JP2000098400A - Method for injecting liquid crystal, and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a liquid crystal heatable in a state of preventing it, to the utmost, from evaporating by heating the liquid crystal, existing in a part of a liquid crystal panel different from a part corresponding to the top end of liquid crystal proceeding in the panel in the case of injection of liquid crystal, or at least a part of liquid crystal to be injected, to a temperature higher than that of the top end of liquid crystal. SOLUTION: A heating means 112 to conduct partial heating is provided at a position on a liquid crystal panel slightly close to its center in the vicinity of a liquid crystal injection port 103 in contact with the outside surface of a glass 101. Besides, a heating region is set to be a part of the liquid crystal panel. The heating means 112 heats the liquid crystal panel by bringing a rubber heater or the like into direct contact with it. As glass has low thermal conductivity in general, in the case where the liquid crystal panel is heated to 80 deg.C with the rubber heater or the like, only the part in contact with the heater shows a temperature increase to about 80 deg.C and a part separated from the heater by 2-3 cm shows <10 deg.C increase compared with an ambient temperature. Namely, a part to be heated can be clearly defined by making it coincide with a position brought into contact with the heating means 112.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for injecting liquid crystal into a liquid crystal panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 26 and 27 show a general structure of a liquid crystal panel as a liquid crystal display device. FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 27 is a plan view. The liquid crystal panel has a structure in which a sealing material 2 is applied around two glass substrates 1 and bonded together. Further, fine beads 12 are scattered between the two liquid crystal panels so that the gap between the liquid crystal panels (the distance between the glasses) is maintained at a constant interval of 10 μm or less. A liquid crystal display device is one in which the liquid crystal 8 is filled in the gap.

There are several types of methods for injecting a liquid crystal into a liquid crystal panel.
There is a method of supplying more liquid crystal and simultaneously exhausting the inside of the panel from the gap (exhaust port) 4 of the seal opposite to the injection side.

FIG. 28 is a view for explaining a liquid crystal injection method. Hereinafter, the injection method will be briefly described.

First, an injection connector 5 for injecting liquid crystal is connected to an injection port (right side in the figure) on one side of the liquid crystal panel, and an exhaust connector for exhausting the inside of the cell to the other exhaust port (left side in the figure). 6 is connected.

Next, with the injection valve 13 closed, the exhaust valve 14 is opened, and the gas in the cell is exhausted from the exhaust means 11. The injection valve 13 is opened in a state where the inside of the liquid crystal panel is substantially at 0 atm after exhausting is sufficiently performed, and liquid crystal is injected from the injection port 3 through the injection connector 5. The liquid crystal fills the liquid crystal panel due to the capillary phenomenon and the exhaust inside the cell (at 0 atm).

Further, at this time, the filling speed is increased by applying pressure to the liquid crystal by the pressurizing means 10. As a result, over time, 9
The liquid crystal is filled in such a state.

However, this conventional method has the following problems. That is, since the space (gap) to be injected is 10 μm or less and the injection portion is small, the time required for injecting the liquid crystal becomes very long. In particular, since the injection port is small, the speed at which the liquid crystal flows through this portion is much faster than the speed at which the liquid crystal flows through another portion (the injected portion), and this portion limits the injection speed.

Therefore, in the case of a large liquid crystal panel of 10 inches or more, it takes several hours to complete the filling of the liquid crystal, which increases the production cost.

It is possible to increase the injection speed by increasing the gap and the injection port, but these are determined by the panel design, and are determined by the operation principle of the liquid crystal, display quality, reliability, and the like. And cannot be changed drastically.

Although the viscosity of a liquid crystal varies depending on its composition, blend, etc., the viscosity decreases as the temperature increases. Therefore, the injection speed is higher when the liquid crystal is injected at a high temperature than when the liquid crystal is injected into a small injection port at a low temperature and a normal temperature. Similarly, when the liquid crystal flows after passing through the injection port, the higher the temperature, the lower the temperature. In the liquid crystal injection method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-22019, attention is paid to this point, and almost the entire liquid crystal panel is heated to inject the liquid crystal. This is because the target smectic liquid crystal has a very high viscosity at room temperature, and the injection becomes very difficult unless the temperature is high.

However, some liquid crystals cannot be injected at all if not heated to such a high temperature. Other liquid crystals, such as many nematic liquid crystals, have room temperature (25 ° C.).
C.), the viscosity is about 10 to 20. Therefore, although it takes a long time, some liquid crystal panels can be injected into a liquid crystal panel of 12 inches to 15 inches in several hours.

[0013]

It is known that even at the above-mentioned nematic liquid crystal or the like, the higher the temperature, the lower the viscosity and the higher the injection speed.

