JP5230875B2 - Light irradiation method and light irradiation apparatus for light irradiation apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a light irradiation method for a light irradiation apparatus and a light irradiation apparatus.

  In a liquid crystal display panel, an element substrate on which thin film transistors are arranged and formed in a matrix and an opposite substrate on which a light shielding film, a color filter, and the like are formed are arranged to face each other at an extremely narrow interval. When the two substrates are overlaid, the liquid crystal is sealed in a region between the two substrates and surrounded by a sealing material containing a photocurable resin. Subsequently, the liquid crystal display panel is manufactured by irradiating the sealing material with ultraviolet rays, curing the sealing material, and bonding the two substrates together.

  At this time, there is a light irradiation device as a device for ultraviolet curing the sealing material and bonding the two substrates together. As this type of light irradiation apparatus, for example, an arc discharge type metal highland lamp or the like is used as a light source, and the entire surface of a substrate to be bonded is irradiated with ultraviolet rays (for example, Patent Document 1).

  Moreover, in recent years, a light irradiation device using an ultraviolet light emitting diode that can reduce power consumption by irradiating only a linear sealing material with ultraviolet rays and can easily and quickly cope with a change in the standard of a bonded substrate. Is attracting attention. In the light irradiation device using the ultraviolet light emitting diode, a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are arranged at a predetermined pitch in one direction. An optical system such as a hemispherical lens or a cylindrical lens is disposed on the light emitting side of each ultraviolet light emitting diode. As a result, the light emitted from each ultraviolet light-emitting diode is converted into a beam light (straight beam light) whose cross section is linear via these optical systems such as a hemispherical lens and a cylindrical lens. The material is irradiated.

JP 2006-66585 A

By the way, it is preferable that the illuminance of the linear beam light generated based on the light emission of the plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes is uniform, that is, the same at all positions in the irradiation region.
However, in the conventional light irradiation device, a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes are arranged at predetermined intervals in one direction. Accordingly, the linear light beam formed using a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes has illuminance peaks and bottoms alternately generated in the line direction, and is not uniform in all positions in the line direction.

  The sealing material must be irradiated with a predetermined integrated illuminance. In this case, if there is variation in the illuminance distribution as described above, the irradiation time must be calculated based on the minimum (bottom) illuminance value if an attempt is made to give more than the specified integrated illuminance to the sealing material. As a result, the irradiation time becomes longer and the production efficiency is lowered.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and its purpose is to integrate the illuminance of the linear beam light on the irradiation target region even when the illuminance distribution of the linear beam light is not uniform in the line direction. An object of the present invention is to provide a light irradiation method and a light irradiation apparatus for a light irradiation apparatus that can improve the uniformity of the light irradiation apparatus.

One aspect of the present invention is a method of irradiating linear beam light from a light irradiation apparatus including a plurality of optical elements arranged along one direction. This method irradiates light having an elliptical irradiation area from each of a plurality of optical elements and superimposes the irradiation areas to generate a linear beam light having a light irradiation surface extending along one direction. A linear photo-curing resin formed on the substrate, the light irradiation surface of the linear beam light faces in one direction, and an illuminance sensor below the stage on which the substrate is placed The illuminance sensor detects the illuminance of the light irradiation surface of the linear beam incident on the stage through the detection window formed along the one direction while moving the sensor along the one direction. After detecting the illuminance of the light irradiation surface of the linear beam light, the linear photocurable resin is irradiated with the linear beam light, while the linear photocurable resin is irradiated with the linear beam light, The light irradiation surface of the beam light and It comprises, to cause relative movement in one direction one of the plate.

Another aspect of the present invention is a light irradiation device. The light irradiation apparatus includes a stage on which a substrate on which a linear photocurable resin is formed, and a plurality of optical elements arranged along one direction, and an elliptical shape is formed from each of the plurality of optical elements. A light irradiation unit that generates a linear beam light having a light irradiation surface extending along one direction by irradiating light having the irradiation region and overlapping each irradiation region, and each optical element of the light irradiation unit An optical element driving device for driving, a first moving device for moving the light irradiation unit along a direction orthogonal to one direction, and a second moving device for moving the light irradiation unit or the substrate on the stage along one direction; An illuminance sensor for detecting the illuminance of the linear beam light, a third moving device for moving the illuminance sensor along one direction, and a stage formed along the one direction so as to transmit the linear beam light. Inspection A window, a guide member that is disposed on the lower side of the stage so as to face the detection window, guides the movement of the illuminance sensor along the detection window, and a control device, and the illuminance sensor extends along the guide member While moving, it detects the illuminance on the light irradiation surface of the linear beam light incident through the detection window, and the control device controls the first moving device to apply the linear photocurable resin to the linear photocurable resin. On the other hand, the light irradiation surface of the linear beam light is confronted along one direction, the light irradiation unit is arranged at a position immediately above the illuminance sensor, and the optical element driving device, the illuminance sensor, and the third moving device are controlled. , Detecting the illuminance on the light irradiation surface of the linear beam light while moving the illuminance sensor, and controlling the optical element driving device and the second moving device to either one of the light irradiation surface of the linear beam light and the substrate Relative movement along one direction While Ru is irradiated with linear light beam to the linear light curable resin.

  According to the present invention, even when the illuminance distribution of the linear beam light is not uniform in the line direction, the uniformity of the integrated illuminance of the linear beam light with respect to the irradiation target region can be improved. Thereby, the irradiation time can be shortened and the production efficiency can be improved.

