Slot die coating apparatus and method for printing on substrates

Abstract

A slot die coating apparatus for substrate printing according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a stage on which a substrate is provided; a vertical gantry provided on the stage so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the stage; a horizontal gantry provided above the vertical gantry and rotatable in a rotational direction across the vertical gantry; a slot die provided on the horizontal gantry and ejecting a printing material to coat a film on the substrate; a first moving member provided to connect the slot die to one side of the horizontal gantry and controlling the horizontal and vertical movements of the slot die; a light source provided on the horizontal gantry and irradiating ultraviolet (UV) light onto the coated film; The system includes a second moving member connected to the other side of the horizontal gantry and controlling the horizontal and vertical movement of the light source; a valve provided above the slot die and regulating the pressure inside the slot die; a pump connected to the slot die and controlling the amount of printing material discharged from the slot die; and a canister connected to the pump and filling the printing material, and the film coating is characterized in that a drive axis related to the movement of the slot die is specified by model analysis of the substrate, parameter values ​​for the specified drive axis are generated, and a printing path for the coating is set based on the generated parameter values.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a slot die coating apparatus and method for substrate printing, and more particularly to a slot die coating apparatus and method for substrate printing capable of manufacturing displays of various shapes by coating printing of any shape based on a change in width of a coating printing pattern using a substrate model analysis during slot die coating and coating printing on a substrate having a curved surface. [Background technology]

[0002] Demand is increasing day by day in the display market in the electronics industry, including computer monitors such as large TVs, various mobile devices, and various medical devices. In the coating process of optically clear resin (OCR), which is used as a UV-curable adhesive, which is one of the display manufacturing processes, obtaining a uniform coating thickness by coating the OCR on the substrate is extremely important for the quality of the display.

[0003] OCR coating processes include spin coating, curtain coating, slide coating, and slot coating, depending on the method of measuring the coating liquid. Among these coating processes, slot coating is a method in which a nozzle moves linearly over a substrate to spray the coating liquid to form a film, and is widely used for coating large substrates due to its advantage of reducing the amount of coating liquid used compared to spin coating. Therefore, with the trend toward larger displays, the slot coating method is the most widely used of the above-mentioned OCR coating processes.

[0004] Meanwhile, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2007653 discloses a slot die apparatus capable of adjusting the coating width, but it is still not yet capable of quickly responding to the production of displays of various shapes required in various fields. Therefore, there is a need for a slot die coating apparatus and method that can maintain a constant coating uniformity in a slot coating method using a slot die (hereinafter referred to as a "slot die coating method") and can also meet various on-site requirements regarding changes in coating width and curvature of the coating surface. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and provides a slot die coating apparatus and method for substrate printing that can maintain a constant coating uniformity using a substrate model analysis in a slot die coating method and can print a coating on a substrate having a varying coating width and a varying curvature of the coating surface. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A slot die coating apparatus for printing on a substrate according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a stage on which a substrate is provided; a vertical gantry provided on the stage so as to be movable in a longitudinal direction of the stage; a horizontal gantry provided on an upper portion of the vertical gantry so as to be rotatable in a rotational direction across the vertical gantry; a slot die provided on the horizontal gantry and discharging a printing material to coat a film on the substrate; a light source provided on the horizontal gantry and irradiating ultraviolet (UV) light onto the coated film; a valve provided on an upper portion of the slot die and regulating a pressure inside the slot die; a pump connected to the slot die and controlling a discharge amount of the printing material discharged from the slot die; and a canister provided connected to the pump and filling the printing material, and the coating of the film includes specifying a drive axis related to the movement of the slot die through a model analysis of the substrate, generating parameter values ​​for the specified drive axis, and setting a printing path for the coating based on the generated parameter values.

[0007] A slot die coating apparatus for printing on a substrate according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a stage on which a substrate is provided; a vertical gantry provided on the stage so as to be movable in a longitudinal direction of the stage; a horizontal gantry provided on an upper portion of the vertical gantry and rotatable in a rotational direction across the vertical gantry; a slot die provided on the horizontal gantry and discharging a printing material to coat a film on the substrate; a first moving member provided to connect the slot die to one side of the horizontal gantry and controlling horizontal and vertical movements of the slot die; and a second moving member provided on the horizontal gantry and irradiating ultraviolet (UV) light onto the coated film. the film coating method includes: a light source; a second moving member provided to connect the light source to the other side of the horizontal gantry and controlling the horizontal and vertical movement of the light source; a valve provided above the slot die and regulating the pressure inside the slot die; a pump connected to the slot die and controlling the amount of the printing material discharged from the slot die; and a canister provided connected to the pump and filling the printing material, and the film coating method includes specifying a drive axis associated with the movement of the slot die through a model analysis of the substrate, generating parameter values ​​for the specified drive axis, and setting a printing path for the coating based on the generated parameter values.

[0008] A slot die coating method for substrate printing according to a third aspect of the present invention includes the steps of: filling a printing material; coating and printing the printing material on a substrate using a slot die to form a film; exposing the coated film to ultraviolet (UV) light; measuring a thickness of the coated film; laminating the substrate and another substrate using the coated film; and inspecting the coated film of the laminated substrates, wherein the step of forming a film includes the steps of: performing a model analysis on the substrate; specifying a drive axis associated with the movement of a slot die of a slot die coating apparatus through the model analysis; generating parameter values ​​for the specified drive axis; setting a path for the coating printing based on the generated parameter values; and performing the coating printing. Effect of the Invention

[0009] The slot die coating apparatus and method for printing on a substrate according to the embodiment of the present invention provides the following advantages.

[0010] 1. By calculating the drive axis assignment and the parameter values ​​for the movement of the assigned drive axis based on the model analysis of the substrate to be printed, and determining the coating printing path based on this, it is possible to precisely control the slot die coating device, thereby improving the accuracy of coating printing.

[0011] 2. Coating printing that reflects changes in coating width and curvature of the coating surface enables the production of displays with various shapes in a wide range of fields, expanding the application field of the OCR coating process and making it possible to use OCR instead of the existing OCA, thereby reducing display manufacturing costs.

