JP3999330B2 - Coating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coating device for a printing material which can manufacture a liquid crystal display device of high quality by improving printing defects. SOLUTION: A gas density measuring instrument 20 measures the density of solvent gas inside a partition sealing a coating unit for applying a printing material. When the measured value is less than the saturated vapor pressure of a solvent, a main control part 41 drives a gas supply device 30 to supply the solvent gas into the partition and when the measured value is higher than the saturated vapor pressure of the solvent, the main control part 41 drives a discharging device 15 and an air suction device 16 to discharge the atmosphere containing the solvent gas in the partition and suck the outside air. Thus, the solvent gas density in the partition is adjusted to density corresponding to the saturated vapor pressure of the solvent to suppress the volatilization of the solvent from the printing material of the coating unit.

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a coating apparatus, and in particular, a coating apparatus that applies an adhesive that bonds an array substrate and a counter substrate in a liquid crystal display device, and a liquid crystal composition sandwiched between the array substrate and the counter substrate. The present invention relates to a coating apparatus that coats an alignment film oriented in an alignment direction.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A liquid crystal display device has advantages such as thin and light weight and low power consumption, and is therefore widely used as a display of a notebook or sub-notebook personal computer. In recent years, notebook-type and sub-notebook-type personal computers have been used for various purposes, and required types of liquid crystal display devices have been diversified. Accordingly, there is a demand for a production line capable of producing a variety of products in small quantities.
[0003]
A liquid crystal display device is generally manufactured by the following process.
That is, a substrate forming step for forming the array substrate and the counter substrate, a cleaning step for cleaning the array substrate and the counter substrate, an alignment film applying step for applying an alignment film to one main surface of each of the array substrate and the counter substrate, and the array substrate And a rubbing process for rubbing the alignment film applied to each of the counter substrate, a cleaning process for cleaning the array substrate and the counter substrate, a spraying process for spraying a spacer material on the array substrate or the counter substrate, an array substrate or the counter substrate Liquid crystal display by a sealing material coating process for applying a sealing material on the substrate, a bonding process for bonding the array substrate and the counter substrate, and a sealing process for sealing the liquid crystal composition between the array substrate and the counter substrate The device is manufactured.
[0004]
In the alignment film application process, a transfer printer is used to apply polyimide as a material for the alignment film to the surfaces of the array substrate and the counter substrate. In the sealing material application process, a screen printer is used to apply an epoxy resin as a sealing material, that is, an adhesive, on the array substrate or the counter substrate.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the production line for multi-product small-volume production as described above, since the production volume is small, there is a tendency that the operation stop time, that is, the tact time of the transfer printing machine, the screen printing machine, etc. becomes long. In addition, if a trouble occurs in the process prior to the coating process of applying a printing material such as an alignment film material or a sealing material by these printing machines, the production line is stopped, and as a result, these printing machines are also The operation is stopped and a standby state is entered.
[0006]
As described above, in the printing press, when the operation is stopped for a long time, the printing plate attached to the printing press is dried, and when the operation is started, the printing failure, that is, the applied printing material There arises a problem that the film thickness becomes non-uniform and uneven coating tends to occur.
[0007]
Such drying of the printing plate occurs due to volatilization of the solvent dissolving the printing material from the printing material on the plate.
In order to solve such problems, according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-96842, it is proposed to prevent the printing plate from being dried by surrounding the printing press with a sealed container and adjusting the humidity in the sealed container. Has been. However, since the vapor pressure and humidity of the volatile solvent are independent, even if the humidity is controlled, the amount of evaporation of the solvent cannot be managed, and the drying of the printing plate cannot be controlled efficiently.
[0008]
Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing material coating apparatus that can improve printing defects and manufacture a high-quality liquid crystal display device.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
This invention has been made on the basis of the above problems,
According to claim 1,
A coating apparatus provided with a coating means for coating a printing material on at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate in order to manufacture a liquid crystal display device in which a liquid crystal composition is sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate. In
Sealing means for sealing the application means;
Adjusting means for adjusting the solvent gas concentration of the solvent gas in which the solvent contained in the printing material in the sealing means is vaporized to a predetermined value;
It is possible to provide a coating apparatus characterized by comprising:
[0010]
According to the coating apparatus of the present invention, the coating means for applying the printing material to at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate of the liquid crystal display device is sealed by the sealing means, and is included in the printing material in the sealing means by the adjusting means. The solvent gas concentration of the solvent gas evaporated from the solvent is adjusted to a predetermined value corresponding to the saturated vapor pressure of the solvent.
