Patent Publication Number: US-2009218049-A1

Title: Method and Apparatus for Bonding Polarizing Plate

Description:
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/341,534 filed Jan. 30, 2006, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/608,778, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,022,204, filed Jun. 30, 2003. The entire disclosures of the prior applications, application Ser. Nos. 10/608,778 and 11/341,534 are considered part of the disclosure of the accompanying continuation application and is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for bonding a polarizing plate to a substrate. This invention also relates specifically to a method and an apparatus for bonding a polarizing plate to each of both surfaces of the substrate and, more specifically, to a method and an apparatus for continuously bonding the polarizing plates. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As a liquid crystal display apparatus, referred to below as LCD, is coming into widespread use, the demand for a polarizing plate is increasing rapidly. In general, a polarizing plate film includes a polarizing layer, exhibiting a light polarizing capability, and a protective film(s) bonded to one or both surfaces thereof (see  FIG. 14(B) ). As the material for the polarizing layer, polyvinyl alcohol, referred to below as PVA, is predominantly used. A polarizing film for a polarizing layer is formed by uniaxially stretching a PVA film, dyeing the resulting polarizing film with iodine or a dichroic dye and cross-linking with a boron compound. The sequence of the uniaxial stretching and the dyeing may be inverted, if so desired. As the protective film, mainly cellulose triacetate, referred to below as TAC, optically transparent and exhibiting only low birefringence, is predominantly used. The polarizing plate is usually stretched in the longitudinal direction, so that the axis of light absorption of the polarizing film is approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction (see  FIG. 14(A) ). The polarizing plate film is provided with an adhesive layer for bonding to the substrate. To the adhesive layer is bonded a release film for protecting the adhesive layer from contaminants, such as dust and dirt. The polarizing plate film, having the release film bonded thereto, is furnished to the market, with a strip-shaped film, stretched in the longitudinal direction, in a roll form. 
     In a conventional LCD employing the TN (twisted nematic) liquid crystal, the polarizing plate is arranged with its axis of light transmission inclined 45° relative to the longitudinal or transverse direction of an image frame. Thus, such a method consisting in bonding pieces of the polarizing plate, obtained on pre-punching a roll of a polarizing plate in a direction of 45° relative to the longitudinal direction of the roll, one by one to an LCD (see for example JP Patent Kokai JP-A-2002-23151) or such a method consisting in bonding a polarizing plate of a roll form to an LCD image surface as the longitudinal or transverse direction of the LCD image surface is inclined at an angle of 45° relative to the longitudinal direction of the roll and subsequently severing the polarizing plate (see for example JP Patent Kokai JP-A-11-95028, FIG.  14 (A)), have been devised. In an LCD employing a VA (vertical alignment) liquid crystal an LCD employing an IPS (in-plane switching) liquid crystal, the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate is arranged in the longitudinal or transverse direction of the image frame and pieces of the polarizing plate are bonded one by one on the LCD. 
     In a conventional LCD, employing the TN (twisted nematic) crystal, such a substrate on both sides of which have been bonded polarizing plates is used. Specifically, a first polarizing plate, having the axis of light transmission inclined 45° relative to the longitudinal or transverse direction of the image frame, is arranged on one surface of the substrate, whilst a second polarizing plate, having the axis of light transmission inclined 90° relative to the axis of transmission of the first polarizing plate, is arranged on the opposite surface thereof. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     However, with the method of bonding the pieces of the polarizing plate one-by-one on the LCD, these pieces of the polarizing plate need to be re-loaded, or the release film needs to be peeled off, directly before bonding these pieces of the polarizing plates to the substrate, so that the process time cannot be shorter beyond a certain limit value. On the other hand, the piece of the polarizing plate is usually punched from the polarizing plate film in the roll form and hence tends to roll on itself with the consequence that it cannot be re-loaded or transported with an acceptable operating convenience. 
     With the method of bonding the polarizing plate to the LCD as the longitudinal or transverse direction of the LCD image frame is inclined 45° relative to the longitudinal direction of the roll, many unusable portions are produced near the roll end. In particular, there is raised a problem that, if a large size polarizing plate is used in keeping up with the increasing LCD image format, the yield is concomitantly lowered. The cut ends of the polarizing plate, not used for bonding, are hardly re-usable because plural sorts of the material are used in combination, as a result of which the amount of waste materials is increased. This problem is presented common in case the pieces of the polarizing plate are bonded one-by-one to the LCD. 
     Meanwhile, in the phase difference film, bonded in use to e.g., a polarizing plate forming the LCD with a view to optical compensation, such as prevention of coloration or enlarging the field of view, it is required to set the axis of orientation at various angles relative to the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate. Up to now, such a system is used which consists in punching off the rim of a film, such as a PET film, obtained on longitudinal or transverse uniaxial stretching, so that the axis of orientation is at a preset inclination relative to the sides of the polarized plate, thus lowering the yield, as in the case of the polarizing plate. 
     In the case of a composite film of an increased thickness, such as a film obtained on bonding the phase difference film and the polarizing plate, cutting chips tend to be produced on severing. Moreover, if the composite film is severed directly before the bonding of the substrate and the composite film, the cutting chips tend to be introduced into the space between the substrate and the composite film. 
     In the roll type polarizing plate film, the roll is increased in width and weight, with the increasing size of the display image, with the result that difficulties are met in exchanging the rolls. 
     Moreover, since it is difficult to visually recognize the axis of transmission of the polarizing plate, it is difficult to exercise control over the direction of transmission of the polarizing plate, so that an error in the bonding direction is likely to be produced. Additionally, when bonding the pieces of the polarizing plate one by one to the LCD, it is difficult to bond the chips of the polarizing plate simultaneously on both sides of the LCD, as the directions of the axes of light transmission of the chips of the polarizing plate are set to design directions, because one lateral side of the LCD is supported by suction in many cases. 
     It is noted that, when bonding the polarizing plates as the longitudinal or transverse direction of the LCD image surface is inclined 45° relative to the longitudinal direction of the roll, it is difficult to bond the polarizing plates simultaneously continuously to both substrate surfaces, as the axes of light transmission of the polarizing plates are set to the design directions, as described above, because a carrier is needed to keep the angle of the LCD at a constant magnitude. Moreover, when bonding a polarizing plate to one substrate surface and subsequently bonding another polarizing plate to the opposite substrate surface, angular adjustment is needed in re-loading the substrate from the first carrier to the second carrier, so that a complex mechanism is needed for automation. 
     In addition, in the conventional polarizing plate bonding apparatus, there are occasions where the tacky surface in a roll portion responsible for changing the film supply direction in the apparatus becomes roughed when the film supply is halted in conjunction with cessation of the substrate transport, with the film thickness of the adhesive material becoming thicker or thinner to produce a so-called stop mark, thus possibly deteriorating the display quality. 
     Thus there is much desired in the art. 
     It is a first object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for bonding a polarizing plate which are superior in the operating efficiency and in the yield of the polarizing plate. 
     It is a second object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for bonding a polarizing plate in which a composite film composed of the phase difference film and the polarizing plate bonded together may be produced at a high yield. 
     It is a third object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for bonding a polarizing plate in which cutting chips are not liable to be intruded into a spacing between the substrate and the film even when the film is cut directly before bonding. 
     It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for bonding a polarizing plate in which roll exchange operations may be carried out easily. 
     It is a fifth object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for bonding a polarizing plate in which the polarizing plate can be bonded simultaneously to each substrate surface. 
     It is a sixth object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for bonding a polarizing plate in which, when bonding the polarizing plate to each substrate surface, control on the direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate can be exercised easily. 
     It is a seventh object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for bonding a polarizing plate in which it is possible to prohibit stop marks on the adhesive film surface from being produced. 
     (First Solution) 
     In a first aspect, the present invention (first solution) provides a polarizing plate bonding apparatus comprising cutting means for cutting at least a polarizing plate and an adhesive layer of a strip-shaped film, composed of a polarizing plate and a release film bonded to the polarizing plate with interposition of the adhesive layer, so as to leave the release film uncut, when a forward end side pre-severed end face of the strip-shaped film perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped film has traveled a length corresponding to a length of a substrate, to form a film piece, release film separating means for separating the release film from the film piece severed by the cutting, and bonding means for bonding a tacky surface of the film piece freed of the release film to a mating position of the substrate so that a forward end side end face of the transported substrate is parallel to the severed end face of the film piece. 
     In a second aspect, the present invention (first solution) provides a polarizing plate bonding method comprising a cutting step of cutting at least a polarizing plate and an adhesive layer of a strip-shaped film, composed of the polarizing plate and a release film bonded to the polarizing plate, with interposition of the adhesive layer, when a forward end side severed end face of the strip-shaped film perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped film has traveled a length corresponding to a length of a substrate, to form a film piece so as to leave the release film uncut, a release film separating step of separating the release film from the film piece severed by the cutting, and a bonding step of bonding a tacky surface of the film piece freed of the release film to a mating position of the substrate so that a forward end side end face of the transported substrate is parallel to the severed end face of the film piece. 
     In a third aspect, the present invention (first solution) provides a polarizing plate bonding method comprising a step of reeling out a strip-shaped film from a roll of the strip-shaped film of a preset width, composed of a polarizing plate and a release film bonded to the polarizing plate, with interposition of the adhesive layer, and sending the film along a longitudinal direction thereof, a step of cutting at least the polarizing plate and the adhesive layer of the strip-shaped film, each time a forward end side severed end face of the strip-shaped film perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped film has traveled up to a length corresponding to a length of a substrate, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped film, to form a film piece so as to leave the release film uncut, a release film separating step of separating the release film from the film piece severed by the cutting, a step of supplying the film piece, freed of the release film, in meeting with the position of the substrate transported, and a step of bonding the tacky surface of the supplied film piece to a mating position of the substrate so that the forward end side end face of the transported substrate is parallel to the severed end face of the film piece. 
     (Second Solution) 
     In one aspect, the present invention (second solution) provides a polarizing plate bonding apparatus comprising cutting means for cutting a first strip-shaped film which is composed of a polarizing plate and a release film bonded to the polarizing plate with interposition of an adhesive layer, and which is supplied from a front plate surface of a substrate being transported, and a second strip-shaped film which is composed of a polarizing plate and a release film bonded to the polarizing plate with interposition of an adhesive layer, and which is supplied from a reverse plate surface of the substrate being transported, when forward side pre-severed end faces along a proceeding direction of the first and second strip-shaped films extending in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the first and second strip-shaped films have traveled a distance corresponding to a length of the substrate, in such a manner that at least the polarizing plates and the adhesive layers of the first and second strip-shaped films are severed along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, with the release film remaining uncut, a direction of an axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the second strip-shaped film being perpendicular to a direction of an axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the first strip-shaped film when the first and second strip-shaped films are bonded together on the release film sides thereof, release film separating means for separating the release films from a first film piece severed by the cutting of the first strip-shaped film and a second film piece severed by the cutting of the first strip-shaped film, and bonding means for bonding a tacky surface of the first film piece, freed of the release film, to a mating front side plate surface of the substrate so that the severed end face of the first film piece is parallel to the forward side end face along a transporting direction of the substrate, and for bonding a tacky surface of the second film piece, freed of the release film, to a mating reverse side plate surface of the substrate so that the severed end face of the second film piece is parallel to the forward side end face along the transporting direction of the substrate. 
     In a second aspect, the present invention (second solution) provides a polarizing plate bonding apparatus comprising release film separating means for separating a release film from a first strip-shaped film, comprised of a polarizing plate and a release film bonded to the polarizing plate with interposition of an adhesive layer, the first strip-shaped film being supplied from a front plate surface side of a substrate being transported, and from a second strip-shaped film, comprised of a polarizing plate and a release film bonded to the polarizing plate with interposition of an adhesive layer, the second strip-shaped film being supplied from a reverse plate surface side of the substrate being transported, with a direction of an axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the second strip-shaped film being perpendicular to a direction of an axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the first strip-shaped film when the release film of the second strip-shaped film is bonded to the release film of the first strip-shaped film, bonding means for bonding a tacky surface of the first strip-shaped film, freed of the release film, to a mating front plate surface of the substrate so that a proceeding direction of the first strip-shaped film coincides with the transport direction of the substrate, and for bonding a tacky surface of the second strip-shaped film, freed of the release film, to a mating reverse plate surface of the substrate so that the proceeding direction of the second strip-shaped film coincides with the transport direction of the substrate, and cutting means for cutting the first and second strip-shaped films, bonded to both surfaces of the substrate by the bonding means, in a direction parallel to the forward end face or the rear end face along the transport direction of the substrate. 
     In a third aspect, the present invention (second solution) provides a polarizing plate bonding apparatus comprising first transport means for transporting the substrate with one end surface thereof perpendicular to the proceeding direction, first bonding means for bonding a tacky surface of a first film piece, having a polarizing plate, to a mating plate surface piece of the substrate so that the pre-severed end face of the first film piece is parallel to an end face along the proceeding direction of the substrate transported by the first transporting means, second transporting means for transporting the substrate transported by the first transporting means along a direction perpendicular to the transport direction by the first transport means, and second bonding means for bonding a tacky surface of a second film piece to a mating plate surface of the substrate opposite to the surface thereof to which has been bonded the first film piece, so that the pre-severed end face of the second film piece is parallel to the end face along the proceeding direction of the substrate transported by the second transport means. The second film piece has a polarizing plate, and is supplied from a plate surface opposite to the surface bonded to the first film piece of the substrate transported by the second transport means. The direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the second film piece is perpendicular to the direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the first film piece when the tacky surface of the polarizing plate of the second film piece is bonded to the tacky surface of the polarizing plate of the first film piece. 