The perspective view of the ultraviolet irradiation device of this embodiment. The front view of an ultraviolet irradiation device. The whole perspective view for demonstrating the stage of an ultraviolet irradiation device. The whole perspective view for demonstrating the illumination intensity sensor of an ultraviolet irradiation device. The principal part expansion perspective view of an illumination intensity sensor. The principal part sectional view for explaining the ultraviolet irradiation unit of an ultraviolet irradiation device. The figure which shows the arrangement | positioning state of an irradiation module. (A) (b) The schematic diagram for demonstrating the linear beam light radiate | emitted from an ultraviolet irradiation device. The illuminance distribution diagram for explaining the illuminance unevenness in the line direction of the linear beam light. The illuminance distribution figure for demonstrating the illuminance distribution of the light irradiation surface of a linear beam light. The electric block circuit diagram for demonstrating the electrical structure of an ultraviolet irradiation device. The flowchart for demonstrating the processing operation of the control apparatus for calculating | requiring the center position of linear beam light. The flowchart for demonstrating the processing operation of the control apparatus at the time of irradiating a linear beam light to a sealing material.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the light irradiation apparatus of the present invention is embodied as an ultraviolet irradiation apparatus for bonding substrates will be described with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, an ultraviolet irradiation device 1 is provided in a production line (not shown) for producing an active matrix type liquid crystal display panel P by enclosing liquid crystals between two types of substrates W1 and W2. The ultraviolet irradiation device 1 is used in a process of curing the sealing material S made of an ultraviolet curable resin interposed between the lower substrate W1 and the upper substrate W2 of the liquid crystal display panel P in the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display panel P. . The ultraviolet irradiation device 1 includes an ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 that generates ultraviolet rays applied to the sealing material S in the form of a linear beam light LB. This ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 is provided in the gantry 2. The ultraviolet curable resin is an example of a photocurable resin, and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 is an example of the light irradiation unit of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 has a machine casing 5 installed on the floor. The machine frame 5 has four support columns 5a arranged in four directions, and the four support columns 5a are erected with respect to the floor surface. The machine frame 5 includes four lower frames 5b, two intermediate frames 5c, and two upper frames (left upper frame 5d and right upper frame 5e). The four lower frames 5b connect the lower portions of the adjacent columns 5a. One of the two intermediate frames 5c connects the middle part of the pair of left and right columns 5a on the front side (the anti-Y direction side in the figure). The other of the two intermediate frames 5c connects the middle part of the pair of left and right columns 5a on the rear side (Y direction side in the figure). The left upper frame 5d connects the upper ends of a pair of front and rear columns 5a on the left side (the anti-X direction side in the drawing). The right upper frame 5e connects the upper ends of a pair of front and rear columns 5a on the right side (X direction side in the drawing). In this specification, the left-right direction of the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 is defined as “X direction”, the front-rear direction is defined as “Y direction”, and the up-down direction is defined as “Z direction”. In the example of FIG. 1, the front-rear direction (Y direction) refers to the longitudinal direction of the upper frames 5d, 5e, and the left-right direction (X direction) refers to the gantry 2 spanned between the upper frames 5d, 5e. Means the longitudinal direction.

  In the machine frame 5, a stage ST made of an octagonal opaque plate on which the liquid crystal display panel P is placed is provided. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower surface STa of the stage ST is supported by a support arm 7 (see FIG. 2) disposed below the stage ST. The support arm 7 is a lower frame. 5b is provided on a square frame 6 that can be moved up and down by a ball screw with guide (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 3, a through hole 8 is formed at the center position of the stage ST. An alignment table TB provided in a substrate moving device 9 (see FIG. 11) installed in the square frame 6 is disposed in the through hole 8. The alignment table TB can be moved by the substrate moving device 9 in the left-right direction (X direction) and the front-rear direction (Y direction) perpendicular to the X direction with respect to the stage ST. The alignment table TB is rotated by the substrate moving device 9 about the center axis L of the table TB as a rotation center.

  The alignment table TB of the substrate moving device 9 is placed on the stage ST after the liquid crystal display panel P transferred from a transfer device (not shown) is aligned on the table TB. Further, the substrate moving device 9 rotates the liquid crystal display panel P placed on the stage ST by 90 degrees and places it again on the stage ST.

  A plurality of guide holes 10 are formed in the stage ST at a predetermined interval. From each guide hole 10, a lift pin (not shown) of a substrate transfer device (not shown) arranged below the rectangular frame 6 is projected and retracted. That is, with the lift pins protruding from the guide holes 10, the liquid crystal display panel P transferred from a transfer device (not shown) is delivered to the tip of each lift pin. When the lift pins are inserted into the guide holes 10 from this state, the liquid crystal display panel P is transferred to the alignment table TB and aligned. When the alignment is completed, the alignment table TB is immersed in the through hole 8. Thus, the liquid crystal display panel P is placed on the stage ST in an aligned state.

  In the stage ST, a pair of detection windows 11 extending in the left-right direction (X direction) are formed through both sides of the front and rear sides of the through hole 8. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, an illuminance detection device 12 (only one is shown in FIG. 2) corresponding to each detection window 11 is provided below the stage ST. The illuminance detection device 12 is disposed at a position facing the corresponding detection window 11.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the illuminance detection device 12 includes a guide rail 13 that is supported and fixed to the rectangular frame 6 and that is installed in the left-right direction (X direction) along the detection window 11 of the stage ST. Yes. The guide rail 13 is an example of the guide member of the present invention. The guide rail 13 has a guide surface 13 a on which the carriage 14 is placed, and is arranged so that the guide surface 13 a faces the detection window 11. As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 5, the carriage 14 can reciprocate on the guide rail 13 along the left-right direction (X direction).

  The carriage 14 is connected to a carriage motor M1 (see FIG. 11) via a timing belt (not shown). The carriage 14 reciprocates along the X direction on the guide rail 13 via the timing belt when the carriage motor M1 is driven.

  An illuminance sensor 15 is fixed on the upper surface of the carriage 14. The illuminance sensor 15 receives the ultraviolet light transmitted through the detection window 11 from the incident hole 15a and detects the illuminance of the ultraviolet light. Specifically, when the carriage 14 reciprocates along the X direction, the illuminance sensor 15 receives the linear beam light LB (see FIG. 8) through the detection window 11 formed along the X direction. The illuminance of the linear beam LB is detected. The illuminance sensor 15 may discretely detect the illuminance of the linear beam light LB at a plurality of positions along the X direction, or may continuously detect the illuminance sensor 15 along the X direction.

  The horizontal width Dx of the detection window 11 is sufficiently larger than the line width D of the linear beam light LB. In this embodiment, the horizontal width Dx of the detection window 11 is the line width of the linear beam light LB. It is formed in the size of 2 to 3 times D.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a line passing through the center position Pwo of the width Dx of the detection window 11 is set as the center line of the detection window 11. In this case, the movement locus of the incident hole 15a of the illuminance sensor 15 along the X direction is a locus opposite to the center line of the detection window 11, that is, the center position Pwo.

  A gantry 2 is bridged between a left upper frame 5d and a right upper frame 5e provided on the machine frame 5. The gantry 2 has a pair of front and rear gantry main bodies 2a. The lower surface of the left end portion of each gantry body 2a is supported on the upper surface of the left upper frame 5d, and the lower surface of the right end portion of each gantry body 2a is supported on the upper surface of the right upper frame 5e. The guide rail 21 of the left upper frame 5d and the guide rail 21 of the right upper frame 5e are parallel to each other and extend along the Y direction. Accordingly, the pair of front and rear gantry 2 extending in the X direction moves along the Y direction.

  The left and right ends of the pair of front and rear gantry main bodies 2a are screwed with ball screws (not shown) rotatably supported by the respective frames 5d and 5e. The ball screws allow the gantry main body 2a to move in the Y direction (front and rear direction). ). By rotating the ball screw with a gantry motor M2 (see FIG. 11), the pair of front and rear gantry bodies 2a reciprocate along the Y direction (front and rear direction) on the pair of guide rails 21. Yes. The gantry body 2a is moved by rotating the ball screw. However, the gantry body 2a may be moved by a linear motor.