[0012] 3. It includes controls to match the discharge amount and coating amount when changing the print pattern width, so that the coating uniformity can be maintained constant.

[0013] 4. The drive axis is specified based on a model analysis of the substrate to be printed, and parameter values ​​for the movement of the specified drive axis are calculated, and ultraviolet (UV) exposure is performed based on this, which provides excellent bending processability for the substrate to be printed and reduces the defect rate in the exposure process.

[0014] 5. The above-mentioned method for determining a coating printing path based on model analysis of a substrate to be printed enables quick response to changes in coating width and curvature of the coating surface during display manufacturing, and since the parameter values ​​generated by the substrate model analysis can be directly changed by the user through input, the process time can be shortened and the process convenience can be increased. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slot die coating apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a side view of a slot die coating apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] [Diagram 3] 1 is a flow chart of a slot die coating method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] [Figure 4A] 4 is a flowchart illustrating a specific method of forming a film on a substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] [Figure 4B] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process of changing a parameter value for a driving axis according to a user input according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing drive axes specified by dimensions related to coating print shape and substrate bending when forming a film on a substrate in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] [Figure 6] 1A-1C are diagrams illustrating exemplary aspects of a substrate according to a coating print profile and dimensions related to substrate bending, respectively, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] [Figure 7A] 11A and 11B are diagrams for explaining how a parameter value change using a user input is reflected in a print path change according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] [Figure 7B] 7B is a diagram showing how parameter values ​​are changed for the print path change of FIG. 7A in a user interface according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

[0024] [Figure 8] 2 is a flow chart illustrating a specific method of exposing a coated film to ultraviolet light according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] [Figure 9] FIG. 13 shows drive axes designated by dimensions related to substrate bending upon UV exposure for a coated film according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. However, the following description is not intended to limit the present invention to a specific embodiment, and when describing the present invention, detailed descriptions of related publicly known techniques will be omitted if they are deemed to obscure the gist of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slot die coating apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the slot die coating apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] 1 and 2, a slot die coating apparatus 100 for printing on a substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a stage 10 on which a substrate (not shown) is provided; a vertical gantry 51 provided on the stage 10 to be movable in a longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) 2 of the stage 10; a horizontal gantry 52 provided on an upper portion of the vertical gantry 51 and rotatably in a rotation direction (θ-axis direction) 8 across the vertical gantry 51; a slot die 110 provided on the horizontal gantry 52 and ejecting a printing material to coat a film on the substrate; a first moving member 53 provided to connect the slot die 110 to one side of the horizontal gantry 52 and controlling the movement of the slot die 110 in a horizontal direction (Y-axis direction) 4 and a vertical direction (Z-axis direction) 6; a light source 12 provided on the horizontal gantry 52 to irradiate ultraviolet (UV) light onto the coated film. 0; a second moving member 54 provided to connect the light source 120 to the other side of the horizontal gantry 52 and controlling the movement of the light source 120 in the horizontal direction (Y-axis direction) 4 and vertical direction (Z-axis direction) 6; a valve 140 provided on the upper part of the slot die 110 and adjusting the pressure inside the slot die 110; a pump 130 connected to the slot die 110 and controlling the discharge amount of the printing material discharged from the slot die 110; and a canister 150 provided connected to the pump 130 and filling the printing material, and the coating of the film is characterized in that a driving axis related to the movement of the slot die 110 is designated by a model analysis of the substrate, parameter values ​​for the designated driving axis are generated, and a printing path of the coating is set based on the generated parameter values.

[0029] In the following, for ease of explanation, the longitudinal direction of stage 10 will be referred to as the X-axis direction 2, the horizontal direction (i.e., the width direction of stage 10) as the Y-axis direction 4, the vertical direction (i.e., the height direction of stage 10) as the Z-axis direction 6, and the horizontal direction, i.e., the direction of rotation around the Y-axis direction 4 as the central axis, as the θ-axis direction 8.

[0030] The slot die coating apparatus 100 for printing a substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a vertical gantry 51 provided on both sides of the stage 10 at a certain distance from the stage 10 in the Y-axis direction 4 and extending vertically in the Z-axis direction 6, and a horizontal gantry 52 provided on the upper part of the vertical gantry 51, crossing the vertical gantry 51 and being rotatable in a rotation direction (θ-axis direction) 8. The vertical gantry 51 and the horizontal gantry 52 may be configured in a shape substantially the same as or similar to a gantry structure used in a general slot die coating apparatus.

[0031] The vertical gantry 51 is movable in the X-axis direction 2, and the horizontal gantry 52 is rotatably movable in the θ-axis direction 8. In addition, the horizontal gantry 52 may include any predetermined section (e.g., a first moving member 53 and a second moving member 54) that is movable in the Y-axis direction 4 and the Z-axis direction 6.

[0032] 2, in one embodiment of the present invention, the horizontal gantry 52 may include a first moving member 53 and a second moving member 54 that may move in the Y-axis direction 4 and the Z-axis direction 6 individually or simultaneously. In this case, the first moving member 53 and the second moving member 54 may be provided on one side and the other side of the horizontal gantry 52 with respect to the X-axis direction 2. Each of the first moving member 53 and the second moving member 54 may be embodied by a conventional drive shaft part such as a known linear motion guide.

[0033] The slot die 110 has a slot nozzle at the bottom, and can uniformly extrude the printing material by applying pressure to coat the film on the substrate. In one embodiment of the present invention, the printing material may be an optically clear resin (OCR) used as an ultraviolet curing adhesive, but it will be well understood by those skilled in the art that the printing material may be other adhesives or highly viscous liquids or fluids such as film stock solutions.

[0034] The light source 120 may be any light source capable of emitting ultraviolet light. For example, a low-pressure mercury vapor lamp, a medium-pressure mercury vapor lamp, a high-pressure mercury vapor lamp, an ultra-high-pressure mercury vapor lamp, a carbon arc lamp, a metal halide lamp, a xenon lamp, or the like may be used as the light source 120. In addition, an ArF excimer laser, a KrF excimer laser, an excimer lamp, a synchrotron beam, or the like may be used as the light source 120.

