JP2002090703A - Apparatus and method for assembling substrate for liquid crystal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To assemble a liquid crystal display panel by sealing a liquid crystal, a sealing material and a spacer necessary for a liquid crystal panel in two glass substrate 3, by using one apparatus. SOLUTION: Two glass substrates 1 and 2 are oppositely held on the surfaces of an upper board 3 and a lower board 6. When the upper board 3 is descended and the distance between the upper board 3 and the lower board 6 becomes small, the peripheries of two glass substrates 1 and 2 are covered by a packing 14 for vacuum formation, and thereby sealing is completed. A vacuum space 49 being in a vacuum state is formed by evacuating a space covered with the packing 14 for vacuum formation, from a vacuum suction hole 28. As for the upper side glass substrate 1, a fluid for pressurization can be introduced to a pressurization space 50 separated from the space 49 by a packing 18 for fluid pressurization through a pressurization hole 24 by operating a rod 20, and thereby pressurization necessary for gap formation can be performed. A large load applied by the formation of the space 49 can be cancelled by operating a cylinder 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal substrate assembling apparatus and method for assembling a liquid crystal display panel by bonding two substrates together.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a type of liquid crystal display device for displaying an image by electrically changing the optical characteristics of liquid crystal has been used as a kind of liquid crystal display device.
An active matrix color TFT using thin film transistors, abbreviated as TFT from in Film Transistor
Liquid crystal display panels are widely used. A color TFT liquid crystal display panel is assembled using a glass substrate on which an active matrix of TFTs is formed and a glass substrate on which a color filter is formed, with a liquid crystal, a sealing material, and a spacer interposed between two glass substrates. As the liquid crystal display panel, in addition to the TFT active matrix system, an MIM active matrix system and a simple matrix system are also used.

The assembling of such a liquid crystal display panel involves two steps.
Fine particles serving as spacers are sprayed on one surface of the two substrates, and a sealing material is applied to a predetermined portion of the substrate.
The two substrates are bonded together and pressed until the gap becomes about several μm. The sealing material contains a photo-curing component that cures when irradiated with ultraviolet light, and the crushed sealing material is cured by irradiating ultraviolet light, and both substrates are temporarily fixed. Such bonding is performed automatically by a bonding device. Further, the bonded substrate is heated and pressurized to the particle size of the spacer by a device called a gap forming machine, and the sealing material is cured using a thermosetting component of the sealing material. The sealing material is
After being applied in a form having at least one opening and being cured to complete bonding of a substrate having a desired gap, the inside of the substrate gap is evacuated from the opening of the sealing material and liquid crystal is injected. After injecting the liquid crystal, the opening of the sealing material is sealed, and the assembly of the liquid crystal display panel is completed.

A prior art relating to an apparatus for bonding a glass substrate used for forming a liquid crystal display panel is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-18829, and is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 8-18829.
No. 604090. Another prior art relating to a glass substrate laminating apparatus is disclosed in JP-A-8-761.
No. 33, JP-A-8-304835 and the like. JP-A-11-326857 discloses that
After bonding the glass substrates, evacuate between the two substrates,
An apparatus for assembling a liquid crystal display panel by curing a sealing material with ultraviolet light is disclosed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-5405 discloses an apparatus in which two substrates are attached to each other and a liquid crystal can be injected by reducing the pressure in a gap between the two substrates. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-333157 discloses a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device by using a substrate on which a liquid crystal layer is formed by partially curing the surface of a sealant and bonding another substrate. It is shown.

[0005]

In the assembly of a general liquid crystal display panel, two types of devices, a bonding device and a gap forming device, are required only by assembling a glass substrate. Until now, a single device has both functions, and no device has been used to seal the liquid crystal inside when bonding is completed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-333157 does not disclose what kind of device is used. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-5405 discloses a configuration of a device for positioning and bonding two substrates, and thereafter reducing the pressure between the two substrates and the space surrounded by the sealant, and pressurizing the whole. However, the configuration of an apparatus for bonding two substrates is not shown. JP-A-11-32685
Although Japanese Patent Publication No. 7 discloses a configuration of an apparatus for sequentially performing alignment and pressing to assemble two substrates,
The injection of the liquid crystal needs to be performed later.

