JP2009063769A - Manufacturing method of information displaying panel, and particle spraying device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manufacturing method of an information displaying panel which can automatically feed particles in a particle feeding mechanism, and also to provide a particle spraying device used in the manufacturing method. <P>SOLUTION: In the manufacturing method of an information displaying panel which moves a display medium composed of particles, which are enclosed in a cell formed between substrates, to display information such as images, a display medium arranging process is executed, which sprays the particles into the cell through a conveying pipe 11 and a spraying nozzle 12 from a particle-feeding mechanism 15 which is operated by a prescribed pressure. An automatic particle-feeding device 17 and a pressure separation mechanism 18 are connected to the particle-feeding mechanism 15 to prevent the particles from flowing into the particle-feeding mechanism 15 from the automatic particle-feeding device 17 at the pressure release after the spraying, and then the particles equivalent in quantity to the decreased particles in the display medium arranging process are automatically, quantitatively fed into the particle-feeding mechanism 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  According to the present invention, information such as an image can be obtained by moving a display medium composed of particles having optical reflectivity sealed in a plurality of cell spaces partitioned by a partition wall between two substrates, at least one of which is transparent. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an information display panel that displays the above and a particle dispersal device used therefor.

  As an information display device replacing a liquid crystal display device (LCD), a plurality of cells formed by partition walls are formed between two substrates, at least one of which is transparent, and particles having optical reflectivity are displayed in the cells. And an information display panel that displays information such as images by moving a display medium. In addition, as particles constituting the display medium, charged particles, conductive particles, charge injection particles, and the like have been proposed. Among these, an information display panel that performs display by moving charged particles in a gas has a display memory property, and thus is expected as an electronic paper.

  When manufacturing a substrate with partition walls constituting these information display panels, a plurality of cells partitioned by partition walls on the substrate are formed by forming partition walls (for example, grid-shaped partition walls) on the substrate (for example, a glass substrate). A display medium arranging step is performed in which particles used as a display medium are dispersed and arranged when the display medium is arranged therein. At that time, as a conventional apparatus using a gas as a medium for transporting particles when spraying particles, particles (not shown) are placed in a spray tank 53 via a transport pipe 51 and a spray nozzle 52 as shown in FIG. A supply box (particle supply mechanism) 54 for supplying and a pressure supply source 55 for supplying fluid pressure to the supply box 54 are provided, and at least one spray nozzle 52 connected to the supply box 54 is used. Manufacturing a panel including a particle disperser that disperses particles in cells formed on a substrate 56 placed on the substrate (in the case of disposing a plurality of types of display media, a plurality of types of particles are dispersed simultaneously). There are devices (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

JP 2005-342614 A JP 2005-258157 A

When producing an information display panel by the conventional panel manufacturing apparatus, since the amount of particles sprayed at one time is large, if the remaining amount of particles in the supply box 54 is kept reduced, The amount of particles supplied also decreases, and it becomes difficult to continuously supply particles at the time of mass production of the information display panel. Therefore, when the remaining amount of particles in the supply box 54 decreases to the lower limit value, the particle replenishment work is performed. Need to do. However, since the pressure above atmospheric pressure is applied to the supply box while the particles are transported into the spray layer, if the supply (replenishment) of the particles is attempted during pressurization, the particles in the supply box will flow backward. Therefore, there is a safety problem.
Therefore, in the above conventional panel manufacturing apparatus, for example, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12, after the dispersion of the particles is finished, the pressure in the supply box 54 is released and the pressure lid 54a of the supply box 54 is removed. Using a measuring spoon, a small amount of particles are introduced into the supply box 54 from the particle inlet 54b of the supply box 54, and after the pressure lid 54a of the supply box 54 is attached, pressure is applied to start (resume) the particles. In this way, the particle replenishment work is performed.

  However, in the above-described conventional panel manufacturing apparatus, the operation of supplying (replenishing) the particles into the supply box 54 is performed by the operator each time the remaining amount of particles in the supply box 54 decreases to the lower limit value. As a result, man-hours are required and the manufacturing cost of the panel becomes high as a result.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technology (a method for manufacturing an information display panel and a particle spraying device) that can automatically supply particles into a particle supply mechanism.