  The lower surface of each gantry body 2a is arranged in parallel to the X direction so as to face the surface of the stage ST. And as shown in FIG. 6, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 is provided in the X direction on the lower surface of each gantry main body 2a using the attachment member 23. As shown in FIG. That is, in this example, the two ultraviolet irradiation units 3 are provided in parallel to the pair of gantry main bodies 2a. Each ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 has the same configuration. The ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 provided on the attachment member 23 reciprocates along the Y direction together with the gantry body 2a. The ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 irradiates the liquid crystal display panel P (the sealing material 3 between the substrates W1 and W2) placed and fixed on the stage ST with linear beam LB composed of ultraviolet rays extending in a straight line along the X direction. To do.

  The attachment member 23 (ultraviolet irradiation unit 3) is attached to the gantry main body 2a so as to be reciprocally movable along the X direction (left-right direction) by a ball screw (not shown) provided on the gantry main body 2a. Therefore, the rotation of the ball screw of the gantry main body 2a by the unit motor M3 (see FIG. 11) causes the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 to reciprocate along the X direction (left-right direction) with respect to the gantry main body 2a. It has become.

  In the curing process of the sealing material 3, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 is reciprocated along the Y direction above the liquid crystal display panel P placed and fixed on the stage ST. And the center position Puo (refer FIG. 6) of the width direction of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 is a position facing the predetermined position of the panel P (the linear seal material S extending in the X direction formed between the substrates W1 and W2). Thus, the movement of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 in the Y direction is stopped. Next, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 is reciprocated along the X direction at the position where the movement in the Y direction is stopped. The ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 reciprocates (scans) along the X direction in a state of facing the sealing material S, and moves toward the linear sealing material S extending in the X direction. The sealing material S is cured by irradiating the linear beam light LB.

Next, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 includes a connecting plate 31, and the connecting plate 31 is fixed to the lower surface of the housing 30 of the attachment member 23 along the X direction. A plurality (40 in this embodiment) of irradiation modules 32 are arrayed and fixed in a line along the X direction on the lower surface of the connecting plate 31. Each irradiation module 32 has a plurality (eight in this embodiment) of ultraviolet light emitting diodes LED. The ultraviolet light emitting diode LED is an example of an optical element.

  As shown in FIG. 7, each irradiation module 32 has a circuit board 33, and eight ultraviolet light emitting diodes LED are mounted on the circuit board 33 in a line along the X direction. The circuit board 33 of each irradiation module 32 is fixed to the lower surface of the connecting plate 31 with bolts 34. At this time, the mounted ultraviolet light emitting diode LED is positioned on the lower side, and eight ultraviolet light emitting diodes LED are arranged along the X direction. Moreover, the adjacent irradiation modules 32 are positioned such that the ultraviolet light emitting diodes LED between the adjacent circuit boards 33 are arranged in a straight line along the X direction at equal intervals.

Therefore, in this embodiment, 320 ultraviolet light emitting diodes LED are arranged in a straight line along the X direction at equal intervals.
A hemispherical lens 35 is disposed below each ultraviolet light emitting diode LED mounted on the circuit board 33 in a straight line. Each hemispherical lens 35 receives ultraviolet rays emitted from the corresponding ultraviolet light emitting diode LED. Each hemispherical lens 35 emits downward while suppressing the diffusion of the incident ultraviolet rays.

  Under the eight hemispherical lenses 35 arranged corresponding to each irradiation module 32, a rod-shaped cylindrical lens 36 covering the entire eight hemispherical lenses 35 is arranged along the X direction. The cylindrical lens 36 receives the ultraviolet rays emitted from the respective hemispherical lenses 35 and suppressed from being diffused. The cylindrical lens 36 converges the ultraviolet light incident from each hemispherical lens 35 with respect to the Y direction, and emits light condensed in an elliptical shape.

  More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the ultraviolet rays UV emitted from the respective ultraviolet light emitting diodes LED are respectively suppressed from being diffused by the hemispherical lens 35 disposed immediately below. Then, the ultraviolet UV emitted from each hemispherical lens 35 is converged only in the Y direction by the cylindrical lens 36 and condensed into an elliptical shape. Thereby, the irradiation area | region T on the upper board | substrate W2 of ultraviolet-ray UV radiate | emitted from each ultraviolet light emitting diode LED becomes a long ellipse shape which has a long axis in a X direction. And the light-irradiation surface SF extended linearly along a X direction is formed because the long-axis direction edge part (polymerization area | region) of each irradiation area | region T is overlapped. In other words, the ultraviolet rays UV emitted from the respective ultraviolet light emitting diodes LED become linear ultraviolet rays (that is, linear beam light LB) extending in the X direction (left-right direction) and are irradiated onto the upper substrate W2. Become.

  The light irradiation surface SF of the linear beam light LB is a set of a plurality of irradiation regions T. In this case, the illuminance of the light irradiation surface SF (that is, the illuminance in each irradiation region T) is highest at the portion where each ultraviolet ray UV emitted from each ultraviolet light emitting diode LED converges most in the Y direction. Accordingly, the portion with the highest illuminance in each irradiation region T is the center of the optical axis of each ultraviolet UV emitted from each ultraviolet light-emitting diode LED, that is, the center of each irradiation region T. Note that, in the overlapping region where the ultraviolet rays UV emitted from the adjacent ultraviolet light emitting diodes LED overlap, the amount of light that converges in the Y direction is small, so the illuminance is not high and is minimal.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the linear beam light LB emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 has a maximum value of illuminance at the arrangement interval Pd of the ultraviolet light emitting diodes LED along the X direction. As a result, in the linear beam light LB, the maximum value (peak) and the minimum value (bottom) of the illuminance are generated at the arrangement interval Pd in the X direction, and thus the illuminance unevenness occurs on the light irradiation surface SF.

  As shown in FIG. 6, each hemispherical lens 35 and cylindrical lens 36 of the irradiation module 32 are held by a holding member 40 attached to the circuit board 33 along the X direction. The holding member 40 is fixed to the circuit board 33 with the bolt 34 when the circuit board 33 is fixed to the lower surface of the connecting plate 31 with the bolt 34.

An accommodation groove 41 is recessed along the X direction at the center of the lower surface of the holding member 40, and the cylindrical lens 36 is accommodated in the accommodation groove 41.
Further, through holes 42 are formed at equal intervals on the inner bottom surface of the housing groove 41 at positions corresponding to the respective hemispherical lenses 35. The diameter of the through hole 42 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the hemispherical lens 35, and a part of each hemispherical lens 35 disposed on the lower surface of the ultraviolet light emitting diode LED is fitted into the through hole 42. . When the holding member 40 is fixed to the circuit board 33, the hemispherical lens 35 is sandwiched and fixed between the holding member 40 and the ultraviolet light emitting diode LED mounted on the circuit board 33.