[0006] Japanese Patent No. 2604090, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
No. 76133 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 8-304835 show only a bonding apparatus. The bonding of two glass substrates is such that the surfaces of the two glass substrates are parallel to each other.
In addition, the gap must be adjusted so that there is no misalignment in the direction along the surface.On the other hand, in order to adjust the gap, apply a force that is orders of magnitude greater than the pressure required for bonding, and apply a uniform force. Because it is difficult to integrate them into the same device. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-326857, a portion where a substrate is aligned and bonded is provided.
The part to be pressurized is divided into one device.

An object of the present invention is to perform a work necessary for assembling a liquid crystal display panel inside one device and to form a uniform gap by sealing a liquid crystal, a sealing material and a spacer between two substrates. And a method of assembling a liquid crystal substrate.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a spacer in which a liquid crystal layer is interposed between two substrates, the periphery thereof is sealed with a sealing material, and the distance between the substrates is dispersed in the liquid crystal layer. An assembling apparatus for a liquid crystal substrate to be assembled as a liquid crystal display panel while keeping the same constant, having two opposing surfaces, holding two substrates on each surface, and paralleling the distance between the substrates and the surface. A holding mechanism capable of adjusting a relative position within a flat plane, and a hermetic seal between the two opposing surfaces of the holding mechanism to hermetically cover the periphery of the two substrates and allow the holding mechanism to be displaced. A mechanism and a vacuum forming mechanism that exhausts the space covered by the sealing mechanism and forms a reduced-pressure vacuum state,
When a vacuum state is formed in the space covered by the sealing mechanism by the vacuum forming mechanism, a canceling mechanism for applying a force between the two surfaces of the holding mechanism to cancel a load applied between the two surfaces, and a sealing mechanism by the sealing mechanism In the space to be covered, a fluid pressure is applied by applying a fluid pressure between at least one of the two surfaces of the holding mechanism and the substrate held on the surface separately from the vacuum state. And a pressure mechanism.

According to the present invention, a liquid crystal substrate assembling apparatus includes:
The liquid crystal layer is interposed between the two substrates, the periphery is sealed with a sealant, and the distance between the substrates is kept constant by spacers dispersed in the liquid crystal layer to assemble as a liquid crystal display panel. Includes a mechanism, a sealing mechanism, a canceling mechanism, and a pressurizing mechanism. The holding mechanism has two opposing surfaces, holds one substrate on each surface, and is capable of displacement to adjust the distance between the substrates and the relative position in a plane parallel to the surface. is there. The sealing mechanism hermetically covers the periphery of the two substrates between the two opposing surfaces of the holding mechanism, and allows displacement of the holding mechanism. The vacuum forming mechanism arranges a space covered by the sealing mechanism to form a reduced-pressure vacuum state. The cancel mechanism applies a force between the two surfaces to cancel a load applied between the two surfaces of the holding mechanism when a vacuum state is formed in the space covered by the sealing mechanism by the vacuum mechanism. The pressurizing mechanism separates from the vacuum state in the space covered by the sealing mechanism,
A fluid pressure is applied between at least one of the two surfaces and the substrate held on the surface to apply pressure.

The periphery between the two substrates is covered by a sealing mechanism, the pressure is reduced by a vacuum forming mechanism, and the pressure between the surface of the holding mechanism and the substrate is increased by a pressing mechanism. The two substrates can be bonded by pressing. Since the canceling mechanism applies a force between the two substrates to cancel the load generated in the holding mechanism in a vacuum state, the spacing between the two substrates is adjusted by the holding mechanism, and the positioning in the direction parallel to the surface of the substrate is performed. Can be easily performed. Since the pressurizing mechanism applies a fluid pressure between at least one surface of the holding mechanism and the substrate held on the surface to pressurize the substrate, it is possible to uniformly press the substrate to form a gap. it can. If a sealing material and a spacer are applied to at least one of the two substrates, and the liquid crystal is applied in advance or injected in the middle, the liquid crystal necessary for the liquid crystal panel can be provided inside the single device. In addition, the sealing material and the spacer are sealed, and the substrates are bonded to form a uniform gap.

