JPH0527093B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for dispersing minute objects such as spacers used for gap regulation in liquid crystal panels.

BACKGROUND ART Liquid crystal panels are manufactured by forming an alignment film on a predetermined area on one main surface of a pair of substrates (transparent insulating substrates, such as glass plates in most cases) by printing, etc., and then aligning the film with a dry cloth. After applying an alignment treatment such as rubbing the film, the surfaces of the alignment films are made to face each other to form a closed space with a gap of several micrometers, and this closed space is filled with liquid crystal to determine the characteristics of the liquid crystal to be used. Accordingly, a polarizing plate is attached to complete the liquid crystal panel.

In order to color a liquid crystal panel, it is common to arrange a colored layer such as dyed gelatin on one substrate.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an exploded state of a simple matrix type liquid crystal panel. Four groups of scanning lines made of a transparent conductive film are formed on one main surface of one glass plate 2, and five groups of signal lines are similarly formed on one main surface of the other glass plate 1. . A pair of glass plates 1 and 2 are bonded together so that scanning lines 4 and signal lines 5 are approximately orthogonal to each other. The sealing material 3 forms a space that confines the liquid crystal, and at the same time adheres and integrates the pair of glass substrates 1 and 2. The notches 6 formed in the pattern of the sealing material 3 are necessary to ensure a passage for the liquid crystal when the liquid crystal is injected, but are filled with a sealant (not shown) after the panel is formed. In the image display area, an organic thin film such as polyimide (PIQ) resin is selectively formed as an alignment film 7 in order to align the liquid crystal.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a colored liquid crystal panel cut parallel to the scanning line. There is an alignment film 7 in contact with the liquid crystal 8, a closed space made up of a pair of glass substrates 1 and 2 and a sealing material 3 is filled with the liquid crystal 8, and an insulating layer is used to keep the thickness of this closed space at a predetermined value. Material is distributed as spacers 13. For example, glass fibers, plastic balls, etc. are used. Reference numeral 9 denotes a transparent insulating thin film for preventing the signal line 5 and the scanning line 4 from being short-circuited by conductive foreign matter, and for avoiding deterioration of various properties of the liquid crystal due to direct current flowing through the liquid crystal. , for example, a silica (SiO ₂ ) film.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a colored layer formed by coloring an organic thin film such as gelatin with dye, and the three primary colors R, G, and B having predetermined spectral characteristics are arranged according to the optical design of the color filter. It is advantageous to fill the gaps between adjacent colored layers 10 with thin film layers 11 that are largely opaque to the light source, since an image with a high contrast ratio can be obtained. Although this is a so-called black matrix treatment, a metal thin film such as chromium may be used to make the thin film layer 11 opaque, and R, G, B
The colored layers may be superimposed, or a new black colored layer may be provided.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a polarizing plate, and if a TN (twisted nematic) material is used for the liquid crystal 8, two plates are required, one for the upper and the lower, but one is sufficient if a GH (guest host) material is used. Electric signals are supplied to the scanning lines 4 and signal lines 5 by connecting film terminals coated with a conductive thin film to the scanning electrode terminal group and the signal electrode terminals on the glass substrates 1 and 2 extending from the sealing material 3 to the outer periphery. This is generally done by means of pressing the group (mounting).

Now, at present, the spacers 13 are generally dispersed onto the substrate using a dispersing device as shown in FIG. First, a nearly sealed container 14 is prepared, and the substrate 16 is installed at the bottom of the container 14 through the entrance/exit 15. Next, a predetermined amount of spacer material, such as glass fiber 18, is placed in the upper tray 17 inside the container 14. Then, dry air or gas such as nitrogen is sent from above the saucer 17 through the pipe 19, causing the glass fiber 18 to fly up inside the container 14. The flying glass fibers 18 naturally fall over time and are scattered onto the substrate 16. Therefore, the amount of glass fiber 18 sprinkled onto the substrate 16 is proportional to the amount placed in the saucer 17, and the shape of the saucer 17 and the amount and speed of the gas to be sent are controlled to ensure uniform distribution. is an element.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the method of dispersing spacers as described above uses natural falling in the atmosphere, so the smaller the spacer material, the slower the falling speed and the longer the processing time. Inevitable. That is, when the spacer is a glass fiber, the shorter the fiber length and the smaller the fiber diameter, the longer the processing time. This tendency becomes even more pronounced when the spacer is made of plastic balls; for example, when the fiber diameter is 5 μm and the fiber length is 50 μm, it takes 2 minutes to fall, but a plastic ball of the same diameter takes 20 minutes, which significantly reduces productivity. Put it away. In addition, in order to shorten the falling time, the saucer 17
If the substrate 16 is brought close to the substrate 16, the flying distance of the plastic balls becomes shorter, resulting in a problem in that the uniformity of the dispersion is impaired.

