JP2000243284A - Manufacture of flat display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manufacturing method of a flat display panel that positively performs sealing of a chip tube, minimizes possibility of the degradation of reliability and minimizes the length of a part projecting from a glass panel in relation to the shape of the chip tube after the sealing. SOLUTION: This manufacturing method comprises a process for forming a chip tube 23 projecting from a glass substrate 17 and communicating with the inside of a flat panel display on the surface of the glass substrate 17 of the flat display formed, by sealing the circumference of two glass substrates 17, 18 facing to each other while keeping a prescribed distance, a process for evacuating the inside of the flat display through the chip tube 23, a discharge gas introduction process for introducing the discharge gas into the flat display after the evacuation process through the chip tube 23, and a sealing process for welding and sealing the tube 23 to the same circumferential part nearly perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the chip tube 23 by abutting a gas burner on the chip tube 23, with the inside of the flat display kept in under vacuum.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flat display panel, in which a chip tube is evacuated to a high vacuum between discharge cells sandwiched between a flat display glass substrate and a discharge cell sealing glass plate. After being baked and adhered to the glass substrate, the inside of the discharge cell is evacuated to a high vacuum through a chip tube, and further, after introducing a discharge gas into the discharge cell, the pressure of the gas introduced into the discharge cell is maintained. Therefore, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a flat display panel for sealing a chip tube.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, PDP (Plasma Display Panel)
In such a flat display device, a flat glass plate is used as a display device. After evacuation of the gap between the two glass plates, a discharge gas is sealed in the gap between the two glass plates. After the discharge cells are formed, the discharge gas is discharged to display an image on a panel using the discharge light as a light source.

Therefore, in order to form a display device, a gap between two glass plates must be evacuated to a vacuum, and a discharge gas is introduced into the two glass plates maintaining the vacuum state. Thereafter, it is necessary to seal the two glass plates in order to prevent the discharge gas from diverging. For this purpose, an exhaust hole is made in the first glass plate of the two glass plates, and a predetermined gap is maintained between the first glass plate and the second glass plate and sealed with a frit sealing material. After that, an exhaust chip tube is attached to an exhaust hole opened in the first glass plate, and the discharge cell portion in a gap between the first glass plate and the second glass plate is evacuated through the chip tube. The gas is exhausted, and a discharge gas is sealed through the tip tube to form a discharge cell.

In order to enclose the discharge gas, it is necessary to seal and cut the tip tube. A method for sealing the tip tube is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-57637 by an electric heating means. Discloses a method in which a heater is energized to melt and seal a chip tube.

FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of a conventional apparatus for sealing two glass plates. First, 2
The flat display device main body constituted by the flat container 63 made of a single glass plate is erected on the support base 61 with, for example, both outer surfaces of the flat container 63 sandwiched between the flat holders 60. A tip tube 59 which is a tubular glass tube along the outer surface of the first glass panel 58.
Are arranged in communication with a flat space (a space between the first glass panel and the second glass panel) inside the flat container 63 hermetically connected to the exhaust hole.
The inside of the chamber and the discharge gas can be introduced.

Further, an end of the support table 61 is provided with an electric heating coil heater 6 for melting the tip tube 59.
5 (by energizing with the power supply 67) is provided so that the tip tube 59 passes through the center, and heats substantially uniformly over a predetermined range of the circumferential surface in the tube axis direction serving as a sealing portion of the tip tube 59. Has been placed.

The other end 59b of the tip tube 59 for connecting the tip 59a to the flat space inside the flat container 63 formed by the first glass panel and the second glass panel is connected to:
It is connected to a vacuum pump 62, for example, an exhaust system 64 connected to a rotary pump, so that exhaust in the flat space can be performed.

First, the entire container is heated by a heating means (not shown) for heating the entire flat container 63 supported on the support table 61 to release gas from each part. The heating is stopped or the heating temperature is decreased, and the flat space inside the flat container 63 is evacuated by the exhaust system 64 through the tip tube 59, and the flat space is evacuated until a sufficient degree of vacuum is reached.

Thereafter, the power supply 67 is turned on and the heating means 6 is turned on.
The heater 6 is energized to heat the sealing portion of the chip tube 59 over the entire periphery thereof, though locally in the tube axis direction. FIG. 13 shows how the transverse section of the sealing portion changes during this heating. In the initial state, as shown in FIG. 13A, the tip tube 59 has a substantially circular cross section.
Is softened or melted by heating,
The interior of the tip tube 59 is evacuated to a negative pressure from the start of softening or melting, so that the tip tube 59 starts to be deformed so as to contract, and A in FIG.
→ B → C → D → E, and as shown in FIG. 13E,
The cross section has a flat shape, and the sealing portion is closed.

