JP3476257B2 - Liquid crystal cell manufacturing equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of a liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus, and in particular, a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal cell having a predetermined gap size by firing laminated liquid crystal substrates while applying pressure by an elastic pressure member utilizing fluid pressure. The present invention relates to the structure of a liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus for the purpose.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus basically comprises an upper body having an elastic pressure member, a lower body having an elastic pressure member, and an upper body and a lower body each having an elastic pressure member. It is composed of a fixing member for fixing at a predetermined distance.

Further, the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus is a manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal cell having a uniform gap by pressure-baking a liquid crystal substrate.

By the way, the liquid crystal substrate described in this specification is composed of a pair of translucent substrates. The two substrates are provided with a pixel pattern for realizing a liquid crystal display device and a thermosetting sealant for adhering the two substrates and sealing the liquid crystal on the opposite surface side. Further, a liquid crystal substrate refers to a liquid crystal substrate in a state where the thermosetting sealing material has not yet been cured and a predetermined uniform gap has not been realized.

Further, the liquid crystal cell described in this specification is
This refers to a liquid crystal substrate that has been pressure-fired by a liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus and the sealing material has been cured with a predetermined uniform gap size.

The following description will be made by taking as an example a liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus for a liquid crystal substrate whose planar shape is a square shape, and which does not have a heater for heating and firing in the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus itself.

The structure of a conventional liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 11 is a side view of a conventional liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus, and FIG. 1 is a plan view thereof.
2 shows. It should be noted that in FIG. 11, the fixing member upper portion 12, which fixes the upper body 14 and the lower body 23, the fixing member lower portion 17, and the clasp 13, which are drawn by six in FIG. The illustration of the respective members located at the front and the back is omitted.

Further, in FIG. 11, the upper elastic pressing member 15 is
The lower elastic pressure member 22 and the lower elastic pressure member 22 are filled with fluid and expanded. The fluid used in this liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus is air, and silicon rubber is used for the upper elastic pressing member 15 and the lower elastic pressing member 22.

As shown in FIG. 11, an upper seal frame 16 is provided on the lower surface of the upper portion 14 of the main body so that an upper elastic pressing member 15 is formed.
To be sealed from the outside air.

An upper fluid supply hole 11 for supplying a fluid to the upper elastic pressure member 15 is provided on the upper surface of the upper portion 14 of the main body.

On the upper surface of the lower portion 23 of the main body, the lower seal frame 2
The lower elastic pressurizing member 22 is attached to the outside airtightly by means of 1.

A lower fluid supply hole 24 for supplying a fluid to the lower elastic pressure member 22 is provided on the upper surface of the lower seal frame 21.

Further, since the lower elastic pressing member 22 does not have a reference flat surface on the upper surface thereof, the flat reference plate 20 is installed to set the reference flat surface. To do. In this liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus, the flat reference plate 20 is an aluminum plate having a sufficient thickness.

Further, a female screw is provided in the lower portion 23 of the main body, and a lower portion 17 of a fixing member provided with a male screw for fixing the upper portion 14 of the main body and the lower portion 23 of the main body at a predetermined distance is screwed to the female screw.

The fixing member comprises an upper fixing member 12 and a lower fixing member 17. A male screw for screwing the lower fixing member 17 to the lower body 23 is provided at the lower end of the lower fixing member 17, and an upper screw for screwing the upper fixing member 12 is provided at the upper end of the lower fixing member 17. Set up.

A male screw for screwing the fixing member upper portion 12 to the fixing member lower portion 17 is provided at the lower end of the fixing member upper portion 12, and a groove 12a is further provided at the upper portion of the fixing member upper portion 12. The groove 12a engages with the stopper 13 which is in a movable state.

The upper part 12 of the fixing member is the upper part 1 of the fixing member.
The fixing member upper part 12 is fixed to the main body upper part 14 by laterally sliding and catching the catch 13 provided on the upper surface of the main body upper part 14 in the groove 12a provided in the upper part of 2.

By the way, the height dimension of the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19 is changed by changing the number of stacked liquid crystal substrates 19 or the thickness of the liquid crystal substrate 19 material.

In order to adjust the length of the fixing member according to the change in height of the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19, the upper part 12 of the fixing member having a suitable length is prepared and screwed to the lower part 17 of the fixing member each time. By.

Thus, the upper body 14 and the lower body 23
Is fixed at a predetermined distance r corresponding to the height dimension of the liquid crystal substrate 19.

A predetermined number of sets of liquid crystal substrates 19 are stacked and placed on the central portion of the flat reference plate 20. That is, the liquid crystal substrate 1
9 is installed between the flat reference plate 20 and the upper elastic pressing member 15.

Next, the operation of the conventional liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus based on the above-described structure will be described.

The laminated liquid crystal substrates 19 are set at the center of the flat reference plate 20. Next, according to the height dimension of the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19, the fixing member upper portion 12 having a predetermined length dimension is screwed to the fixing member lower portion 17, and the main body upper portion 12 and the main body lower portion 23 are separated by a predetermined distance. Fix it.

After that, the upper fluid supply hole 11 provided in the upper body 14 and the lower fluid supply hole 24 provided in the lower body 23.
From the upper elastic pressing member 15 and the lower elastic pressing member 22.
A fluid having a predetermined pressure is simultaneously supplied to and.

