JP2943645B2 - EL panel sealing method and sealing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for sealing an EL element by injecting an insulating material into an inner space of an EL panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional method for sealing a thin film EL panel will be described with reference to FIG. Thin film EL on glass substrate 1
The element 2 is formed, and the case-shaped rear substrate 4 having a shallow bottom is fixed to the surface of the glass substrate 1 on the side of the thin film EL element 2 with an adhesive 5 to constitute a cell 9. Further, an internal space 3 is formed by the glass substrate 1, the thin film EL element 2, and the rear substrate 4,
The inner space 3 is filled with an insulating oil 7. The method of injecting the insulating oil 7 is as follows. The interior space 3 is evacuated, the cell 9 is immersed in the insulating oil 7 in the container 8 up to the position of the injection hole 6 provided in the rear substrate 4, and the atmospheric pressure is used. Then, the insulating oil 7 is injected into the internal space 3.

[0003]

However, in this method, since the atmospheric pressure acts from the outside of the cell 9 toward the internal space 3, the glass substrate 1 is distorted inward, and accordingly, the glass substrate 1 is formed on the glass substrate 1. In addition to the quality problem that the EL element 2 is destroyed and the quality of the EL panel deteriorates, the distance between the glass substrate 1 and the rear substrate 4 is In such a case, the size of the insulating oil 7 becomes small, and the suction of the insulating oil 7 is deteriorated. Therefore, it takes a long time to inject the insulating oil 7 using the atmospheric pressure, and there is a problem. Further, in order to reduce the distortion of the glass substrate 1, it is necessary to increase the thickness of the glass substrate 1, and there is a problem in reducing the weight.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method of sealing an EL panel which can achieve high productivity and light weight without breaking the EL element by controlling the injection pressure of the insulating oil 7. And its apparatus.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the structure of the present invention has a pair of electrode layers and a light emitting layer, and the light emitting layer emits light when a voltage is applied between the electrodes. An EL element, a light-transmitting first substrate in which the EL element is fixed on one surface, a second substrate joined to the first substrate so as to surround the EL element, an EL element, the first substrate, and the second substrate. In a method for sealing an EL panel, comprising an insulating material filled in an internal space surrounded by a substrate, the EL panel has an opening communicating with the internal space, and is used when filling the internal space with the insulating material.
To make the internal space pressure of the EL panel equal to the external space pressure.
In this state, the injection pressure of the insulating material is controlled, the insulating material is injected from the opening, and the opening is sealed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the opening is formed only by the injection hole, the outer space and the inner space of the EL panel are evacuated , and the insulating material is placed in the inner space.
Filled, if the opening is formed in the injection hole and the exhaust hole, the atmospheric pressure like the internal space of the outer space and the EL panel
According to another aspect, an insulating material is filled in an internal space .

[0007] configuration of the third invention is a sealing arrangement of the EL panel of injecting an insulating material while adjusting the injection pressure from the injection hole provided on the EL panel, is connected to the injection hole of the EL panel and injection means for injecting an insulating material into the inner space of the EL panel, and support means for holding the EL panel, a replenishing means for replenishing an insulating material, and detecting means for detecting the injection pressure of the insulating material, the insulating material pressurized And a control means for controlling the output of the drive means using the detection value of the detection means to adjust the injection pressure of the insulating material.

A fourth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the support means of the sealing device for the EL panel is a chuck type.

[0009]

[Function] The first function is to fill the inner space with the insulating material.
At this time, when the insulating material is injected from the opening with the internal space pressure of the EL panel equal to the external space pressure, the injection pressure of the insulating material is controlled and injected. (Claim 1) the second effect, if the opening is formed only in the injection hole, vacuum-like the internal space of the outer space and the EL panel
In the case where the inner space is filled with an insulating material and the opening is constituted by an injection hole and an exhaust hole, the outer space and the EL
The inside space of the panel is set to atmospheric pressure , and the insulating material is
Fill the space . (Claim 2) A third effect is that the sealing device for the EL panel is connected to the injection hole of the EL panel, and injects an insulating material into the interior space of the EL panel;
Supporting means for sandwiching the EL panel, replenishing means for replenishing the insulating material, detecting means for detecting the injection pressure of the insulating material,
A driving unit for pressurizing the insulating material and a control unit for controlling the output of the driving unit using the detection value of the detecting unit to adjust the injection pressure of the insulating material. (Claim 3) A fourth effect is that the support means of the sealing device for the EL panel is of a chuck type. (Claim 4)

[0010]