  In order to achieve the above object, the method for manufacturing an information display panel according to the present invention has an optical reflectivity sealed in a plurality of cell spaces partitioned by a partition wall between two substrates, at least one of which is transparent. The information display panel for displaying information such as images by moving the display medium composed of particles having the particles is dispersed when the particles constituting the display medium are dispersed using a particle dispersal device and placed in the cell. A method of manufacturing an information display panel for performing a display medium arrangement process by spraying the particles into the cell from a particle supply mechanism operated by pressure through a transport pipe and a spray nozzle, and automatically supplying particles to the particle supply mechanism By connecting an apparatus, the particle supply mechanism automatically supplies replenished particles to the particle supply mechanism.

  As a preferred example of the method for producing the information display panel of the present invention, by providing a pressure dividing mechanism between the particle supply mechanism and the particle automatic replenishing device, the particle automatic replenishment at the time of pressure release after the end of spraying is performed. In some cases, the inflow of particles from the apparatus into the particle supply mechanism is prevented, and the particles constituting the display medium are particles having optical reflectivity and chargeability.

  In order to achieve the above object, a particle distribution device according to the present invention operates at a predetermined pressure and distributes particles having optical reflectivity in cells formed on a substrate via a transfer tube and a distribution nozzle. And an automatic particle replenishment device that automatically replenishes the particles into the particle supply mechanism, and prevents inflow of particles from the particle automatic replenishment device into the particle supply mechanism when the pressure is released after the completion of the spraying of the particles. And a pressure dividing mechanism.

  According to the method for manufacturing an information display panel of the present invention, since the automatic particle replenishing device is connected to the particle supply mechanism that operates at a predetermined pressure, the particle supply is reduced by the display medium arranging step. It is possible to provide a method for manufacturing an information display panel that can be automatically supplied into the mechanism, and as a result, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the panel.

  According to the particle spraying device of the present invention, a particle supply mechanism that operates by a predetermined pressure and sprays particles having optical reflectivity in a cell formed on a substrate through a transport pipe and a spray nozzle, and the particles An automatic particle replenishing device for automatically replenishing the particles into the supply mechanism, and a pressure dividing mechanism for preventing inflow of particles from the automatic particle replenishing device into the particle supply mechanism when the pressure is released after the dispersion of the particles is completed. Therefore, the particle dispersal device can be applied to a particle group having good fluidity such that the repose angle of the particle group composing the pre-dispersion particle is 30 ° or less. The particle disperser is suitable for carrying out the manufacturing method.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, an example of an information display panel manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present invention will be described. In an example of an information display panel manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present invention, an electric field is applied to a display medium configured to include charged particles having optical reflectivity sealed in a space between two opposing substrates. The Along with the applied electric field direction, the display medium is attracted by an electric field force or a Coulomb force, and the display medium is moved by a change in the electric field direction, whereby information such as an image is displayed. Therefore, it is necessary to design the information display panel so that the display medium can move uniformly and maintain the stability when the display information is rewritten or when the display information is continuously displayed. Here, as the force applied to the particles constituting the display medium, in addition to the force attracting each other by the Coulomb force between the particles, an electric mirror image force between the electrode and the substrate, an intermolecular force, a liquid cross-linking force, gravity and the like can be considered.

  An example of an information display panel manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 (a) and (b) to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) and FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (d).

  In the example shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, at least two kinds of display media 3 (here, white particles 3Wa for display medium) having at least one kind of particles and having different optical reflectance and charging characteristics. The electrode 5 (individual electrode) provided on the substrate 1 in each cell formed by the partition walls 4 is provided with a white display medium 3W composed of a group of particles and a black display medium 3B composed of a group of black particles 3Ba for display medium. ) And an electrode 6 (individual electrode) provided on the substrate 2, the substrate 6 is moved perpendicularly to the substrates 1 and 2 in accordance with an electric field generated by applying a voltage. Then, the white display medium 3W is visually recognized by the observer as shown in FIG. 1A, or white display is performed, or the black display medium 3B is visually recognized by the observer as shown in FIG. 1B. The display is black. In addition, in FIG. 1 (a), (b), the partition in front is abbreviate | omitted. The electrode may be provided outside the substrate, inside the substrate, or embedded in the substrate.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, at least two or more kinds of display media 3 (here, white particles 3Wa for display medium) having different optical reflectance and charging characteristics composed of at least one kind of particles. The electrode 5 (line electrode) provided on the substrate 1 in each cell formed by the partition walls 4 is a white display medium 3W composed of a plurality of particle groups and a black display medium 3B composed of a particle group of black particles 3Ba for display medium. ) And an electrode 6 (line electrode) provided on the substrate 2, and is moved perpendicularly to the substrates 1 and 2 according to an electric field generated by applying a voltage. Then, the white display medium 3W is visually recognized by the observer as shown in FIG. 2A, or white display is performed, or the black display medium 3B is visually recognized by the observer as shown in FIG. 2B. The display is black. In addition, in FIG. 2 (a), (b), the partition in front is abbreviate | omitted. The electrode may be provided outside the substrate, inside the substrate, or embedded in the substrate.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, an example of color display in which a display unit (1 dot) is constituted by three cells is shown. In the example shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, as the display medium, all of the cells 21-1 to 21-3 are filled with the white display medium 3W and the black display medium 3B, and the first cell 21-1. A red color filter 22R is provided on the viewer side, a green color filter 22G is provided on the viewer side of the second cell 21-2, a blue color filter 22B is provided on the viewer side of the third cell 21-3, A display unit (one dot) is composed of three cells, the first cell 21-1, the second cell 21-2, and the third cell 21-3. In this example, when performing color display, as shown in FIG. 3A, the white display medium 3W is arranged in all of the first cell 21-1 to the third cell 21-3 on the viewer side. Thus, white dots are displayed to the observer, or, as shown in FIG. 3B, the black color is displayed in all of the first cell 21-1 to the third cell 21-3 on the observer side. By arranging the medium 3B, black dots are displayed to the observer. In addition, in FIG. 3 (a), (b), the partition in front is abbreviate | omitted.

