JP4707845B2 - Metal container sealing method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for sealing a metal container.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A metal container whose opening is sealed with a glass plate is used as a container for housing a light emitting element such as an organic EL element. An organic EL element is a light emitting element in which an organic light emitter is disposed between an anode and a cathode. An organic EL element placed inside a glass plate and housed in a sealed metal container is used as an optical display device.
[0003]
The organic EL element is required to have high sealing performance of the metal container because the organic light emitting element deteriorates by reacting with moisture in the atmosphere. As such a method for sealing a metal container, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-233283, a method is known in which a metal container and a glass plate are bonded with an adhesive containing an ultraviolet curable resin.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The adhesion with the adhesive greatly contributes to the wettability of the adhesive to the adherend surface. The wettability of the adhesive to the adherend surface often varies depending on the state of the adherend surface. Therefore, methods for variously treating the adherend surface are known. However, since the conditions for the surface treatment differ depending on the state and shape of the adherend surface, it is necessary to set suitable conditions according to each mode.
[0005]
The inventors of the present invention have made various studies on an embodiment in which an adhesive is used when a shallow pan-shaped metal container having a flange portion is sealed with a glass plate. During these studies, it was found that when the flange portion of the metal container was subjected to corona discharge treatment, the wettability of the adhesive to the flange portion was increased and the glass plate was not easily peeled off. However, the corona discharge treatment has a characteristic that the discharge tends to become unstable depending on the shape of the electrode and the applied voltage.
[0006]
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to increase the wettability of the adhesive to the glass plate by performing a corona discharge treatment when the glass plate is sealed to the flange portion of the shallow pan-shaped metal container, and the glass plate is It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for sealing a metal container that makes it difficult to peel off.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The metal container sealing method according to the present invention is a first step of preparing a shallow pan-shaped metal container having a flange portion and a glass plate capable of covering the flange portion, and is opposed to the flange portion of the metal container. A second step of disposing a rod-shaped or plate-shaped corona discharge electrode at a position and disposing a dielectric member between the flange portion and the corona discharge electrode; and applying a voltage to the corona discharge electrode; A third step of generating a corona discharge between the discharge electrode and the flange portion; a fourth step of applying an adhesive to the flange portion; and a fifth step of closely attaching the glass plate to the flange portion. The side wall of the metal container is inclined outward from the bottom surface of the metal container, the flange portion is formed at the same height with respect to the bottom surface, and the entire surface of the flange portion is formed during the third step. Over While moving the metal container while maintaining a predetermined distance between the collector member to generate a corona discharge.
[0008]
According to the present invention, since the dielectric member is disposed between the flange portion of the metal container and the corona discharge electrode, the dielectric member functions as an aggregate of micro capacitors, and corona discharge is applied to the flange portion. On the other hand, it can be generated stably and uniformly. Since the flange portion is uniformly subjected to corona discharge treatment, the wettability of the adhesive to the flange portion is increased, and the glass plate is brought into close contact with the flange portion without peeling off. Further, the side wall of the metal container is inclined outward from the bottom surface of the metal container, and the flange portion is formed at the same height with respect to the bottom surface, so that only the flange portion is subjected to corona discharge treatment. It becomes easy.
[0009]
Moreover, in this invention, an adhesive agent may further have a 6th step which irradiates an ultraviolet-ray to the flange part which the glass plate closely_contact | adhered and contained the ultraviolet curable resin. By doing so, the adhesive containing the ultraviolet curable resin is cured by the ultraviolet irradiation, so that the glass plate is brought into close contact with the flange portion without being peeled off.
[0011]
In the present invention, the length of the corona discharge electrode and the dielectric member in the longitudinal direction may be longer than the length of the long side of the flange portion. If it does in this way, the whole flange part can be processed uniformly by one corona discharge treatment.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. When possible, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.
[0013]
A metal container sealing method and apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for sealing a metal container according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing an apparatus used in the first embodiment.
[0014]
First, the apparatus used in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The apparatus used in the first embodiment includes a first zone I including a corona discharge electrode 11 and a dielectric member 12 covered with the corona discharge electrode 11; a second zone II including a supply device 21; A third zone III including the suction device 31, a first zone I, a second zone II, and a conveyor 41 that transports the transport tray 42 across the third zone III are included.
[0015]
The corona discharge electrode 11 is an electrode made of an aluminum pipe, and is formed with a discharge portion length of 150 mm, an outer diameter of 15 mm, and a thickness of 2 mm, and is supported by a support member (not shown) so as to straddle the conveyor 41. It is supported. The corona discharge electrode 11 is connected to a corona discharge power supply 13 through an external circuit 14 so that an AC voltage of 4 kV to 20 kV is applied at a high frequency of 5 kHz to 500 kHz by the corona discharge power supply 13. It is configured. The corona discharge electrode 11 is covered with a dielectric member 12 made of alumina having a porous portion sealed with a thickness of 1 mm over almost the entire width.
