JP2007216194A - Method of coating with viscous fluid, and coater of viscous fluid - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of coating with a viscous fluid, and a coater of the viscous fluid, which generates no swelling at the end-part position of the linearly coating viscous fluid. <P>SOLUTION: The coating method of the viscous fluid S consists of coating, in the shape of line, the viscous fluid S discharged from a coating nozzle 21 onto the surface of a work W horizontally maintained, wherein a supply of the viscous fluid S to the coating nozzle 21 is stopped short of a termination location as a finalizing point of coating operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a viscous fluid coating method and a viscous fluid coating apparatus for coating a viscous fluid such as an adhesive, a sealant, and a mold resin on the surface of a workpiece such as a substrate.

Conventionally, as a method for applying a viscous fluid, there is known a method in which a nozzle is moved and a viscous fluid is discharged from the nozzle and applied to a desired position on a substrate (see Patent Document 1). In this viscous fluid coating method, the nozzle is moved while the viscous fluid is linearly ejected onto the substrate, and moved in the direction of reversing on the already applied viscous fluid pattern at the end position, which is the end point of the coating operation. On the other hand, the viscous fluid is applied by separating the nozzle in the vertical direction from the viscous fluid application surface of the substrate.
JP 2002-204058 A

By the way, when moving to the end position while discharging viscous fluid from the nozzle, if the viscous fluid is not supplied to the tip of the nozzle so that it is somewhat surplus, the line width (pattern width) of the applied viscous fluid is wide and narrow. It becomes unstable. Therefore, the application operation of the viscous fluid is performed in a state where an excessive viscous fluid is attached in an annular shape to the tip portion of the nozzle.
In this case, in the above-described conventional coating method, the so-called stringing portion does not fall outside the line width of the viscous fluid because the nozzle that has reached the end position is pulled up while moving in the reverse direction. In a state where the nozzle has reached the end position, an excess viscous fluid adhering in an annular shape to the tip portion of the nozzle drips down, and the coating width is increased. For this reason, there has been a problem that the line width of the applied viscous fluid is not constant. For example, when creating a liquid crystal panel by bonding two substrates together with a slight gap, it is necessary to apply a sealant around the substrate excluding the injection hole for injecting liquid crystal. When the substrates are pasted together, the terminal portion is crushed and the injection hole becomes narrow or closed.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a viscous fluid coating method and a viscous fluid coating device that do not cause swelling at the end position of the linearly coated viscous fluid.

  The viscous fluid application method of the present invention is a viscous fluid application method in which the viscous fluid discharged from the application nozzle is applied linearly to the surface of a workpiece held horizontally, and is the end point of the application operation. It is characterized in that the supply of the viscous fluid to the application nozzle is stopped before the end position.

  The viscous fluid coating apparatus of the present invention includes a coating nozzle for discharging viscous fluid, a viscous fluid supply means for supplying viscous fluid to the coating nozzle, and a work table for horizontally placing a workpiece to which the viscous fluid is applied. A moving means for moving the work table relative to the coating nozzle in a horizontal plane; a viscous fluid supply means; and a control means for controlling the moving means. The control means supplies the viscous fluid and moves the work table. The viscous fluid is applied linearly to the surface of the workpiece, and the supply of the viscous fluid to the application nozzle is stopped before the end position that is the end point of the application operation.

  According to this configuration, since the supply of the viscous fluid to the application nozzle is stopped before the end position, which is the end point of the application operation, the excess viscosity attached to the tip of the application nozzle in an annular shape after the supply is stopped The application operation up to the end position is performed while dropping the fluid. Therefore, at the end position of the viscous fluid applied in a linear form, excess viscous fluid adhering to the tip of the nozzle does not sag and bulge, and the line width of the viscous fluid at the end position is wide and narrow. There is no instability.

  In this case, along with the application operation, the volume of excess viscous fluid adhering to the tip of the application nozzle in a ring shape is “W”, the cross-sectional area of the linearly applied viscous fluid is “D”, and “W” When the value obtained by dividing “D” by “D” is “L”, it is preferable to stop the supply of the viscous fluid to the application nozzle at a position before “L” from the end position.

