JP2015155089A - Adhesive coating device and production device and production method of member for display unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the degradation of bonding quality by that the fluctuation of an adhesive coated on a work-piece is suppressed by temporary hardening and a proper shape can be limited by the temporary hardening at proper timing.

SOLUTION: An adhesive coating device 1 coating an adhesive hardened by the irradiation of energy to a work-piece S1 constituting a display unit comprises: a coating portion coating the adhesive on the work-piece S1 while relatively moving to the work-piece S1; an irradiation portion temporarily hardening the adhesive by the irradiation of energy to the adhesive coated in the coating portion. In the irradiation portion, irradiation timing is set between a first timing where a bonding surface with the adhesive becomes flat and a second timing before causing distortion on the bonding surface.

COPYRIGHT: (C)2015,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides, for example, an adhesive application device, a display device member manufacturing apparatus, and a display device member, which are improved techniques for applying an adhesive to a workpiece in order to bond a pair of workpieces constituting the display device. It relates to the manufacturing method.

  In general, a flat display device (flat panel display) typified by a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display has a display panel, a touch panel for operation and a protective panel (cover panel) for protecting the surface as necessary, A backlight, its light guide plate, and the like are built in a housing of a flat panel display.

  These display panels, touch panels, protective panels, backlights, their light guide plates, and the like (hereinafter referred to as workpieces) are stacked and incorporated in the housing of the flat panel display. Each workpiece is assembled individually or in a pre-stacked state. For example, what was comprised as a composite panel which laminated | stacked the touch panel on the protective cover may be used.

  A display panel in which a touch panel function is incorporated may be used. As described above, there are various types of workpieces. Hereinafter, a laminate of two or more workpieces constituting the display device is referred to as a display device member.

  When such a gap is provided between the workpieces stacked as the display device member, the visibility of the display surface of the display is lowered due to the reflection of external light. In order to cope with this, each work is bonded and laminated through an adhesive layer to fill a gap between the works.

  There are two methods for laminating such workpieces: a method of bonding using an adhesive sheet and a method of bonding using a fluid liquid adhesive. The adhesive sheet is relatively expensive compared to the adhesive, and a process such as peeling of the release paper is required. For this reason, due to the recent demand for cost reduction, bonding using an adhesive has become the mainstream.

  In addition, such an adhesive layer may be required to have a function of protecting the workpiece as a buffer material between the workpieces. Furthermore, due to the increase in the size of the display, the work also has a large area and is likely to be deformed. For this reason, in order to absorb a deformation | transformation and to protect a workpiece | work, it exists in the tendency for the thickness requested | required of a contact bonding layer to increase. For example, a thickness of several hundred μm has been required.

  If a liquid adhesive is used to secure the thickness of such an adhesive layer, the amount of adhesive required increases. As a result, the adhesive applied to the workpiece flows and easily protrudes from the workpiece. Thus, an adhesive is applied to the surface of the workpiece, and temporary curing is performed so that the applied shape does not collapse (see Patent Document 1).

  That is, the adhesive is applied to the entire application surface of the workpiece by moving the nozzle and the workpiece relative to each other while applying the UV curable resin adhesive to the application surface of the workpiece from the slit type nozzle. At this time, following the vicinity immediately after the nozzle and irradiating UV light from the irradiation unit, the adhesive was temporarily cured to suppress the flow.

JP 2012-71281 A

  Immediately after application of the adhesive as described above, the shape of the surface of the adhesive may not be stable. In this way, when the workpiece is bonded in a state where the shape of the bonding surface of the adhesive is unstable, there is a possibility that the edge of the bonded adhesive will not enter a visual recognition region, or the desired state may not be achieved. . Moreover, after application | coating, with the progress of time, the surface of an adhesive agent will collapse by a protrusion or a hollow. When pasting together in a state where this collapse is on the pasting surface, the bumps and depressions cannot be pressed completely, resulting in voids.

  Moreover, the general protection panel has a window part and a frame part. A window part is an area | region which can visually recognize the display area of a display panel. The frame portion is a portion having a low visible light transmittance formed so as to define the size and shape of the window portion. In recent years, there is a high demand for reducing the size of the display panel itself even if the display area of the display panel is the same size. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 19A, the protective panel C bonded to the display panel D via the adhesive R has a wide window area C1 and a very narrow frame area C2. . Then, high accuracy is required so that the position and shape of the end portion of the adhesive R are in the state shown in FIG.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 19B, when the end of the adhesive R is visible from the window area C1, the display area is disturbed. Since the end portion of the adhesive R has an R shape with a certain degree of roundness, it is necessary to apply the adhesive R so that the R portion cannot be seen inside the window region C1 when viewed from above. is there. If the R portion is present inside the window region C1, the portion corresponding to the dotted line portion indicated by the white arrow in the drawing may look like a double line when viewed from above. Therefore, it is necessary to make this R portion extremely small. Of course, a state in which only the R portion exists inside the window region C1 is also a problem.

  Moreover, even if it is made for the edge part of the adhesive agent R not to overlap with a display area, as shown in FIG.19 (C), the adhesive agent R protrudes from the edge part of the display panel D or the protection panel C. This is often unacceptable because it can adversely affect the components.

  Furthermore, since the adhesive R starts to flow immediately after application, the end shape changes with the passage of time. For example, as the adhesive R is applied, the surface of the adhesive R with respect to the protective panel C on the surface of the adhesive R breaks down due to bulges and depressions. When pasted together in a state where there is this collapse, as shown in FIG. 19 (D), the bumps and depressions cannot be fully pressed, resulting in void B.

  The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and its purpose is to suppress the fluctuation of the adhesive applied to the workpiece by pre-curing and to appropriately To provide an adhesive application device, a display device member manufacturing apparatus, and a display device member manufacturing method that can be limited to an appropriate shape by pre-curing at appropriate timing and prevent deterioration in bonding quality It is in.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a method for bonding a pair of workpieces constituting a display device to at least one of the pair of workpieces in order to bond them together via an adhesive that is cured by energy irradiation. In the adhesive application device for applying the adhesive, the adhesive is applied by irradiating energy to the application part that moves relative to the work and applies the adhesive to the work, and the adhesive applied by the application part. An irradiation part to be temporarily cured, and the irradiation part is between a first timing at which the bonding surface in the adhesive becomes flat and a second timing at which the bonding surface is broken. The timing for irradiating energy is set.

  The timing at which the irradiation unit reaches the irradiation position may be set between the first timing and the second timing.

  As the timing of irradiation by the irradiation unit, the irradiation start of irradiation of the irradiation unit from the start of application of the adhesive to the start of the application, and the end irradiation of irradiation of the irradiation unit from the end of application of the adhesive to the end of the application. Timing may be set.

  In the first timing at the end of application of the adhesive, the protruding portion generated in the adhesive on the workpiece side disappears due to the separation of the adhesive on the workpiece side and the adhesive on the application portion side due to the movement of the application portion. It may be the timing.

  The second timing at the start and end of application of the adhesive may be a timing at which a bulge occurs on the bonding surface of the adhesive.

  The first timing and the second timing at the side end parallel to the application direction of the adhesive may be earlier than the timing of the central portion at the start or end of application of the adhesive.

  A timing different from at least one of the start end irradiation timing and the end end irradiation timing may be set as the timing at which the irradiation unit irradiates the side edge parallel to the application direction of the adhesive.

  The higher the viscosity of the adhesive, the slower the time from the start of application to the first timing and the second timing, and the lower the viscosity of the adhesive, the first timing and the second timing from the start of application. It may be faster.

  The irradiation unit may include a plurality of irradiation sources for irradiating energy, and the irradiation timings of the plurality of irradiation sources may be different so that a difference in irradiation time to the application site of the adhesive occurs.

  The irradiation unit has a plurality of irradiation sources for irradiating energy, and a part of the plurality of irradiation sources moves independently from other irradiation sources so that a difference in arrival time to the application point of the adhesive occurs. It may be configured as follows.

  The space | interval of the said application part and the said irradiation part may be comprised variably.

  In addition, each said aspect can also be caught as invention of the manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method which laminate | stack a workpiece | work and manufacture the member for display apparatuses.

  As described above, according to the present invention, variation in the surface shape of the adhesive applied to the workpiece is suppressed by pre-curing, and is limited to an appropriate shape by pre-curing at an appropriate timing. Thus, it is possible to provide an adhesive application device, a display device member manufacturing apparatus, and a display device member manufacturing method capable of preventing deterioration in bonding quality.

