JP2009145413A - Method of manufacturing information display panel and filling apparatus for particulate display medium used for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of manufacturing an information display panel, the method including conveying a particulate display medium from a particle tank to a substrate with high accuracy and uniformly dispersing and filling cells in the substrate with the medium, and to provide a filling apparatus for a particulate display medium to be used for the method. <P>SOLUTION: The method of manufacturing the information display panel includes a step of filling cells formed between two substrates by partitions with a particulate display medium 47, and this step is carried out through: a first step of blowing gas into a particle tank 31 having a fluidized bed system to charge the particulate display medium 47 to convert into an aerosol state; a second step of sucking the charged particulate display medium 47 in an aerosol state by an injector 32 and conveying the medium through a conveyance pipe 41 to a spray nozzle 43; and a third step of spraying and depositing the particulate display medium 47 from the spray nozzle 43 onto a substrate 44 left to stand in a spray chamber 33 to fill the cells of the substrate with the charged particulate display medium 47. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention forms a plurality of cells partitioned by a partition wall between two substrates, at least one of which is transparent, encloses a charged particulate display medium in the cell, and applies an electric field to the particulate display medium. When the information display panel that displays the information such as the image by moving the particulate display medium by manufacturing the information display panel, the information display for performing the particulate display medium filling process for filling the particulate display medium in the cell is performed. The present invention relates to a panel manufacturing method and a particulate display medium filling device used therefor.

  As an information display device that replaces a liquid crystal display device (LCD), a plurality of cells are formed by partition walls between two transparent substrates, and a charged particulate display medium is enclosed in the cells. An information display panel that displays information such as an image by moving the particulate display medium by applying an electric field to the particulate display medium is known. When producing this information display panel, a particulate display medium filling step of filling a particulate display medium in a cell using a particulate display medium filling apparatus is performed.

  As a conventional method of manufacturing an information display panel in which a charged particulate display medium is enclosed in a cell, the charged particulate display medium in a container is transported with a carrier gas (for example, nitrogen gas), and is then placed on the substrate. And a method of attaching a particulate display medium to substrates by an electrostatic particle coating method (hereinafter referred to as Conventional Method 2). As shown in FIG. 8, the conventional method 1 uses a feeder 54 including a container 52 that stores the particulate display medium 51 and a narrow groove roller 53 that conveys the particulate display medium 51. The particulate display medium 51 is hermetically sealed, the fine groove roller 53 is rotated to convey the particulate display medium 51, and the carrier gas (for example, nitrogen gas) 55 is pumped into the container 52 to press the fine groove roller 53. A structure having a mechanism for discharging the charged particulate display medium 51 from the spray nozzle 57 connected to the tip of the pipe 56 close to the substrate 59 on the substrate 59 in the spray chamber 58 is used. On the other hand, the conventional method 2 uses a technique in which a charged particle is sprayed onto a substrate when passing through a nozzle of a spray gun using a corona charging or tribo charging spray gun.

Since the conventional method 1 is configured to use a feeder composed of a container for storing the particulate display medium and a narrow groove roller for conveying the particulate display medium, the particulate display medium that can be charged into the container is used. The amount is limited by the size of the container, and is a method that is not suitable for mass production of information display panels by continuously spraying a particulate display medium. Further, in the conventional method 1, since the pressure in the container is released to atmospheric pressure after one spraying is completed, the compression state of the particulate display medium changes, and this compression and decompression are repeated. Therefore, a change in the aggregation state or density of the particulate display medium is caused, resulting in a variation in the amount of application. On the other hand, the conventional method 2, using a spray gun of the corona charging or tribo charging method, since it is charged particles adhere to the substrate as it passes through the nozzle, the particulate display medium 10 g / m ² or less of the amount It is difficult to uniformly adhere to the substrate.

