JP3925184B2

JP3925184B2 - LCD dish

Info

Publication number: JP3925184B2
Application number: JP2001382863A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 繁倉田; 明彦井出; 和正天野; 信治浜田
Original assignee: Casio Computer Co Ltd
Current assignee: Casio Computer Co Ltd
Priority date: 2001-12-17
Filing date: 2001-12-17
Publication date: 2007-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 2021-12-17
Also published as: JP2003186028A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
この発明は、液晶セル内に液晶を注入する際に用いられる液晶皿に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
図８の一部は液晶を注入する前の状態の従来の液晶セルの一例の正面図を示したものである。この液晶セル１は、ガラスや樹脂等からなる２枚の基板２、３が液晶注入口４ａを有するほぼ方形枠状のシール材４を介して貼り合わされた構造となっている。この場合、液晶注入口４ａは、液晶セル１の短辺部ほぼ中央部に設けられている。
【０００３】
次に、この液晶セル１に液晶を注入する場合について説明する。まず、液晶セル１を、その液晶注入口４ａを下にしてほぼ垂直に立てた状態で、真空チャンバ（図示せず）内に保持し、液晶５が溜められた液晶皿６上に位置させる。この場合、液晶皿６は、一定の深さの単なる皿状のものからなっている。次に、真空チャンバ内を真空状態とすることにより、液晶セル１内の空気を液晶注入口４ａから排気し、液晶セル１内を予め設定された真空状態とする。
【０００４】
次に、図８に示すように、液晶セル１を下降させ、その液晶注入口４ａを含む下側の短辺部全体を液晶皿６内の液晶５に浸す。次に、真空チャンバ内を大気圧に戻すことにより、液晶セル１の内部と外部との圧力差と毛細管現象とにより、液晶皿６内の液晶５が液晶注入口４ａを介して液晶セル１内に注入される。次に、真空チャンバ内から液晶セル１を取り出し、液晶注入口４ａを封止材（図示せず）で封止する。かくして、液晶セル１に液晶５を注入する工程が終了する。
【０００５】
ところで、図８に示すように、液晶セル１の液晶注入口４ａを含む下側の短辺部全体を液晶皿６内の液晶５に浸すのは、液晶注入口４ａを液晶皿６内の液晶５で完全に覆うことにより、真空チャンバ内を大気圧に戻しても、空気が液晶注入口４ａを介して液晶セル１内に侵入しないようにするためである。
【０００６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、液晶セル１の液晶注入口４ａを含む下側の短辺部全体を液晶皿６内の液晶５に浸すと、液晶セル１の下側の短辺部全体に液晶５が不要に付着するので、この不要に付着した液晶５を後工程で洗浄しているが、高価な液晶をかなり無駄にすることとなり、その分だけコスト高になるという問題があった。
この発明の課題は、液晶セルへの液晶の無駄な付着を可及的に少なくすることができる液晶皿を提供することである。
【０００７】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明の液晶皿は、請求項１に記載のように、液晶が溜められる液晶溜め部と、該液晶溜め部に連通させると共にそれよりも幅狭に形成され、前記液晶溜め部から液晶が供給される幅狭溝部と、該幅狭溝部内に設けられ、液晶自体の表面張力により前記幅狭溝部内の液晶の液面の一部を盛り上がらせる液面盛上部材とを有し、前記幅狭溝部はその両岸部に傾斜面が形成され、且つ前記幅狭溝部の幅はその全域にわたり所定の位置に近接させた液晶セルの液晶注入口部分に接触する液晶盛上部を形成できる幅であることを特徴とするものである。
そして、この発明によれば、液晶溜め部に連続して設けられ、その両岸部に傾斜面が形成された幅狭溝部内に設けられた液晶液面盛上部材によって、液晶自体の表面張力により幅狭溝部内の液晶の液面の一部を盛り上げているので、前記液晶の液面を前記幅狭溝部の幅以上に広げて盛り上げることができ、前記液晶液面盛上部材と液晶セルの液晶注入口との位置決めが容易になる。そのため、この液晶盛上部に液晶セルの液晶注入口の部分の必要で十分な領域を接触させ、幅狭溝部内の液晶を液晶注入口を介して液晶セル内に容易に注入することができ、従って液晶セルへの液晶の無駄な付着を可及的に少なくすると共に注入時における空気等の気体の侵入を確実に防止することができる。
この場合、請求項２に記載のように、前記液面盛上部材は前記幅狭溝部の幅方向中央部に設けられていることが好ましい。
また、請求項３に記載のように、前記幅狭溝部の延在方向に沿ってその両側に液晶を注入すべき液晶セルの高さ位置を規制する液晶セル高さ位置規制部が設けられていることが好ましい。
加えて、請求項４に記載のように、前記液面盛上部材は前記幅狭溝部内に直立して設けられたコイルスプリングであることが好ましい。
【０００８】
【発明の実施の形態】
図１はこの発明の一実施形態としての液晶皿の平面図を示し、図２は図１のＡ−Ａ線に沿う断面図を示し、図３は図１のＢ−Ｂ線に沿う断面図を示したものである。この液晶皿１１は、上から見て短冊形状の皿本体１２を備えている。
【０００９】