Simplified block diagram showing a display device manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment Simplified configuration diagram showing the coating apparatus of the embodiment The perspective view which shows the application part, irradiation part, and temporary hardening state in embodiment Partially transparent plan view showing the application part and irradiation part Explanatory drawing which shows the change of the form of the adhesive agent in the starting end of application | coating Explanatory drawing which shows the change of the form of the adhesive agent at the end of application Simplified configuration diagram showing the bonding apparatus of the embodiment Simplified configuration diagram showing the curing apparatus of the embodiment Block diagram showing the configuration of the control device Time chart showing the operation of each part in the embodiment Explanatory drawing which shows the operation | movement from the application | coating start in embodiment to the end of application | coating end Explanatory drawing which shows the operation | movement from the application | coating end in embodiment to the completion | finish of irradiation The perspective view which shows the expansion aspect of the adhesive agent of a termination | terminus The perspective view which shows the example which made the irradiation part the division | segmentation structure Partial perspective plan view showing an example of multiple irradiation sources with different irradiation timings Partial perspective plan view showing examples of multiple irradiation sources with different arrangement positions Explanatory drawing which shows the example which changes the space | interval of an irradiation part and an application part during application | coating The perspective view which shows the other aspect of an application part. Explanatory drawing which shows the state of the adhesive at the time of bonding

  Embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

[Constitution]
First, the configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[work]
In the present embodiment, the workpieces S1 and S2 to be bonded are members that constitute a display device member, and a display panel is formed by bonding a protective panel (cover panel) to the display panel via an adhesive R. A laminated body of device members is formed. This apparatus is a display device member manufacturing apparatus that manufactures a laminate of such display device members.

[Manufacturing device for display device member]
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the display device member manufacturing apparatus 100 includes an adhesive application device 1, a bonding device 2, a curing device 3, and a transport device 4. The display device member manufacturing apparatus 100 also includes a control device 7. The control device 7 controls the operation of the devices constituting each part, controls the transfer timing of the workpieces S1 and S2, and the like.

  The transport device 4 includes a transport unit that transports the workpieces S <b> 1 and S <b> 2 to each unit and a drive mechanism thereof. As the transfer unit, for example, a turntable, a conveyor, and the like are conceivable. However, any device may be used as long as it can transfer the workpieces S1 and S2 between the above devices.

  The workpieces S <b> 1 and S <b> 2 are carried into the display device member manufacturing apparatus 100 by the loader 5 and are conveyed by the conveying device 4. An adhesive application device 1, a bonding device 2, and a curing device 3 are arranged along the transport device 4. The workpieces S1 and S2 are picked up from the transfer device 4 by pick-up means (not shown), and are carried into and out of each device via a carry-in port (not shown). Through the steps described below in detail in each device, the display device member L is manufactured and unloaded from the display device member manufacturing device 100 by the unloader 6.

[Adhesive application equipment]
As shown in FIG. 2, the adhesive application device 1 includes a support part 12, an application part 10, and an irradiation part 11.
[Supporting part]
The support unit 12 supports the workpiece S1 in the adhesive application device 1 with the application surface facing upward. The support unit 12 includes a stage 12a and a drive mechanism 12b. The stage 12a is a flat table on which the work S1 is placed. The drive mechanism 12b is a mechanism that reciprocates the stage 12a in the horizontal direction. As the drive mechanism 12b, for example, a ball screw rotated by a drive source can be considered. However, any apparatus may be used as long as it can reciprocate the mounted workpiece S1 in the horizontal direction. The start, stop, and speed of the movement of the stage 12a in the drive mechanism 12b are controlled by the control device 7.

[Applying part]
The application unit 10 is, for example, a slit coater provided with a slit for supplying the adhesive R accommodated in the tank T to the work S1 by sending it out by a pump through a piping that is a distribution path and a valve that adjusts the supply amount. It is.

  The slit is an opening that is elongated in a direction parallel to the application surface of the workpiece S1 and perpendicular to the direction of relative movement of the workpiece S1, and the length in the longitudinal direction is equal to or slightly shorter than the width of the workpiece S1. ing. As shown in FIG. 3, the tip portion of the application unit 10 forms a nozzle (slit nozzle) having such a slit at a position facing the workpiece S1.

  Furthermore, the coating part 10 is provided with a shielding part 10a. The shielding unit 10a is a member that blocks the energy from the irradiation unit 11 and prevents the adhesive R at the nozzle tip from being irradiated. This shielding part 10a can be made into the plate-shaped member attached to the irradiation part 11 side of the application part 10, for example. Depending on the distance between the application unit 10 and the irradiation unit 11, the irradiation intensity of the irradiation unit 11, the irradiation direction, the irradiation range, etc., the influence of the irradiation energy on the adhesive R at the nozzle tip may be small. The shielding portion 10a may not be provided.

  Moreover, the application part 10 is provided so that it may raise / lower in the direction orthogonal to the application surface of the workpiece | work S1, for example with a drive mechanism not shown. The discharge amount of the adhesive R from the nozzle is adjusted by valve control and pump control of the control device 7. Note that the shape of the adhesive R immediately after discharge depends on the discharge speed, viscosity, and temperature of the adhesive R, the relative movement speed between the application surface and the application portion 10, clearance, and the like. Further, the shape of the adhesive R after application changes as described later.

  The adhesive R may be any resin that is cured by energy irradiation from the outside. For example, an ultraviolet (UV) curable resin or a thermosetting resin can be considered. In the present embodiment, description will be made using an ultraviolet (UV) curable resin. The viscosity of the adhesive R used is not particularly limited. However, 2,000 to tens of thousands of cps is assumed as the viscosity that is highly necessary to suppress flow due to temporary curing, and 2,000 to 5,000 cps having a relatively low viscosity is preferable.

[Irradiation part]
The irradiation unit 11 is a processing unit that irradiates the adhesive R with energy for temporary curing. As shown in FIG. 4, the irradiation unit 11 includes a plurality of irradiation sources 11a that irradiate energy. In the irradiation unit 11, for example, an irradiation source 11a such as a plurality of LEDs, LDs, and lamps is parallel to the application surface of the workpiece S1, and is orthogonal to the direction of relative movement of the workpiece S1 indicated by a white arrow in the drawing. Are arranged opposite to the workpiece S1 at equal intervals in the direction of the movement. For example, when the adhesive R is a UV curable resin, the irradiation source 11a outputs UV (ultraviolet) light, and the adhesive R applied to the workpiece S1 is irradiated with the UV light from the irradiation source 11a. Moreover, when the adhesive R is a thermosetting resin, the irradiation part 11 will irradiate the thermal energy from a heat source. In this case, the irradiation unit 11 can output Ir (infrared rays), for example. In FIG. 3, there are two rows, but there may be one row or three or more rows, and there is no particular limitation. Further, the irradiation sources 11a may be in close contact with each other or may be arranged in a zigzag state.

  Irradiation by the irradiation unit 11 is performed so that the adhesive R is in a temporarily cured state. Temporary curing refers to a cured state that is not completely achieved. For example, the adhesive R can be in a temporarily cured state by irradiating an energy amount smaller than the energy amount necessary for complete curing. This can make adhesive R into a temporary hardening state by irradiating with weak intensity | strength or short time. In addition, when a certain type of UV curable resin is irradiated with UV in the atmosphere, it is in a type of temporary curing in which the surface of the adhesive R does not progress due to oxygen inhibition or the like.

  ON / OFF of energy irradiation by the irradiation unit 11 and the intensity of irradiation energy are controlled by the control device 7. Moreover, the irradiation part 11 is comprised so that the space | interval with the application part 10 is variable. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a horizontal interval with respect to the application unit 10 can be changed by a displacement mechanism 11 x that is a position changing unit. This displacement mechanism 11x can switch between a state in which the horizontal distance from the application unit 10 is fixed to a desired distance and a state in which the workpiece S1 moves independently of the application unit 10 in the relative movement direction of the workpiece S1. Is provided. As the displacement mechanism 11x, for example, a ball screw that is rotated by a drive source can be considered. The start, stop, and speed of movement of the irradiation unit 11 by the displacement mechanism 11x are controlled by the control device 7.

  The displacement mechanism 11x may be any device as long as it can reciprocate the irradiation unit 11 in the horizontal direction. For example, the distance between the irradiation unit 11 and the application unit 10 may be fixed at a desired position without providing the displacement mechanism 11x with a function of moving independently of the application unit 10. That is, if the relative movement acceleration / deceleration and the steady speed are set in advance, the interval between the irradiation unit 11 and the coating unit 10 can be determined so that irradiation can be performed at a desired irradiation timing. Therefore, what is necessary is just to arrange | position the irradiation part 11 by the space | interval determined in that way. Therefore, for example, as the displacement mechanism 11x, the application unit 10 may be configured to be slidable into a long hole as an attachment hole and fixed at a desired position with a screw or the like. It is good also as the displacement mechanism 11x which can change the position of the application part 10 according to which of a some attachment hole it attaches. It is good also as the displacement mechanism 11x which can be slidably provided in a slider and can determine a fixed position with the stopper of several places. In the case of such a configuration, the position of the application unit 10 can be finely adjusted according to a temperature change or the like.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the irradiation timing at which the irradiation unit 11 irradiates the adhesive R with energy is controlled by the control device 7. This irradiation timing is based on the following flow mode of the adhesive R, which the inventor has scrutinized, and the first timing at which the bonding surface with the workpiece S2 on the surface of the adhesive R becomes flat, and the bonding surface Is set between the second timing when the collapse occurs.