In the example shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the display medium 3 (in this case, from the particle group of the white particles 3Wa for display medium) having at least an optical reflectance and a chargeability composed of at least one kind of particles. In each cell formed by the partition walls 4 in accordance with the electric field generated by applying a voltage between the electrode 5 provided on the substrate 1 and the black electrode 6. 2 and in the direction parallel to 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 4A, the white display medium 3W is visually recognized by the observer to perform white display, or as shown in FIG. 4B, the color of the black electrode 6 is given to the observer. It is visually recognized and displayed in black. In addition, in the example shown to Fig.4 (a), (b), the partition in front is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D, first, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5C, at least the optical reflectivity and charging characteristics of at least one kind of particles are different. Two or more kinds of display media 3 (here, a white display medium 3W composed of a group of white particles 3Wa for display medium and a black display medium 3B composed of a group of black particles 3Ba for display medium are shown) are formed by partition walls 4. In each of the formed cells, the substrate 1 corresponds to the electric field generated by applying a voltage between the external electric field forming means 7 provided outside the substrate 1 and the external electric field forming means 8 provided outside the substrate 2. 2 and move vertically. Then, the white display medium 3W is visually recognized by the observer as shown in FIG. 5B, or white display is performed, or the black display medium 3B is visually recognized by the observer as shown in FIG. 5D. The display is black. In addition, in FIG. 5 (a)-(d), the partition in front is abbreviate | omitted. A conductive member 9 is provided inside the substrate 1, and a conductive member 10 is provided inside the substrate 2. These conductive members may not be provided.

  Hereafter, the manufacturing method of the information display panel of this invention is demonstrated in detail. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of an example of a particle spraying device used in a display medium arranging step (particle spraying step) in the method for manufacturing an information display panel of the present invention. The particle spraying device used in the method of the present invention is an automatic particle replenishment device that automatically replenishes particles in the particle supply mechanism, and automatic particle replenishment when the pressure is released after the completion of the particle spraying, compared to the conventional particle spraying device shown in FIG. A pressure dividing mechanism for preventing inflow of particles from the apparatus into the particle supply mechanism is added.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the particle spraying apparatus used in the method of the present invention supplies (spreads) the particles 3 to the substrate (for example, glass substrate) 14 in the spraying tank 13 through the transport pipe 11 and the spraying nozzle 12. Particle supply mechanism (supply box) 15, pressure supply source 16 for supplying fluid pressure to the particle supply mechanism 15, particle automatic supply device 17 connected to the particle inlet 15 a of the particle supply mechanism 15, and particle automatic supply device And a pressure dividing mechanism 18 for preventing the inflow of particles from the particle supply mechanism 15 into the particle supply mechanism 15, and a gas (for example, nitrogen gas) is used as a medium for conveying the particles when the particles are dispersed. The gas used as the carrier medium is preferably dried at 60% RH or less, and dry air, dry nitrogen, dry argon, dry helium, dry carbon dioxide, dry methane, and the like are suitable as the gas used as the carrier medium. The reason why the pressure dividing mechanism 18 is provided in the present invention is that the pressure of the automatic particle replenishing device 17 and the particle supplying mechanism 15 cannot be divided when the pressure dividing mechanism 18 is not provided in FIG. At the time of opening, the particles in the particle automatic replenishing device 17 (the particles constituting the display medium used in the present invention have a high fluidity) flow into the particle supply mechanism 15, and the “particle automatic” This is because “quantitative replenishment of particles from the replenishing device 17 to the particle supplying mechanism 15” becomes difficult.