  On the lower surface of the holding member 40, a pair of dropout prevention plates 43 are arranged along the Y direction. When the holding member 40 is fixed to the lower surface of the circuit board 33 with the bolt 34, the pair of drop-off prevention plates 43 are also fixed to the holding member 40 with the bolt 34. .

  The pair of dropout prevention plates 43 respectively have elastic locking claws 43a arranged so as to face each other at a predetermined interval. Each elastic locking claw 43 a elastically locks the cylindrical lens 36 accommodated in the accommodation groove 41 from below so that the cylindrical lens 36 does not fall out of the accommodation groove 41.

Next, the electrical configuration of the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 11, the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 includes a control device 50. The control device 50 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer, and a control program for causing the CPU 50a to execute various processing operations such as a central processing unit (CPU) 50a and processing operations for irradiating the sealing material S with the linear beam LB. ROM 50b, a RAM 50c for temporarily storing calculation results of the CPU 50a, and an input / output circuit 50d.

  The control device 50 is connected to each ultraviolet light emitting diode LED of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 via an ultraviolet light emitting diode driving circuit 51 as an optical element driving device. The control device 50 outputs a light emission control signal of each ultraviolet light emitting diode LED to the ultraviolet light emitting diode drive circuit 51 to control light emission of each ultraviolet light emitting diode LED.

  The control device 50 is connected to two gantry motors M2 that drive a pair of front and rear gantry main bodies 2a via a gantry motor drive circuit 52. The control device 50 outputs a drive control signal for each gantry motor M2 to the gantry motor drive circuit 52 to control the drive of each gantry motor M2. The gantry 2 (gantry body 2a), the gantry motor drive circuit 52, and the gantry motor M2 are examples of the first moving device of the present invention.

  The control device 50 is connected via a unit motor drive circuit 53 to a unit motor M3 provided in the gantry main body 2a. The control device 50 outputs a drive control signal for the unit motor M3 to the unit motor drive circuit 53 to control the drive of the unit motor M3. The unit motor drive circuit 53 and the unit motor M3 are examples of the second moving device of the present invention.

  In this example, the control device 50 rotates the unit motor M3 forward / reversely via the unit motor drive circuit 53, thereby setting the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 at a distance that is half the arrangement interval Pd of the ultraviolet light emitting diodes LED. The gantry body 2a is reciprocated along the X direction. Accordingly, the light irradiation surface SF of the linear beam light LB irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 faces the sealing material S of the liquid crystal display panel P with a half distance of the arrangement interval Pd in the X direction. Reciprocate along. That is, the light irradiation surface SF of the linear beam light LB reciprocates on the linear sealing material S along the X direction.

  The control device 50 is connected to the carriage motor M1 via the carriage motor drive circuit 54. The control device 50 outputs a drive control signal for the carriage motor M1 to the carriage motor drive circuit 54 to control the drive of the carriage motor M1. The carriage 14, the carriage motor drive circuit 54, and the carriage motor M1 are examples of the third moving device of the present invention.

  Further, the control device 50 is connected to the image processing device 55. The liquid crystal display panel P is formed with an alignment mark for aligning the panel P with respect to the stage ST. This alignment mark is imaged by an alignment camera CA provided below the stage ST. The image processing device 55 receives the image data of the alignment mark from the alignment camera CA, calculates the amount of deviation of the liquid crystal display panel P from the image data, and outputs it to the control device 50.

  The control device 50 is connected to the substrate moving device 9. The control device 50 generates a drive control signal for the substrate moving device 9 based on the amount of deviation calculated by the image processing device 55. Based on this drive control signal, the substrate moving device 9 moves the alignment table TB with respect to the stage ST in the X direction, the Y direction, or both directions, and rotates the XY plane so as to eliminate the shift amount. I have to.

  The control device 50 is connected to the gantry position detection sensor 61 and inputs a detection signal from the gantry position detection sensor 61. Based on the detection signal from the gantry position detection sensor 61, the control device 50 detects the position of the gantry body 2a (ultraviolet irradiation unit 3) in the Y direction at that time. For example, the control device 50 detects the current position with reference to a predetermined home position of the gantry body 2a (ultraviolet irradiation unit 3).

  The control device 50 is connected to the carriage position detection sensor 62 and inputs a detection signal from the carriage position detection sensor 62. Based on the detection signal from the carriage position detection sensor 62, the control device 50 detects the current position in the X direction of the illuminance sensor 15 that reciprocates in the X direction together with the carriage 14.

  The control device 50 is connected to the unit position detection sensor 63 and inputs a detection signal from the unit position detection sensor 63. Based on the detection signal from the unit position detection sensor 63, the control device 50 detects the position of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 reciprocally moved in the X direction by the unit motor M3 in the X direction (the X position of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 relative to the stage ST). The relative position of the direction is detected.

Next, the operation of the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 configured as described above will be described.
(Initial setting)
When the linear sealing material 3 is irradiated with the linear beam light LB, the center line Lox in the width direction of the linear beam light (in the width direction of illuminance) with respect to the center line in the width direction of the linear sealing material 3. It is necessary to match the peak position. Thus, energy-efficient ultraviolet irradiation can be performed, and power consumption can be reduced and irradiation time can be shortened.

  However, the center line Lox in the width direction of the linear beam LB cannot be accurately determined visually. Therefore, in the prior art, it is necessary to extend the irradiation time for safety so that an uncured portion does not occur, and it is difficult to reduce power consumption and irradiation time.

  Accordingly, when the linear beam light LB extending in the X direction emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 is applied to the linear sealing material S that also extends in the X direction, the center position Po in the width direction of the linear beam light LB is set. It is desirable to grasp accurately. At this time, generally, as shown in FIG. 8, the illuminance on the light irradiation surface SF of the linear beam light LB is highest in a portion on a line (center line Lox) passing through the center position Po of the line width D. Become.

  However, the center position Po of the linear beam light LB does not always coincide with the center position Puo in the width direction of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 due to, for example, a mechanical error of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3.

  Therefore, in order to perform energy-efficient ultraviolet irradiation, reduce power consumption, and shorten the irradiation time, the position (center position Po) of the center line Lox of the linear beam light LB is obtained, and the center line Lox is determined as It is necessary to match the center line of the linear sealing material S.

Therefore, the detection of the center position Po of the linear beam light LB that cannot be visually recognized is performed in advance.
Hereinafter, the processing operation for detecting the position of the center line Lox of the linear beam LB emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart showing the processing operation of the control device 50 shown in FIG.

