JP2009036897A - Method and apparatus for sticking optical film and method for producing display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a high speed and a low cost, and to suppress enlargement of the footprint of the whole apparatus, even when a liquid crystal display which is a display panel is enlarged. <P>SOLUTION: A mechanism with which the posture of a display panel can be changed between a substantially horizontal state and a substantially vertical state while transporting the display panel is attached to a display panel feed section and a discharge section. With a transport direction for the display device as a center, optical film placed in a substantially horizontal state in two positions on both sides of the transport direction therefor are raised to a substantially vertical state and held by adsorption on two cylindrical adsorption drum means, respectively, arranged parallel to each other in two positions on both sides of the display panel to be transported likewise. The adsorption drum means are moved under rotation while pressing the optical films held by adsorption against both faces of the display panel passing between the adsorption drum means, so that the optical films is stuck on both faces of the display panel substantially at the same time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical film affixing method, an optical film affixing device for affixing an optical film comprising a polarizing plate, a retardation plate, etc. to a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel, and a method for manufacturing a display panel using these. In particular, the present invention relates to an optical film attaching method, an optical film attaching apparatus, and a display panel manufacturing method for attaching an optical film in a vertically standing state to a display panel in a vertically standing state.

  In the manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal panel is formed by sealing liquid crystal between a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) substrate and a color filter substrate, and then a polarizing plate is attached to the front and back surfaces of the liquid crystal panel. . Furthermore, a phase difference plate for visual compensation may be attached. The pasting operation of the optical film composed of such a polarizing plate and a retardation plate is performed by a pasting device.

Usually, an adhesive is applied to the optical film in advance, and a protective film is put on the adhesive. The pasting device is provided with a first work position for peeling the protective film from the optical film and a second work position for pasting the optical film to the display panel. First, the protective film is peeled off from the optical film at the first working position while being held by holding means such as a suction table, and then the optical film is moved from the first working position to the second working position where the attachment is performed. Then, the optical film is attached to the display panel at the second work position. In addition, as an apparatus for affixing an optical film to a liquid crystal panel or an affixing method, for example, those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are known.
JP 2004-144913 A Korean Patent 10-0556339

  In the polarizing plate pasting apparatus described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the liquid crystal cell substrate is erected in order to suppress the expansion of the footprint of the polarizing plate pasting device accompanying the increase in size of the color liquid crystal display. By simultaneously attaching a polarizing plate to the first main surface (CF surface) and the second main surface (TFT surface) of the cell substrate, the footprint in the direction (width direction) perpendicular to the transport direction of the liquid crystal cell substrate can be expanded. I try to suppress it.

  In the polarizing plate pasting apparatus described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when a polarizing plate (optical film) is pasted on a liquid crystal cell substrate (display panel), both are erected in a substantially vertical state, and the polarizing plate is in a standing state. Are attached to both surfaces (first main surface (CF surface) and second main surface (TFT surface)) of the liquid crystal cell substrate almost simultaneously. On the other hand, in the liquid crystal manufacturing process, the size of the liquid crystal display is increased, and the demand for a high-speed, inexpensive, compact and small footprint manufacturing apparatus is increasing. This is because as the size of the liquid crystal display grows, the entire manufacturing equipment also grows, and it is necessary to prepare a clean room with high construction costs and high maintenance costs, so we want to keep these costs as low as possible. It is.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and even when a liquid crystal display as a display panel is increased in size, it is fast and inexpensive, and can suppress an increase in the footprint of the entire apparatus. An optical film sticking method, an optical film sticking device, and a display panel manufacturing method are provided.

The first feature of the optical film pasting method according to the present invention is that the display panel that has been transported in a substantially horizontal state is erected in a substantially vertical state while being transported in the transport direction. First and second cylinders which are arranged side by side on the left and right sides of the display panel, which are erected in a substantially vertical state and optical films placed in two substantially horizontal states are conveyed in the substantially vertical state. The shape drum means sucks and holds one side of the optical film which is erected in a substantially vertical state at the two left and right sides, and protects from the optical film sucked and held by the first and second cylindrical drum means. The film is peeled off, and the first and second cylindrical drum means rotate the optical film from which the protective film has been peeled off while pressing it toward the display panel. An optical film is attached to both sides of the display panel almost simultaneously, and the display panel in a substantially vertical state with the optical film attached to both sides according to the optical film attaching operation is conveyed in the carrying direction. It is to convert from a substantially vertical state to a substantially horizontal state and discharge.
Conventionally, when changing the posture from a substantially horizontal state to a substantially vertical state, the pick and place equipped with a suction mechanism has been the mainstream, but as the liquid crystal display becomes larger, the area of the display panel increases. Also, the weight is increased, and it is difficult to change the posture of the display panel in the pick and place, and there is a possibility that the display panel is dropped during the conversion. In this invention, a mechanism capable of changing the posture between a substantially horizontal state and a substantially vertical state while transporting the display panel is disposed in the supply portion and the discharge portion of the display panel, and the transport direction of the display panel is centered. The two cylinders juxtaposed in two places on the left and right sides of the display panel that are also transported by raising the optical film placed in a substantially horizontal state at two places on the left and right sides of the display panel. The optical film is adsorbed and held by the adsorbing drum means, and the adsorbing drum means is rotated while pressing the optical film adsorbed and held on both surfaces of the display panel passing between the adsorbing drum means. An optical film is pasted on both sides almost simultaneously. As a result, the entire apparatus can be reduced in size, the throughput of the pasting operation can be greatly shortened, and the footprint of the entire apparatus can also be reduced.

A second feature of the optical film attaching method according to the present invention is the optical film attaching method according to the first feature, wherein the protective film peeled off from the optical film is sequentially wound around a winding shaft, The object is to discharge a cylindrical protective film body formed by winding a plurality of protective films.
This relates to a method for discharging a protective film peeled from an optical film attached to a display panel. By winding the peeled protective film, the storage area of the wound body can be reduced. This is effective in reducing the footprint of the entire apparatus.

The first feature of the optical film pasting apparatus according to the present invention is that the display panel that is conveyed in a substantially horizontal state is erected in a substantially vertical state while being conveyed in the conveying direction and is supplied downstream. An optical film provided on the left and right sides of the supply means and the display panel supply means along the transport direction and placed in a substantially horizontal state is erected in a substantially vertical state, and is opposite to the transport direction. First and second optical film supply means for conveying in the direction and downstream of the display panel supply means along the conveyance direction, and left and right of the display panel supplied from the display panel supply means The first and second cylindrical drum means are arranged side by side on both sides, and one side of the optical film supplied in a substantially vertical state from the first and second optical film supply means is held by suction. The optical film affixing means for adhering the optical film to both sides of the display panel by rotating while pressing on the display panel side, and provided on the left and right sides of the optical film affixing means, The first and second peeling means for peeling the protective film from the optical film adsorbed and held by the first and second cylindrical drum means, and the left and right sides of the optical film attaching means, the first film And a protective film discharging means that is provided further outside of the second peeling means, winds up the protective film peeled off by the first and second peeling means, and discharges the protective film in a wound state; Downstream of the optical film pasting means along the transport direction, provided between the first and second optical film supply means, The display panel in a substantially vertical state in which the optical film is pasted on both sides according to the optical film pasting operation of the optical film pasting means is received from the optical film pasting means and is transported in the transport direction. And a display panel discharging means for discharging from a vertical state to a substantially horizontal state.
This is an invention relating to the arrangement of the apparatus that realizes the first feature of the optical film attaching method described above, and the footprint of the entire apparatus is reduced by devising the arrangement of each component means as shown in FIG. Is intended.

A second feature of the optical film pasting apparatus according to the present invention is that the display panel that has been conveyed in a substantially horizontal state is erected in a substantially vertical state while being conveyed in the conveying direction and is supplied downstream. A supply means, provided downstream of the display panel supply means along the transport direction, while transporting the display panel supplied in a substantially vertical state from the display panel supply means in the transport direction, Display panel alignment means for aligning the optical film and the display panel, which are attached to both surfaces of the display panel almost simultaneously, and both left and right downstream of the display panel alignment means along the transport direction The first and second optical frames which are provided in the horizontal direction and are raised in a substantially vertical state and transported in a direction opposite to the transport direction. And a first and a second arranged side by side on the left and right sides of the display panel supplied from the display panel alignment means, downstream of the display panel alignment means along the transport direction. The first and second cylindrical drums are composed of two cylindrical drum means, adsorb and hold one side of the optical film supplied in a substantially vertical state from the first and second optical film supply means. An optical film attaching means for rotating the pressure film between the means while applying pressure to the display panel side and attaching the optical film to both sides of the display panel almost simultaneously, and provided on both the left and right sides of the optical film attaching means. First and second peeling means for peeling the protective film from the optical film adsorbed and held by the first and second cylindrical drum means , On both the left and right sides of the optical film attaching means, provided further outside the first and second peeling means, and winding the protective film peeled off by the first and second peeling means, Provided between the first and second optical film supply means, downstream of the protective film discharging means for discharging the protective film in a wound state, and the optical film attaching means along the transport direction. The display panel in a substantially vertical state in which the optical film is pasted on both sides according to the optical film pasting operation of the optical film pasting means is received from the optical film pasting means and transported in the transport direction. An optical film display panel transporting means, and provided downstream of the optical film display panel transporting means along the transport direction, Display panel discharge means for converting the display panel with optical film supplied in a substantially vertical state from the display panel transfer means with optical film into a substantially horizontal state while discharging the display panel with the optical film in the transfer direction; It is in having.
This is the same as the first feature of the optical film sticking device described above, and is an invention relating to the placement of the device that realizes the first feature of the optical film sticking method described above. 1 is devised as shown in FIG. 1 to reduce the footprint of the entire apparatus. The present invention is different from the first feature of the optical film pasting apparatus described above in that display panel alignment means is provided downstream of the display panel supply means, and alignment between the display panel and the optical film is performed. In addition, the display panel transporting means with an optical film is provided in front of the display panel discharging means, and the display panel in a substantially vertical state in which the optical film is pasted on both sides is removed from the optical film pasting means. It is received and smoothly transported to the display panel discharge means. In the invention described in the first feature of the optical film pasting apparatus, the display panel supply means converts the display panel from a substantially horizontal state to a substantially vertical state, and a position between the display panel and the optical film. In addition, the display panel discharging means directly receives the display panel in the substantially vertical state with the optical film attached on both sides from the optical film attaching means, converts it from the substantially vertical state to the substantially horizontal state and discharges it. It means to do.

