JP3799751B2 - Method and apparatus for spraying spacer for liquid crystal panel - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for spraying spacers for a liquid crystal panel, and more particularly, in the case of manufacturing a liquid crystal panel, an intervening substrate is used to maintain a constant distance between two substrates constituting the liquid crystal panel. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for spreading spacers to be inserted on the inner surface of one substrate before a substrate bonding step.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in the manufacturing process of a liquid crystal panel, fine particles made of hard plastic (hereinafter referred to as “spacer”) are dispersed on one substrate constituting the liquid crystal panel, and the spacers are dispersedly arranged on the substrate, and thereafter In some cases, this substrate is bonded to the other substrate through a sealing material. The particle size of the spacer is previously formed to a value that matches the cell gap of the liquid crystal panel. When two substrates are bonded together, the minimum value of the cell gap is limited by the particle size of the spacer. The whole can be provided with a substantially uniform cell gap.
[0003]
Various methods have been proposed for spraying the spacer. For example, as described in JP-A-63-159894, spacers are dispersed in a predetermined solvent in a container, air is blown into the container, and the spacer is transported to a spray nozzle through a transport pipe. Then, there is a method of spraying a spacer on the substrate from a spray nozzle. However, in this method, a plurality of spacers may be collected and dispersed on the substrate. In such a case, it is difficult to uniformly disperse the spacers on the substrate, and the display defect of the liquid crystal panel is There is a problem that causes it.
[0004]
On the other hand, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-251821 filed earlier by the present applicant, a spray nozzle is disposed below the spacer supply device, an electrode is provided on the spray nozzle, and this electrode is used as a spacer. There is a method in which a negative charge is applied and charged, and then the charged spacer is sprayed onto a grounded substrate. In this method, the spacers are repelled by being charged to a negative potential, and move along the electric field in a dispersed state, so that the spacers can be uniformly distributed on the substrate.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Of the above two spraying methods, in the first method, in addition to the problem that the spraying state is not preferable as described above, when the air is blown into the container, the spacer is stably sent to the transport pipe. However, there is a problem in that the amount of sprayed spacers is likely to fluctuate, and the amount of air introduced into the container and the amount of spacer supplied must be adjusted by experience and can.
[0006]
In the second method, although it is preferable that the clumping of the spacer can be prevented, the supply device and the spray nozzle have to be placed close to each other and arranged vertically, so that the degree of freedom of the device configuration is small. When the supply device and the spray nozzle are connected by the transport pipe, there is a problem in that the spacer stays in the transport pipe and the spacer is clogged or the spray amount varies.
[0007]
Therefore, the present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and the problem is that the degree of freedom in arranging the supply device and the spray nozzle by connecting the spacer supply device and the spray nozzle with a transport pipe. It is another object of the present invention to provide a new method and apparatus for spraying a spacer for a liquid crystal panel, which can secure the above-described characteristics and does not cause clogging of the spacer and fluctuation of the spraying amount.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Means taken by the present invention in order to solve the above-mentioned problem is a liquid crystal panel spacer spraying method for spraying granular spacers on a substrate, and supplying the spacers in a controlled supply amount; A step of transporting the supplied spacer toward the spray nozzle by fluid pressure; and a step of spraying the transported spacer from the spray nozzle onto the substrate, wherein the spray nozzle is a flexible tube. The spacer is sprayed while the tip of the spray nozzle is swung in a pendulum shape by fluid pressure .
[0009]
According to this means, since the spacer supplied using the fluid pressure is transported to the spray nozzle, an appropriate spacer transport path (flow path) may be provided between the supply unit and the spray nozzle. It is difficult for the stay and the amount of transport to fluctuate, and the clogging of the spacer and the variation of the amount of spray can be suppressed while ensuring the degree of freedom of arrangement of the supply unit and the spray nozzle. Further, since the spacer is agitated in the flow path by conveying the spacer by the fluid pressure, it is possible to prevent fluctuations in the lump of the spacer and the short-period spray amount.
Further, according to this means, the tip of the flexible tube is swung in a pendulum shape by the fluid pressure.
