JP2002072225A - Liquid crystal sealing method and liquid crystal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform liquid crystal sealing while controlling the interval between substrates of a structure body in a state that the structure body is housed in a cassette. SOLUTION: The liquid crystal sealing device 31 is provided with a container 35 having an opening 3 and a sealing jig 37. The container forms a pressure chamber in which the cassette in which plural structure bodies are housed is housed. The sealing jig tightly seals the opening of the container in the state that a first and a second substrate surfaces abutting on the outer surfaces of the structure body come into contact with a gas atmosphere in the pressure chamber and a liquid crystal injecting hole of the structure body is communicated with the external part of the pressure chamber. The liquid crystal injecting hole is easily sealed while the interval between the substrates is corrected in the structure bodies housed in the cassette by using the capping device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for sealing a liquid crystal injection hole of a structure (cell) into which liquid crystal has been injected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A liquid crystal panel is frequently used as a simple display device, and is expected as one of the promising candidates for a display device to replace a CRT (cathode ray tube). As a conventional general method for manufacturing such a liquid crystal panel, for example, Document I (“Latest Technology of Liquid Crystal”, Industrial Research Committee (1984.
1) pp. 156-167). FIG.
2 (A) to 2 (D) are diagrams for explanation thereof. In particular,
FIG. 4 is a view showing a liquid crystal injection step and a step of sealing a liquid crystal injection hole (liquid crystal sealing step) in the conventional method.

In this method, a first substrate 11 and a second substrate 13 for a liquid crystal panel in which electrodes, liquid crystal driving elements, alignment films (all not shown), etc. are formed on a glass substrate, The substrates are bonded together by a sealing material 19 in a state where a predetermined gap 15 is maintained between the substrates (generally, a state where the gap 15 is formed by the spacer 17). Thus, a structure 21 is obtained (FIG. 12A). However,
For example, by providing a part of the structure 21 where no sealing material is applied in a sealing material applying step,
A liquid crystal injection hole 21a is formed.

[0004] Next, the structure 21 is introduced into the processing chamber 27 together with the tank 23 a containing the liquid crystal 23. Then, the inside of the gap 15 of the structure 21 and the liquid crystal 23 prepared to be injected into the gap are degassed by the exhaust means 25 (FIG. 12A). Thereafter, the structure 21 is moved such that the liquid crystal injection hole 21a comes into contact with the liquid crystal 23 (FIG. 12B). The evacuation of the processing chamber 27 ends at an appropriate time. When the liquid crystal injection hole 21a comes into contact with the liquid crystal 23, the liquid crystal is injected into the space 15 to some extent according to the capillary phenomenon (FIG. 12B).

Next, gas supply means 29 is provided in the processing chamber 27.
, A sufficiently dried inert gas such as an argon gas or a nitrogen gas is introduced, and the liquid crystal fills the gap 15 between the first and second substrates by using the pressure of the inert gas (see FIG. C)).

Thereafter, the liquid crystal injection hole 21a is closed (sealed) by a suitable sealing material 19a.
(D)). Thereby, the injection of the liquid crystal and the sealing of the liquid crystal injection hole are completed.

[0007]

When the liquid crystal injection hole 21a is sealed, the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 11 are sealed.
It is preferable to perform sealing after controlling the distance between the substrates 13 (also referred to as the substrate interval) to be within an allowable value. This is because, in a liquid crystal panel in which the substrate interval deviates from the allowable value, the application condition of the panel drive signal may be different from the expected condition, which may cause a problem that desired characteristics cannot be obtained.

As shown by the broken line in FIG. 12 (D), the liquid crystal is injected and the first liquid crystal is injected.
In addition, the distance between the second substrates is often wider than the allowable value. This is particularly noticeable when an STN type liquid crystal is used. Therefore, if the liquid crystal injection hole is sealed while the liquid crystal is being injected, the liquid crystal panel is likely to be in a state where the distance between the substrates deviates from the allowable value.

As one method for preventing this, an operation of pressing the first and second substrate surfaces so that the distance between the substrates of the structure 21 in which the liquid crystal has been injected is within a predetermined range is conventionally performed. In particular, the applicant of the present application disclosed the first and second structures corresponding to the outer surface of the structure 21 into which liquid crystal had been injected.
A technique has been proposed in the past in which at least one of the substrate surfaces is pressed by a gas to adjust the distance between the substrates, and then the liquid crystal injection hole is sealed (JP-A-7-20480).