A third feature of the optical film sticking apparatus according to the present invention is the optical film sticking apparatus according to the first or second feature of the optical film sticking apparatus, wherein the first and second optical film supplies. Means are provided on the left and right sides of the display panel supply means along the transport direction, and the optical film supplied in a substantially horizontal state is erected in a substantially vertical state and transported in a direction opposite to the transport direction. First and second optical film standing and supplying means, and provided outside the first and second optical film standing and supplying means, and a plurality of the optical films are placed in a substantially horizontal state, And 1st and 2nd optical film mounting supply means for supplying one optical film to the 1st and 2nd optical film standing supply means in a substantially horizontal state.
This is an invention in which the optical film supply means is composed of an optical film stand-up supply means and an optical film placement supply means, and the arrangement relationship thereof is clarified.

  The display panel manufacturing method according to the present invention is characterized by the optical film attaching method according to the first or second feature of the optical film attaching method, or the first and second of the optical film attaching apparatus. Alternatively, the optical film is applied to the display panel using the optical film application device described in the third feature. This relates to a method of manufacturing a display panel in which an optical film is attached to a display panel using either the optical film attaching method or the optical film attaching apparatus.

  According to the present invention, even when a liquid crystal display as a display panel is enlarged, there is an effect that it is fast and inexpensive, and can suppress an increase in the footprint of the entire apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a polarizing plate pasting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This polarizing plate affixing device converts the liquid crystal panel that has moved in a substantially horizontal state from the right direction to the left direction in the figure into an upright state, proceeds in the upright state, and moves the liquid crystal panel in progress. A polarizing plate is attached to the first main surface and the second main surface almost simultaneously.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the polarizing plate attaching apparatus according to this embodiment converts a liquid crystal panel conveyed in a substantially horizontal state into an upright state and supplies the liquid crystal panel to a subsequent polarizing plate attaching station 200. A polarizing plate supply station 700 that is provided on both sides of the supply station 100 and the polarizing plate pasting station 200 and converts the polarizing plate placed in a substantially horizontal state into a substantially vertical state and supplies it to the polarizing plate pasting station 200. , 750 and polarized light supplied from the polarizing plate supply stations 700 and 750 in an upright state to the first main surface and the second main surface of the liquid crystal panel (cell) supplied in the upright state from the liquid crystal panel supply station 100. A polarizing plate pasting station 200 for pasting the plates almost simultaneously and provided on both sides of the polarizing plate pasting station 200 The protective film discharge stations 800 and 850 for winding and discharging the protective film peeled off from the polarizing plate and the polarizing plate attached liquid crystal panel at the polarizing plate attaching station 200 are converted from a standing state to a substantially horizontal state. And a liquid crystal panel discharge station 900 for discharging.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the liquid crystal panel supply station of FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view of the liquid crystal panel supply station of FIG. 2 as viewed from the right side. As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal panel supply station 100 is provided in front of the polarizing plate pasting station 200 (on the right side in the figure), and the liquid crystal panel 10 that has been transported in a substantially horizontal state is omitted from the polarizing plate pasting station 200. The liquid crystal panel 10 is supplied in a vertically upright state.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the liquid crystal panel supply station 100 includes a liquid crystal panel transport unit 110 and a substantially vertical conversion unit 150. The liquid crystal panel transport unit 110 converts the liquid crystal panel 10 from a substantially horizontal state to a standing state (substantially vertical state) while transferring the liquid crystal panel 10, and as shown in FIGS. It consists of. The side roller 111 is provided on a side portion facing both surfaces of the liquid crystal panel 10, supports the liquid crystal panel 10 so that it does not fall vertically or horizontally and contacts the side surface of the liquid crystal panel 10 and identifies the liquid crystal panel 10. It plays the role of moving in the direction of. The lower roller 112 is in contact with the lower surface of the standing liquid crystal panel 10 to support the liquid crystal panel 10 and to move the liquid crystal panel 10 in a specific direction. The side roller 111 is rotationally controlled by a driving force source (not shown) such as a motor. The lower roller 112 does not rotate by the driving force, but passively rotates by contacting the liquid crystal panel 10 that moves according to the rotation of the side roller 111. The lower roller 112 may also be provided with a power source to actively control rotation.

  A plurality of side rollers 111 are provided throughout the liquid crystal panel supply station 100. For example, nine side rollers 111 are provided on one side. A plurality of contact portion rollers 111 a to 111 d are provided on the rotation shaft of each side roller 111. Each contact portion roller 111 a to 111 d has an outer peripheral portion that comes into contact with the surface of the liquid crystal panel 10. The rotation shafts of the side rollers 111 are mechanically connected via power transmission means, and are rotationally controlled by one or a plurality of driving force sources.

  The lower roller 112 has a plurality of rollers arranged in a line at predetermined intervals in a substantially horizontal direction. Each roller constituting the lower roller 112 is in contact with the lower end portion of the liquid crystal panel 10 in the standing state and guides the movement of the liquid crystal panel 10 while passively rotating. As described above, the liquid crystal panel transport unit 110 includes the side roller 111 and the lower roller 112 as basic components, and these components are coupled and configured by frame means or the like, so that FIGS. A liquid crystal panel transport unit 110 as shown in FIG.

  The substantially vertical conversion unit 150 includes a moving unit main body 151, guide rails 152 and 153, racks 154 and 155, pinions 156 and 157, power transmission shafts 158 and 159, power transmission disks 160 and 161, and a substantially vertical substantially horizontal movable unit. 162, 163. The moving part main body 151 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction in the drawing along the guide rails 152 and 153. Although the movement of the moving part main body 151 is not shown, a ball screw is provided below the guide rails 152 and 153, and the nut part coupled to the ball screw and the moving part main body 151 are mechanically connected to each other. The moving unit main body 151 is configured to move along the guide rails 152 and 153 by rotational driving. In addition, you may make it move with a drive method other than this.

  The racks 154 and 155 are provided outside the guide rails 152 and 153 and in parallel along the guide rails 152 and 153. The racks 154 and 155 are engaged with pinions 156 and 157 provided on the moving unit main body 151. Therefore, when the moving part main body 151 moves along the guide rails 152 and 153, the moving parts main body 151 rotates on the racks 154 and 155 while the pinions 156 and 157 are engaged. As shown in FIG. 3, power transmission shafts 158 and 159 having gears on the outer periphery are mechanically coupled to the pinions 156 and 157. The power transmission discs 160 and 161 are provided in the moving unit main body 151 and include gears that engage with the gears of the power transmission shafts 158 and 159. Further, the power transmission disks 160 and 161 are mechanically coupled to the liquid crystal panel transport unit 110. Therefore, when the moving part main body 151 moves along the guide rails 152 and 153, the pinions 156 and 157 and the power transmission shafts 158 and 159 rotate and move, so that the power transmission disks 160 and 161 rotate together. Accordingly, the liquid crystal panel transport unit 110 coupled thereto also rotates as a whole.

  4 and 5 are diagrams illustrating an example of an operation in which the liquid crystal panel supply station converts the liquid crystal panel 10 in a substantially horizontal state into an upright state. As the moving unit main body 151 moves along the guide rails 152 and 153 in the right direction in the figure, the pinions 156 and 157 rotate on the racks 154 and 155, and the rotational driving force thereof moves the power transmission shafts 158 and 159. To the power transmission discs 160 and 161, and the power transmission discs 160 and 161 rotate. As a result, the liquid crystal panel transport unit 110 rotates about the power transmission disks 160 and 161.

  4 and 5 show that the liquid crystal panel transport unit 110 rotates about the power transmission discs 160 and 161. FIG. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the moving unit main body 151 has moved about one-fourth along the guide rails 152 and 153 to the right in the drawing. As a result, the power transmission discs 160 and 161 rotate about 45 degrees counterclockwise. Accordingly, the liquid crystal panel transport unit 110 is inclined by 45 degrees as shown in FIG. 4 from the substantially horizontal state of FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, when the moving unit main body 151 moves to the right side in the drawing along the guide rails 152 and 153 and moves to approximately the center of the guide rails 152 and 153, the liquid crystal panel transport unit 110 is From the substantially horizontal state shown in FIG. 3 to the state inclined 45 degrees as shown in FIG. 4, the state rises 90 degrees as shown in FIG. The liquid crystal panel transport unit 110 can transport the liquid crystal panel 10 more efficiently when the liquid crystal panel 10 is tilted about 5 degrees, such as 85 degrees or 95 degrees, than when the liquid crystal panel 10 stands 90 degrees. .