  First, the control device 50 drives the gantry motor M2 to move the gantry body 2a until the center position Puo in the width direction of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 provided in the gantry body 2a coincides with the center position Pwo of the detection window 11. It is moved along the Y direction from a predetermined home position (step S1-1). At this time, the control device 50 (CPU 50a) inputs a detection signal from the gantry position detection sensor 61, and calculates the moving distance from the home position of the gantry body 2a (ie, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3) at that time.

  And the control apparatus 50 discriminate | determines whether the center position Puo of the width direction of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 corresponded with the center position Pwo of the detection window 11 (step S1-2). The distance (inspection distance) from the home position to the center position Pwo of the detection window 11 is obtained in advance and stored in advance in the ROM 50b of the control device 50. Therefore, the control device 50 can determine whether or not the center position Pwo of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 matches the center position Pwo of the detection window 11 by comparing the moving distance and the inspection distance.

  When the center position Pwo of the detection window 11 does not match the center position Puo of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 (NO in step S1-2), the control device 50 returns to step S1-1 and returns to the center positions Pwo, Puo. The gantry body 2a is moved until the two match.

  When the moving distance of the gantry main body 2a reaches the inspection distance (YES in step S1-2), that is, when the center position Puo of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 matches the center position Pwo of the detection window 11, the control device 50 is connected to the gantry motor. M2 is stopped and the movement of the gantry body 2a is stopped (step S1-3).

  Next, the control device 50 controls the ultraviolet light emitting diode driving circuit 51 to cause the all ultraviolet light emitting diode LED of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 to emit light, and to emit the linear beam light LB toward the detection window 11 (step). S1-4).

  Subsequently, the control device 50 drives the carriage motor M1 to rotate in the forward direction and moves (forwards) the carriage 14 from the front end to the rear end of the guide rail 13 (step S1-5). As a result, the illuminance sensor 15 moves the incident hole 15a to the illuminance of the light irradiation surface SF of the linear beam LB incident on the incident hole 15a via the detection window 11 while moving on the guide rail 13. It detects on a locus | trajectory (step S1-6). For example, the illuminance sensor 15 detects the illuminance of the linear beam light LB at a plurality of positions on the movement locus of the incident hole 15a (or even if the illuminance of the linear beam light LB is continuously detected on the movement locus). Good). Then, the control device 50 determines each of the movement trajectories of the incident hole 15a based on the detection signal from the carriage position detection sensor 62 and the illuminance detection signal from the illuminance sensor 15 until the illuminance sensor 15 reaches the other end. At the position, the illuminance of the light irradiation surface SF of the linear beam LB is obtained and stored in the RAM 50c (steps S1-6 and S1-7).

  When the illuminance sensor 15 reaches the other end (YES in step S1-7), the control device 50 stops the carriage motor M1 (step S1-8). Next, the control device 50 determines whether or not the gantry body 2a (the central position Puo of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3) has been finely moved in the forward direction (counter-Y direction side) a predetermined number of times from the central position Pwo of the detection window 11. (Step S1-9). If the gantry main body 2a has not yet been finely moved (NO in step S1-9), the control device 50 drives the gantry motor M2 to move the gantry main body 2a in the forward direction (in this embodiment, a straight line). Is finely moved by a distance of 1/10 the line width D of the beam LB (step S1-10). Thereafter, the control device 50 proceeds to step S1-5, drives the carriage motor M1 in the reverse direction, and moves (returns) the carriage 14 from the rear end to the front end of the guide rail 13.

  Thereby, the illuminance sensor 15 moves backward on the guide rail 13 at a position deviated by a predetermined distance from the center position Pwo in the front direction (counter Y direction side). During the backward movement, the illuminance sensor 15 determines the illuminance of the light irradiation surface SF of the linear beam light LB incident on the incident hole 15a through the detection window 11 on each movement locus of the incident hole 15a. Detect by position. And the control apparatus 50 calculates | requires the illumination intensity of each position on the movement locus | trajectory of the incident hole 15a of the illumination intensity sensor 15 similarly to the above, and memorize | stores it in RAM50c (step S1-6, S1-7).

  Thereafter, the same operation is performed until the gantry main body 2a is slightly moved a predetermined number of times in the forward direction. The illuminance of the linear beam light LB is detected along the X direction while the carriage 14 reciprocates alternately at a plurality of bias positions in the front direction. When the fine movement in the front direction is performed a predetermined number of times (YES in step S1-9), the control device 50 moves the gantry body 2a (the center position Puo of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3) from the center position Pwo of the detection window 11 to the rear side. It is finely moved in a direction (Y direction side) by a predetermined distance (distance of 1/10 of the width of the linear beam LB in this embodiment) (step S1-11).

  Subsequently, the control device 50 drives the carriage motor M1 in the forward direction to move the carriage 14 forward from the front end to the rear end of the guide rail 13 (step S1-12) (the carriage 14 is at the rear end of the guide rail 13). In this case, the guide rail 13 is moved back to the front end). Thereby, the illuminance sensor 15 moves backward on the guide rail 13 at a position deviated by a predetermined distance in the rear direction (Y direction side) from the center position Pwo. Then, during the forward movement, the illuminance sensor 15 determines the illuminance of the light irradiation surface SF of the linear beam light LB incident on the incident hole 15a via the detection window 11 on each movement locus of the incident hole 15a. Detect by position. Then, the control device 50 determines each of the movement trajectories of the incident hole 15a based on the detection signal from the carriage position detection sensor 62 and the illuminance detection signal from the illuminance sensor 15 until the illuminance sensor 15 reaches the other end. At the position, the illuminance of the light irradiation surface SF of the linear beam LB is obtained and stored in the RAM 50c (steps S1-13 and S1-14).

  When the illuminance sensor 15 reaches the other end (YES in step S1-14), the control device 50 stops the carriage motor M1 (step S1-15). Next, the control device 50 determines whether or not the gantry body 2a (the central position Puo of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3) has been finely moved backward (Y direction side) a predetermined number of times from the central position Pwo of the detection window 11. (Step S1-16). If the specified number of times has not been reached (NO in step S16), the control device 50 drives the gantry motor M2 to further finely move the gantry body 2a by a predetermined distance in the rearward direction (step S1-11).

Then, the control device 50 moves to step S1-12, drives the carriage motor M1 in the reverse direction, and moves the carriage 14 backward from the rear end to the front end of the guide rail 13.
Thereafter, the same operation is performed until the gantry body 2a is slightly moved a predetermined number of times in the rearward direction. The illuminance of the linear beam light LB is detected along the X direction while the carriage 14 is alternately reciprocated at a plurality of deviation positions in the rear direction. When the fine movement in the rearward direction is performed a predetermined number of times (YES in step S1-16), the control device 50 ends the detection of the illuminance of the linear beam light LB (light irradiation surface SF) having a predetermined width. Then, the gantry body 2a is moved to the home position (step S1-17).