According to the technique disclosed in this publication, the distance between the substrates is adjusted by mechanically pushing the first and second substrate surfaces of the structure 21 into which the liquid crystal has been injected (for example, by pushing the substrate surface with a plate). As compared with the case, it is possible to obtain effects such as that the substrate can be pressed uniformly and that a large number of structures can be collectively processed.

However, when processing a large number of structures at once, these structures are often stored in a cassette and handled. Generally, in the liquid crystal injection step, a cassette that supports a number of structures in a posture in which the liquid crystal injection holes are vertically oriented is used.

However, in the liquid crystal sealing device disclosed in the above publication, the structure needs to be installed inside the pressurizing chamber, and the liquid crystal injection hole of the structure is exposed to the outside. The pressurized chamber must be sealed. According to the configuration of this device, the structure cannot be introduced into the pressurizing chamber while the structure is stored in the cassette.
Therefore, in the liquid crystal sealing step, it is necessary to perform a complicated operation of removing the structure in which the liquid crystal has been injected from the cassette and installing the structure in the pressurized chamber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal encapsulation process while controlling the distance between substrates of a structure while the structure is housed in a cassette. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for performing the method and a device suitable for the method.

[0014]

In order to achieve this object, according to the invention of the liquid crystal sealing method of this application, the first and second substrates facing each other are maintained at a predetermined gap between these substrates. In this state, a structure (hereinafter, referred to as a structure) in which liquid crystal is injected into a gap from a liquid crystal injection hole provided in a part of the seal portion is bonded to each other at a peripheral portion of the substrate by a sealing material.
It is simply referred to as “structure” or “structure to be sealed”. In the method of sealing a liquid crystal injection hole, the step of installing a cassette containing a plurality of structures in a pressurized chamber, wherein at least one of the first and second substrate surfaces corresponding to the outer surfaces of the structures is provided. Contact the gas atmosphere in the pressurized chamber,
And sealing the pressurized chamber so that the liquid crystal injection hole is in communication with the outside of the pressurized chamber. The first and second substrates generated during liquid crystal injection by the pressure of the gas atmosphere in the pressurized chamber. The step of correcting the spread of the distance between the two, and the step of sealing the liquid crystal injection hole.

In the liquid crystal sealing method according to the present invention, the method disclosed in
In the configuration of the sealing method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 20480, that is, in the configuration in which the substrate spacing is corrected by gas, the above-described correction and liquid crystal sealing can be performed while the structure is placed in the cassette. Therefore, without removing the structure into which the liquid crystal has been injected from the cassette, the cassette together with the cassette can be stored in the pressurizing chamber, and the distance between the substrates can be corrected and the liquid crystal can be sealed.

Further, according to the invention of the liquid crystal sealing device of this application, in a device for sealing a liquid crystal injection hole of a structure to be sealed, the device comprises a container having an opening and a sealing jig. And a container for forming a pressurized chamber for accommodating a cassette accommodating a plurality of structures, and a sealing jig includes first and second substrate surfaces corresponding to outer surfaces of the structures. Is characterized in that the opening of the container is sealed so that at least one of them contacts the gas atmosphere of the pressurized chamber and the liquid crystal injection hole is in communication with the outside of the pressurized chamber.

According to the invention of the liquid crystal sealing device, it is possible to easily perform the processing of correcting the distance between the substrates and sealing the liquid crystal with respect to the structure contained in the cassette. Therefore, the invention of the liquid crystal sealing method described above can be easily implemented.

Preferably, the above-mentioned opening is used as an opening for introducing the cassette into the pressurizing chamber.

In the liquid crystal sealing device of the present invention, preferably, the sealing jig has an opening having a quadrangular (including substantially quadrangular) planar shape for exposing the liquid crystal injection hole to the outside of the pressurizing chamber. And a first and second hermetic holding member provided on each of the formed supporting member and the supporting member along two opposing sides of the opening and in close contact with a part of the end face of the structure on the liquid crystal injection hole side. , Extending between the first and second hermetic holding members in a substantially U-shape, both ends of which are respectively coupled to the first and second hermetic holding members. Along the edge on the hole side, a third airtight holding member that comes into close contact with the main surface side of the first substrate, and extends in a substantially U shape between the first and second airtight holding members. , Both ends of which are respectively connected to the first and second airtight holding members, and the second substrate Along the edge of the liquid crystal injection hole side, it is good to a structure comprising a fourth gas-tight seal member in close contact with the main surface side of the second substrate.

