JP2006030543A - Method and apparatus for bonding liquid crystal panel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make bonding of a liquid crystal panel feasible irrespective of whether a color filter substrate side face or a TFT substrate side face is arranged so as to be directed to a light irradiation part. <P>SOLUTION: In the case of light irradiation from the color filter substrate side, the liquid crystal panel is supported with pins 5, the pins 5 are transferred with a pin transfer mechanism 7, and a space between a surface of a work stage 2, being a light reflection surface, and the liquid crystal panel 8 is set to be a value at which a sealing material below a BM (black matrix) is irradiated with light reflected on the light reflection surface. Then, the liquid crystal panel 8 is irradiated with light from the light emitting part 1 and the light reflected on the light reflection surface hardens the sealing material below the black matrix of the liquid crystal panel. Also, in the case of light irradiation from the TFT substrate side, a mask is placed on a mask stage 3, a space between the mask and the liquid crystal panel 8 is set to be a value making both not be in contact with each other, and light diffraction to a light shielding part is scarce by the work stage transfer mechanism 2, and the liquid crystal panel 8 is irradiated with light from the light emitting part 1 via the mask. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid crystal panel bonding method and apparatus for bonding a color filter substrate and a TFT substrate with a photo-curing type sealing agent in an assembly process of the liquid crystal panel.

The liquid crystal screen includes a liquid crystal panel, a driver that controls the liquid crystal panel, a backlight that illuminates the liquid crystal panel from the back surface, and the like. The liquid crystal panel encloses liquid crystal and controls the voltage applied to the liquid crystal panel to transmit or block light from the backlight to display a screen.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the above-described liquid crystal panel (color liquid crystal panel). 101 is a color filter substrate, 102 is a TFT substrate, 103 is a color filter, 104 is a black matrix, 106 is an alignment film, 107 is a liquid crystal, 108 is a TFT element (thin film transistor), and 109 is a sealant (adhesive). In the figure, the vertical direction is extremely enlarged compared to the horizontal direction for easy understanding.
Usually, the liquid crystal panel is composed of two light-transmitting substrates (hereinafter described as a glass substrate, which may be a transparent resin substrate) composed of a color filter substrate 101 and a TFT substrate 102. On the color filter substrate 101, a light shielding film 104 (hereinafter abbreviated as BM) called a black matrix, a color filter 103, an alignment film 106, a transparent electrode 105, and the like are formed.
On the TFT substrate 102, driving elements for driving the liquid crystal, for example, TFT elements 108, liquid crystal driving electrodes 105 formed of a transparent conductive film, and wirings connecting them are formed.
In the liquid crystal panel, the image viewing side (front side) is the color filter substrate 101, and the opposite side (back side) is the TFT substrate 102.
The BM 104 is formed of, for example, a chromium vapor deposition film or a black resin, and light from the backlight leaks from a portion not related to image display (a portion other than the liquid crystal), for example, a TFT element 108 or a wiring portion. It plays the role of blindfold so as not to disturb the image.

In the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal panel as described above, a manufacturing method called a drop construction method (referred to as ODF for short) has been adopted. The dropping method is described in Patent Document 1, for example.
Hereinafter, the dropping method will be briefly described.
(1) Two glass substrates are formed separately. That is, a TFT element and a liquid crystal drive electrode are formed on one substrate, and a BM and a color filter are formed on the other substrate.
(2) On one glass substrate, a plurality of enclosures (hereinafter referred to as contours, which are so-called liquid crystal screens) are formed using a photo-curing adhesive (hereinafter also referred to as a sealing agent). .
(3) The liquid crystal is dropped into the above-mentioned outline and accumulates in it. The width of the sealing agent is about 1 to 1.5 mm.
(4) The other glass substrate is placed thereon, and the sealing agent is irradiated with light through the glass substrate. At present, an ultraviolet curable sealant having a sensitivity mainly in the range of 300 nm to 400 nm is generally used as a photocurable resin.
(5) As a light source, a bar-shaped high-pressure mercury lamp or metal halide lamp that radiates ultraviolet rays in the range of 300 nm to 400 nm corresponding to the sensitivity of the ultraviolet curable sealant and is easy to cope with the increase in the size of the panel substrate. use. The bar lamps having the light emission length corresponding to the width of the panel substrate are arranged side by side by the number corresponding to the length of the panel substrate. Then, the entire panel substrate is irradiated in a lump.
(6) The sealing agent is cured by the light from the light source, and the two substrates are bonded (bonded). The sealing agent serves as both sealing of the liquid crystal and adhesion of the two substrates. At this time, for example, spherical fine particles called spacers are sprayed between the two glass substrates to ensure a space for sandwiching the liquid crystal.
(7) After bonding, the substrate is divided (cut) for each outline and incorporated into a personal computer or television as a display screen.