When a fluid having a predetermined pressure is supplied, the upper elastic pressing member 15 and the lower elastic pressing member 22 expand as shown in FIG. Since the upper body 14 and the lower body 23 are fixed at a predetermined distance, the upper elastic pressing member 15 is
The stacked liquid crystal substrates 19 are pressed by a uniform load, and the lower elastic pressing member 22 presses the stacked liquid crystal substrates 19 via the flat reference plate 20.

After that, the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19 are pressed and baked at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time by using a batch type heating furnace, and the sealing material formed on the liquid crystal substrates 19 has a predetermined uniform gap size. Cure to

[0027]

By the way, in order to cure the sealing material with a predetermined uniform gap size, it is an indispensable condition that the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19 are pressed by a uniformly distributed load.

However, in the conventional liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus,
Non-uniform pressure is generated in the peripheral area of the liquid crystal substrate 19,
A large gap size difference occurs between the peripheral region and the central part of the liquid crystal cell, which deteriorates the display quality of the liquid crystal, and in severe cases, the liquid crystal cell becomes a defective product.

The mechanism by which non-uniform pressure is generated in the conventional liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a peripheral portion of the upper elastic pressing member 15 during operation of the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus.

The upper elastic pressing member 15 in the range where the laminated liquid crystal substrate 19 does not exist has no obstacle below it. Therefore, the liquid crystal expands beyond the upper elastic pressing member 15 in the range where the laminated liquid crystal substrate 19 exists. Hereinafter, the expansion portion around the upper elastic pressing member 15 will be referred to as an overexpansion portion 3
Call 1.

The liquid crystal substrate 1 in which the overexpansion portion 31 is laminated
Go around to the side of 9. That is, the overexpansion portion 31 presses the side surface portion and the corner portion of the laminated liquid crystal substrate 19 which should not be pressed.

In this case, the pressure is concentrated at the corners of the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19. As a result, the pressure applied to the peripheral portion of the liquid crystal substrate 19 is higher than the pressure applied to the central portion of the liquid crystal substrate 19, resulting in uneven pressure.

In the liquid crystal cell manufactured in this way, the gap size thereof largely varies between the central portion and the peripheral portion, and the display quality of the liquid crystal display device deteriorates.

It should be noted that the overexpansion part 31 is continuously used in the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus, and becomes larger as the upper elastic pressing member 15 is sagging. Cause of.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, suppress the occurrence of an overexpansion part in the peripheral part of the upper elastic pressure member, and eliminate the uneven pressure applied to the laminated liquid crystal substrates. An object of the present invention is to provide a possible liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus.

[0036]

In order to achieve the above object, the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus of the present invention adopts the structure described below.

The liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus of the present invention comprises an upper part of the main body.
And attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the main body and laminated using fluid pressure
Upper elastic pressing member for pressing the liquid crystal substrate and upper elastic pressing
Attaching members to the upper and lower surfaces of the main body and sealing with the outside air
Upper sealing frame for lowering, lower body, and lower body
Attach to the surface and press the laminated liquid crystal substrates using fluid pressure
Lower elastic pressure member and lower elastic pressure member
The bottom for mounting on the upper surface and sealing with the outside air
Placed on the upper surface of the part seal frame and the lower elastic pressure member, and
Flat reference plate for setting the flat surface, the top of the main unit and the book
Fixing member for adjusting and fixing to a predetermined distance to the lower part of the body
And the upper part of the upper elastic pressurizing member is laminated on the top of the liquid crystal substrate.
A holding member for holding the surface substantially flush with the surface
It is characterized by

The liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention comprises an upper body, an upper elastic pressure member that is attached to the lower surface of the main body and presses the liquid crystal substrates laminated by using fluid pressure, and the upper elastic pressure member includes the lower surface of the upper body. Upper sealing frame for mounting to the outside and for sealing with the outside air, the lower part of the main body, the lower elastic pressing member which is attached to the upper surface of the lower part of the main body and presses the laminated liquid crystal substrates using fluid pressure, and the lower elastic pressing member. Is attached to the upper surface of the lower part of the main body, and a lower sealing frame for performing airtight sealing, a flat reference plate for setting a reference flat surface on the upper surface of the lower elastic pressing member, an upper part of the main body and a lower part of the main body. The fixing member for adjusting and fixing the liquid crystal to a predetermined distance and the peripheral portion of the upper elastic pressing member are vertically extended and contracted between the upper and lower portions for holding the peripheral portion of the upper elastic pressing member substantially flush with the uppermost surface of the laminated liquid crystal substrate. Possible Characterized in that it comprises a holding member having an elastic member.

In the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, an upper part of the main body, a heater provided on the upper surface of the upper part of the main body for firing the laminated liquid crystal substrates, and a liquid crystal substrate which is attached to the lower surface of the upper part of the main body by utilizing fluid pressure are added. The upper elastic pressure member to be pressed, the upper seal frame for attaching the upper elastic pressure member to the lower surface of the upper part of the main body and sealing the outside air, the lower part of the main body, and the lower surface of the lower part of the main body for firing the laminated liquid crystal substrates. A heater to be provided, a lower elastic pressurizing member that is attached to the upper surface of the lower part of the main body to press the liquid crystal substrates stacked by using fluid pressure, and a lower part for attaching the lower elastic pressurizing member to the upper surface of the lower part of the main body and sealing the outside air. To adjust and fix the seal frame, the flat reference plate placed on the upper surface of the lower elastic pressure member to set a reference plane, and the upper and lower parts of the main body adjusted to a predetermined distance A fixing member, characterized in that it comprises a holding member for holding substantially the same plane as the liquid crystal substrate top surface peripheral portion are stacked in the upper elastic pressure member.

The liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus of the present invention comprises an upper portion of the main body, a heater provided on the upper surface of the upper portion of the main body for firing the laminated liquid crystal substrates, and a liquid crystal substrate attached to the lower surface of the upper portion of the main body and laminated using fluid pressure. An upper elastic pressurizing member for pressurizing, an upper seal frame for attaching the upper elastic pressurizing member to the lower surface of the upper part of the main body and for sealing with the outside air, a lower part of the main body, and a lower part of the main body for baking the laminated liquid crystal substrates. A heater provided on the lower surface, a lower elastic pressure member that is attached to the upper surface of the lower part of the main body to press the liquid crystal substrates laminated using fluid pressure, and a lower elastic pressure member that is attached to the upper surface of the lower part of the main body and seals with the outside air. The lower seal frame, the flat reference plate for setting the reference flat surface placed on the upper surface of the lower elastic pressure member, and the upper and lower parts of the main body are adjusted to a predetermined distance and fixed. And a holding member having a vertically stretchable elastic member between an upper part and a lower part for holding the peripheral part of the upper elastic pressing member on substantially the same plane as the uppermost surface of the laminated liquid crystal substrates. It is characterized by being provided.

[0041]

In the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the holding member for supporting the upper elastic pressing member having the same height as the laminated liquid crystal substrates is provided around the laminated liquid crystal substrates.

The over-expansion portion generated in the peripheral portion of the upper elastic pressing member during the operation of the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus can be restrained from expanding by the holding member.

As a result, the upper elastic pressing member does not wrap around the side surface region of the laminated liquid crystal substrate and uniformly presses the upper surface of the laminated liquid crystal substrate. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the uneven pressure applied to the liquid crystal substrate.

[0044]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The structure of a liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the structure of the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus of the first embodiment basically comprises a body upper part having an upper elastic pressing member, a lower elastic pressing member lower part, and a body upper part lower part having an upper elastic pressing member. A fixing member for fixing the lower part of the main body having the elastic pressure member at a predetermined distance.

Like the description of the prior art, the following description will be made by taking a liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus for a liquid crystal substrate whose planar shape is a square shape and having no heater for firing in the apparatus itself as an example. .

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus in the first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a plan view showing the holding member 18. The holding member 18 shown in FIG. 1 is a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG.

By the way, in FIG. 1, similarly to FIG. 11 showing a conventional liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus, a fixing member upper portion 12 for fixing the upper portion 14 and the lower portion 23 of the main body, which are actually provided in sixs, and a fixing member. Regarding the lower portion 17 and the clasp 13, the illustration of the respective members located at the front and the back is omitted in order to make the drawings easier to see.

Further, FIG. 1 shows a state in which the upper elastic pressing member 15 and the lower elastic pressing member 22 are filled with fluid and expanded. The fluid used in this liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus is air, and silicon rubber is used for the upper elastic pressing member 15 and the lower elastic pressing member 22.

As shown in FIG. 1, an upper seal frame 16 is provided on the lower surface of the upper portion 14 of the main body so that an upper elastic pressing member 15 is formed.
To be sealed from the outside air.

The upper part 14 of the main body has an upper fluid supply hole 11 for supplying a fluid to the upper elastic pressing member 15.

On the upper surface of the lower part 23 of the main body, the lower seal frame 2
The lower elastic pressurizing member 22 is attached to the outside airtightly by means of 1.

A lower fluid supply hole 24 for supplying a fluid to the lower elastic pressure member 22 is provided on the upper surface of the lower seal frame 21.

In the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus of the first embodiment, aluminum is used as the constituent material of the main body upper part 14, the main body lower part 23, the upper seal frame 16 and the lower seal frame 21. .

Further, when the liquid crystal substrate 19 is pressed, since the reference plane cannot be obtained only by the lower elastic pressure member 22, the reference plane is set on the upper surface of the lower elastic pressure member 22. The flat reference plate 20 is installed.

In the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment, a square aluminum plate having a sufficient thickness so as not to be deformed by pressure and having a larger area than the liquid crystal substrate 19 is used as the flat reference plate 20. use.

Further, a female screw is provided on the lower body 23, and a cylindrical fixing member lower portion 17 provided with a male screw for fixing the upper body 14 and the lower body 23 to the female screw at a predetermined distance is attached to the lower seal. Screwing is performed through a through hole provided in the frame 21 and the lower elastic pressing member 22.

The fixing member is a cylindrical fixing member upper part 12
And the lower part 17 of the fixing member. A male screw for screwing the lower fixing member 17 to the lower body 23 is provided at the lower end of the lower fixing member 17, and the upper end of the lower fixing member 17 is
A male screw for screwing the fixing member upper portion 12 is provided.

A male screw for screwing the upper fixing member 12 to the lower fixing member 17 is provided at the lower end of the upper fixing member 12, and a stopper plate 13 is engaged with the upper portion of the upper fixing member 12. The groove 12a is provided.

