The application is the denomination of invention submitted on September 6th, 2004 for " liquid crystal distributing method and device " and application number are 200410073847.9 divide an application, and quotes its full content as a reference at this.
Background technology
Recently, various portable electric appts, as mobile phone, PDA(Personal Digital Assistant) and notebook computer, little, in light weight and low-power consumption has obtained fast development owing to volume.Therefore, flat-panel display device, as LCD (LCD), plasma display panel (PDP), electroluminescent display (FED) and vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) have obtained fast development.At present, in these flat-panel display devices, simple, picture quality is good to have obtained extensive development to LCD owing to it drives.
Fig. 1 shows the sectional view of the LCD device of prior art.In Fig. 1, LCD device 1 comprises infrabasal plate 5, upper substrate 3 and is arranged between the two liquid crystal layer 7.Infrabasal plate 5 is drive unit array base paltes, comprises a plurality of pixel (not shown)s and drive unit, for example the thin film transistor (TFT) that forms on each pixel (TFT).Upper substrate 3 is colour filtering chip basic boards, comprises the color filter layer that is used to reproduce true color.In addition, on infrabasal plate 5 and upper substrate 3, be formed with pixel electrode and public electrode respectively.Between infrabasal plate 5 and upper substrate 3, form the oriented layer of the liquid crystal molecule be used for arranging liquid crystal layer 7.
Infrabasal plate 5 and upper substrate 3 usefulness sealants 9 are in the same place along perimeter bond, and liquid crystal 7 is limited in the periphery.In addition, the liquid crystal molecule of liquid crystal layer 7 is by the drive unit reorientation that forms on the infrabasal plate 5, the light quantity of passing liquid crystal layer 7 with control, thus show piece image.
Fig. 2 shows the process flow diagram of prior art LCD device making method.In Fig. 2, the manufacture method of producing the LCD device comprises three sub-operations: drive unit array base palte operation is used for forming drive unit on infrabasal plate 5; The colour filtering chip basic board operation is used for forming color filter on upper substrate 3; And cell processes.
In step S101, by drive unit array operation, on infrabasal plate 5, form many gate lines and data line, thereby limit a pixel region, and the thin film transistor (TFT) that formation and gate line are connected with data line on each pixel region.In addition, by drive unit array operation, also form pixel electrode, it is connected with thin film transistor (TFT), thereby drives liquid crystal layer according to the signal that applies by thin film transistor (TFT).
In step S104,, on upper substrate 3, form R, G and the B color filter layer and the public electrode of reproducing colors by the color filter operation.
In step S102 and S105, on infrabasal plate 5 and upper substrate 3, form oriented layer.Then, the difference rubbing alignment layer is with the surface anchoring (that is, tilt angle and orientation) of the liquid crystal molecule of generation liquid crystal layer 7.
In step S103, on infrabasal plate 5, wadding is set, make to keep uniform box gap between infrabasal plate 5 and the upper substrate 3.
In step S106, in the outside printing and sealing agent of upper substrate 3.
In step S107, infrabasal plate 5 and upper substrate 3 are assembled together by exerting pressure.
Infrabasal plate 5 and upper substrate 3 are all made by glass substrate, and comprise that a plurality of its is provided with the display board district, unit of drive unit and color filter layer.
In step S108, lower glass substrate 5 and top glass substrate 3 after the assembling are cut into the unit display board.
In step S109, be injected in the gap between unit display board infrabasal plate 5 and the upper substrate 3 by liquid crystal filling orifice liquid crystal material, then the encapsulated liquid crystals filling orifice.
In step S110, test has been full of the unit display board of liquid crystal and good seal.
Fig. 3 shows the synoptic diagram that prior art is used to make the liquid crystal injection systems of LCD device.In Fig. 3, the container 12 of putting liquid crystal material 14 is placed in the vacuum chamber 10, and LCD panel 1 places the top of container 12.Then, vacuum chamber 10 is connected with the vacuum pump (not shown), thereby makes vacuum chamber 10 keep predetermined vacuum/pressurized state.In addition, LCD panel mobile device (not shown) is installed in the vacuum chamber 10, is used for LCD panel 1 is moved to the surface of liquid crystal material 14 from the top of container 12, thereby the filling orifice 16 of LCD panel 1 is contacted with liquid crystal material 14.Therefore, this method is commonly referred to liquid crystal dipping injection method.
Under the filling orifice 16 and liquid crystal material 14 surperficial contacted states of LCD panel 1, by charging into nitrogen (N to vacuum chamber 10
2), the vacuum/pressurized level of vacuum chamber 10 descends, and under action of pressure between the vacuum/pressurized level of the vacuum/pressurized level of LCD panel 1 and vacuum chamber 10, liquid crystal material 14 injects LCD panel 1 by filling orifice 16.After liquid crystal is full of LCD panel 1 fully,, thereby liquid crystal material 14 is sealed in the LCD panel 1 with sealant sealing filling orifice 16.Therefore, this method is called vacuum impregnation.
Yet, in liquid crystal dipping injection method and/or vacuum impregnation, have several problems.