FIG. 4 shows the bonded liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel 8 formed by sandwiching a sealing agent between two glass substrates has a plurality of (four faces in this figure) contours. Then, a sealing agent is applied so as to surround each contour, and the BM 104 is formed so as to cover the sealing agent. In the figure, only the BM 104 formed on the sealant is shown to avoid complication.
As described above, the light irradiation for curing the sealant is performed through the glass substrate, but whether it is performed from the color filter side or the TFT substrate side has advantages and disadvantages, and is selected according to the conditions of the manufacturing process. The
At present, an ultraviolet curable sealant is used, and therefore light including ultraviolet rays is emitted from the light source. However, there are cases where the liquid crystal undergoes alteration or changes in properties due to irradiation with ultraviolet rays (hereinafter referred to as liquid crystal damage).
Therefore, if the liquid crystal sandwiched between the two glass substrates is irradiated with strong ultraviolet light for curing the sealant, the product may be defective.

When light irradiation is performed from the color filter substrate side, the color filter has an ultraviolet transmittance of about 2%, and therefore functions as a mask for preventing the liquid crystal from being irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately prepare a special mask for shielding the liquid crystal portion, and actually, light irradiation is often performed without the light shielding mask.
However, as shown in FIG. 5, the sealing agent has a width of about 500 μm to 1 mm and is provided to partially overlap with the BM 104 formed on the color filter substrate 101, and overlaps with the BM 104 from the color filter substrate 101 side. The portion of the sealant 109 that is not exposed to light remains a portion that cannot be cured. In such a case, the bonding strength is insufficient, and at the same time, the uncured sealant melts into the liquid crystal in contact with the liquid crystal, causing deterioration of the liquid crystal and changes in characteristics, which may cause product defects.
Therefore, in the case where the liquid crystal panel is bonded by irradiating light from the color filter substrate 101 side on which the BM 104 is formed in this way, it is necessary to devise a method for curing the sealant in the portion overlapping the BM 104.
As prior arts for solving this problem, for example, those described in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 are known. In these patent documents, it is proposed that a light reflecting member is disposed at a position facing a light irradiation unit across a panel to be bonded, and reflected light from the light reflecting member is used.
On the other hand, when light irradiation is performed from the TFT substrate 102 side, since there is no light shielding portion such as the BM 104 or the color filter 103 on the TFT substrate 102 side, light is applied to the sealant at the portion overlapping the BM 104 to be cured. I can. However, since the liquid crystal is also irradiated with light containing ultraviolet rays, it is necessary to irradiate it through a light shielding means (mask) in which a light shielding portion corresponding to the liquid crystal portion is formed.
JP-A-9-73096 Japanese Patent No. 28828403 JP 2003-207790 A

As a liquid crystal panel laminating device, the color filter substrate side is arranged facing the light irradiating part in order to ensure the freedom of the manufacturing process, and even if light containing ultraviolet rays is irradiated, An apparatus that can cure the sealant, or can be placed without facing the UV effect on the liquid crystal by irradiating the light through the mask with the TFT substrate side facing the light irradiation part. Is desired.
However, in order to do so, it is necessary for the apparatus to have the functions described below. At present, there is no laminating apparatus having such functions.
(1) When the liquid crystal panel is bonded by irradiating light from the color filter substrate side on which the BM is formed.
As described above, it is necessary to devise a method for curing the sealant in the portion overlapping with the BM. In order to solve this problem, in Patent Document 2, light transmitted through a substrate to be bonded is reflected by a light reflecting member disposed at a position facing the light irradiation unit with the panel interposed therebetween, and the reflected light is transmitted from the light shielding unit. By irradiating the sealing agent from the opposite side, the portion of the sealing agent overlapping with the BM is cured.
Moreover, in patent document 3, the light irradiation part is inclined and light is incident on the liquid crystal panel obliquely, and the sealant in a part that becomes a shadow of the light shielding part is cured. Furthermore, the reflected light from the light reflection member arrange | positioned in the position which opposes a light irradiation part on both sides of a panel is also utilized.