  Subsequently, the control device 50 obtains the illuminance distribution ID of the light irradiation surface SF of the linear beam light LB as shown in FIG. 10, and from the obtained illuminance distribution, the position (center of the center line Lox having the highest illuminance is obtained. The position Po) is obtained (step S1-18).

  That is, the control device 50 determines whether the center line Lox having the highest illuminance (the center position Po of the linear beam light LB) matches the center position Puo of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3, and if not, It is determined how much the center position Po of the linear beam LB deviates forward and backward with respect to the center position Puo of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3. Then, the control device 50 sets the center position Po of the linear beam light LB obtained in step S1-18 as a new center position Puo of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3, and stores it in the RAM 50c (step S1-19). The initial setting processing operation is terminated.

  Therefore, the center line Lox (center position Po) having the highest illuminance of the linear beam light LB emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 is set as a new center position Puo of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3. Therefore, the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 controls the movement of the gantry main body 2a with reference to the new center position Puo of the set ultraviolet irradiation unit 3, so that the linear beam light LB emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 is controlled. The portion with the highest illuminance can always be irradiated to the sealing material S with high accuracy. The control device 50 is an example of the center position setting device of the present invention.

(UV irradiation)
Next, linear beam light LB extending in the X direction emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 is applied to the linear sealing material S, and the sealing material S is cured by ultraviolet rays so that the lower substrate W1 and the upper substrate W1 of the liquid crystal display panel P are The processing operation for bonding the substrate W2 will be described with reference to the flowchart showing the processing operation of the control device 50 shown in FIG.

  First, the control device 50 forms the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 between the lower substrate W1 and the upper substrate W2 of the liquid crystal display panel P with respect to the liquid crystal display panel P placed and positioned on the stage ST. It arrange | positions in the upper position facing the linear sealing material S (step S2-1).

  That is, the control device 50 moves the pair of gantry main bodies 2a at the home position along the Y direction by driving the respective gantry motors M2, so that each of the ultraviolet irradiation units 3 provided in the respective gantry main bodies 2a. The center position Puo is moved to an upper position facing the corresponding linear sealing material S formed between the lower substrate W1 and the upper substrate W2.

  When the center position Puo of each ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 faces the corresponding linear sealing material S, the control device 50 drives the ultraviolet light emitting diode drive circuit 51 to cause the all ultraviolet light emitting diode LED of each irradiation module 32 to operate. Is caused to emit light (step S2-2).

  Ultraviolet rays UV emitted from the all-ultraviolet light-emitting diode LED are formed as linear beam light LB extending in one direction (X direction) via each hemispherical lens 35 and the cylindrical lens 36. Each ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 irradiates the liquid crystal display panel P (linear sealing material S) with the linear beam light LB to cure the sealing material S.

  The control device 50 measures the irradiation time, and irradiates the liquid crystal display panel P (linear sealing material S) with the linear beam light LB for a predetermined time (irradiation time) (step S2-3). That is, the linear beam light LB extending in the X direction is irradiated at a position immediately above the linear sealing material S that also extends in the X direction, and the linear sealing material S extending in the X direction is cured at a time.

  At this time, until the irradiation time reaches a predetermined time (NO in step S2-3), the control device 50 drives the unit motor drive circuit 53 to rotate each unit motor M3 forward and backward, The ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 is reciprocated along the X direction by a predetermined distance (in this embodiment, a distance that is a half of the arrangement interval Pd) with respect to the gantry 2 (and the stage ST). That is, each ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 is relatively reciprocated along the X direction with respect to the liquid crystal display panel P (step S2-4).

  Thereby, the linear beam light LB (light irradiation surface SF) extending in the X direction is reciprocated along the X direction at a position immediately above the linear sealing material S extending in the X direction. Hereinafter, the reciprocating movement of the light irradiation surface SF of the linear beam light LB is referred to as “scan”. This scan is performed over the aforementioned predetermined irradiation time.

  The reciprocating speed of each ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 is a moving speed at which the distance of half the arrangement interval Pd can be reciprocated twice in the present embodiment during the above-described predetermined irradiation time. Is set to

  The reciprocating movement of the linear beam light LB along the X direction is performed to reduce the illuminance unevenness because the linear beam LB has illuminance unevenness in the X direction as described above. That is, the linear beam light LB has illuminance unevenness in which the maximum value and the minimum value of illuminance occur at a predetermined pitch (arrangement interval Pd) in the X direction. Accordingly, when the sealing material S is irradiated with the linear beam light LB without scanning, the time for reaching the predetermined specified integrated illuminance differs greatly along the X direction between the maximum illuminance position and the minimum illuminance position.

  Therefore, by scanning the linear beam light LB and averaging the illuminance along the X direction of the linear beam light LB on the seal material S, the time to reach a predetermined specified integrated illuminance is measured along the X direction. It is made uniform on the sealing material S.

  Therefore, it is not necessary to set the irradiation time on the basis of the position on the sealing material 3 irradiated with the minimum (bottom) illuminance in order to give the ultraviolet rays having the specified integrated illuminance to all the positions of the sealing material S. . For this reason, irradiation time (predetermined irradiation time) can be shortened. Furthermore, the sealing material 3 can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays with an illuminance uniformized along the X direction. In the present embodiment, when the irradiation time reaches a predetermined irradiation time, ultraviolet rays having a predetermined specified integrated illuminance are irradiated to all positions of the sealing material S along the X direction.

  Therefore, when the irradiation time reaches a predetermined irradiation time (YES in step S-3), the sealing material S is cured and the lower substrate W1 and the upper substrate W2 are bonded. Then, the control device 50 turns off the all ultraviolet light emitting diode LED via the ultraviolet light emitting diode drive circuit 51 (step S2-5).

  When the all-ultraviolet light-emitting diode LED is turned off, the control device 50 determines whether or not all the linear sealing materials S are irradiated with ultraviolet rays (step S2-6). When not irradiating all (NO in step S2-6), the control device 50 places the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 in an upper position facing the next new linear sealing material S of the liquid crystal display panel P. After that (step S2-7), the process returns to step 2-2 to perform the same processing as described above.

  When all the linear sealing materials S are irradiated with the linear beam light LB (YES in step S2-6), the control device 50 moves the gantry body 2a to the home position (step S2-8), 1 The ultraviolet irradiation of the two liquid crystal display panels P is finished. Then, the next new liquid crystal display panel P waits for ultraviolet irradiation.

(Inspection)
When the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 is used for a long time, the characteristics (light emission capability) of each ultraviolet light emitting diode LED may change. As a result, an ultraviolet light emitting diode LED whose illuminance is lowered appears, and is uniform in a linear shape. There is a possibility that the beam light LB cannot be obtained. Therefore, the illuminance inspection of each ultraviolet light emitting diode LED is periodically performed.