[0035] The pump 130 functions to control the amount of printing material discharged from the slot die 110, and the valve 140 functions to adjust the internal pressure of the slot die 110. The canister 150 functions to fill the printing material, and can also function to stir, degas, and age the printing material.

[0036] In one embodiment of the present invention, the slot die 110 and the light source 120 may be provided on a horizontal gantry 52, and more specifically, may be provided so as to be connected to the horizontal gantry 52 by any specified section (e.g., a first moving member 53 and a second moving member 54) capable of moving in the Y-axis direction 4 and the Z-axis direction 6 in the horizontal gantry 52.

[0037] In this case, the first moving member 53 and the second moving member 54 may be controlled simultaneously or individually, so that the movement of the slot die 110 and the light source 120 in the Y-axis direction 4 and the Z-axis direction 6 can be performed simultaneously or independently.

[0038] In one embodiment of the present invention, a pump 130 and a valve 140 are provided to be connected to the slot die 110, respectively, and a canister 150 is provided to be connected to the pump 130. The supply of printing material from the canister 150 to the pump 130 is typically through a tube, but is not limited to this, and any means capable of supplying printing material is possible.

[0039] 1 and 2, in one embodiment of the present invention, the letters shown in FIG. 2 (i.e., X, Y, Z, and θ) indicate drive axes that control the components of the slot die coating apparatus described above.

[0040] More specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, the Y1 axis corresponds to a driving axis related to the movement of the first die 110a of the slot die 110 in the Y-axis direction 4, and the Y2 axis corresponds to a driving axis related to the movement of the second die 110b of the slot die 110 in the Y-axis direction 4. By controlling the Y1 and Y2 driving axes, the first and second dies 110a and 110b can be moved in the Y-axis direction 4, and the discharge width of the discharge slot of the nozzle of the slot die 110 can be expanded or reduced. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the Y1 axis and the Y2 axis are collectively referred to as the slot die axis (S axis).

[0041] As described above, in one embodiment of the present invention, the X-axis corresponds to a drive axis related to the movement of the vertical gantry 51 in the X-axis direction 2, and the θ-axis corresponds to a drive axis related to the rotational movement of the horizontal gantry 52 in the θ-axis direction 8. The horizontal gantry 52 may include a first moving member 53 and a second moving member 54 that can be moved in the Y-axis direction 4 and the Z-axis direction 6 individually, and the Y3-axis and the Z1-axis correspond to drive axes related to the movement of the first moving member 53 in the Y-axis direction 4 and the Z-axis direction 6 for moving the slot die 110 in the Y-axis direction 4 and the Z-axis direction 6, respectively, and the Y4-axis and the Z2-axis correspond to drive axes related to the movement of the second moving member 54 in the Y-axis direction 4 and the Z-axis direction 6 for moving the light source 120 in the Y-axis direction 4 and the Z-axis direction 6, respectively.

[0042] In one embodiment of the present invention, the P axis shown in FIG. 2 adjusts the flow rate of the pump 130, and thus the valve 140 that adjusts the internal pressure of the slot die 110 together with the P axis can be further controlled to adjust the amount of printing material discharged.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a slot die coating method according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4A is a flowchart for explaining a specific method of forming a film on a substrate according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a flowchart for explaining a process of changing a parameter value for a drive axis based on user input according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] 3 and 4A, a slot die coating method 300 for printing a substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: filling 310 a printing material; coating 320 the printing material on a substrate using a slot die to form a film; exposing 330 the coated film to ultraviolet (UV) light; measuring 340 a thickness of the coated film; laminating 350 the substrate and another substrate using the coated film; and inspecting 360 the coated film of the laminated substrate. The film forming 320 includes: performing 410 a model analysis of the substrate; specifying 420 a driving axis associated with the movement of the slot die 110 of the slot die coating apparatus 100 through the model analysis; generating 430 parameter values ​​for the specified driving axis; setting 440 a path for the coating printing based on the generated parameter values; and performing 450 the coating printing.

[0045] The step 310 of filling the printing material in the slot die coating method 300 for printing on a substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention described above may further include the steps of stirring, degassing and aging the printing material.

[0046] In one embodiment of the present invention, the parameter values ​​generated in step 430 of the slot die coating method 300 can be directly changed by a user through input. More specifically, referring to Fig. 4B, step 440 of setting a path for coating printing based on the generated parameter values ​​includes step 440a of determining whether the generated parameter values ​​are in a determined state; and step 440c of setting a path for coating printing based on the determined parameter values, and may further include step 440b of directly changing the generated parameter values ​​through a user's input if the generated parameter values ​​are in an undetermined state.

[0047] Since the coating printing path is based on the analysis of the model of the substrate to be printed, if the already generated parameters and / or the already coated printing path needs to be modified, the model of the substrate to be printed needs to be analyzed again, but in the slot die coating method 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the coordinate values ​​of the analyzed coating path can be extracted and modified as desired by the user and applied. This allows precise control of the slot die coating apparatus 100, shortening the process time and increasing the convenience of the process.

[0048] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a drive axis specified by a coating printing shape and a dimension related to substrate bending when forming a film on a substrate in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an exemplary appearance of a substrate according to a coating printing shape and a dimension related to substrate bending in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] Referring to Fig. 5, in one embodiment of the present invention, the model analysis of the substrate may be performed by classifying the shape based on the width change of the coating print pattern and the dimension based on the bending change of the substrate. More specifically, the shape based on the width change of the coating print pattern may be a rectangular type, a polygon type / curve type, and the dimension based on the bending change of the substrate may be 2D and 2.5D, which will be described later. In addition to the specific shapes and dimensions as described above, other shapes and dimensions may be included in various embodiments of the present invention, which will be fully understood by those skilled in the art of the present invention.