  In this case, along with the application operation, the volume of excess viscous fluid adhering to the tip of the application nozzle in a ring shape is “W”, the cross-sectional area of the linearly applied viscous fluid is “D”, and “W” When the value obtained by dividing "" by "D" is "L", it is preferable that the control means stop the supply of the viscous fluid to the application nozzle at a position before "L" from the end position. .

  According to this configuration, the amount of excess viscous fluid adhering to the tip of the coating nozzle in a ring shape matches the amount of viscous fluid required between the stop of supplying viscous fluid to the coating nozzle and the end position. Therefore, the line width of the viscous fluid does not occur at the end position, and the line width can be kept constant from the application start position to the end position. Moreover, useless consumption of the viscous fluid by the application | coating operation | movement can be suppressed.

  In this case, it is preferable that the application nozzle is pulled up in the oblique return direction immediately after the application nozzle reaches the terminal position.

  In this case, it is further provided with an elevating means for moving the application nozzle relative to the work on the work table, and the control means controls the elevating means and the moving means, immediately after the application nozzle reaches the end position, It is preferable to move the coating nozzle slightly in the returning direction while raising it.

  According to this configuration, the yarn pulling portion is generated by pulling up the coating nozzle, but falls on the viscous fluid pattern and is absorbed. Thereby, the influence of the yarn drawing portion at the terminal position can be prevented.

  In this case, the workpiece is one of the two substrates constituting the liquid crystal panel, and the viscous fluid is an adhesive sealant for sealing the liquid crystal between the two substrates, and the viscosity is It is preferable that the fluid is applied so as to draw a square between the start end position and the end position, which are the starting points of the application operation, as an injection gap for injecting liquid crystal.

  According to this configuration, since the bulge at the terminal position does not occur, the bulge at the terminal position is not crushed when the substrates are bonded together, and the injection gap is not narrowed, so that the yield of products can be improved.

  Hereinafter, a viscous fluid coating method and a viscous fluid coating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This viscous fluid application device applies a viscous fluid such as an adhesive, a sealant, or a mold resin onto a workpiece. For example, it is used when an adhesive sealant for sealing liquid crystal between two substrates is applied to one of the two substrates (workpiece) constituting the liquid crystal panel. In this case, the adhesive sealant is applied so as to draw a square ("C" shape) as an injection gap for injecting liquid crystal between the start end position and the end position which are the starting points of the application operation. The

  FIG. 1 is an overall view of a coating device 1 for viscous fluid S. This coating device 1 has a syringe 11 that discharges viscous fluid S at its tip and an application unit 2 that has an air dispenser 13 that supplies compressed air to the syringe 11. The work table 3 on which the work W to which the viscous fluid S is applied is placed horizontally, and the work table 3 is mounted on the upper part. And an XY table (moving means) 5 that moves in the Y-axis direction, an elevating means 4 that holds the syringe 11 and moves the syringe 11 up and down with respect to the workpiece W, and a control device (control means) 6 that performs overall control thereof. And a support base 7 that supports them integrally.

  The coating unit 2 discharges the viscous fluid S to the surface of the workpiece W by compressed air, and the syringe 11 is discharged to the syringe 11 via the syringe 11 that discharges the viscous fluid S and the air tube 12 connected to the proximal end of the syringe 11. And an air dispenser 13 for supplying compressed air. The syringe 11 includes a coating nozzle 21 provided at the tip, a cylinder portion 22 connected to the coating nozzle 21 and filled with the viscous fluid S therein, and a plunger that seals the viscous fluid S from above and pushes the viscous fluid S with compressed air. 23. The viscous fluid S is constituted by a cartridge type in which, for example, a disposable cylindrical case is filled with the viscous fluid S, and is used by being put into the syringe 11. The application nozzle 21 is made of, for example, stainless steel and has a cylindrical shape, and has an inner diameter of about 0.3 to 0.5 mm.