  The present invention provides a technology (a method for manufacturing an information display panel and a particulate display medium filling device) that conveys a particulate display medium from a particle tank to a substrate with high accuracy and uniformly spreads and fills the particulate display medium in a cell of the substrate. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, a method for manufacturing an information display panel according to the present invention comprises forming a plurality of cells partitioned by a partition between at least one transparent substrate and having chargeability in the cells. When producing an information display panel that displays information such as images by moving the particulate display medium by enclosing the particulate display medium and applying an electric field to the particulate display medium, the particulate display medium A method for manufacturing an information display panel, wherein a particulate display medium filling step for filling a display medium is performed, wherein a gas is blown into a fluidized bed type particle tank to charge the particulate display medium to form an aerosol; A second step of sucking and transporting the charged and aerosolized particulate display medium to the spray nozzle, and spraying and depositing the particulate display medium from the spray nozzle on the substrate stationary in the spray chamber Wherein a third step of filling the charged particulate display media in the cell of the substrate, by: performing the particulate display media filling process by allowing.

  As a preferred example of the method for producing an information display panel of the present invention, the particulate display medium is composed of positively charged particles and negatively charged particles having different optical reflectivities from each other. Using dry air or inert gas as a carrier gas, circularly or precessing the tip of a nozzle for spraying and filling the particulate display medium on a substrate in the third step, and as the nozzle, In some cases, a corona charging spray nozzle or a tribo charging spray nozzle is used.

  In order to achieve the above object, the particulate display medium filling device of the present invention is a fluidized bed type particle tank capable of charging a particulate display medium by injecting gas into an aerosol, and comprising a gas container and a porous container. A plate, a particle fluidized bed container, an aerosol particle bed container, and a pressure control valve are sequentially laminated. The particle fluidized bed container is provided with a plurality of jet nozzles, and the aerosol particles A particle tank provided with a suction port in the layer container, and an injector for transporting the charged and aerosolized particulate display medium sucked from the suction port into the spray chamber by a transport pipe by flowing a carrier gas And spraying and depositing the charged and aerosolized particulate display medium on a substrate that is coupled to the tip of the transport pipe and placed in a spray chamber. Characterized by comprising by comprising: a spray nozzle for filling the particulate display medium in the cell substrate, a by causing.

  According to the method for producing an information display panel of the present invention, the first step of blowing gas into a fluidized bed type particle tank to charge the particulate display medium to form an aerosol, and the charged and aerosolized particulate display medium include: A second step of sucking and conveying to the spray nozzle; and the particulate display medium charged in the cells of the substrate by spraying and depositing the particulate display medium from the spray nozzle on the substrate stationary in the spray chamber. Since the particulate display medium filling step for filling the particulate display medium in the cell is performed by the third step of filling the particulate storage medium, the particulate display medium is transported from the particle tank to the substrate with high accuracy into the cell of the substrate. It is possible to provide a method for manufacturing an information display panel that is uniformly dispersed and filled.

  According to the particulate display medium filling apparatus of the present invention, a fluidized bed type particle tank capable of charging a particulate display medium by injecting a gas to be aerosolized, which includes a gas storage unit, a porous plate, particles A fluidized bed container, an aerosol particle layer container, and a pressure regulating valve are sequentially laminated. The particle fluidized bed container is provided with a plurality of jet nozzles. The particle tank provided with a suction port, an injector for transporting the charged and aerosolized particulate display medium sucked from the suction port into a spray chamber by a transport pipe by flowing a carrier gas, and the transport Scattering and depositing the charged and aerosolized particulate display medium onto a substrate coupled to the tip of a pipe and placed in a spray chamber. A spray nozzle for filling the particulate display medium in the cell substrate Ri, because made comprises a, a particulate display media filling apparatus suitable for the production method of the information display panel of the present invention.