[0010] The tip tube 59 attached to the flat container 63 which is a flat display main body supported on the support base 61 closes the exhaust passage at a part of the sealing portion in the tube axis direction as shown in FIG. 13C. 13D, or before and after the center hole of the tip tube 59 is closed almost in the entire tube axis direction of the sealing portion as shown in FIG. 13D, the support table 61 or the exhaust system 64 is connected to the tip tube. The tip tube 59 is relatively moved in the tube axis direction of the tube 59 so that the tip tube 59 has an end portion 59a.
And 59b are stretched in the direction of separating from each other and sealed. However, the length of the extension is adjusted so that the sealing portion is not pulled out of the heating area of the heating means.

After the sealing, the high-temperature heating by the heating means is stopped, the temperature is gradually cooled, and an unnecessary portion at the tip of the chip tube 59 is cut at the sealing portion by a glass cutting jig. Met.

When the tip tube is sealed in the prior art, the tip tube is stretched in the direction of the tube axis as described above, thereby making it difficult for a wall to be formed in the tip tube and melting the glass forming the tip tube. Or has a function of preventing the glass from being pulled into the chip tube by a negative pressure when the glass is in a softened state, thereby avoiding remarkable unevenness in the thickness of the chip tube and occurrence of a bent portion, and sealing. The occurrence of distortion at the stop is reduced.

[0013] Further, since the area of the sealing portion becomes small and the heating is easy due to the stretching in the sealing, the amount of electricity supplied to the heater 65 of the heating means 66 is reduced if necessary. The temperature could be reduced somewhat.

[0014]

However, in the prior art, in order to melt a glass-made chip tube by electric heating, it is necessary to supply a very large current to the heater. Applying a current causes metal fatigue of the resistor forming the heater at an early stage, and also causes deterioration of wiring for supplying a high current to the heater. As described above, the deterioration of the heater and the wiring for supplying a high current to the heater causes an accidental trouble at the time of sealing (such as insufficient melting of the chip tube, etc.), and thus lowers the reliability of the sealing. It was a big problem.

The electric energy for melting the chip tube 59 propagates through the space between the heater 65 and the outer wall of the chip tube 59 through a heat medium called air. When a difference occurs in the electric energy generated by the heater 65 and the chip tube 59 is sealed, even if the sealing portion of the chip tube 59 is sealed under the same conditions each time, the same sealed state is obtained. It is very difficult.

Further, as shown in FIG.
After the sealing of the chip tube is started by the step 9, the glass wall of the chip tube is melted.
Unless the electric heat energy generated in Step 5 is precisely controlled, the chip tube may be melted in a state as shown in FIG. 13D even if the heater 65 is intended to be energized as usual. Insufficiently, it is impossible to completely shut off the flat space of the flat container 63 shown in FIG. 12 from the outside air outside the panel in this sealed portion. Leakage).

Further, the heater 65 is usually formed of a metal resistor. However, since the heater 65 is energized, metal fatigue accumulates. That is, it may be cut off. Therefore, as long as the tip tube 59 is sealed with electric energy, such anxiety always accompanies.

Also, in the case of the shape of the tip tube 59, when the flat space of the flat container 63 is evacuated by using the circular cylindrical tip tube 59, unnecessary portions of the tip tube 59 are cut off after sealing. However, the shape of the tip tube 59 protruding outward does not change, and as shown in FIG.
When assembling a flat display device of the related art in which the glass panel 58 and the second glass panel 69 are combined, the protruding portion of the chip tube 59 becomes very obstructive.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and as described above, is constituted by the first glass panel and the second glass panel, and has a small internal space. For a flat display panel in which a flat container to be formed is used and the inside of the flat display panel is required to be maintained at a high vacuum, the flat glass panel has a small coefficient of thermal expansion and is evacuated and sealed by a thick glass chip tube made of hard glass. In the flat display panel manufacturing method, which is performed, this sealing is surely performed, and the possibility of deterioration in reliability is reduced as much as possible. Can be resealed, and the shape of the chip tube after sealing can be reduced by reducing the length of the part protruding from the glass panel as much as possible. And to provide a method of manufacturing a flat display panel to reduce the narrowing in the depth of the flat display of the apparatus.