At first, the All Time of liquid crystal material 14 injection display boards 1 is longer relatively.Usually, the gap relative narrower in the LCD panel 1 between drive unit array base palte and the colour filtering chip basic board has only several microns.Therefore, more a spot of relatively liquid crystal material 14 is injected in the LCD panel 1 in the unit interval.For example, 15 inches LCD panel are injected liquid crystal material 14 fully approximately needs 8 hours, thereby has reduced manufacturing efficient.
The second, in the liquid crystal injection method, increased the consumption of liquid crystal material 14.Have only a spot of liquid crystal material 14 actual being injected in the LCD panel 1 in the container 12.Therefore, when LCD panel 1 was placed vacuum chamber, the liquid crystal material 14 of usefulness was not exposed in air or some gas, thereby had polluted liquid crystal material 14.After injecting liquid crystal material 14 to a plurality of LCD panel 1, all remaining liquid crystal materials 14 must be thrown away, and have therefore increased manufacturing cost.
Embodiment
Describe the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in detail.
In order to solve the problem that traditional liquid crystal injection method such as liquid crystal dipping injection method or liquid crystal vacuum impregnation exist, a kind of liquid crystal apportion design has appearred recently.This liquid crystal apportion design is by directly liquid crystal being assigned on the substrate, then in the substrate assembly process, by substrate is forced together, make the liquid crystal of instillation be diffused into the method that entire display panel forms liquid crystal layer, rather than utilize the inside and outside pressure differential of display board that liquid crystal is injected the method that empty unit display board forms liquid crystal layer.According to above-mentioned liquid crystal apportion design, can at short notice liquid crystal directly be instilled on the substrate, therefore the liquid crystal layer of large-area LCD plate can very fast formation.In addition, because directly therefore the quantity of dispensing liquid crystal and required quantity as many can reduce the consumption of liquid crystal, thus the reduction manufacturing cost.
Fig. 4 shows the key concept synoptic diagram according to liquid crystal apportion design of the present invention.In Fig. 4,, liquid crystal material 107 is instiled on the infrabasal plate 105 with drive unit at assembling infrabasal plate 105 with before having the upper substrate 103 of color filter.Perhaps, liquid crystal material 107 also can be instilled on the upper substrate 103 that is formed with color filter on it.For example, liquid crystal material 107 can be formed on thin film transistor (TFT) (TFT) substrate or on color filter (CF) substrate.
The branch of outer peripheral portion at least along upper substrate 103 is provided with sealant 109.Then,, upper substrate 103 and infrabasal plate 105 are assembled together, thereby constitute LCD display board 101 by upper substrate 103 and infrabasal plate 105 are exerted pressure.Therefore, under the pressure effect that is applied to upper substrate 103 and/or infrabasal plate 105, the liquid crystal material 107 of instillation spreads apart between upper substrate 103 and infrabasal plate 105, thereby forms the uniform liquid crystal material layer of thickness between upper substrate 103 and infrabasal plate 105.In the embodiment of LCD device making method of the present invention, before fit on substrate 103 and infrabasal plate 105 formation LCD display boards 101, liquid crystal material 107 is instilled on the infrabasal plate 105.
Fig. 5 shows the process flow diagram according to liquid crystal display of the present invention (LCD) device making method embodiment.At step S201, drive unit can be formed with the tft array operation on infrabasal plate, as TFT.
In step S204, can on upper substrate 103, form color filter layer with the color filter operation.Usually, similar to public operation, tft array operation and color filter operation more are applicable to the glass substrate with display board zone, a plurality of unit.Here, upper and lower substrate can be that area is about 1000 * 1200mm
2Even more large-area glass substrate.Yet, also can use the glass substrate of small size.
In step S202 and S205, on upper and lower substrate, form and rubbing alignment layer.
In step S203, liquid crystal material 107 can be instilled into the liquid crystal display display board zone of infrabasal plate 105.
In step S206, sealant 109 is printed on the subregion, outside in liquid crystal display display board zone of upper substrate at least.
In step S207, upper substrate and infrabasal plate are arranged with facing with each other, exert pressure then, with sealant upper and lower substrate bonding is arrived together.Therefore, liquid crystal material spreads apart between upper and lower substrate and sealant equably.
In step S208, handle the upper and lower substrate that assembles and be cut to a plurality of liquid crystal display display boards.
In step S209, test liquid crystal display display board.
The LCD device making method of liquid crystal apportion design shown in Figure 5 injects in the liquid crystal vacuum with the LCD device making method of existing liquid crystal injection method shown in Figure 2, liquid crystal distributes and the aspects such as processing time of large-area glass substrate are different.That is to say that in the LCD device making method that uses liquid crystal injection method shown in Figure 2, liquid crystal injects by filling orifice, seals filling orifice with sealant then.Yet in the manufacture method of the LCD device that uses the liquid crystal apportion design, liquid crystal directly instils on substrate, and does not need the filling orifice sealing process.Though do not illustrate among Fig. 2, in the LCD manufacture method of using the liquid crystal injection method, when injecting liquid crystal, substrate contacts with liquid crystal, and therefore, the outside surface of display board is by liquid crystal pollution, thus the operation that needs to clean the pollution substrate.Yet,,, so do not need matting so liquid crystal can the pollution displaying plate because in the LCD device making method that uses the liquid crystal apportion design, liquid crystal directly instils on substrate.Use the LCD manufacture method of liquid crystal apportion design simpler, thereby have higher production efficiency and bigger output than the LCD device making method that uses the liquid crystal injection method.