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

  First, the structure of the information display panel manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present invention will be described. In the information display panel manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present invention, an electric field is applied to the charged particulate display medium sealed in the space between two opposing substrates. Along the applied electric field direction, the particulate display medium is attracted by an electric field force or a Coulomb force, and the particulate 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 particulate display medium moves uniformly and can maintain stability when rewriting display information repeatedly or displaying display information continuously. . Here, the force applied to the particles constituting the particulate display medium is considered to be an electric mirror image force between the electrode and the substrate, intermolecular force, liquid cross-linking force, gravity, etc., in addition to the force attracted by the Coulomb force between the particles. It is done.

  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. 1 (a) and 1 (b), at least two or more types of particles configured as a particle group including charged particles having different optical reflectivity and charging characteristics composed of at least one type of particles. Display medium 3 (Here, two types of particulate display media are shown: a white display medium 3W composed of particles of white particles 3Wa for display medium and a black display medium 3B composed of particles of black particles 3Ba for display medium) In each cell formed by the partition walls 4, according to the electric field generated by applying a voltage between the electrode 5 (individual electrode) provided on the substrate 1 and the electrode 6 (individual electrode) provided on the substrate 2. The substrate 1 and 2 are moved vertically. Then, as shown in FIG. 1A, the white display medium 3W is visually recognized by the observer and white dot display is performed, or as shown in FIG. 1B, the black display medium 3B is visually recognized by the observer. Black dots are displayed. 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. 2 (a) and 2 (b), at least two or more types of particles configured as a particle group including charged particles having different optical reflectance and charging characteristics composed of at least one type of particles. Display medium 3 (Here, two types of particulate display media are shown: a white display medium 3W composed of particles of white particles 3Wa for display medium and a black display medium 3B composed of particles of black particles 3Ba for display medium) In each cell formed by the partition walls 4, according to the electric field generated by applying a voltage between the electrode 5 (line electrode) provided on the substrate 1 and the electrode 6 (line electrode) provided on the substrate 2. The substrate 1 and 2 are moved vertically. Then, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), the white display medium 3W is visually recognized by the observer and white dot display is performed, or as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the black display medium 3B is visually recognized by the observer. Black dots are displayed. 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 particulate 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 is filled. -1 is provided with a red color filter 22R, the second cell 21-2 is provided with a green color filter 22G on the observer side, and a third cell 21-3 is provided with a blue color filter 22B on the observer side. A display unit (one dot) is configured by 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 moved in the first cell 21-1 to the third cell 21-3 to 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 moving the medium 3B, black dots are displayed to the observer. In addition, in FIG. 3 (a), (b), the partition in front is abbreviate | omitted. Multicolor display can be performed by moving the display medium of each cell.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), one kind of particle shape constituted as a particle group including at least an optical reflectance and charged particles having at least one kind of particles. In each cell formed with the partition walls 4, the display medium 3 (here, the white particulate display medium 3 </ b> W composed of a group of white particles 3 </ b> Wa for display medium) is provided, and the electrode 5 and the black electrode 6 provided on the substrate 1. The substrate is moved in a direction parallel to the substrates 1 and 2 in accordance with an electric field generated by applying a voltage between them. Then, as shown in FIG. 4A, the white display medium 3W is visually recognized by the observer and white dot display is performed, or as shown in FIG. 4B, the color of the black electrode 6 is changed by the observer. The black dots are displayed by visually recognizing. 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, charging with different optical reflectance and charging characteristics composed of at least one kind of particles is used. At least two or more types of particulate display medium 3 configured as a particle group including particles (here, a white display medium 3W including a particle group of white particles 3Wa for display medium and a particle group of black particles 3Ba for display medium) In each cell formed of the partition walls 4, the external electric field forming means 7 provided outside the substrate 1 and the external electric field provided outside the substrate 2 are shown. The substrate is moved perpendicularly to the substrates 1 and 2 according to an electric field generated by applying a voltage between the forming unit 8 and the forming unit 8. Then, the white display medium 3W is visually recognized by the observer as shown in FIG. 5B, or white dot display is performed, or the black display medium 3B is visually recognized by the observer as shown in FIG. 5D. Black dots are displayed. 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 particulate display medium filling apparatus used in the particulate display medium filling step of the method for producing an information display panel of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the particulate display medium filling device of the present invention comprises a particle tank 31, an injector 32, a spraying chamber 33, and the like.