The present invention was made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for dispersing minute objects, which do not depend on the size of the particle size and can ensure uniformity of the dispersion time.

Means for Solving the Problems In the present invention, the pressure inside the container for spraying is reduced, and after the spraying is performed, the reduced pressure state in the container is released.

Effects According to the above-described configuration of the present invention, the pressure inside the container is reduced when dispersing minute objects, so that the falling speed of the minute objects is not affected by the shape or size.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a micro object dispersing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which 20 is a valve that controls the supply of gas for blowing off the spacer 18 in the saucer 17 through a hose or pipe 19;
22 is a hose or pipe that connects the exhaust device 21 and the container 14; 23 is a valve that controls the pressure reduction function; 24 is a hose or pipe and a valve 25; 26 is a control system for releasing the container 14 under reduced pressure to atmospheric pressure.

The dispersion method and operation of the micro object dispersing device of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained below.

A substrate 16 is installed at the inner bottom of the container 14 through the entrance/exit 15. Next, a predetermined amount of spacer material 18 is placed on the saucer 17.
Put in. Reference numeral 27 denotes an automatic spacer material supplying machine, which may have a mechanism in which a spoon-shaped supply tray is inverted above the saucer 17, for example. Thereafter, the stop valve 23 is opened to exhaust the inside of the container 14. In order to maintain a reduced pressure state, although not shown, a rubber O-ring or the like must be installed around the outer periphery of the entrance/exit 15. When the inside of the container 14 reaches a predetermined degree of vacuum, the stop valve 20 is opened for a short time and the pipe 19 is opened.
More dry gas is supplied and blown onto the saucer 17. Since the pressure inside the container 14 is reduced, the flow rate of the drying gas passing through the pipe 19 is fast, and the spacer 18
It soars within and spreads. After a certain period of time has elapsed, the valve 23 is closed, dry air or nitrogen is sent through the pipe 24, the inside of the container 14 is released to atmospheric pressure, and the substrate 16 on which the spacers 18 have been spread is taken out, and the process of spreading the spacers 18 is completed. do. The valves 25 and 26 are control valves that control the flow rate of the drying gas sent to release the reduced pressure and prevent the scattered spacers 18 from flying up again.
Generally called slow leak or full leak. Similarly, 28 directs the gas to the substrate 1.
This is a diffusion damper to avoid reaching 6.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since the environment in which the spacer material is sprayed is under reduced pressure, the spraying time can be kept constant and short regardless of the shape and size of the spacer material.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a micro object dispersing device showing a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the embodiment of FIG. Container 1 as the part responsible for dispersion
4.It is located outside.

The operation of the second embodiment of the minute object dispersing device configured as described above will be described below.

When the spacer 18 is placed in the saucer 30 and dry gas is fed through the pipe 31, the spacer 18 that flies up fills the box-shaped container 29. Therefore, when the inside of the container 14 is under reduced pressure by the exhaust device 21,
The valve 20 can be opened briefly to transfer the spacer 18 filling the box-shaped container 29 to the container 14. The other operations are the same as in the first embodiment, and 32 is the spacer 1 sent into the container 14.
8 is a diffusion damper for preventing the air from being blown directly onto the substrate 16.