[0016]
The supply device 21 is held by a holding arm 23 and can freely move three-dimensionally. An adhesive is supplied to the supply device 21 via the hose 22, and the supplied adhesive is discharged to the outside from the nozzle 21a.
[0017]
The adsorption device 31 has an adsorption plate 31a, and can absorb and hold a flat plate by making the inside of the adsorption plate 31a into a vacuum state. The suction device 31 can be further freely moved in three dimensions. The suction device 31 can be moved to an arbitrary position while sucking a flat plate, and can be moved to an arbitrary location by releasing the vacuum state inside the suction plate 31a. The held item can be placed on it. Moreover, the adsorption | suction apparatus 31 can be made to closely_contact | adhere with what is placed by pressing down the adsorption | suction board 31a.
[0018]
The conveyor 41 is supported by a plurality of rollers (not shown). The conveyor 41 can transport the transport tray 42 in the direction of arrow A at an arbitrary speed and timing.
[0019]
Next, the metal container sealing method according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The metal container sealing method according to the first embodiment includes a first step of preparing a metal container and a glass plate (S01), and a second step of arranging a corona discharge electrode and a dielectric member (S02). ), A third step (S03) for generating corona discharge between the corona discharge electrode and the flange portion of the metal container, and a fourth step (S04) for applying an adhesive to the flange portion of the metal container; And a fifth step (S05) for bringing the glass plate into close contact with the flange portion of the metal container. Subsequently, each step will be described in detail.
[0020]
The first step (S01) will be described with reference to FIG. The first step (S01) is completed by placing the metal container 51 on the transport tray 42 and holding the glass plate 52 by suction with the suction device 31. In FIG. 2, four metal containers 51 and glass plates 52 are prepared, but can be appropriately increased or decreased according to the size of the transport tray 42. The metal container 51 is made of stainless steel. The metal container 51 has a shallow pan shape. A flange portion 51a is provided at the opening of the metal container 51, and the flange portion 51a has a substantially rectangular shape. The glass plate 52 has a substantially rectangular shape so as to cover the flange portion 51a.
[0021]
The second step (S02) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the metal container 51 has been conveyed below the corona discharge electrode 11. In the second step (S02), the corona discharge electrode 11 and the dielectric member 12 are separated by a distance d (0.1 mm to 9 mm, more preferably 0.3 mm) between the dielectric member 12 and the flange portion 51a of the metal container 51. ˜5 mm) to complete. The side wall part 51b of the metal container 51 is inclined toward the outside of the metal container 51, and the flange part 51a of the metal container 51 is formed so that the distance from the dielectric member 12 is d over the entire surface. Yes.
[0022]
The third step (S04) will be described with reference to FIG. The metal container 51 is placed on the transport tray 42 and moves in the direction of arrow B at about 10 mm / s. A high frequency high voltage of 20 kHz and 9.5 kV is applied to the corona discharge electrode 11. At this time, a weak plasma 61 is generated between the dielectric member 12 and the flange portion 51a. Thereby, the impurities on the flange portion 51a can be removed by decomposition or evaporation, and the flange portion 51a can be quickly hydrophilized. By performing such corona discharge treatment while moving the metal container 51 in the direction of the arrow B, impurities can be removed by decomposition or evaporation over the entire surface of the flange portion 51a, and can be quickly rendered hydrophilic. it can.
[0023]
During the corona discharge, the dielectric member 12 functions as an aggregate of minute capacitors and plays a role of preventing the corona discharge from being concentrated at a specific position in the longitudinal direction of the corona discharge electrode 11. In other words, if a small capacitor is charged in the half cycle of the applied high frequency high voltage, current stops flowing at the position of that small capacitor, current flows at the position of the other small capacitor, and the small capacitor is charged. If it is done, the position where the current flows will change sequentially, such as the current flowing at the position of the other minute capacitor. In the next half cycle, the minute capacitor is charged in the reverse direction, and the position where the reverse current flows sequentially changes. In this way, concentration of discharge at a specific position can be prevented, and the transition to arc discharge can be suppressed. Further, the action of the dielectric member 12 can also suppress the discharge from being concentrated on the edge of the flange portion 51a.
[0024]
Further, here, an example has been described in which the metal container 51 is moved in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the corona discharge electrode 11 to perform the process on the entire flange portion 51a, but instead of moving the metal container 51, corona discharge is performed. It is good also as processing the whole flange part 51a by moving the electrode 11 for an object.