[0050] Exemplary aspects of various shapes and dimensions of the above-mentioned substrate model according to one embodiment of the present invention are shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 6(a) is a schematic plan view of the shape based on the width change of the coating print pattern including rectangular, polygonal and curved shapes viewed from above, and Fig. 6(b) is a schematic side view of the dimension based on the bending change of the substrate viewed from the side.

[0051] Referring again to FIG. 5 together with FIG. 4A, in one embodiment of the present invention, in step 420 of specifying drive axes related to slot die movement through substrate model analysis, the specified drive axes correspond to the following, depending on the classification of the model for the substrate: (a) in the case of a rectangular type, the longitudinal axis and pump axis of the stage (i.e., the X-axis and the P-axis); (b) in the case of a polygonal type and a curved type, the longitudinal axis, slot die axis, vertical axis and pump axis of the stage (i.e., the X-axis, the S-axis, the Z-axis, the P-axis); (c) in the case of a 2D type, the longitudinal axis and vertical axis of the stage (i.e., the X-axis, the Z-axis); and (d) in the case of a 2.5D type, the longitudinal axis, vertical axis and the rotational axis of the stage (i.e., the X-axis, the Z-axis, the θ-axis).

[0052] In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, (b) in the case of the polygon type and curved type, in addition to controlling the designated drive shaft as described above, a step of controlling the valve 140 during coating printing may be further included.

[0053] More specifically, in the case of (a) rectangular type (designated drive axes: X-axis and P-axis), the printed substrate model corresponds to a rectangular print pattern type in which the width of the pattern does not change based on the coating proceeding direction (X-axis direction). In relation to the X-axis direction, the vertical gantry 51 of the slot die coating apparatus 100 operates at a constant speed, and in relation to the P-axis direction, the pump 130 also operates at a constant speed and is set to supply a constant flow rate of printing material to the slot die 110. Here, it is noted that the X-axis may be a drive axis that is driven separately in relation to each of the two vertical gantries 51 (e.g., X L Axis and X R Axes) are well understood by those skilled in the art of the present invention, and such points are similarly applied to the following description.

[0054] (b) In the case of polygon type and curve type (specified driving axes: X-axis, S-axis, Z-axis and P-axis), the printed substrate model corresponds to a printing pattern type of any shape in which the pattern width changes based on the coating progress direction (X-axis direction). The printing width is changed according to the change in the coating amount based on the coating progress direction, and when analyzing the printed substrate model, the operating speeds of the X-axis, S-axis (i.e., Y1-axis and Y2-axis), Z-axis and P-axis are controlled, and the opening and closing of the valve 140 is also actively controlled. In this case, the parameters (or printing conditions) and the coating printing path set as described above can be arbitrarily modified by the user through input.

[0055] More specifically, the control of the drive shaft and valve designated for each of the cases where the coating width narrows and widens based on the coating progress direction (X-axis direction) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0056] When the coating width is narrowed, the nozzle discharge width of the slot die 110 is reduced in relation to the S axis (i.e., the Y1 axis and the Y2 axis). In relation to the X axis, as the discharge width is reduced, the discharge pressure increases due to the reduction in the internal volume of the slot die 110. In order to compensate for this pressure increase, the operation speed of the vertical gantry 51 in the X axis direction is accelerated, and if necessary, the valve 140 is further controlled to be in an open state to reduce the pressure inside the nozzle of the slot die 110. In addition, in relation to the Z axis, the slot die 110 moves in a direction away from the substrate (i.e., the gap between the slot die 110 and the substrate increases), and the nozzle part of the slot die 110 is prevented from wetting due to the increased discharge amount. For reference, if the nozzle is wetted or the solution is attached to the nozzle due to the nozzle wetting, it may affect the straightness of the discharged droplets or prevent them from being discharged, and normal coating may not be performed. In addition, in relation to the P axis, the operation speed of the P axis of the pump 140 that controls the flow rate is reduced so that the flow rate of the printing material decreases.

[0057] When the coating width increases, the nozzle discharge width of the slot die 110 is expanded in relation to the S axis (i.e., the Y1 axis and the Y2 axis). As the discharge width is expanded in relation to the X axis, the discharge pressure due to the expansion of the internal volume of the slot die 110 decreases, and air bubbles are generated. To compensate for this, the operation speed of the vertical gantry 51 in the X axis direction is decreased, and if necessary, the valve 140 is further controlled to be in a closed state to increase the pressure inside the nozzle of the slot die 110. In addition, in relation to the Z axis, the slot die 110 moves in a direction approaching the substrate (i.e., the gap between the slot die 110 and the substrate decreases), and the reduced discharge amount prevents meniscus break at the nozzle part of the slot die 110. For reference, the meniscus is the shape of the printing material that condenses between the slot die nozzle and the substrate, and is generally influenced by the flow rate of the printing material supplied, the moving speed of the nozzle, and the gap between the nozzle and the substrate, and the coating quality is influenced by the meniscus. Also, in conjunction with the P axis, the operating speed of the P axis of pump 140, which controls the flow rate, is increased so that the flow rate of the printing material increases.

[0058] Here, it will be fully understood by those skilled in the art that the Z axis may be a drive axis associated with the first moving member 53 and the second moving member 54 provided on the horizontal gantry 52 (for example, the Z1 axis and the Z2 axis), and it may be a drive axis that is separately driven associated with each of the two vertical gantries 51, similar to the X axis described above (for example, the Z L Axis and Z R In this case, the slot die 110 is tilted rather than horizontal.) is well understood by those skilled in the art of the present invention, and such points are also applied to the following description.

[0059] (c) In the case of 2D (specified drive axes: X-axis, Z-axis), the substrate model to be printed corresponds to a type of printing on a flat substrate, and Z-axis drive is required for the operation of approaching the substrate to form a bead of printing material to be ejected from the nozzle of the slot die 110 at the start of coating printing, and the operation of the nozzle of the slot die 110 returning to the substrate for squeezing after coating printing (i.e., the operation of the nozzle moving away from the substrate), but Z-axis drive is not required during the coating printing operation so that the nozzle and the substrate can be kept equally spaced.