[0020]

The present invention has the following configuration to achieve the above object. The invention of claim 1 is
A connection tube protruding from the glass substrate and communicating with the inside of the flat display panel is formed on the surface of the glass substrate of the flat display panel formed by sealing the periphery of two glass substrates facing each other while maintaining a predetermined gap. A connecting pipe forming step, an exhausting step of evacuating the inside of the flat display panel through the connecting pipe to a vacuum, a discharging gas introducing step of introducing a discharging gas through the connecting pipe into the flat display panel after the exhausting step, and a flat display panel. A connection pipe sealing step of applying a gas burner to the same peripheral portion substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the connection pipe with the connection pipe maintained in a vacuum state, and welding and sealing the connection pipe. This is a method for manufacturing a display panel.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the method for manufacturing a flat display panel according to the first aspect, wherein the temperature of the connection pipe portion sealed in the connection pipe sealing step is detected, and the gas is detected based on the detected temperature. A method for manufacturing a flat display panel, comprising a welding temperature control step of adjusting a burner.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the method for manufacturing a flat display panel according to the first or second aspect, wherein the shape of the welded sealing portion of the connection pipe is matched with a predetermined shape after the connection pipe sealing step. Performing the process, a matching processing step of determining the quality of the sealing state of the connection pipe, and, in the matching processing step, for the connection pipe determined to be defective sealing,
And a re-sealing step of re-welding and sealing by applying a gas burner again.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the method for manufacturing a flat display panel according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the connecting pipe has a longitudinal section whose shape decreases in a tip direction. A method for manufacturing a flat display panel.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the discharge pipe is introduced into the flat display panel in the discharge gas introduction step and the connection pipe is sealed off, the gas burner uniformly burns the gas around the connection pipe. Since the connection pipe is melted by direct irradiation with heat, it is easy to melt the connection pipe, and it is possible to prevent leaks due to sealing failure of the sealing part as much as possible, and to limit the reliability of the sealing part. It can be improved without. Therefore, the electric heat generated by the energized heater is transmitted to the space as in the prior art, and the connection pipe is melted more stably than the connection pipe is melted, and the reliability of the sealing portion is further improved. Can be.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the temperature of the connection pipe portion sealed in the connection pipe sealing step is detected, and the welding temperature control step of adjusting the gas burner based on the detected temperature is provided. It is possible to finely seal the connection pipe by welding.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a matching process is provided after the connecting tube sealing step, so that the shape of the welded sealing portion of the connecting tube is matched with a predetermined shape set in advance. In the matching process step, it is possible to determine whether the sealing state is good or not, and to have a resealing step of applying a gas burner again to the connection pipe determined to be sealing failure and welding and sealing the connection pipe. Thereby, the once sealed portion is sealed again by the heat of the ignited gas, so that the reliability of the sealed portion can be improved.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the connecting pipe has a longitudinal cross-sectional shape that decreases stepwise or gradually toward the distal end, it removes impurities from the flat display panel. It is possible to mount a sheet-like getter to be inserted for the purpose of the inside, and by sealing a portion of the connecting pipe that decreases stepwise,
By removing unnecessary portions of the connection pipe after the sealing, the height of the connection pipe after the sealing can be reduced, and
Since the size including the height of the glass substrates can be reduced, the depth of the display panel as a whole can be reduced.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a flat display panel sealing device A according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described in detail. The flat display panel sealing device A includes an exhaust device 1 that evacuates a discharge cell sandwiched between a flat display glass substrate 17 and a discharge cell sealing glass plate 18 to a high vacuum, and discharge gas in the discharge cell. A discharge gas supply unit 2 for supplying a power supply, an input terminal IN for inputting data, and an output terminal OUT for outputting data of the system control unit 4. An I / F unit 3 to be set, a system control unit 4 which controls the overall control of the flat display panel sealing device A, and a flow rate of gas for sealing off the chip tube 23 and an ignition timing. Sealing control section 5
A chip tube sealing portion 13 for sealing the chip tube 23, a sealing gas supply portion 6 for supplying a sealing gas to the chip tube sealing portion 13, a pipe switching valve 7, and an exhaust pipe 8. And a vacuum gauge 25 for measuring the degree of vacuum.

Further, a panel holding table 22 for mounting and holding the flat display glass substrate 17 and the discharge cell sealing glass substrate 18, and the flat display glass substrate 17 is placed on the panel holding table 22. When the cell sealing glass substrate 18 is placed with the outer surface of the discharge cell sealing glass substrate 18 in contact with the glass substrate 18, a buffer plate 19 for preventing a shock from being applied to the discharge cell sealing glass substrate 18. have.