Hereinafter, the inspection method will be described.
First, the control device 50 moves the gantry body 2a until the center position Puo of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 coincides with the center position Pwo of the detection window 11.

  Next, the control device 50 causes the all-ultraviolet light emitting diode LED of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 to emit light via the ultraviolet light emitting diode drive circuit 51, and emits the linear beam light LB toward the detection window 11.

  Subsequently, the control device 50 moves the illuminance sensor 15 forward along the guide rail 13, and changes the illuminance of the linear beam light LB incident on the incident hole 15a of the illuminance sensor 15 through the detection window 11 to the incident hole 15a. Detect on the movement trajectory. The control device 50 is arranged in the center position in the width direction of the linear beam light LB, that is, in the X direction based on the detection signal from the carriage position detection sensor 62 and the illuminance detection signal from the illuminance sensor 15. The illuminance of each ultraviolet diode LED is obtained. In this way, the control apparatus 50 discriminate | determines the ultraviolet light emitting diode LED in which illumination intensity is falling.

  Then, the control device 50 determines whether there is an ultraviolet light emitting diode LED whose illuminance has been reduced that needs to be replaced. Here, when there is no need for replacement, the control device 50 calculates how much driving voltage should be applied in order to return the ultraviolet light emitting diode LED whose illuminance has decreased to the prescribed illuminance. Then, the control device 50 supplies the obtained drive voltage to the corresponding ultraviolet light-emitting diode LED via the ultraviolet light-emitting diode driving circuit 51 so that all the ultraviolet light-emitting diodes LED emit ultraviolet rays having the same illuminance. To.

As a result, the sealing material S can be continuously irradiated with the linear beam LB with uniform illuminance at all times.
In addition, when the inspection result shows that there is an ultraviolet light emitting diode LED that needs to be replaced, the control device determines whether the replacement is necessary or not, and the irradiation module 32 (with the ultraviolet light emitting diode LED provided therein). The circuit board 33) is designated and notified. The control device 50 is an example of a light emission capability determination device of the present invention.

Next, advantages of the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 of the present embodiment will be described below.
(1) The ultraviolet irradiation device 1 makes the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 to the gantry main body 2a (and the liquid crystal display panel P) in a state where the linear beam light LB is opposed to the linear sealing material S extending in the X direction. , Reciprocate along the X direction at a predetermined distance. As a result, it is possible to reduce the unevenness of the illuminance of the linear beam LB along the X direction and improve the uniformity of the integrated illuminance applied to the sealing material S, as compared with the prior art.

  (2) The ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 reciprocates along the X direction with respect to the gantry body 2a (and the liquid crystal display panel P) at a distance of one half of the arrangement interval Pd of each ultraviolet light emitting diode LED. Accordingly, the light irradiation surface SF of the linear beam LB reciprocates in the X direction on the sealing material S of the liquid crystal display panel P at a distance of one half of the arrangement interval Pd.

Therefore, the integrated illuminance of the linear beam light LB having illuminance unevenness at the arrangement interval Pd in the X direction can be further averaged along the X direction of the sealing material S.
As a result, each position of the sealing material S can be uniformly cured, and in order to give the specified integrated illuminance to each position of the sealing material S, the irradiation time is not based on the position where the minimum illuminance is irradiated. The irradiation time of the linear beam LB can be shortened, and the production efficiency can be improved.

  (3) The gantry main body 2a can be miniaturized by setting the reciprocating movement of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 in the X direction to a distance that is a half of the arrangement interval Pd of the ultraviolet light emitting diodes LED and making the moving distance as small as possible. Can do.

  (4) The detection window 11 extending along the X direction is formed through the stage ST on which the liquid crystal display panel P is placed. Furthermore, an illuminance detection device 12 having an illuminance sensor 15 that reciprocates along the detection window 11 is provided at a position facing the detection window 11 below the stage ST. Prior to the start of the curing process, the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 deviates the linear beam LB along the Y direction and moves the illuminance sensor 15 back and forth along the X direction each time toward the detection window 11. The illuminance value of the light irradiation surface SF of the linear beam LB irradiated in this manner is detected. Then, the center position Po of the light irradiation surface SF of the linear beam light LB is obtained from the illuminance value of the light irradiation surface SF, and the center position Po of the light irradiation surface SF is set as a new center position Puo of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3. To do.

  Accordingly, the center position Po at which the illuminance is highest in the linear beam light LB emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 is set as a new center position Puo of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3. Since this setting is not performed visually, it is performed with high accuracy. Therefore, the center position Po having the highest illuminance of the linear beam light LB emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 can always be irradiated to the sealing material S with high accuracy.

  (5) The illuminance detection device 12 having the illuminance sensor 15 moving in the X direction is provided below the stage ST. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the entire apparatus from being enlarged due to the provision of the illuminance detection device 12 without disturbing the irradiation of the linear beam light LB onto the sealing material S.

  (6) The ultraviolet irradiation device 1 determines the light emission capability of each ultraviolet light emitting diode LED arranged in the X direction from the illuminance at the center position Po of the linear beam LB extending in the X direction. Therefore, it is possible to make the illuminance of each ultraviolet light emitting diode LED uniform, or to determine whether each ultraviolet light emitting diode LED has a lifetime.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
In the above embodiment, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 is reciprocated along the X direction by a distance that is half the arrangement interval Pd of each ultraviolet light emitting diode LED, but this movement distance is two minutes of the arrangement interval Pd. It is not limited to 1. The feature of “relatively moving the light irradiation surface of the linear beam light or the substrate along one direction” of the present invention is a feature that is not found in the prior art. For example, even when the movement distance is one third of the arrangement interval Pd, the illuminance unevenness of the linear beam light LB is reduced as compared with the prior art. Preferably, the movement distance is one half of the arrangement interval Pd. Alternatively, the movement distance may be a distance exceeding one-half of the arrangement interval Pd. In this case, the uniformity of the integrated illuminance in the X direction of the sealing material S is further improved by reciprocating the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 by an integer (an integer equal to or greater than 2) times the distance of half the arrangement interval Pd. Can be made.

  In the above embodiment, in order to average the accumulated illuminance in the X direction of the sealing material S, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 is reciprocated twice along the X direction. The ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 may be reciprocated along the X direction once or three times or more.

  In the above embodiment, in order to average the integrated illuminance in the X direction of the sealing material S, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 is reciprocated along the X direction. Instead of reciprocal movement, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 may be moved forward or backward. In this case, the accumulated illuminance in the X direction of the sealing material S is further averaged when the forward and backward movements are performed at a distance that is an integral multiple of the distance that is half the arrangement interval Pd during a predetermined irradiation time. Can do.