(Adhesive flow mode)
When the inventor scrutinized the flow of the adhesive R, it was found that the following phenomenon occurred. When the adhesive R is applied on the workpiece S1 in a planar shape, the shape of the end of the applied adhesive R changes with time. That is, when the adhesive R is applied in a rectangular shape, the shape of the four sides, which are the end portions, changes from when it is applied. At this time, the shape of the surface side of the adhesive R facing the application portion in contact with the workpiece S1, that is, the shape of the upper surface side serving as the bonding surface is mainly changed. This change starts immediately after application and converges in a certain time. The time until convergence varies depending on the state of the adhesive R (viscosity, thickness, shape immediately after application, etc.).

  More specifically, when the adhesive R is applied to the surface of the work S1 by relatively moving the nozzle of the application unit 10 that discharges the adhesive R and the work S1, the surface immediately after the application, that is, on the surface of the work S1. As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the application portion 10 moves on the surface of the starting end of application in the adhesive R immediately after the adhesive R comes into contact, with the contact portion between the workpiece S1 and the adhesive R as an anchor. A curved surface r1 having a large curvature radius that is gently inclined by being drawn in the direction is generated. At the same time, a surface tension acts on the adhesive R in the starting direction, that is, in the direction toward the outer edge at the starting end. As the application portion 10 is separated, the pulling force becomes weaker, and the surface tension works instead. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B, a substantially right angle at which the radius of curvature of the corner of the cross-sectional edge of the surface is minimized. The adhesive R flows to the vicinity, and a flat surface r2 substantially parallel to the surface of the workpiece S1 is generated on the bonding surface of the surface of the adhesive R with the other workpiece S2. The time when the flat surface r2 occurs is the first timing.

  Thereafter, as time passes, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), due to the surface tension, the adhesive R at the cross-sectional corner portion moves further to the inside opposite to the direction toward the outer edge, and the flat surface r2 A ridge r3 of different height is produced. At this time, a dent may arise in a part. The state in which at least one of the bulge and the dent is generated in the adhesive R in this way is called collapse. The time at which this collapse occurs is the second timing. Even after the second timing has passed, the collapse continues for a while and converges.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6A, the adhesive R is stretched as the applicator 10 rises after the application unit 10 stops discharging the adhesive R at the end of application. As shown in (b), since the adhesive R on the workpiece S1 side and the application part 10 side is cut, a protrusion r4 is generated at the corner of the edge. As shown in FIG. 6 (c), the protrusion r4 is absorbed by the adhesive R on the workpiece S1 side by gravity, surface tension or the like and disappears as time elapses. A flat surface r5 substantially parallel to the surface of the workpiece S1 is generated on the bonding surface with the other workpiece S2. The time when the flat surface r5 is generated is also the first timing. Thereafter, as time elapses, a collapse of the height different from that of the flat surface r5 occurs as in FIG. The time when this collapse occurs is also the second timing.

  Note that the same change as in FIG. 5 occurs at the edge parallel to the coating direction, that is, the side edge in the middle of the coating from the start to the end. However, as will be described later, the change proceeds at a timing different from the starting end due to the tensile state due to movement of the application unit 10 and the positional relationship with the application direction.

  From the above, the interval between the first timing and the second timing at the start end, the interval between the first timing and the second timing at the end, and the interval between the first timing and the second timing at the side end are as follows. , Not necessarily match. In addition, a flat surface may be generated at the start end or side end of the application almost simultaneously with the start of the application. In this case, at the start end or the side end, the first timing is almost the same as the application start timing.

  If it is temporarily hardened earlier than the first timing, the shape is fixed in the r1 state of the curved surface having a large radius of curvature, so a double line as shown in FIG. Lines are likely to occur due to the visible corners of the R edges. If the temporary curing is later than the second timing, the shape is fixed in a state where the collapse occurs, so that void B is likely to occur as shown in FIG.

  The first timing and the second timing are the front end and the rear end of the time allowed as the timing for starting irradiation of each part of the adhesive R. The irradiation time with respect to each part of the adhesive R should just be the minimum time when the shape of the adhesive R is fixed. This depends on the state of temporary curing caused by irradiation. For example, it is desirable that the temporary curing rate is at least 20%. If it is less than this, it will flow at the bonding pressure at the time of bonding, leading to the sticking out of the adhesive R as shown in FIG.

  The above particularly affects the second timing which is the rear end of the irradiation timing. That is, since the second timing is a limit point until collapse occurs, if the irradiation is performed at the second timing, there is a possibility that the temporary curing rate as described above cannot be maintained. In this case, the irradiation timing is set slightly before the second timing.

(Irradiation timing setting mode)
The irradiation timing between the first timing and the second timing in the present embodiment is, for example, a flat surface at the edge of the adhesive R, as shown in FIG. 5B and FIG. This is a period from when r2 and r5 are generated until collapse occurs. Until collapse occurs, it means that the collapse is maintained within an allowable range that does not cause voids.

Such setting of irradiation timing can be realized in the following manner.
(1) The arrival time of the irradiation part to the irradiation point First, the arrival time of the irradiation part 11 with respect to the applied adhesive R is set to be between the first timing and the second timing. That is, the irradiation unit 11 is positioned at the position of the adhesive R to be irradiated by the irradiation unit 11, and the time from when the portion of the adhesive R to be irradiated is applied until the positioning of the irradiation unit 11, that is, The interval between the application unit 10 and the irradiation unit 11 is set so that the arrival time of the irradiation unit 11 to the adhesive R is between the first timing and the second timing. 11 difference in arrival time to the same location is generated. Due to this arrival time difference, irradiation with energy along with arrival can cause an irradiation time difference. The interval here includes a mode in which the irradiation unit 11 moves independently from the application unit 10 and fluctuates.

  With such an interval setting, the adhesive R can be temporarily cured in a flat state by starting the irradiation when the irradiation unit 11 reaches the starting end of the application and continuing the subsequent irradiation. In this case, depending on the setting of the interval between the irradiation unit 11 and the application unit 10, it is possible to perform irradiation continuously without stopping the irradiation of the irradiation unit 11 just before the end of application as will be described later. Become.

(2) Setting of a predetermined time The start end irradiation timing which is the time from the start of application of the adhesive R to the start of application of the irradiation unit 10 and the irradiation unit 10 from the end of application of the adhesive R to the end of application The terminal irradiation timing which is the time until irradiation is set. In addition, the time of an application | coating start means the time of the adhesive agent R discharged from the application part 10 adhering to a workpiece | work, and the application part 10 start relative movement, for example. The end of application refers to, for example, a point in time when the application unit 10 finishes discharging the adhesive R and the application unit 10 starts to rise.

(3) Setting of timing at the start and end of application For example, the adhesive R whose cross section is curved is deformed by dragging the first timing at the start of application of the adhesive R by the movement of the application unit 10. Is the timing at which the curvature of the curved surface returns to the minimum state and is flattened. On the other hand, the first timing at the end of application of the adhesive R is determined by separating the adhesive R on the work S1 side and the adhesive R on the application part 10 side by moving the application part 10, and thereby the adhesive R on the work S1 side. It is assumed that the protruding portion generated in the above disappears. In addition, the second timing at the start and end of application of the adhesive R is set as a timing at which the edge portion collapses.

(4) Timing setting according to the viscosity of the adhesive The speed of change of the adhesive R as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 varies depending on the viscosity of the adhesive R. In other words, the higher the viscosity of the adhesive R, the slower the flow because the flow is slower, and the lower the viscosity, the faster the flow, and the faster the change. For this reason, the higher the viscosity of the adhesive R, the slower the first timing and the second timing, and the lower the viscosity of the adhesive R, the earlier the first timing and the second timing.

(test)
The viscosity of the adhesive R as described above is determined by the type and temperature of the adhesive R. Furthermore, the coating thickness of the adhesive R also affects the flow of the adhesive R. The coating thickness and the initial coating shape are also affected by the amount of adhesive discharged and the moving speed of the coating unit 10. Therefore, the first timing and the second timing can be determined by performing a test according to the type of adhesive, temperature, coating thickness, coating operation state, and the like assumed in advance.

  For example, an example of a test for determining the second timing will be described. First, a substrate for a 10-inch display device is used as the workpiece S1, and a slit nozzle is used as the application unit 10. The adhesive R is applied to the entire surface of the substrate with a slit nozzle over approximately 5 seconds. When an adhesive having a viscosity of 2500 cps is applied at normal temperature and with a coating thickness of 200 μm, the edge of the adhesive starts to collapse in 1 to 2 seconds. The second timing can be obtained by observing the collapse state and measuring the time. If the time at which this collapse starts is, for example, 2 seconds after the application, the second timing is 2 seconds from the start of application. The first timing is also obtained by observing the shape of the adhesive R from the start of application at the start and the shape after the adhesive R is cut from the end of application at the end, and measuring the time. Can do.

  From the test results as described above, a relational expression between the viscosity, coating thickness, temperature, coating operation state, and the time when the bonding surface is flattened or the time when the collapse starts is obtained, and control is performed based on this relational expression. You can also

[Bonding device]
As shown in FIG. 7A, the bonding apparatus 2 includes a bonding unit 20 that stacks and bonds the workpieces S1 and S2. The bonding unit 20 has a configuration in which a lower plate 22 and an upper plate 23 are disposed to face each other in a chamber 21. The chamber 21 can move up and down. When the chamber 21 moves upward, the lower plate 22 and the upper plate 23 are opened to the outside so that the workpieces S1 and S2 can be carried in. When moved downward, the lower plate 22 and the upper plate 23 are accommodated in the chamber, and a sealed space is formed inside the chamber. The chamber 21 can be adjusted in internal pressure by an exhaust means (not shown). That is, when the workpieces S1 and S2 are carried in, the chamber 21 is lowered, the inside is sealed, the pressure is reduced, and the bonding is performed in a reduced pressure atmosphere.