The exhaust device 1 is provided with an exhaust pipe 8 which is connected to a chip pipe 23 which is provided on the flat display glass substrate 17 so as to protrude in the vertical direction.
It operates based on a control signal from Vacuum gauge 2 for measuring the degree of vacuum in exhaust pipe 8 as a parameter for exhaust control
5 is provided in the vicinity of the arm tube 10, and the detection data of the vacuum gauge 25 is sent to the sealing control unit 5, through the sealing control unit 5, to the system control unit 4, and the displacement of the exhaust device 1 is And the switching of the piping switching valve 7 is controlled.

The discharge gas supply section 2 is provided with a discharge gas pipe 9 to share the exhaust pipe 8 extending from the exhaust device 1 and supply the discharge gas into the discharge cell through the chip tube 23. The discharge gas supply unit 2 selectively supplies a discharge gas, which is connected to a pipe switching valve 7 provided in a pipe 8.

The piping switching valve 7 controls switching between the exhaust device 1 for exhausting the discharge cells of the flat display panel and the discharge gas supply unit 2 for supplying the discharge gas into the discharge cells. Switching is controlled based on a signal from the system control unit 4 as in the case of the exhaust device 1 and the discharge gas supply unit 2.

The chip tube sealing portion 13 connects the chip tube 23 and the exhaust tube 8 and seals the chip tube 23. The chip tube sealing portion 13 connects the cylindrical arm tube 10, the exhaust tube 8 and the chip tube 23 to each other. When connecting, the jig 11 for covering the distal end of the tip tube 23 and covering the distal end of the tip tube 23 so that no vacuum leaks from the tip tube 23.
A ring-shaped gas igniter 15 arranged at the lower part of the inner periphery of the arm tube 10 so as to surround a predetermined position of the chip tube 23 around the center of the chip tube 23; It has a sealing gas pipe 14 for connecting the sealing gas supply unit 6 and a gas burner 16 having a gas ejection port disposed inside a ring-shaped gas igniter 15 toward a predetermined sealing portion of the tip tube 23. Then, the inside of the discharge cell sandwiched between the flat display glass substrate 17 and the discharge cell sealing glass substrate 18 is evacuated to a high vacuum, a discharge gas is introduced, and a chip tube sealed from the gas burner 16 is cut off. After the stop gas is ignited, the predetermined position of the tip tube 23 is cut off by the thermal effect of the flame.

The arm tube 10 has a cylindrical shape of a predetermined size, the exhaust tube 8 penetrates through the center of the upper surface, allows the chip tube 23 to enter from the lower surface side, and has the chip tube suction jig 11 inside. Connects the tip tube 23 to the end of the exhaust pipe 8 in a sealed manner.

The temperature sensor 12 is a sensor that senses the temperature of the portion where the tip tube is sealed in order to accurately measure the temperature of the ignited gas in order to seal the tip tube under optimum conditions. In addition, it is provided above the ring-shaped gas igniter 15 and enables control of the gas flame ejected from the gas burner 16 using the temperature of the sealed portion as a parameter. That is, the detected temperature of the chip tube 23 by the temperature sensor 12 is sent to the system control unit 4, and the system control unit 4 sends a control signal to the sealing control unit 5 based on the detected temperature, so that the sealing control unit 5 By sending a control signal to the ring-shaped gas igniter 15 and the sealing gas supply unit 6, the amount of gas from the sealing gas supply unit 6 is adjusted, and the ring-shaped gas igniter 15 is also adjusted at the same time. Sealing / resealing of the tip tube is performed.

Next, a sealing method using the flat display panel sealing device A will be described. First, in forming a flat display panel to be sealed, first, a long and thin elongated space for evacuating the inside of the discharge cell sandwiched between the flat display glass substrate 17 and the discharge cell sealing glass substrate 18 to a high vacuum. The chip tube 23 which is a glass tube is baked and adhered on the surface of the flat display glass substrate 17. That is, the chip tube 23 is provided on the flat display glass substrate 17 before the flat display glass substrate 17 and the discharge cell sealing glass substrate 18 are set on the flat display sealing device A. It surrounds the exhaust hole 24, is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the flat display glass substrate 17, and is baked at a high temperature and adhered so as to maintain hermeticity (FIG. 1).

Thereafter, the frit 20 is applied on the glass substrate 17 for flat display, and the frit is baked. The glass substrate 18 is hermetically bonded to form a flat display panel (frame).

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1, the flat display panel is placed on the buffer plate 19 for reducing the impact provided on the panel support table 22, the discharge cell sealing glass substrate 18 is placed below, and the chip tube 23 is placed. Is installed upward.

As described above, after the flat display glass substrate 17 and the discharge cell sealing glass substrate 18 are set on the panel support table 22, the cylindrical arm tube 1 is formed.
The tip tube suction jig 11 connected to the exhaust pipe 8
However, it is firmly attached to one end of the tip tube 23 so as not to leak, and the exhaust pipe 8 and the tip tube 23 communicate with each other.