In the present invention, the holding mechanism holds the two substrates in a state where the surfaces of the two substrates are horizontal.
At least one of the surfaces is vertically displaced to adjust the distance between the substrates.

According to the present invention, a liquid crystal panel can be manufactured by sealing a liquid crystal, a sealing material, and a spacer between two substrates while keeping the surface of the substrate horizontal.

Further, in the present invention, the pressing mechanism presses the entire inner side of the peripheral portion of the substrate.

According to the present invention, the substrate can be uniformly pressurized and adjusted to a desired interval without damaging the substrate.

Further, in the present invention, the canceling mechanism further includes a rolling mechanism movable in a direction orthogonal to a direction of the force for canceling the load by utilizing rolling friction.

According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the resistance when performing alignment on a plane parallel to the surface of the substrate, and to achieve highly accurate alignment.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that it further comprises an irradiation mechanism for irradiating ultraviolet rays to a predetermined position near the sealing material between the two substrates.

According to the present invention, the temporary fixing in the vicinity of the sealing material can be performed by irradiating ultraviolet rays.

Further, according to the present invention, a liquid crystal layer is interposed between two substrates, the periphery thereof is sealed with a sealing material, and the distance between the substrates is kept constant by spacers dispersed in the liquid crystal layer. An assembling apparatus for a liquid crystal substrate to be assembled as a liquid crystal display panel, having two surfaces facing each other, holding two substrates on each surface, and forming a space between the substrates and a plane parallel to the surface. A holding mechanism that can be displaced to adjust the relative position,
A sealed mechanism that hermetically covers the periphery of the two substrates between two opposing surfaces of the holding mechanism and allows displacement of the holding mechanism, and a vacuum that is evacuated to a space covered by the sealing mechanism to reduce the pressure. A vacuum forming mechanism for forming a state, and a force for canceling a load applied between two surfaces of the holding mechanism when a vacuum state is formed in a space covered by the sealing mechanism by the vacuum forming mechanism, between the two surfaces. In the space covered by the canceling mechanism to be actuated and the sealing mechanism, the vacuum state is separated from at least one of the two surfaces of the holding mechanism and the substrate held by the surface. And a pressurizing mechanism for applying a fluid pressure to pressurize the liquid crystal. The liquid crystal and the spacer are sandwiched between two substrates, sealed with a sealant, and the two Assemble the board At this time, the two substrates are covered with a sealing mechanism, the relative position in a plane parallel to the surface is adjusted while the surroundings of the two substrates are evacuated by the vacuum forming mechanism, and the two substrates are bonded together. And adjusting the distance between the substrates by applying pressure.

According to the present invention, the liquid crystal display panel can be assembled by enclosing the two substrates with a sealing material and maintaining the space between the substrates with a spacer.

Still further, according to the present invention, the liquid crystal and the spacer are separated from each other by using a liquid crystal substrate assembling apparatus having an irradiation mechanism for irradiating ultraviolet rays to a predetermined position near the sealing material between the two substrates. When sandwiching between two substrates and sealing with a sealing material, when assembling the two substrates, an ultraviolet-curing temporary fixing material is placed in advance at a position near the sealing material where ultraviolet light is irradiated from the irradiation mechanism. In advance, the two substrates are covered by a sealing mechanism, the relative position in a plane parallel to the surface is adjusted while the surroundings of the two substrates are evacuated by the vacuum forming mechanism, and the two substrates are bonded together. And adjusting the distance between the substrates, and then irradiating ultraviolet rays from an irradiation mechanism to cure the temporary fixing material.