[0060] In the case of (d) 2.5D (designated drive axes: X-axis, Z-axis, θ-axis), the substrate model to be printed corresponds to a type of printing on a substrate having a bend or a radius of curvature (i.e., a curved substrate). During coating printing, the nozzle of the slot die 110 changes the θ-axis angle so that the nozzle can maintain a perpendicular state with the substrate based on the contact point or line with the substrate. In this case, the X-axis drive is driven in a synchronous manner with the θ-axis drive so that the set printing speed is not affected by the change in the θ-axis angle, and the Z-axis drive is also driven in a synchronous manner with the θ-axis drive so that the set interval value between the nozzle of the slot die 110 and the substrate is maintained even if the θ-axis rotation angle changes. More specifically, when the θ-axis rotates in the printing direction of the slot die 110, the operating speeds of the X-axis and Z-axis decrease in a synchronous manner with the θ-axis, and when the θ-axis rotates in the opposite direction to the printing direction, the operating speeds of the X-axis and Z-axis increase in a synchronous manner with the θ-axis.

[0061] FIG. 7A is a diagram for explaining how a parameter value change using user input in one embodiment of the present invention is reflected in a print path change, and FIG. 7B is a diagram showing how parameter values ​​are changed for the print path change of FIG. 7A in a user interface in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] Referring to both FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, in one embodiment of the present invention, the numerical values ​​shown in the table of FIG. 7B correspond to exemplary parameters related to the driving of the X-axis, S-axis (Y1, Y2), and P-axis at the points indicated with the letters (K1 to K6) in FIG. 7A.

[0063] Regarding points K2 to K5 on the substrate shown in the upper part of FIG. 7A, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at point K2, the position of the driving axis Y1 axis and Y2 axis related to the first die and second die of the slot die 110 is 0 mm, and as the slot die 110 moves to point K3 (i.e., as printing progresses), the position of the driving axis Y2 axis related to the second die of the slot die 110 changes to 30 mm. As described above, it can be seen that the X-axis speed is increased to compensate for the increase in discharge pressure due to the decrease in coating width. As the coating printing progresses from point K4 to point K5, the position of the Y2 axis changes from 30 mm to 0 mm, and the X-axis speed is decreased to compensate for the decrease in discharge pressure due to the increase in coating width as described above.

[0064] In one embodiment of the present invention, the user can directly change the generated parameter values ​​by inputting them as desired. When the Y2 axis positions of points K3 and K4 are changed from 30 mm to 60 mm as shown in FIG. 7B, coating printing can be performed as shown in the lower part of FIG. 7A.

[0065] This method allows the user to more easily perform coating printing on a polygonal shape having a deeper notch zone. Although an exemplary embodiment in which the coating printing path of a polygonal shape is changed by changing any parameter value of the user is shown in Fig. 7A and Fig. 7B above, it will be fully understood by those skilled in the art of the present invention that the coating printing path for substrates of various shapes or dimensions can also be changed by inputting any parameter value of the user.

[0066] FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a specific method of exposing a coated film to ultraviolet light according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0067] 8 together with FIG. 3, a slot die coating method 300 for printing a substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: filling 310 a printing material; coating 320 the printing material on a substrate using a slot die to form a film; exposing 330 the coated film to ultraviolet (UV) light; measuring 340 a thickness of the coated film; laminating 350 the substrate and another substrate using the coated film; and inspecting 360 the coated film of the laminated substrate. The exposing 330 the coated film to ultraviolet (UV) light includes: performing 810 a model analysis of the substrate; specifying 820 a driving axis related to the movement of a light source 120 of the slot die coating apparatus 100 through the model analysis; generating 830 parameter values ​​for the specified driving axis; setting 840 a path of the exposure based on the generated parameter values; and performing 850 the exposure.

[0068] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the drive axes designated by dimensions related to substrate bending upon exposure to UV light for a coated film according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] 9, in one embodiment of the present invention, the model analysis of the substrate for the exposure process may be performed by dividing the dimensions based on the bending change of the substrate. More specifically, the dimensions based on the bending change of the substrate may be 2D and 2.5D. It will be well understood by those skilled in the art that in addition to the specific dimensions as described above, other possible dimensions may also be included in various embodiments of the present invention.

[0070] In one embodiment of the invention, in assigning 820 drive axes associated with slot die movement through substrate model analysis, the assigned drive axes may correspond to (a) horizontal and vertical axes (i.e., X-axis, Z-axis) in the case of 2D, or (b) horizontal, vertical and rotational axes (i.e., X-axis, Z-axis, θ-axis) in the case of 2.5D, depending on the classification of the model for the substrate.

[0071] In one embodiment of the present invention, as described above, when the horizontal gantry 52 includes a first movable member 53 and a second movable member 54 that can be moved individually in the Y-axis direction 4 and the Z-axis direction 6, the light source 120 may be provided to the second movable member 54, in which case the Z-axis corresponds to the Z2 axis.

[0072] As described above, the slot die coating apparatus and method for substrate printing according to the embodiments of the present invention allows precise control of the slot die coating apparatus by designating a drive axis based on a model analysis of a substrate to be printed and calculating parameter values ​​for the movement of the designated drive axis, and determining a coating printing path based on the drive axis designation. This allows for rapid response to changes in coating width and curvature of the coating surface during display manufacturing, and allows the user to directly change the parameter values ​​generated by the substrate model analysis through input, thereby reducing process time and increasing process convenience.

[0073] (Additional Note) (Appendix 1) 1. A slot die coating apparatus for printing on a substrate, comprising: the stage on which the substrate is provided; a vertical gantry provided on said stage and movable in a longitudinal direction of said stage; a horizontal gantry provided above and across said vertical gantry so as to be rotatable in a rotational direction; a slot die provided on said horizontal gantry for ejecting printing material to coat a film onto said substrate; a light source provided on the horizontal gantry for shining ultraviolet (UV) light onto the coated film; a valve provided above the slot die for regulating pressure within the slot die; a pump coupled to the slot die and controlling the rate at which the printing material is discharged from the slot die; and a canister provided in communication with the pump for filling the printing material; The coating of the film is performed by a slot die coating apparatus, which comprises: specifying a drive axis associated with the movement of the slot die through a model analysis of the substrate; generating parameter values ​​for the specified drive axis; and setting a printing path for the coating based on the generated parameter values.