皿本体１２の上面の長さ方向両端部には、平面的に見てほぼ方形状の凹部からなる液晶溜め部１３が設けられている。両液晶溜め部１３、１３間には、これらを連通させる幅狭溝部１４が、皿本体１２の幅方向中心線に沿って設けられている。幅狭溝部１４の深さは両液晶溜め部１３の深さと同じか若しくはそれより浅く形成されている。幅狭溝部１４の両岸部はほぼ４５°の傾斜面１５となっている。この幅狭溝部１４の幅は、その全域にわたり所定の位置に近接させた液晶セルの液晶注入口部分に接触する液晶盛上部を形成できる幅であり、液晶を注入する液晶セルの注入口の長さ（セル面方向に沿った）よりも適度に大きく設定される。例えば、注入口の長さが３ｍｍの場合、幅狭溝部１４の幅は４ｍｍ±０．５ｍｍ程度が好ましい。
【００１０】
幅狭溝部１４の底面の幅方向中央部には、その長さ方向に一定の間隔をおいて複数の例えば５つの円形の支持孔１６が設けられている。これらの支持孔１６内には、液晶の液面盛上手段としてのコイルスプリング１７の下部が挿入されている。すなわち、幅狭溝部１４内にはその長さ方向に一定の間隔をおいて５つのコイルスプリング１７が直立して設けられている。そして、各コイルスプリング１７の直径は、液晶セルの液晶注入口の大きさに応じて最適に設定される。例えば、液晶注入口の長さが３ｍｍ（注入口の幅は液晶セルのギャップと同じ）の場合は、２ｍｍ±０．５ｍｍ程度が好適である。なお、液面盛上手段としては、コイルスプリングに限らず、ゴム等の弾性材料からなる筒状のものを用いてもよい。即ち、液晶の液面盛上手段は、弾性を備えると共に、後述するように液晶がその表面張力により液晶盛上部を形成できる形状に形成されておればよい。
【００１１】
幅狭溝部１４の長さ方向両端部とその連通する各液晶溜め部１３との境界には角柱状の突起１８がそれぞれ設けられている。各突起１８の上面は皿本体１２の上面と同じ高さとなっている。これら突起１８、１８を設けることにより、両端のコイルスプリング１７によっても、中央側の３個のコイルスプリング１７による液晶盛上部とほぼ同じ液晶盛上部を形成することが可能となる。
【００１２】
幅狭溝部１４の両側の皿本体１２上面の所定の２箇所には帯状の支持溝１９が幅狭溝部１４と平行に設けられている。これらの支持溝１９内には帯板状の液晶セル高さ位置規制部材２０の下部が着脱可能に挿入されており、液晶が注入される液晶セルの機種変更や高さ位置規制部材２０の摩耗等に応じて適宜変更・交換できるようになっている。液晶セル高さ位置規制部材２０の上部は皿本体１２の上面から予め設定された高さだけ突出されている。この突出高さは、幅狭溝部１４の幅のほぼ１／４〜１／５程度に設定するのが好ましい。ここで、無負荷状態のコイルスプリング１７の高さは液晶セル高さ位置規制部材２０の上面よりも所定長高くなっている。
【００１３】
そして、液晶溜め部１３内、支持孔１６を含む幅狭溝部１４内には液晶２１が、図４に示すように、その液表面が幅狭溝部１４の岸部上面に連なった状態となるまで溜められている。この場合、無負荷状態のコイルスプリング１７の上端部は皿本体１２の上面よりもある程度上側に突出されているので、この無負荷状態のコイルスプリング１７の突出する上端部を覆うように、表面張力による液晶２１の盛上部２１ａが形成されている。すなわち、幅狭溝部１４内の５個のコイルスプリング１７の各上端部毎に、液晶２１の液面が盛り上った液晶盛上部２１ａが形成されている。
【００１４】
また、幅狭溝部１４の両岸部における液晶２１の液面がその表面張力により両傾斜面１５を昇るようにその表面に付着している。無負荷状態のコイルスプリング１７による液晶盛上部２１ａと両傾斜面１５間の液晶２１の液面はやや凹んでいる。
【００１５】
次に、液晶２１を注入する前の状態の液晶セルの一例について、図４を参照して説明する。この液晶セル２２は、ガラスや樹脂等からなる２枚の基板２３、２４が液晶注入口２５ａを有するほぼ方形枠状のシール材２５を介して貼り合わされた構造となっている。そして、本例の液晶セル２２では、液晶注入口２５ａは、液晶セル２２の長辺部ほぼ中央部に設けられている。
【００１６】
次に、上記液晶皿１１を用いて上記液晶セル２２に液晶２１を注入する動作について説明する。まず、図４に示すように、液晶セル２２を、その液晶注入口２５ａを下にしてほぼ垂直に立てた状態で、真空チャンバ（図示せず）内に保持し、液晶２１がほぼ満杯に溜められた液晶皿１１上に位置させる。この場合、コイルスプリング１７が５つであるので、５個の液晶セル２２を各コイルスプリング１７上にそれぞれ位置させる。
【００１７】
次に、真空チャンバ内を真空状態とすることにより、各液晶セル２２内の空気を液晶注入口２５ａから排気し、液晶セル２２内を予め設定された真空状態とする。次に、図５に示すように、液晶セル２２をある程度下降させ、その液晶注入口２５ａ部分の下端面をコイルスプリング１７の上面に当接すると共に、液晶セル２２の液晶注入口２５ａ部の下端面がコイルスプリング１７上部の液晶盛上部２１ａと接触する。
【００１８】
ここで、コイルスプリング１７の直径は液晶セル２２の液晶注入口２５ａの幅（図５において紙面垂直方向の長さ）よりもある程度（例えば、図７に示すように、液晶セル２２の厚さよりもやや）大きくなっている。これは、コイルスプリング１７の上端部に形成された液晶２１の盛り上がり部２１ａの直径を液晶セル２２の液晶注入口２５ａの幅よりもある程度大きくし、液晶セル２２の液晶注入口２５ａの部分における下端面の液晶注入口２５ａの幅方向の領域を液晶２１で完全に濡らすためである。
【００１９】
次に、図６に示すように、液晶セル２２をさらに下降させ、その液晶注入口２５ａの両側における下端面を各液晶セル高さ位置規制部材２０の上面に当接させる。この状態では、液晶セル２２の液晶注入口２５ａ部下端面がコイルスプリング１７の上端面を予め設定された高さだけ押し下げ、コイルスプリング１７がその長さ分だけ圧縮されている。
【００２０】