As described in Patent Documents 2 and 3, if the reflected light from the light reflecting member arranged at the position facing the light irradiating portion is sandwiched between the panels to be bonded, the sealing agent under the BM Can be cured. However, there are the following problems.
As shown in FIG. 6, when the light reflected by the light reflecting member is applied to the sealing agent under the BM 104, if the distance between the light reflecting surface and the liquid crystal panel 8 is narrow, the reflected light is closer to the liquid crystal. It does not reach the sealant (in the case of Fig. A). On the other hand, when the interval is wide, the reflected light passes through the sealing agent having a width of 1 to 1.5 mm, and the liquid crystal portion is irradiated with light (in the case of FIG. 5B).
Therefore, it is necessary to hold the liquid crystal panel 8 in a range of an appropriate interval with respect to the light reflecting member so that the reflected light from the light reflecting member is appropriately irradiated to the sealing agent. Therefore, a light reflecting member and an interval setting means for setting an interval between the light reflecting member and the liquid crystal panel 8 are required.

(2) When the liquid crystal panel is bonded by irradiating light from the TFT substrate side.
In this case, as described above, it is necessary to irradiate the liquid crystal portion through light shielding means (mask) provided with a light shielding portion so that light including ultraviolet rays is not irradiated. The light-shielding means may be a mask in which a light-shielding portion is formed at a location corresponding to the liquid crystal portion and an opening is formed at a location corresponding to the portion where the sealant is applied or formed. Since it is difficult to pass ultraviolet rays, it is possible to use a color filter. Hereinafter, such light shielding means is collectively referred to as a mask.
Here, as described above, a rod-shaped lamp that emits light including ultraviolet rays is used as the light source of the light irradiation unit. The light from the rod-shaped lamp is divergent light, and there are many components incident obliquely. Therefore, if the distance between the mask and the liquid crystal panel is wide, light that is obliquely incident from the opening of the mask goes under the light shielding portion, and the liquid crystal is irradiated with ultraviolet rays contained in the light.
In order to prevent this, the distance between the mask and the liquid crystal panel may be narrowed, and empirically, it is brought close to about 500 μm.
However, in recent years, glass substrates for liquid crystal panels have become increasingly larger, and many of them have a side of 1 m or more. When it becomes large in this way, deflection due to its own weight occurs, and therefore, unless it is held by a support (work stage) such as a stage with good flatness, the gap between the mask and the liquid crystal panel cannot be kept as narrow as 500 μm.
When deflection occurs in the liquid crystal panel, the gap between the mask and the liquid crystal panel is not constant, and in places where the gap is wide, UV light wraps around the liquid crystal part and adversely affects it. Panels may come into contact with each other and scratch them.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal with respect to a light reflecting surface provided on the side opposite to the light irradiating portion when light is irradiated from the color filter side. The panel can be set and held at a desired interval, and when irradiating light from the TFT substrate side, a light shielding mask can be used to hold the liquid crystal panel on a flat surface, and the mask and the liquid crystal panel can be set and held at a desired interval. By doing so, it is possible to arrange the color filter substrate side facing the light irradiating unit and irradiate light including ultraviolet rays by using a single liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus, or to turn the TFT substrate side toward the light irradiating unit. Even if it is arranged and irradiated with light, the liquid crystal sandwiched between the two substrates is not irradiated with ultraviolet rays, but the photocurable adhesive is cured so that the liquid crystal panel can be bonded.