  7 and 8 are diagrams showing the configuration of the particle automatic replenishing device and the pressure dividing mechanism of the particle scattering device of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the particle automatic replenishment device 17 includes a particle container 17a for storing particles and the following components, a drive motor 17c coupled with a drive shaft to a stirring blade 17b, and a drive motor 17c. It comprises a conveying screw 17e that rotates in accordance with the rotation and conveys the particles in the particle container 17a to the right in the drawing through the conveying nozzle 17d. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the pressure dividing mechanism 18 opens and closes the container 18a, the cylinder 18b disposed so as to penetrate the container 18a, and the opening of the transport nozzle 17d with the stroke of the cylinder 18b. The moving nozzle 18d is closed when the moving member 18c is in the dotted line position in FIG. 7, and the opening of the conveying nozzle 17d is in the closed position when the moving member 18c is in the solid line position in FIG. The opening is opened. The particle supply mechanism 15, the drive motor 17c and the cylinder 18b are electrically connected to an automatic particle supply device control panel 19, and the automatic particle supply device control panel 19 controls the operation of the particle distribution device. 20 is electrically connected.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a particle replenishment operation in the particle spraying device of the present invention. When the dispersion of the particles is completed in step S11, the pressure in the particle supply mechanism 15 is released in step S12. In step S13, when the supply start signal and the pressure release signal are respectively input from the particle spraying device control panel 20 to the particle supply mechanism 15 and the pressure dividing mechanism 18 through the particle automatic replenishing device control panel 19, the pressure dividing mechanism 18 in step S14. The opening of the transfer nozzle 17d is opened by moving the cylinder 18b to the solid line position in FIG. Thereafter, in step S15, the particles are supplied from the particle automatic replenishing device 17 into the particle supply mechanism 15. In step S16, the opening of the transfer nozzle 17d is closed by moving the cylinder 18b of the pressure dividing mechanism 18 to the dotted line position in FIG. After that, pressure is applied in step S17 to start (restart) the particle dispersion. The automatic replenishment of the particles is performed every time the display medium arranging step (particle scattering step) is performed once as described below, but is performed every time the display medium arranging step is performed a predetermined number of times. You may do it.

In the particle spraying device of the present invention, the particle supply mechanism 17 is connected to the particle supply mechanism 15 because the particle automatic supply device 17 that can automatically supply (supplement) the amount of particles reduced by spraying is connected. Even if the number of particles in 15 decreases, the reduced amount of particles is automatically supplied from the particle automatic replenishment device 17 into the particle supply mechanism 15 each time. Is always kept constant.
Further, in the particle spraying device of the present invention, since the pressure dividing mechanism 18 for separating the pressurized particle supply mechanism 15 and the automatic particle replenishing device 17 is provided, the pressure dividing mechanism 18 is connected to the particle supply mechanism 15 and the particles. It functions as an automatic opening / closing door that opens and closes the pressure passage between the automatic replenishing device 17, and when the particle supply mechanism 15 is pressurized, the pressure dividing mechanism 18 closes the pressure passage to close the particle supply mechanism 15 and the automatic particle replenishment. By dividing the pressure of the device 17, it is not necessary to make the powder hopper structure of the particle automatic replenishing device 17 into a pressure-resistant structure, and when the pressure is released after the completion of the particle spraying, the automatic particle replenishing device 17 side Particles are prevented from flowing into the hemisphere. The prevention of the inflow of the particles is sufficiently achieved even for a display medium made of particles having good fluidity such that the angle of repose is 30 ° or less. In a display medium composed of particles with good fluidity such that the angle of repose is 30 ° or less, there is usually a problem of back flow of particles in the supply box and there is a problem in the supply stability of the particles. According to the method for manufacturing a panel for a display, a stable supply of particles can be performed without causing a back flow of particles in a supply box even with a display medium made of particles having good fluidity such that the angle of repose is 30 ° or less.