In the LCD device making method that uses the liquid crystal apportion design, the distribution locations of liquid crystal and the sendout of liquid crystal greatly influence the formation of the liquid crystal layer with expection thickness.Particularly because the thickness of liquid crystal layer is closely related with the box gap of LCD panel, liquid crystal accurately distribution locations and accurately sendout for preventing that the liquid crystal display board defect is extremely important.For the accurately liquid crystal of amount that on position accurately, instils, the invention provides a kind of liquid crystal dispensing apparatus.
Fig. 6 shows the synoptic diagram of liquid crystal apportion design key concept, and this liquid crystal apportion design is to use the liquid crystal dispensing apparatus 120 that is positioned at glass substrate 105 tops that liquid crystal 107 is assigned on the large-area substrate 105.Though do not illustrate among the figure, liquid crystal material is placed in the liquid crystal dispensing apparatus 120, thereby can distribute certain amount of liquid crystal to substrate.
When to glass substrate 105 dispenser method materials 107, glass substrate 105 moves along x and y direction with predetermined speed, and liquid crystal dispensing apparatus 120 discharges liquid crystal material at interval with preset time simultaneously.Therefore, the liquid crystal material 107 that is assigned on the glass substrate 105 is arranged along x and y direction by predetermined interval each other.Perhaps, glass substrate 105 maintains static, and liquid crystal dispensing apparatus 120 moves along x and y direction, to press predetermined interval dispenser method material 107.Yet the shape of liquid crystal material 107 may be changed by the influence of liquid crystal dispensing apparatus 120 vibrations, and the distribution locations of liquid crystal material 107 and sendout all can produce error.Therefore, preferably, fixedly liquid crystal dispensing apparatus 120 and mobile glass substrate 105.
Fig. 7 shows the skeleton view according to liquid crystal dispensing apparatus 120 of the present invention, and Fig. 8 shows the decomposition diagram according to liquid crystal dispensing apparatus of the present invention.In Fig. 7, liquid crystal dispensing apparatus 120 comprises the cylindrical shape liquid crystal material container 122 that places in the housing 123.Liquid crystal material container 122 is made by tygon, and liquid crystal material 107 is housed in the liquid crystal material container 122.Housing 123 is made by stainless steel, is placed with liquid crystal material container 122 in it.Because tygon has good plasticity, can be easy to produce the container of intended shape with tygon.Simultaneously, behind the liquid crystal material 107 of packing into, do not produce chemical reaction between tygon and the liquid crystal material 107, therefore main as liquid crystal material container 122.Yet tygon intensity is low, therefore is easy to produce distortion under pressure.After 122 distortion of liquid crystal material container, liquid crystal material 107 just can not be distributed on the substrate exactly.Therefore, liquid crystal material container 122 can place and have in the high-intensity housing of being made by stainless steel 123.
Though not shown in the figures, on the top of liquid crystal material container 122 air supply pipe can be installed, so that inert gas such as nitrogen to be provided in it.Gas is fed to the space that is not occupied by liquid crystal material 107 in the brilliant container 122 of liquid material.Therefore, gas extruding liquid crystal material 107 is assigned on the substrate liquid crystal material.
Liquid crystal material container 122 can be made as stainless steel by some indeformable materials.Therefore, when liquid crystal material container 122 is made by stainless steel, can not need housing 123, thereby reduce the manufacturing cost of liquid crystal dispensing apparatus 120.The inwall of liquid crystal material container 122 can apply fluorine resin, thereby the inwall that prevents to be housed in liquid crystal material 107 and liquid crystal material container 122 in the liquid crystal material container 122 produces chemical reaction.
Liquid crystal discharge pump 140 is installed in the bottom of liquid crystal material container 122.Liquid crystal discharge pump 140 is used for discharging liquid crystal containers 122 and determines that the liquid crystal of amount is to be assigned to substrate.Liquid crystal discharge pump 140 is provided with the liquid crystal material sucking port 147 that is connected with liquid crystal material container 122, it is used for sucking liquid crystal when 140 operations of liquid crystal discharge pump, and, when 140 operations of liquid crystal discharge pump, be used to discharge the liquid crystal discharge gate 148 of liquid crystal at liquid crystal material sucking port 147 relative positions.
As shown in Figure 8, first connecting pipe 126 is connected with liquid crystal material sucking port 147.Though the liquid crystal material sucking port 147 shown in the figure is connected by the mode of inserting with first connecting pipe 126, liquid crystal material sucking port 147 can be connected by coupling arrangement such as spiral with first connecting pipe 126.Be provided with the pin 128 that inside penetrates on one side of first connecting pipe 126, for example, entry needle.One pad (not shown) is made by highly shrinkable and high leakproofness material such as silicon or butyl rubber family material, and the bottom that it is arranged on liquid crystal material container 122 is used for to first connecting pipe, 126 discharging liquid crystal.Pin 128 inserts liquid crystal material container 122 by described pad, enters liquid crystal material sucking port 147 with the liquid crystal material 107 in the guiding liquid crystal material container 122.When pin 128 inserted liquid crystal material container 122, pin 128 extruding pads leaked into the zone that pin 128 inserts to stop liquid crystal material 127.Because link together with pin and pad between liquid crystal material sucking port 147 and the liquid crystal material container 122, syndeton is simple and connection/dismounting is more convenient.