     In a fourth aspect, the present invention (second solution) provides a polarizing plate bonding apparatus comprising first transport means for transporting a substrate with an end face thereof perpendicular to the proceeding direction, first cutting means for cutting a tacky surface of a first strip-shaped film having a polarizing plate, along a direction parallel to the forward or rear end face along the transport direction of the substrate so that the proceeding direction of the first strip-shaped film is parallel to the end face along the proceeding direction of the substrate transported by the first transport means, second transport means for transporting the substrate transported by the first transport means along a direction perpendicular to the transport direction by the first transport means, and second cutting means for cutting along a direction parallel to the forward or rear end face along the transport direction of the substrate. To a surface of this substrate opposite to the surface thereof bonded to the film piece of the first strip-shaped film is bonded a tacky surface of a second strip-shaped film, so that the severed end face of the second strip-shaped film is parallel to the end face along the proceeding direction of the substrate transported by the second transport means. The second strip-shaped film has a polarizing plate and being supplied from a plate surface side of the substrate transported by the second transport means which is opposite to the substrate surface bonded to the first film piece. The axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the second strip-shaped film is perpendicular to the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the first strip-shaped film when the release film side of the second strip-shaped film is bonded to the release film side of the first strip-shaped film. 
     In a fifth aspect, the present invention (second solution) provides a method for bonding a polarizing plate comprising a step of cutting a first strip-shaped film including a polarizing plate and a release film bonded thereto with interposition of an adhesive layer, and a second strip-shaped film including a polarizing plate and a release film bonded thereto with interposition of an adhesive layer, when the pre-severed end faces of the first and second strip-shaped films along the proceeding direction thereof perpendicular to the longitudinal direction have traveled a distance corresponding to the length of a substrate, so that at least the polarizing plates and the adhesive layers of the first and second strip-shaped films are severed along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, with the exception of the release layer which remains uncut, a step of separating the release films of the first and second strip-shaped films, severed by the cutting of the first and second strip-shaped films, and a step of bonding the tacky surface of the first film piece, freed of the release film, to a mating front side surface of the first strip-shaped film, so that the severed end face of the first film piece is parallel to the forward end face along the transport direction of the substrate, and bonding the tacky surface of the second film piece, freed of the release film, to a mating reverse side surface of the second strip-shaped film, so that the severed end face of the second film piece is parallel to the forward end face along the transport direction of the substrate. The first strip-shaped film is supplied from the front plate surface side of substrate being transported, while the second strip-shaped film is supplied from the reverse plate surface side of a substrate being transported. The direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the second strip-shaped film is perpendicular to the direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the first strip-shaped film when the release film of the second strip-shaped film is bonded to the release film of the first strip-shaped film, a step of separating the release films of the first and second strip-shaped films, severed by the cutting of the first and second strip-shaped films, and a step of bonding the tacky surface of the first film piece, freed of the release film, to a mating front side surface of the first strip-shaped film, so that the severed end face of the first film piece is parallel to the forward end face along the transport direction of the substrate, and bonding the tacky surface of the second film piece, freed of the release film, to a mating reverse side surface of the second strip-shaped film, so that the severed end face of the second film piece is parallel to the forward end face along the transport direction of the substrate. 
     In a sixth aspect, the present invention (second solution) provides a method for bonding a polarizing plate comprising a step of separating a release film from each of a first strip-shaped film and a second strip-shaped film, the first strip-shaped film including a polarizing plate and the release film bonded thereto with interposition of an adhesive layer, the first strip-shaped film being supplied from the front plate surface side of a substrate being transported; the second strip-shaped film including a polarizing plate and the release film bonded thereto with interposition of an adhesive layer, the second strip-shaped film being supplied from the reverse plate surface side of a substrate being transported; the direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the second strip-shaped film being perpendicular to the direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the first strip-shaped film when the release film of the second strip-shaped film is bonded to the release film of the first strip-shaped film, a bonding step of bonding the tacky surface of the first strip-shaped film, freed of the release film, to a mating front plate surface of the substrate so that the proceeding direction of the first strip-shaped film coincides with the transport direction of the substrate, and bonding the tacky surface of the second strip-shaped film, freed of the release film, to a mating reverse plate surface of the substrate so that the proceeding direction of the second strip-shaped film coincides with the transport direction of the substrate, and a cutting step of severing the first strip-shaped film and the second strip-shaped film, bonded to both surfaces of the substrate by the bonding means, along the direction parallel to the forward or rear end faces along the transport direction of the substrate. 
     In a seventh aspect, the present invention (second solution) provides a method for bonding a polarizing plate comprising a step of transporting a substrate with one end face of the substrate perpendicular to the proceeding direction, a step of bonding a tacky surface of a first film piece, having a polarizing plate, to a mating plate surface piece of the substrate so that the severed end face of the first film piece is parallel to the forward side end face along the transport direction of the substrate, a step of changing the direction of transport of the transported substrate and transporting the substrate along the so changed direction, and a step of bonding a tacky surface of the second film piece to a plate surface of the substrate opposite to the substrate surface to which the first film piece has been bonded, so that the severed end face of the second film piece is parallel to a forward end face along the transport direction of the substrate; the second film piece including a polarizing plate and being supplied from the plate surface of the substrate opposite to the substrate surface to which the first film piece has been bonded; the direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the second strip-shaped film being perpendicular to the direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the first strip-shaped film when the tacky surface of the polarizing plate is bonded to the tacky surface of the first strip-shaped film 
     In an eighth aspect, the present invention (second solution) provides a method for bonding a polarizing plate comprising a step of transporting a substrate with one end face of the substrate perpendicular to the proceeding direction, a step of cutting a tacky surface of a first strip-shaped film, having a polarizing plate, along a direction parallel to the forward or rear side end face along the transport direction of the substrate, bonded to one mating plate surface, so that the proceeding direction of the first strip-shaped film is parallel to the forward side end face along the transport direction of the substrate, a second transport step of changing the direction of transport of the transported substrate and transporting the substrate along the so changed direction, and a step of cutting along a direction parallel to the forward or rear end face along the transport direction of the substrate, to a plate surface of which opposite to the plate surface carrying the film piece of the first strip-shaped film has been bonded a tacky surface of the second strip-shaped film, so that the severed end face of the second strip-shaped film is parallel to the end face along the proceeding direction of the substrate. The second strip-shaped film has a polarizing plate and is supplied from a plate surface side of the substrate transported by the second transport means which is opposite to the substrate surface bonded to the first film piece. The axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the second strip-shaped film is perpendicular to the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of said first strip-shaped film when the release film side of the second strip-shaped film is bonded to the release film side of the first strip-shaped film. 
     (Third Solution) 
     In a first aspect, the present invention (third solution) provides a polarizing plate bonding apparatus comprising release film separating means for separating a release film from a strip-shaped film comprised of a polarizing plate and the release film bonded thereto with interposition of an adhesive layer, the strip-shaped film being supplied from one plate surface of a substrate being transported, bonding means for bonding a tacky surface of the strip-shaped film, freed of the release film, so that the proceeding direction of the strip-shaped film coincides with the transport direction of the substrate, and cutting means for cutting the strip-shaped film, bonded to one surface of the substrate by the bonding means, along a direction parallel to a forward or rear end face along the transport direction of the substrate. 
     In a second aspect, the present invention (third solution) provides a method for bonding a polarizing plate comprising 
     a step of separating a release film from a strip-shaped film comprised of a polarizing plate and the release film bonded thereto with interposition of an adhesive layer, the strip-shaped film being supplied from one plate surface of a substrate being transported; 
     a step of bonding a tacky surface of the strip-shaped film, freed of the release film, to a mating plate surface of the substrate, so that the proceeding direction of the strip-shaped film coincides with the transport direction of the substrate; and 
     a step of severing the strip-shaped film, bonded to one surface of the substrate by the bonding, along a direction parallel to the forward or rear end face along the transport direction of the substrate. 
     (Fourth Solution) 
     In a first aspect, the present invention (fourth solution) provides a polarizing plate bonding apparatus comprising release film separating means for separating a release film from a strip-shaped film comprised of a polarizing plate and the release film bonded thereto with interposition of an adhesive layer, the strip-shaped film being supplied from one plate surface of the substrate transported, in a state such that at least the polarizing plate and the adhesive film are severed so that at least one side of a rectangle of the strip-shaped film in a film surface area registering with the substrate is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film, with the release film remaining uncut, bonding means for bonding at least a tacky surface within the rectangle of the strip-shaped film to a mating plate surface of the substrate, so that the proceeding direction of the strip-shaped film coincides with the transport direction of the substrate, and selvedge separating means for separating selvedges of the strip-shaped film other than the inner area of the rectangle from the substrate. 
     In a second aspect, the present invention (fourth solution) provides a polarizing plate bonding apparatus comprising cutting means for cutting at least a polarizing plate and an adhesive layer of a strip-shaped film, comprised of the polarizing plate and a release layer bonded thereto with interposition of an adhesive layer, so as to leave the release film uncut, the strip-shaped film being supplied from one plate surface side of a substrate being transported, so that at least one side of a rectangle in a film surface area mating with the substrate is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film, release film separating means for separating the release film from the strip-shaped film cut by the cutting means, bonding means for bonding a tacky surface of an inner area of the rectangle of the strip-shaped film, freed of the release film, to a mating plate surface of the substrate, so that the proceeding direction of the strip-shaped film coincides with the transport direction of the substrate, and selvedge separating means for separating a selvedge of the strip-shaped film other than the inner area of the rectangle from the substrate. 
     In a third aspect, the present invention (fourth solution) provides a polarizing plate bonding apparatus comprising release film separating means for separating a release film from a strip-shaped film, comprised of a polarizing plate and the release layer bonded thereto with interposition of an adhesive layer, the strip-shaped film being supplied from one plate surface of a substrate being transported, bonding means for bonding at least a tacky surface of the strip-shaped film, freed of the release film, to a mating plate surface of the substrate, so that the proceeding direction of the strip-shaped film coincides with the transport direction of the substrate, cutting means for cutting the strip-shaped film within an area in which the strip-shaped film has been bonded to the substrate, within a rectangle corresponding to the substrate, so that at least one side of the rectangle is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and selvedge separating means for separating selvedges of the strip-shaped film other than the inner area of the rectangle from the substrate. 
     In a fourth aspect, the present invention (fourth solution) provides a method for bonding a polarizing plate comprising a step of separating a release film from a strip-shaped film comprised of a polarizing plate and the release film bonded thereto with interposition of an adhesive layer and supplied from one plate surface of a substrate being transported, in a state in which at least the polarizing plate and the release film are pre-severed, with the release film remaining uncut, so that at least one side of a rectangle corresponding in profile to the substrate in an area of a film surface is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film, a step of bonding a tacky surface of an inner portion of the rectangle of the strip-shaped film, freed of the release film, to a mating plate surface of the substrate, so that the proceeding direction of the strip-shaped film coincides with the transport direction of the substrate, and a step of separating a selvedge of the strip-shaped film other than the inner portion of the rectangle, from the substrate. 
     In a fifth aspect, the present invention (fourth solution) provides a method for bonding a polarizing plate comprising a step of severing at least a polarizing plate and an adhesive layer from a strip-shaped film, comprised of a polarizing plate and the release film bonded thereto with interposition of an adhesive film, and supplied from one plate surface of a substrate being transported, with the release film remaining uncut, so that at least one side of a rectangle corresponding in profile to the substrate in an area of a film surface is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film, a step of separating the release film from the strip-shaped film severed in the cutting step, a step of bonding at least a tacky surface in an inner portion of the rectangle of the strip-shaped film, freed of the release film, to a mating plate surface of the substrate, so that the proceeding direction of the strip-shaped film coincides with the transport direction of the substrate, and a step of separating a selvedge of the strip-shaped film other than the inner portion of the rectangle, from the substrate. 
     In a sixth aspect, the present invention (fourth solution) provides a method for bonding a polarizing plate comprising a step of separating a release film from a strip-shaped film comprised of a polarizing plate and the release film bonded thereto with interposition of an adhesive film, the strip-shaped film being supplied from one plate surface of a substrate transported, a step of bonding at least a tacky surface of the strip-shaped film, freed of the release film, to a mating plate surface of the substrate, so that the proceeding direction of the strip-shaped film coincides with the transport direction of the substrate, a step of cutting the strip-shaped film within an area in which the strip-shaped film is bonded to the substrate, within a rectangle mating in profile to the substrate, so that at least one side of the rectangle is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film, and a step of separating a selvedge of the strip-shaped film other than the inner portion of the rectangle from the substrate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic side view showing the structure of a strip-shaped film used in an embodiment of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus of the present invention (first solution). 
         FIGS. 2  (A) and (B) are a plan view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, showing the structure of a strip-shaped film used in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus of the present invention (first solution). 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic side view showing the structure of a first release film separating means in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus of the present invention (first solution). 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic side view showing the structure of a second release film separating means in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus of the present invention (first solution). 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic side view showing the structure of a third release film separating means in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus of the present invention (first solution). 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic side view showing the structure of an improved modification of the third release film separating means in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus of the present invention (first solution). 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic side view showing the structure of an improved modification of the third release film separating means in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus of the present invention (first solution). 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic side view showing the structure of a fourth release film separating means in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus of the present invention (first solution). 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic side view showing the structure of a first bonding means in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus of the present invention (first solution). 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic side view showing the structure of a second bonding means in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus of the present invention (first solution). 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic side view showing the structure of a second bonding means in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus of the present invention (first solution). 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic view showing a first processing instance of a substrate bonded by the polarizing plate bonding apparatus of the present invention (first solution). 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic side view showing the structure of a strip-shaped film used in a modified embodiment of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus of the present invention (first solution). 
         FIGS. 14  (A) and (B) are a plan view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, showing the structure of a strip-shaped film used in a conventional polarizing plate bonding apparatus. 
         FIG. 15  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to an embodiment 1 of the present invention (second solution). 
         FIGS. 16  (A) and (B) are a plan view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, showing the structure of a strip-shaped film used in a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 1 of the present invention (second solution). 
         FIG. 17  is a developed perspective view schematically showing the relationship between the substrate and the stretching direction of the polarizing plate bonded to each substrate surface by the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 1 of the present invention (second solution). 
         FIG. 18  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 2 of the present invention (second solution). 
         FIG. 19  is a developed perspective view schematically showing the relationship between the substrate and the stretching direction of the polarizing plate bonded to each substrate surface by the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 1 of the present invention (second solution). 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view schematically showing the structure of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to an embodiment 3 of the present invention (second solution). 
         FIG. 21  is a plan view schematically showing the structure of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 3 of the present invention (second solution). 
         FIG. 22  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a first transport unit of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to an embodiment 3 of the present invention (second solution). 