The upper part 12 of the fixed member is the upper seal frame 16.
And through the through holes formed in the upper elastic pressing member 15 and the main body upper portion 14, by sliding the catch 13 provided on the upper surface of the main body upper portion 14 to the groove 12a provided in the upper portion of the fixing member upper portion 12 by sliding horizontally. The fixing member upper part 12 is fixed to the main body upper part 14.

By the way, the height dimension of the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19 changes depending on the number of the liquid crystal substrates 19 stacked and the thickness of the liquid crystal substrate 19 material.

In order to adjust the length of the fixing member in accordance with the change in the height of the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19, the fixing member upper portion 12 having a suitable length is prepared and screwed to the fixing member lower portion 17 each time. By doing.

In this way, the upper body 14 and the lower body 23 are fixed with a predetermined distance dimension. The structure of the stopper plate 13 is the same as the stopper plate shown in FIG. 12 showing a conventional liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The liquid crystal substrate 19 is placed in the central portion of the flat reference plate 20 by stacking a predetermined number of sets. That is, the liquid crystal substrate 1
9 is installed between the flat reference plate 20 and the upper elastic pressing member 15.

Around the stacked liquid crystal substrates 19, in order to hold the peripheral portion of the upper elastic pressing member 15, as shown in FIG. 2, a holding member 18 having a frame shape with an open central portion is provided. .

Incidentally, the holding member 18 in the first embodiment.
For this, a relatively lightweight resin material that can withstand the firing temperature of 150 ° C. is used.

The holding member 18 is installed on the upper surface side of the lower seal frame 21. Further, a predetermined space is provided below the holding member 18 in order to prevent the side surface portion of the flat reference plate 20 from coming into contact with the holding member 18.

Further, a space of a little less than 1 [mm] is provided above the holding member 18 and the side surface of the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19.

This gap does not hinder the upper portion of the holding member 18 from sufficiently holding the peripheral portion of the upper elastic pressing member 15, and the upper portion of the holding member 18 has the laminated liquid crystal substrate 1.
This is a gap provided so as not to contact the side surface of 9.

The height dimension of the holding member 18 is such that the holding surface 32 is located on the same plane as the uppermost surface of the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19 in which the gap dimension is approximately equal to the target value due to pressurization. decide.

As shown in FIG. 2, the holding member 18 is provided with a groove 33 for passing the fixing member upper portion 12 and the fixing member lower portion 17 and fixing the holding member 18 to some extent. .

Next, in order to explain in which step of the liquid crystal display device manufacturing process the liquid crystal cell manufacturing device is located,
The manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device will be briefly described below with reference to FIGS. 1, 4, and 5.

The liquid crystal display device has a different structure depending on the method such as monochrome, color, active type, passive type, TN type, STN type, ferroelectric type or antiferroelectric type. The following description will be given by taking a STN passive color liquid crystal display device as a typical example.

FIG. 4 is a plan view B- of FIG. 5 showing the liquid crystal substrate.
Sectional drawing which shows the cross section in B line, FIG. 5 is a top view which shows a liquid crystal substrate. Note that, in FIGS. 4 and 5, for the sake of simplification, the illustrations other than the color filter 37 and the sealing material 36 are omitted.

As a liquid crystal substrate, a plurality of single liquid crystal cells are usually taken out at a time, and therefore a large substrate on which a plurality of independent pixel patterns are patterned is used as shown in FIG. That is, it is possible to finally manufacture six liquid crystal display devices from the substrate shown in FIG.

First, an opaque metal thin film such as chromium is formed on the first substrate 34 by a sputtering method or a vacuum evaporation method, and then chromium is formed in a predetermined pattern by a photo etching method to form a light shielding film.

The color filter 37 is formed on the light-shielding film by a printing method, a dyeing method, a pigment dispersion method, or the like.

Next, a transparent resin such as polyimide or acrylic is formed as a protective film on the color filter 37 by a printing method or a spin coating method.

After that, an indium tin oxide film to be a transparent electrode is formed on the protective film by a sputtering method or a vacuum evaporation method, and an indium tin oxide film is formed in a predetermined pattern by a photoetching method.

Further, on the transparent electrode, a transparent resin made of polyimide or the like is formed by a printing method as an alignment film for controlling the alignment direction of the liquid crystal.

Next, an indium tin oxide film to be a transparent electrode is formed on the second substrate 35 by a sputtering method or a vacuum evaporation method, and an indium tin oxide film is formed in a predetermined pattern by a photo etching method.

Further, a transparent resin made of polyimide or the like is formed on the transparent electrode by a printing method as an alignment film for determining the alignment direction of the liquid crystal.

Next, by performing a rubbing process,
The orientation directions of the orientation films formed on the first substrate 34 and the second substrate 35 are determined.

Then, an internal spacer for keeping the gap size between the first substrate 34 and the second substrate 35 uniform is uniformly spread on the second substrate 35 by a spreader.

For the inner spacer, spherical silica beads or spherical plastic beads are used.

After that, a thermosetting sealing material 36 for adhering and sealing the first substrate 34 and the second substrate 35 is provided around the color filter 37 of the first substrate 34 by a printing method.

The seal material 36 is formed on the first substrate 34.
In addition, spacers in the seal are mixed to keep the gap of the second substrate 35 uniform. Silica beads or glass fiber is used for the spacer in the seal.