The liquid crystal material sucking port 147 and first connecting pipe 126 can constitute a unit.In this case, pin 128 is arranged in the liquid crystal material sucking port 147 and directly inserts liquid crystal material container 122 with the discharging liquid crystal, thereby has simple structure.
Nozzle 150 is arranged on the bottom of liquid crystal discharge pump 140.Nozzle 150 is connected with the liquid crystal discharge gate 148 of liquid crystal discharge pump 140 by second connecting pipe 160, being assigned on the substrate from the liquid crystal that liquid crystal discharge pump 140 gives off.
Second connecting pipe 160 can adopt opaque material to make.But being based on following reason second connecting pipe 160 adopts transparent material to make.
In dispensing liquid crystal, gas is included in the liquid crystal material 107, and the sendout that is assigned to the liquid crystal material 107 on the substrate can not accurately be controlled.Therefore, when dispensing liquid crystal, gas must be removed.Gas has been included in 107 li of the liquid crystal materials of liquid crystal material container 122, promptly uses the gas removal device to remove the gas of 107 li of liquid crystal materials, and gas can not be removed totally fully.Simultaneously, when liquid crystal material 107 when liquid crystal material container 122 imports liquid crystal discharge pumps 140, also can produce gas.Therefore, can not remove gas in the liquid crystal material 107 fully.So removing gas the best way is the operation that stops liquid crystal dispensing apparatus when producing gas.
It is to adopt transparent material to be easy to the gas of finding that gas contained in the liquid crystal material container 122 or liquid crystal material container produce that second connecting pipe 160 adopts the reason of transparent material, to prevent the generation of LCD device inferior.Gas can find that also can detect automatically as the optical coupling device with the first sensor 162 that is installed in second connecting pipe, 160 both sides, second method can be prevented the generation of LCD device inferior better by user's naked eyes.
Between the liquid crystal discharge gate 148 of second connecting pipe 160 and liquid crystal discharge pump 140, be provided with filtrator 173, to remove the particle that produces by liquid crystal discharge pump 140 in the liquid crystal.When piston up-down in inserting cylinder body and rotation, liquid crystal discharge pump 140 sucks and the discharging liquid crystal by liquid crystal material sucking port 147 and liquid crystal discharge gate 148.Therefore, when 140 operations of liquid crystal discharge pump, owing to friction between piston and the cylinder body produces particle.In this case, particle is assigned on the substrate with liquid crystal, thereby produces flaw on the LCD device.Filtrator 173 is removed the particle that the operation owing to liquid crystal discharge pump 140 produces, and is assigned to the liquid crystal after the filtration of having only on the substrate like this.Filtrator 173 can be removed the particle that is blended in the liquid crystal equally.
Even as previously mentioned, filtrator 173 is installed between the liquid crystal discharge gate 148 of second connecting pipe 160 and liquid crystal discharge pump 140, and filtrator 173 also can be installed on second connecting pipe 160 or on the liquid crystal discharge gate 148 of liquid crystal discharge pump 140.Filtrator does not need to be installed in certain location.As previously mentioned, filtrator 173 can not only be removed the particle of liquid crystal discharge pump generation in service, and can remove the particle that is blended in the liquid crystal.Therefore, filtrator 173 can be installed in liquid crystal discharge pump 140 liquid crystal material sucking port 147 front end or be installed on the nozzle 150 of substrate dispensing liquid crystal.
Filtrator 173 can be installed in the material sucking port 147 and discharge gate 148 of second connecting pipe 160 or liquid crystal discharge pump 140 integratedly, also can independently install.When filtrator 173 be installed in independently second connect 160 or the material sucking port 147 of liquid crystal discharge pump 140 and discharge gate 148 on the time, filtrator 173 needs periodically to clean so that can use for a long time.
Filtrator 173 can be installed together with discrete installation of disposable nozzle or one.Under the situation that filtrator 173 and disposable nozzle one are installed together, behind the liquid crystal that distributes certain number of times, when nozzle was dropped, filtrator 173 was dropped together.
Import the nozzle 150 that is discharged liquid crystal by second connecting pipe 160 and have protected location 152, avoid the effect of external pressure etc. with protection nozzle 150 in its both side surface.
Liquid crystal discharge pump 140 inserts in the rotary part 157, and rotary part 157 is fixed to fixed cell 155.Rotary part 157 is connected with first motor 131.When first motor moved, rotary part 157 rotations and the liquid crystal discharge pump 140 that is fixed on the rotary part 157 moved.
Liquid crystal discharge pump 140 is connected with a side of strip liquid crystal volume controlled parts 134.Opposite side at liquid crystal volume controlled parts 134 has a hole, is inserted with turning axle 136 in the hole.Have spiral in the hole of liquid crystal volume controlled parts 134 and the periphery of turning axle 136, so liquid crystal volume controlled parts 134 and turning axle 136 interconnect in the mode of spiral.One end of turning axle 136 is connected with second motor 133, and the other end is connected with control lever 137.