After the tip tube suction jig 11 and the tip tube 23 are connected, as shown in FIG. 1, the optimum sealing conditions of the tip tube 23, which have been verified in advance, and a predetermined vacuum Input data from the input IN side of the I / F unit 3 in order to set various data for operating the exhaust device 1 and the discharge gas pressure to be supplied into the discharge cells so as to exhaust the air to a degree. The input data is transferred to the system control unit 4.

The system control unit 4 first issues a command to the exhaust system 1 based on the data input by the I / F unit 3 to operate the exhaust system 1. At this time, the system control unit 4 performs a case where the inside of the discharge cell sandwiched between the flat display glass substrate 17 and the discharge cell sealing glass substrate 18 and a case where the discharge gas is supplied into the discharge cell. For distinction, a command is issued to the pipe switching valve 7 so that the discharge gas for supplying the discharge gas from the discharge gas supply unit 2 into the discharge cell is prevented from entering the exhaust pipe 8 from the discharge gas pipe 9 to the exhaust pipe 8. Cut off the path.

When the state of the pipe switching valve 7 is set as described above, the interior of the discharge cell is exhausted by the exhaust device 1 through the arm pipe 10 attached to the chip pipe 23 and the exhaust pipe 8 connected to the arm pipe. Is done. At this time, the flat display glass substrate 17 and the discharge cell sealing glass substrate 18 are placed in a furnace (not shown) to which a high temperature can be applied, and the discharge cell 1 The inside is evacuated until a predetermined degree of vacuum is reached. At this time, the vacuum gauge 25 always measures the degree of vacuum near the arm tube 10, and the measured value is always transferred to the system control unit 4.

When the system control unit 4 determines that the inside of the discharge cell has been exhausted to a predetermined degree of vacuum set through the I / F unit 3 based on the vacuum degree measurement data from the vacuum gauge 25, the system control unit 4 Issues a command to the exhaust device 1 to stop the exhaust device 1.

Thereafter, the system control unit 4 issues a command to the pipe switching valve 7 so that the discharge gas pipe 9 and the exhaust pipe 8
Is switched so that is connected.

When the discharge gas pipe 9 and the exhaust pipe 8 are communicated by the pipe switching valve 7, the system control unit 4 issues a command to the discharge gas supply unit 2, discharges the discharge gas to the discharge gas pipe 9, and exhausts the gas. A discharge gas is supplied into the discharge cells sandwiched between the flat display glass substrate 17 and the discharge cell sealing glass substrate 18 through the tube 8 and the chip tube 23.

At this time, the vacuum gauge 25 detects the pressure of the discharge gas supplied into the discharge cell sandwiched between the glass substrate 17 for flat display and the glass substrate 18 for sealing the discharge cell. Is always transferred to the pipe switching valve 7. Further, the predetermined value of the discharge gas is previously set in the pipe switching valve 7 by the system control unit 4, and when the discharge gas pressure value transferred from the vacuum gauge 25 reaches the predetermined value, all of the pipe switching valve 7 First, the exhaust device 1, the pipe switching valve 7, the exhaust pipe 8, the arm pipe 10, the discharge cell path, the second
, The two paths of the discharge gas supply unit 2, the pipe switching valve 7, the exhaust pipe 8, the arm pipe 10, and the discharge cell are shut off.

After supplying the discharge gas, the discharge gas is sufficient.
The system control unit 4 issues a command to the sealing control unit 5 based on the set value set by the I / F unit 3 after a while, until the discharge cells are filled. 5 issues a command to the sealing gas supply unit 6 based on this command, and supplies a sealing gas to seal the chip tube 23. Furthermore, the sealing control unit 5
Issues a command to the ring-shaped gas igniter 15 to ignite the sealing gas supplied to the ring-shaped gas igniter 15 through the sealing gas supply unit 6 and the sealing gas pipe 14.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the ring-shaped gas igniter 15 is arranged so as to surround the tip tube 23, and the ignited gas flame is placed on the inner peripheral side of the ring-shaped gas igniter 15. The gas is emitted from the gas burners 16 symmetrically arranged in the radial direction. However, since the emission direction is from four directions (symmetrical positions) equiangular with respect to the chip tube 23, the gas is emitted to the chip tube 23. On the other hand, heat can be directly applied uniformly.