[0025]
The fourth step (S04) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the metal container 51 has been conveyed below the supply device 21. The supply device 21 is disposed in the vicinity of the flange portion 51 a by the holding arm 23. The supply device 21 applies the adhesive 62 over the entire surface of the flange portion 51a by moving in the direction of arrow C while discharging the adhesive 62 from the nozzle 21a. The adhesive 62 is an ordinary temperature curable or heat curable adhesive, and an adhesive that requires a time of several minutes to be cured is used.
[0026]
The fifth step (S05) will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the metal container 51 has been conveyed below the adsorption device 31. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the glass plate 52 is in close contact with the metal container 51. The metal container 51 is conveyed under the adsorption device before the adhesive 62 is cured. The suction plate 31a of the suction device 31 holds the glass plate 52 by suction and moves to a position where the flange portion 51a of the metal container 51 and the glass plate 52 overlap. The suction device 31 moves in the direction of the arrow D and is brought into close contact by pressing the glass plate 52 against the flange portion 51a. Thereafter, the adhesive 62 is cured, and the metal container 51 is sealed as shown in FIG. In addition, when a thermosetting adhesive is used, the metal container 51 is heated in this step.
[0027]
In this embodiment, a pipe-shaped electrode is used as the corona discharge electrode 11, but it may have a solid bar shape or a plate shape. Further, an organic EL element may be disposed on the surface of the glass plate 52 facing the metal container 51.
[0028]
The operation and effect of the metal container sealing method according to the first embodiment will be described. By applying a high frequency high voltage to the corona discharge electrode 11, a weak plasma is generated between the dielectric member 12 and the flange portion 51a. Thereby, the impurities on the flange portion 51a can be removed by decomposition or evaporation, and the flange portion 51a can be quickly hydrophilized. By performing such corona discharge treatment while moving the metal container 51 in the direction of the arrow B, impurities can be removed by decomposition or evaporation over the entire surface of the flange portion 51a, and can be quickly rendered hydrophilic. it can.
[0029]
By disposing the dielectric member 12 between the flange portion 51a of the metal container 51 and the corona discharge electrode 11, the dielectric member 12 functions as an aggregate of minute capacitors, and corona discharge is applied to the flange portion 51a. On the other hand, it can be generated stably and uniformly. Since the flange portion 51a is uniformly subjected to corona discharge treatment, the wettability of the adhesive 62 to the flange portion 51a is increased, and the glass plate 52 is brought into close contact with the flange portion 51a without being peeled off.
[0030]
The side wall 51b of the metal container 51 is inclined toward the outside of the metal container 51, and the flange 51a of the metal container 51 is formed so that the distance from the dielectric member 12 is always d. The corona discharge treatment can be performed uniformly over the entire surface of the portion 51a. If it does in this way, it will become easy to perform a corona discharge process only to a flange part.
[0031]
Since the corona discharge electrode 11 and the dielectric member 12 are formed longer than the long side of the flange portion 51a, the corona discharge treatment is performed once the metal container 51 passes below the corona discharge electrode 11 and the dielectric member 12. Is completed. Even when the flange portion 51a has a shape other than a rectangle, the same effect can be obtained by setting the lengths of the corona discharge electrode 11 and the dielectric member 12 so as to cross the flange portion 51a. If it does in this way, the whole flange part can be processed uniformly by one corona discharge treatment.
[0032]
A metal container sealing method and apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for sealing a metal container according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of ultraviolet irradiation. The apparatus used in the second embodiment includes a fourth zone including an ultraviolet irradiation apparatus (81 in FIG. 8) in addition to the apparatus used in the first embodiment.
[0033]
A metal container sealing method according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The metal container sealing method according to the second embodiment includes a first step (S11) of preparing a metal container and a glass plate, and a second step of arranging a corona discharge electrode and a dielectric member (S12). ), A third step (S13) for generating corona discharge between the corona discharge electrode and the flange portion of the metal container, and a fourth step (S14) for applying an adhesive to the flange portion of the metal container; There is a fifth step (S15) for bringing the glass plate into close contact with the flange portion of the metal container, and a sixth step (S16) for irradiating ultraviolet rays onto the flange portion with which the glass plate is in close contact. Subsequently, each step will be described in detail.
[0034]
The first step (S11), second step (S12), and third step (S13) are the first step (S01), second step (S02), and Since it is the same as the third step (S03), the description is omitted.
[0035]
The fourth step (S14) will be described with reference to FIG. The supply device 21 is disposed in the vicinity of the flange portion 51 a by the holding arm 23. The supply device 21 applies the adhesive (102 in FIG. 8) over the entire surface of the flange portion 51a by moving in the direction of arrow C while discharging the adhesive (102 in FIG. 8) from the nozzle 21a. . The adhesive (102 in FIG. 8) is an adhesive containing an ultraviolet curable resin.