The present invention solves the above problems as follows.
Liquid crystal panel laminating device, light irradiation part, mask stage for holding light shielding means (mask), work stage for which the surface is a light reflecting surface and holding the liquid crystal panel with good flatness, work stage in the direction of light irradiation part A work stage moving mechanism for moving in the (Z direction), a supporting means for supporting the liquid crystal panel, and moving the supporting means independently of the work stage to move the liquid crystal panel in the direction of the light irradiation unit (Z direction). A support means moving mechanism and a positioning mechanism for controlling the support means moving mechanism to position the liquid crystal panel at a set position other than the liquid crystal panel delivery position and the work stage placement position are configured.
The support means includes, for example, a plurality of pins that support the liquid crystal panel at a plurality of locations, and the support means moving mechanism moves the plurality of pins.
When the liquid crystal panel is carried into the liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus, the liquid crystal panel is transferred from the transfer device to the support means at the liquid crystal panel transfer position, and the liquid crystal panel after the bonding process is transferred. It is transferred from the support means to the transport device at the position and carried out of the liquid crystal panel bonding device. Further, when the support means is at the work stage placement position, the liquid crystal panel is held in a planar shape on the work stage.
The liquid crystal panel is bonded by irradiating the liquid crystal panel with light by the bonding apparatus according to the present invention as follows.
(1) When irradiating light from the color filter substrate side.
(a) The liquid crystal panel is supported by the support means so that the color filter substrate side faces the light irradiation unit. In this case, no light shielding means (mask) is used.
(b) The support means is moved vertically by the support means moving mechanism, and the reflected light from the work stage is irradiated to the sealing agent under the BM at the interval between the work stage surface, which is a light reflecting surface, and the liquid crystal panel. Set to value. This value is obtained in advance by experiments.
(c) After setting the interval, the liquid crystal panel is irradiated with light from the light irradiation unit.
(2) When irradiating light from the TFT substrate side.
(a) Place the light shielding means (mask) on the mask stage.
(b) The liquid crystal panel is placed on the work stage so that the TFT substrate side faces the light irradiation unit. By the work stage moving mechanism, the interval between the light shielding means and the liquid crystal panel is set to a value such that the two do not come into contact with each other and the light wraps around the light shielding portion. This value is obtained in advance by experiments.
(c) After the interval is set, the liquid crystal panel is irradiated with light from the light irradiation unit through the light shielding means.

In the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When irradiating light from the color filter side when bonding the liquid crystal panels, the work stage is held by holding the liquid crystal panel on the support means (pins) and setting the distance from the light reflecting surface of the work stage. The light-curing sealant under the BM can be cured with the reflected light from the light reflecting surface.
In addition, when irradiating light from the TFT substrate side, by placing a liquid crystal panel on the work stage and setting the distance from the light shielding means, it is possible to irradiate only the sealant, which has an adverse effect on the liquid crystal. Never give.
(2) A light stage, a mask stage for holding a light shielding means (mask), a work stage whose surface is a light reflecting surface and holding a liquid crystal panel with good flatness, and the work stage in the direction of the light irradiation part (Z direction) In a liquid crystal panel laminating apparatus provided with a moving work stage moving mechanism, a supporting means for supporting the liquid crystal panel and the supporting means are moved independently of the work stage, and the liquid crystal panel is moved in the direction of the light irradiation unit ( A supporting means moving mechanism that moves in the Z direction), and a positioning mechanism that controls the supporting means moving mechanism to position the liquid crystal panel at a set position between the liquid crystal panel delivery position and the work stage placement position. By structuring, when irradiating light from the color filter side, the distance between the liquid crystal panel and the light reflecting surface of the work stage by the support means Can be set to a desired value, it is possible to cure the sealing agent photocurable under BM reflected light from the light reflecting surface of the workpiece.
In addition, when irradiating light from the TFT substrate side, the light shielding means is placed on the mask stage, the liquid crystal panel is placed on the work stage, and the distance between the liquid crystal panel and the light shielding means is set. It is possible to irradiate only the sealing agent without adversely affecting the sealant.
In other words, even if the color filter substrate side is disposed toward the light irradiation unit or the TFT substrate side is disposed toward the light irradiation unit by a single liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus, The adhesive can be cured to bond the liquid crystal panels.

In FIG. 1, the schematic block diagram of the bonding apparatus of the liquid crystal panel of the Example of this invention is shown. This figure is a cross-sectional view in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped lamp, and shows a case where light is irradiated from the color filter substrate side as will be described later.
In FIG. 1, the light irradiation part 1 is comprised from the several lamp 1a which radiates | emits the light containing an ultraviolet-ray, and the mirror 1b which reflects the light from the lamp | ramp 1a to the work stage 2 side. In this embodiment, the lamp 1a uses a rod-shaped high-pressure mercury lamp or a metal halide lamp. The number of rod-shaped lamps 1a corresponding to the length of the workpiece 8 is such that the rod-shaped lamp 1a has a length corresponding to the width of the liquid crystal panel 8 (hereinafter also referred to as a workpiece) so that the entire surface of the liquid crystal panel can be collectively irradiated. Just line up.
A mask stage 3 that holds a mask that is a light shielding unit is provided on the light emitting side of the light irradiation unit 1 and holds a mask on which a light shielding unit is formed so that an undesired portion of the liquid crystal panel 8 is not irradiated with ultraviolet rays. In FIG. 1, no mask is attached to the mask stage 3. Further, a vacuum suction mechanism for holding the mask is also omitted.