  In the above embodiment, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 is reciprocated along the X direction by rotating the ball screw forward and backward with the unit motor M3 of the second moving device. Instead, the eccentric cam may be rotated by the unit motor M3, and the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 may be reciprocated by the eccentric cam rotated by the motor M3.

  In the above embodiment, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 is reciprocated along the X direction with respect to the gantry body 2a. Alternatively, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 may be fixed to the gantry main body 2a, and the gantry main body 2a may be reciprocated in the X direction with respect to the stage ST (liquid crystal display panel P). Alternatively, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 may be made immovable along the X direction, and the stage ST may be made movable along the X direction. In this case, for example, the substrate moving device 9 functions as a second moving device that moves the panel P (stage ST) relative to the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3.

  In the above embodiment, when the illuminance sensor 15 is moved along the X direction to detect the illuminance of the light irradiation surface SF of the linear beam light LB, the interval is 1/10 of the width of the linear beam light LB. Then, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 was moved along the Y direction. However, the interval for moving the ultraviolet irradiation unit 3 along the Y direction is not limited to one-tenth of the width of the linear beam light LB, and may be changed as appropriate.

  In the above embodiment, when the illuminance sensor 15 detects the illuminance of the light irradiation surface SF of the linear beam light LB, the gantry body 2a is slightly moved along the Y direction. Instead of this, the illuminance detection device 12 provided on the lower side of the stage ST may be finely moved along the Y direction.

In the above embodiment, two gantry main bodies 2a (two ultraviolet irradiation units 3) are provided, but the number thereof may be changed as appropriate.
In the above embodiment, twelve irradiation modules 32 are arranged in each ultraviolet irradiation unit 3, but the number thereof may be changed as appropriate.

In the above embodiment, eight ultraviolet light emitting diodes LED are mounted on the circuit board 33 of each irradiation module 32, but the number thereof may be changed as appropriate.
In the above embodiment, the light irradiation device is embodied as an ultraviolet irradiation device, but may be applied to a light irradiation device using a light emitting diode that emits visible light instead of the ultraviolet light emitting diode LED that emits ultraviolet light. .

  In the above embodiment, the present invention is embodied in the ultraviolet irradiation device 1 that cures the sealing material S made of an ultraviolet curable resin for bonding the lower substrate W1 and the upper substrate W2, but the light irradiation for processing other substrates is performed. You may apply to an apparatus.

Claims (10)

A method of irradiating linear beam light from a light irradiation device including a plurality of optical elements arranged along one direction,
The linear beam light having the light irradiation surface extending along the one direction is generated by irradiating light having an elliptical irradiation region from each of the plurality of optical elements and overlapping the irradiation regions. about,
Facing the light irradiation surface of the linear beam light along the one direction with respect to the linear photocurable resin formed on the substrate;
The linear beam light entering through the detection window formed along the one direction while moving the illuminance sensor along the one direction below the stage on which the substrate is placed. Detecting the illuminance of the light irradiation surface of the illuminance sensor,
Irradiating the linear photocurable resin with the linear beam light after detecting the illuminance of the light irradiation surface of the linear beam light by the illuminance sensor ;
While irradiating the linear photocurable resin with the linear beam light, relatively moving one of the light irradiation surface of the linear beam light and the substrate along the one direction;
A method comprising: The method of claim 1, wherein
The relative movement is at least one half of the arrangement interval of the plurality of optical elements, and one of the light irradiation surface of the linear beam light and the substrate is along the one direction. A method comprising relative movement. A light irradiation device,
A stage for placing a substrate on which a linear photocurable resin is formed;
A plurality of optical elements arranged along one direction, and each of the plurality of optical elements is irradiated with light having an ellipse-shaped irradiation area, and the irradiation areas are overlapped, thereby extending along the one direction. A light irradiation unit for generating a linear beam light having a light irradiation surface extending in the direction
An optical element driving device for driving each optical element of the light irradiation unit;
A first moving device for moving the light irradiation unit along a direction orthogonal to the one direction;
A second moving device for moving the substrate on the light irradiation unit or the stage along the one direction;
An illuminance sensor for detecting the illuminance of the linear beam light;
A third moving device for moving the illuminance sensor along the one direction;
A detection window formed in the stage along the one direction so as to transmit the linear beam light;
A guide member disposed on the lower side of the stage so as to face the detection window, and guiding the movement of the illuminance sensor along the detection window;
A control device,
The illuminance sensor detects the illuminance on the light irradiation surface of the linear beam incident through the detection window while moving along the guide member,
The control device includes:
The first moving device is controlled so that the light irradiation surface of the linear beam light faces the linear photocurable resin along the one direction, and the light irradiation unit is the illuminance sensor. Placed directly above
Controlling the optical element driving device, the illuminance sensor, and the third moving device to detect the illuminance on the light irradiation surface of the linear beam light while moving the illuminance sensor;
The linear beam light is controlled by controlling the optical element driving device and the second moving device to relatively move one of the light irradiation surface of the linear beam light and the substrate along the one direction. It is allowed to irradiate the linear light curing resin, light irradiation device. In the light irradiation apparatus of Claim 3,
The second moving device is a light irradiation device that relatively moves the light irradiation unit along the one direction with respect to the substrate placed on the stage. In the light irradiation apparatus of Claim 3,
The second moving device is configured to relatively move one of the light irradiation unit and the substrate on the stage along the one direction at a distance of a half or more of an arrangement interval of the plurality of optical elements. Let the light irradiation device. The light irradiation device according to claim 3 further includes:
A center position in the line width direction of the linear beam light is determined based on the illuminance of the light irradiation surface of the linear beam light detected by the illuminance sensor, and the center position of the linear beam light is defined as the one direction. A light irradiation apparatus comprising: a center position setting device that is set as a center position of the light irradiation unit in a direction orthogonal to each other. The light irradiation device according to claim 6 further includes:
The illuminance sensor is moved along the one direction on a line passing through the central position of the linear beam light, and the illuminance at the central position of the linear beam light is determined, and the determined illuminance is obtained. A light irradiation device comprising: a light emission capability determination device that determines the light emission capability of the plurality of optical elements based on the light emission capability. In the light irradiation apparatus of Claim 3,
The light irradiation unit includes a plurality of circuit boards arranged in the one direction, and the plurality of optical elements are linearly mounted along the one direction on the plurality of circuit boards. apparatus. In the light irradiation apparatus of Claim 3,
The light irradiation unit is:
A plurality of hemispherical lenses each receiving light emitted from one of the plurality of optical elements;
A cylindrical lens that receives light emitted from the plurality of hemispherical lenses;
A light irradiation device. In the light irradiation apparatus as described in any one of Claims 3-9,
The light irradiation device, wherein the plurality of optical elements are ultraviolet light emitting diodes, and the photocurable resin is an ultraviolet curable resin.

Images