JP3639656B2 - LCD panel manufacturing equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display panel manufacturing apparatus for adjusting a gap between glass plates and curing a seal adhesive on a liquid crystal display panel in which two glass plates are bonded together using a seal adhesive with a spacer interposed therebetween. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Hereinafter, a conventional method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1 and 2 are glass plates forming individual liquid crystal display panels A. As shown in FIG. 2, the glass plates 1 and 2 are opposed to each other with a predetermined gap through a granular spacer 3, A sealing adhesive 4 is applied to the peripheral edges of the glass plates 1 and 2 in order to contain the liquid crystal in the gap. The seal adhesive 4 also serves to bond the glass plates 1 and 2 to each other, but at this stage, the adhesive 4 is not yet cured and the liquid crystal is not yet sealed. Reference numeral 7 denotes an inter-panel spacer laid between the liquid crystal display panels A.
[0003]
Returning to FIG. 1, such liquid crystal display panels A are stacked and sandwiched between the hot plates 5 and 5 ′ and further between the pressure pads 8 and 8 ′ and the die set 6 of the press machine. By pressing, the gap between the glass plates 1 and 2 is adjusted to a desired value by applying pressure to each liquid crystal display panel A, and the seal adhesive 4 is cured in a short time by heating with the hot plate 5. Both glass plates 1 and 2 are bonded to each other. The operation of curing the seal adhesive 4 after adjusting the gap in this way is called crimping.
[0004]
FIG. 3 shows a second manufacturing method, and the same elements as those in FIGS. A diaphragm 11 is inserted between the liquid crystal display panel A composed of glass plates 1 and 2 and a semi-fixed die set 10, and the liquid crystal display panel A is pressurized by inflating the diaphragm 11 through the air inlet 12. The gap is adjusted, and the apparatus itself is heated in a tunnel furnace, or a heater is embedded in the base B of the pressurizer, and the liquid crystal display panel A is heated through the base B. The seal adhesive 4 is cured.
[0005]
FIG. 4 is disclosed in “Glass Substrate Crimping Device” of JP-A-5-34653.
Reference numerals 13 and 14 denote upper and lower frame bodies that are in air-tight contact with each other with an O-ring 15 interposed therebetween, and an opening D is provided in a central portion excluding the peripheral edge portion C thereof. The liquid crystal panel A set in the upper and lower frame bodies 13 and 14 is held with an O-ring 16 provided along the peripheral edge C of the upper and lower frame bodies 13 and 14 interposed therebetween. The exhaust port 17 formed in the peripheral edge C of the upper frame 13 is connected to a vacuum pump. As can be seen from this configuration, the inside of the O-ring 16 is open to the outside atmosphere through the opening D, but the space E outside the O-ring 16 is blocked from the atmosphere and forms a closed region.
[0006]
Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 5, the seal adhesive 4 is applied along the periphery of the glass plates 1 and 2 in order to contain the liquid crystal in the gap between the glass plates 1 and 2, but the gap is later A notch 4a is provided in part so that the liquid crystal can be sealed therein. Therefore, the space of the gap portion is connected to the region E and is shielded from the atmosphere. Therefore, if the region E is brought into a vacuum state through the exhaust port 17, the gap portion is also evacuated, and the glass plates 1 and 2 are subjected to a gap adjustment by receiving a force in a direction in which the glass plates 1 and 2 are pressed against each other. Then, the seal adhesive 4 is cured by heating in a tunnel furnace.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As shown in FIG. 1, when the liquid crystal display panel is large in mechanical pressurization using the die set 6 or the like, the applied pressure exceeds 1 t, and a jig with high mechanical rigidity is required.
In addition, in this apparatus, since an arbitrary desired pressure can be applied, as shown in the drawing, there is an advantage that a plurality of liquid crystal display panels A can be stacked to perform a crimping operation at one time. In order to achieve this, it must be heated in an atmosphere heating furnace with poor thermal efficiency, so the thermal efficiency is extremely poor, and the thermal conductivity between the panels is also poor. The gap is also non-uniform. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, when the foreign substance 9 is mixed between the liquid crystal display panels A, the spacer is crushed as in 3a and the yield is lowered.