As described above, in this embodiment, the supply location of the minute objects is outside the container 14, so even if the container 14 is constantly under reduced pressure as in the embodiment described later, there is no problem in the supply of the minute objects, that is, the supply of the minute objects is continuous. This method has the unique effect of improving the uniformity of dispersion because the microscopic objects are rapidly agitated twice.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are block diagrams of a device for dispersing minute objects that enables continuous production of the first and second embodiments. First, in the configuration shown in FIG. 3a corresponding to the first embodiment, the substrate 16 placed in the first container 33 through the entrance/exit port 15 is transferred to the first exhaust system 41.
The process waits until the inside of the first container 33 is evacuated to a predetermined vacuum pressure. Next, the gate valve 34 connecting the first container 33 and the second container 14 is opened, and the substrate 16 is transferred to the second container 14 which is constantly under reduced pressure.
to close the gate bell 34. When the spacer dispersion is completed in the second container 14, the gate valve 34 is opened again and the substrate 16 is transferred to the first container 33.
and close the gate valve 34. Thereafter, dry gas is fed through the pipe 24 using the leak valves 25 and 26 so that the spacers spread on the substrate 16 do not move, and the first container 33 is released to atmospheric pressure. After the atmospheric pressure is released, the substrate 16 is taken out from the entrance/exit 15, and one spraying process is completed. 42 is an exhaust system for reducing the pressure of the second container 14, and 35 and 44 are pipes and leak valves necessary for releasing the second container 14 into the atmosphere during adjustment, etc.

FIG. 3b shows a configuration in which a third container 38 serving as a vacuum standby chamber is added to further increase productivity, and the substrate 16 enters the first container 33 through the inlet 15 to reach a predetermined degree of vacuum. Wait until. Then, it moves to the second container 14 through the first gate valve 34, and when the dispersion of spacers is finished, the second gate valve 36 opens and moves to the third container 38 under reduced pressure. Further, the second gate valve 36 is closed, and dry gas is sent from the pipe 39 using the leak valves 40 and 41 so that the spacers spread on the substrate 16 do not move, and the third container 38 is released to atmospheric pressure. . Then, the substrate 16 is taken out from the outlet 37, and one spraying process is completed. 43 is an exhaust system that reduces the pressure of the third container 38. Furthermore, the third
Although the conveyance system by which the substrate 16 is moved is not shown in the figure, it may be a conveyance roller in which a large number of rollers are lined up and each roller rotates to convey the object, or a general moving means such as a belt conveyor. do not have.

FIG. 4 has the same structure as FIG. 3 except that the supply mechanism 29 for the minute objects is provided outside the second container 14 in which the dispersion is performed.

In the above description, 16 is a substrate, but it goes without saying that it may be a jig such as a tray on which a plurality of substrates are stacked.

Effects of the Invention As explained above, in the present invention, in order to disperse minute objects such as spacers in a reduced pressure environment,
The spraying time can be kept constant and short regardless of its shape or size, which has great practical effects, and also significantly improves mass productivity due to continuous production.