Further, the tip tube 2 formed by the ignited gas flame
In the melting process 3, the temperature sensor 12 detects the glass temperature at the melting point, and the temperature is
3 is continuously transferred to the system control unit 4 during the sealing process, and the system control unit 4
It compares with a set value previously input from the unit 3 and, if it is lower, issues a command to the sealing control unit 5 and the ring-shaped gas igniter 15 to adjust the amount of sealing gas to be supplied, The temperature of the sealing portion can be adjusted to a predetermined temperature by adjusting the nozzle direction, the degree of opening and closing, and the like of the gas burner 16.

The glass on the outer wall of the tip tube 23 is
Since it is evenly and directly melted by the gas flame from four directions,
In the sealed portion of the chip tube 23, the discharge cell side and the exhaust pipe 8
The sealing is performed so as to completely shut off the side, no failure such as leakage occurs, and the reliability of the sealing can be remarkably improved as compared with the electric heating means.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in the above-described configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In the above-described first embodiment of the present invention, the tip tube 23 has a cylindrical shape, but in the second embodiment, the tip tube 23 has a cylindrical shape.
As shown in FIG. 5, the shape of b is a substantially inverted U-shaped dome-shaped hollow container (bowl-shaped hollow container) in which the cross-sectional shape gradually decreases from the bottom to the top while the cross-sectional area of the rectangle gradually decreases. A lower tip tube L23b and an upper portion which is a hollow rectangular tube having a width (M direction) narrower than a width W1 of the lower tip tube L23b at the top of the lower tip tube L23b in the longitudinal direction (N direction). The tip tube H23b is formed (stepped), and the upper tip tube H23b and the lower tip tube U23b communicate with each other inside.

In this embodiment, since the shape of the tip tube is different from that of the first embodiment as described above, the arm tube 10b relating to the tip tube, the tip tube suction jig 11b, the ring-shaped gas ignition device 15b, and The shapes of the exhaust holes 24b provided in the flat display glass substrate 17 are changed as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7, respectively, corresponding to the shape of the chip tube 23b. That is, the arm tube 10b has a box shape, and the tip tube suction jig 11b has the upper tip tube H2.
The ring-shaped gas igniter 15b has a square ring shape, and the number of gas burners is increased so that the tip tube 23b is evenly exposed to the flame.

In the sealing step of the present embodiment in which the tip tube 23b and its related parts are changed from the first embodiment as described above, first, the lower end opening of the stepped tip tube 23b To surround the rectangular exhaust hole 24b provided in the glass substrate 17 for flat display.
It is vertically mounted on the glass substrate 17 for flat display (see FIG. 3).

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the shape of the tip tube 23b is such that a short tube is placed in a bowl shape on the front surface (stepped shape), and the opening is elongated as shown in FIG. Therefore, a sheet-like getter 52 having an elongated sheet shape is adopted as a getter for removing contamination in a panel mounted in the chip tube 23b, and the flat display glass substrate 17 and the discharge cell sealing glass substrate are used. 18 to obtain a high vacuum in the discharge cell more efficiently.

FIG. 4 shows a part of the glass substrate 17 for flat display. The chip tube 23b is formed by sealing the glass substrate 17 for flat display and the glass substrate 18 for discharging cell sealing shown in FIG. Before being set in the system B, the exhaust holes 24 provided in the glass substrate 17 for flat display in advance.
b, and is sealed by baking perpendicular to the glass substrate 17 for flat display. still,
The frit 20 in FIG. 4 is applied to the back side of the glass surface on which the chip tube 23b is baked and mounted, at an inner circumferential position having a predetermined width with respect to the glass end surface 70.

The sheet-like getter 52 is located in the tip tube 23b formed so as to cover the exhaust hole 24b.
It is formed so as not to fall into the discharge cell (see FIG. 3) through the exhaust hole 24b.

After the flat display glass substrate 17 and the discharge cell sealing glass substrate 18 are fired and sealed by the frit 20 and set on the panel holding table 22, the sheet-like getter 52 is connected to the chip tube 23b. It is inserted through the upper opening (upper chip tube H23b), and remains at the bottom of the chip tube 23b, that is, at the place where the glass substrate 17 for flat display and the chip tube 23b are bonded by firing, as shown in FIG.

Next, after the flat display glass substrate 17 and the discharge cell sealing glass substrate 18 are set on the panel support table 22, the tip tube suction jig 11b below the arm tube 10b is prevented from leaking. Tip tube 2
3b is securely attached. This tip tube suction jig 11
b completely fits into the upper opening of the upper tip tube H23b, so that even when exhausted, there is no leakage from this connection. Thereafter, the exhaust in the discharge cell and the introduction of the discharge gas are performed by the steps described in the first embodiment, and thus the description is omitted.

