [0128] 36: Third optical film laminate conveying part [0129] 40: First optical film laminate feeding part [0130] 50: First laminating part [0131] 60: First carrier film winding part [0132] 72, 74: Panel member conveying part [0133] 80: Second laminating part [0134] 90: Second carrier film winding part [0135] L1: First band of optical film laminate
[0136] S1: First sheet of optical functional film
[0137] A1: First pressure-sensitive adhesive layer
[0138] C1: First band of carrier film [0139] L1: Sheet of optical film laminate
[0140] Re1: Sheet of releasing film [0141] L2: Second band of optical functional film
[0142] S2: Second sheet of optical functional film
[0143] A2: Second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer
[0144] C2: Second band of carrier film [0145] L2: Second band of optical film laminate before forming slit lines [0146] L3: Third band of optical film laminate
[0147] S3: Third sheet of optical functional film
[0148] A3: Third pressure-sensitive adhesive layer
[0149] C3: Third band of carrier film [0150] L3: Third band of optical film laminate before forming slit lines [0151] L4: Band of film laminate
[0152] Re4: Band of releasing film [0153] L5: Band of film laminate
[0154] C1: Band of carrier film
[0155] Re5: Band of releasing film [0156] L6: Film for peeling releasing film
[0157] A6: Pressure-sensitive adhesive layer
[0158] C6: Band of film [0159] L7: Band of film laminate
[0160] Re7: Band of releasing film [0161] R1: First roll of laminate [0162] R2: Second roll of laminate [0163] R3: Third roll of laminate [0164] T: Connecting tape [0165] W: Panel member [0166] P1: Intermediate laminate [0167] P2: Optical display unit