According to the present invention, when assembling the liquid crystal display panel by sealing the liquid crystal and the spacer with the sealing material between the two substrates, the temporary fixing is performed by irradiating ultraviolet rays, and the complete curing of the sealing material is performed later. Can be done from.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that each of the liquid crystal, the spacer and the sealant is arranged on at least one surface of two substrates.

According to the present invention, a liquid crystal, a spacer, and a sealing material are respectively provided on at least one surface of the two substrates, and before the bonding, at least one surface of the two substrates is provided. Since the two substrates are arranged and pressed together, a liquid crystal display panel in which a liquid crystal, a spacer, and a sealing material are sealed can be easily manufactured.

[0025]

FIG. 1 shows the structure of a main part of a liquid crystal substrate assembling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This liquid crystal substrate assembling apparatus assembles two glass substrates 1 and 2 in a horizontal position so as to face each other. Glass substrates 1, 2
One is a TFT active matrix substrate, and the other is a color filter substrate. One glass substrate 1 is held on the lower surface of the upper platen 3. Upper surface plate 3
Is fixed by an upper surface plate fixing plate 4, and a packing pad 5 is arranged around the upper surface plate 3. The other glass substrate 2 of the two glass substrates 1 and 2 is held on the upper surface of the lower platen 6. The lower surface plate 6 is fixed by a lower surface plate fixing plate 7. Around the outer edge of the lower platen fixing plate 7, lower quench plates 8 are fixed at several locations at substantially equal intervals. Upper hardened plate 9, ball unit 10, cylinder 11
Each of the cylinder rods 12 forms one unit. The tips of the cylinder rods 12 of the plurality of units can push the pressing plate 13 upward. The pressing plate 13 has a packing 14 for vacuum forming.
The area around is adhered and fixed. In FIG. 1,
Although the cylinder rod 12 and the cylinder 11 are arranged in this order from the top, they can be arranged upside down.

The vacuum forming packing 14 has one end extending horizontally fixed to the pressing plate 13, and the other end extending vertically downward fixed to the entire periphery of the side surface of the lower platen 6 via the pressing plate 15. Is done. The vacuum forming packing 14 is formed of, for example, a seamless rubber material, and an intermediate portion of a portion fixed to the pressing plate 13 and the pressing plate 15 is bent in a bellows shape, and is deformed in a horizontal direction from a substantially vertical direction. are doing.

The upper stool 3, the upper stool fixing plate 4, and the packing pad 5 constitute an upper stool portion a. Lower platen 6, Lower platen fixing plate 7, Lower hardened plate 8, Upper hardened plate 9, Ball unit 10, Cylinder 11, Cylinder rod 12, Pressing plate 1
3. The vacuum forming packing 14 and the holding plate 15 constitute a lower surface plate portion b. The lower platen b is an XYθ stage 16
Installed on top. The XYθ stage 16 can be displaced in the X direction and the Y direction parallel to the surfaces of the glass substrates 1 and 2, and can also be displaced about the θ axis perpendicular to the plane.

The packing pad 5 of the upper stool part a is held together with the upper stool 3 on the lower surface of the upper stool fixing plate 4 so as to be in close contact with the side surface of the upper stool 3 via the O-ring 17. . When the cylinder rods 12 installed at several places on the outer edge of the lower platen fixing plate 7 extend upward, the vacuum forming packing 1
4 is pressed against the packing pad 5, and the vacuum forming packing 14 can seal the periphery of the glass substrates 1 and 2.

A fluid pressurizing packing 18 is arranged between the upper platen 3 and the outer edge of the upper glass substrate 1 in a space closed by the vacuum forming packing 14. An outer peripheral portion of the fluid pressurizing packing 18 is mounted on a packing mounting plate 19, and when the rod 20 is operated, a sealed space is formed between the glass substrate 1 and the upper surface plate 3 by the fluid pressurizing packing 18. be able to.