However, a liquid crystal having a low viscosity at room temperature is
Evaporates more easily than liquid crystals having high viscosity at room temperature. In particular, since the liquid crystal used in many liquid crystal displays is a blend of a plurality of liquid crystals, there are components that are easy to evaporate and components that are not easy to evaporate. It will be. That is, when the temperature of the liquid crystal is increased, only a part of the components is reduced by evaporation, and there is a possibility that the characteristics of the entire liquid crystal may be changed.

In order to cope with this problem, the whole is heated to a temperature of 30 degrees or 35 degrees at which there is relatively no concern about deterioration of the liquid crystal.
It is conceivable to increase the speed. For example, as shown in FIG. 29, the whole may be covered with 80 cases and the whole may be slightly heated with 81 warm air.

However, in an STN liquid crystal or the like,
25 degrees depending on the type and liquid crystal panel, 3 degrees
When set to 5 degrees, the maximum is 10 times compared to the case without heating.
Only about% speedup can be obtained.

In particular, when the liquid crystal is injected, the liquid crystal is charged into a space in a vacuum state, so that evaporation is more likely to occur.

For these reasons, conventionally, liquid crystal having a low viscosity at room temperature has been injected at room temperature so that the components of the liquid crystal do not change even if it takes some time. For this reason, it took a long time to manufacture, and the cost was high.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide a liquid crystal injecting apparatus capable of heating liquid crystal while minimizing its evaporation.

[0020]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for injecting a liquid crystal into a liquid crystal panel, wherein the liquid crystal injecting device is arranged such that, when the liquid crystal is injected, the liquid crystal advances from the tip of the liquid crystal traveling in the liquid crystal panel. At least a part of the liquid crystal in another part of the liquid crystal panel or the liquid crystal to be injected is heated to a high temperature.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal injection device for injecting a liquid crystal into a liquid crystal panel, a liquid crystal injection device injects liquid crystal into the liquid crystal panel more than a front end portion of the liquid crystal traveling in the liquid crystal panel. And heating means for heating at least a part of the liquid crystal of the other part or the liquid crystal to be injected to a high temperature.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal injection device for injecting a liquid crystal into a liquid crystal panel, the liquid crystal injection device does not heat a tip portion of the liquid crystal traveling in the liquid crystal panel when the liquid crystal is injected. The liquid crystal display has a heating means for partially heating at least one of the liquid crystal injected into the panel and the liquid crystal to be injected.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal injection apparatus according to the second or third aspect, the heating means adjusts a heating range in accordance with the progress of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal panel. It is something to expand.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal injection device for injecting liquid crystal into a liquid crystal panel, wherein the heating means heats at least one of the liquid crystal injected into the liquid crystal panel and the liquid crystal to be injected. And cooling means for cooling at least a tip portion of the liquid crystal traveling in the liquid crystal panel.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal injection apparatus according to any one of the second to fifth aspects, the heating means contacts the glass of the liquid crystal panel to heat the liquid crystal. It includes a heater.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal injecting apparatus according to any one of the second to sixth aspects, the heating means heats the liquid crystal using hot air. It is characterized by including.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal injection apparatus according to any one of the second to seventh aspects, the heating means includes a light heater for heating the liquid crystal using light. It is a thing.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the liquid crystal injection device according to any one of the second to eighth aspects, a detecting means for detecting a position of a tip portion of the liquid crystal traveling in the liquid crystal panel is provided. Have

[0029]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <First Embodiment> A liquid crystal injection device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the present injection device. The difference between the injection device of FIG. 1 and the conventional injection device shown in FIG.
The point is that a heating means 112 for performing partial heating is provided.
The heating means 112 is provided in contact with the outside of the glass 101 at a position slightly near the center near the liquid crystal injection part 103 of the liquid crystal panel. The heating means 112 is set so that the heating area becomes a part of the liquid crystal panel.

The heating means 112 is for heating a liquid crystal panel by bringing a rubber heater or the like into direct contact therewith. Generally, the thermal conductivity of glass is low. Therefore, when the liquid crystal panel is heated to 80 ° C. by a rubber heater or the like, the temperature of only the portion hit by the heater rises to about 80 ° C., and is 2 to 3 cm from the heater.
The temperature of the distant portion does not rise by more than 10 ° C. from normal temperature (25 ° C.). At a distance of about 5 cm, the temperature rises only a few degrees (these values are merely examples, and slightly change if the material of the glass or the like is changed). That is, since the position to be heated and the position at which the heating unit is brought into contact substantially coincide with each other, it is possible to clearly specify the heated portion.

Hereinafter, the operation of the injection device will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. (Step 201) At the start of injection, the heating means 112 is turned off.
The liquid crystal is at room temperature (the same temperature as the surroundings). Further, the injection valve 113 is closed.

(Step 202) At the time of injection, first, the exhaust valve 113 is opened, and the inside of the liquid crystal panel is evacuated by the exhaust means 114 through the exhaust connector 106.

(Step 203) After the inside of the panel is sufficiently evacuated, the injection valve 113 is opened to start injection of the liquid crystal 107. At this time, the liquid crystal is injected under pressure control by the pressure means 110.