The first effect is that the insulating material is filled in the inner space.
At the time of filling, since the inner space pressure and the outer space pressure of the EL panel are equalized and the injection pressure of the insulating material can be adjusted and injected, the first substrate is not distorted,
The destruction of the EL element can be prevented, and the quality of the EL panel is improved. (Claim 1 to Claim 4) The second effect is that the insulating material can be injected while keeping the distance between the first substrate and the second substrate constant without distorting the first substrate and the second substrate. In addition, unlike the injection using the atmospheric pressure, the suction of the insulating material is not deteriorated, and the insulating material can be injected in a short time. (Claims 1 to 4) The third effect is that the first substrate,
Since the thickness of the second substrate can be reduced, the weight of the EL panel can be reduced. (Claim 1 to Claim 4) The fourth effect is that, when performing in a vacuum, no exhaust hole is required, so that the EL panel can be more easily sealed and if the exhaust hole is provided. An insulating material can be injected in an atmospheric pressure atmosphere, and the insulating material can be injected in both a vacuum atmosphere and an atmospheric pressure atmosphere. (Claim 2 to Claim 4) A fifth effect is that, when the supporting means of the sealing device for the EL panel is a chuck type, the EL panel
Even when a wire harness or the like for electrical connection is attached to the panel, the insulating material can be injected, so that the degree of freedom in manufacturing the EL panel is increased.
(Claim 4)

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to specific embodiments. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, which is a configuration in a vacuum atmosphere. First, the cell 9 will be described. The cell 9 includes a glass substrate 1 as a first substrate, a thin film EL element 2 formed on one surface of the glass substrate 1, and a surface of the glass substrate 1 on the side of the thin film EL element 2 and an adhesive 5.
A rear substrate 4 in the form of a shallow case serving as a second substrate fixed thereto is formed therein, in which an internal space 3 filled with insulating oil 7 is formed.

Although not shown, the thin-film EL element 2 includes a pair of electrode layers, a pair of insulating layers, and a light-emitting layer, and the light-emitting layer emits a specific light-emitting color by applying a voltage between the electrode layers. And display. An injection hole 6 is provided at an upper portion of the rear substrate 4, and an injection pipe 15 is connected to the injection hole 6 to inject the insulating oil 7 from the outside. When the insulating oil 7 is injected, a sealing 1 is provided between the injection pipe 15 and the injection hole 6 to prevent leakage.
7 are arranged.

Next, an injection device for the insulating oil 7 will be described. The injection device includes a chuck 16 that supports the cell 9,
A replenishing tank 10 for replenishing the insulating oil 7, a switching unit 11, a cylinder pump 13 for pressurizing the insulating oil 7 in the replenishing tank 10, a pump drive source 14 for driving the cylinder pump 13, and a pressure for detecting an injection pressure of the insulating oil 7. The control device 18 is configured to adjust the output of the pump drive source 14 based on the detection value of the sensor 12 and the pressure sensor 12.

The chuck 16 vertically sandwiches the cell 9 in contact with the glass substrate 1 and the rear substrate 4. Due to its structure, even after a wire harness or the like for electrical connection is attached to the cell 9. The injection of the insulating oil 7 can be performed. The insulating oil 7 is stored in the supply tank 10, and when the cylinder pump 13 is driven by the pump drive source 14, the insulating oil 7 in the supply tank 10 is once sucked into the cylinder pump 13. Then, after the interior space 3 of the cell 9 and its external space are brought into a vacuum atmosphere in a vacuum chamber, the injection hole 6 of the cell 9 and the injection pipe 15 are connected via a chuck 16 in the vacuum chamber, and the insulation Oil 7
Into the internal space 3 of the cell 9. Thereafter, a glass stopper (not shown) is inserted into the injection hole 6 together with the adhesive resin to perform sealing.

At this time, the injection pressure of the insulating oil 7 detected by the pressure sensor 12 is fed back so that the distortion of the glass substrate 1 does not exceed an allowable value, in order to prevent the thin film EL element 2 from being destroyed. Pump drive source 1 at 18
4, the injection pressure of the insulating oil 7 is controlled to the target injection pressure. When the injection of the insulating oil 7 is completed, it is detected that the injection pressure of the pressure sensor 12 has become equal to or higher than a predetermined value, and the pump driving source 14 is stopped.

Therefore, when the insulating oil 7 is injected and at the end of the injection, the thin-film EL element 2 can be prevented from being destroyed.
Since the quality of the panel can be improved and the insulating oil 7 is press-fitted, injection can be performed in a shorter time than suction by atmospheric pressure. Further, since the thickness of the glass substrate 1 and the rear substrate 4 may be thin, the weight of the thin-film EL panel can be reduced. In the case where atmospheric pressure is used, the cell 9 is immersed in the insulating oil 7. Washing was necessary after injection of 7, but not necessary.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in FIG. This embodiment is characterized in that a distortion prevention frame 20 and a distortion detector 21 are provided on a thin film EL panel.
The distortion prevention frame 20 is a container in which two plates are joined so as to cover both surfaces of the EL panel (cell 9), and the upper part thereof is opened so that the EL panel can be inserted from above. Also,
When the EL panel is inserted into the distortion prevention frame 20, it is designed to have such a size that a gap of about several hundred μm is formed between the distortion prevention frame 20 and the surface of the EL panel.