         FIG. 23  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a second transport unit of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 3 of the present invention (second solution). 
         FIG. 24  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a first transport unit of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to an embodiment 4 of the present invention (second solution). 
         FIG. 25  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a second transport unit of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 4 of the present invention (second solution). 
         FIG. 26  is a side view and a plan view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 1 of the present invention (third solution). 
         FIG. 27  is a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a strip-shaped film used in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 1 of the present invention (third solution). 
         FIG. 28  is a side view schematically showing the operation of cutting means of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 1 of the present invention (third solution). 
         FIG. 29  is a side view and a plan view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 2 of the present invention (third solution). 
         FIG. 30  is a side view schematically showing the operation of cutting means of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 2 of the present invention (third solution). 
         FIG. 31  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 3 of the present invention (third solution). 
         FIG. 32  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 1 of the present invention (fourth solution). 
         FIG. 33  is a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a polarizing plate used in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 1 of the present invention (fourth solution). 
         FIG. 34  is a perspective view schematically showing the state of bonding and selvedge separation in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 1 of the present invention (fourth solution). 
         FIG. 35  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 2 of the present invention (fourth solution). 
         FIG. 36  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 3 of the present invention (fourth solution). 
         FIG. 37  is a perspective view schematically showing the state of bonding and selvedge separation in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 3 of the present invention (fourth solution). 
         FIG. 38  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 4 of the present invention (fourth solution). 
         FIG. 39  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to an embodiment 5 of the present invention (fourth solution) 
     
    
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiment of the First Solution 
     Referring to the drawings, certain preferred embodiments of the present invention (first solution) are explained in detail.  FIG. 1  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention (first solution).  FIG. 2  is a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing a band-shaped film used in a polarizing plate bonding device according to an embodiment of the present invention (first solution). 
       FIG. 1  shows a polarizing plate bonding apparatus  101  for bonding a polarizing plate to a substrate. The polarizing plate bonding apparatus  101  includes a cutting means  102  for cutting at least a polarizing plate and an adhesive layer of a strip-shaped film  110 , composed of the polarizing plate to which a release film  111  is bonded with the adhesive layer therebetween, in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped film  110 , and a release film  111  bonded to the polarizing plate with interposition of the adhesive layer, so as to leave the release film  111  uncut, when a forward-facing severed end of the strip-shaped film perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped film has traveled a length corresponding to the length of a substrate  120 , a release film separating means  103  for separating the release film  111  from a film piece  119  severed by the cutting, and bonding means  104 ,  105  for bonding the tacky surface of the film piece  119  freed of the release film  111  to a corresponding position of the substrate  120  so that the forward-facing end of the substrate  120  is parallel to the severed end of the film piece  119 , such that the film pieces of the polarizing plate can be bonded to the substrate continuously automatically to raise the yield of the polarizing plate to 100%. 
     A strip-shaped film  110  according to the present invention (first solution) is a film comprised of a polarizing plate and a release film  111  bonded thereto via an adhesive layer, and may, for example, a circular polarizing film comprised of a polarizing plate  116  and a phase difference film  113  bonded together as shown in  FIG. 2(B) . Incases where it is used for an LCD for TN liquid crystal, the polarizing plate  116  has its direction of the axis of transmission oriented obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the film. The angle of inclination between the longitudinal direction of the film and the axis of transmission is preferably not less than 20° and not more than 70° and more preferably not less than 40° and not more than 50°. It is usually 45° (see  FIG. 2(A) ). As to the method for producing this sort of the polarizing plate, the JP Patent Kokai JP-A-2002-86554 should be referred. Preferably, protective films  115 ,  117  are bonded to both surfaces of the polarizing plate  116 . This polarizing plate  116  is such a polarizing plate stretched obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the film and hence is termed below an “obliquely stretched polarizing plate”. With use of the obliquely stretched polarizing plate  116 , continuous film supply becomes possible. In the case of a circular polarizing film, composed of the obliquely stretched polarizing plate  116  (protective film  115 ) and a phase difference film  113 , bonded thereto via an adhesive layer  114 , the phase difference film  113  as used preferably has an axis of orientation perpendicular or parallel to the longitudinal direction of the film. By so doing, the circular polarizing film can be continuously supplied. The polarizing plate  116  is of a thickness on the order of for example 5 through 100 μm. The width of the polarizing plate  116  is suitably selected depending on the size of the substrate to which it is bonded. It is sufficient that the adhesives  112 ,  114  are ordinary adhesives used for bonding the substrate and an optical film to each other, such as an acrylic-, polyurethane-, epoxy- or rubber-based adhesive. The release film  111  is of a release material which may be a routine release material used for an optical film, such as a polyethylene terephthalate film or a polyester film. On the surface of the polarizing plate  116  opposite to the surface thereof bonded to the release film  111 , an inserting paper sheet  118  may be bonded for protecting the film surface from possible grazing. The strip-shaped film  110  is preferably reeled out from a payout (real-out) roll  106  (see  FIG. 1 ). Meanwhile, in cases where the polarizing plate  116  is used for an LCD for VA liquid crystal or a liquid crystal for an IPS system, the polarizing plate  116  may be used, the direction of the axis of light transmission of which is oriented parallel or at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the film. 
     A substrate  120  is a flat plate shaped member, such as a glass substrate or a plastic substrate, used for a display apparatus, such as an LCD or a plasma display apparatus. The substrate  120  may be a substrate on which component parts, such as liquid crystal cell or electrode, are previously formed. The substrate  120  may be substantially quadrilateral, such as a square or a rectangle (see  FIGS. 1 and 2(A) ). 
     The cutting means  102  may be exemplified by a push-cut or a dicing type cutter, used for ordinary cutting of an optical film, provided with, for example, a cutter edge, a cylinder driving the cutter edge, and with a lower dead point adjustment member for adjusting the lower dead point of the cutter edge. By adjusting the lower dead point to not more than 0.5 times as thick as the release film  111 , the other layers of the strip-shaped film  110 , such as the polarizing plate or the adhesive layer, may be cut in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film (see  FIG. 1 ). In cases where the lower dead point is more than 0.5 times, the other layers of the strip-shaped film  110 , such as the polarizing plate or the adhesive layer, may remain uncut, whereas, in cases where the lower dead point is less than 0 times, even the release film  111  may be cut. 
     The release film separating means  103  is a means (roll in  FIG. 1 ) for separating the release film from the strip-shaped film (film piece), and may, for example, be configured as follows: 
       FIG. 3  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a first release film separating means in a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention (first solution). As this first release film separating means, an edge member  131  having a rounded edge at the foremost part thereof is used (see  FIG. 3 ). With an edge end of the edge member  131  directed in the direction of travel the film piece  119 , one blade surface of the edge member  131  is abutted against the surface of the release film  111  to cause the edge end to fold only the release film  111  towards the other blade surface of the edge member  131 . The film piece  119 , now freed of the release film  111 , is allowed to proceed in the forward direction, in order to take up only the release film  111 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts a side view schematically showing the structure of a second release film separating means in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention (first solution). As the second release film separating means, a suction conveyor  132  is used, in which an endless belt  136 , provided with air vent holes, is placed on pulleys  134 ,  135  provided on both ends of a frame, not shown, and air is sucked from an inner side of the belt  136  by a suction table  133  in a flattened area of the belt  136  to suck the film piece  119  on the belt  136  to transport the so sucked film piece (see  FIG. 4 ). The suction area on the belt  136  of the suction conveyor  132  is abutted against the surface of the release film  111  of the film piece  119 . The transport side pulley  134  causes only the release film  111  to be folded back towards the return path of the belt  136  to take up only the release film  111  as the film piece  119  freed of the release film  111  is allowed to travel in the forward direction. The transport side pulley  134  operates as a separating roll. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a third release film separating means in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention (first solution).  FIG. 6  depicts a side view showing the structure of an improved third release film separating means in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus embodying the present invention (first solution).  FIG. 7  depicts a side view showing the structure of a further improved third release film separating means in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus embodying the present invention (first solution). As the third release film separating means, a suction conveyor  137  again is used. However, the suction area on the belt of the suction conveyor  137  is abutted on the surface of a film piece  119  opposite to a release film  111 , and a separating roll  142  is abutted on the surface of the release film  111  of the film piece  119  in an abutment area to the belt  141 . Then the film piece  119  is sucked and transported by the suction conveyor  137 , only the release film  111  is folded back by the separating roll  142 , and the film piece  119 , now freed of the release film  111 , continues its travel in the forward direction to take up only the release film  111  (see  FIG. 5 ). In the present embodiments, the suction conveyor  137  operates as a film piece supplying means for supplying the film piece  119 . Meanwhile, the film piece  119 , the separating roll  142  and the suction conveyor  137  may be provided not on the upper surface but on the lower surface of the substrate  120  (see  FIG. 6 ). The separating roll  142  may be provided with a nip function for thrusting against the belt  141 . In cases where the separating roll  142  is abutted against the transport side pulley  139  of the suction conveyor  137 , no suction operation is needed (see  FIG. 7 ). 
       FIG. 8  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a fourth release film separating means in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention (first solution). As the fourth release film separating means, a suction drum  146  evacuating a drum member having air vent holes from its inner side by suction for sucking the film piece  119  onto the cylindrical surface of the drum member and for transporting the so sucked film piece, is used (see  FIG. 8 ). A drive of a separating roll  147 , including a drive for supplying the film piece  119 , and a drive of a suction drum  146  are controlled to cause rotation of the suction drum as the surface opposite to the tacky surface of the film piece  119 , freed of the release film  111  by the separating roll  147 , is attracted to the surface of the suction drum  146  to transport the film piece  119 . The supply of the film piece  119  is halted for a preset time as the suction drum  146  continues its rotation. After a preset time, the next film piece  119 ′ is supplied. This sequence of operations is repeated (see  FIG. 8 ). The suction drum  146  is a pressure roll as well and, if used with a receiving roll  148 , operates as a bonding means. This operation is convenient in cases where the film piece with a surface area smaller than the plate surface area of the substrate is bonded to the substrate at a preset spacing from the substrate edge (so-called bonding with a margin). Meanwhile, in cases where the length in the forward direction of the film piece  119  is coincident with the length in the forward direction of the substrate, plural film pieces  119  may be supplied to the suction drum  146  in succession, without providing a gap between the film pieces, as the driving of the separating roll  147  is synchronized with the driving of the suction drum  146  (that is, without halting the driving of the separating roll  147 ). 
     Meanwhile, the release film  111  separated from the strip-shaped film  110  (film piece  119 ) may be taken up on the take-up roll  107  for recovery (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     The bonding means  104 ,  105  represent means for bonding the tacky surface of the film piece  119 , freed of the release film  111 , to a mating position on the substrate, so that the severed side of the film piece  119  is parallel to the end face in the forward direction of the substrate (see  FIG. 1 ). The following means may, for example, be used. 
       FIG. 9  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a first bonding means in a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention (first solution). As the first bonding means, an oscillating type suction table  151  for sucking and holding the substrate on the upper table surface by sucking and evacuating from the inner side of the table for transporting the so sucked and held substrate, and a pressure bonding roll  152  for bonding the film piece  119  on the substrate by pressuring towards the oscillating type suction table  151  (see  FIG. 9 ), are used. As the oscillating type suction table  151 , which has sucked and held the substrate  120 , is moved, the film piece  119 , freed of the release film  111 , is pressed by the pressure bonding roll  152  from the upper surface side of the substrate  120  for bonding the film piece  119  to a preset location of the substrate  120 . 
       FIG. 10  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a second bonding means in a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention (first solution). As the second bonding means, an oscillating type suction table  154  similar to the oscillating type suction table used in the first bonding means, a pressure bonding table  155  similar to the pressure bonding table used in the first bonding means, and a stationary type suction table  157  for sucking the film piece  119 , are used (see  FIG. 10 ). As the oscillating type suction table  154 , which has sucked and held the substrate  120 , is moved, the surface opposite to the tacky surface of the film piece  119 , freed of the release film  111 , is sucked by the stationary type suction table  157 , and slid. The film piece  119 , thus slid, is pressed by the pressure bonding table  155  from the upper side of the substrate  120  for bonding the film piece  119  onto a preset location on the substrate  120 . 
       FIG. 11  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a third bonding means in a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention (first solution). As the third bonding means, a roller conveyor  158  for horizontally transporting the substrate  120  on an array of plural rolls, a pressure bonding roll  159  similar to the pressure bonding roll used in the first bonding means, a receiving roll  160  for transporting the substrate  120 , transported thereto, and for sustaining the pressure from the pressure bonding roll  159  from the under the roll  159 , and a stationary type suction table  162  similar to that used in the second bonding means, are used (see  FIG. 11 ). The substrate  120  is transported by the roller conveyor  158  to a spacing between the pressure bonding roll  159  and the receiving roll  160 , the film piece  119 , freed of the release film  111 , is slid as the surface of the film piece opposite to its tacky surface is sucked by the stationary type suction table  162 , and the so slid film piece  119  is pressed by the pressure bonding roll  159  from the upper surface of the substrate  120  to bond the film piece  119  to a preset location on the substrate  120 . 
     Meanwhile, the pressure bonding rolls ( 152  of  FIG. 9 ,  155  of  FIGS. 10 and 159  of  FIG. 11 ) and the receiving rolls of  FIGS. 8 and 160  of  FIG. 11 ) are rubber rolls or metal rolls. The rubber roll is preferably formed of rubber with a hardness of 60 to 80°. One of the pressure bonding rolls or the receiving rolls is preferably a rubber roll. In cases where two rolls are used, as shown in  FIG. 11 , a set of two rubber rolls of hardness of 60 to 80° or a set of a rubber roll of hardness of 60 to 80° and a metal roll is preferably used. The nip pressure of the two rolls at the time of bonding is preferably a linear pressure not more than 1 kg/cm. In cases where the hardness is less than 60°, pressure variations and hence pressure bonding variations are produced. With the hardness exceeding 80°, the substrate or the film tends to be damaged. Moreover, regarding the nip pressure, the linear pressure exceeding 1 kg/cm tends to damage the substrate or the film. 
     Next, a processing instance is explained. A film piece  119  may be bonded to each substrate  120  delivered to directly give a bonded substrate (see  FIG. 12 ). 