After the discharge gas is supplied and the discharge gas is sufficiently filled in the discharge cells, the system control section 4 sets the sealing control section based on the set value set by the I / F section 3 in advance. 5, the sealing control unit 5 issues a command to the sealing gas supply unit 6 based on this command to supply a sealing gas to seal the chip tube 23b.

Further, a command is issued to the ring-shaped gas igniter 15b to ignite the sealing gas supplied to the ring-shaped gas igniter 15b through the sealing gas supply unit 6 and the sealing gas pipe 14. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the ring-shaped gas igniter 15b is arranged around the tip tube 23b, and the ignited gas is further supplied to the gas burner 16 arranged inside the ring-shaped gas igniter 15b. However, since the emission direction is from the direction surrounding the tip tube 23b, heat is directly applied uniformly to the tip tube 23b.

Also, the tip tube 2 is ignited by the ignited gas.
When 3b is being melted, the temperature sensor 12 senses the temperature of the glass at the melting point, and the temperature is constantly transferred to the system control unit 4 while the tip tube 23b is sealed. , The system controller 4 determines the temperature and I /
The setting value input in advance from the F unit 3 is compared and examined. If the setting value is low, a command is issued to the sealing control unit 5 and the ring-shaped gas ignition device 15b to adjust the amount of the sealing gas to be supplied. Alternatively, the temperature of the tip tube sealing region 51 (see FIG. 3) can be adjusted to a predetermined temperature by adjusting the nozzle of the gas burner 16.

According to the second embodiment, the chip tube 23b is sealed through such an order. FIG. 8 shows an enlarged view of the sealed region 51 after the sealing is completed. When the tip tube 23b according to the second embodiment is sealed, if an unnecessary portion of the sealed tip tube 23b is cut off, the tip tube 23b is cut off.
8 has an arch shape as shown in FIG. 8, so that the length of the chip tube 23b after cutting is shortened as compared with the related art, so that the depth of the panel can be reduced when assembling the panel as a display device. This is very convenient when the assembled panel is placed in a room as a display device.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same parts as those in the above-described configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. FIG. 9 shows a state after the sealing of the tip tube 23b in the second embodiment,
When the chip tube 23b is sealed, the system control unit 4
First, the camera unit Y-axis drive table 55 installed on the camera drive unit holding table 56 is set in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the sealed chip tube 23b based on the data set in advance by the / F unit 3. Move to Y-axis position. Thereafter, the camera unit X-axis drive shaft 53 is moved so that the camera unit 54 such as a CCD camera is located right above the sealed region 51 of the sealed chip tube 23b.

When the camera section 54 captures an image of the sealed shape of the sealed area 51, the shape data is transferred to the system control section 4 (the transfer path is not shown).
Upon receiving the shape data, the system control unit 4 compares the non-defective product shape input in advance with the sealing shape data by a known matching process to determine whether the sealing is defective or good. At this time, if it is determined to be defective, the system control unit 4 transfers data indicating that to the I / F unit 3.

When this defective display is shown in the I / F section 3,
When the arm tube 10b is arranged again immediately above the sealing region 51 again by manual processing and the setting of the resealing is made in the I / F unit 3, the system control unit 4 again operates the sealing control unit 5, A command is issued to each of the sealing gas supply unit 6 and the ring-shaped gas ignition device 15b, and the sealing process by the gas burner is performed again.