この場合、液晶液面盛上部としてコイルスプリング１７を用いているので、液晶セル２０の液晶注入口２５ａの下端面の両側を各液晶セル高さ位置規制部材２０の上面に当接させた状態にするだけで、コイルスプリング１７の上端面を液晶セル２２の液晶注入口２５ａ部の下端面に確実に接触させることができる。
【００２１】
そして、液晶セル２０の液晶注入口２５ａの両側における下端面が各液晶セル高さ位置規制部材２０の上面に当接されることにより、液晶セル２２の下端面と皿本体１２の上面（液晶の盛上部近傍以外の液面と同じレベル）との隙間が予め設定された微小間隔となる。この為、液晶注入口２５ａの近傍における幅狭溝部１４内の液晶２１の表面張力による液晶盛上部２１ａが幅狭溝部１４の幅方向に広がる。この液晶盛上部２１ａの広がりは、幅狭溝部１４の幅全域だけでなく、その両端部の両傾斜面１５に対応する領域まで広がる。その結果、液晶セル２２の液晶注入口２５ａ部分およびその周囲の下端面、つまり、幅狭溝部１４の幅方向全体に対応する領域および両傾斜面１５に対応する領域が液晶２１と接触し濡らされる。
【００２２】
この場合、幅狭溝部１４の幅を単に広げるだけではコイルスプリング１７と幅狭溝部１４両岸間の液晶面の落ち込みが大きくなり、液晶セル２２を液晶液面に最近接（図６の状態）させても、液晶盛上部２１ａは幅狭溝部１４の幅方向に広がらない。しかし、上述したように、幅狭溝部１４の両岸に傾斜面１５をそれぞれ形成しておくことにより、それら両傾斜面１５に対応する領域分だけ液晶盛上部２１ａの幅を広げることができる。このような液晶２１の盛り上がり部２１ａを形成する条件については、後で説明する。
【００２３】
一方、図７に示すように、相隣接するコイルスプリング１７間の液晶液面は、下方に湾曲状に凹んだ裾野状となる。両端のコイルスプリング１７の隣接するコイルスプリングの無い側には、突起１８が設けられているから、この突起１８と隣接するコイルスプリング１７間の液晶液面も裾野状となる。その結果、５個のコイルスプリング１７のそれぞれの周囲の液晶液面形状がほぼ同じとなるので、各コイルスプリング１７先端部の液晶盛上部２１ａもほぼ同じ形状に形成され、対応する各液晶セル２２の注入口２５ａと液晶との接触状態もほぼ同じ状態、つまり、液晶注入口部２５ａの端面を含む十分に広い領域にわたり液晶盛上部２１ａが広がって接触した状態となる。即ち、５つの液晶セル２２に対する液晶注入条件をほぼ同じとすることができる。
【００２４】
次に、真空チャンバ内を大気圧に戻すことにより、液晶セル２２の内部と外部との圧力差と毛細管現象とにより、コイルスプリング１７の上端部に形成された液晶盛上部２１ａの液晶２１が液晶注入口２５ａを介して液晶セル２２内に注入される。そして、液晶注入に伴い、幅狭溝部１４内に蓄えられた液晶２１が減少すると、それに応じて、液晶溜め部１３から液晶２１が幅狭溝部１４内に供給される。液晶の注入が完了したら、真空チャンバ内から液晶セル２２を取り出し、液晶注入口２５ａを封止材（図示せず）で封止する。かくして、液晶セル２２に液晶２１を注入する工程が終了する。
【００２５】
ところで、図６に示すように、液晶セル２２の液晶注入口２５ａの部分およびその周囲の下端面であって、幅狭溝部１４の幅方向全体に対応する領域および両傾斜面１５に対応する領域のみが液晶２１によって濡らされている。この結果、液晶２１が付着する領域が、液晶セル２２の液晶注入口２５ａの部分およびその周囲の下端面のみの必要十分な領域に限られるから、高価な液晶を顕著に節約することができ、従ってその分だけコストダウンを図ることができる。また、液晶注入口２５ａに対応する領域を含む十分な領域にわたり液晶を接触させるから、大気開放して液晶を注入する際に空気が液晶注入口２５ａから侵入するのを確実に防止することができる。
【００２６】
ここで、図６に示すような液晶盛上部２１ａを形成するには、幅狭溝部１４の幅と、液晶セル高さ位置規制部材２０による液晶セル２２の液晶注入口２５ａの部分における下端面の高さ位置と、幅狭溝部１４内の液晶２１の液面の当初の高さ位置とを適切に設定すればよい。
【００２７】
それらのうち、幅狭溝部１４の幅は、広すぎると、図６に示すような液晶セル２２の端面と液晶皿１１の上面間に広がる液晶盛上部２１ａを形成することができず、コイルスプリング１７の上端面から裾野状に垂れてしまう。一方、幅狭溝部１４の幅が狭すぎると、液晶盛上部２１ａの広がる範囲が狭くなって液晶注入口２５ａの長さとほぼ同じとなり、液晶注入口２５ａのコイルスプリング１７先端に対する位置決めの誤差を吸収する為の許容幅が無くなり、位置決め作業が面倒となる。従って、幅狭溝部１４の幅は、液晶セル２２の液晶注入口２５ａの幅狭溝部１４に対する位置決めが比較的容易に行うことができる範囲内において、なるべく狭くすることが望ましい。
【００２８】
また、本実施形態例では、幅狭溝部１４の両岸部をほぼ４５°の傾斜面１５としているので、液晶盛上部２１ａの広がり幅を幅狭溝部１４の幅以上に広げることができる。この結果、液晶セル２２の液晶注入口２５ａの対応するコイルスプリング１７先端部に対する位置決めを比較的容易に行うことができる。
【００２９】
また、液晶セル高さ位置規制部材２０による液晶セル２２の液晶注入口２５ａの部分における下端面の高さ位置は、高すぎると、図６に示すように所要範囲に広がった液晶盛上部２１ａを形成することができず、例えば図７に示すように、液晶液面がコイルスプリング１７の上端面から裾野状に垂れてしまう。一方、液晶セル高さ位置規制部材２０による液晶セル２２の液晶注入口２５ａの部分における下端面の高さ位置は、低すぎると、例えば図６を参照して説明すると、液晶セル２２の下端面と液晶皿本体１２の上面との隙間が小さくなりすぎ、この隙間全体に液晶２１が毛細管現象により侵入し、液晶セル２２下端面の広い範囲にわたり液晶を無駄に付着させることになるので好ましくない。
【００３０】