  The particle tank 31 is a fluidized bed type particle tank in which gas can be blown to charge the particulate display medium to be aerosolized. From the bottom to the top, the gas storage part 34, the porous plate 35, the particles A fluidized bed container 36, an aerosol particle layer container 37, and a pressure control valve 38 are sequentially stacked. An opening (not shown) for injecting gas is formed on the left side surface of the gas storage portion 34. The particle fluidized bed container 36 is provided with a plurality of jet nozzles 39 (two in the illustrated example) for forming a jet stream. A suction port 40 is provided on the right side surface of the aerosol particle layer housing portion 37. The pressure of the carrier gas (carrier gas) is appropriately adjusted.

  The injector 32 causes the carrier gas to flow from the open end at the top of the figure, whereby the charged and aerosolized particulate display medium sucked from the suction port 40 of the particle tank 31 is introduced into the spraying chamber 33 by the transport pipe 41. It is to be transported, and it is necessary to open the valve 42 when transporting the particulate display medium. As the carrier gas, dry air or an inert gas such as nitrogen can be suitably used. The pressure of the carrier gas is preferably set to a pressure in the range of 0.1 to 0.7 MPa, and is appropriately selected depending on the transport amount and transport distance of the particulate display medium and the diameter of the transport pipe. As shown in the figure, the charged and aerosolized particulate display medium may be diluted by flowing a dilution gas into the transport pipe 41.

In the spraying chamber 33, there are provided a spraying nozzle 43 coupled to the tip of the transport pipe 41 and a stage 45 for resting the substrate 44, which are disposed so as to penetrate the ceiling surface.
A transparent substrate such as a glass substrate, a resin sheet substrate, or a resin film substrate is used as the substrate 44 to be the display surface side front panel substrate. An electrode 46 for applying a voltage having a predetermined voltage and polarity (positive / negative) is connected to the substrate 44.
As the spray nozzle 43, a corona charging spray nozzle that attaches a corona electrode to charge particles, or a tribo charging spray nozzle that improves friction with the inner wall of the nozzle can be suitably used.

  Matrix electrodes are formed of a conductive film on the surfaces of the two front and back substrates constituting the information display panel, and the particulate display medium is driven by passing an electric current and applying an electric field to the particulate display medium. It is a mechanism. A transparent conductive film is provided on the display surface side front panel substrate, but the conductive film provided on the other back side panel substrate may not be transparent. Further, partition walls (ribs) are formed in a lattice pattern on at least one of the substrates. This partition functions to keep the distance between the two front and back substrates constant, and secures a space for moving the particulate display medium. Further, since the particulate display medium is restricted from moving in the horizontal direction by the partition walls, it is possible to prevent the particulate display medium from being unevenly distributed and causing display unevenness.

  Particles composed of positively charged particles and negatively charged particles (for example, positively charged black particles and negatively charged white particles) having different optical reflectivities in a cell that is a space formed between two panel substrates. The black and white particles can be moved and black and white display can be performed by enclosing the state display medium and applying a voltage between the substrates. The facing distance between the two panel substrates is preferably 10 μm to 100 μm, and when the facing distance between the two panel substrates is narrower than 10 μm, the encapsulated particles are limited to fine ones, so that the particle preparation technology, The sealing method becomes difficult. On the other hand, when the distance between the two panel substrates is wider than 100 μm, it is necessary to increase the particle driving voltage, which increases power consumption, which is not preferable.