Next, the first substrate 34 and the second substrate 35
Are aligned by using alignment marks provided on both substrates so that pixels having effective patterns provided on the opposite surfaces of both substrates can be formed.
Overlap with 5.

Then, in the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG.
A predetermined number of sets of the stacked substrates, that is, liquid crystal substrates 19 are stacked and pressure-fired, and the sealing material is cured with a predetermined uniform gap size to obtain a liquid crystal cell.

Next, boundaries of a plurality of independent patterns of the liquid crystal cell are separated and cut by a scribe machine to take out a single liquid crystal cell.

Liquid crystal is injected into the single liquid crystal cell taken out through the injection hole 38 shown in FIG. Then, the liquid crystal is sealed with the ultraviolet curable resin to complete a single liquid crystal cell.

After that, the single liquid crystal cell is made into a module by sticking a polarizing film, mounting a semiconductor chip, mounting a backlight, etc., and functions as a liquid crystal display device.

As described above, in the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus, the first substrate 34 and the second substrate 35, which are aligned and overlapped, are pressure-fired and sealed to a predetermined uniform gap size. This is an apparatus used in the step of curing the material 36.

Next, the operation and effect of the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 14.

After removing the stopper plate 13 from the upper part 12 of the fixing member and removing the upper part 14 of the main body, the laminated liquid crystal substrate 19 is placed in the central portion of the flat reference plate 20. Then, the holding member 18 is installed around the stacked liquid crystal substrates 19.

A fixing member upper portion 12 having a predetermined length dimension is prepared according to the height dimension of the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19, and the fixing member upper portion 12 is screwed to the fixing member lower portion 17, and the main body upper portion 14 and The main body lower part 23 is fixed at a predetermined distance.

After that, the upper fluid supply hole 11 provided in the upper body 14 and the lower fluid supply hole 24 provided in the lower body 23.
From the upper elastic pressing member 15 and the lower elastic pressing member 22.
A fluid having a predetermined pressure is simultaneously supplied to and.

When a fluid having a predetermined pressure is supplied, the upper elastic pressing member 15 and the lower elastic pressing member 22 expand as shown in FIG.

Since the upper body 14 and the lower body 23 are fixed at a predetermined distance as described above, the upper elastic pressing member 15 causes the liquid crystal substrates 19 laminated by the action of the holding member 18 to be uniformly distributed. Then, the lower elastic pressing member 22 presses the liquid crystal substrates 19 stacked via the flat reference plate 20.

Thereafter, the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19 are pressurized and baked in a batch type heating furnace at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time to cure the sealing material 36 with a predetermined uniform gap size. In the embodiment of the present invention,
The final firing temperature is 150 ° C.

As described above, in the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the excess of the peripheral portion of the upper elastic pressing member 15 which is a problem in the conventional technique described with reference to FIG. The generation of the expanded portion 31 can be suppressed by the holding member 18.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view showing the peripheral portion of the upper elastic pressing member 15 during the operation of the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus in the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 14, the holding surface 32 of the holding member 18 holds the peripheral portion of the upper elastic pressing member 15 and prevents the overexpansion portion 31 from being generated.

As a result, the upper elastic pressing member 15 does not press the side surfaces and the corners of the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19, and the upper surface of the liquid crystal substrate 19 can be pressed substantially evenly by a uniform load. Become.

As an effect thereof, when the liquid crystal cell was manufactured by the conventional liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus, the difference in the in-plane gap of the final single liquid crystal cell was 0.1 [μm] at maximum. On the other hand, in the case of the liquid crystal cell manufactured by the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the difference in the in-plane gap of a single liquid crystal cell can be set within about 0.02 [μm]. did it.

In the STN type liquid crystal display device, if the in-plane gap difference is 0.05 [μm] or more, the display quality becomes problematic. However, the liquid crystal cell manufacturing device of the first embodiment is used. If so, a liquid crystal display device having good display quality can be manufactured.

Further, in the case of using the conventional liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus, since the side portion of the liquid crystal substrate 19 is pressed by the overexpansion portion 31, the misalignment resulting in the defect after the liquid crystal substrate 19 is pressure-fired. Occurs. However, the first
When the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment is used, the liquid crystal substrate 1
Since the pressurization to 9 is performed only by the component in the direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the liquid crystal substrate 19, the misalignment after the pressure baking of the liquid crystal substrate 19 hardly occurs.

By the way, the shape of the holding member 18 used in the description of the first embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the frame shape shown in FIG. 2, but is shown in FIG. 3 in consideration of work convenience. Two such U-shaped holding members 18 may be used.

Next, the structure of the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus according to the second embodiment basically includes a main body upper part and a main body lower part having an upper elastic pressing member, a main body upper part having a lower elastic pressing member, and a main body lower part main body upper part at a predetermined distance. And a fixing member for fixing the dimension.

Like the description of the prior art, the following description will be made by taking as an example a liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus for a liquid crystal substrate having a square planar shape and having no heater for firing in the apparatus itself.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the structure of a liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Also, FIG.
Is a plan view showing a holding member upper portion 25, and FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a holding member lower portion 27.

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken along the line CC of FIG. Hereinafter, description will be made by alternately referring to FIGS. 6, 7, and 9.