  The lower plate 22 supports the workpiece S1 placed on the plate as a support portion. The upper plate 23 holds the workpiece S2 by a holding mechanism as a holding portion. In the present embodiment, as an example, a case will be described in which the workpiece S1 coated with the adhesive R is supported on the lower plate 22 and the workpiece S2 is held on the upper plate 23.

  As the holding mechanism for the upper plate 23, any holding mechanism that can be used at present or in the future, such as an electrostatic chuck, a mechanical chuck, a vacuum chuck, and an adhesive chuck, can be used. It is possible to use a plurality of types of chucks in combination. The upper plate 23 is provided with an elevating mechanism 25 as a drive unit. By this elevating mechanism 25, the upper plate 23 is moved so as to be able to contact and separate from the lower plate 22, and the work S2 held by the upper plate 23 is supported by the lower plate 22 as shown in FIG. The workpiece S1 is pressed and laminated. The workpiece S1 and the workpiece S2 are bonded together via an adhesive R applied to the surface of the workpiece S1, thereby forming a stacked body S10.

  The lower plate 22 may include a holding mechanism similar to that of the upper plate 23 so that the position of the mounted workpiece S1 does not shift.

[Curing equipment]
As shown in FIG. 8, the curing device 3 includes a curing unit 30 that cures the adhesive R that bonds the workpiece S1 and the workpiece S2. The curing unit 30 includes a stage 31 on which the stacked body S10 is placed and an irradiation unit 33 arranged on the stage 31.

  The irradiation unit 33 is composed of one or a plurality of lamps or LEDs that can emit curing energy, for example, UV. The irradiation of the irradiation unit 33 is adjusted so that an amount of energy necessary for curing the adhesive R can be irradiated. This amount of energy is adjusted by the intensity and time of irradiation.

[Control device]
The control device 7 is a device that controls the operation of the display device member manufacturing apparatus 100. In the present embodiment, in particular, as described above, the timing of irradiation by the irradiating unit 11 is disrupted in the first timing when the shape of the bonding surface in the adhesive R becomes flat and the shape of the bonding surface. The movement of the stage 12a, the raising / lowering of the application unit 10 and the discharge amount of the adhesive R, the irradiation timing of the irradiation unit 11, the irradiation intensity, the movement, and the like are controlled so as to be between the second timings. The control device 7 can be realized by, for example, a dedicated electronic circuit or a computer that operates with a predetermined program. Details of the operation of each part under the control of this control device will be described later as the operation of this embodiment.

  The configuration of the control device 7 for realizing such control will be described with reference to FIG. 9 which is a virtual functional block diagram. That is, the control device 7 includes a mechanism control unit 70, a storage unit 71, an irradiation instruction unit 72, an irradiation intensity instruction unit 73, and an input / output control unit 74. Note that description of input devices such as a switch, a touch panel, a keyboard, and a mouse for the operator to operate the control device 7 will be omitted.

The mechanism control unit 70 is a processing unit that controls drive sources, valves, switches, power supplies, and the like of mechanism units such as the support unit 3, the application unit 10, the irradiation unit 11, the bonding unit 20, and the curing unit 30.

  The storage unit 71 is a processing unit that stores information necessary for processing of the apparatus, such as the start end irradiation timing and the end end irradiation timing. As described above, the start end irradiation timing and the end end irradiation timing are set between the first timing and the second timing, respectively.

  The irradiation instruction unit 72 is a processing unit that controls irradiation of the irradiation unit 11 in accordance with the start end irradiation timing and the end end irradiation timing. The irradiation intensity instruction unit 73 is a processing unit that controls the irradiation intensity of the irradiation unit 11. The input / output control unit 74 is an interface that controls signal conversion and input / output with each unit to be controlled.

  The control device 7 is connected to an output device 75 such as a display, a lamp, and a meter for confirming the state of the device. The first timing, the second timing, the start end irradiation timing, the end end irradiation timing, and the like may be displayed on the output device 75.

[Action]
The operation of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described with reference to the time chart of FIG. 10 and the state transition diagrams of FIGS. 11 and 12 in addition to the above-described FIGS. Note that the positions and sizes of the stage 12a, the workpieces S1 and S2, the coating unit 10, and the irradiation unit 11 in FIGS. 11 and 12 are merely representational for convenience of explanation.

(Overview)
First, as shown in FIG. 1, a stage 12a on which a workpiece S1 is placed is moved in a horizontal direction (from right to left indicated by an arrow in the figure) by a drive mechanism 12b immediately below the application unit 10 and the irradiation unit 11. To do. The relative movement of the application unit 10 and the irradiation unit 11 with respect to the stage 12a is synonymous with the relative movement with respect to the workpiece S1.

  Application of the adhesive R starts from one end (left end in the drawing) of the workpiece S1 and ends at one end (right end in the drawing) opposite to the end. The starting end side where the application starts is the upstream side of application, and the end side where the application ends is the downstream side of application. And as shown in FIG. 3, the irradiation part 11 arrange | positioned at the application upstream side of the application part 10 irradiates the application | coating part immediately under it with the energy for temporary hardening, for example, UV light, and adhesive R Is a temporarily cured state (shaded portion in the figure).

(Time chart)
Next, the operation timing of each part in the adhesive application device 1 will be described with reference to the time chart of FIG. The horizontal axis in FIG. 10 is time. 10, the vertical axis indicates (a) the moving speed of the stage 12a, (b) the discharge amount of the adhesive R from the application unit 10, (c) the height of the application unit 10, and (d) the irradiation unit. 11 is the ON / OFF of irradiation to the adhesive R and the irradiation intensity. Further, the first timing on the start side is indicated by T1, the second timing is indicated by T2, the first timing on the end side is indicated by T1 ′, and the second timing is indicated by T2 ′. Hereinafter, (a) to (d) will be described in detail.

(A) Stage moving speed Time A indicates the start of coating. Time B to time C indicate the time during which the movement of the stage 12a is at a steady speed. This steady speed is a constant speed at which the adhesive R is applied to the workpiece S1 with a uniform thickness when the discharge amount of the adhesive R per unit time by the application unit 10 is a constant amount. The steady speed is a relative moving speed between the application unit 10 and the stage 12a, and differs depending on the viscosity of the adhesive R, the discharge amount, a desired application thickness, and the like.

  The speed of the stage 12a is accelerated from the time point A, and reaches a steady speed at the time point B. The stage 12a maintains the steady speed as it is, starts to decelerate from the time point C before the time point D when the application is finished, and temporarily stops at the time point D. This is because, as will be described later, the applied adhesive R is separated from the nozzle-side adhesive R by the rising of the application unit 10. In order to stably separate the adhesive R and suppress fluctuations up to the first timing, it is preferable to stop. However, depending on the viscosity of the adhesive R, etc., the separation may be easy, and in such a case, the separation may be performed while moving at a steady speed or at a reduced speed without stopping. . Thereafter, the stage 12a retreats the coating unit 10 from the stage 12a, starts moving again from the time point E so that the irradiation unit 11 comes to the application end of the adhesive R, accelerates for a short time, and then decelerates. And stops at time point F.

(B) Amount of adhesive discharged from the application unit At time A, discharge of the adhesive R from the nozzle of the application unit 10 starts. From time point A, the application unit 10 increases the discharge amount so that the application amount per unit area of the workpiece S1 becomes constant according to the acceleration of the stage 12a. From the time point B to the time point C, the stage 12a maintains a steady speed, so that the discharge amount of the coating unit 10 is also constant. Thereby, the coating amount per unit area of the workpiece S1 becomes constant. From time C, the application unit 10 reduces the discharge amount so that the application amount per unit area of the workpiece S1 becomes constant according to the deceleration of the stage 12a. Then, the discharge is stopped at time D. When the discharge is stopped, the dripping of the adhesive R can be prevented by operating the pump opposite to the supply.

  The above-mentioned discharge amount is determined so as to have a desired constant coating thickness from all of time points A to D. That is, even if the stage 12a is accelerated or decelerated, the discharge amount is changed so that the coating thickness is the same as that in the steady speed section.

  FIG. 10B shows a change in the discharge amount of the adhesive R from the application unit 10, and the control timing of the pumps and valves for supplying and stopping the supply of the adhesive R is not necessarily the same. It does not match. In other words, since there is a time lag between the control timing of the pump and the valve and the resulting change in the discharge amount and the timing, the pump and valve are set so that the discharge amount becomes (b) in consideration of this time lag. Etc. are controlled. Moreover, although the movement start of the stage 12a and the discharge of the adhesive R are set as the time A, it takes a little time for the discharged adhesive R to reach between the nozzle tip of the application unit 10 and the workpiece S1. For this reason, there is a slight deviation in the timing of the start of movement of the stage 12a from the start of discharge.