[0011]
That is, while measuring the solvent gas concentration of the solvent contained in the printing material in the partition, the solvent gas concentration in the partition is adjusted so that the solvent gas concentration becomes a predetermined value, that is, a gas concentration near the saturated vapor pressure of the solvent. Thus, the solvent becomes a parallel state, and the volatilization of the solvent is suppressed.
[0012]
For this reason, it becomes possible to prevent the printing plate from drying due to the volatilization of the solvent, the printing defect of the printing material due to the drying of the printing plate is improved, and a printing device capable of producing a high-quality liquid crystal display device is provided. It becomes possible.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of a coating apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
This coating apparatus is applied to a printing apparatus that applies a printing material such as an alignment film material or a sealing material in a manufacturing process for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, for example.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the structure of a liquid crystal display device to which this coating apparatus is applied.
As shown in FIG. 1, a liquid crystal display device to which this coating apparatus is applied includes an array substrate 100 as a first substrate including a display area 102 for displaying an image and a peripheral area 104 on which a wiring pattern is formed. A counter substrate 200 as a second substrate disposed opposite to the array substrate 100 and a liquid crystal composition 300 disposed between the array substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 are provided. The display area 102 is formed in a region surrounded by a sealing material 106 that bonds the array substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200, and the peripheral area 104 is formed in a region outside the sealing material 106.
[0015]
The display area 102 of the array substrate 100 includes 768 × 3 signal lines (not shown) and 768 arranged orthogonally to each other on a transparent insulating substrate, for example, a glass substrate 101 having a thickness of 0.7 mm. Scanning lines.
[0016]
The array substrate 100 also includes a thin film transistor, ie, a TFT 121, serving as a switching element disposed in the vicinity of each intersection of each signal line and each scanning line, and a pixel electrode 151 connected via the TFT 121. ing. The pixel electrode 151 is formed of a transmissive conductive member, for example, indium-tin-oxide, that is, ITO.
[0017]
The TFT 121 includes a semiconductor film and a channel protective film that are sequentially stacked via a gate insulating film, with a part of the scanning line as a gate electrode, and further includes a source electrode connected to the semiconductor film via a low-resistance semiconductor film, and It has a drain electrode. The source electrode is electrically connected to the pixel electrode 151, and the drain electrode is electrically connected to the signal line.
[0018]
The surface of the array substrate 100 is covered with an alignment film 141 for aligning the liquid crystal composition 300 interposed between the array substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200.
The display area 102 of the counter substrate 200 includes a light shielding film 202 disposed on a transparent insulating substrate, for example, a glass substrate 201 having a thickness of 0.7 mm. The light shielding film 202 shields light on a wiring pattern on the array substrate 100, that is, a position facing the TFT 121, the pixel electrode 151, the signal line and the scanning line (not shown) of the array substrate 100, and a position facing each gap. Is provided.
[0019]
Further, the counter substrate 200 is a position facing the pixel electrode 151 of the glass substrate 201, and red (R), green (G), blue (for realizing color display disposed between the light shielding films 202). B) color filters 203R, 203G, and 203B including the three primary colors are provided.
[0020]
The surfaces of the color filters 203R, 203G, and 203B are covered with a counter electrode 204 formed of ITO that forms a potential difference with the pixel electrode 151. The surface of the counter electrode 204 is covered with an alignment film 205 for aligning the liquid crystal composition 300 interposed between the array substrate 100 and the surface of the counter electrode 204.
[0021]
The array substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 as described above are bonded together by a sealing material 106 applied so as to partition the periphery of the display area 102. At this time, the spacers dispersed between the array substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 form a gap having a predetermined interval between the substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200.
[0022]
The liquid crystal composition 300 is injected from an injection port formed by a part of the sealing material 106, and the injection port is sealed, so that the liquid crystal composition 300 is sandwiched between the array substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200.
[0023]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart schematically showing a manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG.
That is, the liquid crystal display device as shown in FIG. 1 is formed according to the manufacturing process shown in FIG.