[0008]
In the apparatus of FIG. 3, since air pressure is used, a uniform force is applied to the liquid crystal display panel A and a good gap accuracy can be obtained. In addition, since the sealing adhesive 4 must be heated in an atmosphere heating furnace for curing, the thermal efficiency is low and the processing time is long.
[0009]
4 does not use mechanical pressurization, but uses atmospheric pressure, so that a highly rigid jig is not required. However, in the apparatus of FIG. Since holding and airtightness are performed, if the size of the liquid crystal display panel A changes, it is necessary to prepare and install an O-ring suitable for it, resulting in poor workability. In addition, this apparatus also needs to be heated in an atmosphere heating furnace for curing the seal adhesive 4, but the liquid crystal display panel A is held by the O-ring 16, so that the temperature distribution in the liquid crystal display panel A becomes uneven, Challenges arise in gap accuracy.
[0010]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display panel manufacturing apparatus that does not require a highly rigid jig, has good gap accuracy and energy efficiency, has a short processing time, and can easily cope with various sizes. And
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The liquid crystal display panel manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention has an inner peripheral edge portion and an exhaust pipe that form an opening for setting two glass plates that are bonded together using an uncured seal adhesive with a spacer interposed therebetween. A frame-shaped jig whose inner peripheral edge has the same surface as the two bonded glass plates, and the upper surface of the two bonded glass plates, and the opening of the frame-shaped jig An upper sheet member of a size that covers a portion and spreads to the inner peripheral edge, and a lower surface of the two glass plates that are bonded together, covers the opening of the frame-shaped jig and extends to the inner peripheral edge And a lower sheet member of a size that expands. By bringing the two glass plates bonded in the opening of the frame-shaped jig into contact with each other between the upper sheet member and the lower sheet member, the frame-shaped jig, the upper sheet member, The closed region formed by the sheet member and the two bonded glass plates can be depressurized by the exhaust pipe, and the two sheets bonded by the atmospheric pressure acting on the upper sheet member and the lower sheet member at the time of depressurization. Adjust the gap between the glass plates.
[0013]
In the liquid crystal display panel manufacturing method according to the present invention, two glass plates bonded with an uncured seal adhesive sandwiching a spacer are flush with the two bonded glass plates. A size that is set in an opening formed by the inner peripheral edge of the frame-shaped jig, covers the opening of the frame-shaped jig and spreads to the inner peripheral edge on the upper surface of the two bonded glass plates. The upper sheet member is brought into contact, and the lower sheet member having a size that covers the opening of the frame-shaped jig and extends to the inner peripheral edge is brought into contact with the lower surface of the two bonded glass plates. Let Next, the closed region formed by the frame-shaped jig, the upper sheet member, the lower sheet member, and the two bonded glass plates is decompressed by the exhaust pipe of the frame-shaped jig, and the upper sheet member is decompressed at the time of decompression. And the atmospheric pressure acting on the lower sheet member adjusts the gap between the two glass plates bonded together.
[0015]
[Action]
In the liquid crystal display panel manufacturing apparatus and the liquid crystal display panel manufacturing method according to the present invention, two glass plates ( liquid crystal display panel ) bonded together are positioned in the opening of the frame-shaped jig, and the frame-shaped jig and the upper sheet member, although that form a closed region by using a lower sheet member and bonded together the two glass plates, at that time, the upper and lower sheet-like member is provided in contact respectively two glass plates bonded. Therefore, if the closed region is depressurized by using the exhaust pipe of the frame-shaped jig , the two sheet-like members press the two glass plates bonded together by the atmospheric pressure. The gap is adjusted. After the gap adjustment or in parallel with the gap adjustment work, the sealing of the liquid crystal display panel is completed when the seal adhesive is cured .