(Steps 204 and 205) The liquid crystal is filled into the panel via the injection connector 105.
This speed is substantially constant as long as the liquid crystal panel, the type of liquid crystal, the temperature of the surroundings, and the pressure to be applied are the same. In other words, the position of the interface (tip portion) 109 of the liquid crystal which is filled in the time after the start of the injection can be almost known.

In the present embodiment, utilizing this point, the timing of heating by the heating means 112 is controlled. That is, the region heated by the heating means 112 is changed to the interface 10
9 is measured in advance through experiments or the like,
It waits until the time of 09 sufficiently exceeds the heating area. After the elapse of the time, the heating means 109
Turn ON.

(Steps 206 to 209) Wait until the liquid crystal injection is completed (206). When the liquid crystal panel is completely filled with the liquid crystal, the injection valve and the exhaust valve are closed (20).
7) The heater is turned off (208), and the process ends (209).

In order to quickly lower the temperature of the heated portion, the heater may be turned off before the injection is completed. .

By injecting as described above, there is no fear of heating the tip portion (interface 109) of the injected liquid crystal,
Evaporation of liquid crystal can be prevented. In addition, since the portion excluding the vicinity of the tip of the injected liquid crystal is heated, the viscosity of the liquid crystal in the portion excluding the vicinity of the tip can be reduced. The liquid crystal in the vicinity of the tip part moves forward in the glass by being pushed by the liquid crystal located behind it, but the viscosity of the liquid crystal located behind can be reduced as described above, so the liquid crystal injection speed has been improved it can. Therefore, according to the liquid crystal injection device of the present invention, high-speed injection of liquid crystal can be easily realized without causing deterioration of the liquid crystal.

A specific example will be described below. When STN liquid crystal is injected into a 15-inch liquid crystal panel, the ambient temperature is 25 degrees,
When the pressure of the liquid crystal is 0.03 MPa, it takes about 90 minutes to complete the filling of the liquid crystal in the conventional method without heating.
On the other hand, when the 25 × 50 mm near the injection port is partially heated to 80 degrees from about 8 minutes after the start of injection by the method of the present embodiment, the time until the liquid crystal is completely filled is about 65 minutes,
Speed up about 1.4 times. This value changes depending on the type of liquid crystal, the gap length of the liquid crystal panel, the width of the injection port, and the like.

As described above, according to the injection method of the present embodiment, it is possible to easily realize a high-speed injection device that does not cause deterioration of the liquid crystal.

(Modification 1) FIG. 3 is a view showing the structure of another injection apparatus of the present invention. 3 differs from that of FIG. 1 in that the heating means is integrated with the injection connector 305. Other components 301 to 304, 306 to 3
Reference numeral 14 is the same element as in FIG.

Since the injection device of FIG. 1 is separated from the connector, the operation of connecting the connector to the liquid crystal panel (operation) and the operation of connecting the heating means to the liquid crystal panel (operation).
However, as shown in FIG. 3, if the connector is integrated with the connector, the connection of the connector and the connection of the heating means can be performed at the same time, thereby simplifying the operation.

(Modification 2) FIG. 4 is a view showing the configuration of another injection apparatus of the present invention. The injection device of FIG. 4 differs from that of FIG. 3 in that the injection connector 405 also serves as a heating means. The other components 401 to 404 and 406 to 414 are the same as those in FIG.

Therefore, the heating range extends not only to a part of the injected liquid crystal but also to the inside of the connector before the injection. This makes it possible to lower the viscosity of the liquid crystal before the injection, and to speed up the injection.

(Modification 3) FIG. 5 is a view showing the structure of another injection apparatus of the present invention. The injection device of FIG. 5 differs from the injection device of FIG. 1 in that the heating means 512 can adjust the temperature. Other components 501-511, 513-514
Are the same elements as in FIG. 1 and will not be described.

If the heating means 512 is heated to a high temperature, glass conducts heat to some extent, so that the range of heating to a certain temperature or more is widened. The expansion of the heating range may cause evaporation of the liquid crystal as in the related art.

Therefore, in the injection apparatus of the third modification, the heating at the relatively early stage of injection is performed at a lower temperature, the heating range is reduced (high temperature range 515 in the figure), and the interface of liquid crystal injection is increased. Do not raise the temperature of After that, the heating temperature is increased. As the injection proceeds, the interface of liquid crystal injection advances to the exhaust side and separates from the heating means 512. Therefore, even if the heating temperature is increased to increase the heating range (high temperature range 516), there is no need to raise the temperature of the interface of liquid crystal injection.

In the injection apparatus shown in FIG. 1, since there is no temperature switching, it is necessary to start heating sufficiently later than the injection start in order to prevent the temperature at the interface of liquid crystal injection from rising. Since the temperature can be lowered at first,
Heating can be started earlier than in the injection device. Further, after the injection is advanced, if the temperature is made higher than that of the injection device of FIG. 1, the viscosity of the liquid crystal is further reduced, and the injection is accelerated.