The amount of liquid crystal that gives off from liquid crystal material container 122 by liquid crystal discharge pump 140 changes with the variation of the fixed angles between liquid crystal discharge pump 140 and the rotary part 157.That is, the amount of liquid crystal of liquid crystal discharge pump 140 changes with the variation that liquid crystal discharge pump 140 is fixed to the angle of rotary part 157.When (control automatically) or control lever 137 are operated (manually control) when second motor 133 that is connected with turning axle 136 drives, turning axle 136 rotations.According to this, an end of the liquid crystal volume controlled parts 134 that connect together with turning axle 136 spirals is with turning axle 136 (linear direction) motion back and forth.Along with the motion of liquid crystal volume controlled parts 134, the power that is applied to liquid crystal discharge pump 140 changes, so the fixed angles of liquid crystal discharge pump 140 also changes.
As previously mentioned, first motor 131 drives liquid crystal discharge pump 140 liquid crystal in the liquid crystal material container 122 is given off, thereby is instilled on the substrate.Simultaneously, the fixed angles that second motor, 133 control liquid crystal discharge pumps 140 are fixed on the turning axle 157, thereby the amount of liquid crystal that control gives off from liquid crystal discharge pump 140.
The single sendout that is instilled into the liquid crystal on the substrate by liquid crystal discharge pump 140 is very small, and is therefore, also very small by the variable quantity of the liquid crystal discharge pump 140 of second motor 133 control.Therefore, in order to control the discharge capacity of liquid crystal discharge pump 140, the pitch angle of liquid crystal discharge pump 140 must critically be controlled.In order to realize accurate control, the stepper motor of being controlled by the pulse input value is used as second motor 133.
Fig. 9 A shows the skeleton view of liquid crystal discharge pump, and Fig. 9 B shows the decomposition diagram of liquid crystal discharge pump.
In Fig. 9 A and Fig. 9 B, liquid crystal discharge pump 140 comprises: the housing 141 that is provided with liquid crystal material sucking port 147 and liquid crystal discharge gate 148; End cap 144, its upper end open also is connected with housing 141; Cylinder body 142, it inserts in the housing 141 to suck liquid crystal; Seal member 143 is used for sealed cylinder block 142; O shape ring 144a places the top of end cap 144, is used to prevent that liquid crystal from leaking; Piston 145, its opening insertion cylinder body 142 by end cap 144 moves up and down and rotates, and is used for sucking and the discharging liquid crystal by liquid crystal material sucking port 147 and liquid crystal discharge gate 148.The top 146a that is fixed on the rotary part 157 is installed on the piston 145, and bar 146b is installed on the 146a of top.The hole (not illustrating) that bar 146b inserts on the rotary part 157 is interior and fixing, and therefore when rotary part 157 was rotated by first motor-driven, piston 145 was along with rotation.
In Fig. 9 B, be provided with a groove 145a in the end of piston 145.The area of groove 145a is about 1/4 long-pending (or still less) of piston 145 round sections.When piston 145 rotations (promptly moving up and down), groove 145a opens or closes liquid crystal material sucking port 147 and liquid crystal discharge gate 148, thereby sucks or the discharging liquid crystal by liquid crystal material sucking port 147 and liquid crystal discharge gate 148.
Introduce the operation of liquid crystal discharge pump 140 below.
Figure 10 shows liquid crystal discharge pump 140 and is fixed on constitutional diagram on the rotary part 157.In Figure 10, piston 145 (α) at a certain angle is fixed on the rotary part 157.The bar 146b that piston crown 146a go up to install inserts in the hole 159 in the rotary part 157, is in the same place thereby piston 145 is connected to each other with rotary part 157.Though do not illustrate, in hole 159, be provided with bearing, thereby the bar 146b of the piston 145 in the patchhole 159 can be moved up and down.When 131 operations of first motor, rotary part 157 rotations, thus make piston 145 rotations that are connected with rotary part 157.
Here, if the liquid crystal discharge pump with respect to the fixed angles (α) of rotary part 157, that is, piston 145 is 0 with the fixed angles (α) of rotary part 157,145 in piston rotates with rotary part 157 so.Yet, because in fact the fixed angles (α) of piston 145 is not 0, (that is, piston 145 is fixing at a certain angle), so piston 145 not only rotates with rotary part 157, and move up and down.
If piston 145 moves upward when rotating at an angle, in cylinder body, just form a space so, liquid crystal sucks by liquid crystal material sucking port 147.Then, when piston 145 continued rotation and moves downward, the liquid crystal that sucks in the cylinder body 142 gave off by liquid crystal discharge gate 148.Here, the groove 145a on the piston 145 sucks along with being rotated in of piston 145 and during the discharging liquid crystal, opens and closes liquid crystal material sucking port 147 and liquid crystal discharge gate 148.
Hereinafter, explain the operation of liquid crystal discharge pump 140 in detail to 11D with reference to Figure 11 A.
In 11D, liquid crystal discharge pump 140 is discharged into nozzle 105 by 4 strokes with the liquid crystal material in the liquid crystal material container 122 107 at Figure 11 A.Figure 11 A and 11C are the intersection strokes, and Figure 11 B is the intake stroke by liquid crystal material sucking port 147, and Figure 11 D is the discharge stroke by liquid crystal discharge gate 148.