According to the method for manufacturing an information display panel of the present invention, the automatic particle replenishment device 17 and the pressure dividing mechanism 18 are connected to the particle inlet 15a of the particle supply mechanism 15 that is operated by the fluid pressure from the pressure supply source 16. Since the display medium placement process is performed using the particle spraying device, the information display panel capable of quantitatively automatically supplying (automatic replenishment) the particles reduced by the display medium placement process into the particle supply mechanism 15 The manufacturing method becomes.
Moreover, since the particle dispersal device of the present invention is configured to include the pressure dividing mechanism 18 that divides between the pressurized particle supply mechanism 15 and the automatic particle replenishing device 17 as shown in FIGS. It becomes a particle | grain dispersion | distribution apparatus suitable for implementation of the manufacturing method of the information display panel of the said this invention using the display medium which consists of good property particle | grains.

  Hereinafter, each member which comprises the information display panel used as the object of this invention is demonstrated.

As the substrate, at least one substrate is a transparent substrate on which the color of the display medium can be confirmed from the outside of the panel, and a material having high visible light transmittance and good heat resistance is preferable. The back substrate as the other substrate may be transparent or opaque. Examples of substrate materials include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polyimide (PI), polyethersulfine (PES), acrylic, and other organic polymer substrates. Alternatively, a glass sheet, a quartz sheet, a metal sheet, or the like is used, and a transparent one is used on the display surface side. The thickness of the substrate is preferably 2 to 2000 μm, more preferably 5 to 1000 μm. If it is too thin, it will be difficult to maintain the strength and the uniformity of the distance between the substrates, and if it is thicker than 2000 μm, it will be a thin information display panel. Is inconvenient.

  As the electrode forming material provided on the substrate as necessary, metals such as aluminum, silver, nickel, copper and gold, indium tin oxide (ITO), zinc aluminum oxide (AZO), indium oxide, conductive tin oxide, Examples include conductive metal oxides such as antimony tin oxide (ATO) and conductive zinc oxide, and conductive polymers such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, and polythiophene, which are appropriately selected and used. As a method for forming the electrode, a method of patterning the above-exemplified materials into a thin film by sputtering, vacuum deposition, CVD (chemical vapor deposition), coating, or the like, or a method of laminating metal foil (for example, rolled copper foil) Method) or a method of forming a pattern by mixing and applying a conductive agent to a solvent or a synthetic resin binder. The electrode provided on the viewing side (display surface side) substrate needs to be transparent, but the electrode provided on the back side substrate does not need to be transparent. In any case, the above-mentioned material that is conductive and capable of pattern formation can be suitably used. In addition, the electrode thickness should just be sufficient if electroconductivity is ensured and there is no trouble in light transmittance, and 0.01-10 micrometers, Preferably 0.05-5 micrometers is suitable. The material and thickness of the electrode provided on the back side substrate are the same as those of the electrode provided on the display surface side substrate described above, but need not be transparent. In this case, the external voltage input may be superimposed with direct current or alternating current.

The shape of the partition provided on the substrate is appropriately set according to the type of display medium involved in display, the shape and arrangement of the electrodes to be arranged, and is not generally limited. However, the width of the partition is 2 to 100 μm, preferably 3 The height of the partition wall is adjusted to 10 to 100 μm, preferably 10 to 50 μm.
In forming the partition wall, a both-rib method in which ribs are formed on each of the opposing substrates 1 and 2 and then bonded, and a single-rib method in which ribs are formed only on one substrate are conceivable. In the present invention, any method is preferably used.
As shown in FIG. 10, the cells formed by the partition walls made up of these ribs are exemplified by a square shape, a triangular shape, a line shape, a circular shape, and a hexagonal shape as viewed from the plane of the substrate. And a mesh shape. It is better to make the portion corresponding to the cross section of the partition wall visible from the display surface side (the area of the cell frame) as small as possible, and the display becomes clearer.
Examples of the method for forming the partition include a mold transfer method, a screen printing method, a sand blast method, a photolithography method, and an additive method. Any of these methods can be suitably used for an information display panel mounted on the information display device of the present invention, and among these, a photolithography method using a resist film and a mold transfer method are suitably used.

Next, display medium particles (hereinafter also referred to as particles) constituting the display medium in the information display panel that is the subject of the present invention will be described. The display medium particles are used as they are as they are, which are composed of the display medium particles alone or in combination with other particles as a display medium.
The particles can contain a charge control agent, a colorant, an inorganic additive, and the like, if necessary, in the resin as the main component. Examples of resins, charge control agents, colorants, and other additives will be given below.

