JP3922031B2 - Liquid crystal injection device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal injection device for injecting liquid crystal into a cell used in a liquid crystal display device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional liquid crystal injection apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. Operation before the start all the gate valves G1 to G3, the vacuum valve V1, _{N 2} introduced state valve V2 is closed, the vacuum pump P1 is in the operating state. At this time, the inside of the chamber C1 is atmospheric pressure.
[0003]
First, the gate valve G1 is opened, the liquid crystal cell 11 into which liquid crystal is to be injected is placed on the cassette tray 12, and the liquid crystal dish 13 containing the liquid crystal is placed on the liquid crystal dish tray 14 and conveyed into the chamber C1, respectively. It is loaded on the conveyor 16 and the elevating mechanism 17 (access mechanism), and the gate valve G1 is closed.
[0004]
Then, the vacuum valve V1 is opened, the inside of the chamber C1 is evacuated, and when a predetermined pressure is reached or a predetermined time elapses, the elevating mechanism 17 is raised and the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal dish 13 is applied to the liquid crystal inlet of the liquid crystal cell 11. Let it come into contact with the liquid. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the liquid crystal dish tray 14 is chucked by the chucking mechanism 15 provided in the cassette tray 12. Moreover, closing the vacuum valve V1, open the N ₂ inlet valve V2, and begins returning to the chamber C1 to the atmospheric pressure, begins to enter the liquid crystal pressurized into the liquid crystal cell 11 became a vacuum.
[0005]
Next, the gate valve G2 is opened, and the liquid crystal cell 11 and the liquid crystal dish 13 are kept in contact with the liquid crystal cell 11, that is, the liquid crystal dish tray 14 is chucked by the chucking mechanism 15 of the cassette tray 12. The conveyor 16 is moved to the chamber C2, and the gate valve G2 is closed. Thereafter, in the chamber C1, the elevating mechanism 17 is lowered to carry in the next liquid crystal cell 11 and the liquid crystal dish 13, while in the chamber C2, the liquid crystal cell 11 is filled until the liquid crystal is completely injected into the liquid crystal cell 11 in the atmospheric pressure state. And the liquid crystal dish 13 is set aside.
[0006]
When the liquid crystal cell 11 is filled with liquid crystal after a predetermined time has elapsed, the chucking mechanism 15 is opened in the chamber C2, the liquid crystal dish tray 14 is opened, and the elevating mechanism 18 is lowered to lower the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal cell 11. The liquid crystal dish 13 is pulled away from the inlet. Then, the gate valve G3 is opened, and the liquid crystal cell 11 together with the cassette tray 12 and the liquid crystal dish 13 together with the liquid crystal dish tray 14 are separately carried out from the chamber C2.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the liquid crystal injection apparatus as shown in FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. 4, the chucking mechanism 15 is provided in the cassette tray 12, the chucking mechanism 15 is driven to open and close, and the liquid crystal tray 14 is chucked. As a result, since the liquid crystal is moved to the chamber C2 while the liquid crystal is in contact with the liquid crystal cell 11, it is necessary to mount the chucking mechanism 15 having a complicated mechanism, and further, the chucking mechanism 15 is driven to open and close. A driving mechanism is required to increase the cost and make the structure complicated.
[0008]
The present invention provides a liquid crystal injection apparatus that can easily move a liquid crystal cell and a liquid crystal dish to different chambers while keeping the liquid crystal in contact with the liquid crystal cell without causing such problems. With the goal.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The liquid crystal injection device of the present invention is provided through an introduction chamber in which a liquid crystal cell into which liquid crystal is injected and a liquid crystal dish containing liquid crystal is loaded, an introduction chamber and a gate valve, and the liquid crystal cell and the liquid crystal dish are loaded. An injection chamber, an evacuation system for evacuating the introduction chamber, an inert gas introduction system for introducing an inert gas into the introduction chamber, and a liquid crystal cell and a liquid crystal dish relative to the introduction chamber A close-up mechanism for making them approach and a separation mechanism for relatively separating the liquid crystal cell and the liquid crystal dish in the injection chamber, and the introduction chamber is loaded with the liquid crystal cell and the liquid crystal dish and evacuated by a vacuum exhaust system. After vacuuming the liquid crystal cell introduced into the liquid crystal cell, the liquid crystal inlet of the liquid crystal cell is relatively close to come into contact with the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal dish by an approach mechanism, and then an inert gas is introduced by an inert gas introduction system. To start liquid crystal injection into the liquid crystal cell. In order to load the liquid crystal cell and the liquid crystal dish from the introduction chamber into the injection chamber with the liquid crystal injection port of the liquid crystal cell in contact with the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal dish, the liquid crystal with the cassette tray holding the liquid crystal cell and the liquid crystal dish is placed. The liquid crystal dish tray that moves together with the cassette tray that is moved by the moving means is connected to the cassette tray and the liquid crystal dish tray by the connecting means including the pin and the pin hole provided on each other. The movement is facilitated by the sliding means provided on the mounting surface.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the liquid crystal injection device of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a partially enlarged view of a cassette tray and a liquid crystal dish tray in the liquid crystal injection apparatus of this embodiment. FIGS. 2A and 2B are views when the cassette tray and the liquid crystal dish tray of FIG. It is a side view and its AA sectional view. The structure other than FIGS. 1 and 2 is the same as that of the conventional liquid crystal injection apparatus shown in FIG. 3. Hereinafter, the liquid crystal injection apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0011]
A liquid crystal cell 11 into which liquid crystal is to be injected is placed on a cassette tray 12, and a liquid crystal dish 13 containing liquid crystal is placed on a liquid crystal dish tray 14 and passes through a gate valve G1 and is loaded into a chamber (claims). C1 includes a lifting mechanism 17 (corresponding to the approaching mechanism in the claims) and a conveyor 16 comprising a number of driving wheels for transporting the liquid crystal cell 11 to the chamber C2, which will be described later. Corresponding to a range transport mechanism).