Spacers can be dispersed while making the spacer distribution more uniform.
It becomes possible to do.
[0010]
Here, it is preferable that the spacer is drawn into a flow path that conveys the spacer from the supply position by introducing a fluid in a downstream direction downstream from the supply position of the spacer.
[0011]
According to this means, by introducing the fluid downstream from the supply position of the spacer, the spacer can be pulled in by the fluid pressure at the supply position, so that the spacer can be transported more reliably, Backflow can be prevented.
[0012]
Further, it is desirable to impart an electrostatic charge to the spacer by conveying the spacer in a bent flow path having a chargeable inner wall.
[0013]
According to this means, since the spacer itself is charged by rubbing against the charging inner wall by being conveyed in the bent flow path having the charging inner wall, the charged spacers repel each other and the spacers clump together. In addition, by supplying a predetermined potential different from that of the spacer to the installation portion of the substrate, electrostatic force can be applied to the spacer from the electric field and dispersed.
[0016]
Next, in the liquid crystal panel spacer spraying device for spraying the granular spacer on the substrate, the spacer is controlled in the liquid crystal panel spacer spraying device for spraying the granular spacer on the substrate. A supply unit configured to supply a supply amount; a transfer unit configured to transfer the supplied spacer along a flow path using fluid pressure; and the spacer transferred by the transfer unit to the substrate A spray nozzle for spraying on the top, and the spray nozzle is formed of a flexible material at least at a tip portion, and the tip portion is configured to swing like a pendulum by a fluid pressure for conveyance. It is characterized by.
[0017]
Here, it is preferable that the transport unit includes a fluid introduction port that introduces a fluid in the downstream direction in the flow path on the downstream side of the supply position where the spacer is supplied from the supply unit.
[0018]
In addition, it is desirable that the flow path is provided with a chargeable inner wall at least in part and bent at a portion of the chargeable inner wall.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a general overall configuration of a spacer spraying device for a liquid crystal panel according to the present invention. A supply chamber 11 is provided in the upper part of the frame 10, and a spacer container 21, a supply unit 22, a transfer unit 23, a transfer tube 24, and a spray nozzle 25, which will be described later, are disposed in the supply chamber 11. Projecting downward from an opening formed substantially at the center of the bottom surface of the supply chamber 11.
[0021]
A spraying chamber 12 is provided below the supply chamber 11, and the spraying chamber 12 is formed so as to surround a rectangular inner wall 12 a having upper and lower openings. One substrate 30 constituting the liquid crystal panel is accommodated in the inner lower portion of the inner wall 12a, and the substrate 30 is placed on the conductive support plate 31 with its inner surface facing upward. Has been. The conductive support plate 31 is connected to an elevating mechanism 33 disposed in the drive chamber 14 via an elevating member 32, and is configured to move up and down based on a command from the drive control device 15 accommodated below the elevating mechanism 33. ing.
[0022]
A transport mechanism 13 is disposed below the spraying chamber 12. The transport mechanism 13 is provided with a large number of transport rollers 13a attached to both front and rear ends in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the roller shaft, and these transport rollers 13a are rotated by a motor (not shown) to The substrate 30 placed on the substrate is sequentially transported from the left to the right in the drawing. The supply control device 16 arranged at the lowest stage of the device is for controlling each device in the supply chamber 11 of the spacer arranged at the upper part.
[0023]
The transport mechanism 13 transports the substrate 30 from the left side in the figure and places it in the center in the figure. At this time, the elevating member 32 of the elevating mechanism 33 is drawn downward, and the conductive support plate 31 is in a state of being retracted between the conveying rollers 13a arranged before and after the drawing. Next, when the elevating member 32 is raised, the substrate 30 placed on the transport roller 13a is placed on the conductive support plate 31, and rises together with the conductive support plate 31. Thus, it will be in the state arrange | positioned at the lower part of the spraying chamber 12. FIG.