Examples of the resin include urethane resin, urea resin, acrylic resin, polyester resin, acrylic urethane resin, acrylic urethane silicone resin, acrylic urethane fluororesin, acrylic fluororesin, silicone resin, acrylic silicone resin, epoxy resin, polystyrene resin, styrene Acrylic resin, polyolefin resin, butyral resin, vinylidene chloride resin, melamine resin, phenol resin, fluororesin, polycarbonate resin, polysulfone resin, polyether resin, polyamide resin and the like can be mentioned, and two or more kinds can be mixed. In particular, acrylic urethane resin, acrylic silicone resin, acrylic fluororesin, acrylic urethane silicone resin, acrylic urethane fluororesin, fluororesin, and silicone resin are suitable from the viewpoint of controlling the adhesive force with the substrate.

  The charge control agent is not particularly limited. Examples of the negative charge control agent include salicylic acid metal complexes, metal-containing azo dyes, metal-containing oil-soluble dyes (including metal ions and metal atoms), and quaternary ammonium salt systems. Examples thereof include compounds, calixarene compounds, boron-containing compounds (benzyl acid boron complexes), and nitroimidazole derivatives. Examples of the positive charge control agent include nigrosine dyes, triphenylmethane compounds, quaternary ammonium salt compounds, polyamine resins, imidazole derivatives, and the like. In addition, metal oxides such as ultrafine silica, ultrafine titanium oxide, ultrafine alumina, nitrogen-containing cyclic compounds such as pyridine and derivatives and salts thereof, various organic pigments, resins containing fluorine, chlorine, nitrogen, etc. are also charged. It can also be used as a control agent.

  As the colorant, various organic or inorganic pigments and dyes as exemplified below can be used.

Examples of the black colorant include carbon black, copper oxide, manganese dioxide, aniline black, activated carbon and the like.
Examples of blue colorants include C.I. I. Pigment blue 15: 3, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 15, Bituminous Blue, Cobalt Blue, Alkaline Blue Lake, Victoria Blue Lake, Phthalocyanine Blue, Metal-free Phthalocyanine Blue, Phthalocyanine Blue Partial Chlorides, Fast Sky Blue, Indanthrene Blue BC, and the like.
Examples of red colorants include bengara, cadmium red, red lead, mercury sulfide, cadmium, permanent red 4R, risor red, pyrazolone red, watching red, calcium salt, lake red D, brilliant carmine 6B, eosin lake, rhodamine lake B, Alizarin Lake, Brilliant Carmine 3B, C.I. I. Pigment Red 2 etc.

Yellow colorants include chrome yellow, zinc yellow, cadmium yellow, yellow iron oxide, mineral first yellow, nickel titanium yellow, navel yellow, naphthol yellow S, Hansa Yellow G, Hansa Yellow 10G, Benzidine Yellow G, Benzidine Yellow GR, Quinoline Yellow Lake, Permanent Yellow NCG, Tartrazine Lake, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 12 etc.
Examples of green colorants include chrome green, chromium oxide, pigment green B, C.I. I. Pigment Green 7, Malachite Green Lake, Final Yellow Green G, etc.
Examples of the orange colorant include red chrome yellow, molybdenum orange, permanent orange GTR, pyrazolone orange, Vulcan orange, indanthrene brilliant orange RK, benzidine orange G, indanthrene brilliant orange GK, C.I. I. Pigment Orange 31 etc.
Examples of purple colorants include manganese purple, first violet B, and methyl violet lake.
Examples of white colorants include zinc white, titanium oxide, antimony white, and zinc sulfide.

  Examples of extender pigments include barite powder, barium carbonate, clay, silica, white carbon, talc, and alumina white. Examples of various dyes such as basic, acidic, disperse, and direct dyes include nigrosine, methylene blue, rose bengal, quinoline yellow, and ultramarine blue.

Examples of inorganic additives include titanium oxide, zinc white, zinc sulfide, antimony oxide, calcium carbonate, lead white, talc, silica, calcium silicate, alumina white, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, cadmium orange, titanium yellow, Examples include bitumen, ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, cobalt green, cobalt violet, iron oxide, carbon black, manganese ferrite black, cobalt ferrite black, copper powder, and aluminum powder.
These pigments and inorganic additives can be used alone or in combination. Of these, carbon black is particularly preferable as the black pigment, and titanium oxide is preferable as the white pigment. The above colorant can be blended to produce display medium particles having a desired color.

  The particles for display medium have an average particle diameter d (0.5) in the range of 1 to 50 μm and are preferably uniform and uniform. If the average particle diameter d (0.5) is larger than this range, the display is not clear. If the average particle diameter d (0.5) is smaller than this range, the cohesive force between the particles becomes too large, which hinders movement as a display medium.