  Next, the particulate display medium filling step in the method for producing an information display panel of the present invention using the particulate display medium filling apparatus will be described. The particulate display medium filling step in the present invention includes a first step in which gas is blown into a fluidized bed type particle tank to charge the particulate display medium to form an aerosol, and the charged and aerosolized particulate display medium is sucked and dispersed. Second step of transporting to the nozzle, and third step of filling the charged particulate display medium in the cells of the substrate by spraying and depositing the particulate display medium from the spray nozzle onto the substrate stationary in the spray chamber. It consists of. Each step will be described in detail below.

[First step]
When gas is blown at an appropriate pressure from an opening (not shown) of the gas storage section 34 below the particle tank 31, the particles in the particle tank 31 float and become a fluid state, and are frictionally charged. At that time, the charging of the particles is promoted by blowing a jet stream from the jet nozzle 39 of the particle fluidized bed container 36. Thereby, in the aerosol-like particle layer accommodating portion 37 in the upper layer portion of the particle tank 31, the sufficiently charged particles are in a suspended state (aerosol state). In addition, instead of blowing the gas to charge the particles, the particles can be charged and suspended by stirring with a rotary stirring blade. In addition, the particles can be charged by applying ultrasonic waves to the particles using an ultrasonic oscillator.

[Second step]
By supplying the carrier gas to the injector 32, the charged and aerosolized particulate display medium 47 in the particle tank 31 is sucked into the injector 32 from the opening 40. At this time, by opening the valve 42 of the injector 32, the charged and aerosolized particulate display medium 47 is transported by the carrier gas to the spray nozzle 43 in the spray chamber 33 through the transport pipe 41. At that time, the particulate display medium 47 is transported into the spraying chamber 33 while being frictionally charged in the transport pipe 41.

[Third step]
The charged and aerosolized particulate display medium 47 transported to the spray nozzle 43 is sprayed from the spray nozzle 43 into the spray chamber 33, and is deposited on the surface of the substrate 44 stationary in the spray chamber 33.
The spray nozzle 43 can freely change its length and spray angle. In particular, it is preferable to cause the nozzle tip to perform a circular motion or precession during spraying, because the sprayed particulate display medium is uniformly deposited on the substrate.
The amount of the particulate display medium 47 deposited on the substrate 44 is controlled by the spraying time. The spray amount of the particulate display medium 47 is preferably 1 to 50 g / m ³ . Further, the adhesion of the particulate display medium to the substrate can be strengthened by grounding the substrate or by charging the substrate with a polarity opposite to the polarity of the charged particles spreading the substrate. This strengthening of the adhesive force is also effective in preventing the scattering of the particulate display medium due to the carrier gas flow and the scattering of the particulate display medium during substrate transport.

According to the method for manufacturing an information display panel of the present invention, a first step of charging a particulate display medium by blowing gas into a fluidized bed type particle tank to form an aerosol, and suctioning the charged and aerosolized particulate display medium A second step of conveying to the spray nozzle, and a particulate display medium charged in the cell of the substrate by spraying and depositing the particulate display medium from the spray nozzle on the substrate stationary in the spray chamber. In the third step of filling, the particulate display medium filling step of filling the particulate display medium into the cell is performed. The cells can be uniformly sprayed and filled.
Moreover, since the particulate display medium filling apparatus of this invention is comprised as shown in FIG. 6, it becomes a particulate display medium filling apparatus suitable for the manufacturing method of the information display panel of this invention.

  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 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 10 to 2000 μm, more preferably 50 to 1000 μm. If it is too thin, it will be difficult to maintain the strength and 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.

  The electrode forming material provided on the substrate as required includes metals such as aluminum, silver, nickel, copper, and gold, indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), aluminum zinc oxide (AZO), and oxidation. Examples thereof include conductive metal oxides such as indium, conductive tin oxide, antimony tin oxide (ATO), and conductive zinc oxide, and conductive polymers such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, and polythiophene. 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 500 μm, preferably 10 to 100 μm, and more 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. 7, the cells formed by the partition walls made 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 substrate plane direction. 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 clearness of the display state increases.
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 (particles having optical reflectivity and chargeability) constituting a particulate display medium used for an information display panel produced using 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, polycycloolefin resin, butyral resin, vinylidene chloride resin, melamine resin, phenol resin, fluororesin, polycarbonate resin, polysulfone resin, polyether resin, polyamide resin, ethylene dimethacrylate / styrene resin, etc. 2 or more types 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 20 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 size of each particle is uniform, and movement as a uniform display medium becomes possible.