According to this liquid crystal sealing device, the end of the structure to be sealed on the liquid crystal injection hole side is brought into close contact with the third and fourth airtight holding members. Most of the main surface of each of the two substrates comes into contact with the gas inside the container, that is, the pressurized chamber. Therefore, a practical device for sealing the liquid crystal injection hole while adjusting the distance between the first and second substrates by gas pressure is realized.

Further, since the third and fourth hermetic holding members are substantially U-shaped, the vicinity of the liquid crystal injection hole is not covered by the third and fourth hermetic holding members. Therefore,
Easy sealing work.

According to a preferred embodiment of the liquid crystal sealing device of the present invention, the third and fourth airtight holding members are preferably tubes that expand by supplying gas to the inside.

According to another configuration example of the liquid crystal sealing device of the present invention, a portion of the opening along the other two sides where the first and second airtight holding members are provided and an extension thereof. It is preferable to further provide a side airtight holding member thereon.

According to still another configuration example of the liquid crystal sealing device of the present invention, a guide member connected to a part of the third and fourth airtight holding members and increasing the rigidity of these airtight holding members is further provided. Preferably it is provided.

Here, the guide member preferably has a guide portion for guiding the insertion of the structure between the third and fourth airtight holding members.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the drawings only schematically show the shapes, dimensions, and arrangements of the components so that the present invention can be understood. In each of the drawings used in the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted. Also, the same components as those in the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 12, and the overlapping description will be omitted.

FIG. 1 shows a liquid crystal sealing device 3 according to this embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. In the figure, the sealing jig 37
Is partially cut away. Further, the container 35 is illustrated so that the opening 33 formed on the lower surface side of the box body can be seen.

The liquid crystal sealing device 31 of this embodiment comprises a container (box) 35 having an opening 33 and a sealing jig 37. The sealing jig 37 is provided with the opening 33 of the container 35.
Used in combination. The liquid crystal sealing device 31 is equipped with a device capable of raising or lowering one of the container 35 and the sealing jig 37 (preferably, the container 35), for example, a lifting device (not shown). It is preferable to be able to raise and lower the pressure.

The above-mentioned container 35 forms a pressurizing chamber for accommodating a cassette accommodating a plurality of structures. In this example, a plurality of structures are provided in a cassette. A typical cassette configuration with the structure housed is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. FIG. 2, 3 and 4 are plan views of the cassette as viewed from above, below and from the side, respectively.

The cassette 39 is connected by a side member 43 in a state where two side plates 41 face each other in parallel. A large number of grooves 41a are formed on the surfaces of the side plates 41 facing the side plates 41 at regular intervals in parallel with each other, specifically at intervals substantially equal to the thickness of the structure 21 to be sealed. ing. Therefore, a convex portion 41b is formed between the adjacent grooves 41a. The groove 41a is a groove into which the structure 21 is inserted. The structures 21 inserted into the grooves 41a are arranged between the side plates 41 in such a manner that their main surfaces are parallel to each other.

Further, on the surface of each side plate 41 on which the side plates 41 face each other and below the cassette 39,
One cell receiving stopper 45 extending along the arrangement direction of the grooves 41a is provided. The end of the structure 21 where the liquid crystal injection hole 21a is formed contacts the cell receiving stopper 45, and the structure 21 is placed in the cassette 39.
Supported within. The liquid crystal injection hole 21a of each structure 21 is
The cassette 39 is oriented downward.

The size and shape of the container 35 are determined according to the size of the structure 21 and the number of the structures 21 to be processed at one time, that is, the size of the cassette 39.

The container 35 is connected to a pressure regulator 69 via a gas communication hole 67. The pressure adjusting device 69 adjusts the pressure of a pressurizing chamber formed inside the container 35. The gas communication hole 67 communicates the inside of the container 35 with the pressure regulator 69. This gas communication hole 6
7 may be provided on the side surface or the upper surface of the container 35,
Further, it may be provided on the sealing jig 37 side.

In the sealing jig 37 described above, the first and second substrate surfaces corresponding to the outer surfaces of the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 13 constituting the structure 21 come into contact with the gas atmosphere of the pressurizing chamber. In addition, the opening 33 of the container 35 is sealed so that the liquid crystal injection hole 21a is in communication with the outside of the pressurizing chamber.