Furthermore, in the present invention, regarding the particle size distribution of each display medium particle, the particle size distribution Span represented by the following formula is less than 5, preferably less than 3.
Span = (d (0.9) −d (0.1)) / d (0.5)
(However, d (0.5) is a numerical value expressing the particle diameter in μm that 50% of the particles are larger than this and 50% is smaller than this, and d (0.1) is a particle in which the ratio of the smaller particles is 10%. (Numerical value expressed in μm, and d (0.9) is a numerical value expressed in μm for a particle diameter of 90% or less.)
By keeping Span within a range of 5 or less, the sizes of the particles for each display medium are uniform, and movement as a uniform display medium becomes possible.

  Furthermore, it is important that the ratio of d (0.5) of particles having the smallest diameter to d (0.5) of particles having the largest diameter among the particles for display medium used is 10 or less. Even if the particle size distribution Span is reduced, the display medium particles with different charging characteristics move in opposite directions, so the particle sizes of each other are close, and the display medium particles move easily in the opposite directions by the equivalent amount. It is preferable to be able to do this, and this is the range.

The particle size distribution and the particle size can be obtained from a laser diffraction / scattering method or the like. When laser light is irradiated onto particles to be measured, a light intensity distribution pattern of diffracted / scattered light is spatially generated, and this light intensity pattern has a corresponding relationship with the particle diameter, so that the particle diameter and particle diameter distribution can be measured. .
Here, the particle size and particle size distribution in the present invention are obtained from a volume-based distribution. Specifically, using a Mastersizer2000 (Malvern Instruments Ltd.) measuring instrument, particles are introduced into a nitrogen stream, and the attached analysis software (software based on volume-based distribution using Mie theory) The diameter and particle size distribution can be measured.

Furthermore, when applied to an information display panel in which a display medium composed of particles for a display medium is driven in an air space, it is important to manage the gas in the gap surrounding the display medium between the substrates, and display stability. Contributes to improvement. Specifically, it is important that the relative humidity at 25 ° C. is 60% RH or less, and preferably 50% RH or less for the humidity of the gas in the gap.
This gap portion is a portion sandwiched between opposing substrates 1 and 2 in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 4A, 4B, and 5A to 5D. A so-called display medium excluding the electrodes 5 and 6 (when electrodes are provided inside the substrate), the occupied portion of the display medium 3, the occupied portion of the partition walls 4 (when provided with the partition walls), and the seal portion of the information display panel. It shall refer to the gas part in contact with.
The gas in the gap is not limited as long as it is in the humidity region described above, but dry air, dry nitrogen, dry argon, dry helium, dry carbon dioxide, dry methane, and the like are preferable. This gas needs to be sealed in an information display panel so that the humidity is maintained, for example, filling a display medium, assembling an information display panel, etc. in a predetermined humidity environment, It is important to apply a sealing material and a sealing method that prevent moisture from entering from the outside.

The distance between the substrates in the information display panel that is the subject of the present invention is not limited as long as the display medium can be moved and the contrast can be maintained, but is usually adjusted to 10 to 100 μm, preferably 10 to 50 μm.
The volume occupation ratio of the display medium in the air space between the opposing substrates is preferably 5 to 70%, more preferably 5 to 60%. If it exceeds 70%, the movement of the display medium is hindered, and if it is less than 5%, the contrast tends to be unclear.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples and comparative examples of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

  In order to manufacture the information display panel, a manufacturing apparatus in which the particle automatic supply device 17 and the pressure dividing mechanism 18 are connected to the particle supply mechanism 15 configured as shown in FIG. 6 was used. At that time, an air cylinder having a stroke of 25 mm and a cylinder diameter of 20 mm is used for the cylinder 18b of the pressure dividing mechanism 18, and an output made by Oriental Motor Co., Ltd. is used for the drive motor 17c for driving the stirring blade 17a and the conveying screw 17e. A 40 W AC speed control motor was used. As the particle automatic replenishing device control panel 19, an FX1S sequencer manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation was used.

In the actual particle replenishment work, a waiting time of 3 seconds was given after receiving the pressure release signal output from the particle spraying device control panel 20 in step S13 of the flowchart shown in FIG. Later, the cylinder 18b for releasing pressure was moved, and the particles were put into the particle supply mechanism 15 by driving the conveying screw 17e.
Thus, the information display panel according to the embodiment of the present invention is manufactured.