(Modification 4) FIG. 6 is a view showing an injection apparatus having a plurality of heating means according to Modification 4 of the present invention. FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a control flowchart of this modification. Hereinafter, the operation of the injection device of this modification will be described in order.

(Steps 2401 to 2403) In this modified example, the injection valve 613 is used before injection, as in the injection apparatus of FIG.
Is closed, the exhaust valve 613 is opened, and the exhaust connector 60
Through 6, the inside of the liquid crystal panel is evacuated by the exhaust means 614, and then the injection valve 613 is opened to start injection of the liquid crystal 607. At this time, the liquid crystal is pressurized and injected by the pressurizing means 610.

(Steps 2404 to 2413) The liquid crystal is filled into the panel via the injection connector 605. If the liquid crystal panel, the type of the liquid crystal, the ambient temperature and the like, and the pressure to be applied are the same, It is almost constant. Therefore, the position of the liquid crystal interface can be determined based on the time from the start of the injection. Here, the time required for the liquid crystal interface to pass through the heating means (617 to 621) is calculated in advance, and the heating means (617) is calculated based on the calculated time.
621).

More specifically, when the time required for the liquid crystal interface to sufficiently pass through the heating means 617 has elapsed (2404),
The heating means 617 is turned on (2405). Further, when the time when the interface sufficiently exceeds the heating means 618 has elapsed (2406), the heating means 618 is turned ON (240).
7). Thereafter, similarly, after the time exceeding the heating means 619 (2
At 408), the heating means 619 is turned on (2409), and after a time exceeding the heating means 620 (2410), the heating means 620 is turned on.
Is turned on (2411), and after a time exceeding the heating means 621 (2412), the heating means 621 is turned on (241).
3).

(Steps 2414 to 2417) Wait for the liquid crystal injection to be completed (2414). When the injection is completed, the injection valve and the exhaust valve are closed (2415), the heater is turned off (2416), and the process is ended (2416). 2417). Note that the heater may be turned off before the injection is completed in order to quickly lower the temperature of the heated portion.

As described above, in this modification, since the heating is performed in accordance with the position of the interface of the liquid crystal, the liquid crystal is not deteriorated, and the liquid crystal other than the vicinity of the interface can be heated over a wide range. It can be carried out.

Second Embodiment Next, a liquid crystal injection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of the liquid crystal injection device of the present embodiment. The liquid crystal injection device of the present embodiment performs partial heating using a non-contact heating means. Specifically, heating is performed using warm air. Here, the description of the same parts as in the first embodiment is omitted.

More specifically, a hot air heating means 725 is provided near the injection connector, and partially heats the liquid crystal 708 injected into the liquid crystal panel by the hot air therefrom. Therefore, unlike the conventional injection device, the heating range is narrowed to 726 in FIG. 7, and control can be performed so as not to heat the liquid crystal interface 709 of the injected liquid crystal as in the first embodiment. Can be suppressed.

The hot air heating means 725 is used in the first embodiment.
Do not touch the glass surface directly like the heater of
No need to worry about damaging the glass. Since there are various means for realizing the warm air, the present invention does not particularly limit the means for realizing the warm air itself.

(Modification 5) FIG. 8 is a view showing a modification of the liquid crystal injection device of the present embodiment. Here, the description of the same parts as in FIG. 7 will be omitted.

Here, the hot air heating means 825 has a function of changing the amount of hot air, and the heating range in the liquid crystal panel can be changed by changing the blowing amount of hot air (or changing the wind speed). . In other words, by setting the blowing amount (or wind speed) of the warm air to a low level, the range in which the warm air can reach is narrowed, and by setting the blowing amount (or wind speed) of the warm air to a high level, the range in which the warm air can reach Can be increased.

Assuming that the temperature of the hot air is constant to some extent regardless of the blowing amount, the larger the blowing amount, the larger the area that can be heated and the temperature at which the liquid crystal panel is heated is substantially the same.

According to the present liquid crystal device, the hot air is turned off for a certain time after the start of injection, and after a certain time, a small area is first heated with a small amount of hot air, and then the hot air is gradually (or continuously) heated. , The heating range can be expanded in accordance with the injection state of the liquid crystal (the position of the liquid crystal interface 809), and the filling can be performed at a higher speed than the injection apparatus of FIG. The adjustment of the amount of warm air can be determined by an experiment performed in advance.

(Modification 6) FIG. 9 is a view showing a modification of the liquid crystal injection device of the present embodiment. This injection device is different from the injection device of FIG. 8 in that the blowing temperature can be varied. Here, the description of the same parts as those in FIG. 8 is omitted.