In Figure 11 A, (α) piston 145 of being fixed on the rotary part 157 rotates along with the rotation of rotary part 157 at a certain angle.At this moment, liquid crystal material sucking port 147 and liquid crystal discharge gate 148 are closed by piston 145.
Shown in Figure 11 B, when rotary part 157 rotated to about 45 °, piston 145 rotations and liquid crystal material sucking port 147 were opened by the groove 145a on the piston 145.The bar 146b of piston 145 inserts in the hole 159 of rotary part 157, thereby connects rotary part 157 and piston 145.Along with the rotation of rotary part 157, piston 145 rotations.At this moment, bar 146b rotates along the surfaces of revolution.
Because piston 145 is fixed on the rotary part 157 at a certain angle, and bar 146b rotates along the surfaces of revolution, so piston 145 moves upward with the rotation of rotary part 157.Simultaneously, along with the rotation of rotary part 157, because cylinder body 142 is fixed, so form a space in the bottom of cylinder body 142 inner carriers 145.Thereby make liquid crystal be drawn into this space by the liquid crystal material sucking port of being opened by groove 145a 147.
Along with rotary part 157 begins about 45 ° of back (that is, liquid crystal material sucking port 147 is opened) rotation in intake stroke, above-mentioned liquid crystal intake stroke lasts till that always the intersection stroke of Figure 11 C begins (liquid crystal material sucking port 147 is closed).
Next, shown in Figure 11 D, liquid crystal discharge gate 148 is opened, and along with rotary part 157 continues rotation, piston 145 moves downward, and therefore, the liquid crystal that is drawn in cylinder body 142 spaces emits (discharge stroke) by liquid crystal discharge gate 148.
As previously mentioned, liquid crystal discharge pump 140 repeats four strokes, that is, the first intersection stroke, intake stroke, second intersection stroke and the discharge stroke, thus the liquid crystal 107 in the liquid crystal material container 122 are discharged into nozzle 150.
Here, the discharge capacity of liquid crystal changes with the scope that piston 145 moves up and down.The scope that piston 145 moves up and down is fixed to the angle on the rotary part 157 along with liquid crystal discharge pump 140 and changes.
Figure 12 shows the liquid crystal discharge pump and is fixed to state on the rotary part with angle beta.Liquid crystal discharge pump 140 when being fixed to rotary part 157 with piston shown in Figure 10 145 with angle [alpha] is compared, and (it is higher that>liquid crystal discharge pump 140 when α) being fixed to rotary part 157 can make piston 145 move upward with angle beta for piston 145 shown in Figure 12.That is, the angle that liquid crystal discharge pump 145 is fixed on the rotary part 157 is big more, and during piston motion, the amount of liquid crystal 107 that is drawn into cylinder body 142 is just many more.This means that also the discharge capacity of liquid crystal can be controlled by the angle that adjusting liquid crystal discharge pump 140 is fixed on the rotary part 157.
The angle that liquid crystal discharge pump 140 is fixed to rotary part 157 is to be controlled by liquid crystal volume controlled parts shown in Figure 7 134, and liquid crystal volume controlled parts 134 move by driving second motor 133.That is, liquid crystal discharge pump 140 is fixed to the angle of rotary part 157 by control second Electric Machine Control.
The fixed angles of liquid crystal discharge pump 140 can be come manual adjustments by handling angle control lever 137 by the user.Yet in this case, can not realize accurately regulating, also need for a long time, and during operation, the driving of liquid crystal discharge pump must stop.Therefore, preferably, by the fixed angles of second motor, 133 adjusting liquid crystal discharge pumps 140.
The fixed angles of liquid crystal discharge pump 140 is measured as the linear variable differential transducer by sensor 139.If fixed angles has surpassed predetermined angle, sensor 139 gives the alarm impaired to prevent liquid crystal discharge pump 140.
As previously mentioned, in device and method for dispensing liquid crystal of the present invention, the liquid crystal sendout changes the fixed angles setting of liquid crystal discharge pumps 140 by second motor 133, and the operation by first motor 131 drives liquid crystal discharge pump 140 then, thereby by nozzle 150 liquid crystal is assigned on the substrate.
Yet, be actual liquid crystal sendout even accurate liquid crystal sendout is set, but the liquid crystal that still can be assigned on the substrate is not the situation of scheduled volume liquid crystal.Above-mentioned situation may be to be caused by multiple reason, and as external environment condition, but maximum factor is that liquid crystal accumulates in nozzle 150 lip-deep phenomenons.
Nozzle 150 is made by some metals such as stainless steel usually.Metal and liquid crystal have a low contact angle.Usually, contact angle is meant that liquid is under the thermodynamic equilibrium state formed angle on solid surface.Contact angle shows the wettable of liquid at solid surface.Because metal has high wettable (that is, water wettability) and high surface energy, liquid has strong diffusivity in the metal surface.Therefore, when nozzle 150 dispensing liquid crystal by being made of metal, liquid crystal can not form at the not end of nozzle 150 and drip a shape (drip a shape and mean high contact angle), but is diffused into the surface of nozzle 150.Divide timing when repeating liquid crystal, liquid crystal is assembled at the nozzle surface place,, as shown in figure 13, forms residual liquid crystal 107a on the surface of nozzle 150 that is.