[0024]
As will be described later, when the spraying of the spacers 35 is completed in the spraying chamber 12, the lifting mechanism 33 is operated and the conductive support plate 31 is lowered again to place the substrate 30 on the transport roller 13a. . Then, the transport mechanism 13 transports the substrate 30 to the right in the figure.
[0025]
Next, the structure of the device arranged in the supply chamber 11 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 2, a spacer 35 having a diameter of about 5 to 14 μm is accommodated in the spacer container 21. The lower opening of the spacer container 21 communicates with the upper opening of the material supply chamber 22 a provided in the supply unit 22. A rotating body 26 that rotates about a horizontal axis is accommodated inside the material supply chamber 22a, and the rotating body 26 is provided with four fins 26a. These four fins 26a are configured to substantially slidably contact the lower inner surface of the material supply chamber 22a when the rotating body 26 rotates. A notch 26b is formed in the middle of the fin 26a in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the drawing, and the material supply chamber 22a communicates with the distribution chamber 22b through the communication port 22c.
[0026]
The distribution chamber 22b is formed as a cylindrical space having a horizontal axis, and accommodates a cylindrical distribution roller 27 that is almost completely filled in the distribution chamber 22b. A distribution groove 27a formed in an annular shape in the circumferential direction is provided at the center of the distribution roller 27 in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface direction of the drawing. The distribution roller 27 is connected to a drive motor (not shown) via a gear so as to rotate in a direction opposite to the rotating body 26. A separation blade 28 that is slidably contacted in the horizontal direction with respect to the distribution groove 27 a is introduced below the distribution roller 27, and a discharge port 22 d is formed immediately below the tip 28 a of the separation blade 28.
[0027]
Two adjacent fins 26a of the rotating body 26 separate a predetermined amount of the spacer 35 from the other spacers in the material supply chamber 22a in the lower part of the material supply chamber 22a, and enter the distribution material chamber 22b via the communication port 22c. Acts like sending out. At this time, the notch 26b prevents the space between the two fins 26a from becoming negative pressure as the spacer 35 accommodated between the two adjacent fins 26a is fed into the distribution material chamber 22b. This prevents the delivery of the spacer 35 from being stopped by the negative pressure.
[0028]
The spacer 35 fed from the communication port 22c is accommodated in the distribution groove 27a, moves downward along the inner surface of the distribution chamber 22b according to the rotation of the distribution roller 27, and is finally distributed by the tip 28a of the separation blade 28. It falls from the groove 27a through the discharge port 22d. The rotational speeds of the rotating body 26 and the distribution roller 27 of the supply unit 22 are configured to be controlled by the supply control device 16.
[0029]
A transport unit 23 is disposed below the supply unit 22. The transport portion 23 is provided with a receiving port 29 that receives the spacer 35 dropped from the discharge port 22d, and an opening edge of the receiving port 29 is provided with a tapered surface 29a that is formed to open upward. The receiving port 29 communicates with a cylindrical delivery chamber 40 having an inner diameter of 9 mm and provided with a horizontal axis formed inside the transport unit 23. An air guide tube 41 having an outer diameter of 5 mm and an inner diameter of 3 mm is introduced from the right side of the drawing chamber 40 along the axis thereof. The air guide pipe 41 communicates with an air supply pipe 42 connected to the transport unit 23 on the right side of the drawing, and discharges air supplied from the air supply pipe 42 from the tip end portion 41a. The supply pressure of the air supply pipe 42 is variously adjusted, but is approximately 4 kg / cm ² . A connection tube 43 is connected to the left end of the delivery chamber 40, and the transfer tube 24 (inner diameter 10 mm) is attached to the outer periphery of the connection tube 43. The transport tube 24 is preferably a transparent resin tube having an inner surface on which the spacer 35 is difficult to adhere. The distal end portion 41 a of the air guide tube 41 is formed so as to protrude to the left in the drawing from the distal end of the connection tube 43. The transport unit 23 is made of stainless steel, and the inner surface of the receiving port 29 and the delivery chamber 40 and the outer surface of the air guide tube 41 are mirror-finished so that the spacer 35 is difficult to adhere.