  According to the present embodiment, there is no inflow of particles into the particle supply mechanism when the pressure is released after the spraying is finished, and the display medium placement process is performed once in the particle supply mechanism 15. Quantitative replenishment of particles to

The information display panel produced by the manufacturing method of the present invention is a notebook computer, an electronic notebook, a portable information device called PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a display unit of a mobile device such as a mobile phone or a handy terminal, an electronic book, an electronic Electronic paper such as newspapers and electronic manuals (electronic instruction manuals), signboards, posters, bulletin boards such as blackboards and whiteboards, electronic desk calculators, home appliances, display parts for automobiles, card displays such as point cards and IC cards Department, electronic advertisement, information board, electronic POP (Point Of Presence, Point Of Purchase advertising), electronic price tag, electronic shelf label, electronic score, display part of RF-ID equipment, POS terminal, car navigation device, clock, etc. It is suitably used for display units of various electronic devices. In addition, it can be suitably used as a rewritable paper.
The information display panel driving method according to the present invention includes a simple matrix driving method and a static driving method that do not use a switching element in the panel itself, and a three-terminal switching device or a thin film diode represented by a thin film transistor (TFT). Various types of driving methods such as an active matrix driving method using a two-terminal switching element represented by (TFD) and an external electric field driving method using an external electric field forming means can be applied.

(A), (b) is a figure which shows the principle structure of the information display panel used as the object of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the principle structure of the information display panel used as the object of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the principle structure of the information display panel used as the object of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the principle structure of the information display panel used as the object of this invention. (A)-(d) is a figure which shows the principle structure of the information display panel used as the object of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of an example of the particle dispersal apparatus used for the display medium arrangement | positioning process of the manufacturing method of the information display panel of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the particle | grain automatic supply apparatus of the particle | grain spreading | diffusion apparatus of this invention, and a pressure parting mechanism. It is a figure which shows the structure of the particle | grain automatic supply apparatus of the particle | grain spreading | diffusion apparatus of this invention, and a pressure parting mechanism. It is a flowchart which shows the replenishment operation | movement of the particle | grains in the particle | grain dispersing device of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the shape of the partition in the information display panel used as the object of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of an example of the particle dispersal apparatus used for the display medium arrangement | positioning process of the manufacturing method of the conventional information display panel. It is a flowchart which shows the replenishment operation | movement of the particle | grain in the conventional particle dispersal apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2 Substrate 3 Display medium (particle group)
3W White display medium 3B Black display medium 3Wa White particles for display medium 3Ba Black particles for display medium 4 Bulkhead 5, 6 Electrode 7, 8 External electric field forming means 9, 10 Conductive member 11 Transport pipe 12 Spray nozzle 13 Spray tank 14 Substrate 15 Particle supply mechanism (supply box)
15a Particle inlet 16 Pressure supply source 17 Particle automatic supply device 17a Particle container 17b Stirring blade 17c Drive motor 17d Transfer nozzle 17e Transfer screw 18 Pressure dividing mechanism 18a Container 18b Cylinder 18c Moving member 19 Particle automatic supply device control panel 20 Particle spreader Control panel 21-1 First cell 21-2 Second cell 21-3 Third cell 22R Red color filter 22G Green color filter 22B Blue color filter

Claims (4)

Information for displaying information such as images by moving a display medium composed of particles having optical reflectivity sealed in a plurality of cell spaces partitioned by a partition wall between two substrates, at least one of which is transparent When the particles constituting the display medium of the display panel are dispersed using a particle dispersal device and placed in the cell, the particles are supplied from a particle supply mechanism that operates at a predetermined pressure into the cell via a transport pipe and a spray nozzle. A method of manufacturing an information display panel that disperses the particles and performs a display medium arrangement step,
Manufacturing of an information display panel characterized in that an automatic particle replenishing device is connected to the particle supplying mechanism to automatically replenish particles in the particle supplying mechanism for the amount reduced by performing the display medium arranging step. Method.   By providing a pressure dividing mechanism between the particle supply mechanism and the particle automatic replenishing device, it is possible to prevent inflow of particles from the particle automatic replenishing device into the particle supply mechanism when the pressure is released after the completion of spraying. The method for manufacturing an information display panel according to claim 1.   The method for producing an information display panel according to claim 1, wherein the particles constituting the display medium are particles having optical reflectivity and chargeability. A particle supply mechanism that operates by a predetermined pressure and distributes particles having optical reflectivity in a cell formed on a substrate via a transport pipe and a spray nozzle;
An automatic particle supply device for automatically supplying the particles into the particle supply mechanism;
A pressure dividing mechanism for preventing inflow of particles from the particle automatic replenishing device into the particle supply mechanism when the pressure is released after the spraying of the particles is completed. A particle disperser used in the method for producing an information display panel according to any one of the above.

Images