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the polarizing plate pasting station 200. As shown in FIG. 6, the polarizing plate pasting station 200 includes a liquid crystal panel alignment unit 201, protective film peeling units 300 and 350, a polarizing plate pasting unit 400 and 450, a polarizing plate upright supply unit 500 and 550, and a polarizing plate attached. The liquid crystal panel transport unit 600 is configured. The liquid crystal panel alignment unit 201 aligns the liquid crystal panel 10 conveyed from the liquid crystal panel supply station 100 and the polarizing plate. The protective film peeling parts 300 and 350 peel the protective film from the polarizing plate before being attached to the liquid crystal panel 10. The polarizing plate attaching portions 400 and 450 are for attaching the polarizing plate to the standing liquid crystal panel 10. The polarizing plate upright supply units 500 and 550 supply the polarizing plate conveyed from the polarizing plate supply stations 700 and 750 to the polarizing plate attaching units 400 and 450 in an upright state. The polarizing plate-attached liquid crystal panel transport unit 600 transports the liquid crystal panel 10 on which the polarizing plate is pasted by the polarizing plate pasting units 400 and 450 to the liquid crystal panel discharge station 900.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the liquid crystal panel alignment unit of FIG. 6, and shows an enlarged view of the liquid crystal panel alignment unit 201 of FIG. 6, and is a diagram seen from above the polarizing plate attaching device. is there. The liquid crystal panel alignment unit 201 supplies the liquid crystal panel 10 in the standing state (substantially vertical state) transported from the liquid crystal panel transport unit 110 to the rotating roller portions of the polarizing plate pasting units 400 and 450 with accurate alignment. 3 and includes a side roller 202 and a lower roller 203 similar to the liquid crystal panel transport unit 110 of FIG. The side rollers 202 are provided so as to face both surfaces of the liquid crystal panel 10, support the liquid crystal panel 10 so as not to fall to the left and right sides in contact with both surfaces of the liquid crystal panel 10, and support the liquid crystal panel 10 in a specific direction (see FIG. It plays the role of moving in the left direction. The lower roller 203 is in contact with the lower side of the standing liquid crystal panel 10 to support the liquid crystal panel 10 and move the liquid crystal panel 10 in a specific direction (left direction in the figure).

  In this embodiment, the side roller 202 is rotationally controlled by motors (driving force sources) 204 and 205 provided on the left and right, respectively. As shown in FIG. 7, the driving force of the motors 204 and 205 is transmitted to the respective side rollers 202 via transmission means 2023 and 2024. The lower roller 203 is provided on the lower side of the moving liquid crystal panel 10, is set to the same height as the lower roller 112 of the liquid crystal panel supply station 100 described above, and is actively controlled for rotation by the motor 2031. The liquid crystal panel 10 supplied from the supply station 100 is actively moved to the left in the drawing.

  FIG. 8 is a side view of the liquid crystal panel alignment unit 201 of FIG. 7 viewed from the lower side of the drawing. In FIG. 8, only one side of the side roller 202 of FIG. 7 is shown, and the illustration of the opposite side is omitted. As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of side rollers 202 are provided over the entire liquid crystal panel alignment unit 201. In the figure, the side roller 202 is provided with nine rotating shafts on one side. Each rotating shaft is provided with a plurality (six in the figure) of contact portion rollers 202a to 202f. As shown in FIG. 8, the contact portion rollers 202 a to 202 f are configured such that the outer peripheral surfaces of the contact portion rollers 202 a to 202 f are in contact with both surfaces of the liquid crystal panel 10 as viewed from the side.

  The rotation shafts of the side rollers 202 are mechanically connected via power transmission means and are controlled to rotate by motors 204 and 205. The lower roller 203 includes a plurality (14 in the figure) of rollers arranged in a line at predetermined intervals in a substantially horizontal direction. A number of rollers constituting the lower roller 203 move the liquid crystal panel 10 in a substantially horizontal direction while actively rotating in contact with the lower end of the liquid crystal panel 10 in an upright state. As described above, the basic configuration of the liquid crystal panel alignment unit 201 is the side roller 202 and the lower roller 203, and these are configured by using frame means or the like, whereby the liquid crystal panel alignment as shown in FIGS. Part 201 is formed. The contact rollers 202a to 202f are not evenly arranged on the entire side roller 202, but are mainly arranged on the upper side of the side roller 202 as shown in FIG. This is configured to correspond to optical films of different varieties, that is, sizes, so that any one of the contact roller 202a to 202f can come into contact with the vicinity of its upper end. Therefore, no contact roller is provided below the side roller 202. However, it goes without saying that a contact roller may be provided below the side roller 202.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state in which one side of the side roller 202 of the liquid crystal panel alignment unit 201 has been moved (drawn) to the liquid crystal panel supply station 100 side. That is, in order to observe whether or not the liquid crystal panel 10 held by the liquid crystal panel alignment unit 201 is accurately positioned on the suction drums of the polarizing plate pasting units 400 and 450 in FIG. To move one side of the side roller 202 to the liquid crystal panel supply station 100 side and visually confirm the positioning state between the suction drum and the liquid crystal panel 10 (for example, the sticking start position, the gap state, etc.). It is. In addition, even when the line stops during the transportation of the liquid crystal panel 10 or when a failure occurs in the liquid crystal panel 10, the liquid crystal panel 10 during the transportation can be easily and safely taken out.

  10, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are diagrams showing the detailed configuration of the polarizing plate upright supply unit and the polarizing plate-equipped liquid crystal panel transport unit in FIG. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the polarizing plate upright supply units 500 and 550 and the polarizing plate-attached liquid crystal panel transport unit 600 of FIG. 6, and is a view seen from above the polarizing plate pasting apparatus. FIG. 11 is a view of the polarizing plate upright supply unit 500 of FIG. 10 as viewed from the lower side of the drawing. FIG. 12 is a diagram of the polarizing plate upright supply units 500 and 550 and the polarizing plate-equipped liquid crystal panel transport unit 600 in FIG. 10 as viewed from the right side (at the suction drum side).

  The polarizing plate upright supply units 500 and 550 convert the polarizing plate in a substantially horizontal state conveyed from the polarizing plate supply stations 700 and 750 into a standing state (substantially vertical state), and It is supplied by accurately aligning the suction drum. The polarizing plate-attached liquid crystal panel transport unit 600 transports the liquid crystal panel 10 after the polarizing plate is pasted by the polarizing plate pasting units 400 and 450 to the liquid crystal panel discharge station 900. The polarizing plate upright supply units 500 and 550 include side rollers 502 and 552, lower rollers 503 and 553, upright drums 505 and 555, and conveying rollers 506 and 556. As shown in FIG. 10, the side rollers 502 and 552 are provided facing both surfaces of the polarizing plate, lifted while sandwiching the polarizing plate conveyed from the polarizing plate supply stations 700 and 750, and stood up ( Set to (substantially vertical). As shown in FIG. 11, the side roller 502 is provided with a plurality of pairs of a first side roller 5021 made of a large diameter roller and a second side roller 5022 made of a small diameter roller in a substantially vertical direction. The belt 5023 is wound around the first side roller 5021 and the second side roller 5022, and the belt 5023 provided on both sides of the polarizing plate 10 holds the polarizing plate 10 upward. It is designed to lift. In FIG. 11, the belt 5023 is not shown for convenience of explanation.

  The lower rollers 503 and 553 are in contact with the lower end portion of the polarizing plate 10 in an upright state to support the polarizing plate 10 and support the polarizing plate 10 in a specific direction (right direction in FIG. 11), that is, on the suction drum side. To be moved. In this embodiment, the side rollers 502 and 552 are rotationally controlled by motors (driving force sources) 504 and 554 provided on the left and right, respectively. The driving force of the motors 504 and 554 is transmitted to the side rollers 502 and 552, respectively. The lower rollers 503 and 553 are provided on the lower end side of the upright polarizing plate, and are set to the same height as the lower roller 112 of the liquid crystal panel supply station 100 or the lower roller 203 of the liquid crystal panel alignment unit 201 described above. The polarizing plate 10 that is actively controlled by the motors 5031 and 5032 and moves upright is actively moved from the polarizing plate upright supply units 500 and 550 to the suction drum side.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the air blocks 520 to 526 are provided between the first side roller having a large diameter and the second side roller having a small diameter, and are attached to the polarizing plate 10 in an upright state. On the other hand, air is blown to maintain the standing state. The air blocks 520 to 526 are completely accommodated in the side rollers 502 and 552 of the polarizing plate upright supply units 500 and 550, and air is applied to both surfaces of the polarizing plate 10 whose lower ends are in contact with the conveying belts 5033 and 5034. By spraying, the standing state of the polarizing plate 10 is maintained. The air blocks 520 to 526 may have any shape as long as the polarizing plate 10 in an upright state is prevented from coming into contact with the side rollers 502 and 552. In addition, the polarizing plate 10 may be efficiently transported by setting the air blowing direction of the air blocks 520 to 526 to a direction along the transporting direction of the polarizing plate 10.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the lower roller 503 of the polarizing plate upright supply unit 500 does not directly contact the lower end portion of the polarizing plate, but instead divides the plurality of rollers into two, and the plurality of divided rollers. Conveying belts 5033 and 5034 are wound around the belt. The conveyor belts 5033 and 5034 are configured to directly contact the lower end of the polarizing plate. The side roller 111 of the liquid crystal panel supply station 100 and the side roller 202 of the liquid crystal panel alignment unit 201 have no problem because the roller rotation direction and the transport direction of the liquid crystal panel 10 are the same, but the polarizing plate upright supply unit 500 , 550 side rollers 502 and 552 are rotated in a substantially vertical direction and perpendicular to the substantially horizontal direction, which is the conveying direction of the polarizing plate, so there are some problems in conveying the polarizing plate. When the polarizing plate 10 is lifted upward, the side rollers 502 and 552 move away from the polarizing plate 10 to release the holding of the polarizing plate 10. As a result, the polarizing plate 10 falls due to its own weight, and its lower end comes into contact with the conveyor belts 5033 and 5034. Since the conveyance belts 5033 and 5034 have a sufficiently large contact area with the polarizing plate 10, the polarizing plate 10 can be efficiently moved in the conveyance direction.