In FIG. 6, similarly to FIG. 11 showing the conventional liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus, the fixing member upper part 12 for fixing the upper part 14 of the main body and the lower part 23 of the main body which are actually provided six by six are provided.
With regard to the lower part 17 of the fixing member and the clasp 13, the illustration of the respective members located on the front side and the back side is omitted for the sake of clarity.

Further, FIG. 6 shows a state in which the upper elastic pressing member 15 and the lower elastic pressing member 22 are filled with fluid and expanded. The fluid used in this liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus is air, and silicon rubber is used for the upper elastic pressing member 15 and the lower elastic pressing member 22.

As shown in FIG. 6, an upper seal frame 16 is provided on the lower surface of the upper portion 14 of the main body so that the upper elastic pressing member 15 is
To be sealed from the outside air.

The upper part 14 of the main body has an upper fluid supply hole 11 for supplying a fluid to the upper elastic pressure member 15.

The lower seal frame 2 is provided on the upper surface of the lower part 23 of the main body.
The lower elastic pressurizing member 22 is attached to the outside airtightly by means of 1.

Then, a lower fluid supply hole 24 for supplying a fluid to the lower elastic pressure member 22 is provided on the upper surface of the lower seal frame 21.

In the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus according to the second embodiment, aluminum is used as the constituent material of the upper body 14, the lower body 23, the upper seal frame 16 and the lower seal frame 21. There is.

Further, when the liquid crystal substrate 19 is pressed, since the reference plane cannot be obtained only by the lower elastic pressure member 22, the reference plane is set on the upper surface of the lower elastic pressure member 22. The flat reference plate 20 is installed.

In the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus according to the second embodiment, the flat reference plate 20 is a square aluminum plate having a sufficient thickness so as not to be deformed by pressure and having a larger area than the liquid crystal substrate 19. To use.

Further, a female screw is provided on the lower portion 23 of the main body, and a cylindrical fixing member lower portion 17 provided with a male screw for fixing the upper body 14 and the lower portion 23 of the main body to the female screw at a predetermined distance is provided with a lower seal frame. 21 and the lower elastic pressing member 22 are screwed through through holes provided in the lower elastic pressing member 22.

By the way, the fixing member is composed of a cylindrical fixing member upper portion 12 and a fixing member lower portion 17. The lower end of the lower fixing member 17 is provided with a male screw for screwing the lower fixing member 17 to the lower body 23, and the upper end of the lower fixing member 17 is provided with a male screw for screwing the upper fixing member 12.

A male screw for screwing the fixing member upper portion 12 to the fixing member lower portion 17 is provided at the lower end of the fixing member upper portion 12, and a groove 12a is further provided at the upper portion of the fixing member upper portion 12.

The upper part 12 of the fixed member is the upper seal frame 16.
Through the through holes provided in the upper elastic pressing member 15 and the main body upper part 14, the groove 12 provided in the upper part of the fixing member 12
The stopper plate 13 provided on the upper surface of the main body upper portion 14 is slid sideways to a and hooked to be fixed to the main body upper portion 14.

By the way, the height of the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19 is changed by changing the number of laminated liquid crystal substrates 19 or the thickness of the liquid crystal substrate 19 material.

The adjustment of the length of the fixing member according to the height change of the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19 is performed by preparing the fixing member upper part 12 having a suitable length and screwing it to the fixing member lower part 17 each time. .

In this manner, the main body upper portion 14 and the main body lower portion 23 are fixed with a predetermined distance dimension. The structure of the stopper plate 13 is the same as the stopper plate shown in FIG. 12 showing a conventional liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The liquid crystal substrate 19 is placed in the central portion of the flat reference plate 20 by stacking a predetermined number of sets. That is, the liquid crystal substrate 1
9 is installed between the flat reference plate 20 and the upper elastic pressing member 15.

7 and 9 for holding the peripheral portion of the upper elastic pressing member 15 around the laminated liquid crystal substrate 19.
And a frame-shaped holding member upper part 25 and a holding member lower part 27
To provide.

The holding member in the second embodiment includes a holding member upper portion 25 having a holding surface 39 for directly holding the upper elastic pressing member 15, and an additional member 26 provided for adjusting the height of the holding member. Elastic member 29 that can expand and contract in the vertical direction
And a holding member lower part 27 having.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, a resin material that withstands a firing temperature of 150 ° C. and is relatively lightweight is used as the constituent material of the holding member upper portion 25 and the additional member 26. Further, aluminum is used as a constituent material of the lower part 27 of the holding member.

The elastic member 29 provided on the lower part 27 of the holding member and capable of expanding and contracting in the vertical direction is made of silicone rubber which expands and contracts by utilizing fluid pressure. Air is used as the working fluid.

As shown in FIG. 9, the elastic member 29 is attached to the lower portion 27 of the holding member while being sealed from the outside air by the seal frame 28. Further, the elastic member 29 is provided on the lower part 27 of the holding member.
A fluid supply hole 30 for supplying a fluid is provided.

The elastic member 29 and the fluid supply hole 30
As shown in FIG. 9, the seal frame 28 and the seal frame 28 are independently provided at four locations on the lower portion 27 of the holding member.

The lower part 27 of the holding member is installed on the upper surface of the lower seal frame 21. In addition, a predetermined space is provided below the holding member lower portion 27 in order to prevent the flat reference plate 20 from coming into contact with the holding member lower portion 27.