[0024]
In the substrate forming step ST1, various wiring patterns such as scanning lines and signal lines arranged so as to be orthogonal to each other on the glass substrate 101, TFTs 121 and TFTs 121 arranged in the vicinity of intersections between the scanning lines and the signal lines are connected. The array substrate 100 is formed by forming the pixel electrode 151 and the like. Further, the counter substrate 200 is formed by forming the light shielding film 202, the color filters 203R, 203G, and 203B, and the counter electrode 204 on the glass substrate 201.
[0025]
In the substrate cleaning process, ST2 cleans the array substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 respectively formed in the substrate forming process ST1.
In the alignment film coating step ST3, one main surface of each of the cleaned array substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200, that is, the surface of the main surface on which the TFT 121 and the pixel electrode 151 are arranged in the array substrate 100, and the counter substrate 200 An alignment film material such as polyimide is applied to the surface of the main surface on which the counter electrode is disposed. In this alignment film coating step, polyimide as a printing material is applied to the surface of each substrate by a transfer printing device as a coating device described later.
[0026]
In the rubbing step ST4, the alignment film materials applied on the surfaces of the array substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 are rubbed in a predetermined direction to form alignment films 141 and 205, respectively.
[0027]
In the substrate cleaning step ST5, the array substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 are respectively cleaned in order to remove the alignment film material pieces generated when the alignment film material is rubbed in the rubbing process.
[0028]
In the spacer spraying step ST6, a spacer material is sprayed on the alignment film 141 or 205 of the array substrate 100 or the counter substrate 200.
In the sealing material application process ST7, an adhesive as the sealing material 106, for example, an epoxy resin is applied to the periphery of the display area of the array substrate 100 or the counter substrate 200. In this sealing material application process, an epoxy resin as a printing material is applied to any of the substrates by a screen printing apparatus as an application apparatus described later. At this time, an injection port for injecting the liquid crystal composition 300 is secured.
[0029]
In the bonding step ST8, both substrates are bonded together by the sealing material 106 applied to the array substrate 100 or the counter substrate 200. At this time, a predetermined gap is formed between the two substrates by the spacer material.
[0030]
In the liquid crystal composition sealing step ST9, the liquid crystal composition 300 is injected between the array substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 from the injection port, and the injection port is sealed with an ultraviolet curable resin or the like. A liquid crystal composition is encapsulated.
[0031]
A liquid crystal display device is formed by the processes ST1 to ST9 as described above.
Next, the configuration of a transfer printing apparatus that applies an alignment film material to the surfaces of the array substrate and the counter substrate will be described.
[0032]
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a transfer printing apparatus.
The transfer printing apparatus 1 applies a stage 2 on which the array substrate 100 or the counter substrate 200 is placed, and an alignment film material such as polyimide (PI) as a printing material to the surface of the substrate placed on the stage 2. An application unit 3 as application means and a partition 4 as sealing means for sealing the substrate and application unit 3 placed on the stage 2 are provided. The coating unit 3 includes a plate cylinder 6 around which the printing plate 5 is wound, an anilox roll 7 for supplying polyimide, that is, PI as a printing material to the printing plate 5, and a doctor roll for uniformizing the printing material attached to the anilox roll 7. 8. Polyimide as a printing material is dissolved in a solvent such as gamma butyrolactone.
[0033]
In addition, the transfer printing apparatus 1 includes a self-circulating air conditioner 10 that adjusts the atmosphere in the partition 4. This self-circulating air conditioner 10 requires an air inlet 11 that sucks in the atmosphere from the inside of the partition 4, an air outlet 13 that cleans and blows out the air sucked from the air inlet 11 through the filter 12, and the atmosphere in the partition 4. The exhaust device 15 as an exhaust means for exhausting to the outside according to the conditions, and the intake device 16 as an intake means for taking outside air into the partition 4 as necessary.
[0034]
Further, the transfer printing apparatus 1 includes a gas concentration measuring device 20 as a detecting means for detecting the concentration of the solvent gas evaporated in the partition 4 and a supply means for containing the solvent and supplying the solvent gas. And a gas supply device 30.