[0074] (Appendix 2) 1. A slot die coating apparatus for printing on a substrate, comprising: the stage on which the substrate is provided; a vertical gantry provided on said stage and movable in a longitudinal direction of said stage; a horizontal gantry provided above and across said vertical gantry so as to be rotatable in a rotational direction; a slot die provided on said horizontal gantry for ejecting printing material to coat a film onto said substrate; a first moving member provided to connect the slot die to one side of the horizontal gantry and configured to control horizontal and vertical movements of the slot die; a light source provided on the horizontal gantry for shining ultraviolet (UV) light onto the coated film; a second moving member provided to couple the light source to the other side of the horizontal gantry and configured to control horizontal and vertical movements of the light source; a valve provided above the slot die for regulating pressure within the slot die; a pump coupled to the slot die and controlling the rate at which the printing material is discharged from the slot die; and a canister provided in communication with the pump for filling the printing material; The coating of the film is performed by a slot die coating apparatus, which comprises: specifying a drive axis associated with the movement of the slot die through a model analysis of the substrate; generating parameter values ​​for the specified drive axis; and setting a printing path for the coating based on the generated parameter values.

[0075] (Appendix 3) A slot die coating apparatus as described in Appendix 1 or 2, characterized in that the model for the substrate is classified by shape based on changes in width of the coating printing pattern and by dimensions based on changes in curvature of the substrate.

[0076] (Appendix 4) 4. The slot die coating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the shape is classified into rectangular, polygonal and curved, and the dimension is classified into 2D and 2.5D.

[0077] (Appendix 5) The slot die coating apparatus of claim 4, characterized in that the specified drive axes correspond to, depending on the classification of the model for the substrate, (a) in the case of a rectangular type, the longitudinal axis of the stage and the pump axis, (b) in the case of a polygonal type and a curved type, the longitudinal axis of the stage, the slot die axis, the vertical axis and the pump axis, (c) in the case of a 2D type, the longitudinal axis and the vertical axis of the stage, and (d) in the case of a 2.5D type, the longitudinal axis, the vertical axis and the axis of the rotation direction of the stage.

[0078] (Appendix 6) The slot die coating apparatus of claim 5, further comprising controlling the valve during coating printing in the case of the polygon type and curved type.

[0079] (Appendix 7) The slot die coating apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the generated parameter values ​​can be directly changed by a user through input.

[0080] (Appendix 8) The slot die coating apparatus of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ultraviolet (UV) investigation of the coated film includes specifying a drive axis associated with the movement of the light source by model analysis of the substrate, generating parameter values ​​for the specified drive axis, and setting an exposure path based on the generated parameter values.

[0081] (Appendix 9) 9. The slot die coating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the model for the substrate is divided into dimensions based on bending changes of the substrate.

[0082] (Appendix 10) The dimensions are divided into 2D and 2.5D; The slot die coating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the specified drive axes correspond to (a) a horizontal axis and a vertical axis in a 2D case, and (b) a horizontal axis, a vertical axis, and the axis of the rotation direction in a 2.5D case, depending on the classification of the model for the substrate.

[0083] (Appendix 11) 1. A slot die coating method for printing on a substrate, comprising: filling with printing material; coating the printing material onto a substrate using a slot die to form a film; exposing the coated film to ultraviolet (UV) light; measuring the thickness of the coated film; laminating the substrate to another substrate using the coated film; and performing an inspection of the coated film of the bonded substrates; The step of forming the film includes the steps of: performing a model analysis on the substrate; specifying a drive axis associated with the movement of a slot die of a slot die coating apparatus through the model analysis; generating parameter values ​​for the specified drive axis; setting a path for the coating printing based on the generated parameter values; and performing the coating printing.

[0084] (Appendix 12) 12. The slot die coating method of claim 11, wherein the model for the substrate is classified by shape based on width changes of the coating print pattern and dimensions based on curvature changes of the substrate.

[0085] (Appendix 13) 13. The slot die coating method of claim 12, wherein the shapes are classified into rectangular, polygonal and curved types, and the dimensions are classified into 2D and 2.5D.

[0086] (Appendix 14) The slot die coating method of claim 13, characterized in that the specified drive axes correspond to, depending on the classification of the model for the substrate, (a) in the case of a rectangular type, the longitudinal axis of the stage on which the substrate is provided and the pump axis, (b) in the case of a polygonal type and a curved type, the longitudinal axis, the slot die axis, the vertical axis and the pump axis of the stage, (c) in the case of a 2D type, the longitudinal axis and the vertical axis of the stage, and (d) in the case of a 2.5D type, the longitudinal axis, the vertical axis and the rotational axis of the stage.

[0087] (Appendix 15) 15. The slot die coating method according to claim 14, further comprising controlling a valve of a slot die coating device during coating printing in the case of the polygon type and curved line type.

[0088] (Appendix 16) setting a path for coating printing based on the generated parameter values, determining whether the generated parameter value is in a determined state; and setting a path for coating printing based on the determined parameter value, 12. The slot die coating method of claim 11, further comprising a step of a user directly changing the generated parameter value by input when the generated parameter value is in an undetermined state.

[0089] (Appendix 17) 12. The slot die coating method of claim 11, wherein the step of filling the printing material further comprises the steps of stirring, degassing and aging the printing material.

[0090] (Appendix 18) The slot die coating method of claim 11, wherein the step of exposing the coated film to ultraviolet (UV) light includes the steps of: performing a model analysis of the substrate; specifying a drive axis associated with the movement of a light source of a slot die coating apparatus through the model analysis; generating parameter values ​​for the specified drive axis; setting a path for the exposure based on the generated parameter values; and performing the exposure.