  Based on a discharge command from the control device 6, an air operated valve or the like in the air dispenser 13 is operated, whereby compressed air is supplied from the air dispenser 13 to the syringe 11 through the air tube 12. When compressed air is supplied to the syringe 11, the plunger 23 is pushed down in the discharge direction, and the viscous fluid S filled in the cylinder portion 22 is discharged from the application nozzle 21. Thereby, the viscous fluid S is discharged from the coating nozzle 21 toward the workpiece W. Further, the supply of the compressed air from the air dispenser 13 to the syringe 11 is stopped based on the discharge stop command from the control device 6, whereby the discharge of the viscous fluid S from the application nozzle 21 is stopped (for details). Will be described later).

  The elevating means 4 elevates and lowers the application nozzle 21 with respect to the work table 3, and includes a motor-driven Z-axis table 31 that elevates and lowers the syringe 11 in the Z-axis direction, and a holding unit 32 that detachably holds the syringe 11. And an arm portion 33 provided at the distal end and connected to the Z-axis table 31 at the proximal end. The Z-axis table 31 is supported by a pair of support columns 34, 34 erected on the side of the application unit 2, and is applied via the arm part 33 and the holding part 32 under the control of the control device 6. Is moved up and down with respect to the workpiece W between the discharge position and the standby position. That is, when the viscous fluid S is applied to the workpiece W, the application nozzle 21 is lowered to the discharge position, and is raised to the standby position when the application is completed.

  The work table 3 is configured to place the work W on the upper surface in a positioning state, and to suction and set by air suction. The XY table 5 is for moving the work table 3 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The X-axis table 41 for mounting the work table 3 and moving the work table (work W) 3 in the X-axis direction. And a Y-axis table 42 on which the X-axis table 41 is mounted and the work table (work W) 3 is moved in the Y-axis direction via the X-axis table 41.

  The X-axis table 41 and the Y-axis table 42 are controlled by the control device 6 to move the workpiece W on the XY plane, and in cooperation with the discharge operation of the application nozzle 21, the desired viscous fluid S is placed on the workpiece W. Apply to draw a pattern. Specifically, at the start of application, the application nozzle 21 is lowered to the discharge position by the Z-axis table 31. After the downward movement, the viscous fluid S is discharged from the application nozzle 21, and the work W is slightly delayed in timing. Is moved in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction to start the coating operation. Thereafter, the discharge operation of the viscous fluid S and the movement of the workpiece W are continued in synchronization, whereby the coating operation is continued. Then, the discharge of the viscous fluid S stops before the end position where the application nozzle 21 ends the application operation (details will be described later), and immediately after reaching the end position, the application nozzle 21 is raised while returning. The coating operation is finished by slightly moving. Although the yarn pulling portion is generated by pulling up the application nozzle 21, it is fallen onto the applied viscous fluid S pattern and absorbed. Thereby, the influence of the yarn drawing portion at the terminal position can be prevented.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 2, a series of application | coating operation | movement by the coating device 1 of this viscous fluid S is demonstrated. Here, in order to simplify the description, a case will be described in which the viscous fluid S is applied in a single-character straight line from the start point A that is the start point of the application operation to the end point C that is the end point. First, the coating operation is performed while discharging the viscous fluid S from the starting point A to the middle point B. At this time, the viscous fluid S is supplied so as to be somewhat surplus, and the coating operation is performed up to the midpoint B in this state. Then, at the timing of passing through the middle point B, the discharge of the viscous fluid S is stopped (the supply of compressed air is stopped) while the excess viscous fluid S1 adhering in an annular shape to the tip of the coating nozzle 21 is dropped off, and the remaining end point is reached. The application operation up to C is performed (see FIG. 2A). Accordingly, at the end position of the linearly applied viscous fluid S, the excess viscous fluid S1 attached in an annular shape to the tip of the nozzle drips down and bulges as in the case where the discharge is continued to the end point C. The line width of the viscous fluid S at the end position is not wide and unstable (see FIG. 2B).