Further, the number of laminated sets of the liquid crystal substrate 19 is changed,
The height of the entire holding member is adjusted by installing the additional member 26 on the lower portion 27 of the holding member according to the change in the height of the stacked liquid crystal substrates 19 due to the change in the thickness of the liquid crystal substrate material. The holding member upper part 25 is installed on the additional member 26.

In the upper portion 25 of the holding member, a gap of a little less than 1 [mm] is provided between it and the side surface of the laminated liquid crystal substrate 19.

This gap does not hinder the holding member upper part 25 from sufficiently holding the peripheral part of the upper elastic pressing member 15, and the holding member upper part 25 has the laminated liquid crystal substrate 19.
The gap size is sufficient to avoid contact with the side surface of the.

The height dimension of the entire holding member is such that the holding surface 39 is a laminated liquid crystal substrate 19 in which the gap dimension of the liquid crystal substrate 19 is approximately equal to the target value due to pressure.
It is determined to be located on the same plane as the top surface of.

In the holding member according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the elastic member 29 attached to the holding member lower portion 27 is used.
The height of the entire holding member can be accurately adjusted by the fluid pressure supplied to the.

Further, the holding member upper portion 25 and the holding member lower portion 27 are provided via the fixing member upper portion 12 and the fixing member lower portion 17.
Holes 40 and 41 are provided in the holding member upper portion 25 and the holding member lower portion 27, respectively, in order to fix them to some extent.

Next, the operation and effect of the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 7, 9 and 15.

The laminated liquid crystal substrate 19 is set at the center of the flat reference plate 20. Next, the holding member lower part 27 is installed around the stacked liquid crystal substrates 19.

Then, depending on the height dimension of the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19, a predetermined height dimension or a predetermined number of additional members 26 are set on the lower holding member 27, and further held on the additional member 26. The member upper part 25 is installed.

Next, a fixing member upper portion 12 having a predetermined length dimension is prepared according to the height dimension of the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19, and the fixing member upper portion 12 is screwed to the fixing member lower portion 17,
The upper body 14 and the lower body 23 are fixed to each other with a predetermined distance dimension.

After that, the upper fluid supply hole 11 provided in the upper body 14 and the lower fluid supply hole 24 provided in the lower body 23.
From the fluid supply hole 30 provided in the holding member lower portion 27,
A fluid having a predetermined pressure is simultaneously supplied to the upper elastic pressing member 15, the lower elastic pressing member 22, and the elastic member 29 provided in the lower holding member 27.

When a fluid having a predetermined pressure is supplied, the upper elastic pressing member 15, the lower elastic pressing member 22, and the elastic member 29 provided on the lower portion 27 of the holding member expand as shown in FIG.

Since the upper main body 14 and the lower main body 23 are fixed at a predetermined distance as described above, the upper elastic pressing member 15 is laminated by the action of the holding member.
Is applied with an evenly distributed load, and the lower elastic pressurizing member 22 presses the liquid crystal substrate 19 laminated via the flat reference plate 20.

Further, the height dimension of the holding surface 39 of the holding member upper portion 25 is precisely adjusted to the uppermost surface of the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19 by adjusting the fluid supplied to the elastic member 29 provided in the holding member lower portion 27. be able to.

Thereafter, the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19 are pressed and baked in a batch type heating furnace at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time to cure the sealing material to a predetermined uniform gap size. In the examples of the present invention, the final firing temperature is 150 ° C.

By the way, in the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus in the second embodiment, the overexpansion portion 31 in the peripheral portion of the upper elastic pressing member 15 which has been a problem in the conventional technique is replaced with the holding member upper portion 25.
It can be suppressed by the holding surface 39.

This will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 15
During operation of the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus in the second embodiment,
It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the peripheral part of the upper elastic pressing member 15.

As shown in FIG. 15, the holding member upper part 2
The holding surface 39 of 5 holds the peripheral portion of the upper elastic pressing member 15 and can prevent the overexpansion portion 31 from being generated.

As a result, the upper elastic pressing member 15 does not press the side surfaces and corners of the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19.

Furthermore, in the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus of the second embodiment, the uppermost surface of the laminated liquid crystal substrates 19 and the holding surface 39 of the holding member upper portion 25 can be precisely aligned on the same plane, so that the liquid crystal substrate It is possible to uniformly press the upper surface of 19 with a uniformly distributed load.

As an effect thereof, when a liquid crystal cell was manufactured by the conventional liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus, the difference in the in-plane gap of the final single liquid crystal cell was 0.1 [μm] at maximum. On the other hand, in the liquid crystal cell manufactured by the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus of the second embodiment of the present invention, the difference in the in-plane gap of the single liquid crystal cell could be kept within 0.02 [μm].

In the STN type liquid crystal display device, if the in-plane gap difference is 0.05 [μm] or more, the display quality becomes problematic. However, the liquid crystal cell manufacturing device of the second embodiment is used. If so, a liquid crystal display device having good display quality can be manufactured.

Further, in the case of using the conventional liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus, the side portion of the liquid crystal substrate 19 is pressed by the overexpansion portion 31, so that the misalignment resulting in the defect after the liquid crystal substrate 19 is pressure-fired. Occurs. However, when the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is used, the liquid crystal substrate 19 is pressurized only by the component in the direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the liquid crystal substrate 19, so that the liquid crystal substrate 19 is pressurized. No misalignment occurs after firing.