  In the lower side of the polarizing plate upright supply unit 500 of FIG. 10, as shown in FIG. 12, the polarizing plate supplied from the polarizing plate supply stations 700 and 750 in a substantially horizontal state is supplied to the polarizing plate upright supply units 500 and 550. Standing drums 505 and 555 are provided for guiding the side rollers 502 and 552. Conveying rollers 506 and 556 for conveying the polarizing plate from the polarizing plate supply stations 700 and 750 to the standing drums 505 and 555 are provided between the polarizing plate supply stations 700 and 750 and the upright drums 505 and 555. . As shown in FIG. 10, the conveying rollers 506 and 556 are provided in parallel to the upright drums 505 and 555, and the length is substantially the same as that of the upright drums 505 and 555. Further, power transmission rollers 507 and 557 are provided at end portions of the transport rollers 506 and 556. The power transmission rollers 507 and 557 are connected to drive motors 511 and 561 coupled to the upright drums 505 and 555 via power transmission rollers 509, 510, 559, and 560, respectively. Accordingly, the upright drums 505 and 555 and the transport rollers 506 and 556 rotate in synchronization with each other.

  In order to guide the polarizing plates supplied from the polarizing plate supply stations 700 and 750 in a substantially horizontal state into the side rollers 502 and 552 of the polarizing plate standing supply unit 500, as shown in FIG. On the lower side, a guide belt 512 that rotates according to the rotation of the upright drum 505 is provided over a quarter of the circumferential surface of the upright drum 505. The guide belt 512 is supported at three points by guide rollers 513, 514, and 515, and is configured to rotate according to the rotation of the standing drum 505. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 12, a guide belt 562 that rotates according to the rotation of the standing drum 555 is provided on the lower left side of the standing drum 555 over a quarter of the circumferential surface of the standing drum 555. Yes. The guide belt 562 is supported at three points by guide rollers 563, 564, and 565, and is configured to rotate in accordance with the rotation of the standing drum 555.

  Accordingly, the polarizing plate supplied in a substantially horizontal state from the polarizing plate supply stations 700 and 750 passes between the standing drums 505 and 555 and the guide belts 512 and 562, and is bent there to stand up from the substantially horizontal state. It is converted into a state, and is sandwiched between the side rollers 502 and 552 of the polarizing plate upright supply unit 500 and guided upward. In FIG. 12, the conveyor belts 5033 and 5034 move to the center and retract until the polarizing plates are completely guided into the side rollers 502 and 552 of the polarizing plate upright supply units 500 and 550. When the polarizing plate 10 is completely stored in the side rollers 502 and 552 of the polarizing plate upright supply unit 500, the polarizing plate 10 moves to a position where it comes into contact with the lower end of the polarizing plate as shown in FIG. ing. FIG. 12 shows a state in which the right conveyor belts 5533, 5534, 5533, and 5534 are moved to the center and retracted, and a state in which the left conveyor belts 5033 and 5534 are moved to positions where they can come into contact with the polarizing plate. Yes. Actually, the conveyor belts 5033, 5034, 5533, and 5534 move in the same way, but for convenience of explanation, different operation states are shown in FIG.

  Note that only one polarizing plate 11 is supplied from the polarizing plate supply stations 700 and 750, but in reality, a plurality of polarizing plates may be supplied in a stacked state. is there. In such a case, discharge guide plates 530 and 580 configured to discharge the superimposed polarizing plates to the outside are provided between the power transmission rollers 509 and 559 and the guide rollers 513 and 563. When a plurality of polarizing plates are supplied in a superimposed state, a thickness detector (not shown) recognizes that there are a plurality of polarizing plates. When the thickness detector recognizes that there are a plurality of polarizing plates, a discharge guide is provided between the power transmission roller 509 and the guide roller 513 as in the discharge guide plate 530 on the lower left side of FIG. The plate 530 rotates and discharges the stacked polarizing plates to the outside. When only one polarizing plate 11 is supplied from the polarizing plate supply stations 700 and 750, the discharge guide plate 580 includes a power transmission roller 559 and a guide roller 563 as shown in the lower right side of FIG. The polarizing plate 11 is normally guided to the upright drum 555 side.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the polarizing plate-attached liquid crystal panel transport unit 600 is polarized in an upright state (substantially vertical state) after the polarizing plate is pasted by the suction drums of the polarizing plate pasting portions 400 and 450 in FIG. 6. The liquid crystal panel 10 with a plate is conveyed to the liquid crystal panel discharge station 900. The polarizing plate-attached liquid crystal panel transport unit 600 includes side rollers 602 and lower rollers 615 similar to the liquid crystal panel transport unit 110 in FIG. 3 or the liquid crystal panel alignment unit 201 in FIG. The side roller 602 is provided so as to face both surfaces of the liquid crystal panel 10 with a polarizing plate, and is in contact with both surfaces of the liquid crystal panel 10 with a polarizing plate to support the liquid crystal panel 10a with a polarizing plate so that it does not fall to the left and right sides. To fulfill. The lower roller 615 is in contact with the lower side of the liquid crystal panel with a polarizing plate 10a in an upright state to support the liquid crystal panel with a polarizing plate 10a and moves the liquid crystal panel with a polarizing plate 10a in a specific direction (left direction in FIG. 10). It is what

  In this embodiment, the side roller 602 is rotationally controlled by motors (driving force sources) 603 and 604 provided on the left and right, respectively. The driving force of the motors 603 and 604 is transmitted to the respective side rollers 602 via power transmission means 605 and 606. The lower roller 615 is provided on the lower side of the moving liquid crystal panel 10a with a polarizing plate, is set at the same height as the lower roller 112 of the liquid crystal panel supply station 100 described above, and is actively controlled for rotation by a motor 608. The polarizing plate-attached liquid crystal panel 10a supplied from the suction drums of the polarizing plate pasting portions 400 and 450 is positively moved to the liquid crystal panel discharge station 900 (left direction in FIG. 10).

  As shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of side rollers 602 are provided over the entire polarizing plate-equipped liquid crystal panel transport unit 600. In the figure, the side roller 602 is provided with a plurality of rotating shafts on one side. Each rotating shaft is provided with a plurality (six in FIG. 12) of contact portion rollers 602a to 602f. As shown in FIG. 12, the contact roller 602a to 602f is configured such that the outer peripheral surface of the contact roller 602a to 602f is in contact with the surface of the liquid crystal panel with a polarizing plate 10a (polarizing plate surface). The contact rollers 602a to 602f are not evenly arranged on the entire side roller 602, and are mainly arranged on the upper side of the side roller 602 as shown in FIG. This is configured so that any one of the contact roller 602a to 602f can be brought into contact with the vicinity of the upper end portion in association with liquid crystal panels of different varieties, that is, sizes. Therefore, no contact roller is provided below the side roller 602. However, it goes without saying that the contact roller may be provided below the side roller 602. Each rotation shaft of the side roller 602 is connected to motors 603 and 604 via power transmission means 605 and 606, and the rotation is controlled by the motors 603 and 604. Although not shown, the lower roller 615 has a plurality of rollers arranged in a line at a predetermined interval in the substantially horizontal direction, similarly to the side roller 602. The plurality of rollers constituting the lower roller 615 moves the liquid crystal panel with a polarizing plate 10a in a substantially horizontal direction while actively rotating in contact with the lower end of the liquid crystal panel with a polarizing plate 10a in an upright state. As described above, the basic configuration of the polarizing plate-equipped liquid crystal panel transport unit 600 is the side roller 602 and the lower roller 615. By configuring these using frame means or the like, polarization as shown in FIGS. A plate-equipped liquid crystal panel transport unit 600 is formed.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a state where one side of the polarizing plate upright supply units 500 and 550 and the polarizing plate-equipped liquid crystal panel transport unit 600 has moved to the liquid crystal panel discharge station 900 side. That is, the pasting state of the liquid crystal panel 10 after the polarizing plate is pasted by the suction drums of the polarizing plate pasting portions 400 and 450 in FIG. For this purpose, one side of the polarizing plate upright supply units 500 and 550 and the polarizing plate-equipped liquid crystal panel transport unit 600 can be moved to the liquid crystal panel discharge station 900 side. As shown in FIG. 12, the polarizing plate upright supply units 500 and 550 and the polarizing plate-equipped liquid crystal panel transport unit 600 are coupled by the frame means 609 to 612, and as shown in FIG. The configuration is such that the side roller 602 on one side of the liquid crystal panel conveyance unit 600 with a polarizing plate moves together with the supply unit 550. As shown in FIG. 13, by moving the side roller 602 on one side of the polarizing plate-equipped liquid crystal panel transport unit 600 together with the polarizing plate upright supply unit 550, the attached state of the polarizing plate-attached liquid crystal panel 10 a immediately after attachment is visually observed. It becomes possible to confirm easily. Moreover, even when a line stops in the middle of conveyance, or a malfunction generate | occur | produces in the liquid crystal panel 10a with a polarizing plate, the liquid crystal panel 10a with a polarizing plate in the middle of conveyance can be taken out easily and safely.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the protective film peeling portion and the polarizing plate pasting portion in FIG. 6, in which the protective film peeling portion and the polarizing plate pasting portion are enlarged and shown in FIG. It is the figure seen from the attaching apparatus upper side. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the peeling operation of the protective film peeling portion of FIG. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the peeling unit portion of the protective film peeling portion of FIG. FIG. 17 is a development view of the cylindrical suction drum showing the detailed configuration of the polarizing plate attaching portion. FIG. 18 is a side view of the vicinity of the suction drum of the polarizing plate attaching portion of FIG. In addition, since the structure of the protective film peeling part 300 and the polarizing plate sticking part 400, and the protective film peeling part 350 and the polarizing plate sticking part 450 are the same, only the structure of the protective film peeling part 300 and the polarizing plate sticking part 400 The protective film peeling part 350 and the polarizing plate attaching part 450 are not shown and described.