[0091] (Appendix 19) 19. The slot die coating method of claim 18, wherein the model for the substrate is divided into dimensions based on bending changes of the substrate.

[0092] (Appendix 20) The dimensions are divided into 2D and 2.5D; The slot die coating method of claim 19, wherein the specified drive axes correspond to (a) a horizontal axis and a vertical axis in the case of 2D, or (b) a horizontal axis, a vertical axis, and a rotational axis in the case of 2.5D, depending on the classification of the model for the substrate. [Industrial Applicability]

[0093] Various modifications may be made to the structures and methods described and illustrated herein without departing from the scope of the present invention, and all matter contained in the above detailed description or shown in the accompanying drawings is illustrative and not intended to limit the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should not be limited by the illustrative embodiments described above, but should be defined only by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. 1. A slot die coating apparatus for printing on a substrate, comprising: a stage on which a substrate is provided; a vertical gantry provided on said stage and movable in a longitudinal direction of said stage; a horizontal gantry provided across and above the vertical gantry and rotatably provided in a rotational direction that rotates about a horizontal central axis of the stage; a slot die provided on said horizontal gantry for discharging printing material to coat a film on said substrate; a light source provided on the horizontal gantry for shining ultraviolet (UV) light onto the coated film; a valve provided above the slot die for regulating pressure within the slot die; a pump coupled to the slot die and controlling the rate at which the printing material is extruded through the slot die; and a canister provided in communication with the pump for filling the printing material; The coating of the film includes designating a drive axis associated with the movement of the slot die by a model analysis of the substrate, generating parameter values ​​for the designated drive axis, and setting a printing path for the coating based on the generated parameter values; The slot die coating apparatus is characterized in that ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of the coated film is performed by specifying a drive axis associated with the movement of the light source through a model analysis of the substrate, generating parameter values ​​for the specified drive axis, and setting an exposure path based on the generated parameter values.

2. 1. A slot die coating apparatus for printing on a substrate, comprising: a stage on which a substrate is provided; a vertical gantry provided on said stage and movable in a longitudinal direction of said stage; a horizontal gantry provided across and above the vertical gantry and rotatably provided in a rotational direction that rotates about a horizontal central axis of the stage; a slot die provided on said horizontal gantry for discharging printing material to coat a film on said substrate; a first moving member provided to connect the slot die to one side of the horizontal gantry and configured to control horizontal and vertical movements of the slot die; a light source provided on the horizontal gantry for shining ultraviolet (UV) light onto the coated film; a second moving member provided to couple the light source to the other side of the horizontal gantry and configured to control horizontal and vertical movements of the light source; a valve provided above the slot die for regulating pressure within the slot die; a pump coupled to the slot die and controlling the rate at which the printing material is extruded through the slot die; and a canister provided in communication with the pump for filling the printing material; The coating of the film is performed by a slot die coating apparatus, which comprises: specifying a drive axis associated with the movement of the slot die through a model analysis of the substrate; generating parameter values ​​for the specified drive axis; and setting a printing path for the coating based on the generated parameter values.

3. 3. The slot die coating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the model for the substrate is classified according to a shape based on a change in width of the coating print pattern and a dimension based on a change in curvature of the substrate.

4. 1. A slot die coating apparatus for printing on a substrate, comprising: a stage on which a substrate is provided; a vertical gantry provided on said stage and movable in a longitudinal direction of said stage; a horizontal gantry provided across and above the vertical gantry and rotatably provided in a rotational direction that rotates about a horizontal central axis of the stage; a slot die provided on said horizontal gantry for discharging printing material to coat a film on said substrate; a light source provided on the horizontal gantry for shining ultraviolet (UV) light onto the coated film; a valve provided above the slot die for regulating pressure within the slot die; a pump coupled to the slot die and controlling the rate at which the printing material is extruded through the slot die; and a canister provided in communication with the pump for filling the printing material; The coating of the film includes designating a drive axis associated with the movement of the slot die by a model analysis of the substrate, generating parameter values ​​for the designated drive axis, and setting a printing path for the coating based on the generated parameter values; The model for the substrate is classified according to a shape based on a change in width of the coating print pattern and a dimension based on a change in curvature of the substrate; The shape is classified into a rectangular type, a polygon type, and a curved type, and the dimension is classified into a 2-dimensional type and a 2.5-dimensional type; 2. The slot die coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specified driving axis corresponds to the longitudinal axis and the pump axis of the stage in a rectangular type model, and the substrate model to be printed corresponds to a printing pattern type in which the width of the pattern does not change based on the coating proceeding direction; (b) the longitudinal axis, the slot die axis, the vertical axis, and the pump axis of the stage in a polygonal type model and a curved type model, and the substrate model to be printed corresponds to a printing pattern type of an arbitrary shape in which the width of the pattern changes based on the coating proceeding direction; (c) the longitudinal axis and the vertical axis of the stage in a two-dimensional type model, and the substrate model to be printed corresponds to a type for printing on a flat substrate; or (d) the longitudinal axis, the vertical axis, and the rotational axis of the stage in a 2.5-dimensional type model, and the substrate model to be printed corresponds to a type for printing on a substrate having a bend or a radius of curvature.