また、液晶セル高さ位置規制部材２０は取り外し可能であるので、使用に伴い摩耗した場合には新品と交換するようにすれば、液晶セル高さ位置規制部材２０による液晶セル２２の液晶注入口２５ａ部分の下端面の高さ位置を所期の適正位置に維持することができる。また、液晶２１の物性の違い等に応じて、上記液晶セル２２の下端面の高さ位置を調整する場合には、容易に対応することができる。
【００３１】
なお、上記実施形態では、突起１８を皿本体１２に一体に形成した場合について説明したが、これに限定されるものではない。例えば、皿本体１２に支持孔１６と同様の支持孔を設け、この支持孔内にコイルスプリングを挿入するようにしてもよい。
【００３２】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、この発明によれば、液晶溜め部に連続して設けられ、その両岸部に傾斜面が形成された幅狭溝部内に設けられた液晶液面盛上部材によって、液晶自体の表面張力により幅狭溝部内の液晶の液面の一部を盛り上げているので、この液晶盛上部の広がり幅を前記幅狭溝部の幅以上に広げてることができる。そのため、前記液晶液面盛上部材と液晶セルの液晶注入口との位置決めが容易になり、この液晶盛上部に液晶セルの液晶注入口の部分の必要で十分な領域を接触させ、幅狭溝部内の液晶を液晶注入口を介して液晶セル内に容易に注入することができ、従って液晶セルへの液晶の無駄な付着を可及的に少なくすると共に注入時における空気等の気体の侵入を確実に防止することができる。その結果、高価な液晶のロスを大幅に抑えることができ、その分液晶表示装置のコストダウンを図ることができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】この発明の一実施形態としての液晶皿の平面図。
【図２】図１のＡ−Ａ線に沿う断面図。
【図３】図１のＢ−Ｂ線に沿う断面図。
【図４】図１〜図３に示す液晶皿を用いて液晶セルに液晶を注入する場合の当初の工程を説明するために示す図１のＡ−Ａ線に沿う部分に相当する一部の拡大断面図。
【図５】図４に続く工程を説明するために示す図４同様の拡大断面図。
【図６】図５に続く工程を説明するために示す図４同様の拡大断面図。
【図７】図６に示す場合の図１のＢ−Ｂ線に沿う部分に相当する一部の拡大断面図。
【図８】従来の液晶セルに液晶を注入する場合を説明するために示す断面図。
【符号の説明】
１１液晶皿
１２皿本体
１３液晶溜め部
１４幅狭溝部
１５傾斜面
１７コイルスプリング
１８突起
２０液晶セル高さ位置規制部材
２１液晶
２１ａ液晶盛上部
２２液晶セル
２５ａ液晶注入口[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal dish used when liquid crystal is injected into a liquid crystal cell.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Part of FIG. 8 shows a front view of an example of a conventional liquid crystal cell in a state before liquid crystal is injected. The liquid crystal cell 1 has a structure in which two substrates 2 and 3 made of glass, resin, or the like are bonded together via a substantially rectangular frame-shaped sealing material 4 having a liquid crystal injection port 4a. In this case, the liquid crystal injection port 4 a is provided in the substantially central portion of the short side portion of the liquid crystal cell 1.
[0003]
Next, a case where liquid crystal is injected into the liquid crystal cell 1 will be described. First, the liquid crystal cell 1 is held in a vacuum chamber (not shown) in a state where the liquid crystal cell 4 is vertically oriented with the liquid crystal inlet 4a facing down, and is positioned on the liquid crystal plate 6 in which the liquid crystal 5 is stored. In this case, the liquid crystal dish 6 consists of a mere dish-like thing with a fixed depth. Next, by making the inside of the vacuum chamber into a vacuum state, the air in the liquid crystal cell 1 is exhausted from the liquid crystal inlet 4a, and the inside of the liquid crystal cell 1 is brought into a preset vacuum state.