[0030]
In the transfer part 23, the air supplied from the air supply pipe 42 is discharged from the tip part 41a of the air guide pipe 41, so that the inside of the delivery chamber 40 is made negative pressure from the outside by the ejector effect and falls from the discharge port 22d. In order to suck the spacer 35, the spacer 35 is forcibly pulled into the delivery chamber 40 from the receiving port 29. The spacer 35 drawn into the delivery chamber 40 is sucked to the left in the drawing due to the ejector effect of the air guide tube 41 and is drawn into the transport tube 24. From there, the spacer 35 is carried on the air discharged from the air guide tube 41. The tube 24 moves downstream. Here, the distal end portion 41 a of the air guide tube 41 only needs to be disposed on the left side (downstream side) in the drawing with respect to at least the junction position between the receiving port 29 and the delivery chamber 40. This is to prevent the air discharged from the air guide tube 41 from flowing back from the receiving port 29 and to surely obtain the ejector effect. However, in the present embodiment, the front end portion 41a is projected outward from the front end of the connection pipe 43, thereby facilitating maintenance such as cleaning and component replacement. In the present embodiment, the delivery chamber 40 is formed so as to extend to the right in the drawing from directly below the receiving port 29, but the delivery chamber 40 may be formed to extend from directly below the receiving port 29 to the left in the drawing. The flow rate of the air discharged from the air guide tube 41 is configured to be controlled by the supply control device 16. In addition, what is discharged | emitted from the air guide pipe 41 is not restricted to air, Other fluids, such as nitrogen gas, may be sufficient.
[0031]
The outlet portion of the discharge port 22d of the supply unit 22 and the inlet portion of the receiving port 29 of the transport unit 23 are set to be separated from each other by about 5 mm. This is to prevent the passage of the spacer 35 in the supply unit 22 and the delivery chamber 40 in the transport unit 23 from affecting each other in terms of airflow or pressure, due to the negative pressure in the delivery chamber 40. This is to prevent the spacer 35 in the supply unit 22 from being sucked out or, conversely, in the delivery chamber 40, the air flows backward due to the negative pressure on the receiving port 29 side rather than the downstream side. In the present embodiment, the supply unit 22 and the conveyance unit 23 are configured separately, and the discharge port 22d and the receiving port 29 are separated from each other by being arranged at a predetermined interval. For example, the discharge port 22d and the receiving port 29 may be formed to communicate with each other, and an air supply port for introducing air or the like may be provided therebetween.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 3, the downstream end of the transport tube 24 is connected to the spray nozzle 25. The spray nozzle 25 includes a spray hole 25a that communicates with the transport tube 24 and has a spray port at the lower end, and an air guide hole 25b that merges in the middle of the spray hole 25a. High-pressure air is introduced into the air introduction hole 25b from an air supply pipe (not shown), and the spacer 35 is drawn from the inside of the transport tube 24 by the ejector effect. An application electrode 25c is disposed in the vicinity of the spray port in the spray hole 25a. A negative high voltage (−100 VDC) formed by a high voltage generation circuit is guided to the application electrode 25c through a voltage controller based on electric power supplied from a power source (not shown).
[0033]
A ground potential is supplied to the conductive support plate 31 shown in FIG. 1, and an electric field based on a large potential difference is generated between the application electrode 25 c of the upper spray nozzle 25 and the conductive support plate 31. . The spacer 35 sprayed from the spray nozzle 25 is negatively charged by the application electrode 25c. In the charged state, the electric field in the spray chamber 12 causes gravity on the surface of the substrate 30 on the conductive support plate 31. Sprayed under the influence of both electromagnetic force and electromagnetic force. The spacer 35 for the liquid crystal panel has a small diameter (about several μm) along with the recent reduction of the cell gap. It takes a long time for free fall, and the direction of the drop also depends on the air flow in the spray chamber 12 (mainly the spray nozzle). Generated by the air discharged from 25). In contrast, in the present embodiment, the spacers 35 are guided onto the substrate 30 by an electrostatic field, so that the spacers 35 can be dispersed more uniformly on the substrate 30 than in the prior art.