Next, a specific configuration of the sealing jig 37 will be described. 5 and 6 show the sealing jig 3 respectively.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the device 7 viewed from above and from the side (a direction shown in FIG. 5). FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are cross-sectional views showing cuts of the sealing jig 37 at the positions of the line II and the line JJ of FIG. 5, respectively.

The sealing jig 37 includes a support fitting 47 as a support member, a cell receiving rubber 49 as a first airtight holding member, and a cell receiving rubber 5 as a second airtight holding member.
1 and a seal tube 53 as a third airtight holding member
And a seal tube 55 as a fourth airtight holding member. Each of these four types of airtight holding members is in close contact with the structure 21 to ensure airtightness inside the pressurized chamber.

The support fitting 47 is attached to the opening 33 of the container 35. At the edge of the upper surface of the support fitting 47, an airtight holding member 57 (see FIG. 1; not shown in other drawings) for maintaining the airtightness of a contact portion between the support fitting 47 and the container 35 is provided. I have. However, the airtight holding member 57 may be provided on the container 35 side.

The support fitting 47 is, like the container 35,
It is made of a material that can secure airtightness and can withstand the pressure when the inside of the container 35 is pressurized. Any such material may be used. Preferably, it is made of a metal, for example, iron, stainless steel, aluminum or the like.

The support fitting 47 has an opening 47a for exposing a part of the structure 21, that is, the periphery of the liquid crystal injection hole 21a, to the outside of the pressurizing chamber. The size of the opening 47a can be arbitrarily set according to the design. Preferably, the number is minimized as long as the operation for sealing the liquid crystal injection hole 21a is not hindered. Actually, it is determined in consideration of how many structures 21 are to be stored in the container 35 of the liquid crystal sealing device 31 at one time, ease of sealing work, and the like.

The planar shape of the opening 47a can be any shape according to the design. In this example, the shape is a square shape (including a substantially square shape).

Further, each of the portions of the support fitting 47 along the two opposite sides p and q of the opening 47a is a rectangular parallelepiped projection 47b. The length in the longitudinal direction of the convex portion 47b matches the length of the sides p and q of the opening 47a. In addition, the position of the surface on the opening 47a side of each projection 47b coincides with the positions of the sides p and q of the opening 47a. The above-described cell receiving rubbers 49 and 51 are provided on the upper surfaces of these convex portions 47b. The cell receiving rubber 49 on the side p and the cell receiving rubber 51 on the side q are the same.

In this case, each of the cell receiving rubbers 49 and 51 is provided with a groove 49a and 51a whose direction is orthogonal to the sides p and q of the opening 47a.
And a predetermined interval along the direction parallel to q and, more specifically, at an interval substantially equal to the thickness of the structure 21. Therefore, between the adjacent grooves 49a and between the adjacent grooves 51a, the convex portions 49b and 51b are respectively provided.
Occurs.

These grooves 49a and 51a are grooves into which the seal tubes 53 and 55 are inserted. Therefore, the length of these grooves 49a and 51a is set to a length that can fix the seal tubes 53 and 55 as intended.

The cell receiving rubbers 49 and 51 are preferably formed by molding rubber, for example, urethane rubber into the above-mentioned uneven shape. However, depending on the case, a metal processed product, a resin processed product, or a resin molded product may be used.

The grooves 4 of these cell receiving rubbers 49 and 51
For 9a and 51a, seal tubes 53 and 55 are arranged as follows.

That is, the cell receiving rubber 49 extends over the cell receiving rubbers 49 and 51 on both sides of the opening 47a.
And 51 are formed in a number of grooves 49a and 51a.
Then, seal tubes 53 and 55 are inserted. Each of the seal tubes 53 and 55 extends along the remaining two sides r and s orthogonal to the sides p and q of the opening 47a.

Here, each of the seal tubes 53 and 55 is a long airtight holding member longer than the lengths of the sides r and s of the opening 47a. Both may have the same specifications. Further, such a method is preferable because components can be shared. In this case, the sealing tubes 53 and 5
5 each with the groove 49a of the cell receiving rubber 49 and 51.
And 51a are made of rubber and a band-shaped tube having a width that can be inserted into the tube. This rubber tube is capable of taking gas in and out, that is,
The expansion and contraction should be controllable. Then, the rubber tube is preferably connected to a dedicated pressure adjusting device (not shown), and the expansion and contraction of the tube is controlled to enhance the close contact with the structure 21.