  The protective film peeling part 300 is comprised from the peeling unit part 301, the peeling unit drive part 320, and the polarizing plate guide part 330, as shown in FIG. The peeling unit 301 includes an adhesive tape 310 that is in contact with one end of the polarizing plate 11 (dotted line in the drawing) vacuum-adsorbed on the adsorption drum 410, rollers 311 to 314 around which the adhesive tape 310 is wound, The chuck 321 sandwiches the end of the protective film 11a (the one-dot chain line in the figure) attached to the adhesive tape 310 by the rotation of the roller, and the protective film connecting portion for connecting the peeled protective film 11a and the previously peeled protective film 11b 315.

  As shown in FIG. 16, a plurality of peeling unit portions 301 are provided along the longitudinal direction of the suction drum. In this embodiment, five peeling unit portions 301 are provided. Therefore, the peeling unit portion 301 performs the peeling operation at five locations on the protective film. In FIG. 16, the adhesive tape 310 is omitted. The peeling unit driving part 320 controls the movement of the entire peeling unit part 301 except the protective film connecting part 315. The peeling unit driving part 320 moves the adhesive tape 310 to a position where it can contact the protective film 11a, and the peeled protective film 11a is moved. The embossing process of guiding the current protective film 11a to the protective film 11b previously peeled by the protective film connecting part 315 is controlled by guiding the sandwiched chuck 321 to the protective film connecting part 315. In addition, you may connect a protective film by processes other than an embossing process, for example, a thermocompression bonding process.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the protective film peeling part 300 makes the adhesive tape 310 contact the front-end | tip part of the protective film 11a by the peeling unit drive part 320 in the position near the sticking position of the liquid crystal panel 10 and the polarizing plate 11. As shown in FIG. And the peeling unit part 301 pulls away the edge of the protective film 11a adhering to the adhesive tape 310 from the polarizing plate 11, moving slightly in a peeling direction (lower side direction of FIG. 14). The end of the protective film 11 a separated from the polarizing plate 11 is introduced into the chuck by the rotation of the rollers 311 to 314, and the end of the protective film 11 a is sandwiched between the chucks 321. Next, the peeling unit 301 moves a predetermined distance in the peeling direction (downward direction in the figure) while holding the end of the protective film 11 a between the chucks 321 to peel the protective film 11 a from the polarizing plate 11. Then, as shown in FIG. 15, the peeling unit 301 further moves in the peeling direction (the lower direction in the figure), and the part where the protective film 11 a is peeled off is over the protective film 11 b previously peeled off from the protective film connecting part 315. To overlay.

  Since the protective film connecting part 315 is provided with a hole 317 into which the pin 316 can be inserted, the peeling unit driving part 320 inserts the pin 316 into the hole 317 as shown in FIG. Thus, the previous protective film 11b and the current protective film 11a are connected to each other by embossing. The connected protective film 11 a is guided by the guide roller 318 and is sequentially peeled from the polarizing plate 11. The protective film 11a of the polarizing plate 11 can be sequentially peeled off at a position close to the position where the liquid crystal panel 10 and the polarizing plate 11 are attached, thereby preventing foreign matter from adhering to the polarizing plate 11.

  The polarizing plate guide unit 330 guides the standing state (substantially vertical state) polarizing plate conveyed from the polarizing plate supply stations 700 and 750 to the suction drum 410 of the polarizing plate attaching unit 400. Is composed of a feed roller 331 that feeds the suction drum 410 to the suction drum 410, a cleaning unit 332332 that cleans the surface of the polarizing plate 11, and a support frame 333 that supports them. The feed roller 331 has a clamping function, and accurately positions the polarizing plate 11 on the suction drum 410. The cleaning unit 332 may be configured with a cleaning roller or the like.

  The polarizing plate pasting unit 400 temporarily adsorbs the polarizing plate in the standing state (substantially vertical state) conveyed from the polarizing plate supply stations 700 and 750 and stands up from the liquid crystal panel supply station 100. It is attached to the liquid crystal panel 10 in a state (substantially vertical state). That is, the polarizing plate attaching section 400 is for attaching the polarizing plate 11 simultaneously to both the left and right surfaces of the liquid crystal panel supplied in an upright state. As shown in FIG. 6, the suction drum 410 is arranged in parallel with two cylindrical suction drums 410 standing substantially vertically. The two cylindrical suction drums 410 are configured such that the outer peripheral surfaces of both suction drums 410 are in contact with the surface of the liquid crystal panel transferred from the liquid crystal panel supply station 100 in a straight line. Further, since both suction drums 410 are provided in a state in which a predetermined force is applied in opposite directions, a predetermined pressure is applied to the surface of the liquid crystal panel passing between the two suction drums 410. Thus, the simultaneous double-sided pasting operation of the polarizing plate 11 is performed. At this time, a pressure applying member that always applies a predetermined pressure between the two adsorbing drums 410 so that the interval between the two adsorbing drums 410 is freely changed according to the thickness of the liquid crystal panel passing between the two adsorbing drums 410. (Not shown) is provided. The pressure application members are provided to be coupled to the suction drums 410, respectively, so that the suction drum 410 is pushed in a direction facing each other so that a constant pressure is always applied to the contact surface between the suction drum 410 and the liquid crystal panel. Yes.

  As described above, the polarizing plate pasting portion 400 includes the two cylindrical suction drums 410. The suction drum 410 has a configuration in which a thin plate panel having a predetermined thickness is wound in a cylindrical shape. Here, an example is shown in which a thin plate-like panel is wound in a cylindrical shape, but a columnar member may be used as the suction drum. FIG. 17 is a development view showing the cylindrical suction drum 410 in a developed state. As shown in FIG. 17, the suction drum 410 is provided with a large number of suction areas 411 (regions surrounded by a dotted frame) in about a half. The suction area 411 includes a suction hole provided in the cavity 412 corresponding to the length in the minor axis direction of the polarizing plate 11c having the smallest area and a cavity corresponding to the length in the minor axis direction of the polarizing plate 11d having the largest area. The suction holes provided on the side portions of the portion 413 and the cavity portions provided so that the number of suction holes gradually increase from the cavity portion 412 toward the cavity portion 413 are configured. The hollow portion is provided linearly so as to be substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the cylindrical suction drum 410. In other words, the suction drum 410 has a diameter large enough to wind the polarizing plate 11d having the largest area without overlapping the front end portion and the rear end portion thereof. By sticking while applying pressure from both the left and right sides of the liquid crystal panel using the suction drum 410 having a large diameter in this way, the size of the polarizing plate to be simultaneously attached to the CF surface and the TFT surface of the liquid crystal panel, the attachment start position, etc. Even when they are different from each other, polarizing plates can be applied to both surfaces of the liquid crystal panel almost simultaneously.

  Each suction hole is an opening hole provided from the side surface of the cylindrical drum toward the cavity with respect to the cavity provided in the plate of the thin plate panel. The cavity of each suction hole has openings at both ends of the suction drum 410, but the opening end on the left side of the suction drum 410 is airtightly held by a stopper (not shown). Only the hollow part in the thin plate-like panel in which the vacuum suction port 414 is inserted and attached to the opening end of each is vacuum-sucked.

  On the other hand, in the cavity 420 provided with a suction hole that first sucks the tip of the polarizing plate 11 in the standing state (substantially vertical state) conveyed from the polarizing plate supply stations 700 and 750, Also, a suction hole having a large opening area is provided. This is because the protective film is peeled off by the adhesive tape 310 of the protective film peeling portion 300, and a large stress is applied at the time of peeling, so that the polarizing plate 11 is adsorbed to withstand it. Since the opening area of the suction hole provided in the cavity 420 is large, there is a possibility that the pressing force cannot be sufficiently transmitted when the polarizing plate is bonded to the liquid crystal panel. Therefore, in this embodiment, after the protective film 11a is peeled off and the protective films 11a and 11b are connected by embossing, the position of the tip of the polarizing plate is shifted to the position of the suction hole provided in the cavity 421. Thus, the polarizing plate 11 is sucked and held by the suction holes provided in the cavity portion 421.

  Vacuum suction ports 415 and 416 are inserted and attached to the right end portions of the hollow portions 420 and 421, and the hollow portions 420 and 421 are sucked into vacuum. On the other hand, rod-like stopper members 422 and 423 are inserted into the left end portions of the hollow portions 420 and 421 so that the suction holes of the hollow portions 420 and 421 can be set valid / invalid according to the size of the polarizing plate. It is. That is, in FIG. 17, the tip end portions of the stopper members 422 and 423 are inserted up to the position of the left end portion of the polarizing plate 11c, and the suction holes where the stopper members 422 and 423 are inserted do not function as vacuum suction. It has become. Therefore, when the polarizing plate 11d having the largest area is sucked and held, the tip end portions of the stopper members 422 and 423 are arranged as shown in FIG. 17 so that the tip end portions of the stopper members 422 and 423 are located at the left end portion of the polarizing plate 11d. Move to the left rather than the case. Thus, by positioning the tip portions of the stopper members 422 and 423 at the left end portion of the polarizing plate, it is possible to efficiently adsorb various sizes of polarizing plates.