Hot air heating means 9 whose blowing temperature is variable
If the temperature of the hot air is increased at 25, the range of heating to a certain temperature or more is widened. By using this, as in the case of FIG. 8, the heating range can be expanded according to the injection state of the liquid crystal (the position of the liquid crystal interface 809), and the filling can be performed at a higher speed than the injection apparatus of FIG.

(Modification 7) FIG. 10 is a view showing a modification of the liquid crystal injection device of the present embodiment. This injection device is shown in FIG.
Unlike the injection devices of No. 9 and No. 9, the blowing amount and the temperature are constant, but the blowing direction can be changed. Here, the description of the same parts as in FIGS. 8 and 9 is omitted.

The hot air heating means 1025 capable of changing the direction of the blowout heats a narrow area by blowing out hot air as in the hot air heating means 725 shown in FIG.
By changing the direction of the blowing as shown in FIG. 10, a wide range can be heated.

However, if the heating range is widened by changing the blowing direction, the heating temperature (glass temperature) within the heating range may decrease. To cope with this, while increasing the heating range, the hot air heating means 1025
If the blow-out temperature of the warm air output from is increased, the temperature can be prevented from lowering.

As described above, according to the present modification, the injection speed of the liquid crystal device can be increased.

(Modification 8) FIG. 11 is a side view showing a modification of the liquid crystal injection device of the present embodiment. This injection device
It is provided with a plurality of hot air heating means. Here, the description of the same parts as in FIG. 7 will be omitted.

The liquid crystal panel is made by laminating two sheets of glass. However, when an extreme temperature difference occurs between the two sheets of glass, there is a concern that the panel may be distorted or, in the worst case, the lamination may be peeled off. In this modification, two hot air heating means 1125 are provided, and heating can be performed from both sides of the glass. This allows for heating without temperature difference between the two glasses, eliminating such a possibility.

The heating means of this modification can be replaced with a contact heating means such as the flat heater shown in the first embodiment.

(Modification 9) FIG. 12 is a view showing a configuration of an injection device of Modification 9. In this modification, a plurality of temperature heating means are provided on one side of the glass. The description of the same parts as those of the above-described modified example will be omitted.

This injection device has two hot air heating means 1225 and hot air heating means 1226, and controls them individually. Specifically, only a certain time after the start of the injection, only the hot air heating means 1225 is turned on, and after the injection proceeds for a certain time, the hot air heating means 1226 is also turned on. This makes it possible to perform heating in accordance with the progress of liquid crystal injection.

In this modification, two regions, that is, the vicinity of the injection port and the center of the panel are heated, but the present invention is not limited to this. Further, the plurality of heating means may use any of the second embodiment, and may be the same or different.

For example, the warm air heating means 1225 is turned ON / O
It is configured to be able to perform only FF control, specially heats the vicinity of the injection port, the hot air heating means 1226 has a variable air direction and air volume, and the position of the liquid crystal interface (determined by time etc.) In this case, it is sufficient to heat a wide range as much as possible without heating the interface.

(Modification 10) The injection apparatus of this modification has a cooling means on the exhaust connector side in addition to the heating means.

FIG. 13 is a view showing an example of the injection device according to this modification. This injection device has the hot air heating means shown in the second embodiment,
It is provided with cooling air blowing means for blowing air having a relatively low temperature such as room temperature.

When the liquid crystal panel is heated by hot air, the hot air flows to the vicinity of the liquid crystal interface, and there is a high possibility that the interface is slightly heated. Therefore, a flow in a direction substantially opposite to the hot air is generated from the connector side by the cooling air blowing means 1329 so that the hot air does not reach the vicinity of the interface. As a result, the temperature of the interface can be prevented from increasing, so that the temperature of the warm air itself can be easily increased, and higher-speed injection can be performed.

In the initial stage of injection, the heating range is narrowed by adjusting the blowing angle of hot air or cold air as shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 13, and conversely in the latter stage, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. ,
By changing the blowing angle of hot air or cold air to widen the heating range, it is possible to perform heating appropriate for the injection state.

The cooling and blowing means shown here can be used in combination with the heating means of the first embodiment and the later-described embodiments.

<Third Embodiment> FIG. 14 shows a third embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a configuration of an injection device of FIG. In this embodiment, the description of the same portions as those in the other embodiments will be omitted.

This injection apparatus uses light heating means, unlike the hot air heating means of the second embodiment. Since the light heating means is non-contact, there is no fear of soiling the glass, and the heating area is not widened as in the case of hot air, so that the heating range can be accurately limited. Any light source can be used as long as it can raise the temperature of glass or liquid crystal.

(Modification 11) FIG. 15 is a view showing an injection apparatus of Modification 11. The heating means has a light heating means 1535 capable of changing the amount of light (light intensity).
The light heating means 1535 irradiates only a small area with light for a certain period of time after the start of the injection (FIG. 5A), and thereafter irradiates a wide area of the glass (FIG. 5B). In this way, by changing the irradiation site (area) with the passage of time after injection, it is possible to avoid the liquid crystal interface and to heat a wide portion of the injected liquid crystal as much as possible.