Further, the present invention is more effective as the minute objects to be scattered are smaller, and its scope of application is not limited to spacers in liquid crystal panels.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 a, b, and Fig. 4 a, b are a perspective view and a sectional view of a micro object dispersing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a liquid crystal panel. , FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the same panel, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a conventional micro object dispersing device. 16...Substrate, 17...Scatter container, 17,30
...Receptacle for minute objects, 18...Minute objects (spacer), 27, 29... Feeder for minute objects, 19...
...Pipe, 20...Stop valve, 25,2
6, 35, 40, 41...leak valve, 21...
...Vacuum pump, 33,38...Vacuum standby chamber, 3
4, 36...gate valve, 41, 42, 43...
...Exhaust system.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A substrate is installed at the bottom of the container, and a minute object is supplied to a tray provided at a predetermined position in the container,
The inside of the container is reduced in pressure, the micro objects on the saucer under reduced pressure are scattered by blowing gas, the micro objects are scattered, and the inside of the container is released to atmospheric pressure after a certain period of time has elapsed. Object scattering method. 2. A substrate is installed in a first container under atmospheric pressure, the pressure inside the first container in which the substrate is installed is reduced, and a second container adjacent to the first container and always under reduced pressure is placed through a gate valve. The substrate is moved by opening the gate valve at the inner bottom of the second container, and after closing the gate valve, a receiving tray is placed at a predetermined position in the second container by a supply means that holds a minute object in advance. The minute object is supplied to the receiver, the minute object on the saucer is scattered by blowing gas, and after a certain period of time has elapsed since the minute object has been scattered, the gate valve is opened to release the first object under reduced pressure. A method for dispersing minute objects, comprising moving a substrate into a container, closing the gate valve, and then releasing the inside of the first container to atmospheric pressure. 3 Place the substrate in a first container under atmospheric pressure, reduce the pressure in the first container in which the substrate is placed, and
Opening the first gate valve to move the substrate to the bottom of the second container which is adjacent to the first container and under constant reduced pressure via the gate valve, and closing the first gate valve, Supplying the minute object to a tray provided at a predetermined position in the second container from a supply means that holds the minute object in advance, and scattering the minute object on the tray by blowing gas, After a certain period of time has elapsed after scattering the microscopic objects, opening the second gate valve and moving the substrate into a third container adjacent to the second container under reduced pressure via a second gate valve; A method for dispersing minute objects, wherein after closing the second gate valve, the inside of the third container is released to atmospheric pressure. 4. A box-shaped container having a gas blowing pipe and a saucer is connected to the bottom of the container by a pipe having a stop valve, and a substrate is installed at the bottom of the container, and after reducing the pressure inside the container, a minute object is supplied to the saucer, and A method for dispersing minute objects, comprising scattering minute objects by blowing gas, opening the stop valve for a short time, and releasing the inside of the container to atmospheric pressure after a certain period of time has elapsed. 5. Place the substrate in a first container under atmospheric pressure, reduce the pressure in the first container in which the substrate is installed, and connect the first container with the gas blowing pipe and the saucer via the gate valve. The gate valve is opened at the bottom of the second container, which is connected by a pipe with a stop valve to a box-shaped container having a stop valve, and the substrate is moved. After closing the gate valve, a minute object is placed in the receiving tray. The fine objects on the receiving tray are dispersed by blowing gas, the stop valve is opened for a short time, and after a certain period of time, the gate valve is opened and the substrate is placed in the first container under reduced pressure. , and after closing the gate valve, the inside of the first container is released to atmospheric pressure. 6 Place the substrate in a first container under atmospheric pressure, reduce the pressure in the first container in which the substrate is placed, and
The gate valve is opened at the bottom of a second container which is adjacent to the first container through a gate valve and which is connected by a pipe having a stop valve to a box-shaped container having a gas blowing pipe and a saucer, and which is constantly under reduced pressure. After moving the substrate and closing the gate valve, a minute object is supplied to the tray, the minute object on the tray is scattered by blowing gas, and the stop valve is opened for a short time, and a certain period of time elapses. After that, the second gate valve was opened and the substrate was moved into a third container adjacent to the second container under reduced pressure via the second gate valve, and the second gate valve was closed. Then, the inside of the third container is released to atmospheric pressure. 7. A container capable of maintaining a reduced pressure state, an openable/closable door for installing a substrate at the inner bottom of the container, a means for evacuating the inside of the container, a means for releasing the reduced pressure state of the container, and a means for removing minute objects. A means for supplying the microscopic objects in the container to a predetermined position in the container from a spoon-shaped supply tray having an inversion mechanism, and a means for scattering the microscopic objects in the container by blowing gas onto the substrate. Micro object scattering device. 8. A box-shaped container having a receptacle for minute objects and a gas blowing pipe is located outside the container, and the box-shaped container and the container are connected by a pipe having a stop valve. The micro object dispersing device according to scope 7. 9 A second container capable of maintaining a reduced pressure state, a means for supplying a microscopic object to a predetermined position within the second container, a means for scattering the microscopic object, and a gate valve provided in the second container. means for evacuating the first and second containers, means for releasing the reduced pressure state of the first and second containers, and the first and second containers adjacent to each other through the gate valve. A micro object dispersing device comprising: means for moving a substrate in the order of the second container and the first container. 10 A second container capable of maintaining a reduced pressure state, a means for supplying a microscopic object to a predetermined position within the second container, a means for scattering the microscopic object, and a gate valve provided in the second container. first adjacent through
and a third container; means for evacuating the first, second, and third containers; and means for releasing the reduced pressure state of the first, second, and third containers; A micro object dispersing device comprising means for moving a substrate in order of first, second and third containers. 11. A box-shaped container having a receptacle for minute objects and a gas blowing pipe is located outside the second container, and the box-shaped container and the second container are connected by a pipe having a stop valve. A micro object dispersing device according to claim 9 or 10.