[0035]
The gas concentration measuring device 20 measures the concentration of the solvent gas in the partition 4, and a measuring device using a gas chromatography method, a measuring device using a known vapor pressure measuring device, or the like can be applied. That is, when the concentration of the solvent gas generated by the vaporization of the solvent in the partition 4 increases, the pressure of the solvent gas in the partition 4 increases. When the pressure of the solvent gas in the partition 4 reaches the saturated vapor pressure (vapor pressure) of the solvent, the solvent gas as the gas and the solvent as the liquid are in an equilibrium state, and the solvent gas is vaporized from the liquid solvent. It becomes difficult.
[0036]
That is, when the concentration of the solvent gas in the partition 4 reaches a gas concentration corresponding to the saturated vapor pressure, the solvent in the partition 4 becomes difficult to vaporize, and the volatilization of the solvent can be suppressed. On the other hand, when the concentration of the solvent gas is lower than the saturated vapor pressure, the solvent in the partition 4 is easily vaporized. Further, when the concentration of the solvent gas is higher than the saturated vapor pressure, the solvent gas in the partition 4 is likely to be condensed.
[0037]
The gas supply device 30 includes a container 31 that contains the same solvent as the solvent that dissolves the printing material, a lid 32 that seals the container 31, and an opening and closing mechanism 33 as an opening and closing means that opens and closes the lid 32. Yes.
[0038]
The transfer printing apparatus 1 includes a gas concentration control unit 40 that functions as an adjustment unit using components as shown in FIG. That is, the gas concentration control unit 40 includes a main control unit 41 as a determination unit that controls the solvent gas concentration in the atmosphere in the partition 4 to near the saturated vapor pressure of the solvent, and a gas concentration that measures the solvent gas concentration in the atmosphere. The measuring device 20 includes a gas supply device 30 that supplies solvent gas into the partition 4, an exhaust device 15 that exhausts the atmosphere containing the solvent gas from the partition 4, and an intake device 16 that takes outside air into the partition 4. Is done.
[0039]
That is, when the main control unit 41 determines that the solvent gas concentration in the atmosphere in the partition 4 measured by the gas concentration measuring device 20 is lower than the saturated vapor pressure of the solvent, the main control unit 41 The lid opening / closing mechanism 33 of the supply device 30 is driven to open the lid 32 of the container 31 containing the solvent. At this time, the exhaust device 15 and the intake device 16 block the space in the partition 4 from outside air and seal the interior of the partition 4.
[0040]
When the lid 32 of the container 31 is opened, the solvent stored in the container 31 is vaporized to generate a solvent gas, and the partition 4 is filled with the solvent gas.
When the main control unit 41 determines that the solvent gas concentration in the partition 4 has reached the saturated vapor pressure, the main control unit 41 drives the lid opening / closing mechanism 33 of the gas supply device 30, The lid 31 is closed. At this time, the inside of the partition 4 is still maintained in a sealed state.
[0041]
When the main control unit 41 determines that the solvent gas concentration in the partition 4 is higher than the saturated vapor pressure, the main control unit 41 drives the lid opening / closing mechanism 33 of the gas supply device 30 to 31 is closed. Further, the main control unit 41 drives the exhaust device 15 to exhaust the atmosphere including the solvent gas in the partition 4 sucked from the intake port 11 of the self-circulating air conditioner 10 and drives the intake device 16. The outside air is taken into the partition 4 from the outlet 13.
[0042]
When the main control unit 41 determines that the solvent gas concentration in the partition 4 has reached the saturated vapor pressure, the main control unit 41 stops the driving of the exhaust device 15 and the intake device 16, and the partition 4 is sealed from outside air.
[0043]
In this transfer printing apparatus, the saturated vapor pressure of gamma-butyrolactone used as an alignment film material as a printing material, that is, a solvent for dissolving polyimide, is 10 mmHg at 79 ° C.
[0044]
As described above, in the transfer printing apparatus for transferring and printing the printing material, the application unit for applying the printing material is sealed by the partition, and the solvent gas concentration of the solvent dissolving the printing material in the partition is measured, and the solvent By adjusting the solvent gas concentration in the partition so that the gas concentration becomes a predetermined value, that is, the gas concentration near the saturated vapor pressure of the solvent, the evaporation of the solvent is suppressed and the printing plate is prevented from drying due to the evaporation of the solvent. It becomes possible to do.