  Furthermore, among the display medium particles used, it is important that the ratio of d (0.5) of the display medium particles having the minimum diameter to d (0.5) of the display medium particles having the maximum diameter is 10 or less. is there. 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, in a dry information display panel that drives a particulate display medium composed of display medium particles in a gas space, it is important to manage the gas in the void surrounding the particulate display medium between the substrates, and display stability Contributes to improved performance. 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. This refers to the gas part in contact with the so-called display medium, excluding the electrodes 5 and 6 (when electrodes are provided inside the substrate), the occupied part of the display medium 3, the occupied part of the partition walls 4, and the seal part of the information display panel. And
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 humidity of the gas used as the carrier gas in the production method of the present invention is preferably in the above range. The type of gas used may be the same or different between the gas sealed in the inter-substrate space and the carrier gas.

The distance between the substrates in the information display panel of the present invention is not limited as long as the particulate display medium can move and maintain the contrast, but is usually 10 to 500 μm, preferably 10 to 100 μm, more preferably 10 to 50 μm. Adjusted.
The volume occupancy of the particulate display medium in the gas space between the opposing substrates is preferably 5 to 70%, more preferably 5 to 60%. If it exceeds 70%, the movement of the particulate display medium is hindered. 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 of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

Comb-like electrode processing is performed on transparent conductive glass (300 mm x 275 mm, thickness 0.7 mm) on which ITO (indium tin oxide) is deposited, and a photosensitive resin film (thickness 50 μm) is laminated, followed by exposure etching treatment. A lattice-shaped partition wall (rib) was formed to produce a substrate with partition walls. The partition wall width is 30 μm, the partition wall pitch is 300 μm, and the partition wall height is 50 μm.
On the other hand, as the cover glass substrate, a transparent conductive glass on which ITO was vapor-deposited and subjected to comb-like electrode processing orthogonal to the counter substrate was used.

<Example 1>
First, the particle tank 31 of the particulate display medium filling device shown in FIG. 6 is filled with black electrophotographic polymerized toner (average particle diameter of 8 μm), and 0.1 MPa from the gas storage portion 34 below the particle tank. Dry nitrogen gas was blown to form an aerosol particle layer.
Next, 0.2 MPa of carrier gas (dry nitrogen gas) was poured into the injector 32 to suck charged aerosol-like black particles, which were then fed into the spray nozzle 43 by the transport pipe 41. From the spray nozzle 43, charged aerosol-like black particles were sprayed on the substrate 44 for 2 minutes, and the spray amount (conveyance amount) was measured. As a result of performing this measurement 20 times, the average value of the spraying amount was 6.1 g, and the standard deviation was 0.05 g.

<Example 2>
First, two particle tanks 31 of the particulate display medium filling device shown in FIG. 6 are prepared, and one of the particle tanks uses a polymer toner for electrophotography (average particle diameter of 8 μm) as black particles. Then, 0.1 MPa of dry nitrogen gas was blown from the gas storage portion 34 below the particle tank to form an aerosol particle layer. The other particle tank was filled with particles (average particle diameter 8 μm) obtained by pulverizing and classifying styrene resin containing titanium oxide as white particles, and an aerosol particle layer was formed in the same manner as described above.
Next, 0.2 MPa of carrier gas (dry nitrogen gas) was poured into the injector 32 to suck charged aerosol-like black particles, which were then fed into the spray nozzle 43 by the transport pipe 41. From the tip of the spray nozzle 43, charged aerosol-like black particles were sprayed on the substrate 44. Next, the transport pipe 41 connected to the white particle particle tank 31 via the injector 32 is connected to the spray nozzle 43 in the spray chamber 33, and charged aerosol-like white particles are charged in the same manner as in the case of black particles. It was spread on the substrate 44. The black particles and the white particles were sprayed at a rate of 3 g / min for 2 minutes, so that the amount of black particles and white particles (the amount of transport) was 6 g.
After the completion of the spraying, the substrate 44 was taken out and the cover glass substrate was overlaid, and the outer periphery of the partition was fixed with an adhesive to produce an information display panel.
When an AC voltage of 150 V and 2 kHz is applied to this information display panel, the white solid image and the black solid image are rewritten, and the white particulate display medium and the black particulate display medium are moved and reversed. It was confirmed that the white particles were uniformly dispersed on the substrate.