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a first embodiment of the apparatus of the first invention, and an exploded perspective view thereof is shown in FIG. Reference numeral 20 denotes a frame-shaped jig made of heat-resistant rubber, and the liquid crystal display panel A is set in the opening F thereof. Reference numeral 21 denotes an exhaust pipe penetrating the jig 20. Reference numeral 22 denotes a reinforcing metal fitting fitted along the outer peripheral edge of the jig 20 for reinforcement. The frame thickness is reduced so that the inner peripheral edge portion of the jig 20 is flush with the liquid crystal display panel A set in the opening F, and the portion forms a protrusion 20 ′. Protrusions 20a are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the protruding portion 20 ′. Reference numerals 18 and 19 denote an upper heat-resistant rubber sheet and a lower heat-resistant rubber sheet which are provided so as to cover the upper and lower surfaces of the liquid crystal display panel A and the protruding portion 20 ', respectively. The Reference numerals 25 and 26 denote an upper seal auxiliary frame and a lower seal auxiliary frame for pressing the peripheral portions of the upper heat resistant rubber sheet 18 and the lower heat resistant rubber sheet 19 against the protruding portion 20 '. The auxiliary frames 25 and 26 are fixed integrally with the frame-shaped jig 20 or the reinforcing metal fitting 22 by using a metal fitting (not shown). In the openings G and H of the auxiliary frames 25 and 26, the upper hot plate 23 and the lower hot plate 24 having the same size as the liquid crystal display panel A are located. Heaters 23a and 24a are embedded in the hot plates 23 and 24, respectively.
[0018]
In the apparatus of FIG. 6 assembled with the above elements, the upper heat-resistant rubber sheet 18 is pressed against the upper surface of the protrusion 20 ′ by the weight of the upper seal auxiliary frame 25, and on the other hand, due to the reaction by the weight of the apparatus. Since an upward force acts on the lower surface of the protrusion 20 ′ via the lower heat-resistant rubber sheet 19, the opening F of the frame-shaped jig 20 on which the liquid crystal display panel A is set is The heat-resistant rubber sheets 18 and 19 are airtight to form a closed region, and the liquid crystal display panel A is in close contact with the upper and lower heat-resistant rubber sheets 18 and 19. Therefore, if evacuation is performed through the exhaust pipe 21 leading to the closed region, the gap portion in the liquid crystal display panel A is also in a vacuum state through the notch 4a together with the opening F. Thereby, the liquid crystal display panel A receives the force of atmospheric pressure through the upper and lower hot plates 23 and 24 and the upper and lower heat-resistant rubber sheets 18 and 19, and thereby the gap is adjusted to a desired value.
[0019]
Thereafter, the heaters 23a and 23b are energized to heat the upper and lower hot plates 23 and 24, whereby the liquid crystal display panel A is heated, and the seal adhesive 4 is cured in a desired gap state. Crimping of the liquid crystal display panel A is completed.
[0020]
Even if energization of the heater is started, it takes time until the liquid crystal display panel A is heated to a predetermined temperature, and even if the liquid crystal display panel A is heated to a predetermined temperature, the seal adhesive 4 is not immediately cured. Therefore, energization of the heater may be performed in parallel with the gap adjustment, or energization of the heater may be performed in advance.
[0021]
When the crimping is completed, the opening F is returned to atmospheric pressure through the exhaust pipe 21, the upper hot plate 23 is removed, and then the upper seal auxiliary frame 25 is removed. Here, if the contact portion between the upper seal auxiliary frame 25 and the upper heat resistant rubber sheet 18 is bonded to each other with a double-sided tape or the like, the upper heat resistant rubber sheet 18 can be removed at the same time when the upper seal auxiliary frame 25 is removed. Thereafter, the liquid crystal display panel A that has been crimped is removed, and the liquid crystal display panel A that is next to be crimped is set in the opening F, and is assembled in the reverse procedure.
[0022]
FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing a second embodiment of the apparatus of the first invention, and the same reference numerals are given to the same elements as those in FIG. In FIG. 8, the upper and lower hot plates 23 and 24, which are heating means, are omitted, and instead of the upper heat-resistant rubber sheet and the lower heat-resistant rubber sheet indicated by 27 and 28, respectively, a sheet-like upper sheet heater is provided. 27a and a lower seat heater 27b are embedded.