(C) Height of application | coating part The application | coating part 10 exists in the height (standby height) of the stand-by position away from the workpiece | work S1 in the initial state. In order to start the application of the adhesive R, the application unit 10 needs to approach the workpiece S1 and descend from the nozzle to a height at which application to the desired position of the workpiece S1 (application height) is possible. .

  That is, before the time point A, the application unit 10 starts to descend from the standby height to the application height. Then, at the point A when the coating unit 10 reaches the coating height, the discharge of the adhesive R is started. In FIG. 10, the timing of reaching the coating height is the same as that at time A, but there is no problem as long as it is before time A.

  When the stage 12a stops at the time point D, the application unit 10 is positioned at the end of the work S1 that is the application end. As described in the control of the discharge amount of the adhesive R, the discharge is ended simultaneously with the stop. And the application part 10 raises to stand-by height. Thereby, the adhesive R on the workpiece S1 side and the adhesive R on the nozzle side are cut. The standby height is set to a height that is sufficient to cut the adhesive R in this way. In addition, the timing of each operation | movement of said description is an example. It is not always necessary to match the timing of the movement of the stage 12a with the vertical movement and the discharge operation of the application unit 10.

(D) Irradiation of irradiation unit After the moving speed of the stage 12a becomes a steady speed at the time point B, energy irradiation by the irradiation unit 11 is started with respect to the starting end of the adhesive R applied to the workpiece S1. This irradiation start timing follows the preset start end irradiation timing. The start end irradiation timing may be between the first timing T1 and the second timing T2, and does not necessarily have to be after the time point B. From the viewpoint of uniform irradiation energy amount per unit area, After time point B is preferred.

  At the start end irradiation timing, as shown in FIG. 5B, the bonding surface in the adhesive R is a flat surface r2, and is temporarily cured in this state. The irradiation unit 11 moves relative to the workpiece S1 in the same manner as the application unit by moving the stage 12a. Therefore, energy is irradiated while moving relative to the adhesive R applied as the workpiece S1 moves. The irradiation unit 11 temporarily stops the irradiation at the time D when the movement of the stage 12a and the application of the application unit 10 are completed.

  At the time E when the stage 12a starts moving again so that the irradiation unit 11 comes to the application end of the adhesive R, the irradiation unit 11 starts irradiation. When the stage 12a accelerates for a short time and then decelerates and stops at the point F, the irradiation unit 11 stops the irradiation.

  Thus, the reason why the irradiation unit 11 temporarily stops the irradiation is as follows. When the application unit 10 performs the operation of cutting the adhesive R at the end of application, the irradiation unit 11 stops above the adhesive R in front of it. If irradiation is continued in this state, the adhesive R immediately below the irradiation unit 11 has an excessive irradiation energy amount per unit area, and has a temporary curing rate (80% or more) that is not suitable for bonding. there is a possibility. Therefore, with the stop of the stage 12a, the irradiation unit 11 temporarily stops irradiation to prevent excessive irradiation. Thus, in order to reliably control the progress state of the temporary curing, it is preferable to temporarily stop the irradiation. However, depending on the irradiation intensity and the stop time, the irradiation energy amount may not be excessive. In this case, the irradiation may not be stopped or the irradiation intensity may be reduced. Further, the irradiation mechanism 11 can be continuously moved in the application direction by the displacement mechanism 11x, so that the irradiation can be prevented from being concentrated at one place.

  As described above, the timing at which the irradiation is temporarily stopped and then the irradiation is started again is, that is, the timing for irradiating the pre-curing energy with respect to the application end of the adhesive R, and follows the preset end irradiation timing. . This terminal irradiation timing may be between the first timing T1 ′ and the second timing T2 ′. At this terminal irradiation timing, as shown in FIG. 6C, the bonding surface with another workpiece is a flat surface r5, and is temporarily cured in this state.

  As described above, when the irradiation by the irradiation unit 11 is not temporarily stopped, the irradiation unit 11 can be relatively moved by the displacement mechanism 11x with respect to the stopped stage 12a and the application unit 10. That is, the irradiation unit 11 starts moving and approaches the application unit 10 without stopping the irradiation. In the meantime, by continuing the irradiation, it is possible to continue the irradiation at a speed close to the steady speed near the end. Thereafter, if the arrival of the irradiation unit 11 at the end is after the first timing T1 ′, the irradiation may be continued without stopping until the end. In addition, the irradiation unit 11 stops until the first timing T1 ′ arrives before the end, stops the irradiation, moves again after the first timing T1 ′ arrives, and starts irradiation. May be. Thus, in the process in which the irradiation unit 11 moves, it is desirable to maintain a steady speed, but acceleration at the start of movement and deceleration before stopping are necessary. Further, the vehicle may be decelerated so as to reach the end after the first timing T1 ′.

(Coating process)
Next, the coating process of this embodiment according to the above time chart will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, (1) to (8) correspond to (1) to (8) in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, respectively.

  (1) When the stage 12a moves to the application start position, the discharge port of the application unit 10 at the standby height is positioned immediately above the application start end of the workpiece S1. And the application part 10 starts the fall to application | coating height.

  (2) After the coating unit 10 reaches the coating height and stops, when the discharge of the adhesive R from the coating unit 10 is started, the adhesive R is supplied to the workpiece S1. After the adhesive R spreads between the workpiece S1 and the coating height, the stage 12a starts moving in the coating direction, so that the coating of the adhesive R on the surface of the workpiece S1 starts (FIG. 10: time point A). ). From this point A, the stage 12a accelerates, and the application unit 10 gradually increases the discharge amount of the adhesive R.

  (3) At the time point B, the stage 12a stops accelerating and reaches a constant steady speed, and the discharge amount of the adhesive R of the application unit 10 also stops increasing and becomes constant. That is, in this state, the relative moving speeds of the application unit 10 and the irradiation unit 11 with respect to the stage 12a, the workpiece S1, and the adhesive R are steady speeds. The irradiation instruction unit 72 starts counting time from the start of application, that is, the start of movement of the stage 12a, and causes the irradiation unit 11 to start irradiation when the start end irradiation timing comes (FIG. 10: time point C).

  Note that the time from the start of movement of the stage 12a to the steady speed can be determined from the setting of the drive mechanism 12b of the stage 12a. For this reason, based on this time, the interval between the application unit 10 and the irradiation unit 11 may be set so that the irradiation unit 11 comes to the start of application after the stage 12a reaches the steady speed. Thereby, irradiation to the adhesive agent R of the irradiation part 11 can be performed at a steady speed from the starting end of application | coating.

  However, the irradiation to the start end of application is determined by the start end irradiation timing as described above. For this reason, it is good to set the space | interval of the application part 10 and the irradiation part 11 so that the irradiation part 11 can irradiate a start end between the 1st timing T1 and the 2nd timing T2 for a start end irradiation timing. . Therefore, the interval at which irradiation can be started at a steady speed may be any interval that can be irradiated at the start end irradiation timing. For example, the interval between the application unit 10 and the irradiation unit 11 can be set at the time of design or using the displacement mechanism 11x.

  When the start end irradiation timing is changed, for example, when the type of the adhesive R is changed, the interval between the irradiation unit 11 and the application unit 10 may be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, the start end irradiation timing for the adhesive R can be adjusted not by adjusting the position of the irradiation unit 11 but also by adjusting the irradiation start time. For this reason, the irradiation at the start end irradiation timing can be realized by the interval between the application unit 10 and the irradiation unit 11, the irradiation ON / OFF timing of the irradiation unit 11, or a combination of both. If the irradiation unit 11 is set to come to the start end at the start end irradiation timing, irradiation may be started before reaching the start end. For example, irradiation may be started at the time shown in FIG. In this case, the start end irradiation timing may be adjusted only by the interval between the application unit 10 and the irradiation unit 11.

  By irradiating at a steady speed, the amount of irradiation energy for the adhesive R per unit area can be made uniform. However, the amount of irradiation energy can be made uniform by changing the irradiation intensity according to the speed. Also, depending on the degree of speed, the viscosity of the adhesive R, and the required degree of temporary curing, even when the irradiation intensity is constant and the speed is changed, a certain degree of uniformity in the amount of irradiation energy can be maintained or allowed. It falls within the range of possible variations. Therefore, it is not always necessary to start irradiation at a steady speed.

  (4) The stage 12a starts decelerating before the application unit 10 reaches the application end of the workpiece S1 (FIG. 10: time point C). According to this deceleration, the application unit 10 gradually decreases the discharge amount of the adhesive R.

  (5) When the coating unit 10 reaches just above the coating end of the workpiece S1, the stage 12a temporarily stops and the irradiation unit 11 also stops irradiation and movement (FIG. 10: time point D). At this time, the application unit 10 stops discharging the adhesive R.

  (6) With the stage 12a stopped with respect to the application unit 10, the application unit 10 ascends and stops at the standby height. Since the application unit 10 has already stopped discharging the adhesive R, the adhesive S on the workpiece S1 side and the nozzle side is cut at any point in time until the application unit 10 reaches the standby height. .