[0004]
Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the liquid crystal cell 1 is lowered, and the entire lower short side including the liquid crystal inlet 4 a is immersed in the liquid crystal 5 in the liquid crystal dish 6. Next, by returning the inside of the vacuum chamber to the atmospheric pressure, the liquid crystal 5 in the liquid crystal dish 6 is brought into the liquid crystal cell 1 through the liquid crystal inlet 4a due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the liquid crystal cell 1 and the capillary phenomenon. Injected into. Next, the liquid crystal cell 1 is taken out from the vacuum chamber, and the liquid crystal inlet 4a is sealed with a sealing material (not shown). Thus, the step of injecting the liquid crystal 5 into the liquid crystal cell 1 is completed.
[0005]
By the way, as shown in FIG. 8, the entire short side part including the liquid crystal inlet 4a of the liquid crystal cell 1 is immersed in the liquid crystal 5 in the liquid crystal dish 6 because the liquid crystal inlet 4a is liquid crystal in the liquid crystal dish 6. This is to prevent the air from entering the liquid crystal cell 1 through the liquid crystal injection port 4a even if the inside of the vacuum chamber is returned to the atmospheric pressure by completely covering with 5.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, if the entire lower short side portion including the liquid crystal inlet 4 a of the liquid crystal cell 1 is immersed in the liquid crystal 5 in the liquid crystal dish 6, the liquid crystal 5 adheres unnecessarily to the entire lower short side portion of the liquid crystal cell 1. Therefore, the liquid crystal 5 that has adhered unnecessarily is washed in a subsequent process, but there is a problem that expensive liquid crystal is wasted and the cost is increased accordingly.
An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal dish capable of reducing wasteful adhesion of liquid crystal to a liquid crystal cell as much as possible.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The liquid crystal dish according to the present invention, as described in claim 1, is formed with a liquid crystal reservoir portion in which liquid crystals are stored, and a liquid crystal reservoir portion that is communicated with the liquid crystal reservoir portion and narrower than the liquid crystal reservoir portion, and the liquid crystal is supplied from the liquid crystal reservoir portion. and a narrow groove that is, the width provided in the narrow groove portion, and a liquid surface raised portion material to the surface tension of the liquid crystal itself Moriagara a part of the liquid crystal of the liquid surface of the narrow groove portion, the width The narrow groove portion is formed with inclined surfaces on both bank portions, and the width of the narrow groove portion is a width that can form a liquid crystal top portion that contacts the liquid crystal inlet portion of the liquid crystal cell that is close to a predetermined position over the entire area. It is characterized by this.
According to the present invention, the liquid crystal liquid leveling member provided in the narrow groove portion continuously provided in the liquid crystal reservoir portion and formed with the inclined surfaces on both bank portions thereof, by the surface tension of the liquid crystal itself. Since a part of the liquid level of the liquid crystal in the narrow groove part is raised, the liquid level of the liquid crystal can be expanded to be larger than the width of the narrow groove part, and the liquid crystal liquid level raising member and the liquid crystal cell Positioning with the liquid crystal inlet becomes easy. Therefore, the necessary and sufficient area of the liquid crystal inlet of the liquid crystal cell is brought into contact with the liquid crystal top, and the liquid crystal in the narrow groove can be easily injected into the liquid crystal cell through the liquid crystal inlet. Therefore, wasteful adhesion of liquid crystal to the liquid crystal cell can be reduced as much as possible, and intrusion of gas such as air during injection can be surely prevented.
In this case, as described in claim 2, it is preferable that the liquid leveling member is provided at a center portion in the width direction of the narrow groove portion.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal cell height position restricting portion for restricting a height position of the liquid crystal cell to which liquid crystal should be injected on both sides along the extending direction of the narrow groove portion. Preferably it is.
In addition, as described in claim 4 , the liquid leveling member is preferably a coil spring provided upright in the narrow groove portion.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 is a plan view of a liquid crystal dish as an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. Is shown. The liquid crystal dish 11 includes a strip-shaped dish body 12 as viewed from above.
[0009]
At both ends in the longitudinal direction of the upper surface of the dish body 12, liquid crystal reservoirs 13 each having a substantially rectangular recess as viewed in a plan view are provided. Between the liquid crystal reservoirs 13, 13, a narrow groove portion 14 is provided along the center line in the width direction of the dish body 12 so as to communicate these. The depth of the narrow groove portion 14 is the same as or shallower than the depths of the two liquid crystal reservoir portions 13. Both bank portions of the narrow groove portion 14 are inclined surfaces 15 of approximately 45 °. The width of the narrow groove portion 14 is a width capable of forming a liquid crystal upper portion in contact with the liquid crystal inlet portion of the liquid crystal cell that is close to a predetermined position over the entire region, and is the length of the inlet of the liquid crystal cell that injects liquid crystal. It is set to be moderately larger than that (along the cell surface direction). For example, when the length of the injection port is 3 mm, the width of the narrow groove portion 14 is preferably about 4 mm ± 0.5 mm.