The upper substrate 3 and the lower substrate 6 have glass substrates 1 and
A vacuum chuck (not shown) and an upper electrostatic chuck 21 and a lower electrostatic chuck 22 are provided to attract the second chuck 2. The upper electrostatic chuck 21 and the lower electrostatic chuck 22 suck the glass substrates 1 and 2 with an electrostatic suction force. On the surface of the glass substrate 2 which is attracted to the surface of the lower surface plate 6 by the lower electrostatic chuck 22, a sealing material 23 is applied near the outer edge. The sealing material 23 is of an ultraviolet curing type or a thermosetting type. In the vicinity of the sealing material 23, an ultraviolet curing type temporary fixing material is also applied. Liquid crystal can be applied to the surface of the upper glass substrate 1. A pressure hole 24 is provided between the upper surface of the upper glass substrate 1 and the lower surface of the upper platen 3, and a valve 25 is provided in the pressure hole 24. On the surface of the lower glass substrate 2, together with the sealing material 23,
Spacers 26 are dispersed and scattered. A pressure pipe 27 is connected to the valve 25 of the pressure hole 24. Valve 2
When the fluid pressure is introduced from the pressurizing pipe 27 by opening 5, the glass substrate 1 can be pressed downward in the space inside the fluid pressurizing packing 18.

A vacuum suction hole 28 is formed on the surface of the lower platen 6 inside the packing 14 for vacuum formation. A vacuum pipe 29 is connected to the vacuum suction hole 28, and a space sealed by the vacuum forming packing 14 is arranged, and the pressure can be reduced to a vacuum state.

FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of the liquid crystal substrate assembling apparatus of the present embodiment. The upper platen fixing plate 4 is attached to the mounting plate 30.
And is fixed to the lower end of the ball screw 31 via. The ball screw 31 penetrates the top plate 32, and the upper end is a guide plate 33.
It is fixed to. At a portion between the upper end and the lower end of the ball screw 31, a driven pulley 35 including a nut 34 is attached so as to be rotatable in a horizontal plane. The driven pulley 35 is connected to a drive pulley 38 fixed to a shaft 37 of a Z-axis drive motor 36 by a timing belt 39. The rotation of the Z-axis drive motor 36 is transmitted to the driven pulley 35 by the timing belt 39, the nut 34 rotates in the horizontal plane at the same height position, and the ball screw 31 and, consequently, the upper surface plate 3 are displaced vertically.

The guide plate 33, to which the upper end of the ball screw 31 is fixed, fixes the upper ends of the plurality of slide rods 40 at the peripheral edge. The lower end of the slide rod 40 is fixed to the upper platen fixing plate 4, and the axis is vertical. A slide bearing 41 is provided at a portion where the plurality of slide rods 40 pass through the top plate 32. With such a configuration, the ball screw 31 and, consequently, the upper surface plate 3 can be moved up and down while maintaining a highly accurate horizontal plane, and constitute a Z-axis drive system. The XYθ stage 16 can be displaced in the X-axis direction within a horizontal plane by an X-axis drive motor 42, and is a Y-axis drive motor and a θ-axis drive motor (not shown). It is configured to be able to move in the axial direction and angular displacement about the θ axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane.

The sealing material 23 applied on the glass substrate 2
Ultraviolet rays can be applied to the position of the temporary fixing member near the position (1) through the UV fiber 43. In addition, the glass substrates 1 and 2
The alignment mark used for positioning at the time of bonding can be seen with the lens 44 and the CCD camera 45. Alignment mark with lens 44 and CCD
The XYθ stage 16 can be displaced while looking at the camera 45 to position the two glass substrates 1 and 2 in a horizontal plane.