However, in this case, when the irradiation range is enlarged, the irradiation light amount per unit area decreases. Therefore, in this case, if the light amount of the light heating unit 1535 is increased, the light amount per unit area becomes equal, and the heating range can be changed while performing uniform heating. For example, FIG.
When the distance between the glass and the heating means in FIG. 5B is twice as large as that in FIG. 5A, the area is four times as large as 2 × 2, so the light amount is four times.

(Modification 12) FIG. 16 is a view showing an injection apparatus of Modification 12. This injection apparatus differs from the injection apparatus shown in FIG. 15 in that the light heating means 1635 itself uses neither a light quantity nor a position change, and a light limiting means 1367 for blocking light.
Is newly provided and its position is changed.

In such a configuration, the light restricting means 1637
The light irradiation area can be changed by only the change. Although the light restricting means 1637 used here changes the position, the light restricting means 1637 may simply change the light shielding area.

(Thirteenth Modification) FIG. 17 is a view showing an injection device of a thirteenth modification. The light heating means 1735 in FIG. 17 has an angle adjusting function. Thus, since the light irradiation range is adjusted only by adjusting the angle, the light heating means is always closer to the liquid crystal panel than the injection device shown in FIG. Further, in this injection device, if a light amount adjusting function is added, the heating amount can be adjusted more accurately.

(Modification 14) FIG. 18 is a view showing an injection device of Modification 14. Here, two light heating means are provided, and each is individually controlled. More specifically, after a short time has elapsed since the injection was started, the injection connector 181 was started.
Only the heating means on the side close to 0 is turned on, and heats the vicinity of the injection port. Thereafter, after a certain period of time, the light heating means on the side farther from the connector is turned on, and the portion remote from the injection connector 1810 is heated. Thereafter, as the injection proceeds, the irradiation angle of the light heating means on the side farther from the connector is changed so as to avoid the interface of the liquid crystal and to heat as much of the injected liquid crystal as possible.

Since the effect of increasing the speed by heating is particularly large in the vicinity of the injection port, it is strongly heated by a dedicated heating means, and the other portions are so heated as not to raise the temperature of the liquid crystal interface.
And a heating method of heating a wide range can be realized,
High-speed and high-quality injection can be realized.

(Modification 15) FIG. 19 is a view showing an injection device of Modification 15. In this modification, the non-contact heating means (light heating means 1935) is integrated with the injection connector 1905. Thus, the position of the heating means is determined at the same time when the connector is mounted, so that the setting is facilitated.

<Embodiment 4> FIG. 20 is a view showing an example of an injection apparatus of the present embodiment. In this embodiment mode, the heating means described in Embodiment Modes 1 to 3 is used in combination. In the present embodiment, the description of the same parts as those of the injection devices of Embodiments 1 to 3 will be omitted.

The injection apparatus shown in FIG. 20 combines heating with light (light heating means 2035) and heating with hot air (hot air heating means 2027), and heats the vicinity of the injection portion strongly with light. The other parts are widely heated by warm air.

When only the hot air heating means 2027 is combined, even if it is desired to heat only the vicinity of the injection port, since the hot air is inevitably spread, heating is performed only after the liquid crystal injection is sufficiently advanced (in a state where the interface is sufficiently advanced). I can't start,
If the vicinity of the injection port is heated with light, the heating position can be clarified, so that the heating avoiding the injection interface is facilitated. As a result, the heating start time near the injection port where the effect is most effective can be advanced.

In the case of heating by light, glass 190 is used.
When light is irradiated from a position close to 1 and at an angle close to parallel to the glass 1901, the light is totally reflected and heating may be difficult. However, in the case of hot air heating, this is not the case. It's easy to do.

As described above, by performing heating suitable for each characteristic of the heating means, efficient and accurate heating can be realized. Further, since the heating means is not in direct contact with the glass surface, there is no risk of soiling the glass.

(Modification 16) FIG. 21 is a view showing a configuration of an injection device of Modification 16. FIG. 21 shows an embodiment using partial heating using contact heating means and non-contact heating means. 20 is different from the injection device of FIG. 20 in that the present modification is different from the injection device of FIG.
6.

The heating means 2126 can also heat the connector in addition to the heating in the vicinity of the injection port, so that the liquid crystal before injection can be heated, and higher speed can be realized.

<Fifth Embodiment> An injection device according to the present embodiment is provided with a sensor in the injection device according to the first to fourth embodiments to realize more accurate control.

FIG. 22 shows an example of the above-mentioned injection apparatus.
Heating means (2217-2221), five light sources and sensors (2251-2256, 2261-2266),
FIG. 3 shows an injection device with two temperature sensors (2271-2276).