  As described above, the polarizing plate rotates while being wound around the outer peripheral surface of the suction drum 410. Since the polarizing plate itself is very flexible, when the suction drum 410 pulls the polarizing plate, the polarizing plate is bent according to the curvature of the suction drum 410 and is wound around the suction drum 410. In this embodiment, the polarizing plate is rotated while being wound around the suction drum 410, and the attaching operation to the liquid crystal panel is simultaneously performed. In this embodiment, neither the cavity portion nor the suction hole is provided between the cavity portion 412 and the cavity portion 421, but the cavity portion having the same suction hole as the cavity portion 412 is replaced with the cavity portion 412 and the cavity portion 421. A plurality of units may be provided between the unit 421 and the unit 421.

  FIG. 18 is a side view showing a detailed configuration in the vicinity of the suction drum of the polarizing plate attaching portion. As shown in FIG. 18, the suction drum 410 is obtained by winding a thin plate-like panel into a cylindrical shape, and the inside of the suction drum 410 is in a hollow state. Circular closure members 430 and 431 are provided on both bottom surfaces of the cylindrical suction drum 410. A rotation shaft 432 is inserted through the centers of the closing members 430 and 431. The upper and lower sides of the rotating shaft 432 are rotatably supported. As shown in FIG. 18, a ventilation member 433 having a ventilation hole is provided at the lower end of the rotation shaft 432. From the ventilation member 433, intake pipes 417, 418, and 419 are connected to vacuum intake ports 414, 415, and 416, respectively. The support member 435 supports the rotary shaft 432 in a rotatable manner, and the support member 436 supports the ventilation member 433. The support members 435 and 436 are supported by the support column 437. The ventilation member 433 is configured to connect a ventilation hole that rotates together with the rotating suction drum 410 and a vacuum pump provided outside.

  19 and 20 are diagrams showing a detailed configuration of the polarizing plate supply station of FIG. 1, and FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of the polarizing plate supply station of FIG. It is the figure seen from the side. FIG. 20 is a side view of the polarizing plate supply station of FIG. 19 as viewed from the lower side of the drawing. The polarizing plate supply stations 700 and 750 take out the polarizing plate from the polarizing plate stocker 701 and supply it to the polarizing plate upright supply units 500 and 550. Since the configuration of the polarizing plate supply stations 700 and 750 is the same, only the configuration of the polarizing plate supply station 700 is shown in FIGS. 19 and 20.

  The polarizing plate supply station 700 includes a polarizing plate stocker 701, suction pads 7021 to 702c, vertical movement mechanisms 703 and 704, and front and rear movement mechanisms 705 and 706. The polarizing plate stocker 701 mounts and stores a plurality of polarizing plates for sticking. The suction pads 7021 to 702c suck one side of the polarizing plate 11 placed on the polarizing plate stocker 701. The polarizing plate 11 sucked by the suction pads 7021 to 702c is lifted from the polarizing plate stocker 701 by the vertical movement mechanisms 703 and 704. The lifted polarizing plate 11 is supplied to the conveyance roller 506 of the polarizing plate upright supply unit 500 by the back and forth moving mechanisms 705 and 706.

  In FIG. 19, nine suction pads 7021 to 702c are provided. The suction pads 7021, 7024, 7027, and 702a are on the pad support frame 707, the suction pads 7022, 7025, 7028, and 702b are on the pad support frame 708, and the suction pads 7023, 7026, 7029, and 702c are on the pad support frame 709. , Each provided. The pad support frame 708 and the pad support frame 709 are configured to be movable in the vertical direction in the drawing along the guide rails 710 and 711. The suction pads 7027 and 702a are configured to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the pad support frame 707 (the horizontal direction in the figure). Similarly, the suction pads 7028 and 702b are movable in the longitudinal direction of the pad support frame 708 (left and right in the figure), and the suction pads 7029 and 702c are movable in the longitudinal direction of the pad support frame 709 (left and right in the figure). It is configured. This is because the size of the deflecting plate supplied by the polarizing plate supply station 700 differs depending on the size of the liquid crystal panel 10, so that the arrangement of the suction pads 7021 to 702c corresponds to the deflecting plates having different sizes. It is. The suction pads 7021 and 7024 are not configured to be movable because there is no need to change their positions even if the deflection plates have different sizes.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the suction pads 7022, 7023, 7025, 7026, 7027, 7028, 7029, 702a, 702b, and 702c have moved in correspondence with the small-size polarizing plates. The suction pads 7022, 7025, 7028, and 702 b can be moved in the vertical direction in the figure as the pad support frame 708 moves along the guide rails 710 and 711. Similarly, the suction pads 7023, 7026, 7029, and 702c are also movable in the vertical direction in the figure as the support frame 709 moves along the guide rails 710 and 711. Further, the suction pads 7027, 702a, 7028, 702b, 7029, 702c can move along the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in the figure) of the pad support frames 707, 708, 709. As shown in the figure, it is configured to be able to move in the plane above the polarizing plate stocker 701 in accordance with the size of the polarizing plate.

  22 and 23 are diagrams showing a detailed configuration of the protective film discharge station of FIG. 1, and FIG. 22 is an enlarged view of the protective film discharge station of FIG. It is the figure seen from the side. FIG. 23 is a side view of the protective film discharge station of FIG. 22 as viewed from the lower side of the figure. The protective film discharge stations 800 and 850 wind up and discharge the protective film 11b peeled off by the protective film peeling portions 300 and 350. Since the protective film discharge stations 800 and 850 have the same configuration, FIGS. 22 and 23 show only the configuration of the protective film discharge station 800.

  The protective film discharge station 800 includes a winding buffer 810, a winding unit 820, and a protective film discharge cart 827. The winding buffer 810 temporarily sucks the protective film 11b continuously supplied from the protective film connecting portion 315 into the inside, and puts a predetermined tension on the protective film 11b. The winding buffer 810 is configured by a housing that is capable of sucking the protective film 11b. A gas ejection portion 811 is provided on the left side of the drawing, and an exhaust port 812 is provided on the opposite right side. A predetermined pressure of air is ejected from the gas ejection portion 811 toward the right exhaust port 812. The protective film 11b is taken into the take-up buffer 810 through the guide rollers 813 and 814 and pushed toward the exhaust port 812 by the air ejected from the gas ejection part 811 as shown in the figure. Become. Accordingly, a constant tension is applied to the protective film 11b, and a constant tension can be applied to the above-described protective film peeling operation. The winding buffer 810 can also supply the protective film 11b to the winding unit 820 with a certain tension. The take-up buffer 810 is configured to apply a constant tension using air of a predetermined pressure. However, the tension may be applied using other tension applying means.

  As shown in FIG. 23, the winding unit 820 includes a winding driving unit 821, a winding shaft 822, a gas supply unit 823, a rotating shaft holding unit 824, a protective film holding unit 825, a protective film retracting unit 826, and a protective film discharge unit. A carriage 827 is used. The winding drive unit 821 is composed of a driving force source such as a motor, and transmits the rotational driving force to the winding shaft 822 via the rotating gears 828 and 829. Accordingly, the winding shaft 822 is controlled to rotate by the winding drive unit 821. The gas supply unit 823 supplies compressed gas from a compressor (not shown) provided outside to a flow path 830 provided in the take-up shaft 822. The flow path 830 provided in the winding shaft 822 extends in the longitudinal direction of the winding shaft 822 as shown in the figure, and is hermetically sealed at the end portion thereof. The flow path 830 provided in the winding shaft 822 is provided with exhaust ports 831 to 836 for exhausting compressed gas from the side surface of the winding shaft 822. The exhaust ports 831 to 836 are configured by 3 to 5 straight flow paths extending in the normal direction from the central axis of the winding shaft 822, and these straight flow paths are flow paths provided in the winding shaft 822. Each is connected to a path 830. Therefore, the compressed gas supplied from the gas supply unit 823 passes through the flow path 830 and is uniformly discharged from the exhaust ports 831 to 836.

  A cylindrical elastic member made of rubber or the like is airtightly attached so as to cover the winding shaft 822 including the exhaust ports 831 to 836. When the compressed gas is discharged from the exhaust ports 831 to 836 through the flow path 830 of the winding shaft 822, the cylindrical elastic member is thereby expanded. The cylindrical elastic member is further provided with a resin cylindrical member (not shown) having a slit along the long axis direction of the winding shaft 822 so as to cover the periphery thereof. Therefore, when the cylindrical elastic member expands, the slits provided along the long axis direction are separated and enlarged, and as a result, the diameter of the cylindrical member is enlarged. On the other hand, when the cylindrical elastic member contracts due to the supply stop of the compressed gas to the flow path 830, the interval between the slits along the long axis direction is reduced, and as a result, the diameter of the cylindrical member is reduced. The upper ends of both the cylindrical member and the elastic member are attached to the winding shaft 822 by an attachment member 843. The means for expanding and contracting the cylindrical elastic member may be configured to expand and contract the cylindrical elastic member by rotating a plate member by driving a motor instead of compressed gas. That is, other means than the compressed gas may be used as long as the cylindrical elastic member is expanded and contracted.