  (7) After the timing when the adhesive R is surely cut, the stage 12a starts moving again (FIG. 10: time point E). This moving distance is a distance that at least the irradiation unit 11 can reach the end of application. During this time, the moving speed of the stage 12a turns to deceleration after a short time of acceleration. The irradiation instructing unit 72 starts counting time from the start of raising the application unit 10 and causes the irradiation unit 11 to start irradiation when the end irradiation timing is reached. The terminal irradiation timing may be between the first timing T1 ′ and the second timing T2 ′ and does not necessarily have to be the time point E, but the time point E is preferable from the viewpoint of uniform irradiation energy amount. . Moreover, the timing at which the adhesive R can be surely cut can be set by confirming in advance by a test.

  (8) When the stage 12a stops and the irradiation unit 11 reaches the end of application, the irradiation unit 11 stops irradiation (FIG. 10: time point F). Note that it is not always necessary to complete a series of coating operations on the workpiece S1 in a state where the irradiation unit 11 is positioned on the end of coating. The stage 12a may be stopped after the irradiation unit 11 passes over the end of application and moves from the workpiece S1 until it is retracted. Therefore, it is not always necessary to stop the irradiation when the irradiation unit 11 reaches the end, and the end may be passed while being irradiated.

  As indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 10D, the irradiation intensity instruction unit 73 gradually decreases the irradiation intensity of the irradiation unit 11 as the movement speed of the stage 12a decreases, and the movement speed of the stage 12a. The amount of irradiation energy can also be made uniform by raising and lowering (changing) the irradiation intensity of the irradiation unit 11 as it rises and lowers (changes) in a short time.

  Further, from the time point D, the irradiation unit 11 may be moved independently of the application unit 10. For example, the irradiation unit 11 starts moving in the application direction from time D and accelerates the speed. If the absolute value of the deceleration of the stage 12a and the acceleration of the irradiation unit 11 are the same, the steady movement of the irradiation unit 11 relative to the workpiece S1 is maintained. Therefore, even if the relative movement speed of the workpiece S1 and the coating unit 10 changes due to the end of coating, the relative speed of the adhesive R applied on the workpiece S1 and the irradiation unit 11 is maintained at a steady speed. The amount of irradiation energy per unit area for the adhesive R is maintained. As a result, the temporarily cured state of the adhesive R is also maintained the same as before. In this case, the timing at which the irradiation unit 11 reaches the end of application only needs to be set between the first timing T1 ′ and the second timing T1 ′. Further, as described above, the irradiation unit 11 may stop when the end of the application is reached and may stop the irradiation, or may stop after passing through the end and stop the irradiation. It is.

(Bonding process)
As described above, the workpiece S1 coated with the adhesive R is unloaded from the coating unit 1 by pick-up means (not shown), is transported by the transport unit 4, and is transported into the bonding apparatus 2. Here, the workpiece S <b> 2 is also carried into the bonding apparatus 2. As shown in FIG. 7A, the lower plate 22 supports the workpiece S1 placed on the plate. The upper plate 23 holds the workpiece S2 by a holding mechanism. What is necessary is just to adjust the conveyance timing of the workpiece | work S1 and the workpiece | work S2 so that it can join with the bonding apparatus 2, and is not limited to one.

  For example, the workpiece S2 is carried into the display device manufacturing apparatus 100 simultaneously with the workpiece S1, but the coating device 1 passes through and is first carried into the bonding device 2. And while workpiece | work S1 is apply | coating the adhesive agent R with the coating device 1, you may stand by in the bonding apparatus 2. FIG. Alternatively, the workpiece S2 is carried into the display device member manufacturing apparatus 100 at a timing later than the workpiece S1, and is carried into the bonding device 2 at the same timing as the workpiece S1 that has been applied by the coating device 1. May be. What is necessary is just to make it so that loss time does not arise in balance with the time concerning application | coating to workpiece | work S1, and the time concerning carrying in to the bonding apparatus 2 of workpiece | work S2.

  When the workpieces S1 and S2 are carried in, the chamber 21 is lowered and the inside is sealed, the pressure is reduced, and the workpiece S2 held on the upper plate 23 as shown in FIG. Is pressed against the workpiece S1 supported by the lower plate 22 for bonding. The laminated body S10 formed by bonding the workpiece S1 and the workpiece S2 is unloaded from the bonding apparatus 2 by pick-up means (not shown), conveyed by the conveying apparatus 4, and carried into the curing apparatus 3.

(Curing process)
As shown in FIG. 8A, the stacked body S <b> 10 transported by the transport device 4 is placed on the stage 31 of the curing device 3. Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the irradiation unit 33 irradiates the amount of energy necessary for the adhesive R to be completely cured, and the curing of the adhesive R is completed.

  In addition, the manufacturing apparatus 100 of the member for display apparatuses may perform another process before and behind the coating apparatus 1, the bonding apparatus 2, and the hardening apparatus 3, or between them. For that purpose, the display device member manufacturing apparatus 100 includes, for example, an alignment unit that images and aligns the appearance of the workpieces S1 and S2 at the front stage of the coating apparatus 1 or the front stage of the bonding apparatus 2, and a completed lamination. A taping unit for packing the body S10 may be provided. Further, the bonding apparatus 2 includes a positioning unit that corrects the deviation between the workpiece S1 and the workpiece S2 that occurs during bonding, a standby unit that secures a waiting time for pressing and eliminating the void generated on the bonding surface at atmospheric pressure, and the like. It may be provided in the latter stage.

  Moreover, the mechanism which reverses workpiece | work S1 is provided in the conveying apparatus 4, the coating device 1, or the bonding apparatus 2, and the workpiece | work S1 to which the adhesive agent R was apply | coated is reversed, and it is made to hold | maintain on the upper plate 23 of the bonding apparatus 2. May be. In this case, the workpiece S2 can be placed on the lower plate 24 and bonded together. Of course, the workpiece S2 may be inverted and held on the upper plate 23 of the bonding apparatus 2.

[effect]
(1) According to this embodiment as described above, after application of the adhesive R, provisional curing is performed after a flat surface is generated and then collapsed. The shape of the adhesive R can be fixed in the state. That is, the applied adhesive R can be limited to an appropriate shape. For this reason, it can bond with another workpiece | work in the state which maintained the flat surface. Moreover, it can suppress that the adhesive agent R is extruded by the pressure at the time of bonding by performing temporary hardening.

  In addition, it is realized with a simple structure in which the interval between the irradiation unit 11 and the application unit 10 is set so that the timing at which the irradiation unit 11 reaches the irradiation position is between the first timing and the second timing. can do. In addition, since it is sufficient to set appropriate start-end irradiation timing and end-end irradiation timing obtained in advance by a test or the like, the control configuration is simplified.

  Without timing control as in this embodiment, the irradiation of the irradiation unit 11 is started before the start of application, for example, before the time point A in FIG. 10, and the irradiation unit 11 irradiates the energy. Consider the case of passing through the start of application. In this case, when the irradiation part 11 passes the application | coating start end, it does not necessarily pass 1st timing T1 shown in FIG. For this reason, there is a possibility that the shape is fixed by temporary curing before the starting end is still flattened. In this embodiment, since it hardens | cures after 1st timing T1, a shape will not be fixed before planarization. In addition, when the start end irradiation timing is not set as in the present embodiment, energy irradiation may be started from the arrangement interval between the application unit 10 and the irradiation unit 11 while the stage 12a is accelerating. In this case, the irradiation energy amount per unit area of the adhesive R may not be uniform. In the present embodiment, the irradiation energy amount can be made uniform by setting the irradiation unit 11 to start the energy irradiation after the relative movement with the stage 12a reaches a steady speed. However, as described above or below, for energy irradiation during acceleration, the irradiation unit 11 can be moved independently from the coating unit 10 and the irradiation intensity can be adjusted to make the irradiation energy uniform. You can also.

  As the viscosity of the adhesive R is higher, the first timing and the second timing are delayed, and as the viscosity of the adhesive R is lower, the first timing and the second timing are advanced, so that it is appropriate according to the viscosity. You can set the correct timing. That is, in the case of the low-viscosity adhesive R, the adhesive R easily flows, but the shape can be quickly fixed by temporary curing.

  On the other hand, in the case of a high viscosity, provisional curing should be performed relatively early at the start of application, but at the end of application, a long time during which a protruding portion generated in the adhesive R remains is long. For this reason, when the start end and the end are simply irradiated at the same timing, the protruding portion generated in the adhesive R at the end of application remains fixed. In this embodiment, since temporary hardening is waited until the 1st timing when a protrusion part lose | disappears, uniform bonding is attained for both the start end and the termination | terminus.

  Furthermore, for example, after completing all the coating on the workpiece, if it is temporarily cured together with one irradiation for the whole, it takes time from coating to temporary curing, so the beginning and end of coating, in the middle, The shape change with each elapsed time will occur. In this embodiment, since it can be temporarily cured at an appropriate shape at any place and at any timing with respect to the coating shape that changes every minute at the start, end, or halfway, the elapsed time at each location The accompanying shape change does not occur. Further, it is not necessary to provide a temporary curing position separately, so the apparatus does not increase in size.