The work stage 2 is made of aluminum whose surface is brightly finished by electrolytic polishing or chemical polishing or white anodized so that ultraviolet rays contained in light are efficiently reflected. In the case of white alumite treatment, the reflected light has many scattered light components.
In addition, the surface of the work stage 2 is finished with high planar accuracy so that the flatness can be maintained when the liquid crystal panel 8 is placed. Further, the work stage 2 is provided with through holes 2a through which pins 5 serving as support means, which will be described later, penetrate according to the number of pins 5. Further, a vacuum suction hole 2b or a vacuum suction groove is also provided to hold and fix the placed liquid crystal panel 8.
A work stage moving mechanism 4 is attached to the work stage 2. The work stage moving mechanism 4 is based on a signal from a work stage control unit 10a provided in the apparatus control unit 10 in a direction in which the entire work stage 2 approaches or separates from the light irradiation unit 1 (Z direction, FIG. 1). In the vertical direction).
The work stage moving mechanism 4 is, for example, a combination of a stepping motor and a ball screw, and can be stopped at an arbitrary position and fixed at that position based on a signal from the work stage control unit 10a.

Apart from the work stage 2, support means for supporting the liquid crystal panel 8 is provided. The support means are rod-like pins 5 that penetrate the work stage 2 and are arranged at a plurality of positions so that the liquid crystal panel 8 can be supported in a well-balanced manner. Further, in order to hold and fix the supported liquid crystal panel 8, a vacuum suction hole 5 a is also provided at the tip of each pin 5.
The plurality of pins 5 are all fixed to one pedestal 6, and a pin moving mechanism 7, which is a supporting means moving mechanism, is attached to the pedestal 6. The pin moving mechanism 7 moves the pedestal 6 based on a signal from the pin control unit 10 b provided in the device control unit 10 to simultaneously approach or separate the plurality of pins 5 from the light irradiation unit 1. Move in the direction (Z direction). The pin 5 moves in the Z direction via the through hole of the work stage.
The pin moving mechanism 7 uses a servo motor capable of position control, for example, and can control the height of the pin 5 from the surface of the work stage 2 by a signal from the pin control unit 10b. Thereby, the space | interval of the liquid crystal panel 8 hold | maintained at the pin 5 and the light reflection surface of the work stage 2 can be set to the preset value.
Normally, the liquid crystal panel is transferred from a transport device (not shown) to the pin 5 or from the pin 5 to the transport device at a position where the pin 5 is raised to the highest point by the pin moving mechanism 7. Therefore, this position is called a delivery position. On the other hand, when the pin 5 is lowered to the lowest point, the liquid crystal panel is placed on the work stage 2 from the pin 5, and this position is called a work stage placement position.
When the pin 5 is lowered to the lowest point, it is essential that the upper end of the pin 5 can be lowered to a position where it does not protrude from the surface of the work stage 2.
The work stage moving mechanism 4 and the pin moving mechanism 7 can be independently controlled by a work stage control unit 10 a and a pin control unit 10 b provided in the apparatus control unit 10. That is, the movement of the work stage in the Z direction and the movement of the pin in the Z direction can be controlled separately.

Next, the liquid crystal panel bonding process by the liquid crystal panel bonding apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
(1) When irradiating light from the color filter substrate side.
In FIG. 1, the liquid crystal is sealed in the outline (enclosure by the sealing agent) of the liquid crystal panel 8 to be bonded. As described above, the black matrix (BM) 104 is formed on the color filter substrate 101, and the sealant 109 is also applied under the black matrix (BM) 104. In the light irradiation unit 1, the lamp 1a is lit, but is shielded by a shutter (not shown).
(i) The liquid crystal panel 8 to be bonded is carried into the bonding apparatus by a transfer apparatus (not shown) with the color filter substrate 101 facing the light irradiation unit 1 side. The liquid crystal panel 8 is delivered from the transport device to the pins 5 rising to the delivery position.
(ii) A vacuum is supplied to the vacuum suction hole 5 a of the pin 5, and the liquid crystal panel 8 is sucked and held on the pin 5.