In the liquid crystal substrate assembling apparatus of the present embodiment, the XYθ stage 16 can be displaced on the lower base 46, and the top plate 32 is supported on the lower base 46 by the machine frame 47. Top plate 3
An upper platen part a that can be moved up and down by a ball screw 31 holds the glass substrate 1 on the lower surface of the upper platen 3 and adjusts the gap between the glass substrate 1 and the lower glass substrate 2. The periphery of the two glass substrates 1 and 2 can be sealed by covering them with a vacuum forming packing 14 which is a sealing mechanism. The lower surface plate 6 is also provided with a UV fiber 48 for irradiating the temporary fixing member with ultraviolet rays. In the vacuum space 49, the pressurized space 50 can be formed between the upper platen 3 and the upper glass substrate 1 by being separated by the fluid pressurizing packing 18.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the glass substrates 1 and 2 are held on the surfaces of the upper surface plate 3 and the lower surface plate 6 in the state shown in FIGS. A state in which a vacuum space 49 is formed around 1 and 2 is shown. By moving the Z-axis drive system, the distance h between the upper surface plate 3 and the lower surface plate 6 becomes approximately 2
When it reaches 00 μm, the Z-axis drive system is stopped. When all the cylinders 11 are operated in the direction in which the cylinder rod 12 extends, the vacuum forming packing 14 fixed to the tip of the cylinder rod 12 is pressed against the packing pad 5, and the vacuum space 49 shown by hatching for convenience of explanation. Is sealed. When a vacuum pump (not shown) is operated, the inside of the vacuum space 49 is evacuated through the vacuum suction holes 28 and the vacuum pipes 29, and a vacuum state is formed between the upper platen 3 and the lower platen 6. You. At this time, the upper glass substrate 1
And the lower glass substrate 2 are switched from holding by the vacuum chuck to holding by the upper electrostatic chuck 21 and the lower electrostatic chuck 22, and held on the upper surface plate 3 and the lower surface plate 6, respectively, even in a vacuum atmosphere. It is possible.

When the vacuum space 49 is in a vacuum state, a load of nearly 98,000 N (10 tons) may be applied to the ball screw 31 of the Z-axis drive system, depending on the horizontal sectional area of the vacuum space 49. In such a state, it is extremely difficult to make the accuracy of the displacement required in the Z-axis direction about 1-2 μm. In the present embodiment, as the degree of vacuum in the vacuum space 49 increases, the operating pressures of all the cylinders 11 arranged around the lower platen 6 increase, and the total pressing force of the entire cylinder 11 reduces the vacuum space 49. The operation is performed so as to be equal to the sum of the load generated by forming, for example, the load described above and the load due to the weight of the upper stool a.
As a result, the load on the ball screw 31 of the Z-axis drive system can be eliminated, and the displacement accuracy in the Z-axis direction can be reduced to the required 1 to
It can be increased to about 2 μm. By employing such a mechanism, it is not necessary to increase the size of the entire apparatus.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the Z-axis drive system is operated and the upper stool 3 is further lowered from the state shown in FIG.
The distance between the two glass substrates 1 and 2 to be bonded is lowered until the sealing material 23 is crushed, that is, approximately 10 to 20 μm. The amount of this drop can be managed by incorporating a load cell (not shown) or the like into the lower stool part b and measuring the measured value. In this case, in the Z axis, although a minute movement accuracy is required, since the unit including the cylinder 11 and the like operates as the cancel mechanism as described above, the accuracy can be easily secured.