[0012]
Further, a vacuum pump P1 for evacuating the inside is connected to the chamber C1 via a vacuum valve V1, and an N ₂ gas source supplied when returning the inside to atmospheric pressure is connected via an N ₂ introduction valve V2. Connected. An inert gas other than N ₂ gas may be used.
[0013]
The chamber C1 is provided with a chamber C2 (corresponding to the injection chamber in the claims) via a gate valve G2, and the conveyor 16 as described above is provided so that the liquid crystal cell 11 can be carried from the chamber C1. However, the chamber C2 is also provided with an elevating mechanism 18 (corresponding to a separation mechanism in claims) for separating the liquid crystal dish from the liquid crystal cell in the liquid contact state. Furthermore, a gate valve G3 is provided so that the liquid crystal cell 11 and the liquid crystal dish 13 can be conveyed to the outside.
[0014]
The chambers C1 and C2 may be provided with a heating mechanism (not shown) so that liquid crystal injection is promoted by heating.
[0015]
By the way, in this embodiment, in order to transport the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal dish 13 to the liquid crystal cell 11 from the chamber C1 to the chamber C2, as shown in FIG. When the liquid crystal dish tray 14 is placed in order to bring the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal dish 13 into contact with the liquid crystal cell 11 and the lift base 22 constituting the lift mechanism 17 is lifted via the lift shaft 23, the pin 21 is provided. The liquid crystal dish 13 is inserted into the liquid crystal dish through hole 12a of the cassette tray 12 placed on the drive wheel 16a of the stopped conveyor 16, and the positioning pin 21 is inserted into the positioning hole 24. . In this embodiment, four combinations of such positioning pins 21 and positioning holes 24 are provided. In addition, the elevator 22 is provided with a large number of rollers 25 as a sliding mechanism that reduces friction when the liquid crystal tray tray 14 slides and moves thereon.
[0016]
Next, the operation of the liquid crystal injection apparatus in FIG. 1 will be described. Note that the liquid crystal injection process itself into the liquid crystal cell is the same as in the prior art, and will be described with reference to FIG.
[0017]
Operation before the start all the gate valves G1 to G3, the vacuum valve V1, _{N 2} introduced state valve V2 is closed, the vacuum pump P1 is in the operating state. At this time, the inside of the chamber C1 is atmospheric pressure.
[0018]
First, the gate valve G1 is opened, the liquid crystal cell 11 into which liquid crystal is to be injected is placed on the cassette tray 12, and the liquid crystal dish 13 containing the liquid crystal is placed on the liquid crystal dish tray 14 and conveyed into the chamber C1, respectively. It is loaded on the drive wheels 16a of the conveyor 16 and on the lifting platform 22, and the gate valve G1 is closed.
[0019]
Then, the vacuum valve V1 is opened, the inside of the chamber C1 is evacuated, and when a predetermined pressure is reached or when a predetermined time elapses, the elevator 22 is raised via the elevator shaft 23, and the liquid crystal is injected into the liquid crystal inlet of the liquid crystal cell 11. The liquid crystal on the pan 13 is applied to contact the liquid. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the positioning pins 21 provided on the liquid crystal dish tray 14 are inserted into the positioning holes 24 formed in the cassette tray 12. Moreover, closing the vacuum valve V1, open the N ₂ inlet valve V2, and begins returning to the chamber C1 to the atmospheric pressure, it begins to enter the liquid crystal pressurized into the liquid crystal cell 11 became a vacuum.
[0020]
Next, when the gate valve G <b> 2 is opened and the liquid crystal cell 11 and the liquid crystal dish 13 are moved to the chamber C <b> 2 by the conveyor 16 while the liquid crystal is in contact with the liquid crystal cell 11, the positioning pin 21 enters the positioning hole 24. Since it is inserted, the liquid crystal dish tray 14 follows the cassette tray 12. At this time, the liquid crystal dish tray 14 slides on the rotating roller 25 and moves without being hindered by the frictional force.