[0023]
Also in this embodiment, the liquid crystal display panel A receives the force of atmospheric pressure through the upper and lower heat-resistant rubber sheets 27 and 28 by evacuating the opening F through the exhaust pipe 21, and thereby the gap of the liquid crystal display panel A. Is adjusted, and the upper and lower sheet heaters 27a and 28a are energized to heat the liquid crystal display panel A, whereby the seal adhesive 4 is cured and crimped.
[0024]
According to the second embodiment, compared with the first embodiment described above, a special rubber sheet incorporating a seat heater is required, but the hot plate having a large heat capacity of the first embodiment is not used. The liquid crystal display panel A can be heated to a required temperature in a short time, and power consumption can be reduced.
[0025]
FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of the apparatus of the third invention. In FIG. 9, the difference from FIG. 6 is that the upper and lower hot plates 23 and 24 which are heating means are omitted, A quartz plate 29 is used in place of the lower heat resistant rubber sheet 19. A recessed lamp house 30 is provided below the opening H of the lower seal auxiliary frame 26, the upper edge 30a of the lamp house 30 is bent in the horizontal direction, and the bent portion is the lower seal auxiliary. It is joined to the lower surface of the frame 26. However, the lamp house 30 is provided with an air inlet 30 a so that atmospheric pressure is applied to the lower surface of the quartz glass plate 29. The lamp house 30 is provided with a high-pressure mercury lamp 31 that emits a large amount of ultraviolet light, and a shutter 32 that can appropriately block the ultraviolet light from the high-pressure mercury lamp 31 is provided above the high-pressure mercury lamp 31. Further, as the seal adhesive, an ultraviolet curable seal adhesive 4 ′ of a type that is cured by ultraviolet irradiation is used.
[0026]
Also in this apparatus, the gap of the liquid crystal display panel A is adjusted by applying an atmospheric pressure to the liquid crystal display panel A through the upper heat-resistant rubber sheet 18 and the quartz plate 29 by evacuation through the exhaust pipe 21. In parallel with this, when the high pressure mercury lamp 31 is turned on and the shutter 32 is opened for a certain time when a certain illuminance is reached, the ultraviolet rays emitted from the high pressure mercury lamp 31 are emitted from the quartz plate 29 and the lower glass plate. By irradiating the sealing adhesive 4 ′ through 2 and irradiating the sealing adhesive 4 ′, the sealing adhesive 4 ′ is cured in a short time, and the liquid crystal display panel A is pressure-bonded.
[0027]
According to this apparatus, since there is no time-consuming heating step, the seal adhesive 4 ′ can be cured in a shorter time. In addition, although the quartz board was used as an ultraviolet transmissive member, plastics materials, such as an acrylic board, can also be used as a member which permeate | transmits an ultraviolet-ray and does not deteriorate.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
In the first invention, the liquid crystal display panel is positioned in the opening of the frame-shaped jig, and the opening is made a closed region by using a sheet-like member that is in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the liquid crystal display panel. The gap between the glass plates of the liquid crystal display panel is adjusted by depressurizing the region, and the seal adhesive is cured by heating through the sheet-like member. Since it does not have, a highly rigid jig is unnecessary, and high gap accuracy can be obtained. Further, since the direct heating is performed through the sheet-like member, the thermal efficiency is high, and therefore the seal adhesive can be cured in a short time. Further, since the liquid crystal display panel is set in the opening of the frame-shaped jig and processed, panels of various sizes can be processed.