[0010]
A plurality of, for example, five circular support holes 16 are provided at a central portion in the width direction of the bottom surface of the narrow groove portion 14 at regular intervals in the length direction. In these support holes 16, a lower portion of a coil spring 17 is inserted as a liquid leveling means for liquid crystal. That is, five coil springs 17 are provided upright in the narrow groove portion 14 at regular intervals in the length direction. The diameter of each coil spring 17 is optimally set according to the size of the liquid crystal inlet of the liquid crystal cell. For example, when the length of the liquid crystal injection port is 3 mm (the width of the injection port is the same as the gap of the liquid crystal cell), about 2 mm ± 0.5 mm is preferable. The liquid leveling means is not limited to a coil spring, and a cylindrical one made of an elastic material such as rubber may be used. That is, the liquid surface leveling means of the liquid crystal is provided with elasticity, and the liquid crystal may be formed in a shape capable of forming the liquid crystal leveling portion by its surface tension as described later.
[0011]
A prismatic projection 18 is provided at each boundary between the both ends in the length direction of the narrow groove portion 14 and the liquid crystal reservoir portions 13 communicating therewith. The upper surface of each protrusion 18 is the same height as the upper surface of the dish body 12. By providing these protrusions 18, it is possible to form liquid crystal tops that are substantially the same as the liquid crystal tops by the three coil springs 17 on the center side by the coil springs 17 at both ends.
[0012]
A strip-like support groove 19 is provided in parallel with the narrow groove portion 14 at two predetermined positions on the upper surface of the plate body 12 on both sides of the narrow groove portion 14. In these support grooves 19, the lower part of the strip-shaped liquid crystal cell height position restricting member 20 is detachably inserted, so that the model of the liquid crystal cell into which the liquid crystal is injected and the wear of the height position restricting member 20 are worn. It can be changed or replaced as appropriate according to the situation. The upper part of the liquid crystal cell height position restricting member 20 protrudes from the upper surface of the dish body 12 by a preset height. This protruding height is preferably set to about ¼ to の of the width of the narrow groove portion 14. Here, the height of the coil spring 17 in the unloaded state is higher than the upper surface of the liquid crystal cell height position restricting member 20 by a predetermined length.
[0013]
Then, the liquid crystal 21 is accumulated in the liquid crystal reservoir 13 and in the narrow groove portion 14 including the support hole 16 until the liquid surface is connected to the upper surface of the narrow groove portion 14 as shown in FIG. It has been. In this case, since the upper end portion of the coil spring 17 in the unloaded state protrudes to some extent above the upper surface of the plate body 12, the surface tension is so covered as to cover the protruding upper end portion of the coil spring 17 in the unloaded state. A raised portion 21a of the liquid crystal 21 is formed. That is, a liquid crystal raised portion 21 a in which the liquid level of the liquid crystal 21 is raised is formed for each upper end portion of the five coil springs 17 in the narrow groove portion 14.
[0014]
Further, the liquid level of the liquid crystal 21 on both bank portions of the narrow groove portion 14 adheres to the surfaces so as to rise up the both inclined surfaces 15 by the surface tension. The liquid level of the liquid crystal 21 between the liquid crystal top 21a and the two inclined surfaces 15 by the coil spring 17 in an unloaded state is slightly recessed.
[0015]
Next, an example of a liquid crystal cell in a state before the liquid crystal 21 is injected will be described with reference to FIG. The liquid crystal cell 22 has a structure in which two substrates 23 and 24 made of glass, resin, or the like are bonded together via a substantially rectangular frame-shaped sealing material 25 having a liquid crystal injection port 25a. In the liquid crystal cell 22 of this example, the liquid crystal injection port 25 a is provided in the substantially central portion of the long side portion of the liquid crystal cell 22.
[0016]
Next, an operation of injecting the liquid crystal 21 into the liquid crystal cell 22 using the liquid crystal dish 11 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 4, the liquid crystal cell 22 is held in a vacuum chamber (not shown) in a state where the liquid crystal cell 22 is erected substantially vertically with the liquid crystal injection port 25a facing down, so that the liquid crystal 21 is almost fully stored. The liquid crystal dish 11 is positioned on the liquid crystal dish 11. In this case, since there are five coil springs 17, five liquid crystal cells 22 are positioned on the respective coil springs 17.
[0017]
Next, by setting the vacuum chamber to a vacuum state, air in each liquid crystal cell 22 is exhausted from the liquid crystal inlet 25a, and the inside of the liquid crystal cell 22 is set to a preset vacuum state. Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the liquid crystal cell 22 is lowered to some extent, the lower end surface of the liquid crystal injection port 25a is brought into contact with the upper surface of the coil spring 17, and the lower end surface of the liquid crystal injection port 25a portion of the liquid crystal cell 22 Comes into contact with the liquid crystal upper portion 21a above the coil spring 17.
[0018]
Here, the diameter of the coil spring 17 is somewhat larger than the width of the liquid crystal injection port 25a of the liquid crystal cell 22 (the length in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 5) (for example, as shown in FIG. 7, more than the thickness of the liquid crystal cell 22). Slightly larger. This is because the diameter of the raised portion 21 a of the liquid crystal 21 formed at the upper end of the coil spring 17 is made somewhat larger than the width of the liquid crystal injection port 25 a of the liquid crystal cell 22, and below the liquid crystal injection port 25 a of the liquid crystal cell 22. This is because the liquid crystal 21 completely wets the region in the width direction of the liquid crystal injection port 25a on the end face.
[0019]
Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the liquid crystal cell 22 is further lowered, and the lower end surfaces on both sides of the liquid crystal injection port 25 a are brought into contact with the upper surface of each liquid crystal cell height position regulating member 20. In this state, the lower end surface of the liquid crystal inlet 25a of the liquid crystal cell 22 pushes down the upper end surface of the coil spring 17 by a preset height, and the coil spring 17 is compressed by that length.