The seal tubes 53 and 55 are
It has a shape that extends in a substantially U-shape between the cell receiving rubbers 49 and 51. That is, the seal tubes 53 and 55 extend linearly above the opening 47a,
Its both ends are bent at an angle of about 90 ° and extend toward the cell receiving rubbers 49 and 51, and these ends are formed in the grooves 49a and 5 of the cell receiving rubbers 49 and 51, respectively.
1a (FIG. 7). At the bottom of these grooves 49a and 51a at the connection portion with the seal tubes 53 and 55, gas introduction holes 5 are provided respectively.
9 are formed. Each gas introduction hole 59 is provided in the support fitting 4.
Through the gas communication hole 61 formed in the inside 7, for example, it communicates with the back side of the support fitting 47 (FIGS. 7 and 8). Therefore, inside the seal tubes 53 and 55,
The gas from the pressure adjusting device is introduced through the gas communication hole 61.

The straight portions of the seal tubes 53 and 55 (the portions extending linearly above the opening 47a).
A guide member 63 is connected to the upper side of the seal member for the purpose of increasing the rigidity of the seal tubes 53 and 55. The guide member 63 includes a seal tube 5.
A guide portion 63a is provided to guide the insertion of the structure 21 between 3 and 55 (FIGS. 6 and 8). Here, a structure that tapers upward is employed as the guide portion 63a. The guide portion 63a is not essential, but is preferably provided.

Also, on the support fitting 47, the opening 4
On the portion along the two sides r and s of 7a and its extension,
The side airtight holding member 65 is fixed. Specifically, on the support fitting 47, from the portion along the edges of the cell receiving rubbers 49 and 51 (the edge along the sides r and s) to the portion along the sides r and s of the opening 47a. The side airtight holding member 65 is fixed.

The side airtight holding member 65 is a seal tube 5 inserted at both ends of the cell receiving rubbers 49 and 51.
3 and 55, sides r and s of opening 47a
To prevent gas from leaking along the area.

The side airtight holding member 65 can be made of, for example, a rod or plate made of metal, plastic or rubber.

The cell receiving rubber 49 is placed on the support fitting 47.
When fixing the side airtight holding member 65 and the side airtight holding member 65, care is taken to prevent gas leakage at the interface between the support fitting 47 and the cell receiving rubbers 49 and 51 and the bottom surface of the side airtight holding member 65.

Next, a method of using the liquid crystal sealing device 31 will be described for better understanding.

First, a cassette 39 containing a plurality of structures 21 is introduced into the container 35 from the opening 33 of the container 35. Excess liquid crystal adhering around the liquid crystal injection hole 21a is preferably wiped in advance. Cassette 39
Is fixed in the container 35 by a suitable method such that the liquid crystal injection hole 21a of the structure 21 faces the opening 33.

Next, a sealing jig 37 is inserted into the opening 33 of the container 35.
Attach. At this time, the seal tubes 53 and 5
5, the structure 21 is inserted. The end face of the structure 21 on the side of the liquid crystal injection hole 21a is brought into contact with the upper surfaces of the protrusions 49b and 51b of the cell receiving rubbers 49 and 51, respectively. Then, the sealing jig 37 and the container 35 are fixed by a suitable method.

Thereafter, gas (typically, air) is supplied to the inside of each of the seal tubes 53 and 55.
As already explained, the sealing tubes 53 and 55
Is in the form of a tube through which gas can enter and exit, and therefore expands when air is supplied. Therefore, each of the seal tubes 53 and 55 is
The second substrate and the second substrate are in close contact with the structure 21 from the main surface side of the substrate along the sides of the liquid crystal injection holes 21a.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are views showing a state where the sealing jig 37 is attached to the container 35, respectively. FIG. 9 is a plan view of the inside of the container 35 as viewed from above the cassette 39. In FIG. 9, the container 3
The illustration of 5 is omitted. FIG. 10 is a side view of the inside of the container 35 as viewed from the side (the direction a shown in FIG. 9). In FIG. 10, the container 35 and the cassette 3
9 is omitted. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line KK in FIG.