A lens 44 and a CCD camera 45
The XYθ stage 16 holding the lower platen part b is displaced in a horizontal plane while viewing the image captured by Horizontal alignment for aligning the first and second alignment marks is performed. The arrangement of the ball unit 10 between the lower quenching plate 8 and the upper quenching plate 9 is 98,000 N in the Z-axis direction when performing positioning.
This is because even if a nearby force is applied, the axial load for positioning is reduced as rolling friction. At the stage where the alignment is completed, ultraviolet rays are irradiated from the UV fiber 48.
This is because the first photocurable resin in the vicinity of the sealing material 23 applied in advance is cured and temporarily fixed. Thereafter, the suction by the upper electrostatic chuck 21 of the upper surface plate 3 is stopped, and the space between the upper surface plate 3 and the two glass substrates 1 and 2 bonded to each other is opened. After driving the Z-axis to raise the upper platen 3 by several hundred μm, the fluid pressurizing packing 18 is pressed against the bonded glass substrate 1 by operating the rod 20 connected to the packing mounting plate 19. Then, the valve 25 is opened to allow the fluid at atmospheric pressure or any pressure to flow into the pressurized space 50.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which the pressurized space 50 is formed as described above, and the inside of the pressurized space 50 has reached the atmospheric pressure or an arbitrary pressure. Due to the pressure difference between the pressure in the pressurized space 50 and the vacuum space 49, the sealing material 23 is crushed to a gap value of about 5 μm required for a liquid crystal display panel, and a uniform gap is formed. At that time, the portion to which the ultraviolet curable resin is applied in advance as the second temporary fixing member is temporarily cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays through the UV fiber 43. After such temporary fixing is completed, the lower platen 6 stops being attracted by the electrostatic chuck 22 and is taken out of the apparatus in a state where the two glass substrates 1 and 2 are assembled, and the whole is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. It is inserted into a UV curing furnace or the like to be cured, and the sealing material 23 is fully cured to complete a liquid crystal display panel.

The pre-curing resin for pre-curing by the UV fibers 48 and 43 is placed in the vicinity of the sealing material 23 applied between the upper glass substrate 1 and the lower glass substrate 2 to be bonded to the outer peripheral end side. Are applied in a plurality of spots. Depending on the position and quantity, UV fiber 4
3,48 are arranged. In addition, upper surface plate 3 and lower surface plate 6
In order to form a vacuum between them and to apply atmospheric pressure or an arbitrary pressure as in the pressurized space 50, packing and switching means such as a valve are provided at necessary places.

The lower platen 6 may be entirely translucent, or a through hole may be formed at the tip of the lens 44. Further, the liquid crystal is not only applied to the surface of the upper glass substrate 1 in advance, but also
It is also possible to suck in between the glass substrates 1 and 2 in the state in which 9 is formed. Note that another substrate may be used instead of the glass substrates 1 and 2, or the upper platen 3 and the lower platen 6 may be opened and closed in other directions instead of in the vertical direction.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, two substrates are bonded and pressed with one apparatus, and the liquid crystal and the spacer are sealed between the substrates, and the periphery is sealed with a sealing material. It can be assembled up to a state where it is airtightly covered.

According to the present invention, two substrates can be assembled in a horizontal posture.

According to the present invention, when two substrates are pressed, they can be pressed uniformly without applying excessive force.

According to the present invention, the relative position between the two substrates can be easily changed, and accurate positioning can be performed.

Further, according to the present invention, after assembly is completed in a state where liquid crystal is sealed between the substrates and the periphery is sealed with a sealing material, ultraviolet rays can be irradiated to temporarily stop the assembly. The assembled sealing material can be cured by a device other than the assembly device.

Further, according to the present invention, a liquid crystal display panel in which a liquid crystal, a sealing material and a spacer are sealed between two substrates can be assembled by one apparatus.

Further, according to the present invention, after sealing the liquid crystal, the sealing material and the spacer between the two substrates, it is possible to temporarily fix the vicinity of the sealing material by irradiating ultraviolet rays.

Further, according to the present invention, the liquid crystal, the sealing material and the spacer are arranged on at least one of the two substrates, respectively. The panel can be easily formed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial front sectional view showing a configuration of a main part of a liquid crystal substrate assembling apparatus as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing an overall configuration of the liquid crystal substrate assembling apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial front sectional view showing a state where a vacuum space is formed in the liquid crystal substrate assembling apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial front sectional view showing a state in which two glass substrates are bonded together using the liquid crystal substrate assembling apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial front sectional view showing a state where pressure is applied to form a predetermined gap between two glass substrates using the liquid crystal substrate assembling apparatus of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 glass substrate 3 upper surface plate 4 upper surface plate fixing plate 5 packing pad 6 lower surface plate 7 lower surface plate fixing plate 8 lower quenching plate 9 upper quenching plate 10 ball unit 11 cylinder 12 cylinder rod 13 pressing plate 14 vacuum forming Packing 15 Holding plate 16 XYθ stage 17 O-ring 18 Packing for fluid pressurization 19 Packing mounting plate 20 Rod 21 Upper electrostatic chuck 22 Lower electrostatic chuck 23 Sealing material 24 Pressurizing hole 25 Valve 26 Spacer 27 Pressurizing pipe 28 Vacuum suction hole 29 Vacuum piping 30 Mounting plate 31 Ball screw 34 Nut 35 Driven pulley 36 Z-axis drive motor 37 Shaft 38 Drive pulley 39 Timing belt 40 Slide rod 41 Slide bearing 42 X-axis drive motor 43, 48 UV fiber 44 Lens 45 CCD camera 6 Shimodai between 47 machine frame 49 vacuum space 50 pressurized