[0045]
For this reason, the printing defect of the printing material by drying of a printing plate is improved, and it becomes possible to provide the printing apparatus which can manufacture a high quality liquid crystal display device.
Next, a configuration of a screen printing apparatus that applies a sealing material around the display area of the array substrate or the counter substrate will be described.
[0046]
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the screen printing apparatus. The same components as those in the transfer printing apparatus shown in FIG. 3 are assigned the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0047]
This printing apparatus includes a stage 2 on which a substrate is placed, and an application unit 50 as an application unit that applies a sealing material as a printing material, for example, epoxy resin (EP), to the surface of the substrate placed on the stage 2. And a partition 4 as a sealing means for sealing the substrate placed on the stage 2 and the coating unit 3. The application unit 50 includes a frame 52 that supports the screen printing plate 51 and a squeegee 53 that slides under pressure on the screen printing plate 51 to allow epoxy resin, that is, EP as a printing material to flow out of the opening of the screen printing plate 51. have. Epoxy resin as a printing material is dissolved in a solvent such as methyl carbitol.
[0048]
The screen printing apparatus also includes a self-circulating air conditioner 10 having an exhaust device 15 and an intake device 16 for adjusting the atmosphere in the partition 4, and detection for detecting the concentration of the solvent gas evaporated from the solvent in the partition 4. A gas concentration measuring device 20 as means and a gas supply device 30 as supply means for containing the solvent and supplying solvent gas are provided.
[0049]
The gas supply device 30 includes a container 31 that contains the same solvent as the solvent that dissolves the printing material, a lid 32 that seals the container 31, and an opening and closing mechanism 33 as an opening and closing means that opens and closes the lid 32. Yes.
[0050]
Also in such a screen printing apparatus, the gas concentration control unit 40 adjusts the solvent gas concentration in the atmosphere in the partition 4.
In the case of this screen printing apparatus, the saturated vapor pressure of methyl carbitol used as a sealing material as a printing material, that is, a solvent for dissolving an epoxy resin is 0.18 mmHg at 25 ° C.
[0051]
As described above, in a screen printing apparatus that screen prints a printing material, the application unit for applying the printing material is sealed with a partition, and the solvent gas concentration of the solvent dissolving the printing material in the partition is measured while the solvent By adjusting the solvent gas concentration in the partition so that the gas concentration becomes a predetermined value, that is, the gas concentration near the saturated vapor pressure of the solvent, the evaporation of the solvent is suppressed and the printing plate is prevented from drying due to the evaporation of the solvent. It becomes possible to do.
[0052]
For this reason, the printing defect of the printing material by drying of a printing plate is improved, and it becomes possible to provide the printing apparatus which can manufacture a high quality liquid crystal display device.
The gas supply device 30 applied to the transfer printing device and the screen printing device described above is configured by the container 31, the lid 32, and the lid opening / closing mechanism 33, but is not limited to this example and may have other configurations. Good.
[0053]
For example, a gas supply device 35 shown in FIG. 6 includes a container 31 that contains a solvent, a heater wire 36 that is wound around the container 31 and heats the container 31, a heater controller 37 that controls heating by the heater wire 36, In addition, a diffusion fan 38 is provided as diffusion means for diffusing the solvent gas evaporated from the container 31 into the partition.
[0054]
The gas concentration control unit 45 including such a gas supply device 35 includes a main control unit 41, a gas concentration measurement device 20, a gas supply device 30, an exhaust device 15, and an intake device 16.
[0055]
That is, when the main control unit 41 determines that the solvent gas concentration in the atmosphere in the partition 4 measured by the gas concentration measuring device 20 is lower than the saturated vapor pressure of the solvent, the main control unit 41 The heater controller 37 of the supply device 30 is controlled to heat the container 31 via the heater wire 36 and positively vaporize the solvent. Further, the main control unit 41 drives the diffusion fan 38 to diffuse the solvent gas positively vaporized in the partition 4. At this time, the exhaust device 15 and the intake device 16 block the space in the partition 4 from outside air and seal the interior of the partition 4. Thereby, the solvent gas is filled in the partition 4.