5. 1. A slot die coating apparatus for printing on a substrate, comprising: a stage on which a substrate is provided; a vertical gantry provided on said stage and movable in a longitudinal direction of said stage; a horizontal gantry provided across and above the vertical gantry and rotatably provided in a rotational direction that rotates about a horizontal central axis of the stage; a slot die provided on said horizontal gantry for discharging printing material to coat a film on said substrate; a first moving member provided to connect the slot die to one side of the horizontal gantry and configured to control horizontal and vertical movements of the slot die; a light source provided on the horizontal gantry for shining ultraviolet (UV) light onto the coated film; a second moving member provided to couple the light source to the other side of the horizontal gantry and configured to control horizontal and vertical movements of the light source; a valve provided above the slot die for regulating pressure within the slot die; a pump coupled to the slot die and controlling the rate at which the printing material is extruded through the slot die; and a canister provided in communication with the pump for filling the printing material; The coating of the film includes designating a drive axis associated with the movement of the slot die by a model analysis of the substrate, generating parameter values ​​for the designated drive axis, and setting a printing path for the coating based on the generated parameter values; The model for the substrate is classified according to a shape based on a change in width of the coating print pattern and a dimension based on a change in curvature of the substrate; The shape is classified into a rectangular type, a polygon type, and a curved type, and the dimension is classified into a 2-dimensional type and a 2.5-dimensional type; 2. The slot die coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specified driving axis corresponds to the longitudinal axis and the pump axis of the stage in a rectangular type model, and the substrate model to be printed corresponds to a printing pattern type in which the width of the pattern does not change based on the coating proceeding direction; (b) the longitudinal axis, the slot die axis, the vertical axis, and the pump axis of the stage in a polygonal type model and a curved type model, and the substrate model to be printed corresponds to a printing pattern type of an arbitrary shape in which the width of the pattern changes based on the coating proceeding direction; (c) the longitudinal axis and the vertical axis of the stage in a two-dimensional type model, and the substrate model to be printed corresponds to a type for printing on a flat substrate; or (d) the longitudinal axis, the vertical axis, and the rotational axis of the stage in a 2.5-dimensional type model, and the substrate model to be printed corresponds to a type for printing on a substrate having a bend or a radius of curvature.

6. The slot die coating apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a valve control unit for controlling the valve during coating printing in the case of the polygon type and the curved type.

7. The slot die coating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the generated parameter values ​​can be directly changed by a user through input.

8. The slot die coating apparatus of claim 2, characterized in that the ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of the coated film is performed by specifying a drive axis associated with the movement of the light source through a model analysis of the substrate, generating parameter values ​​for the specified drive axis, and setting an exposure path based on the generated parameter values.

9. The slot die coating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the model for the substrate is divided into dimensions based on bending changes of the substrate.

10. 1. A slot die coating method for printing on a substrate, comprising: Filling with printing material; coating the printing material onto a substrate using a slot die to form a film; exposing the coated film to ultraviolet (UV) light; measuring the thickness of the coated film; laminating the substrate to another substrate using the coated film; and performing an inspection of the coated film of the bonded substrates; The step of forming the film includes the steps of: performing a model analysis on the substrate; designating a drive axis associated with a movement of a slot die of a slot die coating apparatus through the model analysis; generating parameter values ​​for the designated drive axis; setting a path for the coating printing based on the generated parameter values; and performing the coating printing.

11. A slot die coating method, comprising: performing a model analysis of the substrate; assigning a drive axis associated with a movement of a light source of a slot die coating apparatus through the model analysis; generating parameter values ​​for the assigned drive axis; setting a path for the exposure based on the generated parameter values; and performing the exposure.

11. The slot die coating method according to claim 10, wherein the model for the substrate is classified according to a shape based on a change in width of the coating print pattern and a dimension based on a change in curvature of the substrate.

12. 1. A slot die coating method for printing on a substrate, comprising: Filling with printing material; coating the printing material onto a substrate using a slot die to form a film; exposing the coated film to ultraviolet (UV) light; measuring the thickness of the coated film; laminating the substrate to another substrate using the coated film; and performing an inspection of the coated film of the bonded substrates; The step of forming the film includes the steps of: performing a model analysis on the substrate; designating a drive axis associated with a movement of a slot die of a slot die coating apparatus through the model analysis; generating parameter values ​​for the designated drive axis; setting a path for the coating printing based on the generated parameter values; and performing the coating printing. The model for the substrate is classified according to a shape based on a change in width of the coating print pattern and a dimension based on a change in curvature of the substrate; The shape is classified into a rectangular type, a polygon type, and a curved type, and the dimension is classified into a 2-dimensional type and a 2.5-dimensional type; The slot die coating method according to claim 1, wherein the designated driving axis corresponds to: (a) a longitudinal axis and a pump axis of a stage in a rectangular type, and the substrate model to be printed corresponds to a printing pattern type in which the width of the pattern does not change based on the coating proceeding direction; (b) a longitudinal axis, a slot die axis, a vertical axis and a pump axis of the stage in a polygonal type and a curved type, and the substrate model to be printed corresponds to a printing pattern type of an arbitrary shape in which the width of the pattern changes based on the coating proceeding direction; (c) a longitudinal axis and a vertical axis of the stage in a two-dimensional type, and the substrate model to be printed corresponds to a type for printing on a flat substrate; or (d) a longitudinal axis, a vertical axis and a rotation axis of the stage in a 2.5-dimensional type, and the substrate model to be printed corresponds to a type for printing on a substrate having a bend or a radius of curvature.

13. The slot die coating method according to claim 12, further comprising controlling a valve of a slot die coating device during coating printing in the case of the polygon type and the curved line type.

14. 1. A slot die coating method for printing on a substrate, comprising: Filling with printing material; coating the printing material onto a substrate using a slot die to form a film; exposing the coated film to ultraviolet (UV) light; measuring the thickness of the coated film; laminating the substrate to another substrate using the coated film; and performing an inspection of the coated film of the bonded substrates; The step of forming the film includes the steps of: performing a model analysis on the substrate; designating a drive axis associated with a movement of a slot die of a slot die coating apparatus through the model analysis; generating parameter values ​​for the designated drive axis; setting a path for the coating printing based on the generated parameter values; and performing the coating printing. setting a path for coating printing based on the generated parameter values, determining whether the generated parameter value is in a determined state; and setting a path for coating printing based on the determined parameter value, The slot die coating method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: a user directly changing the generated parameter value by inputting the parameter value when the generated parameter value is in an undetermined state.

15. The slot die coating method of claim 10, wherein the step of filling the printing material further comprises the steps of agitating, degassing and aging the printing material.

16. The slot die coating method of claim 10, wherein the model for the substrate is divided according to a dimension based on a curvature change of the substrate.

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