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A liquid crystal display panel wherein a liquid crystal layer is interposed between two substrates, the periphery thereof is sealed with a sealant, and the distance between the substrates is kept constant by spacers dispersed in the liquid crystal layer. An apparatus for assembling a liquid crystal substrate, comprising two opposing surfaces, holding two substrates on each surface, and determining the distance between the substrates and the relative position in a plane parallel to the surface. A holding mechanism capable of displacing the holding mechanism, a sealing mechanism that hermetically covers the periphery of the two substrates between two opposing surfaces of the holding mechanism, and allows the holding mechanism to be displaced, and is covered by the sealing mechanism. A vacuum forming mechanism for evacuating the space to form a reduced-pressure vacuum state; and a load applied between the two surfaces of the holding mechanism when the vacuum forming mechanism forms a vacuum state in the space covered by the sealing mechanism. Of the two tables A canceling mechanism acting between, and in a space covered by the sealing mechanism, a space between at least one of the two surfaces of the holding mechanism and the substrate held by the surface separated from the vacuum state And a pressurizing mechanism for applying a fluid pressure to pressurize the liquid crystal substrate. 2. The holding mechanism holds the two substrates in a state where the surfaces of the two substrates are horizontal, and at least one surface of the two surfaces of the holding mechanism is displaced in a vertical direction to allow a space between the substrates. 2. The liquid crystal substrate assembling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distance is adjusted. 3. The pressure mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the pressure mechanism presses the entire inner side of the periphery of the substrate.
The liquid crystal substrate assembling apparatus according to the above. 4. The rolling mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the canceling mechanism further includes a rolling mechanism movable in a direction orthogonal to a direction of the force for canceling the load by utilizing rolling friction. 3. The liquid crystal substrate assembling apparatus according to 1. 5. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, further comprising an irradiation mechanism for irradiating ultraviolet rays to a predetermined position near the sealing material between the two substrates. Board assembly equipment. 6. A liquid crystal substrate assembling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal and the spacer are sandwiched between two substrates and sealed with a sealing material. When assembling, the two substrates are bonded together by covering them with a sealing mechanism and adjusting the relative position in a plane parallel to the surface while vacuuming the surroundings of the two substrates with a vacuum forming mechanism. A method for assembling a substrate for a liquid crystal, comprising: adjusting a distance between substrates by applying pressure by a pressure mechanism. 7. A liquid crystal substrate assembling apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the liquid crystal and the spacer are sandwiched between two substrates and sealed with a sealing material to assemble the two substrates. A UV curable temporary fixing material is placed in advance at a position where the UV light is irradiated from the irradiation mechanism in the vicinity of, covered with a sealing mechanism, and a vacuum is formed around the two substrates by a vacuum forming mechanism. Adjusting the relative position in a plane parallel to the surface, bonding the two substrates together, applying pressure with a pressure mechanism, adjusting the distance between the substrates, and then irradiating ultraviolet rays from the irradiation mechanism to temporarily fix the substrates. A method for assembling a liquid crystal substrate, comprising curing a material. 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein each of the liquid crystal, the spacer, and the sealant is disposed on at least one surface of the two substrates before the bonding. Or a liquid crystal substrate assembling method according to 7.