[0034]
In the present embodiment, the spacer 35 is configured to be reliably supplied at a supply amount controlled by the supply unit 22, and the supplied spacer 35 passes through the transfer tube 24 by air pressure in the transfer unit 23. Therefore, the supply amount of the spacer 35 varies in the supply portion of the spacer 35, or the spacer 35 stays between the supply portion 22 and the distribution nozzle 25. It is possible to prevent the spraying amount of the spacer 35 from fluctuating or becoming a desired spraying amount. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to arrange the supply part 22 and the spray nozzle 25 close to each other, each part in the supply chamber 11 can be freely arranged, and the design freedom of the spacer 35 in the spraying apparatus. Can be secured.
[0035]
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the spacer 35 supplied from the supply unit 22 in the transport unit 23 is agitated in a fluid such as air by an air flow, so that aggregation of the spacer 35 is reduced and the spacer 35 is dispersed. Since fluctuations in the short period of the amount are also suppressed, it is possible to perform spacer dispersion with better dispersibility and more stable.
[0036]
FIG. 4 shows a spray nozzle 50 having a structure different from that of the above embodiment. In the spray nozzle 50, a support member 51 fixed on the bottom plate of the supply chamber 11 and a flexible tube 52 supported by the support member 51 are provided. As the flexible tube, various resin tubes can be used, and the transport tube 24 itself in the above embodiment can also be used. The distal end portion 52a of the flexible tube 52 protrudes downward from the support member 51 by a preset length L, and is in a free state that is not supported by anyone.
[0037]
The spray nozzle 50 is connected to the supply unit 22 and the transport unit 23 similar to those in the above embodiment, and the spacer 35 transported by the air discharged from the transport unit 23 passes through the flexible tube 52. Thus, it is discharged downward from the spout 52b at the tip of the tip 52a. At this time, the leading end 52a of the flexible tube 52 is swayed by the carrier air as shown by a one-dot chain line in the figure, and the spray port 52b is reciprocated or rotated in the upper part of the spray chamber 12. As a result, the spacers 35 are dispersed in a moderately dispersed state. The mode of swinging of the distal end portion 52a of the flexible tube 52 varies depending on the material of the flexible tube 52, the length L of the distal end portion 52a, the air flow rate of the transport unit 23, and the like, and thus is spread on the substrate 30. The conditions are adjusted as appropriate so that the state is the best.
[0038]
FIG. 5 shows the structure of another spray nozzle 60. In the spray nozzle 60, the discharge tube 61 is spirally wound on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical protrusion 62 fixed to the bottom plate of the supply chamber 11, and the tip 61 a is fixed to the bottom plate of the supply chamber 11. It protrudes into the lower spraying chamber 12. The discharge tube 61 has an inner surface made of a material that is insulative and charged by friction with the spacer 35 (hereinafter simply referred to as “charging property”). Or the like, and a tube having chargeability manufactured using the above can be used. Since the discharge tube 61 itself has a charging property, the spacer 35 passing through the inside along the winding shape of the discharge tube 61 is rubbed in contact with the inner surface of the discharge tube 61 and simultaneously charges the inner surface. He is also charged with static electricity. The spacers 35 thus charged are dispersed while receiving an electrostatic force directed to the substrate 30 on the grounded conductive support plate 31 as in the above embodiment.
[0039]
Even if the discharge tube 61 is not spirally wound like the spray nozzle 60 shown in FIG. 5, the spacer 35 can be similarly charged by providing a bent portion of another shape on the discharge tube. However, it is preferable to form a spiral as shown in FIG. 5 in order to sufficiently charge the spacer 35 without obstructing the progression of the spacer 35 as much as possible. Further, the bent portion may be provided not in a part of the spray nozzle but in a route of an arbitrary spacer such as a transport tube.