     Embodiment of the Second Solution 
     A first embodiment of the present invention (second solution) is now explained with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 15  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus of an embodiment 1 of the present invention (second solution).  FIG. 16  is a plan view (A) and a cross-sectional view (B) showing the structure of a strip-shaped film used in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus of the embodiment 1 of the present invention (second solution).  FIG. 17  is a developed perspective view schematically showing the relationship between the substrate and the stretching direction of the polarizing plate bonded to each substrate surface by the polarizing plate bonding apparatus of the embodiment 1 of the present invention (second solution). 
     A polarizing plate bonding apparatus  230  according to the embodiment 1 of the second solution, shown in  FIG. 15 , includes a first cutting means  231 A, a second cutting means  231 B, a first release film separating means  232 A, a second release film separating means  232 B, and a bonding means  233 . The first cutting means  231 A severs at least a polarizing plate and an adhesive layer of a first strip-shaped film  210 A, which is comprised of the polarizing plate having a release film  211 A bonded thereto with interposition of the adhesive layer and is supplied from the front side plate surface of a substrate  201  to be transported, when a forward-facing pre-severed end perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film  210 A has traveled a length corresponding to the length of the substrate, with the first cutting means thus cutting the film  210 A in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film so as to leave the release film  211 A uncut. The second cutting means  231 B severs at least a polarizing plate and an adhesive layer of a second strip-shaped film  210 B, which is comprised of the polarizing plate having a release film  211 B bonded thereto with interposition of the adhesive layer and is supplied from the reverse plate surface side of the substrate  201  to be transported, when a forward-facing pre-severed end face perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film  210 B has traveled a length corresponding to the length of the substrate, with the second cutting means thus cutting in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction so as to leave the release film  211 B uncut, with the direction of an axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the second strip-shaped film being at right angles to the direction of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the first strip-shaped film  210 A wherein the release film  211 B is combined with the release film  211 A of the first strip-shaped film  210 A. The first release film separating means  232 A separates the release film  211 A from a first film piece  219 A severed from the first strip-shaped film  210 A by the first cutting means  231 A. The second release film separating means  232 B separates the release film  211 B from a second film piece  219 B severed from the second strip-shaped film  210 B by the second cutting means  231 B. The bonding means  233  bonds the tacky surface of the first film piece  219 A, separated from the release film  211 A, to the corresponding front side plate surface of the substrate  201  so that the severed end face of the first film piece  219 A is parallel to the front side end face in the transporting direction of the substrate  201 , while also bonding the tacky surface of the second film piece  219 B, separated from the release film  211 B, to the corresponding reverse side plate surface of the substrate  201  so that the severed end face of the second film piece  219 B is parallel to the front side end face in the transporting direction of the substrate  201 . In this manner, the polarizing plate may be bonded to each substrate surface simultaneously, continuously and automatically, while the yield of the polarizing plate may be raised to 100%. Moreover, by using two reel-out rolls of the same kind, the two polarizing plates may be bonded to the substrate surfaces to intersect the directions of the axes of light transmission of the polarizing plates bonded with each other. 
     Referring to  FIG. 16(B) , the strip-shaped film ( 210 A,  210 B of  FIG. 15 ), as applied in the present invention (second solution), is composed of a polarizing plate  216  and a release film  211  bonded to the polarizing plate with interposition of adhesive layers  214 ,  212  (phase difference film  213 ). In cases where it is used for an LCD for TN liquid crystal, the polarizing plate  216  has the direction of the axis of light transmission oriented obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the film. The angle of inclination between the longitudinal direction of the film and the direction of the axis of the light transmission is preferably between 20° C. and 70° C. both inclusive and more preferably between 40° C. and 50° C. both inclusive and is ordinarily 45° (see  FIG. 16(A) ). As for the method for the preparation of this polarizing plate, JP Patent Kokai JP-A-2002-86554 should be referred. Preferably, protective films  215 ,  217  are bonded to both sides of the polarizing plate  216 . The polarizing plate  216  used here has been stretched obliquely relative to the longitudinal direction of the film and hence termed an “obliquely stretched polarizing plate”. With use of the obliquely stretched polarizing plate, it is possible to supply the film continuously. The first strip-shaped film  210 A and the second strip-shaped film  210 B may be used in such a combination that, when the first strip-shaped film  210 A and the second strip-shaped film  210 B are combined to each other with the release film  211 A of the first strip-shaped film  210 A and the release film  211 B of the second strip-shaped film  210 B abutting against each other, the direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the first strip-shaped film  210 A is perpendicular to the direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the second strip-shaped film  210 B. For example, in cases where the first strip-shaped film  210 A is used in which the direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate is oriented 70° relative to the longitudinal direction, the second strip-shaped film  210 B may be used in which the direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate is oriented 20° relative to the longitudinal direction. Preferably, the first strip-shaped film  210 A and the second strip-shaped film  210 B (first film piece  219 A and the second film piece  219 B) are used in which the directions of the oblique stretching (direction of the axis of transmission) when seen from the respective tacky surfaces are the same and equal to 45° (see  FIG. 17 ). The reason is that, with use of the strip-shaped films or film pieces having the same direction of the axis of light transmission, it is possible that the directions of the axes of light transmission intersect each other when the polarizing plates are bonded to both surfaces of the substrate  201 . Meanwhile, in cases where the polarizing plate  216  is used as LCD for a VA liquid crystal or as LCD for a liquid crystal of the IPS system, such a polarizing plate  216  may be used in which the direction of the axis of light transmission thereof is oriented parallel or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film. For example, in cases where the first strip-shaped film  210 A is used in which the direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate is oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction thereof, the second strip-shaped film  210 B may be used the direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate is oriented at right angles to the longitudinal direction thereof. 
     In the case of a circular polarizing film composed of the obliquely stretched polarizing plate  216  (protective film  215 ) and a phase difference film  213  bonded thereto with interposition of an adhesive layer  214 , such phase difference film  213  is preferably used which has an axis of orientation perpendicular or parallel to the longitudinal direction of the film. By so doing, the circular polarizing film can be supplied continuously. In the case of the circular polarizing film, if the axis of orientation of the phase difference film of the first strip-shaped film ( 210 A of  FIG. 15 ) is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the film, the axis of orientation of the phase difference film of the second strip-shaped film ( 210 B of  FIG. 15 ) is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film. 
     There is no particular limitation to the thickness of the polarizing plate  216 , which may, for example, be on the order of 5 through 100 μm. The width of the polarizing plate  216  may be suitably selected depending on the size of the substrate to be bonded. The first strip-shaped film ( 210 A of  FIG. 15 ) and the second strip-shaped film ( 210 B of  FIG. 15 ) may be of the same width. The adhesive layers  212 ,  214  may be of any common adhesives used for bonding a substrate and an optical film together, such as acrylic-, polyurethane-, epoxy- or rubber-based adhesive. The release film  211  is of a release material commonly used for an optical film, such as a polyethylene terephthalate film or a polyester film. A inserting paper sheet  218  for protecting the film surface against scratches etc. may be bonded to the surface of the polarizing plate opposite to the surface bonded to the release film  211 . The strip-shaped films  210 A,  210 B may be supplied from the reel-out rolls  234 A,  234 B (see  FIG. 15 ). 
     The substrate  201  is a flat-plate-shaped member, such as a glass substrate or a plastic substrate used in a display equipment such as an LCD, or a plasma display equipment. It may also be a substrate having component parts, such as a liquid crystal cell or an electrode, previously mounted thereon. The substrate  201  is preferably of a substantially quadrilateral shape, such as a square or a rectangle (see  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16(A) ). 
     A first cutting means  231 A and a second cutting means  231 B are a push-cut cutter or a dicing cutter etc. used for cutting an optical film having e.g., a cutter edge, a cylinder actuating the cutter edge and a lower dead point position adjustment member for adjusting the lower dead point position of the cutter edge. By adjusting the lower dead point position to not more than 0.5 times as thick as the release film  211 , the other layers of the strip-shaped film  210  excluding the release film  211  (with a thickness of 10 through 50 μm), e.g., the polarizing plate or the adhesive layer, can be cut in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film (referred to below as half-cutting) (see  FIG. 15 ). 
     A first release film separating means  232 A and a second release film separating means  232 B are means for separating the release films  211 A and  211 B from film pieces  219 A and  219 B, respectively (see  FIG. 15 ) and may be exemplified by a roller or a wedge member. 
     The release films  211 A and  211 B, separated from the film pieces  219 A and  219 B may be taken up on takeup rolls  235 A and  235 B, respectively, for recovery (see  FIG. 15 ). 
     A bonding means  233  is a means for bonding the tacky surfaces of two film pieces  219 A,  219 B, freed of the release films  211 A,  211 B, simultaneously to corresponding positions of the substrate  201  so that the end face toward the transport direction of the substrate, transported by transporting means  236 , will be parallel to the severed end faces of the film pieces  219 A,  219 B (see  FIG. 15 ). The bonding means  233  may, for example, be nip rolls (rubber or metal rolls) which thrust against both sides of the substrate. As for rolls, the combination of two rubber rolls with a hardness of 60 through 80° or the combination of one rubber roll with a hardness of 60 through 80° and a metal roll is preferred. The nip pressure of the rolls in bonding is preferably a linear pressure of 1 kg/cm or less. 
     The transporting means  236  is preferably a roller conveyor or a wheel conveyor horizontally transporting the substrate  201  on an array of rolls or wheels. More preferably, an outer roller tube or a wheel is mounted on a shaft rotating via a bearing. The outer roller tube or the wheel is preferably rotated with a surface speed coincident with the speed of the substrate being transported to prevent slip of the outer roller tube or the wheel which will damage the substrate. 
     An embodiment 2 (second solution) is now explained with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 18  is a side view schematically illustrating the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus.  FIG. 19  is a developed perspective view schematically illustrating the relationship between a substrate and stretching directions of polarizing plates bonded to both substrate surfaces by the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention (second solution). 
     Referring to  FIG. 18 , a polarizing plate bonding apparatus  240  according to embodiment 2 of the second solution includes a first release film separating means  241 A, a second release film separating means  241 B, a bonding means  242  and a cutting means  243 . The first release film separating means  241 A separates a release film  211 A from a first strip-shaped film  210 A, which is composed of a polarizing plate and the release film  211 A bonded thereto with interposition of an adhesive layer, and which is supplied from the front side plate surface of a substrate  201  to be transported. The second release film separating means  241 B separates a release film  211 B from a second strip-shaped film  210 B, which is composed of a polarizing plate and the release film  211 B bonded thereto with interposition of an adhesive layer and which is supplied from the reverse plate surface side of the substrate  201  to be transported. The direction of an axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the second strip-shaped film is at right angles to the direction of an axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the first strip-shaped film  210 A when the release film  211 B is combined to the release film  211 A of the first strip-shaped film  210 A. The bonding means  242  bonds the tacky surface of the first strip-shaped film  210 A, separated from the release film  211 A, to the corresponding front side plate surface of the substrate  201  so that the forward direction of the first strip-shaped film  211 A coincides with the transporting direction of the substrate  201 , while also bonding the tacky surface of the second strip-shaped film  210 B, separated from the release film  211 B, to the corresponding reverse side plate surface of the substrate  201  so that the proceeding direction of the second strip-shaped film  210 B coincides with the transporting direction of the substrate  201 . The cutting means  243  severs the first strip-shaped film  210 A and the second strip-shaped film  210 B, bonded by the bonding means  242  to both surfaces of the substrate  201 , in a direction parallel to the forward side end face or the rear end face in the transporting direction of the substrate  201 . In this manner, the polarizing plate may be bonded to each substrate surface simultaneously, continuously and automatically without stopping transportation of a substrate, while the yield of the polarizing plate may be raised to 100%. Moreover, employing two reel-out rolls of the same sort may bond the two polarizing plates to intersect the directions of the axes of light transmission of the polarizing plates bonded to the respective substrate surfaces with each other. 
     The release film separating means  241 A,  241 B, bonding means  242 , reel-out rolls  244 A,  244 B, takeup rolls  245 A,  245 B and transporting means  246  of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus  240  of embodiment 2 of the second solution (see  FIG. 18 ) are substantially the same as the release film separating means  232 A,  232 B, bonding means  233 , reel-out rolls  234 A,  234 B, takeup rolls  235 A,  235 B and transporting means  236 , respectively, of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus of embodiment 1 of the second solution (see  FIG. 15 ). The substrate  201  and the strip-shaped film  210 A,  210 B used in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus  240  of embodiment 2 of the second solution are similar to those used in embodiment 1 of the second solution. The location of the cutting means  243  of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus  240  of embodiment 2 of the second solution differs from that of the cutting means of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus of embodiment 1 of the second solution. Meanwhile, the bonding means  242  of  FIG. 18  differs in the fact that not the film piece but the unsevered strip-shaped films  210 A,  210 B are bonded to both sides of the substrate  201 . 
     The transporting means  246  of  FIG. 18  includes the cutting means  243  on a transport line in the downstream from the bonding means  242 . On the transporting means  246 , upstream from the bonding means  242 , the end face toward the transport direction of the substrate  201  is desirably abutted and transported at least before the bonding occurs, because this improves the yield of the polarizing plate. 
     The cutting means  243  of  FIG. 18  cuts the first strip-shaped film  210 A and the second strip-shaped film  210 B, bonded by the bonding means  242  to both surfaces of the substrate  201 , in a direction parallel to the forward side end face or the rear end face along the transport direction of the substrate  201 . Since the release films  211 A and  211 B are not bonded at this time to the first strip-shaped film  210 A and the second strip-shaped film  210 B, respectively, the first strip-shaped film  210 A and the second strip-shaped film  210 B are not half-cut, but are severed in their entirety substantially simultaneously. 
     The first strip-shaped film  210 A and the second strip-shaped film  210 B are preferably used which have the same oblique stretching direction (direction of the axis of light transmission) viewed from the respective tacky surfaces (see  FIG. 19 ). The reason is that employing the strip-shaped films of the same oblique stretching direction can intersect, the directions of the axes of light transmission when the polarizing plate is bonded to each surface of the substrate  201 . 