In the second invention, one of the sheet-like members is an ultraviolet ray transmitting member, and the sealing adhesive is cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays through the ultraviolet ray transmissive member, and has a heating process that takes time for heat transfer. Therefore, there is an advantage that the seal adhesive can be cured in a shorter time.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional first crimping method. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of a liquid crystal display panel pressed in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a conventional second crimping method. FIG. 4 is a view showing a third conventional crimping method. FIG. 5 is a view showing a sealing adhesive provided on the periphery of a liquid crystal display panel. FIG. 6 is a first embodiment of an apparatus according to the first invention. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing each component of the apparatus shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing a second embodiment of the apparatus according to the first invention. Sectional view showing one embodiment of the apparatus according to the second invention
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper glass plate 2 Lower glass plate 3 Spacer 4 Sealing adhesive 4 'UV curable sealing adhesive 18 Upper heat-resistant rubber sheet 19 Lower heat-resistant rubber sheet 20 Frame-shaped jig 21 Exhaust pipe 22 Reinforcing metal fitting 23 Upper hot plate 23a Upper heater 24 lower hot plate 24a lower heater 25 upper seal auxiliary frame 26 lower seal auxiliary frame 27 upper heat resistant rubber sheet 27a upper sheet heater 28 lower heat resistant rubber sheet 28a lower sheet heater 29 quartz plate 30 lamp house 31 high pressure mercury lamp 32 shutter

Claims (9)

The inner peripheral edge part and the exhaust pipe which form the opening part which sets the two glass plates bonded together using the uncured seal adhesive sandwiching the spacer are provided, and the plate thickness of the inner peripheral edge part is bonded together. A frame-shaped jig that is flush with the two glass plates;
An upper sheet member that is in contact with the upper surfaces of the two bonded glass plates, covers the opening of the frame-shaped jig and extends to the inner peripheral edge;
A lower sheet member that is in contact with the lower surface of the two bonded glass plates, covers the opening of the frame-shaped jig, and extends to the inner peripheral edge;
Comprising
By bringing the two glass plates bonded in the opening of the frame-shaped jig into contact with each other between the upper sheet member and the lower sheet member, the frame-shaped jig, the upper sheet member, The closed region formed by the sheet member and the two bonded glass plates can be depressurized by the exhaust pipe, and the two sheets bonded by the atmospheric pressure acting on the upper sheet member and the lower sheet member at the time of depressurization. LCD panel manufacturing equipment that adjusts the gap between glass plates . further,
A frame-like upper seal auxiliary frame that supports a surface of the peripheral portion of the upper sheet member that is opposite to the surface that is in contact with the upper surface of the inner peripheral portion of the frame-shaped jig;
2. The liquid crystal according to claim 1, further comprising a frame-like lower seal auxiliary frame that supports a surface of the lower edge of the lower sheet member that is opposite to a surface that is in contact with the lower surface of the inner peripheral edge of the frame-shaped jig. Display panel manufacturing equipment. The upper sheet member and the lower sheet member are heat-resistant rubber sheets,
Furthermore, the liquid crystal display panel manufacturing apparatus of Claim 1 provided with the heating means to contact | abut each outer surface of the said heat-resistant rubber sheet . The liquid crystal display panel manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper sheet member and the lower sheet member are rubber sheets incorporating a heater . further,
It has a lamp house with a high-pressure mercury lamp that radiates ultraviolet rays,
One of the upper sheet member and the lower sheet member is an ultraviolet ray transmitting member,
2. The liquid crystal display panel manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sealing adhesive is cured by irradiating the two glass plates bonded with the uncured sealing adhesive from the lamp house through an ultraviolet transmitting member. . The liquid crystal display panel manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the other of the upper sheet member and the lower sheet member is a heat-resistant rubber sheet. Two glass plates bonded together using an uncured seal adhesive with a spacer interposed therebetween are formed by the inner peripheral edge of a frame-shaped jig whose thickness is flush with the two bonded glass plates. Set in the opening
An upper sheet member of a size that covers the opening of the frame-shaped jig and extends to the inner peripheral edge on the upper surface of the two glass plates bonded together,
A lower sheet member of a size that covers the opening of the frame-shaped jig and extends to the inner peripheral edge is brought into contact with the lower surface of the two laminated glass plates,
The closed region formed by the frame-shaped jig, the upper sheet member, the lower sheet member, and the two bonded glass plates is decompressed by the exhaust pipe of the frame-shaped jig, and the upper sheet member and the lower sheet are decompressed at the time of decompression. The gap between the two glass plates bonded together by the atmospheric pressure acting on the member To adjust
Liquid crystal display panel manufacturing method. The liquid crystal display panel manufacturing method according to claim 7, wherein the seal adhesive is cured after the gap adjustment or in parallel with the gap adjustment. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel according to claim 8, wherein the sealing adhesive is cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays.

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