(2) When application is performed by moving the stage 12a as in the present embodiment, the application unit 10 that moves up and down and the irradiation unit 11 that performs acceleration / deceleration operations in the application direction are driven independently. The configuration can be simplified as compared with the case where a configuration that moves in the coating direction is incorporated.

(3) If a nozzle having a slit discharged from a linear discharge port as in the present embodiment is used as the application unit 10, the thickness in the direction orthogonal to the application direction can be easily made uniform. Surface coating by movement can also have a uniform thickness.

(4) The relative speeds of the application unit 10 and the irradiation unit 11 with respect to the adhesive R applied to the workpiece S are always maintained at a steady speed. For this reason, since the irradiation energy amount per unit area with respect to the adhesive R is constant, non-uniformity of the temporarily cured state does not occur. Thereby, the flow of the adhesive R is prevented, and the cushioning property and the adhesiveness are maintained. Therefore, there is no distortion at the time of bonding, a uniform adhesive layer can be formed, and the adhesiveness is not impaired. Furthermore, since the application part 10 changes the application quantity of the adhesive agent R according to the relative speed with the workpiece | work S, application | coating of uniform thickness is attained.

[Other Embodiments]
As described above, the shape starts to change immediately after application at the start and end of application of the adhesive, a flat portion is generated, and then the phenomenon of collapse occurs at the edge parallel to the application direction, that is, at the side end. Also occurs. However, at this side end, the phenomenon that the shape changes after application may proceed faster than the start end. For example, when the speed at which the state from (a) of FIG. 5 to (b) of FIG. 5 and (c) of FIG. 5 is high, or (b) of FIG. 6, (b) of FIG. The speed at which the state c) is reached may be fast.

  In particular, as shown in FIG. 13, at the end of application, in the process where the adhesive R is stretched, the side ends are separated first, and the central portion is separated last. From the above, for example, the second timing at the side end of the application end may be set earlier than the second timing at the center of the end.

The force that causes the adhesive R to change at the start, side, and end of application has the following characteristics.
(Starting point)
By the relative movement of the application unit 10 while discharging the adhesive R from the slit, the adhesive R in contact with (applied to) the surface of the workpiece S1 is pulled in the application direction. Further, the surface tension in the direction of the starting end toward the outer edge at the starting end works. That is, the tensile force acting in the direction in which the application unit 10 moves relative to the flat surface and the direction of the surface tension causing the collapse are reversed.
(Side edge)
Since the direction in which the application direction and the surface of the side end face is substantially orthogonal, the tensile force in the application direction and the surface tension toward the outer edge are shifted by approximately 90 degrees. For this reason, the degree of cancellation of the tensile force and the surface tension is weakened, and the surface tension acting in the side end direction toward the outer edge at the side end works stronger than the starting end.
(Termination)
Since the application part 10 is stopped with respect to the application direction, the tensile force accompanying the relative movement of the application part 10 as described above does not work. The tensile force applied in the operation direction for the application unit 10 to separate the adhesive R and the surface tension generated on the surface of the adhesive R affect each other in a complicated manner. After the adhesive R is cut, only the surface tension is applied, but the state of change is affected by the occurrence of the central protrusion. (See FIGS. 6 and 13).
From the above, in the first and second timings, the side end is the earliest, the next is the start end, the end side, and the end is the end center.

In order to realize such various timings, the following configuration is also possible.
(1) Changing the irradiation timing by dividing the irradiation unit and dividing the irradiation unit As shown in FIG. 14, the irradiation unit 11 is divided into a central irradiation unit 11A and irradiation sources 11B at both ends, and a plurality of irradiation sources 11a. The irradiation unit 11 </ b> A and the irradiation unit 11 </ b> B are provided so as to be independently movable so that a difference occurs in the arrival time at the application site. Thereby, the irradiation timing in the side edge parallel to the application direction of the adhesive R is made earlier than the irradiation timing in the central portion.

(2) Changing the irradiation timing of a plurality of irradiation sources As shown in FIG. 15, the irradiation unit 11 is provided with a plurality of irradiation sources 11a in the coating direction, and the irradiation timing of the plurality of irradiation sources 11a is changed, thereby allowing the adhesive The irradiation timing at the side end parallel to the coating direction of R is made earlier than the irradiation timing at the central portion. If it is set as this structure, according to the aspect of the change of the adhesive agent R, an irradiation timing can be changed into a various aspect. In addition, as for the irradiation source 11a of FIG. 15, a white circle is an irradiation state and a black circle is a non-irradiation state. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 16, the irradiation timing at the side portion can be made earlier than the irradiation timing at the central portion by shifting the position of the irradiation source 11a at the side end in the coating direction from the central portion.

  The start end irradiation timing and the end end irradiation timing may be between the first timing and the second timing, respectively. The interval between the first timing and the second timing at the start end, the interval between the first timing and the second timing at the end, and the start irradiation timing and the end irradiation timing between the first timing and the second timing, respectively. It does not necessarily coincide with which point of time. The interval between the application unit 10 and the irradiation unit 11 is such that the start end irradiation timing is between the first timing and the second timing at the start end, and the end irradiation timing is between the first timing and the second timing at the end. Should be set to be. However, the timing of arrival at the end may be adjusted by changing the interval between the irradiation unit 11 and the application unit 10 during application. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, by moving gradually in the coating direction while moving at a steady speed, the terminal irradiation timing is brought closer to the second timing T2 ′ or gradually moved in the opposite direction. Thus, the end irradiation timing can be made closer to the first timing T1 ′. As described above, the control of the irradiation timing to the side ends is included in the control of the irradiation timing of the start end and the end end, so that a more detailed shape can be limited.

  The adhesive R may be applied to the surface necessary for bonding. For example, you may apply | coat so that the whole surface of the workpiece | work S1 may be spread, and there may exist the area | region which is not apply | coated to one part. Further, the adhesive R may or may not reach the edge of the workpiece S1. There may be a part where the adhesive R reaches a part of the edge of the workpiece S1 and does not reach the part.

  That is, the adhesive R only needs to be applied in a single planar shape to at least the visual field region of the display device. For example, when a drive circuit unit or the like is present on the side of the display area of the display panel, the adhesive R is not applied to the drive circuit part, but a continuous surface adhesive is applied to the display area.

  Moreover, although the slit nozzle was mentioned as an example and demonstrated as a nozzle which discharges the adhesive agent R, the application part 10 is not restricted to a slit nozzle. For example, instead of the slit nozzle, the application unit 10 may be a multi-nozzle in which a large number of needle-like nozzles are arranged, and the adhesive R may be applied in a plurality of stripes by the multi-nozzle. Even if the adhesives R applied in a plurality of streaks are spread and integrated to form a surface, it is possible to apply the surface in the same manner as the application by the slit nozzle. For example, as shown in FIG. 18, the adhesive R from the application unit 10 is applied in a plurality of streaks, and after the adhesive R of each streak flows and is integrated, the irradiation unit 11 irradiates energy. Is temporarily cured.

  In this case, for example, it is necessary to wait for irradiation for pre-curing until the streak-shaped adhesive R is integrated in the central portion other than the edge portions of the four sides applied in a rectangular plane shape. That is, in this case, the first timing in the central portion is different from that in the edge portion. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in addition to the start end, the end, and the side end, the irradiation timing for starting the pre-curing irradiation can also be set for the central portion. Thereby, application | coating with a multi nozzle can also be limited to an appropriate shape.

  The workpieces S1 and S2 to be bonded are members that form a laminate constituting the display device, and if the adhesive R is applied on one side and bonded together, the size, shape, A material etc. are not ask | required. In other words, a display panel including a polarizing plate, a touch panel for operation, a protective panel for protecting the surface, a flat backlight, a backlight light guide plate, and the like are bonded to form a display device member. Any configuration is acceptable. The display device includes a wide range of display devices that have a flat plate-like work to be bonded, such as a liquid crystal display and an organic EL display, and can be used at present or in the future.

  Further, the pair of workpieces S1 and S2 to be bonded to each other may be one sheet or a plurality of stacked bodies. A touch panel, a protective panel, or a composite panel may be further bonded to the laminate in which the display panel, the drive circuit, and the printed board are bonded. In other words, the number of workpieces stacked as the display device member is not limited to a specific number.

  The workpiece S1 to which the adhesive R is applied may be a display panel of a display device or a laminate including a display panel, or may be a protective panel, a touch panel, or a protective panel (composite panel) including a touch panel. However, a display panel including a polarizing plate, a color filter, and the like has a large distortion and a large solid difference in the distortion. A simple configuration such as a protective panel only, a touch panel only, or a composite panel thereof is less distorted and easier to apply the adhesive R uniformly. In addition, suppressing the flow of the adhesive R to prevent the generation of voids is also required when attaching a backlight on a flat plate, a light guide plate of the backlight, or the like. That is, the backlight and the light guide plate can also be regarded as the workpieces S1 and S2. The adhesive R may be applied to any of the laminate, the backlight, and the light guide plate, but in this case as well, it is preferable to apply the adhesive R to the backlight and the light guide plate side having a simple configuration.