As shown in these figures, the cell receiving rubbers 49 and 51 are in close contact with a part of the end face of the structure 21 on the liquid crystal injection hole 21a side. Also, the seal tube 53
Is adhered from the main surface side of the first substrate 11 along the edge of the first substrate 11 on the liquid crystal injection hole 21a side. Further, the seal tube 55 is connected to the liquid crystal injection hole 21 a of the second substrate 13.
Along the edge on the side, the second substrate 13 is in close contact with the main surface side. Therefore, the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 13
Are in contact with the gas atmosphere in the pressurized chamber and the liquid crystal injection hole 21a is in communication with the outside of the pressurized chamber,
Opening 33 is sealed.

As described above, the seal tubes 53 and 55 are bent in a substantially U-shape. for that reason,
The seal tubes 53 and 55 are located near the liquid crystal injection hole 21a.
It is not covered with and easy to seal. Further, the seal tubes 53 and 55 are shaped to enter the inside of the pressurizing chamber. Therefore, there is little possibility that the seal tubes 53 and 55 may come off the structure 21 due to the pressure in the pressurized chamber.

Next, the pressure adjusting device 69 causes the container 3
Adjust the pressure in 5. This pressure is a pressure at which the main surfaces of the first and second substrates can be pressed with gas so that the distance between the first and second substrates of the structure 21 housed in the container 35 can be set to an allowable value. . This pressure is typically greater than 1 atmosphere and a regulated pressure. When pressurizing the inside of the container 35, for example, a pressurized air may be sent into the container 35 using a compressor as the pressure adjusting device 69.
However, in the present invention, the inside of the container 35 may be set to a negative pressure smaller than 1 atm. In that case, an exhaust means (not shown) is also provided.

Even if the pressure in the container 35 is adjusted, gas leakage along the substrate surface of the structure 21 is prevented by the seal tubes 53 and 55. Also, the structure 21
Gas leaks from gaps generated in portions of the seal tubes 53 and 55 deviating from the structure 21 due to the thickness of the seal tubes 53 and 55 are prevented by the cell receiving rubbers 49 and 51.

After adjusting the distance between the first and second substrates as described above, a sealing material is supplied to the liquid crystal injection hole 21a. However, when surplus liquid crystal has come out of the structure 21 near the liquid crystal injection hole 21a, a sealing material is supplied after removing it.

As a sealing material, an ultraviolet-curable adhesive is typically used. Next, the sealing material is cured.

After the curing of the sealing material is completed, the fixing between the container 35 and the sealing jig 37 is released, and then the sealing jig 37 is removed from the container 35 and the cassette 39. When performing the sealing operation continuously, the cassette 39 is removed from the container 35, and the cassette containing the structure 21 to be sealed is set in the container 35.

As described above, this liquid crystal sealing device 3
According to 1, a practical device for sealing the liquid crystal injection hole 21a while adjusting the distance between the first and second substrates with the gas pressure for the structure 21 stored in the cassette 39 is realized.

[0067]

According to the liquid crystal sealing method of the present invention, a cassette accommodating a plurality of structures is set in a pressurized chamber,
Subsequently, the pressure chamber is sealed so that at least one of the first and second substrate surfaces is in contact with the gas atmosphere in the pressure chamber and the liquid crystal injection hole is in communication with the outside of the pressure chamber. ,
Next, the expansion of the interval between the first and second substrates caused during the liquid crystal injection is corrected by the pressure of the gas atmosphere in the pressurized chamber, and then the liquid crystal injection hole is sealed. Therefore, according to the present invention, in a configuration in which the distance between the substrates is corrected by gas, the correction can be performed while the structure is housed in the cassette. Therefore, the sealing method disclosed in JP-A-7-20480 can be improved, for example, the time required from the liquid crystal injection step to the liquid crystal sealing step can be shortened.