When liquid crystal during in nozzle 150 surface diffusions, accurate dispensing liquid crystal just.Even under the situation of the amount of liquid crystal that distributes by nozzle 150 by the fixed angles control of control liquid crystal discharge pump 140, a part of liquid crystal is diffused into the surface of nozzle, thereby make actual allocated be less than the sendout of distributing to the sendout on the substrate by nozzle 150.Certainly, can be diffused into the sendout of the amount of liquid crystal control liquid crystal on nozzle 150 surfaces by consideration.But, can not calculate the amount of liquid crystal that is diffused into nozzle 150 surfaces fully.
By the duplicate allocation liquid crystal, accumulate in nozzle 150 lip-deep liquid crystal 107a and mix, thereby make that the amount of liquid crystal that is assigned on substrate is more than predetermined amount with the liquid crystal that gives off by nozzle 150.That is, since metallic character, the low contact angle of nozzle 150, and the sendout of liquid crystal becomes irregular.
In order to prevent that liquid crystal from accumulating in the surface of nozzle 150, the material such as the fluorine resin that can at the surface deposition and the liquid crystal of nozzle 150 high contact angle be arranged by infusion process or sputtering method.And, disposable use (certainly, nozzle is the substrate dispensing liquid crystal to predetermined quantity) nozzle 150 can make with fluorine resin, therefore the liquid crystal 107 that gives off by nozzle 150 is because low moisture adsorbability (water wettability) and low-surface-energy, can be in the surface diffusion of nozzle 150, and be assigned on the substrate with the intact shape that drips.Yet even made by fluorine resin at nozzle 150 surface deposition fluorine resins or nozzle 150, the repetition that distributes along with liquid crystal can not solve fully in the phenomenon of nozzle 150 surface aggregation liquid crystal.
As shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8, install in the surperficial both sides of nozzle 150 in order to protect nozzle 150 to avoid second sensor 154 is set on the protected location 152 of infringements such as external pressure, be used to detect the liquid crystal of on nozzle 150 surfaces, assembling.Second sensor 154 can be the photo-coupler identical with first sensor 162, also can be the sensor of other type.
As shown in figure 13, second sensor 154 is connected with control module.Next introduce in detail, when from second sensor, 154 inputs, one signal, control module is controlled at nozzle 150 lip-deep liquid crystal to be assembled.
As shown in figure 14, second sensor to signal be input to control module 200 by input block 202.Then, whether control module 200 accumulates in the surface of nozzle 150 according to the input-signal judging liquid crystal.Control module 200 is to electric-motor drive unit 205 output control signals, handling first motor 131 and second motor 133, thus the discharge capacity of control liquid crystal discharge pump 140 and from liquid crystal discharge pump 140 discharging liquid crystal.Control module 200 is handled substrate drive unit 206 moving substrates, thereby with the liquid crystal distribution locations on the nozzle alignment substrate.At this, can replace moving substrate (in this case, substrate drive unit should change the liquid crystal dispensing apparatus driver element into) with direct mobile liquid crystal divider.
Suppose that in liquid crystal continuous dispensing process when control module 200 judged that liquid crystal accumulate in nozzle 150 surperficial, control module 200 forecast liquid crystal allocated defect were therefore to electric-motor drive unit 205 output control signals.Under this control signal effect, electric-motor drive unit 205 stops to drive first motor 131, distributes to stop liquid crystal.Simultaneously, control module 200 shows that on output unit 208 present state is the surface that liquid crystal accumulates in nozzle 150, thereby notifies the user present state.
According to this, the user can remove the liquid crystal that accumulates in nozzle 150 surfaces by nozzle 150 is disassembled from device and method for dispensing liquid crystal.And, also can be by removing liquid crystal automatically to virtual assigned operating unit 209 and clearer driver element 210 transmission signals.
When virtual assigned operating unit 209 gathers on nozzle 150 surfaces at liquid crystal, carry out the liquid crystal virtual assigned, thereby remove the liquid crystal that accumulates in nozzle 150 surfaces according to signal from control module 200.The meaning of above-mentioned virtual assigned is that liquid crystal is not assigned to substrate actual allocated position and is assigned to the another location, for example, do not form the zone of LCD panel on the substrate or be used to measure the measuring cup of liquid crystal sendout that (measurement is assigned to the weight of the liquid crystal in the measuring cup, thereby the sendout whether the actual allocated amount of judging liquid crystal equals to be scheduled to, if the weight that records is not equal to predetermined sendout, can compensate the sendout of liquid crystal with departure) or the virtual assigned container in.Virtual assigned was distributed when carrying out is not the liquid crystal of predetermined sendout but than its amount of liquid crystal of Duoing, that is, sendout is enough removed the liquid crystal that accumulates in nozzle surface.
By above-mentioned liquid crystal virtual assigned, the liquid crystal that accumulates in nozzle 150 surfaces can be removed totally fully.Then, electric-motor drive unit 205 and substrate drive unit 206 restart to drive, and distribute to carry out normal liquid crystal.
When clearer driver element 210 gathers nozzle 150 surfaces at liquid crystal, drive clearer according to signal, with the surface of washer jet 150 from control module 200 inputs.Certainly, can remove the liquid crystal that accumulates in nozzle 150 surfaces by virtual assigned.Yet, in this case,, use clearer can remove the liquid crystal that accumulates in nozzle 150 surfaces fully because it is difficult to remove fully the liquid crystal that remains in nozzle 150 surfaces.