(iii) The pin 5 is moved in the Z direction by the pin moving mechanism 7 so that the distance from the surface of the work stage 2 to the lower surface of the liquid crystal panel 8 becomes a preset value.
As for the distance from the work stage 2 surface, which is a light reflecting surface, to the lower surface of the liquid crystal panel 8, an optimum position is obtained in advance by experiments. The optimum interval depends on the distance from the light irradiation unit 1 to the liquid crystal panel 8, the interval of the image, that is, the BM, and the like. As a result of experiments with several contour patterns, it was found that the distance between the lower surface of the liquid crystal panel 8 and the light reflecting surface of the work stage 2 is in the range of 2 mm to 8 mm (preferably about 4 mm). Note that the position where the liquid crystal panel 8 is irradiated with light is generally between the liquid crystal panel delivery position and the work stage placement position. Since the liquid crystal panel 8 is supported by the rod-shaped pins 5, the liquid crystal panel 8 may bend by about 1 mm depending on the location due to its own weight. However, the interval between the lower surface of the liquid crystal panel 8 and the light reflecting surface does not need to be set so strictly, and if it is in the range of about 1 mm, there is no problem and the sealing agent under the BM 104 can be irradiated with reflected light.
(iv) When the distance from the surface of the work stage 2 to the lower surface of the liquid crystal panel 8 reaches a set value, the shutter of the light irradiation unit 1 is opened at that position to irradiate light including ultraviolet rays. The sealing agent 109 protruding from the BM 104 is cured by direct light from the light irradiation unit 1, and the sealing agent 109 under the BM 104 passes through the liquid crystal panel 8 and the light reflected by the light reflecting surface of the work stage 2 is converted into the TFT. It is irradiated from the substrate side and cured.
Since the color filter is formed inside the outline and has a light shielding effect as described above, the ultraviolet light hardly reaches the liquid crystal under the color filter. Therefore, the liquid crystal is not adversely affected by ultraviolet rays.
(v) When a predetermined light irradiation time has elapsed, the shutter of the light irradiation unit 1 is closed. The pin 5 moves to the delivery position and releases the holding by vacuum suction. The liquid crystal panel 8 is transferred from the pin 5 to the transport device and carried out of the bonding device.

(2) When irradiating light from the TFT substrate side.
In FIG. 2, a mask 9 is set on the mask stage 3 on the light emitting side of the light irradiation unit 1. The mask 9 is formed with a light-shielding portion in order to prevent ultraviolet rays from being irradiated to an undesired portion of the liquid crystal panel, for example, a liquid crystal or a TFT circuit element in the outline. As described above, the mask 9 may be a diverted color filter.
Similarly to the above, the light irradiation unit 1 is light-shielded by a shutter (not shown) although the lamp is lit.
(i) The pin 5 in which the liquid crystal panel 8 to be bonded is carried into the bonding apparatus by the transfer device (not shown) with the TFT substrate 102 facing the light irradiation unit 1 side and is raised to the delivery position. Is passed on.
(ii) No vacuum is supplied to the pin 5, the pin 5 is lowered by the pin moving mechanism 7, and the liquid crystal panel is placed on the work stage 2. A vacuum is supplied to the vacuum suction hole 2 b or the vacuum suction groove of the work stage 2, and the liquid crystal panel 8 is sucked and held on the work stage 2.