     Embodiment 3 of the present invention (second solution) is now explained with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 20  schematically shows the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 3 of the present invention (second solution).  FIG. 21  is a plan view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 3 of the present invention (second solution).  FIG. 22  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a first transport unit of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 3 of the present invention (second solution).  FIG. 23  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a second transport unit of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 3 of the present invention (second solution). 
     Referring to  FIG. 20 , the polarizing plate bonding apparatus of embodiment 3 of the second solution is roughly divided into a first transport unit, an inverting unit and a second transport unit. In the first transport unit, a substrate ( 201 A of  FIG. 21 ), supplied from a supply unit, is transported, a polarizing plate reeled out from the reel-out roll is half-cut at a preset length, a release film is separated, and the polarizing plate thus cut is bonded to the lower side of a substrate ( 201 B of  FIG. 21 ). In the inverting unit, the substrate transported from the first transport unit (a substrate on lower surface of which is bonded a polarizing plate;  201 B of  FIG. 21 ) is inverted upside down so that the end face of the inverted substrate toward the forward direction of the inverted substrate is perpendicular to the proceeding direction. The inverted substrate (a substrate on the upper surface of which is bonded a polarizing plate;  201 C of  FIG. 21 ) is sent to the second transport unit. In the second transport unit, the substrate sent from the inverting unit (a substrate on the upper surface of which is bonded a polarizing plate;  201 D of  FIG. 21 ) is transported in a direction perpendicular to the direction of transport of the substrate by the first transport unit. A polarizing plate reeled out from the reel-out roll is half-cut and freed of the release film. The so cut polarizing plate is bonded to the lower surface of the substrate to give a substrate (a substrate on both surfaces of which the polarizing plates are bonded;  201 E of  FIG. 21 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 22  and to  FIG. 23 , the structure of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 3 of the second solution is now explained in detail. A polarizing plate bonding apparatus  250  includes a first transport means  251 A for transporting a substrate  201  as one end surface thereof is perpendicular to the direction of travel, and a first cutting means  252 A which, when a severed end face toward the direction of travel perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of a first strip-shaped film  210 A, comprised of a release film  211 A bonded to a polarizing plate with interposition of an adhesive layer, has traveled a length corresponding to the length of the substrate  201 , cuts at least the polarizing plate and the adhesive layer in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction so as to leave the release film  211 A uncut. The polarizing plate bonding apparatus also includes a first release film separating means  253 A for separating the release film  211 A from the first film piece  219 A severed by the cutting by the first cutting means  252 A, and a first bonding means  254 A for bonding the tacky surface of the first film piece  219 A, freed of the release film  211 A, to a corresponding plate surface piece of the substrate  201 , so that the severed surface of the first film piece  219 A will be parallel to the forward end face toward the direction of travel of the substrate  201  transported by the first transport means  251 A. The polarizing plate bonding apparatus also includes an inverting means  255  for inverting upside-down, the substrate  201  which is transported by the first transport means  251 A and the first film piece  219 A is affixed to, so that the end face toward the direction of travel of the inverted substrate  201  is perpendicular to the proceeding direction, and a second transporting means  251 B for transporting the substrate  201 , so far transported by the first transport means  251 A, in a direction perpendicular to the transporting direction of the first transport means  251 A. The polarizing plate bonding apparatus also includes a second cutting means  252 B for cutting at least a polarizing plate and an adhesive layer of the second strip-shaped film  210 B in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof so as to leave a release film  211 B uncut, when a severed surface toward the direction of travel perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the second strip-shaped film  210 B has traveled a length corresponding to the substrate  201  transported by the second transport means  251 B. The second strip-shaped film  210 B is supplied from the plate surface side of the substrate  201  opposite to the surface to which has been bonded the first film piece  219 A. The second strip-shaped film  210 B includes the polarizing plate and the release film  211 B bonded thereto with interposition of the adhesive layer. The direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the film  210 B is perpendicular to the direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the first strip-shaped film  210 A when the second strip-shaped film  210 B is combined to the release film  211 A of the first strip-shaped film  210 A. The polarizing plate bonding apparatus also includes a second release film separating means  253 B for separating the release film  211 B from the second film piece  219 B severed by the cutting with the second cutting means  252 B, and a second bonding means  254 B for bonding the tacky surface of the second film piece  219 B, freed of the release film  211 B, to the corresponding plate surface of the substrate  201  opposite to the plate surface thereof bonded with the first film piece  219 A, so that the end face toward the direction of travel of the substrate  201  transported by the second transport means  251 B is parallel to the severed surface of the second film piece  219 B. 
     In the polarizing plate bonding apparatus  250  according to embodiment 3 of the second solution, the film piece  219 A is bonded from the underside of the substrate  201 , the substrate is inverted upside down and the inverted film piece  219 A is bonded from the underside of the substrate  201  in  FIG. 20  to  FIG. 23 . Alternatively, the film piece  219 A may be bonded from the upper side of the substrate  201 , the substrate is inverted upside-down and the inverted film piece  219 A is then bonded from the upper side of the substrate  201 . Still alternatively, the film piece  219 A may be bonded from the lower side of the substrate  201  and the film piece  219 A may be bonded from the upper side without inverting the substrate  201 . Still alternatively, film piece  219 A may be bonded from the upper side of the substrate  201 , and the film piece  219 A may be bonded from the underside of the substrate  201  without inverting the substrate  201 . With the polarizing plate bonding apparatus  250  of the type in which the film piece  219 A is bonded from the underside of the substrate  201 , the substrate  201  is inverted upside down and the film piece  219 A is bonded from the underside of the substrate  201 , cutting (half-cut) is from the underside of the strip-shaped film, so that contaminants may be prohibited from intrusion 
     The substrate  201  and the strip-shaped films  210 A,  210 B, used in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus  250  pertaining to embodiment 3 of the second solution, are the same as those used in embodiment 2 of the second solution. However, in cases where the longitudinal and transverse lengths of the substrate  201  are of different magnitudes, the film widths of the first strip-shaped film  210 A and the second strip-shaped film  210 B may be of different magnitudes, in keeping with the corresponding size of the substrate  201 . In this case, the reel-out rolls, about which are wound the strip-shaped films, may be demarcated from each other depending on the size (width) with advantage in the case of roll exchanging operations. In the case of a circular polarization film used, the axis of orientation of the phase difference film of the first strip-shaped film  210 A is equated to the axis of orientation of the phase difference film of the second strip-shaped film  210 B. In this manner, the axes of orientation of the phase difference films in cases where film pieces are bonded to both substrate surfaces may be at right angles to each other, while the strip-shaped films can be supplied continuously. 
     The transport means  251 A,  251 B, cutting means  252 A,  252 B, release film separating means  253 A,  253 B, bonding means  254 A,  254 B, reel-out rolls  256 A,  256 B and the takeup rolls  257 A,  257 B (see  FIG. 22  and  FIG. 23 ) in embodiment 3 of the second solution are substantially analogous with the transport means  236 , cutting means  231 B, release film separating means  232 B, bonding means  233 , reel-out roll  234 B and the takeup roll  235 B of embodiment 1 of the second solution, respectively (see  FIG. 15 ) 
     In the bonding means  254 A of embodiment 3 of the second solution, the film piece  219 A is bonded to only one side of the substrate  201 . In the bonding means  254 B, the film pieces  219 A,  219 B are apparently bonded to both surfaces of the substrate  201 . In actuality, however, the film piece  219 B is bonded to only one side of the substrate  201 . 
     The inverting means  255  is required when the directions of supplying film pieces  219 A,  219 B in the first bonding means  254 A,  254 B are the same, for example the film piece  219 A is supplied from the underside of the substrate in the first bonding means  254 A and the film piece  219 B is supplied from the underside of the substrate in the second bonding means  254 B. Meanwhile, in cases where the directions of supplying the film pieces  219 A,  219 B are opposite to each other in the bonding means  254 A,  254 B, for example, the film piece  219 A is bonded in the first bonding means  254 A from the lower substrate surface and the film piece  219 B is bonded in the second bonding means  254 B from the upper side of the substrate, the inverting means  255  is not needed. 
     Embodiment 4 of the present invention (second solution) is now explained with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 24  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a first transport unit of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 4 of the present invention (second solution).  FIG. 25  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a second transport unit of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 4 of the present invention (second solution). 
     Similarly to the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 3 of the second solution, shown in  FIG. 20 , the polarizing plate bonding apparatus of embodiment 4 of the second solution is roughly divided into a first transport unit, an inverting unit and a second transport unit. In the first transport unit, a substrate ( 201 A of  FIG. 21 ), supplied from a supply unit, is transported, a polarizing plate reeled out from a reel-out roll is separated from a release film, and the polarizing plate is bonded to the lower side of a substrate ( 201 B of  FIG. 21 ) and severed at a preset position. In the inverting unit, the substrate transported from the first transport unit (a substrate on the lower one surface of which has been bonded the polarizing plate;  FIG. 21 ) is inverted upside-down so that the end face toward the direction of travel of the as-inverted substrate is perpendicular to the direction of travel. The so inverted substrate (a substrate on the upper one surface of which has been bonded the polarizing plate;  201 C of  FIG. 21 ) is sent to the second transport unit. In the second transport unit, the substrate sent from the inverting unit (a substrate on the upper surface of which has been bonded the polarizing plate;  201 D of  FIG. 21 ) is transported in a direction perpendicular to the direction of transport of the substrate by the first transport unit. The polarizing plate reeled out from the reel-out roll is freed of the release film. The polarizing plate is bonded to the lower surface of the substrate (a substrate on both surfaces of which the polarizing plates have been bonded;  201 E of  FIG. 21 ) and severed at a preset position. 
     Referring to  FIG. 24  and to  FIG. 25 , the structure of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 4 of the second solution is now explained in detail. A polarizing plate bonding apparatus  260  includes a first transport means  261 A for transporting a substrate  201  as one end surface of the substrate  201  is perpendicular to the direction of travel, a first release film separating means  262 A for separating a release film  211 A from a first strip-shaped film  210 A, composed of a polarizing plate and the release film  211 A bonded thereto with interposition of an adhesive layer, and a first bonding means  263 A for bonding the tacky surface of the first strip-shaped film  210 A, freed of the release film  211 A, to the corresponding plate surface piece of the substrate  201 , so that the direction of travel of the first film piece  210 A, coincides with the transport direction of the substrate  201  transported by the first transport means  261 A. The polarizing plate bonding apparatus  260  also includes a first cutting means  264 A for cutting the first strip-shaped film  210 A, bonded by the first bonding means  263 A to the substrate  201 , in a direction parallel to the forward or rear end face toward or opposite the transport direction of the substrate  201 , transported by the first transport means  261 A, and an inverting means  265  for inverting upside-down, the substrate  201  which is transported by the first transport means  261 A and the first strip-shaped film  219 A is affixed to, so that the end face toward the direction of travel of the as-inverted substrate  201  will be perpendicular to the direction of travel, and a second transporting means  261 B for transporting the substrate  201 , transported by the first transport means  261 A, in a direction perpendicular to the transporting direction of the first transport means  261 A. The polarizing plate bonding apparatus also includes a second release film separating means  262 B for separating a release film  211 B from a second strip-shaped film  210 B supplied from the plate surface side of the substrate  201  opposite to the surface thereof bonded to the first film piece  219 A. The substrate  201  is transported by the second transporting means  261 B. The second strip-shaped film  210 B is composed of a polarizing plate and the release film  211 B bonded to the polarizing plate with interposition of an adhesive layer. An axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the second strip-shaped film  210 B is perpendicular to an axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate of the first strip-shaped film  210 A when the release film  211 B is combined to the release film  211 A of the first strip-shaped film  210 A. The polarizing plate bonding apparatus also includes a second bonding means  263 B for bonding a tacky surface of the second strip-shaped film  210 B, freed of the release film  211 B, to a plate surface opposite to the surface of the substrate  201  bonded to the film piece  219 A of the first strip-shaped film  210 A, so that the direction of travel of the second strip-shaped film  210 B will correspond to the transport direction of the substrate  201  transported by the second transport means  261 B, and a second cutting means  264 B for cutting the second strip-shaped film  210 B, bonded by the second bonding means  263 B to the substrate  201 , in a direction parallel to the forward or rear end face toward or opposite the transport direction of the substrate  201  transported by the second transport means  261 B. 
     In the polarizing plate bonding apparatus  260  according to embodiment 4 of the second solution, the film piece  219 A is bonded from the underside of the substrate  201 , the substrate is inverted upside down and the film piece  219 A is bonded from the underside of the substrate  201  in  FIG. 24  and  FIG. 25 . Alternatively, the film piece  219 A may be bonded from the upper side of the substrate  201 , the substrate is inverted upside-down and the film piece  219 A is then bonded from the upper side of the substrate  201 , or the film piece  219 A may be bonded from the underside of the substrate  201 , while the film piece  219 A is bonded from the upper side of the substrate  201  without inverting the substrate  201 . Still alternatively, the film piece  219 A may be bonded from the upper side of the substrate  201 , while the film piece  219 A is bonded from the underside of the substrate  201  without inverting the substrate  201 . With the polarizing plate bonding apparatus  250  of the type in which the film piece  219 A is bonded from the underside of the substrate  201 , the substrate is inverted upside-down and the film piece  219 A is bonded from the underside of the substrate  201 , half-cut is conducted from the underside of the strip-shaped film, so that intrusion of contaminants may be prohibited meritoriously. 
     The substrate  201  and the strip-shaped films  210 A,  210 B, used in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus  250 , pertaining to embodiment 4 of the second solution, are similar to those used in embodiment 3 of the second solution. 
     The release film separating means  262 A,  262 B, bonding means  263 A,  263 B, reel-out rolls  266 A,  266 B and takeup rolls  267 A,  267 B in the embodiment 4 of the second solution (see  FIG. 24  and  FIG. 25 ) are substantially similar to the release film separating means  253 A,  253 B, bonding means  254 A,  254 B, reel-out rolls  256 A,  256 B and takeup rolls  257 A,  257 B, respectively, of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus in embodiment 3 of the second solution, respectively (see  FIG. 22  and  FIG. 23 ). The transport means  261 A,  261 B pertaining to embodiment 4 of the second solution (see  FIG. 24  and  FIG. 25 ) is similar to the transport means  246  in embodiment 2 of the second solution (see  FIG. 18 ). In a manner different from the cutting means in embodiment 3 of the second solution, the cutting means  264 A,  264 B in embodiment 4 of the second solution are provided on a line in the downstream from the bonding means  263 A,  263 B of the transport means  261 A,  261 B, and sever the strip-shaped films  210 A,  210 B only on one side (underside) of the substrate. Meanwhile, the point of difference of the bonding means  254  is that not the film piece but the non-cut strip-shaped films  210 A,  210 B are bonded to both surfaces of the substrate  201 . 