Above-mentioned virtual assigned function and cleaning function can be carried out in device and method for dispensing liquid crystal.For example, virtual assigned was carried out in the short period, accumulated in nozzle 150 lip-deep liquid crystal with removing, and carried out (after the virtual assigned of carrying out certain number of times) by the cleaning that clearer is carried out in long period, accumulated in the liquid crystal on nozzle 150 surfaces with removing.But, in device and method for dispensing liquid crystal of the present invention, both can carry out the virtual assigned function and also can carry out cleaning function by clearer.In this case, may guarantee to remove effectively the liquid crystal that remains in nozzle 150 surfaces.
As shown in figure 15, jet cleaner 220 comprises main body 222 and the suction pipe 226 that is installed on the main body 222.Vacuum pump 228 is connected with suction pipe 226.When washer jet 150, based on underlying cause, suction pipe 226 is aimed at the discharge gate of nozzle 150 substantially.Mainly be distributed in around the discharge gate because accumulate in the liquid crystal 107a on nozzle 150 surfaces, discharge gate and suction pipe 226 mutual alignment work can improve cleaning efficiency.
Nozzle 150 periodically cleans repeatedly.After the liquid crystal of pre-determined number had assigned, jet cleaner 220 moved to nozzle 150 places by the motor (not shown), made the discharge gate of nozzle 150 aim at suction pipe 226., the supporter 224 of support body 222 and nozzle 150 is installed here on main body 222, mutually on time, between discharge gate and suction pipe 226, forms certain space at the discharge gate of nozzle 150 and suction pipe 226.Under discharge gate that makes nozzle 150 along with moving of jet cleaner and the suction pipe 226 mutual states of aiming at, vacuum pump 228 operations make the suction pipe 226 that is installed on the main body 222 be in vacuum state.Therefore, the liquid crystal around the liquid crystal 107a, particularly discharge gate around the nozzle 150 is inhaled into suction pipe 226, thereby removes the liquid crystal that remains in nozzle 150 surfaces.
Though do not illustrate, jet cleaner 220 can have a cup, to collect the liquid crystal 107a that removes.The liquid crystal 107a that is sucked by vacuum pump 228 driving suction pipes 226 is collected in the cup that is installed between main body 222 and the vacuum pump 228 owing to graviational interaction, and can not arrive vacuum pump 228.If the liquid crystal cup is installed, this cup is disassembled from jet cleaner 220, abandoning the liquid crystal 107a that collects, thereby simplify the operation of collecting liquid crystal.
As previously mentioned, in device and method for dispensing liquid crystal of the present invention, detect second sensor 154 that liquid crystal assembles be installed in nozzle 150 around, accumulate in nozzle 150 lip-deep liquid crystal and dispensing liquid crystal thereby remove in real time, below this is done simple the explanation.
As shown in figure 16, when the beginning dispensing liquid crystal, second sensor 154 begins to detect nozzle 150 lip-deep liquid crystal and assembles (S301).Be input to control module 200 from the signal of second sensor, 154 outputs.According to this, when not detecting the liquid crystal gathering, control module 200 judges that liquid crystal distribute normal the execution, thereby continuation dispensing liquid crystal (S302).
In the liquid crystal assigning process, when second sensor 154 detected the lip-deep liquid crystal of nozzle 150 and assembles, control module 200 to stop first motor 131, distributed (S303) thereby stop liquid crystal to electric-motor drive unit 205 output control signals.
Simultaneously, control module 200 drive motor driver elements 205 and substrate drive unit 206, so that on the dummy section of substrate (promptly, do not form the zone of LCD panel) or measuring cup or other container (virtual assigned container) dispensing liquid crystal (execution virtual assigned), thereby remove the liquid crystal (S304) that accumulates in nozzle 150 surfaces.Except the virtual assigned method, also can remove the liquid crystal (S305) that accumulates in nozzle 150 surfaces by driving clearer 220 to clearer driver element 210 output control signals.Carry out virtual assigned earlier and also can remove the liquid crystal that accumulates in nozzle 150 surfaces by clearer execution removing then.
Simultaneously, removing the operation (as matting) that accumulates in liquid crystal on the nozzle surface can carry out at any time.For example, can be before adding carried base board to device and method for dispensing liquid crystal washer jet, perhaps washer jet adding carried base board to device and method for dispensing liquid crystal after.And matting can distribute the gap between the operation to carry out at two substrates.
As previously mentioned, in the present invention, can effectively remove the liquid crystal that accumulates in nozzle 150 surfaces.The present invention goes for any device and method for dispensing liquid crystal with the nozzle dispensing liquid crystal.Simultaneously, in the present invention, regardless of structure of nozzle, the sensor of can the installation and measuring liquid crystal assembling, therefore, the present invention can be applied to the nozzle of different structure.Say that further the present invention is not only applicable to the nozzle that stainless steel is made, and be applicable to the disposable nozzle made from fluorine resin.
Certainly; the present invention also can have other various embodiments; under the situation that does not break away from spirit of the present invention and essence; those of ordinary skill in the art can make various corresponding changes and distortion according to the present invention, but these corresponding changes and distortion all belong to the protection domain of the appended claim of the present invention.