As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the function of accurately inspecting the quality of the chip tube after sealing is provided, so that when a defect occurs in the sealing state, By performing the sealing step again, the reliability of the chip tube sealing can be remarkably improved.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in the above embodiment, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the shape of the tip tube 23b that can obtain the operation and effect of the second embodiment is such that the cross-sectional area of the lower chip tube is provided to be larger than the cross-sectional area of the upper chip tube, so that the high vacuum including the getter can be efficiently performed. In addition, the sealing can be efficiently performed to seal the thin upper tip tube portion. Therefore, FIG.
As shown in the figure, if the shape has a portion where the cross-sectional area gradually decreases from the lower part to the upper part of the tip tube 23c, the same function and effect can be obtained, which is included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0068]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the discharge tube is introduced into the flat display panel in the discharge gas introduction step and the chip tube is sealed off, the gas burner is used to cut off the chip tube. Directly irradiates the heat of combustion of the gas directly around the tip to melt the tip tube.
The melting of the chip tube can be facilitated, leaks due to defective sealing of the sealing portion can be prevented as much as possible, and the reliability of the sealing portion can be greatly improved. Therefore, the electric heat generated by the energized heater is propagated to the space as in the prior art, and the tip tube is melted more stably than in the case where the tip tube is melted, thereby further improving the reliability of the sealing portion. Can be.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the temperature of the tip tube portion sealed in the tip tube sealing step is detected and the welding temperature control step of adjusting the gas burner based on the detected temperature is provided, it is more appropriate. It is possible to finely seal the tip tube by welding.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a matching process is provided after the tip tube sealing process, so that the shape of the welded sealing portion of the tip tube is matched with a predetermined shape set in advance. In the matching process step, a resealing step of reapplying a gas burner and welding and sealing the chip tube, which is determined to be defective, can be performed. Thereby, the once sealed portion is sealed again by the heat of the ignited gas, so that the reliability of the sealed portion can be improved.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the tip tube has a shape whose longitudinal cross-section decreases toward the distal end, a sheet-like getter to be inserted for the purpose of removing impurities in the flat display panel. It is possible to attach the inside of the tip tube, and by sealing the stepwise decreasing portion of the tip tube, by removing unnecessary portions of the tip tube after sealing, the Since the height of the chip tube can be reduced and the dimensions of the two glass substrates plus the height can be reduced, the depth of the display panel as a whole can be reduced as a result. After that, the depth of the display device can be reduced, which is very effective when the display device is installed on a wall of a room for wall hanging.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a flat display panel sealing device A according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a sealing portion of the chip tube 23 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a flat display panel sealing device B according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view in which a chip tube 23b is arranged on a glass substrate according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a tip tube 23 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
It is a slope view of b.

FIG. 6 shows a tip tube 23 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
It is a top view of b.

FIG. 7 shows a tip tube 23 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
It is a top view of the sealing part of b.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the shape of a tip tube 23b after sealing according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a tip tube 23c according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a conventional flat display panel sealing device.

FIG. 12 is an overall perspective view of a flat display panel in a state where a conventional chip tube is sealed.

FIG. 13 is an operational explanatory view of a tip tube shape during tip tube sealing according to the prior art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Exhaust apparatus 2 Discharge gas supply part 3 I / F part 4 System control part 5 Sealing control part 6 Sealing gas supply part 7 Pipe switching valve 8 Exhaust pipe 9 Discharge gas pipe 10 Arm pipe 10b Arm pipe 11 Chip pipe adsorption jig Tool 11b Chip tube suction jig 12 Temperature sensor 13 Chip tube sealing portion 14 Sealed gas pipe 15 Ring gas igniter 15b Ring gas igniter 16 Gas burner 17 Flat display glass substrate 18 Discharge cell sealing glass substrate Reference Signs List 19 buffer plate 20 frit 21 rib 22 panel holding table 23, 23b, L23b, H23b, 23c chip tube 24, 24b exhaust hole 25 vacuum gauge 51 sealing area 52 sheet getter 53 camera unit Xj-axis drive shaft 54 camera unit 55 camera Section Y-axis drive table 56 Camera drive section holding table Bull 58 First glass panel in the prior art 59 Chip tube 60 Holder 61 Support 62 Vacuum pump 63 Flat container 64 Exhaust system 65 Heater 66 Heating means 67 Power supply 68 Frit 69 Second glass panel 70 Glass end

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A flat display panel formed by sealing the periphery of two glass substrates facing each other while maintaining a predetermined gap, protruding from the glass substrate and projecting from the glass substrate to the inside of the flat display panel. A tip tube forming step of forming a communicating chip tube, an exhausting step of evacuating the inside of the flat display panel through the tip tube to a vacuum, and an inside of the flat display panel after the exhausting step.
A discharge gas introducing step of introducing a discharge gas through the chip tube; and a gas burner on the same peripheral portion substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the chip tube with respect to the chip tube while maintaining the inside of the flat display panel at a vacuum. And a chip tube sealing step of welding and sealing the chip tube. 2. The method for manufacturing a flat display panel according to claim 1, wherein a temperature of a chip tube portion sealed in the chip tube sealing step is detected, and the gas burner is adjusted based on the detected temperature. A method for manufacturing a flat display, comprising a step of controlling a welding temperature. 3. The method for manufacturing a flat display panel according to claim 1, wherein after the chip tube sealing step, a shape matching process is performed on a shape of a welded sealing portion of the chip tube with a predetermined shape, A matching processing step of determining the quality of the sealed state of the chip tube; and, in the matching processing step, a gas burner is applied to the chip tube again to seal the flat display having the chip tube determined to be defective in sealing. And a resealing step for stopping the flat display panel. 4. The method of manufacturing a flat display panel according to claim 1, wherein the tip tube has a shape in which a longitudinal cross-sectional shape decreases in a tip direction. A method for manufacturing a flat display panel.