When the insulating oil 7 is injected with the EL panel inserted into the inside of the distortion prevention frame 20, the EL
Since the distortion of the panel is suppressed by the distortion prevention frame 20, the injection pressure at the time of oil injection can be set higher than in the above-described embodiment. Therefore, the total oil injection time of the internal space 3 of the EL panel can be set short. In addition, the distortion prevention frame 20
A strain detector 21, for example, a pressure sensor or a strain sensor is provided at the center of the EL panel. When the internal space 3 of the EL panel is filled with the insulating oil 7, a distortion occurs inside the EL panel. Detected by the detector 21, the injection of the insulating oil 7 is stopped in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment.

In this embodiment, the case where the insulating oil 7 is injected in a vacuum atmosphere has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. By providing a hole, the insulating oil 7 may be injected in an atmospheric pressure atmosphere. In this embodiment, the injection hole 6
Is provided on the rear substrate 4, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the inlet 6 and the outlet may be provided on the glass substrate 1. In this embodiment, the case where one injection hole 6 is provided is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when sealing a large thin film EL panel, a plurality of injection holes 6 are provided. 6 may be provided.

As described above, according to this embodiment ,
By performing the injection in a vacuum atmosphere, the pressure of the internal space 3 of the thin film EL panel and the external space pressure are made equal to a vacuum state,
Further, since the injection pressure of the insulating oil 7 can be adjusted and injected, the glass substrate 1 is not distorted, the thin film EL element 2 can be prevented from being broken, and the quality of the thin film EL panel is improved. Also, since the insulating oil 7 can be injected while keeping the distance between the glass substrate 1 and the rear substrate 4 constant without distorting the glass substrate 1 and the rear substrate 4, compared to the injection using atmospheric pressure, The injection can be performed in a short time, and the productivity can be improved. Further, the glass substrate 1 and the back substrate 4
Since the insulating oil 7 can be injected even if the plate thickness is small, the weight of the thin-film EL panel can be reduced.

In addition, according to the present embodiment , when performing in a vacuum, no exhaust hole is required, so that the thin film EL panel can be sealed more easily. Since it is also possible to inject the insulating oil 7 in the inside, there is the convenience that the insulating oil 7 can be injected in both the vacuum atmosphere and the atmospheric pressure atmosphere. Since the support means of the cell 9 is of a chuck type, the insulating oil 7 can be injected even in a state where a wire harness or the like for electrical connection is attached to the cell 9, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in manufacturing. .
When the atmospheric pressure is used, the cell 9 is made of insulating oil 7
Although a washing step was required after the injection of the insulating oil 7 in order to be immersed, the present invention does not require a washing step, and the productivity can be further improved. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to a device in which the thin film EL element 2 is fixed to the rear substrate 4 side so that the combination with the thin film EL element 2 on the glass substrate 1 side enables multicoloring.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of another embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a conventional method for sealing a thin film EL panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Glass substrate 2 Thin-film EL element 3 Internal space 4 Back substrate 5 Adhesive 6 Injection hole 7 Insulating oil 8 Container 9 Cell 10 Refill tank 11 Switching unit 12 Pressure sensor 13 Cylinder pump 14 Pump drive source 15 Injection pipe 16 Chuck 17 Sealing 18 Control device 20 Strain prevention frame 21 Strain detector

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-4-315792 (JP, A) JP-A-4-34892 (JP, A) JP-A-64-57590 (JP, A) JP-A-2-75193 (JP) , A) JP-A-2-60089 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H05B 33/04

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An EL element having a pair of electrode layers and a light-emitting layer, the light-emitting layer emitting light when a voltage is applied between the electrodes, and a light-transmitting element having the EL element fixed on one surface. A first substrate, a second substrate joined to the first substrate so as to surround the EL element, and an internal space surrounded by the EL element, the first substrate, and the second substrate is filled. In a method for sealing an EL panel comprising an insulating material, the EL panel has an opening communicating with the internal space, and when the insulating material is filled in the internal space, the internal space pressure of the EL panel is reduced. It was equal to the external space pressure
A method for sealing an EL panel , wherein the injection pressure of the insulating material is controlled in the state, the insulating material is injected from the opening, and the opening is sealed. 2. When the opening is formed only by an injection hole, the outer space and the inner space of the EL panel are evacuated to fill the insulating space with the insulating material.
It Hama, if the opening is formed in the injection hole and the exhaust hole, and said external space the inner space of the EL panel as atmospheric pressure, the interior space of said insulating material
2. The method for sealing an EL panel according to claim 1 , wherein the filling is performed . 3. An EL panel sealing device for injecting an insulating material while adjusting an injection pressure from an injection hole provided on an EL panel, wherein the sealing material is connected to the injection hole of the EL panel, Injecting means for injecting into the internal space of the EL panel; supporting means for sandwiching the EL panel; replenishing means for replenishing the insulating material; detecting means for detecting an injection pressure of the insulating material; A sealing device for an EL panel, comprising: a driving means for applying pressure; and a control means for controlling an output of the driving means using a detection value of the detection means to adjust an injection pressure of the insulating material. apparatus. 4. The sealing device for an EL panel according to claim 3, wherein said support means is a chuck type.