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 display unit (so-called rewritable paper) for rewriting the display by an external electric field forming unit.
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 particulate display medium filling apparatus used for the particulate display medium filling process of the manufacturing method of the information display panel 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 structural example of the particulate display medium filling apparatus used for the particulate display medium filling process in the manufacturing method of the information display panel of a prior art example.

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 21-1 First cell 21-2 Second Cell 21-3 third cell 22R red color filter 22G green color filter 22B blue color filter 31 particle tank 32 injector 33 spraying chamber 34 gas storage unit 35 perforated plate 36 particle fluidized bed storage unit 37 aerosol particle layer storage unit 38 Pressure regulating valve 39 Jet nozzle 40 Suction port 41 Transport pipe 42 Valve 43 Spray nozzle 44 Substrate 45 Stage 46 Electrode 47 Charged and aerosolized particulate display medium

Claims (6)

By forming a plurality of cells partitioned by a partition between two substrates, at least one of which is transparent, encapsulating a charged particulate display medium in the cell, and applying an electric field to the particulate display medium An information display panel that performs a particulate display medium filling step for filling a particulate display medium in a cell when producing an information display panel that displays information such as an image by moving the particulate display medium. A manufacturing method comprising:
A first step in which gas is blown into a fluidized bed type particle tank to charge the particulate display medium to form an aerosol;
A second step of sucking and transporting the charged and aerosolized particulate display medium to a spray nozzle;
The particulate display medium is filled with charged particulate display medium in the cells of the substrate by spraying and depositing the particulate display medium from the spray nozzle on the substrate stationary in the spray chamber. A method for manufacturing an information display panel, comprising performing a medium filling step.   2. The method for manufacturing an information display panel according to claim 1, wherein the particulate display medium is composed of positively charged particles and negatively charged particles having different optical reflectivities.   3. The method for manufacturing an information display panel according to claim 1, wherein dry air or inert gas is used as a carrier gas for the particulate display medium.   4. The information display panel according to claim 1, wherein, in the third step, a tip of a nozzle for spraying and filling the particulate display medium on the substrate is caused to perform a circular motion or a precession motion. 5. Manufacturing method.   5. The method for manufacturing an information display panel according to claim 4, wherein a corona charging spray nozzle or a tribo charging spray nozzle is used as the nozzle. A fluidized bed type particle tank capable of charging and aerosolizing a particulate display medium by injecting a gas, a gas storage unit, a porous plate, a particle fluidized bed storage unit, an aerosol particle layer storage unit, A pressure tank and a particle tank in which a plurality of jet nozzles are provided in the particle fluidized bed container, and a suction port is provided in the aerosol particle layer container;
An injector that conveys the charged and aerosolized particulate display medium sucked from the suction port into the spray chamber by a transport pipe by flowing a carrier gas;
A spray nozzle that is coupled to the tip of the transfer pipe and fills the cells of the substrate with the particulate display medium by spraying and depositing the charged and aerosolized particulate display medium on the substrate placed in the spray chamber. The particulate display medium filling apparatus used for the manufacturing method of the information display panel of any one of Claims 1-5 characterized by comprising.

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