FIG. 25 is a control flowchart of the injection apparatus. Hereinafter, the injection device of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. However, in FIG. 25, FIG.
, The five heating means 2217 to 2221, respectively, the heating means 1 to 5, the five sensors 2261 to 2266, the sensors 1 to 5, respectively, and the five temperature sensors 2271 to
Reference numerals 2276 denote temperature sensors 1 to 5, respectively.

(Steps 2501 to 2503) First, the exhaust valve 2213 is opened with the injection valve 2213 closed, and the inside of the liquid crystal panel is evacuated by the exhaust means 2214 through the exhaust connector 2206 (2502).
213 is opened (2503), and injection of the liquid crystal 2207 is started. At this time, the liquid crystal is pressed by the pressing unit 2210.

(Steps 2504 to 2513) The liquid crystal is
The filling is performed in the panel through the injection connector 2205. Here, the injection device of FIG. 6 utilizes the fact that this speed is substantially constant if the liquid crystal panel, the type of liquid crystal, the temperature of the surroundings and the like, and the pressure to be applied are the same. The heating means is controlled by the time. However, in this method, it is necessary to check each set value (time) for each combination of the sizes of the liquid crystal and the liquid crystal panel.

In the present embodiment, whether the liquid crystal has reached the sensor light source and the corresponding liquid crystal sensor (whether or not the light from the sensor light source is blocked by the liquid crystal) is determined. As a result, the injection position can be detected, and only the corresponding portion can be heated.

After the injection is started, the sensor light source 225
It is determined whether or not the liquid crystal has reached the portion beyond the heating area of the heating means 2217 by the liquid crystal sensor 2261 corresponding to 1. Then, wait until the liquid crystal reaches (250
4) When it reaches, the heating unit 2217 starts heating (2506). That is, the temperature of the heated portion is controlled by the temperature sensor 2271.

Further, it is determined by the sensor light source 2252 and the corresponding liquid crystal sensor 2262 whether or not the liquid crystal has reached the portion beyond the heating area by the heating means 2218.
Waiting for the interface of the liquid crystal to be injected to pass through the heating means 2218 (2506), and after passing, the heating means (221)
8) heating is started (2507) (temperature sensor 2)
272 controls the temperature of the heating portion 2). Thereafter, the above operation is repeated to perform injection.

(Steps 2514 to 2517)
Wait for the liquid crystal injection to be completed (2514), and when completed, close the injection valve and exhaust valve (2515) and turn the heater off.
F (2516), and the process ends (2517). In order to quickly lower the temperature of the heated portion, the heater O
The FF may be performed before the injection is completed.

As described above, since the heating is performed by detecting the position of the interface of the liquid crystal, the liquid crystal is not deteriorated, the liquid crystal other than the vicinity of the interface can be heated over a wide range, and high-speed injection depends on the type of the liquid crystal. Can be done without.

Further, in this embodiment, since the temperature control of each heating portion is also performed, there is no fear of heating more than necessary.

<Embodiment 6> FIG. 23 shows an injection apparatus according to the above-described embodiment to which a conventional whole heating function is added. Here, FIG.
A case in which the entirety of the injection device 1 is covered with a case 2380 and a means for heating the inside thereof with warm air 2381 will be described.

In the liquid crystal, low-boiling components evaporate when the temperature is increased, but there is no problem if the temperature is slightly higher than the normal temperature. That is,
There is no particular problem from room temperature (25 ° C.) to about 35 ° C. Therefore, there is no problem if the interface to be implanted has such a temperature. However, the viscosity is slightly lower than at room temperature, and the injection speed increases.

This embodiment focuses on this point, and the liquid crystal panel is heated to a relatively low temperature of about 35 ° C. and partially heated, so that the injection speed is increased as compared with the case of only one of the liquid crystal panels. be able to. In addition, the timing of heating the whole may be immediately before injection or always.

[0111]

According to the present invention, when injecting a liquid crystal into a liquid crystal panel, the injection is performed while locally heating only a portion of the liquid crystal filled portion excluding a liquid crystal tip portion. Therefore, the viscosity of the liquid crystal becomes lower than that at normal temperature, and even when only the vicinity of the injection port of the liquid crystal panel is heated to 60 ° C., the injection speed becomes, for example, about 1.4 times as fast as that at normal temperature, and the injection speed is greatly increased. Shortening can be achieved.

Further, since only the portion filled with the liquid crystal is locally heated, there is an effect that the temperature of the liquid crystal injection interface in a vacuum or decompression local area is prevented from rising and the liquid crystal near the liquid crystal injection interface is prevented from evaporating or deteriorating.