The shape of the holding member upper portion 25 and the holding member lower portion 27 used in the description of the second embodiment of the present invention described above is a frame shape as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. However, in consideration of workability, a U-shaped holding member upper portion 25 and a holding member lower portion 27 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 may be used.

Furthermore, in the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus described in the embodiments of the present invention, the heating process of the liquid crystal substrate 19 uses the batch type heating furnace. However, a heater using a nichrome wire is provided on each of the upper surface of the upper body 14 and the lower surface of the lower body 23 of the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus, the heater temperature is adjusted, and the sealing material of the laminated liquid crystal substrate 19 is baked. May be.

[0162]

As is apparent from the above description, in the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the holding member for holding the peripheral portion of the upper elastic pressing member on the outside of the liquid crystal substrates to be stacked and installed. Is provided so that its holding surface is located on the same plane as the uppermost surface of the laminated liquid crystal substrates. As a result, it is possible to suppress the over-expansion portion that occurs in the peripheral portion of the elastic pressure member.

As a result, the elastic pressing member does not press the side surfaces and the corners of the laminated liquid crystal substrates, and the upper surface of the laminated liquid crystal substrates can be uniformly pressed with a uniform load.

The effect is that when the liquid crystal cell is manufactured by the conventional liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus, the difference in the in-plane gap of the final single liquid crystal cell is 0.1 [μm] at the maximum. In the case of a liquid crystal cell manufactured by the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus of the invention, it can be set within 0.02 [μm].

In the STN type liquid crystal display device, if the in-plane gap difference is 0.05 [μm] or more, a display quality problem arises, but the liquid crystal cell manufacturing device of the second embodiment is used. If so, a liquid crystal display device having good display quality can be manufactured.

Further, in the case of using the conventional liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus, the side portion of the liquid crystal substrate is pressed due to the occurrence of the overexpansion portion, which causes misalignment after the liquid crystal substrate is pressed and baked. To do.

However, when the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus of the present invention is used, the pressure applied to the liquid crystal substrate is performed only by the component in the direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the liquid crystal substrate. For this reason, there is also an effect that no misalignment occurs after the liquid crystal substrate is pressure-fired.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a holding member that constitutes a liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a holding member which constitutes a liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a liquid crystal substrate in an example of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a liquid crystal substrate in an example of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus in an example of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an upper portion of a holding member that constitutes the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an upper portion of a holding member that constitutes the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a lower portion of a holding member which constitutes a liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a lower portion of a holding member which constitutes a liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a conventional liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a conventional liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a problem of a conventional liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the effect of the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the effect of the liquid crystal cell manufacturing apparatus in the example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

14 Upper body 15 Upper elastic pressure member 18 Holding member 19 LCD substrate 20 Flat reference plate 22 Lower elastic pressure member 23 Lower body 31 Overexpansion part 32 holding surface

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An upper body of the main body, an upper elastic pressurizing member which is attached to the lower surface of the upper body of the main body and presses the liquid crystal substrates laminated by using fluid pressure, and the upper elastic pressurizing member is attached to the lower surface of the upper body of the main body and exposed to the outside air. The upper sealing frame for sealing the lower part of the main body, the lower part of the main body, the lower elastic pressurizing member which is attached to the upper surface of the lower part of the main body to press the liquid crystal substrates laminated using the fluid pressure, and the lower elastic pressurizing member are attached to the upper surface of the lower part of the main body. Attached to the bottom of the main body and the lower sealing frame for sealing with the outside air, the flat reference plate for setting the reference flat surface on the upper surface of the lower elastic pressure member, And a fixing member for adjusting and fixing the elastic member, and an elastic member vertically expandable and contractible between an upper portion and a lower portion for holding the peripheral portion of the upper elastic pressing member substantially flush with the uppermost surface of the laminated liquid crystal substrates. Holding An apparatus for manufacturing a liquid crystal cell, comprising: a member. 2. An upper part of the main body, a heater provided on an upper surface of the upper part of the main body for firing the laminated liquid crystal substrates, and an upper elastic pressurizing device which is attached to a lower surface of the upper part of the main body to press the laminated liquid crystal substrates using fluid pressure. A member, an upper sealing frame for attaching the upper elastic pressurizing member to the lower surface of the upper part of the main body and for sealing with the outside air, a lower part of the main body, and a heater provided on the lower surface of the lower part of the main body for firing the laminated liquid crystal substrates, A lower elastic pressure member that is attached to the upper surface of the lower part of the main body to press the liquid crystal substrates laminated by using fluid pressure, and a lower seal frame for attaching the lower elastic pressure member to the upper surface of the lower part of the main body and for sealing with the outside air, A flat reference plate that is placed on the upper surface of the lower elastic pressure member to set a reference flat surface, a fixing member that adjusts and fixes the upper and lower parts of the main body to a predetermined distance, and an upper elastic member. A liquid crystal comprising: a holding member having an elastic member capable of expanding and contracting in a vertical direction between an upper portion and a lower portion for holding the peripheral portion of the pressing member substantially flush with the uppermost surface of the laminated liquid crystal substrates. Cell manufacturing equipment.