  At the time of attaching the polarizing plate, the cylindrical elastic member is in an expanded state, and the protective film 11b is wound around sequentially. FIG. 23 shows a state in which the protective film 11 c is wound around the winding shaft 822. As shown in FIG. 23, when the protective film 11c is wound as shown by the alternate long and short dash line, the supply of the compressed gas to the gas supply unit 823 is stopped. When the compressed gas is stopped, the cylindrical elastic member contracts and the diameter of the cylindrical member is reduced. Therefore, the diameter of the cylindrical member becomes smaller than the inner diameter of the protective film 11c and is wound around the winding shaft 822. The retained protective film 11c is detached from the take-up shaft 822 by its own weight and falls downward.

  Since the protective film 11c wound around the winding shaft 822 is wound many times, its weight is as heavy as about several tens of kilograms. The protective film holding part 825 moves the protective film 11c, which has been detached and dropped by its own weight, to the lower protective film retracting part 826 while being held on the holding base 8251. The protective film holding portion 825 is supported by two support columns 8261 and 8262 provided on the back surface thereof. The holding table 8251 is attached to a moving unit 8252 that slides along the columns 8261 and 8262. The holding table 8251 and the moving unit 8252 are coupled to a wire 8263 that is rotatably wound around pulleys 8264 and 8265 provided on the upper and lower sides. Therefore, when the pulleys 8264 and 8265 are rotationally driven by the rotational driving force source 8266, the protective film holding part 825 moves up and down in the vertical direction.

  The protective film 11 c that has been detached from the winding shaft 822 is placed on the protective film discharge carriage 827 of the protective film retracting portion 826 as the protective film 11 d by the protective film holding portion 825. As shown in FIG. 23, the protective film discharge carriage 827 moves on the guide rail 8271 with the protective film 11d placed thereon, and discharges the protective film 11d from the protective film retracting portion 826 to the outside, thereby protecting the protective film 11e. To the state. As shown in FIG. 22, the protective film discharge carriage 827 has a C shape with a notch in the center. The protective film holding part 825 has a shape capable of passing through the central part in the C-shape, and is protected by passing through the central part of the protective film discharge carriage 827 in a state where the protective film 11d is placed. The film 11d is placed on the protective film discharge carriage 827.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal panel discharge station 900 is provided downstream of the polarizing plate pasting station 200 and discharges the liquid crystal panel with polarizing plate to which the polarizing plate is attached by the polarizing plate pasting station 200. The liquid crystal panel discharge station 900 has the same structure as that of the liquid crystal panel supply station 100. The liquid crystal panel with the polarizing plates pasted on both sides thereof is erected substantially vertically by the reverse operation of the liquid crystal panel supply station 100. A process of receiving, converting to a substantially horizontal state and discharging is performed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the liquid crystal panel is transferred to the liquid crystal panel supply station 100 while having a function of converting from a substantially horizontal state to an upright state (substantially vertical state), and the liquid crystal panel with a polarizing plate is transferred to the liquid crystal panel discharge station 900. While the case where the function of converting from the substantially vertical state to the substantially horizontal state is described has been described, the function of converting from the substantially horizontal state to the standing state (substantially vertical state) while transferring the liquid crystal panel 10 to the liquid crystal panel alignment unit 201. And a function of converting from a substantially vertical state to a substantially horizontal state while transporting the liquid crystal panel with a polarizing plate to the liquid crystal panel transporting portion 600 with a polarizing plate. Accordingly, the liquid crystal panel supply station 100 and / or the liquid crystal panel discharge station 900 can be omitted, and the footprint in the transport direction of the liquid crystal panel can be greatly reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the polarizing plate pasting station 200 includes the liquid crystal panel supply station 100, the polarizing plate supply stations 700 and 750, the protective film discharge stations 800 and 850, and the liquid crystal panel discharge station 900 as shown in FIG. It is arranged in a casing 210 that secures an area with the highest degree of cleanliness isolated from the station. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the liquid crystal panel alignment unit 201, the protective film peeling units 300 and 350, the polarizing plate pasting units 400 and 450, the polarizing plate upright supply units 500 and 550, and the polarizing plate-attached liquid crystal panel transport unit 600 are It is arranged in the casing 210 having the highest degree of cleanliness. A housing 210 between the liquid crystal panel supply station 100 and the liquid crystal panel alignment unit 201 is a slit that can move one side of the side roller 202 of the liquid crystal panel alignment unit 201 to the liquid crystal panel supply station 100 side. It has a slit that can pass through the liquid crystal panel in the state. The casing 210 between the protective film peeling portions 300 and 350 and the protective film discharge stations 800 and 850 has a slit through which the peeled protective film can pass in an upright state. The casing 210 between the polarizing plate upright supply units 500 and 550 and the polarizing plate supply stations 700 and 750 has a slit through which the polarizing plate placed on the polarizing plate stocker can pass in a substantially horizontal state. In the case 210 between the liquid crystal panel transport unit 600 with a polarizing plate and the liquid crystal panel discharge station 900, one side of the polarizing plate standing supply units 500 and 550 and the liquid crystal panel transport unit 600 with a polarizing plate moves to the liquid crystal panel discharge station 900 side. A slit that can pass through the liquid crystal panel with a polarizing plate in an upright state. As described above, the housing 210 is provided with only the minimum necessary slits, and is configured to suppress the entry of foreign substances as much as possible, and maintains a high degree of cleanliness.

  In addition, as described above, the liquid crystal panel 10 is transferred to the liquid crystal panel alignment unit 201 while having the function of converting from a substantially horizontal state to an upright state (substantially vertical state), and the liquid crystal panel with a polarizing plate is provided in the liquid crystal panel transport unit 600 with a polarizing plate. When the liquid crystal panel alignment unit 201 and the polarizing plate-equipped liquid crystal panel transport unit 600 are standing upright, the slit that can pass through the liquid crystal panel in a standing state is provided. May be provided in the housing. Further, only the protective film peeling portions 300 and 350 and the polarizing plate attaching portions 400 and 450 are provided in a case that is kept highly clean, and only the minimum necessary slits are provided on the side surfaces of the case. May be. For example, a housing is provided so as to surround only the protective film peeling portions 300 and 350 and the polarizing plate attaching portions 400 and 450, and on the side surfaces of the housing, the polarizing plate attaching portions 400 and 450 and the liquid crystal panel alignment portion The slit which can pass only a liquid crystal panel is provided between 201, and the slit which can pass only a liquid crystal panel with a polarizing plate is provided between polarizing plate sticking parts 400 and 450 and the liquid crystal panel conveyance part 600 with a polarizing plate. In addition, a slit capable of passing only the polarizing plate is provided between the polarizing plate pasting unit 400, 450 and the polarizing plate upright supply unit 500, 550, and the protective film peeling unit 300, 350 and the protective film discharging station 800, 850, It is sufficient to provide a slit through which only the peeled protective film can pass. In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the side roller on one side of the liquid crystal panel alignment unit 201 and the liquid crystal panel transport unit 600 with a polarizing plate can be moved has been described. The supply station 100 and the liquid crystal panel discharge station 900 can be similarly provided.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Liquid crystal panel 100 ... Liquid crystal panel supply station 110 ... Liquid crystal panel conveyance part 111 ... Side roller 111a-111d ... Contact part roller 112 ... Lower roller 150 ... Substantially vertical conversion part 151 ... Moving part main body 152,153 ... Guide rail 154 , 155 ... racks 156 and 157 ... pinions 158 and 159 ... power transmission shafts 160 and 161 ... power transmission disks 162 and 163 ... substantially vertical substantially horizontal movable part 200 ... polarizing plate pasting station 201 ... liquid crystal panel alignment part 202 ... side Lower roller 203 ... Lower rollers 204, 205 ... Motor (drive force source)
2023, 2024 ... transmission means 2031 ... motors 202a-202f ... contact part roller 210 ... casing 300, 350 ... protective film peeling part 301 ... peeling unit part 310 ... adhesive tape 311-314 ... roller 315 ... protective film connecting part 321 ... Chuck 320 ... Peeling unit driving unit 330 ... Polarizing plate guide unit 400, 450 ... Polarizing plate attaching unit 410 ... Suction drum 411 ... Suction area 412,413,420,421 ... Cavity 414,415,416 ... Vacuum suction port 422 , 423 ... Stopper member 500, 550 ... Polarizing plate upright supply section 502, 552 ... Side rollers 503, 553 ... Lower rollers 504, 554 ... Motors 505, 555 ... Upright drums 506, 556 ... Conveyance rollers 507, 557 ... Power transmission Rollers 502, 552 ... side rollers 5021 ... first Side roller 5022 ... Second side roller 5023 ... Belt 5031 ... Motors 5033 and 5034 ... Conveying belts 509, 510, 559 and 560 ... Power transmission rollers 511 and 561 ... Driving motors 520 to 526 ... Air blocks 512 and 562 ... Guide belts 513, 514, 515, 563, 564, 565... Guide rollers 530, 580... Discharge guide plate 600... Liquid crystal panel transport unit with polarizing plate 602 .. side rollers 602 a to 602 f. Power source)
605, 606 ... Power transmission means 608 ... Motors 609-612 ... Frame means 615 ... Lower roller 320 ... Peeling unit drive part 316 ... Pin 317 ... Hole 318 ... Guide roller 330 ... Polarizing plate guide part 331 ... Feed roller 332 ... Roller unit 333: Support frames 430, 431 ... Closing member 432 ... Rotating shaft 433 ... Ventilation members 414, 415, 416 ... Vacuum suction ports 417, 418, 419 ... Intake pipes 435, 436 ... Support members 437 ... Struts 700, 750 ... Polarizing plates Supply station 701 ... Polarizing plate stockers 7021 to 702c ... Suction pads 703 and 704 ... Vertical movement mechanisms 705 and 706 ... Front and rear movement mechanisms 707, 708 and 709 ... Pad support frames 710 and 711 ... Guide rails 800 and 850 ... Protective film discharge stations 810: Winding buffer 82 ... Winding part 821 ... Winding drive part 822 ... Winding shaft 823 ... Gas supply part 824 ... Rotating shaft holding part 825 ... Protective film holding part 826 ... Protective film retracting part 827 ... Protective film discharge carts 828, 829 ... Rotating gear 830 ... flow path 831 to 836 ... exhaust port 843 ... mounting member 8261, 8262 ... support 8251 ... holding base 8252 ... moving part 8264, 8265 ... pulley 8263 ... wire 8264 ... rotational driving force source 8271 ... guide rail 900 ... liquid crystal panel discharge station