Furthermore, since the liquid crystal is locally heated, the heating temperature can be increased as compared with the case where the liquid crystal or the entire liquid crystal panel is heated, and the effect of reducing the injection time without deteriorating the liquid crystal is obtained. In addition, since the temperature near the inlet of the liquid crystal panel is high and the temperature near the exhaust port is low, it is possible to prevent a region where the liquid crystal is not filled from being formed in the liquid crystal panel due to a temperature difference.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a liquid crystal injection device by partial heating using a heater according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the liquid crystal injection device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a liquid crystal injection device having a connector-integrated partial heating means according to a first modification.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a liquid crystal injection device according to a second modification that also heats liquid crystal before injection.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a liquid crystal injection device according to a third modification in which the temperature of the heating unit is changed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a liquid crystal injection device having a plurality of heating units according to a fourth modification.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a liquid crystal injection device having a heating unit using warm air according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a liquid crystal injection apparatus according to a fifth modification, which has a heating unit capable of varying the amount of hot air blown out.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a liquid crystal injection device according to a sixth modification having a heating unit with a variable hot air temperature.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a liquid crystal injection device according to a seventh modification, which has a heating unit whose hot air blowing direction is variable.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a liquid crystal injection apparatus according to a modification 8 having a heating unit having a plurality of hot air outlets.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a liquid crystal injection device according to a ninth modification, which has a heating unit for individually controlling a plurality of outlets.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a liquid crystal injection device having a cooling means according to a tenth modification.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a liquid crystal injection device having a heating unit using light according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a view showing a liquid crystal injection device having a heating means with a variable light amount according to a modification 11;

FIG. 16 is a view showing a liquid crystal injection device according to a twelfth modification, which has a heating unit whose light irradiation part is variable.

FIG. 17 is a view showing a liquid crystal injection device according to a thirteenth modification, which has a heating unit whose light irradiation angle is variable.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a liquid crystal injection device having a heating unit having a plurality of light sources according to a modification 14;

FIG. 19 is a view showing a liquid crystal injection device according to a fifteenth modification in which a connector is provided with a heating unit using light.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a liquid crystal injection device according to a fourth embodiment in which different types of non-contact heating means are combined.

FIG. 21 is a view showing a liquid crystal injection device according to a sixteenth modification in which contact and non-contact heating means are combined.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a liquid crystal injection device provided with an injection position detection unit and a temperature detection unit according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a liquid crystal injection device having a heating unit that also uses overall heating according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating an injection method according to a fourth modification.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating an injection method according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a sectional view of a liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 27 is a plan view of a liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating a conventional method of injecting liquid crystal into a liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating another conventional method of injecting liquid crystal into a liquid crystal panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Glass 103 Injection 105 Injection connector 106 Exhaust connector 107 Liquid crystal to be injected 108 Liquid crystal being injected 109 Interface of liquid crystal (tip part) 110 Pressurizing means 111 Exhaust means 112 Heating means 113 Injection valve 114 Exhaust valve

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kimihiko Kajimoto 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Japan Inside Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Junichi Ishida 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka (72) Inventor Yuichi Yamamoto 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka F-term (reference) 2H089 NA26 NA31 NA60 QA12 QA13

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A method of injecting liquid crystal into a liquid crystal panel, wherein, when injecting liquid crystal, the liquid crystal in another part of the liquid crystal panel is to be injected or injected rather than the tip of the liquid crystal traveling in the liquid crystal panel. A liquid crystal injection method, wherein at least a part of the liquid crystal is heated to a high temperature. 2. A liquid crystal injection device for injecting liquid crystal into a liquid crystal panel, wherein when injecting liquid crystal, the liquid crystal is injected into another part of the liquid crystal panel rather than the tip of the liquid crystal traveling in the liquid crystal panel. A liquid crystal injection device comprising a heating means for heating at least a part of the liquid crystal to a high temperature. 3. A liquid crystal injection device for injecting liquid crystal into a liquid crystal panel, wherein the liquid crystal injected into the liquid crystal panel is heated without heating a tip portion of the liquid crystal traveling in the liquid crystal panel when the liquid crystal is injected. A liquid crystal injection device comprising a heating means for partially heating at least one of the liquid crystals to be obtained. 4. The liquid crystal injection device according to claim 2, wherein the heating means expands a heating range in accordance with the progress of the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal panel. apparatus. 5. A liquid crystal injection device for injecting liquid crystal into a liquid crystal panel, comprising: heating means for heating at least one of the liquid crystal injected into the liquid crystal panel and the liquid crystal to be injected; And a cooling means for cooling at least a tip portion. 6. The liquid crystal injection device according to claim 2, wherein the heating means includes a heater for heating the liquid crystal by contacting the glass of the liquid crystal panel. Infusion device. 7. The liquid crystal injection device according to claim 2, wherein the heating means includes a hot air heater for heating the liquid crystal using hot air. apparatus. 8. The liquid crystal injection device according to claim 2, wherein the heating means includes a light heater that heats the liquid crystal using light. 9. The liquid crystal injection device according to claim 2, further comprising a detection unit that detects a position of a front end portion of the liquid crystal traveling in the liquid crystal panel. .