[0020]
In this case, since the coil spring 17 is used as the upper part of the liquid crystal liquid level, both sides of the lower end surface of the liquid crystal injection port 25a of the liquid crystal cell 20 are brought into contact with the upper surface of each liquid crystal cell height position regulating member 20. By simply doing this, the upper end surface of the coil spring 17 can be reliably brought into contact with the lower end surface of the liquid crystal injection port 25a of the liquid crystal cell 22.
[0021]
Then, the lower end surfaces on both sides of the liquid crystal injection port 25a of the liquid crystal cell 20 are brought into contact with the upper surface of each liquid crystal cell height position restricting member 20, so that the lower end surface of the liquid crystal cell 22 and the upper surface of the plate body 12 (liquid crystal A gap with the liquid level other than the vicinity of the upper part) is a predetermined minute interval. For this reason, the liquid crystal top portion 21 a due to the surface tension of the liquid crystal 21 in the narrow groove portion 14 in the vicinity of the liquid crystal inlet 25 a spreads in the width direction of the narrow groove portion 14. The spread of the liquid crystal raised portion 21 a extends not only to the entire width of the narrow groove portion 14, but also to regions corresponding to both inclined surfaces 15 at both ends thereof. As a result, the liquid crystal injection port 25a portion of the liquid crystal cell 22 and the lower end surface around it, that is, the region corresponding to the entire width direction of the narrow groove portion 14 and the region corresponding to both inclined surfaces 15 come into contact with the liquid crystal 21 and are wetted. .
[0022]
In this case, if the width of the narrow groove portion 14 is simply widened, the drop of the liquid crystal surface between the two sides of the coil spring 17 and the narrow groove portion 14 increases, and the liquid crystal cell 22 is closest to the liquid crystal surface (state of FIG. 6). Even if it makes it, the liquid crystal heap 21a does not spread in the width direction of the narrow groove part 14. However, as described above, by forming the inclined surfaces 15 on both banks of the narrow groove portion 14, the width of the liquid crystal upper portion 21a can be increased by an area corresponding to both the inclined surfaces 15. The conditions for forming such a raised portion 21a of the liquid crystal 21 will be described later.
[0023]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the liquid crystal liquid level between adjacent coil springs 17 has a skirt shape that is recessed downward in a curved shape. Since the projection 18 is provided on the side of the coil spring 17 at both ends where there is no adjacent coil spring, the liquid crystal liquid level between the projection 18 and the adjacent coil spring 17 is also skirted. As a result, the liquid crystal liquid shape around each of the five coil springs 17 is substantially the same, so that the liquid crystal upper portion 21a at the tip of each coil spring 17 is also formed in the substantially same shape, and each corresponding liquid crystal cell 22 is formed. The contact state between the liquid injection port 25a and the liquid crystal is also substantially the same, that is, the liquid crystal upper portion 21a spreads and contacts over a sufficiently wide region including the end face of the liquid crystal injection port portion 25a. That is, the liquid crystal injection conditions for the five liquid crystal cells 22 can be made substantially the same.
[0024]
Next, by returning the inside of the vacuum chamber to the atmospheric pressure, the liquid crystal 21 in the liquid crystal upper portion 21a formed on the upper end portion of the coil spring 17 is liquid crystal due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the liquid crystal cell 22 and the capillary phenomenon. It is injected into the liquid crystal cell 22 through the injection port 25a. When the liquid crystal 21 stored in the narrow groove portion 14 decreases as the liquid crystal is injected, the liquid crystal 21 is supplied from the liquid crystal reservoir 13 into the narrow groove portion 14 accordingly. When the liquid crystal injection is completed, the liquid crystal cell 22 is taken out from the vacuum chamber, and the liquid crystal injection port 25a is sealed with a sealing material (not shown). Thus, the step of injecting the liquid crystal 21 into the liquid crystal cell 22 is completed.
[0025]
By the way, as shown in FIG. 6, a portion corresponding to the entire width direction of the narrow groove portion 14 and a region corresponding to both inclined surfaces 15, the portion of the liquid crystal injection port 25 a of the liquid crystal cell 22 and the lower end surface around the portion. Only the liquid crystal 21 is wetted. As a result, the region to which the liquid crystal 21 adheres is limited to the necessary and sufficient region of the liquid crystal injection port 25a portion of the liquid crystal cell 22 and the lower end surface around the portion, so that expensive liquid crystal can be saved significantly. Therefore, the cost can be reduced accordingly. Further, since the liquid crystal is brought into contact over a sufficient region including the region corresponding to the liquid crystal injection port 25a, air can be reliably prevented from entering the liquid crystal injection port 25a when the liquid crystal is injected by opening to the atmosphere. .
[0026]
Here, in order to form the liquid crystal top portion 21 a as shown in FIG. 6, the width of the narrow groove portion 14 and the lower end surface of the liquid crystal inlet 22 a of the liquid crystal cell 22 by the liquid crystal cell height position restricting member 20 are formed. The height position and the initial height position of the liquid surface of the liquid crystal 21 in the narrow groove portion 14 may be set appropriately.