     Embodiment of the Third Solution 
     Referring to the drawings, embodiment 1 of the present invention (third solution) is now explained.  FIG. 26  is a side view and a plan view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention (third solution).  FIG. 27  is a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a strip-shaped film of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to the embodiment 1 of the present invention (third solution).  FIG. 28  is a side view schematically showing the operation of a cutting means of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention (third solution). 
     Referring to  FIG. 26 , a polarizing plate bonding apparatus  320  for bonding a polarizing plate (film piece  319 ) to a substrate  301  includes a release film separating means  321  for separating a release film  311  from a strip-shaped film  310 , which is composed of a polarizing plate and the release film  311  bonded to the polarizing plate with interposition of an adhesive layer and which is supplied from one surface of the substrate  301  to be transported, a bonding means  322  for bonding the tacky surface of the strip-shaped film  310  freed of the release film  311  to the corresponding plate surface of the substrate  301  so that the direction of travel of the strip-shaped film  310  coincides with the transport direction of the substrate  301 , and a cutting means  323  for severing the strip-shaped film  310 , bonded by the bonding means  322  to one surface of the substrate  301 , in a direction parallel to a forward end face or a rear end face of the substrate toward or opposite the transport direction thereof, whereby polarizing plate film pieces may be bonded continuously and automatically such as to diminish the amount of waste materials. 
     The strip-shaped film  310 , used in the present invention (third solution), is composed of a polarizing plate and the release film  311  bonded thereto with interposition of an adhesive layer, and may, for example, be a circular polarizing film, composed of a polarizing plate  316  and a phase difference film  313  bonded thereto, as shown in  FIG. 27(B) . In cases where it is used for an LCD for a TN liquid crystal, the polarizing plate  316  has an axis of light transmission inclined by an angle preferably not less than 20° and not more than 70°, more preferably not less than 40° and not more than 50°, and usually 45° relative to the longitudinal direction of the film (see  FIG. 27(A) ). As for the method for the preparation of this polarizing plate, reference is had to the JP patent Kokai JP-A-2002-86554. Preferably, protective films  315 ,  317  are bonded to both surfaces of the polarizing plate  316 . This polarizing plate  316  is such a one stretched obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the film, and hence is termed an “obliquely stretched polarizing plate”. With use of the obliquely stretched polarizing plate  316 , continuous film supply becomes feasible. In the case of a film for circular polarization, composed of the obliquely stretched polarizing plate  316  (a protective film  315 ) and a phase difference film  313  bonded thereto by an adhesive layer  314 , the phase difference film  313  is preferably such a one as having an axis of orientation perpendicular or parallel to the longitudinal direction of the film. In this case, the film for circular polarization can be supplied continuously. The thickness of the polarizing plate  316  is e.g., on the order of 5 through 100 μm. The width of the polarizing plate  316  is suitably selected depending on the size of the substrate to be bonded. It is sufficient that the adhesives  312 ,  314  are ordinary adhesives used for bonding the substrate and the optical film to each other, for example, acrylic adhesive, polyurethane adhesive, epoxy adhesive or rubber-based adhesive. The release film  311  is a release material and specifically an ordinary release material used for an optical film, such as a polyethylene terephthalate film or a polyester film. A inserting paper sheet  318  for preventing the film surface from grazing may be bonded to the surface of the polarizing plate  316  opposite to the surface bonded to the release film  311 . The strip-shaped film  310  is preferably supplied from a real out roll  324 . (see  FIG. 26 ). Meanwhile, in cases where the polarizing plate  316  is used for an LCD for VA liquid crystal or a liquid crystal for an IPS system, the polarizing plate  316  may be used, the direction of an axis of light transmission of which is oriented parallel or at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the film, may be used. 
     The substrate  301  is a flat plate-shaped member, such as a glass substrate or a plastic substrate, used for a display apparatus, such as a liquid crystal device or a plasma display apparatus, and may be a substrate, on which component parts, such as liquid crystal cell or electrode, are mounted from the outset. The substrate  301  is preferably of a substantially quadrilateral shape, such as a square or a rectangle ( FIG. 26  and  FIG. 27(A) ). 
     The release film separating means  321  is a means for separating the release film  311  from the strip-shaped film  310 , and may be exemplified by a roll or a wedge member. The release film  311 , separated by the release film separating means  321  from the strip-shaped film  310 , may be taken up on a takeup roll  325  for recovery ( FIG. 26 ). 
     The bonding means  322  is a means for bonding the tacky surface of the strip-shaped film  310 , freed of the release film  311 , to a corresponding position on the substrate  301 , so that the direction of travel of the strip-shaped film  310  coincides with the transport direction of the substrate  301  (see  FIG. 26 ). The bonding means may, for example, be a nip roll thrusting each substrate surface from outside. 
     The cutting means  323  may be enumerated by a push-cut cutter or a dicing cutter used for cutting an optical film, and is composed of e.g., a cutter edge, a cylinder actuating the cutter edge and a lower dead point position adjustment member for adjusting the lower dead point position of the cutter blade (see  FIG. 26 ). By adjusting the lower dead point position to not more than 0.5 times as thick as the release film  311 , it is possible to cut only the strip-shaped film  310  in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film (see  FIG. 26 ). In  FIG. 26 , the strip-shaped film  310  is severed once from above at an abutting portion between of the substrate  301  and a neighboring substrate  301 . In cases where the film piece  319  is bonded at a preset spacing from the end(s) of the substrate  301  (so called bonding with a margin), cutting may be made twice in the vicinity of the abutting portion, that is, a first cutting and a second cutting may be made on one substrate  301  and on the neighboring substrate  301 , respectively. In the case of the bonding with a margin, unneeded chips (strip-like pieces) are produced. In cases where the strip-shaped film  310  is bonded continuously to the substrate without halting the substrate transport, it is sufficient that the cutting means  323  is operated in a certain domain in association with the velocity and direction of transport of the substrate on the transport means (see  FIG. 28 ). The movement of the cutting means  323  in this case may be enumerated by the movement of D 1  to D 4  of  FIG. 28  seen from the lateral side. At least the movement speed of D 1  and the transport speed of the substrates  301 A,  301 B are equal to each other, the cutting means  323  is lowered towards the substrate during movement of D 1  and the strip-shaped film  310  is severed from above at the abutting area between the substrates  301 A and  301 B. The movement of the cutting means  323  may be a rotational movement seen from the lateral side. 
     The transport means  326  is a means for transporting the substrate  301  towards the bonding means  322  or its extension while placing one end face of the substrate  301  at right angles to the proceeding direction, and is preferably a roller conveyor or a wheel conveyor which transports the substrate  301  horizontally on an array of rolls or wheels. More preferably, the outer roller cylinder or wheel is mounted on a shaft rotated via a bearing so that the outer roller cylinder or wheel is rotated at a surface velocity coincident with the velocity of the substrate being transported to prevent the substrate from being damaged by the relative slip between the outer roller cylinder or wheel and the substrate. The transport means  326  is preferably so arranged that plural substrates  301  of a substantially quadrilateral shape and a fixed size are transported arrayed in series to the direction of travel and that, when the strip-shaped film  310  is bonded by the bonding means  322  to the substrate  301 , in the course of the transport, the forward and rear end faces toward and opposite, respectively, the transport direction of the substrate  301  are abutted against the forward or rear end faces of the neighboring substrates  301 . 
     Referring to the drawings, embodiment 2 of the present invention (third solution) is now explained.  FIG. 29  is a side view and a plan view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 2 of the present invention (third solution).  FIG. 30  is a side view showing the operation of cutting means of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 2 of the present invention (third solution). 
     A polarizing plate bonding apparatus  330  according to embodiment 2 of the third solution is substantially similar in structure to the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the third solution. 
     It is noted that cutting means  333 A,  333 B are means for cutting the strip-shaped film  310 , bonded to one surface of the substrate  301  by a bonding means  332 , in a direction parallel to the forward or rear end face toward or opposite the transport direction of the substrate  301 . In the case of bonding with a margin, by which the film piece  319  is bonded to the substrate  301  with a certain margin from the end of the substrate  301 , the cutting means preferably includes two blades  333 A,  333 B for simultaneously cutting into the surface of the strip-shaped film  310 , bonded to the substrate  301 , from the vertical direction, and for severing in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the substrate  301 , with the two blades  333 A,  333 B being spaced apart at a present distance from each other ( FIG. 30 ). The two blades  333 A,  333 B sever the strip-shaped film  310  on the plate surfaces of the respective separate substrates  301 A,  301 B (see  FIG. 30 ). It is preferred in this case to provide a suction means  337  between the blades  333 A.  333 B for sucking unneeded cutting chips (strips)  302  of the severed strip-shaped film  310 . The suction means  337  operates along with the two blades  333 A,  333 B. Even in this case, the two blades  333 A,  333 B may be operated in keeping with the velocity and the direction of transport of the substrate  301  on transport means  336  in a certain domain. In such cutting, the forward and rear end faces of the substrate  301 B along the transport direction thereof are preferably abutted against the forward or rear end faces of the neighboring substrate  301 B along the transport direction thereof, as shown in  FIG. 30 . The reason is that, by bonding the strip-shaped film  310  as the two substrates  301  abut against each other, the cut chips  302  may be decreased in size to raise the yield of the polarizing plates. 
     Embodiment 3 of the present invention (third solution) is explained with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 31  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 3 of the present invention (third solution). 
     A polarizing plate bonding apparatus  340  according to embodiment 3 of the third solution is substantially similar in structure to the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the third solution except the mounting positions of a release film separating means  341 , reel-out roll  344  and takeup roll  345 . This polarizing plate bonding apparatus  340  includes, below the substrate  301  transported on transporting means  346 , the release film separating means  341 , reel-out roll  344  and takeup roll  345 . By supplying the strip-shaped film  310  from the lower side of the plate surface of the substrate  301  to be transported, and by having the strip-shaped film  310  bonded in position, it is possible to prevent intrusion of contaminants as well as to assure easy exchange of rolls of the strip-shaped films. 
     Embodiments of the Fourth Solution 
     Referring to the drawings, Embodiment 1 of the present invention (fourth solution) is now explained.  FIG. 32  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention (fourth solution).  FIG. 33  is a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a strip-shaped film used in the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention (fourth solution).  FIG. 34  is a perspective view schematically showing the operation of bonding and the state of selvedge separation by the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention (fourth solution). 
     Referring to  FIG. 32 , a polarizing plate bonding apparatus  420  for bonding a polarizing plate (film piece  419 ) to a substrate  401  includes a release film separating means  421 , a bonding means  422  and a selvedge separating means  423 , for automatically bonding the film piece of a polarizing plate without halting the apparatus. The release film separating means  421  separates a release film  411  from a strip-shaped film  410  which is composed of a polarizing plate and the release film  411  bonded thereto with interposition of an adhesive layer and is supplied from one plate surface of the substrate  410 , wherein at least the polarizing plate and the adhesive layer of the strip-shaped film  410  are cut while keeping the release film  411  uncut in such a manner that a plurality of rectangular profiles are made in advance each of which corresponds to the substrate  401  in the film surface, at least one of the sides of each rectangular profiles being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film. The bonding means  422  bonds at least the tacky surface of the rectangular inner portion (film piece  419 ) of the strip-shaped film  410  freed of the release layer  411  to the corresponding plate surface of the substrate  401  so that the direction of travel the strip-shaped film  410  coincides with the transport direction of the substrate  401 . The selvedge separating means  423  separates a selvedge  402  of the strip-shaped film  410  other than the rectangular inner portion (film piece  419 ) from the substrate  401 . 
     The strip-shaped film  410  used in the present invention (fourth solution) is composed of a polarizing plate and the release film  411  bonded thereto with interposition of an adhesive layer, and may, for example, be a film of circular polarization composed of a polarizing plate  416  and a phase difference film  413  bonded together, as shown in  FIG. 33(B) . In cases where it is used for an LCD for TN liquid crystal, the polarizing plate  416  has the direction of an axis of light transmission oriented obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the film. The angle of inclination between the longitudinal direction of the film and the axis of the light transmission is preferably between 20° C. and 70° C. both inclusive, more preferably between 40° C. and 50° C. both inclusive, and is ordinarily 45° (see  FIG. 33(A) ). As for the method for the preparation of this polarizing plate, reference is had to JP Patent Kokai JP-A-2002-86554. Preferably, protective films  415 ,  417  are bonded to both sides of the polarizing plate  416 . The polarizing plate  416  used here has been stretched in an oblique direction relative to the longitudinal direction of the film and hence termed an “obliquely stretched polarizing plate”. With use of the obliquely stretched polarizing plate  416 , it is possible to supply the film continuously. In the case of a film for circular polarization, composed of the obliquely stretched polarizing plate  416  and the phase difference film  413  bonded together with interposition of an adhesive layer  414 , the phase difference film  413  having an axis of orientation perpendicular or parallel to the longitudinal direction of the film is desirably used. By so doing, the film for circular polarization can be supplied continuously. The thickness of the polarizing plate  416  is e.g., 5 through 100 μm. The width of the polarizing plate  416  is suitably selected depending on the size of the substrate bonded. In view of ease with which the selvedge  402  may be peeled off from the substrate  401  continuously, the width of the polarizing plate  416  is preferably larger than the width of the substrate  401 . The adhesive layers  412 ,  414  may be of any common adhesives used for bonding a substrate and an optical film together, such as acrylic-, polyurethane-, epoxy- or rubber-based adhesive. The release film  411  is of a release material commonly used for an optical film, such as a polyethylene terephthalate film or a polyester film. A inserting paper sheet  418  for protecting the film surface against scratches may be bonded to the surface of the polarizing plate  416  opposite to the surface bonded to the release film  411 . The strip-shaped film  410  is preferably supplied from the reel-out rolls  424  (see  FIG. 32 ). Meanwhile, in cases where the polarizing plate is used as LCD for a VA liquid crystal or as LCD for a liquid crystal of the IPS system, such a polarizing plate  416  may be used, in which the direction of an axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate is oriented parallel or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film. 