[0021]
Then, after the liquid crystal cell 11 and the liquid crystal dish 13 have been moved to the chamber C2, the gate valve G2 is closed. Thereafter, in the chamber C1, the elevating mechanism 17 is lowered to carry in the next liquid crystal cell 11 and the liquid crystal dish 13, while in the chamber C2, the liquid crystal cell 11 is filled until the liquid crystal is completely injected into the liquid crystal cell 11 in the atmospheric pressure state. And the liquid crystal dish 13 is set aside.
[0022]
When the liquid crystal cell 11 is filled with the liquid crystal after a predetermined time has elapsed, in the chamber C2, the lifting platform 22 constituting the lifting mechanism 18 provided in the same manner as the lifting mechanism 17 in the chamber C1 is lowered, thereby positioning. The positioning pin is removed from the hole 24 and the liquid crystal dish 13 is pulled away from the liquid crystal inlet of the liquid crystal cell 11. Then, the gate valve G3 is opened, and the liquid crystal cell 11 together with the cassette tray 12 and the liquid crystal dish 13 together with the liquid crystal dish tray 14 are separately carried out from the chamber C2.
[0023]
Then, the next liquid crystal cell 11 and the liquid crystal dish 13 are brought into the chamber C2 in a liquid contact state from the chamber C1, and the next liquid crystal cell 11 and the liquid crystal dish 13 are further carried into the chamber C1. In addition, the above-described operation is repeated.
[0024]
In this embodiment, a large number of driven rollers 25 are used as the sliding mechanism, but a driving mechanism may be provided so that the rollers 25 themselves drive. Further, it is possible to implement the sliding mechanism by adopting a material having a small coefficient of friction with the liquid crystal dish tray 14 for the lifting platform 22 or by mirror finishing. Further, the combination of the positioning pin 21 and the positioning hole 24 is not limited to the four sets of the present embodiment, and two sets or other sets can be implemented. Further, in this embodiment, the positioning pin 21 is provided in the liquid crystal dish tray 14 and the positioning hole 24 is provided in the cassette tray 12. However, the positioning pins 21 are provided on the cassette tray 12 in the opposite direction. The holes 24 may be provided in the liquid crystal dish tray 14.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, even if a simple mechanism is used without using a complicated chucking mechanism, the liquid crystal can be moved to the next chamber while the liquid crystal is in contact with the liquid crystal cell. In other words, such an originally required operation can be performed, and not only the chucking mechanism itself but also a driving mechanism for opening and closing the same is not required, thereby preventing an increase in cost and a complicated structure.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partially enlarged view of a cassette tray and a liquid crystal dish tray of a liquid crystal injection apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the cassette tray and the liquid crystal dish tray of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a conventional liquid crystal injection device.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a chucking mechanism of a conventional liquid crystal injection apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Liquid crystal cell 12 Cassette tray 13 Liquid crystal dish 14 Liquid crystal dish tray 16 Conveyor 17 Lifting mechanism (access mechanism)
18 Lifting mechanism (separation mechanism)
21 Positioning pin 22 Lifting table 24 Positioning hole 25 Roller C1, C2 Chamber

Claims (1)

An introduction chamber in which a liquid crystal cell into which liquid crystal is injected and a liquid crystal dish containing liquid crystal are loaded; an injection chamber in which the liquid crystal cell and the liquid crystal dish are loaded; An evacuation system for evacuating the introduction chamber, an inert gas introduction system for introducing an inert gas into the introduction chamber, and the liquid crystal cell and the liquid crystal dish relative to the introduction chamber. An approach mechanism for approaching, and a separation mechanism for relatively separating the liquid crystal cell and the liquid crystal dish in the injection chamber, the liquid crystal cell and the liquid crystal dish are loaded in the introduction chamber, and vacuum exhaust is performed by the vacuum exhaust system. Then, after the liquid crystal cell introduced into the introduction chamber is evacuated, the liquid crystal injection port of the liquid crystal cell approaches the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal dish relatively close by the approach mechanism, and then the inactive Introducing inert gas in the gas introduction system In the liquid crystal injection device that starts liquid crystal injection into the liquid crystal cell, the liquid crystal cell and the liquid crystal dish are transferred from the introduction chamber to the injection chamber in a state where the liquid crystal injection port of the liquid crystal cell is in contact with the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal plate. In order to load the cassette tray, the cassette tray for holding the liquid crystal cell and the liquid crystal dish tray on which the liquid crystal dish is placed are provided with connecting means including pins and pin holes for connecting them, and moved by the moving means. In order to facilitate movement of the liquid crystal dish tray connected by the connecting means together with the cassette tray to be operated, a sliding means is provided on the mounting surface of the liquid crystal dish tray in the access mechanism.

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