[0056]
When the main control unit 41 determines that the solvent gas concentration in the partition 4 has reached the saturated vapor pressure, the main control unit 41 heats the container 31 by the heater controller 37 of the gas supply device 30. While stopping, the drive of the spreading | diffusion fan 38 is stopped.
[0057]
When the main control unit 41 determines that the solvent gas concentration in the partition 4 is higher than the saturated vapor pressure, the main control unit 41 heats and diffuses the container 31 by the heater controller 37 of the gas supply device 30. The driving of the fan 38 is stopped. Further, the main control unit 41 drives the exhaust device 15 to exhaust the atmosphere containing the solvent gas in the partition 4, and drives the intake device 16 to take outside air into the partition 4.
[0058]
When the main control unit 41 determines that the solvent gas concentration in the partition 4 has reached the saturated vapor pressure, the main control unit 41 stops the driving of the exhaust device 15 and the intake device 16, and the partition 4 is sealed from outside air.
[0059]
By applying such a gas supply device, when the solvent gas concentration in the partition is lower than the saturated vapor pressure, it is possible to quickly vaporize the solvent and quickly diffuse the solvent gas into the partition. Therefore, the solvent gas concentration in the partition can be quickly reached to the gas concentration corresponding to the saturated vapor pressure. For this reason, it becomes possible to suppress the vaporization of the solvent from a printing plate efficiently, and the printing defect by drying of a printing plate can be prevented.
[0060]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the solvent used in the above-described example, and even when other solvents are used, the solvent gas concentration in the atmosphere in the partition is adjusted to the saturated vapor pressure of each solvent. Applicable.
[0061]
When propylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate is used as the other solvent, the saturated vapor pressure is 1.7 mmHg at 20 ° C., and when dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether (DPME) is used, the saturated vapor pressure is 25 ° C. When using butyl cellosolve, the saturated vapor pressure is 0.852 mmHg at 25 ° C., and when N-methylpyrrolidone is used, the saturated vapor pressure is 24 mmHg at 100 ° C. and 4 mmHg at 60 ° C. It is.
[0062]
By adjusting the solvent gas concentration in the partition according to the saturated vapor pressure of the solvent, it becomes possible to suppress the volatilization of the solvent, suppress the drying of the printing plate, and improve the printing defects due to the drying of the printing plate. Is possible.
[0063]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing material coating apparatus that can improve defective printing and can manufacture a high-quality liquid crystal display device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a liquid crystal display device to which a printing material is applied by the printing apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart schematically showing a manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a transfer printing apparatus as a printing apparatus according to the present invention.
4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a gas concentration control unit of the transfer printing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a screen printing apparatus as a printing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing another example of a gas supply device applicable to the printing apparatus of the present invention.
7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of another gas concentration control unit including the gas supply device shown in FIG. 6. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Transfer printing device 3 ... Application | coating unit 4 ... Partition 10 ... Self-circulating air conditioner 15 ... Exhaust device 16 ... Intake device 20 ... Gas concentration measuring device 30 ... Gas supply device 31 ... Container 32 ... Lid 33 ... Lid opening / closing mechanism 35 ... Gas supply device 37 ... Heater controller 38 ... Diffusion fan 40 ... Gas concentration control unit 41 ... Main control unit 50 ... Coating unit

Claims (2)

A coating apparatus provided with a coating means for coating a printing material on at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate in order to manufacture a liquid crystal display device in which a liquid crystal composition is sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate. In
Sealing means for sealing the application means;
An adjusting means for adjusting the solvent gas concentration of the solvent gas evaporated from the solvent contained in the printing material in the sealing means to a solvent gas concentration corresponding to the saturated vapor pressure of the solvent ;
A coating apparatus comprising: The adjusting means includes
Detecting means for detecting the concentration of the solvent gas in the sealing means;
Determining means for determining whether or not the solvent gas concentration detected by the detecting means is a solvent gas concentration corresponding to a saturated vapor pressure of the solvent;
Supply means for supplying a gas obtained by vaporizing the solvent into the sealing means when the determination means determines that the solvent gas concentration in the sealing means is lower than the solvent gas concentration corresponding to the saturated vapor pressure. When,
An exhaust means for exhausting the inside of the sealing means when the judgment means determines that the solvent gas concentration in the sealing means is higher than the solvent gas concentration corresponding to the saturated vapor pressure;
The coating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

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