     The strip-shaped film  410  used in the embodiment 1 of the fourth solution has a plurality of rectangular profiles which correspond to the shape of the substrate  401  within the film surface, at least one side of the rectangle being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film, by cutting at least the polarizing plate and the adhesive layer, with keeping the release film  411  uncut. The inner area of the produced rectangle becomes a film piece  419  actually bonded to the substrate  401 . The outer area outside the rectangle becomes a selvedge  402  not used for bonding the strip-shaped film to the substrate  401 . The selvedge  402  is adapted to be continuously taken up by a selvedge takeup roll  426 . To this end, both lateral sides of the strip-shaped film  410  are left in an uncut continuous state, while the width-wise portions defined between adjacent film pieces  419  connect to the lateral sides of the strip shaped film  410 , such that, the selvedge  402 , without the film piece  419 , presents a ladder shape ( FIG. 34 ). 
     The substrate  401  is a flat-plate-shaped member, such as a glass substrate or a plastic substrate, used for a display device, such as a liquid crystal display device or a plasma display device. It may also be a substrate having component parts, such as a liquid crystal cell or an electrode, pre-mounted thereon. The substrate  401  is preferably of a substantially quadrilateral shape, such as a square or a rectangle (see  FIG. 32  and  FIG. 33  (A)). 
     The release film separating means  421  is a means for separating the release film  411  from the strip-shaped film  410  (film piece  419  and selvedge  402 ) and may be exemplified by a roll or a wedge member. The release film  411  separated from the strip-shaped film  410  (film piece  419  and selvedge  402 ) by the release film separating means  421  may be taken up on a release film takeup roll  425  and recovered (see  FIG. 32 ). 
     The bonding means  422  is a means for bonding a tacky surface of the film piece  419  of the strip-shaped film  410 , freed of the release film  411 , to a corresponding position of the substrate  401  so that the severed end face toward the direction of travel the strip-shaped film  410  is parallel to the end face toward the direction of travel the substrate (see  FIG. 32 ) and may, for example, be a nip roll thrusting both substrate sides from outside. 
     The selvedge separating means  423  is a means for peeling the selvedge  402  of the strip-shaped film  410  except the film piece  419  from the substrate  401  and may, for example, be a roll ( FIG. 32  and  FIG. 34 ) The selvedge separating means  423  of embodiment 1 of the fourth solution has a roll(s) in common with the bonding means  422  and folds the selvedge  402  in a direction away from the substrate  401 , with the roll as a point of fulcrum, to peel off only the selvedge  402 . The selvedge  402 , peeled from the selvedge separating means  423 , is taken up by a selvedge takeup roll  426 . 
     A transporting means  427  is a means for transporting the substrate  401  in a direction towards the bonding means  422  or its extension, with an end face of the substrate  401  at right angles to the direction of travel, and is preferably a roller conveyor or a wheel conveyor for horizontally transporting the substrate  401  on an array of rollers or wheels. More preferably, the outer roller cylinder or wheel is mounted on a shaft rotated via a bearing so that the outer roller cylinder or wheel is rotated at a surface velocity coincident with the velocity of the substrate being transported to prevent the substrate from being damaged by the relative slip between the outer roller cylinder or wheel and the substrate. The transport means  427  is preferably so arranged that plural substrates  401  of a substantially quadrilateral shape and a fixed size are transported arrayed in series to the direction of travel and that, when the strip-shaped film  410  (film piece  419 ) is bonded by the bonding means  422  to the substrate  401 , in the course of the transport, the forward and rear end faces along the transport direction of the substrate  401  are abutted against the forward or rear end faces of the neighboring substrates  401 . 
     Meanwhile, incases where fine positioning adjustment between the tacky surface of the film piece  419  and the corresponding portion of the substrate  401  is required, it is possible to use positioning means for adjusting the positions of the two by detecting the positions of the film pieces  419  of the strip-shaped film  410  supplied and the position of the substrate  401  transported, using position detection means, such as image inspection device. 
     Embodiment 2 of the present invention (fourth solution) is now explained with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 35  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate according to the embodiment 2 of the present invention (fourth solution). 
     Referring to  FIG. 35 , a polarizing plate bonding apparatus  430  according to Embodiment 2 of the fourth solution is similar in structure to the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the fourth solution, except a cutting means  438  and a reel-out roll  434 , and the operation as from the separation of the release film  411  until peel-off of the selvedge  402  is similar to the operation of Embodiment 1 of the fourth solution. 
     With the reel-out roll  434 , the strip-shaped film  410  is not cut into a rectangular shape in advance. The structure of the reel-out roll  434  (material, shape etc) except not being cut is similar to that of the reel-out roll used in embodiment 1 of the fourth solution. 
     The cutting means  438  is a means for cutting at least the polarizing plate and the adhesive layer, so as to leave the release film  411  uncut, in the strip-shaped film  410 , which is composed of the polarizing plate and the release film  411  bonded thereto with interposition of the adhesive layer, and which is supplied from one plate surface of the substrate  401  to be transported, so that at least one side of the rectangular shape of the strip-shaped film  410  is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film, the rectangular profile corresponding to the shape of the substrate  401  in the film region. The cutting means  438 , used for cutting an optical film, is provided over the strip-shaped film  410  extending from a reel-out roll  434  up to the release film separating means  431 . The cutting means may be composed of e.g., a cutter blade having a Thomson blade cutting to a rectangular shape, a cylinder driving a cutter blade and a lower dead point adjustment member for adjusting the lower dead point position of the cutter blade. By adjusting the lower dead point position to not more than 0.5 times as thick as the release film  411 , solely the strip-shaped film  410  can be cut in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film. 
     Referring to the drawings, Embodiment 3 of the present invention (fourth solution) is now explained.  FIG. 36  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 3 of the present invention (fourth solution).  FIG. 37  is a perspective view schematically showing the operation of bonding by the polarizing plate bonding apparatus and the state of selvedge separation according to embodiment 3 of the present invention (fourth solution). 
     Referring to  FIG. 36 , a polarizing plate bonding apparatus  440  according to embodiment 3 of the fourth solution includes a release film separating means  441  for separating a release film  411  from the strip-shaped film  410 , composed of a polarizing plate, which has an axis of light transmission oriented obliquely relative to the longitudinal direction of the film, and the release film  441  bonded thereto with interposition of an adhesive layer, with the strip-shaped film  410  being supplied from one plate surface side of the transported substrate  401 . The polarizing plate bonding apparatus also includes a bonding means  442  for bonding at least the tacky surface of the strip-shaped film  410 , freed of the release film  411 , to a corresponding plate surface of the substrate  401 , so that the direction of travel of the strip-shaped film  410  coincides with the transport direction of the substrate  401 . The polarizing plate bonding apparatus also includes a cutting means  448  for cutting the strip-shaped film  410  in an area in which the strip-shaped film  410  has been bonded to the substrate  401 , so that at least one side of a rectangular shape of the film in register with the substrate  401  is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the film, and a selvedge separating means  443  for separating the selvedge  402  of the strip-shaped film  410  except the inner area within the rectangular shape (film piece  419 ) from the substrate  401 . 
     In a polarizing plate bonding apparatus  440  of embodiment 3 of the fourth solution, the strip-shaped film  410  not cut to a rectangular shape in advance, is used. After bonding the strip-shaped film  410  to the substrate  401 , the strip-shaped film  410  is cut on the substrate  401  to a necessary size. After cutting the strip-shaped film  410 , only the unneeded selvedge  402  of the strip-shaped film  410  is peeled off. 
     The strip-shaped film  410  is not cut to a rectangular shape in advance and, except this point, the configuration of the reel-out roll  444 , such as shape or component material thereof, is the same as that of the reel-out roll used in Embodiment 1 of the fourth solution. 
     The release film separating means  441  is similar to the release film separating means of embodiment 1 of the fourth solution. In distinction from embodiment 1 of the fourth solution, the bonding means  442  is separated from the selvedge separating means  443 . The location of bonding of the strip-shaped film  410  is spaced from the location of peeling off the selvedge  402  a distance equal to or longer than the film piece length. A cutting means  448 , similar to the cutting means of embodiment 2 of the fourth solution, is arranged between the location of bonding the strip-shaped film  410  and the location of peeling off the selvedge  402 . The cutting means  448  cuts only the strip-shaped film  410 , bonded to the substrate  401 , to a rectangular shape on the substrate (see  FIG. 37 ). After this cutting, the selvedge separating means  443  continuously peels off the unneeded selvedge  402  of the strip-shaped film, as the needed film piece  419  is left bonded to the substrate  401 . 
     Referring to the drawings, embodiment 4 of the present invention (fourth solution) is now explained.  FIG. 38  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 4 of the present invention (fourth solution). 
     A polarizing plate bonding apparatus  450  according to the embodiment 4 of the fourth solution bonds a polarizing plate film to the lower side (underside) of the substrate  401 , transported substantially horizontally, from the lower side of the substrate  401 , and includes a release film separating means  451 , a reel-out roll  454 , a release film takeup roll  455  and a selvedge takeup roll  456 , below the level of a transport means  457 . The means of embodiment 4 of the fourth solution are similar in operation to the corresponding means of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the fourth solution. The polarizing plate bonding apparatus  450  according to embodiment 4 of the fourth solution substantially corresponds to 180° inversion of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus  450  according to embodiment 1 of the fourth solution (see  FIG. 32  and  FIG. 38 ). Alternatively, the polarizing plate bonding apparatus  450  according to Embodiment 4 of the fourth solution may be 180° inversion of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to embodiment 2 or 3 of the fourth solution. 
     Embodiment 5 of the present (fourth solution) is now explained with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 39  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention (fourth solution). 
     A polarizing plate bonding apparatus  460  according to Embodiment 5 of the fourth solution bonds a polarizing plate film to the substrate  401  simultaneously from upper and lower surfaces thereof as the substrate  401  is transported substantially horizontally. Specifically, release film separating means  461 A,  461 B, reel-out rolls  464 A,  464 B, release film takeup rolls  465 A,  465 B and selvedge takeup rolls  466 A,  466 B are arranged above and below the level of a transport means  467 . The means of Embodiment 4 of the fourth solution are similar in operation to the corresponding means of Embodiment 1 of the fourth solution. The means of Embodiment 5 of the fourth solution are similar in operation to the corresponding means of Embodiment 1 of the fourth solution. The polarizing plate bonding apparatus  460  according to Embodiment 5 of the fourth solution is analogous to the combination of the items of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus of Embodiment 1 of the fourth solution which except the transport means are inverted. However, the same may be applied to the case of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus of Embodiment 2 or 3 of the fourth solution. It is noted that the first strip-shaped film  410 A and the second strip-shaped film  410 B are used in such a combination in which, when the release film  411 A of the first strip-shaped film  410 A is combined to the release film  411 B of the second strip-shaped film  410 B, the direction of an axis of light transmission of the first strip-shaped film  410 A is perpendicular to the direction of an axis of light transmission of the second strip-shaped film  410 B. For example, in cases where the first strip-shaped film  410 A is used in which the direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate is oriented 70° relative to the longitudinal direction, it is possible to use the second strip-shaped film  410 B in which the direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate is oriented 20° relative to the longitudinal direction. In cases where it is used for the LCD for a VA liquid crystal or the LCD for an ISP liquid crystal, the polarizing plate  416  may be used in which the direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate is oriented parallel or perpendicular relative to the longitudinal direction of the film. For example, in cases where the first strip-shaped film  410 A is used in which the direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate is oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction, it is possible to use the second strip-shaped film  410 B in which the direction of the axis of light transmission of the polarizing plate is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. 
     EXAMPLES 
     Referring to the drawings, an example of the present invention (first solution) is explained.  FIG. 13  is a side view schematically showing the structure of a polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to an example of the present invention (first solution). This polarizing plate bonding apparatus  170  includes a reel-out means  171 , a first payout roll  172 , a second payout roll  173 , a film transporting conveyor  174 , a cutting means  175 , a film piece transporting conveyor  176 , a separating roll  177 , a third payout roll  178 , a fourth payout roll  179 , a takeup means  180 , a first substrate transporting conveyor  181 , a first position guide means  182 , a receiving roll  183 , a pressure bonding roll  184 , a second substrate transporting conveyor  185 , a second position guide means  186 , an encoder, a film piece position sensor, a substrate positioning member and a control means. 
     The substrate ( 120  of  FIG. 13 ), used here, is a flat-plate-shaped rectangular liquid crystal display substrate for TN type liquid crystal. The reel-out roll ( 187  of  FIG. 13 ) is a roll formed by taking up a strip-shaped film  110 , obtained on layering a release film  111 , an adhesive layer  112 , a phase difference film  113 , an adhesive layer  114 , a protective film  115 , an oblique stretched polarizing plate  116 , a protective film  117  and an inserting paper sheet  118 , in this order from below upward, so that the inserting paper sheet  118  is on the front surface, as shown in  FIG. 2(B) . Referring to  FIG. 2(A) , the oblique stretched polarizing plate  116  is a polarizing plate having an axis of light transmission approximately 45° relative to the longitudinal direction of the film. The phase difference film  113  has an axis of orientation which is the same as the longitudinal direction of the film. The takeup roll ( 188  of  FIG. 13 ) is a roll for taking up the release film  111  separated from the strip-shaped film  110  (film piece  119 ). 
     The reel-out means  171  is a means for supporting the reel-out roll  187  in a horizontal state and for reeling out the strip-shaped film  110  from the reel-out roll  187 , and includes a shaft (not shown) for rotationally supporting the reel-out roll  187 , and a brake (not shown) for braking the rotation of this shaft (see  FIG. 13 ). By this brake, excess reel-out of the reel-out roll  187  is prohibited. A band brake comprising a band for tightening the outer rim of the disc mounted on the shaft is used, also it is possible to use any other suitable brake. 