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the polarizing plate sticking apparatus by one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the liquid crystal panel supply station of FIG. It is the side view which looked at the liquid crystal panel supply station of FIG. 2 from the right side. It is a figure which shows the first half part of an example of the operation | movement which a liquid crystal panel supply station converts the substantially horizontal liquid crystal panel into a standing state. It is a figure which shows the latter half part of an example of the operation | movement which a liquid crystal panel supply station converts the substantially horizontal liquid crystal panel into a standing state. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of a polarizing plate sticking station. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the liquid crystal panel alignment part of FIG. 6, is the figure which expanded and showed the liquid crystal panel alignment part of FIG. 6, and was the figure seen from the polarizing plate sticking apparatus upper side. It is the side view which looked at the liquid crystal panel alignment part of FIG. 7 from the lower side of the figure. It is a figure which shows the state which one side of the side roller of the liquid crystal panel alignment part moved to (drawn out) the liquid crystal panel supply station side. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the polarizing plate standing supply part of FIG. 6, and a liquid crystal panel conveyance part with a polarizing plate, and expands and shows the polarizing plate standing supply part of FIG. It is the figure seen from the board sticking apparatus upper side. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the polarizing plate standing supply part of FIG. 6, and a liquid crystal panel conveyance part with a polarizing plate, and is the figure which looked at the polarizing plate standing supply part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the polarizing plate standing supply part of FIG. 6, and a liquid crystal panel conveyance part with a polarizing plate, and sees the polarizing plate standing supply part and the liquid crystal panel conveyance part with a polarizing plate of FIG. 10 from the right side (suction drum side) of a figure. It is a figure. It is a figure which shows the state which one side of the polarizing plate standing supply part and the liquid crystal panel conveyance part with a polarizing plate moved to the liquid crystal panel discharge station side. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the protective film peeling part of FIG. 6, and a polarizing plate sticking part, and is each expanding and showing a protective film peeling part and a polarizing plate sticking part, and a polarizing plate sticking apparatus upper side It is the figure seen from. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the protective film peeling part and polarizing plate sticking part of FIG. 6, and is a figure explaining peeling operation | movement of the protective film peeling part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the protective film peeling part and polarizing plate sticking part of FIG. 6, and is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the peeling unit part of the protective film peeling part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the protective film peeling part and polarizing plate sticking part of FIG. 6, and is a development view of the cylindrical adsorption drum which shows the detailed structure of a polarizing plate sticking part. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the protective film peeling part and polarizing plate sticking part of FIG. 6, and is the side view which looked at the adsorption drum vicinity of the polarizing plate sticking part of FIG. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the polarizing plate supply station of FIG. 1, is the figure which expanded and showed the polarizing plate supply station of FIG. 1, and was the figure seen from the polarizing plate sticking apparatus upper side. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the polarizing plate supply station of FIG. 1, and is the side view which looked at the polarizing plate supply station of FIG. 19 from the lower side of the figure. It is a figure which shows the state which each suction pad moved corresponding to the polarizing plate of a small size. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the protective film discharge station of FIG. 1, and is the figure which expanded and showed the protective film discharge station of FIG. 1, and was the figure seen from the polarizing plate sticking apparatus upper side. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of the protective film discharge station of FIG. 1, and is the side view which looked at the protective film discharge station of FIG. 22 from the lower side of the figure.

Claims (6)

Standing in a substantially vertical state while transporting the display panel that has been transported in a substantially horizontal state in the transport direction,
Standing optical films placed in a substantially horizontal state at two positions on both the left and right sides in the conveying direction in a substantially vertical state,
The optical film erected in a substantially vertical state at two locations on the left and right sides by first and second cylindrical drum means arranged side by side on the left and right sides of the display panel conveyed in the substantially vertical state. Adsorb and hold one side of
Peeling off the protective film from the optical film adsorbed and held by the first and second cylindrical drum means,
By rotating the optical film from which the protective film has been peeled off against the display panel side by the first and second cylindrical drum means, the optical film is substantially placed on both sides of the display panel. Paste at the same time,
The display panel in a substantially vertical state with the optical film attached on both sides according to the optical film attaching operation is converted from a substantially vertical state to a substantially horizontal state while being transported in the transport direction, and then discharged. A method for attaching an optical film.   The cylindrical protective film formed by winding the said protective film peeled off from the said optical film in order on the winding axis | shaft, and winding up several protective films in the optical film sticking method of Claim 1. A method of attaching an optical film, wherein the body is discharged. Display panel supply means for standing up in a substantially vertical state while transporting the display panel transported in a substantially horizontal state in the transport direction and supplying the display panel downstream;
The optical films provided on the left and right sides of the display panel supply means along the transport direction and placed in a substantially horizontal state are erected in a substantially vertical state and transported in a direction opposite to the transport direction. First and second optical film supply means;
First and second cylindrical drums arranged downstream of the display panel supply means along the transport direction and arranged side by side on the left and right sides of the display panel supplied from the display panel supply means The optical film that is supplied from the first and second optical film supply means in a substantially vertical state is sucked and held, and is rotated and moved while being pressed toward the display panel. Optical film affixing means for affixing the film on both sides of the display panel almost simultaneously
First and second peeling means for peeling off a protective film from the optical film provided on the left and right sides of the optical film sticking means and sucked and held by the first and second cylindrical drum means;
Winding and winding the protective film provided on the left and right sides of the optical film pasting means and further outside the first and second peeling means and peeled off by the first and second peeling means Protective film discharging means for discharging the protective film in the removed state;
It is downstream of the optical film attaching means along the transport direction, and is provided between the first and second optical film supply means, and both sides according to the optical film attaching operation of the optical film attaching means. A display panel which receives the display panel in a substantially vertical state with the optical film attached thereto from the optical film attaching means, converts the display panel from a substantially vertical state to a substantially horizontal state and conveys it in the transport direction. An optical film affixing device comprising: a discharge means. Display panel supply means for standing up in a substantially vertical state while transporting the display panel transported in a substantially horizontal state in the transport direction and supplying the display panel downstream;
The display panel is provided downstream of the display panel supply means along the transport direction, and is transported in the transport direction in the display panel while being supplied in a substantially vertical state from the display panel supply means. Display panel alignment means for performing alignment between the optical film and the display panel that are attached to both sides almost simultaneously;
The optical film provided on the left and right sides downstream of the display panel alignment means along the transport direction and placed in a substantially horizontal state is erected in a substantially vertical state and transported in a direction opposite to the transport direction. First and second optical film supply means,
First and second cylindrical drums arranged downstream of the display panel alignment means along the transport direction and arranged side by side on the left and right sides of the display panel supplied from the display panel alignment means Means for holding one side of the optical film supplied in a substantially vertical state from the first and second optical film supply means by suction and the display between the first and second cylindrical drum means. Optical film attaching means for rotating and applying the optical film to both sides of the display panel at the same time by rotating while pressing on the panel side;
First and second peeling means for peeling off a protective film from the optical film provided on the left and right sides of the optical film sticking means and sucked and held by the first and second cylindrical drum means;
Winding and winding the protective film provided on the left and right sides of the optical film pasting means and further outside the first and second peeling means and peeled off by the first and second peeling means Protective film discharging means for discharging the protective film in the removed state;
It is downstream of the optical film sticking means along the transport direction and is provided between the first and second optical film supply means, and according to the optical film sticking operation of the optical film sticking means. The display panel transport means with an optical film that receives the display panel in a substantially vertical state with the optical film pasted on both surfaces from the optical film pasting means, and transports the display panel in the transport direction;
The display panel with an optical film, which is provided downstream of the display panel transport means with an optical film along the transport direction and is supplied in a substantially vertical state from the display panel transport means with an optical film in the transport direction. An optical film sticking apparatus comprising: a display panel discharging means for converting and discharging from a substantially vertical state to a substantially horizontal state while being conveyed. The optical film sticking apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the first and second optical film supply means are:
A first optical film which is provided on both the left and right sides of the display panel supply means along the transport direction and which stands in a substantially vertical state and transports the optical film supplied in a substantially horizontal state in a direction opposite to the transport direction. And second optical film standing supply means,
Provided outside the first and second optical film upright supply means, a plurality of the optical films are placed in a substantially horizontal state, and one of the optical films is placed in a substantially horizontal state. And an optical film sticking apparatus comprising first and second optical film mounting / supplying means for supplying to the second optical film standing supply means.   A display panel, wherein the optical film is attached to the display panel using the optical film attaching method according to claim 1 or 2, or the optical film attaching apparatus according to claim 3, 4 or 5. Manufacturing method.

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