According to the liquid crystal sealing device of the present invention,
The apparatus includes a container having an opening and a sealing jig,
The container forms a pressure chamber in which a cassette containing a plurality of structures is stored, and the sealing jig contacts at least one of the first and second substrate surfaces with the gas atmosphere in the pressure chamber. ,
In addition, the opening of the container is sealed so that the liquid crystal injection hole is in communication with the outside of the pressure chamber. Therefore, the process of correcting the substrate interval and sealing the liquid crystal with respect to the structure contained in the cassette can be easily performed. Therefore, the invention of the liquid crystal sealing method described above can be easily implemented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a liquid crystal sealing device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a cassette.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a cassette.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a cassette.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a sealing jig.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a sealing jig.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a sealing jig.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a sealing jig.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a state where a sealing jig is attached to a container.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a state where a sealing jig is attached to a container.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a state where a sealing jig is attached to a container.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11: First substrate 13: Second substrate 15: Void 17: Spacer 19: Seal material 21: Structure 21a: Liquid crystal injection hole 23: Liquid crystal 23a: Tank 25: Exhaust means 27: Processing chamber 29: Gas supply means 31: Liquid crystal sealing device 33: Opening 35: Container 37: Sealing jig 39: Cassette 41: Side plate 41a: Groove 41b: Convex portion 43: Side member 45: Cell receiving stopper 47: Supporting fitting 47a: Opening 47b: Convex portions 49, 51: Cell receiving rubber 49a, 51a: Grooves 49b, 51b: Convex portions 53, 55: Seal tube 57: Airtight holding member 59: Gas introduction hole 61: Gas communication hole 63: Guide member 63a: Guide portion 65 : Side airtight holding member 67: Gas communication hole 69: Pressure adjusting device

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second substrates are bonded to each other with a sealing material at an edge of the substrates while maintaining a predetermined gap between the substrates. In a method for sealing a liquid crystal injection hole of a structure in which liquid crystal is injected into the gap from a provided liquid crystal injection hole, a step of installing a cassette containing a plurality of the structures in a pressure chamber. A state in which at least one of the first and second substrate surfaces corresponding to the outer surface of the structure comes into contact with the gas atmosphere in the pressurized chamber, and the liquid crystal injection hole is in communication with the outside of the pressurized chamber. Sealing the pressurized chamber so as to correct the expansion of the interval between the first and second substrates caused by the injection of the liquid crystal by the pressure of the gas atmosphere in the pressurized chamber; Injection A liquid crystal sealing method comprising a step of sealing a hole. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are bonded to each other by a sealing material at an edge of the substrate while maintaining a predetermined gap between the substrates. In a device for sealing the liquid crystal injection hole of a structure in which liquid crystal is injected into the gap from the provided liquid crystal injection hole, the device includes a container having an opening and a sealing jig, The container forms a pressurized chamber in which a cassette containing a plurality of the structures is stored, and the sealing jig contacts the outer surface of the first structure.
And sealing the opening of the container such that at least one of the second substrate surface is in contact with the gas atmosphere in the pressurized chamber and the liquid crystal injection hole is in communication with the outside of the pressurized chamber. A liquid crystal sealing device, characterized in that: 3. The liquid crystal sealing device according to claim 2, wherein the opening is used as an opening for introducing the cassette into the pressurizing chamber. 4. The liquid crystal sealing device according to claim 2, wherein the sealing jig has an opening having a square planar shape that exposes the liquid crystal injection hole to the outside of the pressure chamber. A support member, and first and second hermetic holding members provided at respective portions of the support member along two opposing sides of the opening and in close contact with a part of an end face of the structure on the liquid crystal injection hole side. Extending between the first and second hermetic holding members in a substantially U-shape, both ends of which are respectively coupled to the first and second hermetic holding members; A third airtight holding member that is in close contact with the main surface side of the first substrate along the edge of the liquid crystal injection hole side, and a substantially U-shaped portion between the first and second airtight holding members. Shape, and both ends are respectively connected to the first and second airtight holding members. And a fourth hermetic holding member that adheres along the edge of the second substrate on the liquid crystal injection hole side from the main surface side of the second substrate. apparatus. 5. The liquid crystal sealing device according to claim 4, wherein each of the third and fourth airtight holding members is a tube that expands by supplying gas to the inside. Stop device. 6. The liquid crystal sealing device according to claim 4, wherein the opening has a portion along the other two sides on which the first and second hermetic holding members are provided and an extension thereof. ,
A liquid crystal sealing device further comprising a side airtight holding member. 7. The liquid crystal sealing device according to claim 4, wherein the liquid crystal sealing device is connected to a part of the third and fourth airtight holding members,
A liquid crystal sealing device further comprising a guide member for increasing the rigidity of the airtight holding member. 8. The liquid crystal sealing device according to claim 7, wherein the guide member has a guide portion for guiding insertion of the structure between the third and fourth airtight holding members. Liquid crystal sealing device.