  Further, the position of the middle point B at which the discharge is stopped is a position that goes back from the end point C by the distance “L”, the cross-sectional area of the linearly applied viscous fluid S is “D”, and the nozzle at the middle point B is When the volume of the excess viscous fluid S1 adhering to the tip in an annular shape is “W”, L (distance) = W (volume) / D (cross-sectional area) is obtained (see FIG. 2C). This distance “L” is stored in the control device 6 in advance, and the discharge of the viscous fluid S is stopped at the middle point B. Thereby, the amount (W) of the excess viscous fluid S1 adhering to the tip of the coating nozzle 21 in an annular shape, and the amount of use (L × D) of the viscous fluid S required between the middle point B and the end point C Therefore, the line width of the viscous fluid S at the end point C does not swell, and the line width can be kept constant from the start point A to the end point C of application. In addition, useless consumption of the viscous fluid S due to the application operation can be suppressed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the application work can be performed without causing the viscous fluid S applied linearly to bulge at the end position. When this is applied to a liquid crystal panel, there is no bulge at the end position, so the bulge at the end position is not crushed and the injection gap is not narrowed when the substrates are bonded together, improving the product yield. Can do.

It is a whole schematic diagram of the application device of viscous fluid. (A) is explanatory drawing of the application | coating operation | movement from the starting point A to the end point C, (b) is a comparison explanatory drawing of the drawing shape at the time of discharging to the end point C, and the discharge stop at the middle point B, ( c) is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the distance L from the middle point B to the end point C, the volume W of excess viscous fluid, and the cross-sectional area D of the applied viscous fluid.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Application apparatus of viscous fluid 2 ... Application unit 3 ... Work table 4 ... Lifting means 5 ... XY table 6 ... Control device 21 ... Application nozzle W ... Work S ... Viscous fluid

Claims (7)

A viscous fluid application method in which a viscous fluid discharged from an application nozzle is applied linearly to the surface of a workpiece held horizontally,
A method of applying a viscous fluid, wherein the supply of the viscous fluid to the application nozzle is stopped before an end position that is an end point of an application operation. Along with the application operation, the volume of excess viscous fluid adhering to the tip of the application nozzle in an annular shape is “W”, and the cross-sectional area of the viscous fluid applied linearly is “D”. When the value obtained by dividing "W" by "D" is "L",
2. The viscous fluid application method according to claim 1, wherein the supply of the viscous fluid to the application nozzle is stopped at a position before “L” from the end position.   The method for applying a viscous fluid according to claim 1, wherein immediately after the application nozzle reaches the end position, the application nozzle is pulled up in an oblique return direction. The workpiece is one of the two substrates constituting the liquid crystal panel, and the viscous fluid is an adhesive sealant for enclosing the liquid crystal between the two substrates,
2. The viscous fluid is applied so as to draw a square, with an injection gap for injecting the liquid crystal, between a start end position and a terminal end position, which are starting points of an application operation. 4. The method for applying a viscous fluid according to any one of 3 to 3. An application nozzle for discharging viscous fluid;
Viscous fluid supply means for supplying the viscous fluid to the application nozzle;
A work table on which the work to which the viscous fluid is applied is placed horizontally;
Moving means for moving the work table relative to the application nozzle in a horizontal plane;
Control means for controlling the viscous fluid supply means and the moving means,
The control means synchronizes the supply of the viscous fluid and the movement of the work table to apply the viscous fluid linearly to the surface of the work, and before the end position that is the end point of the application operation. A viscous fluid coating apparatus, wherein supply of the viscous fluid to the coating nozzle is stopped. Along with the application operation, the volume of excess viscous fluid adhering to the tip of the application nozzle in an annular shape is “W”, and the cross-sectional area of the viscous fluid applied linearly is “D”. When the value obtained by dividing "W" by "D" is "L",
6. The viscous fluid coating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control means stops the supply of the viscous fluid to the coating nozzle at a position before the end position by "L". Elevating means for moving the application nozzle relative to the work on the work table is further provided,
The said control means controls the said raising / lowering means and the said movement means, Immediately after the said application nozzle reaches the said termination | terminus position, it moves the application nozzle slightly in the return direction, raising it. The viscous fluid application apparatus according to 5 or 6.

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