     The first payout roll  172  and the second payout roll are rolls, not driven, for paying out the reeled-out strip-shaped film  110  to the film transporting conveyor  174  at a required angle (see  FIG. 13 ). 
     The film transporting conveyor  174  is a means for transporting the reeled out strip-shaped film  110  towards the cutting means  175 , and is herein a suction conveyor (belt conveyor) for transporting the film  110  at a preset angle while sucking it (see  FIG. 13 ). The belt is stretched in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel to prevent the width-wise center thereof from sagging. The film transporting conveyor  174  is driven in a controlled fashion depending on the positions of the film piece  119  and the substrate  120 . 
     The cutting means  175  is a means for cutting (half-cutting) the portion of the strip-shaped film  110  other than the release film  111  in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and includes a cutter and a driving means for driving the cutter (see  FIG. 13 ). The cutting means  175  is also controlled to cut the strip-shaped film when the strip-shaped film travels a preset length (the size necessary for bonding the film to the substrate  120 ), depending on the positions of the film piece and the substrate. With half-cutting, the cutting is conducted from the lower side surface (the surface towards the inserting paper sheet) of the strip-shaped film  110 , so that cutting chips hardly reach the release film  111  (the side of the tacky surface). 
     The film piece transporting conveyor  176  is a means for transporting the film piece  119 , severed by the cutting means  175 , towards the pressure bonding roll  184 , and is a suction conveyor (belt conveyor) for transporting the film piece  119  towards the pressure bonding roll as the inserting paper sheet surface of the film piece  119  is sucked on the belt (see  FIG. 13 ). The transport surface of the film piece transporting conveyor  176  is on the extension of the transport surface of the film transporting conveyor  174 . The belt is tensioned in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel and is thereby prohibited from sagging at its transverse mid position. The film piece transporting conveyor  176  is also driving-controlled, depending on the positions of the film piece  119  and the substrate  120 , and is synchronized with the operation of the film transporting conveyor  174 . 
     The separating roll  177  is arranged at about the mid portion on the belt feed side of the film piece transporting conveyor  176  and has its roll axis perpendicular to the direction of travel of the film piece. It is a non-driven roll for separating only the release film  111  from the film piece  119 . 
     The third payout roll  178  and the fourth payout roll are non-driven rolls for paying out the release film  111 , separated by the separating roll  177 , towards the take-up roll  188  (see  FIG. 13 ). 
     The takeup means  180  is a means for rotationally driving a takeup roll  188  to take up the release film  111 . The takeup means  180  is driving-controlled depending on the positions of the film piece  119  and the substrate  120  (see  FIG. 13 ). 
     The first substrate transporting conveyor  181  is a roller conveyor (wheel conveyor) composed of an array of rolls for transporting the substrate  120 , to which the film piece  119  has not been bonded, in a horizontal and predetermined direction as shown in  FIG. 13  ( FIG. 13A ). The first substrate transporting conveyor  181  is driving-controlled, depending on the positions of the film piece  119  and the substrate  120 . 
     The first position guide means  182  is a guide member regulating the substrate position from both sides (of the substrate  120 ) in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the substrate  120  on the first substrate transporting conveyor  181  for guiding the direction of travel (see  FIG. 13 ). The first position guide means  182  thrusts the substrate  120  by the spring pressure of a guide member on one side towards a stationary guide member on the opposite side for guiding the substrate  120  in a predetermined direction. 
     The receiving roll  183  is a roll for transporting the substrate  120 , transported by the first substrate transporting conveyor  181 , towards the second substrate transporting conveyor  185 , and for sustaining the thrusting pressure of the pressure bonding roll  184  from the lower side (see  FIG. 13 ). The receiving roll  183  is also driving-controlled, depending on the positions of the film piece  119  and the substrate  120 . 
     The pressure bonding roll  184  is a nip roll for thrusting the lower surface of the substrate  120  towards the receiving roll  183  to entangle the film piece  119  for pressure bonding the film piece to the lower plate surface of the substrate  120  (see  FIG. 13 ). The pressure bonding roll  184  is mounted to a lift mechanism, not shown. This lift mechanism is controlled, depending on the positions of the film piece and the substrate  120 , in such a manner that it is lifted up for applying the thrusting pressure to the receiving roll  183 , for bonding the film piece  119  to the substrate  120 , and is lowered between the end of the bonding of one substrate  120  and the completion of preparation for bonding the next substrate  120 . 
     The second substrate transporting conveyor  185  is a roller conveyor (wheel conveyor) composed of an array of rolls for transporting the substrate  120 , emerging through the spacing between the pressure bonding roll  184  and the receiving roll  183  in a state bonded to the film piece  119 , in a horizontal and predetermined direction (see  FIG. 13 ). The second substrate transporting conveyor  185  is also driving-controlled, depending on the positions of the film piece  119  and the substrate  120 , and is synchronized with the operation of the first substrate transporting conveyor  181 . 
     The second position guide means  186  is a guide member for regulating the substrate position, in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel on the second substrate transporting conveyor  185 , from both sides, for guiding the direction of travel of the substrate (see  FIG. 13 ). The substrate  120  is thrust by a spring pressure on one side guide member against the opposite side stationary guide member for guiding the substrate  120  in a predetermined direction. 
     The encoder, not shown, is a device for measuring the supplied quantity of the strip-shaped film  110 . In the present example, the number of rotations of the pulley of the film piece transporting conveyor  176  is measured for measuring the supplied quantity of the strip-shaped film  110 . 
     The film piece position sensor, not shown, is a photosensor for detecting the position of (the forward end of) the film piece  119 , sent to the pressure bonding roll  184  of the film piece transporting conveyor  176 . 
     The substrate positioning member, not shown, is arranged in the vicinity of a bonding unit having the receiving roll  183  and the pressure bonding roll  184 , and operates as a stopper for obstructing the movement of the substrate  120 . After the bonding of one substrate  120  is completed and the substrate is sent to the downstream side, the stopper emerges on the transport line, and collides with the end face of the next substrate  120 , transported by the first substrate transporting conveyor  181 . At the same time as the substrate transport is obstructed by the stopper, a detection device of the substrate positioning member indicates the fact of the substrate arrival to stop the driving of the first substrate transporting conveyor  181 . The film piece  119  is fed out from the standby position, as measured by the encoder, until the front end of the film piece  119  reaches the bond position for the substrate  120 . After the pressure bonding roll  184  bonds the front end of the film piece  119  to the substrate  120  between the roll  184  and the receiving roll  183 , the stopper is receded and disengaged from the substrate. The rotation of the receiving roll  183 , transport of the substrate  120  and the supply of the film piece  119  are then carried out in a synchronized manner so that the substrate  120  and the film piece  119  are bonded together by the receiving roll  183  and the pressure bonding roll  184 . 
     The control means, not shown, is a computer for controlling the driving of the film transporting conveyor  174 , cutting means  175 , film piece transporting conveyor  176 , takeup means  180 , first substrate transporting conveyor  181 , receiving roll  183 , pressure bonding roll  184 , substrate positioning member and the second substrate transporting conveyor  185 , depending on signals from detecting devices of the encoder, the film piece position sensor, and substrate positioning member. 
     The operation of the polarizing plate bonding apparatus according to an example of the present invention (first solution) is now explained. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , the strip-shaped film  110 , reeled out from the reel-out roll  187 , is paid out by the first payout roll  172  and the second payout roll  173  at an angle consistent with the transport surface of the film transporting conveyor  174 . 
     The so paid out strip-shaped film  110  is transported by the film transporting conveyor  174  towards the cutting means  175  and, when the severed end face of the foremost part of the strip-shaped film  110  has traveled a preset length (a length corresponding to the substrate length or a length slightly shorter than it), further travel of the strip-shaped film  110  is halted and the strip-shaped film  110  is half-cut (cut other layers or portions of the film except the release film) in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal direction. This half-cutting is performed every time the severed forward side end face of the strip-shaped film  110 , extending at right angles to the longitudinal direction in the strip-shaped film  110 , has traveled a length corresponding to the length of the substrate  120 . 
     The film piece  119 , cut out by the half-cutting, is transported by the film piece transporting conveyor  176  to the pressure bonding roll  184 , so that only the release film  111  is separated from the film piece  119 , which passes through the gap between the film piece transporting conveyor  176  and the separating roll  177 , by the separating roll  177  on the transport surface of the film piece transporting conveyor  176 . The so separated release film  111  is paid out by the third payout roll  178  and the fourth payout roll  179  so as to be taken up on the takeup roll  188 . 
     The film piece  119 , freed of the release film  111 , is supplied to a spacing between the pressure bonding roll  184  and the lower surface of the substrate  120  traveling through the space between the receiving roll  183  and the pressure bonding roll  184 , to fit with the bonding position of the substrate  120  transported by the first substrate transporting conveyor  181  (the position on the substrate at which the severed end face of the film piece  119  is parallel to the forward side end face of the substrate  120 ), with the tacky surface thereof directed to the substrate  120 , and then is transported to the second substrate transporting conveyor  185 , as the film piece is bonded to the substrate under the pressure exerted by the pressure bonding roll  184 . The substrate  120 , passed through the spacing between the receiving roll  183  and the pressure bonding roll  184 , has the film piece  119  bonded to its lower surface, and is transported in this state by the second substrate transporting conveyor  185 . 
     [Meritorious Effect of the Invention] 
     (Meritorious Effect of the First Solution) 
     According to the present invention (first solution) the polarizing plate can be bonded automatically and continuously. 
     Moreover, according to the present invention (first solution), in which a film piece is supplied from the lower side of a substrate to be transported, and a strip-shaped film is half-cut from its lower surface, it is possible to prevent mixing of dust and dirt. 
     According to the present invention (first solution) it is unnecessary to re-load a film piece, and a release film is not cut, so that fast bonding is possible. 
     According to the present invention (first solution) in which a film piece is transported, as it is sucked, to near the site of bonding to a substrate, it is possible to prevent the workability from being lowered due to the tendency of a film piece to roll on itself. 
     According to the present invention (first solution) in which no wasteful cutting chips of polarizing plates are produced, it is possible to increase the yield of the polarizing plate to 100%. 
     According to the present invention (first solution) in which a circular polarized plate film, composed of a phase difference film and a polarizing plate, bonded to each other, can be continuously bonded to a substrate, and no wasteful cutting chips of a circular polarized polarizing plate films are produced, it is possible to increase the yield of a circular polarizing plate film to 100%. 
     In addition, according to the present invention (first solution), in which a film piece is supplied from the lower side of a substrate to be transported, a roll of a strip-shaped film can be exchanged easily. 
     (Meritorious Effect of the Second Solution) 
     According to the present invention (second solution), a polarizing plate may be bonded to each substrate surface continuously and automatically. 
     According to the present invention (second solution) the operational speed may be increased because there is no necessity for re-loading film pieces, while a release film is not segmented. 
     According to the present invention (second solution), the yield of 100% is achieved, because no unneeded chips of polarizing plates are produced. The result is that the cost of a display device may be lowered. 
     According to the present invention (second solution) control may be exercised more easily over the direction of an axis of light transmission of a polarizing plate in bonding a polarizing plate on each surface of a substrate for a TN substrate. 
     According to the present invention (second solution) a film for circular polarization, composed of a phase difference film and a polarizing plate, bonded together, may be continuously bonded to a substrate. Since no unneeded chips of a film for circular polarization is produced, a 100% yield of a film for circular polarization may be achieved. 
     According to the present invention (second solution) the overall apparatus may be reduced in size in the case of bonding a polarizing plate simultaneously to each substrate surface. 
     According to the present invention (second solution) a film piece is supplied from the underside of a substrate to be transported. In cases where a strip-shaped film is half-cut from its underside, it is possible to prevent intrusion of contaminants. Since a strip-shaped film is supplied from the underside of a substrate to be transported, rolls of a strip-shaped film may be exchanged easily. 
     (Meritorious Effect of the Third Solution) 
     According to the present invention (third solution), bonding can be made without halting film supply, thereby improving the productivity. 
     According to the present invention (third solution), there is no necessity of re-loading film pieces, while a release film is not cut, so that high-speed bonding may be achieved. 
     According to the present invention (third solution), it is possible to prevent unneeded chips of polarizing plates from being produced, so that, unless bonding with margin, a 100% yield may be achieved. 
     According to the present invention (third solution), a film for circular polarization, obtained on bonding a phase difference film and a polarizing plate, can be continuously bonded to a substrate, such that unneeded chips of circular polarizing plate film may be prohibited from being produced, so that, unless bonding with margin, a 100% yield may be achieved. 
     According to the present invention (third solution), in cases where a film piece is supplied from the underside of a substrate to be transported, it is possible to prevent mixing of dust and dirt affixed to a polarizing plate. 
     According to the present invention (third solution), in cases where a strip-shaped film is supplied from the underside of a substrate to be transported, rolls of the strip-shaped film may be exchanged easily. 
     (Meritorious Effect of the Fourth Solution) 
     According to the present invention (fourth solution), bonding can be made without halting transportation of a substrate and film supply, thereby improving the productivity. 
     According to the present invention (fourth solution), there is no necessity of re-loading film pieces, while a release film is not cut, so that high-speed bonding may be achieved. 
     According to the present invention (fourth solution), since a strip-shaped film is not bonded with a substrate arranged obliquely relative to the strip-shaped film, it is possible to prevent unneeded selvedges of a polarizing plate from being produced. 
     According to the present invention (fourth solution), a film for circular polarization, composed of a phase difference film and a polarizing plate, bonded together, can be continuously bonded to a substrate, so that selvedges of a film for circular polarization can be prevented from being produced. 
     According to the present invention (fourth solution), in cases where a film piece is supplied from the underside of a substrate to be transported, it is possible to prevent mixing and falling of dust and dirt affixed to a polarizing plate. 
     According to the present invention (fourth solution), in cases where a strip-shaped film is supplied from the underside of a substrate to be transported, rolls of a strip-shaped film may be exchanged easily. 
     It should be noted that other objects, features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent in the entire disclosure and that modifications may be done without departing the gist and scope of the present invention as disclosed herein and claimed as appended herewith. 
     Also it should be noted that any combination of the disclosed and/or claimed elements, matters and/or items may fall under the modifications aforementioned.