[0036]
The fifth step (S15) is the same as the fifth step (S05) of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0037]
The sixth step (S16) will be described with reference to FIG. First, a light shielding film 101 that blocks ultraviolet rays is attached to the surface of the glass plate 52 so as to cover a portion other than the portion that contacts the flange portion 51 a of the glass plate 52. Next, the ultraviolet irradiation device 81 irradiates the ultraviolet rays 91 from the tip portion 81d of the base portion 81b over the entire circumference of the flange portion 51a while moving in parallel along the flange portion 51a. Since the adhesive 102 includes an ultraviolet curable resin, the adhesive 102 is cured by irradiating the ultraviolet ray 91, and the metal container 51 is sealed by the glass plate 52.
[0038]
The ultraviolet irradiation device 81 will be described. The ultraviolet irradiation device 81 includes a base part 81b, a holder part 81c, an arm part 81e, and an optical fiber 81a. Since the base part 81d is held by the holder part 81c connected to the arm part 81e, the base part 81b can move in the same manner as the arm part 81e moves freely in three dimensions. Since one end of the optical fiber 81a is connected to an ultraviolet light source (not shown) and the other end is connected to the base part 81b, the ultraviolet light 91 can be irradiated from the tip part 81d of the base part 81b.
[0039]
The operation and effect of the metal container sealing method according to the second embodiment will be described. In addition to the operations and effects of the first embodiment, there are the following operations and effects. The adhesive 102 for bonding the metal container 51 and the glass plate 52 includes an ultraviolet curable resin, and a sixth step of irradiating the flange portion 51a to which the glass plate 52 is in close contact with the ultraviolet ray 91 using the ultraviolet irradiation device 81 is performed. Furthermore, since it has, the adhesive agent 102 containing a ultraviolet curable resin will harden | cure by ultraviolet irradiation, and it will closely_contact | adhere to the flange part 51a, without peeling the glass plate 52. FIG. Since the light-shielding film 101 that blocks ultraviolet rays covers a portion that does not need to be irradiated with ultraviolet rays, the metal container 51 can be sealed with the glass plate 52 even if there is a portion that is vulnerable to ultraviolet rays.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since the dielectric member is disposed between the flange portion of the metal container and the corona discharge electrode, the dielectric member functions as an aggregate of micro capacitors, and corona discharge is applied to the flange portion. On the other hand, it can be generated stably and uniformly. Since the flange portion is uniformly subjected to corona discharge treatment, the wettability of the adhesive to the flange portion is increased, and the glass plate is brought into close contact with the flange portion without peeling off. Therefore, the sealing method of the metal container which makes it difficult to peel a glass plate when sealing the shallow pan-shaped metal container which has the flange part which is the objective of this invention with a glass plate was able to be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a view showing a flow of a metal container sealing method according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an apparatus used for the metal container sealing method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of the first zone I in FIG. 2;
4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of the second zone II in FIG. 2. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of the third zone III in FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a metal container is sealed.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an apparatus used for a metal container sealing method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of the sixth step (S16) in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Electrode for corona discharge, 12 ... Dielectric member, 13 ... Power supply for corona discharge, 14 ... External connection line, 21 ... Supply device, 21a ... Nozzle, 22 ... Hose, 23 ... Holding arm, 31 ... Adsorption device, 31a DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Adsorption plate, 41 ... Conveyor, 42 ... Conveying tray, 51 ... Metal container, 51a ... Flange part, 52 ... Glass plate.

Claims (3)

A first step of preparing a shallow pan-shaped metal container having a flange portion and a glass plate covering the flange portion;
A second step of disposing a rod-shaped or plate-shaped corona discharge electrode at a position facing the flange portion of the metal container, and disposing a dielectric member between the flange portion and the corona discharge electrode;
Applying a voltage to the corona discharge electrode to generate a corona discharge between the corona discharge electrode and the flange;
A fourth step of applying an adhesive to the flange portion;
Possess a fifth step of close contact with the glass plate to the flange portion,
The side wall of the metal container is inclined outward from the bottom surface of the metal container,
The flange portion is formed at the same height with respect to the bottom surface;
In the third step, a metal container sealing method for generating corona discharge while moving the metal container while maintaining a predetermined distance from the dielectric member over the entire surface of the flange portion . The adhesive includes an ultraviolet curable resin,
The metal container sealing method according to claim 1, further comprising a sixth step of irradiating the flange portion with which the glass plate is in close contact with ultraviolet rays. The longitudinal length of the corona discharge electrode and the dielectric member, the sealing method of the metal container according to a long claim 1 or 2 than the length of the long side of the flange portion.

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