[0040]
Furthermore, the tip of the spray nozzle 60 shown in FIG. 5 may be replaced with the spray electrode 25 from which the application electrode 25c of the spray nozzle 25 shown in FIG. 3 is removed, or at least like the spray nozzle 50 shown in FIG. You may make it improve the dispersibility and the uniformity of a dispersion | spreading state by forming a front-end | tip part with a flexible material and rocking the spraying port.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention has the following effects.
[0042]
According to the first or fifth aspect, since the spacer supplied using the fluid pressure is transported to the spray nozzle, an appropriate spacer transport path (flow path) is provided between the supply unit and the spray nozzle. ), It is difficult for the stay and the amount of transport to fluctuate, and the clogging of the spacer and the variation of the amount of spray can be suppressed while ensuring the degree of freedom of arrangement of the supply unit and the spray nozzle. Further, since the spacer is agitated in the flow path by transporting the spacer by the fluid pressure, it is possible to prevent fluctuation of the lump of the spacer and the spray amount in a short cycle.
[0043]
According to claim 2 or claim 6, by introducing the fluid downstream from the spacer supply position, the spacer can be pulled in by the fluid pressure at the supply position, so that the spacer can be transported more reliably. In addition, the spacers can be prevented from staying and backflowing.
[0044]
According to claim 3 or claim 7, since the spacer itself is charged by rubbing against the chargeable inner wall by being conveyed in the bent flow path having the chargeable inner wall, the charged spacers repel each other. It is possible to prevent the spacers from clumping together, and by supplying a predetermined potential different from the spacers to the installation portion of the substrate, electrostatic force can be applied to the spacers from the electric field and dispersed.
[0045]
According to the fourth or eighth aspect, the spacers can be sprayed while the tip of the flexible tube is swung in a pendulum shape by the fluid pressure, so that the distribution of the spacers can be made more uniform.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of a spacer spraying device for a liquid crystal panel according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a spacer supply unit and a conveyance unit in the same embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a spacer spray nozzle in the same embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a spray nozzle of a spacer different from the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing the structure of a spray nozzle of a different spacer.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Frame 11 Supply chamber 12 Spreading chamber 13 Transfer mechanism 15 Drive control device 16 Supply control device 21 Spacer container 22 Supply portion 23 Transfer portion 24 Transfer tube 25, 50, 60 Distribution nozzle 29 Receiving port 30 Substrate 31 Conductive support plate 40 Delivery chamber 41 Leading tube 41a Tip 43 Connecting tube 51 Support member 52 Flexible tube 52a Tip 61 Release tube

Claims (6)

In the method of spraying spacers for liquid crystal panels for spraying granular spacers on the substrate,
Supplying the spacer at a controlled supply amount;
Transporting the supplied spacer toward the spray nozzle by fluid pressure;
Spraying the spacer that has been transported onto the substrate from the spray nozzle,
A spraying method for a spacer for a liquid crystal panel, wherein the spraying nozzle is a flexible tube, and the spacer is sprayed while the tip of the spraying nozzle is swung in a pendulum shape by fluid pressure .   2. The method of spraying spacers for a liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, wherein the spacers are drawn into a flow path transported from the supply position by introducing a fluid downstream from the supply position of the spacer. .   3. The method of spraying spacers for a liquid crystal panel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an electrostatic charge is imparted to the spacers by conveying the spacers in a bent flow path having a chargeable inner wall. . In the dispersion device for spacers for liquid crystal panels for dispersing granular spacers on the substrate,
Supply means for supplying the spacer in a controlled supply amount;
Conveying means configured to convey the supplied spacer along the flow path by fluid pressure;
A spray nozzle for spraying the spacer transported by the transport means on the substrate;
The spray nozzle has at least a tip portion formed of a flexible material, and the tip portion is configured to swing like a pendulum by a fluid pressure for conveyance . Spraying equipment. 5. The conveying means according to claim 4 , further comprising a fluid introduction port for introducing a fluid in a downstream direction in the flow path on the downstream side of a supply position where the spacer is supplied from the supply means. Dispersing device for LCD panel spacers. 6. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein the flow path has a chargeable inner wall at least partially and is bent at a portion of the chargeable inner wall. Spacer sprayer.

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