  Moreover, you may apply | coat the adhesive agent R to both workpiece | work S1 and S2 bonded together. When the adhesive R is applied to both the workpieces S1 and S2, only the adhesive R applied on one side may be temporarily cured, or the adhesive R applied on both sides may be temporarily cured. When the adhesive R is applied to both, a coating device may be provided, or both of the workpieces S1 and S2 may be put into one coating device in order.

  Application may be performed by moving the application unit 10 and the irradiation unit 11 side instead of moving the workpiece S1 side by the stage 12a. Also in this case, when the application unit 10 is accelerated and decelerated, the irradiation unit 11 can be decelerated and accelerated independently of the application unit 10 to maintain a steady speed similar to the above.

  As illustrated above, the irradiation unit 11 can also make the irradiation energy amount per unit area of the adhesive R constant by changing the irradiation intensity. That is, when the relative movement speed between the coating unit 10 and the workpiece S1 is accelerated, the irradiation energy amount is gradually increased. When the relative movement speed is constant, the irradiation energy amount is constant, and the relative movement speed is increased. As the vehicle slows down, the amount of irradiation energy is gradually reduced. Thereby, in order to make the irradiation energy uniform, it is not necessary to maintain the relative movement speed of the irradiation unit with respect to the workpiece S1, and it is not necessary to configure the irradiation unit 11 to be independently movable with respect to the coating unit 10. The apparatus configuration can be further simplified.

  Such a change in the irradiation energy amount is caused not only by the irradiation intensity instruction unit 73 changing the light emission (output) intensity of each irradiation source 11a of the irradiation unit 11, but also the irradiation source to be irradiated among a plurality of irradiation sources 11a. This can be realized by changing the number of 11a. For example, the presence or absence of light emission (output) or the light emission (output) intensity of the plurality of irradiation sources 11a arranged in the longitudinal direction in the irradiation unit 11 is controlled. Further, the irradiation unit 11 can be moved up and down by a lifting mechanism, and the irradiation intensity instruction unit 73 can control the movement to adjust the irradiation intensity and irradiation width of the irradiation unit. .

  The configuration of the irradiation unit 11 is not limited to one in which a plurality of irradiation sources 11a are arranged. You may comprise the front-end | tip as the irradiation part 11 by guiding the light from the irradiation source 11a comprised separately irrespective of the stage 12a with an optical fiber. Further, as the irradiation unit 11, an optical member that irradiates in a linear shape parallel to the slit of the application unit 10 may be provided. As the optical member, for example, a condensing lens, a slit, or the like is applicable. The irradiation intensity can be adjusted not only by adjusting the intensity of the irradiation source 11a but also by such an optical member. The irradiation width and the like can also be adjusted by such an optical member. Moreover, you may provide shielding parts, such as a shutter and a mask which can change an irradiation range selectively.

  The irradiation unit 11 is a device that irradiates energy in a spot manner, and the irradiation unit 11 is scanned in a direction parallel to the slit of the application unit 10 (in a direction orthogonal to the application direction) or a direction close thereto by a scanning mechanism. It can also be. Also in this case, a flat surface can be maintained by setting the irradiation timing between the first timing and the second timing.

  Further, as exemplified above, the irradiation energy can be made constant by changing the irradiation intensity. That is, when the relative movement between the coating unit 10 and the workpiece S1 is accelerated, the irradiation intensity of the irradiation unit 11 is increased. When the relative movement speed is constant, the irradiation intensity is constant. When the relative movement is decelerated, the irradiation intensity is increased. Reduce. Thereby, it is also possible to make the irradiation energy per unit area constant for the irradiated portion. Furthermore, it is possible to replace the irradiation unit 11 by moving the plurality of irradiation sources 11a to emit light sequentially in the coating direction. Thereby, simplification of a mechanism can be achieved.

  If the interval between the irradiation unit 11 and the application unit 10 is set to an interval at which irradiation can be started before a flat surface occurs on the bonding surface of the adhesive R and collapse occurs, irradiation is not temporarily stopped. Irradiation can be continued continuously. In the case where uniform irradiation energy is not strictly required, if the start end irradiation timing and the end irradiation timing can be set as described above, the application unit 10 and the stage 12a can be controlled by the above speed control and discharge amount control modes. It is not limited to.

  Support of the workpiece S on the stage 12a in the adhesive application device 1 can be stabilized by any holding mechanism that can be used at present or in the future, such as a vacuum chuck, an electrostatic chuck, a mechanical chuck, and an adhesive chuck. It is possible to use a plurality of types of holding mechanisms in combination.

  The kind of the adhesive R to be used is not limited to the ultraviolet curable resin. Resins that are cured by irradiation with electromagnetic waves or heat are generally used, but any adhesive that can be used at present or in the future and that is cured by irradiation of energy can be applied. In this case, according to the kind of adhesive agent, an irradiation part will be changed into various irradiation apparatuses, such as infrared rays and a radiation, a heating apparatus, a drying apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Adhesive application apparatus 10 ... Application | coating part 10a ... Shielding part 11 ... Irradiation part 11a ... Irradiation source 11x ... Displacement mechanism 12 ... Support part 12a ... Stage 12b ... Drive mechanism 2 ... Pasting apparatus 20 ... Pasting part 21 ... Chamber 22 ... Lower plate 23 ... Upper plate 25 ... Elevating mechanism 3 ... Curing device 30 ... Curing unit 31 ... Stage 33 ... Irradiation unit 4 ... Conveying device 5 ... Loader 6 ... Unloader 7 ... Control device 70 ... Mechanism control unit 71 ... Memory Unit 72 ... Irradiation instruction unit 73 ... Irradiation intensity instruction unit 74 ... Input / output control unit 75 ... Output device 100 ... Manufacturing apparatus for display device member

Claims (13)

In an adhesive application device for applying an adhesive to at least one of the pair of workpieces in order to bond the pair of workpieces constituting the display device via an adhesive that is cured by energy irradiation,
An applicator that moves relative to the workpiece and applies adhesive to the workpiece;
An irradiation unit that temporarily cures the adhesive by irradiating energy to the adhesive applied by the application unit,
Have
The irradiation unit has a timing for irradiating energy between a first timing at which the bonding surface in the adhesive becomes flat and a second timing at which the bonding surface collapses. An adhesive application device characterized by the above.   The adhesive application device according to claim 1, wherein a timing at which the irradiation unit reaches an irradiation position is set between the first timing and the second timing. As the timing of irradiation by the irradiation unit,
Start end irradiation timing from the start of application of the adhesive until the irradiation unit irradiates the start end of the application,
Terminal irradiation timing from the end of application of the adhesive until the irradiation unit irradiates the terminal of the application,
The adhesive application device according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive application device is set.   In the first timing at the end of application of the adhesive, the protruding portion generated in the adhesive on the workpiece side disappears due to the separation of the adhesive on the workpiece side and the adhesive on the application portion side due to the movement of the application portion. The adhesive application device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein it is timing to perform.   The adhesive application according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second timing at the start and end of application of the adhesive is a timing at which a bulge occurs on the bonding surface of the adhesive. apparatus.   6. The first timing and the second timing at the side end parallel to the application direction of the adhesive are earlier than the timing of the central portion at the start or end of application of the adhesive. The adhesive application device according to any one of the above.   The timing at which the irradiation unit irradiates the side edge parallel to the application direction in the adhesive is set to a timing different from at least one of the start end irradiation timing and the end end irradiation timing. The adhesive application device described.   The higher the viscosity of the adhesive, the slower the time from the start of application to the first timing and the second timing, and the lower the viscosity of the adhesive, the first timing and the second timing from the start of application. The adhesive application device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the time until is early. The irradiation unit has a plurality of irradiation sources for irradiating energy,
The adhesive application device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the irradiation timings of the plurality of irradiation sources are different so that a difference in irradiation time to an application site of the adhesive is generated. The irradiation unit has a plurality of irradiation sources for irradiating energy,
A part of said several irradiation sources is comprised so that it may move independently of other irradiation sources so that the arrival time difference to the application | coating location of an adhesive agent may arise. The adhesive application device according to any one of the above.   The adhesive applicator according to claim 1, wherein an interval between the application unit and the irradiation unit is configured to be variable. The adhesive application device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein an adhesive that is cured by energy irradiation is applied to at least one of a pair of workpieces constituting the display device.
A bonding apparatus for bonding the pair of workpieces with the applied adhesive;
A curing device that cures the adhesive of the pair of workpieces bonded in the bonding device;
A conveying device that conveys the pair of workpieces between the adhesive application device, the bonding device, and the curing device;
An apparatus for manufacturing a member for a display device, comprising: In a method for manufacturing a member for a display device in which a pair of workpieces constituting a display device are bonded together via an adhesive that is cured by energy irradiation,
Apply the adhesive to the workpiece by relatively moving the application part and the workpiece,
The irradiation part is applied to the adhesive applied by the application part between the first timing when the bonding surface of the adhesive becomes flat and the second timing when the bonding surface collapses. By irradiating energy, the adhesive is temporarily cured,
Bonding the pair of workpieces with the temporarily cured adhesive,
A method for manufacturing a member for a display device, wherein the adhesive of the pair of works bonded together is cured.

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