[0027]
Among them, if the width of the narrow groove portion 14 is too wide, it is impossible to form the liquid crystal upper portion 21a extending between the end face of the liquid crystal cell 22 and the upper surface of the liquid crystal dish 11 as shown in FIG. 17 hangs down from the upper end surface of 17. On the other hand, if the width of the narrow groove portion 14 is too narrow, the range in which the liquid crystal upper portion 21a expands becomes narrower and becomes almost the same as the length of the liquid crystal injection port 25a, and the positioning error of the liquid crystal injection port 25a with respect to the tip of the coil spring 17 is absorbed. This eliminates the permissible width and makes the positioning work cumbersome. Therefore, it is desirable that the width of the narrow groove portion 14 be as narrow as possible within a range in which the liquid crystal inlet 25a of the liquid crystal cell 22 can be relatively easily positioned with respect to the narrow groove portion 14.
[0028]
Further, in the present embodiment example, since both the bank portions of the narrow groove portion 14 are inclined surfaces 15 of approximately 45 °, the spread width of the liquid crystal raised portion 21a can be widened more than the width of the narrow groove portion 14. As a result, the liquid crystal injection port 25a of the liquid crystal cell 22 can be relatively easily positioned with respect to the corresponding coil spring 17 tip.
[0029]
In addition, if the height position of the lower end surface of the liquid crystal cell 22 at the liquid crystal inlet 25a portion by the liquid crystal cell height position regulating member 20 is too high, the liquid crystal upper portion 21a spread over the required range as shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the liquid crystal liquid surface hangs from the upper end surface of the coil spring 17 in a skirt shape. On the other hand, if the height position of the lower end surface of the liquid crystal cell 22 by the liquid crystal cell height position restricting member 20 is too low, for example, referring to FIG. And the upper surface of the liquid crystal dish main body 12 become too small, and the liquid crystal 21 penetrates into the entire gap by capillary action, and the liquid crystal is unnecessarily adhered over a wide range of the lower end surface of the liquid crystal cell 22.
[0030]
Further, since the liquid crystal cell height position restricting member 20 can be removed, the liquid crystal injection port of the liquid crystal cell 22 by the liquid crystal cell height position restricting member 20 can be replaced with a new one when worn with use. The height position of the lower end surface of the 25a portion can be maintained at an intended appropriate position. In addition, when the height position of the lower end surface of the liquid crystal cell 22 is adjusted according to the difference in physical properties of the liquid crystal 21, it can be easily handled.
[0031]
In addition, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where the processus | protrusion 18 was integrally formed in the plate main body 12, it is not limited to this. For example, a support hole similar to the support hole 16 may be provided in the dish body 12, and a coil spring may be inserted into the support hole.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the liquid crystal itself is formed by the liquid crystal liquid leveling member provided in the narrow groove portion provided continuously with the liquid crystal reservoir portion and formed with inclined surfaces on both bank portions. Since the surface tension of the liquid crystal bulges part of the liquid surface of the liquid crystal in the narrow groove portion, the spread width of the upper portion of the liquid crystal peak can be expanded more than the width of the narrow groove portion. Therefore, the positioning of the liquid crystal liquid leveling member and the liquid crystal inlet of the liquid crystal cell is facilitated, and a necessary and sufficient region of the liquid crystal inlet part of the liquid crystal cell is brought into contact with the upper part of the liquid crystal cell so that the narrow groove portion The liquid crystal inside can be easily injected into the liquid crystal cell through the liquid crystal injection port. Therefore, wasteful adhesion of the liquid crystal to the liquid crystal cell is reduced as much as possible, and intrusion of gas such as air during injection is possible. It can be surely prevented. As a result, loss of expensive liquid crystal can be significantly suppressed, and the cost of the liquid crystal display device can be reduced accordingly.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a liquid crystal dish as one embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.
4 is a partial view corresponding to a portion along the line AA in FIG. 1 for explaining an initial process in the case of injecting liquid crystal into a liquid crystal cell using the liquid crystal dish shown in FIGS. FIG.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 shown to explain a process following FIG. 4;
6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 for explaining the process following FIG.
7 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view corresponding to a portion taken along line BB in FIG. 1 in the case shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a case where liquid crystal is injected into a conventional liquid crystal cell.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Liquid crystal dish 12 Dish main body 13 Liquid crystal reservoir part 14 Narrow groove part 15 Inclined surface 17 Coil spring 18 Protrusion 20 Liquid crystal cell height position control member 21 Liquid crystal 21a Liquid crystal upper part 22 Liquid crystal cell 25a Liquid crystal inlet

Claims

A liquid crystal reservoir portion in which liquid crystal is stored, a narrow groove portion communicating with the liquid crystal reservoir portion and formed narrower than the liquid crystal reservoir portion, and provided with liquid crystal from the liquid crystal reservoir portion; and provided in the narrow groove portion; A liquid leveling member that bulges a part of the liquid level of the liquid crystal in the narrow groove portion due to the surface tension of the liquid crystal itself, and the narrow groove portion is formed with inclined surfaces on both sides thereof, and the width 2. A liquid crystal dish characterized in that the width of the narrow groove portion is a width capable of forming a liquid crystal upper portion contacting the liquid crystal inlet portion of the liquid crystal cell that is close to a predetermined position over the entire area.

2. The liquid crystal dish according to claim 1, wherein the liquid leveling member is provided at a central portion in the width direction of the narrow groove portion.

In the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal cell height position restricting portion for restricting the height position of the liquid crystal cell to which liquid crystal should be injected on both sides along the extending direction of the narrow groove portion. LCD dish characterized by

The liquid crystal dish according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the liquid leveling member is a coil spring provided upright in the narrow groove portion.