(iii) The work stage 2 is moved up by the work stage moving mechanism 4 and moved so that the distance from the upper surface of the liquid crystal panel 8 to the lower surface of the mask 9 becomes a preset value.
Empirically, a suitable distance between the mask 9 and the liquid crystal panel 8 is about 500 μm. When approaching further, the mask 9 may bend, and both may come into contact with each other and possibly be damaged. Further, it is desirable that the variation in the interval be within ± 250 μm in the plane. When the variation becomes larger than that, the influence of light wrap around affects the prevention of ultraviolet light from entering the liquid crystal and the light irradiation accuracy to the sealant.
The reason why the liquid crystal panel 8 is lifted not by the pins 5 but by the work stage 2 is that the mask 9 and the liquid crystal panel 8 are brought close to a narrow distance such as 500 μm by being held by the work stage 2 having good plane accuracy. This is because the distance can be maintained uniformly and accurately over the entire panel, such as ± 250 μm.
When the liquid crystal panel 8 is supported using the pins 5, the deflection due to the weight of the liquid crystal panel 8 cannot be eliminated as described above, and a deflection of about 1 mm occurs depending on the location. Accordingly, the distance between the mask 9 and the liquid crystal panel 8 cannot be maintained uniformly and accurately throughout. In addition, it is difficult to bring the two close to each other so that they do not come into contact with each other at a narrow distance such as 500 μm.
(iv) When the distance between the lower surface of the mask 9 and the upper surface of the liquid crystal panel 8 reaches a set value, the shutter of the light irradiation unit 1 is opened at that position, and light including ultraviolet rays is irradiated through the mask 9. Only the sealing agent is irradiated with light and cured.
(v) When a predetermined light irradiation time has elapsed, the shutter of the light irradiation unit 1 is closed. The work stage 2 is lowered and the suction holding of the liquid crystal panel 8 is released. The pin 5 puts the liquid crystal panel 8 and rises to the delivery position. The liquid crystal panel 8 is transferred from the pin 5 to the transport device and carried out of the bonding device.

It is a figure which shows schematic (when light is irradiated from the color filter substrate side) which shows schematic structure of the bonding apparatus of the liquid crystal panel of the Example of this invention. It is a figure explaining the case where light is irradiated from the TFT substrate side in the apparatus of the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a liquid crystal panel (color liquid crystal panel). It is a figure which shows the bonded liquid crystal panel. It is a figure explaining the overlap of a sealing agent and a black matrix (BM). It is a figure which shows a mode that the light reflected by the light reflection member is irradiated to a sealing agent.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Light irradiation part 1a Lamp 1b Mirror 2 Work stage 2a Vacuum suction hole 3 Mask stage 4 Work stage moving mechanism 5 Pin (support means)
5a Vacuum suction hole 6 Base 7 Pin moving mechanism 8 Liquid crystal panel 9 Mask 10 Device control unit 10a Work stage control unit 10b Pin control unit

Claims (2)

A liquid crystal panel sandwiched between a color filter substrate and a TFT substrate by sandwiching a photocurable sealing agent and liquid crystal is irradiated with light from one substrate side to cure the photocurable sealing agent, In the bonding method of the liquid crystal panel, which bonds two substrates together,
A light irradiation unit, a work stage whose surface is a light reflecting surface and holding the liquid crystal panel in a planar shape, and a support means for supporting the liquid crystal panel moving independently of the work stage,
When irradiating light from the color filter substrate side of the liquid crystal panel, the liquid crystal panel is supported by the support means, and the light irradiation is performed with a predetermined distance from the light reflecting surface of the stage. Do,
When irradiating light from the TFT substrate side, a light shielding mask is provided between the light irradiating portion and the liquid crystal panel, the liquid crystal panel is held by the work stage, and the liquid crystal panel A method for bonding liquid crystal panels, wherein light irradiation is performed with a predetermined distance apart. A liquid crystal panel sandwiched between a color filter substrate and a TFT substrate by sandwiching a photocurable sealing agent and liquid crystal is irradiated with light from one substrate side to cure the photocurable sealing agent, A liquid crystal panel laminating apparatus for laminating two substrates,
A light irradiation unit for irradiating light;
A mask stage that holds a light-shielding mask that shields light from the light-irradiating unit so that an undesired portion of the liquid crystal panel is not irradiated with light;
A work stage whose surface is a light reflecting surface and holds the liquid crystal panel in a flat shape;
A work stage moving mechanism for moving the work stage in the direction of the light irradiation unit;
Supporting means for supporting the liquid crystal panel;
A support means moving mechanism for moving the support means independently of the work stage and moving the liquid crystal panel in the direction of the light irradiation unit;
A bonding apparatus for a liquid crystal panel, comprising a positioning mechanism for controlling the support means moving mechanism to position the liquid crystal panel at a set position other than the liquid crystal panel delivery position and the work stage placement position. .

Images